djebru

Fantastic! I just had a look on your site and noticed you have a gorilla video people might be interested in: http://explore.org/explore/africa. Thanks for not using the group to push your own barrow, too :)

Otter of the week is back!

I've been awfully slack with the weekly otter - my excuse is that i have a new baby! But it's back, with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Otter Days: http://tiny.cc/otters821. If you're going to be in northern California before 13 September, check out the freshwater otters! And Monterey Bay is a great place to see wild sea otters, harbour seals, and other marine life (including whales in season - i saw a blue whale there a few years ago, incredibe!).

Dugong, Sydney Aquarium I was lucky enough to see some wild dugongs in WA recently, but getting up close to these creatures at the aquarium was magic. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Sydney. It's better than the Melbourne aquarium i reckon (though i haven't been to see the penguins yet). Anyone else have aquarium recommendations?

Sounds really interesting - i thought Nicaragua had lost most of its natural beauty, it's great to hear that there are still pockets left.

Baby loggerheads These little loggerheads were injured and are recuperating at Ocean Park: www.oceanpark.com.au, just outside Denham in Shark Bay, WA. It's a privately run aquarium, and has displays of local species including sharks and rays. They seem to do quite a bit of catch and release as well as rehabilitation of injured wildlife, and i found their guides really knowledgeable. Worth checking out!

Otter of the week

OK, anything with the words 'otter', 'twins' and 'unbearably cute' in the one url is bound to catch my eye. Auckland Zoo has new baby otters: http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/06/otter-twins-in-auckland-unbearably-cute.html

Not sure when they'll be on display, but at least we can enjoy the pictures!

Thanks nog_boinb for sending this!

I can't believe i didn't go to this place when i was in Cambodia. Dumbest travel decision ever.

Spirit of Australia I'm from the East, so i'm used to seeing Eastern Grey Kangaroos. The big reds were an exciting change - they're the kangaroo of your childhood imagination. It was overcast for one day of the trip, and we were out quite early, so we got a good look at this little group before they retreated from the heat of the day.

Poseur The pelicans at Monkey Mia think they should get fed, too. I am SUCH a sucker for a pelican. What is it about them?!

Oh HULLO Mrs Otter! So nice! We need some kind of otter award.

He is SO handsome!

Dolphin at Monkey Mia Monkey Mia's dolphins are famous, and interacting with them was pretty amazing. Dolphins have been coming to the beach since the 60s, and it's now a carefully managed tourist attraction. They only feed a small number of adult dolphins, to ensure that the juvenile dolphins learn to hunt, and they limit the food so that the dolphins still have to hunt in order to get enough to eat.

Japanese noise bands

Is there a good site to find Japanese noise music gigs? If i was going to Japan, i'd want to see some of this action live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNrrQl45xuA

I loved this museum too - especially the guitar history section. Who knew that the Flying V was invented in 1958! It looks so 80s.

Speaking of wild things...

OK, so it's not wildlife, but the Where the Wild Things Are trailer is out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--N9klJXbjQ

Otter of the week As promised, an otter. Enjoy.

This is Jon Stewart's favourite breakfast.

If we're talking everyday breakfast, Asian breakfast undoubtedly wins. It especially wins over non-treat western breakfasts of the cereal and toast variety. And Vietnamese coffee (complete with condensed milk) is a match for a latte any day.

Healesville Sanctuary

A friend is in town (Melbourne, Aus) from the US and wants to see "weird animals". The best place i can think of to get up close to critters is Healesville Sanctuary: http://www.zoo.org.au/HealesvilleSanctuary. And of course, she can spot possums, galahs, cockatoos and the odd spoonbill in St Kilda. Anyone else have favourite places for foreigners to see wildlife?

Oops, the Stockholm url should be: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sweden/stockholm

Inaugural Otter of the Week

Welcome to the Otter of the Week! Each week, i will offer you an otter for your squealing pleasure. This week's otter is in Stockholm: http://www.devint.lpo/sweden/stockholm. In the snow. Enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenra/3366759318/

i'm torn - i love Asian breakfast (especially roti with curry sauce!) but i couldn't replace buttermilk pancakes with crispy bacon, or French toast, or home-made baked beans. And kedgeree is a fine addition to the breakfast pantheon. I guess i just like breakfast.