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> We are in the most pristine rainforest in Australia....not at all the vision we had of Australia...tall trees, thick vines, moss, ferns and lots of waterfalls. We hiked about 7 miles on trails and spotted several blue tongue lizards...big, fat, black & 2-3' long...a tree frog that looked like a leaf...lots of turkey like birds that are related to dinosaurs...and a blue striped crayfish...all while being serenaded by birds. Part of the time we were engulfed in a swirling cloud. We got back to our Airbnb just before a downpour...the first real rain since we left home. We are staying on the top of a hill with a panoramic view...wallaby & hares hopping around the yard...and kookaburra laughing. Our host are Jan & Terry who also love to travel and our talkers...so now we have a few new destinations highly recommended...Bali and Istanbul.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Update #29 Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Off again! Picked up a rental and drove around Brisbane's road maze until we found a way out and then headed to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. It was loaded with koalas and kangaroos...just love them both! Also got to see some platypus!! It is such an unique mammal...it lays eggs...uses it bill to find food using lector reception...milks its young through pores...and it is cute! We also witnessed Tasmanian Devils fighting...their ears really do turn red and two tiny horns pop up. Their new born joeys are a size of a grain of rice. They also had a flock of sheep and a well trained sheep dog (looked a lot like our old dog, Shep) who herded the sheep with ease. Then we watched a sheep get sheared. The shearer had a harness sling which made it much easier on his back. In 1990 there were 171 million sheep in Australia...now there are only 70 million....and only 3000 shearers who get paid $2.80 per sheep. The record is 286 sheared in 9 hrs!! That's less than one a minute. Though we'd seen most of the animals we saw today in Sydney ...or home...we never get tired of watching what animals do!
Update #28 Brisbane
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> Flew into Brisbane & Colin, our Airbnb host, picked us up. We visited with him & Tonya, his wife for almost an hour. They live in his family home which is an older, large historical timber & tin house built on elevated stumps for ventilation and accommodate the hilly terrain. He said he'd never could afford it himself as home prices are astronomical here. Colin advises banks on real estate decisions & says Australia is being very selective on what they will sell to Chinese. Tonya, a social worker is from Germany. They met in S. Africa while working at an orphanage. We had lots to talk about. Our room was lovely...and cheaper than last night's dive!!! Woke early--thanks to the time change--and after a nice breakfast & some hints from Tonya--got the bus to downtown Brisbane & our next spot. The housekeeper met us & gave us a key & we dropped our luggage then headed out. After several wrong turns, made it to the ferry...city hopper. Riding on the shaded top deck cooled us down and we got to see lots of Brisbane...and it was free. After lunch, we stopped in a Visitor Center. Not too helpful--no bus or train schedule & couldn't help us figure out their CityCycle program. We see the bikes everywhere but few helmets & you need a special card to unlock them...not too tourist friendly. Bummer. With no bus or train map, we pounded the hot pavement til we finally got back to our apt, threw on our suits & jumped in the gorgeous pool. Ahhhh!! This place is like a 5 star hotel...spacious rooms with full kitchen & patio. Pool with sandy beach. Hot tub. Luxury! And cheaper than that dive!!! Francesco, the owner, has sent us several emails making sure all is well. Sure is! We picked up some groceries and so we ate in & about 6, totally refreshed headed back down to the ferry getting off at the Cultural Center area. A huge pool--with a big manmade sandy beach was being enjoyed by lots....and as far as we could tell, stays open 24/7. A great water park, a huge Ferris wheel, a lovely park and a nice river walk --what a jewel in this city...which has totally revived itself in just he last 40 years according to what a guide told us. The bridges, bldgs, walkways & cliffs were all lit up on our ferry ride back. Nice!! Brisbane Day 2: we got the bus system figured out so quickly we got to the Brisbane Museum...located in the Gov't Bldg...ornate & gorgeous. Went up the 1930 elevator to the top of the clock tower, sat in the domed assembly room where the G20 convention was held, learned more about the history of Brisbane...which like several other Australian cities, was originally a penal colony. Also enjoyed an art display of camera obscura pictures & watched a film about how they are created. Very interesting. Stops on our way back home included St. John's Cathedral, Albert St. Church and the old windmill...oldest building in town. We made sandwiches when we got back, threw our sweaty clothes in the washer and then in the pool!! Heading out of town tomorrow in a rental checking out what lies west of Brisbane.
