Australian Zoo-- "Crocodile Hunter"

Two finals down...one to go. So far the one class I got my grade back in I got an A! So far so good... This week has been really tough though...I feel like all I've done is study and when I can sleep.

So this past week (right before finals), Sally and I went to the Australian Zoo which is Steve Irwin's zoo "The Crocodile Hunter." I used to love his show before his accident and really enjoyed getting to go and see what he created. The zoo was made up of all natural enclosures and had a great environment with native plants growing in and around all the exhibits. We went to a few of the shows throughout the day. The crocodile show consisted of different native species of birds flying throughout the audience, snakes, and of course crocodiles. Snakes were let loose in the water to swim free with their keepers and crocodiles were fed and wandered freely throughout the enclosure with their trainers. The show was just as I pictured it from the Crocodile himself.

We spent the entire day at the zoo and went to every exhibit. My absolute favorite was the echidna (the one we saw in Melbourne). It looks similar to a porcupine/bird? They are precious and native to Australia. We also went around and saw dingos, tazmanian devils, various snake species, wombats, various lizard species, tigers, koalas, ect...

My favorite part of the zoo was the elephant exhibit. We went to the elephant show and they did various tricks and gave them baths. However, my absolute favorite part was that we got to feed the elephants! I fed mine, named Bimbo, cantaloupe.

Interesting fact for all of you non-Australians...possums here are actually cute. The picture above of the animal on the leash---THAT IS A POSSUM. Our possums in the US are so gross but the possums here are soft and sweet looking.

Inside the zoo was also a type of memorial and appreciation for Steve Irwin. There were newspaper clippings, pictures, stories, and artifacts of his discoveries and his adventures on display. It was really neat to be able to read about some of his experiences and relate to what we saw from a world away. He really lived an extraordinary life.

An interesting and touching aspects this zoo had that others don't is the fact that on the grounds there is also a wildlife hospital and sanctuary where wildlife is brought in when injured. They had dozens of koalas that had been hit by cars, wildlife that had been attacked by dogs, babies that had been abandoned, or animals that were simply sick or not thriving in the wildlife. It was as if these animals were people. They were receiving the care any regular hospital would treat a family member. When we were there they were actually beginning surgery on a koala that had just been brought in after a car accident. They really do remarkable things there. All in all it was one of the things I really wanted to see and experience while being here and I just had enough time to fit it in! I had so much fun.

Funny Story/Traumatizing Moment: So here they write the days and months backwards than we do so...12/11 means November 12....well I looked at my last final and somehow didn't think about it and thought my exam was on the 11th when really it is on the 12th! AND I LEAVE FOR NEW ZEALAND ON THE 12TH. So I now have my last final from 2:30-4:00 and leave for New Zealand at 6:30. So I have a friend picking me up from school to take me straight to the airport...STRESSFUL! I then get back on the night of the 19th and will be going to see Harry Potter with Sally, packing all day on the 20th and then leaving the morning of the 21st. Only a few days left in Brisbane...and a little over a week in New Zealand...then TEXAS.

2 days left of ridiculous studying until paradise. Today Alex and I booked our hostel for the first night in New Zealand and have our car rented for the 7 days! Can't wait!

Back to studying...wish me luck. Love and miss everyone.

Whitsunday Islands

Our trip began Wednesday afternoon and ended Tuesdays evening...it was outstanding. It was a girls trip of: Sally, Sarah, Frankie, Kaydee, Claudia, and myself. We based ourselves in Airlie Beach where we stayed the first night in a hostel called Waterfront Backpackers which had an average of 17 guests per room. It was fairly nice and in a good location on the town. The next morning we made our way to the marina where our boat was docked. Our sailboat was called S. V. Whitehaven and included a total of 24 passengers on our trip plus the three crew members: Andy, Jesse, and Leon. We were on the boat for 2 days and 2 nights and traveled from Airlie Beach around the Whitsunday Islands. Activities included snorkeling, sailing, and relaxing on Whitehaven Beach. On the ship we relaxed with drinks and met people from around the world: Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, London, and France. We saw sea turtles, dolphins, coral reefs, dozens of species of fish, and a stingray (although I was not the most skilled at witnessing all of these spots). Sleeping on the boat was more than relaxing. Sally and I slept outside both nights despite the chilling wind...however, I cheated by sharing Jesse's "swag" (another word for sleeping bag?) both nights. Our day at Whitehaven beach was breathtaking. We dropped anchor just off the island and took a small motor boat in. A short bushwalk through the trees, a few fly bites, interesting trees, and eaten ants later we arrived at Whitehaven. The water was a mix of light and dark blues, all clear, and the sand was fine and white. The prettiest beach I have ever seen. We stayed there for the day and fried under the sun. The rest of the evening was spent having spaghetti dinner and garlic bread on the boat and listening to the stories of backpackers and world travelers. I came here abroad on my own which I thought was brave...but some of the crew members and backpackers live amazing and intriguing lives. Some picked up and left home to establish themselves and work in Australia and some were hopping from country to country. The thing I admired most was along the way each one found themselves, had a story, or found love along the way. I've found that coming here originated with a desire to find myself, find out what I wanted, and differentiate who I was and who I can be. In Texas we have such a drawn map...a checklist you could call it. Get an education, find work, establish yourself, settle down with a husband, and begin a family. Despite my longing for such things, my new exposure to alternatives, to mystery, and spontaneity have made me think about my plans for after college and even how I finish these last two years in school. The boat ride came to an end and a night out in Airlie was in order for the entire group. All 24 of us, Andy, Jesse, and Leon had a night out at the bar "Beaches" where we all had cheap drinks and made priceless memories. After the boat voyage was over I spent the majority of my time with one of the crew members named Jesse and Sally. We explored Airlie, went fishing (attempted fishing), and had a movie night with his "flat mates" at his house just outside of town. I stayed with Jesse the majority of nights where he lived with five other people who also worked on the boats or islands. The tenant of the house was a "far out" fisherman who had his catches displayed throughout the house. Also, they had two pet spiders that looked similar to tarantulas (freaked me out a little) and a friend arrived during the movie with a python he had caught earlier that day. The house was filled with people who take life for what it is and live it to its fullest potential each day. Jesse moved here from New Zealand by himself to work the boats at the age of 20 and is an amazing photographer, he has been a diving instructor, participated in volunteer work with beached killer whales, and had more stories of hunting and fishing than anyone I've met combined. These people truly live life rather than watch it pass them by. All in all, the trip was amazing, beautiful, I met some people I truly enjoyed spending time with, and learned a lot. No regrets, only experiences to learn from and memories to never forget.

