An Alphabetical Stroll Through Bali and Australia- X is for: X Marks the Spot I Almost Died. (No Really) (3/12)

[Steppesister]

What a great trip report! Thanks for posting!

I hope to do a trip like this one day! Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome. Glad you're enjoying.

 

[zanzibar138]

I actually went on a little getaway as a celebration of PASSING MY BOARDS!!!!

Very well deserved getaway

I think if we'd have started in the morning and didn't have other stuff on our list to see we'd have done it too. I REALLY wanted to take the cruise on there, but we were too late to get on the last one of the day.

Ooh yes the cruise would have been lovely! Put it on the list for next time too lol!

Because you're young and fit.

Haha I *was* young and fit. The last decade has sure taken its toll

Then it sounds like we chose wisely given the time we had and the driving skilz I was willing to tackle.

 

[Wood Nymph]

A side note: (Should you be in the market for a bit of blowhole action, the north Oregon coast at Depoe Bay has a much more spectacular one.)

There is a very nice blowhole on the island of Kauai, too. I wouldn't go out of my way to see any of them.

the park ambassador put my mind at ease on two accounts: 1) We had plenty of time to do the hike I (kind of) wanted to do, and 2) I could probably do the hike without blowing out a lung.

Eventually, I actually did make it up to the top and, while the actual hiking part (did I mention it was sort of like going straight up?) sucked, the view did, in fact, make up for it.

I think the park ambassador should drop the part about blowing out a lung. But it was a gorgeous hike.

The less-than-two-minute photo session:

That is a very nice picture of the two of you, plus the scenery.

If you remember film in cameras, your back might hurt getting out of bed.

Ha-Ha, so true.

 

[Steppesister]

Very well deserved getaway

I really needed the rest after such a long spell of work, work, work!

Ooh yes the cruise would have been lovely! Put it on the list for next time too lol!

So many "next times" on this trip!

Haha I *was* young and fit. The last decade has sure taken its toll

HAHA! Yeah, time has a way of doing that. I think I"m at the point of actually needing to find a gym and trainer to build back some strength and flexibility.

 

[Steppesister]

There is a very nice blowhole on the island of Kauai, too. I wouldn't go out of my way to see any of them.

I had hoped for something a whole lot more spectacular. LOL! I would go out of my way to see this water phenomenon!!!

They named it something naughty so can't post it here, but that would be quite a (terrifying) sight!

I think the park ambassador should drop the part about blowing out a lung. But it was a gorgeous hike.

Well, that was my poetic waxing. But he did offer reassurance that the hike wasn't quite as hard as some people post on the internet and that someone in reasonably ok shape could make the hike. They might be slower but it is doable.

That is a very nice picture of the two of you, plus the scenery.

She doesn't love pix with mom so any I can get are a treat.

 

[Steppesister]

N is for: Nicest Accommodations of our Trip!​

A short and sweet chapter to finish off Day 3 on Tasmania. We’d finished our hike and quick stop at Cape Tourville Lighthouse and the day was quickly ending. When in Australia, it’s best to be nowhere near a road with a car after dark, so boogie we did!

The scenery along the way was absolutely beautiful filled with vineyards and orchards. There were also plenty of scenic beach areas and vast stands of eucalyptus. We continued to listen to the Terry Brooks book and the Tasmanian scenery provided the perfect backdrop for the story.

​

Google Maps said it’d take about an hour to get to our cottage in Swansea and I’d taken my last photo at 4:30 at the lighthouse. I took my first photo at of our posh digs for the night at 5:38 so it really did take almost exactly an hour, and we arrived with about 30 minutes of daylight left. Phew!

(Our own private patio!)


(Some of the lovely gardens)​

Our lovely and gracious hostess greeted us in the drive as we pulled up and showed us where to park. There are several options for the cottages on her property and if all of them are as exquisite as the one we got… wow! This hostess knows how to knock it out of the park.

