And the tours begin...

G'day everyone! I am back from camping and ready to move on to the next place.

To pick up from where I left off, I had a great day in Adelaide. I started with a tour of the Botanic Gardens which was interesting: the fauna here is much different from home so it is nice to see gum trees and such. Then, I went to Tandanya, an aboriginal art gallery. There was a didgeridoo performance and the man taught the group a little bit about the culture and history of the Aborigines, and then demonstrated how to play the yidaka (didgeridoo in the native term). I'm hoping to get a chance to try: it is similar to the trumpet (which I learned when I was younger) but the hardest part is mastering circular breathing. But I will try anything! From the gallery, I walked through the CBD (or downtown) and made my way to the South Australian Museum, which houses one of the best collections of Aboriginal artefacts in the country. It was so interesting and beautiful. It made me very excited to travel into the centre and into the Top End. I also checked out the Art Gallery before heading to the Festival Centre to see a play. If I have the opportunity to see a cultural performance when travelling, I always try to go. It was interesting... I even followed along with the accents and slang!

The next day, Helen Roger and I left Adelaide for bush camping along the Murray River. It was a long drive but we passed through the changes in scenery from the Adelaide Hills to the barren landscape to the Riverland which has desert and lush vegetation. Very cool! We camped in Katarapko National Park and were right on the river's edge. It was perfect for bird watching: pelicans, commorants, ducks, and I even saw a kookaburra! It was a beautiful few days of rest and relaxation along with great food and excellent wines! I slept in a tent and unfortunately woke every morning to the awful sound of the crows! But it was so beautiful, I couldn't be upset. We did venture into Loxton to the Historical Village and the Farmer's Market in Berri, but it was all about enjoying the scenery and the quiet.

So yesterday we returned to Adelaide, washed up and got ready for the footy match. Adelaide Crows made it to the quarter-finals in the Aussie Rules Finals - this is a big thing over here. The game was a fast paced match against Collingwood Magpies but the Crows lost. Now they are out. I remained neutral (I really don't know much about Aussie Rules so I thought I would just enjoy it without choosing sides).

Today was a great day: I did absolutely nothing! Well, that's a bit of a lie. I chatted with friends and family, I made arrangements for the next few days, and I am trying to get all my papers and luggage sorted. The only down side to moving on is the packing! And I don't even have a lot! But I have had a great time in Adelaide: I have seen so much and really enjoyed the company of Roger and Helen - thanks!

Tomorrow, I leave at 6.00am (!) to join the 2-day tour to Kangaroo Island. KI is known for it's unspoilt habitat, perfect for wildlife spotting. I am excited to be going there - and the weather should be great.

Hopefully, I can post before leaving for the centre of Oz. As my uncle said: "Gone walk-a-about"

Love, Lisa