This past weekend was quite enjoyable. The weather was great. The grey clouds of the past few weeks seem to have disappeared for good. I feel jeans and sweatshirts will see little use for the rest of my stay. Now I must dress for the heat and intense sun. It is not uncommon to stare across campus and not be able to see anything, for the sun is blinding. I presume it is thanks to the giant hole in the ozone layer over Australia.
I was awoken Saturday morning by a phone call and half an hour later I was on a bus with friends headed for the beach. I am still red and it sometimes hurts to move. Despite slathering on sun block what seemed like every five minutes, the suns intense rays won out. The cool crisp ocean felt more refreshing that day than has ever before. I happily endured being bowled over by wave after wave, as it was a needed relief from the sun.
As enjoyable as Saturday was it was the Friday before that I will never forget. This past Friday I walked on holy land. I visited the Australian Zoo, a giant monument to the late great Steve Irwin. It is impossible to visit the place and not see a photograph or statue of this man. In addition to the unavoidable presence of the spirit of Steve Irwin, I saw many amazing animals. The zoo is home to many of Australia’s most poisonous snakes. It is worth noting that being Australia’s most poisonous snakes means they are some of the world’s most poisonous snakes. I also saw many Australian classics like kangaroos, koalas, and wombats.
Not only did I get to see these animals, I was able to feed and pet kangaroos and pet a koala. In one section of the zoo the kangaroos roamed free. By roam I mean the lounge in the sun all day, barely moving. It is this freedom granted to the animals that makes the zoo so amazing. It is not uncommon to run into large lizards or bush turkeys as you walk the concrete paths around the property.
I must say that I was surprised that the zoo was relatively small and did not have many animals that were not indigenous to Australia. Looking back I realized this adds to the experience. It creates a more intimate setting free from gimmicks. The trip is all about the animals and becoming closer to the beauty of nature. There is also a great emphasis on efforts to save the environment, as well as charities and a hospital set up by Steve Irwin.
I was able to watch the croc show, one of the main attractions of the zoo. Sadly, I was not able to see the legend himself at work, but his predecessors are very talented. It is absolutely amazing to look into the trainers’ eyes as they focus so intently on the task at hand. This focus can be the difference between life and death. Even though the animal is trained it is still a couple hundred pounds and over six feet long with powerful jaws. It was amazing how far the crocodile could get out of the water when it lunged for food. I have no doubts that it was once a dangerous force in the wild.
All in all it was an amazing experience. I took many great photographs to record my trip. However, I do not think I will have to worry about the images I saw with my own eyes fading from memory. While I have been here for a good time now I am still constantly surprised by what Australia has to offer. It is a vast and often exotic continent. The zoo brings much of the exotic nature of the rainforests and out back closer to the masses. It reminded me of why Australia has occupied my imagination since I was young.
