First Full Day of Wonder

 Adelaide and its Wonders

Day 4

After such a long journey, we went to bed early. I hadn’t slept well along the way and was completely exhausted. I ended up sleeping more than 8, maybe even 9 hours. It felt great. Despite that, we woke early. Mornings here begin around 6:30 a.m., and the sun sets by 5:00 p.m., which makes the days feel surprisingly short.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the restaurant, we headed out for a walk along the boardwalk. The breeze was brisk and a little chilly, but the views were absolutely beautiful. To our surprise, the area was buzzing with people running a 5K marathon. We ended up walking a portion of the race route ourselves. So many runners passed us by. I even recognized one runner who passed us three separate times! Lots of people were out with their dogs, strolling along the beach.

We spent a bit of time browsing nearby shops. I noticed several restaurants around, but strangely, many seemed to keep very limited hours. We’d been told to try some fish and chips, but when we returned after 5 p.m., the place had already closed.

As I checked Uber wait times, I realized we needed to head out for our ride would take just over an hour. Thankfully, we got a great driver who talked with us the entire way, pointing out different sights along the route.

Koala and Kangaroos

Our destination was the Gorge Wildlife Park, and it absolutely blew us away. There were birds everywhere. We saw soft ones, loud ones, white, bright, and dark. Each had its own charm. The kangaroos were the first to greet us. They had just been fed with carrots, apples, and other veggies. We saw brown kangaroos, white ones, even albinos with pink eyes. They were totally unafraid, coming right up to us and sometimes getting in our faces!


The birds made a constant ruckus, but it was the kind of noise that felt alive and joyful. We also saw camels, emus, capybaras, meerkats, snakes, rodents, and monkeys. My favorite was the tiny tamarin monkey. While waiting for Faby near the bathroom, one jumped near me and scared me half to death! I turned my camera around and started snapping selfies with him. he was adorable. His wild hairdo was unforgettable.

Later, we got to meet Bert the Koala. He was adorable, and surprisingly heavy! Faby went first, then it was my turn. He clung to us gently as we held him. He loves eucalyptus and gum tree leaves, and by the time I was done holding him, my arms and back were aching from his weight.

Getting back was a bit tricky cause we couldn’t find an Uber to pick us up. I spoke with the owner of the park, and she kindly arranged a taxi to take us down the mountain to the nearest mall. From there, we were finally able to catch an Uber back to our hotel. It was expensive, but worth it.

We made it back just in time to enjoy some fish and chips for dinner. Once again, we were exhausted and ready to sleep early, preparing ourselves for tomorrow’s train adventure.

Our first full day in Australia was everything we hoped it would be. It was filled with nature, wonder, and a touch of the unexpected.


A more poetic verions


We slept like stones,
wearied from skies we crossed,
dreams wrapped in jet lag and long hours.
Nine hours of rest twas a gift,
yet the sun rose early,
pulling us into a day already halfway gone.
The light begins at 6:30,
and by five, the sky forgets to shine.

Breakfast warmed our spirits
With flavors rich and omelet bold.
Then, the boardwalk called.
The breeze whispered in brisk tones,
waves curled like ribbons,
and the sea air danced through our hair.
Runners surged past in a 5K tide,
some weaving by us more than once.
Dogs and their people
moved like poetry across the sand.

Shops blinked open for a moment,
then closed like shy clams.
Fish and chips? Only a promise—
gone too soon when we returned after five.
Time, in this place, plays by its own rules.

An hour’s ride waits for no one.
a friendly driver, full of stories,
carried us through hills and light chatter
to the Gorge, where creatures
sang the land's true song.
Kangaroos approached with gentle eyes,
some pale as clouds,
some bold and brown.
Carrots in their mouths,
no fear in their hearts, 
they leaned in, noses close,
curious and calm.

Birds shrieked joyfully
in colors the sky couldn’t invent.
We met emus, camels, meerkats,
and monkeys with wild eyes.
One tiny tamarin startled me—
leapt to say hello,
hair flaring like a punk rocker,
and posed for selfies,
tiny paws gripping wire,
spirit full of mischief.

Then came Bert, the koala.
Soft, silent, heavy as stone.
He clung like sleep,
and though my arms ached,
my heart did not.

When no ride came to take us down,
a kind soul arranged our way,
For a taxi to the city’s edge,
then Uber back to the world we knew.
We dined at last on fish and chips,
a quiet feast earned by feet and faith.

Now, sleep returns.
Our bodies rest,
our spirits full,
ready for tomorrow’s tracks.

Australia has welcomed us,
not with fanfare,
but with wonder.

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