Hey Everyone!

Whew, things have been really going!  So to go into depth from last week, Monday Naomi drove me up to the Sunshine Coast so that I could swim with sharks!  We stopped at the Big Pineapple along the way, which was, big.  I was disappointed though that the inside wasn't edible.  Then we continued on to UnderWater World.  We looked throughout the aquarium then I went across the road to a scuba school.  I got my scuba gear on and then had a quick, 'don't touch the sharks' lesson.  Then we waddled across the road to get to the shark tank.  That scuba gear is heavy outside of the water, who knew that a can of air would weigh so much!  So we got into the tank (the water was freezing) and stood for a few minutes.  Then I started to look around, you are just standing there like, the water is cold and I have to keep breathing, and then you look up and just see a mouth of teeth.  We weren't allowed to touch the sharks (why would we want to?) but they were allowed to touch us (not fair).  So there were grey nurse sharks, white tip reef sharks, stingrays, rays, fish.  The sharks did come pretty close, but none tried to bite me.  We (the instructor then 4 of us divers) walked around the tank for about 30 minutes.  It was really magnificent to see the sharks just gliding through the water.  Wasn't particularly scary, I mean, they had t-shirts for sale that said ' I survived the shark dive' so they must have been confident right? So after the dive I got a hot shower (yeah!) and then Naomi and I drove home!  The rest of the week was pretty typical.  Barn, koalas, fuzzy animals etc.  Then Friday I was put into reptiles again.  So the morning was just checking on things, little odds and ends.  Then I got to carry a frilled necked lizard.  They are very rough and pretty big.  Then I got sent to barn again, but Karen, the reptile keeper made it up to me after I got back.  So we are standing in the reptile room, la-t-da and she just looks at me and says "oh yea you don't like snakes do you?"  I'm just like, well then are in their little cages and I can just look at them and say how pretty they look so I'm fine.  She pops open the glass between me and a python and goes "so now how do you feel?"  I bet my face was priceless!  So then she takes a python which was a couple feet long and pops it into my hands.  Well that is one way to get over your fear really darn quick!  It was incredible though to feel how the snake is soft and smooth and how it moves through your hands.  They are just one big muscle.  So then that snake goes away and she gets an even bigger python out and puts it in my hands.  This snake was a little more spunky and flicked its tongue in my face.  I didn't drop it though!  So that one went back and then, remember that snake that I said had no reason to be that big?  Yup, not that specific one, but one of that species and slightly smaller comes out and goes around my neck and hands.  It was maybe.... 10 feet? long and 6 inches thick?  This one was going all over my head and moving around.  I took it for a little walk.  So yea, after 3 snakes being put on me I would say I have no fear anymore!  They are actually quite remarkable creatures. I know you probably don't believe me, but I will have to get photographic evidence next time!

So on Sat. me and Val flew out at 8 am (and watched sunrise #1 over the city) to Alice Springs.  This is a little desert town in almost the exact center of the country.  The town was a few streets (kind of like Friendship)  the main street was just a bunch of little shops for souviners, aboriginal art, jewelry etc.  and nothing in the town was above one story high.  It was very unique, not like any place I had been before.  So we explored a bit then took a nap (after weeks of getting up at 6 we thought we deserved it!)  The next morning we were up bright and early... well it was early but it wasn't bright.  Our tour bus picked us up at 6:00am so we watched sunrise #2 while on the road.  (keep track of these sunrises Dad, I have pictures to prove I was up!)  Our tour drove for around... 5 hours maybe to Kings Canyon.  We hiked around.  Basically was a bunch of red rocks and soil.  Its not a desert out there though, it is a semi-arid region, so there are still green bushes and trees.  After that hike it was back on the bus to drive to our campsite.  Meaning of course a firepit in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  We cooked a dinner of chili and rice and vegetables on the campfire and then rolled out our swags and fell asleep under the stars.  Although being in the Southern Hemisphere there isn't a man on the moon, but a bunny!  I like the bunny better.  So day two we got up and the sun was rising while we had our breakfast (sunrise #3) and there was more driving then we toured Kata Juta (spelled wrong, I will have to look it up later) and watched the sunset on Uluru, the biggest rock in the world!  Ouuuuu Ahhhhhhh.  It really does change color as the sun sets.  The next morning it was up even earlier so we could get to the rock and see the sunrise (#4- Four sunrises in a row Dad!!!!!!!!!, and no, I'm not use to it so I won't still do it when I come home.  I know you too well.).  Then we walked the base walk around the rock.  By the end we were just like, Ok its a rock, its big, time to go.  Our tour group had a great time though. I met boys from Scotland (love their accents), others from Canada, Britian, Holland, North Carolina, France.  It was a great tour, I loved every minute.  I was very sad to see us all go our separate ways!  Val and I spent that night in Alice, then flew back to Brisbane the following afternoon.  Then it was back to work on Thursday and today.  I'm trying to get all the pictures I can of the animals, though I'm still going to be sneaky and bring home a dingo ( I think disguised as a seeing eye dog).

