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Taronga zoo has two sun bears - one being a rescued bear. We were told that the rescue bear is still a little wary after being mistreated for years, but is beginning to settle in. They are hoping that there may be new little sun bears one day.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
These little heartsies are still blooming in my wheelbarrow garden - they have been there for so long.
Around 18 months ago my friend John came for a visit and brought down around 13 Frangipanni plants from Queensland. One he had grown from a cutting just for me as I admired the colour. I thought we had lost the pretty pink/yellow one as it didn't flower last season, so imagine my surprise when I ventured into the garden after a hot spell and saw this beautiful sight. Thanks John!!
Aside from the occasional car whizzing by, it was absolutely silent. No wind and no birds.
I assume that somewhere in these Highlands there are birds of prey but I certainly didn't see any and I think the poor old sparrow would freeze its tail feathers up here!
I actually meant to post this one after the third shot in the series but I seem to have been distracted and forgot to post it!
EXPLORE NO. 9 3RD DECEMBER 2013
This is the other side of the road from the other post so the valley is actually like a crater. One has to wonder, millions of years ago whether this was a volcano, certainly there was a lot of upheaval going on.
This trip has been what I have needed as I have got my enthusiasm back for wanting to show my photos.
3 more sleeps until Santa comes - my grandchildren are impatient LOL.
This is as close as I will get to seeing snow at Christmas. Once in my lifetime, I would love to have a white Christmas.
I couldn't resist posting this photo that I took the other day when we were visiting Peter's Dad on the Central Coast. The pelicans always sit on the roof from about 2.30 as they know they will be fed by the local fish co-op at 3.00 p.m. I am not sure what this pelican was trying to do when he folded his beak down.
We arrived home this evening - we drove 2,384 klms in 6 days.
We called in to see Peter's Dad on the way home - in one week's time he will be turning 96 and although getting frail, he is in good health.
My brother rang tonight and said that the doctor had taken off the plaster and taken out the staples and he is now wearing a boot. Hopefully it will be more comfortable for him as he was a bit teary last night when I spoke to him due to being in pain after being taken down for x-rays.
I have these Violas growing in my wheelbarrow garden along with two different colours. They make a wonderful display at the moment.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
A Common Crow butterfly on a white Pentas in my neighbour's garden.
The steenbok is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the steinbuck or steinbok. We had a few sighting on our drives around Kruger on this trip.
We have been having a few showers for the last couple of days which I am sure that the gardens love, but after the sun came out for a while, the bees were flying madly around this bush. My daughter has borrowed my 5D Mk III for a try, so I used the 7D again today - still like it for insect shots.
We are just about to head out the door to head up the North Coast to visit my brother. It has been a worrying time for me and it will be good to see how he is going with my own eyes and be able to talk with the doctors and social workers face to face.
We were driving through Kruger National Park when we came across lots of cars parked on the side of the road (as usual LOL). We were told that a leopard had been sighted walking through the bushes. We watched intently until we managed to spot him, but this is the best photo I could get. Not like our last trip when we spotted one watching some Impala from the middle of the road and then stalking them until they were alerted by a bird (see photo in first comment box).
13 more days to go. There are still so many flowers and bees about although I have heard that all the Spring flowers are out back home in Australia.
As I was walking back to the car, I spotted these two ducks. One was just standing there and the other was doing a dance around it - not sure why. It looked as though he/she was showing off.
As one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan is recognised all around the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish highlands.
Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.
Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years until Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and proceeded to restore the castle to its former glory. After 20 years of toil and labour the castle was re-opened in 1932.
We called in here on the way to the Isle of Skye. It is a most amazing sight when you drive around the bend and see the castle in the distance.
Part of a herd of beautiful elephants that we saw during our visit to Addo Elephant Park. We we on our 6 day tour of the Eastern Cape of South Africa and after driving around for a couple of hours, we had seen no elephants. Our guide said if we were happy for forgo visiting a beach suburb that was next on the list, we could spend some more time in the park. We agreed and on our last drive to the dam, we spotted a huge herd of elephants coming down to drink. After they had stayed for a while they left, and another herd came down to drink and play - magical!!
Christmas is now only a week away and it is time I got with the Christmas spirit, although after the events of the last couple of days, it doesn't seem right. My tree is up, presents wrapped and seeing the anticipation in my grandchildren's eyes make it all worthwhile.
Another beautiful Highland Cow that I saw yesterday. It was taken just outside Callender - there used to be a mother, father and baby, but the father died earlier this year. This is the mother.
I spent the day with my son and grandchildren on the beach at Hervey Bay in Queensland. My son loves being on the water in his canoe and after rowing out a fair distance he made it back to the edge and jumped out of the canoe (almost falling into the water LOL).
The witching hour has been and gone here in Australia, but I would like to take the opportunity to wish all my friends in the North Happy Halloween from Down Under.
This is a juvenile Nyalla that we spotted as we were driving through Kruger National Park. Nyalla are impressive animals, especially with their yellow stockings and they walk seemingly on the tips of their hooves.
