EManating around the Globe

Gallery: Whitsunday cruise/ Magnetic Island

emmaroo — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:00 GMT

Wild Koalas!

emmaroo — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:03:00 GMT

We just went on the Forts walk on Magnetic Island. It's my newest favorite part of the trip. We thought we might see a koala or two but we ended up seeing 11! hehe. But we have so many pictures you'd think we'd seen 100. On the way up we saw a young koala still hanging out with his mother but not attached to her anymore. Then we saw a few bigger ones just hanging out, or curled up in a little ball sleeping. Towards the top we came across a mother holding her baby. She was protecting him from the wind. We went on up to the top to check out the view and when we were heading down she had moved and was eating. It was the coolest thing to see her hop from branch to branch and the baby would just hang on for the ride. We watched them for quite a while. The baby would either hang onto her back or crawl around to the front. He's the cutest little thing I've ever seen, couldn't have been more than 5 months old. So the walk was a success because there was a spectacular view of the bay, we saw 11 koalas including 2 babies, and we did NOT see the death adder (one of the worlds most venemous snakes).

Paradise...

emmaroo — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:34:00 GMT

We've found paradise in a little hostel called Bungalow Bay on Magnetic Island. We're staying in our own little Bungalow and we even have a pet lizard inside. On the grounds are a campsite, pool, rest./bar, and koala reserve. Yesterday we fed the lorikeets. THey know that htey get fed at 4:30 every day so at 4:20 they all started squaking in the trees above. We had them landing on our shoulders, heads, pecking at us for food. They are really beautifully colored although sooo loud!

The highlight of the trip so far for me has been watching platypus swim in the river! They are a bit smaller than I expected but even more cute! We took a tour in the Eungella National Forest in Mackay and spotted two that were diving around in the river for food. I feel so lucky to have gotten to see them in the wild, and so close too.

After Mackay we went to Airlie Beach where we left on a Pirate ship for a cruise around the Whitsunday Islands. We got to do some awesome snorkeling. The coral in the Great Barrier Reef is brilliantly colored and it was scary yet amazing to see so many fish swimming inches underneath me! It's always been one of my dreams to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef.

Next we're headed to Cairns for a couple of days before we fly down to Melbourne. I have loved being in the woods and out to sea more than I expected but I am also excited to get back to the city. <3

Gallery: Byron Bay & Brisbane

emmaroo — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:23:00 GMT

Brisbane

emmaroo — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:48:00 GMT

We're in Brisbane! We spent four days in Sydney, moved up for a week in Byron Bay, and now we're in Briz.

Our greatest experience so far was snorkeling in Byron Bay. We went out for an hour and saw an 8 ft. Wobegone shark, a couple rays, fish, and a baby sea turtle! He popped his head up for some air before he realized that there were a bunch of people oohing and aahing over him and then he went and hid himself at the bottom. I was panicking at first, jumping into the ocean and now knowing what was underneath me. Plus, I hate breathing out of my mouth so I was gagging on the snorkel. But I got used to it and it was well worth it. We're looking forward to doing more snorkeling as we head up the coast.

We saw some koalas and roos at a Wildlife Park in Sydney. SOOO cute! From our pics you'd think we saw about 50 koalas but really just 5-8 or so. They were just the funniest creatures, wedging themselves into the trees, curling up to sleep some more. Look for the 'koala on a stick' pic. Dunno how they can be comfortable sleeping in those positions. Maybe it helps that they're stoned all the time from the eucalyptus.

This week we've just been lazing around. Went on a bushwalk (hiking in the woods) and saw a great view of Brisbane from the top of Mt. Coot-tha. Yesterday we went to an art museum which was... not so exciting. Next we'll be in Noosa and from there we'll be going on a canoe/camping trip. I'm excited now but wondering if I'll really be able to survive two nights of camping. :P

Gallery: Week 1 Down Under

emmaroo — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:31:00 GMT