Flat Stanley's Australian Adventure! Part 2: Exploring Brisbane

From Flat Stanley

On the weekend Kevin and Ann and Stanley left Zelda to sleep on her chair in the house and went out to explore.

“Today we’re going to the “Multicultural Festival in the Roma Street Parklands,” said Kevin as they walked out the door and down the driveway.

“But, why are we walking right past the car?” asked Stanley. “Are we going to walk all the way to the city?”

“Silly boy! We’re taking the train!” and they walked down the block and up the next and found the Carseldine train station. Ann bought her ticket and Stanley agreed to share her seat so he wouldn’t need a ticket of his own. “Next stop Roma Street Station!”

From Flat Stanley

From Flat Stanley

At the festival there were hundreds of people! There were people from India and people from China and people from South Africa. People were singing and dancing and playing music from places all over the world.

From Flat Stanley

There was food from Vietnam and Italy and just everywhere! After much deliberation Ann, Kevin, and Stanley shared a French stone oven pizza.

“Why is everything so green?” asked Stanley as they walked through the gardens. “Why are there flowers? Why aren’t the leaves red and gold and brown?”

“Two things,” said Kevin, because Kevin always says two things. “First, Brisbane is closer to the equator than Massillon. That means that the weather here is warmer than Ohio. It never snows in Brisbane!” Kevin smiled broadly, because he doesn’t like the cold. “Second, Brisbane is on the opposite side of the planet. You are now in the Southern Hemisphere. That means that while it is fall in Ohio, in Australia it is spring!”

“Oh,” said Stanley and he rubbed his head. “That’s weird.”

“We’ve got more to see!” exclaimed Kevin and led Ann and Stanley back to the train station. “Next stop, South Brisbane!”

“South Brisbane is the cultural centre of Brisbane,” Ann said. “Over there is the play house…”

“And the Ferris wheel!” Stanley interrupted.

“Yes, but we,” Ann continued as they exited the ‘lift’, “are going to the museums.”

And they stopped, for there in front of them was a large black plaque identifying all the museums in the courtyard… including something called “Stanley Place.”

“We did it for you!” Kevin chuckled, winking.

“Take my picture,” ordered Stanley.

From Flat Stanley

Ann and Kevin and Stanley visited the Queensland Museum. Stanley got to see all sorts of animals that live and have lived in Queensland. “Dinosaurs!” he cried.

From Flat Stanley

From Flat Stanley

From Flat Stanley

From Flat Stanley

“Spiders! Whales! Oh wow!

From Flat Stanley

Kangaroos! Koalas! Kevin, take my picture!”

From Flat Stanley

And, as Kevin took Stanley’s photo with the koala Ann told him about koalas. “Some people are confused and think koalas are little bears. They are not. They are like kangaroos or possums. They are marsupials. They have a pouch on their bellies where they keep their babies. Remember how big that red kangaroo was? Her babies when they are born are the size of jelly beans! That jelly bean baby will crawl up through her mother’s fur, over her stomach, and find the pouch. Then she dives in and makes herself comfortable. She drinks milk and grows.”

“And,” Kevin added, “a baby kangaroo or koala is called a joey, even if it’s a girl!”

Stanley laughed.

At the Gallery of Modern Art, Ann and Kevin and Stanley looked at paintings and statues and designer clothes.

From Flat Stanley

From Flat Stanley

Stanley was thrilled to find there was a party of other flat people in one of the galleries!

From Flat Stanley

He invited two of his new friends to travel with him back to Ohio. They were excited, but didn’t know what to wear!


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