Home at last

We arrived home after a month of traveling to re-join the Return Missionaries group.  

Karen's sister Sarah made a little cartoon of us coming home that is fun. 

Traveling Home - Hawaii

Karen and Bud decided to stop by Hawaii and enjoy a little 'chill time' before heading home. 

Traveling to Laie we felt the need to stop at one of the many Shrimp Shacks featured on the Food Channel.  

Seven Brothers

Our first Mission President, President Hanemann,  owned some restaurants named Seven Brothers after his 7 boys.  We had to stop by. 

Polynesian Cultural Center

Our 2nd Mission President, President Ho Ching,  was a VP at the PCC.   He gratuitously gave us a pass to the PCC.  It has changed drastically since I visited it in 1972 as a missionary studying Japanese in the Language Mission Center then in 2000 when we went as a family after Ryan's mission.   

 We had Kap, who works in the Samoan Village and is also an artist, sign a print of his that we purchased.

No trip to Hawaii is complete with a little 'beach time' snorkeling and swimming and checking out turtles.  

Hawaiian Sunsets 

Every visit to Hawaii should included a visit to the Hawaiian Temple 

Traveling Home - Sydney Australia

Sydney is a fun city.  (5 million people)

(More than New Zealand and Samoa combined)

We stayed in a AirBNB outside of the main city.

Sydney has several zoos.  

 The location was spectacular.  Right by the water.

 Riding the tram from the bottom of the zoo to the top was  a blast!

 After the zoo we has some great hamburgers.  

The Blue Mountains are about an hour and half north of Sydney.  

Two sisters and a brother in front of 3 Sisters rock formation 

We went to a school fund raiser to enjoy their Halloween party.  

Face painting was fun. 

Walking along the beach. 

Addie joined Grandma and Grandpa hanging out a a park near the Opera House downtown.

Sydney Temple

We joined Ryan's family at the temple before Karen and Bud flew out to Hawaii. 

Before going to the airport we goofed off down town and we to a popular restaurant called 'Pancakes on the Rock'

Traveling Home - Cairns Australia

Cairns Australia is home to the Great Barrier Reef

Arriving 

We had a scramble to catch flights from Sydney to Cairns but everyone made it.  Grandpa gave everyone a Kiwi to remember New Zealand. 

Palm Cove 

We had a nice Condo with a pool right out back.  

The funnest part was watching the Wallabies right in our back yard 

Crocodile hunting

We went on a crocodile spotting expedition.   Lot's of fun!

 Hard to spot crocks in water 

Great Barrier Reef - Day 1

We took the entire gang out to the Great Barrier Reef.  The place we went to have something for everyone.

Getting on boat

 Grandpa's snorkeling companions 

 Submarine 

 Water-slide

 Ice cream on the way back

  Great Barrier Reef - Day 2.   Karen and Ryan 

Karen and Ryan went out on a 3 dive excursion while Bud and Monica took the kids to Muddy Park. 

Muddy Park 

The kids had a blast at Muddy Park, located in Cairns right next to the waterfront.  

Grandma and Grandpa checking it the day before.

Cairns Botanical Gardens and Waterfall

They had some old WW2 fuel tanks that they use for Art Galleries and Concerts. 

They even sell Kangaroo and Crocodile Jerky