> Flew into Brisbane & Colin, our Airbnb host, picked us up. We visited with him & Tonya, his wife for almost an hour. They live in his family home which is an older, large historical timber & tin house built on elevated stumps for ventilation and accommodate the hilly terrain. He said he'd never could afford it himself as home prices are astronomical here. Colin advises banks on real estate decisions & says Australia is being very selective on what they will sell to Chinese. Tonya, a social worker is from Germany. They met in S. Africa while working at an orphanage. We had lots to talk about. Our room was lovely...and cheaper than last night's dive!!! Woke early--thanks to the time change--and after a nice breakfast & some hints from Tonya--got the bus to downtown Brisbane & our next spot. The housekeeper met us & gave us a key & we dropped our luggage then headed out. After several wrong turns, made it to the ferry...city hopper. Riding on the shaded top deck cooled us down and we got to see lots of Brisbane...and it was free. After lunch, we stopped in a Visitor Center. Not too helpful--no bus or train schedule & couldn't help us figure out their CityCycle program. We see the bikes everywhere but few helmets & you need a special card to unlock them...not too tourist friendly. Bummer. With no bus or train map, we pounded the hot pavement til we finally got back to our apt, threw on our suits & jumped in the gorgeous pool. Ahhhh!! This place is like a 5 star hotel...spacious rooms with full kitchen & patio. Pool with sandy beach. Hot tub. Luxury! And cheaper than that dive!!! Francesco, the owner, has sent us several emails making sure all is well. Sure is! We picked up some groceries and so we ate in & about 6, totally refreshed headed back down to the ferry getting off at the Cultural Center area. A huge pool--with a big manmade sandy beach was being enjoyed by lots....and as far as we could tell, stays open 24/7. A great water park, a huge Ferris wheel, a lovely park and a nice river walk --what a jewel in this city...which has totally revived itself in just he last 40 years according to what a guide told us. The bridges, bldgs, walkways & cliffs were all lit up on our ferry ride back. Nice!! Brisbane Day 2: we got the bus system figured out so quickly we got to the Brisbane Museum...located in the Gov't Bldg...ornate & gorgeous. Went up the 1930 elevator to the top of the clock tower, sat in the domed assembly room where the G20 convention was held, learned more about the history of Brisbane...which like several other Australian cities, was originally a penal colony. Also enjoyed an art display of camera obscura pictures & watched a film about how they are created. Very interesting. Stops on our way back home included St. John's Cathedral, Albert St. Church and the old windmill...oldest building in town. We made sandwiches when we got back, threw our sweaty clothes in the washer and then in the pool!! Heading out of town tomorrow in a rental checking out what lies west of Brisbane.
Update #27 Food
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> It's been the usual scenario when it comes to food. Rog searches the menu looking for something unusual which confidence he'll love whatever he gets. I search the menu for something familiar in the hopes I'll like it...and I often strike out...like the egg rolls & the cheese/bacon pie...no idea what was inside of either but it sure wasn't what I expected!! To make matters tricker, we often share a meal...so we just take turns ordering....works great for Rog....and I can usually pick out enough to be satisfied...and Diet Coke is everywhere so I'm happy. Food prices in both NZ & Australia is about about 50% more as USA...even in the large grocery stores which are similar to ours with lots to select from. It has been nice not to have to wonder if the food & water is safe!!!
> It's been the usual scenario when it comes to food. Rog searches the menu looking for something unusual which confidence he'll love whatever he gets. I search the menu for something familiar in the hopes I'll like it...and I often strike out...like the egg rolls & the cheese/bacon pie...no idea what was inside of either but it sure wasn't what I expected!! To make matters tricker, we often share a meal...so we just take turns ordering....works great for Rog....and I can usually pick out enough to be satisfied...and Diet Coke is everywhere so I'm happy. Food prices in both NZ & Australia is about about 50% more as USA...even in the large grocery stores which are similar to ours with lots to select from. It has been nice not to have to wonder if the food & water is safe!!!
Update #26 Last Day in Sydney: Bondi to Bronte Walk
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> We were up and out of that dive early and soon walking the Bondi to Bronte Walk...a glorious 6 km path between these two fabulous aches. Bondi beach is about 1km long & maybe 150m deep. The walk took us along the bank of carved out sandstone, sandy coves & rocky cliffs. Waves were lapping & spouting over the boulders and the water full of surfers. The cool breeze added to the pleasure. We returned the rental car...with no dents...and Rog let out a sigh of relief and decided that wherever possible...we'll use public transportation.
> We were up and out of that dive early and soon walking the Bondi to Bronte Walk...a glorious 6 km path between these two fabulous aches. Bondi beach is about 1km long & maybe 150m deep. The walk took us along the bank of carved out sandstone, sandy coves & rocky cliffs. Waves were lapping & spouting over the boulders and the water full of surfers. The cool breeze added to the pleasure. We returned the rental car...with no dents...and Rog let out a sigh of relief and decided that wherever possible...we'll use public transportation.
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