Saturday, January 31, 2009

Frangipani In The Summer Rain

Frangipani trees are blooming everywhere in Brisbane at the moment. Even though their flowers drop, they are still perfect, and you often find little carpets of them when you walk down the street. They look, feel and smell sensational! And a tasty hair accessory also.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Tallest Tree In The Jungle (tribute)

I just popped into the Museum of Brisbane on wednesday and saw a great exhibition of photos taken in Brisbane over the last 100 years. There was a photo similar to this which I really liked so I have blatantly gone out and taken my own version. The building is Riparian Plaza which gets the title of Brisbane's tallest tower only because of the big pole sticking on top of it. I was told it was put there purely to increase the height of the building.

Anyway. Happy Skywatch Friday!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Library Space Invaded!


The state library at South Bank is teeming with vidiots at the moment for the Game On exhibition - an interactive look at the history of computer games. No doubt there are plenty of 30/40-something dads dragging their kids along to show them what "real" computer games are all about... None of this XBox/Wii nonsense: sit down and get stuck into some table space invaders!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Roma Street Parkland


If you happen to wander through the Spectacle Garden in Roma Street Parkland, you'll see signs apologizing for it not being as spectacular as usual due to the storms from late last year... then I saw this. Not bad if you ask me.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Happy Australia Day, Digger!

There was a XXXX beer ad on in England several years back which sprang to mind when I took this picture... In the foreground is the Australian Vietnam War Memorial with the two sculpted soldiers looking thirstily towards the FourEx Brewery. I'll probably have a couple of beers today meself - just to sociable, like.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Traffic Stopping Art (number 7)

It's a bit like Sleeping Beauty meets King Kong...

To view the others in this series, click on the TSBs label below.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Talking Parrot Fashion

There are several species of parrot that live in and around the Brisbane area. These beauties are Rainbow Lorikeets who were happily chatting away when I saw them, tucked into their gum tree peering out at the world.

Friday, January 23, 2009

The Long Commute Home

Here's the CityCat again.... The most civilised way to get about town! This time in the pink drink which makes a nice change from the river's normal colour: a shade somewhere between old tea and dirty dishwater...

See a whole host of other skies posted today at Skywatch Friday.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

A Feast For the Eyes

Here's one of the windows in St. Stephen's Cathedral which adjoins the chapel in yesterday's post. It's a much grander church and the windows are really stunning. It was a job getting a variety of shots as all but one window were open because it was really hot. There are maybe another 9 like this plus 4 much bigger ones higher up towards the roof. I find it unbelievable that all this glass was shipped from Ireland, England, France and Germany in the nineteenth century. Can you imagine being responsible for this lot... months on a boat swaying side to side.... and every time there were storm clouds on the horizon...? It would be enough to give you a heart condition!

If you like this window, you might like to check out Marc's post from January 6th in Amsterdam Daily Photo. Thanks for the tips Marc!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Blessed Mary

This picture was taken at the back of St. Stephen's Chapel on Elizabeth Street which is the oldest church in Queensland. The sculpture is of Mary MacKillop . It's a powerful, rough depiction carved out of untreated wood and it takes up most of the little room it's in - not like the smooth, perfectly detailed art works you usually see in churches made out of marble. Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of her death and they had a bit of a do in the cathedral next to the chapel. It turns out she's been beatified and now well on the way to becoming Australia's first saint. Bless her!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Wacky Races


As I was walking through the Botanical Gardens yesterday, I came across the contestants of the Inaugral Yulia Felbermayr Challenge Cup. They had all designed and built these great little boats and were about to race them across the lily pond. The emphasis was definitely on the artistic side of things rather than the functional. I think only one entry managed to complete the five metre course... and that was probably just good luck. My favourite design - a duck on a raft with lots of mini hand-held fans blowing into a plastic bag sail (you can only see the sail in this snap) - ended up just going around in circles.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Traffic Stopping Art (number 6)

Today's signal box comes to you from Grey Street in South Bank. Nice one, Jil!

To view the other signal boxes in the series, click on the TSBs label below

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Holy Gothic Makeover, Batman!

The State Law Building in George Street - the one that looks like it belongs in a Batman film - is affectionately known to Brisbaners as "Gotham City" or the "Batman Building". At a glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was an old 1930s building but it's actually a standard run-of-the-mill high rise that had a fancy refurbishment a few years ago. I reckon it looks pretty classy. It's seen here from across the Brisbane River through a window in the Gallery of Moden Art.

Friday, January 16, 2009

In Need Of Some TLC


I came across this crumbling beauty the other day. I think the screen door adds comedy value.

This Queenslander is sitting under a typical Brisbane sky, so I've registered it on Skywatch Friday. Check out other skies from around the world here.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

(Not The) Way To Go

This is one of the building sites working on the Hale Street Link which is a 4 lane car bridge that will soon span the Brisbane River. (Insert huge eyeroll here.) You have to admire the council for it's unshakeable belief that it is going to be the first city in the world to solve its traffic problems by building more roads. In the meantime, the city is getting used to blockages and road closures which will be in place until the project is finished probably mid-late 2010.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Way To Go!

Here we go: the reason I moved to Brisbane. The CityCat. There is simply no better way to travel. Standing at the front of the boat with the wind in your hair and the warm sun reflecting off your sunglasses... and they call this public transport! Bring it on.

