20th anniversary of Oz Flight '99 - a flight around Australia's coast

20 years ago today, on the 3rd July 1999, I set off on a life-changing flight around the coast of Australia (mainland and Tasmania).
I'm a private pilot, not commercial or instrument rated, and when I set off I had only 400 hours flying time. But at 46 it was time for me to follow my dream.
It was a real roller coaster of a flight, with just 5% sponsorship and no partner or manager to share the load.
However, the main lessons learnt were: if you wait for ideal conditions before you attempt anything, then you'll probably never do anything, and if you want to achieve something badly enough then just persevere until you reach your goal.
The pics attached highlight not only the book about the flight but also places in Western Australia which I intend to revisit.

 
 

I invite you to join me on my next adventure by following https://www.onwingsandwheels.com/p/about.html and www.facebook.com/onwingsandwheels

On Wings and Wheels: a Western Australian adventure

Hi, I’m Fran West, pilot, adventurer, photographer, writer, speaker and creator of products for aged care. 20 years ago, I piloted a Cessna 172 aircraft around the coast of mainland Australia.
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To celebrate that milestone, I’m returning by 4WD to Western Australia (almost half continental Australia) to see the country at ground level. I'll revisit places which I flew over, landed at and visited during that 1999 flight.

On this trip there will be more opportunities to explore at length and include places I didn't have time for before.

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On Wings and Wheels was created to give you an insight into both a flight and a road trip. There will be loads of photos and travel tips as well. 

You too can participate in the journey by following with the "Where's Fran?" activity (ideal for schools and aged care facilities).

The adventure begins on August 1st, heading from Adelaide, over the Nullarbor, inland and up to Kununurra and Lake Argyle and then following the coast of Western Australia back to South Australia. 

Unfortunately, I won't be able to travel the exact route of the flight because there aren't always roads there and my vehicle is a 4WD without low range and high clearance (maybe next time!).

Wi-Fi is not always available in the Outback, so if I can't post every day, then don't worry. I'll catch up when I'm back online and do several days' posts at the one time.

This is definitely a road trip with a difference.

I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. In case you're wondering, I still hold a Private Pilot's Licence at age 66. I'll never stop dreaming and doing and my bucket list is increasing all the time.

Tags: pilot, female, woman, female pilot, woman pilot, adventurer, senior, grey nomad, writer, photographer, Australian, South Australian, traveller, solo traveller, 4WD, speaker, 4WDing, solo, plane, aircraft, Adelaide, coast, coastline, coastal, Western Australia, Nullarbor, Kununurra, Lake Argyle 

Flight around Australia's coastline 19th anniversary

On the 3rd July 1999 I set off to fly around the coast of Australia in a Cessna 172P, so this month I'm celebrating the 19th anniversary of that flight. Read more about it at http://franwest.com/adventurer. I'm planning a few things for my 20th anniversary next year so stay tuned.

Fran West Photography on Fine Art America

Fran West Photography is now available on Fine Art America.

Check out the slideshow below and click on it to be taken to the website.

Photographs as wrapped canvas wall art

One way of using your photographs is to upload them to a Print On Demand website like Zazzle.

I've just opened a new store on Zazzle: Fran West Photography. 

It "specialises in unique wall art for home, corporate and commercial use. Wall art brings flair, elegance and style to your spaces. It provides an instant colour palette and creates a focal point. It brings a sense of texture and makes spaces appear finished. Make a statement or set the mood with original photographs from Australian pilot/adventurer, Fran West (Adventurer Fran)".

At the moment there are eight categories to search through, with some categories expanding even further. Click here to go to the website.

You can choose to have the wrapped canvas in colour, sepia or black & white.​

Various sizes, widths and styles of the actual canvas can also be customised to your taste and you can even add your own text to the wall art.

Please drop by and have a look. More products will be added during the coming months.

Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue Inc.

