TOURIST TUESDAY: ST KILDA BEACH

In all of the times I have visited Melbourne I have never once gone to St Kilda beach. But after our visit, I am a little in love with it. She is little of a vintage Dame. Her features are a little old and rough around the edges, oh but she has style.

As with every where else in Melbourne I carried Jarvis in the sling and we walked and tramed to our destination. Only when Jarvis saw the beach, would he finally get down and explore. Oh, and explore he did. He ran, climbed, played and went crazy for almost three hours, before asking to be put back in the sling where he promptly fell asleep.

This is an image heavy post, but I couldn't help myself. The light in Melbourne is so soft and silky compared to Queensland. The exposure is off in a few of my images, but I took it as a learning excursion. The two images of Jarvis and I are by Justin. I love the first one of Jarvis and I. Justin certainly got his exposure correct. The last image of Jarvis and I shows just how tired and sick we both were.

 Yes, we both take ALOT of photos of Jarvis.

 Besides fishermen, we also saw penguins and water rats.

ON HOLIDAYS I TAKE PHOTOS OF CHURCHES

Am I the only one who take photos of churches on holidays, yet would never think of photographing them at home?

TOURIST TUESDAY: SALT WATER LAKE MELBOURNE

Not sure if my images even captured the true pink it was. But while we were in Melbourne we visited a pink lake. Salt Water Lake. 

Two weeks ago today, after a long walk to the bus stop. Okay it wasn't that long, but I had several blisters and I was carrying Jarvis in the sling. Plus, I had a bronchial chest infection, so there was snot and I was fighting to get air in my lungs. A twenty minute bus ride. Then another long hike, I was thinking this lake better be bloody pink.

We got there and the lake was, just like any other lake and I thought bugger. I will just lay down here and nap. But Justin insisted on exploring more. I am glad he did, there were two lakes, one pink and the other not. Salt Water Lake (very unimaginative name!) was pink.

I know when Jarvis is getting sick, he gets extra clingy. So the whole time in Melbourne I either had to carry him, or he had to be holding my hand.

I get to cart Jarvis around and Justin gets the heavy backpack full of 'stuff'.

I was so tired, I was going to have a nap on the tracks.

Not a great shot, but I wanted to show the pink against Justin and Jarvis.

Very pink, but also a bit grubby. 

Due to a naturally high salt concentration and recent weather conditions the three lakes in Port Melbourne's Westgate Park have turned a shade of lipstick pink. The natural phenomenon only occurs in saltwater lakes in a handful of countries around the world. According to Parks Victoria, the red pigment is brought out during hot weather, when there is lots of sunlight and little rainfall. A statement on the Parks Victoria website said the ''natural interaction of a harmless, single-cell alga and halobacterium'' was responsible for the change in colour. ''There is no indication the bacterium is dangerous, but we advise people not to come into contact with the water,'' it said.

22/52 2014

I promise myself, all of the time, that I am going to get photos of us together as a family. Part of the reasoning behind me doing this 52 project. But then time passes and it does not happen. That is, until we go on holiday and act all touristy and ask strangers to take our photo. It happened not once, but twice during our week in Melbourne.

Last year Jodi inspired me to pick up my camera and turn the focus inward. This year I have opted to continue with the series as I feel there are still so many family stories to be told through photos. So I will continue to Link up with Jodi  (the artist formerly known as Che & Fidel now Practising Simplicity) for the 52 Project.