Australian Skies

From all angles, Australian skies can be dramatic. From the plane, the promise of an unusual sky could be felt as we viewed the thick cloud cover changing faces continually.

It began looking like this, as we flew over Australian airspace:

Then it changed to this, with a strange light emanating from what looked like the crater of a volcano:

The clouds then decided to break up into smaller cotton balls, drifting towards the horizon, if that white line in the distance could be accurately called a horizon, that is.

 I like this look better - puffy cotton candy, waiting to be rolled round a stick:

The cotton candy decided to merge into a thick blanket, soft and warm:

But the greatest surprise was when after the clouds dispersed... and this ball came drifting by the window!

Yes, Mr Moon went smiling past us! A first for me, let me tell you. Hmm, what else is in store...? You tell me.

On land, in the daytime, you couldn't help being cheered by the blue skies and white clouds.

And you couldn't do without your sunglasses.

Earth's vital rhythm

heat and light tempered by shade

grey clouds appease glare

For Haiku Heights 

and 

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Shadow Shot!

Oh, and when it rained, the rainbow always, yes, almost always turned up to dispel the downcast feeling that rains are wont to give us easily dampened mortals. We had three appearances of rainbows within that rainy spell, and one of the appearances was a special treat, it was a double rainbow! And that had to be the day I was out without my camera!!!

Dusk was another story, with blue skies gradually turning a lighter shade of pale ( can't help using this line from the song, as that's what they actually transform into...)

At sunset, the colours of the setting sun emerge in many hues clamouring for attention.

With the sun sinking into the horizon, yes, this is a real horizon,thus ends our story of Australian skies, as has been told by these storks from father to son. No, not really. These storks are getting ready for bed as the skies darken...

Good night, and may tomorrow be again another day filled with blue skies for you. Failing that, and if it rains, may there always be a rainbow at the end of the rain, and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, for you!

Linking to:
Our World Tuesday
Outdoor Wednesday
Sensational Haiku Wednesday 
Water World Wednesday
Share The Joy Thursday
Haiku My Heart
Skywatch Friday

Haiku Heights Saturday

Scenic Sunday
Shadow Shot
Macro Monday

Mosaic Monday

Tropical Sky

A particularly bright blue sky above Mygardenhaven. The billows of clouds added to the perfection of the skyscape. Who wouldn't feel like singing on a day like this? The birds were chirping, the fish were splashing...all's well with the world when there's a sky like this above.

A beautiful day, don't you think, for a seagull to come and perch on my garden window sill?






Even the coconut palms are swaying gleefully to the rhythm of the wind.

Linking to:

Skywatch Friday

Night and Day

These two photographs are taken from the same window looking out on Barcelona...one taken when the streetlights create shadows in the middle of the night, and the other taken when daylight fills the scene with clarity. My attempt at haiku below seeks to address the question...is it better to give in to the honesty of night, when fears and worries surface, or let the day's bright lights hide all of one's problems? Contradictions, contradictions...life is filled with contradictions.

Night's apprehensions 

Dark and brooding , curdled mind

Day veils tortured thoughts

Linking to:

Skywatch

Haiku My Heart

Carry On Tuesday

Hazy Summer days of Hong Kong - Repulse Bay

For the whole week I was in Hong Kong, the sky was barely visible. There was a thin veil of haze that made me think of the song, Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer. Think of this Nat King Cole song as referring to Hong Kong in a lazy, hazy summer...no soda and pretzels and beer but we did feel like singing a song of cheer!

Sky watching  was a totally different experience...no sign of clouds, nor sun nor moon!
But it did add a misty, mysterious atmosphere which turned out to be quite beautiful, contrasted with the bright, colourful statues in the Chinese Garden by the bay.

Linked to:
 Skywatch Friday 
Thursday Theme Song

Ports of Call #1 - Singapore...Harbour Sights, Marina Delights

Trains and boats and planes...remember these lines from the lyrics of a Burt Bacharach song of the same title?

Trains and bloats and planes are passing by
They mean a trip to Paris or Rome
For someone else but not for me
The trains and the boats and planes...


I've got loads of photographs capturing these forms of transportation and more...all requisites  in the life of a traveller. I'm using these snapshots for my new series about all the different ports of call that I have had the pleasure of viewing from the vantage point of a sailor approaching land and shouting "Land Ahoy!" (Do they ever say this?) Anyway, in my series we'll be calling out "Ship ahoy!" as we spot all kinds of  ships, tugboats  and yachts. There will be sky and sea scapes, plus coastline landscapes for our viewing pleasure while we anticipate our dream cruise to take us to foreign shores.

This first post covers Singapore Harbour from which the cruise-ship departed when I went on my cruise to Langkawi and Phuket last week. Next in this series I will feature ports where we disembarked on the Western Mediterranean Cruise which I took last year in May.

A new post-modern architectural wonder being added to the Singapore skyline.

A water feature comprising gigantic mechanised  birds off Sentosa Island.

Is that a little tugboat pulling the huge schooner? The cable car line above connects Singapore to Sentosa Island.

We're sailing away..see you soon, Singapore!

Pretty heavy traffic here!

For more fabulous watery images, go visit Watery Wednesday.
For dramatic or clear skies, visit Skywatch Friday
Thursday Theme Song is fun...visit Hootin' Anni's.