Day 9

Jan, Sam and I blew off the trip to the reef. We were all tired, and just wanted a break from the tour. Everyone said we'd regret missing it, but I just wasn't up to going. Sam had to take a quiz for his online course, and I wanted to update the blog and upload pictures while I had the opportunity. Sam took his test, and did very well, I did my blogging homework, and then we headed to the pool. This is a very, very nice pool. It's huge, and has a lagoon that goes around to all the first-floor rooms so the people on the first floor can just walk out of their rooms and into the pool. The other end goes up to the lobby and the dining room. You can walk up to the fence by the dining room and order food, and they'll bring it out to you so you can eat it in the pool. We didn't try it, but it sounds like fun. We noticed several other people from the tour that took the day off to chill out at the resort, so we weren't the only ones. After the pool, Sam went to the gymnasium to work out. I don't think he was there very long, but he said it made him feel better, so that's good. We ate lunch at the hotel. Jan and I got burgers and Sam got bangers and mash. The sausages were a kind of Polish sausage that was very tasty (he let me try it), and the burgers were delicious. We also got shakes. I got caramel, Sam got chocolate, and Jan got a strawberry smoothie. They were great, too. After lunch, we talked about heading into town, but couldn't muster the energy. So we went back to the room and Jan finished up the laundry while I finished up the Internet work. Jan took some of our souvenirs to have them shipped back home so we don't have to carry them the rest of the way around the world, and I laid down to take a nap. When she returned, she joined me, and when we woke up, we were late for the bus to town for the evening excursion. The phone rang just as we were getting up, and it was Lynn asking if we were coming. We assured her we were, we'd be there in a couple of minutes. The last bus was still boarding, so I don't think we held anyone up too much. The Aboriginal Art Gallery was very interesting. They had didgeridoos (I'm sure that's spelled wrong), boomerangs, and paintings of all sizes. I would have liked a didgeridoo, but I have no idea what I'd do with it when I got it home. They're pretty big. They also had a koala there that you could pet. You had to be a little careful, though. He doesn't like to be touched on the head, apparently. Someone made a rude grab for the little fellow, and the trainer got very upset. I did get to pet him very gently and politely, though.

Dinner was at Salsa's, and was a special occasion. It was Admah Lanier's birthday (old family friend). So we had a party for him. All ten of my family and Admah went to the restaurant together, and at the end of the meal, they brought out a chocolate soufflé with a sparkler for a candle. They also had chocolate ice cream and whipped cream. That was a great dessert, and a nice party. Happy 82nd Birthday Admah!

Back at the room, we packed for Papua New Guinea. We only get twenty-two pounds in the wheelie, and fifteen in the backpack. The computer doesn't go. They'll have scales in the lobby so we can weigh things to be sure we're within tolerances. I think PNG is where the real adventure begins.