The Gum Tree for 2006 April 25

ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. It is analogous to the Forth of July in the U.S. with a little of memorial day added. Paul, Becky, John Julie Louise and Myself all went to the ANZAC day parade in downtown Brisbane. That was very fun. We got to see some tanks roll down the street (All American Made) and we had fun with the piper bands.

One observation that I made was the fact that the dozens of Jeeps and Armored vehicles were all American--with Left-hand drive and all. Not only that but the Hummers and Jeeps, most of them, had U.S.A. Army written on them. I was standing a little taller knowing that our armed forces helped keep Australia from becoming Japan and France Germany. Can they stop the upward invasion of the nihilistic barbarians within their own borders (in the form of our listless only-interested-in-ME Generation)? Only time will tell.

We also spent some time in the South Bank sector of town. That is a beautiful gardened area where there are little pools, and artificial beach capable of accommodating hundreds of people, shops, street performers, a Tibetan Bagoda, and more.

After that we came home to regroup before going off to Mount Coot-tha (aboriginal), the highest mount in Brisbane area. It has a beautiful view of all of the Brisbane planes and River. I was able to pick out the University of Queensland where the Medical school is situated. There is also a romantic restaurant that overlooks the city. Surrounding the Mountain is a large reserve of botanical gardens.

Tommorow I will visit Australia Zoo--where Steve Irwin the Crocodile hunter works.