I love to photograph animals and birds in order to put their photos into my DVDs or on products in places like CafePress and Zazzle (http://www.cafepress.com.au/profile/franwest1 and http://www.zazzle.com/adventurerfran).

One of the animal programmes which I watch is Bondi Vet.

Last episode had the Twinnies and their Pelican & Seabird Rescue place, so I decided to make a donation to help them out. They're located in Queensland.

If you want to help out here's the site: http://twinnies.com.au/. Every little bit counts!

Greater Flamingo at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

Last year, "Greater", the Greater Flamingo at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia, died at the ripe old age of 83 years.

I remember seeing the flamingo standing on one leg right from the time when I was a child many years ago.

The bird was beautiful with its stately plumage and not much went unnoticed as the bird watched people pass by its home.

I'm sure its photo has been taken countless times but here's the photo which I took and made into a series of interactive jigsaw puzzles.

I've had the pleasure of seeing flamingos in the wild when I was trekking in South America, but they were never that close that I could have touched them like "Greater" at the Adelaide Zoo.

Maybe you don't agree with animals and birds being kept in captivity, but many modern zoos these days love and respect the creatures they care for and provide them with food, a home, safety (free from predators) and their own free medical health plan.

And for the people who aren't able to travel to places from where the animals come, zoos provide a tiny glimpse of wildlife which lives on our planet.

Animal and bird photography can be a bit tricky at times, so patience is required. Standing or sitting quietly and not making any sudden movements is also essential.

In a walk-in bird aviary a telephoto lens isn't really necessary unless you want close ups of plumage etc. However, a telephoto or zoom lens can be of real benefit when photographing in the wild and you are unable to get really close to the subject.

The Birds Interactive Jigsaw Puzzle CD is available for purchase below. Here's the link for more information on my jigsaw puzzles on CD.

Birds Jigsaw Puzzles CD

Australia (incl. P&H) $29.00 AUD Overseas (incl. P&H) $33.00 AUD

Here's the link to my beautiful local zoo - the Adelaide Zoo.

Australia's Coast from the Air Detour to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia

During the "Australia's Coast from the Air" flight, a detour was made to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia. This blog post adds to the first post of "Diamond Adventure".

The Argyle Diamond Mine, located in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia, near Kununurra, is the world's largest single producer of natural coloured diamonds and is famous for its rare pink diamonds.

A commercial joyflight was taken from Kununurra to the diamond mine airstrip and then a bus tour followed. The bus trip was hot and dusty but FIFOs (people who Fly In and Fly Out) enjoy the work and the big money from mining in the Outback. A great lifestyle for people who want to work away from home and save their money. Western Australia really is the "State of Adventure and Excitement" with loads of opportunities for people who want to work hard and reap the monetary rewards.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

 The mine area is quite extensive with several buildings around the place (like those above and below).

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

However, the most impressive sight is that of the open pit mine (below) which is huge.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

You can read more about the Argyle Diamond Mine and Rio Tinto's operations by clicking here.

As with any marathon flight or holiday, you need to take a break and let someone else do the flying (or driving) and just enjoy.

It was worth the effort of researching side trips for my flight and having time off every now and then.

By visiting the mine I learnt something special about my own country and I learnt more about diamonds. As far as I'm concerned diamonds aren't always a girl's best friend. Give me a beautiful blue Australian sapphire any day!

Natural Bridges National Monument Bridges the Gap Again

Although Natural Bridges National Monument isn't a huge park, it's still worth visiting. You may like to read the previous post about it before continuing on with this post - click here! This is Utah's first National Monument, declared in 1908, so it's been open for business for over a hundred years. It's famous for its bridges, naturally, but there's more to the park than just those. The rest of the terrain and the flora are outstanding.  

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, USA - Fran West

The wildflowers and shrubs (above) are colourful as are the rock formations in the distance (below).  

