These are just three of the many reasons I love Oz. Most of the creatures are very friendly!
Tasmanian countryside.
Old church, in the former penal colony,
Port Arthur, Tasmania.
Tasmanian,
flora is unique and stunning.
Old Government House, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney.
Flower Arrangement in the Government House. We met and chatted with the Governor of New South Wales while touring Government House where she lives (I told you, Oz is a friendly place!)
Royal botanical garden Sydney.
Cheers to you from just a few of the reasons I love Oz~
Hi Cindy,
Yeah you right!π³π¦
Phenomenal views!(first picππ)
Have a lovely Day!π
You too Amit & thank you! α
Wonderful old architecture, and the flowers… wow!
There flowers are just amazing! α
Wow.. Thanks for sharing such beauty πΉπ
Thank you more for your kind appreciation α
Welcome dear π»
Yes Cindy, we are spoilt indeed down here…and it seems to go on forever π
Two trips have yielded a lifetime of photos. I wonder what three would do!! I’m thinking of Kakadu… α
Lol…better pack some big bags then dear lady…you won’t want to go home. There’s 20,000 sq kilometers to get lost in up there. Mind you, not a virus within another million miles either. And you might need a couple of spare batteries for your camera too π π€£
P.S. By the way, I’ve tried to comment so many times on here but the dreaded ‘lost into the ethers’ bug has got me. I was surprised my comment got through today. So I’m not ignoring you, just pot luck which comment comes through π β€οΈ ππ½ π¦
Just reading what you said makes me want to go even more. I love the sort of place that burns through memory cards and even cameras! Oz, Africa & Antarctica are all such. I really want to go to Kakadu. The comment thing happened to me a long time ago. With me it was askimet stopping my comments. I contacted them through wordpress and they fixed it. Good luck with this and glad your comment made it through α
Ah, thank you for that, I shall look a little deeper at Askimet then and see if they are the problem. As for Kakadu, just ask and make sure they’ve had a good previous wet season and it should be a beautiful wander. After our ten year drought it had become a little worse for wear π β€οΈ ππ½ π¦
Helpful tip. Thank you Mark. I am researching Kakadu and Darwin area now α
What beautiful, and colorful, images, Cindy!
Thank you Lavinia & Happy Valentine’s Day α
Australia is a country I would love to visit – and you provide even more compelling reasons why!
I want to go back a third time. Same with Africa! α
What wonderful architecture! And of course the bird and flowers are gorgeous,
Thanks my friend and Happy Valentines Day α
I love visiting Tasmania Cindy, truly one of the worlds island havens….
It is such a beautiful place. Two trips to Oz has given me a lifetime of photos. α
And there is more πππ
I know…. So much more! Kakadu is calling to me α
Yeah. You could spend a lifetime here and still not see it all ππ
Beautiful. While they have friendly creatures they also have some of the most deadly creatures on earth.
Yes they do indeed. I have very luckily avoided them on both my trips. I did get a photo of a huge red bellied snake though….
I would love to visit there.
I hope you do and share your photos too! α
Do I see a pink flame lilly? wow!
https://wordpress.com/post/thededengblog.wordpress.com/455
Yes! There were several big, beautiful bouquets of these stunning blooms! α
Woah!
α
Beautiful! I am looking forward to a trip there after I retire in 16 months. π (or when we can travel again …)
Hopefully you should be able to be up, up and away, in 16 months! I look forward to traveling with you virtually! α
Beautiful photos. You can keep coming back and never run out of places to visit Cindy. We are booked for an art retreat in Tasmania for November. I do hope it happens, so hard to book that far ahead….
Wonderful about the November trip! I hope it happens too. We are talking about travel plans for late summer, with our fingers crossed. α
Never know if we will get to go to things we plan for our future outings
So true. We are talking about going to Darwin and Kakadu.
Youβll love the bird life up there, an amazing area. Hope you make it
Hope we both do and so good to be talking to you! α
π€
Beautiful photos, Cindy! I thought the church was a castle and was ready to start packing! π
Have a great week and stay safe!
Pack anyway. There are castles in Oz. There would have to be, or it wouldn’t be Oz!! π
Good point! π
π
What a beautiful area and great photos. Envy you getting to visit so many places. I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand. My father loved it and died in Christ Church. But my husband didn’t want to fly that far, so we just went to mostly western Europe and one time to Prague. The natural beauty of so much of the world is glorious. I have been part of the View from My Window on face book during the quarantine showing the views from so many people’s windows all over the world. It has been a wonderful experience. But gave me new travel lust!
