We have now been in Australia for ten days. A fact that might surprise those of you who  remember my comments made on previous visits to this country. It is not my comments on the country itself that have got me into trouble. I enjoy its beauty, relish its beaches and admire at least two of its cities. No, it is my comments on the population that have caused many of my readers to chastise me in the past.

So this time, anxious to avoid your ire,  I am going to restrict my comments to just a few words and let my photographs do the talking

First of all I would like to introduce you to the Australian Bush turkey.

 

It grew up in the Australian bush (hence it’s clever name thought up by one of the more intelligent locals)  but its population exploded and looking for new pastures it has ventured into the cities and towns.

It is as you can see a singularly unattractive bird.

Other

larger

equally

unattractive

turkeys

have

done

 

also

moved

into

the

cities

 

The bush turkey can be found on the streets and sidewalks, in the bushes and parks, always foraging for food

 

The

much

larger

Australian

Turkey

does

the

same

 

The larger turkey is proud of its ancestry and often advertises that at least one of its body part bears a striking resemblance to its smaller relative.

 

A  few years ago I might have let my comments come to a close right there. But I now recognise that my views are biased and one sided. There are many wonderful inhabitants of this land. Some of them strikingly beautiful .

The rainbow lorikeet is a wonderful example. It is one of the most beautiful birds and it inhabits many areas of Australia. In Queensland where we are, it is easy to spot huge flocks of them. They are everywhere and even visit us on our balcony

 

There are so many of them  that they are regarded as a pest. But when they display and flaunt their colours, one can only appreciate them for what they are

The

same

can

be

said

for

the

much

larger

Australian

bird

Australia is also known for its culinary delights

Shrimps on the barbie, is a delicacy now recognized around the world

But

these

clever

Australians

have

now

found

something

else

to

do

with

the

barbie

 

 

And, with that, dear reader,we will leave the delights of Australia and head on over to Bali