Monday, November 13, 2006
8th November Ducks and sharks
8th November (Wednesday)
Today we into Melbourne and headed straight for one of the more well known landmarks, the MCG, Melbourne Cricket Ground. We booked the tour and were marshalled to our guide starting point by a very fierce female security guard. We were then taken on a superb tour by Brian our volunteer tour guide. His knowledge of the ground and it’s history was only outdone by his knowledge of cricket and the greatest Australian players to grace the ground. The ground has undergone some major renovations over the last 4 or 5 years with some AU$5million being invested to increase the capacity from 100,000 to 100,000. Well ok Brian conceded many of the seats were now more comfortable than previously so obviously a good investment! In fact they have upgraded the entire stands and facilities and amenities and it is now well equipped to take on the 21st century. The ground is used more for Australian Rules Football than for cricket which was a surprise and also occasionally for concerts, like Kylie, Madonna and the like. Membership is available for the MCC, Melbourne Cricket Club, but the waiting list is currently around 170,000 and 15 to 18 years. Sign ‘em up when they’re born and by the time they’re earning they can afford it at AU$500 per annum! Our tour was scheduled for hour and quarter but was hour and 40 and excellent value.
We then made our way down towards Melbourne Dockside and decided to visit the Aquarium. Some of this is fairly new and they are still upgrading and adding so will be an even larger attraction in acouple of years. We thought we would whiz through quite quickly and head off to have an early dinner, but it didn’t quite work out like that. The exhibition was fascinating. Far too much to tell but the highlights were the feeding of the Rays and small sharks in the mangroves pool. The different fish in the pool all have different ways of taking the food, squid, chopped herring, etc. Some, such as the graceful rays, will only eat the food off of a long stick, the sharks only if thrown around the pool and the sea bottom feeler fish from the girl keeper’s hand. Loads of photo opportunities but the fish wouldn’t stay still long enough for decent shots! There was an Australian cod in one tank and he was the size of a dining table. According to the info plate they grow to in excess of 130kgs! Went down a floor to more exhibits including tropical displays with beautiful coral fish and those v. dangerous spiny fish. Then we plunged further down into the depths of the Aquarium to their centre piece, the huge shark, stingray and sea fish pool. Pool is not the right word. Oceanarium. It is massive, with clear walkway tunnels so that you are right in there with the equally massive inhabitants. You emerge from the tunnels into a large auditorium where you are surrounded by the oceanarium and able to watch Stingrays at least 7ft in width and more in length, sharks which are even longer. We stayed in there transfixed for ages, just watching them all swim lazily by. It was all at once a stunning but relaxing display, hypnotic in the gracefulness of the rays and chilling in the menace but beauty of the world’s most ruthless killing machine, the Great White Shark. At the end of the display is an example of the glass that separates us from the denizens of the ocean and also keeps you dry and safe whilst being able to watch.
Plexiglass, 13 inches thick.
There is a sign in the walk through tunnels that says,
“The curvature of the plexiglass makes our exhibits appear
ONE THIRD SMALLER than they actually are.”
Seem to have missed a day out of the blog in Bali and got the dates wrong. Not sure if I've already mentioned that or not so will have to go back and see what I've missed . Think it must be Thursday 2nd November. Will hopefully update soon. So easy to lose track of days and date when you're having so much fun. Ha ha ha ha!
Today we into Melbourne and headed straight for one of the more well known landmarks, the MCG, Melbourne Cricket Ground. We booked the tour and were marshalled to our guide starting point by a very fierce female security guard. We were then taken on a superb tour by Brian our volunteer tour guide. His knowledge of the ground and it’s history was only outdone by his knowledge of cricket and the greatest Australian players to grace the ground. The ground has undergone some major renovations over the last 4 or 5 years with some AU$5million being invested to increase the capacity from 100,000 to 100,000. Well ok Brian conceded many of the seats were now more comfortable than previously so obviously a good investment! In fact they have upgraded the entire stands and facilities and amenities and it is now well equipped to take on the 21st century. The ground is used more for Australian Rules Football than for cricket which was a surprise and also occasionally for concerts, like Kylie, Madonna and the like. Membership is available for the MCC, Melbourne Cricket Club, but the waiting list is currently around 170,000 and 15 to 18 years. Sign ‘em up when they’re born and by the time they’re earning they can afford it at AU$500 per annum! Our tour was scheduled for hour and quarter but was hour and 40 and excellent value.
We then made our way down towards Melbourne Dockside and decided to visit the Aquarium. Some of this is fairly new and they are still upgrading and adding so will be an even larger attraction in acouple of years. We thought we would whiz through quite quickly and head off to have an early dinner, but it didn’t quite work out like that. The exhibition was fascinating. Far too much to tell but the highlights were the feeding of the Rays and small sharks in the mangroves pool. The different fish in the pool all have different ways of taking the food, squid, chopped herring, etc. Some, such as the graceful rays, will only eat the food off of a long stick, the sharks only if thrown around the pool and the sea bottom feeler fish from the girl keeper’s hand. Loads of photo opportunities but the fish wouldn’t stay still long enough for decent shots! There was an Australian cod in one tank and he was the size of a dining table. According to the info plate they grow to in excess of 130kgs! Went down a floor to more exhibits including tropical displays with beautiful coral fish and those v. dangerous spiny fish. Then we plunged further down into the depths of the Aquarium to their centre piece, the huge shark, stingray and sea fish pool. Pool is not the right word. Oceanarium. It is massive, with clear walkway tunnels so that you are right in there with the equally massive inhabitants. You emerge from the tunnels into a large auditorium where you are surrounded by the oceanarium and able to watch Stingrays at least 7ft in width and more in length, sharks which are even longer. We stayed in there transfixed for ages, just watching them all swim lazily by. It was all at once a stunning but relaxing display, hypnotic in the gracefulness of the rays and chilling in the menace but beauty of the world’s most ruthless killing machine, the Great White Shark. At the end of the display is an example of the glass that separates us from the denizens of the ocean and also keeps you dry and safe whilst being able to watch.
Plexiglass, 13 inches thick.
There is a sign in the walk through tunnels that says,
“The curvature of the plexiglass makes our exhibits appear
ONE THIRD SMALLER than they actually are.”
Seem to have missed a day out of the blog in Bali and got the dates wrong. Not sure if I've already mentioned that or not so will have to go back and see what I've missed . Think it must be Thursday 2nd November. Will hopefully update soon. So easy to lose track of days and date when you're having so much fun. Ha ha ha ha!
# posted by desmond22 @ 1:41 am 
