ALICE TO PALM VALLEY,(AND RETURN)

Last Sunday we went westwards from Alice to a National Park that included a valley called Palm Valley. This area is unique because it has permanent water, which is not affected by flooding.Because of this water, there are palms that grow here.These palms are not found anywhere else in the world!!!!Mind blowing, eh!! The palms are Red Cabbage Palms, they just look so unusual.

I know these look just palms- but they are unique.

As well as these beautiful palms, there is this small area of cycads.

I have been lucky to have travelled throughout the Alice area, but I think this National Park would have to be the most spectacular, and varied. The red layered rocks.....

the warm brown lands

the unique shaped hills

we were lucky to have the bonus of some cloud

This would be the "typical" landscape around here- red rock hills, gum trees, grey/green foliage. I still am enchanted by this place. I am intending to stay after my contract ends in 6 weeks.No definite finish time yet.

It is hard to believe I have been here for a year in a few weeks.If any of you are contemplating a change of direction, all I can say is go for it. Life is too short to waste time doing what you don't want to, or being where you are unhappy.

take care.....

FROM ALICE TO SYDNEY AND RETURN..........

I have spent a few days in Sydney with a friend who knows the city intimately.He also had a car, so I was very lucky to have a tour of the city that the tourist usually misses. We spent some time just enjoying the city, and going through to Manly for dinner. That involved driving right through the city, north over the bridge, and eastwards through many little bays to Manly,(all at peak hour!!! Not a problem when you know where you are going!!)


We enjoyed the expedition so much, the following day we went back, but this time by ferry.The ferries are super efficient and speedy. One thing I miss very much is fresh fish, so that was on the menu each time we ate.This is the main shopping area of Manly- very much a holiday atmosphere with some wonderful eateries, (with beautiful fresh fish!!)

We sat down by the beach and ate fish and chips- definitely not the same as the mass produced greasy offering one gets in ChCh.All cooked from fresh, with a large selection of fish varieties.While we enjoyed the experience, there was a large storm brewing over Sydney-you could hear it coming, and then it hit with incredible force.

This was the return ferry in the midst of the storm. The electrical storm was something really to be enjoyed.

As we got closer to Sydney I enjoyed trying to capture the wild dark feel with the lovely night lights over the city. It was difficult as it was dark, windy, very wet, and the ferry being buffeted wildly.

I was quite pleased with what I did capture ....

We had an interesting tour south to Canberra too- this will be a later post...

I am enjoying having access to broadband, and have set up Skype, great for cheap calls around Oz and home. (It is the same as my blog name.)

Take care everyone....look after each other.....