Answer to question posed on Freemantle/Perth posting (August 26, 2012)

On my posting of  FREEMANTLE / PERTH  I had a question about a tower in one of my photos.
PERTH DAILY PHOTO has just given me the answer!
Thank you so much!
It is THE BELL TOWER with a great deal of history -- and music.
For an interesting tribute via You Tube, click on the link below.

Farewell to Australia

These are final scenes of SYDNEY.

Traveling to Australia can be a challenge (unless you live in that part of the world). One week after I had a serious upper arm/shoulder surgery, we left on a 30 hour journey to Australia. We spent two nights at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney before joining Princess ship Dawn Princess for a one month sailing counter clockwise around Australia (with a scenic side trip to Bali). The ship was carrying a large contingent of Aussies, most of whom had boarded in Melbourne. We had an opportunity to immediately immerse ourselves in the local culture. We did not venture into the OUTBACK, and a lot of our new Aussie friends told us this was an area that they typically avoided. This vast area of central Australia can be cruel and forbidding. We often hear horror stories of venomous snakes and spiders, box jelly fish, angry Magpies, and the like (thanks to National Geographic documentaries).

Our first admonition after we were aboard was to respect the intensity of the Australian sun. During the entire trip, there were constant reminders to protect oneself against the unusually strong rays of the sun. So many of our fellow travelers bore the results of a life of unprotected time spent in the sun. All skin types seemed to be affected. There were some who did seem to be mimicking the leather like skin qualities of the local crocodiles. I saw the results of the damage to those new to Australia who did not heed the sun warnings, and I must say that the color and patterns of the burnt skin  were unlike any I had seen before, and the coloring did not seem to fade for an extended period of time.  My point in saying this is -- please protect yourself from the sun anywhere in Australia!  One has to search diligently to find any information on this topic. Tourism literature seems to avoid the subject.

Interesting note:  An Australian ship's pilot was assigned to us from Sydney to the northern eastern topmost point of Australia, to guide us through the reef area without incurring any damage (particularly to the reef). I was surprised at the extensive nature of the reef.

Should I return to Australia, I would immerse myself in rail travel. There are several important rail itineraries, and I would like to experience them all!

Sailing vessels hold an interest for us.

In November we will be sailing across the Atlantic in a 5-masted schooner.

Wings Wildlife Center, Tasmania

This is the very last posting of a visit to an Australian wildlife rescue center.

I promise.

Thanks for putting up with my love of animals.

Young kangaroo mother with baby in her pouch.

A caretaker removed the young kangaroo so we could observe him

outside the pouch,

He was very unstable and felt very uncomfortable outside the pouch.

A symbol of Australia, the KOALA.

Tasmanian Devils 

My absolute favorite, the WOMBAT.

I apologize for the fuzzy image. (No pun intended.)

We were allowed to pet him, which made my day.

Coarse fur.

Durable armor on his derriere protects him from fast-moving predators.

The WOMBAT who came home with me.

TASMANIA -- Last Stop Before Sydney

A favorite stop for visitors to Australia is the island of TASMANIA, south of the big island.

BURNIE was our first stop.

Much cooler than the rest of Australia.

Rural

Green

I took these photos on the way to WINGS Wildlife Park.

I must admit that the tranquility of Tasmania makes it my favorite, too.

Melbourne, Australia. Another Animal Park.

Healesville Sanctuary is near Melbourne.

This impressive sculpture of their wedge-tailed eagle is near the entrance. 

 

 

I was able to get some nice KOALA photos.

 

Most of the KANGAROOS lounge about.

This one was more modest than most.

 

The Australian White Ibis is easy to spot, in and out of wildlife centers.

 

In the center of the compound was an impressive taxidermy display.

To view a list of marsupials native to Australia

click HERE.

 

I apologize for the delay in posting.

I have just finished my eye surgery, so now I can see better to do this.

Secondly, Picasa had an issue with posting the photos, an that is now resolved!

 

Vineyards of Southern Australia

After leaving Puffing Billy, we traveled to the extensive Yarra Valley Vineyard area.

 

A very nice lunch was provided in the winery.

Janet and Bob, good friends from the ship

 

The vineyard

At the end of each row, was a rose bush.

 

"One learns something new each day."

If the rose is healthy, the grapes vines will also be healthy.

The same bug which destroys the vines, also loves this rose.

They keep an eye on all the roses.

 

 

 

 



 
 

 

 



"You Can't Go to Melbourne Without Riding on Puffing Billy"

Two days after leaving Adelaide on Good Friday (Holiday), we arrived in Melbourne on Easter (another Holiday). A substantial number of Aussies who had boarded initially in Melbourne were leaving the ship. "Don't forget to ride Puffing Billy", was their last admonishment. The journey began in Belgrave.  The full train trip goes all the way to Gembrook (a 5 1/2 return journey). We rode as far as Menzies Creek.

 

PUFFING BILLY has an excellent website. I would recommend clicking on Puffing Billy (above) to check out the interesting videos and learn more about the history of this great little steam train.

 

Station in Belgrave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely tree ferns along the route

 

 

 

Some rail enthusiasts (and photographers)  were disappointed by this unconventional display of legs,

(a tradition on the Puffing Billy).

 

 

 

 

We would have liked to continue to Gembrook, but the Yarro Valley Wineries were calling.