Sydney, Australia - Day 3

Day three in Sydney. We had to get up before breakfast again to go on a tour to see Koalas and other Australian animals. We had breakfast in bed or rather I did. Someone had to serve. The Kramers couldn’t go as there were too many stairs and too much walking. Muriel didn’t feel well and stayed home with Art.

Down we went to a bus waiting just off the pier. Guess who was there to greet us? It was Nazi tour guide. The head of the ships tour department was there also. We asked if there would another bus or we would not be able to go on the tour. He said there was and asked why. We told him about her in full detail. He took notes and said they couldn’t have anyone like this. The next bus had a very nice girl as the tour guide. It was another huge very deluxe bus that held 60 or so and we were only 20. W drove about 3 minutes and got off. The ferry dock we were going to was just a t the front of the ship. Walking would have been far quicker.

The next group showed up at the ferry dock also. Nazi leader comes over to us and says she is sorry if we had some problem and wants what exactly bothered us. She is acting like we are gong to be forgiving or afraid to have a confrontation. Oh boy! Did she pick the wrong tourist. We told her of the glee she expressed when mentioning the break up of the catholic march by the police and her delight in letting us know that only Aryans could join golf clubs. Her answer was that she was just telling us how things are. I replied that she didn’t have to use that Nazi word or to be so happy and giggly about it and what about forgetting me at the opera house. Her answer was, I guess things just got a little messed up but I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I am Jewish too. I answered, what do you mean, too? Who said we were? If that was true why didn’t you say anything about the temples when we drove through the Jewish section of town. You never even told us where we were. If you are Jewish then I’m an astronaut. Her answer was, I guess I should have mentioned something.

The ferry we took was a relatively small one for about 120 people. Some of the others were huge and the ferry traffic never stops. They are mostly catamarans but some of the bigger ones are canoe shaped. Those can travel in either direction. They have pilot houses on both ends. I have no idea where the engines, props and rudders are or how they work when traveling in different directions.

Once away from the dock area and past the opera house, this ferry started to move right along. This one was a water jet. It looked to me like it was going about 30 or 35 miles per hour at its fastest. We had quite a long ride. We went all across the huge bay and up a river that looked like just another part of the bay. There were several stops along the way but no one wanted to get off or on so they just slowed, approached and continued on. After about 45 minutes we came to out stop. Buses were waiting for us and we continued on toward the Koala Park.

After we entered they had a white Dingo on a leach waiting for us to see. Those no longer in need of their limbs could pet the Dingo. I did have the urge to give the Nazi a little push. These Dingos are dangerous. This one just looked like a medium sized yellow Lab. If I didn’t know I would have tried to pet it.

We then went on to pet the Wombat. She was huge. About 70 pounds and not happy. They are nocturnal and she did not like missing her beauty sleep. An employee held her and you could sit down next to him and slowly slide down the bench and pet her from behind her head. This thing looks like super rat with a face that looks much like a Koala. Next it was on to the Koalas. No one holds them. The ones here are nasty and fighting with each other. They put one on a fence top and people pet it from behind.

There was a petting area with kangaroos. These are very friendly. When you come in, some take their little hands and want to check you out looking for food. Almost all would let you pet them. There were many other Australian animals but we didn’t have time to see many others.

They had a fire going cooking Billy tea and they gave us some bread like that made by the early prisoners that were sent to the country. Both were surprisingly good. The Rabbi was with us and he and Bobbi swung the pot of tea around over their heads to make the leaves fall to the bottom of the pot.

We had to be back to the ship by 12:30 for a 1:PM departure. The bus was much faster then the ferry. The tour guide was very good and the driver was a history student. He took the microphone and told us a lot of stuff you would not get from a tour guide. According to him the Aussies feel very close to the Americans as we both started as slave colonies of England. Any place I’ve been, that was formerly English, has many locals that are less then fond of those English. This guy says the English version of history shows them to be so nice to the people of their colonies and possessions and lands they took over. He says they were as bad as any and maybe worse.

We did leave about at 1:00 PM. Muriel was not feeling well again at dinner and we again ate with just the Kramers. They had gone to Shabbat Services and joined when they were over.

We had a great day and this is a great country. I could spend a lot more time going over Australia and New Zealand.

Kangaroo Sherm Out

(Posted on behalf of Sherman Rootberg)