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May 24, 2007
The Land of Oz
And handy travel tips
A few weeks ago my brother-in-law and his wife were blessed with a new addition to the family - a lovely baby boy. We know he's lovely, because due to the marvels of science and technology we're able to visit with him cyperspacially via webcam and Skype. Thank you science and technology!
But, of course, we want to see him in person. Plus we haven't seen my brother-in-law and his wife for awhile, and we want to see them in person, too. The solution: Oh Patient One, Dear Mother-in-Law and I are off to see the Wizard!
We're going to Australia. In July. And I'm scared.
Everybody I know who has ever visited Australia (including Oh Patient One) tells me that it's an absolutely fabulous place, an absolutely incredible place, and that I'll love it so much from the minute I climb off of the plane that I may never want to leave.
But. Creepy crawlies and things that bite are my worst nightmare, and Australia has plenty of them! Here are a few...
1. The Box Jellyfish, also known as the Sea Wasp. It has nasty toxins on its tentacles, and if you are unlucky enough to come into contact with one, the toxins can cause cardio-respiratory functions to stop in as little as three minutes. It causes more deaths in Australia than snakes, sharks and crocs.
So you know what that means? No paddling in the sea for me.
2. The Red Back Spider. Close relative of the Black Widow, it's common in urban areas. Eeep! The males are only about 4 milimeters long. How am I supposed to see something that size? On the bright size, only the females are deadly to humans, and they are a whopping one centimeter in size!
I am so taking a magnifying glass with me. And insecticide (or spidercide). And a mosquito net for my bed.
3. Tiger snakes. These venomous snakes are very territorial, live in the same areas for years, and can also be found in can be found in suburban areas. Especially newer suburban areas.
Guess where my brother-in-law and his wife live? In a newer suburban area.
4. The Funnel Web Spider. Also poisonous, and can be found in and around Sydney. So it's a good job my brother-in-law doesn't live in Sydney.
However, seeing as we're traveling so far, Oh Patient One wants to take me to Sydney for a few days...
I could go on and on about other dangerous Australian creatures, but I'm scaring myself even more. So, instead, my dear chicklets, I am asking for your advice. Do any of you live in Australia? Have any of you visited? Any words of wisdom to placate my fears?
Or maybe I should just stay home and visit via webcam...
Posted by Michelle at 9:03 AM | Comments (7)
Comments
Reminds me of an old Orbitz ad. Any-hoo have fun. Just keep saying: It's all for the cute baby, it's all for the cute baby...
Posted by: RandomRanter at May 24, 2007 6:52 PM
I live here : ) Redbacks live mainly in wood piles etc. I think I've seen one in my life. And that was in the country. July is too cold for swimming, so no biggie on the jelly fish (and they only occur in certain areas where the beaches are signposted and at certain times of year and there are pools as alternatives) and also not many snakes around in winter. Again, hearing about anyone getting bitten by a snake in the suburbs is very rare. We might have lots of creepy crawlies (I'm not fond of spiders either but most of them are harmless) and also a big place so they have plenty of room to live away from the humans. You'll have a fab time!
Posted by: Mel at May 24, 2007 7:20 PM
Hey, you missed out the huntsman spider, which grow to be as big as your hand. They are completely harmless but much, much creepy. Oh, and the mangrove spiders that have great, big fat bellies and hairy legs. Rule of thumb; if it is black, whack it with your shoe; if it is brown whack it with your shoe; if it is big, shriek like a big girly and get a man to whack it with his shoe.
Box jellyfish--I wouldn't worry, July = winter and you won't be paddling.
Snakes--July = winter and if you come across one it will be basking on a rock totally uninterested in killing you and probably too slow moving if that did happen to be it's evil intent.
I loathe cities, but if you must go to Sydney take a harbour cruise for a most memorable day.
Posted by: wendy at May 24, 2007 8:44 PM
Good Lord, what we put ourselves through in the name of family love. LOL
Michelle, I am sure you will have a lovely time and your trip will be incident-free. I'll be waiting to hear all about it.
Posted by: Cindi at May 25, 2007 12:43 AM
Reading your list gave me the creeps! My son has one of those battery operated bug zapper that looks like a small tennis raquet. I'll see if he'll loan it to you...
Posted by: wendy roberts at May 25, 2007 9:19 AM
RandomRanter: he is a VERY cute baby (not that I am biased in any way, LOL, but we got photos today of him smiling! He's a complete heart stealer).
Mel, THANK YOU for telling me how it really is. I know that I worry unnecessarily - in reality I'm secretly dying to come to Oz (on account of all the lovely Australian people I've met over the years). But, you know, I'm still going to worry just a bit (okay, a lot--I'm a worrier).
Wendy - argh! I spent part of my childhood in central Africa, and the hunting spiders were there, too! Although they weren't poisonous, I climbed a mango tree one day and THERE ON THE BRANCH WAS THE MOST SCARY HORROR MOVIE SPIDER I EVER TOUCHED IN MY LIFE! I know, unreasonable of me. I could cause a lot more harm to that spider than it could to me, but... (And thanks for the suggestion to take the cruise around Sydney. Sounds like a me kind of thing.)
Cindi - I hope I will be telling you the tale about How I Was Driving And We Got Lost instead of any other disaster story :-) The least of my fears! I was just reading about Funnel Webs, and how they can bite through shoes...
Wendy Roberts: You are so on! (The battery operated bug zapper could be my salvation!)
I am such a wimp! Heh, but I will try to put myself out there for my loved ones :-) Back in July with the story, chicklets...
Posted by: Michelle C at May 25, 2007 5:43 PM
OK, now I am totally creeped out! Wendy, you crack me up! I love the whack it with a shoe bit! 'Cept I would have to have a big strong man whcak AN?Y spider I saw--total arachnophobe here! *shudder*
Posted by: Sheri at May 27, 2007 1:28 PM
