Final few hours in Brisbane…

It had been a busy day when we went to Brisbane a couple of Saturdays ago. We visited the art gallery, strolled around South Bank and had lunch there. But the day was only half gone…

 Passing through the University grounds on the way to the Botanic Gardens I went in search of “The Cube”

“The Cube is one of the world’s largest interactive digital display systems. It is two storeys high, has 170m² of high-definition screens, and includes 48 touch panels. It took our developers more than two years to build.

The Cube offers unprecedented learning and research opportunities for the community – from school students to scientists and engineers. Our researchers use the Cube to showcase their ideas and to visualise, model and manipulate big data sets.”

With help from a security guard we found this impressive display and spent an hour pressing buttons and marvelling at the vision of being back in the time of the dinosaurs.

It was a few months ago that we came to see this but that was the day Jack fell and ended up in hospital. I’ve just checked back and found it was last August,  (do you remember that? Check it here) certainly doesn’t seem that long ago. Since that unfortunate accident we have been meaning to come back. So at long last we have made it…

But we did have another reason to be here today. We were meeting the family at 6pm at Kangaroo Point to see them rock climbing.

Still another couple of hours, so with a cup of take-away coffee we wandered over to the Botanical Gardens next to the university and sat watching the world go by.

Walking along I was drawn toward this magnificent display of marigolds. In the late afternoon sun they glowed.

Families made the most of this glorious weather.

In the background children frolicked in the playground.

Jack found another unusual seat/bench to rest on and after taking the photo I joined him.

But it was time to catch the ferry and go over to the other side of the river to find the family.

Can you see the ferry on the other side of the river? We will have to hurry to catch it.

The sun is going down behind the hi-rises of the CBD but the cliffs of Kangaroo Point are still painted vivid orange by the glow from the sun. (This photo has not been touched up at all, I could hardly believe the colours when I downloaded it)

I spot someone setting up the ropes for the rock climbing enthusiasts. Our family must be around here somewhere.

It is an interesting walk. I see a bridal party having a photo session.

Then I see the rock climbers.

That’s our grandson almost at the top after scaling an almost vertical wall. What a great activity.

The sun has gone down now and the lights of Brisbane are turning on as the sun highlights the horizon in one last muted, orange glow.

What a day it has been. At 7-30pm we catch the train back to the Gold Coast. Arriving home, tired and ready for a cuppa, at 9-00pm

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I am linking this post to Paula, “Lost in Translation“, you may have guessed her theme this week is “glow”…

I would also like to join Jo “Restless Jo” and her intrepid band of world-wide walkers.

Thursday Special : Choices…

I’ve been thinking about this challenge since Thursday. Now it is Tuesday. This is not an easy challenge, life is full of choices, but how to depict them in images.

Then today I suddenly realised my direction in life has been determined by my choice of vehicles.

All my life I have had the urge to travel. I believe it is in my inner soul, maybe my genetic make-up, you are either a gypsy or a home maker. I always wanted to see what was over the hill and round the next bend. In 1998, when Jack brought me to live in Australia, the land of his birth, it opened up a vast continent that I yearned to explore. I dipped my toe in the excitement of discovery when I made the choice to travel for 4 months, on my own, around the perimeter of this country on Greyhound buses. A fantastic adventure.

This only fuelled my desire to see more and travel with Jack.

It had to be achieved on a strict budget, we are pensioners. After months of discussion the choice was made to travel in a small pop-top camper van, and Matilda came into our lives.

Waving goodbye as we left home for the wide open spaces of Australia.

For the next 4 years we meandered around Australia. It was a dream come true.

Gradually our travelling changed. We started house sitting. Leaving Matilda at home base we would fly to the various house sitting venues and use the home owners vehicles. So the choice was made to sell Matilda. It was not an easy choice she had been our transport, accommodation and constant companion, almost part of the family. How come I became so attached to an inanimate object? So it was with a lump in my throat that I watched her being driven away by her new owners.

Between house sits we came back home for short periods. But we made the choice not to buy another vehicle. The Gold Coast has a reasonably good public transport system that we made use of.

Recently completed and efficient light rail system

Of course we also had our bikes. As we live very close to the beach and a major shopping centre and it is all flat using our bikes was an obvious choice.

So life moved on for another 2 years. We house sat from Hobart in the southern part of Tasmania, to Malander in Northern Queensland. Geraldton in Western Australia to a farm near Sydney and many others in between.

But times are changing again and a new phase is emerging. We are ready to explore nearer home and another choice has been made.

So meet our new wheels.

I did say “I will still use the bike most of the time” BUT… it is so much more comfortable in an air-conditioned vehicle in this oppressive summer heat. So slowly the car is taking over most of the time when I need to go anywhere.

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This week Paula is joined by Klara Bach as her guest and she has challenged us with the thought provoking theme of “choice”. Klara is a talented and versatile photo enthusiast. In her guest post and through her thoughtfully captured travel photos Klara has shown us a few life-changing choices. There are some amazing choices been made by other bloggers go here to see more of them

Thursday Challenge : Street Photography

I have just discovered this “challenge” when I saw blogging friend Tish had put in a post, and it is a beauty, such happy smiling faces. (Take a look at it here). 

So it has intrigued me.

I enjoy following along with Yvette and love her street portrait themes so when I noticed she was the guest blogger for Paula I couldn’t resist joining in.

Sorry folks I am a day late…

When taking photos for a post about my suburb of the Gold Coast, Burleigh, this stranger saw me pointing my camera in her general direction and started a happy, spontaneous dance. I just love it…

Further around and along the beach front this lovely lady in the coffee nook saw me point my camera and gave me a big smile and the victory sign. (This is part of a Monday walk with Jo).

I may be home for a while so will enjoy joining in these challenges.