Chimps. 

Ghila Monster. 

Koala. 

Peacock. 

The Marble Bar is a 100-year old Sydney bar preserved intact under the Sydney Hilton. 

Thursday night I went to the Sydney Opera House to see "10 Days on Earth" performed by Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionette.

Marionettes are mostly thought of as entertainment for children but this was a very adult show dealing with death, alienation in society, homelessness and other issues.

It centers on a slightly retarded man who lives, and depends, on his mother and the 10 days it takes him to understand she has died in their home.

Intense puppets!

The show is written, performed and voiced by one man, Canadian Ronnie Burkett, and I was blown away by his talent. 

A Spectacular Journey

From Sunday through Wednesday (4 days/3 nights) I rode the Indian Pacific Railroad across Australia -- 4,352 kilometers from Perth to Sydney.

It was a great way to see the vast expanse of Australia.

Because of the timing of this train trip I had to wait until arriving in Adelaide Tuesday morning to find the results of the Academy Awards (broadcast on Monday in Australia). 15 of my 24 predictions were correct (63%).

Day 1 -- The Indian Pacific nearly ready to depart the Perth train station. The Wedge-tail Eagle is mascot of the Indian Pacific. With a wingspan of 2.3 meters it is one of the largest eagles in the world. 

Day 1 -- Passenger cars ride on the back of the train. 

Day 1 -- Leaving Perth the rolling hills reminded me of California. 

Day 1 -- The funny Train Manager, Garey, welcomes passengers on board the Indian Pacific. I felt very young. 

Day 1 -- Not far east of Perth is gets real flat. 

Day 1 -- Heading east the soil quickly turns red. 

Day 1 -- Ready for nighty-nite in my little cabin. With the bed down there was little room to move about. 

Day 1 -- Around 11 p.m. the Indian Pacific pulled into the gold rush town of Kalgoorlie and a bus tour was offered. Here's one interesting fact: most of the streets in Australian towns are wide because there needed to be enough room to turn camel trains. 

Day 1 -- The floodlit Superpit at Kalgoorlie -- the largest gold mine in the world. 

Day 1 -- The bus tour ends by proudly driving past the three working brothels in town on Hay Street. 

Day 1 -- The train's dining car ready for business. 

Day 2 -- The only thing worse than taking a shower on a train is NOT taking a shower on a train. 

Day 2 -- The Indian Pacific crosses the Nullarbor Plain -- a vast limestone, treeless plateau extending 650 km -- including the longest straight stretch of railway (478 km) between Nurina and Ooldea. With an annual rainfall of 10 inches, it is one of the driest places in the world. 

Day 2 -- The train stopped in the middle of the Nullarbor Plain at Cook. Once a thriving railwaytown with a population of around 300 people, only seven live there now. I met most of them. When the Indian Pacific stops 4 times a week (twice in each direction) it's a big deal. 

Day 2 -- 1,500 kms from Perth and 1,100 kms from Adelaide, Cook is the most isolated town on Earth. 

Day 2 -- Straight track as far as the eye can see. 

Day 2 -- This bird was perched on one of the trailer homes in Cook. 

Day 2 -- The abandoned schoolhouse in Cook.