Diana Australis' photos

Casa Vicens, one of Gaudi’s earliest designs, in Barcelona. I was entranced by its complexity and form, and by the imaginative exterior decoration. An older photo of mine, but one which resonates with me still. Hope everyone has a magical weekend. Mine will be full of singing!

This is the broadcasting headquarters of the state media in Tajikistan, with a most unusual lighting pole on the right hand side. The large digital image on the wall is of Emomali Rahman. He is, and has been , president of Tajikistan since 1994. Yes they have elections. He strangely wins them with 90% of the votes. We saw several hundred large images of him…digitally, on walls, billboards and all manner of public facilities throughout the country. Omnipresent. He has turned Dushanbe into a gleaming larger than life modern capital. It has a 175m high flagpole in the centre, it has buildings like the ultra gigantic new National Library, which only has books in one room as they cannot afford to fill it up. And people are poor. Interesting place…. Happy midweek, all ❤️

The Sanctuary in thé Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in rural ACT…the capital territory of Australia. About 35km from my home. This sanctuary wetland is home to a healthy colony of platypus. These animals are not commonly seen in Australia, so it is a treat to see them here. Happy Friday to all, and a peaceful, healthy and happy weekend.

An oldie but a favourite! I found this character on a branch just ahead of me on a jungle track in Sabah, Borneo. Needless to say, I did not push the acquaintance too far….they are venomous. I love its markings and red eyes! Have a fabulous new week..will try to get some visits in…have been insanely busy of late. Love to all…Diana

In the Wakhan Valley of Tajikistan, long ago a part of the Silk Route, are remains of many fortified walls and castles. To the right, across the river, is Afghanistan. This is the lower edge of the Pamir Mountains, and is the entrance to the remote high altitude Pamir Highway to Kyrgyzstan, a real adventure journey. Even more so on loaded camels trains, with lurking brigands and armed robbers abounding! HWW all..and a hug…

ÀCanberra landmark since its construction in 1959, the Shine Dome has received numerous awards and is one of seven projects the Royal Australian Institute of Architects has nominated to the World Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture. Many people think of Sydney as Australia’s Capital, but it is not. The capital is Canberra, a small, purpose designed and built city in the Australian Capital Territory. It is inland, in the lower levels of the Snowy Mountain Range, with a population of around 400,000. With embassies, the head departments of all government agencies, and federal Parliament House, it is a city with lots af cultural and artistic facilities. I have lived here for only 6 years, but have become a real lover of it. Happy Sunday, everyone.

At 3800meters in the Pamirs, in Tajikistan. This is the remote Pamir Highway, one of the great adventure journeys of the world. Mostly a single lane, and often pitted and washed away, it crosses a huge high altitude wilderness from Tajikistan, to Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang in China. Very little traffic uses it, and human settlements are very scarce in this treeless, almost barren landscape weathered by bitter cold, deep snows and winter blizzards. Yaks are the only livestock hardy enough to survive here..and there are not many of them. It was fabulous to traverse it! It took 2 full days to cross it! Have a lovely weekend all!

In far North Pakistan,crossing the Hunza River above Passu, and in front of the Passu Spires. Yes, I crossed it..over and back! Here is where the land begins to even out a little after the fledgling river drops from its high altitude beginning up near the China border on the Karakoram Highway. It flows down through the north here and combines with the Indus River as it curves in from Baltistan. These waters form the life blood of millions of people, providing drinking water, hydro power, and irrigation on their long journey to the Arabian Sea. Happy weekend! Be safe and cool….

At Iguazu Falls…one of the most dramatic natural wonders I have seen. The walkways take you out and across the ferocious currents amid the deafening thunder of water. And, of course, the walkways shake and one is drenched with spray. The falls are some kilometers in width. This is one point at the top with the name, in English, of the Devil’s Mouth, where there is a vortex of water which spins and hurtles down…a frighteningly long way. It was high water season, and one could also see the remains of a previous walkway which must have been hurled over the edge by an extra aggressive water flow. We have backpacked round here twice ….. and have been on both the Argentine and Brazilian sides, and also came in bus and ferry from Paraguay. I hope you have a safe weekend. The fires and heat in Europe are so distressing… Here is cold…. Best wishes D

In a very remote, roadless part of Kamchatka where we landed on zodiac boats, we tramped across the tundra in wellington boots and thick clothing. A summer day of 5°. This landing spot had a couple of dwellings used occasionally by National Park staff. We were tracking large Kamchatka bears….this is one of the typical walls of the houses….covered in iron grilles and plates to keep the marauding bears out of windows and vulnerable spots. The walls were clawed and scratched rather fearsomely. 12 years ago..but I remember it as if it was yesterday. This is John and me being nonchalant and frozen against the wall! Have a top week. Hope you are safe from fires, and from extreme heat. Cheers…D

