Day 5
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Boat ride to Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

Australian Country Music newcomers Shea Fisher and Jasmine Rae accompanied our crew on a VIP tour of the Zoo's educational wing.

We hung out with a 15 foot carpet python named Sebastion, a friendly Koala and a few other animals with funny names, big teeth and sharp spikes.

We did our interviewes with Shea and Jasmine during our Taronga tour.

Beautiful day and stunning facility.

The Koala even helped me co-host a segment of our show.

Quiet remainder of the day spent sipping some wine and eating fantastic food on the roof of the Customs House building at Circular Quay.

The night, however, was a different story.

On a whim, Brett and I headed down to the historic harbor-side bar district known as "The Rocks".
A few pubs into our crawl down the ghost-filled street lined with buildings longing for their by-gone days of housing brothels and trade shops, we hit a place called the Orient Hotel.
And who do we run into?
Oh...only the entire band and road-crew of Brooks & Dunn.

B & D is lucky to have one of the most talented, entertaining and coolest guys at the helm of their tour production.
He goes by the name of Baja.
Gravely voice, silver hair and a perpetually sunburned face.
The term "Bigger than life" does not even come to close defining Baja.
If you've met him, you know.
Everyone needs a Baja in their lives.

He's the guy that'll buy you a beer, put you to work, give you advice, jump down your throat and make you laugh harder than you've ever laughed....all in the span of about two-hours. And all with a smile on his face.

I've known Baja for years and just the thought of him brings a smile to MY face.

Without getting anyone in trouble.....the night went exactly how you would expect a night would go with a band and road crew from America with a hall pass in paradise.
But before you let your mind wonder to Rock-n-Roll levels of trouble, bring it down a few notches.
It was just a bunch guys having fun and letting loose.

Day 6
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Off to the Beach!

Bondi Beach to be exact.

I had visited Bondi 9 years ago when I came to cover the Dixie Chicks tour of Australia for "Access Hollywood". It was exactly as I remembered it.
Crystal clear water, big waves, bright sun and very few tops.
You pick the reason cameraman Brett and I decided to show up early for our interviews with Aussie Country stars Catherine Britt and Morgan Evans.

We hung out on the balcony cafe of the Bondi Icebergs club-house. The icebergs is a swim club built into the cliffwall rimming the south end of Bondi.
Very enjoyable afternoon.

Morgan and Catherine showed up together and we interviewed them against the stunning backdrop of Bondi Bay.

One thing I discovered....and nothing against our American Country stars....but dang if Aussie's can't speak in perfect sound-bites. Some of the greatest interviewees I've ever encountered.
Congrats to the parents and teachers in OZ.
The English language as an artform is very much on display down-under.

TO BE CONTINUED........