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, USA - Fran West

Wherever you drive or walk, there's something to enjoy and photograph. However, with all of these parks, to really appreciate what nature has to offer, you must spend longer than a few hours or even a day there.  

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, USA - Fran West

In this desert country, as well as your trusty camera, camcorder or mobile phone etc., remember to take snacks and plenty of water. Sightseeing is very hungry and thirsty work! Many people have emailed me about my photos and where they're available for purchase. I've started loading a lot of the photos already onto CafePress where you can buy them on mugs, T-shirts, magnets, clothing etc., so here's the link to that - Fran West photos on CafePress. If you want to be more specific about Utah photos here's the link to those.

Fran West Photos Available as Kindle Books from Amazon.com

Many people have emailed me about obtaining photos which have appeared in this blog and several of my other blogs.

In addition to the DVDs, CDs and photo downloads, some of the photos are now available as Kindle Books.

You can go to my page on Amazon to check them out.

Below is a movie clip of which photos are in each of the Kindle Books. Enjoy!

Bryce is Beautiful - Bryce Canyon National Park That Is

Bryce Canyon National Park is just beautiful. This national park is one of the highlights of southern Utah and one of the USA's most memorable parks.

Since I was driving in a clockwise direction to visit the state's national parks, I travelled about 90 miles from Zion National Park in the southwest to Bryce Canyon.

Scenic Byway sign, Utah, USA - Fran West

Some of the route was along National Scenic Byway 12. I highly recommend planning your trip along these byways when possible because the scenery is well worth it. 
These Scenic Byways are well marked as you can see from the sign.

There's a whole list of these in a little booklet which was sent to me in 2009 from the American Park Network - "Utah's National Parks: your complete guide to the parks".

When I arrived at Bryce Canyon it was pouring with rain, not a good omen for taking photos.

However, the weather cleared up at times with a few sunny patches here and there, revealing the scenery in the two photos below.

Quite an adventure walking the muddy trails after rain as it was slippery in sections and sometimes each step was like pulling my feet out of glue as I squelched along the track. I just love having my boots caked in mud!

Nevertheless, there's nothing like walking in amongst the multihued rock formations. 

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA - Fran West

As you drive further into the park, you'll come across several lookouts like the one below. 

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA - Fran West

To really explore Bryce Canyon you need more than the two and a half days which I had. The colours of the rocks change depending on the time of day, particularly sunrise and sunset, and you need to experience the park in several ways by driving, walking, biking or riding a mule into one of the canyons.

Here's a link to more information about Bryce Canyon National Park.

There are two photos of Bryce Canyon in my kindle book on Amazon. Just click on the photo for more information.

"Free Internet Marketing for Small Business" ebook out now

Free Internet Marketing for Small Business, by Fran West and Hilary Thompson, is an ebook full of practical tips for sole proprietors, home-based operators and small to medium enterprises.

It is a "must have" for anyone who is starting up a new business or trying to attract more clients/customers to an existing business.

Written in an easy to read and understand style, this ebook is an invaluable how-to manual with loads of illustrations and templates.

Testimonials

“I think your eBook will be most helpful to get all the Indie business owners out there started on internet marketing. It was all very clear and most importantly the links worked, making it easy to navigate. As an independent international publisher we already make use of some of your recommendations, but are pleased to know about all the others. We tend to cover just some of the ones you suggest because we are often just under overwhelm most of the time, what with all the other vital tasks that have to be covered. You make it easy for your readers to choose their own favourite tools and make an easy start on this most important activity.”

Robin Beck, Managing Director/Owner, Kima Global Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa, www.kimabooks.com

“Well done ladies. Simple, clear and easy to read. Our company is in the midst of a marketing facelift … change in strategy, website, brochure … work in progress. It is strange how at times things we need fall into our lap … it really is a lot about timing! I needed to be pointed to read the Google+ Guides to Business.”

