Kangaroos!

I love wildlife, never get tired of watching and photographing wildlife.  I have probably taken close to a 1000 photos of elk over the years, both in Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Park. I am always looking for that perfect shot.   In my mind, I have a bucket list of animals I would love to see in the wild. I haven been lucky to see some amazing animals in my life, from whales and sea turtles in Hawaii to wolves and grizzly bears in Yellowstone. I am not sure if I will ever visit  Africa to see an elephant or a lion in the wild or to the Galapagos Islands to see one of those Giant Tortoises, but at least I can cross off seeing a kangaroo in the wild!  When I was here a few years ago, I just assumed I would see a kangaroo.  I had been told they were like deer,  Australians seemed very blase about even seeing them.  So I was surprised when we did not see any in the wild.   On this trip, I figured it would be the same deal.  We went to Lone Pine Sanctuary and I got to see the koalas and feed and pet the kangaroos, but I still wanted to see them in the wild.  Last week when we were at the China Dream Conference, a friend of Rick's, who is on the faculty at Griffith University-Gold Coast, asked if we would like to see kangaroos in the wild?  He knew of an area near his house, a big park/reserve where he always see kangaroos at dusk.  Of course we were all over that invitation!  The plan was to take the train from Brisbane and meet Dave and his wife Laura at a station not far from their house, it would be about an hour ride, they would pick us up, we go see the kangaroos and then have dinner.  However, all good plans do not go without a hitch!  We took the bus from UQ to the train station, only to find out that they were doing track work and there was a section closed.  We had to take a bus to bypass the closed section, arriving at another station, then getting on the train.  Instead of arriving when we had planned, we were now 30 minutes late.  Fortunately,  we still had some light left, but instead of taking a leisurely walk looking at kangaroos and trying to spot a koala,  we only got to take short stroll.  However, I could not believe how many kangaroos were in the fields and how well they blend into the landscape.  I am sure we saw over a hundred kangaroos;  we saw females with their joeys, both inside and of the pouch and males hanging out in the field.  They were very curious, allowing me to walk up to within 10 feet.  I was taking photos as fast as I could.  As we were driving into the parkland, we saw a lady walking on the sidewalk with her dog and the kangaroos were right there beside the sidewalk, just watching them.  Wish I had gotten a photo of that!   Anyway, despite the shorten time, we were thrilled to finally see the kangaroos in the wild.

This is our last week in Australia, which is hard to believe.  It has gone by so quickly and of course I am scrambling to do some things I have not done yet.  Saturday, we got up early and visited the Brisbane Botanical Gardens.   It was nice, although very hot by 11:00AM.   I don't think it compared to the gardens in Melbourne or Portland, but the Bonsai exhibit was interesting.  Monday I went into the city center and visited the Brisbane City Museum, which was very nice and free!  It is located in the city hall, a historical building that has been completely renovated.  When I first go there, I went into the cafe and had Devonshire tea, way too much for one person, but I managed.  After tea, I visited the museum, and a special exhibit on Hollywood Golden Age Costumes.  I could not take photos of that exhibit, but it was very good.  There were many beautiful costumes, some worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and beautiful dress worn by Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl.  I was also able to take an elevator and go up the clock tower, again all free.

Then I walked along the streets, going into arcades (shopping centers) decorated for the holidays.  One of the stores has window displays like I remember seeing in Cincinnati when I was a kid.  The city Christmas tree was being installed, the lights are solar powered.  All in all a good day, but I did have to giggle.  I took the bus back from the city and a kid sitting across from me was sound asleep.  I don't know if I have ever seen anyone sleep the way he was sleeping.  I was wondering if he would wake up when we stopped at the last stop, which happened to be the stop I needed, but he did.  After I got off the bus, I saw a car go by with this sign "No Yelling Driving School".  No kidding!  Aussies do have a warped sense of humor at times.

The rest of the week will be wrapping things up here in Brisbane.  Everyone is trying to schedule meetings with Rick to talk about their research and he has two presentations.  We have lunches and dinners with faculty who want to say goodbye.  We need to pack everything and tidy the apartment and  figure out what we need for the weekend stay in Melbourne.  We still have not decided how we will celebrate "Thanksgiving".  My plan to fix us a nice dinner is a no go, we don't want to deal with leftovers when we are leaving the next. That does seem weird, not to have Thanksgiving!  Just like seeing Christmas decoration and hearing Christmas carols and at at the same time you see signs that say something like "just in time for summer" or "stock up for summer".   It would take some getting use to.

