Skip to Content

Mahara's blog

Crimson Lorikeet

Wed, 2009-01-07 02:06

This lovely crimson lorikeet picture was taken at Murramarang National Park - up the coast near Bateman's Bay.  It's about three hours south of Sydney or 9 hours north of Melbourne.

 

Canberra - Magpie

Sun, 2009-01-04 03:04
Of course magpies are found all over Australia.  They have a lovely song. This just happened to be taken in Canberra

Canberra Flags

Sun, 2009-01-04 03:00
Dozens of flags in the Canberra central city

Canberra View

Sun, 2009-01-04 02:56
This is the view from our hotel room.  It's in the middle of the city, but because it is a planned city, there is lots of green spaces.  Unfortunately Canberra is a bit sterile, mainly because all these public places have no restaurants or small shops so people don't linger there much.  Also, people live in the suburbs.  Anyway, it is still pretty lovely.

Canberra Space Ball

Sun, 2009-01-04 02:22
New Years Day in Canberra - near the National Gallery of Art

From Canberra, Australia: Happy New Year!

Wed, 2008-12-31 15:06

Hi:

Well, our new years heve has come and gone as it's now 9 in the morning new years day.  We are in Canberra, Australia's capital, where we watched two fireworks displays, one at 9:30 and one at 12.  Australia goes all out for new years, and Sydney's fireworks display is especially big and expensive - $5 million dollars, because it is one of the first major cities of the world and so their show is broadcast everywhere. 

 Hope everyone has a great night tonight - whether peaceful and quiet, or celebrating, and all the best for the new year.

Mahara and Ken

Christmas in Melbourne

Tue, 2008-12-23 20:28

Hi:

Well, we are celebrating Christmas Eve, as Michele must be on call tomorrow.  Here it a breeze 20 degrees, and the sun is shining.  The folks were up at 5:30 this morning to go to the markets to buy oysters and prawns.  Apparently the line-up was around the block.  I suspect everything will be gone by noon.  We will be eating outside at 3:00.  A cold Christmas dinner - frest oysters, prawns, a huge lobster, frest trout and cold ham.  Sounds delicious.  Tomorrow we are off for around a week - driving up the coast and visiting a few friends and relatives.  Christmas is certainly well celebrated here, although not on the beaches down in Melbourne, but probably in Sydney and farther north. 

Have a great holiday everyone.

Mahara and Ken

Little Penguin, Australia

Mon, 2008-12-22 02:22
Here a baby penquin, resting in the weeds on the rough rock cliff, Phillip Island, Australia

Phillip Island, Australia

Mon, 2008-12-22 01:57

This is a picture of the coast of Phillip Island, where we went last weekend  to see penguins. It's a couple of hours drive south of Melbourne and lots of people have holiday homes there. The big draw is that at dusk several hundred tiny penguins called Fairy Penguins or Little Penguins come up from the sea in a penguin "parade" and settle down for the night.  It's a well organized attraction, which is of course important for conservation.  The night before we came 1933 penguins came ashore. Our experience was different, and in many ways just as exciting.

You see, Melbourne is in a drought and the day and evening we arrived the region received the first "real" rainfall since 2006. Around 50 mm or two inches, but it was driving rain.  We are learning more and more about the Antarctic winds every day and Phillip Island has their share.  It was so windy and rainy it was hard to walk.  So, the prospect of sitting outside for two hours waiting for these little creatures to show themselves lost out to a Christmas party buffet and dance held at our hotel.

We wandered around the "Nobbies" or knobs of land during the day, and enjoyed a great dinner with new friends, lots of dancing and discussion with others going to South America.  We went back the next day and saw a few little guys, but only in sleeping position.  There are only about a foot long.  We had a great time in spite of the very rough weather, which made our weekend quite memorable.  We will probably have another chance to see the penguins.

Phillip Island, Australia

Mon, 2008-12-22 01:57

This is a picture of the coast of Phillip Island, where we went last weekend  to see penguins. It's a couple of hours drive south of Melbourne and lots of people have holiday homes there. The big draw is that at dusk several hundred tiny penguins called Fairy Penguins or Little Penguins come up from the sea in a penguin "parade" and settle down for the night.  It's a well organized attraction, which is of course important for conservation.  The night before we came 1933 penguins came ashore. Our experience was different, and in many ways just as exciting.

You see, Melbourne is in a drought and the day and evening we arrived the region received the first "real" rainfall since 2006. Around 50 mm or two inches, but it was driving rain.  We are learning more and more about the Antarctic winds every day and Phillip Island has their share.  It was so windy and rainy it was hard to walk.  So, the prospect of sitting outside for two hours waiting for these little creatures to show themselves lost out to a Christmas party buffet and dance held at our hotel.

We wandered around the "Nobbies" or knobs of land during the day, and enjoyed a great dinner with new friends, lots of dancing and discussion with others going to South America.  We went back the next day and saw a few little guys, but only in sleeping position.  There are only about a foot long.  We had a great time in spite of the very rough weather, which made our weekend quite memorable.  We will probably have another chance to see the penguins.

Syndicate content


about seo