Here's a short video my friend Cameron threw together about our trip through Central Australia. More pictures to come soon!
Monday, 7 May 2012
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Road Trip to that Big Red Rock in the Desert
Hey there,
I guess its been about a month since I last posted. Schools been good, and I've had the chance to do lots of climbing during my 4 day weekends. This past week (and the next one) Australian schools have a two week break for Easter. Originally I was planning on going to find somewhere to climb, but then my friend Cameron invited me to go on a road trip with him and his friend Robbie through the desert to Uluru (Ayers Rock).
We left on Friday morning at around 9:30. Cameron and I were on a field trip to Mt Buffalo the Wednesday and Thursday before, so we had little time to get organized. I went shopping for all the food on Thursday night and got it all ready for the trip.
The first day was a good push day driving. We saw 3 Emus on the road which was pretty cool, I hadn't seen any wild ones yet. I got to have my first opportunity driving in Australia. First time driving on the oposite side of the road, first time driving manual, and in a mini dust storm. All in all it worked out very well.
When we got to the boarder, there were people checking cars for fresh fruits and veggies. Apparently theres a movement to stop fruit flies so they don't allow fruits and veggies to go between states. I did a real good job packing all of the fruit and veggies together in the Esky, so the boarder guards took everything. We had dinner on the side of the road that night. Rice and bean burritos... with no veggies. Still was delicious and the boys thanked me for bringing good food. They said otherwise they would have been eating two-minute noodles every night. (If theres one thing to do right on a trip, its food!)
We drove until about midnight. Cam and Robbie rolled out their "Swags" (Kind of like a Bivvy Sac) and I slept in the truck because I couldn't be bothered to pitch my tent. Woke up in the morning to a sweet sunrise.
I made eggs for breakfast, and then after a little mountain boarding we hit the road. As we drove past different towns I realized that Departures did this trip in their last episode of Season 3. Awesome.
We stopped in a mining town called Coober Pedy to shop for veggies. Coober Pedy is the Opal mining capital of the world. We said that we would stop here and explore on the way back.
Made it to Uluru for sunset. What a wild feeling to actually be standing there. The rock lit up reflecting the suns light. I didn't think I'd ever actually make it to Uluru, but I'm so happy that I did. We (along with the other masses of people) took all of our touristy pictures of the rock and the sunset behind Kata Tjuta (which is equally as awesome).
I guess its been about a month since I last posted. Schools been good, and I've had the chance to do lots of climbing during my 4 day weekends. This past week (and the next one) Australian schools have a two week break for Easter. Originally I was planning on going to find somewhere to climb, but then my friend Cameron invited me to go on a road trip with him and his friend Robbie through the desert to Uluru (Ayers Rock).
We left on Friday morning at around 9:30. Cameron and I were on a field trip to Mt Buffalo the Wednesday and Thursday before, so we had little time to get organized. I went shopping for all the food on Thursday night and got it all ready for the trip.
The first day was a good push day driving. We saw 3 Emus on the road which was pretty cool, I hadn't seen any wild ones yet. I got to have my first opportunity driving in Australia. First time driving on the oposite side of the road, first time driving manual, and in a mini dust storm. All in all it worked out very well.
When we got to the boarder, there were people checking cars for fresh fruits and veggies. Apparently theres a movement to stop fruit flies so they don't allow fruits and veggies to go between states. I did a real good job packing all of the fruit and veggies together in the Esky, so the boarder guards took everything. We had dinner on the side of the road that night. Rice and bean burritos... with no veggies. Still was delicious and the boys thanked me for bringing good food. They said otherwise they would have been eating two-minute noodles every night. (If theres one thing to do right on a trip, its food!)
We drove until about midnight. Cam and Robbie rolled out their "Swags" (Kind of like a Bivvy Sac) and I slept in the truck because I couldn't be bothered to pitch my tent. Woke up in the morning to a sweet sunrise.
I made eggs for breakfast, and then after a little mountain boarding we hit the road. As we drove past different towns I realized that Departures did this trip in their last episode of Season 3. Awesome.
We stopped in a mining town called Coober Pedy to shop for veggies. Coober Pedy is the Opal mining capital of the world. We said that we would stop here and explore on the way back.
Made it to Uluru for sunset. What a wild feeling to actually be standing there. The rock lit up reflecting the suns light. I didn't think I'd ever actually make it to Uluru, but I'm so happy that I did. We (along with the other masses of people) took all of our touristy pictures of the rock and the sunset behind Kata Tjuta (which is equally as awesome).
When the sun finally set we went off to find a camping spot nearby. We found a sweet spot where free camping is permitted, had a stir fry dinner, and slept out under the stars. Desert stars are crazy cool. The moon came out and was bright enough to read by the light of it. It didn't go away either until the sun came out with a breathtaking sunrise.
That day we hiked the 11km around the base of Uluru (plus all the detours to check out specific areas). The interpretation in the area is very well done, and they do a very good job managing the masses of people that come through. We did not climb Uluru as requested by the aboriginal peoples in the area. The Monolith is of sacred importance to their culture. There are signs everywhere that say "We do not climb Uluru", however it seems like many people disregard that message entirely. A chain staircase has also been erected on one of the faces for people to climb. I read that there is a movement to make it illegal to climb Uluru, but its not the case yet. I had no desire to climb the rock once I learned about the aboriginal requests. The base walk was absolutely spectacular. We stopped by the culture centre and looked at some very cool but very expensive aboriginal art. There were some wood carvings that I thought I might like, but then I remembered I was a student with no money.
We said goodbye to Uluru, and headed to Kata Tjuta. It was still early in the day, so we decided to do another hike (9km). The hike was much more physically intensive than the base walk of Uluru, and I enjoyed it very much. We walked the track in reverse to avoid the masses of people only doing the short walk to the lookout. The views were incredible. We found a flowing stream and washed up a bit and had a much needed drink. The sun was baking that day and it was about 30 degrees. We made pasta and watched the sunset at Kata Tjuta, then drove towards Kings Canyon. En route, we almost ran into a pack of wild Brumbies (Horses) and said goodbye to a little owl via the truck's bumper. We camped in a dried up creek bed under a big red moon. Robbie asked "Is there a full moon every night in the desert?"
