The Drop Bear Myth - Busted!

Someone has FINALLY called me on the drop bear attack I wrote about a couple of weeks ago.

You know, this took a LOT longer than I expected. I was almost positive I'd get an inquiring email from one of my Aussie readers within the first 24 hours of that posting! (You know, something along the lines of: "Um... Becky... you DO know that drop bears don't actually exist, right?") In the end, though, it was my parents, and their friends Lucas and Anita Hellemans, who blew the whistle. They were shrewd enough to do a bit of research online and discover that drop bears are COMPLETELY MYTHICAL.

The short version of the explanation: considering how truly dangerous the Australian bush country is, it's amazing how many outsiders don't take the risks seriously and get themselves killed by doing stupid things like driving into the outback without adequate water and fuel. (Don't laugh, this actually happens pretty much every year.) Some say that the legend of the drop bear was created by Aussies as a method of exaggerating to outsiders of the dangers of the bush - "Don't go out there after dark, the drop bears will get you." Although I've not experienced this myself, I've been told that some Aussies will deliver drop bear warnings to tourists in a completely deadpan, believable way. I learned about them first through a book called "The Last Continent" by Terry Pratchett. If you're into Discworld, you'll understand. If not, well, you'll have to pick up the book and read it to get the reference.

For more information on the whole drop bear thing, check out what Wikipedia has to say, and also the Dropbear Conspiracy Page.

HONESTLY, you should all know better than to believe absolutely everything you read on the internet! Seriously now, can you really imagine me and Jen getting attacked by something like that and NOT instantly text-ing everyone we know on our cell phones? (OK, I know we had no reception for a good part of our WA trip, but still. You get my point.)

I just hope I did the Aussies proud. I tried my best to write about our fictional assault in the most factual, deadpan manner I could. :-)

Having said that, I would like to point out that everything else I've shared in this blog is absolutely, totally, 100% true. Including our adventures meeting royalty, falling in a pink lake, surfing Wave Rock, and the nature of the Aussie blow fly. Honest. And if you don't believe me... well... get yerself on a plane and come on over to check this place out for yourself!