MY SUNDAY BEST MEME #82 - 3,423 KM FAR

Welcome to the meme, "My Sunday Best", which is a photographic and creative meme that allows you to showcase your talents in imaging. Every Sunday, you can post here showing an image you have created using your camera, (and/or) image processing software, and/or painting and drawing in the conventional way and have scanned in.

The rules are simple:

1) Create your image and post it up on your blog;

2) Put the "My Sunday Best" logo image link somewhere on your post so people can click and come by here;

3) Leave a comment here once you have posted;

4) Visit other posters' blogs and be amazed with their creativity!

Please do not use this meme to advertise your goods or services. This is a creative meme and any inappropriate links or comments shall be removed immediately!

The Warrego Highway is located in southern Queensland, Australia. It connects coastal centres to the south western areas of the state, and is approximately 750 km in length. It takes its name from the Warrego River, which is the endpoint of the highway. The entire highway is part of the National Highway system linking Darwin and Brisbane: formerly National Highway 54, Queensland began to convert to the alphanumeric system much of Australia had adopted in the early-2000s and is now designated as National Highway A2.

Driving from Brisbane to Darwin on this highway would be 3,423 km and would take about 40 hours driving at the speed limits along the way. It's quite far...

This post is part of the My Sunday Photo meme,

and also part of the Photo Sunday meme.

AUSTRALIA DAY 2016 TOUR

Australia (officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia), is an Oceanian country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.

For about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages grouped into roughly 250 language groups. After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788.

The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing crown colonies were established. On 1 January 1901, the six colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. Since federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and several territories.

The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated in the eastern states and on the coast. Australia is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the world's 12th-largest economy. In 2014 Australia had the world's fifth-highest per capita income. Australia's military expenditure is the world's 13th-largest. With the second-highest human development index globally, Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights. Australia is a member of the United Nations, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organisation, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Pacific Islands Forum.

Here is my photographic tour of our country, through the major urban centres and a taste of the Outback.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Trees & Bushes meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wednesday Waters meme,
and also part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Darwin from the air

Darwin local government buildings

Darwin, Galleria Mall

 QUEENSLAND

Brisbane skyline

Brisbane Mall

Brisbane, Treasury Casino

Brisbane, Story Bridge

 NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney, Opera House

Sydney Harbour Bridge 

Sydney - Manly

Sydney - Darling Harbour

 VICTORIA

Melbourne skyline and the Eureka Tower

Melbourne Town Hall and St Paul's Cathedral

Melbourne - Flinders St Station

Melbourne Lanes

 TASMANIA

Hobart rush hour

Hobart Harbour

Hobart - Salamanca Place

 AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Canberra - Parliament Building

Canberra - Ethos Place

Canberra - Australian War Memorial

 SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide - Festival Centre

Adelaide - Art Gallery of South Australia

Adelaide - Glenelg

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Perth skyline

Perth - St Mary's Cathedral

Perth - King's Park

Perth - Fremantle

THE OUTBACK

Uluru (Ayers' Rock)

A waterhole

And there is a lot of empty space too!

CALABASH TREE

Crescentia cujete, commonly known as the Calabash Tree, is species of flowering plant that is native to Central and South America. It is the national tree of St. Lucia. It is naturalised in India. It is a dicotyledonous plant with simple leaves, which are alternate or in fascicles (clusters) on short shoots.

It is also known as Ayale (English), Calabacero (Spain), Cuité (Brazil) Totumo (Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru), Taparo (Venezuela), Mate (Ecuador), Huinga (Peru), Pate (Peru), Cuyabra (Colombia), Cujete (Spain, Philippines), Miracle Fruit (Philippines), Kalbas (Dominica and St. Lucia), Higuera (Puerto Rico).

This species is now widely grown throughout the tropics of both the Old World and New World for its fruits, which are used to make bowls, cups, jugs, water containers, and other utensils, as well as (often decorated) ornaments and musical instruments. It is also grown as an ornamental. Tying and training the growing fruits can reportedly produce a range of shapes. Blocks of calabash bark and wood, as well as the trees themselves, have been used for growing orchids.

The pulp of the fruit is poisonous and has been used in some areas for traditional medical treatments. Reportedly, the seeds are sometimes cooked and eaten. These trees are commonly encountered on hillside pastures, along roadsides, and wherever they are planted by humans, occurring especially in drier areas. They are easily propagated from seeds or cuttings, but grow slowly. Cultivated varieties may produce larger fruits than do wild trees. I photographed this specimen int eh Darwin Botanical Garden.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DARWIN BOTANIC GARDENS, AUSTRALIA

The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens are botanical gardens located 2 km North of the CBD of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The gardens cover 42 hectares and are noted for their collections of north Australian and other tropical species.
The gardens were established on their present site in 1886; this was the third attempt by European settlers of Darwin to establish a site where plants of economic importance could be tested for their suitability in the tropics. Initially the collection of the gardens was focussed on economic gardening and the ornamental plantings. The gardens were severely damaged during Cyclone Tracy in 1974, 89% of all plants were lost.

Restoration after the cyclone was led by George Brown, who had worked at the gardens since 1969 and served as curator from 1971 to 1990, and became Lord Mayor of Darwin in 1992 until 2002. The gardens were renamed in 2002 to recognised George Brown's contribution and 32 years service to the development of the gardens. In 2000 Darwin's historic former Wesleyan methodist church was moved from Knuckey Street and reconstructed at the Gardens. It is the oldest surviving building in Darwin.

This post is part of the Water World Wednesday meme,

And also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
And also part of the Nature Footsteps Waters meme.

FLYING OUT OF DARWIN

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities. It is the smallest and most northerly of the Australian capital cities, and acts as the "Top End's" regional centre.

Darwin has grown from a pioneer outpost and small port into one of Australia's most modern and multicultural cities. Its proximity to Asia makes it an important Australian gateway to countries such as Indonesia and East Timor. The city itself is built on a low bluff overlooking the harbour. Its suburbs spread out over some area, beginning at Lee Point in the north and stretching to Berrimah in the east—past Berrimah, the Stuart Highway goes on to Darwin's satellite city, Palmerston, and its suburbs.

The region, like the rest of the Top End, has a tropical climate, with a Wet and a Dry Season. The city is noted for its consistently warm to hot climate, all throughout the year. It receives heavy rainfall during the Wet Season, and is well known for its spectacular lightning.

The original inhabitants of the greater Darwin area are the Larrakia people. On 9 September 1839, HMS Beagle sailed into Darwin harbour during its surveying of the area. John Clements Wickham named the region "Port Darwin" in honour of their former shipmate Charles Darwin, who had sailed with them on the ship's previous voyage which had ended

in October 1836. The settlement there became the town of Palmerston in 1869, and was renamed Darwin in 1911. Having been almost entirely rebuilt twice, once due to Japanese air raids during World War II, and again after being devastated by Tropical Cyclone Tracy in 1974, the city is one of Australia's most modern capitals.

I took these photos flying out of Darwin in 2002 on my way to Alice Springs and then on to Melbourne. Flying over the continent of Australia is an amazing experience so one should always try to get a window seat and have a camera handy!

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.