Hot Air Ballooning!

This was one of the coolest things we have ever done!!! 

this was at 3:30 am... too early... but still very excited!

They picked us up at 4:05 am and took us out to this field

They loaded us up in the dark... it was very cold

we took off right at sunrise

there were two other balloons also

the view was spectacular

we were floating above the Atherton Tablelands

this is the view of the inside of our balloon

we rode in the biggest balloon in Australia 

our pilot was from South Africa, his name was Sam

one of the balloons about to land

the view after we landed...

the sun rising over the apricot trees

i tried to catch the sun

the balloons taking off again

it was so much fun!!! We loved every minute of it!

Afterwards they took us to a hot breakfast with a champagne toast at a bush camp! When they dropped us off at our hotel it was only 10:30... so we went back to bed. 

Cairns Tropical Zoo (feeding the pelicans)!!!

I volunteered to help feed the pelicans! It was pretty cool! This is my kind of zoo! 

Cairns Tropical Zoo (holding a koala)!!!

I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. It was so exciting and when my turn was up I had a cry, I was so happy! 

holding a koala

youngster with his mom

all koalas have unique spots and fingerprints!

a baby snuggling his mum

this dude is just chillin' out

Cairns Tropical Zoo (feeding the kangaroos)!!!

This was the coolest day ever! I will continue to post more from the zoo in the next few days!

Cairns

While Tyler was at his conference, I spent my days exploring the city, swimming in the lagoon, and walking down the Esplanade. The Esplanade Lagoon is a free saltwater swimming pool with sandy edges overlooking the ocean inlet. 

lagoon

random sign

watch out for the locals

water playground for the babes

view from the Esplanade

don't worry, I wore sunscreen

My Birthday!

I woke up in a beautiful hotel room, in a beautiful town, and went swimming in a beautiful pool... what more could I ask for!!! Tyler skipped the conference and took me to breakfast, a sweet mall (with a TARGET!!!) and even let me pick out a new tank-top before taking me to a lovely dinner at Outback Jacks... all in all it was an extraordinary day! 

the uni

here are some pictures we have taken around campus! 

Cairns

We are off to Cairns! It looks like a beautiful part of the country and already have lots of adventures to look forward to!!! We have a few things set in stone such as: I am going to go to the zoo that lets you hold Koalas and hand feed Kangaroos! We also have booked a hot air ballon ride at sunrise!!! Some of the other things we would like to do include: viewing the great barrier reef, taking a sky-tram up to a local village, taking a train past amazing waterfalls, and walking through the rainforest! I am also looking forward to laying at the beach and soaking up the 80 degree temperatures! Oh yeah, and Tyler has a conference to go to all week ending with a presentation on friday....

this is for Melanie!