It’s April 1st and time to start the A to Z Challenge. In the Theme Reveal, I indicated that I would be doing this year’s challenge using a travel theme. It’s giving me a chance to relive some of our travel adventures over the years.
First stop … Australia.
Alice Springs isn’t exactly a hot spot on the must-see list for tourists to Australia …. unless you are planning a trip into the Outback.
In 2004, during our tour of Australia, we flew into Alice Springs for our journey to Uluru and King’s Canyon.
Although it was intended to be only a stopover, it turns out Alice Springs gave us one of the highlights of our vacation – a sunset camel ride.
I’ve read other people’s horror stories of trying to ride a camel … but that wasn’t my experience.
The swaying gait of a camel is very different from a horse, however since I have no idea how to ride a horse, I adapted very quickly to it. I loved the quiet, gentle journey we took down a dry river bed as the sun was setting.
Did you know Australia has wild camels? According to Wikipedia, Australia is the only country in the world with feral camels.
They were imported into Australia during the 1800s for transportation and hauling of heavy materials across the Outback. When motorized vehicles were introduced in the 1900s, the camels were released into the wild where they have since thrived.
Sometimes a memorable adventure can be found in the most unlikely of places.
My Life Lived Full 
When you said you were doing the A to Z challenge I had to go back to find the first post. That’s how behind I am with reading my emails. I’m going to try and find all of them. I’ve never been to Australia but camels is not the first thing I think of when considering travelling there.
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I know the feeling about being behind. We’re just squeaking into the half way mark and I feel like I’ve been at this forever. I’m a little overwhelmed by all the outstanding posts I have to read!!
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What with all the furore of packing and moving and cleaning and moving and cleaning and unpacking during March I have seriously neglected visiting my blogging friends, although I have sort of spotted your travel posts on the Reader but decided to visit all in one go once I had the time. I won’t comment on all I have missed, but hope to follow properly when you start again tomorrow (Thank goodness for Sundays off!). But I had to comment on the first one as you probably know that I am an Australiaphile – and I have been to Alice Springs! Not many Aussies actually have. I passed on the camel ride but loved visiting the nearby Macdonnell Ranges where there is spectacular scenery and I did hire a land cruiser and drove on a dry river bed! Your post has brought back happy memories Jo. Good luck with the rest of the month. I am scratching my head as to what you will produce for Q and X – always the hardest 🙂
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Ah, just thought – you obviuosly have been to Quebec!
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Yes, *Q* was an easy one. I’m baffled for a few others. This may be the year I actually have a few holes in my alphabet
Australia really is such a unique place, it’s hard not to be totally enamoured with it. I would go back in a heartbeat 🙂
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Now you have gone and entered another challenge.I’m just starting A and you have already posted F. How will I ever keep up with you?
I never would have thought that Australia and camels go together…I too, enjoyed my camel ride though my destination was not as cool as yours. 😉
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Camels are one of those funny-looking creatures. I can’t help but smile at how awkward they look.
Where did you ride a camel? 🙂
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Mine was at a zoo. But, I do have an image that rotates through the header of my blog which shows my aunt riding a camel with the pyramids in the background.:D…something you don’t see every day.
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Wow, oh wow, Joanne! What an Awesome A post. That shadow photograph is outstanding! I am going back to A. I am an “errant” blogging friend but seriously try to catch up rather than skip posts! 🙂
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I’m a seasoned A to Z Challenger, but I find it impossible to keep up in the month of April!!
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I love your travel theme. The film “Tracks” is one you might want to see if you haven’t already. It’s about a woman who walked from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with four camels and a dog. I reviewed it on my movie review blog: http://www.moodmovie.blogspot.com
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Thanks – you’re actually the second person in the past week to recommend this movie/book.
Now I really feel compelled to look it up 🙂
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Your camel does look blissed-out and the camel behind you seems to be trying to figure out what the hold up is!
What an awesome adventure this must have been. And a great start to your A-Z challenge
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I laugh whenever I look at those pictures. The expressions on the camel’s face is priceless.
… and yes, it was a great adventure 🙂
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We were only talking about Uluru today. There is a marathon out there that we are keen to do. Great post. I’ve ridden a camel at Alice Springs, definitely a must to include in a tour of Australia.
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It’s not an obvious thing to do as tourist to Australia, but certainly a memorable trip 🙂
A marathon at Uluru would be a very different race destination. I’m guessing flat as a pancake and not a stick of shade.
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Although I live in Australia I haven’t been to Uluru, but I can’t think of a better way to see Uluru than on a camel at sunset!
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Good luck with your A-Z Challenge. I, for one, am thrilled on your theme because I get to travel around the world thanks to you. Camels in Australia? How cool is that? 🙂
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Nice to have you along on my journey 🙂
That’s the fun part of travelling … sometimes you’re delightfully surprised by what you find 🙂
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I love traveling because I get to meet new people and explore new places. I think I’m secretly an explorer because I love discovering new places and people. 🙂
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I share that love 🙂
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Camels in Australia…who knew! Amazing!!!
