Scuba diving in Cairns

Here's how we spent Max's 22nd birthday: photos.

Scuba diving is fun, scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef doubly so (or at least that's my estimate, because this was my first time). I recommend it!

We found Nemo, various other fishes, corals, giant mollusks, and supposedly a shark hiding in a reef which the instructor tried to poke at, but it didn't want come out. We got to pet a couple different kinds of sea cucumbers.

I also tried snorkeling for the first time, but found it more difficult than diving. I kept getting water in my snorkel when I tried to dive with it.

Sydney week 1

The days in Sydney kind of flew by because of work. Monday night was drinks with co-workers, Tuesday was walking the Botanical Gardens and dinner at a Thai place and yesterday was Madame Butterfly at the opera. Some photos are here.

Today we flew to Cairns in an attempt to see the Great Barrier Reef. The most surprising part of the whole trip so far was that no one checked our passports (or any other form of id) to get on the domestic flight. We'll see if it ever stops raining.

G'day mate

Anyone out there?

Plötzlich!

One of my most favorite German words, which I just encountered on the first page of the book I'm reading!

On Friday when I got to my parents' house, I opened one of my Christmas presents. (Yes that's right people, I opened a present before Christmas!) I knew what it was going to be too, because I'd asked for it. A book in German.

My mom's school friend who lives in Germany came to visit my parents in December, which was a convenient way for my parents to get me my German books. I'm starting to wish she hadn't come... I opened one of three books and it was 'Das Experiment'. This is good in that I've seen the movie and bad in that it's not written for 5-year-olds, which is about the level of my rusty German right now.

Have I set myself up for complete failure or just regular failure? :)

...

I hope the other two books are children's books.

Photos from Hyderabad

We've had the warmest welcome from our team in Hyderabad, who came out on Sunday and today to show us around the city! It's getting late here and I'm about to go to bed, but here are the photos of our trip to Hyderabad so far... (I'll keep adding to this album.)

Photos from Bombay

The cyclone was a bust (or at least in our part of Bombay). Jan and I figured this out 3/4 of the way home and instead of having the light drizzle keep us indoors, we went shopping. Amongst our purchases was some delicious Masala chai.

Here are some photos from Bombay:



Funny story about that cow. We met it on our way to the beach, while it was taking a leisurely nap. On the way back from our walk, the cow was not in it's napping spot, but we found it a few meters down the road. Apparently it's horns got itchy... and it chose a near by taxi as a scratching post. The Muslim driver of the cab was furious. Unable to do anything to the cow under the watchful eyes of the laughing passersby, he attempted (in vain) to shake the cab so the cow would go away.

Cyclone warning

I really wanted to post today, but now there's a cyclone warning so the office is being closed down and we're heading home to wait out the weather and wander the streets in the rain. Hope it'll be over by tomorrow. :)

Sign in Bombay

Neighbors beware
Terrorism boomerangs

And I've arrived

No adventures yet.

• The stewardess gave me the non-spicy version of the air plane snack when she looked at me. It was potato crisps with raisins and various nuts.
• A guard and two of his airport co-workers we trying to give water to their pet bird from the cap of a water bottle.
• A welcoming sign reminding visitors to 'say no' if a stranger asks to take you to a hotel.
  

And then just a car ride home on the wrong side of the road w/ Jan at the wheel driving stick. It's a pleasant 86F in Bombay, India in contrast to the 52F in Bombay, New York (according to weather.com).

And I'm off

Well not quite yet. I'm in my seat on the plane and I'm pretty sure I am the only white girl here. :)

In other new, blogging on an android is painful.

Jan - here I come! :)