The Taronga Zoo

This has got to be in one of the most stunning settings of any zoo in the world. It looks over the Sydney Harbour and is really a motion picture postcard. It truely is an event to go there. Departing from Circular Quay, the catamaran goes across the harbour giving ample photo options and it is really hard to resist taking shots at every turn.

The zoo itself didn't disappoint either. I think we saw just about every animal in there and spent most of the day scouting the place out. It was great to see a lot of the Australian animals as well, as I admit I didn't know what even a wallaby was before the trip there. We did get to see a platypus which was one of the highlights definitely.

Botanic Gardens

Australia really is a different place. Trees, animals and sounds are all so exotic. Even now, as I write this, the hum of the Sicadas are constant in the background and the sun is in the northern part of the sky. It is all enough to remind you that you are a long way from home. It is like living life in a mirror, where your left is your right and right is left.

So to orient myself a bit and get to know some of what I am seeing and hearing all the time, I headed out to the Botanic Gardens near the Sydney Opera House and checked out some of the flora and fauna of the area. It is definitely an oasis and is well-used by the locals. I was there at lunch and walked along the water where many people were on lunch-time runs and families were picnicing on the grass, playing some rugby or cricket.

I walked by the government house and through the lower gardens where I learned to distinguish the ficus and eucalypt trees. The thousands of residents of the ficus trees though, were a bit disconcerting even if they just eat fruit (click on the pic for a larger view).

Mardi Gras Parade

You couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It was 3 hours of energy and excitement at the 30th Annual Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney. 150 floats and hundreds of thousands of people in a beautiful climate were perfect ingredients for a good time. What can I say other than that? I was in awe during the parade - it just seemed to never end and the energy was contagious.