We have some of the weirdest... and some of the most beautiful... here in Oz.

I'd like to show you some typical Aussie-ness. I'll start with some of our fauna, but along the way I'll show you lots of different stuff. Feel free to contribute if you have some Aussie-ness of your own that you'd like to show...

Ok, now this is a goanna... she was about 5 feet long, and she was pretty tame. This one lives near a camping area we visited not long back, so she's used to humans and she scavenges for food. I don't know if I'd be too comfortable near her if she'd been a 'real' wild goanna though. Have a look at those claws. They're made for climbing trees, and can cut to the bone. They also have a mouth full of tiny razor sharp teeth.

Goanna001.jpg

No, this is not a kangaroo, although she kind of looks like one. This is a cousin of the kangaroo, a wallaby, and she's a girl. If you look really closely you'll see that bulge of a pouch. She has a baby in there... they're called Joeys.

Wallaby001.jpg

"Ah, ya bloody galah." A catchphrase you'll probably hear a few times if you came to visit Aus. When spoken to a person, these words roughly translate to "Oh, you are a silly old bird", or words to that effect. But these are REAL galahs, the parrot type.

Galahs001.jpg

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Awesome pics. Got any more?

More Damn it......

HI PHO3NIX & GRYPHONN........

Phoenix! The Galah is known as the Rose Breasted Cockatoo here in the states. I have handled many of them! I MUST get over there!! One day my sister n law and myself will make the trip, it is just too expensive for me right now. All of her family is there and we talk so much about going! When we do, I will look you guys up!

I love your pics!!! Sooooo cool!

Those Galah's cost about $3500. each here in the states....I think that has got to be incredible to see them in their natural habitat. I am so glad they don't allow them to be imported over here anymore. Humans are always destroying these precious animals....I wish they would take the price tags off of them and just let them live!

'Got any more', she asks!! Oh yes Hester, there's more... lots more. At a rough guess I would say thousands... no... tens of thousands...

Yes guys, there will be more... oh so much more... you're going to get sick of it all...

Make sure that you do Sunny. We can show you some things and places that you'll love. We'll make it worth your while.

I'm probably going to upset you here Sunny, but in much of the country Galahs are considered to be almost pests. Let me tell you, I've personally seen flocks of Galahs that are in the hundreds... it's not a rare sight. And these are large birds that like to eat seed and grain. Farmers can lose a whole crop in a couple of days if a large flock of Galahs are about. They're not well liked in rural areas.

They are cute little buggers though. They just love to play... and they do make great pets.

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Sorry guys, I can't stay here. The internet is a very big place and I have the right to go wherever I want.

Dude, wallaby's are badass, wouldnt mind visitin Australia, down for smokin a blunt if I get the chance?lol

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In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.
-Hunter S. Thompson

Wow Phoenix! That is just amazing that something that could be almost considered a pest over there is considered very valuable here! Wow, you taught me something new today!

Ok, today... some creepy-crawlies... ARACHNOPHOBES BEWARE!!

This is a Saint Andrew's Cross spider... so named because it builds a cross in its' web and sits right in the middle. They're pretty common... oh, and they're harmless.

St Andrews Cross001.jpg

And this is a Spiney Wheel Weaver. They're also harmless, and about the size of the nail on your pinky finger.

Spiney Wheel Weaver001.jpg

This is just one of the beautiful ladybugs we have here. We have the standard red and black or yellow and black ones too... but this little guy is a hell of a lot cuter, don't you think??

Ladybug001.jpg

We get some muthafuckin big centipedes here too. This bloke is pretty common in the gardens of the warmer parts of the country. This particular one was about 25cm (10 inches) long. They bite too.

Centipede001.jpg

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Now LunchBox... I'm not that kind of girl... unless Gryph can come along.

And we call them Joints or Js here. I prefer my billy.

Highly illegal to catch and trade too. Otherwise I might try to snarf you a few and post them express mail.

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Sorry guys, I can't stay here. The internet is a very big place and I have the right to go wherever I want.