Saturday, 17 December 2011

AUSTRALIA ZOO

 

This year we decided to go away for a family weekend as our Christmas present to each other. Adam found a penthouse apartment Seamark Resort at Mooloolaba just one street away from the beach. Fantastic!

So Corinne and Ben, Michael, Denise, Adam and Artie, Hans and I packed up and off we went to enjoy some relaxation time.

Hans and I met up with Denise, Adam and Artie at Australia Zoo early on Friday morning. The others unfortunately were arriving later because of work commitments so missed out on a very interesting and fun morning.

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                 It is all about crocs so we started off with these American buddies. Alligators!

 

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Hans and I took the Africa shuttle to the newest part of the zoo. This cheetah will soon have a new home there with a track to show off his amazing speeds.

 

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Nice-looking Zebra.

 

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Giraffe Get-Together

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Rhino Get-Together

 

Of course the Crocodile Show is the one of the big events of the day. Not to be missed.

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Careful!

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This young lady swam with this carpet python. Amazing and creepy!

 

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The best part of the show for me were the spectacular birds and their stunts. South American Macaws, Sulphur-crested cockatoos, Major Mitchell Cockatoos,Rainbow lorikeets, Whistling Kites  and one big Jabiru.  I tried to photograph them but most were too fast for me and my camera. I managed to get the Jabiru landing. Why they just all don’t fly away is a mystery to me. They must love their handlers and the ready availability of good food of course.

 

Off to feed some gentler creatures.

 

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These kangaroos are really gentle and tame.

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What a life!

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Getting a closer look.

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Do you want some too?

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Some of the other residents.

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Finishing off with some fun Smile

             

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We spent four hours here and still did not manage to see everything. A very enjoyable morning.

Friday, 14 October 2011

Another Day at the Farm

 

We had another couple of days at the farm. The whole lot of us this time. Even Lal and John came up in their caravan.

 

Saturday morning was extremely thundery and wet, but we decided to go up anyway. Luckily the rain stopped and the day turned out to be brilliant.

 

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The caravan just visible coming along the driveway.

 

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                                                                                                   Just about there.                                               

Ben and Corinne showed us all the improvements they have made to the farm. Everything is going along very well. The turkeys and chickens have grown tremendously since the last time we saw them.

 

P1020393                           Relaxing on the verandah in the late afternoon shadows

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P1020398     Preparations underway for the evening meal. We had a delicious BBQ plus some great desserts.

 

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Corinne,Ben and Laleen hard at work in the kitchen..

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 John making sure all runs smoothly.

 

A few of the family members taking it easy.

                               P1020395                  Hans and Artie.  

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Michael and the Simpsons.

 

 Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny. A perfect day for fun and  rambling around the farm.

 

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Michael and Artie loving those dogs.

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                                                        The walk.

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View of the farm house and hayshed from the driveway.

 

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Laleen and Ben ready for the walk.

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, Adam,Denise and Arthur.       Good walking, Artie.

 

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Heading down the driveway.

          P1020408    P1020407   This way to the Gully

 

 

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Getting through the fences can be hard work.

 

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                  There’s always something to photograph.

 

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View of the gully.

 

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                                   A big old prickly pear. I’m expecting Pear Jam.

 

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Mo enjoying the puddles.

 

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             A helping hand for Artie.

 

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Finally the waterhole!

No swimming there. Ben has seen a brown snake swimming across it .