Koalas and Penguins

Beau and I drove down to Phillip Island to check out the Koala Conservatory and the Penguin Parade.  The Koala Conservatory was different from the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary because these Koalas were way up in the trees, just like they are out in nature.  It is really funny seeing this little blob animal so far up in a tree.  It is also kind of like playing Where's Waldo, because some of them are very hard to spot.  We enjoyed taking our time trying to find as many as possible.

Oh yeah-- forgot to remind you of the rules:

1. No touching the animals.

2. No yelling at the animals (someone forgot to mention that to EVERY Asian child there).

3. No shaking the trees.

4. No smoking.

After leaving the Koala Conservatory we had some time to kill before we had to be at the Penguin  Parade so we went to the Nobbies.  The place is called the Nobbies because of the two little island nobs out of the water.  It was beautiful and freezing.

After the Nobbies, our last stop was the Penguin Parade.  The Little Blue Penguins come out of the ocean at dusk and find their burrows.  Not every penguin goes out to the water everyday, some stay on land in their burrows.  Some penguins don't even come back to land every night, they can stay out and float on the water during the night.  Because the penguins parade is at dark, you are not allowed to take pictures because it will startle the penguins.  It is basically a reverse Zoo where we are intruding on the penguins territory, so we are behind the barriers to observe.  It was a really neat experience, you can follow the penguins on the deck while they find their way back to their burrows. 

Shopping at the Queen Victoria Market

Beau and I headed into the city of Melbourne to do some shopping at the local Queen Victoria Market.  We found lots of cute things for souvenirs.  It was a beautiful day to be shopping at the outdoor market!

Dad, Beau took this picture for you.

The Magic Crystals

After Beau hurt his ankle, the physio guy told him to use these crystals at night. Basically you put the crystals around the part that is swelling and it is supposed to draw out the fluid so that it can heal faster.  They are soda crystals that are very slippery when wet!

Step 1:  Wet the first sock.

Step 2:  Put the wet sock on hurt ankle.

Step 3: Fill the wet sock up with crystals around the parts that are swollen and contain fluid.

Step 4:  Put on the dry sock over the wet sock.

Step 5:  Sleep with socks on and foot elevated.

Bread, Water in Wine Glasses and Real Housewives

Beau and I have the stomach virus!  Let me paint you the pitiful picture that is us right now.  We are both laying down, watching Real Housewives of New Jersey episodes from iTunes, drinking our water out of wine glasses because there are no clean glasses in the house.  At least we're keeping it classy while sick!  We have barely moved all day.  What a great way to spend the last week while in Australia.  Hoping we feel better tomorrow!

Proof that Beau Likes Asian Food!!

Beau went with me to eat Chinese food with no intentions of actually ordering something.  When we got there he decided to order fried calamari and I ordered a noodle bowl.  To my surprise, he tasted my noodles and loved them!  I think his mind has been tricking him all this time.. he really does likes Chinese food!  

Misty's American Diner

Beau's Coach, Vince Crivelli, suggested that we try Misty's Diner which specializes in American cusine.   Misty is an American who moved down to Australia with her husband. She realized that there was no place to eat authentic American food around St. Kilda, so she opened up her own little American diner.  She has everything on the menu from cheddar poppers, gourmet hot dogs, hamburgers, and meatloaf to shakes!  They also carry American goodies that you can't get here such as Pop-tarts, Dr. Pepper and American Candy.  Beau, Stan, Z, Micaela and I went to try it out!

 The group at Misty's Diner!

Yummy Cheddar Jalapeno Poppers with a little American Flag.

Stan went big.. Misty's Pig Out Platter!  Chicken strips, meatballs, chicken wings, pork ribs, potato wedges, onion rings and french fries.

Micaela got Misty's American Burger.

Z got the Double Whammy and curly fries.  Two patties, bacon and cheese.  It was HUGE!

Tuna melt for me and a club sandwich for Beau.  Of course, I had to get a Dr. Pepper! 

Probablly the best decision of the night... Butterfinger Shake.  It was delicious!!

4th of July BBQ and Birthday

We celebrated the 4th of July all the way from Australia!  Z invited some of the Sabres Men's and Women's teammates for a BBQ.  Everyone googled "4th of July" to see what is traditionally eaten for the celebration.  We made chicken jalapeno poppers, sausages, hamburgers and watermelon.  It was a great way to feel not so far away from home. 

Later in the party, they suprised me with a birthday cake and cupcakes!  It really made my day because I was starting to feel a little homesick around my birthday.  Thank you everyone for making my Australian Birthday special!