This will be probably be my last post from Brisbane.  I am sure I will want to share some photos from Melbourne and I plan do that before we start camping in New Zealand.  Then I will post photos from New Zealand before we head to Hawaii.  Before I know it, this blog and journey will be complete.

There will be some things I will miss about Australia; iced coffees, lemon lime bitters, yummy fruit, the little bakery near our apartment,  the people and their sense of humor,  the beautiful walks in the evening along the river and hearing the birds sing.  I won't miss the huge coins that weigh down my purse or worrying I will see a snake.

Iced Coffee

Tree along our walk

View from our room at the Gold Coast, it was cloudy when we arrived but the next 2 days were hot & sunny

Photos from the Color Brisbane associated with G20 Summit

Brisbane Botanical Gardens, Bamboo Garden

Japanese Garden

I would assume an orchid of some type?

Maybe a kookaburra 

Rick getting a hug

Tree fern

Another duck

A family had asked me to take their photographs so Rick was protecting their picnic from a water dragon!

Ice Coffee and milk shakes to cool off

 I thought this was humorous.. Cacti display

Bonsai

Young Kangaroo...in the wild

He may be out of the pouch, but still wanting this mom

Mom and Joey

Solar powered Brisbane City Tree

City Hall foyer

City Hall Shingle Inn Cafe

I loved this piece of art, made of linoleum, paint and photographs.  Middle of vase is a birds eye map view.

city view from clock tower

That is a real church, it almost looks like a lego building! 

My devonshire tea, scones, jam and clotted cream.  I like the scones here because they are more like biscuits, just a little sweet, not crumbly or full of fruit

Inside the Brisbane Arcade

Meyer Dept store window displays, story was Santa and the Three Bears

Hes slept this way for 20 minutes, never looked up until the last stop.

Coke with ice, please!

I don't have a variety of photos to share, just some photos from around campus and a few from our tour of the Gold Coast Hinterland.  Taking photos has been somewhat difficult,  either we are walking in the evening and it is getting dark or the light is harsh or I don't have my camera with me.  We have some plans for the upcoming weekend and I am hoping I will have some great photos to post next week.  However, I do have a few to share and some random thoughts about living in Oz.

Today, was a funny day.  I have had a headache for the past few days, not sure if it is tension related, weather or perhaps since it is spring, allergies.  After a restless night, I decided what I needed was a nice foot massage!  I had discovered a place called Happy Feet in the shopping center.  It is kind looks like a nail salon, several cushy chairs to sit in for the foot massages and then tables with curtains for privacy if you want a body massage.  Before I had a combination neck, shoulder, back massage with a foot massage, this time I decided I really needed the 50 minute foot reflexology treatment!  I headed to bus stop, got on the bus and the bus driver did not know the route!  A few minutes after we left our stop, I was looking out the window thinking "I have never seen that house before",  when suddenly the driver shouted out, "am I going the right way?"  All the UQ students started laughing and some kid replied, "you are suppose to stay on Hawken Drive".  I realized we were going by the golf course, so I was wondering what he was going to do?  We came to a round about and he actually went around it twice before deciding which way to go.  One of guys got up and stood beside him to give him directions, but he got off at one of the stops.  Oh boy, what next?  Suddenly, he stopped and started backing up!  He had missed his street.  Everyone was just looking around, like wow, I can't believe this is happening!  Finally we made it the shopping center.  I got to Happy Feet and the young lady actually remembered me, which made me feel special, but is probably because I had given her a tip and I am not sure they tip in Australia.  I know they don't in restaurants.   So anyway, I am sitting in my cushy chair and suddenly this big burly Aussie sits down for his foot massage.  I had to keep from giggling.  I could tell he was a regular customer by the way his technician was talking to him.  After my massage, I was feeling better, but still had a slight headache.  I decided what I really needed was a coke with ice.  Soda is expensive in Australia, just like in Europe.  The difference here; soda is even expensive in the grocery store.  Not a big deal, because I try not to drink a lot of soda, but in Europe when I had my cold and was feeling so lousy I would regularly go to the little market and pick up a 88 cent coke and take it back to the apartment and have a glass with ice.  When I would have a coke at a cafe I always asked if they had ice before I ordered.  Usually they said yes, most the time I would get one or two cubes.  Once I got a 1/2 glass of ice!! He knew I was American and liked my ice.  But back to today, after my massage I decided to go to McDonald's in the food court, I figured that was my best bet for a fountain coke with ice.  I ordered a small coke with ice and the girl said "with ice?"  I said "yes" and she smiled at me and said "most say no ice"  I told her I was American and liked my ice.  I got my coke, with about 3 ice cubes in it.  Oh well, at least it had some ice in it.  I have been told Americans have an obsession with ice and I am sure I put more ice in my drinks then most, but to me if a drink is suppose to be cold I want it cold and a coke that is not cold is pretty yucky.  As hot as it is here I am surprised that people don't use more ice in their drinks.

