bringing my world to you – ann arbor, mi, usa
a little bit friendly city, a little bit beautiful country
Aug24
Tag Archives: travel
Aug5
a horse, a horse! my kingdom for a horse!
a human adventure of the finest sort brought to life from my recent time down under. i was so taken by this, i’ve decided to share it even though i’ve since returned. while i was there, an extraordinary woman passed away. this is her story.
Not what I have, but what I do is my kingdom. Thomas Carlyle
tributes poured in from around the world with the news that princess shirley casley, of hutt river, age 84, had passed away, surrounded by family and friends. shirley was the wife of self-proclaimed prince leonard casley, and matriarch of the principality of hutt river, a 75sqkm micro-nation north of perth.
prince richard casley, one of her seven children, said the family ‘was reeling from the loss of their rock, a woman who lived for her family, and a true matriarch.’ a fine familial tribute if i’ve ever heard one.
the casleys, a farming family, made history in 1970, when they declared their property to be a separate country apart from all of australia, in protest to the government’s imposition of low wheat production quotas. under australian law, the government had two years to respond to the declaration, and their failure to do so resulted in the official birth of the principality in 1972.
shirley and her prince leonard, the love of her life, bought their wheat farm in the 1960s, were married for 66 years, and raised seven children, twenty grandchildren, and thirty + grandchildren there. once the principality came into being, they introduced their own currency, postage, and visa requirements.
prince richard said his mother preferred to stay out of the spotlight, but was the behind the scenes driving force behind the principality – hosting dignitaries, media, and the 40,000 tourists who visited each year. ‘we’ve had messages from people all over the world who knew her. she was a very special woman to so many people – she enjoyed life,” he said. an understatement i’m sure.
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Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more. Oscar Wilde
Jul24
Looking back in my rearview mirror to see Australia – objects may appear smaller than they actually are
What may be the world’s smallest golf course – less than 1 meter square – freemantle
A friendly creature with a great approach – balingup
Hard to resist this taste sensation – Margaret river
The Aussie version of snow, sea foam – bunbury
Stark beauty – Wellington dam
Maze where I hooked up with a random family to help me find my way out – yallingup
Evening walk around the estuary – found my way with the help of a homeless man and 2 teens with nothing better to do
Found myself in the ancient mangrove
Found my way out again
‘Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.’
Charles Schulz
Jul22
Do you ever wonder?
Finally back on American soil after a long and crazy journey home. One last layover and one last flight and I will be home. Along the way, I realized it was my wonder and amazement with people and their choices that kept me smiling. A random sampling for your reading pleasure:
A. My Aussie seat-mate of many hours and ultimate gentleman, who jumped over the back of our seats, so as not to wake me when he got up.
B. The woman who chose to wear a cow costume without a head, but with a pretty blue hair bow instead, who shared the line with me in customs.
C. The mysterious woman who left her ample bra hanging in my airport restroom. I long to know her story.
My sincere thanks to all above, and many more, who made my travel adventure so much more entertaining.
Jul21
I’m leaving now. No, I’m not.
Called airline to confirm my flight for this evening. airline told me it had been rebooked 13 hours earlier for this morning and it had already left. They had contacted my travel agent in the states who is 12 hours behind and sleeping or dancing away her weekend night. they did not think to also contact me. next possible flight to make my 3 connections, is actually too soon for me to arrive at the airport in time. Next option: add in one more flight, spend the night in an airport somewhere, continue on. No rebooking for the next day as one leg of the trip falls within the 24 hour no rebooking rule, which I think she made up while talking to me, because at some point it’s less than 24 hours away and I’ll be losing or gaining a day somewhere in the process. Next option: leave at midnight tonight, check bags through all airports, until i hit customs again in the states. Possible glitches: airline called this option ‘dangerous,’ as far as all flights must be on time, allowing for a very small window for transfers and connections, customs has to not consider me an enemy combatant or mule, and they said they ‘would pray for me.’ This sounds like the perfect fit and of course, the option I chose. After hours on the phone and computer, and many teas, coffees, and cookies, and an emu beer, I am ready to go.
Command center.
Jul19
Where the river meets the sea
Margaret river meets the Indian Ocean. Looking across to Africa, Asia, Antarctica. Awesome.
Jul19
What not to do while in australia
I can take a hint.
Jul17
Some creatures, great and tall
On this trip, I’ve shared spaces. with an unusual bunch. in the most unexpected of places….
Red back spider who wanted to share my lounge chair
Christmas spider who lives in the lemon tree
Kookaburra who sits in the old gum tree. Literally.
Mystery spider who lives in the ground?
Ragtag bunch of guys on my patio.
Not a native. Must be an ex-pat.
Jul16
Hansel and gretel hit the beach
It seemed like a good idea to carve this giant arrow into the sand to help us find our way out after a long walk down the beach.
Upon our return, the entire beach looked like the scene below.
Now that I think of it, hansel and gretel had some design flaws in their plan as well.
Jul15
Tri-cation
While on summer vacation from school, I went on vacation from that vacation, and headed down under, then went on vacation from that vacation, for a long weekend in prevelly, Western Australia. While there, we stayed in a wonderful holiday surf house and celebrated the 4th of July, a holiday from my original vacation location. all I know is that I am on vacation.
I didn't have my glasses on.... 