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the heath goanna

A reptile up to one metre in length, is a predator of smaller reptiles, young birds and eggs. It is often seen on warm days basking or scavenging on dead animals on the roads.

Fortunately we didn't spot this charming fella doing this, this one was spotted whilst we were eating a lunch of quiche, crusty bread, and very tasty salads with our tour guide in a very nice retreat in the bush, on a scorcher of a day. I was pleased to capture this image as he was moving away very fast, funny to think he may have just been camera shy!

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move along please sir

The rider of this trishaw, a three-wheeled bicycle taxi, was touting for business outside the National Museum of Singapore. These little three wheelers generally haunt the area around the Singapore River and Chinatown.

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australian sealions

We both took lots of photos, but my favourites have to be of the Australian sealions, the photo above being one of them, I suppose because I just feel so privileged to have been up so close with these lovely animals. Our guide took us to view within a safe distance, as don't forget they may look docile enough, but in fact a sealion can be quite dangerous and could easily turn on you if you invade their territory and they can weigh a ton, particularly the males.

Little pups were frolicking in and out the water, whilst the mums were having a snooze, washed up on the beach, and there were a few rather large males keeping an eye on the proceedings too.

An unforgettable experience.

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one hump or two

Seconds earlier these two camels had two girls crying with fear. All in a day's work I can hear them say!

They live on a camel farm down the highway en route from Alice Springs to Ayres Rock.

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views over adelaide

This photo was taken from the plane whilst flying over to Kangaroo Island, just eight miles south of the South Australian mainland.

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vibrant images from Stanley Market in Hong Kong

If I lived in Stanley I would be here every day, the fruit and vegetables were amazing and the flowers equally so.

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giant jelly babies

Don't you just wish these sculptures by Cairns artist Sophie Cadman were real sweets?

They were photographed outside the Centre of Contemporary Arts in Cairns.

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in a while, saltwater crocodile

A huge, and I mean huge, occupant of Featherdale Wildlife Park which is in the Blue Mountains, just north of Sydney.

It didn't move once, I said it was stuffed, J said it was real. We didn't hang around long enough to find out!

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sydney harbour bridge

When Australia comes to mind, what is the first thing most people think of, for many of you most probably Sydney Harbour Bridge. The photo above was taken from the top of the Pylon Lookout, which is reached by a short walk along the pavement, adjacent to the highway, and a climb of 200 stairs, 87 metres above mean sea level. On the way up there are 3 levels of exhibits where you will discover the history and construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the men who built it, and the vision of JJC Bradfield, the chief engineer.



Whilst in Sydney, we just had to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, it takes you along the upper span of the arch on catwalks and ladders all the way to the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour. The photo above shows not us, but another group of 12, imagine 360 degree amazing views of Sydney, and really safe as you are clipped on and have to spend quite a while going through what they call bridge preparation.

We hadn't originally planned to do this on our first day in Sydney but somehow, don't ask me how, we stumbled upon the booking office and the starting position of the climb. I could tell by the look on J's face that he was really keen, and so was I, just as long as I could keep my legs from turning to jelly! We just decided on the spot to do it, so after marching up to the desk and asking for two tickets, we were on the next climb which was starting in about 20 minutes time, not much time for me to start feeling nervous!

Our party of 12 included a group of 4 from Argentina, a lad from Australia, a couple from Italy, a lad from Wales, us and other couple from England, of all ages.

The weather was cloudy and overcast, but a good day for the climb as not too hot. Luckily I had put sunblock on my face though as I would have come off looking like a beetroot, as you are up on the bridge for a fair time, as it was, the top of my hands had caught the sun and felt a bit sore for a day or so.

The guide who took us up was a really nice guy and really informative in telling us all about Sydney and he would answer any questions we put to him, also at certain points he would take your photo, either of the group or in pairs. You should have seen the two of us, J must have had the smallest suit they could find, and me, well the gusset was down to my knees, not at all flattering!

Well what can I say, I am so pleased we did it, it doesn't come cheap, but I can thoroughly recommend it, a great experience not to be missed, do it while you can, you may never get to visit Sydney again!