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Published: February 25th 2009
Baby Lala
This little baby koala was rescued in early December. As she is feeding on milk, rather than a strict diet of eucalyptus, Lala is much more active than your average adult koala that eats only leaves (i.e. no protein!).As Part II of the 30th birthday celebration, Sidd and I headed to South Australia for a wine tour (more on this later) and to visit Kangaroo Island, the 2nd largest island off of Australia. Why, one might question, is it named Kangaroo Island? Is it because it is shaped like a Kangaroo? Or because it is overrun by these bouncy marsupials? Well, no... it’s because the explorers, upon discovering the island, feasted on Kangaroo for their first meal. Yum.
KI, as the locals call it, is quite remote and can only be reached by ferry from Cape Jervis (1.5 hours from Adelaide). Home to only 4,400 people, one must truly love nature and the sense of stillness to call KI home. There are only a few sealed roads on the island, thus requiring you to have a 4WD to truly explore the untouched beaches and national parks. You also need to be watch the fuel gauge carefully as there are only a handful of gas stations sprinkled throughout the island - walking through the bush = asking to get bitten by a poisonous snake!
Despite the island being very dry (we were informed very seriously by a resident
Leaving the Main Land
en route to Kangaroo Island that while they normally get 14 cm of rain, this year KI only got 12 cm, so that’s why it looked brown), it is teeming with diverse wildlife. However, unlike mainland Australia, which has been overridden with imported animals which have wreaked havoc on the native wildlife and the food chain, Kangaroo Island is a pristine wilderness. In the two short days we spent on the island, we saw koalas dozing peacefully in eucalyptus trees, kangaroos bouncing energetically through the dry fields, fairy penguins peeking shyly at us from under the rocks, and Australian sea lions enthusiastically play-fighting on the beach. As we stayed on a farm, we also nabbed some fresh eggs from the chickens (this took some strategy to distract the hens) and harassed some sheep and alpacas!
Growing up, I was fascinated by “Where’s Waldo” books. I loved the colourful pages, and how there was so much going on in the chaotic scenes. Most of all, I enjoyed the hunt for the goofy-looking, bespeckled Waldo and the sense of satisfaction in finding him hiding in an unexpected, yet obvious, spot. This is how I feel about wildlife watching - you know they’re there but they’re elusive,
Sealink
The ferry to KI - crazy expensive (more than the ferry to Victoria, and only 45 minutes) just out of sight, unless you extend your patience and make that extra effort to spot those little eyes staring curiously back at you... except if it has happens to be sleeping. Koalas, as I have discovered, are the some of the laziest creatures ever. They nap all day and barely move. However, given their diets, I suppose that it is only natural. If humans ate 1/8th of our weight in lettuce each day (no water either!), I don’t suppose we would have much energy to frolic and play.
Apart from the cute animals (and I exempt kangaroos from this - these are scary creatures that can box you with their legs), KI has beautiful beaches, unusual rock formations and limestone caves. It is also home to some great produce (yummy Island Pure cheeses) and of course, fresh seafood! On a totally different epicurean note, KI has an alarming density of road kill and we discovered a cookbook specializing in "Blackened Possum" and "Mediterranean Wallabie". So, next time you run over a luckless animal, consider not that you have just scored some driving points, but that it could be your next meal - "Curried Gopher Stew". I suppose that
Arriving at KI
The landscapes are stunning - I couldn't resist snapping off a few shots while Sidd drove out "Stubby Stu" (our little Toyota Yaris) from the ferry. it is one way to avoid having to play Where's Waldo - the poor animal already lost that game...
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Hani
non-member comment
Fantastic! Looks like you guys are having a terrific time. BTW, did you get to eat Kangaroo meat? I heard tail is a delicacy of sorts?? Great photos btw. Keep those updates coming!