That day we hiked the 11km around the base of Uluru (plus all the detours to check out specific areas). The interpretation in the area is very well done, and they do a very good job managing the masses of people that come through. We did not climb Uluru as requested by the aboriginal peoples in the area. The Monolith is of sacred importance to their culture. There are signs everywhere that say "We do not climb Uluru", however it seems like many people disregard that message entirely. A chain staircase has also been erected on one of the faces for people to climb. I read that there is a movement to make it illegal to climb Uluru, but its not the case yet. I had no desire to climb the rock once I learned about the aboriginal requests. The base walk was absolutely spectacular. We stopped by the culture centre and looked at some very cool but very expensive aboriginal art. There were some wood carvings that I thought I might like, but then I remembered I was a student with no money.
We said goodbye to Uluru, and headed to Kata Tjuta. It was still early in the day, so we decided to do another hike (9km). The hike was much more physically intensive than the base walk of Uluru, and I enjoyed it very much. We walked the track in reverse to avoid the masses of people only doing the short walk to the lookout. The views were incredible. We found a flowing stream and washed up a bit and had a much needed drink. The sun was baking that day and it was about 30 degrees. We made pasta and watched the sunset at Kata Tjuta, then drove towards Kings Canyon. En route, we almost ran into a pack of wild Brumbies (Horses) and said goodbye to a little owl via the truck's bumper. We camped in a dried up creek bed under a big red moon. Robbie asked "Is there a full moon every night in the desert?"
The next day we did a 9km hike in Kings Canyon and took some really cool panoramic pictures. The first 10 minutes of the hike are spent climbing 150 meters in elevation on stairs cemented out of rocks. The first look out when you get to the top is pretty cool, but it just keeps getting better and better as you continue the hike. We got caught in some heavy rain while in the gorge, so we spent about 20 minutes hiding in a cave by a waterhole called "The Garden of Eden". On the way back to the parking lot I ran into an Israeli family and pretty successfully conversed in Hebrew until they started speaking English to me. We had lunch with some french backpackers, then drove to Alice Springs for dinner, and then on to camp at Devils Marbles. The stars were amazing that night and I had to pull over while driving to stargaze. I'm really getting better at driving stick.
In the morning, we hiked around the iconic Devils Marbles and took some pictures on some cool looking boulders. This was the farthest North we were going to be on the road trip. We started heading back to Alice Springs, stopping at Wycleff Well on the way because they did in Departures. Wycleff Well is the UFO capital of Australia and had a very "Alien" vibe going for it. In Alice, I mailed home a post card, and then went to the Reptile Centre to see some snakes, lizards, and a huge saltwater crocodile. I was taking pictures of a Goana when my camera finally died. I got to hold an Olive Python which was pretty cool, but then I got showed up by a 1 and a half year old who had the Python wrapped around him for some pictures.
From there we headed off to Rainbow Valley. To get there we needed to drive 25km off road down a red dirt rocky track. It was the kind of desert driving I was hoping for, and I had the honour of driving our Ute Poseidon down the road. We got to Rainbow Valley for a sweet sunset, then took the mountain board for a spin. Mountain boarding is like waterskiing, only behind a truck. I made another stir fry for dinner, and we had our first campfire on the trip. The night was a much needed chill night after so many days of driving in the dark.
In the morning, we hiked around the iconic Devils Marbles and took some pictures on some cool looking boulders. This was the farthest North we were going to be on the road trip. We started heading back to Alice Springs, stopping at Wycleff Well on the way because they did in Departures. Wycleff Well is the UFO capital of Australia and had a very "Alien" vibe going for it. In Alice, I mailed home a post card, and then went to the Reptile Centre to see some snakes, lizards, and a huge saltwater crocodile. I was taking pictures of a Goana when my camera finally died. I got to hold an Olive Python which was pretty cool, but then I got showed up by a 1 and a half year old who had the Python wrapped around him for some pictures.
From there we headed off to Rainbow Valley. To get there we needed to drive 25km off road down a red dirt rocky track. It was the kind of desert driving I was hoping for, and I had the honour of driving our Ute Poseidon down the road. We got to Rainbow Valley for a sweet sunset, then took the mountain board for a spin. Mountain boarding is like waterskiing, only behind a truck. I made another stir fry for dinner, and we had our first campfire on the trip. The night was a much needed chill night after so many days of driving in the dark.
In the morning, I woke up early and went for a hike around Rainbow Valley. I followed some dingo tracks for about 2km in the sand and then decided to hike up to the top of the cliff face. When I came back it was time to hit the road and on to Coober Pedy. In Coober Pedy, lots of the houses were built underground as protection from the sun. We checked out some of the underground houses and a mining museum, and then started the long drive home.
Around 10 pm I pulled over to pull a dead Kangaroo off the road so that no animals get hurt trying to eat it in the middle of the road. We should have taken this as a sign, because around midnight a 40 kilogram kangaroo jumped out infront of the truck and there was no way to stop in time. I'd never hit anything before and felt (and still do feel) really bad about the whole thing. To make matters worse, the truck took some good damage. Cam took over driving, and not 10 minutes later slalomed through 3 Kangaroos in the middle of the road narrowly missing them. We decided that it was time to stop and we'd worry about getting to a town to fix the Ute in the morning.
We took a better look at the truck in morning, and realized that the roo had done more damage than we originally thought. The push bar on the front of the truck had caved in and broken the turbo intake pipe line into the engine. The engine was sucking air (and dust and anything else) completely unfiltered. The first mechanic we showed it to said that we'd have to spend at least a week in town before he could get it fixed, and recommended we go to the crash centre. The crash centre said that the whole thing could blow if it overheated. We weren't getting good news from anyone. Finally a younger mechanic said that if we could get a pipe fitted to divert the turbo directly into the engine that we could make it home safely. They couldn't make the pipe there, but in the next town over in Barri they could.
We thanked them for their help, and limped the 40km to Barri. When we got to the mechanic there, there was a sign that said "Be back at 1:15". It was 10:30 in the morning, so we waited about an hour, then got hungry. The town centre was pretty close so we went to grab a feed. While walking into the strip plaza, the craziest thing happened. I ran directly into my friend Lina who I worked with last summer at Project Canoe. She had been backpacking by herself in Australia and after her car broke down in Adelaide had no plans. In this little tiny town called Barri, Lina and I caught up on 8 months of adventure stories while the truck was being fixed. Lina was headed to Melbourne to fly home the following week, so I asked if she wanted a lift back to Albury. So Lina joined our road trip for the last day and a half.
