Didgeridoo

The music in Australia is one of the things I will always remember about this country.

(I'm a musician myself and have always considered music to be one of the simple joys of life). I don't think I'll ever forget the sounds of the Australian Didgeridoo's. We heard them many times as we traveled along the coast.



I'd have to agree (as Aborigine's do) that the Didgeridoo's do MORE than just express music. (sounds like I'm shearing sheep again).



I found them to have a "magical quality" as I listened to them in the hands of an expert. The Aborigines consider them "sacred" because of the unique 'tonal' qualities the instrument. Most tribes only allow the men to play the Didgeridoo's.



When looking for the wood to make these instruments, it's necessary to 'rap' the tree with a stick. When you hear the 'hollow' sound of the wood, you've got the right tree. (it's caused by termites). They eat the "center of the trees" and leave a resonant structure which produces the didgeridoo's unique qualities.


Tree's cut at different lengths produce varying 'pitches'. Bee's wax is used to create a mouthpiece on the end of the instrument. So much for the technical side.....

But the 'art' is the 'technique' of the musician!

A good player can produce sounds from this instrument for as long as an hour by using a technique called "circular breathing". He actually (I know this sounds contradictory) exhales air from his lungs and inhales 'in' through his 'nose' at the same time! This takes a LOT of practice and sounds impossible to most people.

The 'drone' sound is created in this manner and they have developed techniques to mimic the sounds of the animals in the bush. I can visualize many of the Kangaroos, Dingo's, and all kinds of exotic birds, as they imitate their sounds with the Didgeridoo's.

They're used especially in ceremonial dances and gatherings before hunts. I found the spear to especially interesting. With an extended wooden hook, they can throw these so fast that they quiver as they travel through the air.

You never want to find yourself on the receiving end of one of these. They're very deadly and very accurate!

Penguin's in Australia

I wish that I could actually have taken a picture of the Australia Penguin. But like all wildlife, they don't pose for photographers, and sometimes, they just don't show up when and where you think they might appear. (Even when tourist guides build elaborate structures hanging on the edge of cliffs to view them).

Such was the case when we took one of the "wildest rides" I've ever taken, above the cliffs, to get to the viewing area. But it just wasn't meant to be. (As I was hanging on for "dear life" and unable to take pictures again). The only way to get here was a jarring ride on a six wheel All Terrain Vehicle. It required keeping both hands "knuckle white" on the nearest railing to avoid being pitched out of the ATV.

And on another note, little did we realize just how HOT the Australian Sun could be out here.

We were about to travel to a new area where the temperatures were in the 100's. It's hard to imagine the heat being this high, but the center of Australia was the hottest on record while we were there.

How hot?.....How about 125 degrees? Unbelievable......

We were fortunate to only experience 101, (at the Great Barrier Reef) , but parts of Australia experienced "wild fires" with winds of 60+ mph. and there were well over 200 lives lost due to the fires this year. It was unimaginable to think of a fire moving so fast that homes literally "exploded and vaporized" before their eyes.

It was a horrible experience for many hundreds more, that lost everything they had accumulated in their lifetime. Many were fortunate to escape with their lives.

Campfire

I've always envied those that have this skill. (especially when they make it look this easy).

Believe me....it's NOT an easy thing to do, it takes a LOT of time to make "starting a campfire" using this method. (only about 3 minutes in the hands of a professional).

I spend a LOT of time outdoors, and routinely build a fire in a "cold drizzling rain" but my son and I have some nice rock overhangs in the woods. We keep "dry kindling" and small bundles of "dry wood" just for this occasion. (and we use a butane lighter) I've always said "fire" can be your "best friend" or your "worst enemy". It depends on how you control it and which way the wind is blowing.

Here's some "real professionals" creating a warm fire for dinner and to stave off the night chill in the middle of Australia.

They make it look SO easy....It would be a VERY good thing to have these guys with you out in the "bush". They're masters at surviving, with a little bit of nothing. They don't need matches, and can snare, trap, and gather all the necessities they need in the outback.

And be comfortable while doing it.

We've lost these skills living in the modern world today.

Kangaroo's

It was a long trip to Kangaroo Country (Australia) but worth all the effort. I've always wanted to get close to these creatures because they're so unusual. (don't see many in America) I assumed we would have to be in the interior of Australia but was mistaken. These guys were in a big field next to a busy highway. It's fenced, but a Kangaroo can jump a 10 ft. fence like it wasn't even there. The hind legs are powerful, and (believe it or not) can be quite lethal, if they should decide to pounce on you.

Take a look at the "nails" on this guy!

If they hit you just right, they could disembowel you, quicker than you can skin a jack rabbit. Fortunately they avoided us, for the most part, and at times you could get pretty close to them.

Tasmanian Devils

Nap Time


Play Time


Dinner Time

Little Devils

After a few days of sailing, we arrived in Tasmania, and it was good to get our feet back on solid land once again.

