Canberra

A fully planned out day in Canberra awaited us. We went straight to the National Museum of Australia to dive into the world of the beginning of this vast continent. All the aboriginal tribes were introduced, and there were many different ones! Apparently it took almost 200 years (from 1788 till 1988) before all indigenous people had even met white people.

We wandered around the very modern museum that offered many exhibitions of various eras, presented in different ways: Pictures, paintings, videos, sculptures and even a revolving movie theatre…

Before heading out to the Botanical Garden we had lunch on the museum’s patio, overlooking Lake Griffin, and working on the computer. Off we went to the Botanical Garden to spend a few educative hours immersed in the Australian plant life. The weather was hot (about 31 degrees), and walking through the Garden with lots of shade and some sunny areas was a perfect balance. We took many photos again, see photo gallery, and had some nice rests on the many benches scattered throughout the Garden.

Later in the afternoon, when the light got better, we went to the Australian Parliament, to be seen from almost anywhere in Canberra. We walked around the very large front area, had a peek inside but decided against a tour when we saw how tourists were scrutinized the same way as at an airport with scanners, shoes off and x-raying of backpacks. We took some pictures of the Australian War Memorial just opposite the Parliament some 2 km down the hill. From afar the road leading up the Memorial looked like a groomed park path of Versailles. We drove there on that very wide avenue leading up to it. The massive architecture of Canberra and its official monuments was indeed very impressive.

We needed a cool-down after this hot sightseeing day and went straight to the very inviting hotel pool. Splashed around for some time until our stomach reminded us of dinner. We went to the same restaurant strip as last night and chose a Korean place to eat the always tasty bimbimbap with authentic Kimchee and homemade honey ginger tea. Delicious!

Tomorrow we will be off into the mountains overnighting once before heading to Lilli Pilli (south of Sydney) where we booked a suite till the 2nd of January.