I love My View! It is a window on the world that is so refreshing when we need to stay put. Your travel lust is so good for you. I hope you get to go where you wish, soon my friend α
Awesome pictures from Australia, Cindy! And you are right when you say that people there are very friendly. I have been to Sydney and Melbourne. I would love to visit Tasmania. Thanks so much, my friend! Have a safe and wonderful week! π
Thank you Fabio. I am glad you have been, and experienced the Aussie hospitality. It is quite a nice change, especially considering the animosity we have been suffering through in America for the last four years. α
Dear Cindy, I have nephews in Melbourne who have a very good life. Children have a special place in society and they have all kinds of entertainment. They love to be outdoors, as you know. I have a son who lives in Christchurch NZ, He and his family have peace of mind. As you mentioned in your comment, it is hard not to compare their situation with our political climate. Anyway, let’s hope for the best. Thanks so much! Please take care, my friend! π
I agree with you Fabio and it is sad that things have gotten so acrimonious here.
Thanks so much, Cindy, for your well based comment! Take care, my friend!
α
WunderschΓΆne Bilder aus Australien, Cindy. Ich kenne das Land leider nicht, war nie dort.
Vielen Dank fΓΌr Ihre Nachdenklichkeit Ernst. Australien ist ein einzigartiger und schΓΆner Ort. Bleib sicher und gut, mein Freund α
I love it too for all those reasons and more. Fab photos as always Cindy.
Merci beaucoup mon ami Sheree α
De rien Cindy
<3
I love your amazing shorts, thank you for sharing, Cindy. π
You are very welcome my friend α
Amazing place Cindy. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for appreciating Gary & cheers to you α
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Some lovely pictures of Australia and Tasmania taken by Cindy Knoke.
Hugs & gratitude flying to you Patricia. You are a thoughtful friend my friend α
Very understandable, Cindy, beautiful captures!
Thank you Donna. Stay well my friend α
The only continent I haven’t made it to. I am ready π I LOVE the last picture, so detailed. I might steal it and it will end up on my screensaver, not that I would ever admit doing such a thing.
It is definitely not stealing when I invite you to use this or any photo on your screensaver. It is the least I can do for a friend like you! α
Great architecture! I love the lotus.
There is something fascinating about the lotus isn’t there α
Beautiful photos! I can see why you’d love the place. <3
Thank you Eliza. You would be in heaven with the flora my friend α
Church & Govt House: classic Scottish Baronial style! An unexpected pleasure to see it transported from the Highlands to such lovely surroundings…
Yes indeed. There is a strong British influence still present in Australia. It definitely adds to the charm, but maybe I’m biased, three of my grandparents were from The UK α
Your summery photos make me nostalgic for the season filled with warmth, blue sky, and an abundance of flowers, Cindy. Are these pictures from your archives? Tasmania must be a great place to visit.
These photos are still part of my 2020 trip collection. If you spend six weeks in Oz you will have photos to last a life time! Tasmania is definitely an amazingly beautiful and unspoiled place α
Perhaps it is so beautiful and unspoiled because it is a remote island and not swamped with tourists like so many other places.
Exactly, and mostly unpopulated.
I think I love Oz too. Those are gorgeous.
I <3 my friends who <3 Oz! Thank you Jacqui α
Who wouldn’t love it ?
Well, there are a couple people I can think of who don’t seem to value nature and wild creatures, but thankfully, I don’t personally know them α
Ah….that’s actually very sad for them.
It is. And, if they are policy makers, sad for the world.
That’s the truth.
I understand why you love it there. The buildings you photographed are beautiful, so the plants and everything else. One day you can go again!
I hope so! Thank you my friend & stay safe and well α
Very nice, the first picture stands out as so cute π and the last picture is graciously lovely!
You are a lovely friend. Thank you & be well α
One of these years… I hope to visit there… once things settle.
Thanks for the armchair tour ((Hugs))
Hugs to you Jules & I hope things settle soon so you can go to Oz! α
I’ve always wanted to visit Oz but the long flight has deterred me. Thank you for taking me there with your beautiful photos!
Thank you Teresa and yes, the flight is daunting, but doable, don’t let it stop you. I don’t like long flights, but I like where they take me! α
Magical photos all around! Love the close-ups of all the florals best.
