Hi all,

For starters, thank you Keith, for the link for Australia money info I visited it and for the first time saw what Australian money looks like. Next I'll learn what it feels like. Oh what fun! I did skim some info and saw reference to it being "plastic" Does this mean it's fake and useless? Just kidding ... I assume a little trip to the bank will take care of exchanging Candian for Australian, just like I do when exchanging Canada/USA money. Sounds like the values are basically the same between USA and Aussie and compared to Canadian and that Aussie is about $1.10 to our dollar?

>>>>>>Important : How much does a package of tobacco and cigarette papers in Australia cost, and what tobacco brands are available? And does the tobacco taste very different from what I can buy here? I just wonder <<<<<<<

I'm certainly on another learning curve in finding out what I need to know and do, take care of, in prep for this whole thing, before, during, and after.

Many of you have passports and have travelled before, including from Canada to Australia I'm sure ... so you know the ropes. Right? Any travel-wisdom and advice is greatly appreciated from you people. Seriously!

Medical stuff:

1) I have many prescriptions. Who do I talk to make sure all of my meds are okay to take with me to Australia?

2) Medical insurance? I read something about people should buy medical insurance to cover them for the eventuality of "poop happens" Where and how do I go about getting this coverage and what does it cost?

Thats enough questions for this post. I'm sure I'll have more. Remember, I have never been out of the country except to escort my daughter to visit her Dad in San Fransisco or to Spokane to put her on the plane to him or pick her up after a visit. Never needed a passport then. Simple travelling. Australia is more complicated I can't believe that there will literally be OCEANS between me and back home ... something totally fascinating about that idea for someone who has never seen another ocean but the Pacific, from Canada and USA West Coast. And it's just dawning on me that it's going to be absolutely amazing to visit a country that has a totally different environment, plant growth and critters, foreign to me but for "pictures" .

See ... this is all still sinking in, little bits at a time

Maybe I'll get to tie a Kangaroo down, mate? (I'd like to try. PUT UP YOUR DUKES YOU ROO ... meet my frying pan! )

Bye for now.

Karmen