Making a post before I forget how

[pnodrog]

I have been exploring Australia for the last three months. There are plenty of things to see. Just thought I should see if I can still remember how to post a photograph.

The photograph was taken early morning in an area called the Breakaway Ranges near Cooper Pedy South Australia.

[C J Southern]

Nice work!

Here in New Zealand ... we still like to think of ourselves as being the capital of Australia though! (but you knew that already!).

Jokes aside, I've spent a total of 4 days there - many years ago (around the gold coast area); 'twas a really nice place - although in the mornings some of the locals were saying how cold it was overnight and how they had to get up and put an extra blanket on the bed ... whereas I spent the nights sleeping on top of the sheets thinking "gawd this is hot!".

[billtils]

Nice one Paul Captures the essence of the region nicely (we used to live in South Australia). Did you visit the "dug outs" (underground dwellings)?

[Round Tuit]

Impressive photo. Welcome back

[pnodrog]

Thankyou Colin. You really need more than four days to see Australia. I would love to see your take on some of the scenes. The only big area I heave not yet visited is Western Australia and some say it has some of the best scenery.

[pnodrog]

Nice one Paul Captures the essence of the region nicely (we used to live in South Australia). Did you visit the "dug outs" (underground dwellings)?

I have to like a location to get out of bed early enough to be there at sunrise. Below is another I took there a short time later.

We stayed in Cooper Pedy (above ground). However we did visit an underground Greek? church. I found Cooper Pedy interesting but a bit messy and very touristy. Very glad we have been there but not on my revisit list.

[C J Southern]

Thankyou Colin. You really need more than four days to see Australia. I would live to see your take on some of the scenes. The only big area I heave not yet visited is Western Australia and some say it has some of the best scenery.

I'd love to see my take on some of the scenes too! Heck, I've even love to shoot some at the other end of the South Island but - alas - I've been telling myself this for decades and don't seem to be getting any closer. Superannuation is just a few days away for me now, but I think the list of things I need to spend it on seems to be lengthening at an alarming rate ... but who knows!

I was very lucky in my 4 days; there was someone whom I dealt with a reasonable amount for business over the phone there - had never met her until then - but she "took me under her wing" and looked after me life a VIP for all of the 4 days. Twas very kind of her.

[pnodrog]

Impressive photo. Welcome back

Thanks André.

[C J Southern]

I have to like a location to get out of bed early enough to be there at sunrise. Below is another I took there a short time later.

We stayed in Cooper Pedy (above ground). However we did visit an underground Greek? church. I found Cooper Pedy interesting but a bit messy and very touristy. Very glad we have been there but not on my revisit list.

Out of curiosity, are you experiencing any "push back" with regards to the, apparantly, "changing cultural landscape" in Australia? I was talking with someone just yesterday about how places like the rock are now more restricted; just wondering how wide spread it is?

[pnodrog]

Out of curiosity, are you experiencing any "push back" with regards to the, apparantly, "changing cultural landscape" in Australia? I was talking with someone just yesterday about how places like the rock are now more restricted; just wondering how wide spread it is?

Yes, there is a fair amount of restrictions being placed on access to some sites. Some for genuine cultural reasons but a lot based on commercial considerations. However there is know doubt that everyone is trying to cash in on tourism. There are some hyped up locations that did very little for me. I far preferred the off the beaten track hidden little gems of locations and there are plenty of them.

[C J Southern]

Yes, there is a fair amount of restrictions being placed on access to some sites. Some for genuine cultural reasons but a lot based on commercial considerations. However there is know doubt that everyone is trying to cash in on tourism. There are some hyped up locations that did very little for me. I far preferred the off the beaten track hidden little gems of locations and there are plenty of them.

That sounds very similar to New Zealand.

There also seems to be a lot of "lowest common denominator" rules where, for example, operating a drone would be safe and considerate if done with a little thought, but someone comes along with a severe case of "entitleitis" - makes a nuisance of themselves - and it gets banned for everyone. Rinse and repeat.

[JDW in Oz]

An excellent image. Evokes the bush as I fondly remember it during my forays into the 'wild' - 1970s and 1980s. Some things never change and, we hope, never will change.

Are you still in South Australia? It's very beautiful, also some of the best wine country. Check out the Barossa and if you happen to be heading eastward, go south and stop at the Limestone Coast.

In Victoria where we live, the Grampians are worth a visit. Also the excellent wineries where foreign visitors are made so welcome and treated like special guests.

Food can be supremely good in Australia, almost every country town will have at least one pub where you can eat far better than in the takeaway shops, which are okay in their way but nothing like the 'tucker grub' you will get in the better places. You will have to ask for advice from a local - try the local rail station or the police post, where someone will happily direct you to the best eateries the locals go to.

As for photography, well - your image is visual proof that there are stunning places almost anywhere you go.

I lived initially in Sydney, then briefly in Canberra and eventually for many years in Melbourne until I retired. Sadly, I no longer travel much in Australia given (1) the long distances between the cities or for that matter to any sites I would care to revisit (I've seen them all in my 49 years there), (2) the high cost of everything, not only to do with travel but all the everyday expenses, (3) my age - usually we go by car and I let my partner deal with the driving, and (4) my own cultural interests have changed since I retired in 2012, and now take me to Southeast Asia, where I now stay most of the year.

I nowadays stay in Indonesia best, Malaysia and Taiwan as second choices, Japan (nowhere near as expensive to visit as many would think), and Laos, in that order of preference. The quiet, out of the way places suit me best. My partner was born in Malaysia and has family in Ipoh, so that's now our 'base' camp.

I get home to Victoria - we have a charming century-old weatherboard house in a 'regional centre' - an Aussie term for "a small country town" which is tenanted by a family friend during our absences. Everything is looked after and cats are greatly loved and cared for. Neighbors are supremely good, it's interesting to note that the two on either side of our hacienda are a Chinese family from Taiwan and an Indian family from Kashmir, both new migrants to Oz. The rest of our small street consists of Aussie families, mostly born in the town. For all this diversity, we could not ask for better street to live in.

When I'm home (which is now, BTW) I enjoy day travel by train to country places. My favourites are Bendigo to the north of Melbourne, also many small places in Western Victoria, notably to Maryborough, an overlooked but charming small town out of Ballarat, coincidentally also worth seeing if you can put up with the extremes of climate there.