Glamping at Jabiru Safari Lodge in Australia.

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Terry became quite obsessed about seeing as many of Australia‘s indigenous birds as she could. To beef up her bird list, we went to Jabiru Safari Lodge (Pickford Road | PO Box 1364, Mareeba, Queensland 4880, Australia ) where we camped in the outback. We as usual, got lost on the drive there. A wrong turn sent us into a herd of cattle. A few phone calls eventually got us to the site. There were two huge tents set up on permanent wooden platforms. By the time we arrived, the sun was setting making the trees light up a bright orange. I immediately sketched the new domicile while Terry went for a hike. The tent came complete with a working shower out back, and a small refrigerator and fans to cool us down. It was definitely a step up from the tiny pup tent I took on my cross country bike trek as a teen.

In this part of the country there are large round jar shaped structures found everywhere. They are the homes to termites and some are more than six feet high. There were several right in front of our tent. What makes this area unique is that a large man made lake has been created that is a magnate for tons of migrating and local birds.  There is a lodge right on the water where you can relax and have a drink as the sun sets. Barn swallows have nests in the rafters and the parents are always busy sweeping in to give food to the chirping chicks in the nests.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for April 25th and 26th.

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Saturday April 25, 2015

10am to 6pm Free. Earth Day. Lake Eola Park.

10am to 7pm 47th World Wide Sketch Crawl.  “SketchCrawl” – a free drawing marathon with fellow
artists. Thor from Analog Artist Digital World is the Orlando host.
There is no instruction, just a chance to sketch with fellow artists on
location.

10am to 2pm Sketchers will sketch Earth Day at Lake Eola. Earth Day tends to
get very crowded, so if you want to find me, just text me. (407
760-2813). My plan will be to sketch for two hours or so and then get at
bite to eat at Panerra’s (North East corner of Lake Eola park across
the street) or the food Court under the huge Live Oaks at Lake Eola’s South East entrance..
The basic idea of a sketch crawl is to record nonstop everything around you with sketches. Then artists share their work at http://www.sketchcrawl.com/ and you can see sketches from around the globe.

7pm to 10pm Free.  Florida is Not a Vacation: a Poetry Reading. Kerouac House 1418 Clouser Ave, Orlando, Florida. Sandra Simonds, Erin Hoover, and current Kerouac House resident Ciara Shuttleworth will read their poems.

Sandra Simonds website.

Erin Hoover is a poet living in Tallahassee, Florida, with work published in Prairie Schooner, Gargoyle, Redivider, and Sugar House Review, and anthologized in Best New Poets 2013. Erin edits The Southeast Review in addition to volunteering for VIDA: Women in Literary Arts and is a PhD candidate in Florida State University’s Creative Writing Program. Before moving to Florida, she worked as a communications director in New York City and co-founded Late Night Library, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining book culture and supporting authors early in their careers. Her Twitter is @ErinHoover.

Ciara Shuttleworth was born in San Francisco and grew up in Nebraska, Nevada, and Washington state. Her poetry has been published in journals and anthologies, including Alaska Quarterly Review, Confrontation, The New Yorker, The Norton Introduction to Literature 11e, and The Southern Review. Shuttleworth received an MFA in poetry from University of Idaho, a BFA in painting/drawing from the San Francisco Art Institute, and a BA in studio art from Gustavus Adolphus College. She is currently in-residence at the Jack Kerouac House of Orlando. Her website.


Sunday April 26, 2015

10am to Noon Free. Super Joy Riders. Eastern entrance of the Lake Eola Farmers’ Market. Participants dress as superheroes and ride en mass around the city as they check off their scavenger hunt-like list of Do Gooder Duties; collecting litter, helping senior citizens cross the road, returning shopping carts, basically performing small acts of kindness for an hour and a half of hilarity and love.
The Super Joy Riders: Do Gooder Bike Ride is an exercise in community organizing and active engagement. We hope to use the ride as an opportunity to show how helping people can be simple, fun, and easy, especially while wearing a cape.

