Is this what happens after a trip to the vineyard?
23 Mar
Day two in Australia and I’ve already seen things I never thought I would see in my lifetime: Kangaroos in the wild, and Doug giving himself a facial.
Kangaroo in the distance
For those people worried that we would be met at the airport by Nigerian e-mail scammers, not to worry, we hailed a taxi at the airport and within five minutes our cab driver nearly had to go into a gas station to ask for directions. With the aid of a GPS unit, a comprehensive map and our google map, our, “I’m a stranger here myself” Indian cab driver got us to Hahndorf, a lovely German tourist town in the Adelaide Hills where you can buy all the sausage you could ever want to eat.
We are staying at “The Manna” which I finally figured out is a play on words for both “Manor” and “Manna” as in something nourishing to eat from the Bible. Jurlique is giving us the royal treatment and while I laid down on the floor with my feet up in the air to reduce the swelling from the flight Doug opened the lovely gift package in our room filled with samples of facial cream and body rinses. After our trip, two people couldn’t have used a body rinse more.
We had dinner the first night with Pam and Chris, our fabulous hosts from Jurlique, at the top of Mount Lofty, a lovely overlook of Adelaide and the sea. We also met the other grand prize winner, Jude, and her partner Libby. Jude wrote an essay about their volunteer work to rescue koalas displaced from their wild homes by development, and we swapped heartbreaking stories about wildlife conservation over dinner.
Libby, Jude, Pam, and I at the top of Mount Lofty
Doug and I collapsed immediately from jet lag and wine afterwards and slept soundly until the next morning when we gathered ourself for a hearty breakfast of sausage and bacon (very German) and then off to the Jurlique Mylor farm deep in the Adelaide Hills.
This part of Australia reminds me a lot of both Canada (all of the fixtures and signs and cleanliness) and California’s wine country (sunny rolling hills). The Jurlique farm was stunning in its beauty, order, and philosophy.
Jurlique's Mylor Farm Headquarters (a great old dairy building)
A view from the top of the Jurlique Mylor Farm
Our tour guide from Jurlique, Anye, showed us every part of the farm’s production, from seedling to rose, to the drying bins, to “ashing” and in-between. Plus, we finally learned what biodynamic means. It sounds a bit kooky when you first hear about it – they plant by the phases of the moon and bury cow horns with manure in them to spray on the crops – but it is also so careful and thoughtfully done and the plants really are gorgeous that you put aside disbelief. I’ll blog more about it after our visit to the farm again today.
Rose petals on the drying trays
We spent the afternoon at Jurlique’s original farm, Ngeringa, where they grow biodynamic wines now. We had a beautiful catered lunch and then Anye went through an entire morning and evening beauty routine with us and trained us how to use Jurlique products. Doug was really a great sport, even trying the drying clay mask, and wearing a hair net. A handyman stopped by and looked at us a bit aghast and then said, “Is this what happens after a trip to the vineyard?” Yes.
Doug admitted that he is now a Jurlique convert, and might stop using our shampoo to wash his face in the morning.
Doug and Jude with masks on
Anyway, I must get ready for today’s adventure, so more later…
What?? No Cane Frogs, Slithering Snakes or Big Hairy Bats at Dusk, you ain't seen NOTHING, yet…
Maybe tonight – we're off for a nocturnal wildlife walk and hoping to see a play
I meant platypus
Seeing kangaroos in the wild bouncing around (although mostly they were lounging in the shade) thrilled me, too! On the first day, I got too close to a lounging group with my camera, and the big daddy kangaroo got up from his rest and stared me down. I thought he was going to punch me out.
It’s great that you are blogging as you travel so that we can enjoy your adventures right away. I love the facial masks. And I would love to know about the products. I could sure use them.
You inspired me to get together my Tasmania information and photographs for my blog. You are mentioned…..
great shot of Doug – and very courageous
It looks so warm and sunny there, very jealous.
Did you see one? There was supposed to be one at the winery we went to, but apparently they are very shy!