Australia by Red Nomad OZ
Aussie House made of Stubbies

Aussie ABC: Q is for Quirky

The Aussie sense of humour – ie laconic crossed with off-beat crossed with extreme larrikinism – sometimes manifests itself in unusual, weird and downright bizarre ways. And that means ‘Quirky’! But … be warned! There’s a fine line between ‘Kitsch’ and ‘Quirky’ – and an even finer one between ‘Quirky’ and ‘Tasteless’! So I’ll leave you to decide into which[…]

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Outback near Blinman, Flinders Ranges, South Australia

P is for Patriotic: 26 Reasons to ROCK Australia Day!

As this FAAAABULOUS January 26 gets under way, the ozone layer prepares itself for a high carbon emission onslaught and the planet’s remaining trees breathe a sigh of relief. It’s Australia Day and almost compulsory to have a barbecue and PROVE your Aussie pride.  Do this by putting Aussie flags on every conceivable product from toothpicks to tablecloths; serviettes to[…]

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Australian Watercolours made EASY!

There are only a few small obstacles standing between me and international superstardom as a painter. Things like talent, aptitude and skill. Patience. Vision. Technique and vision. Ability and patience. Artistic temperament, creativity and patience. And a pathological inability to starve in a garret. Or starve anywhere … So I got all excited when I saw how this reflection of trees in[…]

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Capture the Colours of OZ Country Towns!

The FAAAAAABULOUS colours of OZ make the life of a downunder blogging, photographing, writing traveller with a penchant for bakeries REALLY easy … Getting a good pic from right in front of a spectacularly AWESOME panorama, a weird and wacky BIG Thing or a KILLER sunset is what’s called, in the technical photographic terminology used by us amateurs, a SURE[…]

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Hazards of Travel in Australia

Hazards of Travel in Australia Wild, rugged mountains. Ancient, arid deserts. Weird, wonderful wildlife. Magnificent beaches, lush rainforests, untamed islands. These – and other amazing wonders – are just part of everyday life in the mystical, magical land of OZ! What could possibly go wrong?? Most of the time, nothing. But road-tripping round Australia isn’t always beaches and bakeries, sunlight[…]

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Sunset over King Sound from Derby Jetty, Western Australia

The HIGHEST Tide in OZ! Derby, Western Australia

The splendiferous sun sank into the shadowy waters on this balmy OZ winter’s evening with a sensational splash of colour. The superb sunset would make a good stand-alone shot. But a prop or two would turn it into a GREAT one! Luckily for me, this July 2012 Derby sunset over stunning King Sound in Australia’s North West had three: a massive[…]

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90 Mile Straight, Nullarbor, Ten Budget Travel Tips

Aussie ABC: N is for Nullarbor

I was 4 – nearly 5! – the first time I crossed the Nullarbor. Christmas day, and we were on the Indian Pacific* heading for Adelaide. We’d spent Christmas eve in a pub somewhere in rough as guts Western Australian gold-mining town Kalgoorlie, but I don’t remember that.  Maybe I had blanked it out … Many years later, I made[…]

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Corrugated Iron, Eurelia Railway Station Goods Shed, South Australia

Corrugated Iron and Eurelia Railway Station

My liking for neatness, order and logic most likely explains my affinity for corrugated iron. Although the unkind might attribute it to control freak tendencies! Whatever it is, corrugated iron’s neat rows and precise undulations, and patterns of light and shade hold an artistic appeal.  This appeal actually increases as the decay inevitable in Australia’s harsh climate starts breaking the[…]

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