Monday, September 28, 2009

Australia Fierce Dust storm

In 2009, a dust storm swept across the eastern states of Australia from 22 to 24 September. The capital, Canberra, experienced the dust storm on 22 September,[1][2] and on 23 September the storm reached Sydney and Brisbane.

Syndey - at dawn...



Sydney - at dawn....Some poor bloke trying to have a fitness class on the beach!



How it started.....At Aryes Rock in the Northern Territory.












The fierce sandstorm reached Brisbane around lunchtime. I remember I was sitting in my office, and I noticed that the light was fading...it was getting darker, and darker. I jumped up and ran to the window and looked out - an opaque white curtain had fallen over the land.

These next photos are courtesey of a work college....


















Thursday, September 17, 2009

Pirates, Cross Dressing Fair Maidens, and Fireworks!

Brisbane Riverfire Festival



A snack at Karen't before the festivities start...



Karen and me - ready for a night out! We are going out on the diveboat to see the fireworks! Everyone is suppose to dress like pirates. Ofcourse, I couldn't be bothered, I just got a eyepatch and a skull cap and got drunk as a pirate should (no, not really!!! just joking about the drunk part).




The royality as arrived....



Yes, this is a male, although, he did get quite upset with me when I referred to him as a "he".



He (she?) was wicked with the camera!






Our brand new dive boat! Apparently, the last one sank.....really!



All aboard!





The pirate ship...




My advance dive instructor. You can see why I had a difficult time concentrating on the course work!







Down the river we go... This is where I row 3 times a week...




It's gettin' wild up in here!!!




Our bartender (who is also a dive master) named Renee!






Somebody's in trouble!



Look at all the boats!



Party Time!





Look at all the people! Now you know why I paid to go on a boat!




More people....by the way, this is the riverfront where I walk to work, lovely, isn't it?



The SAS Building where I work if I am not on site at at customer's office...






The Original Custom's House...














Monday, September 7, 2009

Springbrook National Forest



It's Sunday - my fun day. And another beautiful spring day in Brissie - sunny and mid 70's, so, off I go to the Springbrook National Forest, which is 1.5 hour south west from Brisbane.






and waterfalls...



the next two shots were taken behind a water fall...




I slowed the shutter speed way down for this picture...




In case you ever wanted to learn Aboriginal words...



Beautiful sky....




Hope this rock doesn't fall on my head when I go under it!






A pool of water at the edge...



Look at the lizard climbing up the tree! These are called Dragons.




Make sure you control your children!




Can you see the city off in the distance?




It is so amazing to be in the fantastic rainforest, just a short drive from the city...




Amazing rock structures...


more rock structures...





I was experimenting with my camera - this is just a shadow on a rock....