Surfing in Australia...great white sharks...

I was going to go surfing today.  I was sure of it.  I leave tomorrow for Armidale to visit the University of New England, the distributed site of the University of Newcastle medical school.  So I figured I should try to get in the water while it's beautiful and I can.

Then I heard about and saw this:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/10/21/3345298.htm?site=newcastle

And this:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/17/3166660.htm?site=newcastle

I don't think so...

Great food!

I just had dinner around the corner from me at East End Enoteca - an Italian restaurant.  It was fantastic!  I had the beef with beet root chutney - wow!  Australian beef is delicious!  Almost as good as Argentinian...but not quite.  :)

Black Butt Animal Reserve

I just had to post a few quick photos of the koala that I was able to pet yesterday at Black Butt animal reserve here in Newcastle!  They feel just like little teddy bears!  :)  And Black Butt is a type of tree...in case you were wondering...

Me petting Bella!  A 6 year old female koala!

Bella eating gum leaves.

The Dunkleys, me and Bella.

Newcastle Beaches

A beautiful Saturday in Newcastle at the beaches.

A convict manned whaleboat...proud of their convict heritage...

Nobby's Beach

A chromosome!

Ocean Baths

A smoke shop...

Newcastle - my neighbourhood

These are some photos in my neighbourhood down by the water.  Beautiful!

On my way!

I did it.  I managed to pack one month's worth of clothes, shoes, jackets and bags into one suitcase.  I am amazed.  I leave in a few hours to head to Vancouver and then at 11:40 pm I get on the LONG plane ride to Sydney.  15.5 hours.  Good thing I have a good book to read!  Thanks Audrey!
I arrive in Sydney on the 7th and will stay with Erin for the night.  Then I hop on a train for Newcastle.  I am looking forward to seeing the Dunkleys again.
My adventures in medical education research begin!