kalahari desert

by

FOWChallenge-Austere

~~~~~

austere

(of living conditions or a way of life)
having no comforts or luxuries.
****

Some of our accommodation

was described as rustic…

…which is probably not quite austere,

but very close to it.

~~~~~

Fandango’s One-Word Challenge:…Austere

by

WeeklyPrompts-PC-Ruffin’-It

~~~~~~

~~~~~

 

Our 2014 Botswana Safari was the last time

we came near to ruffin it.   

We soon discovered that connecting to the internet

in the Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta

was not going to happen.

 

Instead we once again discovered the joys

of sitting and eating around a campfire,

sleeping in tents, without any connection

to family and friends via social media networking.

However, even on our rough trip

our guide acted as cook.

We all commented on how nice it was

to spend 7 nights around a campfire.

Upon arriving at Chobe we once again

were able to access the outside world

via our social media connections.

Conversation died a quick death as

all eyes were fixated on our devices.

So much for ruffin’ it  🙂

~~~~~

Weekly Prompt Photo Challenge:…Ruffin’ It

by

WeeklyPrompts-PC-Shadows

~~~~~~

~~~~~

Shadows of Christmas decorations in

Bourke Street,

Melbourne

Kalahari Scrub Robin,

Botswana,

Africa.

 


The tree casting this shadow has been removed…

…and the Church is now surrounded

by a used car lot.

Shadow Selfie.

~~~~~

Weekly Prompt Photo Challenge:…Shadows

by

Sunday-Stills-Great-Outdoors

~~~~~

I have included a few things to do

in and around Geelong

just in case borders are closed suddenly.

 

Visit the Otway Rainforest near Geelong

Lekhubu Island and its ancient Baobab trees

on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.

 

Sunrise at Botswana’s Lekhubu Island

 

Rise early to enjoy sunrise at Geelong

Go on an African Safari

 

Enjoy an a Down Under sunset near Geelong

 

Cruise into Glacier Bay and view Alaska’s

Margerie Glacier

Explore the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Centre

From Fairbanks take a Chenna River Cruise

Fly from Fairbanks to Coldfoot…

…coach to small community…

 

…of Wiseman inside the Arctic Circle.

~~~~~~~

Sunday-Stills-Great-Outdoors

~~~~~

by

Lens-ArtistPC-152-Shadow-and-Shade

~~~~~

~~~~~

Seeing out the rest of its days

in the shade of an old gum tree.

Where sheep can be found during

the hottest part of a summer day.

Botswana’s Kalahari Scrub Robin

casting a shadow much larger

than its actual size.

 

A Geelong Church which has been

converted to a car dealership.

No more shadows because

the tree has been demolished.

~~~~~

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Patti:...Shadow-&-Shade

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Leya:...Shadow-&-Shade

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Amy:…Shadow-&-Shade

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge Tina:...Shadow-&-Shade

~~~~~

by

Cee-BW-Challenge-Smaller-Bread-Box-or-Bin

~~~~~

~~~~~

~~~~~

This week I have chosen birds which are all,

according to Google, smaller than a breadbox

which are usually about 16 inches wide

by 8 to 9 inches high and deep ,

or 40cm x 20cm x 20cm.


I would have thought the

Northern White Crowned Shrike

was considerably smaller than its

Crimson Breasted cousin.

However, at 19-23 cm long and

tipping the scales between

42 to 58 grams it more than

holds its place with its cousin.

The Crimson Breasted Shrike

is a smaller bird than I remembered it to be.

Measuring 23cm in length and

weighing 40-57 grams it is roughly

the same size as the

Northern White Crowned Shrike.

Bread box: 40cm x 20cm x 20cm

 

The Kalahari Scrub Robin

measures only 16 cm in length and

weighs between 17 and 23g 

Bread box: 40cm x 20cm x 20cm

At 14 cm, or 5.5in, long and weighing

only 8–13 grams (0.28–0.46 oz),

the Superb Fairy Wren

Bread box: 40cm x 20cm x 20cm 

~~~~~

Cee’s Black & White Challenge:...Smaller-Than-Bread-Box-or-Bin

~~~~~

Black_White

~~~~~

by

Word-of-Day-Challenge-Queer

~~~~~~~

queer

 differing in some way from what is usual or normal

~~~~~



I remember at the time thinking what

an unusually shaped tree root, this was.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I captured

another image to put it in context.

Then as now all I see is a reptile hanging out of a tree.

One of my more interesting images from

Botswana’s Lekhubu Island in the

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.

Another oddity sighted on Lekhubu Island

was this split rock.

The only other rocks I have seen split so cleanly

 by Mother Nature were at

The Devil’s Marbles in the Northern Territory.

The Marble which was photographed

the most was some 10-12 feet in diameter.

Apparently desert extremes (heat and cold)

causes the split.

~~~~~

~~~~~

by

One-Word-Sunday-Ugly

~~~~~~~

ugly

~~~~~

I would be…

 

…hard pressed…

…to find any beauty…

 

….in these arachnids

although many would disagree.

 

 

Even this one, long embedded in resin

made me jump when I saw how close

it was to my hand.

~~~~~

One Word Sunday Challenge:...Ugly

 

 

 

 

by

A-Photo-a-Week-Challenge-Off-Centre

~~~~~

 

~~~~~

 

*****

Point Nepean flag pole at the 2014

Commemoration of Firing the First Shot

of World War I,

August 5, 1914,

at 1245 hours.

 

 Geelong Football Stadium

home of the

Geelong Cats. 

Sadly the art work is no longer.

 

 

Technically I believe my Kalahari Scrub Robin

is in the wrong half of the frame.

It should have room to run into.

However to include its shadow

the rule had to be ignored.

 

 

Living street art in Melbourne.

 

~~~~~

A Photo a Week Challenge:….Off-Centre

~~~~~

~~~~~