San Diego.....

Usually when some one invites me to 'come with' my answer is a resounding 'Yes!'........and last weekend, my 'Yes' brought me to San Diego...........

Where we visited.....the amazing and beautiful

Balboa Park

The site of two world fairs on land set aside in 1868 has set the stage for an amazing grouping of museums and parkland

and at the sprawling San Diego campus of the University of California.....UCSD

we viewed example after example of monolithic architecture.... buildings made of poured concrete

and mirrored glass......

anchored in groves of eucalyptus

and enjoyed wonderful California cuisine......

and beautiful sunsets over Pacific Beach and La Jolla Cove

but my favorite was the tour we took of this place

The Salk Institute, in La Jolla

Where I learned of the ideas behind this timeless archtecture ........

a melding of the ideas of two brilliant men......Dr. Jonas Salk, famous for his polio vaccine and existential architect Louis Kahn........

Their vision and working relationship, bound together with their mutual Spiritual understanding and practice formed the breathtaking beauty we see here today........

one of the premier scientific research facilities in the world....

Resurfacing...................

Not sure where I am...............

But pretty sure I'm close to where I began................

A Road Trip.....

Bid and  I set out to journey the Coromandel Peninsula on a Divinely guided quest ................a mission really.......complete with co-conspiritors.....i.e.,  friends and family who supported and guided this journey in ways they themselves don't even know.........but we do.  And Thank You All....you know who you are.......and if you even think for a tiny moment you are in "this" journey..........know that you are.

This may take a few posts........................Here is where we began..............








Hot Water Beach.............

Beaches.........................

My generous host has shared with me her favorite places............






We visited Beach.........

After Beach...........

Of the Whitest Sand and most Calming Blue....




And THIS is where they also ride horses, as they do.............

Another Very Good Day............

We started our journey at Mile Beach....

Where the tide was...........

..........out.

I have never experienced peace like this...........






Quiet.... Quiet.... Quiet.....Peace.

Cape Tribulation...........

Captain (oops) not that yet...Cook.... was here......

I learned today that he was brilliant and having a very bad time here.......God  bless him for his talent and perseverance.

Evolution, Darwin.............

Indigenous Art

Exotic Botanicals

Amazing Water Views

Historic Beach Heads

Lively Markets

And time with friends............





When faced with the map of Australia.....my finger was drawn to Darwin.  So that is where I was so fortunate to be this last week.

I am pretty much speechless about this whole experience.  I think it will take time to sink in..........

The next two posts will be focused on two excursions from there......one to the bush and one to an island apart........

Still........it's all sinking in for me....I pray to be a tiny bit articulate about my experience.

Essence of OZ

Glass House Mountains

Rainbow Beach

The Southern Tip of Fraser Island from Inskip Point

The Carlo Sandblow ....."Big Blow" to the locals......translation for Americans....Sand Dune

The usual excursion......

Time to Reflect

My first week here has been a whirlwind..............

Upon my arrival we piled into the Pagero (translation for Americans...Camping Vehicle)....and headed north to places called Tin Can Bay, Noosa and Cooloola National Park......

The weather cooperated and we enjoyed beautiful scenery and the company of new friends........

At the moment I am struggling with technology............far too much time has been spent trying to figure this all out!  I'm hoping to post again before we take flight again tomorrow morning......