I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes.
I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment.
I am also a freelance writer/editor.
I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008.
I am writing my first novel.
I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web.
And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.
View all posts by Jo Bryant
56 Comments
I hate those jumping ants – we get them in parts of Victoria too. When I young I hitchhiked to Queensland – one night I slept on a beach – something bit me – when I woke up my face was double it’s normal size. A guy in a roadhouse took one look and said ‘The meat ant’s got ya!’ I tell you – the meat ant is even worse than the jumping ant. 🙂
Aaargh, nasty little critters. Now I need to do some research to check where else they are found in Australia besides Tasmania! I live in Queensland. Thanks for the info Jo.
Goodness me Jo! Wow! They sure are dangerous little critters! I don’t blame you. Very interesting video hon. I must say, they are quite beautiful looking things. A pity they’re so dangerous. i am glad that doctor made an anti-venom. 😀
You piqued my interest and I had a look at some other videos as well. Look at this one:
Thanks for sharing hon and have a great day! 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥
PS: There’s something for you on my blog as well. 😆
Lordy, I haven’t seen one of those for a long time. And hopefully not any time soon either. Tasmania is a beautiful place to live, but like the rest of the country, full of crazy dangerous animals. Interesting video, I think these ants need some anger management.. 🙂
Oh dear poor you. Mean ??? Never…I can’t help it if Australia is full of crazy, aggressive killing machines…now should I mention the animals as well ???
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Heaven preserve me from those Bulldog ants and especially from the Jack Jumper! 😯 To think that my dad wanted us to emigrate to Tasmania! Glad he changed his mind. 🙂
Sad wasn’t it. But I guess that is life in the predatory world we inhabit. I adore lions…but can’t watch them take down a zebra, even though I know they must to survive.
You live in one of the most beautiful regions on Earth Jo. But the most beautiful places always seem so fraught with danger. Earthquakes? Volcanoes? Crazy dangerous wildlife? The beauty seems almost like a tearful reaction to the Earth’s anguish!
Could be Izaak. Growing up in Australia I just accepted it all.The floods/firestorms/snakes/spiders…the crazy aussie people. Now in NZ…it is the earthquakes. Everywhere has some sort of dangerous beauty. Maybe that is what makes it soooo beautiful. The danger makes it fleeting.
Well … that’s it .. I would be dead instantly as I am highly allergic to ant stings.
Here in Florida, we have red ants. I was bitten and had to be rushed to the hospital. I suppose I’d have to walk around looking down all the time.
I’m sure I’d miss the sites. LOL XD
Well, it isn’t just an ordinary ant. It’s a red ant. They are in gardens in Florida. They sting like a bee sting. It’s very painful and the poison creates hives, red blotches all over your body and difficulty breathing. YUP !!! ~~~ : – O
I can deal with the small stuff.. Lol.. and capture and save spiders to put outside.. But not the monsters that eat birds out there in Aussie land.. LOL shivers!!!
Chronicles of Illusions 
I hate those jumping ants – we get them in parts of Victoria too. When I young I hitchhiked to Queensland – one night I slept on a beach – something bit me – when I woke up my face was double it’s normal size. A guy in a roadhouse took one look and said ‘The meat ant’s got ya!’ I tell you – the meat ant is even worse than the jumping ant. 🙂
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Oh God…there is a ‘meat ant’ ????? I may never go home again.
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It’s only in Queensland – it was on a beach near Bowen.
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Phew.
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Aaargh, nasty little critters. Now I need to do some research to check where else they are found in Australia besides Tasmania! I live in Queensland. Thanks for the info Jo.
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Apparently you guys have the ‘meat ant’ so I just heard. Also a nasty wee critter.
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I looked up both ants and although it says they are found throughout Australia, I’ve never come across any, thank goodness!
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Hope your luck holds out and they never find you.
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Goodness me Jo! Wow! They sure are dangerous little critters! I don’t blame you. Very interesting video hon. I must say, they are quite beautiful looking things. A pity they’re so dangerous. i am glad that doctor made an anti-venom. 😀
You piqued my interest and I had a look at some other videos as well. Look at this one:
Thanks for sharing hon and have a great day! 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥
PS: There’s something for you on my blog as well. 😆
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Goodness…they are worse than I thought. I think I might stay in New Zealand forever.
