Monday, April 11, 2011

it's all I ever wanted from Australia.

Many of my dreams came true on our second day in Brisbane. 

First off- it stopped raining and we didn't see another drop our entire trip. I prayed a lot that it would stop raining and I'm grateful that my prayers worked!

Second- we went to Steve Irwin's famed Australia Zoo.  Steve Irwin is still very beloved and quite the legend in Australia- but especially so in Brisbane where his family lives and continues to run the zoo.  The place was astounding. Honestly one of my favorite things that we did in Australia.
Just check out the foilage. I've never been anywhere so green.
I love that you've got palm trees, coniferous trees, and then normal deciduous trees all in the same spot.
I'm assuming this is what Hawaii looks like?!

The zoo is no ordinary zoo.  Some animals just roam wild (mostly lizards and birds) and run over your feet!
and check this out- even their pigeons are better than ours.
I have no idea what kind of bird this is- but I loved it.
 The very coolest thing about the place was that you could walk freely through the uncaged animal areas!!!
I was obsessed with the koalas.  They have to be the cutest little creatures you've ever seen. I just wanted to SQUEEZE them.  We weren't supposed to bother the sleeping ones - but I couldn't help snapping a gazillion pictures (and maybe touching a few). 

You can't tell me that this guy isn't adorable?!
While I was petting one of the awake koalas and talking to Kent- I realized that my feet were getting wet.  I looked down to see that I was being peed all over.  Lovely.  It was well worth it, though.
Honestly I probably took at least 75 pictures of these guys.  These are just a few of my faves.



The zoo is obviously quite famous for the crocodiles and the crocodile show was pretty exciting.
Plus- they gave away free stuff to the person who could be the best wild animal.  Yea. I totally won that one.  There's not much I won't do for free stuff.
and Kent won us some more free stuff when he volunteered to be a landing pad for birds. 
 We hit the 'Asian' section of the zoo where we got to see tigers and feed elephants!
 The elephants got our hands pretty snotty and gross.
My favorite animals of all were the roos.  Such amazing creatures!
We even saw a bunch with joeys in their pouches!  it was really really cool.
They had pretty sharp and large claws but only got temperamental when I tried to pick one up.  They do get you pretty nasty and gooey with their saliva, though.  We got some food to give them and they got pretty crazy trying to get every last piece!
The wallabies liked Kent lots more than they liked me.
I couldn't believe how soft and fluffy the roos and wallabies were.  I was expecting them to be rougher.
We definitely lucked out with a very non crowded day. We got to spend a lot of time with the animals without  very many people around!
This roo wouldn't let go of Kent's hand, I loved it.
I had to include this sign at the eating area.  I love the word rubbish.
After a long day at the zoo- Kent posed with Steve and we made our way back to the train station to head back downtown.

If you ever go to Australia- you've got to go to the zoo.  I really wanted to see roos and koalas- and it made it so much better to be able to play with them!!  plus just the atmosphere of the zoo with all of the trees and plants and flowers.  A-mazing.

8 comments:

Emilee said...

I'm quite jealous. That zoo looks amazing. How fun to get to touch all those animals.

Lindsay said...

I want to go to Australia now!! Sounds like such a great trip. I'm so glad you got to take such an amazing trip. Gotta celebrate the end of med school! So fun!

Great pic of Kent and Steve.

Looking forward to more Australia posts.

Michelle said...

Man ALIVE - that is quite the adventure you guys had. ALL of the pictures are so fabulous. The animals are amazing ... even that rainbow pigeon was so cool!

I am in awe with all the different kinds of trees and flowers there are.

I'm still laughing at that picture of Kent ... classic!

I can't believe you got to just touch and feed all those animals. That is just remarkable.

SO glad you take awesome pics and document so well. That was very neat to read. :)

Michelle said...

Oh yeah - and your wild animal impersonation ROCKS. hahahahaha. I loved it!

Jana said...

I am loving your Austraila posts. It is a place I have always wanted to visit, but this is as close as I am going to get for a long while. Thanks for taking so many pictures. I am glad you and Kent were able to go, you both deserve it.
Good luck with graduation and the move. Hugs from Milwaukee!

M- your favorite said...

That is so awesome! I love that you got to pet all the animals. That is so amazing! So much fun!

Kirsten said...

Leisy! I have checked your blog here and there but I don't think I have ever commented. It has been so fun to read about your adventures (Australia looks like it was a blast) and hear about what is happening in your life. I kinda feel like I know more about what to expect down the med school path by reading your blog. =) It is crazy to think that when I met you you guys were really just starting med school. Now you're done and on to residency. It seems like it has gone fast....tell me it has! =) Good luck in Dayton!

Chris Howell said...

Very cool pics and big plug for Austraila...what about the promised land? Don't we rate? I guess we have lost favor in God's eyes due to our wickedness from the top down.