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Australia has always been known for its dangerous fauna. Besides, the reaction of my friends confirms it: “you will be careful not to be bitten by a shark or a crocodile or, touched by a jelly-fish…”! Beyond spiders, venimous snakes, I have met in the outback, or shark, crocodiles, I could have met, Australia remains one of the most beautiful places to visit in this world! 

In one year, nothing really happend to me… with the exception of the huge snake which licked the foot of my lovely Irish roommate Michelle, in Darwin, or when a spider bit me in the desert, or when 3 bottle jelly-fish fell in love with my neck at the Great Barrier Reef… But this is another story  

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Kangaroos

Before seeing kangaroos, in their natural surroundings, that was in the Wildlife World that I first discovered them!  

That herbivore is a marsupial which belongs to the macropodidae. It lives up to 15 / 20 years. It’s incredible how an individual, which can measure 2m, 90kg measures just a few 25mm when born. In the frame of one of the most arid climates in the world, this little baby already fights to survive, trying to achieve his mother’s pouch. Because of men, chasing the dingo, its predator, kangaroos are animals which have proliferated on the Australian territory, as many as, chasing kangaroos is allowd by the Government and supported (reluctantly) by associations in the target to protect the biodiversity. According to the articles I have read, there may be in Australia around 20 to 40 millions of kangaroos. ”It’s like pest”, I heard in the bush.

Now that the animal has proliferated and that men have to chase it, to readjust the number of their population, that remains most probably understandable as regards the ecosystem. However, I am sure that most of these animals are savagely attacked and killed.

Nature is incredible! How to survive in such an arid place? Red kangaroos are able to travel through long distances, even during the driest period, to look for their food. Their need of water can involve them to dig. The smaller species can survive without drinking, getting hydration from their food. There are so many things to tell about this incredible capacity of adaptation! Numerous websites offer such explanations about this amazing Australian symbol !

A few sites (French for the moment): dossier Oz sur le kangourou, définition du kangourous chez les bourlingueurs, Fiche de guide-australie.com…

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Koalas

Koalas or bears? I learnt that koalas are neither bears nor related to them. They belong to the group of mammals called marsupials. They have a pouch. They give birth to the babies which grow-up in their mother’s pouch. Surprinsingly, the closest relative of the koala is the wombat! Both of them have this pouch on their back. The wombat digs. It has this pouch behind to avoid hurting the baby. The pouch is not in the front like it is the case for kangaroos. 

Everybody knows that koalas eat eucalyptus leaves. But, on 600 species of eucalyptus trees, existing in Australia, they can only eat 60 of them. 

We have been told that koalas are not very clever! When we know the energy he implements to digest the toxic eucalyptus leaves, we might understand it better! These leaves are so toxic that the koala consumes 20% of that energy to digest toxins. There is not so much left for the rest or make function its brain! The koala weights in average 12kg (8,5kg for the female). It measures ~78 cm. 

A few informations about the koala => 1) they spend most of their life in the trees 2) they sleep during the day 3) They are solitary animals 4) the destruction of their habitat reduces their space and that is a substantial threat. 

A few site (in French): Fiche de guide-australia.com, le koala chez les bourlingueurs, le koala et les hommes, sauvez-les koalas, …  

The koala is threatened:

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The perentie (or goanna)

It is the biggest lizard in Australia. We saw them in the outback. People call them “goannas”. Actually this is the name of the group they belong to. It eats any smaller animal (even bigger sometimes). Included the tail, it measures ~2000mm. 

50 species of “goannas” are recognised in the world. More than the half of them are found in Australia. At many levels, we find the goanna at the top level of the food chain. A few website: la fiche Dinosoria, les goannas de l’outback (anglais), …

During our trip, from Broome to Perth, we did an incredible meeting we were not expecting. The bus stopped and we went to take some pictures and pretend we are scaaared LOL The goanna was just at… 20m in front of you

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..Good to know..

In the Wildlife World, we learn that the Australian climate is more favourable to lizards than mammals, which is not really surprising! As a result, there are nowadays, more species of snakes and lizards in Australia than anywhere else in the world.

