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Published: January 14th 2008
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I am now in very moist yet hot Brisbane, as of yesterday evening. I arranged collection of myself and still (weirdly) heavy belongings from the airport by the TRansbus, and typically was the last stop! (I say weirdly, as i sent Paul a parcel of some clothes and stuff, which came in at nearly 3 KGs!!!) I just cant off load anymore stuff without becoming downright unhygienic and there are a few precious thinsg that a girl just cant do without! ah well) I also have the pleasure of sharing my stinking of sweaty feet room, with probably the most insipid couple I have ever met. Positively thinking, it is only for another night. I sorted my bags out, slipped on my eye mask; squeezed in my ear plugs and went to sleep, to the soft hum of the aircon. Wonderful.
After a rather amazing good nights sleep, I've been busy all day wandering around the city sorting myself and my life out for the next 3 weeks and done very well. I am leaving for Fraser island tomorrow on a 3 day safari, followed by diving in the Yongola, which is supposed to be one of the most amazing
adelaide zoo
blue penguins dives in the world and will form part of my advanced diving; then off sailing and diving for 6 days in the Whitsundays, including my advanced diving qualification. chill out in magnetic island, then up to townsville for more diving and cape tribulation for a few days. then heading over to Darwin for a 3 day safari to Kakadu and Litchfield. Cant wait!!
I am trying to download some pictures but unusually am having difficulty! But stay tuned!
Adelaide was amazing fun, despite it's somewhat unfair reputation for being boring. It is in fact the festival state and is emblazoned on most car plates to prove it! so there! after coming down to the city from them thar hills, I stayed with the lovely Normy aka christopher, about 10 mins on bus from the city centre. Very convenient. I then went on a 3 hour kayaking adventure with the dolphins which was truly wonderful. They came up very close and swam with us! My partner was Andi, who after blunderbussing me with her stories of travels and jobs (she has done everything and gone everywhere, (she puts Ranulph Fiennes to shame) she was actually very lovely and spent
zoo
gibbons the afternoon in Port Adelaide. I saw the sandsculptures of dinosaures and then we went to the seahorse museum, which was great! finally saw the illusive leafy seadragon whcih i couldnt find on my last dive.
The next day i took myself off to Asdelaide Zoo. Now im not usually one for zoos as i dont like them, but for some reason I went anyway. I wal;ked all round and ended up at the lions enclosure for feeding time and began talking to the zoo keeper. During our conversation, I explained about my studies and that I was rather saddened that I had missed the tigers in the enclosures as it was so hot, (41 degrees) that I presumed they were out back and that they are my favourite animal. He said the magic word "come with me". I dutifully follwed him through a door and into the back which, as it turned out, was where the 4 most beautiful adult tigers were basking in the cool of the aircons! He took me inside and allowed me to take pics and even fed the female adult tiger, who he believes is in season and hopes to mate her soon, which
would be fantastic! I have to admit, I became a bit emotional and it really made my holiday so far. To be so close to such a magnificent endangered creature, was going to be hard to compare. I later went to the beautiful botanic gardens and then to the outdoor cinema, which was great, but Gumbo consdiered it too hot for her, so failed to join me. hrumph!!!
The following day I met up with Andi and her friend Sharn for lunch and a walk around the central market, which is one of the best in Oz. That evening we went out to a few bars (they were dreadful) and the club, Marsbar, whcih again was utterly dismal and was the second time in my life that I have ever been anywhere where all the sense of fun in me drained away completely as soon as I wlaked throught he doors. The only other time was the first time i went to this awful place. NEVER AGAIN!!!
Saturday, my last full day in Adelaide, was spent going round carlots with Gum, testing the cars and their sellers! Saturday night saw Ms Gum and i finally getting a picnic
together and went to the another outdoor cinema. It was great! beautiful weather, festival atmosphere; great food, beers and fab people watching. the film was shit, but was totally secondary to the night and it was my last night! ah! sunday, we went round the market in Rundle street and finding a guy who was hiring bikes for free, so we had 2 please! off we went and ended up in , i forget, but it was lovely. had lunch, got drunk, couldnt be bothered biking back, so we spent 10 mins squeezing the bikes and ourselves into Norms car! Im sure that it could have been easier, but we struggled for ages and there was a car patientl;y waiting for the space! i think they only waited as it was prob so funny watching us! Norm then got really paranoid that we were going to be pulled when he saw a cop car in front of us, with courtney and I in the front seat (we were wearing a seatbelt though!!) and kept saying "we're done for. we're done for!!! very funny. we chugged back home and i had 10 mins to get my stuff together before we left
for the airport. Upon arrival they had called my flight so i had to (yes HAD to) go to the front of the queue! ha ha!
all for now. i'll work on the pics for next time!!!
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Steve
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Tigers
Glad u enjoyed seeing the tigers up close. Did I convince you Zoo's are all about the animals, conservation and education or are you still a bit negative to what Zoo's are trying to achieve? Im sure the more you see and learn about what zoo's are actually doing to protect these animals; the more you'll agree that Zoo's are hugely important if we are to save these animals. let me know if you experience anything better than hand-feeding a Tiger on your travels....if not; all i ask is for you to do what you can to educate others about the problems these animals face in the wild and to try and get them to join the fight to save them. Happy travels.