Hunter Valley Wineries - Day 14

Wow, we've been on our trip now for almost two weeks. The first part of our journey is coming to an end. The second part is soon to begin. We'll only be here in Sydney for a few more days, then off to other parts of Australia.

We're being picked up for a VIP wine tour of boutique wineries of the Hunter Valley outside of Sydney. We've decided to go on a VIP Boutique Wine Tour. What that means is that we'll have to buy any wines we like while we're there, because NONE of them are available in the US or even in Bottle Shops (Liquor Stores) in Australia. I'm kind of excited. It's been a while since I've gone to wine tastings, Amy just started drinking again for the first time since Sydney was born. Let me tell you, it's no fun drinking wine alone!

Our driver picked us up at the hotel and off we go for the hunter valley. Our driver was named Klaus, and he was amazing. Very helpful, very knowledgeable, and like most Australians, very friendly.

Our first stop on the tour was Iron Gate Wineries, a boutique winery owned by an Englishman, but operated in the true spirit of the Hunter Valley. During our private wine tasting, we sampled an array of bottles, but the most spectacular were two sweet wines (not desert wines) that were a bit out of the ordinary. We sampled a Sweet Shiraz, and a Sweet Mandala. Now when the vintner first started making the Sweet Shiraz, he was laughed at from all circles as that crazy brit making a sweet Shiraz. Would you believe that not only is it a hit, but an award winner as well. We'll definitely be bringing a few bottles home.

Next we went to another winery which had a very good Shiraz. I'll be picking a bottle of that up.

After a gourmet lunch at the Hunter Valley Gardens, and a few tastings there, we went to our last winery for the day, Ernest Hill Wineries. It was a neat experience as our trip today was book ended by two great Estate wineries loyal to the traditions and methods of the Hunter Valley. Needless to say, we bought a few bottles there too.

A few notes.

1) Getting a great guide like Klaus is essential.
2) Go to the boutique wineries. You may not be able to buy the wines at home, but they know their craft. The wines are more expensive, but hey, you get what you pay for. No mass produced, corners cut table wine for $6 a bottle. Anything less than $20 a bottle is not worth your time.
3) If you like it, buy it now. We went home with nine (9) bottles, and we're still a drinkin'.

A formal affair....

Wow. We really know how to party. 500 or so of us got all fancied up tonight and had a great black tie gala. The music was great, the food was pretty good, but the people and the energy were phenomenal. After an amazing week here in Sydney, things are winding down.



Tomorrow, we're going on a tour of boutique Hunter Valley wineries. Should make for an interesting blog post.

Lynn McTaggart, The Field, The Intention Experiment - Day 13

So I hadn't taken the time to read anything about Lynn McTaggart besides what is posted on her website. My loss. She's presented some amazing ideas today about intention. I don't know why I'm surprised. In four years I have never ben disapointed in the caliber and quality of the speakers at a conference hosted by Liberty League.

When I started on this journey almost four years ago, I hadn't read any of the work or known the first thing about Personal Development or Personal Growth. In fact, I used to turn my nose up or roll my eyes at the things that Amy was reading. I thought it was a bunch of Self Help Mumbo Jumbo and Hocus Pocus. I'm an analytical machine, or "a green" type personality.

Now, that I've chosen this path, I'm continually challenging myself and my beliefs and taking on new ideas and beliefs. If I'm going to release all those limiting beliefs I had growing up, I have to replace them. In the last two years, I've really taken this on even more, and the last six months it has been an amazing journey.

What on EARTH is INTENTION?

A purposeful aim? Your most secret wishes and desires? Your judgements, fears, views? Your unconscious or your mind's endless chatter?



