Visiting An Opal Museum (Exit Through The Gift Shop)

Sydney has a cute little opal gem museum, complete with elaborate mineral displays and dioramas that illustrate the dinosaur age when opals were just being born. Or something like that narrative. The museum is actually a shop with museum trappings. No matter, anyone can go and gaze and buy only a memory.

College lecture series or HSN studio? A little confusing, a little kitschy. Take a seat.

Opals are mined! By manly miners! Way back when with a winch and beard or now with lanterns and ear protection.

The dioramas are cool, all lush and unspoiled paradise. Those dinosaurs lived it up.

Rainbows every munchie hour. Big beings, creeping through frame.

"Dino break! Dino Break! Repatriation needed immediately at diorama 12!"

Animal Attractions At The Australian Museum

The Australian Museum in Sydney has a nice collection of taxidermy critters, forever frozen in their poses. It's too bad the animals are no longer home in immersive diorama environments. Now, kind of lost in space.

Following the leader, hopping along.

Dangerous details. Bear claws! Tiger tails!

Contorted ape, concerned cat.

More details, checking out some good hair.

Penguin posse.