Do You Hate Going to Work?

Today was the first day of the new semester. Is there a connection with this video? Well, maybe come March, there will be. Note: No koalas were harmed in the making of this video.

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A Great Day Out and About - Sydney

Standing outside the Marriott, we waited for our bus to pick us up for our day tour. It was due at 7:30, but by 7:50, it had not arrived, so we called the 24 hour number. They did not forget us, they were on their way. Indeed they were, but we were told we would transfer to another bus.

At the Greyline depot, we had to get the bus at slot 5. Our driver was Angelo and we were a combined group from our tour company and Greyline. We did something correct for once, the tour we booked was identical to the Greyline Silver Premium, but we paid $25.00 less for each of our tickets. We paid 127.00 Aus each.

Angelo, the tour guide and driver, started speaking as soon as we hit the road, barely stopping the entire day. When we were not interested in his information, we just read or fell asleep. Our first stop was the Wildlife Center, which for me was the highlight of the trip. Angelo had arranged for all of our tickets ahead of time, so we never had to stand in long lines to collect them. Inside the park, kangaroos and wallabies abound in a gated area where we were free to go. Ice cream sugar cones are provided which you fill with food provided and then find yourself a hungry kangaroo or wallaby to feed. Once they are smitten with you, you can pet them to your heart's content. When they are tired of us, there is a kangaroo refuge area, where they can go to get away from people. Some of the critters hopped off and hopped over the fence to relax from the human attention. With so many animals, there are plenty more to lavish with attention.

We filled our hoppy furry animal needs and then hopped on over ourselves to the koala area, before the mobs arrived. There are over two dozen koalas that take turns posing for pictures with their admirers. I caught a few of cuties sleeping off their eucalyptus leaves in limbs in trees. Some we were able to watch snacking away. Three koalas are gracious enough to take time out of their sleeping schedules to pose for pictures, so we stood in line to scratch and say cheese with a bundle of hug ability. They really are as precious at they appear in pictures; I only wish I could say the same for me.

After the koalas, we checked out the wombats, are really ridiculous name for a short, fat, furry, rather adorable creature. The birds and other creatures around were enough to stay amused and entertained for a full day or at least a good half day, but we only had an hour and a half to fill our voids.

Next on the agenda was the high country experience, where we traveled through the highland town of Katoomba as we drove on the scenic Cliff Drive coming from Narrow Neck Point. We took a short ride on the world's steepest railroad. Once at the bottom of the ride, we took a walk through the rain forest of the area, all within an old abandoned coal mine. It was sold to a man and his sister who have turned it into private tourist attraction, but the views are fabulous. You are able to see the three sisters, three rock formations that stand side by side. At the end of our walk through the forest, we boarded a cable car for the ride back to the top, where lunch was provided. We went to a café where choices were panini sandwiches or wraps. Surprisingly delicious and filling, we then headed back to the bus for another drive through the Blue Mountains that incorporates over 248,000 hectares of deep valleys that are compared to the Grand Canyon, narrow canyons, rainforests, rugged sandstone, and craggy cliffs formed by extinct volcanoes. We followed the Great Western Highway going through Blackheath and Mt. Victoria.

All of the driving time, Angelo gave commentary. I mentioned to Ron it was like being with a friend who was so excited, he could not hold back on any information. As we passed through one town, he told us about the style of houses, mentioning one was used for the private practices of two female general practitioners giving their names, like it meant something to us. It was reminiscent of visiting my grandmother in Michigan as a young adult when she would point out the homes of relatives or friends of the family that were of no interest or even known by me. The last interesting area where we all paid attention was the Sydney Olympic grounds where Angelo pointed out all of the venues that were held in each area, covering a good deal of territory as they are not all in one area.

The end of the trip included a ferry ride back to Sydney proper, where the bus dropped us off. Our tickets were included. We were supposed to conclude the tour by 5:15, but Angelo did not get us back until 6:00, but waiting for the ferry and the ride home stretched it out to us getting back to the hotel by 7:45.

