So close I could reach out and touch

Featherdale Wildlife Park

We visited the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney.
We really enjoyed seeing some of Australia's outback habitat up close and personal.


This old weathered bushman met us at the bus with his tiny friend, a baby kangaroo.

No, this is not the Australian version of the necktie. Yikes!

Dr. Ellen Reames and Dr. Jim Kaminsky pose with one of Australia's ambassadors of good will.
Finally, my turn. He was surprisingly soft and cuddly. He looks as if he's winking at the camera.
Mary takes on a baby kangaroo.

Kesha and Dr. Reames take turns at feeding the kangaroos.

 

Quebe makes some new friends.

Mary has them eating from her hands.

This little pink lady enjoys some attention from our guide, Matt.

School Day in Australia

Leah Rasmussen, Deputy Principal at Carlton School
with Penny, Kesha, Mary
They were incredibly accommodating for their American visitors.

Second Grade small group Math lesson.  They have large but well-managed classes.
The kids all assumed we were from Los Angeles or New York. 
I don't think they had ever heard of Alabama.

Life size chess set at the Carlton School courtyard.  Kids play during recess and lunch.

Kesha and her new Kindy friend Aiden. (Australian term for Kindergartner)

We finished the night off with a visit to a Thai restaurant.
This restaurant has been rated No. 1 in Australia for consecutive four years.
The food was fabulous. We tried a little bit of everything.
L to R: Jonathan, Kesha, Charlie, Art, our Thai waiter, Latryce, Ken, Penny, & Dr. Reames

The land down under

We took a ferry boat ride around Darling Harbor on our first evening in Sydney.

Statue of Captain Cook. He was the first to discover Sydney in 1770.

Hyde Park, similar to New York's Central Park.

Russell Crowe's waterfront home at Woolloomooloo Bay.
(Actually he occupies only the 2nd story)
The average middle class home in Sydney costs $500,000.
Imagine what this waterfront property must be worth!

Our guide Matt feeding bread to the wild cockatoos which are native to the area.

Panaramic view of Farm Cove.

A few members of Auburn's 2009 Doctoral Cohort in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House.
L to R:  Jonathan Finch, Kesha Brackins, Penny Messick, Charlie Robinson,
Dr. Ellen Reames, Pamela Williams, Latryce Cole

First pics from Australia

Absolutely breathtaking sunrise. Untouched photo - taken from the window of the airport in Brisbane.

Me with my partner in crime, Kesha. Notice the Opera House and bridge in the background.

The picture I could not wait to take in person!!

This is Matt, our guide for the next two weeks.  Some say he's cute.  ;-)

View of the bridge from the ferry. This place is awesome!

This was the first Aussie thing I saw...it welcomed us to the Brisbane airport.

I am posting this at 9:00 A.M. Alabama time, which is Midnight Sydney time.

Must get to bed...up early tomorrow. I promise more asap!