# 25: Opinion: Australian Lifestyle

Ann and I love Australia.  We have been to the country 5 times and we are planning on coming back.  The Australian people are so nice and we feel welcome where ever we go.  When people hear our voice and realize we are from the US, they want to stop and talk to us.  We have visited all of the states in Australia and it is clear to us that it is a great place to live.

Australians are quite casual and informal.  They love the outdoors.  Popular pastimes for many Australians include going to the beach or pub, drinking with friends and participating in sports.

A common misconception is that most Australians live a rural lifestyle in the Outback.  However, almost all towns and cities are dotted along the country’s coasts and 75% of all Australians live in the states capital cities.

So if you are looking to add a little sunshine to your life, Australia will do it for you with life-long memories.

Nippers playing on Currumbin Creek.

Parade in Adelaide.

Shrimp fleet in Tasmania

Burleigh Beach and the City of Surfers Paradise.

We will miss all of this!

# 24: Barossa Valley and Segway

Adelaide is surrounded by some fantastic neighbors from wine tasting to beach walking.  We left Adelaide for two days and stayed in the Barossa Valley.  In that valley there are tons of wineries and a number of outdoor adventures.

One of the outdoor activities was riding a Segway.  That activity has been on my “bucket list” for quite a few years.  I checked it off when we rode Segways at Seppeltsfield Winery.  It only took a few minutes to learn and after that it was hard getting the smile off my face.  The ride took us through the Seppeltsfield Winery’s 19 century estate with beautiful gardens, historic buildings and a vineyard over 100 years old.  We had lots of opportunity to stop for photos at the top of the vineyard and witness the spectacular 360 degree views of the Barossa Valley.

Later today we fly back to the Gold Coast.  After a day’s rest we will get on that big silver bird and fly back to the U.S.A.  More later.

Ann and her Segway coach.

The trails were fun and the views were outstanding.

The video below is all about "wheelies".

The other Barossa Valley activity.

# 23: Adelaide City Tour Plus Hahndorf, Australia

We spent a nice afternoon in the German flavored village of Hahndorf.  It is the oldest German settlement in Australia with a number of architecturally fascinating buildings.  Many of us tourists sampled chocolate, apple strudel, German beer and wines.  So many of the flavors of the old world can be found in this interesting Australian village.

We actually started our morning with a walking tour of the city center of Adelaide.  The Central Market is a place for breads, produce, cheeses and hundreds of vendors.  We toured the Botanical Gardens which is a unique place that focuses on at-risk or endangered plants.  The Botanical grounds were spectacular.

Hahndorf German Settlement

Central Market Adelaide

War Memorial...35% of Adelaide men served in WW I.

Botanical Gardens

Longtime area star and local watering hole.

Candy Store front.

Today is the start of the Chinese New Year.

# 22: Adelaide on Australia Day

We are in the capital of the State of South Australia and it is Australia Day.  This is a national holiday for all Australians and it rivals our 4th of July.  Everyone is decked out in Australian gear and the country spirit is sky high.

Early this morning before we left the Gold Coast and flew to Adelaide, Barb and I walked along the shore in Currumbin.  At 7AM the banks were absolutely full of families enjoying the water and the sunshine.  On Australia Day in particular, it seems to be a tradition for families to head to the beach for the day.

When we arrived in Adelaide, we soon discovered that a huge parade was to take place starting at 6PM.  So we got our spot, with thousands of the locals, to view the parade.  It was great fun with many participants.  After the parade we hit Chinatown for a great meal.

We plan to be in Adelaide for 4 nights before returning to the Gold Coast.

This is our 5th trip to Australia.  By coming to Adelaide, Ann and I have now visited every state in the country of Australia.

Decked out in Australia gear.

The video below is the Navy Band in the parade.

The Bag Pipers.

You can't have a parade without fire trucks.

Bill at the Chinese restaurant...can you figure it out?

# 21: To The Races...Bubble and Squeak...Lawn Bowling

We spent a great day at the Gold Coast Turf Club.  It is always interesting to try to win at something you know nothing about.  For instance, "Hall's Creek", horse  #1 in the third race was picked as the favorite and sure to win.  He did finish but way back in the pack.  Good thing we did not bet the farm.

Something truly Australian...Have you ever heard of Bubble and Squeak?  It is an Australian tradition consisting of left over veggies from a roast dinner, thrown in a pot and heated.  Brad makes it into a tasty breakfast.

Each time we come to Australia I try to learn a new sport.  Three years ago I tried my hand at surfboarding.  This year I learned lawn bowling.  Actually, for a 78 year old, lawn bowling makes a lot more sense.

"Hall's Creek", #1 ranked, heading to the start line.

#1 finished #7.

Brad's Bubble and Squeak.

Mike and barefoot lawn bowling.

The video below is Ann lawn bowling.

# 20: Sailing the Gold Coast

Monday back on the gold coast we scheduled a catamaran sailing event.  It was a 4 hour lunch cruise.  We sailed the Gold coast and eventually anchored on a sandbar close to Stradbroke Island.  Lots of activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming and fishing.  The boat was a 35 foot catamaran.  The weather was perfect…perfect for sunburns.  Great event…super enjoyable day. 

You can do a lot on a sandbar.

Barb, Ann and Brad

# 19: One Night in Brisbane...

Our last night in Brisbane was memorable for a number of reasons.  We had tickets for the musical “Matilda” which was a great event.

