Sobald man genau hinschaut, tun sich in unseren Wäldern geradezu exotische Anblicke auf. So wie hier die Pilze auf einem Buchenstamm.

Sunset from the beach of Canaletto

NuFace/ Nadja/ Ou of Sight/ Escapism/ Prestige/ First Blush/ Evening Siren

Ringed neck Parakeet at Fishers Green. Exotic or noisy pests?

This was a first for me. Can't say I've ever seen a bird take a nip out of a mushroom before, but that's what this Red-whiskered Bulbul did. Took it awhile to decide if it was worth eating. The Bulbul is an exotic, non-native, well established bird often seen or heard around the LA Arboretum grounds.

Botanical garden, Hawaii.

Madeira, Portugal

Summer

A large bird with striking black and white feathers and a bright red beak strides gracefully across a grassy area.

Bioparc Valencia

(on Explore - April 19, 2025)

Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku, Azerbaijan

I'm pretty sure that everyone who reads this will have their own bucket list of goals and objectives, whether it be personal milestones or achievements, or a simple wish list of exotic places to visit... I'm sure you'll all have one tucked away somewhere. Anyone who hasn't or says they've completed theirs simply lacks imagination or isn't trying hard enough!

My own list is forever changing and growing and admittedly travel features heavily throughout it. One of my earliest ambitions was to fly on a jumbo jet, fly all the way around the world and visit Australia. I was lucky enough to do all three when I married Mrs R some 22 years ago... we still want to repeat those tick box items all over again... and some day hopefully we will!

I always wanted to go to Sydney to see the bridge and the Opera House. But like most things to see on the telly or in glossy travel magazines, nothing compares to seeing it for yourself and both have fuelled my interest in bridges and architecture ever since. I've always regarded the Sydney Opera House as the greatest 20th century architectural icon, so recognisable throughout the world and the benchmark for modern design. I'm sure architects will disagree and point out plenty of other icons but for me it's my icon.

But like I said, my list is forever changing and growing and there's a new kid on the block now - the Heydar Aliyev Centre. It's been on the list for six years and my sole reason for visiting Baku this year, which exceeded all expectations as well. I've plenty more to write about this building but for now I hope it's stirred a little interest.

sldesignnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/05/exotic-pets.html

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Libentia/209/149/39

Outfit: RebelsSpirit Darina Full Outfit

Bundle includes skirt & top, heels, necklace and earrings

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/RebelsSpirit-DARINA-FULL-OUT...

-♥-

sass [kati set] @ the mainstore

[L$90 for WOW Weekend Only]

Compatible with the following bodies:

♥ Legacy

♥ Maitreya

♥ Reborn

Included:

♥ Mesh top, panties, & socks in sizes listed above.

♥ 10 color options sold separately

Aristolochia gigantea (Brazilian Dutchman's Pipe, Giant Pelican Flower; syn. Aristolochia sylvicola Standl.) is an ornamental plant native to Brazil...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristolochia_gigantea

When I came home,after having enjoyed one of the most beautiful mornings this year, and went to the kitchen to make me a nice cup of coffee I saw this green visitor in the back of my garden. Turns out he had two friends with him. Young ones I think

Longwood Gardens Pa.

Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment and fave my images. Enjoy the day.

A souvenir from the wonderful Papilionrama in Kerzers, Switzerland.

Ein souvenir aus dem sensationellen Papilionrama in Kerzers in der Schweiz.

Buy my gear:

Created for TMI's Holiday Challenge + for October, 2013, +Halloween Trick or Treats+ and +Bright Autumn Colors and Light+

Definitely best viewed large!

Egypt seems exotic enough to me - until now I’d only travelled outside Europe just once in my life. But then there’s Saudi Arabia, just a handful of miles across the Straits of Tiran. It seems like another world entirely, a mirage at the horizon, cloaked in mysterious secrets. In the blinding white sky of the hours around lunchtime, only Tiran Island is visible, but as the afternoon marches on, the Saudi coastline slowly reveals itself, bold yellow dunes backed by the faintest silhouettes of imposing looking mountain ranges. The straits are a regular highway for a sequence of container ships, lying low in the water as they transport their cargoes along the Gulf of Aqaba. At the northern end of this easterly pincer arm of the Red Sea lie three ports, separated by just a handful of miles, yet they’re in three separate nations that sit uncomfortably alongside one another. Taba in Egypt, Eilat in Israel, and Aqaba in Jordan. Travelling south, those freighters are heading around the bottom of the peninsula, making for the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean and beyond, or maybe down through the Gulf of Aden, past the Horn of Africa, with Yemen on one side and Somalia on the other. Rather them than me. Not everyone in this part of the world is quite as pleased to see us as our Egyptian hosts. Too much of the world is run by angry old men controlling younger men who could do with stopping and thinking who they’re supposed to be angry at. Somebody needs to make them stop. Even here on the beach, security guards stationed by every hotel watch the coast, night and day, keeping their eyes peeled for troublemakers. Thankfully it’s been peaceful in Sharm el-Sheikh for a while now. I hope it stays that way. The people who live here and look after us sunbed lounging westerners for a week or two are so gentle and welcoming. Full of human warmth. I’ve never experienced service quite like it.

