Back from Australia

Two weeks is a long time. Got home on Saturday, but words were spinning and I couldn't think straight. Went to bed at 8 PM on Saturday night, slept til 12:30 Sunday afternoon - 16 1/2 hours. Last night, couldn't fall asleep for anything. This is what crossing 17 time zones does to me - I don't know if it is day or night, and yes, it was worth it.

This was my 20th trip to Australia and my first time in Melbourne. It has become my favorite city there - friendly people, great restaurants, a beautiful river in the center, lots of public art - it reminded me of my home town of Chicago in so many ways that I just fell in love with the city. Arrival day, I went for a tour of the city on the back of a Harley Davidson - I spent the first five minutes thinking I was going to die, and the next fifty-five grinning from ear to ear.

Melbourne is one of the few cities you can actually float over in a balloon. So on September 4th, before the crack of my ass, I got up and went ballooning. My balloon was the "Peace & Love" Balloon:

Later that afternoon, I went out to one of Melbourne & Victoria's major tourist attractions, Phillip Island, for the "Penguin Parade." I was with a company I book regularly, as a private tour - which turned out to be a good thing, because that was the day Steve Irwin died in the freak accident - his is one of only three recorded deaths by sting ray. Say what you might about Steve, he was a great friend to tourism, and he did a lot on the quiet to protect habitats - he lived quite modestly, and put all his resources into his zoo, and the purchase of habitat to ensure that no building or development would take place in those par4cels of land. I first met Steve in Brisbane in 1998 at a conference - he was a complete madman. His wife was pregnant out to here with their first child, Bindy, and he's handeling snakes on the rooftop of the Rydges hotel - alchohol flowing freely, about 300 travel agents, and snakes. Oh, my. We'll miss you, Steve!

Next day, long trip out to the Great Ocean Road - and a helicopter over the 12 Apostles (one fell down recently, so there's only about 9.) Blogger is limiting the number of pictures I can upload, so that will be later.

After Melbourne, flew to Brisbane to see Hugh Jackman in "The Boy from OZ" - he was brilliant, and gorgeous. At our Aussie Specialist conference, we have an awards ceremony. One of my friends always votes for Hugh as "Best Australian Product" - sigh.

Highlight was Orpheus Island, a beautiful Great Barrier Reef resort with no pretension and no "attitude". Best part? The sea plane transfer. That is so cool I can't begin to tell you. Pictures later.

I'm back. Stupid tired. Have no clue what is going on in the world - clearly Bush has not been impeached yet, but one can hope, yes?

Off to work, I hope my desk is there.