The stars were beautiful again that last night, and we camped about a 4 hour drive from home. 2 minute noodles for dinner were greatly appreciated by all after a hard day. The patch job on the truck works great. There isn't as much power behind it as usual, but thats expected with no turbo intake. Everybody is safe and happy.
We made it to Albury around lunch time, unpacked the truck, and took a much needed shower. Lina's going to stay a few days here and then head off to Melbourne. Crazy how things work. I get to go on another school hiking and whitewater rafting trip leaving on the 19th I cant wait. My pictures got wiped off my card when Cameron uploaded them to his computer, so I'll have to get them from him soon.
I just finished reading The Game of Thrones. You all should read it. The show is good, but the book is fantastic. I'll catch you guys soon!
Around 10 pm I pulled over to pull a dead Kangaroo off the road so that no animals get hurt trying to eat it in the middle of the road. We should have taken this as a sign, because around midnight a 40 kilogram kangaroo jumped out infront of the truck and there was no way to stop in time. I'd never hit anything before and felt (and still do feel) really bad about the whole thing. To make matters worse, the truck took some good damage. Cam took over driving, and not 10 minutes later slalomed through 3 Kangaroos in the middle of the road narrowly missing them. We decided that it was time to stop and we'd worry about getting to a town to fix the Ute in the morning.
We took a better look at the truck in morning, and realized that the roo had done more damage than we originally thought. The push bar on the front of the truck had caved in and broken the turbo intake pipe line into the engine. The engine was sucking air (and dust and anything else) completely unfiltered. The first mechanic we showed it to said that we'd have to spend at least a week in town before he could get it fixed, and recommended we go to the crash centre. The crash centre said that the whole thing could blow if it overheated. We weren't getting good news from anyone. Finally a younger mechanic said that if we could get a pipe fitted to divert the turbo directly into the engine that we could make it home safely. They couldn't make the pipe there, but in the next town over in Barri they could.
We thanked them for their help, and limped the 40km to Barri. When we got to the mechanic there, there was a sign that said "Be back at 1:15". It was 10:30 in the morning, so we waited about an hour, then got hungry. The town centre was pretty close so we went to grab a feed. While walking into the strip plaza, the craziest thing happened. I ran directly into my friend Lina who I worked with last summer at Project Canoe. She had been backpacking by herself in Australia and after her car broke down in Adelaide had no plans. In this little tiny town called Barri, Lina and I caught up on 8 months of adventure stories while the truck was being fixed. Lina was headed to Melbourne to fly home the following week, so I asked if she wanted a lift back to Albury. So Lina joined our road trip for the last day and a half.
The stars were beautiful again that last night, and we camped about a 4 hour drive from home. 2 minute noodles for dinner were greatly appreciated by all after a hard day. The patch job on the truck works great. There isn't as much power behind it as usual, but thats expected with no turbo intake. Everybody is safe and happy.
We made it to Albury around lunch time, unpacked the truck, and took a much needed shower. Lina's going to stay a few days here and then head off to Melbourne. Crazy how things work. I get to go on another school hiking and whitewater rafting trip leaving on the 19th I cant wait. My pictures got wiped off my card when Cameron uploaded them to his computer, so I'll have to get them from him soon.
I just finished reading The Game of Thrones. You all should read it. The show is good, but the book is fantastic. I'll catch you guys soon!
Friday, 9 March 2012
Hey folks,
The past two weeks have been really great. I'm all settled down to university life again. The courses I'm taking are: Social Psychology of Risk in Outdoor Recreation, Conservation Biology, Advanced Principles of Ecotourism, and Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism. I am particularly enjoying the Social Psych course, and I feel like if I do my masters in anything, it will be in the psychology of risk in outdoor recreation. I've toyed with the idea a lot, but we'll see where life takes us. My schedule worked out so that I have Thursdays and Fridays off, which means I'll have some time to go on some wicked adventures (and do my homework of course Mom)!
I finally got out on some rock in Australia at a small craig called Felltimber. The craig has some short sport routes and a bunch of really cool boulder problems. Its similar to the Centennial Bluffs back in Tbay. There's heaps more climbing in and around the area and I'm going to be climbing tons more. One of the guys I met and I are planning on either going to the Grampians or Mt Arapiles next week from Wednesday night to Sunday. Hoping for the best!
The last two days, I've been at Mt Buffalo helping to lead an adventure day for the first year Adventure Ecotourism students. A group of us went up on Thursday to set up and do some recon of the areas which we'd be working with. The first year students came up on Friday morning, and we went abseiling of a 50 meter cliff called "Dragon's Foot", took a nice squeeze through an underwater cave, and then went whitewater rafting down the Ovens river.
The cave was one of the coolest parts of the adventure for me. Because of all the flooding thats been going on here, the cave was pumping with water. There was a really strong current pushing through, and there were 4 waterfalls that we had to climb. At one section, you had to slide down on your back on a slippery section of rock where the space was just big enough to fit your helmet through, while holding on to a rock with your hands above your head. Then, you had to go shoulder deep in the water so your helmet would fit through a flaring crack that entered a tunnel which very slowly over ten meters opened up to another room where we could climb out over another waterfall.
I posted more pictures which you can find on Facebook. I think I'm going to start a new album that just includes select photos, because its getting to be pretty excessive.
Hope all is well back home!
Off to do some assignments so I can keep going on sweet weekend adventures:)
Cheers,
Matty
The past two weeks have been really great. I'm all settled down to university life again. The courses I'm taking are: Social Psychology of Risk in Outdoor Recreation, Conservation Biology, Advanced Principles of Ecotourism, and Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism. I am particularly enjoying the Social Psych course, and I feel like if I do my masters in anything, it will be in the psychology of risk in outdoor recreation. I've toyed with the idea a lot, but we'll see where life takes us. My schedule worked out so that I have Thursdays and Fridays off, which means I'll have some time to go on some wicked adventures (and do my homework of course Mom)!
I finally got out on some rock in Australia at a small craig called Felltimber. The craig has some short sport routes and a bunch of really cool boulder problems. Its similar to the Centennial Bluffs back in Tbay. There's heaps more climbing in and around the area and I'm going to be climbing tons more. One of the guys I met and I are planning on either going to the Grampians or Mt Arapiles next week from Wednesday night to Sunday. Hoping for the best!
