Just checking for spiders

The Wombat has heard rumours about how spider plants got their name.
He's just checking this one out to be sure it's not true and that there aren't any giant tarantulas lurking inside.

A day out in Dublin

Determined to get to know Dublin even better, the Wombat went wandering along the River Liffey. He walked down to see the Jeannie Johnston, a replica of one of the ships which carried Irish immigrants to a new life in America.


Finally, he had a surprise encounter with the new President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, at the Famine Memorial.

The white Wombat

The Wombat is naturally interested in his relatives around the world, and he was very relieved that a rare white wombat found orphaned in Australia has now been nursed back to health.
(BBC news story)

Brief stop in Belfast

The Wombat was actually in Belfast to attend TitanCon. He didn't get any photos with the famous people there (maybe next year) but he did get a photo of himself outside Belfast City Hall.

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo...

The Wombat is going to be spending quite a lot of time in Dublin for the next year or so (although he hopes to travel to lots of other places too).
Hopefully he won't get lost the way he did last time he visited.

He started his sojourn by going to Phoenix Park, where he was very impressed by the great big obelisk.


He visited Dublin Zoo as well, and although he was disappointed not to see any marsupials like himself during his visit, he did make the acquaintance of a meerkat...


... envied the long legs of the giraffes...


... and decided to keep well away from the big white rhinos.

The Wombat in Brazil

Oh, how The Wombat was looking forward to visiting Brazil! Cocktails, women in bikinis, beaches and sunshine.

The reality of his visit to São Paulo was a little bit different. He saw some palm trees, but he got stuck in one while checking for coconuts...


And then he somehow ended up in a big bird of paradise plant.



He didn't get to a beach, but he did get to sit on a sun lounger by his hotel pool.



And the views from his hotel were impressive. (The flag proves he was actually in Brazil!)



Plus, he sampled rather a lot of the local food... especially at Fogo de Chão.

Keeping The Wombat entertained

What does The Wombat do when he's stuck in an airport with ages to wait?

He has a beer.


And then he samples his companion's margarita...


Hopefully he wasn't too drunk to be allowed on to the flight!

Portland Bites (but so does The Wombat)

The Wombat had a great time at Bite of Oregon festival in Portland. He got to listen to some blues music.
 

He got to try out some local cucumbers...



And later on, he went to a local bar wearing his festival wristband as a fancy head-dress. Best not to ask, probably.
 

Taking The Wombat to the ballgame

While in Seattle, The Wombat went to watch a baseball game at the Safeco field - the Seattle Mariners v the Oakland A's.


He cheered on both teams pretty indiscriminately (after all, what does a Wombat know about baseball?) The Mariners won, anyway!


Edited: I got the away team wrong (originally put the LA Angels). Well, I did say The Wombat knows nothing about baseball...

The Wombat does Seattle

The Wombat was supposed to be visiting the scenic parts of Seattle. However, all the caffeine he consumed at a genuine Seattle Starbucks addled his little brain a bit.


Which meant that the highlights of his visit included the Giant Shoe Museum at Pike Place Market...


He also found this interesting book at the market.


Eventually, the caffeine wore off, and he fell soundly asleep on this very tasteful bedspread in his hotel.

The Wombat in disguise?

The Wombat likes parties. He especially likes fancy dress parties. And he thinks he looks rather dashing with a moustache. Opinions?

How the mighty have... shrunk?

Scientists in Australia have identified the skeleton of a three-tonne wombat the size of a 4x4, which lived two million years ago (see the BBC story).

What with only being 14cm from nose to tail-tag, The Wombat has gone into temporary hiding out of sheer envy.

A quick visit to Switzerland

The Wombat didn't spend much time in Switzerland, but he did get a chance to admire the famous fountain in Lake Geneva.

Arty in the archive

Since The Wombat hasn't been anywhere much for a long time, we thought we'd share this artistic shot of him from his New Orleans trip.

Castles in Connemara

The Wombat had a quick trip to watch some friends run the Connemarathon. Before heading home, he went to see Aughnanure Castle.



Here he is in a tree. It was indeed an ancient yew tree.

Stone walls and the grass is green...

Here's to the Saw Doctors and the N17! The Wombat, on his way down to Connemara.

Happy New Year again!

It's 2011 already! And although The Wombat maybe didn't travel as much in 2010 as in 2009, he still managed to get to Washington DC, New Orleans, France, Spain, and several places in England and Ireland.

Hopefully he'll get around a bit more in 2011...