We're going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

Today is our last day in Brisbane and Becky thought, if it was a nice day, then a beach day might be in order but when we get up it's looking pleasant out there but quite windy and in view of the foamy seas we decide maybe not a beach day today! So what else can we do - well Oliver lives pretty close to the Australia Zoo that the famous Aussie Steve Irwin set up before he died tragically a few years ago! That sounds good to both of us and even Oliver seems keen so we're off to the Zoo! We really should have a couple of children to take but can't find any, until we arrive there and there's two bus loads of school kids being unloaded - damn! Most of the kids are the same size as the backpacks they're carrying, and they all have hats and are wearing them. They look quite smart and seem well behaved, so different to a school trip from back home!

Fortunately, as it's a weekday, it's fairly quiet and we don't have to queue for long to pay. I insist on paying for all of us as a thanks to Oliver for taking us everywhere. The girl taking my money asks if we're interested in paying an extra $2 each to visit the hospital to see how they look after their sick animals and I just say, after checking with Becky and Oli, "No thanks, we're not interested in the sick ones!" I thought the poor girl was having a fit as she sat there with a look of shock and horror on her face and tried not to laugh and Becky told me off for making another one of those comments I'm not supposed to make! Oh well!

We had a wander around the Zoo, checking out all the animals, especially enjoying the new 'Africa' section with Giraffes and Zebra seemingly roaming the Savannah which was just a big field, but made to look extremely authentic! We walked to the end where three keepers had two Cheetahs on leashes and were talking to visitors about them. We were amused at the way they watched the Zebra and couldn't help but wish that they would just go, dragging the keepers behind them as they ran at 80 miles per hour after the Zebra! It didn't happen other than in my head!


We visited the lunchtime show where they get some birds to fly in and do a display, then they get the Crocs to come in for a bit of food and show how powerful they are. None of the keepers got eaten but I don't think I'll be getting close to any Crocodiles any time soon! We had some lunch joined by Lizards and Ibis which isn't something you see everyday back home but was actually quite nice! Then we continued around the main area, said hello to some Koalas and Kangaroos as well as some other Australian animals, before leaving at which point I realised I'd lost my umbrella somewhere. I know I brought it and don't think I left it in the car but after a quick look in the restaurant area and in the stands where the show was, we gave up then and i hope one of the Crocodiles or other animals hasn't eaten it as it won't do it any good! That's two things I've lost in Brisbane now since we arrived here, as I lost a top soon after we arrived when we removed some layers because of the heat and by the time we arrived at Oli's I was minus the top I'd removed! If I carry on like this I won't have anything to take home!



We got home in time to put our feet up for half an hour before having to get ready to go out for dinner with Oliver and his Mum, plus his brother, wife and little one, for a farewell get together. It was a nice chance to get a little bit dressed up and we all had a lovely evening and said our farewells and thanks to them all for looking after us so well, we only hope we can do the same for them some time!