Michelle Bassanesi, Resource Broker, Chief Operations/Financial Officer, Event Services, Rome, Italy, www.eventservices.it

“There's a lot of excellent information in these pages. The internet and modern communications have advanced beyond all recognition in the last 10 years or so, and your book gives an excellent overview of the techniques for marketing a small business in the 21st Century. There are many free resources that can help to make the difference between success and failure as a small business starts out. I've never really got to grips with Pinterest or Vimeo, but your book led me to the relevant information in a click! As a result I'm getting some ideas about how I might incorporate them into my site.”

Jon Fryer, Proprietor, Coffee Berry, Sheffield, UK, coffeeberry.org.uk

“This is an excellent resource that has been crying out to be written. My congratulations to the authors for their clear and detailed instructions that will appeal to the most nervous or unsure new business owners who wish to gain maximum exposure for their enterprises. You are led through the process by means of screen shots taken directly from the most relevant websites. Each stage has working links to the pertinent pages so the value of each practical suggestion can be checked immediately. Where there is cost involved for extra services from those sites, this is clearly pointed out, but you may never need the extras. When the authors say "free" they mean "free." I recommend this eBook without reservation.”

Penney Hughes, Special Education/Early Intervention Teacher, Adelaide, South Australia

“This book saved me hours of research time, and with the explanations of how sites work, it saved me even more time by trying to work out how to use them.”

Annie Waddington-Feather, Freelance Writer and Communications Consultant, Adelaide, South Australia, www.wadders.co.uk

“I have been waiting for a book like this for over 30 years, it debunks the myth that IT specialists are the only people who can teach us this medium. It is easy to follow and for a person like me it unlocks the mysteries of some of the software I have difficulty understanding how to use. Well done to the authors for such a great initiative, may I wish you all the success you deserve.”

Ken Wood, Interventionist, Optimist, Educator, Adelaide, South Australia, www.kenwoodspeaking.com.au/

“Free Internet Marketing for Small Business gives me practical information based on practical experience. Parted the waves for me through the ocean of free internet marketing opportunities deep enough to drown me - and which I couldn't spare the time to explore. Now I have my own easy-to-follow internet marketing bible. Thank you Fran and Hilary.”

Peter Nicholls, Australia's People Gardener - Growing Better People, Adelaide, South Australia, www.australiaspeoplegardener.com.au

“This is great! I can't believe how many great ideas are packed into this little e-book. It covers a wide range of internet promotion techniques and sites, and the screen shots show you exactly what to do. Even if you have never used the Internet to promote your business, this book gives you everything you need to make a start. Best of all, the authors walk their talk and talk their walk - you can easily adapt what they've done to suit your own needs.”

Shelley Dunstone, Innovation in Strategy, Adelaide, South Australia, www.legalcircles.com

To purchase at $9.95 go to:

Rritjarukar (Willy Wagtails) Ngarrindjeri Choir at Wooden Boat Festival, River Port of Goolwa, South Australia

The Rritjarukar (Willy Wagtails) Ngarrindjeri Choir featured at the Wooden Boat Festival, river port of Goolwa, South Australia.

This was my second Wooden Boat Fesival at Goolwa, South Australia, held on the last weekend of February, 2013.

A fine hot summer's day was forecast so I decided to be in Goolwa before the crowds arrived. It took me less than an hour to drive from my home in Adelaide through the rolling hills of the Fleurieu Peninsula to Goolwa.

With such a brilliant day for photography I took almost 2,000 photos. Some of these will appear in my "Alzheimer's Products" DVDs, photo downloads and interactive jigsaw puzzles. They'll also be turned into kindle books for Amazon.

The programme was filled with plenty of activities  - some on the water and others on the land and I was fortunate to be on the wharf where I could photograph both areas.

One of the highlights of the day was the song and dance performance of the Rritjarukar (Willy Wagtails) Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Choir led by Rita Lindsay (pictured below).

Rita Lindsay, leader, Rritjarukar (Willy Wagtails) Choir

The outfits and face painting set the mood for the performance which illustrated traditional activities and aspects of life in the lower reaches of the River Murray.


