Australia 2012 - Featherdale Kangaroos

And the kangaroos were a blast as well ... being friendly and fun.  We were able to pet them, feed them, and all but ride them.  They were so friendly and didn't mind the girls petting them while they hopped by or ate from our fingers.  Ice cream cones, filled with some feed was just what they (and the emus) wanted.

 

 God's creative way of carrying a baby!  Pretty amazing.

The emu dance, trying to keep the birds from eating the food and from getting Jenna.  Since these birds were taller than Jenna, we guessed they looked fairly scary chasing you around.

Australia 2012 - Featherdale Koalas

The Koalas were so cool!  We all loved them.  Typically, they are only awake 4 hours a day, so its hard to get a great picture with them.  So cuddly, so soft ... we all wanted to bring one home. 

 

 

Australia 2012 - Featherdale Wildlife Park

On Friday, we drove (we rented a car in Australia for the last week) to Featherdale Wildlife Park, where we  were told we would be able to get an up close experience with Australian animals.  And, boy did we get an up close experience. 

We will post this day in three posts, one general (this one), and two focused on the koalas and kangaroos, which were so much fun.

 

 Wombat

 Kookaburra

 Tasmanian Devil

 An ICS family (the boy is in 2nd grade, other class from Addlea). 

Australia 2012 - Manly Beach

On Wednesday, we headed for Manly beach for a fun and relaxing day by the water.  Two ferry rides (one approximately 30 minutes) to Manly beach was wonderfulling relaxing, and thankfully, no one got sea sick (we were worried about Emily and Kristin for a longer boat ride).  The beach wasn't too busy, the sand was wonderfully soft ... and the water was COLD.  Very cold.  Once we got used to it though, it was lots of fun.  And of course, since we haven't been cold since we arrived in Singapore, the cold water did feel nice.

 

 After a day at the beach, lounging at Moo's Burgers overlooking the beach.  Beautiful setting, great burgers (and Kangaroo burgers) and a good end of the day. 

Riding the ferry home.  Notice the sweatshirts.  After a day in the cold water, and as the evening was getting cooler, sweatshirts were needed.  They enjoyed wearing them, since we don't in Singapore (at least not outside, anyway).

Australia 2012 - Sydney

Views from around Sydney during our visit.  Quite an amazing city built on the water with so many inlets, beaches, etc.  The ferry system was amazing.  The girls thought that riding a ferry was a lot more exciting than the bus or the MRT/train. 

Sydney (with a view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge) from the ferry.

The setting sun on Sydney as we head back to Cremorne Point one evening.

Christmas bus all decked out.

Harbour Bridge.  Beautiful setting.  For a big adventure, you can climb to the top of the bridge.  We didn't get a chance to do that.

The Opera House.  With so many stairs around the Opera House, the girls thought it was fun to run!

Luna Park, a small amusement park right next to Harbour Bridge.  Very colorful, just not very big or fun.  We only spent a few minutes there one day (Anna, Addlea and Aaron) to find out what it was like.