Photo TR: Chuck Goes Down Under with TPR

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

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?

Yep--Spiny Norman (at least he looked a lot like Spiny Norman). The squid and chips (that is, calamari and fries) were pretty good. These were on the buffet at Dreamworld, too.

[Brandy524I make cake]

Another awesome update, but I've come to expect no less.

[jray21Why do I still have a donkey title???]

Awesome update and captions as always! Bum Hummers!?!? What the hell were those? The Australian zoo looks so awesome, I just hope I can visit sometime in the next ten years

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

^I think the "Bum Hummers" were pickled onions--eww! I despise any food item that's been "pickled."

[GinnyI wrote the book about donkeys!]

Thanks for the update Chuck. That was a really fun day.

[Brandy524I make cake]

^I think the "Bum Hummers" were pickled onions--eww! I despise any food item that's been "pickled."

The name "Bum Hummer" is enough to turn me off to it regardless of what food item it actually is.

[chrisdangerFull Fledged Donkey Enthusiast!]

Bum Huggers, gotta love those Aussies and their folksy ways..

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

Chapter 6--Return of the Son from Beyond the Valley of Creepy Guy: Luna Park Melbourne

We made a wet exit from Surfers Paradise. (It was raining. Get your mind out of the gutter.) But the weather was good in Melbourne, if a bit chilly after dark, for our evening at Luna Park. This was Australia's first Luna Park, and it's been open since 1912. It's also home to what may be the oldest operating roller coaster in the world: the Scenic Railway. This is one of few remaining coasters that requires a brakeman, and this alone makes the park worth visiting.

Like its younger cousin in Sydney, Luna Park Melbourne still has that old-fashioned vibe, thanks to its Moorish architecture and old carousel (a beautifully maintained Philadelpha Toboggan Company model from 1913). They pack quite a few flats into a small place, too, along with an old-school Ghost Train, which has a bit of a "cult following," according to the park. (Director Tim Burton rode this Ghost Train a few years back and said it was very "Ed Wood.")

There's a funky restaurant and shopping district just a block away from the park, as well.

Here's a look--but first, it's time for one of those TPR classic "bonus credits"!

[SidraWhat would donkeys be like on the moon?]

I love this whole report. I'm a bit behind in reading certain threads so I just caught up with the whole one today. Australia looks like it was an amazing trip.

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

More Luna Park Melbourne--you know you want it!