Directions on stage for Moulin Rouge

Decorations

Centerpiece

Melbourne, Australia, February 10, 2012

Crocodile Dundee eat your heart out.

Celeste and Bill whack the bush!

G’day Mate.  Today we went to the Australian Bush looking for Kangaroos in their natural habitat. After our hour long bus ride as we left the bus our guide Roger kept telling us to make sure we were standing on the road and not the grass.  He then asked if anyone was allergic to bug bites, or bee stings.  Of course I raise my hand.  He said “don’t worry I have an Epi pen in case”.  He then proceeds to tell us that there are black ants about  an inch long that will take a chunk out of you and if you are allergic you can die from them.  Nice, my thoughts are “Where the hell am  I, and WHY”.  So after our pep talk out into the bush we go and I  must say that I was glad that I had the cane to whack the bush instead of  it whacking me. This was very challenging as I had to be really careful where I put my cane with all the Roo Poo!  We covered quite a bit of ground as it was windy and the Kangaroo do not like the wind. As we were walking through the bush.  I had a flashback!  No I never did LSD but I was with Betty, Joe and Bill in Pennsylvania Boar hunting and we were walking through new fallen snow in April trying to find boar to shoot.  Here we are in the Australian Bush trying to find a Kangaroo we can shoot, with our camera.  Over all these what seems like miles and miles, we were finally able to see some but what a walk.  Roger asked me a couple of times if I was ok.  One time another women said she was fine he said “I wasn’t talking to you I was talking to the lady in green”  She was not happy.  After finally spotting a group of Roos, we came upon one just hanging out with another one close by.  Roger told us she was sick and dying and that her mother was the one watching her. After this we had a nice Barbie(BBQ) lunch they had set up in a tent.  With champagne, red wine, beer or soda.  It was delicious.  Then we had an original aborigine come and tell us all about his tribe and what they believe in and show us the tools they used to hunt the kangaroos.  Also all the different kinds of boomer rangs.  He them played music on an instrument that he made!  It was really nice. Well we are done with the Kangaroos and we board our bus and head to see the Koalas in their natural habitat.  But first we make a stop at the BIG ROCK it is a lovely viewing place but I decide to stay on the bus.  I am starting to hurt and I want to save my strength for the Koala’s.  When we entered the forest, a forest ranger got on the bus and explained the rules and what we were going to see.  We drove around a bit and then we left the bus and walked and up in the tree was the cutest koala bear.  She was even putting on a show for us. It looked like she was waving after a few minutes we walked a little distance and there on a lower branch was  a male koala we were told that he was a nervous one.  His mate was just killed buy a car 2 weeks ago and he has been nervous since waiting for her!   We have to head back to the ship.  There is a special excursion for all the World Cruisers tonight called Moulin Rouge!.  We got back after  and need to be on the bus by 6.  Fastest shower and drying my hair I have ever done!

Moulin Rouge in Australia?

We were taken by ship to the Regent Theatre.  It is a beautiful theatre in the heart of Melbourne or as I guide said it is misspelled it is pronounced Melbeen.  James’ crew had left a message for me that he had reserved a seat for me on bus # 1.  He has been doing this for all the excursions, he doesn’t want me to have to rush to get to the bus.  It is so sweet of him.  We got on the bus and Keith and Anne Marie were sitting on the right hand side of us so we chatted as the bus filled.  We arrived at the theatre and were greeted by James, Shore Excursion Mgr John Stoll who is VP of shore excursions, Josef, the hotel director, Elise the World Cruise Hostess,  Given a glass of wine, or champagne and we we went and sat.  We sat at a great table front middle of the stage with Keith, Anne Marie, Bob and Glo who we meet in 08.  Pauline sat with us also.  Pauline just celebrated her 260 cruise.  She will be on here till June will go home for 3 weeks then join the Symphony for the rest of the year!  It was a great show and they kept the canapes coming as well as the wine.  It was a delicious red not sure what it was I do know it was an Australian wine.  When we returned to the ship, we were greeted by Elise who hugge us and welcomed us home then Josef did the same.  We were then handed a flute of champagne and a hot towel.  They had a nice buffet set up in the Cyrstal Cove and Augusto came over took my champagne and wanted to know what I wanted to eat.  I was full but I said I would have dessert.  So he filled a plate with all chocolate desserts and into the dining room we went.  By this time my feet looked like balloons so he told our waiter Chetan “NO SALT FOR HER.  NOT LOW SALT SHE NEEDS A SALT FREE DIET”  OKAY CHETAN SAYS, HALF PORTIONS AND NO SALT GOT IT.  I was so exhausted I slept until 9am and we even gained a 1/2 hour last night.

Well folks as Bugs Bunny says; “That’s all folks”