I am endlessly fascinated by nature and the marvels it has to offer. I can spend hours studying leaf and petal symmetry in perfect mathematical arrangement.The flowers I have in photographs are all taken in my garden. As South Africa is in Africa, we have a very hot and humid climate that makes growing things quite easy.

Some time ago, I visited a bird park in our small town. Besides birds, there are also fish, snakes, lizards and spiders that visitors can really get up close to. The bird park is situated beside a river and is a beautiful and peaceful setting.Large weeping willow trees overlook the park and it is like stepping into another world...a place for me to escape the confines of this world...

On my last visit I saw a Cobalt Blue Tarantula-what an awesome spider and he is really a bright cobalt blue,very hairy and quite willing to warn me that I musn't get too close to the insect prey he has just been fed.These spiders are usually not aggressive, but this one kept on raising his front legs in well-known Tarantula agressor mode. Much to my kids delight, there was also a large scorpion, I didn't linger too long there as that gleaming sting reminds me too much of getting an injection!

One of my favourite things to visit at this bird park is the iguanas. They have a large green iguana who basks in the artificial sunlight in his enclosure. The claws on his feet and strange protrusions from his neck frill make him look almost prehistoric.There are also various other species of lizard.

By the fish tanks, I like to watch the Japanese fighter fish. They have the most brilliant colours,but dont like being paired with other fish as they truly fight to the death and then seem to devour pieces of their opponents-blah, cannibalism!

I'm really,really afraid of snakes, but the owner of the bird park frequently takes out a looooooooong burmese python and puts him down on the lawn so that guests can get closer acquainted to him. This python has an off-white and pale yellow patterning. So, I faced my fears, whilst keeping a careful eye on the head, and felt what the scales felt like and could even feel the ripple of muscle as the snake slid slowly along.

There are too many species of bird to mention, but what attracted me most is the Laughing Kookaburras-Yes, they really do laugh! They were eating mice when I went to see them and seem to have the strange habit of dunking the little dead mouse in water before they eat it. Then, they slowly take in the mouse....and I mean slowly.The self-control is awesome,not like me devouring chocolate like there's no tomorrow! They sit for ages with the mouse tail dangling out the one side of their beaks-looks really strange.

There are large Amazon Parrots with the most exquisite colours.They talk, nudge closer and hold their heads for you to scratch them.There are also cockatoos, ring-neck parrots, black swans, birds of paradise, owls, etc... My little daughter was afraid as a large peacock, some chattering guinea fowl and a crow (looked like he was wearing a tuxedo) all chased after her. She had a packet of potato crisps and I think the birdies thought it was feeding time!

Just before we left we went to look at some small marmosette monkeys. These little monkeys could sit in the palm of your hand and they have little tufts of hair on their ears. The innocent eyes are so striking and the hands are about as small as the front digit of one of my fingers.

So, that was pretty much my visit to the bird park-hope you enjoyed walking through it with me...