The little cottage was impeccably decorated and had many special touches placed throughout including fresh flowers in vases, mints beside the bed, bar soap and lavender shampoo. We were both absolutely blown away! The bed and pillows were absolute bliss after having basically “camped” for the last few days, and it was beyond wonderful to have a night of luxury to rest well and be comfortable.

​

After I took a few photos, I drew a nice hot bath (yes, you read that right, a BATH!) and soaked for quite some time while Anara scrolled on her phone. She took over after I got out and I ate the last bit of whatever meat pies we had picked up that day and supplemented it with….

​

A slice of the FRESH BREAD our hostess had baked and set in our room!! In the little fridge there was homemade jam and butter, and I declared it a dinner that was nothing short of perfection. We were both super tired from our long day of road-tripping and were asleep by 7:30 to the sounds of rain on the roof.

​

As I read my Trip Notes, I came across this that I’d written about the day: “Every stop we make we see something wonderful and unexpected and generally not what we’ve even gone specifically to see.”

 

[zanzibar138]

That all sounds perfect

 

[Steppesister]

That all sounds perfect

It felt so swanky after the Tourist Park.

 

[Wood Nymph]

The little cottage was impeccably decorated and had many special touches placed throughout including fresh flowers in vases, mints beside the bed, bar soap and lavender shampoo. We were both absolutely blown away! The bed and pillows were absolute bliss after having basically “camped” for the last few days, and it was beyond wonderful to have a night of luxury to rest well and be comfortable.

This place is great. It's nice to see a great, big soaking tub. And the extra touches were nice, too.

 

[missjackiemcg]

What a perfect little place to stay!! A hot bath and homemade bread, butter, and jam sounds like absolute perfection after your travels.

 

[irene_dsc]

Love the luxurious little cabin! And some great photos from the drive, too.

 

[pkondz]

Our next stop was Bicheno Blowhole

I read that and think (in an Aussie accent) "Tha's a bi*@hin' 'ole blow 'ole, innit?"

I took a short video since that is the medium to best showcase this little slice of nature’s entertainment.

Um... spectacular. Miraculous. Stupendous...

"Here it comes!!!!!! ".... <blorp>

A side note: (Should you be in the market for a bit of blowhole action, the north Oregon coast at Depoe Bay has a much more spectacular one.)

Noted.

The other thing you might want to do in Bicheno is penguin watch.

I got pretty excited, and then...

Again, time was short and we'd had to back-track a LOT from Swansea to do this. Plus, it really wasn't the right season while we were there and sightings aren't guaranteed even in good conditions.

...you didn't do it!

I could probably do the hike without blowing out a lung.

FYI, it is NOT named Wineglass Bay for it's shape. It's got a much darker history...

Ew. What a lovely visual.

There were some nice reminders to only take photos and leave only footprints:

It was basically an excruciatingly long, uphill slog made only slightly easier by including more stairs than the bell tower at the Florence Cathedral (by more than twice... that I failed to complete).

Ugh. Sounds... painful.

The difference, however, was that instead of being rushed and pushed from behind on a single wide, narrow staircase with no chance to take rest breaks, this one provided plenty of places to let the fire in my lungs simmer down now and then on the stone benches provided for out-of-shape, lazy Americans who need to exercise more.

Small consolation?

Anara left me in her dust fairly early on

which was fine, I couldn’t talk to her anyway.

Whoa!

Eventually, I actually did make it up to the top and, while the actual hiking part (did I mention it was sort of like going straight up?) sucked, the view did, in fact, make up for it.

Did it though? All two minutes of it?

I only had to wait once for some Instagrammers who thought they were the only people on the planet who wanted some photos.

grrrrr....

(There is little that enrages me more than these folks who linger forever in the perfect spot for photos, spend ridiculous amounts of time primping their hair and lipstick (for literally minutes at a time) between each photo, hogging up the place for 5,000 poses with zero regard for the long line that has backed up behind them. Do they not feel the palpable air of derision and anger aside them? Sorry, so gross. Ok, I’ll step off my soapbox now.)

