The First Post

Right before we left Centerville to begin our vacation

Here I am, sitting in the L.A. airport for the 4th day. We got here Sunday night, January 15, 2012 with no luck getting to Sydney. Sunday night we left SLC on buddy passes from Clark's generous aunt, Mary Jo. We almost didn't get on to that plane but luckily Clark's darling curls pulled through and the gate agent cleared a weight restriction for me when Clark told her he wasn't traveling alone. We were so happy to get on the flight to LAX because we were really ready for our adventure to start, even if that meant spending a few nights in the LA airport. Once we got off the plane in LA, Clark found one of those $5 rip off baggage carts just sitting at the gate, so we took it down to the baggage claim, picked up our bags and started looking around for somewhere to settle down. We asked a security guard where a good place would be to sleep. He told us there were some benches across the way and a Carl's Jr. a half hours walk down the road. The benches looked really depressing, cold and uncomfortable and Carl's Jr. wasn't too enticing either. Luckily another guy walked over while we were talking to him and told us about the international terminal which has restaurants, tables and benches. That option sounded a lot better, so we started walking. When the squeaky wheels of your cart are methodic and relaxing instead of obnoxious and irritating you know you are mentally in a great spot. That was our first sign that we were going to be just fine, even if we were in this airport for two weeks. After walking for what felt like 5 miles, already passing the Tom Bradley International Terminal and assuming we were in the wrong place, we realized that there is a second level. So we took the elevator up one floor and walked back to the International Terminal and found what we were looking for. So we walked in with our squeaky cart full of all our bags and found a nice little corner with an outlet and a table. We were a little nervous about sleeping there and whether we would get in trouble or not. We have since learned that it is totally fine. The LAPD don't even care when they make their daily rounds with the man eating dog and machine gun. 

All our luggage on one of the carts that we managed to never pay for. 

We had been told that our bags would be checked the first time we tried to get on a flight and they would be sent to Sydney, so we needed to have everything we would need in our carry on bags. So we pulled out our little fleece blanket and a couple of small travel pillows and set up camp. We watched a movie then attempted to get comfortable. From about 12 AM until 6 AM we were curled up under our tiny blanket, cuddling close, trying to stay warm and comfortable. We were not successful. Then at about 6:30 clark realized that we had our sleeping bags with us in our check on bags that we retrieved after we landed in LA. HA. We had been freezing for 6 hours for no good reason. So we pulled our sleeping bags out and Slept for another 6 hours very comfortably.  

Our camp

Monday, Jan. 16, Day 2 in LAX We watched a few movies that thankfully my brother Jared put on our computer before we left. At one point, our table was taken over by an Asian family which was really awkward because they were basically sitting on top of all our bags and we couldn't get to them for about 2 hours. Finally the time came for us to go check in for the flight to Sydney. There was one every night at 10:15, so around 7:30 we packed up our camp and headed over to terminal 7 to get checked in. The flight was 2 hours delayed so we watched another movie, played some card games, sat anxiously and watched our names move up the standby list, until we were told there was a weight restriction on the flight so the plane left to Sydney with about 24 empty seats and a left behind a disappointed Michelle and Clark. So, we walked down stairs to the baggage claim, picked up our luggage that apparently wouldn't be sent to Sydney until we were, and  trecked back to the the international terminal. There was a kid sitting at our table who looked like he wouldn't be there long, so we set up next to him in the corner. As we were, we listened to this boy talk on his phone for an hour about chocolate. Needless to say, he was somewhat odd, and ended up staying at the table until the next morning. He was nice enough to let us use the outlet that was under his table as well as give us a full discourse on the Israeli government. We slept very comfortably with our sleeping bags and woke up rested.

Clark Playing the United matching game after we missed the flight. Something to lighten the mood. 

