Sydney Aquarium & Sydney Wildlife World

Day 2 – Friday, July 4

It was wet on Friday with it raining on and off all day. It made walking through Darling Harbour quite cool. But more on that later…

So on the Friday after we arrived, Neil and I headed to see some of the attractions that Sydney had to offer. First on the list was the Sydney Aquarium. So, we hopped on the monorail and off we went. Riding the monorail around the city was pretty neat, in Toronto we’re so used to the subway, which is underground, and the buses and streetcars, which go through the city. But the monorail is above the city which is pretty neat.

But back to Sydney Aquarium…this place was so awesome, I kind of wish that we did that one last. The first thing we saw when we walked inside was the platypus tank. I have to say that they’re the strangest animals I’ve ever seen yet interesting at the same time. Like Neil had said at one point, ‘they’re like 2 animals put together’. There’s really no other way to describe them.

Next was the massive crocodile hanging out in his ‘tank’. Obviously the pictures don’t do it justice, but all I have to say is that I’m glad I was on the other side of the glass. However, it’s still amazing how they can be. Not exactly the kind of creature you want to have an unexpected encounter with…

We continued on through the different exhibits checking out the different water critters that we would never get to see up close. We walked underneath the sea lion exhibit and we were able to see them swim over us as we walked through, which was a neat experience. But this wasn’t the only exhibit that provided such an experience. I believe it was called the ‘Oceanarium’ that provided the same experience. Inside the tank were various ocean creatures: different types of sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and other small fish. Neil and I must’ve stayed there for a good half hour just watching as they ‘swam over us’. This was definitely a favourite for the both of us.

There was also an aquarium where you could touch the starfish that were in it. I thought that was pretty neat and I was surprised that Neil put his hand in there too.

Sadly, our trip to the Aquarium came to an end. But off to the Sydney Wildlife World it was! And another neat place to visit. :)

My mission was to check out the koalas. But the first ‘animals’ we checked out were the insects. And Mom, we have a picture of the world’s biggest cockroach just for you! :) Boy was that thing disgusting. Ugh…

And there was a pretty big spider we snapped a picture of. Although I don’t think it’s nearly as big as the one that was living in the room where Fred was staying in the Philippines. You beat me on that one, Fred. Hehehe...

Anyway, after we finished looking at the disgusting insects (*lol*) we came to the reptiles. Neil’s favourite. ;) There was a snake, not too sure if it was a python or not, but it was trying to reach for the ceiling. It was so cool. Unlike, Neil, I think snakes are wicked. Except when I see them in their natural habitat. That just freaks me out. But needless to say, I don’t think Neil found these exhibits nearly as fascinating as I did. We saw all sorts of cool critters. Unfortunately we didn’t see the lizard that puffs up, ‘puff up’, although one of them came close. Then of course, there was the massive one that attacked Neil. Ha! Suckah!

At one point we headed upstairs where the koalas were. :) One of my favourites. :):) Unfortunately, they were all sleeping except for one. Now, I don’t know if they’re like this in the wild, but it seems that if they’re not sleeping, they’re eating eucalyptus…isn’t that the life? You eat. And sleep. And where you sleep is where you eat. They don’t have to go anywhere! Haha! But to be perfectly honest, I could’ve stayed there while Neil walked around to check out the rest of the animals. I could watch koalas all day. Boring and stupid, I know, but so true.
As I mentioned before, it was raining on this day, and so when we checked out the wallabies it was starting to rain again. Within minutes they were hiding under the rocks in their enclosure. Check out the picks. How can you tell that they don’t like the rain? *lol*

We continued to walk through the place checking out all that there was to see and by the time we were done there it was still early in the afternoon. So we headed to a restaurant for lunch at this place called “Mongolian BBQ”. We had the all you can eat lunch and it was awesome. They need a place like this in Toronto if they don’t have one, and if they do and someone knows about it please let us know for when we get back. So you grab a bowl and you have your choice of meat: lamb, beef, pork, or chicken, and you can add your choice of vegetables, and sauces. Basically, it’s a ‘create your own stir-fry’. You bring it to a window where a chef cooks it all up for you. So if anyone’s heading this way in the near future and decides to make a stop in Sydney, I suggest heading to Darling Harbour for some Mongolian BBQ.

And that, folks, was another eventful day for Neil and Melis in Sydney.

P.S. Pictures to follow!