Jade Down Under

Hello All, I'm back online. Phew!! On Saturday we went to Billabong Sanctuary, not a zoo, a SANCT-U-ARY!! It was absolutely brillant. See below for the adventures I encountered!


Below is a goose and the first picture I took upon entering the park. I wish I had of known at that time that this is the most annoying bird in the park. As it is a sanctuary these birds roam free and attack the tourists!! As we had each bought a bag of feed (for the KANGAROOS!) these stupid birds followed me around everywhere. I let him eat out of my hand once, and that was it. They peck so hard it kinda stings!! Anyhow, these birds got... guts (PG13) as they attack the kangaroos when they want in at my hand!!

There were park warnings that you should watch out for the baby geese. Apparently these birds will attack anyone who comes near them. Keep in mind I was trying to feed these darn things.


Here are two of my best friends. Yeah, see ya later Girls of Eleven I've replaced some of you!! I cannot describe the coat of a kangaroo. You would not believe me if I described it. Perfect fleece.



The best thing about the Kangies is they aren't shy. In this picture the Kangaroo had grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go! Thankfully their claws (which you can actually see) are not that sharp... well, at least not when you are be-friending them! Take a look at thier feet. See that middle toe?? If they are under attack they jump up on their mighty strong tails and slice you with that middle nail.... kinda scary.



Hello!
A duck. Kinda self-explanatory.


This guys kinda looks like a peacock but he's a deadly one!! That beak is all the better to peck you with, my dear.

A BLACK SWAN!!! Amazed, I know you are amazed!


This guy is the reason I came to Australia. This is Wilamina, the Wombat. Although she kinda looks like a giant rat she was adorable. This one here weighs 25kg and lets the ranger carry her around in a bear hug!!


I got to hold her!! I was in heaven... although I was warned not to move because if she got mad she could bite!



And the three of us. That's me, Mella-Bella and Liz.


The best cuddle mammal on the Australian continent is Ms. Koala. They eat Eucaliptus... (how do you spell that?) and are very docile. They sleep more than Jamie!!



Ahhhh.... we're a match made in heaven. Mom, can I keep her???



But my 'nursing,' as the Aussie call it, didn't stop there. I then moved onto the cold-blooded sort. Baby Croc. anyone?


This was a... yellow thing with spikes.... his name was Spike if that helps.


Although this reptile looks creepy it's really a sad story. This guy, also named Spike, was taken from its previous owner as he was neglected. I noticed a large hole it his side and when I asked the ranger I was told he was burned pretty badly with cigarettes. The holes were the burn marks that would not heal. It made me more inclined to craddle the poor fella.


Although I kept him a good distance away from my face! You can sort-of tell, his tail is the same shape as his head. When he is feeling threatened he puts himself in a horse-shoe shape so his attacker has trouble telling which end in his head and which is his rear!! I know some people where it's hard to tell...



Time for the snakes! So, before you scroll down I want you all to guess whether or not I held this python snake...


Some people are really comfortable with them, but me?

Of course I did!! I'm only in Australia once... for a very long time. This was a black headed python and was very mellow. He kinda just chilled out. As always I was the first one to hold him so I wasn't sure what to expect, you can tell by the look on my face.



But I smiled LARGE!! As soon as I heard the click of the camera he was off me!


And this guy was a little more energetic. Again, a python. Before I had this guy the python had tried to climb up a guys shirt.... made me a little nervous. Especially because the ranger said that one time the python went in a girls sleeve and wrapped himself around the girls bra strap... they had to entangle him. In this picture I'm thinking please play dead, please play dead.



And he was a very good sport! He even posed for me. Although you can tell I'm still nervous!

On to the pademelon.... who knows what that is? They look like mini-me Kangaroos.


This is my new buddy Liz (from Ottawa) feeding one.



Kris, these pictures are for you. A PINK bird thing.....


And an even PINKER bird thing...


TURTLES!!


They were everywhere!! Can you see the algae on their shells?


Onto the croc show. So, this is the guy you don't want to meet. It is advised that you stay away from any bodies of water you do not know. Guess I should stay away from it all


He's smiling at you... or me....



This is a male croc... and one of the bigger ones at the sanctuary. He's older than me but crocs can live up to 100 years old or more! Grandma, you can almost outlive a crocidile!!


This wicked thing was a female and very angry that anyone was near her nest - which she had failed to lay eggs in for the past two years. She kept charging at the rangers. The good news is if you ever need to outrun a croc it's pretty simple. RUN! Crocs have such short legs that they can't run fast on land. If you're in the water, pray to everyone you can think of.


Melissa and I were trying to leave but our dear friends were so upset!!!


Except for this guy. He just chilled. I think he was stoned.


So Billabong was over and we were ready to be picked up. Our driver, Noel, was an older gentleman who served in WW2 on a mine sweeper. He also served two terms in Vietnam and worked for the United Nations in special ops. He was the most interesting person I have spoken to since I've been here. We (Canadians) made such a good impression that he drove us right to our door... although he was suppose to drop up at the gate; a twenty minute walk from our door.
The Aussie's have been very good to us here and the Billabong trip was a great way to see some of the wildlife.

Tomorrow I move rooms, luckily, so I may not be able to update for a bit... a lot of packing, and unpacking.

I'll write soon!!