Ashley, Kootingal, Australia

RedSwan Posted Oct 31, 2011, 11:53 am	I begged my mum for ages before she said yes and now I'm really allowed to explore the world like Shane does. Okay, I'm not like Shane. She changes the countries monthly, whereas I want to stay longer in a country - okay also having different hosts - and see a lot of it. I hope that I can start my trip in Australia, as it's my homecountry and I'd love to hang around there. Maybe I'll be able to see a real koala as well? Or any other typical Australian animals? I also would love to see the different sights of Australia - and hanging around at the Great Barrier Reef. Furthermore I'd love to get to know the typicals Australian way of life. So just hope that I find a host for the beginning. I don't care where in Australia I start due to the fact that I really want to see everything as I mentioned. Of course I would love to see different countries as well. I don't want to name another one yet as I really want to begin Down Under. That's it for now! Write as soon as something changed in my life Cheers, Ashley
RedSwan Posted Nov 4, 2011, 9:33 pm	Finally I found my first host in Australia. That's totally amazing and I really can't wait. I'm not sure where I will end up, but my mum told me and showed me, as she has a map of Australia on her wall at home (and tons of other Australian stuff). Here you can see me in front of a painting she made a couple of month ago. Furthermore my mum showed me the flag of Australia. I didn't even knew how it looks like. After that I tried to hide me. But maybe you can find me? Isn't that hard in that picture And then, I found a sign which said "Koalas next 4km." I wonder if I will ever see a real koala or if I will be that close to one. Of course I could go to Duisburg and see one in the zoo, but it's not the same, isn't it? Furthermore I found a hat. Do I really have to wear one of those in Australia? That's it for today as I really have to sleep. Tomorrow or the day after it's going to be my big day.. I'm going to Aus Cheers
RedSwan Posted Nov 4, 2011, 9:48 pm	Wow, finally it was the big day. I got my name tag in pink (I really love pink as I'm female) and got sended to Australia. My journey really started today. Can you believe that? It's hard to believe, isn't it? I wonder how long it will take? Do you know? Mum just told me that she has to fly 25 hours to Melbourne. But I guess it won't be that short for me as well. So see you in Australia.
Bushie Posted Nov 27, 2011, 5:12 am	Ashley arrived to me Friday.  Ashley says G'Day to all. Ashley is just chilling out at the moment.  i have a photo to post but its not uploading at the moment Dec 1 2011 Back again, Ashley has another TV visiting use.  she is a cutie and Ashley is enjoying the company with her. Ashley has been helping me feed the calves (pics to come), been for a bike ride, and seen some storms.  Ashley tried playing in the mud but i had to stop her, before she got there.  My brother wanted her as well but I wouldn't send her to him. Ashley says hello
Bushie Posted Dec 14, 2011, 12:18 pm	HI here we are again. Gee we never seen to stop, going to town. Yesterday we went to lunch with CWA ladies for the Christmas break up. Then it was shopping. today we went Christmas Shopping.  Anne bought some interesting things for her Grandkidlets. I have also went for a ride on the 4 wheeler, what a ride that was. The wind blowing in my fur, had to hang on to.  Buddy was riding on the back.  I have had fun and see a lovely area.  we have photos but at the moment having trouble uploadin them to here. Tomorrow I am off to visit another host in Australia. I wonder where i will travel this time.
Bushie Posted Dec 14, 2011, 9:41 pm	Some of the things i have been doing
becka_kate Posted Dec 22, 2011, 3:24 am	Hi I've just arrived in Sydney, surprising my host who didn't know I was on my way. She was happy to see me though as she had just been saying to her family last night how strange it would be to not have a ToyVoyager visiting over Christmas for the first time in five years! No photos at the moment though as the internet is running a little slowly here at the moment and Bec has to work out how to upload photos using an iPad rather than a computer... But we will figure it out! The weather is Sydney is nothing like I expected - it's wet, cold and miserable; My host says that they're experiencing the coldest, wettest December on record but hopefully the weather will be fine, if not hot by the weekend - fingers crossed! I am told that we will be heading into town on Christmas Eve to view the Christmas lights and huge trees, and in the new year we will have lots of fun while we babysit my host's god-daughters! Will report back soon - Ashley
becka_kate Posted Jan 7, 2012, 4:11 am	Tonight I was taken into Sydney's CBD to view the Christmas decorations in the windows of David Jones. DJ's is one of Australia's largest department stores and every year they decorate their windows with animatronic puppets along a theme, and usually incorporating mice for some reason. This year's theme was Christmas Carols... Silent Night Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night (or maybe while they washed their socks by night?) Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Little Drummer Boy Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 7, 2012, 4:16 am	Later we went onto St Mary's Cathedral to view the Christmas light show. Images are projected onto the facade of the cathedral to celebrate the spirit of Christmas. White doves Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr of peace Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Kaleidoscopes of colour... Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr and famous images of Mary and Jesus... Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 7, 2012, 4:19 am	Leaving the Cathedral at the end of the show, we were walking through Hyde Park when we saw a group of very excited people. Slowing down to see what they were looking at we spotted a group of possums dining around a tree. My first Australian animal encounter! How cool!! Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 7, 2012, 4:22 am	Next stop... dessert where I sampled yummy Caramel cheesecake and an Aussie delicacy (though the New Zealanders also claim it as their own!) - a pavlova. Yum!! Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Christmas Eve by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 7, 2012, 4:30 am	Merry Christmas! Wonder what Santa has bought everyone?? 2011 11:50 PM by becka_kate, on Flickr I made myself useful helping to prepare Christmas lunch... I bet cold meat and salad wasn't on the menu back home! 2011 1:32 PM by becka_kate, on Flickr 2011 9:45 AM by becka_kate, on Flickr 2011 10:48 AM by becka_kate, on Flickr 2011 11:11 AM by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 7, 2012, 4:32 am	My host is a teacher and currently enjoying her long summer holiday. So we've been doing lots of relaxing and hanging around home while she recharges her batteries after a long and busy school year.... This has included: washing the dogs... 2011 12:15 PM by becka_kate, on Flickr (more to come)
becka_kate Posted Jan 20, 2012, 11:12 pm	Off to Taronga Zoo today. The zoo is right on the edge of Sydney Harbour and the lucky animals (especially the giraffes have the best views of both the harbour and the city skyline. Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr At the zoo I met some Australian animals, like these bearded dragons Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr and a brolga - Australia's largest flying bird. Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr The Asian elephants are very popular at Taronga Zoo, especially the three babies, who were the first elephants to be born in Australia. We enjoyed watching their 'playtime' session, especially the soccer and football matches  Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr One of the best things about the zoo is how hard they have worked to try and make the enclosures as similar as possible to the animals' natural habitats, like they have here in Pelican Cove. Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr All too soon it was time to leave and take some very tired children home again. We had a great day! Ashley at the Zoo by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 20, 2012, 11:34 pm	Today was the perfect day for a ferry ride on the harbour. Here I am in Cockle Bay, a tourist / restaurant precint near Darling Harbour. Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Once we were on the harbour we passed a number of boats that cruise the harbour during the days and nights Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Great views of the CBD - the weird curved building to the right is Wildlife World - a mini zoo of Australian animals. The tall spiky building in the middle is Sydney Tower. You can go to the top and view the city from its obsevation decks. Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Sydney's north shore Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Ahh - I'mm sure I don't have to tell you what it was we saw next! Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Luna Park - looks like a whole lot of fun! Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Oh WOW! We went under the Harbour Bridge! Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr and out the other side  Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr Then we went past the Opera House with its famous sails. Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr before arriving in Circular Quay, Sydney's "Central Station" for ferries. Ashley on Sydney Harbour by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 20, 2012, 11:43 pm	Road trip! Road trip! We had to drive down to Canberra (a three hour trip) to return the kids to their parents. Sadly as it was just an overnight trip we didn't have time to see the sights of Canberra but my host made sure I saw some other sights along the way, such as this weird lake - Lake George. Ashley's Road Trip by becka_kate, on Flickr Can you see what's weird about it? There's no water in there. No one knows where the water goes. Some years the lake is so full the water is lapping against the roadway and sometimes, like now, it is completely empty. The Aboriginal name for it is Weereewa which means 'bad water'. Strangely for a lake so far from the coast the water that fills it is salt water not fresh as you might expect. We stood and watched the hang gliders for a while before it was time to keep heading home. Ashley's Road Trip by becka_kate, on Flickr
becka_kate Posted Jan 20, 2012, 11:57 pm	The next quick stop we made on our way home was at the Big Merino in Goulburn. Australian country towns love building "big things" as tourist attractions. There's the Big Banana, the Big Axe, the Big Pineapple, the Big Prawn, the Big Trout, the Big Rocking Horse, the Big Avocado... the list goes on and on. This area of Australia is known for its wool production, hence the huge sheep just as you enter the town! Ashley's Road Trip by becka_kate, on Flickr Some statistics for you.... He is 15metres tall and you can climb up to view the area through its eyes. He is 18metres long. He weighs 97 tonnes! In 2007 they moved him 20metres down the road so that he would be closer to the highway exit. It took all day to move him.
becka_kate Posted Jan 21, 2012, 12:15 am	Last stop on our road trip was at Berrima, a Georgian era villiage about an hour south of Sydney. Here I met a swagman hanging out outside the Lolly Shop. Ashley's Road Trip by becka_kate, on Flickr A swagman was an unemployed man who travelled the rural areas of Australia on foot from farm to farm looking for work during the Depressions of the 1890's and 1930's with their few possessions rolled up and carried in their swag (bedroll).
majicmiss mrsjilliangrey@gmail.com Posted Jan 23, 2012, 5:45 am	Just a quick note to let you know Ive arrived!! Will update you will my news tomorrow, now for a little nap then dinner-Yummo
majicmiss mrsjilliangrey@gmail.com Posted Jan 24, 2012, 2:04 am	A big welcome from my new friends
majicmiss mrsjilliangrey@gmail.com Posted Jan 24, 2012, 2:06 am	Meeting some of Jill's friends. This is Cobweb and Georgie.
majicmiss mrsjilliangrey@gmail.com Posted Jan 24, 2012, 2:15 am	There are so many gum and eucalyptus trees in Australia!!! Im in heaven

Back