Houses At Toowoomba

            In Queensland the variety architectural styles is less than in the older, richer and more populous southern States.In consequences, it works well to talk of Toowoomba's heritage as belong to one and other of just eight styles.These styles are, The Colonial House, The Cottage, The Early Gabled House, The Larger Early House, The Federation House, The Queensland Bungalow, The Custom Bungalow, The Bungalow along Southern Lines.

           Toowoomba heritage housing is outstanding, and after Brisbane no city in the State has such a wide variety of such high quality.Yet while many fine examples  remain it is also true that no city after Brisbane has lost so many of the good buildings its once had.

           Today the importance of heritage houses is appreciated on several levels. First of all heritage houses are home to many people and secondly , it is clear that much of the city's  character derives from its heritage features. Because heritage houses are such an important of what make Toowoomba the pleasing place it is

Toowoomba's Heritage House

Toowoomba's Middle Modern  House

Toowoomba's Modern House

Various of Houses Old And New In Toowoomba

Cobb & Co Museum

            The best place to find about the culture and history of a place is the museum. I visited Cobb & Co Museum in Toowoomba. At Cobb & Co Museum you can track Queensland Heritage Trail Network. Interactive world of exhibitions that tell more of the character stories and history of the Darling Downs region.

            At the museum we can enjoy a wide variety of displays including traveling exhibitions , area dedicated to Darling Downs and local indigenous history , a children's activities center and cafe.
 
           We can discover a wealth of  information about the people , the history and the natural and built environment of the Darling Downs, in the era where coaches and horses were the lifeline of the settlements.
 
           The Cobb & Co Museum is renowned as the home of Australia's finest collection of horse drawn coaches and carriages .

Horse Coaches

Windmill Outside Cobb & Co Museum

Kangaroos Ruled

            Kangaroo only can be found in Australia. There are over 40 different species , and over 60 species when we include Wallabies etc.They belong to "macropod" family which means "great footed". The main species of "macropods" include Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo, Red Kangaroo, Wallaby, Wallaroo, Forest Wallabies, Pademelons and Tree Kangaroo.

         There are estimated , 26 million Kangaroos in Australia which is more than the population of the country. The largest Kangaroo is the Red Kangaroo , it's taller than a man and weight up to 90 kg. Kangaroo can hop at up 60km/ hour and jump 9 meters along the ground. when a Kangaroo is moving slowly , it uses it's tail as a fifth leg. When it is hopping it uses it to steer and balance.

        They have excellent eyesight but only respond to moving objects. It's best to stand still when observing them at near.They also have excellent hearing and can swivel their ears in all directions. Kangaroo have more than one stomach like cattle do. This means they chew the grass and regurgitate it before it's finally digested. It's need very little water to survive and can go months without water. They used it's front paws to punch its opponent  and kicks them with it's back leg.

Australian Kangaroo

Australian Baby Kangaroo

Australian Tree Kangaroo ( almost extinct)

Other Species Of Kangaroo

Gayong In Toowoomba

            On my odyssey to the land of Kangaroo, I was invited to a friend house living in Darling Downs, Toowoomba. His name is Ismail, he still continuing his studies at the University of Southern Queensland. We had a great dinner and started discussing about setting a Silat Seni Gayong club at the university. Ismail's showing his eagerness to set the club and he will bring this matter to the authorize department for further discussion. For me it's my pleasure to assist him and hoping that Silat Seni Gayong will be accepted as a club at the university.
 
           While waiting for the cause , I take the opportunity to view some of the martial arts club at the university or in the county. I did found a few , such as Kenpo Karate, Jujitsu, Tai Chi , but not silat. If we can make this happen Gayong will be the founder of silat at Toowoomba.
 

Chikara Martial Arts in Training

Taoist and Tai Chi Society In Toowoomba

             Ismail took this chance to learn some moves from me, and the training continued while I'm there. While looking for more martial arts club I come across a shop selling martial arts equipment.
 

Martial Arts Shop

Training at Japanese Garden

           Life is very dull at Toowoomba , the town was made for the pensioner or senior people, majority the community are old. And for the teenager they had to find a means of entertainment and wile with activities. But the environment and gladden makes any visitor feel the warmest of this hilly town.

Japanese Garden

            Toowoomba known as The Garden City, and due to the fame a Japanese Garden was built to signify varieties of confrontment  of garden in the world. The Japanese Garden was built at the backyard of The University of Southern Queensland and the gate to the garden are used as a back entrance to the university area.
 

Toowoomba Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden

         In the garden we can find a layout of he Japanese Garden that built in Japan. There's a pond, a kap fish, a  Japanese garden bridge and anything that related to Japanese nature of garden.

         Upon visiting the garden I was surprised by a group of a bat hanging on the tree looking like a cocoon. It was a huge kind of a bat and you couldn't see the leaf , which was covered by their swings.

Hanging Bat

Looking Like An Ant Den

           Joining the surrounding in the garden are the only Australian Magpie. The Magpie bird are akin of the crow. An according to the local folks Magpie Bird are vicious and attack people . There are cases where children has been attacked by this bird. The Magpie of Australia has at least a white colour fur compared to their cousin crow that are usually black.

Australian Magpie Bird

The Magpie

The City Beach

            Strolling around Brisbane Central Business District lies in the curve of Brisbane river. Central streets are named after members of the royal family, Queens Street is Brisbane traditional main street. You would be surprised when walking along the river band you are passing through a city beach. The community of Brisbane spend their time sun bathing and swimming at this man made city beach.

Man Made Beach At The Heart Of Brisbane

            It's a well planned city concept made , consists of leisure , entertainment , educational  , shopping center and all been span to visitors while spending their time capturing their moment at the city.

University At Brisbane River Band

       
           If we are a shopping enthusiast , hop on to Queens Street Mall, it's consists of nine separate mall set back off the street, each with it's focus of clientele and meant for pedestrians only.

Queens Street Mall

Surfers Paradise

            Surfers Paradise is the jewel of  Queensland's Gold Coast and one of the most popular holiday destinations in Australia. Surfers Paradise is where you will find the perfect fusion of city and beach lifestyles set amidst a spectacular skyline and brilliant stretch of coast.

            Vibrant and eclectic , Surfers Paradise provides non stop action . With an abundance of theme parks and attraction all in easy access.

            Surfers Paradise invites an exploration . whether it's through the winding streets lined with alfresco dining restaurants or the art gallery that showcase local artist work and Aboriginal exhibitions. There are unending shopping  options from top end designers to outlet bargains and nighttime beach front markets. Surfers Paradise is enticing in every way imaginable.

Surfers Paradise Winding Streets

Fighting The Waves