Hobart

Fortunately for me, my boss wants me to explore the country while I'm here. I got to go to Hobart, Tasmania for three days. I got there and I caught a shuttle which was supposed to take me to the hotel. Well over an hour and a half later I finally got there. The bus driver forgot to drop me off and then I had to wait, because he had to pick up other people. The city was pretty dead and I thought wow this is going to be a long weekend. Come to find out though, it was a state holiday so a lot of the businesses were closed. I walked down to the wharf and got some fish and chips which were phenomenal. Then I went walked around a little bit and then went back to the hostel because I was tired, and didn't know what there was to do. While I was there, I was able to go to Salamanca Market which is a really large flea market type of thing. I went to the maritime museum and then had some lunch at a cafe. At the wharf

Ocean front propertyThe bridge leading from Hobart to Richmond and Port Arthur across the bay

countryside from the bus window

Georgian style building in Hobart (one of many)

downtown Hobart

Tasmanian Parliament

the wharf

19th century ship. I watched the sailors roll the sails up while I ate my fish and chips

the houses wrap around the coast of Tasmania

I love the terracotta roofs everywhere in Australia

Fountain by Salamanca Place where there is a statue of explorer Tasman

Then I went on a tour to Richmond which is a town that has the oldest bridge and catholic church in Australia. I walked through the very small town checked out some antique shops and other little stores. I bought a peppermint slice at the bakery and took pictures of the bridge and church. Then I went and saw this miniature Hobart. Its a replica of what Hobart originally looked at when it was first being settled. It was pretty cool and its on a one sixteenth scale. After that I walked around and ended up having dinner at subway because I did not want any more fish and things tend to close down fairly early. Its a very relaxed environment. The next morning I got up and went to the Tasmanian Art Museum and then I wandered upon the town council building and there happened to be a flower show. I went inside and there were absolutely beautiful flowers. They were grown by individual people and they had given out awards. Then I caught my plane and came back to Melbourne.

Richmond Bridgeminiature replica of Hobart in the 1820s

Me by the church The Flower show at the town hall

Healseville Sanctuary

Healesville Sanctuary is like a zoo but it only has native Australian animals. I arrived there after a wonderful 2 and a half hour ride on public transportation. I rode the bus, train, then bus again. I went through the Yarra Valley which is absolutely beautiful. It is a ways out of the city. There is open land with cows and sheep. There are vineyards everywhere you turn around. Oh and there a tall hills that are covered in trees. They reminded me of mountains and I felt really comfortable there. I really miss the mountains in case you couldn't tell. I talked with the bus driver on the way out to Healesville. Then I finally arrived and I got a student discount by showing her my student card. She just didn't happen to notice that it was two years old. Anyways, I went in and I saw the emus, kangaroos, koalas, wombats, wallaby, echidna, dingos, tasmanian devils, and lots of birds. Then I ate the lunch I had brought with me because my friends told me there isn't anything to eat there except meat pies and sausage rolls. I hate those, even with tomato sauce on them.

Emu

Dingo
Koala

Goanna (about the size of me)

Wombat (related to the koala)
Tasmanian Devil (which make a horrible shrill sound and they are called devils because they used to pinch the settlers chickens and since they are all black, at night you can only see their bright red ears. That is how they got their name-devils
Some creepy looking bird that would wander around. I got freaked out when it would come towards me. The zoo keeper just laughed at me. Honestly though, would you want that thing following you?

At 11:30 I went and fed the wallabys which are mini kangaroos. I fed it carrot slices and popcorn kernels. I even petted it. It was the cutest animal, and I decided it would be fun to have as a pet. They are so mellow and cute. Then I went to the birds of prey show and they had some huge raptors and other birds. Then they had an Aboriginal man that played the didgeridoo and then taught us how to throw a boomerang. He was quite good at it. Then I watched the wombat eat. They are also pretty cute.

Wallaby
Feeding the Wallaby a carrot
Petting the Wallaby
Playing the Aboriginal Instrument the Didgeridoo

The Proper way to throw a Boomerang

Then I had to go catch the bus in order to go home because I was going to my friend Kathy's baptism. I hurried and got ready in 15 minutes. Thats right, it was like a freakin record, which I deserve a medal for. We went to the baptism and afterwards got some Indian food with the missionaries, Kathy, and Meghan and Matt. It was really fun.

Waiting for the Train

Sunday we had a YSA fireside at 8:00 and it took us about 15 minutes to drive to our stake center. I caught a ride with my friend Winnie and Jessie. They are really cute girls and it was fun getting to know them better. We heard from Elder Jackson of the Seventy. He gave a really great talk about knowing who you are. Then we stuck around for stake conference at 10:00 AM. I started to fall asleep during it, but it was good. Then afterwards I went with Meghan and Matt to the Lindley's which are the mission presidents house. We ate dinner and then we had to leave because they had an appointment. Anyways, it was another great day.

The city

Okay so I woke up super early so that I could go to the Healesville Sanctuary which is like a zoo but only with Australian animals. I unfortunately missed the bus and wasn't able to go. I decided that I would catch the next bus into the city and then go to the Maritime Museum and there's even an 1850s ship that you can go explore on. Well after looking for it for an hour I finally found someone that told me it was closed for reconstruction. I was a little bit annoyed, but what can you do? But I did get to see the Crown Casino.

