Kangaroos, Koalas, Nemo… and Unexpected Moments

My Australia trip officially began the moment I stepped off the airplane.
The first destination on my Sydney itinerary was Sydney Zoo.
This was the place where I expected to meet the one animal I’d dreamed of seeing for years: the kangaroo.

Before flying to Australia, I carried two very different images of kangaroos in my mind:

• Hundreds of kangaroos hopping across the open fields (from a coworker’s photo)
• A boxing kangaroo fighting off a man on YouTube

I even imagined what I’d do if I ever had to “fight” a kangaroo.
Of course… purely in my imagination. ^^

First Stop: Sydney Zoo Entrance — Excitement Building Up

Our tour group lined up at the large Sydney Zoo entrance.
Group tours can feel a bit restrictive at times, but excitement overpowered any inconvenience.
I stepped inside imagining I’d soon come face-to-face with the “kangaroo brothers.”

Koalas: So Still I Thought They Were Stuffed Toys

The first animals I saw were koalas.
At a glance, I honestly thought they were stuffed toys.
They were completely still—no blinking, no twitching.
Only after staring for a while did I see small movements and realize…

“Yes, they’re alive!”

Kangaroos… or Should I Say, Kangaroo Statues?

Then finally, the signature symbol of Australia appeared: kangaroos.
My heart sped up.
This was what I had waited for.

But…

“Wait… this can’t be it.”

To my shock, only five kangaroos lay sprawled out on the ground, completely motionless, as if they were on strike.
No hopping, no movement—nothing.
Just five sleepy kangaroos taking a morning nap.

Maybe we arrived too early?
Either way, my grand kangaroo fantasy collapsed instantly.

This turned out to be the only kangaroos I saw during the entire Australia trip.

Yes. Those five sleepy ones.
Talk about expectation vs. reality… ^^

Reptiles and Frogs: Interesting, But Not My Personal Favorite

Moving on, I wandered through the reptile and amphibian sections—lizards, frogs, snakes.
They seemed eager to grab my attention, but reptiles are not really my thing.

At one point I wondered:

“Are we looking at them?
Or are they looking at us?”

Their stillness made it feel like we were the ones on display.

The Cutest Visitor in the Zoo: A Little Angel

Just when my excitement dipped, I saw something that completely melted my heart—
a toddler visiting the zoo with his dad.

This little one was more adorable than any animal on display.
His tiny voice, his curious expressions, the way he interacted with each animal…
He was a little angel.

Watching him made me forget all about the kangaroo disappointment.

“Grow healthy and happy, little angel.”

A Surprise Encounter: “Nemo!” and “Dory!”

As I walked into the aquarium zone, I suddenly blurted out:

“It’s Nemo!”

The display looked exactly like scenes from Finding Nemo.
Even Dory, the lovable fish with short-term memory loss, was there.
It felt like stepping into the animation itself.

This moment alone satisfied one of my biggest curiosities about the movie.

Colorful Crayfish: Straight Out of a Movie Scene

Not long after seeing Nemo and Dory, I noticed a bright blue crayfish.
It instantly reminded me of the scene in Finding Nemo where the characters pass through Sydney’s sewer.
How can a crayfish be that color?
Nature never stops surprising.

Tigers, Lions, and… Children Everywhere

“Tiger!”
I couldn’t help shouting like a child myself.
Watching the tiger walk with such power reminded me why they’re called kings of the jungle.

Next came the lion.
Even from a distance, its mane radiated authority.

I wondered:

“If a tiger and a lion fought, who would win?”

Meanwhile, hordes of Australian schoolchildren—likely on a field trip—filled the zoo.
At times, I couldn’t tell whether I came to see the animals or the kids.

First Lunch in Australia: A Veterans’ Association Restaurant

After finishing the Sydney Zoo tour, we headed to a restaurant in Katoomba, run by the local Veterans Association.
Before entering, our guide reminded us of the etiquette—respecting the veterans is important here.

Inside, countless military badges and emblems were displayed.
They symbolize honor, yet they also reminded me that war should never be repeated.

Lunch was delicious, but as soon as it ended,
my mind returned to the kangaroos…
and that lingering disappointment.

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Australia was to see kangaroos.
But for now, that dream had fallen flat.

Still, the day was far from over.
We moved on to our next destination.

Stay tuned for the next episode of my Australia Travel Series. ^^

For Your Dream Life
by Dream Max