Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Deserts

I’ve been looking forward to this one. There are some awesome desert landscapes on this planet. Here are just a few:

I went ballooning near Alice Springs
in the Northern Territory, Australia

I went horseriding through Monument Valley, USA

I climbed Uluru back when it was still called Ayers Rock
The Northern Territory, Australia

I went 4WDriving to the Pinnacles, Western Australia

I went on a 3 day camel ride across a hot Indian desert

Have you had any desert experiences?

For more inspiration on the sights, smells, tastes etc of deserts, go here to the Bookshelf Muse.

Note: For the month of April during the A-Z Challenge I am pausing from my usual blogging theme of writing and social media tips. Instead I hope to share with you my photography. Much of it is inspired by the fabulous and helpful site, The Bookshelf Muse. Please check it out and enjoy.

57 comments:

Charmaine Clancy said...

Wow, you get about!
Wagging Tales

Luanne G. Smith said...

I've spent a lot of time around Monument Valley. Such a gorgeous place.

Wishing for a desert right now as it is freezing in Scotland. Brrr

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

I haven't but I'm always fascinated with the desert and how people survive out there!

This is me, Duncan D. Horne, visiting you from the A-Z challenge, wishing you all the best throughout April and beyond.

Duncan In Kuantan

Unknown said...

I've been to the Thar desert in India, and you're right it does have its own beauty, an ascetic sort of beauty.

Look forward to your challenge run…
--Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge

Anonymous said...

I've driven on the outskirts, but I've never actually been on a desert. I have some wish list vacation destinations involving deserts, though.

Old Kitty said...

I did go on a camel ride on the very edges of the Sahara desert once! AWESOME!!

Yay for these stunning shots of deserts!! Take care
x

Tara Tyler said...

ever heard of the concrete jungle? i live in the suburban dessert that is ohio...

thanks for taking me away!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

Nevada and Arizona for me.

S.P. Bowers said...

I grew up in a desert, sort of. A citified desert. Deserts are beautiful. I remember the first time I moved to the east coast (USA). I was appalled that people would pour excess water down the drain instead of pouring it on a plant or tree. We never wasted water growing up.

Marta Szemik said...

I've never been to a desert and can only imagine the impact it can make when you see it. I have had a dessert though:)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Yes because I used to live in Arizona! Camel ride sounds bumpy - was it?

Unknown said...

Never, but I would SOOOO love to see the deserts in Egypt and, just for the heck of it, the pyramids. I think I'd just have to stand in awe for at least a full minute before venturing into one. Really, how cool would that be?

Kathy said...

Wow, great photos and choices for 'D'. You do get some great adventures! I always wanted to see Ayers Rock. (yeh,I know).
Thanks for stopping by my 'D' post.
Kathy at Oak Lawn Images

DEZMOND said...

I pretty much live in the dessert with all the sand around me LOL :)
You had so many lovely trips and travels, Lynda!

Rachna Chhabria said...

You seem to have travelled a lot. Camel ride must have been bumpy but fun.

Jackie Jordan said...

Your photographs are absolutely beautiful. The balloon shadow is a nice touch!

4 Life said...

Well, Texas is often hot as the blazes and has desert places in it, especially in West Texas.

But, my favorite Desert that I know of, is when my sister in law asked us each to bring a 'desert' to the holiday party - this was done in a very nicely printed invitation that came through the mail. I asked her if she wanted us to bring hot sun, hot sand and iguanas. She looked at me puzzled...I laughed and said, "Dessert is spelled with 2 S's, like you want two helpings of dessert. Desert hat one S." She rolled her eyes and said, "Dessert, desert...whatever!"

Whatever, indeed!

Isis Rushdan said...

Great pics. I haven't had the type of desert experience I'm looking for yet, but will one day. Been on a camel once, when I was super young. All I remember is being terrified when got up off the ground :).

Bish Denham said...

Fabulous pictures. I'm sooooo jealous that you've camped with camels. I've had plenty of desert time here in the U. S. One was waking up on the rim of Grand Canyon and watching the sun rise.

Unknown said...

I haven't been to a lot of deserts but those are beautiful, especially the Pinnacles.

Jarm Del Boccio said...

You have been to some amazing places, Lynda! I, too have visited Uluru at sunrise...what a sight. My favorite, though was an "into the Promised Land" tour where our family trekked up Mt
Sinai with a camel in the dark, saw the sunrise at the top, and walked all the way down! Our trip was chronicled here: Http://4ambassadorsofchrist.blogspot.com/2011/11/walking-by-faith-and-not-by-sightorup.html#links thanks for sharing your beautiful photos with us, Lynda!

