Well the time has come, rather quickly we'll say, to an end of our desert life. We have spent the last 5 months working (hard I might add!) so that for the next two months we will be on our vacation from the working vacation.
We will spend Aug 1-6 in Melbourne
6-22 in Thailand
22-sept 6 in Vietnam
6-10 sept in Sydney
10-24 sept in BC
then landing in Toronto, after 15 flights, 6 (or more-we'll see!) countries and lots of laughs and memories!
We will try to update along the way, but internet is not always the greatest in south east asia...so until we speak again...BON VOYAGE!!!!!!!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
JOY RIDE!
This past week we have had another visitor at Chez Sarah and Tony! Erin my friend from Sydney has joined us for a long weekend! We have done lots of fun stuff- Uluru walks, Kata Tjuta walks, sunsets, sunrises but my favourite was the joy ride in the helicopters. Litterally breath taking trip. It's amazing to see the vast desert and the huge rock formations from the air. There really is no other way to see it. These are just some of the pictures I took while up there with Ayers Rock Heli! Tristan (our pilot) took us upfor this morning sunrise, here are just a few of the pictures of the beautiful morning, some great colour,the amazing views of Kata Tjuta and a rainbow! Cant really ask for more then that! Enjoy!
At the Airport preping for take off...the one on the right is our ride!
Tony in the front...checking our the views on the way to Uluru
Over our house and our work!
Uluru!
Uluru a few mins later...note the colour change! Sooo pretty!
Tristan pointing out a few mountain ranges in the distance!
Kata Tjuta with the rainbow! So much bigger then you think when you are driving!
Sunrise over the desert
Kata Tjuta with a beautiful rainbow
A side shot...trying to get all of kata tjuta in one shot..it's hard cause it's sooo big!
Our ride
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
4 months....39 days....5 countries....2 people.
Well it's been 4 months since Tony asked me to marry him.
We only have 39 days left in Yulara...Ayers Rock Resort.
When we leave here we will be going to 5 countries before we get back home to Canada
At then end of the day, it doesn't matter how long it's been, or how long it will be, where we will go or where we come from. At the end of the day, it's just the two of us, and that's the best part.
We only have 39 days left in Yulara...Ayers Rock Resort.
When we leave here we will be going to 5 countries before we get back home to Canada
At then end of the day, it doesn't matter how long it's been, or how long it will be, where we will go or where we come from. At the end of the day, it's just the two of us, and that's the best part.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
I AM A FRONT DESK AGENT
( over the many years in this industry I have recieved many copies of this email- and each time I feel I can say yeah that's me more and more...it's funny how some people think we just check you in and out, really we are the hub of not only the hotel, but we are the hub of your vacation)
I am a Front Desk Agent
I am a front desk agent and I have advanced degrees in Accounting, Public Relations, Marketing, Businiess, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, and Swahili. I can also read minds.
I am a front desk agent and of course I have the reservation that you booked six years ago even though you don’t have the confirmation number and you think it was made under a name that starts with “s”
I am a front desk agent, and it is completely my fault that the blizzard shut down the airport and you have to sleep in a warm king bed while 5000 of your co-travelers are sleeping at the airport. I am sorry.
I am a front desk agent and it is not a problem for me to give you seven connecting , non smoking, poolside suites, with two king beds in each, four roll-a-ways, 3 cribs, and yes. I can install a wet bar. I know it is my fault that we do not have a helicopter landing pad.
I am a front desk agent. I am expected to speak all langues fluently. It is obvious to me that when you booked your reservation for Friday on the weekend we’re sold out that you really meant Saturday. My company has entrusted me with all the financial information and decisions and yes, I am lying to you when I say we have no more rooms available. It is not a problem for me to quickly construct several more guest rooms. THIS time I will not forget the helicopter landing pad. And it is my fault that everyone wanted to stay here. I should have known you were coming in, even though you had no reservation. After all, you stay at our brand of hotel all the time, 300 nights a year, and this is only the first time you’ve ever been to our city.
I am a front desk agent. I am quite capable of checking three people in, two people out, taking five reservations, answering fifteen incoming calls, delivering six bath towels to room 625, plunging the toilet in room 101, and re-stocking the supply of pool towels, all the time. Yes, I will be glad to call the van driver and tell him to drive over all the cars stuck in traffic because you’ve been waiting at the airport for 15 minutes and you’ve got jet lag.
I am a front desk agent, an operator, a bellhop, houseman, guest service representative, housekeeper, sales coordinator, information specialist, entertainment critic, restaurateur, stock broker, referee, janitor, computer technician, plumber, ice breaker, postman, babysitter, dispatcher, laundry cleaner, lifeguard, electrician, ambassador, personal fitness trainer, fax expert, human jukebox, domestic abuse counselor and verbal punching bag. Yes, I know room 112 is not answering their phone. And of course I have their travel itinerary so I know exactly where they went when they left here at 9 hours ago, and what their cell phone number is.
