 |
| These (the one's not crossed out) were the shows that were on today |
In fact, I didn't even know Bindi was getting married today.
I've been trying to get up to Australia Zoo for months, but every time I picked a day to go, either bad weather, bush fires in the area, or something else would come up and I couldn't make the trip.
I had planned on going up last Friday, but then talked myself into going Sunday, so I didn't get stuck in peak hour traffic on the freeway both ways.
Then my son texted me and asked if I wanted to watch the Brisbane Lions AFL Team play their first match of the season (which turned out to also be their last for the season, most likely) on free-to-air TV at my place.
 |
| The shutdown came as Hawthorn played Brisbane on Sunday |
 |
| Free-to-air television networks to suffer |
"Queenslanders have been advised to “stay in your state, stay in your suburb” but by-elections and council elections will still go ahead."?!
I can tell you that a trip to the zoo was far safer than going voting on Monday, or to a trip to get food at my local supermarket, or a haircut (I usually cut my own anyway, if you wonder why it looks so bad:-).
And while the Queensland government is shutting everything down, they still want people to vote this coming weekend, or be fined for not voting.
I wondered why I was told at the entrance of the zoo that they would be closing the Africa section of the zoo at midday, and that if I wanted to see it, I should probably go there first, as the animals were getting fed already.
Now I realize in hindsight that there was a bigger elephant in the room today.
While the New South Wales/Queensland state borders were being closed tonight, nobody seemed to be stopping you from walking across the African/Queensland borders:-)
I wanted to checkout that treehouse on Bindi's Island, but on my way back from the Africa section of the park I turned right to the tiger enclosure, although I vowed to come back later in the day and take a look at Bindi's Island.
But when I was heading to Bindi's Island at around 3 o'clock, a security guard had drawn a scissor gate across the path and told me that section of the park was now closed.
It's kind of eerie to walk through an almost empty zoo.
It's a jungle in there and out here too, it seems in 2020.
But apart from all of the "no shows" and early closures at Australia Zoo today, I still had a good time, and I wish Bindi and Chandler well in their marriage.
Rain was then forecast for Tuesday, so Wednesday it would have to be hopefully ... and it was.
I knew if I didn't go today then tomorrow the zoo may have to close for God knows how long.
I knew if I didn't go today then tomorrow the zoo may have to close for God knows how long.
 |
| Wedding day, March 25th, 2020 |
 |
| The elephants in the room today for the Queensland tourist industry? |
 |
| The Australia Zoo website announcement tonight (in red) |
And while the Queensland government is shutting everything down, they still want people to vote this coming weekend, or be fined for not voting.
 |
| I took this kookaburra in the carpark as a good sign:-) |
Now I realize in hindsight that there was a bigger elephant in the room today.
 |
| Well, WHO knew about this wedding today?-) |
 |
| Looks like the African border is open for Queenslanders to walk through? |
 |
| Try walking across this Australia Zoo zebra crossing if you dare:-) |
 |
| It wasn't too hard to practice social distancing today in the zoo |
 |
| No wonder there was a black florist van near the cafe tent in Africa |
 |
| The elephants were probably in their room today:-) |
 |
| The Bindi's Island treehouse building |
 |
| There's that elephant again;-) |
 |
| See WELL in the dark?-) |
 |
| No problem walking into Southeast Asia from Queensland, either;-) |
 |
| The security guard sitting near the scissor gate yesterday at the zoo |
 |
| The tiger trainers did put on a show for 5 of us paying customers at the end of the day |
 |
| See WELL in the dark?-) |
 |
| See WELL in the dark?-) |
More posts to come on my visit to the zoo in the days ahead.
UPDATE: March 26th, 2020
Coronavirus: Chaos at NSW and Queensland border following more state border closures
UPDATE: March 26th, 2020
 |
| "Crikey!":-) |
 |
| Border shutdowns? |
Back in the day my son and I loved watching that crocodile smootcher and his family. Such a shock when he was killed but at least it was exactly where he loved being.
ReplyDeleteMy two boys loved watching Steveo, too.
ReplyDeleteI took them up to Australia Zoo twice when Steve was alive, but we never got to see Steve while up there.
I remember telling my boys about a month before Steve died that Steve took the danger too lightly and that one day soon an animal would turn on him unexpectedly and kill him.
It was just the feeling I had at the time.
I never for the life of me thought it would be a stingray though.
I was thinking more along the lines of a croc, or a shark.
I texted my sons from the zoo yesterday and sent a few pictures from my phone, as they knew I had been seriously trying to head up to the zoo for the last fortnight, and they were surprised that the zoo was still open yesterday.
I don't think either of them have been back to the zoo since I took them as kids.
They wouldn't recognize the place now.
I always thought he would get his face bitten off by a komodo dragon or some such for sure. He was the cutting edge of reality TV.
ReplyDeleteI really love that in a real way you WERE at Bindi's wedding, so close you must have mixed energy fields. A happy event in the face of ???? I saw a few pictures of the young couple and they are as adorable as her parents were, and I thought her dress was sweet and lovely. If you knew what was up you may have needed a happy hankie!
Our local grocery store is at least one third empty and has hours from 10 to 6. Getting local take out to tip my friends. A peasouper of a fog is rolling in, 34 degrees f. I am stocked up on books. I personally have not had someone I know contact covid, but it is around our area. The future = fog. Take care, whatever that means now, and, like they say around Australia Zoo, "thanks for all the fish!".