A Pantanal water lily
The Pantanal, spread across South American countries Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay is the world’s largest tropical wetland. The region is also an amazing place for viewing wildlife despite consisting largely of privately owned cattle stations. In four days of Pantanal exploring I saw and photographed so many birds and other animals, they required separate blog posts. Continue reading
During my trip to the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands I saw dozens of bird species. Following are my best birding photos (see here for other animal photos).
Water birds, including pink roseate spoonbills, red-necked jabirus and all-white great egrets, fly off after being disturbed
Besides birds, the Pantanal hosts many other animals. Following are photos of non-avian creatures from my June 2016, four day, three night Pantanal Trekking tour.
This porcupine in a tree was only the second one the guide had ever seen. The farm workers could not believe we saw a porcupine
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With Dad in 2014
Kerry Eugene Taheny (Dad), nicknamed ‘Jed’ by his army mates, passed away suddenly only 68 years old on 9 February, 2017. Dad impacted almost everybody he met and over 600 people farewelled Kerry last Wednesday (15 February) at his local church in Henley Beach, Adelaide. Continue reading
Since the last blog update I have been busy experiencing amazing adventures, including:
Look out for this and much, much more as I update joe.in.
Australia held an extraordinary federal election on 2 July. Citizens on the electoral roll could participate at overseas voting centres prior to election day. Brazil had two centres: Brasilia’s Embassy and São Paulo’s Consulate-General. With a terrible federal government in power, I ensured I exercised my democratic right by visiting São Paulo during the late June early voting period.
Although many tourists enter South America via São Paulo, the continent’s largest city is not a major tourist attraction. Despite this, I enjoy the city and, besides voting, also caught up with fellow runner and Pearl Jam fan, Cleide.
Union protesters on São Paulo’s main Paulista Avenue had the volume cranked up Continue reading
A stand up paddle board and paddles balancing on Paraty beach Praia do Pontal with stand up paddlers paddling on the water in the background
Founded in 1597, Paraty (also spelt Parati) is a historic town on the Costa Verde (Green Coast) between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Once an intermediate port for gold travelling from Minas Gerais to Portugal, Paraty was neglected for much of its recent history. This neglect helped preserve Paraty’s old buildings, contributing to its current charm as a tourist destination. Continue reading
From Salvador I flew south to Rio de Janeiro for a fun mid-June week. I previously visited Rio in November although only briefly and primarily to see Pearl Jam perform. This time I came to meet friends of old, make new friends and see the famous city’s sites.
Only a few people visited Ipanema Beach on this overcast day Continue reading