I am a front desk agent, I always know where to find the best vegetarian-kosher-mongolian-barbecue restaurants. I know exactly what to see and do in this city in fifteen minutes without spending any money and without getting caught in traffic. I take personal blame for airline food, traffic jams, rental car flat tires, and the nation’s economy.
I am a front desk agent, and I realize that you meant to book your reseravation here. People often confuse us with the Galaxy Delight Motel, Antartica. Of course I can “fit you in” and yes, you may have the special $1 rate because you are affiliated with the Hoboken Accounting and Bagel Club.
I am expected to smile, empathize, sympathize, console, condole, up-sell, down-sell (and know when to do which), perform, sing, dance, fix the printer, and tell your friends that you’re here. And I know exactly where 613 Possum trot lane is in the “way out there” subdivision that they just built last week.
After all. I AM a front desk Agent! I can do all things!
(now to track one down about a chef! hahaha)
I am a Front Desk Agent
I am a front desk agent and I have advanced degrees in Accounting, Public Relations, Marketing, Businiess, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, and Swahili. I can also read minds.
I am a front desk agent and of course I have the reservation that you booked six years ago even though you don’t have the confirmation number and you think it was made under a name that starts with “s”
I am a front desk agent, and it is completely my fault that the blizzard shut down the airport and you have to sleep in a warm king bed while 5000 of your co-travelers are sleeping at the airport. I am sorry.
I am a front desk agent and it is not a problem for me to give you seven connecting , non smoking, poolside suites, with two king beds in each, four roll-a-ways, 3 cribs, and yes. I can install a wet bar. I know it is my fault that we do not have a helicopter landing pad.
I am a front desk agent. I am expected to speak all langues fluently. It is obvious to me that when you booked your reservation for Friday on the weekend we’re sold out that you really meant Saturday. My company has entrusted me with all the financial information and decisions and yes, I am lying to you when I say we have no more rooms available. It is not a problem for me to quickly construct several more guest rooms. THIS time I will not forget the helicopter landing pad. And it is my fault that everyone wanted to stay here. I should have known you were coming in, even though you had no reservation. After all, you stay at our brand of hotel all the time, 300 nights a year, and this is only the first time you’ve ever been to our city.
I am a front desk agent. I am quite capable of checking three people in, two people out, taking five reservations, answering fifteen incoming calls, delivering six bath towels to room 625, plunging the toilet in room 101, and re-stocking the supply of pool towels, all the time. Yes, I will be glad to call the van driver and tell him to drive over all the cars stuck in traffic because you’ve been waiting at the airport for 15 minutes and you’ve got jet lag.
I am a front desk agent, an operator, a bellhop, houseman, guest service representative, housekeeper, sales coordinator, information specialist, entertainment critic, restaurateur, stock broker, referee, janitor, computer technician, plumber, ice breaker, postman, babysitter, dispatcher, laundry cleaner, lifeguard, electrician, ambassador, personal fitness trainer, fax expert, human jukebox, domestic abuse counselor and verbal punching bag. Yes, I know room 112 is not answering their phone. And of course I have their travel itinerary so I know exactly where they went when they left here at 9 hours ago, and what their cell phone number is.
I am a front desk agent, I always know where to find the best vegetarian-kosher-mongolian-barbecue restaurants. I know exactly what to see and do in this city in fifteen minutes without spending any money and without getting caught in traffic. I take personal blame for airline food, traffic jams, rental car flat tires, and the nation’s economy.
I am a front desk agent, and I realize that you meant to book your reseravation here. People often confuse us with the Galaxy Delight Motel, Antartica. Of course I can “fit you in” and yes, you may have the special $1 rate because you are affiliated with the Hoboken Accounting and Bagel Club.
I am expected to smile, empathize, sympathize, console, condole, up-sell, down-sell (and know when to do which), perform, sing, dance, fix the printer, and tell your friends that you’re here. And I know exactly where 613 Possum trot lane is in the “way out there” subdivision that they just built last week.
After all. I AM a front desk Agent! I can do all things!
(now to track one down about a chef! hahaha)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Visitors!
We have had to pleasure of hosting some friends from Canada- Jacy and Sophie! For those who don't know, I have been friends with Jacy since High School (which I can't believe grad was already 7 years ago!). He was my first friend to get married to the lovely Sophie. Before they made the trek to the desert, I had only meet Sophie a few times since they had been living in Toronto and I was out east. Needless to say, what an amazing women, but an even better couple. Tony and I can't say that we have spent too much time with other couples over the years, but we can't wait to spend more time with our foodies Jacy and Sophie!
