I've just returned from a wonderful few days in Perth, Western Australia, where the motorists don't as a rule try to kill you (unlike in most of Asia) and if you are a tourist at least, you can come away with the false impression that the cork-hatted people have got the balance between work and other things that matter more sorted out.
Anyway, to the point after that ridiculously long sentence. I failed the Koala Bear test in the gift shop in Yanchep National Park .
On sale was a stuffed Koala Bear toy made in Australia at $11.80 in Australian dollars. You could also opt for an "Inspired in Australia" version (I tried to establish what this meant with the shopkeeper, but she hadn't a clue. What Koala Bear is not inspired by the Antipodese, for goodness sake?) at $5.50.
Or you could for the Chinese version at a staggeringly cheap - and no doubt nasty in some horribly chemically polluting and toxic way - $2.50.
We all might want to save the planet by lessening our carbon footprint (blah, blah, blah) but in these straitened times with my investments plummeting in value, I went for the Chinese version on the grounds that my 21-month-old son would very quicky lose the thing anyway (sorry, another long sentence).
Ten minutes out of the shop Mr Koala Bear ended up face down in a puddle.
This was the wisest investment decision I've made for the last two years.
Comments (4)
Hilarious, did you take your son to see the real thing? those furry little creatures are surprisingly very moody but nice to hold all the same.
Posted by Cute as a Koala Bear on a bad day. | October 14, 2008 11:33 AM
Posted on October 14, 2008 11:33
The word Koala is a Goorie word that means "small bear". Therefore they are just called Koalas, not koala bear.
Posted by Beth | February 13, 2009 5:49 AM
Posted on February 13, 2009 05:49
Koalas are not Koala Bears because koalas are not bears at all. They are marsupials.
Posted by i know more than thou | February 16, 2009 4:23 AM
Posted on February 16, 2009 04:23
There are no bears in Australia so how could Koala be koori for "small bear"? Koala means "does not drink", they are mammals and marsupials. The cheap option was a good idea for a small child. I plan to make a handmade one for my cousins children. Hope it survives. Cheers from Downunder.
Posted by goodness me | October 30, 2009 2:54 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 02:54