Snapshots from DownUnder Deetour

From September '09 until April '10, I was able to see a lot of Australia. Some old haunts, some new ones. When not on the road, I took time to explore my own backyard and uncover some secrets of Sydney.

Here are some of the Queen Dee in Queensland and the Island Nomad in Tasmania, the largest island of Australia.

Melbourne - City of Festivals

Flew to Melbourne for a long weekend of R&R. Plenty of choices with 5 simultaneous festivals: film, fashion, food, flowers and comedy.

Started midday with the food and wine festival (top pick: he pinot noir reserve from DeAngelo Vineyard in Yarra.) and ended the day with Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) flick called Hannah Free. Wonderful!

Coffee on Ackland Street, dinner on Fitzroy. Just eating and drinking my way around stunning Melbourne. Why did I ever leave?

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Travel writer Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia.

On the road again...

Travel writer Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia.

Scenes from my recent excursion to the world's largest lagoon, which surrounds the Loyalty Islands. Lifou, Ouvea and Mare islands are almost unknown, but now that the lagoon is World Heritage listed, it won't be long before divers and snorkelers and sailboats show up.

Where are you now?

I get asked that a lot by folks back home. Sometimes I have to stop and think!

This week, I'm at home in Sydney glued to the tube for the Winter Olympics. I toured the Whistler Ski Village two years ago, and was supposed to be living and working there during the excitement, but alas I'm full with work in OZ.

My downunder deetours since I wrote last include the sunny-state-of-mind Gold Coast Australia, arid Adelaide and SA Wine Country, and lagoon-surrounded New Caledonia.

For R&R, I have trips planned to Melbourne for the Food & Wine Festival and a visit with my cat Harley in Kaye's care, and to my beloved Tasmania. After that, it's a return to USA.

If you miss me back in North America, make your reservations now for my return. California, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Vanouver, in the quiet aftermath of the exciting games. I'm at the Pride House in spirit.

Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia, Canada and the US, as the weather suits.

South Australia Holiday

Australia Day (26 January) proudly celebrated with matching cap and flag at Adelaide's Henley Beach.

Adelaide Adventures: South Australia Revisted

Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia, Canada and the US, as the weather suits. She is currently on assignment in South Australia, home of some of the best known grape growing regions downunder.

Kept thinking of my brother Joe, a Wednesday night marathon cyclist back in Indianapolis. This past Wednesday, I caught a glimpse of his idol, Lance Armstrong, who put together a team to ride in the Down Under Tour in South Australia.

I rode into Adelaide (on a motorscooter not racing bike) for the long weekend, not realizing the bike tour would wind all through the wine region and around downtown. It was exciting to watch close up and personal as well as on the nightly news.

My former business name was DeeTours DownUnder, so love the race moniker...The Tour Down Under.

Previously, I had personal guided trips to Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley. This trip, my goal was Clare Valley, home of some notable reislings and world-class shiraz. Thanks to my Bacchus Wine Society (Denver) mate Barry, I had a great day visiting some of his local favorites...Mt Serum (09 Nebbiolo), Monarch ($100/case shiraz special), Sevenhills ($5 wine skin), Stonebridge (pizza and wheat beer), Neagles Rock (08 Shiraz).

Wine touring down under - superb!

I knew I was an Aussie!

I just happened to be at Brighton-Le-Sands beach today, across Botany Bay from where I live with the noise and pollution of international air carriers coming and going at an alarming rate.

I was reflecting on the first settlers, and the hard life those convicts and military rulers had from landing day. Between 18 and 20 January 1788, no less than 12 ships landed at Botany Bay. Having left merry old England chocker block full of provisions and prisoners, they sailed on 13 May, via Rio de Janerio then Capetown, before arriving in what is now Sydney, Australia.

Amongst the First Fleet was a shop called Scarborough, with my ancestor Philip Farrell. Don't know what his crime was, or his fate after arriving downunder at the penal colony, but my gut says he survived - like many an Irish compadre/criminal sent down from England.

About the Scarborough:

Being a large 430 tons, the Scarborough carried 208 male convicts. She was built at Scarborough in1782. The Scarborough sailed back to England and returned to Port Jackson in the Second fleet. Apart from the 'Sirius' and 'Supply', she was the only other ship from the first fleet to return. She was skippered by Master Kohn Marshall.

Hmmm, do you think the Immigration Bureau would heed my bid to become a permanent resident via bloodline?

Proudly American by birth, Australian by choice!

Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia, Canada and the US, as the weather suits. She uses various emails, as her mood suits: dee@deetoursdownunder.com, dee@rainbowtourism.com, dee@peacocktourism.com.

My 2009: Fours Seasons Around the Globe

Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia, Canada and the US, as the weather suits. Her skirting the weather took her from New York City in one of the coldest Winters on record to Florida for one of the most hot and humid Summers ever in Fort Lauderdale.

