Oz 2013 - Brekki with the king

Hello there!
Sydney's beautiful autumn weather has made my arrival most enjoyable. Our new house sit is located in Chatswood/Lane Cove (Sydney). It is a beautiful house with a large backyard, the elderly Border Collie Bella and four chooks. This morning, we shared our brekkie in the sun with a male Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis). I love Oz!

New Home Annendale

 That is the view from our bedroom! Sidney's CBD, the ANZAC Bridge on the far left.

 Finally, we have "settled". For two months we will sit a nice house in Annendale, NSW and its two inhabitants: Cat no 1: Phoenix and cat no 2: Scout.

 Our living room/kitchen.

 Terrace.

 Home of cat no 1.

 Cat no 2: Scout.

Scout again.

Scout's preferred place to sleep.

Jokes about yourself are nicest

G'day, people!
I just ran across a Vestpa of an Asian delivery service and I could not walk on without a laugh and a picture. Miss Chu: Thank you for that humor! Cheers!
T

Somewhere along Williams Street, Sydney.

I know, it is advertising..  but funny, too!

Hobart has no traffic jam? Wrong!

We got told that we were facing an unusual situation when we were sitting in the shuttle bus from the Hostel in Hobart to the airport. It took about an hour for the otherwise rather short ride. It was caused by an accident on the Tasman Bridge. We were lucky that we had been careful enough to expect the unexpected and had taken an early shuttle.

Back from the South Coast Track – 9 days of endurance and wonder

Updated February 29th, 2012..

Cox Bight and the Southern Ocean in the distance - South Coast Track, the second day.

 

“Sweatin’ n’ smilin’”. 

This would describe well my almost constant condition during the first 9 days of our latest trip to Tasmania. We went into the bush. Not just any bush. We picked the South-west National Park and particularly the South Coast Track for our 100% wilderness experience. Jasmin and I took all that we could have possibly needed (and left behind everything that we possibly wouldn’t need) on a bushwalk that may be one of Tasmania’s finest and hardest. We were a very good team. We enjoyed it a lot. Nothing could there be better for a naturalist and biologist than to strife through pristine nature doing a ‘sport’ that is as close as it gets to the ‘leave no footprint’ exercise that we’d like to live. For a more detailed description of the walk with track notes and recommendations chack out my second blog Bush Howler!

Square-shaped Wombat poo.

And Australia’s southernmost state showed what it had to offer. Two species of Quoll (the Spotted-tailed or Tiger Quoll and the Spotted or Eastern Quoll), Tasmanian Pedemelon, Wallabies, Sea Eagles, Western Tigersnakes, to name only few amongst many more spectacular (and often endemic) animal species that 

Tasmanian Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) at our camp site, Point Eric, Cox Bight.

crossed our track in one way or another. It was a constant challenge to care for yourself and the other on the track that we called “the obstacle course”. Every second that you got distracted from your next step had to be paid. You could easily be swallowed by a mud hole (Jasmin got so in one instance), slippery rocks and roots; possible snake encounter, fallen trees and steep slopes were our daily business.

Us on the Ironbound Range. Arthur Range in the background.

Big fallen trees on the track in the descent of the Ironbound Range, South Coast Track.

Crossing New River Lagoon, South Coast Track.

At Granite Beach, South-west Tasmania.

In the rainforest on the South-cape Range.

Crossing South-cape Rivulet on the South Coast Track.

"The End of the Road" - the southernmost road in Australia. That is in Cockle Creek, the final destination of the South Coast Track.

 We liked this outdoor experience so much!!!!! So after we had recovered one day in Hobart from this rather long walk and had done our laundry, we did another walk, the three-days circuit on the beautiful Freycinet Peninsula. Freycinet is much dryer than the south-west. Accordingly, we found a very different flora. The water was amazing and the marsupials so tame (this walk is much shorter and therefore more people that are less serious about bushwalking come here and feed the wildlife) that we had a hard time protecting our food supplies at night.