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The world is full of wonderful surprises 🙂
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Fantastic! I had no idea! I love unexpected treasures! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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It’s hard not to overlay expectations, whether good or bad, on something new. In this case, my expectations were exceeded and that is always a wonderful experience.
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This is making me miss Australia…especially the light!
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Australia will always hold a soft spot in my heart 🙂
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Australia has feral dogs, cats, goats, horses, pigs, donkeys, water buffalo, camels, deer, foxes, toads, rabbits and unfortunately some humans. Because of human activity (pasture), we have too many kangaroos – driving at night, especially during a drought like now, can be an exciting adventure. Koalas are mostly endangered, but on the surf coast here in Victoria, they are threatened by themselves; too many of them eating out all of their favourite trees. Certain species of possums have also flourished since western settlement. I’m glad you picked Aussie land though too, Joanne, as I do love this place and feel privileged to live here.
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You live in a very unique and special corner of the world, Mick. I would feel privileged too if I were you 🙂
Although it’s been a very long time since I visited, I still hold such huge memories in my heart.
… and then there’s the gorgeous 5 foot didgeridoo we brought home with us that’s standing in our living room 🙂
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A didg! Now you’ve just gotta master circular breathing and then you can play the thing. If you ever come back here, I recommend Tasmania and New Zealand. Spectacular places and so very different to our outback. But you already know that from Ruth’s blog😊
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I’ve tried and tried and tried to figure out circular breathing. I’m afraid it’s not going to happen in this lifetime.
… and yes, Tasmania and NZ are definitely on the list!!
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Well I hope it looks nice at least. We get an extra hour today because daylight saving has ended. Gives me more time to think about tomorrow’s entry. And maybe the day after. This is fun.
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I had no idea there were 700,000 feral camels in Australia. Wow. It makes me wonder if their population interferes with any other native species or if they just keep to themselves. Not sure I would want to ride a camel…do they come with a safety belt so you don’t fall off?
Good start with the A-Z challenge, Joanne!
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I laughed at the safety belt. None of those … but I think the helmets speak for themselves. I’m guessing people have fallen off 😉
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Great start and looks like it was an amazing trip! Hope Australia treats its wild camels better than we treat our wild horses😕
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Uh-oh – sounds like there is an unhappy story there 😦
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I love travel blogs! This one sounds like fun! I’ve never been to Australia but if I ever get there, I’ll make sure to check out the camel rides. Thanks!
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It’s all about trying something different you’ve never done before 🙂
It was a fun experience!
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So interesting! Love the shadow shot….And this challenge should be fun to follow ~ I look forward to your take on some of the more challenging letters (X, I’m talking about you)
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uh – yes. There are a few letters giving me a difficult time. That would be one of them
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This is the second post I’ve read today about Australia… I think the gods are trying to tell me that I need to visit that amazing country (my story and I’m sticking to it). I just love the picture of the blissed-out camel. Did you ever see the movie Tracks, a true story about a woman who walks across Australia with just her dog and some camels? If not, I think you’d enjoy it.
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I have not heard of this movie. Sounds like quite the adventure!
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I had no idea Australia had wild camels! Perhaps I shall learn something each day with you Joanne. We took Alice Springs off of our itinerary quite early on due to lack of time. Do you think on a second trip which will include the Great Barrier Reef it is worth a visit?
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The whole point of Alice Springs was to go to Uluru and King’s Canyon … I think it is definitely worth the trip.
Great Barrier Reef? Oh yes!! We spent 3 days on a boat on the reef scuba diving. Misha, who isn’t a licensed diver, saw everything we saw just snorkelling. I would definitely do it again … this time with a camera!
Having said that, I’m most alarmed by recent reports about the extent of coral bleaching on the GBR. The reef is under extreme stress from global warming. I’m afraid that by the time I get back to Australia some day, the reef as I knew it in 2004 will be gone 😦
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Joanne I too have heard those reports. I certainly hope not! Thanks for the tips. We obviously won’t be back for some time but will put those in the memory bank.
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Australia and Alice Springs! What a great place to start your A to Z Challenge journey! I look forward to more!
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I wish the rest of the alphabet came as easily as the letter A. Thanks for the encouragement!
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Feral camels? I love that fact. I’ve only ridden on a horse once– and it was a disaster. Therefore I believe that I’m meant to ride camels. I can sway. Now all I have to do is get to Australia!
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… or Morocco. I know another blogger who went on a desert safari by camel. THAT sounds like fun!!
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You’re off to a good start Joanne – Australia is one of the few places on earth I would like to visit.
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Thanks Dan. We had so much fun in Australia and have so many great memories! 🙂
For me, that’s one of the side effects of travel … the wonderful memories you get to relive.