The other memorial event occurred at dinner.  We ate at an upscale restaurant across from the theater.  Midway through the meal a young, well dressed woman, sitting next to our table, pulled down her dress and started breast feeding her new baby.  When you don’t expect that to happen, it startles you.  The young lady did not seem to be embarrassed.  Since then, I reflected on what we saw and I thought about writing an expose and titling it “Nippers and Nipples”.

I soon learned that in Australia, it is not illegal to go topless.  Being the conservative that I am, I thought it best to table my writing of “Nippers and Nipples.”  Usually at this point in my blog I post a few pictures.  Ann did not think it was a good idea.

# 18: More Brisbane Sights

On Wednesday AM, we hailed a Catamaran Water Taxi and headed for “The Wheel”.  It is a giant observation wheel with spectacular views of Brisbane.  A ride on “The Wheel” is an uplifting experience that takes you 196 feet in the air (19 stories) in an air conditioned and fully enclosed gondola.  London, England also has a wheel and their Wheel is twice as high or 38 stories off the ground.  I am going to try to attach a video of the ride.

On Thursday with 90 degree heat and humidity, we went to the Queensland Maritime Museum.  It was really interesting with all types of boats tied to Australian history.  The museum was followed with more historical relics as we went antiquing.

Thursday evening we were in attendance for the musical "Matilda.  It was a wonderful musical with lots of elementary school kids who could really sing and dance.  Tomorrow we head back to Currumbin for a week.

Catamaran Water Taxi.

"The Wheel"

The video below is once around on "The Wheel".

A 16 year old girl sailed this boat around the world in 210 days

An Aussie sailed this little boat from Canada to Australia.

A wall of flowers outside the Maritime Museum.

# 17: Brisbane for the Week

Daughter Barbara works in Brisbane as a “Project Manager”.  I won’t say it was “Take Your Parents to Work Day” but we are in Brisbane with Barb and Brad for the week (5 days).  They own a condo in downtown Brisbane and we took a room close by them.

Monday AM, after we arrived and got settled, we bought a hop-on-hop-off double-decker bus ticket just to see the sights.  Monday night was dinner on the waterfront and Tuesday was a visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.  The Kola Sanctuary was really special when you get to see 130 Koala’s in the same place.

Brisbane is really an exciting city.  It is culturally diverse and very interesting for any world traveler…especially two from Kentucky.  The temperature is mild year-round and it averages 7 hours of sunshine per day.  The sunshine statistic gives the population plenty of time to be out and about enjoying amazing parks, multiple entertainment opportunities and fitness gigs.

Barb walking on the waterfront...watch out for the bikes!

Fig trees in Brisbane need wasps to make them grow.

Brisbane River and skyline.

Story Bridge at night.

Koala in a eucalyptus tree

Koalas are often referred to as bears.
They are not bears they are marsupials which means they give birth to undeveloped
young which complete their development in a pouch. These three are in the kindergarten class.

# 16: Tamborine Mountain

It is hard to put into words the beauty and tranquility of Tamborine Mountain.  At every turn you encounter stunning scenery and of course clean mountain air.  It is not an area that is overly developed but there are still a lot of things to do.  There are many arts and crafts stores, wineries, cheese factory, excellent restaurants and more.

The mountain is a 45 minute drive North from Barb and Brad's home and about 40 miles south of Brisbane.  We spent the day taking in all the mountain had to offer.  We were sightseeing, shopping, eating, hiking, cheese tasting, fudge tasting, lawn bowling, antiquing and pigs knuckles for lunch…to name a few.

View from Bavarian House at Tamborine Mountain.

On the trail...and it is a long way to Witches Falls.
My Fitbit said we climbed 34 floors.

Lawn Bowling was fun to watch.

Adult Candy Store...Schnapps Distillery.

Pig knuckles...and Bradley ate the whole thing.

#15:Walkabout in Australia

The dictionary says that “walkabout” is “a journey on foot.”  When you think of a “walkabout” in Australia you associate the term made famous by the Australian Aborigines’.  Almost every day here in Australia, my daughter Barb and I take a long walk.  I look forward to it because I learn so much about Australia from Barb and from what I observe.

One of the things I learned is that Australians are really involved in participating in sports.  There is good reason for the participation: (1) sunny weather seems to be the norm; (2) there is plenty of green space in the form of well maintained parks; and (3) most Australians live within one hour of a beach.  Attached are some pictures of physical activities that I have observed in and around Currumbin, Australia.

Paddleboarding

Sport Clubs are everywhere.

Must swim between the flags where the lifeguards are monitoring.

78 year old bike rider from Kentucky.

#14: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the highlights of our trip to Australia is a visit to a wildlife zoo that is less than a mile from where Barb and Brad live.  Our whole family has been to this location and it is in everyone's top 5 list.

This place is voted one of the Gold Coast's most popular tourist attractions.  I am going to attach some pictures and videos that should give you a flavor of this special place.

This place is famous for the hands-on feeding of wild Lorikeets.  They are a wonderfully friendly and colorful bird that feeds twice per day at the park.  They also have an outstanding breeding program for the Tasmanian Devil.  Their Free-Flight Bird Show will keep you in your seat as the birds fly barely over your head. They have Aboriginal dancing, sheep shearing and all kinds of photo ops with Koalas.

It is so interactive and involving that when you walk out of the sanctuary you have to say to yourself, "this is one of the best days of my life."

Koalas are special.

The Devil looked me right in the eye.

The video below is of a Wedge Tail Eagle.

Lorikeets with Ann.

More Loikeets.