Monday, March 23, 2009

MY WORLD ~ 20 Last 800 Miles to the Queensland Coast

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This is a longer post than I intended, but I did
want to get you finally to our destination since
there still is the long, and interesting treck back
by a different route.
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We rested our weary bones in a delightful town
called Banana. You may think nothing of that since
Queensland is famous for Pineapples and Bananas!
Completely up the pole! Here we were in dry cattle
country not a lush tropical fruit growing area at all.
So why was the town called Banaba? Perfectly simple
and logical explanation... its called after a famous BULL!!!
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Next point of interest was Mount Morgan with
its historical old mines.
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Some of the old mine buildings close up
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On the hill on some weeds in front of a church
was this Butterfly beating his wings so fast it was
impossible to get a clearer picture
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Some typical Queensland tropical architecture
with airy verandahs and lots of lattice work to
promote ventilation and shade
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Please don't think I have lost my mind for posting
four pictures of this grassy slope, I do have a reason,
this first one is so soft and a lovely pale green, the
slope was quite steep
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this second, taken from a slightly different angle
looks so pale it could be dusted with snow
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this one combines the green in the shade and the
bleached effect in direct sunlight.
Just think what those tussocks of grass would be worth
bought in 6" pots from a nursery!!!
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This last one is a history lesson. The ferns you see
here, please do enlarge it, are Cycads, remnants
from the age of the Dynosaurs, again, worth a mint
from any nursery.
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and so we reach the coastal wetland near Yeppoon
with Black Swans lumbering to get airborne.
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Next week, should you come along, there will be
birds and more for you in store.
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To Klaus and the whole team my thanks for this meme.
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Click on the Logo to see the rest of the world!
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59 comments:

  1. I am glad that there Australians on blogger! Each time I learn something new! I hope you are going more to north Queensland and see Cairns, Karunda, Great Barrier Reef and even Cooktown.

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  2. Thanks for showing us such interesting places! Those ferns are such a dark green, yes I did enlarge the pic. amazing to think how old that variety is!

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  3. I love to see the Australian countryside Arija - keep it coming.

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  4. I have loved learning so much about Australia from my many blogging friends who live there! These are marvelous pictures of your world! and so much wonderful and interesting informtion! I always enjoy your posts, Arija, and this one is as delightful, beautiful and informative as always. Thanks!

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  5. I could look at that magical grassy slope all day!! sigh.

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  6. What a nice tour i got from here, i love the grassland shots very much. So different

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  7. Fascinating post showing some points of interest in Queensland. I love the grassy slope complete with Cycad ferns. And black swans too, wow!

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  8. I really enjoyed this scenic trip.The hillside all covered with grass looks delightful,like a soft blanket.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  9. I like that you took time to shoot the grass from different angles...

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  10. That was a perfectly logical explanation! If you can't name your town after a bull, well what can you name it after? :)

    Very interesting and informative post.

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  11. Wow...those grassy slopes...the color...almost velvet like. I wonder how they at the touch. I wish I could see the breeze playing with the grass. I am glad you are enjoying all that beauty and sharing it with us.

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  12. I always find your posts and pictures interesting! I love to see Australia! :)

    Thanks for visiting me!


    Junie

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  13. Hi Arija, Beautiful pictures from your trip. It is great to have the camera handy when travelling far and wide. Interesting plants, man made "chaos" the mines. Lovely Architecture and love the black swans. It is beautiful how you caught the different greens of the native grass growing on that hill, I think only a gardener with green eyes sees that.

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  14. beautiful grass; i like that kind. i'll tune in for the drive back too.

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  15. Thanks for sharing and showing us this beautiful place, Arija.

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  16. Such a lovely journey that you took us on with both architecture, industrial sites and nature in a glorious mishmash. Hugely impressed by those ferns allthough I know ferns, mosses and lichens were among the first plants to inhabitat land long before any real trees were on earth and are still today considered a more primitive variety of plantlife in that they don't produce seeds but multiply via sporns. A lovely MW post.

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  17. The flora, the architecture, even the place names seem so exotic to me. Wonderful post, Arija!

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  18. Great shots of such a beautiful part of the world. Thank you for taking us with you on this delightful tour.

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  19. Thanks for adding your part of my Tuesday's trip around the world.

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  20. Oh I loved my outing with you. Such great pics of a most interesting place. My next trip abroad has got to be Australia.

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  21. What a post, and such photographs! I love the 'dinosaur' ferns and the black swans and most of all, your sunshine (can you send some to me please? lol) Happy Tuesday!

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  22. Australia is haunting me this week. There was an awesome documentary on CNN about the tropic of Capricorn.

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  23. Interesting places. I just love the old mine.