Down, But Not Done

Beau hurt his ankle today in the game against Bendigo.  After the game, we had to go to the hospital to have it X-rayed to make sure it wasn't broken.  The good news is that it isn't broken, it's just a bad sprain.  The bad news is he will be out for a few games. 

We survived our first foriegn hospital visit, hopefully it will be the last.



Finding Mexican Food in Australia

Beau is determined to find a decent Mexican food place here in Australia. We have tried three already. Our latest find was Taco Bill's.

Yep... thats a very small bowl of chips.  Beau was not pleased that another bowl is $1 more.

Can't choose a maragrita?  Try the flight!

Fajitas and Nachos, Ole!

Chocolate Taco, we just had to try it.

Touring Tassie

Beau and I left last Wednesday to head down to Tasmania to do a little sightseeing before the Sabres double header in Hobart and North West Tassie.  We have begun our travels of Australia.  Wednesday we got to Hobart and ate lunch, walked around the town and then planned out our day for Thursday. 

 The boarding tickets looks like reciepts.  Good thing I didn't accidently throw them away!

Lunch at Hog's Breath when we arrived in Hobart.

Exploring the streets of Hobart.

Down at Fisherman's Warf.

Beau like the brass seals.

On Thursday, we decided we wanted to go to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to see Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Koalas and Kangaroos.  We found Judy at Eye See tours who will personalize a tour based on your interests.  She knew everything there was to know about Hobart, wildlife and Australia.  It was such a good experience!  She picked us up at 9:30 and we started our day!

The Kookaburra bird!  I still know the song from kiddie shows when I was little! 

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

Merry, merry king of the bush is he

Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!

Gay your life must be

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

Eating all the gum drops he can see

Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!

Leave some there for me

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

Counting all the monkeys he can see

Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!

That's not a monkey that's me

Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail

Gets a boo-boo in his tail

Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, kookaburra!

Oh how life can be

The first animal we learned about at Bonorong was the Wombat.  The caregiver picked him up and let us pet his back.  We felt the cartlidge plate that they have on their lower backs to use at protection from other animals. 

The next animal we learned about was the Tasmanian Devil.  Needless to say, we did not touch them!  They have very strong jaws and they will bite you.  The caregiver got into the cage with them, and she had to state her dominance to let them know that she was the boss.  At one point, one of them decided to challenge her. To show dominance she had to put her boot up to his face, clap her hands and hiss at them for him to back off.  She also fed them so that we could see how they eat.  They eat together because both of them have to grab a side of the meat and pull to break it, so they work as a team.

Next, it was Koala time!  We actually got to go inside of their cage too.  The Koalas are very picky about the kind of eucalyptus leaves that they will eat and they will only eat the ends of the leaves.  The Koalas at the Wildlife Sanctuary are either oprhaned or injured Koalas.  The caregivers have to collect a ton of branches for the four Koalas that live there to eat. 

The Koalas has very thick fur.  They move very slowly. 

Beau loved the Koala!

Unlike Oprah,  I did not get to hold the Koala!

The Kangaroos at Bonorong are out in a big open field.  When you get to Bonorong, they give you a bag of feeding pellets to feed the Kangaroos.  These Kangaroos are obviously very used to people and will just walk right up to you.  This Kangaroo is an old Kangaroo, which you can tell by the length of their toenails.

The Kangaroos like the be petted under the neck.  Petting them from behind is threatening. 

The whole time I've been in Australia, I've waited for this moment!  I loved the Kangaroos!

Thanks Judy for taking pictures of Beau and I together!  We will cherish these memories forever!

Beau had a crowd of Kangaroos waiting to eat.

After we left the Wildlife Sanctuary, Beau wanted to head up to the top of Mount Wellington.  Mount Wellington looks out over Hobart, which is seperated by a river, and the bay.  It was such a great experience and a great way to see the sights of Hobart.

We made it to the pinnacle!

Gorgeous views of Hobart, Tasmania.

At the highest point on Mount Wellington.

Us with our fabulous tour guide Judy from Eye See Tours!

On the way down the Mountain, we stopped at a park for afternoon tea. 

Judy keeps a map to mark where all of her tourists live.  We made the map! 

After a long day of touring and going to the MONA museum, Beau and I were advised to go to dinner at the Drunken Admiral.  It was a cute little place that was decked out in the nautical theme.

Yummy.. Seafood Chowder.  I'm pretty sure it was fat free too. :)