Rritjarukar (Willy Wagtails) Choir

 As you can see from the photos, the performance (in the Ngarrindjeri language) was full of action.

Rritjarukar (Willy Wagtails) Choir

 What impressed me most was the age range of the group extending from young children up to the elders. The Ngarrindjeri culture is not only being passed on to the younger generation but it's also being presented in such a way that the wider community can enjoy it too. 

Rritjarukar (Willy Wagtails) Choir

 Listen to a podcast with Rita Lindsay.

Soar Beyond Your Wildest Expectations

Dear Readers,

Posting more articles and images to this blog will resume in a week or so.

For the last couple of months I've be collaborating on our new ebook - "Free Internet Marketing for Small Business". This is due for release towards the end of February 2013.

In the meantime, please enjoy "Soar beyond your wildest expectations".



"Soar beyond your wildest expectations", Ridge Top Tour, Arkaroola,
Gammon Ranges, Outback South Australia

This photo was taken during the Ridge Top Tour at Arkaroola, in the Gammon Ranges, in Outback South Australia.

Here's the link to Dropbox so you can download it for use as an inspirational poster or for use on your computer as a desktop wallpaper.

Flyabout Adventure Around Australia's Coast - Broome, Western Australia

Australia's coast from the air is quite fascinating because it varies so much. People tend to think of Australia as only having beautiful white sandy beaches stretching for kilometres.

However, some parts of the coast are loaded with colour. One such area is in Western Australia, near Broome. Really orange red sand and rock.

Cape Gantheaume, Broome, Western Australia

To appreciate the rugged beauty fully, there's no better way than from the air.

During my flight around Australia's coast I had the best seat in the house, flying over the sea and taking photos from the pilot's seat on the left hand side of the plane.

As you can see from the photo of Cape Gantheaume, the coast is even more spectacular framed by the brilliant blue of the sea.

Broome is located in the northwest of Western Australia not far from Derby and the Buccaneer Archipelago, the crinkly bits on the map of Australia.

It was quite a relief to land at Broome because my flight was over the ocean, the home of saltwater crocodiles from north Queensland to north of Broome. Thankfully I didn't have an engine failure and I was flying within gliding distance of the land.

The thought of crocodile infested waters was in the back of my mind during the flight. However, I didn't let it stop me even though it was one of my fears. I don't like flying over water either but to take photos from this unique perspective I had to do it.

To achieve your goals in life, sometimes you have to confront your fears. It's a matter of getting over it and getting on with it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I digress, so back to the coast of Broome.

Port of Broome, Western Australia

This Outback town is also famous for its pearls and as I was flying around the coast, several of the pearl farms were visible from the air.

As far as I'm concerned, Broome is the Pearl of Western Australia because it has a real mix of culture and natural beauty.

As you can see from this photo there's white sand interspersed amongst the orange red areas. Broome is famous too for its Cable Beach and spectacular sunsets.

Sun setting over colourful sand on a much quieter beach is quite something again.


Broome beach, Western Australia, at sunset

I guess you can take away two things from this post:

• go visit Broome (you won't be sorry) and

• confront your fears if you want to achieve your goals badly enough.

If you enjoyed this post please share it with others.

Monument Valley Really Is Monumental

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park really is monumental both from the cultural and geographic perspective. It's situated on US Highway 163 on the Utah/Arizona border just 25 miles south of Mexican Hat, Utah.



Monument Valley, approaching from the north

 This is one of the iconic places, with its recognisable and stunning landscape, that I just had to visit in America's Southwest.

I first came across Monument Valley when I watched western movies, directed by John Ford, with John Wayne. Below is John Ford's Point.

John Ford Point, Monument Valley

In 2007, there was also a Red Bull Air Race with aerobatic planes both negotiating the pylons and avoiding the rocky outcrops. A breathtaking event to watch.

