Dour, 電通-controlled, family-centric Belgian Neocolonialism, enthusiastically jaded observations, support for state-owned neoliberalist media and occasional rants from the twisted mind of a privileged middle-class expatriate atheist projecting some leftist ideals with my ridicule of Tucker Carlson (from The Blogs Formerly Known As Sponge Bear and Kaminoge 物語)
*see disclaimer below
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Ninth day in a land down under
Elvis is still in the building
The day began with breakfast at our motel. Even though the Bay House Motel was by all appearances a typical-looking American-style motor inn, when we checked in the previous afternoon we were handed a breakfast menu and asked to make our selections. The following morning the food was brought on a tray to our room, and because the weather was so pleasant, we breakfasted outdoors at the picnic tables next to the parking lot. The Bay House Motel will never be mistaken for a Days Inn or Motel Six!:
This day would be the warmest by far on our New South Wales sojourn, with the temperature touching 30°C (86°F). An ideal day to spend some time on the beach; unfortunately, it seemed as if every other family in the region had the same idea. So many, in fact, that we couldn't find a parking space close to the water in The Entrance. Giving up on the plan, we instead opted to spend the day at the Australian Reptile Park, where we were first entertained by Ranger Mick, who displayed several examples of reptiles and spiders:
After the show, it was time to look at the residents, like this pair of lace monitors relaxing in the shade:
The entrance to the Komodo Dragon house was a tad over-the-top:
These lazy, stoned marsupials need no introduction. Keep moving, folks, nothing to see here:
We approached the pond where the American alligators are kept. They knew feeding time was imminent:
A satiated gator returns to doing whatever these captive reptiles do when they're not eating:
Our own lunchtime feast wasn't as exciting - nobody tossed our meat pies and chips into our gaping maws:
The star of the Australian Reptile Park is Elvis, a massive saltwater crocodile that has been residing at the park for more than 16 years. The handler very carefully attempted to feed Elvis, but he appeared to be somewhat sluggish this day, apparently after having been overfed the day before in celebration of his 58th birthday:
Our first sighting of a supposedly nocturnal Tasmanian devil:
Kangaroos have free range within the reptile park, and visitors can buy food to give to the marsupials. We did, but by the time my daughter went to feed some of them, they only gave a cursory nibble to the treats, having been stuffed to the gills by other visitors. They were receptive to the attention, however:
A woman standing next to me said she considered kangaroos to be pests, and that her family shoots them when they trespass on her property. I mentioned I had eaten one the previous day (in the form of a pizza topped with kangaroo meat), at which point she slowly stepped away from me:
This wombat refused to be seen, but it certainly could be heard:
A dingo:
This lizard actually was not part of any of the exhibits. Instead, it was making its way outside Elvis' enclosure:
Good timing - we arrived at the snake house just in time to watch the residents being fed live rodents. Those of you with ophidiophobia may want to scroll past the next three photos and one video, but remember that without snakes around, you would be complaining about all the vermin running about. Amber was fascinated by it all, as was I:
Finally! I got to see an actual platypus in the flesh, the only reason for traveling 10½ hours and 8950 kilometers/5560 miles from Beijing to Australia. The platypus is proof that if there is a god, he/she/it was under the influence of something when it came time to create this beaver/duck/otter egg-laying monotreme:
Channeling my inner Seinfeld in the park's gift shop (watch this for the real story):
I tried to stick to more scenic local roads on the drive to Newcastle, our next (and final) destination, though eventually we had to get on a motorway:
Oh, grow up!:
Checking in to the family room at the Alloggio Newcastle Beach Hotel. The platypus plushie was a gift to myself, and is currently greeting visitors to my office from its spot on my desk, next to my computer. The tag that came with it identifies it as a koala!:
My wife was feeling a little worn out from the warm weather (and all those reptiles), and so decided to rest up in our room, meaning it was just Amber and I who went out for dinner, at the Falcon:
I had that traditional Aussie favorite, fried chicken and waffles:
Afterward the two of us took a stroll over to the seaside, admiring the view as the sun set in the opposite direction:
That looked like a great trip!
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