You + Superhero Costume + Bike = Best Sunday Ever

We are inviting Orlando to come with us on a fun filled bike ride of awesomeness on the last Sunday of the month. Dress like a superhero, hop on a bike, and follow our scavenger hunt list of Good Deeds as we all try to save the world with small acts of kindness.


Noon to 2pm Free but get some food. Florida Gospel Jam.  Fish on Fire 7937 Daetwyler Drive Belle Isle FL. Every 2nd and 4th Sunday. 


1pm to 3pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola East Lawn.

Thala Beach in Australia offered an intimate hike on the Fringing Reef.

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While Terry went birding with an experienced guide in Thalia, Australia I took a hike down to the beach for a quick second sketch. As the trail opened up to the beach, I discovered a bee hive in a branch that crossed the trail. There were far more rocky outcrops than there was beach.

Being a pale white vampire, I decided that I needed to find shade before I started any attempt at putting the jagged landscape on paper. I found this narrow alleyway of sand between the rocks and I scrunched down and sat in the shade which was quickly disappearing as the sun rose in the sky. This sketch was done quickly and almost flippantly because I was racing the sun. When the sun crept onto the page, I was blinded by it’s whiteness. I darkened the page with washes to darken it up a bit. I got a text from Terry letting me know that she Was done with her birding for the day. I decided the sketch was done and I scrambled up on the rocks again to find my way back to the hotel. I love looking in the tide pools to see what life has been stranded as the ocean receded. Blue craps hid from my sight and tiny fish swam for what little cover they could find.

Terry and I drove up the coast to explore more rain forests and beach side resorts. It was a scenic and relaxing day with very little traffic on the road. We hiked up a gorge and got lost along the way. When it got too hot, we stripped down to our skivvies and waded into the freezing cold river. We didn’t actually get lost, but the trail went much further than we expected. We got more than our share of nature for one day.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve is a gorgeous retreat.

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Terry and I drove up the Australian coast towards Port Douglas. We stopped at Thala Beach Lodge and Nature Reserve (5078 Captain Cook Highway, Oak Beach QLD 4877, Australia). The lodging consisted of a series of bungalow tree houses on stilts. Terry had purchased a book that identified all of Australia’s bird species. She was in heaven with her eyes in the tree branches. There are walking trails all throughout the 145 acre property and on one hike we saw wallaby’s grazing on the grass. A wallaby looks like a kangaroo, but is a bit smaller and cuter. Our room came with a gift basket and champagne, so as the sun set, we popped the cork and relaxed.

I had a leisurely breakfast alone while Terry took an early morning nature walk with the reserves birding expert. The deck of the restaurant overlooked the Daintree Rainforest‘s tree canopy towards the ocean. A tree branch had a hollow that was filled with water and colorful lorikeets would battle the other birds for a turn at the bird bath. Only one bird could fit into the notch at a time so there was a constant chirping negotiation as birds waited for a turn. There is a live web cam overlooking this bird bath. With time to myself, I decided to hike down to the beach and see if I could squeeze in a second sketch before starting another day of sight seeing. Terry returned very excited about all the rare species of birds she had seen. I was satisfied with the two species I had watched at the bird bath.

Kuranda’s Australian Butterfly Sanctuary was a quiet retreat.

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Kuranda‘s Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is located right next to the Original Markets. Terry and I decided to go inside for a look. Unfortunately a whole school bus of local school children arrived shortly after us. All the school kids had on blue uniforms. The kids were actually pretty well behaved and it was nice to see the level of excitement and wonder on their faces.

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is
home to over 1500 magnificent tropical butterflies that are hand reared on the premises.

All are local rain forest species, including an iconic Kuranda butterfly, the electric blue Ulysses Butterfly, and the majestic fluoro green and yellow Cairns Birdwing.

The aviary, set in the midst of Kuranda rain forest, was opened in 1987 and has been visited by over a
million people since. Guided tours through the aviary and laboratory are conducted throughout the day, detailing a butterfly’s life cycle and behavior.

The place is thick with colorful species and they will land on you.  Several landed on my sketch, perhaps thinking that the bright watercolor washes might be a delicious nectar. Terry and I ate lunch in town. She wanted to get meat pies anywhere we went. I ordered one as well, but I couldn’t stop thinking of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. That thought might have affected my taste buds.

