Alice Springs
Saturday, January 19, 2019
We left Melbourne today and took a 3 hour flight to Alice Springs in the outback. One of the most fascinating characteristics about Australia is the vast outback. Australia is about the size of the U.S (minus Alaska and Hawaii). That being said, the population of Australia is 24.6 million in comparison to the U.S. population of 325.7 million. As late as 1988, an aboriginal tribe in the outback was discovered having never seen a white person. The aboriginal people are one of the oldest people and cultures on Earth (recently dated back 80,000 years). More about the aboriginal people tomorrow.
We landed in Alice Springs and visited the Overland Telegraph Station. This was the first telegraph station in the outback. From there, we proceeded to the Royal Flying Doctor Service headquarters. What an amazing organization! Using the latest in aviation, medical and communications technology, the Royal Flying Doctor Service works to provide emergency medical and primary health care services to anyone who lives, works or travels in rural and remote Australia (even me, if I needed it…but let’s hope not!)
We also visited the Alice Springs School of the Air. ASSOA is a distance education organization involving teachers, support staff, parents, home tutors and students to optimize the learning outcomes for isolated students by providing quality teaching, education materials and personal communication with parents and home tutors.
Learning how things we take for granted, like health care and public education, must be designed and administered differently in the outback was a great learning experience!
Tomorrow, we head to the Uluru. I should be able to take some truly magical pictures you won’t want to miss!
Love to all!
DD
Friday, January 18, 2019
Puffin Billy
We began the morning touring the majestic eucalyptus forest and the Fern Gullies of the Dandenong mountains. The Australians refer to this this lush forest area as the bush. The trees were filled with wild cockatiels that swooped overhead as we walked down the trails. Every once in a while, a wallaby would jump by.
We then took a steam train called the Puffin Billy that is maintained and run through by local volunteers through the bush to a local vineyard where we enjoyed a roasted prime rib meal and a variety of wines from the vineyard. We went to several vineyards for wine tasting throughout the area. I was surprised to learn Australia is the 4th largest exporter of wine in the world.
It was a relaxing day filled with good people, good wine, and much fun.
Love to all!
DD
Love to all!
DD
Dynamo-on-the-go 
Beautiful photos! Your adventure looks wonderful. Seeing all the wildlife sounds awesome! Did you find some good Aussie wines to look for when you get home (and can recommend for us)?
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