HOME! Brisbane in pictures....

We had a great time in Brisbane.  Ian was able to take the entire 5 days off!  No work, no phone calls, (OK, well there was one)...    I held a koala bear.  They are amazing, and soft, and cute, and they smell!  But, I held a koala.   Ian and I enjoyed a dinner cruise, went to the theater (more on that in a min), and had long leisurely dinners in fancy adult type restaurants.  It was 5 days of heaven.

Australia has to be the most expensive country on the planet.  A bottle of water was $4 AU.  With the exchange rate that ended up being about $4.50.   No matter I saved, planned, and plotted to make the most if it on a budget.   Our hotel was The Wellington Apartment Hotel.  It was a lovely hotel owned by a husband and wife.   They helped us arrange our tours and find great places to eat.  It was like having our own personal tour guides.  If you are traveling to Brisbane anytime soon I HIGHLY recommend staying there.  The rooms are spacious, clean, and all have private balcony's with views of the city!  It is a bit away from the city center but I saved about $700 by booking there.

Brisbane is a city split in 2 by a river.  To get around we used the City Cat Ferry, and loved it!  OK, well I loved it, Ian just kind of went along with it.  You can get a GO card, put money on it, and save even more on each ride.  We hopped on and off the ferry at different places.  Oxford street is a must.  We found a little Sushi Go Round at the end of Oxford.    We walked along Queen St Mall, South Bank, Brett's Wharf, and Riverside.  

I managed to convince Ian that what he really wanted to do after spending 10 weeks out to sea, was climb aboard not one but 2 more boats.  The first time we cruised the entire Brisbane river to the Loan Pine Koala Sanctuary.  It was interesting to see all of the animals that we don't normally see.   The second trip was a dinner cruise.  The cruise itself was nice and relaxing, but the food was awful!  

We spent a couple of hours at the Botanical Gardens walking around, talking, and watching a Rugby game.   Rugby is a serious sport.  I am still trying to figure out all the rules, but its fun to watch!

On Saturday night Ian took me to the theater!  We saw Dr. Zhivago.  And, let me say it was the best night of the trip!  Ian and I both love the theatre!  That is one thing we really miss while living in Japan.  Not to many opportunities to see the theatre here.   We talk often about retiring, and going to the theatre once a month.

At the end of our trip we both decided that Meat Pies are by far the best invention.  Someone from Australia that is reading this please open a Meat Pie shop in Japan!

I truly missed my kids, and was so happy to get back home to them.  I did get one e mail asking about me leaving my kids in a foreign country, while I traveled to yet another country.  Well yes in truth I did that.  But, Japan is not just a place for us to visit it is our home.  My kids have only known Japan for 5 years.   I think flying them back to the US (a country they have really never lived in) would have worried me even more!   We are very blessed to know wonderful people who took great care of our kids while I was gone..  

I am already busy planning our next  vacation.  We are taking all of the kids and heading to Guam.  And, I can't wait!

PS.  Yes, that is a beach in the middle of the city.  I think I could live in Brisbane forever!! All I need is to win the lottery...