Ambiens

The piping shrike at dusk.  Port Wakefield, South Australia.

This photograph had existed in my imaginations for eleven months before it finally happened.  Every time I went for a drive during sunsets I had been taking my camera with me hoping that I could get a photograph of a perching bird silhouetting against the final glow of the day... but I had always failed because every time I pulled over the road, the bird would fly before I could take a snap.
 
But yesterday, after returning the tables and chairs that we used in a party back to the owner, I was so lucky to encounter this friendly bird perching on a shrub at Port Wakefield's bushland.  

The piping shrike, often mistaken as a magpie, is a very important bird in South Australia.  It is featured on the state's flag, badge and Coat of Arms. 

This picture reminds me of my Veterinary Anatomy lesson.  The perching muscle of birds is called ambiens-  "...a thigh muscle of certain birds having the tendon passing over the knee and connecting with the tendon of a muscle that bends the toes so that the body weight on perching causes the knee to bend and the feet to clasp the perch on which the bird sit."  -http://www.merriam-webster.com 

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The Hidden Treasure

It was a remarkable Thursday afternoon; I skipped my weekly routine of visiting the Elizabeth Shopping Centre because of the scheduled activity in the poultry farm by nightfall.

For a change, I opted not to stay inside my caravan and wait until after sunset so I took the farm ute and drove off to Port Wakefield to enjoy the rest of the afternoon outdoor.

I chose a spot along the Wakefield River; it’s a picnic point towards the north-western side of the town, around 250 meters from the roadhouse strip. I had driven by this area many times before but didn’t really dare to stop and stay like what I did last Thursday.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

What a peaceful place! There’s nobody here except me and this middle-aged moustached man in the other side of the riverbank who’s tidying his SUV under the shade of the pines. Luckily, there are flocks of seagulls resting on the sand and some are perching on the wooden fences whose casual squawks perfectly blend with the clatter of the lush pine and palm leaves blown by the mild, late afternoon wind.

Port Wakefield is one of Australia's most important sites for migratory birds! -About Australia

It’s late summer but the breeze is relatively cool, as if reminding me of the coming of the colourful autumn in the next four days.

The river has been flowing smoothly yet its surface distinctively ripples every time the south-easterly wind sets a powerful puff. From the wooden bench where I’m sitting right now, the water appears to be boasting of its bluish dye, when in fact it is only a generous reflection of the mostly clear sky.

The wooden bench.

A streak of cirrus cloud has been selfishly depriving the river of its faintest image, forcing me to gaze up above thus allowing my eyes to capture the rapidly soaring jet across the big dome as it leaves a thin strip of visible gas that gently dissipates in the air.

The Wakefield River.

Two cars have passed by the road nearby—one with a learner-driver’s plate and the other with four panting dogs inside but the drivers of both vehicles never decided to hit the brake and get off the vehicle to experience the serenity of this place... they just wound their windscreen down, had a glimpse, and off they’re gone! I'm sure they were locals but, like those weekend tourists who just drive through the highway and only stop at the fuel station if they need to fill both their tank and stomach full, they were strangers in the neighbourhood! Never did they know that this frequently ignored site has its own unconcealed beauty waiting to be discovered!

Sunset at the Wakefield River...

The sun is now hiding behind the sparsely painted clouds as its lowest brim touches the tip of the Yorke Peninsula hills in the west. Simultaneously, the previously azure sky is gradually transforming into a grey canvas with an abstract artwork of gold and deep orange colours! The vegetations and the birds are now silhouetting against the remaining glow of the day...

Bird-watching...

This magnificent scenery would have been lovelier if the clouds are thicker and if a beautiful maiden will come and cross the wooden bridge reclining in the distance. How I wish... but just before my vulnerable mind totally succumb to these early evening illusions I was averted by the mouth-watering aroma of a sizzling steak diffusing from the neighbouring hotel.

Built 1856 as Rising Sun Inn, renamed as The Rising Sun Hotel in 1859.

The moustached man had packed-up and left, probably to have his evening tea and a mug of ice-cold West End Draught in the adjacent tavern.

T-bone steak with mushroom-black pepper gravy and mashed potato
of the Rising Sun Hotel.

Finally, the great ball of fire is now invisible across the western horizon and the once golden firmament has turned greyish and purplish-red... it’s now time for me to leave and go back to the poultry farm to shut the blinds off... and I guess it’s now time to end this lengthy log for the day.

The roadhouse strip by night; Port Wakefield, South Australia.

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Come and See!

...dito sa aking blog, hindi ko pa 'to nagawa; ngayon lang. Ang magmamanok ay humihiling ng inyong mataimtim na panalangin.

Simula pa kahapon ay may namumuo nang pag-aalala sa aking isipan at kaba sa aking dibdib. Ito'y hindi dahil sa mga bampira ng pelikulang New Moon na sinimulang ipalabas ngayong araw, kundi dahil sa warning ng Australian Bureau of Meteorology para sa lahat ng mga nakatira sa South Australia.