So as a pilot and a western movie buff I just had to make the effort to visit and stay in the Monument Valley area.

I'd travelled down from Moab, Utah, to reach Goulding's Lodge on a very hot May day. The airconditioning was a welcome relief while I was waiting to board the tour vehicle. A hot and dusty afternoon tour followed but it was definitely worth going on because it included native American culture as well as a trip into the less well known areas of the valley.


Navajo woman with her craft, Monument Valley

Goulding's did have a camp ground and there is also a big and expensive lodge closer to the Mittens rock formations. However, at peak tourism time, it's a must to prebook your accommodation no matter what style of touring you prefer. What a blessing the internet is for reserving accommodation!

David, the Navajo guide on the tour vehicle, was a real gem with his extensive knowledge and sense of humour. He even called little old me "sassy" (maybe he liked Aussies who wear Akubra hats or tourists who believe in audience participation).


Goulding's Tours, Monument Valley

However, he was really tuned in to the fact that we were all wanting to take heaps of photos and he stopped the vehicle frequently for this purpose. With digital cameras and photo opportunities abounding, anybody should be able to take fantastic photos in Monument Valley.

David, tour guide, on the left, with his cousin in Monument Valley

Keen to make sure that we knew that this was Indian territory, David and his cousin entertained us with some native American music (above). He also treated us to some of the best vantage points for photographing the rock formations - very artistic and his enthusiasm and love of his country made the tour a truly unique experience.

If my itinerary had allowed it, I would have liked to have gone on a morning tour to capture the scenery in a different light. The afternoon tour was hot with strong sunlight and as time progressed there was the afternoon haze and long shadows across the rocks. Sunrise in the morning can be beautiful but sunset in the evening can also be superb.

One of the Mittens, Monument Valley

The Monument Valley airstrip was visible from the lodge and there was a plane parked there when we visited the Navajo Indian woman nearby. However, the flights to the valley come from neighbouring cities and there don't appear to be joy flights available at the airstrip. A real pity because this is a beauty spot which also needs to be seen from above.

Monument Valley really is monumental if you appreciate magnificent scenery and traditional Navajo culture.

"The 12 Days of Christmas" using Photos and Making a Video

Here's part 2 of making a fun presentation which I created from my photos used in my own products.

First, I made a PowerPoint presentation, as detailed in the previous post.

Next, I clicked on the slide sorter icon towards the bottom right of the page.

I then clicked on Slide 1, held down the Shift Key and clicked on Slide 14 so that all the slides were highlighted.

Then it was click on File and Save As.

In the Save As box I kept the same File Name and file location in My Documents but instead of the Save as Type: PowerPoint Presentation, I clicked on the arrow and scrolled down till I found JPEG File Interchange Format and clicked the Save button.

A new box appeared on the screen and I clicked on the Every Slide button.

After that I clicked on the OK button so that each of the JPEGs could be saved in a separate folder.

I closed the PowerPoint file, went to My Documents and found the folder (not the PPt file) for "The 12 Days of Christmas" and opened it. There were all the slides from the presentation as JPEGs.

After that, I opened up my movie making program (you should have a free Windows Movie Maker program on your PC if you don't have access to a purchased program).

I inserted all the JPEGs, added the timings and did the basic fade in and fade out transition.

After that, I saved it as a Windows Media Audio/Video file (WMAV file) in the smaller format to be posted on the internet.

I uploaded to YouTube and was able to select a free soundtrack which approximately matched the length of the movie.

From below the uploaded file I clicked on Share, then on Embed and copied the Embed Code and inserted that in this blog post for you to enjoy. (You can also select the size of the video to suit the width of the blog post)

So now you can go off and use your photos to produce your very own Christmas spectacular!

You can check out my full length videos by clicking on the links to the left of this post (Alzheimer's Products and Digital's Great!).

If you found this post entertaining and/or educational please feel free to share it with others.