We came across a lot of cars parked on the side of the road. When we asked what everyone was looking at, we were told that wild dogs had been spotted. We waited and looked, but all we could see was lots of grass and empty space, so after a few minutes we decided to move on. As we drove off we happened to look in the bush to see four wild dogs running down towards the car nowhere near where the other cars were parked. It shows that most sightings in the parks are a matter of luck.
It is another sunny but windy day here in Sydney today. The wind seemed to die down this morning, but is now back with a vengeance.
This is for my friends in the Northern Hemisphere who don't believe we have wild, cold weather here in Australia LOL. If you scroll down, you will see an article about the snow in Thredbo where the temp is supposed to be -20C.
www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-24/winds-lash-south-east-aust...
on a two man sled to see who could yodel/scream the loudest as they careen down the mountain.
You can just imagine it can't you and NO, I am NOT obsessed with Bear Grylls and Julie Andrews!!!
This is going to be the last of the Highland photos so I can start on the Loch Lomand ones but then again, as we are popping over to Scotland on Saturday, it may not be the last!!!
Had to disappear as I had to put my Christmas decorations up and it now requires a mammoth effort by me.
I have put an album up on my Facebook page if anyone is interested in having a look.
www.facebook.com/amanda.killen1/media_set?set=a.101518182...
I've made the photos public so hopefully they can be seen.
Now, back to the mountain. As one takes the road out of Crianlarich, suddenly this whole vista opens up and you realise that its going to be one gorgeous road trip!!
Truly, I don't think even my photos have done the area justice.
In 7 days time we will be sitting here waiting for the shuttle bus to pick us up and take us to the airport. I can't believe how fast the time has come around.
The ruins of Caisteal Maol Castle is one of the first views from across the Isle of Skye bridge.
This is my entry for the challenge 52 weeks of photos - week 42 - Time
This is one of Peter's many collectables that he bought during a trip to the UK. Sometimes I think he was born in the wrong century LOL.
This is the gatehouse of Stokesay Castle near Ludlow in Shropshire, UK.
We are now home after a nine hour flight from Hong Kong. The flight wasn't too bad, but I didn't manage to sleep during the night, but we then had a half hour wait on the plane due to the fact that there was not a bay available for the plane to park and let us off - not sure what happened there. We had a bumpy liftoff which was a bit off-putting to say the least.
This is my entry for the 52 in 2014 group - #42 chocolate. I bought these for the photo and although it was tempting, I wrapped it back up and I will save it for the grandchildren when they come over.
It is my birthday tomorrow (27th March) and I am to have an MRI under sedation of my pesky wrist again - the never ending saga. I could think of better things to do on my birthday LOL.
This is my photo for the 52 in 2014 - #22. Movement. I love watching these water birds run across the water - shows that you really can walk on water LOL. I did this with a bit of help with photoshop - thanks Artie for your instructions.
This is my photo for the 52 in 2015 challenge - #46 umbrella. Today we need umbrellas as it has been bucketing down. I am not complaining as the gardens love it and it is a welcome relief after all the hot, humid weather we have been having. The children going back to school after the Christmas break may not be so happy though.
Impala are in great abundance in the Game Parks, so it was surprising to see this lone Impala walking on the dirt road in Pilanesberg Game Park. Taken through the front window.
We are on our way home. We are in Canberra and apparently even though we are in the capital, the internet here is really bad. I cant get into half my sites.
This is my photo for the 52 in 2015 challenge - #47, a Gift. My daughter gave me this lovely African Violet for Mother's Day and so far it seems to be going well. I don't have much success keeping these alive.
This is my photo for the group 52 in 2014 - #34 Berry/berries. I was wondering what to do for this theme, but then my granddaughter came over with this little dessert - just right for the challenge. I only had my 180 mm macro on the camera and I couldn't get her completely in the photo, but I rather like the effect.
On our last trip we caught the ferry over to the Isle of Wight - a place that I have wanted to see for so long. I was a little disappointed that the weather was not as nice as it could have been, but seeing The Needles was the highlight of the trip.
We visited Peter's Dad yesterday. He is quite frail but still going strong at 96 years 7 months old. After we took him out for lunch and afternoon tea, we stopped at the wharf at Woy Woy to see the pelicans being fed and I took my new lens out for a trial.
I have developed Cellulitis in my lower left leg and have been advised to stay off my leg and keep it raised, so I am not able to sit at the computer for long. I have been put on two strong antibiotics and if they don't work soon, I may have to go into hospital on an IV antibiotic drip. I am hoping that it doesn't come to this so I am obeying the doctor's instructions.
I will catch up with everyone when I can.
Some more of the Pelican photos with my new Canon 100-400 L series II lens. The second Pelican seems to have lost his head.
It looks like I will have to go into hospital to be treated with IV antibiotics for the Cellulitis. I saw the doctor this afternoon and he wanted me to go in today, but said that I could continue with the oral antibiotics until Monday if I really wanted to. It looks like it is spreading, so if there has been no change by tomorrow I may go in - the quicker I go in the faster I will be home.