I realise it may seem confusing, it often is to me also - as I have referred to many "homes" this journey ... I have indeed had many places to call home in my life. This I feel fortunate about (although it does not fare well for my gypsy spirit!)
We took the boys to fun water playgrounds and Ben challenged himself on an amazing climbing structure.
We caught up with old friends and swam in beautiful hotel pools (another activity from my teenage years!)
The kids LOVED it here. Away from some of the contrived attractions of the Gold Coast, this is an oasis. And we could not possibly have left Australia without getting close to some of its unique creatures! Benjamin got to cuddle a koala and we were all thrilled to be able to get so close.
There are only 2,000 to 8,000 koalas in the wild. Although not officially classified as endangered, the population of Australian koalas has dropped by 90% in less than a decade. This is due to the destruction of the koala's natural habitat, a narrow crescent on the eastern coast of Australia. Some developers call it "progress".
A Kangaroo is a marsupial mammal. It is a macropod which means "big foot". There are over 40 different types (species) of Kangaroo. The smaller ones are usually called Wallabies. The largest is the Red Kangaroo. It stands taller than a man and can weigh 85 kg's. It is the largest marsupial in the world.
So far 3 early sites have been discovered in Australia, one being dated about forty-seven thousand years old! To put this in perspective, so that we can appreciate the time scales, since the first fleet of British convicts arrived in Australia in 1788, there have only been 8 generations of settlers. On the other hand, there have been in excess of 18,500 generations of aboriginals! Deep respect needs to be given here.
The Lorikeets that feed at the sanctuary are completely wild. Numbers vary from day to day, depending on seasonal flowering of local food trees and the presence of predatory birds in the area. It's an incredible experience and I have this same picture (below) from my childhood!
Jordan stood for quite some time, arms up, patiently waiting. He was rewarded in the end, albeit with tired arms!
It is countdown time now for us, with only 5 days remaining. However with the photos of more snow in Ottawa that Paul just sent me - well, we may just delay our return until the Spring.
Merry Christmas to you all. May you count all your blessings as this wonderful year comes to a close. And may you plan wonderful new adventures in 2014. Go places!
xxx