墨爾本: 菲力浦島 / 企鵝島(Phillip Island)

為趕在入夜前抵達企鵝島，我們在沿途這家由導遊預訂好了的西餐廳用餐。每人半隻大龍蝦配午油麵包加紅、白葡蔔酒，窗外的海濤聲伴你入餐，氣芬極佳！Before reaching Penguin island, we enjoyed a half-lobster dinner  with red/white wine at a restaurant by the seashore.


太陽很快要下山了，我們終于到了這個特殊的景點---企鵝島也叫Phillip Island 。這裡有一個大型的小企鵝棲息地，牠們會在傍晚時分出現在海灘上，並從海裡衝向岸上的洞穴，這個壯麗的大遷移被稱爲企鵝巡遊。當時在寒冷的氣溫下，黑暗中又不能出聲或拍照(生怕會嚇走牠們)以便窺視它們的出現，那種感覺煞是很是新鮮、刺激！Before sunset we arrived at penguin island, also named Phillip Island.  We were guided to a designated spot, enclosed by fence to prohibit general public from entering the seashore, where penguin can be seen in groups of ten coming up from the water heading their “home” in the bush.  No camera/camcorder/loud talk is allowed as such activities will scare away the walking birds. How an exciting experience!

小企鵝是澳洲土生土長的企鵝，比其他種類的企鵝要小一些，直立時只有33釐米。牠們每天晚上返回洞穴休息，或在八月至三月的哺育季節喂養幼兒。在日出前一小時內，牠們會離開洞穴前往大海，在一整天裡游100公里才能獲得每天需要的魚類食物。
Unique in nature, these Australian penguin are smaller than other birda of the same species, usually stand to 33 cm tall.  Every night they would retire to their caves. Breeding period is from August to March.  Each day an hour before dawn, they leave their caves to swim 100 km in search for seafood.
您可以在菲力浦島自然公園裡的觀景台和觀察道上欣賞企鵝巡遊，但爲了保護企鵝的棲息習慣，每年只能容許50萬人觀看。 Tourists can view the penguin in parade from a platform or trails. To safeguard the birds' resting habit, only 500 thousand viewers are allowed each year.

釣鱒魚和午宴 Tuki Trout Farm and Lunch

因為越裔人口不少，墨爾本一共有四個越南城。10月24日早上大家到其中一個越南城去吃河粉。高妹冼艷影及時找到會合點，還有許寰之、潔菁夫婦、吳立美姊妹也加入與大家一起作一日遊。一路上翠群吹口琴、Cindy玩魔術、Sean的半鹹不黄的幽默笑話以及碧雲錄三分鐘介紹影像，都誏長途車程歡笑聲不停！There are four Vietnam towns in Melbourne, thanks to the good size of Vietnamese population. On the morning of Oct/24, the group went to have PHO in one of the VN towns, joined by “tall girl” Tien Diem Anh, Kiet-Ching couple, Ngo lap My sisters for the one-day tour. On the bus travel, the whole group cheered, laughed and talked while翠群played harmonica, Cindy demonstrated the magic tricks, Sean told some jokes, and Van busy recording three-minute video. We all had a good time.

車子終於抵達一處養鱒魚村莊。大家都要學釣魚。一位穿著像漁伕的主人教我們如何用使玉米去釣鱒魚(很環保)。池塘裡養了好多魚。沒多久，每個人好像都是釣魚高手，無論大魚、小魚，個個都有收獲，皆大歡喜。At a fishing village, we were taught how to fish in the man-made pond where the owner kept many fish for his patrons to have fun fishing.  Even the inexperienced, first time fishing in life, could catch at least one fish, large or small.
 

大家都還在很努力的釣魚！看呀！我釣到一條大的呢！ 
We all put in great efforts trying to catch a fish.

半小時後大家收手進食堂，等著主人將剛才釣到的大魚小魚，通通用錫鉑紙包裹準備放入烤箱內、再熱騰騰的端上來給大家享用！主人好手藝，當大家面前表演著連頭帶魚身的去骨手法俐落。魚香肉嫩---嗯，很另類的好吃  
Afterward we went in the dinning lounge to eat the fish we caught from the pond. The owner demonstrated how to strip fish bone and head in front of his patrons one by one. The fish tasted quite good.

大洋路(十二門徒石) Great Ocean Road (Twelve Apostles)

10月23日早晨出發前往參觀十二門徒石（Twelve Apostles）景點。今天是良光(Jason Le)生日。大家在車上給他唱生日歌。祝他年年有今日，歲歲有今朝！Oct/23 morning departure for the Twelve Apostles sightseeing. That day was Jason Le’s birthday. We all sang him birthday song, wishing him longevity another 100 years.

十二門徒石是一組穿出南大洋水面巍然聳立的巨型岩石，形成於海水對石灰岩懸崖的侵蝕。在過去的幾萬年裡，南大洋的風暴和充滿爆炸力的大風，慢慢侵蝕著鬆軟的石灰岩懸崖，並在其上形成許多洞穴。洞穴逐漸變成拱門，而當拱門坍塌後，這些高達45米的巨石就從大陸岸邊分離出去。The Twelve Apostles are a group of giant rocks surfacing from the water. Facing storms and gusty winds in the past few thousand years, the limestone overhanging cliff gradually loosen and caves subsequently form, which then transform to arched doors. When the arched doors finally collapsed, the 45m tall transformed rocks separate from the mainland.