It's absolutely not okay. There are other people. Stop being so selfish. Take your photo and get out of the way!
I think I would be more than happy to get behind them and pretend to be oblivious... as oblivious as they are.

The less-than-two-minute photo session:

Oy. How long was that hike, again?

the entire round trip did in fact take about 1 hour and 10 minutes. It felt longer.

Sorry it was such a pain. And while the view was pretty, sounds like it wasn't really worth the effort.

At the split to take a different trail. I passed.

Uh.... yeah... no.

I can say with absolutely certainty that it quite possibly was the most adorable little creature I’ve ever encountered in the wild.

Awww.

I didn’t dare touch it for fear it would bite my face off as I heard wildlife is prone to do in Australia,

Everything in Oz is trying to kill you.



Everything

we took a roll’s worth of film of it.

If you remember film in cameras, your back might hurt getting out of bed.

Or even getting in to it.

Anara didn’t want to take the short walk to the lighthouse (this was like the 1,034, 672nd lighthouse I made us stop at)

Reminds me of the Road to Hana in Hawaii and the similar number of waterfalls.

 

[pkondz]

I would go out of my way to see this water phenomenon!!!

Um... You do know that's man-made, right?

When in Australia, it’s best to be nowhere near a road with a car after dark

As you had previously found out.

The scenery along the way was absolutely beautiful filled with vineyards and orchards.

Sounds very picturesque.

Love this shot.

we arrived with about 30 minutes of daylight left. Phew!

Phew indeed!

(Our own private patio!)

Wow!

many special touches placed throughout including fresh flowers in vases, mints beside the bed, bar soap and lavender shampoo.

Fresh flowers???

Bar soap?????

Didn't quote all the photos, but what a great place!
And a jacuzzi tub no less!

Love those beams.

A slice of the FRESH BREAD our hostess had baked and set in our room!!

Get. Out!

Pure bliss.

Perfect way to unwind after a long, tiring climb/hike.

As I read my Trip Notes, I came across this that I’d written about the day: “Every stop we make we see something wonderful and unexpected and generally not what we’ve even gone specifically to see.”

The best.

 

[Steppesister]

That all sounds perfect

It was really such a class act! I was very impressed! (And yes, I know I've already replied to you, but it's worth saying again! LOL!)

 

[Steppesister]

This place is great. It's nice to see a great, big soaking tub. And the extra touches were nice, too.

Soaking tubs are becoming such a rarity these days! I know they can be spendy to maintain and run so it was an extra special treat!

 

[Steppesister]

What a perfect little place to stay!! A hot bath and homemade bread, butter, and jam sounds like absolute perfection after your travels.

All of that was so nice! The beautiful gardens were so nice to stroll around the next morning too! And since it was too late for dinner anywhere, the bread was a perfect treat!

 

[Steppesister]

Love the luxurious little cabin! And some great photos from the drive, too.

The best part, and I didn't write about it was that it a lot of it was original stone work from the early 1800's! I loved all the authentic history of some of these places!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I actually went on a little getaway as a celebration of PASSING MY BOARDS!!!!

Congratulations!

“Every stop we make we see something wonderful and unexpected and generally not what we’ve even gone specifically to see.”

Love this. Short on time ( as always) but I am really enjoying reading along. Glad you ended your day with some pampering and luxury

 

[Steppesister]

I know I've been absent. Most of you know I'm dealing with my dad who suffered a massive stroke last Saturday. There are lots of moving parts and difficult decisions. I am committed to finishing this TR for sure. There's lots left to share. But.... I leave Monday for my Trip to WDW (see other TR!) and will be hopefully starting a job (interview on Monday) around the start of the new year. Hopefully, I can some sense of routine and normalcy soon.... Please stay tuned. I will finish, but it's going to take time.

 

[zanzibar138]

Do what you need to for yourself and your family right now. I'll be here to read the rest of your TR whenever you get to it