Dreadlocks and Hair Extensions at the Hidden Echidna.

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From Cairnes Australia, we decided to drive up into the mountainous Rainforest, to a town called Karanda. This town is set up with kitschy shops that cater to bus loads of tourists who mob the main street. 0ff the main drag is the Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets which began in 1978 on Honey House
land by a group of local people trying to attract visitors to Kuranda.
At that time, the village was very small with many “Hippie Artists” and
craft people. The markets needed to operate their own train for two
seasons to prove the viability of the service to the Railway Department.

Now the markets have been an amazing success, providing employment for
many, while the town is recognized as a unique Australian rainforest
destination.

In 2006 the current owners began an ambitious undertaking to
completely renovate the original market site. In keeping with the rustic
atmosphere that the original markets were famous for, Malcolm and Ian
McLeod created a miniature village in the rainforest, with rustic touches and bright colors at every turn, tropical gardens and colorful
characters.

The Original Markets are predominantly available to artisans and
craftspeople. You will find locally designed and produced fashions; hand
crafted jewellery; indigenous artists; leather workers; masseurs;
woodworkers and gemstone specialists, as well as North Queensland’s best
range of honeys; local coffee; cafes; tropical fruits; coconuts and
macadamia nuts.

Terry stopped at The Hidden Echidna and on a whim decided to get dreadlocks made from her patch of purple died hair.  Amber, who had a gorgeous mane of blond dreadlocks took care of Terry. The hut was filled with portraits done by Amber Moon (Lunar Sun) of famous people like Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and Dali. Bowls were filled with beads which are used to cap off dreadlocks once they are made. She was able to make three dreadlocks that still remain today. Artegon here in Orlando could learn a thing or two from this market. In Orlando artists rent a cage in a former mall whereas in Kuranda, artists get a rustic shack with character that feels like a quirky community. I was tempted by some hand bound sketchbooks and Terry purchased some intricate Indian curtains for our bedroom.

Experiencing the Great Barrier Reef

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The boat out to the Great Barrier Reef left early. On the Reef Magic Cruise Ship I had a shady outside aft deck where I could keep my eyes on the horizon. The ocean was calm and so was my stomach. The boat took us to a large off shore platform called Marine World. From here you could choose to take a helicopter flight, a glass bottom boat, scuba diving, or our choice, snorkeling. I had thought ahead and put on my full body neoprene snorkel suit which keeps me warm and blocks sunburn. Rentals for flippers, snorkels and a mask were quite affordable. The water was warm enough so that some people went out without a protective layer, but they got burnt. I wondered why we weren’t warned against the use of liquid sun screen. Imagine all those chemicals diffusing in the water and sinking down towards the corals. I’m sure it can’t be good for this delicate Eco-system.

I used to have a 200 gallon in wall reef tank that I set up in my home. Getting the right balance of light, calcium, temperature and nutrients is difficult.  Some people have computer systems that keep all these levels in check, but I just checked the chemistry weekly while doing massive water changes. It was an amazing amount of work, yet worth it because in its prime, the tank was gorgeous. Then algae took hold and spread. At first I kept it in check with algae eating fish like Gobies but soon it was out of control. I did several large oil paintings of friends reef tanks and then dismantled my tank and patched the hole in the wall. I hung an oil painting where the tank used to be. This way I got to appreciate the beauty without the hard work of keeping it all alive.

Terry and I floated out on the water and stayed fairly close together. I made it my responsibility to follow her movements. The reef was unimaginably immense and gorgeous. I swam over a brain coral that was the size of a small house. Plate Corals giant open palms caught the sunlight while soft corals waved in the gentle currents. Everywhere I looked, I saw corals that I used to have in my tank, but here they were part of a large thriving community. Near the platform a grouper as large as me swam lazily by. Fish swam together in schools, darting in between coral structures. In several spots the coral grew so close to the surface of the water, that I had to suck my tummy in to keep from touching them as I floated over. Out near the edge of the roped off area, the reef suddenly dropped down creating a reef wall. Hundreds of feet down, I could see sting rays swimming on the sandy bottom. This was the environment I had tried to recreate with my tank, but the reality is so much more overwhelming. I could hear Trigger Fish chomping on corals and a Tang swam up to my mask to stare at me.