*****大洋路 (Great Ocean Road)

隨著日子一天天過，現在從十二個巨石坍塌只剩下七個。幾十年以後，不知又會變成怎樣。日出和日落時分是觀賞十二門徒石的最佳時機，因爲十二門徒石會改變顏色，在全日照耀下拋掉灰暗的陰影，披上金黃色的外衣。絕佳的風景誏大家在此照了很多照片。With each passing day, the Twelve Apostles now collapsed to remaining seven. No one knows how they turn out to be many years from now. The best time to view these rocks are at daybreak and at dusk because they change color to gold like putting on a gold outfit. We took a lot of pictures of the breathtaking view.


入夜後，因為人太多而容不下於酒店的小lobby裡，所以大家在附近墨爾本市中心的「皇冠大賭場」點心部門開同學會。許寰之的太太馮潔菁竟然是Cindy中、小學的同學兼鄰居。潔菁憑著一張照片認出了那個以為這輩子都再也見不到潔菁、潔莉兩姊妹的Cindy。萬分驚喜。非常感恩！After dark, we went to Crown casino to chi-chat with local friends since the local hotel lobby is too small for a large group to gather. Here Hua Hoang Chi’s wife, Phung Kiet Thanh, relied on a single photograph and was able to recognize Cindy, who thought she would never see her the two-sister friends/neighbors since they were classmates in elementary and middle schools. It was a big surprise filled with gratitude.

墨爾本﹕ 淘金之旅 Melbourne---Gold Mine Tour

釣魚之行結束後，我們接著便來到了150年前在維多利亞中部地區的淘金熱潮的地方---「金礦」。

After fishing, we went to gold mine located in Victoria center.
距離墨爾本不遠的金礦地區有寬敞的街道、奇特的建築、花園、藝術館、節慶活動和世界級的景點。小城鎮裡仍然可見礦工居住過的小木屋和郵局。The Gold mine area, besides the wide streets, unique old building architect, garden, art museum and festivity, also retains miner residential and post office.

 

疏芬山( Sovereign Hill)是本地一個主要景點，來此便可瞭解淘金熱潮的歷史。尤瑞卡中心（Eureka Centre）和中央黛博拉金礦(Central Deborah Gold Mine)會向您講述十九世紀五十年代到六十年代間的地上和地下生活情景。博物館裡頭陳列了不同種類的金子。Sovereign Hill is a main view point, where the tourist can learn the history of gold mine.  EurekaCenter and Central Deborah Gold Mine offer documentary of lives above and underground in the 19^th century between the fifties and the sixties.  Various kinds of gold are on display in the museum.

沿著河流而下，大家學著古人拿著漏篩盤在河床邊開始淘金。我們之間好像都沒有人找到金子。
We tried in vain to scour gold through the stream.

澳洲古蘭度原住民村﹔ Cairns--- Kuranda Village

早上搭機前往Cairns，抵達後由當地一位資深老廣導遊接走直接出發到古蘭度原住民村享受熱帶雨林風情的BBQ 自助燒烤午飯及觀看代表土族人萬年文化的舞踏表演, 並親自嘗試土族人回力鏢及樂器表演。

Arriving at Cairns, we visited Kuranda village and enjoyed tropical style BBQ lunch. After watching the tribal dancing, we had a chance to practice throwing boomerang and listened to the sound played by their musical instrument.


該區內有一塊小小的野生動物園，你可以就近與數量不多的袋鼠和無尾熊(樹熊)近距離拍照。之後搭乘二戰時期製造的水陸兩用軍車游熱帶雨林, 欣賞體驗熱帶雨林的生態平衡, 見到珍貴的Ulysses蝴蝶, 蛇, 變色龍, 鰻魚, 烏龜等。
In here you can find a small wild animal zoo, you can also get near to countless kangaroos and no-tailed bears.   Then you will have a chance to ride WWII era naval/ground military vehicle through the rain forest, seeing Ulysses butterflies, snakes, color-changing dragons, etc.

然後我們乘搭7.5公里長天軌纜車在熱帶雨林上空觀光, 途中兩站可停留欣賞體驗熱帶雨林, 享巴倫瀑布景, 珊瑚海景, 山景。  A ride on skyrail of 7.5 km long will take you to high above the rain forest, enjoy waterfalls, sea and mountain views.

晚上在市區中的跳蚤夜市閒逛，回程沿著海邊步行回到酒店。一路上成千上萬隻綠身黃腹紅冠的鸚鵡以及蝙蝠鳥叫聲振天。煞是驚人。行人道兩旁的芒果樹任你摘取。陣陣的海風吹拂臉上，這裡誏人有如身在夏威夷的感覺。
 

At night we shopped flea market in downtown.  On the way back to the hotel on foot, we could hear loud wailing from countless of parrots and black bats perching on mango trees.  You can pluck mangos along the way if you are not intimidated by the constant wailing in the dark street.