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What an awesome experience! Feral camels?? Sounds pretty frightening! I hear they are not that well dispositioned to begin with.
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I hadn’t thought of it that way. I was under the impression they’re just *there* out in the wild.
Apparently they are doing VERY well out in the wild because now they need to be culled 😦
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Oh wow, you’re kidding. Too bad.
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Cracking start for your challenge!
I have also shared the joy of riding a camel in the Northern Territory and it was under the exact same circumstances on a trip to Uluru and Kings Canyon. 20 years ago my mum organised a surprise trip for one of my dad’s milestone birthdays and a group of about 20 of us flew into Uluru and out of Alice Springs Via Kings Canyon. It was one of my favourite holidays ever. Thanks for the post it has brought back so many great memories.
I wanted to do a trip to Uluru with my husband and son before leaving Australia as they have not been but because accommodation is so limited it was all booked out in the months prior to our departure. I’m determined to do a trip with them on our next visit back home.
Looking forward to B
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When we were in the Outback, we actually camped. It was a campground with toilets and showers (one of the most horrifying experiences of my life!!!), and *permanent* tents with cots.
I remember the night sky was THE. MOST. SPECTACULAR I’ve ever seen! I hope to see it again some day because so far, nowhere else has ever come close.
btw – LOVED King’s Canyon!!
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Ha Ha, we camped at Kings Canyon in the permanent tents with cots and my mum sold it to us as “glamping” (far from it) but we stayed in a hotel in Uluru. Did you do the Sounds of Silence dinner in the desert at Uluru? Amazing! That, walking the base of Uluru and walking the rim of Kings Canyon are all once in a lifetime.
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I don’t know about the Sounds of Silence dinner. We had a campfire dinner – I remember the food being baked in the ground tucked into the sand around the fire.
Why is it any food eaten outdoors seems to the best we’ve ever had?!!
… and yeah, it wasn’t *glamping* by any stretch of the imagination, although after experiencing some of Australia’s monster spiders, I appreciated having a “floor” to the tent and sleeping in an elevated cot
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What a cool experience. And that camel does look blissed out!
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I’m not normally comfortable with the thought of riding on an animal, but this was a fun experience.
I had a good laugh at the camel when I saw this picture. It helps that their faces have a permanent *smile* 🙂
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[…] JK is writing about ‘Places to visit in India’ and it starts with Alleppey in Kerala and so is Joanne, who is writing about her travel adventures. She starts it with Australia. […]
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I’m so touched you started your A to Z with Australia. You could have chosen Austria or Angola or Atlantis.
I don’t think we’re the only country with feral camels but we do have more of them than anyone else. (700,000 last I heard.)
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Australia will always be dear to my heart for MANY reasons 🙂
It’s a little sad about the camels. I was reading that they are thriving so well, they need to be culled. That’s a good news, bad news kind of scenario.
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Will be fun to read your alphabet posts! Alice Springs always brings to mind a book I’ve read «A town like Alice» … perhaps it was filmed too, with a different title. Must be long time ago, because it feels a little vague now.
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Yes, there’s been both a movie and a television mini-series, both with the book’s title. I remember watching the mini-series when it came out.
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I remember the guy being beat up because he stole five chickens … and that same actor was in ThornBirds too.
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Bryan Brown. He still pops up regularly.
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Yes, he was Luke in ThornBirds. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read that book.
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I’ve not heard of the book or the movie and I have only the vaguest recollection of The Thornbirds. Apparently I live a sheltered life 😉
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A Town like Alice, was partly about a long march through the Malayan jungle, prisoners of war had to make, and this English woman who was part of the group. Strange I remember that it was _five_ chicken he stole?! *ROFL*
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My sister-in-law talked about the feral camels when we were in Morocco, planning our camel trek out into the desert. Such an interesting story. Australia is a place I hope to visit some day, so much to cover! Looking so forward to reading your take on A to Z.
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Your camel ride in Morocco brought back memories of my own. I hope to get to experience it again 🙂
There is sooo much to do, experience, and re-experience!
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You are so right Joanne! I need to win the lottery so I can quit work & just travel!
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Sounds like a great plan 🙂
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A…bsolutely awesome Joanne 🙂 Australia is one of the places on my bucket list.
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It was on my bucket list too and was a thrill to be there.
The problem is … I want to go back 🙂
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I totally missed your theme reveal post! I’m so glad you signed on for this again and to begin with a camel ride in the Outback? I can’t imagine where we’re going from here! Can’t wait….I think April is becoming my favourite month on here!
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Glad you enjoyed the camel ride this morning. I hope you enjoy the rest of the alphabet as much 😉
I’m relieved to hear that at least one person enjoys seeing me daily in their inbox 🙂
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A is for Awesome! Look forward to reading the rest of the alphabet.
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Thank you!! That’s a great comment for the start of the alphabet. I really appreciate it 🙂
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