This afternoon, we going to participate in an amazing scientific experiment. In conjunction with the University of Arizona, we're going to execute a unique intention experiment. Over 8,000 miles away, and 17 hours behind, we're going to do an intention experiment with the 500 plus people attending this conference, and scientific researchers in Arizona (Yesterday Evening :)

Who needs a day off when you have a month off - Day 12

The Sydney Aquarium, and Steven Sondheim's "Company"

So after a lazy morning at the hotel, and a few errands including getting my Tuxedo hire at Myer, we were off to see the girls @ the condo. We stopped and had fish and chips in Darling Harbour, and then went to the Sydney Aquarium for the afternoon.


It's really a great aquarium with a fantastic shark oceanarium and a pretty extensive Great Barrier Reef exhibit. As I'm a former volunteer scuba diver for the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, it was a bit bitterswee as we went through the shark exhibit. (over 75% of the animals at the AAoA died as a result of Hurricane Katrina.)


Anyway, there's so much more to say, but for now, read Amy's blog post here. I'm too tired to write. Sorry :)

Chinatown, and Hookah Pipe

So we had a nice dinner tonight with Deepesh and Neha from Atlanta. We went to a restaurant in Chinatown that I'll say we gave "mixed reviews".

Then we went back to the hotel, up to the harbourside room, where Deepesh setup a hookah he and Neha got in Dubai. The tobacco was sweet, a cherry/strawberry/kiwi blend, but it was nice, and a new experience.


As Amy wrote in her blog tonight,

"I've always wanted to try smoking a hookah pipe. I dunno why, it just looks cool.

Well, sure enough, we hooked up with this couple we knew (but not well) and we went to dinner with them...and afterwards, we went up to the 31st floor lounge to enjoy the view...and they invited us to smoke their hookah pipe with them. And it was awesome! I loved it -- AND Deepesh taught me to blow smoke rings."

Walking on Fire - Day 11

OK. I believe, but sometimes my belief comes very slowly. Although I was committed and excited about the opportunity to take on this challenge, there is a part of me that was scared shitless about fire walking. So much so that back home in Colorado, I sliced my foot open in the basement days before we left for Australia. No idea exactly how I did it, but I had manifested an inch long, pretty deep gouge on my left foot. Subconsciously, I guess I believed I had an "out" from participating in the fire walk for "medical reasons" if I wanted to use it.

So here's how the day went. We walked in to the auditorium and there was an aboriginal digereedoo player on stage. When the program began, we had an opportunity to watch an AMAZING video about Brent & Julia Payne's journey into the Outback and spending the day with the Aboriginal people. They lived for three days at a bush campsite with a dozen or so aboriginal elders and learned about the Aborigines way of life, and dream time. They became skin brother and skin sister to these people. I hope Brent posts this video on the Liberty League website. It was amazing. After spending time hearing them share about their journey, all 500 of us participated in an exercise much like the Landmark Education "Being With" exercise. We each spent 5-10 minutes looking into the soul of another person. Standing toe to toe with a stranger, we stood still, silent, and focused; looking into the eyes of another person, and peering into their soul. I love this exercise. It really reminds me how clearly non-verbal energy and communication is a factor in our interaction with everyone around us.

Then, carrying handfuls of junk food, we piled in to buses, driven by Mario Andretti's Australian equivalent, for a 90 minute white knuckle ride outside of Sydney. After my skin tone turned back from Green to flesh color, we had a cold chicken picnic lunch, and assembled in a large tent for our briefing and preparation for Fire walking.



To sum up the experience, I followed the direction of the speaker, became aware of what was going on, set the intention for the best outcome, and then took the action, and I walked across 3-4 meters of burning hot coals (1100˚ - 1200˚ Celsius) and felt nothing. It was LITERALLY a walk in the park. I'm both surprised, yet also not surprised at the power of our minds and the power of intention. No burnt feet, no blisters or hotspots; I was fine. I looked a bit silly when I watched it on video, but I was unharmed. Of course. I looked silly on video, but it was because a part of my subconscious that still had a fear, and so I hopped like a kangaroo across the coals.



The bottom line. Anything, I mean ANYTHING is possible through intention and belief. Choose to believe it, and create a new reality NOW.

