Many opportunities can be found to study the forces of nature in the Blue Mountains, Australia. More information on this beautiful area can be found here.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/forces-of-nature/
What is your most favorite smell/scent?
I don’t focus on smells I am more of a visual person. Although at the end of a long day at work, I love to walk into the house and smell that someone has cooked dinner—I don’t care what it is I love them for it. My favourite perfumes are Beautiful by Estee Lauder and Opium.
Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?
I have never had long hair. My hair has always reached a certain point and grown out rather than down. It gets more puffy. Today, it is shoulder length as this seems to be the right length for me. If I want to put it up I can and it drapes well around my face to soften it.
Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)
I like a mixture of both. If I need to do something specific I plan it but I often just go exploring and see what gems I can discover as I go. My experience teaches me, the more I plan even a little the less time is wasted, but the less of the actual city I see as I am too focused on getting from A – B.
What is your favorite outdoor activity?
I love spending time with nature in any way. Different seasons different ways. Walking on the beach, skiing, bush walking, ice skating, swimming, sailing and cycling these are all fun activities I have enjoyed over recent times.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/04/27/share-your-world-2015-week-17/
Zoo are a great part of traveling to me. Visiting other countries or areas and seeing new animals for the first time. I am never disappointed as they come in all shapes and sizes. My latest favourite animal to meet in a zoo were housed in the Arctic Tundra section of Toronto Zoo. It was winter so they were at home in the cold weather and needed no special cooling unlike the polar bears in Australia.
Arctic Fox
Henry 1 yr old Polar Bear
Arctic Wolf
I love to go to a zoo
To get up close and view
The local animals —big and small
As they live their life behind the wall
Happy with the food on the menu
XXXX Island—once known as Pumpkin Island—in 2012 was the 6th most expensive island in the world. This was the time XXXX beer took out a lease to use the island for beer promotion. Described as the blokiest place in Australia—XXXX Island is open to men and women. You cannot buy a holiday here however, the only way to spend time on the island is to win a place. The key is to enter a competition and write in 25 words or less why you want to spend 4 days there. XXXX Island on Keppel Bay is natural, rustic and not luxurious but definitely full of fun. There appears to be something for everyone as long as you are happy to cook your own food and drink XXXX Gold. The island accommodates 24 guests and 4 staff. As there are no power points on the island to recharge anything or to straighten or blow dry one’s hair you are guaranteed to slow down from the rat race. I’m good with either so bring it on—better start practising my writing skills and enter. You never know. Let me know what you think.
#A-Z Blogging Challenge
Wuhu China is off the usual travellers map. It is an isolated rural city on the Yangtze River in Aunhui Provinence—one of China’s poorest. As we were travelling to this university city in Golden Week—the national Chinese holiday week we needed to arrange a private car from Nanjing airport. Our four days in Wuhu were well worth it. The hospitality of the people was amazing as they rarely see white people as they called us and we were instant celebrities. Wuhu was our first experience with the Chinese culture and we loved it. With only 2 million people it was easy to get around.
We had a great afternoon with the motion of the waves sailing on Lake Taupo New Zealand. The snow-covered peaks in the background, the rain that created a beautiful rainbow and ending with sunshine it was a memorable journey.
Nimbin is the hippy capital of Australia. Although I have known this for many decades it was not until last month that I got to experience what that meant for myself. I was surprised. Tolerance for individualism was everywhere—two woman were verbally fighting loudly in the park. Nobody cared. It was normal.
“They have been at it all morning” said the local shopkeeper.
“Really” we replied.
” It is common for people around here to have rants. Some are just longer than others” she replied very matter of factly.
This set the scene for the rest of our visit.
The Nimbin community developed its identity in 1973 when it hosted Australia’s Aquarius festival celebrating alternate living choices and the arts. It attracted students, hippies, visionaries from all over Australia many of whom stayed on after the Aquarius Festival making Nimbin their home continuing to follow these dreams and ideology.
Names around the village describe its history well.
Forty years later the areas is still internationally renown for its alternative lifestyle culture. Marijuana reform has played a large role in the community over the decades. Today they are strongly fighting to legalise medical marijuana through their annual law reform rally—MardiGrass—held in early May.
“May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you and, the pure light within you guide your way home.” Aquarius festival anthem
#A – Z Challenge
For this week’s photo challenge, get up early and explore the morning light.
These photos show the dawn of a new day in my suburb. I love the early light first shining through the gum trees, unfortunately you cannot hear the birds chirping in a photograph. Sunrise truly is a great time of day.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/early-bird/
Have you ever had a mentor? What was the greatest lesson you learned from him or her?
Make the most of every opportunity—the good, the bad and the ugly
Educate yourself and experiment
Nobody is an instant expert
Trial and error allows you to understand the process
Open up and attempt new things
Respect everyone and the job they do
Instructions need to be understood—keep asking for clarification until you get them
Nutrition, nurture and nature—access them daily
Goal setting is essential—not an optional extra
Kangaroos are unique Australian animals people everywhere fall in love with. They are cute particularly the young ones. Wrestling is a natural instinct to kangaroos and I have seen many an unsuspecting visitor get caught off-guard as the kangaroo they were just feeding, decides to practice their boxing skills on them. The kangaroo photos below of a friendly pet kangaroo were taken in a restaurant and animal sanctuary.
In non city areas kangaroos are sometimes in plague proportions and they can be very dangerous hopping across highways and roads. Kangaroos are the most common animal to be hit with over 7,000 accidents being caused by them each year. The most dangerous time is sunrise and sunset as they are out and about looking for food. The two video give different insights into kangaroos behaviours, habits and how they live in our big wide country.