"The 12 Days of Christmas" using Photos and Slideshare

It's been quite a while now since I've written a post not connected to my bed & breakfast or work for aged care and early childhood (this entails creating DVDs, Photo Downloads, Kindle Books and Interactive Jigsaw Puzzles on CD).

The past year has been very traumatic and emotional watching my 95 year old mother decline in health and eventually pass away on Remembrance Day in November.

I not only wrote and delivered the eulogy but also created the audio visual presentation for the funeral service. Doing this really brought home how important photos are for our memories, not only of places but also of people, especially our loved ones. Here's the link.

Although I haven't been posting on the blog for several months, the visitors to this site have actually increased. The internet gurus say that to increase traffic to a website or blog, bloggers must keep posting at least once a week. I think that theory's just gone out the window!

However, when I look at how people arrive at this blog, it's usually via the images. So photos once again play a huge part in the lives of those of us who respond to the visual.

I'll continue to add photos for your enjoyment and give you a few hints as well.

Here's a fun Slideshare presentation which I created from my photos used in my products.

First, I made a PowerPoint presentation, then created a PDF.

Next, I uploaded it to www.slideshare.net (a free service for uploading all sorts of documents and presentations).

After that, I got the embed code and I put it in my blog for you to enjoy.

Why don't you do the same with a few photos in a presentation for Christmas (or whatever special occasion you like)?

The 12 days of christmas 2012, by Fran West from Fran West

I did turn this into a moving slideshow presentation in PowerPoint and also created a Flash file but Slideshare just kept the basic PDF file. To create video uploads in Slideshare you have to upgrade your membership and pay.

The next post will be about how I created the movie version from the PowerPoint presentation.

If you found this post entertaining and/or educational please feel free to share it with others.

Animal Photography at Alma Park Zoo near Brisbane

A few weeks ago I was in Brisbane, Queensland, and visited one of the city's prime attractions, Alma Park Zoo. The aim was of course to photograph the animals for further dvds and interactive jigsaw puzzles.

I didn't bother renting a car, so I took the train to the outer suburbs and then proceded to walk for half an hour to arrive at the Alma Park Zoo before opening time. As usual, I kept stopping to photograph whatever caught my eye.

The entrance to the zoo is eye catching and the landscaping is stunning. A beautiful environment for both humans and animals.

It's worth arriving early and leaving late to catch the animals at different times of the day, attend the keeper talks and see the animals at feeding times.

As an Australian, I'm partial to koalas (which are not bears by the way) but I also love the Madagascan ringtail lemurs.

I love talking to the animals when I take photographs.

I'm sure they relate to the tone of my voice and appreciate when I thank them for their patience!

One of the features of this smallish zoo is the obvious bond between the keepers and the animals.

It goes beyond just the provision of food.

Here's my take on animals talking back.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"This fresh fruit and veg is yummy, isn't it?"

"It certainly is and the silver service isn't too bad either."

"Being hand fed is my personal favourite though."

"And all on our own island Paradise."


There'll be a few more blog posts with animal comments later on so stay tuned.

Here's the link to a great day's outing at Alma Park Zoo.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is just gorgeous

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is just gorgeous.

It's shared by both Utah and Arizona and it's a very special place whether enjoyed from the land, the water or the air (I thoroughly recommend that way as detailed in a previous post).

The signs around Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are almost as impressive as the natural beauty which they highlight.

I left my campground and went for a drive around part of the lake until I came to this spot at the Coves. The painted part of the sign is mirrored in the stone which supports it.

Very creatively designed to make a statement about the place.

Photographing signs on a trip actually defines where the photos were taken, breaks up the series of photos taken e.g. all landscapes, and some are just worth photographing anyway.

Click on the photo to enlarge it and enjoy both the sign and the scenery behind it.

I can definitely feel the urge to create some interactive jigsaw puzzles about Glen Canyon and Lake Powell. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, check out my "Canyon Country" post.