Geeky Goodness

Aaaah Canberra....

Forget pollies and ostentatious buildings.  This city is for science-lovers.

In the few days we were in our fine nation's capital territory, we did the following:

- We hired bicycles and cycled in very strong winds around Lake Burley Griffith, stopping in at the National Art Gallery and also the Museum.  The art gallery was particularly good - we were treated to up-close-and-personal looks at Picasso, Pollock, Streeton, Gleeson, Roberts, and McCubbin.  Picasso's lithographs and etchings were particularly beautiful, and it was just wonderful to get close to one of Pollock's amazing, confusing and chaotic murals.








- Visited the Mt Stomlo Observatory and later, the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, which included an awesome museum showing us real astronaut stuff (like their food, toilet and suits) and space stuff (awesome photos of deep space and a piece of rock from the moon).

Life-sized replica of one of the Mars Rovers

View from the cafe

 

- Took a look around CSIRO's Discovery Centre - highly interactive, geeky and sciency, this centre is designed to stimulate young minds.  Not really suited to subscribers of New Scientist magazine maybe, but fun nonetheless.

Cool stick insect

Another giant stick insect

Turn the wheel rapidly for 30 seconds, put power into the little generator which shines UV rays onto a solar panel, which in turn powers the arm which scoops up a Jaffa choclate and delivers it to you as a little reward for your work.  Cool!!!!