Fiji Time

Just returned from another wonderful week with the family on Castaway Island, Fiji.  Here are a few shots from the week.

:: Cate snorkelling on the outer reef

:: Girls sipping mocktails in the pool

:: Coral garden just off the island

:: Hannah holding the sun

:: Sunset

:: A local saying hello

:: Me on the outer reef

:: White tipped reef shark

10 on 10

I keep missing this every month, and although I am a day late I would still like to join in with Rebekah again.

 

I have been attending a conference this week, so my day was spent mostly commuting and sitting in doors.  I went into the city, spent a few hours at the conference, strolled around Darling Harbour, train home, dressed up for the conference dinner, train back to the city, listened to great music on the harbour, then home again.

 

Unfortunately I only had my phone with me, so the photo quality is not great.

 

The highlight of the day was getting up on stage with the band at the end of the evening and doing a few numbers (no photos of that).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uluru ... our time at the Rock

We recently spent a couple of days at Uluru.
I visited the Rock 21 years ago when it was acceptable to climb it, and so I did.

Knowing what I know now, I regret climbing it, but what's done is done.

This time, we spent more time walking around it, and enjoying it's magnificent beauty from the ground.
It took us about 3-4 hours to walk the 10km around the base.

My daughter and I also spent quite a few hours admiring it at sunset and trying to capture that perfect shot.
We weren't hugely successful but we got a few.
Most shots were a little cloudy, but sometimes the clouds help make the photo more interesting.

These are a few shots taken around the place during our visit.

The roads are long and straight out there. This photo was taken on my phone so it's a little grainy.

Just one example of the requests the Anangu people make for people not to climb the rock

A few of the rock features around the base

A few sunset pics on a cloudy evening

... and on a clear cloudless evening

... and early morning with the summit covered in cloud

blue skies of central australia

We have just come back from a week in Central Australia, seeing some of what our wonderful country has to offer.  These a a few photos of the brilliant blue skies set against the red rocks of the Kings Canyon Rim Walk and the Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds Walk.  I'm linking in with skywatch Friday.

We also walked around Uluru, so stay tuned for those photos in the next few days.

summer storms and sunshine

I took these photos in January on our summer beach holiday.  There were some beautiful sunny days and a couple of big storms.  A typical summer, and makes for some very interesting skies.

Linking in with skywatch friday.

surf's up

Last few days of summer weather ....

Miss 12 enjoying her last few waves for another year.  Not as big as she'd hoped, but having fun nonetheless.

Miss 10 getting in on the act with the catch of the day

Little Miss 6 catching her first waves.  She has now caught the bug and will be back in force next summer.

scavenger hunt

It's Monday here in Sydney, but it is probably still Sunday somewhere in the world so technically I am not too late.  I wanted to join in with Ashley's Scavenger Hunt again and didn't want to wait another week.

A couple of weeks ago I spent a wonderful week with my family (and a few of my extended family) at the beach, saying goodbye to summer for another year under a week of glorious cloudless skies, sun and surf.  Some of my photos may be a little obscure in their reference to the photo prompts, but hey, so be it.  Here is my contribution.

Background

My parents have photos of my sisters and I taken at this same beach in the early 70's.  The same hills are in the 'background' and this place holds special memories for me.

Spotted

Due to recent storms that lashed the coast a few months ago, a lot of these rocks and stones have been exposed and now lie dotted or 'spotted' up and down the beach

Weather

Need I say more.  We had a week of fabulous 'weather' and warm sea temperatures.  Evening walks along the beach with the moon rising over the sea and a little sailing boat in the distance on calm seas.  Why would you want to live anywhere else?

Motion

This boat was actually 'motion'less, but it looks like its either jumping into or out from the screen

(I can't decide which).

Sweet

This was a 'sweet' moment with daughters #1 and #3 having a moment of closeness.

Luna Park

My daughter and I went to Luna Park last weekend to do some experimenting with shutter speeds and exposure.  She was very keen to get a shot of the Flying Saucer at full speed, as one circle of light.  Her patience paid off and she really nailed it.  We spent 2 hours there and she shot on manual the whole time.

You can check out some of her other shots on her blog.

Yellow

I always think it's interesting how some colours that may look dreadful on people (I'm talking about myself here), look beautiful in nature.  I look pretty ordinary in yellow, but when I saw these flowers by the side of the road the other day they caught my eye and I had a pull over and take some snaps.