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  24. The grassy slopes are just amazing! Australia is just one large goldmine of all things out of this world! Thanks for posting all four.

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  25. This is a FANTASTIC post! What do I love the most? I love the photos of the mine. The butterfly is terrific. I don't care if one wing is a bit blurry; it's a gorgeous photo. But that steep, grassy hill is great. I definitely see why four photos were necessary, and why the last one should be enlarged. Excellent!

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  26. So thankful your part of the world was spared form the fires down there. Would have been a shame to lose such gorgeous country!

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  27. Interesting an varied place in which you live and travel! Almost as if evolution left some plants and creatures unchanged. Also that's a gorgeous sunrise in your sky watch!

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  28. Really like the old mine buildings. Old buildings fascinate me. All the photos are great. Thanks for taking us along on your trip.

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  29. I'm loving this trip and feel like I'm there. I'll bet you really enjoyed the lush green and grassy knoll.

    I hope you'll enjoy Grand Canyon thru my eyes. It's most awesome.

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  30. That was a great conducted tour. Looking forward to what's in store for us next week.

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  31. What a great bunch of photos! The grasses are beautiful and the black swans, too. The butterfly and church are both pretty, also. What a great trip.

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  32. You do the travel tour guide very well Arija. Great photos as well.

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  33. Arija: What a neat trip through this neat area of your world. I enjoyed all of your photos of the area. I liked the old mine buildings best.

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  34. Hi Arija,I am sorry to say, but you were wrongly informed! Amsterdam has always been the capital of the Netherlands and the Hague the place where the government is seated, and where the queen or king lives. Why they separated the two, I don't know. Any way thanks for your visit.

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  35. Is the swan the same?
    http://bp0.blogger.com/_2ybxjiD_qJU/RpYxOn9uUYI/AAAAAAAAA_E/BtQXstJDFbg/s1600-h/2007_0712zoo0263.JPG

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  36. Very interesting post and photos, I love those of the slopes and the butterfly. You had a great adventure I bet. Thanks for the visit.

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  37. I agree with Reader Wil! Everytime I come to your blog, I see a new side of Australia. Your world is beautiful, and I love the things you show us! So a big thank you Arija!

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  38. The series of grass shots gives a good feel. Wonderful tour!

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  39. All your photos and information are so wonderful. I enjoy seeing and learning about the beautiful world we live in. Thanks for sharing

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  40. Such a great series of photographs! Your place is so interesting and all the pictures are so beautiful :)

    Thank you so much for the tour!

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  41. Thanks for this wonderful tour. Nice architecture and the sloping grassland... their awesome. Looks really peaceful. Thanks for tagging us along and hope to see more next week! :-)

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  42. There has to be an interesting story as to how a bull came to be named Banana. Thanks for an interesting and informative post. I like the four perspectives you gave us of the grassy slope.

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  43. What a beautiful, diverse place Queensland is! I really loved the black swans. They're such beautiful birds.

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  44. I love visiting your great site. Not only for the stunning photographs but also the commentary on your journey's. You make your part of the world come alive for me. I'll probably never get the chance to visit Australia in the flesh so this is the next best thing. Thank you.

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  45. Arija thank you for your comment, as you asked me, this is Yuraygir Nationalpark in Northern NSW. It is a very untouched place also the surrounding villages have not changed much in the last 35 Years.

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  46. I just love seeing your landscape. The grass looks like millions of golden fairies running down the hill!

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  47. This was quite the enlightning post on your area... the grassy slopes were quite interesting!!!
    What wonderful photographs... I loved it all!!

    I hope you are doing well.
    Hugs♥
    Mountain Retreat Photos

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  48. what a most informative and fascinating post of the town of banana...the mining town, the ferns, the grasses.

    thanks for sharing all with us and i will be back next week.

    have a great wednesday.

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  49. No you are not mad. The grassy slopes rolled down the hill in a mesmerizing way.

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  50. i loved this little tour...must say I went "bananas" over it..thanks for sharing

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  51. Beautiful post! I love the grassy slope - it looks so soft! And the photo of the butterfly - filled with motion! =)

    Thanks for visiting me!

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  52. This part of Austalia is just incredible looking! Thanks for sharing!
    Darryl and Ruth

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  53. I love the grassy slope photo!

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  54. Your grassland images are wonderful! Grasslands are so under appreciated. I've always enjoyed how the wind changes the light and colors they reflect. Lovely.

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  55. what a great post. I love the birds & the grassy slope, so lush & beautiful

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  56. Funny that there was a bull named Banana!
    I love those fern on the hillside.
    Thanks for a great tour!

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  57. You are definitely not crazy, in fact a sage with beautiful sight who appreciate the grassy slope for I love them and I would have taken fifty shots!

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