The Nation's Capital

We had a big day in the nation's capital today.  Our first stop was Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre.  Located on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin, it has more than 200 interactive exhibits relating to science and technology, and is almost entirely devoted to inspiring Aussie kids to love science.

A Tough Day At Questacon

I, too, almost cried when I saw the queue to get in!  It had slipped my mind that it is currently ACT school holidays.  However, thanks to Bruce's resourcefulness, our time in the queue was minimised and before we knew it we were exploring this fascinating, interactive science centre.

One of the kids favourites was definitely the Free Fall - a 6 metre high slide which allows you to experience a very brief moment of weightlessness.  Of course I had to do the right thing and test it out first, just to make sure it was safe!

Jack and Jarrah loved the Cross Hockey and the Robot Hockey - where you compete against a robotic arm in a game of air hockey.  Fletcher enjoyed the Jellyfish Vortex and the Rototron - a tunnel where LEDs turn on and off to generate the visual illusion of movement and completely freak out your sense of balance. 

 

After watching The Little Flower Seed Puppet Show and playing in the rather bizarre Rip Slash Go Predator vs Prey Game Show the Johnston tummies were rumbling so we headed over to the shores of Lake Burley Griffin for a picnic lunch.

Next it was off to the Australian War Memorial.  Here I am standing out the front, with Parliament House in the background.

The Australian War Memorial combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive. The Memorial's purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war. Its mission is to assist Australians to remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of war and its enduring impact on Australian society.

Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved;
and here we guard the record which they themselves made.

Charles Bean, 1948

 

While Bruce could have spent the whole day here, unfortunately we struggled to keep the young Johnston boys quiet and reverent for more than about 10 minutes.  After about 90 minutes they were completely feral, so we retreated while we still maintained some dignity.

 

We spent a lovely evening with Nat and Tony.  We shared a beautiful Thai meal together, then Nat and I relaxed while the boys did the dishes.