Love and Miss you All!!

Sorry this is so long!  Can't wait to come home in 2 weeks (time has flown!) and show all my pictures!

hey everyone

so another week has gone by.  This summer has been absolutely flying by.  Last Monday I went to go see Harry Potter with Naomi, Val, and Leanne.  It was ok, but I love the books more.  Today actually the last book comes out.  I was so tempted to go get it, but being in  Australia I learned that every book has two versions, the American version and the British version.  Apparently JK Rowling has a different editor in each country and each one edits the book differently.  So the British version of the book is 600 pages and the American version is 750 pages.  So I should wait until I get home and read our version because there have been differences in past books as well.  So anyway after the movie we went out for Mexican, it was pretty good.  We all had a great time.  Tuesday it was back to work.  I really missed that place.  The dingos came running over to say hi, i love those dogs.  The staff seemed pretty happy to see me again as well.  Before I got through the door they already had my day planned for me.  I started the day in macropods then was sent to barn.  It has settled down a lot at work since the school vacation is over.  I can't believe how big my baby goats got in a week!  I took my new camera in and started taking photos of all my animals.  I have a lot more to take though!  Wed. Leanne and Val left for Melbourne/Adelaide for the week.  I was in the macropod section the whole day.  At the end I got to feed the kookaburras their mice.  I really like kookaburras, they are the best birds ever.  Ours really have personality.  After work on Wed Naomi and I drove about an hour up the coast to go see if we could capture a bird.  We didn't find it, but she took me out to dinner then we got home and crashed out.   Thurs I was in high demand at Lone Pine.  I was scheduled in mammals, but then birds needed an experienced vollie so I did both sections.  Friday I was scheduled in reptiles.  I started the day there and was all ready to face my fear.  Karen the keeper introduced me to all of the animals and told me which ones could kill me (like the most poisonous land snake)  After she found out that I wasn't a fan of snakes she said that I was going to get over that real quick and I could see the wheels turning in her head on which snake was going to put around my neck first.  Well partway through the day I was needed in barn because it needs an experienced vollie and I was the only one.  So I didn't get to finish my day with the snakes.  You might not believe it but I was disappointed.  I had myself all prepared, but I requested to be put in reptiles sometime next week.  So we will see.  The USS Kitty Hawk docked in Brisbane the night before so I met some US Navy men while working.  It was weird telling them how to do things in Brissie, like how to order food.  (they don't know what fries are- they are called chips here, and its not ketchup it is tomato sauce).  I can't believe I have been here for 6 weeks.  Friday night I went out with my friend Pedro and a bunch of his friends.  Aussies are so much fun to chill with.  So that is pretty much all.  Today I'm just going to relax, tomorrow maybe the city, monday I might go up to the Sunshine Coast.  Who knows!  To all the Bakers, have fun this weekend, I'm sorry I can't be there I love and miss you lots. 

Love and miss everyone else too!