Rainforest Walks

Tamborine National Park on Tamborine Mountain is in the Gold Coast Hinterland ("The green behind the gold") and has many walking tracks in the six sections of the park. Most walking tracks are short and can be walked within a few hours and are relatively easy although some tracks have short, steep grades. At 600m above sea level, Tamborine plateau is consistently 5 degrees cooler than the adjacent flatlands or tsunami estates of the Gold Coast. Average daytime temperatures are 17 degrees Celsius in winter and 25 degrees Celsius in summer. The area averages 1500mm of rain a year, most of which falls between December and April.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 @ ISO 400, f2.8, 11mm, 1/25sec

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 @ ISO 400, f2.8, 11mm, 1/50sec

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 @ ISO 400, f2.8, 11mm, 1/25sec

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 @ ISO 400, f2.8, 11mm, 1/25sec

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 @ ISO 400, f2.8, 11mm, 1/10sec

28°- Showers

We had heavy rain overnight here on Mt Tamborine in Queensland and more rain is forecast for today. It was a pleasant 24 degrees at 7 am so I walked around the yard and took a few pictures between showers.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f3.5, 1/30 sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f8, 1/15 sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f3.2, 1/50 sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f8, 1/15 sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f8, 1/15 sec

Subtropical Rain - A Rainy Boxing Day

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f2.0, 1/160sec

It has rained quite a bit and today its teaming. In subtropical climates the winters are relatively warm with hot and wet summers. Plants such as palms, citrus and broadleaf evergreens flourish here. Rainfall patterns resemble a more northern monsoonal 'wet' season with warm temperate conditions along the coastal strip in SE Queensland. Its interesting that rain plays a role in the hydrologic cycle. The earth is a 'losed' system, like a bubble, and there is as much water on the plantet as there ever has been or ever will be, this never changes. (barring a cataclismic event:-) Moisture from the oceans and water evaporates and vapor from plant respiration rises, condenses into drops, falls from the sky, and eventually returns to the ocean via rivers and streams to repeat the cycle again. So pherhaps molacules of water you drink from a glass of water could have been anywhere in the world at some time.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f2.0, 1/1600sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f8.0, 1/200sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f8.0, 1/125sec

Grasshopper References

A grasshopper is a sweet, mint flavored drink. The drinks name is from the green color of the crème de menthe. The drink was popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

Ingredients:

15 ml Crème de menthe (green)

15 ml Crème de cacao (white)

60 ml Fresh cream

Mixing instructions:

In a shaker filled with ice cubes, combine the crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and fresh cream. Shake well for about 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Enjoy

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f2.0, 1/125sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f3.8, 1/30 sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f4.8, 1/20 sec

Do you hear the grasshopper at your feet?

How is it that I hear these things?

How is it that you do not?

Quickly as you can Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand.

When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.

Kung Fu TV Series - Michael Caine 1972

Fairies and a final Buddha

Well I did find quite a number of Fairies around the house.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f8.0, 1/6sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f8, 1/160 sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f3.0, 1/6 sec

And a dragon

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f3.0, 1/25 sec

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f8.0, 1/250sec
Finally a Buddha I missed yesterday . . .

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, f8.0, 1/40sec

Buddha and Fairies

I notice a lot of buddha statues at the Queensland house, and this made me wonder why we seem to have a preocupation with collecting these idols and whta is the attraction ans calming influence they may evoke.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, f2.8, 11mm, 1/200sec

Buddha means ‘Awakened One’, someone who has awakened from ignorance and sees things as they really are. Every living being has the same basic wish, that is to be happy and to avoid suffering.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 140mm f2.8, 1/200 sec

When things go wrong in our life and we encounter difficult situations we tend to regard the situation itself as the problem, but in reality whatever problems we experience come from the mind.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 70mm f2.8, 1/320 sec

If we were to respond to difficult situations with a positive or peaceful mind they would not be problems for us, we may even come to regard them as challenges or opportunities for growth and development. Problems arise when we respond to difficulties with a negative state of mind.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/160 sec

And then there's a lot of fairies! Don't start me on the fairies . . . .

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 70mm f2.8, 1/250 sec