In August, she was ticketed for Vancouver in time for a colourful Canadian Maple Leaf Fall, but by September she was unexpectedly back in Sydney for Spring time and a green instead of white Christmas.
Have suitcase, will travel.

My year in photo review includes New York, Pennsylvania, South Florida, The Conch Republic (Key West), New South Wales (Sydney), Tasmania (Hobart), Queensland (Surfers Paradise), and a new island destination for me - New Caledonia. (A French Territory in the South Pacific).

--DeeTouring Dee

Joy Riding - Up in the Air

In a former life, I swear I was a wing walker and member of the 99s with Amelia Earhart. In my father's life as a pilot, he flew in an open cockpit plane like this Tiger Moth biplane circa 1940.

When I was on the Gold Coast in Queensland last week, I was treated to a thrill seeker flight over the coast. Loop de loops. No prob. Whale watching when you're upside down? Problem. I took my father's silver wings with me for luck.

Gotta say, this was probably the best way to see Surfers Paradise and I highly recommend flight seeing -without the aerobatics if you prefer.

The Devil Made Me Do It

Both I and my server are nicknamed The Devil. We hail from Tasmania and are friends with a few Tasmanian devils. No names or marisupials mentioned.

I recently did a road trip following the East Coast Escape itinerary I helped develop when I was a food & wine tour operator from 2003-2007. It was my first time in a campervan and travelling solo without paid passengers.

Much better to go at my own pace so I could perform some rituals... and those do not include a flashlight search for the noctural devil, a nasty and noisy animal to say the least.

First, I donned my shell necklace I made from a seashell I picked up on my last day in Tasmania two years ago. Then I put on my Florida Apalachicola Bay Oysters t-shirt to have my photo taken on the foreshore of the Great Oyster Bay . Then I opened a local craft beer called Hazards Ale and sat myself down to enjoy the seascape at the foot of the Hazards Mountains for which it is named.

Then I had goosebumps, but it wasn't from the 10 degrees or the rain-grown giant mosquitos, rather from admiring my renewed Tasmanian Driver's License. I found my spiritual home and am becoming a Tasmaniac again!

Reviving Older Blog with New Diversions and Destinations

My business and my first blog were self-titled as Dee-Tours Down-Under. Being the adventures of an ex-pat named Dee, on a four-year dee-tour around OZ and under downunder. DeeTours DownUnder's DBA was Vino Ventures on Vespas, a food and wine tour company through the vines.

I kept the blog fun and frequently updated during the 4.5 years I lived in OZ and played in Kiwiland. But after two years living back in the USA, I completely forgot how to access that blog. So now I have decided to revitalize it here in the new blogger software, under the new title Dee Touring. BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN TRAVEL AND LIFE.

I came back just weeks ago, and started my 5th journey/exploration of my adopted homeland. i hope you enjoy the tales.

Two Weeks in Sydney

Ms. Peacock Tourism has been frolicking in OZ for two weeks now. Time to get to work at hand...Gathering information and inspiration for ongoing travel destination writing.

This week's assignment is to write about Sydney through the eyes of a tourist. If this were your first trip to OZ, what would be on your MUST DO in SYD list?

If this were a return trip after an absence of a few years, what would be on your TO DO list and how will the neighborhoods and haunts be different?

Since this is my 5th trip to Australia, and I have not been in Sydney for two years, the assignment will be nostalgic as well as challenging to uncover the fresh and exciting gayborhoods and new haunts.

PS Some of my "Woman on the Street" interviews and video cameos are on YouTube.com/rainbowtourism.

Freedom of Flight

It was memorable to be at Bondi Beach today admist the kit flying at the 2009 Festival of Winds this warm, windy Spring day.

My father was an army-air corps pilot who flew for his country's freedom. He bragged about how much fun he had on R&R at Bondi 'bout '45.

These 60-something years later, I was there to enjoy the freedom of flight by watching some of the best kite flyers in the country at the annual competition on the same Bondi crescent strip. Glorious weather, glorious site.

Bonding @ Bondi

I saved my first visit to Bondi Beach (since arriving in Sydney a week ago) for an auspiscious date: 09/09/09!

The day was exquisite and the company dee-vine as I shopped, photographed, and imbibed my way along Campbell Parade.

I want to return on SUnday for the kite flying festival of the winds. Will be a site and video opp!

Welcome home!

Nice words to read from several mates replying to my short-notice that I was returning to Oz...

Yes, Dee's back, albeit this dee-tour will last just 3 months.

Here less than a week, it does feel like home as I walk around on Oxford St. and King St. Imagine my ectasy when I visit Bondi mid-week (to avoid the weekenders and those other Yanks on holiday)!

My first day's video by can be seen on YouTube and there are new photos in my Facebook album as well.