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The Frill-necked Lizard

This lizard is more famous when we see him spreading the skin around its neck. Besides, it is funny when it runs! When it feels attacked and wants to scare its predators, it speads its large ruff of skin which lies folded back against its head and neck. However, I have never seen the lizard scared! We find it in the north of Australia. It measure up to 260mm. A few information: fiche du lézard à colerette

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Australian water dragon

It is a semi-aquatic lizard. We can see it swimming as well as climbing on branches. I often saw it in Brisbane, around water. It eats insects, frogs, shellfish… and fruits. Its height: up to 700mm (with the tail).

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 The inland taipan

It is the most venimous snake in the world. It is known as a feroce specie but, it runs away when he feels humans. It lives in the outback. We find it especially where i was living, in the south-west Queensland. I was told, on the contrary, that the snake can attacks humans without even the humans notice it. Umm! has their behaviour evolved? A few websites: le taïpan du désert, le serpent le plus dangeureux du monde

On Youtube, I was looking for something to describe the Inland Taïpan. Finally, I found that great video lasting 3 minutes, showing Steve Irwin, doing an AWSOME thing! Steve Irwin was an adventurer, the Australian “crocodile dundee”, famous TV persenter. He unfortunately found death, in 2006, caught by a stingray, during the realisation of a documentary: 

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Red-bellied Black Snake

It is one of the snakes that we will be “lucky” to find in Australia, on the east-coast. It says that it is generally shy and does not bite as long as it is not provoked. it lives nearby water and eat especially frogs (height: up 2000mm).

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..Good to know..

I thought it would be Asia… So, I was wrong! It is in Australia that we can find the most venomous snakes of the world. Most of them are useful for humans, in the food chain, as they eat small mammals which destroy crops. It would exist in Australia 155 species of land snakes which 93 are venimous. We find 10 of the 15 most dangerous species of the world. The most dangerous one lives where I lived in the outback, in the heart of the south-west outback Queensland, the taïpan!

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The cassowary

~1m70 high for 70kg, we cannot imagine but this bird, looking like a prehistorical ancester of the ostrich or the emu, is the most dangerous bird in the world. It has powerful feet finished by 3 fingers which one is very sharp. During my trip, It was nearby Daintree/Cape Tribulation, in the rainforest, that we could be lucky to see it. However, we are more lucky to see such a sign! It is unfortunately part of the threatened species. (Fiche d’identité du casoar)

When the cassowary attacks:

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Wombats

It is the closest relative of the … koala! At the difference with its cute cousin, the wombat has a big brain for a marsupial which weight is up to 35kg. They can reduce the activity of their metabolism, in their burrow (might be 1 to 5m deep). Their pouch in their back enables the females to protect the baby wombat when she digs. After 10 months, the little wombat leaves mummy’s pouch. 

A BBC Wolrdwide video:

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Wallabies

Name of the Australian rugby team, the wallaby is also a marsupial, looking like a kangaroo but smaller. We can also find wallabies in France!

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Laughing Kookaburra

This kingfisher is a bird which feeds with insects and small mammals like mice or even lizards or snakes. It is well known for its song which sounds like a laugh. It measures ~up to 450mm. I had no difficulties to take a picture: it does not move, or let’s say that I was not lucky enough to see it moving! 

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Spiders

The most dangerous spider in the world lives in Sydney and its surroundings, the “funnel-web spider”. Very venomous, its bite is cared like the one of a dangerous snake. I was told it was rare to meet it. In the outback, there was another dangerous spider, the “red back spider”. I generally saw them dead because somebody before me killed them with spray, but… some of them made their nest nearby the swimming pool! I gave up swimming for an undefinite period. 

Well well! I found for you an awsome movie talking about the well-known … Funnel-web spider ! I know it might discourage to go to Sydney :-p

They are both small compared to other common huge spiders, which are not dangerous. For instance, the “huntsman spider” is huge but harmless. We might find it in houses. In the gardens in Sydney, I very often found huge XXL spider webs. 

