# 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.

The Blogger is Resting!

At last I get a chance to be the blogger.(Ann)   We arrived back at the Gold Coast Friday evening after spending 13 days in Tasmania.  Tasmania was above and beyond our expectations.   It is filled with mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, National Forests, good food, good wine and spirits, great service, friendly people and certainly an A+ rating.  We tried to see and do it all and I am sure we came close.  The one thing that still amazes Mike and me is the most unlikely looking restaurants are by far the best for eating.   We are still trying to deal with the coffee.   Also you order at the counter and they bring you your food.   Best of all – there is NO tipping.

 Probably the only negative was the very narrow winding roads through the mountains.  Brad was the chauffeur.  He drove the whole way.   The left side of the road and the drop offs cause a bit of concern but Brad was the best.  Mike and Barb truly planned a wonderful adventure.  I do not think we missed anything and we had some awesome accommodations.  Sometimes the best experiences are the ones unplanned and we had some of those.  We had many laughs and great times with Barb and Brad.  Our adventures are just beginning here on the Gold Coast so keep tuned in; the best is yet to come.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Barb and Brad at "The Gorge".

Lunch at the winery.

Still at the winery.

Richardson Beach

Barb and Brad.at a different winery.

Waterfall in the rain-forest..