One part of the reef disturbed me. There was a mountain of dead Staghorn coral skeletons. When alive these corals are brightly colored. The dead skeletons were white. Clearly scuba divers must patrol this area of the reef each night after the tourists have left and they collect the dead corals and drop them in this pile. Hard skeleton corals like the Staghorns are the hardest to keep alive in a reef tank. A sudden spike in temperature can cause the delicate flesh to peel away from the skeleton. Despite the colorful beauty all over the reef, I began to notice signs of stress and decay. I recognized the signs because I was always trying to keep my corals healthy in my small Eco-system. Terry and I floated out on the reef as long as we could. I’m so happy I got to see this miracle of nature up close. It may not be there forever.

Back on the platform the staff set up an immense buffet lunch. People piled the food up on their plates like this was their last meal. I barely ate, instead drinking lots of water for fear of sea sickness on the boat ride back. I did get a bit dizzy in the hectic rush of removing the tight snorkeling suit. The platform pitched ever so gently. I’m proud to say I survived the boat ride back. I was starving when we got back to dry land. That night we went out to a wonderful seafood restaurant called Barnacle Bills (103 Esplanade, Cairns QLD 4870, Australia). It was expensive, but well worth it. I had a second glass of wine and loved the world on the walk back to Shangrila. Back at the hotel, I found out that a two inch strip of my forehead had gotten a bright red burn. There seems to have been a gap between the hood and the scuba mask. Exhausted, burnt and satiated, I blacked out, the second my head hit the pillow. Perhaps a vacation from all this vacationing is in order.

Reaching Shangrila in Cairns Australia.

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The Shangrila is a five star hotel right on the water in Cairns (Pier Point Road, Cairns QLD 4870, Australia). The room was spacious and well appointed with large photos of reef Corals decorating the walls. Terry went for a walk after we checked in, so I did a sketch from our balcony. As you can see, our view was of the expansive parking lot. I kept the sketch loose by putting watercolor washes down first and only adding line work where it was needed. I should work this way more often. In the distance I could see crowds of tourists walking the main street shopping and looking for restaurants.

After the sketch was done, I flicked on the TV and found a fascinating program that showcases artists who explain their painting process. It was a fabulous show and I got to watch a painting develop from start to finish. I don’t know why there isn’t a show like this in the states. I guess the audience might be consider a bit limited but I thought it was an awesome show. Another program featured four portrait artists who were all assigned a commission to paint a military veteran’s portrait. Only one artists work would win the grand prize and hang in a British museum. With high stakes, it was fascinating to see how each artist handled the commission. There was yet another show that featured a convicted forger teaching artists how to paint like John Singer Sargent. I was transfixed. We need programs like this in the states. The arts are so revered and appropriated in Australia.

Shangrila was our home base for a day trip to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. After my bout of sea sickness while whale watching, I did research online to find ways to avoid it happening again. One remedy suggested saltines the day before, so I got a box of saltines and popped some Dramamines and drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for April 18th and 19th.

Posted on by Thor

Saturday April 18, 2015 

9:30am to 6pm Free. Bar Camp Orlando 2015. Church Street Exchange Building (NOT The Cheyenne saloon, but across the street).  If you want a T-shirt and a speaking slot I highly recommend you come early (as in before 11 AM).  We always seem to run out of both as the day progresses.

If you plan to present with slides, please bring the proper VGA adapter for your laptop and do not depend on / expect any wifi.  Also please try to ensure your talk does not go too far beyond the 20 minute mark.  Each talk slot will be on the hour and half hour, allowing for a little time for questions (5 minutess) and for foot traffic (5 minutes).

The board will open for talk sign ups at 9:30 AM and the first talks will start at 10 AM.

The venue’s this year will be Canvs, the Iron Yard, and maybe a few other spaces.. depending.

