Crikey!!

So apparently our darling little Toyota transport from Byron Bay to Brisbane was doubling as a mobile hot zone because Clare and I arrived in Brisbane feeling a bit blah and woke up the next morning sick. We bailed on the Australian Zoo that first day in favor of a quiet day of laundry, reading, and strolling around Brisbane. It was a much-needed break. We are quickly realizing that we are not 21 this time-- and when we forget it our knees, backs, and livers remind us.

One afternoon of rest and we were ready to participate in the ancient Australian tradition of karaoke. The Australian Aboriginees actually invented karaoke as a means of passing on their creation myths to their young. That's how the song "I come from the land down under" became popular. True story.

Fortunately, we have had an excellent tour guide in Brisbane. Our friend Mark, who we met in DC on New Years Eve this past year, has showed us the best of Brisbane's night life, which mostly meant closing down The Victory every night. Though Clare and I are generally somewhat reserved, he convinced us that a lively rendition of Kelly Clarkson's "Since you Been Gone" was an appropriate and important cultural exchange. Never one to disappoint the natives, we gave it our best shot. Important note: I lost my voice in Osaka after our karaoke night there. I have not since relocated it, though it has not prevented me from croaking along. The woman who ran the karaoke at the victory takes her job very seriously. Apparently part of her job is turning off the microphone when people like me attempt to sing. So what you are witnessing in that photo is Clare entertaining the crowd and me entertaining myself. And rightly so.

As our cultural ambassador to Australia, Mark then insisted that we try the ancient ceremonial meal of the Austalians-- a lovely dish called vegemite. Vegemite is made from a by-product of the beer brewing process. It's like salty, yeasty, brown beer residue. For those of you who live by the mantra "nothing bad has ever come from beer" (I'm looking at you Mullins), I will gladly prove you wrong. We actually asked Mark's mom before we tried it what the quickest route was to the toilets should the experiment go badly. She replied "they make a less salty American-friendly vegemite... and also one with cheese in it." Not helpful. We took this picture before we bit into it. The chewing, swallowing and aftermath photos are not publishable.

After stuffing a dry toast chaser into our mouths, we set off for the Australia Zoo where we had two objectives-- hold a koala bear and feed the kangaroos. Done and done. The kangaroos in the Australian Zoo roam freely and love the humans who bring them endless food. They've got a pretty good gig going on there, though they do have to put up with people like me who want to spoon with them.

Then we held a koala.

Then I was eaten by a crocodile.

The End.