| Vrijdag 19 juli 2002 Progam today : Healesville Sanctuary. Ik verwachtte eerlijk gezegd een soort van dierenhospitaal of zo, maar nee, `t was eerder Panckendael op z`n Australisch. Lots of Aussie animals. Veel foto`s nemen dus. Speciaal voor de Guido wilde ik een goei foto nemen van een kangeroe. That kangeroo was just a little bit too far so I stepped on the grass, only like two very little steps. The kangeroo hopped a bit closer, slowly. Behind me there was Chloe : Els... move! move! Obviously she didn`t want me to stay there, but I promised Guido a picture of a kangeroo. Anyway, picture taken I calmly walk away, to Chloe`s big relief. Turns out the slow moves of the kangeroo might well have been a preparation for attack... Innocent me didn`t have a clue. Chloe`s uncle and grandfather said they would be home at 4.30pm, we arrived 5.30pm, they came home at 6.30pm. But it was worth the wait. It was warm evening with a great meal in wonderful compagny. Driving home in the dark. "So what" you say? Well you know those yellow square signs that have kangeroos on it and that basicly mean "watch out for kangeroos"? They exist for a reason. Chloe got to test her brakes as a kangeroo was standing in the middle of the road staring at us. Three lifes saved : kangeroo, Chloe, Els. |
| Zaterdag 20 juli 2002 Plan : taking a steamtrain called Puffing Billy and drive up to a lake, in other words, a day outside. Reality : rain Change of plans : drive in the city. Lunch in a cute place called "that little noodle place" Having a ride in a carriage pulled by two horses for a rip-off-the-tourists price. Having a ride on the free speaking tram. My first impression of Melbourne... Hmmm not sure. Lots of churches. Only a few high buildings. The colors used to paint the houses make many of them look as if they`re `not real`. I like the way even the small houses - formaat arbeiderswoninkjes - have this iron curly things, that apparently are typical english, but now to me are typical Australian. I`m not sure what to say of Melbourne city yet, I`ll just have to get back. |
| Zondag 21 juli 2002 Tijd voor The Great Ocean Road. A long drive next to the ocean with wonderful views all the way. Cherry on the cake and reward for sitting in the car all day : the twelve apostles. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Spending the night in a motel was a cinema experience. Never been in one, actually never saw one like it exept... right : at the movies. |
| Woensdag 24 juli 2002 Philip Island. We went and got two out of three animal you can see from really close on Philip Island. First the koalas. The animals aren't tamed, but there is a boardwalk so you can see them from really very close. Chloe and I were lucky, cos we arrived before a touristbus did - we hate those stupid tourists ! - so we got to see the koalas in peace and not surrounded with flashing cameras. ( yes of course I took pictures too, but that's different) And then the main event: the penguin parade For some reason these little penguins - they used to be known as fairy penguins - keep coming ashore at the very same spot, even though there's tourists watching them every night. It was an incredible experience. You sit there waiting for the sun to go down, and then slowly they start making their way from the ocean up the beach, in little groups. Taking pictures is not allowed because that would of course scare them off. And then you can walk on the boardwalk and see these little ones find their way to their homes. They aren't further away from you than one meter. so very cute... Voor de Vlamingen moet ik hier ook vermelden dat op deze duidelijk zeer toeristische plaats ik ook heb gezien - of moet ik zeggen gehoord : Hollanders ! Jawel, ze zijn overal... maareuh... dat kunnen zij van ons dus eigenlijk ook zeggen... |
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