Wine-glass Bay at the Freycinet Peninsula, eastern Tasmania.

Happy Australia Day

Hopefully, you are all doing well, guys!
For a story and some pictures of our last week's hike, click here!
T

Almost drowned at Sydney Festival

Mike Patton's Mondo Cane was going to play at the Sydney Festival yesterday (Saturay, 14th, February 2012) open air in The Domain and for free. We were surely willing to see the front man of Faith No More.  Unfortunately, the weather was not promising and luckily we got prepared at least a bit. Already on our way to the event we got caught in pouring rain. Equipped with a tiny umbrella and one poncho we caught up with friends, grabbed a beer and waited for the band.

Well prepared for an open-air concert in Sydney's summer. No, it is not sun protection. It is rain protection.

For a while, the weather got better. This was before the band started.

When Mike Patton and band entered the stage it was pouring rain. For a couple of minutes it was still fun.

After playing a couple of songs, Mike Patton's Mondo Cane disappeared from the stage again. They go soaking wet as well. Being on stage with all the electronic devices in a strong rain shower is probably not too good. Anyway. When they returned about 30 min later, many people had left already. We were still eager to see the show. But as it started to rain again and we got more and more wet, we decided to leave as well. What a shame!

Sydney's good sense of fashion

This is what I ran into yesterday. Isn't that fashion! Looking great, isn't it? I love it. A bit similar to Tim's nerd sleeve. Only, she can undo this mistake.. 

Hey there! Another week has passed and I don't like to remember that in one week from now on, I will already stay at another place. The dog Emo, the cat Smudge, the chicken, the pool, ..  I love it all! Especially Emo I will miss a lot. This dog is wonderful!

Happy New Year - Best wishes from Down Under

G'day there!

I've safely arrived in Sydney facing a tantalising 2012!

The trip was okay despite its length. I have to say that Emirates was not meeting my expectations in terms of comfort and service. There is not much to complain about, but the seat space felt smaller (especially the width) compared to my last flight with Quantas. And the interior of the Boing 777-300 from Hamburg to Dubai was looking used and old fashioned and was in a bad condition (e.g. stow-away screens of the seats at the emergency exits were falling down at slightest turbulence). During the flight from Dubai to Sydney, there was not more service than absolutely necessary. You had to ask for water yourself and they always seemed a bit reluctant to provide it. Compared to that, on a Quantas A380 I was regularly offered drinks and for those who drink cubic meters of water during long flights (like me) you have a bar for self serviceat the rear of the plain offering cookies, crackers, soft drinks and drinking water from the tab.

Even though it takes some hours longer, next time I would prefer the connection via London and Singapur with Quantas and the Airbus A380 which is by the way often much cheaper that flying Emirates.

We are staying at a wonderful place. For the moment, we have a power-packed dog called 'Emo' and a touching cat called 'Smutge' next to two chicken (we call them Hanni & Nanni). We are sitting those creatures and their home, a house with pool in suburbia, Sydney.

Emo loves catching, chewing and returning whatever you throw!

Smudge

Traveling Iceland: The Snæfellsnes peninsula

For four days I went out of the lab and on the road to explore Iceland's fabulous scenery.

The Snæfellsnes peninsula lies a 2 hours drive north of Reykjavík. Its popularity for tourists is growing. That is not surprising. It is close to the country's capitol and simply beautiful. Still, it is a quiet place and at most of the many beautiful places the number of tourists is still low. The country side is dominated by volcanic mountains and farm land.

Swamps and marsh lands along the coast and the numerous lakes are speckled with cotton grass this time of the year. While most of the birds have already left their breeding grounds by mid-August, the vegetation remains colorful for a while. However, the first trees start to change into red and yellow.

The weather was beautiful, the scenery colorful, often dramatic. Abandoned farms and barn ruins accentuate the roughness of Iceland's environment.

A special view on Snæfellsjökull - the glacier at the tip of the peninsula. It is a small and rather young glacier which can be seen from Reykjavík when the air is clear.