Update: I will be going to New Zealand November 12-19

However, of course I have 3 finals before then...

November 8: Australian Marine Sciences

November 9: Australia's Terrestrial Environment

November 11: Australian Art History

No Journalism final

Today will simply be a day of recovery and catching up on sleep in the lovely city of Brisbane. Later tonight a few friends and I will be watching a good old fashion Disney movie, cooking Mexican food, and making brownies. Finals work begins tomorrow.

See You In a Week

We are off to the Whitsunday Islands for the week! Expect a full report when I get back.

Australian Halloween Festivities

Unfortunate News: Australia doesn't celebrate Halloween like we do in the United States. But no worries I have continued with the Redwine tradition of pumpkin carving. When I was little my family and I used to go out to the local pumpkin patch and each pick out pumpkins and carve them altogether and put them on our front porch. However, pumpkins here are a bit more EXPENSIVE than at home. It was $20 for this regular sized pumpkin which is lacking a good stem and has a bad side. Also, Australians don't carve pumpkins and most have never heard of it. I asked for a pumpkin carving kit at the store and the woman laughed at me? But I made due with some kitchen knives and a spoon. My jack-o-lantern still turned out cute and is shining on our balcony. I also "baked" pumpkin seeds in our toaster oven...but ended up burning some of the seeds....not as skilled as my mom apparently. It was a fun afternoon of Halloween festivities. The rest of the day was spent laying out by the pool trying to build up my skin for the Whitsunday Islands, some homework, and my roommate gave me a hair cut. We are thinking of going out tonight to a bar called "The Chalk" but a storm just blew in...maybe a chill night after all?

Night

Home Sweet Texas

Homesick and missing my family

An Average Week in Brisbane

This week has been very normal. I saw Eat, Pray, Love a few nights ago and absolutely loved it. I thought it was inspiring and I loved seeing different parts of the world and cultures. My roommate and I have also been watching the True Blood TV series on DVD...it is...interesting but not quite deserving of the word appropriate. This week the running has been great. I did 6 miles Tuesday, 10 Wednesday and 10 yesterday. Today is my day off from running but I think my knee has finally fully healed. There is no soreness aside from the little I would feel just from getting back in the routine. I'm still looking into Fraser Island and New Zealand dates and expenses but will update whenever I find out for sure what the plans are.

We leave for the Whitsunday Islands on Wednesday and have booked our hotel for the 6 of us for 5 days and are going to be spending 2 days and 2 nights on a boat with night and day snorkeling that travels around all the islands!

Today has been a relaxing day by the pool and I'll most likely go out in the city for a night out.

Most Stressful Day in Australia

First: I will rant for just a few moments on the Australia library "system." EVERY book anyone would want or need is either in 1. the stupid Fryer section which requires you to store your backpack in a locker and wash your hand before thinking of even touching the books AND you cannot remove them from the room or 2. declared a "high use" book, meaning you cannot be in possession of more than two at a time for more than two hours at a time and they may not be checked out over night UNLESS you check them out right before close and bring them back at open AND even then you cannot check out more than two.

Second: I had an AWFUL Art History paper due today that for some reason I decided not to start until the day before and it was a minimum of 2500 works. Sooo my new habit of procrastination ALMOST killed me. Pretty much a 24 hour straight session of buried in library books (I cheated the system by taking the books and hiding them) and writing is finally over. AND my paper actually turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

Aside from my minor breakdown and 24 hour depression in consequence from my work load I went and ran 6 miles today and tomorrow I do 10. The true test, if my knee is actually healed or not, will be tomorrow.

Nothing much else at the moment. I have an appointment with the student flight services on campus tomorrow to look into New Zealand prices and where exactly we would want to go.

Night!