Unknown said...

I love the desert. Spent some time in AZ and loved it. :) That's so cool you went on a hot air balloon - that's something I've always wanted to do.

anthony stemke said...

Great pictures. I always loved the desert when I was there, El Paso region and southern California deserts.

Suze said...

Wow! I'm so impressed by all of your arid treks. I have always wanted to visit Ayers rock -- and Monument Valley!

mshatch said...

It is high on my list of places I want to visit. loved the pics :)

Morgan said...

Beautiful pics! I'm not one for the heat, but I don't mind looking at them from this side of the screen! ;)

Loree Huebner said...

Love the desert. Love the pictures.

I hope to go to Madiera Cannon in Arizona to see the hummingbirds someday. They have 14 or more different species fly through the area during migration in the early fall here in the US.

nutschell said...

we went to the desert once when I was younger--that was when we lived in Qatar. those dunes were just so vast. loved the pictures.
Great A-Z post!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Unknown said...

Wowza. It's amazing how majestic some of those places look, despite being so desolate. The only desert I've been is part of Egypt's desert in between sites. Littered with Greco-Roman pottery :)


Jamie Gibbs
Fellow A-Z Buddy
Mithril Wisdom

Carol Riggs said...

These are all great! But my fave is the one with the shadow of the balloon on the countryside. Way cool. :)

Joanne said...

Enjoyed your beach and church photos (and lovely wedding photo). I also like the desert photos. One day I would like to fly across the Tasman and visit these places. Not too far away to accomplish!

M Pax said...

Cool trips, Lynda, and stunning photos. I live in the desert. I'd never thought I'd like it, but I love it.

Laura said...

gorgeous pics! Love the one of the balloon shadow. I've never seen a desert, though my gran was obsessed with the Kalahari, so was read a lot of stories that have stuck with me
Lx

T. Roger Thomas said...

I've been to Monument Valley.

Someday I hope to make it to Uluru.

Mary Aalgaard said...

I haven't had any experiences like that. You must be very brave and adventurous! I really want to ride in a hot air balloon some day, but I think I'll be way too scared!!!

Play off the Page

Shaun said...

Unfortunately i cannot see me getting to grips with a desert here in the UK. We are happy with our hills and rain. i would love to get to go to the red centre though. Amazing
Shaun
Valleys ShutterBug

Theresa Milstein said...

I have never been in a desert. I've always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon. Someday.

Thanks for sharing another set of lovely photos.

Jaycee DeLorenzo said...

I live in the middle of the Saguaro National Park and it is beautiful!!!

Happy Hump Day!
My D

Tonja said...

Awesome pictures. I have no desert experience. I want to go to the western US when the little one gets bigger.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Living in Australia during drought time, I learned not to waste water as well. I once had visiters from overseas stay with me for a while and the amount of water they wasted was shocking.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

camels are pretty cool to ride on as long as they don't spit on you. They have a sort of rolling gait.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I've always wanted to go to Egypt. It would be seriously awesome.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I used to travel a LOT.
I'd love to see some photos of where you live.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

lol, so funny!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

oh wow, that trip must have been amazing!
You got some great shots too.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I remember the first time I went to England, I couldn't believe how much moss was everywhere. Hehehe. Hills and rain have their own charm.

DEZMOND said...

will send some pics to your Facebook :) You will be enchanted :)

momto8 said...

just amazing..really. I love your pictures!

D. U. Okonkwo said...

Wow - the fourth pic is awesome. There really are great things to see in this world.

Jemi Fraser said...

You've been to so many fascinating places! I'd love to see Uluru one of these days!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you've has some interesting adventures. The pictures are great.

vic caswell said...

WOW! what adventures you've had!!!!
when i was 13, my grandpa took my mom and i on a trip from oklahoma south to texas and then west and northish... anyway, we saw the grand canyon and the petrified forest and the painted desert... totally awesome! (even drove through death valley) eep!

Susan Oloier said...

I used to live in the desert, and I miss it so much. The March wildflowers were beyond spectacular. I often write about the desert in my novels.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Closest I've come to a desert is the Badlands. I'd love to travel everywhere and see everything!

Sarah Tokeley said...

Wow, you've done some fantastic stuff!
There are no deserts in England :-(

Betty Alark said...

No, can't say that I have. Although I have been left high and dry from time to time-lol!

Thanks for the photo's Linda. At least I can enjoy the view!

I've always been fascinated by desert's, perhaps I will take the time to experience them one day.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Oh! So cool! Did you send them? I haven't seen them. Was away over Easter...