Thank you so much and very pleased you enjoyed the flowers! α
I love the unique flowers and architecture Cindy! Your photos bring them to life, along with your passion for travel and teaching. How fun that you met and chatted with the Governor of NSW. But I’m confused, I thought Oz was in Kansas? π β€οΈ
He probably visited Oz when Dorothy was there, but I am pretty sure he lives permanently in Oz, inventing odd critters and unique plants! π
LOL. π
Gorgeous colors, awesome images.
Great post, Cindy!
You are very kind Sheila. Thank you α
Cindy, these are stunning! Such interesting old buildings, and I love the flowers (especially the one that looks like a bottle-brush! Was it soft, or did you touch it?)
Aww, thank you Debbie. I didn’t touch them, but they are gorgeous aren’t they. αα
Ah, the Botanic Gardens…should have been there by now..but maybe next year. The red flowers, we called Red Hot Pokers when we were in the 1960s in Scotland. They were very popular then but I have not seen as frequently since the 80s. We DO have ring necked Parakeets however in various places in Ayrshire Scotland. I have not seen any myself but they are reported within 10 miles of my house, so I’ll keep an eye out for them.
Yes, I have heard of the Indian Red Necks in the UK. Amazing they have adapted to the winters. We have Amazon parrots here. Parrots are incredibly intelligent and obviously quite adaptive birds. I hope you find them. Follow their loud calls and cacks at dusk α
Amazing and especially during this awful part of winter. Photographs of Lorikeets, green grass and beautiful flowers. Can’t ask for more than that. Just wonderful.
Awww, so happy to send you some Ozian warmth Gigi. Stay warm & safe my friend αα
Reblogged this on GrannyMoon's Morning Feast.
So appreciate your thoughtfulness my friend. Thank you and take good care α
A fine set. I liked the botanical gardens in Sydney
Thank you Derrick. The gardens are quite a wonderland. α
Oz is gorgeous!
It is! α
Interesting architecture and lovey flora and fauna Cindy.
Leslie xoxo
Thanks much Leslie & happy you enjoyed α
Cindy if you email me your address I’ll send you the paintings. My email is swo8.blues.jazz@gmail.com
Leslie
Oh my goodness! I am so excited to see them and so deeply touched by your kindness Leslie. Thank you my thoughtful friend. I will email you directly. Stay safe and well α α
Cindy, they were such a delight to paint. It brought back memories of my two sons who were close in age and would play together. Our older son would climb into the crib and play with his brother at a very early age. They are still close today. I would be honoured to send them to you.
Leslie xoxo
The story about your son climbing into his brother’s crib to play with him is utterly precious and sounds just like the twins, who climb into each other’s cribs for the exact same reason! How wonderfully thoughtful of you to paint these for our family. I have told my daughter and son in law of your kindness and they are touched and moved, as we all are.Β Love and gratitude to you my friend. May you stay safe, well and warm.Β With deepest appreciation & love. Thank you Leslie. αα
PS- I have emailed you our address.
I love Oz too! Especially when I visit with you as my companion!!!
I love traveling with you Rebecca α
What a beautiful and fruitful little paradise! Love the church and the castle!
Stay safe, dear Cindy!
Thanks so much Martha. You stay safe and well too my friend α
I’ve never been to OZ but your pictures make me want to book the next flight (once I can, that is). We don’t have those castles, but we are lucky to have similar flora, including those amazing red hot pokers/torch lilies.
I hope you do go someday, and how nice for you! I have the agaves, but not those stunning torch lilies α
Beautiful photos. I am so pleased I found your site. π
Thank you very much and I am so happy you did too. Cheers to you Michele α
Cheers to you too! I look forward to more of your photos and posts.
Lovely to meet you here in our wonderful virtual community Michele α
Fantabulous shots, Cindy! Who could be mean in such a beautiful place?
It is true! α α
The bird and the smile seem to say it all, Cindy.
Yes. Thank you. Both were so lovely α
Good to hear, Cindy. I’m sure I would love your country just as much, but at the moment, I’m really glad I live in Australia.
There’s supposed to be over a 100 bird species in the park & nature reserve behind my apartment building, but I think I’ve only seen about 15.
That is amazing. And of course, you have all the parrot species, whom I especially love α
I can see why you love Oz! The church in the former penal colony looks like a fairy tale princess castle.
It does look like that, on an idyllic island, but it was surrounded by a prison! α
Just goes to show that all is not as it seems . . .
Yes. Port Arthur was a former penal colony. α
Gorgeous flora and a welcome sight in the middle of our very snowy winter here . . .