I would have posted a better picture giving you an overall sense of the boat in motion...but I'm a sucker for a wave and a smile.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Why Not?

I love this street name. So relaxed and agreeable which to my mind is typically Australian. Can you imagine what was going on when it got it's name? Probably a few cold beers for a start!



This one's right around the corner from Soundsgood Road.



Had ya going there didn't I?

Monday, January 12, 2009

Golden Orb Weaver

This warm time of year in Brisbane is ideal for spiders and one of the city's most prolific is the Golden Orb Weaver. They are great and that is coming from a complete wimp from London. The best thing about them is that they just hang out in their webs which are usually thoughtfully constructed above or to the side of paths and roads. They don't jump out at you unexpectedy or come in your house and look at you while you sleep or kill you. They just hang out - outside. The female (like the one shown here) grows up to 10cms and the male is about 5 mm which must make for an interesting love life.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Traffic Stopping Art (number 5)

Here we are again on our stroll around the busy junctions of Brisbane where most (there are some left) signal boxes are adorned with art done by locals. This one really stands out against the largely white and grey business tones of Cordelia Street on the south side of the river.

Click on the TSBs label below for the rest in the series.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

This Bus Terminates Here

Introducing another of Brisbane's bridges - The Eleanor Schonell bridge connecting Dutton Park with the University of Queensland. It's only a year old and is more commonly known as the "Green Bridge" because the only types of traffic allowed to use it are pedestrians, cyclists and buses. Brisbane is trying hard to give itself a green, clean image. I'm a bit confused by it, though. The university won't allow buses to drive through the campus so the buses drive over the bridge and terminate there at the uni. This doesn't seem very green to me. Surely they could have built the terminus on the Dutton Park side of the bridge, built a cycle/footbridge instead making it far more environmentally friendly and saved millions??

Friday, January 9, 2009

Balcony Sunset

I was looking up at the sky on Monday evening while I was at a friend's house thinking - why didn't I bring my camera?? Luckily another friend on a balcony in Bowen Hills had his to hand. That's the Old Museum in the foreground. Thanks Garry!

This picture is part of Skywatch Friday. People from all over the world post a picture on Fridays of the sky where they live. Check out some more here.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Tower Power

This is one of Brisbane's television transmitter towers that sits up on top of Mount Coot-tha. If you have a tv aerial in Brisbane, it is probably pointed in this direction. Funnily enough if you stood directly below it with a TV set and pointed the aerial at it to get a picture, you'd get an awful reception because of the shape of the waves coming out of the top of the tower.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Musgrave Park

This is one of two big boomerangs that mark the southern entrance to Musgrave Park in South Brisbane. The park is an important Aboriginal site and is said to be sacred, having a buried bora ring beneath it. Brisbane celebrates Pride here in June, NAIDOC day in July, and it is also home to the city's annual Greek Festival, Paniyiri in May. Each year they hold a "Zorbathon" where they try and get as many people as possible to dance to Zorba the Greek. Apparently the record is 3300 people for 8 minutes! That photo is definately on my to-do list.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Stink Bug

This beautiful creature is one of dozens that live on the tree directly outside my front gate. They call it a Stink Bug. Poor thing. Apparently, to defend themselves they release a nasty smell but luckily my camera didn't seem to pose too much of a threat. Other names for them are Harlequin Bug, Shield-Backed Bug , Jewel Bug or if you happen to be Latin, Tectocoris diophthalmus.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Hangover

I have mentioned before here about the pairs of shoes tied together dangling from power lines across the city.... but yesterday I came across this pair of kegs. Looks like it was a good party!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Traffic Stopping Art (number 4)

Sunday again and time for your weekly dose of traffic signal box art - this time coming to you from the corner of North Quay and the William Jolly Bridge. The fella on the box is wearing a top with the Aboriginal flag on it. The flag was designed in 1971 and is said to represent black skin, red earth and ochre sun.

To see the others in the series, click on the "TSBs" label below.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Multiplication And Division

According to the 2006 census, there are about 1.8 million residents of Brisbane (lots more now, I'd say). Since I moved here in August 2005, about 153,000 others have too. As I am still on a break from work, I have done the maths for you - it's about 860 a week... which makes it the fastest growing city in Australia. The traditional quarter-acre block with a Queenslander on it is becoming a rarity with the blocks being divided as the population multiplies. I like this block of apartments because of the sheer scale of it.

By the way - I'm back from my time away at the Woodford Folk Festival which is about 80kms north of Brisbane. I have been debating with myself as to whether I should post a picture from there as so many people from Brisbane travel there each year. Everywhere you look there's a photograph waiting to happen... but I have decided to be a purist. Brisbane only!

Also - thanks for all the great comments and apologies for no Brisbane New Year shots.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Size Matters

Did I mention about the Gallery of Modern Art? I can't plug it enough, it's brilliant. And they let you take photos upstairs. That was where I came across this huge and lovely lady by sculptor Ron Mueck who looks a bit like she's got something on her mind. At least she had lots of bedside visitors.


I'm off for a few days. Posting will (hopefully) continue while I'm away.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Cooking with GoMA Gas!

I nipped down to the Gallery of Modern Art earlier in the week which is just such a brilliant and imaginative place to walk around. And it's free. Every school holidays, it's teeming with kids who are encouraged to get involved in loads of kids' exhibits. Parents usually get into this as much as the kids (me included).


I'm off for a few days. Posting will (hopefully) continue while I'm away.
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