~ australia at last! ~
YAY!!!!!!
I cannot believe I am finally here!
I couldn't have asked for a better flight - through a rather stupifying coincidence, or, as I would prefer to think, fate (teehee) my gorgeous friend Brianna was on the same flight as me for the first two parts of the journey, seated directly in front of me! I moved up to sit with her because the plane was quite empty. Here we are:
And here we are in the airport in Honolulu:
The Honolulu airport is such a funny place. I felt like I had not only travelled to a different country, but that I had flown back in time and landed in the seventies! But they did have really cool signs for the bathrooms:
We went for a walk outside and breathed in the lovely Hawaiian air..... and then had to get back on the plane to fly to Fiji.
The plane was quite empty for all three flights - I had my whole row to myself, so I stretched out and had a nap.
We landed in Fiji at 5 AM local time..... and were greeted by some lovely live Fijiian music. (I still need to figure out how to post the video here)
We were warned of the menacing Giant African Snail:
And the sales clerk in one of the many duty free stores offered to take our picture (my head's in front of where it says Fiji, curses!):
And then we parted ways - Brianna flew to Auckland, and I to Brisbane. It was so wonderful to have her company! Thanks, my beautiful friend! It was so much fun travelling with you!
So, I got picked up at the airport - YAYAYAYAYAY!!! Customs was a breeze - they didn't even ask to see any of the items I had declared, nor did they ask to see the doctor's note for my prescriptions! And I didn't even see the dogs! I was so incredibly nervous about it, and NOTHING! The drive to my friend's place was slightly more stressful - the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car, and the car is on the wrong side of the road! I saw a koala crossing sign (so cool!) and the most amusing pedestrian crossing sign I have ever seen! (although perhaps it was just me.....)
After a shower and lots of visiting, we went out to a park near the water resevoir on a quest to find kangaroos. The water was so so so so low! Australia is currently experiencing the worst drought in its history, and we're on level 5 water restrictions. We didn't find any kangaroos, but I did have the shit scared out of me by an unexpected grasshopper!
Yesterday, we went to the zoo!
I saw dingos, waterbuffalo, a wombat, an echidna, wallabies, kangaroos, cassowaries, emus, pythons, a scorpion, a little baby crocodile and my most favorite part - koalas!
There was a little tiny baby koala in one of the trees.... oh. my. god. I have never seen anything so cute. Except perhaps Hummy and Peanut.
I also got a picture of one of the koalas mid yawn:
I got to pet the python - it felt so cool!
You can go into the kangaroo enclosure and feed the kangaroos! Here I am:
(He drooled on me)
And then.... the most wonderful, lovely, awesome, perfect thing - I GOT TO HOLD A KOALA!!!!!!!!!!
She was so sweet - only a year and a half old.......
Here are some pictures from my camera:
And here is a scan of the official zoo photo:
I didn't want to give her back to her keeper, I wanted to bring her home with me..... gorgeous little creature.
So, in conclusion, all is well, I arrived safely, and if it hasn't been made abundantly clear thus far, let it be known that I am having a GREAT time!
Love to all!