Group D – World Cup Soccer
They call themselves the Socceroos. Not the most intimidating of names but the Aussie’s are quite the athletic team and have showed that they are no pushovers in International competitions. Qualifying for the first time through the Asian Football Conference (as opposed to Oceania, which was won by New Zealand), Australia may have chosen to take a harder route to the World Cup finals. They came through qualification with flying colors ahead of perennial Asian powerhouses like Saudi Arabia, China and Iran showing just how tough they are going to be for the likes of Germany, Serbia and Ghana, their Group D competitors.
Led at the front by Tim Cahill, who plays for Everton FC from Liverpool England and Harry Kewell, who used to play for Everton’s bitter rivals Liverpool FC, Australia is considered an underdog but a potential sleeper who has a chance because of their sheer athleticism from the goalkeeper all the way up to their strikers.
Our Australian Outback and Australian Outback Plus Hawaii programs spends 22 days Down Under visiting some of its most amazing places – check it out!
The Westcoast Blogger
On our official Facebook Fan Page, we posted a True or False fact: ”Kangaroos cannot walk backwards.” One of our Tour Directors sent me this link to a BBC article that I couldn’t resist blogging about.
Sheep, cattle and kangaroos all eat the same type of grass. Sheep and cattle produce methane (a greenhouse gas). Kangaroos do not. This has scientists wondering if the bacteria found in the stomach of kangaroos could be used to reduce the output of methane from cows and shape thus combating global warming.
Without getting too scientific, the lack of methane is caused by the bacteria in their stomach. It is all down to the bacteria in the stomach of the kangaroos. Researchers have isolated 40 different types of bacteria and are figuring out what each of them do. Kangaroos have evolved over years in Australia having time to adapt to eating those grasses. Sheep and cattle arrived within the past two centuries.
If you want to see Australia this summer AND cuddle with kangaroos and koala bears at the Crocodile Hunter’s Australian Zoo, our Australian Outback program is the way to go!
The Westcoast Blogger
And no, we’re not talking about the place that Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow visit in the Wizard of OZ. This posting is about the amazing land down under, Australia.
Before I talk about the AMAZING Great Barrier Reef (the true topic of discussion for those post) congratulation are in order for Director Symon Hay who has been recognized by Tourism Australia, the official tourism ministry of Australia, as a certified Aussie Specialist! What a great honor.
Now … the Great Barrier Reef, the largest living organism in the world, a world heritage site and arguably the best snorkeling and SCUBA diving site in the world.
For starters, the reef is larger than the Great Wall of China AND is the only living thing on earth visible from space.
The reef is home to:
- 1500 species of marine fish
- 360 species of hard corals
- 600 species of starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers
- 500 species of seaweed
- A variety of marine mammals including whales, dolphins, dugongs
- 6 species of marine turtles
- 200 species of birds
- 125 species of sharks
You may recognize some of the creatures from Disney’s finding Nemo.
-
-
Puffer Fish – Bloat
-
-
Puffer Fish – Bloat
-
-
Regal Tang – Dory
-
-
Regal Tang – Dory
-
-
Eagle Ray – Mr. Ray
-
-
Eagle Ray – Mr. Ray
-
-
Moorish Idol – Gill
-
-
Moorish Idol – Gill
-
-
Pacific Cleaner Shrimp – Jacques
-
-
Pacific Cleaner Shrimp – Jacques
-
-
Clown Fish – Nemo
-
-
Clown Fish – Nemo
-
-
Crush – Sea Turtle
-
-
Crush – Sea Turtle
Snorkeling or SCUBA diving here is an unbelievable experience. Australia is an amazing place to visit and if you’re looking to venture there this summer, check out our Australian Outback Plus Hawaii Program.
G’Day Mate!
The Westcoast Blogger
Which video is your favorite? Check them out here and vote at the poll below. Voting ends at noon on October 6th.
Good luck!
The Westcoast Blogger
Video 1: Australian Outback by Evan A.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6GWZrOGlM8]
Video 2: California Community Service by Glen C.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dePd9ZpeIQ]
Video 3: Major League Madness by Matthew K.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaBlHGfnjTY]
Video 4: California and the Canyons by Emma K.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2RJ0O0t-5E]
Video 5: California Community Service by Natalia M.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3q1SbWfZAE]
Video 6: European Experience by Matthew S.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVrP6Cz8y6c]
[polldaddy poll=2036340]