The last two days, I've been at Mt Buffalo helping to lead an adventure day for the first year Adventure Ecotourism students. A group of us went up on Thursday to set up and do some recon of the areas which we'd be working with. The first year students came up on Friday morning, and we went abseiling of a 50 meter cliff called "Dragon's Foot", took a nice squeeze through an underwater cave, and then went whitewater rafting down the Ovens river.
The cave was one of the coolest parts of the adventure for me. Because of all the flooding thats been going on here, the cave was pumping with water. There was a really strong current pushing through, and there were 4 waterfalls that we had to climb. At one section, you had to slide down on your back on a slippery section of rock where the space was just big enough to fit your helmet through, while holding on to a rock with your hands above your head. Then, you had to go shoulder deep in the water so your helmet would fit through a flaring crack that entered a tunnel which very slowly over ten meters opened up to another room where we could climb out over another waterfall.
I posted more pictures which you can find on Facebook. I think I'm going to start a new album that just includes select photos, because its getting to be pretty excessive.
Hope all is well back home!
Off to do some assignments so I can keep going on sweet weekend adventures:)
Cheers,
Matty
Monday, 27 February 2012
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Today was the last day of O-Week. It was definitely a different experience the 2nd time through. The upper year students move in today so I'm meeting some new faces again.
This morning with the International Exchange program, I went to a animal sanctuary. It was similar to the one I went with Lisa. I fed kangaroos and wallabies, and got to see the feeding of the Tawny-Frogmouth (beautiful fluffy owl-like bird) and some little penguins. The penguins pretty much ate their body weight in fish, swallowing them whole. Their bellies tripled in size by the end of the feed.
I've met some keen climbers in the area, and have climbed at the gym indoors a couple times this week. I got invited to come bouldering next Monday evening which is gonna be great. I cant wait to get on the rock again. I'm hoping to get out to Mt Buffalo in the next few weekends.
Other than that life's pretty good. Classes start monday and life will get back to more of a routine. Hope all is well back home.
This morning with the International Exchange program, I went to a animal sanctuary. It was similar to the one I went with Lisa. I fed kangaroos and wallabies, and got to see the feeding of the Tawny-Frogmouth (beautiful fluffy owl-like bird) and some little penguins. The penguins pretty much ate their body weight in fish, swallowing them whole. Their bellies tripled in size by the end of the feed.
I've met some keen climbers in the area, and have climbed at the gym indoors a couple times this week. I got invited to come bouldering next Monday evening which is gonna be great. I cant wait to get on the rock again. I'm hoping to get out to Mt Buffalo in the next few weekends.
Other than that life's pretty good. Classes start monday and life will get back to more of a routine. Hope all is well back home.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Hey there!
Sorry its been a while again. Its been a good week though since I last posted.
I spent a couple more days with Sven, Lisa, and the family in Bega. On Saturday, as is the weekly tradition, we went sailing at the sailing club at a nearby saltwater lake. There wasn't much wind, but it was still a great day to spend outside sailing by the lake having a few beers.
On Monday, I said goodbye to the family and began my trip to Albury. I took a bus from Bega to Bairinsdale, then a train to Melbourne, then a train to Albury. The trip took from 6am to 11pm.
I've spent the last few days in Albury settling in to residence. The temperature has been above 30 every single day. I've met some really nice people who have taken me around to different places in the area. Today, we took a trip to a very rustic town called Beechworth. I sent a message home using a Telegraph (Morse Code) machine. I hope it actually gets there:) We also toured an old prison and court house. Afterwards, we went to explore a really cool waterfall.
People start moving into residence on Saturday, and O-week starts on Monday. Should be a good time:)
Talk soon!
-Matt
Sorry its been a while again. Its been a good week though since I last posted.
I spent a couple more days with Sven, Lisa, and the family in Bega. On Saturday, as is the weekly tradition, we went sailing at the sailing club at a nearby saltwater lake. There wasn't much wind, but it was still a great day to spend outside sailing by the lake having a few beers.
On Monday, I said goodbye to the family and began my trip to Albury. I took a bus from Bega to Bairinsdale, then a train to Melbourne, then a train to Albury. The trip took from 6am to 11pm.
I've spent the last few days in Albury settling in to residence. The temperature has been above 30 every single day. I've met some really nice people who have taken me around to different places in the area. Today, we took a trip to a very rustic town called Beechworth. I sent a message home using a Telegraph (Morse Code) machine. I hope it actually gets there:) We also toured an old prison and court house. Afterwards, we went to explore a really cool waterfall.
People start moving into residence on Saturday, and O-week starts on Monday. Should be a good time:)
Talk soon!
-Matt
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Yesterday I went blackberry picking around the property and filled up an entire basket with Sven and Lisa. In the evening, we sat out on the field listening to the kookaburra laugh while the whole world came alive with sounds of the night. For dinner, Sven's dad cooked up a kangaroo and potato dish with vegetables grown in the garden. It was the most delicious meal I've had so far in Australia. Today, Lisa and I are going to try and make Blackberry Cheesecake. You can all have a piece if you come visit:)
Most of the puppies have opened their eyes now. I'll post some pictures soon.
Cheers!
Most of the puppies have opened their eyes now. I'll post some pictures soon.
Cheers!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Hey there!
Posted pictures to Facebook yesterday. It seems like the easiest way to share them, so sorry if you're one of the few that haven't fallen victim to the facebook monster. We went camping again on the coast last night and were visited by a ton of kangaroo, wallaby and a Potaroo. During the day, Lisa and I went to a native animal sanctuary and saw many indigenous animals to Australia. My favourite was the Echidna, which looks like a cross between a porcupine and an ant eater.
This morning I tried my hand at fishing in the surf. No luck but it was a cool experience. Later in the day we went swimming in a nearby lagoon.
I'm trying to arrange to join a TAFE climbing trip down to Mt Buffalo in the next two weeks before school starts which will be awesome if it works out. If not, O-Week starts in 11 days.
Congrats to the Giants fans still out there. I really don't know how you pulled that one off.
Cheers,
Matt
Posted pictures to Facebook yesterday. It seems like the easiest way to share them, so sorry if you're one of the few that haven't fallen victim to the facebook monster. We went camping again on the coast last night and were visited by a ton of kangaroo, wallaby and a Potaroo. During the day, Lisa and I went to a native animal sanctuary and saw many indigenous animals to Australia. My favourite was the Echidna, which looks like a cross between a porcupine and an ant eater.