Parts of a wrecked trawler and naturally polished pebbles at the Djupalon beach (south-western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula).

A lava field between Grundafjördur and Stykkisholmur (northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula). Often the cover of moss and lichen appears like cushion. Protruding black rocks of bizarre shapes add a strong contrast. This kind of scenery can be found all over Iceland.

A small lighthouse on a small skerry called Klofningur, in the west of Flatey. The sea was full of puffins who have recently left their breeding cliffs.

Flatey, a small inhabited island between the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords.

On this ferry I went from Stykkisholmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula to the Westfjords.

Iceland facts 01

Iceland is recognized as a fairly clean country. And it is true that you won't find much rubbish in the country side. On the other hand, there are only few waste-water treatment plants! Almost every drop is pumped in the ocean as it is..

On the streets with the queer.. for equal rights, against discrimination

Two weeks ago Reykjavík was celebrating the Gay Pride Festival 2011. Reykjavík is a place pretty liberal and open minded. The annual Gay Pride has become a fairly big event which is internationally recognized. It was fun to see all the colorful people at the parade and to feel the good mood.

The start of the parade at the bus terminal, Perlan, the hot water reservoir, in the background.

Yes, that is what everybody was looking for this day. Jesus, save me (before I become infected by the 'gay disease')!!!

...

The parade on its way through the city center.

Spending time in Reykjavík

Yes - I am still alive. Even though I am struggling.. The time since my arrival more than two weeks ago has been very productive. Besides the work, however, I try to suck in as much of this country's beauty as I can. Let me give show you some impressions..

Tjörnin - the city's lake at the town hall. In the background you can see Askja, the Biology Department of the University of Iceland.

This building at Aragata 9 is where I am working. It belongs to the University, too.

Reykjavík at night (with some color changes). But yes: It is not really getting dark at the moment. However, the days are quickly getting shorter already.

This Building is the Hússtjórnarskólinn of Reykjavík. Instead of a social or ecological year, in Iceland the women can learn cooking and knitting etc. in the year after finishing school. That is the place I was staying at for the first 2 weeks. Now the school has started again after the summer break and I had to move out. Until the second world war this has been the German embassy in Iceland.

See: I am getting perfectly adapted. In the background you see some of the drawings I am stuffing this lab full with.

Another week, another place: Reykjavík, Island

Only a week ago, I was in Sydney. My location changed dramatically in many ways. Now, I am in the small capitol Reykjavík of the tiny country of Iceland, or 'Island' in the local language. Not only is this place as far away from Sydney as it could be on this planet and somewhat different in its dimensions. Iceland is a strong contrast. For one thing, it is 7pm now and still day light (while in Sydney right it would be pitch black) and the traffic uses the right side of the road but that is not, what I mean by contrast. Everything seems so different here. Is it the colors? The colors are more pale. Everything seems to be somewhere between green and grey. There are so many shades I never realized before. Is it the shadows? Because of the low solar altitude there seems to be a very intense contrast. Is it because of the wide visual range? Only volcanoes in the distance limit your sight. Human buildings and plants alike are usually little in grows as if they are awaiting the next storm. Golden plovers sitting on elevated rocks, watching.

Well, I am stunned by this place!

At Daisy Hill Coservation Park

In the conservation park in Daisy Hill we did some bush walking and tried to see a Koala in the wild. We weren't successful but they had some in an outdoor enclosure. Wildlife was plenty, though, and we spotted Wallabies, Parrots and other birds.

Torben 'hunting' animals at Daisy Hill. Pic: (c) J.Ruch

The Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is one of the most common birds in the parks and backyards in the city. We also saw them at Daisy Hill.

A Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) mother with a baby in the pouch.

Somebody definetely wanted one of those Wallabies for herself..

A Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in the Daisy Hill Koala Center outdoor enclosure. Pretty active this one - for a Koala: Scratching itself while keeping the eyes shut.

Finally, youngster got out of the pouch.. Here we see it drinking..