Kawana Waters, Queensland, Australia 2008
In 2008 AlteCocker home exchanged in Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. She began her journey with a few days in Fiji followed by 5 days in Sydney. There was something different about these home exchanges--and not simply that they were a new continent for AlteCocker. She was met in Kawana Waters by what I called the "CNN reception committee". Actually, it was one photographer. CNN had selected AlteCocker's exchange for a feature story! The whole business began with filming AlteCocker's home, filming the arrival of the Kawana Waters' exchangers, and then filming all of us at AlteCocker's home in the DC suburbs. What a kick! AlteCocker got 2 minutes and 30 seconds of fame out of it and a lot of interesting email. Quite a kick to see yourself on CNN International overseas! Please note that AlteCocker is still owed a grand total of 12 minutes 30 seconds of fame if she is to have her grand total of 15 minutes should anyone wish to film her on one of her adventures.
Kawana Waters was a mainly residential area and there were no tourist sites nearby but the house was on the water with a community pool. AlteCocker was so busy running around that she did not have time to use the pool. She headed first for the much ballyhooed Australia Zoo--which turned out to be an overpriced disappointment with poor imitations of Disney shows. She liked the smaller and cheaper zoos much better. After all, one goes to Australian Zoos to see the marsupials--and not to see the lions and tigers that one has at home (and infrequently visits). Also on the itinerary were two attempts at whale watching. In Mooloolaba there were plenty of whales, but AlteCocker got seasick and saw none of them. Near Fraser Island there was calm water and no whales. Having done prior whale watching, AlteCocker made a decision to confine future whale watching expeditions to Seaworld.
The exchange apartment was one of the nicest places she has had in her travels, but no large American style washers and dryers--smaller European style ones. The 3 weeks went quickly. See the photographs below for the highlights.
Kawana Waters was a mainly residential area and there were no tourist sites nearby but the house was on the water with a community pool. AlteCocker was so busy running around that she did not have time to use the pool. She headed first for the much ballyhooed Australia Zoo--which turned out to be an overpriced disappointment with poor imitations of Disney shows. She liked the smaller and cheaper zoos much better. After all, one goes to Australian Zoos to see the marsupials--and not to see the lions and tigers that one has at home (and infrequently visits). Also on the itinerary were two attempts at whale watching. In Mooloolaba there were plenty of whales, but AlteCocker got seasick and saw none of them. Near Fraser Island there was calm water and no whales. Having done prior whale watching, AlteCocker made a decision to confine future whale watching expeditions to Seaworld.
The exchange apartment was one of the nicest places she has had in her travels, but no large American style washers and dryers--smaller European style ones. The 3 weeks went quickly. See the photographs below for the highlights.