The last few days have again been busy busy, but only in a good way. I've gotten to visit some of the great people I've met while on different trips. I met up with Kylie and her man Berk a bit back and will be seeing them again shortly.

I got to catch up with Sue, who I met in India, at her place in Little River, near Geelong. She has a house on 11 acres and I got to meet her horse. I'll put up photos of Sue and her horse shortly!! She took me for a drive down the Great Ocean Road that was much appreciated.

The next day I was passed off to Kathy, a friend and coworker of Sue, who I also met in India. I got to meet three of her four kids, Christine, Kim-Thao, and Nitin. Kathy and I spent the day lounging around, dipping in her pool, and finally for a bike ride into Melbourne along the Yarra River. I got to see where my ship for Tassie was leaving from (Port Melbourne) and generally a view of the city.

Finally, I made my way to Kellie and Dez. I met Kellie in India and she has graciously let me stay at her fabulous home on Phillip Island. They lent me their spare car, which is manual. Between being on the opposite side of the road and dealing with the shifting, it was a little too stressful and after a brief ride to the post office (and many stalls), I gave up and pulled out Dez' bike. This turned out to be perfect because the day cleared up and I rode down to a Koala Sanctuary. I hadn't been to fired up about koalas, but after seeing them, I have to admit, they are sickeningly cute. After seeing the lazy bastards (whose diet is so useless they have to sleep 20 hours a day), I took a dirt trail up to the Rhyll Inlet, a most enjoyable ride passing through a wildlife sanctuary. Finally, on my ride back to the house, I ran into a short beaked echidna.

It's been a wonderful few days catching up with people I met back in September and I couldn't ask for better. I hope that I will be able to return the favors someday in the States.

Kellie also let me use her PC so I do have some new photos!!! Enjoy.

Kangaroos on the golf course

The short beaked echidna I saw on the side of the road. These guys are related to the platypus and lay eggs.

A yellow breasted robin

The oldest koala at the sanctuary snoozing

A very cheeky koala joey... this guy kept getting scolded by his mother.

Same joey having a scratch

Check out these claws!!

Finally, here's my bitten up legs. I had 40 bites on just one leg!!