From China, and from one of the millions of micro and mini e-vehicles darting around this vast country. Once a country of bicycles, now it is a hive of darting, silent e- bikes, trikes, mini cars, cars and sundry other e- vehicles. These little ones are popular runabouts for families who cannot afford full sized cars, are free of registration costs and omnipresent. Happy Friday …please stay safe from heat and fires. Peace to all. D

In the Wakhan Valley of Tajikistan in a remote area about one kilometer from Afghanistan border, we encountered a couple of these very old, traditional places of worship. The locals are Ismaili Muslims and this is the equivalent of their Jamat Khana or place for community meetings and prayers as they do not have mosques. This also had very local, ancient symbolism of prior religious practices, with ibex heads on the pillars at front, a small offering and incense aperture in front, and burning of juniper more akin to Buddhism. Very different from any I’ve seen anywhere else, but it is really remote, and on a branch of the Silk Route, which also carried Buddhism far and wide. Happy Wednesday to all. I hope you are keeping cool…..♥️

Tash Rabat is a well-preserved, 15th-century stone caravanserai nestled in the remote Tian Shan mountains of the Naryn Province in Kyrgyzstan. Located at an altitude of 3500meters, this ancient Silk Road inn features thick stone walls, multiple rooms, and a central domed hall.Originally believed to be built as a Nestorian monastery in the 10th century, it was later repurposed as a secure lodging and trading hub for merchants and their animals traveling to and from China. At this altitude high in the Tian Shan mountains, with bitterly cold winter temperatures its 2m thick walls provided safe refuge from both weather, and thieves. It is quite remote and a bumpy 4WDaccess. With a small summer encampment of yurts.. Happy Wednesday to all.

Ascending the Pamir Mountains in the Wakhan Corridor, at around 3000 meters. The road on the right side is in Afghanistan, the left side is the road we are on in Tajikistan. The border is that slender bit of river in the centre. The roof of the world….a huge, vast exhilarating emptiness. Been very busy lately sorry. A happy Sunday to all. Keep cool and safe from fires. Rather chill here! Love, Diana Looks best large…

Nestled in the heart of Brasilia, the Monument Os Candangos stands as a striking bronze sculpture that pays homage to the tireless workers who contributed to the construction of Brazil's capital. Inaugurated in 1959 by renowned artist Bruno Giorgi, this monument symbolizes not only modernity but also the strength and resilience of many laborers, particularly those from Northeast Brazil. They are situated in Praça Tres Poderes or Three Powers Plaza which is a plaza in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The name is derived from the presence of the three branches of government around the plaza: the Executive, represented by the Palácio do Planalto (presidential office); the Legislative represented by the National Congress of Brazil; and the Judiciary, represented by the Supreme Federal Court. The plaza was designed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer as a place where the three powers would meet harmoniously. It is now also a tourist attraction. This explains far better than me! It also has benches…..and a man who was going to be photographed at any cost….would not leave and kept posing . Have a fabulous new week!

In early June I headed down with my 12 person ladies ´choir to Merimbula on the south coast of NSW (Australia) to sing at the Jazz Festival there. We hire a luxury house with a small private beach and jetty..it can sleep 17. The bay here is very beautiful and sheltered, and the private jetty, seen here in this photo, is the home of a large and grumpy family of seals. So one cannot walk to the end of it. Several of the group kayak around, despite it being winter it was around 20°, and float in among the swimming seals. A lot of the time the seals fight, grunt, snort or lie like basking logs! Have a happy, hopefully not too hot weekend. Diana ❤️

Xinjiang State Museum courtyard on a snowy day at -17° This impressive museum contains many natural mummies, up to 4000 years old, which have survived intact in their burial clothing in shallow chambers in the desert sands around here, where in summer it is a merciless 40-50°C Please keep cool my friends in the Northern Hemisphere….the heat sounds awful. Chilly winter here Down Under

There is a bench in the background, and two long ones below the draped red talismans in the structure rear right. In Zhangye, China, on the Silk Route. This is the grounds of an ancient and revered Buddhist temple. As with everywhere in China these days, all public areas are spotless, with armies of cleaners constantly working at it. And no leaf blowers here! People do not litter and face penalties if they do…CCTV cameras with facial recognition everywhere. Have a fabulous new week everyone!