Second leg of the trip has started...

Let me first say that Tasmania is freaking cold this time of year... I've been wearing my toque and gloves every day, as well as my fleece and raincoat (to prevent the humid wind from reaching me). My body is not acclimatized to being cold this time of year, and apparently won't be cooperating with me on this matter anytime soon. I look so bundled up, I think people are laughing at me when I say I'm from Canada... they think I'm lying.

I arrived in Hobart on Wednesday, July 9 at 3pm, after a 3.5 hour delay in Sydney (I was suppose to arrive at 11:30am). For the second time in my life (the first being in Prince George) and in the span of 3 months, I got to disembark the airplane on the Tarmac, which is pretty damn cool if you ask me. Again, I didn't take a picture...

My first impression of Hobart? I think Martha Stewart would describe it as country quaint with a strong whiff of healthy hippie. I absolutely love it :) I found my couch surfing host and dropped off my bags at his work and went to find the tourism office. Unfortunately, I was apparently too late in booking tours, since most of them were full (in the middle of winter I might add), and so lost the chance to go to the Freycinet Park and Bicheno... but was successful in getting some ideas and other tours. I then met up again with Adam and went to a local pub for some veggie pizza and drinks, before returning to his place and meeting the flatmates and my bed for the next few nights.

Thursday was spent making plans and then going to Bonorong Wildlife Park in Brighton Valley for some Tasmanian Devil education. We had a cute guide (Sean) who was very knowledgeable... it kept our attention... I got to see Tasmanian devils feed, which is pretty horrible actually. Their jaw strength is absolutely ridiculous - it is only rivaled by the great white shark and the saltwater crocodile, which says a lot considering they are the size of a cat... Thankfully, they are not ferocious (despite common belief), but they are quite carnivore (the only marsupials that are). They are carnivore to the point of eating flesh, fur, cartilage and bones. It's pretty gross seeing it, and hearing them crunch through all that stuff.

I also got to see a Common Wombat (there are 3 species of wombats, but only the Common Wombat is found in Tasmania). Those things are also quite crazy... They are like giant cute rats that grow to be about 45kg, and can run up to 40km/hour... how? I have no idea... Apparently, it looks like a giant brown fuzz with no legs at that speed... They have also developed this great genetic defense characteristic as they are pretty defenseless in the offensive. Their butts are covered with a Defensive Cartilage Plate with no nerve endings. They can't feel a thing. This allows them to burrow halfway and if they get bitten on the butt, they can't feel it. Dingos hate them for it. Then, when the time is right, they'll shove their butts up and crush whatever's after them's nose (or person's arm) up and break something of theirs in the process. The wombat they had was only 10 months old, so we got to rub its belly :D!! I love animals!!

We then went over to the town of Richmond which has a rich cultural past. Richmond has the oldest bridge in Australia built in 1823 by convicts. It evens has a ghost story... Apparently, the foreman for the job was a complete ass, and the workers didn't like him very much. One one particularly heinous day, they picked him up and threw him over the bridge into the water and then stoned him to death. His ghost haunts the bridge (that's what bitter people do) and there have been many sightings... I took many pictures, but there were no blotchy ghost spots to be seen... which is probably good! Richmond also has the oldest Roman Catholic church in Australia. It is tiny and has this great big eucalypt tree in front that gives out this great fragrance. It also comes with a great story...! The child of a convict was burried at the church and the convict ended up moving to the United States after his time... he then lived to become the governor of Montana. His wife tried to come join him, but drowned on the trip there.

Today, I went up to the Huon Valley and visited the Tahune Forest Walks. The Huon Valley is a temperate and wet eucalypt forest. The area is absolutely amazing and the centre has three major hikes that you can do in about 2 hours (took me 1.5). I did the Tahune Forest Air Walk where you are suspended about 20-40 metres above ground and has a stunning view of Mount Picton and the two rivers that run below. I also ventured into the wild to cross the two suspended bridges... The hike was a bit deserted, and since Tasmania's snakes are all venomous (although they are apparently sleeping right now), I was getting a bit anxious... Technically, no one knew where I was, so if I got bitten by something, I would have to boot it back pretty fast... It's funny the things that run through your mind when you're hiking alone! The bridges themselves can hardly be called bridges... They are narrower than my hips and are way scarier than the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver. Kris, you would've pissed yourself. Finally, I did the Huon Pine Walk that takes you deep within the forest (there goes the mind again!) and near the water where the pines grow. It was a great hiking day. We then headed to Peppermint Bay for some pretty amazing views and headed back to town.

I am off tomorrow to Launceston, in the North of Tasmania in hopes to catch a Penguin Tour. Real penguins in the wild... awesome!!! Then it's back to Hobart and then to Melbourne on Sunday!!

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