Aussie Eyes (Pics!)

I haven't quite been able to give you 1000 words on everything that I've seen so here are a few highlight pictures to satiate your appetite until I return to Canada with a full-out slideshow. Feast your eyes on these!

- Darling, curious, Koala kub

- Kermit's well-deserved star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame
- Buzzzz

- What Australian photo blog would be complete without Kangaroos?

- Or their little Wallaby counterparts?
- Remarkable climb up the Remarkable Rocks

- Fur Seal Nap Time
- Comments needed!

Mel B.

Melbourne greeted me quite pleasantly at 6:15am with the sun streaming in as my overnight bus ambled over the bridge toward the large and bustling city. A megatropolis compared to Adelaide, Melbourne seems to be teeming with life and culture, business and people. Even more pleasantly following a relaxing day of sightseeing I was greeted by my good friend Lee who lives here with her boyfriend. She's been a most gracious host and I've already been welcomed by more sunshine, beer and a massive Moroccan feast with a slew of her friends. More of the same, plus gigs and bike rides and all sorts of fun awaits!

Itemized Animals *Updated*

Being on a new continent there are many things to see that I've never encountered before. More specifically there's a plethora of wildlife that I have/am going to/want to check out and to track all the new fauna I've decided to keep a list.

Kangaroo - Getting the most obvious out of the way first. This large, often upright, animal is in fact as abundant as deer are in Ontario - if not more so. Unlike many visitors my first encounter was NOT with roadkill, but was still from a moving vehicle as a few stood in a field as I whizzed by on my way to Kangaroo Island. These were only slightly more exciting than the taxidermied ones in the museum.
However on Kangaroo Island within only a couple of hours we went for a walk and rounding the first bush came upon a mother and her joey (out of the pouch). They were neat and not at all afraid, allowing us within 5 meters or so. Fun to watch, especially when moving along with their tails or hopping. Video to prove it!
Voted: Hoppiest.

Update Also spotted approximately 720m above sea level grazing in a group of five, including a Joey, at the top of Mount Lofty. The clouds clearing to offer a panoramic view of Greater Adelaide as I completed the ascent made the two hour hike up well worth it!

Wallaby - These lil guys resemble kangaroos but are much smaller and have less thick tails. Spotted EVERYWHERE on Roo Island they also let me approach quite close.
Voted: Most abundant, especially at night, resulting in many carcasses in the morning.

Birds - I don't particularly like birds so I'll lump them into a category of their own as there were a few notables. Bright red and green ones flying around mountainside, while in the parks and rivers there are aggressive and loud birds all over. Pelicans were in the river and were seen gorging themselves such that their throats were bulging out as if there were triplets stuck in there (a stork reference, I know). A massive Wedge-tail Eagle was displayed at a show while a darling and fluffy, white Barn Owl sat on my lap. (Truly! Albeit a trained one.)
Voted: Most colourful.

Koala - Perhaps the cutest these lazy grey balls were spotted perched only a few meters up in the trees. Not overly enthralling as most were caught during their 22 hour nap (each day) but the awake mother with her curious and cute baby clutched to her lap were stand-outs!
Voted: Cutest by far.

New Zealand Fur Seal - Playful creatures seen unknowingly getting washed off rocks by large waves through Admiral's Arch.
Voted: Silliest.

Sea Lions - Small cubs squawking and running out of the way of massive feuding males. Indifferent females rebuffing the buffoon male's approaches. All of this was seen from mere meters away as all of this went on around me. A sea lion even emerged from the bush right behind to saunter by casually.
Voted: Strongest.

Dugg - A most intelligent, vegetarian creature, often spotted on Kangaroo Island. With a red fuzzy face and dread-locked hair he was quite knowledgeable of other animals and really knew how to have a good time! Prepares a decent meal too.
Voted: Best guide.

Pictures to come! (I promise..some time)

Quotes and Questions

- "ARE YOU READY, sir, for the second coming of Jesus Christ?"
I had to laugh at the formality of the man thrusting a pamphlet at me on Hollywood Boulevard.

- Do Not Enter Bus Through Window
Is it really necessary to put this sticker on the public buses in Adelaide? Wouldn't the driver object to you boarding his lap anyhow?

- This is more of a reflection, but is it wrong that I came halfway around the world to go out drinking with a couple of Canadians? And a Kiwi.. that makes it okay, right?

How much more Australian could I really get than going to a place called Kangaroo Island tomorrow? Going to see sea lions, enjoy the Fairy Penguins fairy much, and most likely see my first live Kangaroo on his eponymous island!

RAd-elaide

Knowing that I am safely arrived in Adelaide after what I calculated to be 36 hours from door-to-door traveling (whew), you can all now rest as easily as I did last night. That despite the five other people in the dorm room and the one that kept attempting to start his chainsaw over and over. Wait.. for clarification he was snoring before any of you have HOSTEL the movie thoughts. Uh-oh now I'm thinking about it.. no sleep tonight I guess. Especially after touring the Old Adelaide Gaol this morning, site of 45 executions and many of their graves, and some of their ghosts!
The city is compact, and friendly. Plenty of great restaurants and walking paths and free museums and the like. Going to have a grand time here I believe. Tell you all about my exploits soon.

Arrived Down Under

I've made it.. sort of. Two flights in, two still remaining, but at least the 14+ hour whopper of LA->Sydney is behind me (as of ten minutes ago). The flight was manageable, kind of like one really, really long, somewhat sleepless night that in actuality took two days (silly international dateline). Only quick hops now on to Melbourne and direct transfer to Adelaide, then I get to work my way back here over land during the next few weeks.

LA was seen in a haste. Leaving the she-male on the subway (no amount of cover-up can cover that up..) I ran around the Walk of Fame trouncing on everyone from Faye Wray to Chevy Chase to Rush! Saw the Kodak and Chinese Theatres and some shady parts of Sunset Boulevard. Also scorched through downtown on foot by the library, city hall and old Walt's Music Hall (Disney that is). Most importantly I kept track of the HOLLYWOOD sign at all times.

So far so good. I haven't a clue what time it is anywhere despite what my three time-zone watch tells me, all I know is that it needs to be Shower-time, and soon!

Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!

Ah the land down under. How many cliches can I cram in?

With the good fortune of a couple months free before settling in I'm taking full advantage and doing some globe trotting. The decision of where to go wasn't too difficult to make. Where is the furthest possible place that will warrant a hefty chunk of time? Additionally where do I have friends that I'd love to catch up with? And where will the weather be sunny and bright just as the cold sets in on Ontario?

So off I go! Short notice but time is short. The hellish flight there will be broken up by a lengthy layover in LA. Sayin' hello to Hollywood! (Trying to look at it with a positive spin.) Then crossing the Pacific and hopping my way to Adelaide in the south where I will begin my overland route back along the coastal cities all the way up to Cairnes in the northeast. (See itinerary-> on the side for VIA points.)

Don't fret - I'll try to keep you in the loop via this here blog, and before you know it, bam, I'll be back before Christmas with many stories to tell (and more than likely a tan!)