'Where are we?' Ko asks.
'I believe we are in Venezuela,' answers Kimmie. 'Shall we take a break by that big lake?'
'Good idea!
They land at a large pond. The place is crowded. Hundreds, maybe thousands of flamingos with orange-pink plumage, a black beak and dark pink legs are standing around them.
Ko starts jumping up and down.
'What are you doing?' asks Kimmie.
'I got a cramp in my toes,' Ko sighs. His cramped toes make him jump from one paw to the other. He moves his head along with it. From left to right and back again. And then his body, his beautiful yellow body also starts to sway. His hips start to move by themselves. It's like magic. From left to right. Up and down. Spin around. And then again.
Ko doesn't know what he's doing anymore, so he goes on and on until he's a little warmer again. It starts to come slowly; his blood flows faster through his veins. His muscles are warming up and even better: he's starting to have fun with it.
And there they have it. Now he's going to sing along with it. Singing and dancing. The canary dance.
'What are you doing?' asks a flamingo next to him.
'I'm dancing. Can't you see that?' says Ko in surprise.
'But why then?' asks the other again.
'I had a cramp in my toes. It started with that, but now it's just fun to do. One, two, hop! One, two, hop! Paws in the air, swivel your hips. Tralalala.
The other flamingo looks at the scene dubiously at first, but then begins to join in. Cautiously at first. Then more and more enthusiastically.
'You're right!' he exclaims. 'It's fun and it makes you feel warmer.' He nudges the flamingo next to him and he begins to join in. Soon the happy rhythm is passed from flamingo to flamingo. Thousands of flamingos dance the flamingo dance.
Ko gives the beat. Kimmie follows. They dance forward and the rest dance after them. They stick out their left wing and then the right. A huge clapping is the result. Then they stand still, turn around and start again. From left to right. Up and down. Spin around. And then one more time. The whole procession of flamingos also turns around and rejoins them. It's like a polonaise.

They go on like that all day long and what fun they have!

#yoorsworldtrip2021

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