This morning I tried my hand at fishing in the surf. No luck but it was a cool experience. Later in the day we went swimming in a nearby lagoon.
I'm trying to arrange to join a TAFE climbing trip down to Mt Buffalo in the next two weeks before school starts which will be awesome if it works out. If not, O-Week starts in 11 days.
Congrats to the Giants fans still out there. I really don't know how you pulled that one off.
Cheers,
Matt
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Hello Again!
Sorry its been a while since I've sent out an update. I was in an internet free zone. The bus ride to Bega was easy. Thankfully it was air conditioned (air con in Aussi) because it was 37 degrees Celsius outside. I went directly from the bus to take a dip in the river and cool off. We spent the evening getting our gear and food ready for the hike, and the following morning we set off to the Nadgee Wilderness Area.
Below is an article I wrote for the Outdoor Recreation Student Society's magazine called the Quintze Quarterly. I still haven't found the best way to upload pictures...
Sorry its been a while since I've sent out an update. I was in an internet free zone. The bus ride to Bega was easy. Thankfully it was air conditioned (air con in Aussi) because it was 37 degrees Celsius outside. I went directly from the bus to take a dip in the river and cool off. We spent the evening getting our gear and food ready for the hike, and the following morning we set off to the Nadgee Wilderness Area.
Below is an article I wrote for the Outdoor Recreation Student Society's magazine called the Quintze Quarterly. I still haven't found the best way to upload pictures...
This last week, I went on a 5-day costal hike through the
Nadgee Wilderness Area with some friends that I met this summer working for
Project Canoe. Sven is an Australian who came to Lakehead on exchange a few
years back from Charles Sturt University (Where I’ll be studying). Lisa was a
Lakehead student who went overseas to study at Charles Sturt University. They
are now married and living in Australia through Canadian winters, and working
tripping jobs in Canada in the summer. Sven’s sister Sigrid, and a Frenchman
named Arthur (who was WOOFing in the area) also came on the hike. Here’s my
trip journal.
Day 1:
Day 1:
Trip started off a little rocky. We couldn’t find the
backcountry dirt road to take us to the beginning of the hike and ended up walking
an additional 10km just to get to the start. However, not even 5 minutes into
the walk we saw 2 wallabies and a huge goanna (Australian Water Lizard). These
were the first two wild wallabies I saw in Australia. As we walked towards the start of the hike, the weather
changed and it began to rain. First, it was a light drizzle but it soon became
a full downpour. Before we knew it, all of us were soaked. It continued to rain
off and on throughout the day. Unbothered by the rain, we continued walking along
an ATV track, which finally lead us to a private beach. The group stood on top
of a hill and took in the first of many beautiful sites. We walked along the
beach in the sand about 6 kilometers to Lake Barracuda where we were to camp
for the night. Lake Barracuda is the largest freshwater lake in Queensland. The
campsite is separated from the lake by about a kilometer of massive sand dunes.
We set up camp and had a delicious stir-fry for dinner before collapsing in our
tents after a huge first day.
Day 2:
We woke up in the morning with the sun. Even in the early
morning, we knew it was going to be a really hot and sunny day. We ate
breakfast, and then went off to explore the sand dunes. There were dingo tracks
everywhere. Sven and I climbed one of the largest dunes and raced down. We
almost took each other out on the way down. The day was spent hand-railing the
ocean walking along the beach. We all walked barefoot in the sand. Along the
beach we found pieces of what we believed to be a humpback whale. We found the
jaw-bone, pelvis bone, rib cage, and heaps of fat scattered on the beach. We
ran into a group of older women who were coming the opposite way, and they told
us that water was very hard to find on the trail. Luckily we were carrying
about a two-day supply with us already. In the late afternoon, the terrain
changed abruptly as if someone had drawn a line in the sand. The sandy dunes
became thick bush. We bushwacked through and found the trail on the other side.
We arrived at our 2nd camp in the early evening. We found a
freshwater stream flowing and refilled our water dromedaries. The water is
pretty silty though and smells strongly of bog. It will have to do until the
next waterhole. We ate homemade Pizza Pockets for dinner. Everyone got sun burnt
today, especially on the backs of our legs and the tops of our feet. At night
around the campfire we were visited by a water dragon and a few bats.
Day 3:
Today was a short day, and provided a much needed rest. We
woke up early to avoid the hot sun and hiked 6km to the next campsite on Nadgee
Beach. The hike took us through moorland and the trail was marked by cairns. We
found a cleaner water source and dumped the old stuff. We also saw some very
rare emerald green ground parrots. The group arrived at our campsite before
lunchtime. We had another private beach all to ourselves. We built a fire pit
on the beach while Arthur and Sven collected muscles and crabs from the ocean.
The afternoon was spent around the campfire eating fresh seafood. The sunset in
the evening was breathtaking. One of the coolest parts of the night was when
Sigrid exclaimed, “That stick is moving!” and sure enough, there was a 30cm
stick bug making its way towards the fire. We rescued the little guy and put
him back in the trees. When we went to bed that night, we took some warm rocks from the fire and put them in our sleeping bags. Best decision ever.
Day 4:
We had another early wake up this morning. Lisa made apple
crisp for breakfast. Apple Crisp is probably my favourite trip breakfast. If we
were playing, “would you eat that in the city?” the answer would be most
definitely yes. The day was spent bushwacking in the rain through an almost
rainforest type of terrain. Its kind of funny how it was scorching hot in the
sand dunes, and rainy in the rainforest type area. When we arrived at camp it
started to pour, so I set up a tarp and we tried our best to stay dry. And
because it was raining, out came the back-pocket games. Sometimes it really
does pay to be a tripperJ The bunch of us played “never can tell” games and
enjoyed each other’s company all afternoon. I also taught Arthur many different
knots that he could use. When the rain let up a little, we decided to make a
fire. While gathering wood, I saw just about the scariest spider I’ve ever
seen. It was about the size of my hand, with its abdomen about the size of two
toonies. The spider was hairy and purple, with dark yellow fangs. Apparently
the description matches that of a mouse spider, but I didn’t want to risk
getting too close to take a picture to be sure. We had the most amazing soup
for dinner.
