Archive | September 2013

in Australia, Holiday, Holidays, Photography, Tourism, Travel
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Have You Been To The Land Down Under?

Okay, so my title was inspired by the Men At Work song which coincidentally was out during the time of my fascination with Australia. I was always intrigued by Australia and knew I had to go there. So off, I went with a backpack and no more than £100 pounds. I ended up staying more than a year, and went back once again shortly after I returned to England. The second time I went there, I think I even had less money than the first time. It’s a long story as to what I did there and how I survived with such a meagre beginning, but with a big pot of dreams. Here are some pictures.

I ended up traveling around the country, and actually even hitch-hiked my way around. I would never do it again!

My first stop was Sydney, but I spent the majority of my time in Brisbane.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbor

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbor

Sydney Opera House

You can’t visit Australia without going to the Outback, this is where you will see Ayers Rock.

Alice Springs, South Australia

Aboriginal Art

This one was taken in Melbourne

Melbourne

This is in the Northern Territory, I believe I went from Darwin to Alice Springs and Katherine Gorge was on the way. I remember a lazy river ride viewing crocodiles that looked lazy, but of course would snap out of that laziness in a heart-beat if tempted.

Katherine Gorge in the Northern Territory

This is Ayers Rock in Alice Springs

Ayers Rock

Melbourne Zoo

This is the best place to see koalas! I had a picture of me holding a koala and don’t know where it is now. So sad!

Koalas in Australia

However, I do have a picture of me with a kangaroo!

Back in those days, I did not take as many pictures as I do now, and I know I have more pictures of Sydney and Brisbane somewhere, but will look for them and post them sometime down the road. Here’s the Big Pineapple again though, this picture was taken on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

Big Pineapple, Sunshine Coast

I really enjoyed seeing the land Down Under and would like to visit it again sometime soon. It’s a great big country, and some of the other places I visited were Perth, and Adelaide. The only big city that I did not visit was Canberra, the capital city. I really should have gone there. Anyway, that’s enough of my reminiscences of my time in Australia.

September 2, 2013

in CA, Family Events, Photography, San Diego, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel, Vacation
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Serene San Diego

Just a little serenity even in pictures might take away the tension that is forever present in this world. Here’s some serenity from San Diego.

Seaport Village, San Diego

Have a happy and serene week!

September 1, 2013

in Beaches, CA, Family Events, Holiday, Holidays, Photography, San Diego, Sightseeing, Tourism, Travel
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Where’s This Beach…Hope It’s Within Reach! It’s in Oceanside!

Where is this beauty of a beach?

Oceanside, CA

Is it Tenerife?

Oceanside, CA

Is it Majorca?

Oceanside, CA

Is it Sicily?

No, well, I think you know it by now, as I put it in the title and in the captions……it’s in Oceanside, California, which is just 45 minutes north or so of downtown San Diego. Oh, this beach is so stunning and one of my latest joys and discoveries. You can live by a place, but not even visit it or know of it’s beauty, until one day you stumble upon a part of it, and instantly think, wow, this is so beautiful, how could I never have visited this place before, or even known how beautiful? So, now, I go back to this beautiful beach as often as I can. Here are more pictures.

Beautiful park by Paradise on the Beach (that’s just my name for it) – it’s actually called Tyson’s Park – I believe.

Oceanside, CA

A bit of color by the beach

Oceanside, CA

Take a walk along the Pier

Oceanside, CA

Especially on a day that’s perfect, and the sky is clear

Oceanside Pier, CA

Okay, the sky may not be that clear, but the day was perfect.

Oceanside Pier, CA

Here’s a view from the Pier

A view from Oceanside Pier, Oceanside, CA

Another view from the Pier

A view from Oceanside Pier, Oceanside, CA

Back to the beautiful Pier

Oceanside Pier, CA

More of the beach

Oceanside Beach, CA

Guess what? There’s a restaurant on the Pier, and it was fun eating there, it almost felt like being on a cruise!

Ruby’s Restaurant, Oceanside Pier, CA

Okay, so I had to take a picture inside Ruby’s where we enjoyed lunch, but this one didn’t come out great, I wanted to show the view through the window