Harmless? Have a look at this! Actually I don’t really care she is harmless ’cause her size just gives me the creeps LOL

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When I was working in Sydney, we were selling from door to door. Sometimes, I was going through the garden, which was not always a good idea for a short cut! One day, discussing with my colleague, she stopped me suddenly… a few centimeters from a huge web (~50cm in diameter) and in its middle, the biggest spider I have even seen! I was shocked and my blood ran cold! I was told that it was harmless. in ALL gardens, there were huuuuge spiders LOL

To my regret, I don’t know which spider it was. But, in Australia, there are spiders EVERYWHERE! Anyway, in front of any of them, I just want to run away. This other spider (picture taken from the Australian museum website) is the Golden orb-weaver. She is well known to build huge webs, up to 1m in diameter. The female is big, 4,5cm. I was full of gratefulness for my colleague who made me avoid to kiss its cousin!  

Here is the less scariest video, the one of the Golden Orb Spider! I was hesitating showing her building her web or eating a bird ! Umm

March 17th, 2009 - Like the former day, when I arrived in Sydney, I left my hostel to follow the Pitt street, once again, to the Opera. When I was coming back, I took the Georges Street. As long as the Pitt Street, George Street is animated as well. There are lots of shops and galleries which the Victoria galleries. Following my map, I was going down the street perpendicular to George Street towards Darling Harbour, very nice, with lots of shops and restaurants as well. Here is the Aquarium of Sydney! 

I love sharks. I was impatient to get inside the Oceanarium to observe them, as well as rays, turtles and even dugongs! In the tunnel, there was a such a peaceful atmosphere with a captivating music.  The aquarium makes discover a large variety of more than 12.000 fishes! I think that these species are mainly found around Australia! 

The here below trailer is a documentary, ”Sharkwater“, realised by Rob Stewart. He tries to warn people on a very serious ecological problem: 

The here below video editing was beautifully realised from the sequences of the movie of Rob Stewart. ”Sharkwater”, it is a poignant documentary with beautiful pictures where men swim with sharks and that’s also pictures of slaughters, horrible pictures even crual, showing that perpetual need of men to make profits at the expense of Nature and the ecosystem.  

The dugongs – According to the legend, sailors were confusing them with… mermaid! This marine mammal does belong to the family of whales or seals, but the order of Sirenia.  

We can fnd this herbivore in the warm waters of the coast. Actually we saw 2 of them on the Western Coast, close to Shark bay. They can weight more than 500kg with a height of ~3m.

I was imagining the Opera to be a little bit bigger. The view was splendid. The weather was beautiful and the sun was illuminating the Opera’s white roof. There are lots of sky-scrappers which dominate Circular quay. After that side of Sydney, I walked to the old and historical part of Sydney: the Rocks. I walked a lot and I saw lots of things in 2 days. However, this beautiful city deserves at least one week to be discovered. 

During my 2 first weeks, after arriving that 16th March 2009, I was shared between the excitement to discover Sydney and the sadness to be far from my relatives. A part of me was remaining lonely and a little bit lost, alone in that big city. I was confused: did I take the right decision? On the other side, fortunately, the right part was  stronger! 

I had reserved 2 weeks in my hostel, the time to find a flat to share as well as a job. I was in a beautiful city so let’s enjoy it! In parallel with my search, I was visiting that places I was discovering in my travel book, the Lonely Planet Sydney.

..Good to know..

I had read (CityOfSydney) that about 30 000 people were writting their address with the post cod Sydney, 2000. It deals with: Sydney CBD, Haymarket, Chinatown, Millers Point, Dawes Point, The Rocks, Walsh bay, Circular Quay, Darling harbour. All that areas appear on the map (on the left). Everything looked so close. My hostel was close to Chinatown. To achieve Circular Quay (where the Opera is), I needed ~45 minutes. To go to Darling Harbour? ~10/15 minutes. It was depending on the traffic lights: they last houuuuurs!

