Tim & Denise Tiner Travels: 2017 Australia - Day 3

February 12, 2017

Before I head into today's activities, a couple of things that happened yesterday that I forgot to share.

First...we got trapped a few times. We were trying to get to our car for the first time from the apartment and got into a stairwell of no return. We went down a level and fortunately the door was open to let us back in otherwise we might still be there! No just kidding. We eventually figured out how to get to our car. Just took a bit of intelligence that seems to have left me these days. The other time was in the elevator. We kept pressing the key to take us to the floor that we wanted to go. But the light would not go on, yet the elevator would head up and up and up not stopping at our floor. Finally, when someone got on, we noticed he had to tap his key fob on a device and then he could choose the floor to get to. Duh....and lastly...the same thing with getting our car out. The first time, we did not realize we needed to tap the fob on a device to get the car out. We went up to the garage door and just kind of sat there wondering why it did not go up. We ended up backing this car down a ramp to see if there was a device and sure enough...there was. We were grateful no one was watching!!! Crazy, mixed up Americans.

Last night, we walked to a store to get some groceries and then bought a really good hamburger to split. I told Denise to order a large fry to split. HOLY SMOKES. I have never been given so many French Fries. We could not begin to eat all those fries.

After eating, we tried to watch a TV show that I had downloaded to my IPAD. We were laying in bed. Denise lasted about 5 minutes and said she was tired. Within 5 more minutes, she was talking in her sleep. So I turned off the IPAD and rolled over myself. I'm sure I was gone in 5 minutes too. Very long day it was.

Ok...now today. We were up chirping with the birds at 5 AM. I guess that was good as we could text and communicate with our family back home then. That was fun. Looking outside, it was cloudy and much, much cooler. If this continues, I might be wearing the same pair of jeans all week long. I only brought one pair of jeans! I mostly brought shorts as it's supposed to be 'warm' down here. Anyway...we got up, got ready for church and headed out the door before 8:30 AM. We found an English speaking Sacrament Meeting that began at 9 AM about 15 minute drive away. There was a chapel within walking distance but the 9 AM meeting was in Mandarin. We would not get much from that!

We arrived at the church just as they were starting. It felt really good to be in an LDS building among people shared the same beliefs and values. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints makes the world a smaller place. Denise and I have attended meetings all over the world. And when you walk in, the meeting structure, the teachings...all of it is the same and you feel like you are home. I also know that if I had an issue, I could reach out to folks like these and they would be there for me. It's amazing. It was good to take the Sacrament and listen to the speakers share thoughts on The Plan of Salvation. Why are we here in morality? Where did we come from? And what is our purpose. The concluding speaker did a nice job sharing the parable of The Good Samaritan and taking it apart and correlating it to why we are here, where are we going and the wonderful role of Jesus Christ in that plan...to be our mediator before our Father in Heaven. Great teachings. Helps me get through hard times thinking about who I am and my purpose for being.

After church, we headed back to the apartment to change our clothes and gather a few things. We wanted to do something that kept the sabbath day what it needs to be. So we decided to take an hour's drive out to an animal sanctuary where animals that are indigenous to Australia were found. It was a great decision. The drive was on small highways that took us through areas that were like Napa Valley with Butte County sprinkled in. Lots of wineries. Lots of golden, rolling hills. The sanctuary was nice...easy walking as we saw things like Walabe's, Tazmanian Devils, Koala Bears, Wanbats, tons of birds and lots more. They did have Kangaroos. But before we got to go to the exhibit, where you walked among them, it got shut down. Apparently one of the Kangaroos was ill and acting agitated. So they had to shut it down. I spoke with a worker there about their Kangaroos. She said she got them in her backyard all the time. They are pretty gentle mostly. When driving we saw a 'Caution, Kangaroo Crossing' sign. I wish we would have taken a picture. You don't see that in the States!

After spending a few hours at the sanctuary, we headed back to the city but with stop at the Melbourne LDS Temple. Temples are so beautiful. The grounds kept are always so pretty and we enjoy seeing and taking pictures of them. This temple is a smaller temple that is co-located with a Stake Center. People were just coming out of church since it was about 4 PM with their services completed. We were definitely under dressed and certainly looked like tourists. But it was great to be there.

We then headed into the city. I wanted to go see Rod Laver stadium where the finals of the Australian Open is always held. We got there...but some event was letting out of one of the other stadiums there and people and cars were everywhere. So we just kept driving. This stadium was among many stadiums there as this was an Olympic park. I wonder what games were held there.

After making it back to the apartment, we again dropped our things and headed off to find food. Lee, our host, gave us a tip last night to go to Hardware Lane...kind of a popular place where the street is shut off and lined with restaurants. So off we went walking. It was easy to find. We ate at the first restaurant we came to, after having walked the whole street to check them all out. No one was eating at this restaurant and the guy outside was really trying hard to get someone to come in and eat. So we did. By the time we left, I think it was half full. The food was really good and since it was happy hour, they gave us some fairly good deals.

After eating, we headed back to the apartment. We are very tired but had a great day. Tomorrow will be our last day in Melbourne and we have much to see and do. It will be a full one. Until then......

Pictures:

Nice view to wake up to....