Instead, I went on a walking tour of the city. I saw a lot of the buildings and beautiful churches. I found a cute shirt for $7 dollars and I'm pretty stoked about it. Then I went to the movie the Dutchess on Collins St. Collins St. is a very upscale street with Prad, Gucci, Armani, Chanelle, etc. Then I caught the bus and went grocery shopping. Then I caught another bus but its not the one I usually take. A 10 minute bus ride turned into a half hour because it wound through all of the neighborhoods of Donvale. I saw some very nice real estate and some parks. I finally made it home and then I ate dinner and ran to tend Mary's son.





Jamison and I played with Thomas the Tank Engine, we played like we were grocery shopping, we played with his pram (stroller), watched little red riding hood, read some books, and a bunch of other 3 year old stuff. It was pretty fun. Then he went to sleep and I watched a 1940s version of Anne of Green Gables on TV. It was even in black and white. It wasn't very exciting, even for me, but I really do like old movies so I kind of felt at home.

On Sunday morning I got up and pretty much watched conference all day online. Instead of going to the stake center in my dress, and with no treats. I decided to stay home and watch it in comfortable clothes, on my bed, with access to my halloween treats mom sent me. It was a great day, but I feel kind of worthless after watching conference for 6 hours. It was great though and I enjoyed it. I hope you did too.

Wangaretta

Today for work we went into town so that Mary could give a speech on mental health. It was at the MCG which is Melbourne's equivalent of the Lavell Edwards Stadium, except that the MCG hold 100,000 people. I was able to walk around and check it out, because there was some mingling going on before her speech. I really want to go to a game in the stadium. I would be in the nose bleed section and the people playing would be tiny dots running around but I can only imagine the electricity and noise coming out of the stadium with died in the wool, plastered drunk fans. Maybe in the near future.

After the speech we left, and started driving to a small town Wangaretta which is a 2.5 hour drive. Its about 1 hour from the New South Wales border. On the way we stopped and ate at a winery. It was absolutely beautiful. Then we went to Wangaretta and while Mary gave her speech, Luc and I ventured around town.

I saw the coolest looking cemetery on our way into town so I pulled Lucs hair to get him to go back. It was really cool and what was interesting is they bury the people above ground. Oh and they also have separate sections in the cemetery for different religions. I know that I find cemeterys fascinating because of all the times we got to tour Scott's cemeteries, mosoleums, and funeral homes. Scott I owe it all to you. JK.

Then we drove through the town. It was pretty small but cute and they still had stores. We found a really cool Anglican church and I went inside. They had beautiful stain glass but I couldn't get any good pictures of it. Then unforunately our time was up, so we went to the grocery store and I got chocolate millk. It was good but not as seet as nestle. Anyways, we picked up Mary and then drove home.

I really love getting out of the office, meeting new people, and seeing new things. It makes life go by quicker. Oh and I saw three more dead kangaroos on the side of the road oh and not to mention, we passed a bridge that goes above the road. Its made of thick cables and thats what the oppossums use. I guess so many oppossums were getting hit that the government put up a bridge so they could cross the road without being squished all over. Oh tax payer dollars at work, go Australian Labor Party!

Australian History

Well I finished working on my media releases on the Big Kill, and Box Hill Hospital. I even finished working on the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Bill speech for the boss, and then I went home and was ready to play and play hard. Okay so for this Saturday I finally got to do a few things that I really wanted to. I was able to go to the shrine of remembrance which was built for the Australian soldiers that died in World War I. Approximately 60,000 died and 40,000 in WWII. Although its currently supposed to represent soldiers from all the wars. The shrine has an eternal flame and some other statues that you can look at outside. In the bottom of the shrine, you can see metals that soldiers have received that line the wall. It was I think my favorite thing I have seen since I have been here. Then I went over and I went to the immigration museum. It was quite small, and not as much stuff in it as I thought there would be. Never the less, it was interesting and I learned that immigration tended to favor the British. Then I went to the botanical gardens. I don't know how many acres its on but I felt like I had walked and been there all day. It was absolutely beautiful and there was even a wedding going on there. It was neat going on a walk through the Australian section. Some of the trees were enormous. Then I had lunch, walked around the city some more, and walked into target. I bought an advent calendar for christmas, thats right and I am stoked about it. Its sitting on my dresser where I can look at it everyday. Then I found a 711 and I got a raspberry slurpy. I never knew a slurpy could taste so good. I about froze but I enjoyed every sip. I caught the glorious bus home and went up to the Dandenongs with my friends Meghan and Mathew. There a picture of Meghan and I in the giants chair up at sky high. There are absolutely beautiful views up there, especially at night. We had some hot chocolate and looked out over the city. Then Sunday I went with Meghan and Mathew over to the mission presidents house for dinner. It was very nice and it was fun being around missionaries, the president and his family. All in all, it was a great weekend, and I wish it would have been longer. This week will go fast though, because I am one busy girl.