Tuesday, Jan. 17, Day 3 in LAX: Luckily time seemed to pass very quickly each day while we waited around for the time to check in. We just slept as long as we could, watched a few movies, played some games, then made our trip over to terminal 7. Once again, there was a weight restriction so we were 9 and 10 on the list, for the second time, and the flight left with open seats and without us. We had developed quite a routine by this time and it honestly wasn't as discouraging as I thought it would be. The most upsetting thing thus far was when I carried my bags through security without transferring my brand new bottles of Pureology shampoo and conditioner to my check on bags. So $30 worth of shampoo and conditioner was probably thrown away and we didn't even get on the flight. Back at our camp we met another crazy who told us he'd just read the whole Bible and that it was bogus. He chatted our ears off until we basically cut him off by putting our earphones in and started our movie. The next morning, he did wake us up and gave us a really nice knife that he couldn't carry onto the plane. So at least we got a knife out of him. 

Wednesday, Jan. 18, Day 4 in LAX: By day 4 we started feeling really greasy as you can imagine so we started searching for a shower. Using Clarks Iphone we figured out that we could ride a bus to Manhattan Beach for one dollar each way and use the freezing cold showers there. the only problem was that we had all of our luggage, so we took turns. Clark set out first and I went after. It was a fun adventure that took about 2 hours round trip and the shower gave me a brain freeze, but it was the most refreshing shower I've had in a long time. Clark and I both felt like we could last another week in the airport if we needed to. Luckily we didn't need to. (I'm writing this a few days latter, it's no longer day 4 in LAX.) By the time I got back from the beach it was time to pack up and head to terminal 7 for try #3. When they displayed the standby list at the gate, we had moved up a few names from the two previous nights, and there were 30+ open seats. The gate lady announced that there was another wight restriction but they would try to get as many standby on the plane as they could. So we were hopeful, but weren't counting on anything. She started calling up standby names to get their tickets and we watched as our names moved up the list, past 9 and 10, then 5 and 6, finally 3 and 4! I was so nervous and anxious I couldn't sit still. The flight was almost done boarding and then we heard our names called!! We were ecstatic! So ecstatic in fact that I forgot my carry on bag and had to go back and get it after we were already on the airplane. Our seats were not by each other but the gate lady told us a passenger who was flying alone who might be willing to switch us. Luckily she was so Clark and I were able to sit by each other. We were SO happy to be on the flight! The flight wasn't bad. The first 7 hours I was pretty restless because I couldn't find my contact case to take my contacts out (I have a hard time sleeping in my contacts) and my legs were jumpy. But after I found my contact case I got some rest. So, 15 hours later, we had finally landed in Sydney, got through customs, and were on a train to Carlingford where we would be staying.

Manhattan Beach where we had our wonderful showers

The showers that I could have showered at, but I didn't see them so I showered in the not quite as nice ones below. They were both equally cold so I didn't feel too bad. 

Friday, Jan. 20: Thursday the 19th didn't exist for us with the flight and the time change, so Friday morning we made it to the Carlingford train station and walked to the Sydney LDS Temple with another Mormon family we met at the train station. We are staying with Peter and Genny Barr who are the current Temple President and Temple Matron. They live about an hour and a half from the temple, but while they are serving in the temple, the church puts them up in a home right by the temple. It's only about a 30 minute train ride to downtown Sydney, so it's perfect for us. Friday we went across the street to Carlingford Court where Clark spent a lot of his time while he lived here, and 8 years later, the sushi bar that he loved so much was still there. So we had delicious sushi for our first meal in Sydney. We spent the rest of the evening at the Barr's where Genny served us a delicious salad. (Mom, I need to get you the recipe because I think you would love it) We sat at the dinner table with Peter and Genny, had dessert, hot drinks, and just chatted for another hour or two after dinner. The Barr's are the most wonderful people in the world. We could have sat there for hours and talked with them. I think part of it is their beautiful accents, but also they are very interesting, funny, kind, and extremely accommodating. Their dynamic kind of reminds me of my grandma and grandpa Garrett.

President and Sister Barr outside the Sydney temple right after we arrived

Peter served as Clark's Dad's counselor while he was mission president here in Sydney. After about 6 months of that, Peter was called to be a mission president in the Baltic Mission which included Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Peter is actually Lithuanian but was carried out of the country by his mother when he was a baby during World War II. (I'm still waiting to hear that whole story.)
We were able to stay awake all day Friday and got a great nights sleep.

At a train station

Barr's home

The gated LDS community. This path came from the temple just a few minutes walk away. Behind the gate is where the Temple President and Mission President live along with a few more couples but I'm not sure what they do. 