Day 5:
Hot and sunny again, a perfect way to end trip. The pick up point where a van was meeting us at 2pm was roughly 11 kilometers from our campsite. We first hiked along the beach again in the sand, then through bush, and finally up over Table Top Mountain. We arrived at the ranger station just before two. The trip was an amazing experience, and I was so glad to share the opportunity with such amazing people. I learned tons about the Flora and Fauna of this region in Australia, and am excited to learn even more. To top it all off, we went to a Bush Dance in the evening, which was tons of fun.
Cheers!
-Matt
Hot and sunny again, a perfect way to end trip. The pick up point where a van was meeting us at 2pm was roughly 11 kilometers from our campsite. We first hiked along the beach again in the sand, then through bush, and finally up over Table Top Mountain. We arrived at the ranger station just before two. The trip was an amazing experience, and I was so glad to share the opportunity with such amazing people. I learned tons about the Flora and Fauna of this region in Australia, and am excited to learn even more. To top it all off, we went to a Bush Dance in the evening, which was tons of fun.
Cheers!
-Matt
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Today’s been pretty cool so far. I woke up at 6:30 and timed
it perfectly to catch the 7:40 ferry to Manly. I met up with a new group of
divers today (who I was supposed to be grouped with yesterday). My dive buddy
was a Chinese man named Jin who had been living in Sydney for the last 12
years. Another pair in my group was also from Canada living just outside of
Tobomory. We did two more dives in the same area to practice more skills. Some
of the group members didn’t pick up on diving as quickly as I did and burned
through their air really quickly. I ended both dives with just over 120 bar in
the tank both times. The water was not as clear as yesterday, but this may be
attributed to people in my group kicking up so much sand. Now that I’m
certified, its time to find a good dive partner:) Applications to fill the
position will be gladly accepted. First round of post dive drinks are on me.
When the dives were completed, the group had a barbeque courtesy of Pro Dive. Soon after, I headed back to Manly Beach to swim, read, and lay in the sun. I purchased some expensive sunscreen (everything feels mighty pricy here), and hopefully it does the trick.
Booked a seat on a bus to Bega from an internet café. Tomorrow is going to be a long travel day. I leave Sydney at 9:30, and arrive in Bega around 6. I’m really excited to see Sven and Lisa. I really hope the bus company doesn’t give me trouble about my overweight bag.
When the dives were completed, the group had a barbeque courtesy of Pro Dive. Soon after, I headed back to Manly Beach to swim, read, and lay in the sun. I purchased some expensive sunscreen (everything feels mighty pricy here), and hopefully it does the trick.
Booked a seat on a bus to Bega from an internet café. Tomorrow is going to be a long travel day. I leave Sydney at 9:30, and arrive in Bega around 6. I’m really excited to see Sven and Lisa. I really hope the bus company doesn’t give me trouble about my overweight bag.
On the ferry back to Sydney now. I’m going to head back to
the hostel to shower and then find somewhere to eat. I probably won’t be able
to post again for a while, as I’ll be going on a hike for a few days. For those
who partied at Dog Aid, I hope it was unreal as always.
What a fine life we are living!
Post Post Thoughts:
Tonight there was a huge parade for Chinese New Year. The streets closed down, and it felt like the entire population of Sydney went out to watch. There were floats and dancers and musicians and fireworks and lighting displays. People were climbing on top of bus shelters just to get a good look. I climbed a tree and had a really sweet view until a cop told me to get down. Gong Hay Fat Choy!
What a fine life we are living!
Post Post Thoughts:
Tonight there was a huge parade for Chinese New Year. The streets closed down, and it felt like the entire population of Sydney went out to watch. There were floats and dancers and musicians and fireworks and lighting displays. People were climbing on top of bus shelters just to get a good look. I climbed a tree and had a really sweet view until a cop told me to get down. Gong Hay Fat Choy!
I
woke up early today and walked to Circular Quay to catch a ferry to Manly. The
city has a pretty phenomenal transportation system. The more places I
visit, I realize how far behind the times Toronto is. I arrived at ProDive in
Manly around 9:30 for what I thought was supposed to be a 10 am start (as it
stated on my voucher). However, there was some confusion and the group was
supposed to meet at 8 am. Luckily there was another group doing
an open-water certification at 1pm so I joined them instead. To pass
the time in between, I went to the beach. I went for my first swim in the big
waves without my "waterwings" (Jake wouldn't let me swim alone for
the first while). I also read my book Solitude by Robert Kull. I'm really
enjoying it. The book is about a man who goes off to spend a year alone in the
wilderness of Patagonia to study the psychological effects of being in
solitude. I must have been really
into it, because I didn’t notice myself burning in the sun. The aussi sun is as
hot as the aussi womenJ
At
1, I met up with my dive partners, a very nice gay couple from Holland. Both of them had names that I struggled
to pronounce. We did two dives in Shelly Beach. We practiced different scuba
skills, and had the opportunity to explore the area. Apparently people in
Australia think the water is cold here, so I was given the world’s thickest wet
suit in the world to wear. I guess I was grateful in the end because I was
toasty in the water. I brought my camera with me and got some great pictures.
When Internet doesn’t cost a fortune, I’ll post some good ones.
Tomorrow
I head back to Manly to do two more dives. Meeting time is 8:45 so I’ll be up
at 6:30 to make the trek down. Its not that far, I just don’t want to be late.
My
first night in the hostel was interesting. My roommates were not very interesting people and smelled
really bad. Fortunately, they moved out today and a group of South Koreans
moved in. They’re all very nice and wanted to help me carry my massive
backpack. They invited me out for drinks, but I’m right tired and will be
getting up pretty early.
If
you want to know the time difference between here and home in Toronto (or
Thunder Bay), Add 4 hours then switch the AM to PM or vice versa. (We’re 16
hours ahead here) Goodnight world.
Friday, 27 January 2012
The plural of Platypus is…Platypuses! Guess where I learned
that? The Sydney Aquarium!
Today was one of the greatest days I have ever experienced. We woke up early to take the express train to Sydney. I said goodbye to the quiet mountains and beaches of Austinmer and hello to the city of Sydney. After dropping my bag off at a hostel, we ventured to Paddy’s Market, which is a good old-fashioned flea market. Jake and I went and explored the Sydney Aquarium while Cait went to see an old marine ship exhibit because she had seen the aquarium a few weeks earlier. The aquarium has two underwater glass encased tunnels, which fish and rays and sharks and dugongs (sea cows) swim all around you. I loved seeing the marine life that Australia has to offer.
