After a very busy couple of days, we decided to take some time out today and hang out with the animals. We hopped a train and ferry and headed over to Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo. It is always a great relaxer, and today was no different. Walking up and down all the hills is also a good way for excercise and after spending so much time on brain work it was pleasant to be out in the fresh air doing some body work.

Being a long weekend the zoo was fairly crowded but still worth the visit. We had the opportunity to take some amazing photographs of the lions and tigers and I even had one of the female lions try to "attack" me through the glass, several times. It was just like watching a giant kitten trying to play as she flailed her huge paws at me through the glass.

I was rather pleased that the glass is as strong as it is, as even playing I would not like to be on the receiving end of a whack by those huge paws.

The trip back across the harbour as the sun was slowly sinking into the west, behind the harbour bridge, was spectacular to say the least and we really are lucky to have such wonderful sites and the freedom to use them whenver we choose. Australia is the 'lucky country' and it is a shame that many of those who live here don't realise how lucky they are.

One only needs to read any newspaper or listen to a news broadcast to realise that so much of what we take for granted is not available to so many other parts of the world. Even though we are one of the most regulated countries, we are still rank amongst those with the greates level of freedom.

We don't need to sleep with a gun under the pillow, or live in fear of the 'authorities' taking a dislike to us, or fear walking the streets. We have good food to eat and homes to shelter us, plenty of fresh air and sunshine and the opportunity to share it all with friends and loved ones.

 

And now Bush isn't giving any of the 3rd world countries money for HIV unless they denounce prostitution. Brazil has refused and India is starting to refuse too. I hate Bush.

Yeah we are very Lucky and we do take it for granted more often than not. We should all be grateful every day that we live here because it is such a beautiful country with so many spectacular sights around us.