Today I feel like an olive

Natasha and I feel a little bit sad that our holiday is coming to an end. Rafael simply says he feels like an olive.

More observations...

Burger King is called Hungry Jacks down under
The music played in restaurants and on the radio is not great - live music often painful. We hardly hear any great Australian music like INXS, AC\DC, Midnight Oil, or Kylie.
To keep drivers awake on the highway in Queensland, road signs ask trivia questions like 'the longest river in Queensland?'. A few kilometers later the answer follows. Then the next question.

Noosa Heads

Great beach-time. We become architects of many sand castles, all of which fall victim to the tide a few hours after completion. Rafael makes friends with a local boy who shows him how to bodysurf - an activity popular with Australia's (very) young ones. One morning we are lucky and spot a dolphin right in front of the beach.
The parents' highlight was the walk along the shore to 'hells gates', a much lovelier spot than its name suggests. From the cliffs we spot a turtle far below in the water.

I use it as a jogging track the next morning. At 7am, I'm not the only one.

Once we discover a great eatery, we stick to it. Should you ever end up in Noosa Heads, try the Boardwalk Bistro. We went there four times in as many days.

Lady Elliot Island

Part of the Great Barrier Reef. A Island entirely made up of a pile of corral, with its own living corral lagoon. We go there by airplane - a small propeller machine that fits ten people and that includes the two pilots. A scenic flight so enjoyable that Gaudi suspends his fear of flying and takes in the views of Frasier Island and the ocean. From the airplane, we can already spot some fish in the water: something that looks like dolphins or sharks (?), and more clearly recognizable Manta Rays.

The airplane runway runs across the entire island- a grass piste of course. The island belongs entirely to the hotel-resort. The lagoons around the island are perfect for snorkeling. Rafael has a bodyboard with a window which works perfectly for him. We spot sea turtles (Green Turtle and Hawksbill Seaturtle), Octopuses, colorful fish of any size and shape, Picasso Triggerfish, flute fish, Murays peeking out of the corral, stonefish (we are warned not to step on it, as its sting 'hurts a lot'), reef sharks (white tip, black tip), and various species of rays: Eagle Rays, Cowtail Rays and the magnificent Manta Ray. These fish have a 'wingspan' of three to five meters and are very impressive, when they glide by. They are not shy and swim right up to the snorklers.

At at low tide, we can take a walk through the lagoon between the corrals and spot starfish and other animals.
This is one great last highlight of our Australia trip before we start our journey towards home.

Sydney highlights

The Taronga Zoo - we count in the evening that we saw at least 45 different species. Among them the Taipan, the most venomous snake in the world. A single bite is enough to kill 200'000 mice.
Our neighborhood, Darling Harbor, full of restaurants, a Chinese garden, a great playground and a Ferris wheel.
The sight of Harbor Bridge and the Opera House from the ferry.
The Aquarium (right next to our hotel, we can see it from our room) with the two Dugongs called Pig and Wuru.

Plants that need to burn

In most of the world park rangers try to prevent forest fires and fight them. In Australia, park rangers set the forest on fire. That's called a planned burn. Some plants have adapted so much to the frequent fires, that they need the fire to thrive. We see many gum trees burned black at the base and full of live at the top. Plus, the planned burns help prevent larger, unplanned fires.
We witness a planned burn as we drive through the Croajingolong National Park near Mallacoota. Small fires burn to the left and right to the road in the forest, and we can smell the smoke.

Glass House Mountains

A relaxing day in our own glasshouse in the Glasshouse Mountain region. While I read on the veranda and enjoy the vista, a visitor calls. A kookaburra.