I liked this country and our first stop was "Russell Falls". It was a short hike through the lush tropical forest and we saw our first wildlife. There were Wallabies everywhere as we slowly moved through the forest and listened to the birds singing in the tree tops.

It's been really, really, dry here this summer and there was hardly ANY water cascading down the rock face of the falls.

As we drove around towards Hobart, and returned to the city, we stopped at a "wildlife sanctuary" that cared for misplaced and injured animals. We saw Kiwi, Kangaroos, and the famous Tasmanian Devils.

The Tasmanian Devil's only survive and thrive here in this country, but they're VERY endangered now, due to a "CANCER" that attacks the facial area of the animal. This place was very PROUD of their "devils" and were successful at breeding a few, with the hopes of producing new animals that might be "immune" to this terrible disease.

They're sort of "cute" when young, but don't let their appearance fool you. As they become mature they're quite viscous.

I've heard few sounds as disturbing, as their voices, when they're agitated and defending their territory.

I wish we could have stayed longer to observe them more closely and maybe get a "sound clip" of their hisses, spits, growls, and shrieking amongst themselves.

I've watched the TV cartoons of their antics and I'd have to say, they're accurately portrayed as a whirlwind of energy to be take very seriously. These little guys have "six times" the bite of a Pit Bull. They can sure do a number on you, if put in the "defense mode".

Like any rare, wild animal, I hope a cure can be discovered for the "Cancer" that is quickly destroying these unique creatures! There's no cure (as of today) and thier species is on the verge of destruction.

Hot Time and Getting Hotter

We didn't realize how "HOT" the temperature was actually going to be, on the next leg of our journey towards Australia. It was comparable to the "hot springs" in Rotorua in New Zealand.

Some people would consider these the "Nostrils of Satin" , or at least "a Devil of a Place to Live".

But at least you could get away from the heat by "just walking away". It wouldn't be so easy in Tasmania and Australia. These two places are among the most "rainless" places on earth.

It took a few days to arrive in Tasmania and we spent time in Hobart. The joke here is: (completely unfounded) "Be careful where you leave your possessions laying around here".

It seems the vast majority of its citizens are the result of "prison labor gangs" and MOST of the "early infrastructure" built here, was produced by those actually too poor to survive in England. I hate to think of early "debtor prisons" where you could be incarcerated for stealing a piece of clothing or some food to keep from starving to death.

Most of these prisoners (not to say all) were "shipped" here to work off "convictions of petty crimes". I'm sure glad this isn't LEGAL today!

I'm sure it was a "devil" of a place to live, in the early times, but it's actually a very comfortable pleasant place to live now.

In Tasmania, there are a few "unique" creatures living here (and only here).

I'll post some pictures on the next entry.

Rotorua Washing Machine

I can't help but think of the very first people to discover this area of "hot pools" and "geysers" in New Zealand. I had not seen anything like this since visiting Yellowstone National Park many years ago.





And I can only imagine the "surprise" a group of workers experienced as they were washing in this "cone". They inadvertently allowed "soap" to enter, which was (at the time) nothing more than a "washtub" to clean their dirty clothes.




It seems "common soap" breaks the surface tension of the underlining "scalding water" below the ground just a few feet. In Yellowstone National Park, the eruption of "Old Faithful" can be predicted with the second hand on a clock. This geyser in Rotorua just takes a little "soap" to set it off.





It must have hysterical to see a dozen naked guys trying to recover their clothes, blown to heaven, and trying to avoid scalding water raining down out of the washing machine!

Good Dog!

I've always heard people say "a dog is mans best friend" but in sheep country, it's especially true. You can't put a monetary value on these animals. I guess it's another way of saying "All That's Gold Doesn't Glitter".

"The Lord of the Rings" was filmed in this area and everywhere I looked, I expected to see a hobbit in the background. I can see why the producers choose this area to film the movie. The hills are gentle, rolling, and on a clear day, you can see for miles.

Shearing Sheep

How many sheep can a Sheep Shearer shear if a Sheep Shearer can really shear sheep? The average Sheep Shearer can shear about 150 a day. (sort of ties up the tongue doesn't it?) But some are capable of much more....

The record (1990) is actually held by New Zealander Alan MacDonald, who did 805 lambs in a nine hours. That's a LOT of sheep! (I wonder how many ears and tails were clipped).

Merino Wool is cherished in both New Zealand and Australia. Australian Possum fur is sometimes blended together for clothing. I bought a toboggan like this just before we left New Zealand. I've found it excellent for warmth and water resistance.

I'd often wondered how difficult a job this was, and the guy that did this lamb said the "key"

is to lift the sheep slightly off the ground before starting the process of shearing. He said they become ...well, "docile as a lamb". Nothing to it......


I would imagine it's a different thing doing this for nine hours a day?