#236-365 Playground

Two choices - the first is up in Noosa and the second is right here in Redcliffe, guess the main criteria is obvious too, plenty of open air, water and grassed areas, what more could one ask for unless it is a sense of FUN!

Some random shots of Darwin - Interesting I hope!

Here are a few of the sights that make Darwin special for me, the first is a plaque commemorating the raid on Darwin that was so reminiscent of the attack on Pearl Harbour that I mentioned before, and makes Feb 19 special for me! The second shows the quirkyness I love about Darwin, It is the official Clock in the main Gallery of the Northern Territory Parliament, when I asked the security people if there was any significance in there being no numbers on the dial, the first two answers were, "We of the Never Never don't need numbers to tell the time" and "I think it is set to Dreamtime (The Aboriginal Creation time)" then the lady security guard looked at me in a puzzled way and said "In five years here - No one has asked us that" feeling that I had just been tagged as a "Person of Interest" I got outta there Lickity Split!
The last photo copntains a lizard which is a resident of the garden of Parliament House, and I just know he isn't a politician he is just so hard to see.

(Okay a small hint, he is centre of the photo head near a green leaf)

#337-365 Travels

Every time I see these vessels I stop and think of the travels that I could partake in should they be mine, for sure they would not be moored all the time as they appear to be. what I could do with those toys - Ah well then there is reality.
This gets me back on deadline for the challenge so more Northern Territory to come later.

#071-365 Curly

I have no idea what Mother Nature was thinking when she divined this succulent to take on this form and shape, but I was sure taken with it as I passed.

#092-365 Famous Authors

I can't think of another Town/City named after an Author, so I think it particularly fitting that the town of Palmerston had it's name changed to Darwin following the publication of his famous book, to commemorate the time he spent there , even to the extent of naming an adjacent bay as Beagle Bay to commemorate the vessel on which he sailed. The diversity that he uncovered in The Origins of the Species, is further reflected in the city itself, it was cosmopolitan even before places like Melbourne and Sydney found it Trendy to call themselves that. The Aborigine influence on the place is growing daily (as is only fitting), from settlements origins it has attracted many Asian people to come and live here, as it is our gateway to Asia, but in fact now people from all over the world now call Darwin home.
Charles Darwin was, during his life, labelled as different, and that is definitely the word for this City, My collage tries to show this diversity with such points of Darwin's connection to the US Pearl Harbour when a few months after that fateful attack, Japanese bombers carried out a series of raids that created such a shock that the Australian Mainland had been attacked, we survived that and even the more devastating assault by Cyclone Tracy that hit on Christmas Eve 1974. The city is bigger and stronger than ever. Darwin is however a place that doesn't take itself too seriously, where else could you find the Territory Parliament housed in a precinct called State Square when I have heard many notable local entities declare that they oppose statehood vehemently as the would change the name from Northern Territory, to Northern Australia and who wants that! If you look closely at the centre bottom of the collage you will see N.T. Parliament House sporting a Giant Moustach, to celebrate Mo-Vember a month set aside to bring awareness to men's health problems, now that is certainly not taking yourself too seriously, I think Charles would be proud!

#353-365 Water

Took this shot earlier in the year, (Hoping to get a better one later) but will stick with this as I love the subject matter. The rowing club located on the grounds of a local sports oval precinct, had taken a group of "First Timers" out for Kayak Training at the end of a Local Canal Housing Estate. This shot shows the Leader (Aided by two helpers (safety)) just about to give them free rein for a mad dash to a nearby bridge and back. My thoughts at the time were "with all the negative opinions of kids today, it was great to see them involved in such a healthy, fun activity">

Sights on leaving Kakadu for Darwin

Now that we have to leave Kakadu I thought I would show some other things of interest in that area. The first photo shows a scrub fire that had been set in the park by the Park Rangers who use fire as a tradutional method of land management, which keeps down dangerous build up of fuel that would allow fires to run out of control and at the same time encourages regrowth so that the fauna can flourish. The next three shots were all taken at a refreshment stop called the Bark Hut and shows a Water Buffalo calf resplendent in pink (Natural colour) and his mother studiously ignoring him while still keeping an eye to his welfare, and in the background an Emu stuts around in the same enclosure. The second last shot is of a quite impressive Magnetic Termite mound, this was taken from the bus and isn't the largest, around it was only about 14" tall, there would be some big ones out in the bush but the bus wouldn't go there. They are known as magnetic Termites, not due to any ferrous content of the termite but because they build the mounds in a North - South alignment to lessen the effect that the Midday Sun has on the colony, Not Dumb our Termites. The last shot is of the Mary river flood plain and shows how it is edged by numerous rocky outcrops, such as the ones on the South Alligator River Flood plains where all those wonderful rock paintings are located.