All Categories

My Adventures in Peru Part.Two

4/1/2019

CUSCO - My Favourite City in all of Peru

The Amazon was my favourite place in Peru, but Cusco has to be my favourite city. I loved flying in to the airport. The plane flew over the mountains and had to fly down in between the mountains in to the valley to land. It was awesome! We stayed in Cusco for a few days and did lots of tours around the City and the Sacred Valley.

Cathedral at Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru

Plaza de Armas, Cusco

The first day in Cusco we went for a walk around the city. We went to the San Pedro Markets. I really enjoyed going to the markets. There was so much to see and buy. I wanted to buy everything! There was fruit and veg, clothes, toys, craft, juices, breads, cheese, meat, and all sorts of things I've never seen before. We talked to lots of the stall holders and bought some souvenirs and tried some of the local food.
We walked back to the Plaza de Armas, which is the town square. Every town in Peru has a plaza, or town square in the centre of town. Everyone gathers there to play or relax or to meet up.

Looking around at the San Pedro Markets in Cusco, Peru

I loved walking around Cusco. The buildings are all old and made from big stones. Most of it is from the Inca times, even the roads are still made from stones. There were even llamas and alpacas around. I got to hold a baby llama for 1 soles (peruvian currency). That's how some people earn their living in Peru.

0 Comments

My Adventures in Peru Part.one

3/15/2019

1 Comment

Macchu Pichu in Peru

In July 2018 my family went on an amazing adventure to Peru in South America. I was a bit unsure about going there at first and the plane trip was very long. We had to catch 3 planes to get there and even stopped at the airport in Santiago, Chile for a few hours. We flew on Qantas so the flight over was good and I watched lots of movies. Everyone in Peru speaks Spanish and I tried to learn some before we got there.

Me with Paddington Bear

Lima

The first place we went in Peru was Lima, the capital of Peru. We stayed at a hotel in Miraflores. The first night we went for a walk and went to a place on the Pacific Ocean called Larcomar. It was a big shopping centre and park. We found the statue of Paddington Bear at the playground at Larcomar.

The next day we went on a tour of the city of Lima. It has some really old buildings and lots of churches and plazas. We went to a few museums and saw lots and lots of ancient artifacts, pottery and even a mummy. We went to the cathedral, which I found a bit boring. It had the painting of the Last Supper which had a Guinea Pig as the meal. I liked that. I liked all the gold too on the decorations and statues, but the best bit of the cathedral was when we went underground and into the catacombs. It was awesome. We weren't allowed to take photos but our tour guide was nice and she let us take one or two. there was the remains of over 25000 people there. It was amazing and the tour guide said they had just discovered another layer underneath.

Mummy of a small child

The bones in the catacombs

The Amazing Amazon!

Me at the doorway to our Bungalow in the Amazon Rainforest

The next place we went to in Peru was the Amazon Jungle. We had to fly there and the lady who checked us in at the airport upgraded us to First Class! How cool!
When we arrived at Puerto Maldonaldo it was so hot. We got picked up at the airport by our guide and then we went up the Tambopata River by boat to our lodge in the jungle. It was amazing. On the boat ride we saw all the animals and birds that the Amazon is famous for. Our boat driver was really nice and stopped all the time to show us things. We saw Macaws, howler monkeys, turtles, butterflies and capybaras. It took over an hour to get there and we had to walk up a really steep hill with big long stairs at the lodge. We were staying at Inotawa Lodge. It was really cool and the people there were all really nice.

Relaxing in the hammocks at Inotawa

Inside our bungalow at Inotawa Lodge

Fishing in the Amazon with Marco

We spent some time relaxing and looking around before we met our guide, Marco at the lodge. We saw lots of birds and monkeys in the trees and Mum and I even saw a snake. Then Marco took us on a nighttime boat ride to spot Caiman (they are like alligators). Marco was great. He could spot caimans even in the dark. He even caught one and bought it in to the boat to show us. I touched it, it felt rough.

The next day we went on a walk through the jungle with Marco and his girlfriend Winnie, to a lake to try to see the family of otters that live there. On the way we saw a baby tarantula. We went out on the lake on a big wooden boat that Marco had to row all by himself. We stopped for a while to go fishing and we caught a piranha! We also saw lots and lots of birds, including a rare heron, toucans, more macaws and parrots and spotted a few caiman. Marco told us not to fall in the water because of the piranhas, caimans and even electric eels! Unfortunately we didn't see the otters while we were there.