It was the last full day of our time in Sharm el-Sheikh, and this was my fourth sunrise visit to exactly the same spot, just a five minute walk from the apartment. The forecast had proved to be accurate - not a cloud in sight - just a soft band of orange lighting up those Arabian mountain peaks across the water. On the other three early pilgrimages, they hadn’t been visible at all, thanks to the hazy clouds on the horizon. But today, they appeared, soft and warm, clustered in groups, rising from the sea to heights that were impossible to measure with the human eye. As I watched, an empty ship headed north, rapidly approaching the scene in front of me. Just my luck. In the time it took to pass, the light would surely change and the chance to zoom into those enigmatic peaks would be gone. It needed a few moments to register in my slow witted morning brain that it might be an idea to include the ship. I ramped up the ISO and opened the aperture a little bit more. While holidaymakers overdose on the all inclusive in the hotels of Sharm el-Sheikh, the rudders of commerce grind their way along the gulf, on the last hundred odd miles of their voyage to those neighbouring ports.

For once I’d remembered to wear enough clothes to deter the resident mosquito population. Jeans, a long sleeved top and socks inside my shoes. My feet looked like a childrens’ “join the dots” colouring book after the first few days here - except for the fact that the dots were red rather than black. Ironic then that a stiff breeze was keeping the little airborne monsters quiet for a change. I pulled up one of the two plastic chairs for the last time and sat, watching the ever changing light. Each of these four mornings had been quite different from the last, and this was the only one to deliver a completely clear sky. The photographer’s curse. But then again, those Arabian lumps of land and the passing ship had given me something new as well.

Coming here each morning was fun, but at the same time all of the security measures meant it was quite a restrictive kind of place for landscape photography. And while we enjoyed our stay, being waited on as if we were royalty isn’t something that left us feeling entirely comfortable at times. We’re used to doing our own thing, and travelling under our own steam. No hire cars here, and only very limited opportunities to point the camera at the landscape without drawing unwanted attention. Only during that memorable trip to Mount Sinai did I feel as if I was getting into my stride, and that lasted well under an hour. But it was still a very rewarding experience, and gazing across the water into this mythical Arabian landscape was something I hadn’t really expected. It’s a big world out there.

Some of the fine minerals on sale at one of the dealer booths in our show - from India and later the entire booth was purchased by a museum.

One of my indoor cactus growing plants, the blossoms are simply exquisite!

All rights reserved. Do not use this image, on websites, blogs or other media, commercial or not, without the explicit written permission of © Alberto Márquez Marín.

www.picfair.com/users/alma_vzla_photographs/uploaded-rece...

SONY DSC

Gyeongju, South Korea

Following the cut through the sand hills made by the Middle Loup River, westbound empties wait for permission on to Alliance. The train is stopped at Seneca, NE and the Stable Productions Exotic Animal Ranch is in the background. Home to zebras, water buffalo, elk, reindeer and other exotics, the only thing from out-of-town I caught in the frame was a Kansas City Southern SD70ACe.

no garden, so sometimes I visit a flower shop to transport me in an exotic heaven.....

Trying something new. I made an exotic image of the an "white" orchidee. Hope you like it ;-)

Texture from Diana Thorold. Thank you very much, Diana ;-)

If you don't know her, then you should vist her photo gallery. She is a great artist and has beside her beautiful work also many free texture images!

Nikon D300. 1/250th (flash sync) @ f/16. 105mm Macro. ISO 200. EV = -1.0. Manual Mode. Manual Focus. WB = flash. Photographed April 13, 2010 in Studio.

An exotic plant native to Europe, common teasel was introduced to North America by the earliest settlers. It has escaped cultivation and is often found growing in prairies, meadows, and savannas, as well as in disturbed areas along creeks, railroads, and roadsides across the United States. Common teasel is a tall plant that can reach heights of up to 7 feet (2 m.) at maturity. The plant develops a prickly, ground-hugging basal rosette the first year. Spiny, green, egg-shaped flower heads appear atop long stems the second year, eventually morphing into tight cylinders of tiny lavender blooms. Teasel blooms are distinctive for the four or five needle-like bracts that grow from the base of the flower head and curve up and around the flower head. The entire plant is prickly and untouchable, including the leaves and stems.

Gananoque, ON Canada

By: RainBoy