A few links about Sydney & surrounds:

• General information: Sydney.com, touristic places in Sydney, website of Sydney City, Sydney Tourist guide
• Aquarium of Sydney: http://sydneyaquarium.myfun.com.au/
• Transport means : buses in Sydney, map of rails & ferries, Cityrail , metro transport

NB: you can find a bigger list of links by opening this link ”Australia“ 

During the visit, I loved Darling Harbour. There, there are places like the Aquarium, le Wildlife World and the Chinese Gardens. Between Hyde Park and the Botanic Gardens, there is the Australian Museum. Then, we can walk ’till the Opera and then, from Circular Quay, go to the Rocks and savour a beer in a pub or delicious pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks! 

Tourism NSW, Sydney

=> The mobile phone

I bought my Sim card Vodafone for $29 as well as a prepaid internal card. I was informed that any SIM card has to be registered. That’s the law. In that purpose, I visited the website www.vodafone.com.au. I was finally asked to ring Vodafone. I needed my passport number, my phone details as well as an address (of the backpacker for instance).

=> The Tax File Number – TFN

In Australia, we have to obtain the TFN in order to work. The request is free of charge. I made that request on Internet: https://iar.ato.gov.au/IARWeb/ We are asked to give the passport No as well as the address where the document will be sent. 

=> Opening a bank account

I opened it at the Commonwealth bank. It was funny because only (mainly) Australians from Asia were working there. Besides, there are signs informing that the bank’s staff talks Chinese. I was surrounded by lots of Asians. I was wondering if I was at the right place. My bank was actually in Chinatown! That explains everything  

A customer consultant welcomed me. It was not always easy to understand him especially because of his Chinese accent but, like lots of Australians, he was very patient and he took time to explain me everything I needed. I needed my passport, my address, my Australian phone number as well as my email address. The BNP has a partnership with the Westpac: widrawing money is costless. However, as I could not find any office of the Westpac, I choose the Commonwealth. 

=>Looking for a job

Internet was my main budget (it was a few months later that my roommate informed me about the USB Internet key = very very practical! I advise everybody to invest because it is cheaper). I was spending like 3h30 / day (3$/hour), on Internet to contact agencies. The hostel gave me additional links: www.freespirit.com.au and www.geoffreynathan.com

The following document is the result of my search of job in Sydney. I hope that it might be helpful for some people : Australia- temporary agencies

In the plane – After a relaxing day in the Singapore Botanic garden, the taxi driver was taking me to the airport. My flight was at 8.40pm and we were supposed to land in Sydney at 7.35am the next morning. The flight lasted 7 hours and 55 minutes. After eating, I watched a few movies, read once again my Lonely planet book, played on my Nintendo DS and talked with my neighbour, a lovely australian girl. Time went by very fast!

Customs – The plane landed. I took time to freshen up before going to the Customs and there… I had a small concern. My name was not correctly registered. I thought that it was the beginning of the end! They took my passport during a few 20 minutes. Then, a smiling guy came to me. He asked me not to worry as the mistake was corrected.

Last step: to scan my luggage. There, there was a quite good-looking guy, for sure, surfer, in view of his tan and his huge muscles. He came to help me to put my luggage to be scanned. «Hello Mad’am, may I help you?». “Yes, yes um you can! ” Australia?? What else!?  

I precise that my visa was not required at all. It was just in Singapore where they asked me to show my visa.  Besides, my bank account statement proving that I duly had 3000 eur, won and saved by the sweat of my brow, was not asked neither. Well! It is good to get them in any case!

After the customs, I arrived at the ‘Meeting point’ where I asked information about the bus for the hostel. That was there! I bought a ticket, $14, for a way lasting ~25 minutes from the airport to Wake-up.

Wake-up! – Rock music, a few backpackers walking barefooted, the hostel looks great with a modern look and a nice cool atmosphere. I was given my key for the room and a few leaflets like discounts for some attractions in the city. I was in a 6-girly-bed room. A helpdesk is at our disposal.

