Koalas, Kangaroos, Kiwis and Crocs! Oh My!

I have been trying to find the time to post about our amazing trip down under. It was truly one of our most interesting trips, full of adventure and new experiences. We flew from San Francisco to Sydney on United, standby, of course, which is always stressful for me. Joe was right--again. We got on. After 14 hours of flying (aarrgghh), we landed in Sydney and immediately hopped a plane for the Gold Coast. The Broekmans picked us up and proceeded to treat us like royalty for the next 3 days. They were so wonderful. Fred took off work and Sisca totally rearranged her schedule and planned an itinerary to show us around their beloved part of Australia. We absolutely loved Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. This may have been the highlight of the whole trip for me. We were able to hold a koala, feed and pet lots of kanagroos, see Tasmanian devils, and feed lorikeets. Here are some pictures of that day with Fred and Sisca. It started out with Joe and I being able to actually hold a precious koala while our picture was taken. If those little faces aren't the cutest thing since my grandkids!! It was amazing. Then on to the kangaroo area where we could pet and play with hundreds of kangaroos of all sizes and varieties!! I am not kidding! They let you feed them and scratch their bellies and everything. Sisca even got one to let her reach down into her pouch to see her little joey. My mouth was just hanging open! We saw a bird show that was wonderful, and of course reminded me of Brett, with the most exotic birds you can even begin to imagine. Just incredible. We saw wombats and more koalas and crocs and kookaburras in the old gum tree! It was like an overload almost...all these things I have heard of and sung about all my life and there they were...to touch and pet. I loved it so much.



We ended the day by "feeding the LORIkeets." Yes, I spelled that correctly. My very own bird. They are BEAUTIFUL green and yellow and blue and orange parakeet looking birds.


You are given a little pie pan with a nutritious liquid in it to hold out with two hands. Down from the tall trees surrounding the area come hundreds of these amazing birds and sit right on your arms and head and on the dish to eat!!!!! I am not kidding. Poor uncle Clynn would have had a coronary right there. I had 5 birds on my head and probably 15 on my arms and in the dish I was holding. Their beauty is beyond description. I couldn't believe that we had all these beautiful birds sitting all over us for 10 minutes!!!! And just chirping their little hearts out. We also saw a huge crocodile display. These are serious Aussie crocs!


Here is a cute wombat! Who knew they were so cute! I was entranced by the beautiful, haunting music of the diggerydoo.
We watched the Aboriginal dancers, and Joe got called up out of the audience.

Unfortunately, my battery ran out just before his turn!!! He was a great sport!



One night we went to the Outback Adventure. Oh my gosh. Sisca tried to explain it to me beforehand, but there is really no adequate way to do that. It is a huge inside stadium/arena. They do a show with horses, helicopters, 4 x 4's, more horses, and DINNER. You are eating a 5 course dinner being served during all of this going on around you--delicous filet mignon dinner in the middle of all that!! Your senses are just on overload. There is trick riding and beautiful music and barrel racing and humor and just everything OUTBACK. It was one of our funnest things we have ever done. I loved the "Waltzing Matilda" solo at the end. What a night! Well, that's enough for now...be back later.