Our adventure began with a grueling 22 hour flight from Houston to LAX and then to Brisbane, Australia. On our way to the airport from our house, we stopped by Pappasitos just in case it was our last meal, we wanted to make it our favorite! The flight and security and gates were insignificant to LAX. Once in LA, we realized how awesome our Houston airports are- clean, organized, well directed, friendly staff and lots of food options. However ugly that place was, we made it to our gate and onto the largest plane I've ever seen in my life. It was a true double decker plane! We sat in the middle of 75 students from all over the US heading to Australia to study abroad. Why did we not do this in college?! They were talking about their trip details and it sounded like the greatest vacation and yet they were getting 23hrs credit for it? Smart kids. Although I did get really tired of how many times a student asked me what year I was...I'm 26, not 18. We watched lots of movies, a few tv shows, played some Angry Birds, and ate a LOT, passed out in very uncomfortable positions, woke up to fresh food being delivered and then landed.
It really wasn't nearly as bad as we were anticipating. We got their at 7am Brisbane time and hit the ground running. My parents picked us up and we went to their house. I'll post pics later of their house, but it's gorgeous. Although it's a large victorian house, it's downtown! With parking meters in front of it! It's very pretty inside and has beautiful antique details. Lots of wood work and a claw foot tub. Back on track. We had a welcoming drink of champagne (Deb, you'd be so proud!), showered and headed out on the streets. 
We walked all along the river, went to several open markets, ventured through China Town and landed at a pub where we enjoyed lunch- steaks & fish & chips and a couple pitchers of local stout beer.
Then we walked some more...lots more. We headed over to the South Bank, around some more shops, over a huge bridge and into the botanical gardens.
Finished the botanical gardens and walked all the way back over the bridge and kept telling ourselves we were going to be rewarded with the cutest little outdoor pub as soon as we crossed, and we went up to the bar to order and he said it just closed. Boo. Ever onward. We headed back to the house and tried really really hard to stay awake since it was only 6pm. We ate a wonderful dinner of my dad's brisket, potato salad and corn on the cob. Watched American Idol and went to sleep at 8pm. We slept 11hours!!!
We woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and eggs...how lucky am I?! What a treat. Then we went to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. We saw all the native Australian species and it was fantastic.
I finally got to hold my KOALA! I have been anticipating this moment for a long time and it was way better than I imagined...until Utopia pooped on my clean white shirt.
Still completely loved every second of it. Lots of birds and critters, crocs, four legged furry things, and dingos! We saw a sheep hearding show and then watched the sheep get sheared!
Made me miss our dogs. Justin volunteered to participate in the bird show which got him very excited. The birds were huge and beautiful and one flew away during the show, but the workers said he would come back eventually.
We saw wombats and then played with the Kangaroos. Yes, you heard me...we played with them! After thinking we were so brave and taking videos of seeing who could get the closest, we looked over and saw a three year old walk right up to one and hug it. We laughed at ourselves and did the same. They were so docile. So sweet and soft. One was even carrying her little baby in her pouch. Of course my dad pulled the pouch open so we could see it's little head and it was SO cute!
Loved every bit of the sanctuary. Australians are the nicest people I have ever met. They let us touch everything, answered all our questions and smiled with a "no worry" and "good day" following every interaction.
We had some wine and cheese in the car and drove to Tambarine Mountain. We stopped on the way and had pizza. Then we got to the cutest little town and had a wine tasting.
Then walked up the hill to MB Brewery & Cheese Factory, where we enjoyed sampling the home brews, tried lots of cheese and then headed for the Falls.
We hiked a few kilometers in Curtis Falls enjoying the most amazing sounds of birds and bats and eventually came upon the Falls. It looked like it should be on some movie or tv show with extremely good looking people playing in the water below. Nobody was below the falls...but I don't know why. We hiked some more and saw thousands of bats hanging high above us.
We took lots of pictures but it still doesn't capture how beautiful everything is. We came back home, ate dinner and watched the Grammys. Another wonderful day. We're heading to the beach in the morning for some sun, diving, and surf school! Our plan is to spend two nights there...hopefully I don't get attacked by a shark. It is a very real fear of mine.
