Micheals trip to Australia

[bernhardAS]

Dear Michael,

I am sure that we will get interesting articles, reviews and photography from your trip.

The mention of Kimberly and making pictures IN the local streams brought immediately "crocs" to my mind.
I am sure that you are around with experienced guides and tour operators.

Nevertheless reading through the advice form this Kimberly tourism and travel site might be sensible:

http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/kimberley-crocodiles.html

Look forward to read about the trip.

Bernhard

[Tony Jay]

...The mention of Kimberly and making pictures IN the local streams brought immediately "crocs" to my mind.
I am sure that you are around with experienced guides and tour operators...

I can assure you that no-one will be blundering around in ignorance on this trip.
Apart from anything else the operators of the yacht on which they will be travelling will not allow anyone to do anything dangerous.
Being attacked by a crocodile is exceedingly bad for business!
In the Kimberleys many rivers can be entered from the ocean and navigated for variable distances.
The limiting factor governing navigation is waterfalls.
Below the falls = saltwater crocs.
Above the falls = no saltwater crocs.
However, ultimatedly local knowledge is all and this knowledge will be readily available .

I have travelled and photographed in the Kimberleys, and other parts of northern Australia, where Estuarine Crocodiles are found on many occasions and being 'croc-smart' is not hard - if you have half a brain.
I have also spent plenty of time in Africa where Nile crocodiles (no less dangerous in the context) and Hippopotami (arguably even more problematic) abound with no incident.
Common sense wins out every time.
I confidently predict all members of the PODAS trip returning with life and limb intact - as far as the 'Saltie' threat goes!

Tony Jay

[kencameron]

And watch out for drop bears.

[Tony Jay]

And watch out for drop bears.

I think that those are mainly Queensland phenomena - perhaps the closer one is to Bundaberg?

Tony Jay

[David Sutton]

I think that those are mainly Queensland phenomena - perhaps the closer one is to Bundaberg?

Tony Jay

I hear the sub-species Thylarctos natarus has learned to hold its breath. Fortunately it has only been encounted in the waters around the Barossa Valley.

[Tony Jay]

I hear the sub-species Thylarctos natarus has learned to hold its breath. Fortunately it has only been encounted in the waters around the Barossa Valley.

Fantastic!
Must be a case of fact being stranger than fiction...

Tony Jay

[Josh-H]

Drop Bears are not a myth...

I see them regularly as I ride my Kangaroo to work.

Have to watch out for hoop snakes as well... a variant of the eastern tiger that coils itself in a circle and rolls along at speed to hunt kangaroo...

[Ray]

Whatever you do, Michael, don't behave like this lady in attached image. Shot taken on Adelaide River near Darwin. Well, at least part of the shot was. 

[Tony Jay]

Whatever you do, Michael, don't behave like this lady in attached image. Shot taken on Adelaide River near Darwin. Well, at least part of the shot was. 

... being 'croc-smart' is not hard - if you have half a brain...
...Common sense wins out every time...

I rest my case...

[Christopher Sanderson]

Not being a Vegemite fan, does anyone know if Marmite works as well to ward off dangerous DropBears?

[HSway]

Great photography ride to Michael and the team.

Hynek

[michael]

I prefer the fork hat solution. Then then one drops and dies, the forks can be used during the feast.

M

[DaveCurtis]

Vegemite only I'm afraid Chris!

[Schewe]

Vegemite only I'm afraid Chris!

And that stuff is vile!

[OnyimBob]

And that stuff is vile!

You have finally overstepped the mark Mr Schewe!  Shame on you!
Bob.

[Tony Jay]

I have to agree with Jeff on this one - Vegemite is only good for filling cracks in walls.
As for sorting out the Dropbears well some authorities advocate putting toothpaste behind the ears!

Tony Jay

[digitaldog]

Not being a Vegemite fan, does anyone know if Marmite works as well to ward off dangerous DropBears?

I've tried both (reluctantly) and recall both being equally awful. Is there any actual differences?

[Josh-H]

Heathens...

Vegemite is da bom! 

Of course.. you have to be bought up on the stuff as a kid - its an acquired taste.

[Schewe]

Of course.. you have to be bought up on the stuff as a kid - its an acquired taste.

Well, there's some tastes I don't want to acquire!

I've eaten a lot of, uh, different things in my life...chocolate covered ants (good), fried grasshoppers (tasted like chicken), rocky mountain meatballs (Google it) and even learned to like haggis (in honor of Brice Fraser). But there are two foods I've tried that I'll never try again, one was poi in Hawaii and the other was Vegemite in the outback...

Yes, if one were forced to consume this stuff from early childhood and knew no better, I could see how one's taste buds could become perverted...but I think there's therapy for that condition (kinda like de-programing).

[Josh-H]

Having just returned from remote China and the Gobi desert I found my list of foods I would not eat / try has been vastly expanded.....

Just an FYI - the reason most people try vegemite and dislike it is because they are handed a piece of bread that has been liberally smothered in the stuff. And that is enough to put anybody off.

Returning to our regular programming....