The Piranha that we caught - and I got to let it go

We went for another nighttime boat ride again that night and saw lots more caiman including a rare type. Marco even caught it and bought it into the boat for us to look at and touch. It was cranky and snapped at us, Mum and Winnie squealed, it was so funny and we all laughed. We also saw a whole family of capybaras. There was a mum and a dad and eight babies! They were so cute. I really loved seeing them, they are just like overgrown guinea pigs! The next day we went on another walk through the jungle. This time we went to see the animal clay lick and the big tree. The clay lick is a big mud hole which has special clay that the animals all come to lick. They get minerals from it which helps them. We didn't see any animals there but lots of different footprints.

Marco teaching us about the Amazon

Me taking a photo of the big tree

Marco told us that some of the animals who come there are peccaries (like wild jungle pigs), anteaters, deer, tapirs, and even sometimes Jaguars. He told us that he had seen a sloth swimming across the river two weeks before we were there and he showed us the photos he had taken of it - amazing! Marco was very knowledgable about the rainforest. He showed us lots of things while we walked, like insects, bullet ants, which I touched, and plants for bush medicines. He showed us some traditional Amazonian things like poison arrows and face dyes using plants from the jungle.
That night at dinner Winnie showed us the video she had taken of the caiman that snapped at us - Mum squealed again - it was really funny and we all laughed again!

The Amazon was incredible! It was my all-time favourite place in the whole of Peru. I was sad to leave. I really liked Marco and Winnie and had so much fun while I was there. I really want to go back there again one day!

Next time I will tell you about the next place we went to in Peru ...

1 Comment

Thailand, Thailand, Thailand! Part Two

2/11/2018

1 Comment

Here is part 2 of my adventure in Thailand...

It starts with a day trip into Thailand's jungle.
We had to get up very early for our trip to Khao Yai National Park, it is a few hours drive from Bangkok.
On the way there we stopped at some rural markets to have a look at the different things they sell there. There was alll sorts of weird stuff like pigs heads, toads, squirming eels and lots of strange fish. There was also lots of fruit and vegetables and I got to try some different things. I tried some jackfruit and some thai bananas. Thai bananas are really small and so much sweeter than bananas here - they are delicious. We also bought some sticky rice parcels with banana, but I didn't like it as much.

Jackfruit tasting

Lots of types of eggs including salted eggs and 100 year old eggs

Different things for sale at the markets

Driving the Ox cart

After the markets we got to have an Ox cart ride. It was good fun and the ox cart driver let me have a go at driving. He gave me a stick to hit the oxen with but I didn't want to hit them, so I didn't. I still got to drive the cart. My Mums were sitting in the back. We drove around the farmland and rice fields. It was fun.

We then went to a small village home for lunch. The people there showed us how to cook Thai food, like Papaya salad and another cooked dish, which we then had for our lunch.

After lunch we went to Khao Yai National Park. 'Khao Yai' means big mountain in Thai language. Tigers, elephants, monkeys, cobras, deer are just some of the animals that like in the park. That's where I saw my first monkeys in the wild. They were being cheeky and mischeivious and they were digging in the garbage bins. We went on a big walk to see a waterfall. Along the way we had to walk through the elephant fence. It was built to stop the elephants from breaking into the park kiosk and stealling the fruit.

One of the monkeys digging in the rubbish

The elephant fence

Haew Narok Waterfall

The stairs to the waterfall

Riding an elephant in the Thai jungle

But the most exciting thing that day was having a ride on an elephant! I even got to sit on the front, on the elephants neck and I almost fell off!
He was an adorable elephant and he was clever too. His hair was really spiky. His name was Buaban and he was 42 years old. I really liked him and I had fun.

Hands in the Air!

The next day we went on another day trip to the Floating Markets. I wasn't that impressed actually. The fast boat was OK but then we got on another boat and it was so slow. I didn't think much of it. I wouldn't recommend going there. I did get to see a Slow Loris at the markets though so that was good. A SlowLoris is a cute little fluffy animal with really big eyes. We found out afterwards that Slow Loris is one of the only venomous mammals in the world.
After the floating markets we then went to Damnoen Saduak Tiger Zoo. This was awesome! I got to play with a little one month old tiger cub - it was really fun. He was such a cutie, so adorbs! His sister was in the other room and she wanted to play with us too so she jumped over the wall.

Playing with the tiger cub

Feeding the cub his milk

Our family with the tiger cub

Little sister trying to get in to our room

Playing with the tiger cubs was so awesome. They were really fun to play with. Their paws were already massive even though they were only one month old. Outside in the zoo there were older tigers as well. These were really beautiful. Some of them were just lying around relaxing but there was one who came up to me and wanted to play. I just started running up and back along the path and he followed me. We ran upand down, up and down. We were having fun together. We did it for ages until I had to go. I said goodbye to him and then I said thankyou to his friend for not seeing me as lunch.

This was the most exciting thing I did in Thailand.