Last Thursday, we went to the Gold Coast for a conference.  We were there for 2 nights, so it gave me a chance to walk on the beach and sit by the pool while Rick worked...poor guy. We had yummy Thai food with some of the UQ faculty and sat through a brutal conference dinner. We had breakfast at the hotel, typical breakfast buffet, not too bad, but in my opinion the scrambled eggs were gross.  I usually don't eat scramble eggs in the a buffet because they are normally powder eggs, but these eggs were not powder, I am sure they were real eggs, but I not sure I can even describe how they looked.  Kind of runny, tiny curds. I have noticed they are like that in Europe as well.  I once ordered scrambled eggs in Scotland and never again did I order scrambled eggs outside of the US.  I just think we do scrambled eggs better, but I could not figure out why.  But just now as I am working on this blog I figured it out.  I have the television on,  watching an Australian cooking show and they are scrambling eggs.  They are using a whisk while cooking the eggs, stirring vigorously while they cooked.  No wonder they turn out the way they do!  Beside not getting enough ice and runny scrambled eggs, no other complaints here about the food.  The fruit is absolutely wonderful, Rick and I are probably eating twice the fruit we normally eat because it is so tasty.  We are enjoying the variety in ethnic food and Rick now understands why I love the iced coffees.  I really enjoy having a pot of tea and freshly baked scones with jam and clotted cream.   That is why I am walking so much!

Week three is winding down, I managed to get to two art museum this week, lived through the several days of really hot weather and a huge rain storm.  Rick is busy as usual, presentation at the conference, meetings with faculty and the Queensland Tourism organization. Fun, fun, fun.

Rick on campus

Another photo from the ponds at UQ, notice there is no water spurting

Same pond, 2 days later and after 4 inches of rain in about an hour

playing around with the camera

Springbrook Natural area, hinterland of the Gold Coast

our tour guides Karen and Mark.  Karen is on faculty at UQ

Lunch, it was probably close to 100 degrees

looking over into New South Wales at the Dividing Range.  It was really difficult to get a decent photo

These were the Antarctica Trees

One of the fountains on campus

Some kind of neat bird

Water Dragon hanging around campus

Looking out of the window of the UQ Art Museum 

UQ Art Museum

G'day Mate

Actually, I think I have heard exactly two people say that to me.  However, when we are walking our morning or evening route everyone else is either running, cycling, rowing, swimming, playing soccer, rugby, cricket, basketball...you name it they are doing it.  I have not seen so many active people on a campus since leaving CU.  And all ages, not just college age people.  Everyone is exercising either first thing in the morning, it gets light here at 5:00AM or again after 4:00PM, it gets dark around 6PM.  Rick and I find ourselves going to bed fairly early most nights and getting up around 6:00.  Except this morning, I slept in until 9:00AM.  You should never read emails at 3:00 in the morning, its impossible to go back to sleep!

We have finished our first week in Brisbane and I must say I am enjoying extending my summer.  The campus is lovely and we have some nice places to walk.  When we walk in the evenings, listening to the birds is so enjoyable.  Last night I took my camera and got some decent photos of the Lorikeets and some baby ducks.  The other evening we were walking at dusk and saw these huge flying foxes or fruit bats flying overhead.  Of course, you know me, after listening to Bill Bryson's Sunburned Country, I am always on the look out for something slithery and venomous.  The other night after coming home from downtown and some animal jumped out of a tree and ran across the path in front of us, we are pretty sure it was some type of possum.  I about had a heart attack.
 
