Day 2 in Australia – December 17

We lost a day in there with all that travel and time change!

After breakfast with the Asians (who knew we’d be the only white people in a sea of dark hair in Australia of all places…) we headed to Dreamworld and had a blast.

It’s Disney-esque but less overwhelming – not huge so easily walk-able, even for Ava, opens at 10 and closes at 5:00 so no need to feel like you must marathon it so you don't miss anything, lines were 5 minutes tops (might help to go mid-week in mid-December) and a great mix of shows, rides and exhibits. Plus clean, friendly, lots of ice cream options (the important thing, right?), superb costuming and green setting, the whole 9 yards.

Highlights:
- Kids loved the Wiggles red car that we rode through the Wiggles’ “world”
- The Outback section had great wildlife – floppy-eared kangaroos you could pet, lazy in the heat; the Koalas were darling, one hanging at the top of a tree, three others clustered together in a neighboring tree
- Crocodiles sunning themselves here and there and lots of pythons (right up your alley, Eric – these were nicely caged).
- The Aussie Outback show was a hoot – Ava petted her first snake (part of the show), Claire saw a sheep shorn firsthand after reading about it in My Friend Flicka, kids got to pet a tiger cub as we watched a white tiger and Bengal tiger prowl around their pen. (Not to worry, the baby tiger was briefly on our side of the fence and chaperoned by two trainers. Cute little fellow.)

Naturally we rode a bunch of rides – one finished me off – it looked deceptively tame. We got thrown around so much I felt green afterward.

Claire looked that way too but continued on with rides. For a child who struggles w/ carsickness she does quite well at amusement parks. And Ava just laughs out loud as she gets thrown in the air. I see vicious roller coasters in her future.

Best ride: the log ride that is a sheer drop at the end and of course soaks everyone.

Best fashion statement of the day: an Indian woman in sari with navy blue/orange baseball cap pulled over her big black braid and Nike tennis shoes.

5:00 was the perfect time to leave – we’d seen/done everything on our agenda and were happily tired. Dinner: our 19th floor balcony looking over the beach.