When they arrived we rented a car (and happend to acutally get the time off!) so we were able to spend lots of time around the resort. We started with some grub at Geckos (the casual restaurant in town Tony used to work at) before heading out to KataTjuta! We decided that it would be good to start with the Walpa Gorge before relaxing for the sunset. We then went to the Outback BBQ for some dinner, where we grilled our own (and I mean Tony and Jacy grilled) bbq dinner! It was lots of fun! This was also the first time that Sophie got to see the mice. That's right, the Northern Territory is having an infestation of mice at the moment. Yeah we know it's gross, but there is nothing we can do about it. It's not that the place is dirty, it's just that they are all over the desert. We have now killed 22 in our house...yeah again, we think they are gross but it's just that they are everywhere in the desert right now!
The next morrning we did the super early sunrise at Uluru before doing a few of the walks. IT was great, we brought Lisa, a girl I work with, and she had sooo much knowledge on the stories to go with the walks! Super fun! In the afternoon, we randomly decided that we would go to Alice Springs. What a fun decision! We stayed at the Chifley there and were able to relax, go out for some amazing Indian food (especially for the desert!), and relax. In the morning we didnt realize that we had parked right on the start line for the bike race...talk about imbarassing! hahahaha at least it was a great story! hahaha
Tony had to go to work that avo (aka what the aussies call afternoon) so we decided to go out to the camel farm, and then out to the national park agian. We went back because we were hunting wild camels and dingos. Got luck to see wild camels at the dune sunset area for Kata Tjuta but no dingos there....driving back we were talking about them and boom, dingo on the road! hahaha as if! IT was great, dont' worry I didnt hit it!
The next day they left back to Perth and we had to get back into the swing of being in the desert and working! What a great few days, that still seem a little unreal that we got to hang out with some amazing friends in such a unique place!
PICS TO COME!!!!!
When they arrived we rented a car (and happend to acutally get the time off!) so we were able to spend lots of time around the resort. We started with some grub at Geckos (the casual restaurant in town Tony used to work at) before heading out to KataTjuta! We decided that it would be good to start with the Walpa Gorge before relaxing for the sunset. We then went to the Outback BBQ for some dinner, where we grilled our own (and I mean Tony and Jacy grilled) bbq dinner! It was lots of fun! This was also the first time that Sophie got to see the mice. That's right, the Northern Territory is having an infestation of mice at the moment. Yeah we know it's gross, but there is nothing we can do about it. It's not that the place is dirty, it's just that they are all over the desert. We have now killed 22 in our house...yeah again, we think they are gross but it's just that they are everywhere in the desert right now!
The next morrning we did the super early sunrise at Uluru before doing a few of the walks. IT was great, we brought Lisa, a girl I work with, and she had sooo much knowledge on the stories to go with the walks! Super fun! In the afternoon, we randomly decided that we would go to Alice Springs. What a fun decision! We stayed at the Chifley there and were able to relax, go out for some amazing Indian food (especially for the desert!), and relax. In the morning we didnt realize that we had parked right on the start line for the bike race...talk about imbarassing! hahahaha at least it was a great story! hahaha
Tony had to go to work that avo (aka what the aussies call afternoon) so we decided to go out to the camel farm, and then out to the national park agian. We went back because we were hunting wild camels and dingos. Got luck to see wild camels at the dune sunset area for Kata Tjuta but no dingos there....driving back we were talking about them and boom, dingo on the road! hahaha as if! IT was great, dont' worry I didnt hit it!
The next day they left back to Perth and we had to get back into the swing of being in the desert and working! What a great few days, that still seem a little unreal that we got to hang out with some amazing friends in such a unique place!
PICS TO COME!!!!!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Kata Tjuta
When we played tourists, we were able to get to Kata Tjuta and enjoy a few hikes; on Valley of the Winds and on the Walpa Gorge. Then we headed to the Sunset viewing point to watch the sunset and change colour of the rocks as we enjoyed a glass (or two or three!) of champagne!
Valley of the Winds
Valley of the Winds
Walpa Gorge
The Desert
us in the Walpa Gorge
Sunset starting!
the changing...
oh the colours...
still changing...
oh so nice!
The sun is gone...the trees look a blur..maybe it was the champagne!
oh I think it was the champagne! hahaha
Everyone needs a good Date Day.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Playing tourists
Sometimes there is nothing like taking the day off and exploring the place you live. Playing tourist is lots of fun, you get to see all the things you tell people to go see. We got the priviledge of taking a day tour with AAT Kings starting with sunrise at Uluru and then an afternoon at Kata Tjuta. It was a lovely morning---as seen here!
uluru in the early am
the ever changing skies above
its sooo early
Desert life.
yes we are still awake....
its morning!
the climb..we didnt do it, but if you look close you can see little dots of people climbing!
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