Everyone here has been so nice.  They had a welcome party for us and included me in the retreat coffee break which was watching the Melbourne Cup on tv and having a glass of the bubbly and the retreat dinner at the  historic Custom House.  Karen picked us up on Saturday for a view of city and dinner at her house.  They have a lovely house in the countryside and sitting on the deck was very relaxing.  On Sunday Brent, who is the department chair and his fiance took us to the Lone Pine Sanctuary to see native wildlife.  We have a couple of dinners coming up with Sara and her hubby and we will be going to the Gold Coast this weekend and Melbourne at the end of the month.  On Friday night Rick and I had a "date night" and went into the city for dinner at a Thai restaurant at South Bank.  South Bank is a development on the opposite side of the river from the CBD and has many restaurants, bars, open air cinema, museums and preforming arts center.  Once the G20 summit is over on Sunday, I plan to spend more time down in the CBD and South Bank.

I keep thinking about all the experiences I have had since June.  From hiking in the Alps,  a boat ride on a canal in Amsterdam, being with family in Oregon, Alberta and Wyoming, seeing bears in  Yellowstone, camping with Kona and Rick, driving across the USA, seeing friends in Chicago and New York, hanging out in Italy, being with family in Slovenia and living in Ljubljana for a month and now here in Australia; it is absolutely mind boggling.  I am so lucky to have this opportunity to be with Rick and see so many great places.  Not being in a regular routine at my home has been strange at times and I wonder what it will be like in January when I have to cook dinner every night, take care of the animals, take care of the house and do all the things that come with day to day living.

Since being in Brisbane, Rick has been super busy.  His fellowship here at UQ requires him meeting with faculty and grad students on a regular basis to discuss their research and he has 3 seminars to give over the next 2 weeks, after already giving two lectures last week.  He has been worried that I might not have as much to do here, but after the hectic schedule we have had since June,  I am enjoying my down time.  It is a good thing I have some downtime, because I need that extra time just to get groceries.  We have a small grocery store 5 minutes away and it is really nice, but pricey.  Think Whole Foods prices or even more.  For examples apples were $3.00 per kg more expensive then the big grocery story and strawberries almost twice as much.  However, the big grocery store is in a shopping center that takes about 20 minutes via bus.  The shopping center is huge and I can get everything I need including a foot massage!  So going to the grocery store takes at least 2 hours.  Yesterday it was 3.5 hours, foot massage included. Food is definitely more expensive here, but like in the USA or Europe no rhyme or reason why certain things are pricey.  Going out to eat is expensive as well, but then you don't tip so it probably comes out about the same.  What I noticed is how expensive salads are, even at food court style restaurants.  Coffees are delicious, they take their coffees seriously. I do love the iced coffees with ice cream!  Beer in the liquor store is expensive and so is soda.  Loving the pies - savory pot pies. There is a bakery up the street and the pies are very good.; we have had several pies for lunch.  Rick and I are planning to do a high tea, in fact we may decide to do that in lieu of Thanksgiving dinner.  I have an oven, but tried roasting broccoli last night without much success, so I don't think I want to roast a turkey.  Plus it heats up the kitchen too much.  If we do decide we want a Thanksgiving type of meal, I can get a chicken already roasted and make my own dressing and mash potatoes.  I even saw cranberry sauce in the store yesterday.

Welcome party for us at Sara's house

Morning row session on the river

Jacaranda trees on UQ campus

One of the buildings on campus, I think some type of engineering

UQ campus

Melbourne Cup gathering in Brisbane with the QU tourism faculty 

Story Bridge Climbers

Downtown Brisbane

Story Bridge

Brisbane from the Mt Coot-tha overlook

Rick, Karen and Philip

Wombat with his teddy at Lone Pine Sanctuary 

Me feeding the Kangas

Belinda feeding the kangas

Momma and her joey

Birds of Prey Show, a beautiful owl

Look closely, that is a mouse tail hanging out of his beak

A sea eagle of some sort

This is the sheep herding demo

This is Rex, standing on top of the sheep after the other dog got them in the pen

Koalas! Would love to see one in the wild, but this is the next best thing,

Taking a walk last night and the lorikeets were all over the campus

It is exam time at UQ, the students were lined up to get into a lecture hall to take the exam
Rick said that the students in the Tourism program will have an individual project, a group project and everyone takes final exams.  

That same building but from further away

Mom, Dad and babies

UQ campus ponds