DJ-RTW's Travel Blog

More Ozie Animals - Port Macquarie, Australia

 This place was Great visited Apr 19, 2008

Again, with the hope of outrunning the rain, we drove off away from Sydney (where it was pouring) as soon as we picked up our niece Allison (who had flown in from Chicago). We drove for a couple of hours to Port Macquarie where the weather promised to be better and there are a lot of water sports to try out. Taking advantage of a mostly dry day, we went to the Billabong animal preserve to see more koalas, wallabies and kangaroos as we never tire of any of these. We saw all of the usual suspects but also got to touch snakes and other reptiles.

posted May 13, 2008 | Comments (0)

Beautiful Southern Coast - Narooma, Australia

 This place was Great visited Apr 15, 2008

Hoping to get away from my three-day migraine and impending rain, Mom, Jacob and I decided to travel to the coast south of Sydney for a few days before picking up niece Allison at the airport at the end of the week. The weather was somewhat better with less rain but it was rather chilly and we were all wearing most of the clothing we owned! The ocean side was beautiful, though, with many opportunities for wildlife walks, tide pool searches and watching completely crazy Aussies surfing in waves I wouldn’t dare approach in a boat. We also visited a wildlife preserve where we saw many native birds, wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, reptiles, etc.

posted May 13, 2008 | Comments (0)

Always Great Visiting Friends - Canberra, Australia

 This place was Amazing visited Apr 12, 2008

After weeks of excited anticipation, we picked up Mom from the Sydney airport where she had just arrived from Canada. We drove south to Canberra to visit friends we made in Vietnam and Cambodia. In just two and a half days, Mom felt she made such good friends with them that she invited to them to stay with her should they ever travel to Canada. We hiked up Mount Ainslie where we saw kangaroos in the wild and where we were mobbed by ladybugs (okay, maybe not mobbed but there were a lot!); visited lovely little country villages populated by beautiful shops and cozy restaurants; and talked, ate and drank. We had a great time and I’ve actually picked up a little Ozie English – a bloody hard task. Otherwise you don’t know whether or not to accept if you are offered a ‘chook’ and a ‘stubbie’ (a chicken and a beer). And when the park ranger tells you that some ‘hoons’ stole three ‘Eskies’ full of ‘tucker’ and ‘stubbies’ you’ll know he’s not just being a ‘stickybeak’ (hooligans, coolers, food, beer and nosy person).

posted May 13, 2008 | Comments (0)

Feeding the Pelicans - The Entrance, Australia

 This place was Great visited Apr 4, 2008

Years ago, a fish shop owner used to throw his leftover bits to the pelicans on the beach. Apparently, he didn’t show up one day so the pelicans went to see him at his shop to get their free meal. Since then, volunteers feed them daily and ask for donations from the public. It was a wild scene seeing them up close. We loved the coast of Australia as it offered many opportunities for hiking, tidal pool viewing as well as swimming and surfing (watching others do it!).

posted May 13, 2008 | Comments (0)

Two Year Round The World Trip Anniversary! - Brisbane, Australia

 This place was Amazing visited Apr 1, 2008

We can’t believe we’ve been travelling around the world for two years! Went out for a seafood dinner to celebrate.

posted May 13, 2008 | Comments (0)