MONUMENT VALLEY

Posted on June 24, 2016 by splashingpaint

From Brisbane, Australia to Flagstaff, Arizona via LA and Phoenix is a long haul. We were jet lagged and weary when we collected our hire car and drove into town to a motel.

Next morning, bright and fresh, we headed down Route 66 and peeled off north to the Utah/Arizona border and the spectacular landscape of Monument Valley National Park.

Old Trading Post along the northbound Highway

Strange sign leading to an Indian Reservation.

Goose Necks on the San Juan River

Mexican Hat

Bridge across the San Juan River.

San Juan Motel perched above the river at Mexican Hat – a mecca for bikers from all over the country. This group were from Florida via Texas.

Small scale oil drilling – Mexican Hat

Patriotic Cowboys.

…Off into the sunset

UP THE STRZELECKI

Posted on May 11, 2016 by splashingpaint

Leaving Arkaroola we headed north along the Strzelecki track. It skirts the Strzelecki, Simpson and Sturt’s Stony Deserts. Most of the track was in good condition, but very dusty, which didn’t bother us much, since there was no traffic.

North Mulga Station – a long way from everywhere!

Sturt’s Stony Desert

Santos manage to suck oil out of all this dry sand.

In 2010 this rig and all the others in the lower Strzelecki sat in 2 meters of water for the best part of 12 months. It’s hard to imagine that volume of water spread out over this incredibly flat land.

These cattle must live on dirt and rocks – there doesn’t seem to be anything else to eat.

We spent a night at Innaminka on Coopers Creek, then wound our way over a slow track full of bad corrugations, washouts and bull dust. This took us to Coongie Lakes – a strange sight after winding over desert sandhills. The lake is massive and supports all sorts of birdlife

Caspian Tern

Corellas

Pair of Grass Parrots

Serious looking Willy Wagtail

Dingos howled most nights but they are very cautious and hard to see. I managed to get a photo of this guy early one morning.

ARCHITECTURE

These are some of the best examples of bush architecture we encountered along the way.

Windorah – Once the old court house, now a comfortable abode

Dynevor Downs shearing shed – like much of western Queensland wild dogs have forced a change from sheep to cattle, so this once mighty shed is in decay.

Yowah Qld – Corrugated Iron Paradise

Beltana SA – What cant you do with corrugated iron?

Maree SA – simple but effective

Warrego Hwy – This old place has been added to and extended over the years – sadly, now abandoned and slowly disintegrating.

FLINDERS RANGES

Posted on May 9, 2016 by splashingpaint

From Maree we headed south into the Flinders Ranges via the ruins of Farina and the soon to be abandoned town of Leigh Creek.
The Flinders Ranges contain some of Australia’s most spectacular landscape. We zig zagged our way from the south, back and forth up through the ranges until we reached Arkaroola in the north.

Farina chicken run

The country surrounding the ranges is flat, dry and vast.

This distorted grass tree looks almost as old as the country surrounding it.

Camped in a ring of ancient mountains

Walking in these ranges is compelling. You can’t help walking to the top of the next hill or exploring the next stony outcrop.

Beautiful colors, textures and shapes are everywhere.

Watched by wedgetails.

The Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour is something not to be missed. Almost 5 hours exploring some of the wildest four wheel drive tracks and gazing over the most spectacular views I have ever seen. These landcruisers get just 2000 kilometers from a set of tyres!

The Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby makes it’s home in some of the remote parts of Arkaroola.

Wild white horses along the track into Arkaroola

Early morning Drink. This guy was sharing a tiny, cereal bowl sized waterhole with half a dozen of his mates and a couple of noisy Galahs.

BIRDSVILLE TO LAKE EYRE

Posted on May 7, 2016 by splashingpaint

Lake Eyre rarely contains water, so hearing of rising levels and heavy flow in from the north, we decided to drive out and have a look. We plodded our way slowly out to Birdsville then headed south along the Birdsville track

Birdsville Track – dry and flat

Goanna Feasting

Vegetation in this area is sparse but interesting. Mostly Saltbush, Mulga and Desert Oak.

Early settlers along the Birdsville Track lived a hard life. This is the grave of the two youngest Scobie children who died of pneumonia in the 1890’s.

We called in to Etadunna Station and picked up a key and directions to one of the large lakes, already full of water, to the North of lake Eyre.

A slow trip through the sand dunes finally brought us out at a huge lake filled with water and surrounded by a crust of white salt. A strange sight in the middle of a desert.

There are some interesting old relics scattered along the Birdsville Track. I’d love to know the stories behind them.

We continued South to Maree – a sleepy little town with a Pub, “Yacht Club” and remnants of the old Ghan Railway Line. Maree marks the southern end of the Birdsville Track and is the best access point to Lake Eyre. We obtained maps and information from the Yacht Club and headed out to see the Lake.

Old Ghan Railway Bridge

Remnants of a railway siding and full moon.

We camped on a waterhole at Muloorina Station and drove out to Lake Eyre South, across the Goyder Channel and on to, a still dry, Lake Eyre North. It’s an amazing sight to see a brilliant white salt pan disappear over the horizon. As you walk out into the lake the sand dunes begin to disappear and all you can see is blue sky and white salt.

A couple of days at Muloorina waterhole gave us a chance to catch up on some washing and photograph some of the birdlife.

Muloorina waterhole is fed by an artesian bore. Boiling hot water bubbles up and creates a steamy mist early in the morning. By the time it reaches the waterhole it has cooled enough to support fish and yabbies.

HOI AN

Posted on November 3, 2015 by splashingpaint

The old town of Hoi An stretches out along the Song Thu Bon River. A mixture of Chinese, French Colonial, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture give the ancient town an interesting character. The central markets run from before dawn till after dark. Every imaginable vegetable is available. Some weird cuts of meat, live ducks, chickens, fish, prawns and crabs are also for sale. Everything is fresh each day and the activity is mesmerising.
Old Japanese Bridge

Fresh Fish

Meat and Cigarettes

Boat Lady

River Sunrise

Vegie Market

For a few dollars this old lady will ferry you across the river.

Morning Fishermen

Boats along the River

Fresh Frogs

River Boatman (Hums Tom Waits Tunes)

Cast net Fisherman

Purple lanterns.

Cigarettes and Incense
Purple Lanterns and Bougainvillea
Fishing Fleet

Red Bridge cooking School where we cooked ourselves a feast and all became Vietnamese cooking experts.
Lunar Festival Dinner

Lunar Festival Paper Lanterns

Lunar festival

Wooden boats

Afternoon Market

Colored Lanterns.

HA LONG BAY

Posted on October 31, 2015 by splashingpaint

On the coast of Vietnam, east of Hanoi, is the world heritage listed Ha Long Bay. Scattered throughout the bay are around 2000 spectacular limestone islands. The constant heavy mist (either coastal fog or Hanoi smog) adds to the mysterious appearance of the region.
Early morning bathers.

Sunrise

Paddling out to sea

Traditional Fishing Boat

Fishing Boat with net booms.

Artist in funny hat entertains local fisherman.

Traditional floating fishing settlement.

HANOI CRAZY

Posted on October 28, 2015 by splashingpaint

After the peace and quiet of Sa Pa the 9 hour night train jolted us back into the non stop chaos of Hanoi. Twenty four hour markets, swarms of bicycles and motor bikes, endless street food, fruit and flower vendors, people selling post cards, hats, cold water, warm beer, you name it someone on the streets of Hanoi sells it. It seems like the population of 7 million people rarely sleep and are all on the move at the same time.
Man caught napping