Bob Proctor - Day 10

So here's a thought..... Bob Proctor is the Grandaddy of Personal Development. You know, there's not a whole lot that is new in what he had to say, but because he's been studying this work and speaking about it for 39 years, his take on things is remarkable.



We spent the day, before and after lunch with Bob-O, and at the end of the day, I had a very clear idea of the power of paradigm shift in manifesting results. To learn more, read Amy's blog post here.

Monday Monday - Day 9

So the Summit Conference began today.


Early in the afternoon, Bobby & Lisa Molina had a little welcome "meet and greet" cocktail party at the Harbour Room at the Sydney Intercontinental Hotel. It was a great chance to reconnect with some friends I hadn't seen in many months. I love being around this community of self made millionaires who all exude absolute prosperity and abundance. We all live with a mindset that is clearly the key to the success we enjoy.


The welcome reception later in the evening was at the Sydney Entertainment and Convention Center in the Parkside Ballroom. It was a beautiful evening with wonderful native aboriginal entertainment, and an opportunity to see old friends and meet lots of new people. There were masterminding opportunities all around, and I made some great new connections. I can't wait for tomorrow when we get to spend the day masterminding with Bob Proctor.

New Friends from Sydney and Friends from afar in Sydney - Day 8

We woke up this morning and decided to go to a Unity Church in Sydney. One quick checkl of the Unity Website, and we were headed to the Unity Center for Positive Living in Crows Nest, North Sydney. We hopped in a taxi, and 20 minutes later were in a small room in a suburban office building visiting with Mary-Elizabeth and the gang from Unity here in Sydney.


We were warmly welcomed, and after the service we spent an hour or so just visiting with these very lovely folks from Sydney. They had so much to share and lived such amazing lives here. It was really a great treat.

After a ride back across the bridge, we set the girls down for a nap, and Amy and I headed back into town for some more shopping.

Later we came home, and prepared the apartment for a party. We hosted about a dozen friends from the states over to our apartment for a little wine and cheese get together. Then a group of us went out to Nick's for dinner. Make sure to order the Special King Prawns. Yum.



Just goes to show you, there are friends everywhere. You just have to choose your friends.

A night out without the girls - Day 7

So Amy and I had a chance to go out for the evening, just the two of us. We left the girls with Penny, and went sightseeing; we went to the opera house and the bridge, we went shopping, and we rode the Ferris Wheel at Luna Park.



And no, that's not a postcard image, we actually took that great shot of the bridge and opera house at night with our camera from Luna park.



It was like we were kids again, a romantic date, kissing on the ferris wheel. We had so much fun. I think we're going to take the girls to Luna park sometime in the next couple of days. Tomorrow is Sunday, and we've got a bit on our schedule, so this was a nice evening out.

Takin' it Easy - Day 6

Wow, we slept late. After a whirlwind day yesterday, it was time for some rest. Amy had a few calls to make back to the states, so we kinda lounged around. Then we took Sally to the pool and after lunch, she went down for a nap.

Amy and I are gonna head into town and explore some more, maybe later we'll go to the aquarium and the fish market.

It's a Zoo Here! - Day 5

Malie, Andy, Annie, Tathra, (Michl, Storm, Miya, Kira, Mav)

No, these are not the names of the people in the picture!

These are the names of the Sea Lions at the Sea Show at Taronga Zoo. Amy and I LOVE Taronga Zoo. Last time we were in Sydney, we spent a day at the zoo here, and loved it.

It was fun to share our zoo with Penny, Sherry, and the girls.

Let's go exploring - Day 4

Time to go shopping at market street. I found a tuxedo hire store to get my fancy monkey suit for the Black Tie Gala we’re attending next weekend.

Amy and the girls went shopping and found some cute outfits. Then we went to the Supermarket, and stocked the kitchen.

More later.

We've come to a land down under - Day 3

OK. Let’s talk about the Law of Attraction at work. When we planned this month long holiday in Australia, we decided to stay in Condos/Executive Apartments during most of the stay. Traveling with two children and a Nanny, having a two bedroom apartment is a pleasure.