Happy you enjoyed Kay and hope you stay safe & well α
YESβοΈl really agree with you and pictures look like getting lively just after the rainπΈ
I came with the rains, after the fires, the relief was palpable in both humans and animals.
I love Oz too, my friend. Iβve been to Adelaide. And I hope to visit the other parts of Oz one day. (ΰΉ α» β‘Ν α» ΰΉ)οΎβ‘
We are talking about returning as well…. Too bad I can’t just tap my ruby shoes!
β₯(Λβ£ΛΤ )
Great pictures from friendly Oz and its pretty flowers and unique buildings! I loved the rose-colored edges on the bud in the last photo!
Thank you Kathy. Lotus flowers are so delicate looking and lovely. Happy you enjoyed α
Thank you for taking us along with you. I loved the trip. π Hugs
You are an awesome travel companion Marlene! Stay safe, well, and WARM my friend. I hope you are still safely ensconced in a warm place αα
We got power yesterday so only 5 days out of the house. Internet came back this morning so I have a happy daughter who doesn’t have to drive to the office again for internet access. Just tossed a lot of groceries though. ;( Time to go out and clean up wind damaged branches. Life wants me busy and not sitting around. ;)) All is well here. I wish the motel expense could have been used on a REAL vacation though.
Yes, I wish you could have had a real vacation too. But covid is making that pretty difficult, even for Ted Cruz!! π Stay warm Marlene α
π π π Thanks for the giggle, Cindy.
Cindy, thank you so much for these wonderful photographs!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here are some wonderful photographs from Cindy Knoke!
I am so lucky to be part of a talented community with people like you in it Charles. Thank you my friend & stay well α
That church is beautiful although I am sure as it was a penal colony it has many dark secrets…The only part of Oz we have visited thus far is WA…It has some stunning scenery quite wild in places but so very beautiful. As always Cindy your images are stunning π x
Ahhh, thank you very much Carol. Yes. I have been to quite a few penal colonies and such, and there is always this air of sadness to them, which the beauty cannot erase. α
Wow nice trip!
I’d love to go to Tasmania.
It’s a bit spooky how the colonialist architecture is so evident, at first the pics could be in the UK.
True. It is so beautiful, but it was a penal colony and thus definitely spooky and sad too…. α
Are the birds there so fearless or they trust to anybody?!
This lady came up because the birds were on our picnic table. Birds do tend to frequent areas like picnic grounds where they know there will be food and crumbs about. This happens everywhere. Wild birds are more bold and friendly at picnics!! π α
I just love this, Cindy!
So happy you do Jennie & cheers to you my friend α
π
The lotus at the end looks amazing ! β€
Thank you! I am pleased you enjoyed it and told me. Cheers my friend α
Such lovely places, beautiful flowers and colourful bird π
Thank you sincerely Lakshmi. Your kindness is much appreciated α
liebe Cindy, beste GrΓΌΓe von mir zu dir, Klaus
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund Klaus α
So nice to see tropical images.
Stay safe and warm Eunice. The weather is so scary α
Yes and us having clearly no control.
That is the worst, and maybe most honest feeling.
Sadly when one nation does this to the world it is plain sickening π so much loss due to Covid 19 and now its counterparts but on a good note less flu deaths as many are indeed washing hands, isolating and mask wearing of course when near others. I know I have never been healthier lung wise I was always sick with germy people and kids they were the worst not sure how teachers hold up with 30 to a room π
As you so accurately said, so much uncertainty and powerlessness. α
I have two dear friends who live near Sydney, thank you for sharing your beautiful photos of their world, Cindy!
I am so pleased you enjoyed and thank you for letting me know Thank you for letting me know α
Your photography is always a delight!
And you delight me by saying this. Thank you α
Beautiful photos!
Much appreciated Anna, thank you. α
Beautiful series, Cindy. Brought back fond memories of visiting these places. Australia is indeed a friendly place. π
Thank you Jane. We need friendly faces most especially now α
Pingback: Sunday Post β 21st February, 2021 #Brainfluffbookblog #SundayPost | Brainfluff
Much appreciated. Thank you & cheers!
Quite beautiful. You are safe from most of the world’s evil and woes. ππ»
Thank you. I wish I was. Be safe and well my friend α
The old church in the penal colony looks fascinating. What is it called, so we can look it up?
It is called the Convict Church in Port Arthur Tasmania. It was built by convicts who lived in the penal colony. See this: https://www.churchesoftasmania.com/2018/12/no-303-convict-church-at-port-arthur.html
This is a topic that’s near to my heart… Take care! Where are your contact details though?