Monday, June 02, 2008

Kangaroos, Emus, A Urinating Duck, and The Penguin Parade

We visited an animal farm, typical native creatures like kangaroos, and we got to feed the kangaroos. I love the setting of the animal farm, the long winding path leading to the a cottage house made from pine woods, and the kangaroos of different sizes and colours hopping around with carefree abandon. One even tried to escape.









the tourist attraction: the animal farm didn't house any real koalas, so this big furry toy animal sitting outside the toilet was the next best thing.


A HUNGRY KANGAROO IS A PERSISTENT ONE.




Picture 1: Kangaroo wants food, and it wants it now






Picture 2: Other kangaroos join in the fat-sharing session



Picture 3: Kangaroo decides to self-service



This picture above was taken on our way to see the Penguin Parade, after visiting the animal farm. The Penguin Parade @ Philip Island Nature Park is a famous attraction where numerous tourists congregate daily to watch the penguins come home. These are the world's smallest penguins.

Because photos were strictly disallowed, I can only describe the experience to readers. The location where everyone sat and took in the scenery was one word - breathtaking - the most amazing thing I've ever seen. It was as though the distance between the immense sky and corrugating sea were only inches apart.

We listened to the sound of the rippling waves as the sky darkened, waiting impatiently for the penguins to appear. It finally did, the first three penguins of many more to come, waddling across the ocean, their tiny figures cutting only numerous black figures in the inky darkness. And then more, and more. One by one, masses of black figures surfaced from the depths of the sea, the peacefulness of their returning home disrupted only by the occasional noisy spectator.

After 10 mins of the first bunch of penguins appearing, we headed up. This was the time when we followed the penguins home. Making our way up the slopes, we spotted numerous penguins waddling among the grass patches on the mountain slopes. They were so tiny and cute. Some marched in clusters, and obediently in neat rows. Sometimes, they halt, waiting for the slow ones or those who were left behind. Some were alone, some in pairs, and a mother and her child. There were just so many of them, all over the place, waddling home.

It was the most amazing penguin experience ever.

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