Bike stack

Yes, I am still having fun creating levitation images so while riding our bikes from Nuriootpa to Angaston, Steven help me compose this one.

Though it is staged, it is still really painful to create this stunt. Luckily, there was no brown snake around to fall on to.

Crab belly

Steven and I went to Webb Beach again to catch blue swimmer crabs. The water was teeming with them and we really had to watch our every step or else our ankles would be landing between pincers. When we chased one, we would see four others running away.

Seafood is a luxury here so catching crabs is the only opportunity I have in Australia to eat them. I guess it is OK because my mother always asks me not to eat them because these critters (especially their heads) are very high in cholesterol.

Levitating photos

I first read about Natsumi Hayashi's photography a couple of weeks ago. Upon seeing her work, I knew how it could be done but that does not mean it was easy.

On our way from Canberra to Adelaide, while my mind wanders, I thought about imitating her right along Sturt Highway. When I got home, I loved the result so I took more and more photos.

I take a test shot and show it to Steven (who is also the test model). Then Steven copies the test shots as best as he can while I jump as high as I can while trying to relax my face. I keep my legs as high as possible so I usually land on my hands--bad for the wrists.

I am not really sure if this is the direction that my photography will take but I really love the process and the feedback that I am receiving from my Facebook friends.

Last Day in Canberra

Our last day in Canberra was spent playing with some fluff. Some of the trees produce seeds that float using some cottony material. The scene was like Avatar with these white circles and blobs floating around.

We found an area just full of it and it looked like a white Christmas. The tree branches, the grass and footpath were all covered in white. Parrots were also chattering above our heads. If you know what this tree is, please leave a comment.

We then entered the National Art Gallery. I wished we took a map of the exhibitions with us because there were too much information and paintings to take in. One cannot follow it in a straight line or even do it from top to bottom. The place was like a labyrinth of colours and fixtures.

It was impressive to see old artefacts from Central Asia and South East Asia but the countries were far from complete. They did not have any from the Philippines!

Aboriginal paintings and sculptures were divided into regions (again, not everything is represented). Some of these are very striking because they invoke a lot of anger and sadness, especially the ones about how the white fellas treated (and are treating) the original inhabitants of these lands.

A section for South Australian paintings was made and one of these showed Adelaide before the white people came. The people depicted there look so much happier and peaceful than what I have seen in modern Adelaide.

Once again, many thanks to Peter for being a wonderful and generous host. Thank you also for his pussies, Sasha and Pogo, for keeping us entertained.

From Canberra to Mittagong

I have mentioned this before: Steven loves trains. In fact, I think he would rather have the trains than me.

We drove 2 1/2 hours from Canberra to Mittagong just to visit Mittagong's All Aboard Braemar Model Railway----. I must say it is the best-looking train shop I have ever seen so far. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

It was raining and cloudy all the way there and back and that offered the best lighting for portraits!

Floriade 2011

Floriade is Canberra's annual flower festival that is always held during springtime (October). This year is our second time to see it.

It was a weekend so there were tons of people. Some of the children were pulling out the flowers. I had to use my ND filters to make them all disappear.

We saw a lot of Filipinos who were very verbal in noticing my pink camera. I also saw a lot of photography enthusiasts with their macro filters and tripods. I wish I had a macro lens and the patience.

Third visit to Australian Parliament

 

 

The Australian Parliament is one of the most iconic man-made structures in Australia. I really hope I get to visit it while a session is going on.

 

I just contented myself having my photos taken with some controversial personalities. These personalities are former PM John Howard (who popularized the inhumane concept of refugee detention centres in Australia), politician Pauline Hanson (who disliked non-white migrants) and the Queen (need I say more?).

Thank you, Mike Rann!

I came home with this piece of news. I am really glad that our current South Australian premier is supporting same-sex marriage. I just hope our relationship will be seen as legitimate and equal in a year's time.

Thank you, Mr. Rann!

Jesus saves...electricity...for half a day

Steven and I have been driving around Canberra when we saw this church (O'Connor Uniting Church). The roof is almost vertical so this solar panel-cross is very noticeable. It faces the east so unfortunately, it can only catch the sun's rays half of the day.

Yes, it's Canberra!

Steven and I are back in Canberra to visit our friend Peter. I am sure some of the Aussie readers will find it weird that we love spending our holidays here.

Topographically, Canberra is very interesting. In Adelaide, all we can see is the horizon but Canberra has mountains and hills. Everytime we drive, the scene is just picturesque.

Traffic is smooth here. The planning of this city is so clever that everything is just 20 minutes away. That includes grocery shopping, movies and au naturelle cruising places!

Locals dress better and that is probably because they have more money to spend. In Adelaide, beanies, jumpers and trackies are the new black. And in Canberra, people have a complete set of front teeth at least.

It is very tempting to move here but there are so many factors to consider. Oh Canberra, I wish you were 20 minutes away from Adelaide!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these photos taken at Black Mountain.

Wet drive

We started at 1:20 AM so we did  not see how cloudy it was until Steven and I were really far from Adelaide. We left when it was raining really hard and it seemed the weather was trying to catch up with us.

As you can see here, our drive along Sturt Highway was gloomy and tiring.

Visit again very soon to know where we are going.