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LOL! I won’t blame you. 😀
After that I watched several videos of dangerous animals. Can do that all day for sure. 🙂
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Hahahaha…they are interesting.
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Lordy, I haven’t seen one of those for a long time. And hopefully not any time soon either. Tasmania is a beautiful place to live, but like the rest of the country, full of crazy dangerous animals. Interesting video, I think these ants need some anger management.. 🙂
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They sure seem to. They are soooo aggressive. More than any other ant I have seen.
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What a hideous mini beast!
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Exactly Gilly. All the more reason to live in New Zealand if you ask me.
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Wow now I’m happy with my tiny sugar loving ants in my apartment 🙂
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I would be too. Thank goodness we don’t have them here in NZ.
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Yes Until a MAD MAN brings some over 😀
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Which they did with the White tail Spider and the possum.
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glad we don’t have them here …. and I was not very fond of the green ants in the NT and WA either 🙂
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Ants are funny critters…they seem so small and helpless…and then they get you. Nightmare stuff.
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there are so many of them Jo!
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I am shuddering at the thought Christine.
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Mean Jo: very mean! 😆
I’ve been bitten by one of those critters. Have to say, it wasn’t nice!
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Oh dear poor you. Mean ??? Never…I can’t help it if Australia is full of crazy, aggressive killing machines…now should I mention the animals as well ???
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It was an eye opener when I read Bill Bryson’s book on Australia.
We have a fair number of nasties in this country too….
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Many countries do granny. Luckily NZ only really has one…the White Tail Spider.
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Heaven preserve me from those Bulldog ants and especially from the Jack Jumper! 😯 To think that my dad wanted us to emigrate to Tasmania! Glad he changed his mind. 🙂
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We had some fire ants when we lived in Georgia but nothing like this pesky guy! Thanks for sharing.
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You are most welcome Ruth.
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Yes, but visiting it is still on my bucket list. Risk is part of life!
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It soooo is !!!!
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Yikes!
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Yep !!!
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Those are nasty looking pinchers…I can’t believe I felt so sorry for the bee they were dragging back to their nest. YIKES!
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Sad wasn’t it. But I guess that is life in the predatory world we inhabit. I adore lions…but can’t watch them take down a zebra, even though I know they must to survive.
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I know…I feel the same way about the nature shows.
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Me too.
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Next stop NOT Australia. 😉
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You live in one of the most beautiful regions on Earth Jo. But the most beautiful places always seem so fraught with danger. Earthquakes? Volcanoes? Crazy dangerous wildlife? The beauty seems almost like a tearful reaction to the Earth’s anguish!
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Could be Izaak. Growing up in Australia I just accepted it all.The floods/firestorms/snakes/spiders…the crazy aussie people. Now in NZ…it is the earthquakes. Everywhere has some sort of dangerous beauty. Maybe that is what makes it soooo beautiful. The danger makes it fleeting.
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The people really are about the only danger where I live Jo. I sometimes dream of living somewhere like your part of the world just for the variety!
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Oh Izaak…when you are afraid to put your hands under a log, or hope there is nothing lurking in your shoes…you might change your mind.
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I was thinking the same thing after I wrote that Jo. With all my phobias, I really need to limit the scary!
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Ah, but do you (or the Australians) have poison ivy (and poison oak)(and poison sumac) way down south there?
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Nope. Though there is some plant here [not sure what it is called] that you are warned to leave alone.
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Well … that’s it .. I would be dead instantly as I am highly allergic to ant stings.
Here in Florida, we have red ants. I was bitten and had to be rushed to the hospital. I suppose I’d have to walk around looking down all the time.
I’m sure I’d miss the sites. LOL XD
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Well that is scary. I never knew [until this] that people were allergic to ants.
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Well, it isn’t just an ordinary ant. It’s a red ant. They are in gardens in Florida. They sting like a bee sting. It’s very painful and the poison creates hives, red blotches all over your body and difficulty breathing. YUP !!! ~~~ : – O
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Okay well I just crossed Florida off my list.
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You know Jo, this is just what makes me glad I live in a rainy damp UK.. lol… I like the hot weather your have but not the creepy crawlies 🙂 xxx
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Creepy crawly things is one big reason I moved to NZ…very few here.
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I can deal with the small stuff.. Lol.. and capture and save spiders to put outside.. But not the monsters that eat birds out there in Aussie land.. LOL shivers!!!
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They are a bit freaky those rather HUGE spiders.
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