Month: January 2013

Part 7: Kuranda & the Reef

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It’s time to check out Australia’s World Heritage rainforests, and there was no better way than to soar above it. Jay and I took a five-mile ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which dropped us off in a village called Kuranda, but not before giving us incredible views of the forest canopy. After making it to Kuranda, we went to find some wildlife and headed to Kuranda Koala Gardens. I promised Jay that we’d find him a koala to cuddle, and many of our guidebooks told us this place was our ticket. They had an enclosed feeding/petting zoo full of friendly wallabies, kangaroos and wombats. And no, the koala stamp on Jay’s wrist is not permanent. Koala cuddling accomplished! While they are completely adorable, Jay observed that they are not as soft as they seem. Ok, wombats are now my favorite marsupial. Just look at those short little legs. Exploring the jungle walks in Kuranda. This pizza was delicious. What was next on the agenda? Snorkeling the reef! And finally, (and I’m afraid this will …

Part 6: Welcome to Cairns

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I am not sure how it is January 2013 and I am still posting photos from Australia, but here we are. Please excuse the long detour from my last post. Now on with the rest of the show! Giddy with excitement to see another part of the country, we left Sydney and flew into Cairns, Queensland, about a 3-hour flight. We were hoping for tropical weather, but was greeted with gray skies and a dried up harbour. Hmm, not quite the paradise we had in mind, but we made the best of it. Cairns is best known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, something we promised ourselves we wouldn’t miss while we were in the country. We spent our first day walking around and getting the lay of the land. In a couple of photos… Above is a photo of the Esplanade, a 51,667-square-foot saltwater lagoon. We would’ve taken a dip, but it wasn’t quite warm enough (even though it was much warmer here than in Sydney). Stop back again soon to see …

Pittsburgh: Phipps Conservatory

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With all of the Christmas hustle and bustle, my husband and I managed to claim a couple of hours to ourselves when we were in Pittsburgh. We spent our time at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, a really beautiful place any time of year. Here are some of my favorite photos… The orchid room is spectacular. Jay’s favorite room: the Garden Railroad exhibit. The guy loves his model trains. :) Above is a replica of Phipps. The conservatory, founded in 1893, is a giant steel and glass Victorian greenhouse. Phipps, thank you for a lovely visit. It’s always nice to come back. On another note, I’ve finally updated my blog theme. After two years, I thought it was time. :) Thank you all again for taking a peek and following along.