Sydney - 10am, I leave my luggage in the room before running outside, impatient to visit the city. Having a look at my map, I see that the hostel is located at the level of the 509 Pitt Street. The Opera of Sydney is down dooown, at the other end ot this long street. Weather was just perfect! The sun was shining and there was a light breeze which made my walk so convenient. On the map, I noticed that the street in parallel of the Pitt Street was close to Hyde park. That’s a beautiful green area in the middle of Sydney CBD, opened (I think) in 1792.

I took that street where the sky-scrappers dominate the view. I took a fresh glass of watermelon juice, before keeping walking in the Royal Botanic Garden.

We see there some strange birds, like this ibis! 

I was looking at the horizon where, in front of my eyes, the famous opera were silhouetting. I think I was not fully aware where I was. I took time to take a sit in a café and enjoy the view. I needed about 50 minutes to come at this place from my hostel. Coming back there, I took the Pitt Street, where there are lots of shops and malls.  

Arriving at the hostel at 1pm, I collpased in my bed. I could not keep my eyes open. I slept to my regret ’till 4pm. Awake, I was talking with a roommate, who was advising me about Sydney. For Internet for instance, she suggested me to go to Global Gossip. It is cheaper than in any backpacker. After dining (10$ the dish), I came back in the backpacker and wrote a few words on my laptop. 

Two days to visit Singapore as it should be, it was obviously  too short. Which part of the city could we discover? After a discussion with Natalia, that Saturday 14 March 2009, we went visiting the Colonial area as well as the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

I loved the Singapore River. Around the river, we can see lots of small houses, which once, were warehouses. Nowadays, they have been transformed into bars and restaurants, surrounded by huge sky-scappers. We also see there beautiful and imposing building during the colonial period. As far as I am concerned, I found the whole area very harmonious.  

The visit took a good part of that afternoon. A little bit tired, we decided to keep walking to see China Town and to discover that famous temple, which we can see in our travel books: the Sri Mariamman temple. We had stopped first, in front of the Merlion, that we had difficulties to find (hadn’t we Natalia ;-) ?). It was important to see it as it is the symbol of Singapore (city of the lion). The Merlion represents a creature half-lion, half-fish. On my picture, that’s the miniature version of a huge sculpture which were recovered, 3 weeks before. According to the people, the creature were struck by lightning!

Chinatown! The architecture of the 19th century has been kept. That was fascinating to walk in the small streets. There were along that narrow roads lots of typical Chinese shops. The atmosphere was so that I believed I really was in China. We can buy there lots of things: clothes, antiques, decoration, incense, worship objects… There are numerous cafés and restaurants for all tastes and budgets. We took a dish costing $10 (5€). Less expensive? Go to the «food courts» where I ate for less than $5.

A small anecdote: the waitress puts some peanuts on our table and napkins, that we did not touch. That was invoiced lol! We asked the sulking waitress to kindly cancel it. Everything which is on the table will be invoiced if used!

Looking at me taking pictures, this gentleman simply for me ! It was a lovely man. He surprised me actually because I was observing the pavement. Walking with Natalia, I expressed my surprise to see the ground so clean. I told myself that people might be very good manners as there were no gums glued on the floor. Natalia smiled. She explained me that gums are not allowd in Singapore. There is no sale at all (and that’s the way it is since 1992). 

Time was going by fast and did not enable us to visit more of that beautiful district of Singapore. With Natalia, we enjoyed fully walking, savouring fruit salads!

We had finished that day by the visit of the Sri Mariamman Temple, a Hindou temple built in 1827 and dedicated to the goddess carrying the same name. She cures in case of epidemies. Spectacular, the roof is decorated with 72 colored characters.

We took off our shoes and came in. I wanted to take pictures but they were charged. I regretted I did not pay because it was BEAUTIFUL. We were inside during a religious ceremony. The faithful were gathering. A man was carrying a tray on which was a fire. He was walking anf the faithful looked like trying to take in their hand a piece of that fire. 