Next door to the Sydney Aquarium is Wildlife Sydney. It’s pretty much a zoo that has many animals that are indigenous to Australia. Originally, we were only going to go to the aquarium, but then a cute girl was standing outside holding a cool looking lizard so we decided to check it out. The power of marketing eh? I’m really glad we decided to go to Wildlife Sydney, because I got a chance to see Kangaroos, wallabies, and Koalas! There were also emus, crocodiles, a plethora of poisonous snakes, many colourful birds, and a whole lot more. I’ll upload pictures when I get a chance.
From there, we met back up with Cait and headed to the Centerpoint Building, which has the most amazing food court ever. It’s a very posh area, so all of the food vendors were very high quality as if you were ordering from a real sit down restaurant, but the prices were very affordable. I had pad thai and it was delicious.
Today was one of the greatest days I have ever experienced. We woke up early to take the express train to Sydney. I said goodbye to the quiet mountains and beaches of Austinmer and hello to the city of Sydney. After dropping my bag off at a hostel, we ventured to Paddy’s Market, which is a good old-fashioned flea market. Jake and I went and explored the Sydney Aquarium while Cait went to see an old marine ship exhibit because she had seen the aquarium a few weeks earlier. The aquarium has two underwater glass encased tunnels, which fish and rays and sharks and dugongs (sea cows) swim all around you. I loved seeing the marine life that Australia has to offer.
Next door to the Sydney Aquarium is Wildlife Sydney. It’s pretty much a zoo that has many animals that are indigenous to Australia. Originally, we were only going to go to the aquarium, but then a cute girl was standing outside holding a cool looking lizard so we decided to check it out. The power of marketing eh? I’m really glad we decided to go to Wildlife Sydney, because I got a chance to see Kangaroos, wallabies, and Koalas! There were also emus, crocodiles, a plethora of poisonous snakes, many colourful birds, and a whole lot more. I’ll upload pictures when I get a chance.
From there, we met back up with Cait and headed to the Centerpoint Building, which has the most amazing food court ever. It’s a very posh area, so all of the food vendors were very high quality as if you were ordering from a real sit down restaurant, but the prices were very affordable. I had pad thai and it was delicious.
Then, we headed to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Wowzers.
What an absolutely beautiful area. The plants and the trees were breathtaking.
There were so many birds, and hundreds of HUGE bats resting in the treetops. I
walked around for about 2 and a half hours just taking everything in. I got
some wicked shots of a monstrous spider that I’ll be sure to post later.
The Operah House was the next stop on the “see Sydney in a
day” trip. I didn’t go on a tour, but I walked inside the building and took
lots of pictures. Maybe I’ll save the tour for a rainy day.
To cap it all off, in the evening we went to an Open Air Movie
on the harbour. This was such a cool experience. A big screen was put up on the
waterfront overlooking the Opera House and the Harbourfront Bridge. After
dinner and drinks (fish and chips) we sat down to watch a screening of Crazy
Stupid Love.
I said goodbye to Jake’s family, and now I’m writing from my
hostel bed. I’m Scuba Diving in the morning! Its gonna be really hard to top
today!
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Happy Australia Day!
Yesterday was Australia Day. It is a civic holiday, and everybody gets really into it showing pride for their nation. We celebrated by spending the day with friends listening to a radio station called Triple J, that puts together a top 100 song list every year that people vote for. This year over a million votes were cast and every radio around was tuned to Triple J. The number one song was Somebody That I Used To Know by an australian band called Gotye. If you like the song, check out this awesome cover by Walk Off The Earth.
Some cool looking spider.
The birds here are beautiful. This one is called a rainbow lorikeet.
Yesterday was Australia Day. It is a civic holiday, and everybody gets really into it showing pride for their nation. We celebrated by spending the day with friends listening to a radio station called Triple J, that puts together a top 100 song list every year that people vote for. This year over a million votes were cast and every radio around was tuned to Triple J. The number one song was Somebody That I Used To Know by an australian band called Gotye. If you like the song, check out this awesome cover by Walk Off The Earth.
This is the Australian Beer line up for Aussi Day. The one on the far left is from Tasmania and I really enjoyed it.
Pelicans!
Pelicans Flying.
Beach Views
Some cool looking spider.
The birds here are beautiful. This one is called a rainbow lorikeet.
Headed into Sydney today and booking into a hostel. Tonight we may be going to an Open Air Theatre. Weather permitting I'm scuba diving tomorrow! Cheers!
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Day 2: Almost exactly 1 year ago, I was dogsledding with Jake in Thunder Bay in -46 degrees. Coming to Australia was barely a thought back then.
We went to a different beach today in The Royal National Park. The area was the first national park in Australia, and next to Yellowstone it was the 2nd created worldwide. We went stand-up-paddle-boarding which was a lot of fun. We brought along Jake's surfboard as well, and I learned some balance and technique. It is really tough but super exciting. I followed some wallaby tracks on the beach but no luck seeing one yet. I did however see 4 Huge pelicans and a few Australian King Parrots. The birds here are really quite interesting. I'm going to look into buying a bird/wildlife guide.
In the evening, the family played Trivia. Apparently its a very popular thing to do here. They have a trivia night every week. I was able to hold my own, but they are very good. I'll bet they don't know how many dimples are on a golfball though! (For those curious, its 336)
Tomorrow is Australia Day, and the whole country will be celebrating. I don't know our plans yet, but they involve alcoholic beverages and listening to the top 100 songs on a radio station called Triple J.
I don't plan on blogging every day, but I'm off to a good start. Hope things are going well back home!
We went to a different beach today in The Royal National Park. The area was the first national park in Australia, and next to Yellowstone it was the 2nd created worldwide. We went stand-up-paddle-boarding which was a lot of fun. We brought along Jake's surfboard as well, and I learned some balance and technique. It is really tough but super exciting. I followed some wallaby tracks on the beach but no luck seeing one yet. I did however see 4 Huge pelicans and a few Australian King Parrots. The birds here are really quite interesting. I'm going to look into buying a bird/wildlife guide.
