Bundaleer Ponders Going "Hog Wild!"

It sure looked nice, this European farm lifestyle of just lying around on one's side. Na ja, die Mutter und Baby hog together! Bundy, who lost his own mother to cancer, studied the hogs' pose enviously and angled himself just so.

But after a while, Bundaleer felt things weren't quite right. He soon came to understand, from personal experience, that small Australian koalas are totally different than big German wild hogs.

First of all, he realized he didn't enjoy getting dirty like these wild hogs did. It's not so good for blog pictures.

Second, these wild hogs had hooves, not claws, so they couldn't even climb up nice nearby trees! Poor hogs, thought Bundy, just stuck on ground level!

Third, and not surprisingly, Bundaleer considered the topic of food. These hogs didn't seem too picky about what they ate. Bundy, on the other hand, felt he had a very clear idea about what constitutes an excellent meal, and what doesn't.

So Bundaleer, who often consults books when he has questions, took out from the library a Very Important Book. This book was Joanne Ehrich's book entitled, Koalas: Moving Portraits of Serenity.

Like the serious student he is, Bundy first appreciated the book's nice pictures but then moved on to more challenging text.

The book clarified for him that (1) white koalas like him are indeed very rare, (2) he, as a koala, is definitely supposed to be out of the dirt and up in the trees, and that (3) he must rely only on whatever branches of eucalypt smell good to him on that particular day.

Oh, so koalas are supposed to be picky, Bundy thought happily! He felt relieved because when he had studied the wild hogs, he had been feeling particularly picky that day...



And so, by reading this Very Important Book, Bundaleer confirmed that his instincts were indeed natural and good.

That is why he is so proud and pleased to wear this special scarf made for him earlier this year by Anna, one of his biggest fans. The scarf reads: I [HEART] SALAD!

Now, when Bundaleer decides to go "hog wild", he only does so for his favorite meal: eucalyptus leaf salad! And for a koala, that's just the right thing to do!

Bundy Visits Lübeck, Famous for Marzipan

Another place Bundy visited recently was Lübeck, in northern Germany. Lübeck is famous for marzipan, a sweet ground almond paste that can be molded into all kinds of fun shapes, and painted with chocolate and other edible liquids. Above is the shop of Niederegger, premier German marzipan maker!

Bundy couldn't believe all these "vegetables" were really made out of sweet marzipan! He wondered whether ground eucalypt leaves could also become pretty shapes like carrots and apples. Maybe that would make people want to plant more eucalypt trees...

When he found a chair his size, Bundy hopped right into it, sharing the space with friendly marzipan seals. The seals were happy to meet this gentle, land-loving mate.

At last, Bundy received a delightful gift: a small marzipan bear of his own! Of course, Bundy is not a bear but a koala. Nonetheless, both animals share a special closeness of appearance as well as spirit.

Here, the two mates work hard to pose just right for a formal portrait.

"They still exist...the good things."

Well, Bundy has come out of hiding. Finally. He turned up last week in Germany in a shopping bag, of all things.

Fittingly, the bag states that the good things, well, they still exist. This is very reassuring because I was beginning to wonder.

This particular photo of Bundaleer was taken outside the headquarters of Manufactum, a very special retailer based in Germany.

Bundy, we missed you. Don't go into hiding again, OK!?!?