Clark is pointing to the office where his dad worked when he was Mission President. 

Every time I go to get in the car, I open the door to a steering wheel. 

Saturday, Jan. 21: Saturday we went into the city and walked around a place called The Rocks where the fist settlements in Sydney were. There were little shops everywhere, food vendors, the Harbor Bridge, Opera House, etc. It was so fun and the rain actually stopped while we were walking around. It was beautiful and so fun to be in the city. We headed back home for dinner where Genny served me my first Aussie meat pie. It was delicious! It met all the expectations I held.

This was the first guy we saw when we got off the train in the city.

The Rocks

Clark doing the rock. Very appropriate. 

Harbor Bridge in the background

Some cool apartments 

The marketplace at The Rocks. Two streets blocked off every weekend and filled with these tents and shops. 

This is where Clark would play lacrosse every Saturday. The murals are still the same.

Harbor Bridge in front of the Opera House

This gem we saw with his family trying to capture a perfect "jumping in front of the Sydney Opera House" photo. We thought it was so funny that Clark went up to him and asked if he could get a photo of it too. We are sure glad we did. (reminds clark of an asian mario)

The family decided they wanted a photo of Clark jumping as well. That's me in the background laughing my head off. 

The tiles on the Opera House

Sunday, Jan. 22: Genny and Peter had a speaking assignment in a ward an hour or so north, so when they told us about it, I assumed we would go with them and attend church with them. However, they presented a plan which included them dropping us off before church at the Blue Mountains where we could hike and explore while they went to church. When the Temple President and his wife suggest you miss church, you don't ask questions. So they dropped us off at the Blue Mountains and we hiked around the beautiful forest for a couple of hours and went into town after to a cafe (also the Barr's idea, seriously) and had a bite to eat.

The Three Sisters at The Blue Mountains

Two of the Three Sisters

An amazing view from the top

The first of the Three sisters. We walked down 1,000 stairs to the bottom of the valley that you can see in this photo. 

Some of the stairs. They were so steep and so many of them. Our knees were like jello when we got to the bottom

More stairs

Get it?

There are so many beautiful birds in Australia. This was one we saw on our hike. A giant black Cockatoo. They have big white ones that fly around squawking everywhere. As I sit and write this I can hear the  kookaburras that sound exactly like monkeys. Dad I think you would love it here because of all the beautiful trees and birds. 

Such a hero

On the forest floor there is an old cole mine a rail road cart would transport the workers up and down for work. This is a replica of the first cart. The rail is still running and you can ride it up and down. We took the tram instead but wished we had taken the rail when we found out it is the worlds steepest train.

This is the Tram. You can kind of see where the cables lead, so you can imagine how steep the train would be going up that cliff. 

The hike was so green. This photo is a little dramatized with our color accent option on our camera.

It only rained for a little while, but because it is so wet already, it formed a river right away, and you could look above and see huge waterfalls flowing down all of the cliffs. It was too beautiful to capture in a picture! (or they just didnt turn out)

We were planning on hanging around for a few more hours while Barrs had lunch with some friends in the area, but because it was raining, and the woman who had prepared the lunch insisted, Peter came and picked us up in town to join them. Unfortunately we had just eaten at the Common Ground Cafe (which our bus driver had told us was run by a bunch of Mormon looking people. They turned out to be a combination of amish and hippies.) So we had to stuff ourselves silly at their friends house as to not be rude. So we went back home feeling like we were going to explode, went into our bedroom and didn't emerge until midnight. We had both entered a food coma and woke up dazed and confused. We thought we wouldn't be able to sleep the rest of the night after our 7 hour nap, but somehow we did. 

The Common Grounds Cafe. You can see one of the "Mormons" in the back ground.  It was the most cozy and rustic cafe you could imagine, with all organic and homegrown ingredients - like true "mormons" would. 

Now it's Monday, Jan. 23 and we are about to set out to the beach for the day because it's not raining. Sorry this has been so long. I'm primarily writing this all down for Clark and myself to remember all of our adventures. So I've included a lot of details and tons of photos that might be boring and drug out for whoever is reading this. But if you did make it to the end, we love you all! More to come. 

P.S.   Parents, sorry you are just hearing from us. We made it to Sydney...