Monday, March 16, 2009

MY WORLD ~ 19 North of the Warrumbungles















At the northern side of the Warrumbungles lies
Coonabarabran, the Astronomy capital of Australia.
Not only are these mountains famous for their clear
skies, but also for their wealth of 250+ million year
old fossil finds. Here are but two examples of leaves
with beautifully preserved colours.














Onward for long, long stretches of just long long
stretches, when we came upon Chinaman's Pond
covered in the most beautiful water lilies in white
















and masses of pink. We had two more stays in New
South Wales,usually abour 4-500km apart.
NSW is a large state, Queensland is very much
larger and entailed another sleep.

















One of the points of interest in massive stretches of
nothing scenic in particular, or I was perhaps too
tired to be observant, we spied these two massive
Baobabs or bottle trees. Their pregnant bellies hold
water and many an old bushy wandering on foot in
this vast landscape was saved by gouging into this
handy water source.



















Near a coffee break on the edge of a small town
was a little creek with enough water to cool my feet
in and attract this lovely dragonfly.
















Happily we had by now crossed into Queensland
where Bouganvileas flourished in the warm climate

Next week, if you bear with me, we finally
reach the coast with again totally different
landscapes on the way.
*
To see what the rest of the world is up to,
click on the Logo at right.
*
To Klaus and the MY WORLD/SKYWATCH
team my thanks as ever for this marvelllous meme.

54 comments:

  1. What amazing photos of the fossils. And I have never heard of the "bottle" trees. I find your blog so interesting every day,... thanks for sharing your wonderful country with me!

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  2. Just breathtaking beautiful! I haven't been to Australia since '86 in the Adelaide area. I thought then, and I think now, to really see Australia will take a lifetime

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  3. Fascinating place! Those fossils...wow!
    Such tranquility by the water lilies,and I have also sat by dragonflies fascinated at how still they stay, soaking all the sun.
    In Portugal, there is this castle in the town of Obidos that I visit every year. Inside its walls, there are wonderful narrow streets draped with the most breathtaking Bougainvilleas.

    http://www.galenfrysinger.com/obidos.htm

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  4. nice cute white flower. love it

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  5. Australia certainly has varied and amazing features - and strange names too - at least for us in US! Your trips and posts are deligtful to see and read. Thanks for showing us a glimpse of your world.

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  6. fascinating photographs arija - look forward to your next offering.
    The colours are so in keeping with the landscape.

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  7. I love the lily pond. They always make me think of a Monet painting..

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  8. You have such a wonderful world, Arija. Even the names Warrumbungles and Coonabarabran sound magical!

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  9. What a wonderful tour; truly a magical place!! The white lilies are especially lovely.

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  10. Wonderful photos, Arija! Are you also going to Cooktown? And Cairns? I am looking forward to seeing your photos of Queensland.

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  11. Oh, yes! the fossil photos are terrific! I had heard of "bottle" trees, but didn't know why they were called that. The flowers are exquisite. Always enjoy "your world" so very much! Thanks, Arija!

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  12. These are wild. Those fossils are gorgeous. The plant and insect life amaze me, too.

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  13. Excellent myworld posting, thanks for sharing.

    Have a great week!
    Guy
    Regina In Pictures

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  14. what amazing discoveries on your travel. lovely out there.

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  15. Lovely photo of the water lilies. Thanks for taking us on your journey north we drove it a few years ago so it brings back memories.

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  16. We are thousand of miles away but bot had waterlilies for my world, mine last week. Gorgeous and so interesting post all round.

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  17. Fabulous photos... and those leaves!

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  18. The fossils are fascinating! Lovely series of photos. Love the water lilies.

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  19. Well done Arija..very good photos as usual and very informative!

    Love those water lilies!

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  20. Lovely country, all of it. Even the barren parts, which have a different but still alluring kind of charm.

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  21. Amazing Arija! I've always loved Australian photos and wanna visit the country at least once in my life time for its wonderful species of birds and plants!

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  22. You took some gorgeous shots and sounds like such an interesting place. Great post.

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  23. Fascinating! I've never seen such colorful fossilized leaves. And I didn't know baobab trees held water. So interesting. Beautiful flowers, too. Your world has much to offer.

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  24. what an interesting information and the photos that comes with it are all great!

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  25. Wow, the fossils are simply amazing. I have never seen anything like that. Your photographs are beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your part of our world.
    Smiles

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  26. Those fossils are amazing, such clear remains of leaves! I am going to share this with my daughters, it is going to delight them. :)

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  27. Awesome photos of mother nature.

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  28. Just loved traveling in pictues there today! Thanks

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  29. Just beautiful, interesting and gorgeous!
    Thank you for looking at my pale snowy photos and commenting!

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  30. Beautiful world you have there Arija. I love the one with the water lilies and the dragonfly as I can remember as a child I used to catch them. :)

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  31. Arija: What a beautiful collection of photos from your country, simply lovely.

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  32. Wow fantastic finds on the fossils. It is so interesting to see them. Your post today is full of nature. So beautiful. Happy Tuesday.

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  33. It was that most photogenic blue dragonfly that attracted me the most on your trip to the coast.

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  34. It is so interesting knowing how old those fossil finds are! Thanks for sharing these photos with us. I also very much like water lily photos both white and pink, and the last photo is also outstanding!

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  35. What a great place....those fossils are really neat that the colors show so well. Love the water lilies!

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  36. Thank you for the truly wonderful journey through this magic land of yours, I enjoyed every bit!

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  37. Wonderful post and photos. I felt a sense of peace they way it was done. Thanks for sharing these. Those leaf fossils are fascinating!

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  38. Even the insects of your world are beautiful!! I MUST visit one day. Your blog reminds me of that on a weekly basis!

    Warm greetings from West Africa,
    Esther

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  39. I do so love these names...Warrumbungles....Coonabarabran...! Right out of a storybook!

    Edward and I send our greenest, happiest wishes to you on this St. Patrick's Day!!

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  40. Thanks so much for the guided tour of this area. The fossils are fascinating and your photos beautiful!
    Hugs and blessings,

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  41. Impressive fossils! Are you sure thats not paradise with all those beautiful flowers? ;D

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  42. What a great trip, thanks for taking us along. I love fossils, such a fascinating window into history, the ones in your photo look perfect!

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  43. Great shots and interesting information, Arija!

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  44. the fossils were/are beautiful. and i enjoyed the rest of your photos as well.
    thanks for sharing this post with all of us.
    erin

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  45. all such endearingly brilliant captures!!

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  46. Most amazing the colours in the fossils, unexpected.
    The white water lily is beautiful.
    Your having a great trip.

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  47. Very interesting photos of the fossils and the water lilies are so beautiful

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  48. A wonderful tour and nice photos,Thanks for sharing.
    Also Thanks for visiting my world.

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  49. Your water lilly shots are amazing! And the fossils are awesome...

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  50. quite interesting fossil finds you showed here and they are colorful too. So, those bottle trees hold up water? Very interesting! Your post is really informative and your world is fascinating as can be seen through your pics.

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  51. the colorful leaf fossils remind me of your daughter's textile works..........

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  52. The water lilies and the dragonfly... ahhhhh, so beautiful!

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