My tiger friend and playmate

Cuddles from a baby elie

After the zoo we went to see an Elephant show at the Sampran Elephant Ground. It showed the history of Elephants in Thailand using the elephants as the actors. They even fired a real cannonball out of the cannon, which I thought was cool.

They also had some crocodile wrestlers there who put their hands and even their head in a crocodiles mouth!

Crocodile wrestlers

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my fantastic adventures in Thailand. There was so much to see and do that I still haven't covered it all.
Stay tuned for part three - Thailand!

Until next time,

Dancing Dingo

1 Comment

My very First Overseas Trip part.1

2/4/2018

4 Comments

My first overseas flight

Two weeks ago my Mums took me on my very first trip overseas. we went to Thailand for 10 days.
I was a bit apprehensive when I got on the airplane.
I thought I would be scared and at first I was a little bit scared.
I have been on a plane before when I flew to Sydney and back but this was a bit more scary as it was a lot longer.
Once the plane took off though I was OK ...except when the plane started to prepare for landing. That's when I felt sick!

Waiting around in airports can be a bit boring

At the Grand Palace in Bangkok

Thailand is AWESOME!!! part one

I love Thailand! It is such a great country.
I had such an awesome time there. The people are really nice and there is gold everywhere!
We packed so much in that there is too much to tell in one blog post so I will have to write a few!

On our first day we went to Chatachuk Weekend markets.
I thought they were amazing. There was so much to see there, it was a bit overwhelming to me and I didn't really know what to think at first. But I do love shopping and we bought lots of things there.

The next day we went to The Grand Palace in Bangkok and the surrounding temples. I loved to see all the gold everywhere. Golden stupas, golden buddhas, golden rooftops, gold everywhere! I even got to meet a Buddhist Monk.

the first of many tuk-tuk rides

I also went on my first ride on a Tuk-Tuk. They are three-wheeled motorbike taxis. I thought it was awesome and much better than a regular taxi, even if it is hot and there's no air-conditioning, it's so much more fun!

eating Pad Thai for dinner

That night I even ate Thai food, this is me eating Pad Thai for dinner. I love noodles so I really like pad thai (except for the vegies :)

The next day we went to Ayutthaya, which is the ancient city and first capital of Thailand. It was a long drive north of Bangkok and it took over an hour to get there. It is now just ruins. I thought it was amazing to walk around in such an ancient place. It was really fantastic.

I had a blessing from a monk who gave me a bracelet and then we went to the outdoor reclining Buddha. It was 37 metres long.
We had a boat cruise down the Chao Praya River back to Bangkok from Ayutthaya. It was fun and a great way to see the river and all the people who use the river everyday. People live on houses built along the banks, there were lots of people fishing and there were lots of other boats and lots of temples too!
The next day we went to the Red Cross Institute in the centre of Bangkok to see the snake show. My Mums don't like snakes but I love them and I thought the show was awesome, especially seeing the cobras. I got to hold an Albino Burmese Python.

Albino Burmese Python

King Cobra

As you can see, we packed in so much. It was so exciting and the best fun ever!
There's too much to put all in one blog so I will do part two next time.
I hope you enjoy finding out about my travels in Thailand.
Until next time....

Dancing Dingo

4 Comments

Cooling off in the creek

1/14/2018

0 Comments

Cooling off in the creek on my inflatable Otter

Playing in the swimming hole

In all this hot weather we have been spending lots of time cooling off in the creek.
We are so lucky to have such a beautiful creek on our property.

Our creek is full of little rock pools, waterholes and even some small waterfalls.
I love spending time playing in the rockpools and climbing up the waterfalls.

But my favourite place to be is in the swimming hole - It is awesome!

Climbing the rockpools

I am a good swimmer. My Mums take me every week to Lismore to go to swimming lessons. My favourite is Butterfly. My Mums think I have a natural talent for it and I love doing it. It is a bit like being a dolphin, that's why I like it. But I do like doing all the different swimming styles as well.

photo credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl7YelLrF64

Baby Quail update:
Yesterday we noticed that the quail eggs have hatched. It was so exciting!
The babies are so adorable. I can't believe how small they are. They are cute and fluffy and tiny. They look just like those little fluffy chicks you get on Easter Eggs - except they can walk. We have 3 little yellow chicks and 2 brown ones.
We tried to take a photo but they ran and hid and we didn't want to scare them so we left them alone. We found a photo on the internet so I could show how small they are.

Stay cool everyone!
Until next time....

Dancing Dingo

0 Comments

Karate

1/10/2018

0 Comments

Last night I started back at Karate for the year. I have been going to karate for six months now and I really love it. I am a Young Dragon.
My Dojo is at Lismore in NSW, it's called Success Martial Arts.

