Sept 10-12, 05 (Sat-Mon)

Travelled to Canberra, Australlia's Capital. Our bus driver, Colin, has been working for HUA group for 10 years and takes good care of us. He uses his microphone to let us know interesting places and actually he is our guide also on the bus. It took us about 2 hours and stopped for lunch at the Australian Institute of Sport where Olympians are trained. It is just like any university in the states, but the emphasis is of course on sports. It was a huge campus and we ate in the cafeteria along with the students. Some are from different countries. Colin drove us to the top of Mt. Ainslie where we can have a gorgeous view of the city of Canberra. Canberra was a planned city and spread out. Of course Australia is a huge country and has enough land to do this. We went to Regatta Point which depicts the story of the birth of the Natinal Capital. The man who explained was a very tall, bald, and tough looking man, but he was so funny and students enjoyed his special presentation. Then we were at the Canberra Motor Village for the night. This was our first time to stay at a motor lodge. It was like any motel in the states. After supper at the lodge, we were off to Canberra Space Dome and Observatory. It started raining lightly, so we couldn't see what we wished from a huge telescope, but we went to the planetarium. Now you can imagine this was nearly 9 pm and those who are family members you know Marvin starts nodding away around that time, so imagine Marvin sitting in a nice comfortable seat in darkness. You are right! He dozed off and started snoring. I was sitting beside him this time, so I poked him to wake up. One students went sleep so soundly that he didn't know the show was over and was still sleeping even the lights in the place came on.

01 The View from Mt. Ainslie

The next morning at breakfast Pam said the supper we had was substandard and cancelled supper at this place and told us she would take us to a buffet place. She is something else. She would bargain and tries very hard to do the best for us in everything. We toured the National Museium with guides and had lunch at Pizza Hut. WOW! Guys could eat!!! It started sprinkling a bit, but we were at the Australian War Memorialthat commemorates the Australian soldiers who have served or died in war. They had a similar wall like Vietnam War Memorial. We waited the closing ceremony at the Memorial Hall, Tombs of the Unknown Soldier with similar to taps. Pam took us to a restaurant where students can eat all they want including Chinese and seafood.

02 Marvin walking around the top of Mt. Ainsli

On our third day in Canberra we went to the National Science and Technology Center called Questacon. It is like a bigger scale of the center in Hot springs. They were many hands on things to do. On the 4th floor was all musical stuff. We could play some instruments or they showed how music works. Marvin tried on this free fall at this place. I almost tried, but decided not to. Everyone was made to wear a jump suit to slide. Students loved it! In the afternoon we visited the Parliament House. It was fun to watch the politicians arguing in the middle of a speech. The speaker of the house had to say, "Order, Order" a lot. The floor and collums of this building were made of beautiful wood. After this we were back at Australian Institute of Sports where students played Australian Cricket and touch football. Students, both boys and girls, had a great time playing together. Marvin and our driver, Colin, also played cricket with students. It was getting cold with misty rain, but they didn't care. It was good that students had a chance to do some sports.

03 First sight of Kangaroo

04 Australian War Memorial

05 Marvin zooming down from Free Fall Slide