This is how our day finished. At 10pm, we went out again to go to have a drink at Clarke Quay. Everything was illuminated. I had that impression that the city were never sleeping. Once again, in that entertaining area, there were lots of cafés, restaurants and night clubs. We were walking when… we heard shouts like those of a stadium. Getting closer, we saw a huge screen transmitting a football game (Manchester – Liverpool I think). I was finally wrong when I was saying before that people are not demonstrative !!  

Sunday afternoon, time for visiting the Singapore botanic Gardens with 2 Natalia’s friends. That evening at 8.40pm, I had my flight for Sydney. 10/15 minutes by taxi ($5,20 the journey / 4 people), we arrived in these gardens (52 hectares). A luxurious vegetation was offered to us: parcs, rainforest, exotical flowers…

Rain surprised us. We took advantage to eat something at the food court. To my regret, I still had difficulties to eat some exotical dishes. I will succeed one day ! The rain does not stop. So, Natalia took the umbrella in one hand and my arm in the other hand and let’s go to discover the nature.

It is by this way, with a great touch of nature, that I finished my day as well as my trip in Singapore. That night, I was leaving Asia for… Sydney!

The Singaporian subway, the MRT, is modern. It is very easy to find our way inside. The MRT is very air-conditioned. It often happened to me to tremble with cold, the time of a short journey. 

Map of the MRT: MRT Singapour

As regards the purchase of the ticket (one way), the concept is cool: we push the button of the name of the arrival station, we put the indicated amount in the machine (generally ~$2 = ~1€). Then, a ticket (a kind of plastic card having a credit-card-size) is given. At the arrival station, out of the subway, we give back the card in the machine, which gives us back half of the amount!! It is like a deposit; the ticket in Singapore would cost so … 0,50€. If we are lost (like it happened to me), the staff of the subway is really kind and ready to help without I took time to ask myself. 

..Good to know..

• The subway in Singapore
• MRT : Mass Rapid Transit
• Inauguration : 1987
• Stations : 69
• Cost of the initial construction: 5 billion $
• Beginning of the construction : 1983
• Official launch : 1988

On the way to the hotel, I was talking with my lovely taxi driver. In front of the hotel, a luggage handler took my stuff. He was embarrassed when I was holding the door for him and, I was embarrassed that he was … embarrassed LOL   

In addition to be marvelled in front of the architecture, the greenery which is omnipresent, that was especially the ethnic diversity which had surprised me. I found that amazing that there are so many communities living together in harmony: Chinese, Malaysians, Indians, … Europeans. Every individual carries proudly his religious symbol, with no care if somebody will make any remark. Religion is everywhere. We see it through numerous temples, churches and mosques. «The freedom of worship has been guaranted by the Constitution. Preoccupied with the religious conflicts which have shaked the neighbouring countries, the State tries to make coexist, without a hitch, the different religious communities» (Source: Guides Voir – Singapour).

However, the weather is really heavy! it was very hot and humid. Air conditioned is everywhere (hotels, cars, subway, shopping malls…). It was convenient but, unfortunately, I am sensitive to the cold: it is excessively cold inside, so much that I just wanted to go outside!

In the street, people look like robots, doing their shopping. Their behaviour is more or less the same. In moderation, there is no demonstration of emotions, which, of course, means absolutely nothing. When I was discussing with people (I needed some help), they are lovely. Singapore, it is a modern city, “westernized”, but which keeps its culture, its mentality and its typically asian aspects. 

However, afterwards I was reading on Internet that « the behaviour towards women, especially in public, does have, never, to be ambiguous. After a simple denunciation, police can arrest people for indecent assault ».

Anyway, the day was soon finished. I joined my friend, Natalia, to have a drink at a nice place. The atmosphere was great, with a lounge music. There were lots of French people. When I was going back to my hotel, I took a taxi: 2€ for ~10 minutes driving.

My luggage was taken to my room where I fell asleep. Feeling smashed but awake, I still had that anxious feeling. Fortunately, I called Natalia, my friend working at the French embassy of Singapore. She was conforting me. I had to see her that night. In the meantime, it was a beautiful afternoon and I was ready to visit the Orchad road, the commercial street of Singapore.