Even with my laps in consciousness brought on the rocking bus, this was a great tour, but it is wisest and cheapest to book it through Great Sights Sydney Day Tours at 1-300-850-850 or through the Tourism office.

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Boxing Day - Melbourne

The day after Christmas is Boxing Day throughout much of Europe, though stories differ as to where the tradition started. Australia being a British domain, it is not unusual for them to observe the custom as well. All government buildings are closed including museums on this day. Here in Melbourne, all but the most commercially oriented stores are closed. Those that are open, are doing a brisk business from customers who must have received cash in their stockings. There seem to be more people with shopping bags now than before Christmas.

With few choices of things to do, this was a low key down by demand, not desire. The one place we would wander was the Royal Botanical Gardens. With ninety-nine acres and 12,000 plant species from around the world, this could surely maintain our attention for a few hours. This is considered one of the best botanical gardens in Australia. Admission is free, so the place was swarming with visitors. Though there are numerous signs stating why ball playing of any type, could be harmful to the plants and foliage, there were a number of families with their cricket balls and bats, mallets, clubs, whatever they call the stick used in that game.

Nearby in King's Domain, we came across La Trobe's cottage, which was a prefabricated house brought over from England for the first government house of Victoria. Brick by brick, it was shipped over to be reassembled. This is not its original spot, but was moved here years later. It was not open for touring when we were there, but normally, it is on Sundays from 1-4 pm.

The rest of the day was spent down by the waterfront, but first we made a side trip to Federation Square, where the Christmas décor was already removed, but the tourism office was open. We were looking for something to occupy our time, thus maximizing the time we had left. One thing that we had spotted on previous jaunts down to this center was a small brochure for an animal sanctuary that is only held at night. Called Moonlit Sanctuary, we booked a tour for $110.00 each. We arranged for the driver to pick us up in front of St. Paul's Cathedral, because we wanted to stay in town.

At 7:00 pm, Jefferey pulls up to collect us in his private car. He explained that he collects tourists coming out to the sanctuary when they need transport. An hour ride, Jefferey made it interesting with his world views and his interpretation of life in Melbourne. He was quite a character and waited for us to complete the tour in order to drive us back again. We thought we were a tour of two, but some others arrived with their own transportation. All together, there were only nine of us.

The tour is at night since most of the animals are nocturnal, so are more active in the nighttime. After receiving a handful of pellets we set out to feed the kangaroos and wallabies that knew we has something of interest. It did not take long to get one or the other eating out of our hand. All of this took place in the open backyard behind the sanctuary. From here, we walked through the woods where Michael, has created protective cages for many of the other species. A number of them are on the verge of extinction and he is attempting a breeding program to raise their populace.

We visited gliders, possums, owls, dingoes, wombats, quolls, padermelons, pobblebonks, some of these names sound like they are straight from Harry Potter, but they are truly animals. We also walked amongst to feed bettongs, miniature kangaroos that are not much higher than my ankle. It is fun and surprising to see this mini-kangaroos hopping all over, but without any inhibitions if you have food in your hands.

The final animal we met was the piece de resistance, the koala. One solitary koala named Gumbah, sitting up in his tree, eating his breakfast or dinner, whichever it is koalas eat when they first awaken. We were not allowed to touch him, but we could take as many photos as we wanted. Seeing a koala up close and personal was all I had wanted. I felt complete.

After the tour, we were invited into the sanctuary building for tea and cookies. Michael, who started the sanctuary on his own, has been trying to get funding for some time to increase the number of animals, but has not been too successful. The tours supplement the costs of care and feeding, plus he has some volunteer programs running also, getting people to assist him with the upkeep. All-in-all, we felt this was a good value for the cost and would certainly recommend it to others. www.moonlit-sanctuary.com or call at (030) 5978-7935.

Jeffrey drove us home afterward. He seems to be good friends with Michael, so it is most likely a symbiotic relationship. He was quiet on the drive back, which was a good thing since I had hopes of taking a nap on the way, but did not get the opportunity because of the conversation, but now I was on the downward slope.

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