The Kids’ Karate Promise:

1. I promise never to use karate to show off or to hurt or scare others.
2. I will always show self-control and respect.
3. I will only use my skills to defend myself,
to protect others and to improve my life.
4. I am on a quest to be my best.

At the end of last year I was invited into Leadership.
This means that I get to train with weapons and I get to train for my black belt. I will get my provisional black belt in 2022, when I am in year 6, and my full black belt 2 years later.

The photo shows all the different belts for Young Dragons.
At the moment I am on Gold belt level 3. You can see I still have a lot of belts to get through.

I go to karate a couple of times a week.
They also have tournaments and last year I won two medals, a gold and a bronze.

Karate is great fun and I have made lots of friends.
I think all kids should try it out and if you don't like it you are allowed to quit. But there's nice people there, you get to learn new stuff like how to defend yourself and you can get medals and trophies.

Performing a Kata at a tournament

Belt Presentation

Training at the Dojo

Maybe I will see you at the Dojo!
Until next time...

Dancing Dingo

0 Comments

Meet some of my Animals

1/9/2018

0 Comments

Me and all my guinea pigs

Athena might be having babies

Today I thought I would introduce you to some of my pets. I actually have a lot so I will introduce a few at a time. I have goats, chickens, budgies, quail, guinea pigs, rabbits and fish.
Above is a photo of me and my guinea pigs. I have five of them. There two boys and three girls. Their names are Athena, Helen and Pandora, they are the girls. Bubba Zeus and Big Zeus are the boys. I keep them in two seperate pens but sometimes we let them out into their yard together to play and eat grass. We think Athena might be pregnant coz her tummy is so big.
We feed them pellets that we buy and lots of vegetables, especially lettuce. Sometimes we give them treats like carrots, apples or even kiwi fruit.

I have three rabbits. They live in two seperate pens too. We put them in the yard on the grass with the guinea pigs too and they all get along really well, except Peta! She has to go in a seperate pen because she picks on the others. They eat the same things as the guinea pigs. The are so soft and fluffy I love to cuddle them, although Peta sometimes is a bit feisty.

Peta Rabbit

Fire Lily

Phoenix

HoneyLulu and her new babies

I also have an avairy with budgies and quails.

There are 12 adult budgies and two quails, but soon to be more!

We started with 6 budgies and have had lots of babies since then.
So far we have had 8 babies that have turned into fully grown budgies.
Two of the girl budgies are in their nesting boxes at the moment -
HoneyLulu has three eggs and three babies in with her.
Blue Margarita has four eggs in her box.

My Mum took this photo this morning of HoneyLulu through the hole in the nesting box. It shows some of her babies have hatched. They don't have their feathers yet so we don't know what colour they will be.

Mars and Venus are our quails. Venus, the girl quail is also sitting on eggs. Below is a photo of her nest, she is sitting on seven eggs, so hopefully we will have more quails in our avairy as well.

Me holding Mars and Venus

A close up of the quails nest and eggs

I will share more about my animals later as I've got too many to talk about in one day!
Until next time,

Dancing Dingo

0 Comments

Hi There! Welcome to my new blog

1/8/2018

2 Comments

Hi, I'm Jay, aka Dancing Dingo. I am a 7 year old Bundjalung Boy. I live in the bush in Northern NSW, Australia. I have loads of interests and I get up to loads of really interesting things with my Mums. I am going to write about all of them here - I hope you enjoy!

I'm also an artist. My first large scale sculpture was called Emu. It was made from a shaped branch that I found while going on a bushwalk on my property, plus an old paint can and some other bits and pieces. My Mums helped me to assemble all the pieces and then I spray painted it all.

I make ceramics too. This is one of my sheilds that I am working on. This design is a Black cockatoo.

This is Goanna Man.
He is the protector of The Sacred Ancestral Lands and All living Things.
He is an environmental Lawyer who changes into Goanna Man.
His powers.....
Faster than the Flash
Stronger than Superman
More agile than Spiderman
More disciplined than Ninja Turtles
Scratches better than Cat Woman
Has more gadgets than Batman
and is funnier than the Joker
Carries a Warrior Shield like Black Panther.

Vipoo Srivilasa is an Australian Ceramic Artist and he picked my work to inspire his ceramic project that he did when he was on an artist residency at Henan University in China. It was called Superhero and was commissioned by Henan Museum for the First Central China International Ceramics Biennale.

Yes that's right! I collaborated with Vipoo and now our work is in the Art Museum in China.
Below is Vipoo's finished ceramic Goanna Man.

If you want to get in touch or ask any questions please comment below.
Thanks, see you next time.....

Dancing Dingo

2 Comments

Dancing Dingo

CUSCO - My Favourite City in all of Peru

Lima

The Amazing Amazon!

Thailand is AWESOME!!! part one

Dancing Dingo

Categories

Archives