AUSTRALIA - Manic Street Preachers

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are delighted to report that Daryl and Cath are getting married!

Eldest son of my friends at Parley Court and his long time Lady. 

All the Best to you both. Will that do? 

Having spent most of the day in the air, punctuated by touching down in 5 separate countries, we finally landed in Perth, Western Australia with a few hours of daylight still remaining. Leaving Vientiane, Laos early morning it was 2 short hops first to Phenom Penn, Cambodia, then Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and a little longer to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Perth was then 5 hours away where it became immediately apparent that things had very much changed since my last visit. The change involves the Aus$, which is particularly strong at present, which was to show itself immediately I'd cleared Customs and Immigration. Just a little short of 'a grand' to hire a car for 3 weeks (including an insurance waiver) and £140 for a hotel room have already convinced me that the stay is going to be a lot shorter than imagined.

 Anyway, we can think about that at a later date, as for now those few hours of daylight would be precious so off to the location where I had my very first experience of Australian 'birding' back in 2007.

TOMATO LAKE, just a short drive from the airport, would be the location recommended to anyone bird watching here for the first time. Easy to get to and full of fairly easily identifiable birds and pleasant surroundings outside of the city of Perth.

 There has only been time to select a few photos today, starting with BROWN HONEYEATER

but it is hoped to produce more and better quality as the days go on.

Like our very own Robin, I doubt there are many Australians who could not identify WILLIE WAGTAIL.

PACIFIC BLACK DUCK

 BLACK-FRONTED PLOVER

 adult AUSTRALIAN GREBE

 juvenile AUSTRALIAN GREBE

A most unexpected and early addition to the list, as MUSK DUCK is one of the less easy to find Wildfowl in the country, but here it was in a City Park.

Finally, a good find as RUFOUS NIGHT HERON is ever present but difficult to find or see.

Hoping the luck continues tomorrow - All for now!

The Israelites - Desmond Dekker and the Aces

It had been unanimous that having hit it off so well yesterday that Jordan, Deia and I should spend another day together. To that end, we re-engaged Mr To To and decided on a 05:00 start from my hotel. After a full hour waiting on the roadside there hadn't been sight nor sound of anyone, but that's when the 2 young Israeli's appeared. They too had waited but our driver and guide had failed to show so we quickly decided to do the trip on our own. Nam Nagum Lake is some 60 or more miles from where we stood so we quickly boarded a Tuk Tuk to take us to the Southern Bus Terminus. Public transport doesn't run as far as Keo Oudou, the nearest village, but after buying fruit and water from the local stalls we were well on our way. At the closest point to our destination we tried for a lift, and on first time of asking got a man, his wife and tiny baby to take us to the next village.

In the 4 x 4 was something none of us had ever seen before and that was a live TV incorporated in the rear view mirror, anyone else have that on their Life List?

Taking us firstly to their home, Jordan helped with unloading the sacks of rice, or whatever it was,

while the rest of the family, Mum and 4 more children were introduced.

We were offered drinks and the best hospitality before being whisked off to meet the local guide who 

was happy to lead us but only on his terms. We didn't want a guide anyway and there was a certain air of dissatisfaction when we went our own way but after all it was only a direct track to the waterfall.

The news we received en-route was all bad, in as much that the locals 'eat' all the wild birds they manage to catch hence not a lot to see.

However, on the 'plus side' this was a complete Insect Paradise, especially Butterflies so here is some of what we saw.

At the 'check point' about 2 'clicks' down the track there were the most Butterflies and a couple of lads with motorbikes, this would make the going a little easier we thought, but NO!

It is rare or, in our own experiences, unheard of for young Asian lads to turn down a 'fist full' of Kip for their services, but for whatever reason they wouldn't or couldn't take us so we continued on foot.

Another mile up the road and the humidity and the ankle were getting to me, so decided to go back alone. At the same barrier a couple of other people had arrived and doing my Long John Silver limping impersonation managed to persuade the new arrival to take me to the main track.

A blessing in disguise as where he dropped me off there was this shack which offered shade, while he, I thought, had pointed me in the right direction back to the capital with the promise of a bus at some point.

I did hitch one lift who told me I was heading in the wrong direction followed by a General Purpose lorry which along with a bag showing the words PORTLAND CEMENT (I thought I was in Easton) under the man front left, the other 'parcels' contained lumps of dead pig. Anyway, any port in a storm and after an even more bumpy ride I was back at SB Terminus.

Luckily, the 3 of us had arranged to meet in the evening for a beer and proper farewell, where they told me they too had decided better of continuing the full walked and had similar fortunes to myself getting back.

Finally, when I got 'on line' there were messages from the 2 Skinny Kids on the Buchan Alpha Oil Rig, the first from Jim the Medic.

This will show what sort of mates he and his Lady Liz are, they wait until I'm out of the way

then go to see Joe Bonamassa - it'll cost them in the long run.

While Billy Crumble was busily recording wildlife on and around the rig in my absence.

ATLANTIC GREY SEAL with what looks like a PLAICE, note 140 metres of water under the Buchan

SPARROWHAWK

and

SHORT-EARED OWL
glad to see you still at it Crumble!