Summer 2013 - Around the World Tour: Sydney

We arrived in Sydney around 8:30 am Friday morning, a little late but we made it. Everyone was excited to be back on the ground.

Once we got to our hotel, the kids immediately wanted go to the Aquarium and Jacob noticed the National Maritime museum across Darling Harbour.

Darling Harbour is a cool area adjacent to Downtown. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darling_Harbour)

Without even knowing it, (good planning) tonight Saturday the 8th, we will get to see the Vivid Sydney phenomenal laser and firework show. We will be able to see it right from our balcony at the Four Points Sheraton.

Vidid Sydney - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ajijLf5l_WU

We had lunch and then off to the National Maritime Museum - http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm

Destroy - Vampire (http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1371) and Submarine Oberon (http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1370)

Abey from the bow of the Vampire with our hotel in the background.

Jacob with his sisters in front of the big guns...

Dad, can have this gun at home, nope!

Captain Kristen! Australian Navy is in big trouble if that were true!

Abey giving directions, with a big salute to the troops from Jacob!

Kristen also given a big salute, because Abey told her too!

No we have the Abey "sassy" salute with Captain Jacob. Notice the left handed solute, aka sassy!

A full team salute!

Jacob giving instructions to fire away!

Abey trying to turn the guns at the enemy! Jacob!

McLeod Clan given the Australian Flag and the military veterans a big salute!

Kristen (aka Vanna White) giving everybody an explanation of the ship drawings.

Jacob can't believe how small the beds are on a ship...he said he would need to be the captain so he gets his own room.

Abey, not so bad, it's comfy!

All hand on the controls!

Jacob, another salute to the ships...way to cool dad!

Jacob and Kristen up on the Light House in Darling Harbour! Yup, like the rest of the world, Harbour is spelled with "our" not "or"

Next on the list was getting one of the most important things of the day out of the way!

You guessed it! STARBUCKS - however, I was shocked at the cost of coffee in Australia...Jacob's favorite "Vanilla Bean" was $6.50 and Dad's Venti is smaller in Australia. We sat and enjoyed the view from the patio.

Next it was the girls turn to do something they wanted, so off to the aquarium we go (http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au). We got a package deal for three venues at the Aquarium, the Sea-Life Aquarium, The Wild Life Sydney Zoo and Madame Tussauds Sydney.

After much discussion and debate, we decided to leave the Sea-Life until Saturday because Kristen and Abey wanted to attend the Shark Feeding experience at 11:00 am...kids get to feed the sharks...stay tune for pics tomorrow.

So we decided to see the Wild Life Zoo (http://www.wildlifesydney.com.au), Kristen really wanted to see a Wallaby and a Koala Bear. Here are the photos from our visit.

Right out front is a Koala Bear, sleeping! Image that!

One of a hundred kinds of snake in the Zoo, Australia has the most # of deadliest snake in the world!

Green Tree Snakes!

Australian Duck! Quack Quack!

Kristen, Jacob and Abey helping out a butterfly!

Silly Pics, the ones you will remember forever!

Koala bear eating is dinner!

Pappa Koala looking over this kingdom!

Koala bear with an itchy bumb, getting a good scratch!

One of the heaviest birds in the world...at least that's what the sign said!

Kristen, Abey and Jacob measuring up to a Kangaroo.

Australian's version of a porcupine!

Salt Water Crock! Jacob indicated that we have these back home in SC, I sure hope not!

Great shot of a Koala Bear!

Second on the agenda was Madame Tussaud's wax museum. As most of you know, Dad was not to excited about this one, however I think we all had a blast. I think some of the funniest kids shots we have ever taken occurred in the museum. (http://www.madametussauds.com/sydney/)

Jacob, hanging out looking like an old fashion pilot.

Yaya, we did make it to church!

Since China is next on the world tour, here are the kids saying Nihao!

Africa is also on the list of destinations, so we said hello to Nelson Mandela.

While in Australia, we figured why not get our picture "down" at the White House. Jacob having a serious conversation in the oval office, with President Obama!