Photo TR: Chuck Goes Down Under with TPR

[chrisdangerFull Fledged Donkey Enthusiast!]

Chuck, great TP update! The koala pic matches up, if not overtakes, the hummel boy pic in my book!!

[milst1Jason X versus the Robot Space Donkey!]

Tiger loose on a truck?
Great great report!

^I think the tiger was chained to something, but you could walk right up to him. Don't think I'd wave a hamuburger in his face, though.

[Brandy524I make cake]

Cute overload! And that tiger looked pretty relaxed just chilling in a truck. Great update!

Thanks for all the comments. Always good to know that somebody can glean at least some value from my occasional bursts of nonsense.

Moving right along . . .

Chapter 5--A Wild Mouse and Other Wild Things: Aussie World and the Australia Zoo

After Dreamworld came a two-park day--and much better weather. So, we loaded the bus and headed from Surfers Paradise to a place that many of our members only dream about: the magically named BEERwah! (Yes, Jimmy in particular was fond of this name.)

Aussie World is a nice family park that caters almost exclusively to its local audience, but it was very welcoming to us, with ERT not only on its particularly insane wooden Wild Mouse (even wilder than Luna Park's), but also its Rock 'n' Roll Rebel indoor flat ride and the only Disk-O in Australia--the brand, spankin' new Giant Redback! The park invited us to be the first to ride their newest attraction, and there was even a local TV news crew to document the occasion. Yes, I guess they were astounded that a bunch of crazy coaster enthusiasts from the U.S. and other countries would come all the way to Beerwah to ride a Wild Mouse and a Disk-O.

They don't know us very well, do they?

Here's a look at Aussie World. The Australia Zoo will come a bit later.

After a nice lunch at Bluey's in the Ettamogah Pub (I did have squid and chips and beer, by the way), we headed out to the Australia Zoo, the brainchild of the Steve Irwin, the late "Crocodile Hunter." He did a nice job, too, as this is an excellent zoo with a nice, knowledgable staff. Some of us signed up for a three-hour private tour, which enabled us to catch just about everything on this sprawling, critter-filled property.

Steve Irwin's shadow looms rather heavily over the place, and you can tell they miss him keenly. Our guide always referred to "Steve believed this" or "Steve said that." But I think the zoo is in very capable hands and will continue to thrive. It's a terrific showplace not only for Australian wildlife, but also for animals from other regions.

Get ready for the last set of animal pictures in this TR. You can be happy or sad about this. It's totally up to you.

[mwm1444A donkey is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family.]

I don't think that's Spiny Norman, he's a little too small to scare Dinsdale Piranha.

Do I get nerd points for that?

And was the squid 'n' chips as amazing as it sounds?

[JimmyBoMr. October]

Awesome stuff Chuck! You and I are now tied for slowest updates EVER. I mean, this trip was almost 2 months ago and we both haven't finished our updates. Great pictures and thank you for calling me a drunk...I'll drink to that!

Jimmy "Roo Heaven was Poo Heaven" Bo

[SharkTumsSite Admin]

I really liked the zoo a lot, but I couldn't get over the sort of 'aura of sadness' that seemed to be there even five years after Steve's death.

He must have been a really great leader and friend as all the staff seemed to really know him personally.

In somewhat related news, flipping through the channels the other night I saw the Jon & Kate Plus 8 kids and Kate at the Australia Zoo and it was a train wreck!! I couldn't even watch the whole thing it bothered me so much!

[milst1Jason X versus the Robot Space Donkey!]

Great update!