Sinasabing ang buong state, lalung-lalo na ang mga nasa agricultural areas, ay posibleng magkakaroon ng catastrophic bushfire kahapon at ngayong araw. Kinansela ang pasok ng mga mag-aaral sa malawak na bahagi ng lalawigan, at seryoso ang babala ng mga estasyon ng radyo't telebisyon sa lahat ng taong nasa fire danger zone, habang lubusan namang pinaghahanda ang mga empleyado at mga volunteers ng Country Fire Service at iba pang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaang may kaugnayan sa health, safety and emergency services.

Ngayong umaga, tatlong beses ko nang narinig sa weather reporter ang mga salitang 'good luck' para sa lahat ng mga taga-Timog Australia (kasama na ako rito). Magdadalawang linggo na kasi ang heat wave sa lalawigan, at nakikinitang 43'C ang magiging temperatura sa lungsod ng Adelaide ngayon, samantalang mid-40's to 47'C naman dito sa aking pinagtatrabahuan.

thanks Wikipedia

Napakatuyo ng kapaligiran, 13% humidity ang pinakamababang naitala kahapon. Ngayong araw, natatanaw na magiging malakas raw (hinuhulaang 21-36kms/hr) ang ihip ng tuyo at mainit na hanging manggagaling hilaga (gitnang bahagi ng kontinente) kung saan naroroon ang malawak na disyerto ng Australia.

Ipinaliwanag ng Sunrise Weather (Channel 7) kung bakit posibleng magkakaroon ng devastating bushfire ngayong araw:

The formation of dry lightning and thunderstorms.
(by Seven's Sunrise Weather)
illustrated by RJ

Mamayang hapon o gabi, mataas ang tsansang magkakaroon ng pag-ambon, pagkidlat at pagkulog sa South Australia. Ngunit dahil sa napakatuyong air space ng lalawigan, biglang matutuyo o mawawala ang mga patak ng ulan habang ang mga ito'y nasa himpapawid, kaya maiiwang tatama sa kalupaan ang mga dry lightning at thunderstorms na siyang magiging sanhi ng malawakang sunog.

Sanay ako sa Pilipinas na nagkakaroon ng mga pag-ulan, pagkulog at pagkidlat at hindi naman ako natatakot. Ngunit noong nakaraang Pebrero, aking naranasan sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ang bagsik ng mga matatalim na kidlat at napakalakas na kulog habang walang ulan- ito'y walang tigil sa loob ng 45 minuto hanggang isang oras! Hindi ito biro; at inaamin ko ako'y natakot ng husto!

Hindi ko na pahahabain pa ang post kong ito... Narito ang mga nakuha kong larawan dito sa manukan para maipakita sa inyo kung gaano katuyo ang aming kapaligiran.

Ang kalsada papasok sa manukan.
# 22 Pareora Rd., Port Wakefield, South Australia

Wheat field surrounding the poultry farm.

Harvestable wheat, a closer look...

Sa labas ng Aking Tahanan...

The awful scenery in the northeast of the poultry farm.

We slashed the grasses as a compliance to the orders of the Wakefield Regional Council -one of the preventive measures against the invasion of the poisonous Australian brown snakes and fire.

Hangad ng mga taga-Australian Bureau of Meteorology na sana'y sa pagkakataong ito sila ay nagkamali sa kanilang inilabas na forecast. Sana nga... sana.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng 'to, ako nama'y naniniwala nang may buong katatagan sa kapangyarihan ng pagdarasal.

Sabi ng mga Australians, "Os-tral-ya iz a nAys pLAyz (Australia is a nice place)!" well, it's true. So, come and see!






...there is no relevance, but the title of this post has been inspired by the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10.


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My Christmas 2,008

I know I need to end all My iLLusions! I have to accept the fact that Santa Claus does not exist in my world anymore, and finally have to admit that no Santa could ever grant even just one of my wishes this Christmas!

As expected, my Christmas would be literally cold and dull this year. Aside from celebrating alone inside My Caravan, and possibly doing the night chicken harvest, the average temperature forecast for Adelaide on the 25^th is only 22’C—much better than the usual Australian summer temperature in the previous years (it’s warmer, whew!).

A little bit dull because during this holiday season, I am held in captivity (as usual) with my chickens in this isolated poultry farm—93 kilometres away from the colourful Christmas decorations, deprived of the shining Christmas lanterns and of those shimmering Christmas lights in the capital city of S.A.!

For the past 5 days, the breeze has been carrying these fine fibres of dried wheat and barley straws from the adjacent auburn field towards my place! These nasty stuff outside complicates with the dusty, smelly and feathery environment inside the chook shed that are constantly threatening my respiratory health should I fail to wear the necessary protective mask all the time.

My daily south-eastern view from this Aussie caravan has always been the same (except the varying colour of the landscapes) since I arrive in Port Wakefield last January. The flock of sheep and the herd of cattle grazing on the dead, brown grasses across the boundless and dry South Australian horizon are the only colours that my eyes could ever enjoy during this time of Advent.