In the evening, the family played Trivia. Apparently its a very popular thing to do here. They have a trivia night every week. I was able to hold my own, but they are very good. I'll bet they don't know how many dimples are on a golfball though! (For those curious, its 336)
Tomorrow is Australia Day, and the whole country will be celebrating. I don't know our plans yet, but they involve alcoholic beverages and listening to the top 100 songs on a radio station called Triple J.
I don't plan on blogging every day, but I'm off to a good start. Hope things are going well back home!
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
G'day from Australia!
Landed this morning around 10:30 Sydney time, and was met by my friends Jake and Cait. I was surprised how easy the flight was for me. First of all, the airplane was bigger than any other plane that I'd ever been on. First class had its own section ABOVE the rest of economy class. There was ample leg room, and the staff at Quantas airlines really took care of us. I tried to stay up as late as I could at the beginning of the flight so that I could sleep for the duration afterwards (and hopefully lessen the effects of jet lag). It worked well, and I slept through the majority of the flight. When we were flying into Sydney, the plane passed by the iconic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. When I saw these places from the plane, the realization set in that I had actually made it to Australia. The first song playing on the radio when I landed was Heart of Gold by good old Canadian, Neil Young.
Landed this morning around 10:30 Sydney time, and was met by my friends Jake and Cait. I was surprised how easy the flight was for me. First of all, the airplane was bigger than any other plane that I'd ever been on. First class had its own section ABOVE the rest of economy class. There was ample leg room, and the staff at Quantas airlines really took care of us. I tried to stay up as late as I could at the beginning of the flight so that I could sleep for the duration afterwards (and hopefully lessen the effects of jet lag). It worked well, and I slept through the majority of the flight. When we were flying into Sydney, the plane passed by the iconic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. When I saw these places from the plane, the realization set in that I had actually made it to Australia. The first song playing on the radio when I landed was Heart of Gold by good old Canadian, Neil Young.
Jake drove us (on the left hand side of the road of course) from the airport, to his place in Austinmer (about 1 hour outside of Sydney). On the way, we passed a lookout. Those tiny black dots in the water are surfers.
I dropped my pack off at Jake's place, threw on a swim suit, and headed straight for the beach. Apparently the surf wasn't great, but I went swimming in the biggest waves I've ever been in. I learned how to dive under the waves in order to swim out, and how to "body surf". Its hard to get the hang of, but I had a really good time.
One of the most exciting parts of today for me, has been seeing all of the new birds and trees in Australia. I saw Macaw's, Magpies, and Lorikeets all just on the street.
I'll be staying here for a few nights, then headed to a hostel in Sydney. Jet lag is catching up with me. Time to sleep.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Well folks, here goes! Today I'm leaving on a plane for just over 26 hours of transit time. I've got some good music and some good books, but its definitely going to be a long one. Hopefully I don't have a rant-worthy travel experience and everything goes smoothly. That said, I'm not helping the situation, as my carry on contains some pretty intimidating traditional climbing gear. I'll let you know how that goes:)
The last couple days at home have been really great. Last night I had the opportunity to see many family members and friends who came to wish me off. The cake below was made by Judy, who is without a doubt one of the most creative people I know. Everything is edible (and it was delicious!) It broke my heart to cut the cake, but I'm glad I got a picture before the work of art was demolished.
I'm quite tempted to put P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney on my customs card. Much to my disappointment though (SPOILER ALERT!) the famous address that no 90's baby will ever forget does not exist.
My friend Jake who came to Lakehead on exchange last year is picking me up in Sydney when I land on Tuesday, and I'm spending my first few days down under with him. January 26th is Australia day and I'm told I'm in for a real treat. On the 28th and 29th I'm going Scuba Diving, and on the 30th I'm getting on a bus to Bega to meet with two wonderful people who I worked with this summer. One was a Lakehead student who went to Australia on exchange, and the other was an Australian exchange who came to Lakehead the following year. Now they are married living in a perpetual summer between Canada and Australia. A group of us are going on a hike called Nadgee and I'm so excited.
My gear to clothes ratio is pretty noteworthy. In the end, I've opted to bring the majority of my climbing gear (rope, harness, shoes, trad rack), a tent, a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad, a stove (new trangia), Steri Pen, and the essentials.
Best of luck to my family and friends in the coming months. I'll miss ya for sure but I'm so excited for this adventure to begin.
--New Book-- Solitude by Robert Kull
--New Music-- Explosions in the Sky Discography
Friday, 13 January 2012
Hey there Interweb world. I've never blogged before, but I figure this is the easiest way to keep the masses posted on whats happening on my trip this year to Australia. I'm really excited to explore the land down under, and will do my best to share my travel stories with you.
Currently, my bag (yup only one bag for 7 months!) is being packed and repacked. I purchased a new pack for this trip called the Arcteryx Bora. Its a super comfortable pack and can fit everything I need to bring. I'm hoping to bring some gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp stove, climbing gear), so packing has become somewhat of a game of Tetris. Luckily, I've had lots of practice.
Yesterday I went to exchange money for some Australian dollars. Their money is very similar to our new Canadian $100 bills. Its plastic, waterproof, and really colourful. Apparently the $50 bills are called "pineapples" in Aussi slang.
I fly out of Toronto on January 22nd. My flight goes from Toronto to Dallas, Dallas to Brisbane, and finally Brisbane to Sydney. I land in Sydney around 10 am on the 24th.
So stay tuned folks, theres more adventure to come.
--If you're interested, heres a link to the 10 most dangerous animals in Australia.
--And this song rocks.
Currently, my bag (yup only one bag for 7 months!) is being packed and repacked. I purchased a new pack for this trip called the Arcteryx Bora. Its a super comfortable pack and can fit everything I need to bring. I'm hoping to bring some gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp stove, climbing gear), so packing has become somewhat of a game of Tetris. Luckily, I've had lots of practice.
Yesterday I went to exchange money for some Australian dollars. Their money is very similar to our new Canadian $100 bills. Its plastic, waterproof, and really colourful. Apparently the $50 bills are called "pineapples" in Aussi slang.
I fly out of Toronto on January 22nd. My flight goes from Toronto to Dallas, Dallas to Brisbane, and finally Brisbane to Sydney. I land in Sydney around 10 am on the 24th.
So stay tuned folks, theres more adventure to come.
--If you're interested, heres a link to the 10 most dangerous animals in Australia.
--And this song rocks.
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