So yesterday I got up way too early and walked to the Transit Centre of Brisbane to be picked up by a surfer dude named Grant in a 4WD to be taken to an Island along with 9 other brave souls. After a lovely ferry ride which I spent talking to a girl from San Fran who wasn't on my tour, it was in the jeep on a beach. And then Grant took off flying down the beach and up a small sand track up the hill. If you didn't get a good running start, you were going to get stuck. Like the car we passed.
The island is full of forests but in the middle is some of the largest sand dunes in the world. Trekked up to the top - whoo - absolute workout - you're told to lay down on a piece of thin board (i'll post a pic) and then Grant pushes you over the edge. Keep your elbows up. I went through a bump and got a face, ears, mouth, etc. full of sand. But was going about 40 mph prior to that. Quite the rush. By the end of it, I think I was carrying about 5 pounds of sand stuck to my sunscreened body.
Then it was off to cool off in the Coral Sea next to a Blue Lagoon. The water was lovely. Few more bumpy sand road rides - the simulation in the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland is spot on. Plus mad dashes down the beach 'road' complete with speed limit signs.
Loads of fun!!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Australia Adventure Note 2
So after Sydney it was off to Melbourne. My hotel was right on the river and felt like I was in NY. The look and feel of the room and the lobby was a cool NY. Once pictures work, I'll post one. My room was huge (have to love the last minute deals) but the window was behind the bed and the glass was covered, very disconcernting. I actually had a hard time sleeping.
Once again I walked around loads. Anyone who tells you that Melbourne is a flat city is lying. The City Museum is in the old gold vaults which is really creepy when you are on your own. Each vault had a different theme and used sound and light to bring it to life. Standing over a stack of illuminated gold bars was cool though. Then I went to the Melbourne Museum and saw the famous racehorse Pharlap which had been stuffed. I remember the movie years ago but now no alot more about it. The city really was built by the gold rush and I felt a bit like I was studying California history as I went through the displays of stagecoaches and saloons. The artwork of the Pacific Islanders is extraordinary and very different from the Aboriginal pieces.
I should mention that it was freezing and had gale force winds whipping through the city. Luckily I had my brolly with me. I've used my trainers everyday so thank goodness I listened to everyone who told me to take them.
And then it was time for my first coach tour - off to feed kangaroos at a farm, then see Koala up in the trees at a sanctuary and the main attraction, the penguin parade. Little penguins no more than a foot high come waddling up in groups out of the ocean after sunset and make their way up the beach into the hills to their burrows. Hundreds of them. We were seated in roped off areas and they came right next to us. Everyone was quiet and you could hear them all talking to each other. It is the most southern point of the mainland and you could see thousands of stars including the Southern Cross. Strange not to see the Big Dipper or the Northern star.
Once again I walked around loads. Anyone who tells you that Melbourne is a flat city is lying. The City Museum is in the old gold vaults which is really creepy when you are on your own. Each vault had a different theme and used sound and light to bring it to life. Standing over a stack of illuminated gold bars was cool though. Then I went to the Melbourne Museum and saw the famous racehorse Pharlap which had been stuffed. I remember the movie years ago but now no alot more about it. The city really was built by the gold rush and I felt a bit like I was studying California history as I went through the displays of stagecoaches and saloons. The artwork of the Pacific Islanders is extraordinary and very different from the Aboriginal pieces.
I should mention that it was freezing and had gale force winds whipping through the city. Luckily I had my brolly with me. I've used my trainers everyday so thank goodness I listened to everyone who told me to take them.
And then it was time for my first coach tour - off to feed kangaroos at a farm, then see Koala up in the trees at a sanctuary and the main attraction, the penguin parade. Little penguins no more than a foot high come waddling up in groups out of the ocean after sunset and make their way up the beach into the hills to their burrows. Hundreds of them. We were seated in roped off areas and they came right next to us. Everyone was quiet and you could hear them all talking to each other. It is the most southern point of the mainland and you could see thousands of stars including the Southern Cross. Strange not to see the Big Dipper or the Northern star.
Australia Adventure Note 1
Well I couldn't get note 1 to cut and paste and I'm too lazy to type it again.
Quick highlights - first few days in Sydney where about learning the city, loads of walking, paying a mobile, and getting over jet lag. I saw my first koalas at the new Wildlife Centre which freaked me out because it started by showing you all of the poisionous spiders and reptiles in Australia. I did the Sydney Tower which gives you a 360 degree view of the city and rotating restaurant. Went on the corny (but right up my alley) OzTrek which is in two parts. 1st you sit in a rotating room that uses sounds, lights, holograms and diagrams to tell you about the Reef, Outback, Rainforest and the City - the room rotates around to show you each area. Then you go in another room where you are on a motion sensor ride with a 360 screen flying over Australia.
I also went to the Aquarium (the only thing open past 5 PM) and fell in love with the platypus. How cute and just odd are they. Walked all around the historic district - realised I should always check the guide books on opening times. Ended up at the National Maritime Museum and loved it. Read all about the immigration waves and got to explore a submarine & a destroyer.
Found bats in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Freaky but cool. Will post a video.
Quick highlights - first few days in Sydney where about learning the city, loads of walking, paying a mobile, and getting over jet lag. I saw my first koalas at the new Wildlife Centre which freaked me out because it started by showing you all of the poisionous spiders and reptiles in Australia. I did the Sydney Tower which gives you a 360 degree view of the city and rotating restaurant. Went on the corny (but right up my alley) OzTrek which is in two parts. 1st you sit in a rotating room that uses sounds, lights, holograms and diagrams to tell you about the Reef, Outback, Rainforest and the City - the room rotates around to show you each area. Then you go in another room where you are on a motion sensor ride with a 360 screen flying over Australia.
I also went to the Aquarium (the only thing open past 5 PM) and fell in love with the platypus. How cute and just odd are they. Walked all around the historic district - realised I should always check the guide books on opening times. Ended up at the National Maritime Museum and loved it. Read all about the immigration waves and got to explore a submarine & a destroyer.
Found bats in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Freaky but cool. Will post a video.
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