Koalas and Kangaroos

 Melbourne cut the AFL game against Brisbane to 11 before it ended. A woman sitting next to Tal preemptively apologized for swearing during the game, which she did plenty.

I woke up not feeling well, occasionally retching. We took a cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary via the Miramar II. The only thing I like less than seeing animals is taking an hour and 15 minute boat ride to see them and the only thing worse than that is doing it in the heat with the sun pounding me. The boat ride was rough for me and I was drenched in sweat. I think I’ve been suffering from heat exhaustion and the boat ride didn’t help.

When we arrived, there were many steep steps up a mountain. An employee from the cruise helped me carry the scooter up, but with three steps left, and had to stop, move to the side, and began dry heaving uncontrollably. The employee helped so much and carried it the last three steps. Candace walked up the mountain pretty incredibly.

At the sanctuary we learned the kids couldn’t hold koalas because they were too small. Candace and I held one and the kids petted it. It’s name was Naughty, and it playfully nuzzled my beard.

Then the kids fed kangaroos and we petted them. During the raptor show I began feeling very bad and searched for shade. It began to rain and that helped to cool me off, but I still felt like retching.

It started to pour and a different cruise employee helped us bring the scooter down the stairs. The staff really was amazing. I sat up to uncovered even though it was drizzling. It helped to cool me off and it was nice and windy up there. It helped that it was cloudy.

We passed by Clive Palmer’s gold house on the banks of the Brisbane River. He’s basically the Australian Trump except he made his money. The captain was not a fan of the far right Palmer.

After the cruise I felt really bad and made my way to the hotel. Candace and the kids went to a playground and the science expo. I retched some more, but became hungry. I was able to eat a few bites of dinner and drink some cold bubble tea which is further evidence that I’ve been suffering from heat exhaustion.

I watched the election for New South Wales in which Labour and Chris Minns recaptured power in the state after the Liberal-National coalition held control for 12 years. The big issue in Australia is the Voice vote, which would create an advisory board to help parliament with Aboriginal issues.

The white folks’ treatment of Aboriginal seems to be paternalistic and one of tokenism. Maybe I’m misreading it, but that’s my impression. The other thing I’ve noticed is that mustaches and grungy mullets are popular here. I get it, this is the south, but c’mon mate.