11/11/08

KANGAROO ISLAND

Kangaroo Island at a Glance

If you are ever around in the South Australia area, you should check out Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island is one of the top destinations for travelers in the world. The island is very huge – the size of Singapore 7 times over! This is not a place for one to explore, in an entire day.

Kangaroo Island Lighthouse

The busiest place on the island is the capital city of Kingscote. The city is located near the Nepean Bay and is the main commercial area of the island. The city has a well-built harbor and provides the locals with plenty of boating and fishing opportunities.

Nepean Bay

Also, if you are a night person, local tours of the area can be arranged. While there, you can see and array of exotic plants and animals – which will leave you in amazement. If you are a lover of oysters, head down to the island’s oyster fishery. There, you can sample some of the finest oysters in the area.

Walkway to Seal Bay

Also, check out the nearby Pelican Lagoon, where you can find most of the island’s exotic birds. The North Bay area is filled with beautiful beaches and even more beautiful emus. The beach is located about 20 kilometers from Kingscote.

Kangaroo

On the beach, you can play volleyball and other sports, or just relax in the sun. Moreover, if you want to see more of the island’s bountiful wildlife in the area, go to Parndana, or “the place of gums.”

Koala on Kangaroo Island

Located in the center of the island, the typical Australian town is another home to the island’s wildlife. The town also host night koala tours, where you get to see the cute, but endangered animals engaging in their normal activities. The tours are arranged from the community hotel, located in the town.

11/10/08

SYDNEY

Sydney, Australia’s Nightlife - At a Glance

For most people, the city of Sydney, Australia is a wonderful place to see and explore. When most people think of Australia, they think of kangaroos, koala bears, and miles of nothingness.
Those beliefs are far from the truth.

Sydney on the Harbour

In fact, Australia is a hub of many adventurous, sightseeing tourists. How can a place like Australia be this way? The answer lies in the natural and manmade wonders of the island/nation/continent.

Endeavour-Sydney

One place, in particular, is a favorite among tourists and that place is Sydney. Yes, Sydney, Australia has a very active day and nightlife; which attracts thousands of tourists every year.
So, what is there to do in Sydney, in terms of the nightlife? There are plenty of things to do and see in Sydney, at night. One place is the Centerpoint Tower, which gives the visitor a grand view of the city’s skyline and harbor.

Centerpoint Tower

This is a good place for couples to hang out and see the true beauty of Sydney. Another place to see, as a part of the Sydney nightlife is one of the live performances at the world-famous Sydney Opera House.

Sydney Opera House

Yes, imagine you spending hours listening to some fine classical and opera music. Moving on to other sites, there is the Sydney Observatory. The observatory is the oldest in “the land down under, ” at the ripe old age of 150 years. Here, you will see events from lectures from the world’s stop astronomers, and viewings of the moon, planets, and stars at night.

Darling Harbour

The observatory also has a 3-D space theater. For more thongs to do, you and your companions can take a ferry to Darling Harbor. Once you arrive at Darling Harbor, you and your companions can enjoy a delicious dinner, in one of the local restaurants, watch a movie in one of the harbor’s cinemas, or have a drink or two at one of the harbor’s bars.

Sydney Tower, Bar

In short, Sydney, Australia is a fun place to be and to see at night. So, if you are ever thinking or planning to come down to this hot spot of the “land down under.” by all means do so. You will not regret it!

11/5/08

GREAT BARRIER REEF

The Flora and Fauna of the Great Barrier Reef

Consisting of over 1,600 miles of coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system. The infamous reef system is located off the coast of the Australian state of Queensland.

Great Barrier Reef

Moreover, the reef consists of more than 900 islands and 3,000 independent coral reefs. Ever year, thousands of people come to see this great natural wonder and the different types of animals and plants that inhabit it.

Great Barrier Reef, Cairns

Generally speaking, a lot of plants and animals inhabit the islands. Most of them are only found in this area – making them truly native to Australia. Furthermore, the vegetation on the island is very ripe and filled with plants, such as algae and sea grass.

Turtle in Great Barrier Reef

In fact, in the Great Barrier Reef, there are more than 500 different types of algae and more than 60 types of sea grass. In addition, there are smaller numbers of other marine and plant life, around the reef, including an array of prawns and fishes.

Great Barrier Reef, Cairns

In the reef, the sea grass is only plants that can live in the seawater that surrounds it, since the waters around the reef are very salty. Also, there are small turtles that live on the island as well.
Moving on to more algae on the reef, there is the brown algae, plankton algae, red algae and the golden algae. The algae are a very important source of food for many of the species that live on or near the island.

Sharks in Great Barrier Reef

In addition, the algae on the reef can be beneficial to the health of people as well. Algae contains an excellent source of fiber and protein and have been known to lower the levels of cholesterol and blood pressure in many people.


In short, the Great Barrier Reef is not only a place to see and admire, but also a place where you can find some of the world’s most exotic plants and animals. If you like, you can take a bit of seaweed and algae and use it in your food, but beware that some of the seaweed and algae are not safe to eat, so find out which plants are safe to eat and not to eat.

11/4/08

MELBOURNE

A Tour of Melbourne, Australia

Called, by many, as one of the best cities to live in the world, Melbourne, Australia is also one of the liveliest and social-friendly in the country as well. That is why many people are flocking to this city “down under” – to enjoy themselves and to live in relative safety.

Melbourne

However, for the short-termers that come to tour Melbourne, there are plenty of things to do and see. Melbourne is not some small town with dirt roads and rundown bars. Melbourne is a sophisticated, modern city that provides its residents and visitors alike with all the comforts of modern technology.

Melbourne

In the next paragraphs, you will see and learn a bit about these places, including some of the things to do and see there.

The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a great stating place to begin your tour of Melbourne. While you are cruising down this infamous road, you will see the stunning coastlines of Melbourne and other towns. Also, the road will take you through some of Australia’s forests, where you will see koala bears, kangaroos, and many of the forest plants.

The Great Ocean Road

The Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is another place of place, near Melbourne, where you can experience more of Australia’s natural and manmade wonders. Here, you can see country’s oldes steam train, in the Yarra Valley Museum. Or, you can drive down or take a hike to the Australia’s wine country – where you can taste some of the finest wines in all Australia.

In The Yarra Valley

Melbourne’s Wildlife

As home to Australia’s oldest zoo, Melbourne is also home to some eco centers and animal rescue centers. At the Melbourne zoo, there are many different species of animals and plants, including the koala bear and the kangaroo.

Kangaroos in Australian Zoo

Melbourne’s Nightlife

At nighttime, there are plenty of things to do and to see. One of those things is taking a in-the-sky tour of Melbourne and seeing its skyline. Another thing to do is to take a nigh tour of the Foster’s beer factory and getting a taste of this all-Australian beer. In speaking of beer, there are plenty of bars and taverns where you can guzzle down a beer or two (Foster’s or other beers.)

Fosters Brewery

Melbourne’s Shopping

If you are a shopaholic and is ever in Melbourne, then this is the place to be. In the Fashion Triangle – the fashion district of the city – there are a number of shops and malls where you can buy the finest clothes and accessories.

"Sea World"

Also, if you go to Melbourne Central, you will find over 500 shops, stores and boutique stores. Simply put, your shopping needs are met in one area! In short, Sydney, Australia can be a wonderful place to live and to tour.