Saturday, August 15, 2009

Our Australian Adventure: Yanchep National Park

Our first major excursion here in Western Australia was a visit to Yanchep National Park. The park is about 20 km north from the house. Along the way to our destination, we had a real good look of the great Australian bush. We were also lucky enough to bump into a flock of Long-billed Black-cockatoos foraging on some low bushes next to the road.

We stopped again for another bird further along the road. This time, it was the national bird of Australia - the Laughing Kookaburra. It received our due respect and admiration.

Upon our arrival, we could see Grey Kangaroos foraging just next to the car park. Everyone got real excited as this is one of the most iconic animals that people associate with Australia. These kangaroos are wild specimens that have grown accustomed to human presence within the borders of the park. Even a van filled with noisy and excited Malaysians did seem to bother them at all...

Don't scare the 'roos away, ok? We're not done shooting yet...

After the kangaroos, we made our way to the Crystal Cave as the guided tour was about to begin. The tour was quite interesting and being inside the cave was a memorable experience for all of us.

The tall guy on the right was our guide. Sorry mate, I can't recall your name...

What's everyone lookin' at?...Let me through...I want to see also...

Our next stop was the park's Koala Bear refuge. It is an open pen where visitors get to see Koalas in their natural environment at close proximity.

These adorable fellows was a real hit with our group - especially with young Megan...

Everybody wants a photograph with the Koalas...

Here is Choy, leaving his mark in Western Australia. When you got to go, you got to go...

We also spend quite sometime along the shores a lake near the Visitor's Center. It had a view to kill for.

With such a stunning landscape, most of us immediately posed for the camera.

What are we looking at?

A pair of adorable Maned Ducks...

This duck really attracted our attention. Some members of our group commented that the piece of loose skin hanging under this male Musk Duck's throat looks quite similar to a certain part of a man's anatomy. Use your imagination...

The feeling of being at one with nature and to beckon the call of the wild can have an effect on people. More on some than others. Right, Alex?

I rest my case...

We ended our visit to this interesting National Park by having a hearty lunch at the deli next to the Visitor's Center.

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