Thursday, March 5, 2009

Traveling to Australia- A look at what this amazing continent holds


What is it about Australia that captures the imagination of the world traveler? Is it the allure of the intrepid mountain climber to scale the rocky face of Ululu, or the thrill of the snorkel or scuba diver to explore the Great Barrier Reef?

Perhaps it’s the compelling history of the Aborigines and the urge to understand these people, who have held on to their culture if not in all of Australia at least in some remote parts.

Could it be the stunning beauty that nature has painted onto this great land, with its formidable rock outcroppings, spectacular waterfalls, and colorful canvases, an achievement of nature’s architect at work? And for the very courageous is there an urge to challenge the Outback, a vast expanse of dry desert land stifling hot during the day and bitter cold at night?

Whatever the reason, Australia stands out as one of the most intriguing places to visit on earth. With over 2,000 islands, more National Parks than any other country and all of her natural wonders, there is such diversity to be found here. Not just in the land, but in the multicultural people, the flora and the fauna.

Although Australia is the world’s smallest continent, flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west, it is well-known for its famous cities, Aboriginal art and the unspoiled wilderness that in some areas nature successfully fights off all of man’s attempts to tame.

Australia's Main Areas of Interests are:

Uluru-Kata Tjunta National Park- where the great rock face Uluru is located.

Hyden - in Western Australia, 3 miles east of Hyden you will find Wave Rock, a colorful granite wave sweeping over the landscape.

Great Barrier Reef - here you can snorkel and scuba dive among over 2,000 species of fish and other sea life.

Broome - this is where the Asian pearl divers first settled along the coast. The town is fascinating and outside of town the Broome Crocodile Park can be found where over one-thousand crocodiles live and are maintained.

Outback- Here the challenge lies in exploration. Even the most seasoned hiker/explorer should consider an organized tour of this desert land. There are no convenient rest areas, restaurants or gas stations available here on every corner. Popular mode of transport is by 4WD and camel.

Information from: TravelAus.com http://www.travelaus.com.au/about-australia.asp

Pictures from: Mongabay.com http://www.mongabay.com/

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Hollywood California- Free Live Entertainment

On our last trip through California we had a few extra days to stop by Hollywood. I knew we would be there about 1.5 months before hand, went online and found some Free tickets to view the live tapping of some shows in the area. It was amazing... and unforgettable. And best of all absolutly free. Yes I said Free!
There are several websites you can check out for these free tickets. Here are some of the websites: http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Tickets/ for NBC show tickets. Some of these shows include Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, Last Call with Carson Daly etc.

http://tvtickets.com/ for several different sitcom shows including Disney's, NBC, CBS & Paramount. According to Jim, Two and A Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Price's Right, Suite Life on Deck, Rita Rocks, Wizards of Waverly Place and much, much more.

Of course if you want to get tickets to the good shows you have to plan ahead. Check out the above links for more information.

My family will never forget the experience of seeing our favorite shows live. Our teenage daughter loved seeing the Disney shows, and then the next day we were able to see one our of our favorites as well. Now every time we watch it on tv, the show means so much more.