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Published: January 8th 2009
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Lunch
this is a picture on the terrace where Petar and I had lunch So I added a few days together. Earlier this week I went to the beach which happened to be almost the same spot I was the day before. I went to Carrum beach with Thil and Clayton and found out that the next stop was Seaford which was where Petar was staying. So I decided to take a hop on the train and check it out. We spent the day at the beach and then caught a bite to eat later in the afternoon before I returned back to Melbourne. We went to this place that had a casino inside but we decided to sit outside on the terrace...so beautiful. I then proceeded to have dinner with Taavi at a Greek restarant which was delicious. They fed us so much food, we began with bread and some dips that also had pickled octopus and carrots, black olives, and fried zucchini and eggplant. We then recieved pan-fried octopus in a vinigar sauce. I didn't enjoy this so much. After that we had some pan fried cheese...which was amazing, followed by our main course, scallops and then fresh watermelon for dessert.
The next day I got up early and took a ferry
Lunch
a shot of the stone wall on the terrace on the Yarra River up stream. It took about an hour but the sun was shinning and reflecting off of the water beautifully. I then proceeded with a tour to Phillip Island to see the Penguin parade. On the way to Phillip Island we stopped at Girdies winery for a wine tasting. It was really nice their and you could see a great shot of the coastline and French island off in the distance. From here we stopped at a wildlife park that saved endangered animals and nursed them back to health. There were tazmanian devils that were there because in Tazmania most of them are contracting a deadly face rash/infection and incase them become extinct Australia wants to have a few parks that still have some around. We were also able to see dingos and koalas and then hand feed emus, wallabys, and kangaroos. The experience was amazing. It was a little scary at first but you got used to them hopping all around you. From here we stopped at cape Woolamai. This is a popular beach were alot of surfers come. Today was a pretty windy day so the waves were really choppy but there were a few
Lunch
the terrace surfers out there. From here we traveled onto Phillip Island and stopped at another beach/travel center at the Nobbies. The nobbies are a few rocks in the water. The sun was beginning to set and the reflection off of the water and the nobbies was gorgeous. From here we headed over to the Penguin Visitor Center where we were going to watch the penguin parade. So let me explain the penguin parade. First off the mom penguin has 2 eggs when she has kids and after she has them everyday the parent penguins go out to catch fish for their babies. They usually come home around dusk to feed the little ones which are waiting impatiently. They arrive in a bunch of about 4-15 and walk up together. When they get back from the day they come in offshore, walk past the seagulls which intimidate them up the hill to their respective homes. One of the cute things is there are a few homes on the beach which are inhabited by babies and these babies are so hungry they come out when the penguins begin returning home. So as the parent penguins walk up the beach the babies come out
and attack them wanting food, even though the penguins they attack are not their parents. So the adult penguins peck the baby penguins on their head to try to leave them alone. So thats the basics to the penguin parade.
Now once we arrived to the penguin center I had already previously upgraded to a private penguin parade experience so that I had a guided tour and a park ranger and amazing seats. We recieved a free hot drink, head phones so that she could talk to all ten of us through a microphone on the tour, binoculars, and a seated cushion with our up and close seats on the beach. We weren't aloud to take pictures because the flash can hurt the penguins eyes and they used to tell people to turn off the flash but no one listened. So without the pictures I can't even began to explain these little penguins. As we started to walk down towards the stands/beach you could see the little holes all along the boardwalk. Towards the bottom the babies began to pop out of their little holes awaiting mom and dad to come back to feed them. They are the cutest little
things and to think they were only a few feet away at best. When we got to our seats they were in the front row sitting on the beach. I was in the far corner where most of the penguins came onto sure and walked right up the hill. As I previously mentioned the babies that had homes along the beach came out too wait for their parents and hope to get food off of other penguins.
This penguin experience was one of the best so far. To see something so unique that I couldn't see at home was amazing. These little creatures living and supporting their family since the 1920s as far as we know.
Well that sums up those few days stay tuned for a bunch more...the adventure has just begun for the week!!
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Aunt Joyce
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Just amazing Jess! I am glad you are having such a nice time and getting to see so much. What a great experience!