Day 8 - Closing Time

It has been fun for the past 10 or 8 day depending on how you look at it.  Visiting Australia and New Zealand has been amazing.  Singing in the Sydney Opera House is ranked high on my list of amazing things.  Seeing amazing sunsets only reiterate that this earth is so beautiful.  If there was one word to describe New Zealand it would be green.  I have met many wonderful people and learned about different cultures, industries and ecology. 

To those I have met along the way in New Zealand and Australia I say thank you for opening your wonderful country for us to visit.
"E noho rā" ("Goodbye")

To my travel companions it has been fun.  I have gotten to know some of you better.  We have gotten lost together, discovered new countries together, bought many souvenirs, shared my many silly moments, endulged my many questions, drank champagne on the plane, and looked after me and each other. 

God be with you till we meet again

Song 1 - I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when i'll be back again. (We might sing this on the bus)

Song 2 - Closing time

Closing time - time for you to go out, go out into the world.
Closing time - turn the lights up over every boy and every girl.
Closing time - one last call for alcohol, so finish your whiskey or beer.
Closing time - you don't have to go home but you can't stay here.

I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home...

Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from.
Closing time - this room won't be open 'til your brothers or you sisters
come.
So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits - I hope you have found
a
friend.
Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning'send.

Yeah, I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home...

Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from...

I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
I know who I want to take me home.
Take me home...

Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning'send...

................Don't worry I am sure there will be more stories on the way home.

Day 7 - Rotorua, New Zealand

Started off this morning sheering sheep until I had a run in with one sheep.

After the run in baby lambs were hungry so I took care of them.

Ok, enough of lambs, dogs, sheep.  I am bored so we will move on to Geysers



Day 6 - Leaving Auckland and heading to Rotorua, New Zealand

Day 6 - Leaving Auckland and heading to Rotorua, New Zealand

The wheels on the bus go round and round.  Ok, we didn't actually sing but anyway we drove from Auckland to Rotorua and on the way we stopped to see Devonport which is below and passed through Hobbiton, Lord of the rings territory and finally Rotorua where we spent the night.  Learned a lot today about New Zealand.  Visited the Kelly Tarltons's Antarctic Encounter, had lunch at Mission Bay and some people had ice cream from the swiss ice cream shop.  Important fact about New Zealand there are many volcano.  Other important fact about Rotorua is you smell a lot of Sulfur, can anyone say Dante' Peak?  Yes there is steam from the lake.  More pictures to come as soon.

View of Devonport

 

Lake Rotorua, New Zealand



On to New Zealand!

We left Sydney yesterday (at a ridiculously early hour!) and headed for Auckland, NZ. With the two-hour time difference, we landed around 11:30 a.m., so we had a good tour of the city before going to our hotel. Once settled there, many of us took the ferry across the harbor to Derrington and enjoyed seeing the views from there and checking out the shops. Great dinner in our hotel, with a view of the harbor from the top-floor restaurant. Today we've traveled on to Rotorua, where we've seen everything from farmlands to mountains to hot springs bubbling out of the ground. Many pictures to share when we get home!

Good Bye Syndey. Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand

Day 4 - July 17th.  Wonderful concert in the Syndey Opera House followed by a beautiful Sunset.  Wish you all were here to see both.  Alicia did a wonderful job with her solo. 

Day 5 - July 18th.  Another beautiful day with a beautiful sunrise in Syndey followed by a beautiful sunset in Auckland, New Zealand.

Sunset over the Auckland Harbour Bay Bridge, New Zealand

The Bird's Eye View at the Sydney Opera House

These shots are from the organ gallery.

Today was concert day....and what a day it was! Dress rehearsal in the morning, a break for lunch, and the concert itself at 3:00. While the rehearsal was intense, it was very worthwhile, and the concert went extremely well. Alicia sang beautifully, and the chorus did a great job. Eric pulled it all together and the concert was very well received.

Mark Pacoe opened the concert with an organ prelude, and a girls' group from Minnesota, Partners in Praise, delighted us all with four selections before we presented John Rutter's Mass of the Children. After the concert we had dinner at a local restaurant where many of us tried kangaroo for the first time - a bit gamey, but very enjoyable. Tomorrow we head on to New Zealand for a few days of sightseeing - the time is going much too quickly!

Today's massed rehearsal with all the international groups together at John Clancey Auditorium, University of New South Wales:

Connecticut Choral Society, New Jersey Choral Society, Partners in Praise Girls Choir (Minnesota), Springfield Mid-America Singers (Missouri), Esk Community Choir (Queensland), Fariholme College Choir (Queensland), Keytones Choir (Victoria), and Southern Voices (New South Wales).

Christopher's Log Stardate Saturday July 16th

The journey - We flew on the largest bird in the sky..... A380.  Yes the plan has a skycam to see the plan land and yes I have pictures of the plan landing.  I still like boeing planes. 

Day One Thursday July 14 - Very long first day.  Visited the Featherdale wildlife park were we say all different Australia Animals.  Drove to Bondi Beach, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Had lunch at Darling Harbour.

Day Two Friday July 15 - It rained and yes it rained but we still visited the Syney Rocks.  Took a 1 hour tour around the Syndey harbor where it rained some more.  So we got tired of the rain and decided to go to a dinner/Australian bush dancing thing.  Yes ladies and gentlemen I have pictures video and I am dancing as well.  One other thing... One of our sings hand several encounters with sharks  (See pictures below)

Day Three Saturday July 16th

A vacation would not be complete without a sunset so here we go.

Some of our singers weren't challenged enough by singing in the Syndey Opera House so they decided to walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.



Rain, Rain Go Away!!!

So, after a long morning of rehearsals by most, we spent the day around the Circle Quay touring the Rocks District, taking a harbor cruise, and shopping- in the rain! Blah!!! The day ended with a welcome dinner at the University of New South Wales. On today's agenda- more rehearsals followed by shopping at the Opal Factory. I just hope the weather is better today.

NJCS Friends

Laura Babcock

Eric Knapp

Mark Pacoe

Joakim Seidevall

Welcome to Syndey NJCS

What a day of touring! We were tired, but it was all worth it. As soon as we got off the plane, we were greeted by our tour guide Loma and ushered onto our bus, which was serving as our home for our first day in Sydney. First, we traveled to Mrs. Macquaries Point for some AMAZING photographs of the Sydney Opera House and bridge. Then, it was onto the bus to travel to the wildlife center where we got to play with the kangaroos, koalas, and wombats. It was SO wonderful to get up close and personal with all of the animals. I think it was a highlight for everyone. After the wildlife center, it was off to Darling Harbor for a quick lunch and then back onto the bus for a brief tour of Bondi Beach. We arrived at our hotel a bit tired, but happy to be here, and with a ton of pictures to show for it.

Can't wait to see what today will bring us! Wish you were all here...

The Countdown Begins...

T minus 24 hours and counting... I'm looking forward to seeing you all on the flight to LA tomorrow!!!