Forgot the question about luggage. I took two large suitcases making certain they were under 50 lbs each plus carry on.
There is some kind of code on the tickets that I had, that told the intra-Australian flights that I was an international customer, and that made them more lax as far as luggage went. I am sorry - I don't know if thats automatic, or if my travel agent did it. I don't want to worry you, but I kind of think my travel agent did it. Does anyone else know?

SkaiSW, thanks for a great report; it's very entertaining, and your accounts of your various hissy fits are in equal parts amusing and alarming.

The sign you saw in Wooloomooloo, "You are on Indian land show some respect," is actually by a north American artist, Sam Durant, it's part of the Sydney Biennale. I like his three other signs outside the Museum of Contemporary Art which apparently the residents of the toaster have complained about.

<<<<The sign you saw in <<<Wooloomooloo, "You are on Indian land show some respect," is actually by a north American artist, Sam Durant, it's part >>>

That was art? Cool! (I truly thought someone just hung a banner out their window.)

Wonderful trip report SkaiSW.

Hurry back - there's heaps more to see.

Thanks, Skai. We will certainly take your advice. My experience with travel agent was not as positive, and in retrospect, wish I had made arrangements on my own. Still, I expect to have a great time, and you have certainly upped my enthusiasm.

Hi everyone.
FYI, I will plan a trip back to Oz in 2010 or 2011 at the latest, as there is no place in the world I would rather visit, although I do think I should see Italy (or France) and someplace in the Orient before I die. On my next Oz trip, I will see Darwin, Urulu, Alice Springs, and Perth, I think.
In the meantime, I would like to thank Lizzy and others for their patient help and continuing information (I also thought the ketchup history was cool). I disagree a little on the triplicate -- not on the facts, but if you put a diamond chip inside glass, and the result looks like a 2 carat diamond, is that not a fake?
As far as my hissy fits, what surprised me was how well they worked in Australia! Its like all I would need to successfully rob a bank would be to throw a hissy fit. ... Nah.

Hi SkaiSW,

If you bought a triplet, it's not a fake, in the sense of a manufactured "gem". If it was sold to you as a triplet and the process described by LizzieF advised to you, then no problem.

There are however, fake/manufactured "opals" and it can be quite difficult to distinguish between these & the genuine article.

There are of course, shonky retailers, often in tourist areas, who will 'forget' to inform their clients that what they're buying isn't the solid they think. I guess the devil's in the detail, as in many things. If I ask "is this a real opal" - then "yes" is truthfully just as applicable to a triplet as to a solid, but that doesn't mean it has equal value.
Personally, I don't like triplets for the reasons of durability that Lizzie cites, but they are an affordable way of people acquiring a token piece of a unique stone, and undoubtedly have their place.

This is quite an interesting link on the various types of opal treatments.
http://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/articles/genuine.php

See - I just knew you'd have to come back!

SkaiSW:
I know its been several months since your posting, but I just read it with much interest. Just in the planning stage of my next trip to OZ planned for mid to late august, 09. I'll be starting in Darwin, flying to Perth and then on to Adelaide. The last part of the trip might be KI. I've been trying to decide if we should include this as well. Your description of the guide was great. Can you give me more details concerning the name of the company you used. Also, what were your thoughts on the plane ride to/from Adelaide? Would appreciate your info in helping us to decide. It looks like you were there aroud the same time of year we'll be arriving although by the time i get to KI, it might be mid Sept. What was the weather like?

SkaiSW, thanks for this wonderful trip report. I will be in Melbourne in late March. Can you provide contact information for Pauline Campbell re: her walking tour?

OK American,

I love your trip report and yes, Kangaroo Island i spretty magic.