If you want to help setup (which mostly means unload chairs), feel free to come hang out around 9 AM. Here is the Schedule for Saturday (right off the website)

9:30 am Doors open, people can sign up for talks on the big whiteboard.

10:00 am Talks start. There are three rooms for presentations, and each presentation will have 25 minutes and they will be spaced out. We recommend that you limit your talks to about 20 minutes to allow 5 minutes for discussion (and in case you run long).

12:00 pm Lunch, we take an hour break.

1:00 pm Talks resume.

6:00 pm Bar Camp ends and the after-party starts!

3pm to 7pm Free. Cruisin’ Downtown DeLand Car Show! East Indiana Ave Downtown DeLand, Deland FL. Classic cars & rods.  Live DJ, giveaways, shopping & dining. Fun for the family! Every 3rd Saturday night! INFO: & for showing your car 386-738-0649

http://mainstreetdeland.org

7:30pm to 9:30pm Free. Nuclear Bubble Wrap, Marc with a C, and The Gekkos. The Geek Easy 114 S Semoran Blvd Suite 6, Winter Park, Florida. Nuclear Bubble Wrap is an alternative rock band from Nashville, TN that will be performing a special acoustic style show in Orlando, FL alongside hometown favorites Marc With a C and The Gekkos!!!

If you’re looking for something to do and want to experience something new and amazing then look no further! Come on out and have a good time! COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED and there is NO COVER CHARGE!!

We’ll also be working once again with FishToaster and streaming the event on our Twitch.TV.

Do us a solid and share the event if you support indie music and building a killer local event scene!



Sunday April 19, 2015

1pm to 3pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola Park, 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL. Weekly on the East lawn of Lake Eola.

5pm to 9pm Free but get a bite or two. Orlando Food Truck Bazaar. Orlando Fashion Square, 3201 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL.

9pm to 11pm. Free. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Flying from Ayers Rock to Sydney and back up to Cairns Australia.

Posted on by Thor

Australia is larger than the United States. If Ayers Rock were about where Kansas City is, then Cairns would be a flight to NYC. However, we had to fly south to Sydney which would be the equivalent of a flight to Orlando and then we caught a second plane to fly up to Cairns (NYC distance). What could have been a short hop over flight, ended up taking most of the day. I can’t complain too much however since there was plenty of time to sketch in the airport.

Cairns is a beautiful coastal town but by the time we got there, it was dark and we were getting punchy. Finding the Lilybank Bed and Breakfast (75 Kamerunga Rd, Stratford QLD 4870) while driving the rental at night was stressful.  We searched for house numbers but they weren’t illuminated. I knew we must have passed the place not to far back, so I parked the car on the street and started walking the neighborhood. I figured I would see house numbers better on foot. Terry was furious, calling for directions. We both found the place about the same time.

I loved this Bed and Breakfast and would have liked to spend more time there. The Queenslander-style property had old fashioned wood slated windows and it looked like it belonged in the outback. There was a lily pond built inside the patio and the proprietress pointed out a large bull frog that hides in different foliage each day. She was searching for a koi fish , which I thought I saw, but then I realized it was light reflecting off one of the windows on the water’s surface. There was a nice pool outside but we never stayed long enough to relax beside it.

Over breakfast she told us a story about “Naughty Ned.” Ned was married, but had a wandering eye. It seems he couldn’t keep himself from flirting and having affairs. His wife left him but they remained friends. He had an odd hobby in that he loved to collect bees. This was strange because he was allergic to bees. Ned took the usual precautions with the bee keepers suit and smoker. He purchased several hives from a neighbor and his former wife helped in the move. For some reason the bees left the hive and congregated way up in a tree. In a fit, Ned climbed the tree with a saw and decided that cutting the branch would get the bees down. He wasn’t wearing his bee suit and he was stung hundreds of times. lt wasn’t a great idea. His wife rushed off to get his epi shot but her panic, she pricked herself with the needle. As she searched for a second shot, Ned died. I’m not sure what the moral of the story is. Perhaps, don’t be naughty, or better yet don’t collect bees if you are allergic to them.