Outing to Blackbutt Nature Reserve

As part of International Student Orientation, we were encouraged to sign up for a trip to the local nature reserve. So, Friday, bright and early, we caught the train over to the University and then hopped on a bus that took us back the way we came to the reserve. There were 3 coaches in all, lots of kids. They turned us loose and we were free to wander. One of my roommates managed to lead the way and lead the entire bus into the woods, the wrong direction of the animals. We ended up walking for about half an hour on the "main loop" and seeing lots of trees before finally finding the animal reserve, conveniently located right next to the entrance. Brilliant.









Yours truly with the laziest animal I've ever laid eyes on.













This one's for you, mom!



Your birds!






















I really think all Australian animals are lazy. I only saw one kangaroo move!






What are you looking at?




Today, one of the ladies in the study abroad office invited all 6 of us over for an authentic Australian meal. It was like going to Grandma's house.

I could not believe the amount of food this woman prepared. There were about 10 people eating, and any one of the meats could have satisfied everyone. There was a mountain of sausages, a turkey, beef, chicken kabobs (on a stick, not the kebab!), potatoes, onions, bread rolls AND a loaf of bread, corn on the cob, chicken fried rice, salad, and probably some other stuff. I ate an inhuman amount of food and we barely made a dent in it!

After the meal I snuck outside and grabbed some nifty shots of the house, which is nearly 100 years old.














Here's my first successful image using HDR photography...not perfect, I think I was one dark exposure short, but I think it looks awesome!