Camouflage by Bindi Irwin

Bindi stared into the shop window, paying close attention to a gorgeous multicolored shoulder bag. “Check out that bag, Mum,” she said enthusiastically. “It’s so pretty!”
    Robert wasn’t too far away, staring with undisguised admiration at a toy shop, which had boxes and boxes of remote-controlled dinosaurs just waiting to be bought.
    â€œMum, look at the velociraptor!” he said awestruck. “It looks so real.”
    Bindi was now peering closely at the price tag on the bag, looking worried. “Um, are Singapore dollars more or less than Australian dollars?”
    Terri laughed. “Less.” She glanced at the price tag. “But not that much less!” She dragged her kids away from the enormous shopping area that was part of Singapore’s Changi Airport. “C’mon you two, ignore the shopping and let’s head toward the baggage claim. Dr. Timothy will be waiting for us.”
    Dr. Timothy Chan was an old friend of the Irwins’. He had worked as a reptile keeper at Australia Zoo for three years, and was now based back in his home country. In two days’ time he’d be opening a brand new reptile park on the beautiful island of Pulau Ubin.
    The Irwins had been invited by Dr. Timothy to attend the official opening of the park. So not only were they excited about seeing Dr. Timothy again, they were going to see a whole lot of reptiles, which was doubly exciting.
    After grabbing their luggage, the Irwins went through to the arrivals area and, as promised, Dr. Timothy was there, a big smile on his face.
    â€œTerri, Bindi, Robert! Welcome to Singapore!” He gave them all a hug. “You kids are getting bigger and stronger every time I see you. You’ll be helping your mum catch crocodiles in no time.”
    Bindi was eager to set her friend straight. “We already do, Dr. Timothy.”
    Robert was not going to be left out. “Me too. Last time we went on a croc research trip, I helped too.”
    Dr. Timothy smiled. “Now why doesn’t that surprise me? Well, you kids will come in very handy at the Pulau Ubin Reptile Park,” he said. “We’ve got a few crocs, a few goannas, three sailfin lizards, four different species of frogs, salamanders, rainforest dragons, and of course, we have—”
    â€œKomodo dragons!” Bindi and Robert finished his sentence for him.
    The Komodo dragon was Dr. Timothy’s favorite reptile. The largest lizard in the world had been an obsession of his since he was a young boy. He had learned everything he could about the lizards, and was now one of the world’s foremost authorities on the creature. No one knew more about Komodo dragons than Dr. Timothy!
    â€œWell, let’s get out of the airport. I thought I’d take you straight to the island so you can have a look around.” Timothy looked at the Irwins, who were nodding enthusiastically. “Unless you’re feeling tired, and I should take you to your hotel first?”
    â€œNo way! We want to see your reptiles!”
    â€œI thought you might say that.” He grinned. “Well, it’s an interesting ride. I’ll drive us to the ferry terminal, and from there we can take a bumboat over to the island.”
    Robert grinned from ear to ear. “Did you say bumboat?”
    Timothy directed his guests out of the terminal and into the humid Singapore air of the parking lot. “Yes, a bumboat. They’re traditional barges that have been used around the islands and on the Singapore River for hundreds of years. They’re also called tongkangs or twakows .”
    Bindi couldn’t let the joke end there. “Will we be traveling by bum-car, Dr. Timothy? Or bumcycle?”
    Robert snorted with laughter, and Bindi dissolved into giggles.
    Terri just looked at her kids. “Sorry, Timothy. My children are…well, children, and any word with bum in it seems to be too darn funny for