While our car driver was taking us to our arranged accommodations, I found that due to high winds and rain, our luxurious waterfront apartment was FLOODED.

No worries. Made a few phone calls, found a new location only blocks away. Actually closer to the convention center, and away we go.



Check out our new digs on the penthouse level.....

Oaks Goldsbourough Apartments


And the view of Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay from this apartment doesn't suck.

Today Does Not Exist !!!!!!

By the way, when flying to Australia, you lose a day.

See, the way it works is, the earth moves, not the international dateline. So if you leave California on Monday night, you arrive in Australia Wednesday morning. The way a flight attendant put it.... “If your birthday was yesterday, OOPS... you missed it. It’s kind of strange blogging knowing that it’s yesterday back where you are.

If your head is spinning now..... it's OK. You've got 'til tomorrow to get it figured out. Not really. But seriously, if you REALLY have to know what time it is here in Australia, check out this site:

http://whattimeisit.com/convert.htm

Actually, in a way it’s kinda cool. If I’ve got to do something by Friday, then I have an extra day to get it done. I’m sure this is gonna bite me in the ass on the way back, but it’s fun for now.

"Baby on Board" for real....

So here’s a secret for you when flying to Australia.........

Fly to Sydney through San Francisco.

Here’s why:

1) The flights aren’t full.
2) The flight crew is friendly because they work half as hard.
3) There are twice as many Business Class seats available.
4) You can avoid LAX!!!!!




All in all, the flight was a blast! The flight crew was bunches of fun. One of the flight attendants, Katrina was quite helpful and was a gas to chat with. We booked the flight intending for Sydney to sleep in one of the onboard bassinets. I love this picture above. Sydney had her own little space. Plus, she slept 10 of the 14 hours on board.

See Amy's post about this flight.

Lunch with Lars in Tiburon - Day 2

So once we got settled in San Francisco, it was time to go exploring. We started our day with a visit from my friend Lars Shalberg. Lars came up from Santa Cruz, and we all drove across the bay to Tiburon where we had lunch on the water.

The restaurant, Sweden something, was quaint. The service was off, but the food was great. Of course, when in the company of like minded entrepreneurs like Lars, any time spent is quality time spent masterminding success. Later in the day, we hopped on the streetcar and took a trip around San Francisco until it was time for the driver to pick us up at the hotel and take us to the airport.

Ahhhh... Fresh Seafood

So after arriving in San Francisco and watching the driver squeeze our twelve million suitcases into the car, we were off to our hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf. I got us a couple of nice rooms at a hotel just blocks from the waterfront. Wow, I forgot how cool it gets here at night.

The last few times I was in San Francisco...... I had a JOB. Yuck. It’s amazing how much different things can be when you’re in control of your destiny.

We found a quaint family style seafood restaurant on the wharf for dinner. In Castle Rock, there is practically no such thing as FRESH seafood; you have to go to Denver. Even then, there are only a few really good seafood places. After living in New Orleans for so many years, I got spoiled.

I remember the days of employment when what you ordered at a meal was dependent on what you thought your company would reimburse for. I had shrimp, scallops, more shrimp, fish, oh, and did I mention... more shrimp. Mmm Mmm good!

The Trip is Underway - Day 1

There is something to be said for waking up on a Sunday morning, having a limo pick you and your family up, and heading to the airport for a month’s holiday around the world. This morning Matt drove us to church, and then to the airport where we caught our flight to San Francisco.

As I’m sitting here on the plane, watching the weary travelers around me, I can’t help wondering what the next month will hold for them. For us, it’s one giant adventure. Amy and I did this trip several years ago, but before the girls were born, so this will be quite different from what we experienced then.

Today and tomorrow, we’ll spend the day in San Francisco, see the sights, have some seafood, visit with a friend from Santa Cruz, and get ready for the flight to Sydney, Australia.