The other night I was awakened by the lingering and later, interrupted plaintive bleat of a lamb that had been probably left or lost from the flock somewhere in the middle of the nearby field. I got out of the caravan and attempted to locate the origin of the disturbing noise but I failed because the night was dark. The moon was missing and those countless flickering stars up above the black sky were the only source of faint light on this sunless side of the earth that time.

Cold, dark and starry night...Wheat and barley straws... Cattle, sheep, chicken and the dusty, smelly shed—this is My Christmas this 2008! Should there be a cry of a newborn child, I would think that this is exactly the First Christmas 2,008 years ago!

'Alak'

Minsan na rin akong nainggit sa mga Australiano, palagi ko silang nakikitang nakangiti, at madalas ko silang naririnig na tumatawa! Kaya siguro sila’y pumapangalawa (81.4 years) sa Japan (82.2 years) sa mga lahing may pinakamahabang life expectancy sa buong mundo, dahil palagi silang masaya.

Nagtataka ako kung bakit nitong mga nagdaang araw ay hindi ako nalulungkot o kaya’y nagsasawa at napapagod sa aking trabaho! Biglang nagbago ang lahat, hindi na tulad ng dati, sana ganito nalang palagi! Hindi naman ako naturukan ng morphine para ma-stimulate ang mga mu-opioid receptors sa aking spinal cord at brain, pero bakit nakakaramdam ako ng euphoria ngayon? Pakiramdam ko, masayang-masaya at napakagaan ng pakiramdam ko! Nahawa kaya ako sa pagiging masayahin ng mga Australiano?

Naisip ko na kaya siguro ako masaya dahil napapadalas ang pamamasyal ko ngayon. Sa nakaraang laning-apat na araw, dalawang beses sa isang linggo kami kung pumunta sa Adelaide. Kaya naman pala ang ganitong schedule, kahit pagod pagkatapos ng trabaho, at kahit masakit pa ang shoulder sprain ko (dahil sa pagdating ng mga kiti last week) kapag ang paggala (o di kaya’y pagba-blog) na ang pag-uusapan, nawawala kaagad ang pagod ko, at hindi naman sumasakit itong kaliwang balikat ko!

...sa bagay kahit dito nga lang sa kalapit naming bayan, ang Clare Valley, o di kaya’y ang Barossa Valley, literal talaga akong napapanganga sa lawak ng taniman ng mga ubas at mga olibo! Dito sa Chook-minder’s Quill, naging kilala ang South Australia sa pagpapalaki ng mga manok, ngunit ang totoo ang state na ito ay patuloy na yumayaman sa kanilang mga dumaraming mga minahan ng tanso at napakalawak na taniman ng trigo. Ang S.A. ay kilalang-kilala rin sa buong mundo sa kanilang mga vineyards at wineries! Dito ginagawa ang mga sikat na alak ng Jacob’s Creek.

Ang Port Wakefield, kung saan nakatayo itong malaking manukang aking pinagtatrabahuan ay makikita sa rehiyon ng Yorke Peninsula, kaya nasa baybayin lang kami ng gulpo ng St. Vincent. Kung natatandaan nyo ang napakaingay na mga seagulls sa pelikulang Finding Nemo, napakarami nyan dito.

Kung diving, snorkelling, boating, fishing at crabbing ang hilig mo, inaanyayahan kita rito sa Yorke Peninsula, summer na rito simula Disyembre hanggang Pebrero, tamang-tama! Hindi lang manok ang ipapakita ko sa iyo, kundi iba’t-ibang uri ng Australian at non-Australian migratory birds, ang asul na alapaap, ang bughaw na dagat at ang kaniyang mga nakatagong likas na kayamanan sa kailaliman nito, pati ang mayayabong na mangrove forests, at ang di-maabot tanaw na taniman ng mga trigo at ubas!

Balik tayo sa mga ubasan at mga alak... Nakakalasing yata ang manirahan malapit sa mga ubasan at gawaan ng mga alak, ako siguro’y nalasing kaya ako masaya ngayon! O nai-inspire lang ako sa mga natatanaw kong mga puno ng ubas na tumigas na at ang mga baging na mahigpit na nakapulupot sa kanilang mga gapangan.

Tulad ng mga punla ng ubas na unang dinala at itinanim ng mga paring Heswita rito sa South Australia noong taong 1851, sana’y maipagpatuloy ko ring mabuhay at yumabong sa napakataba at napakalawak na lupain ng Australia! Sana'y masimulan ko na rin ang pumulupot sa mga gapangang nakalaan para sa mga dayuhang manggagawa sa bansang ito tulad nitong mga ubas, nang sa gayo’y magkaroon na rin ako ng makatas na mga bungang pwedeng pigain at gawing alak—ang pinaka-espesyal at pinakamasarap ‘alak’ na makapagpapasaya sa lahat, at pwedeng ipagmalaki ng lahing Pilipino!