Tuesday 23 September 2008

J for Jowalbinna, Queensland, Australia.




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Click to enlarge the pictures. You can even see a wallaby (small kangaroo) in one of them.


After a long and bumpy ride we arrived in Jowalbinna, a campside, where we rented a cabin and a place for one tent. We climbed the hill you see in the distance. And we had a wonderful view of the campsite when we reached the top of the hill.
To our surprise we found rockpaintings, which made the difficult climb worth while.

Aboriginal mythological paintings may be found all over Australia and represent many different cultures. From time immemorial Aboriginal people have left their marks in caves on rocks and because rock is durable, we can still see today their rock paintings. Although many were made for ceremonial purposes, there are undoubtedly also markings just done for fun, like hand stencils and outlines of boomerangs. Some paintings are very ancient, executed many thousands of years ago. But not all paintings need to be that old: some were made within living memory.


Thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt, who has hosted this ABC game for the third round to the letter J for ABC Wednesday. For more ABC posts click on ABC picture in my side bar.

52 comments:

Kjersti said...

What a great post! Very special choice. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

What wonderful sites and photos these are. Really fabulous. Thanks for sharing your great adventure with us...

Rune Eide said...

I suppose they had there version of graffiti too? I hope you will continue to educate us northerners in the culture of the indigenous people of Australia.

Ivar Østtun said...

Wonderful and interseting post. Beautiful shots from a part of the world I don't know

Tom said...

This is another great and interesting 'J' post.....

Mine's Here
Tom

Anonymous said...

great "J"

Anonymous said...

Looks like the site of the film 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' a 1975 film I have never seen.
The sheer age of these images is extraordinary.

Anonymous said...

I like the paintings very much. I also like those in caves in France and we have some on rocks out west. Nice post, Wil.

I have nothing so special but I did post a scene I photographed on Canon Pixels right after color slide film came out in 1954.

Abraham Lincoln
Canon Pixels

Shelley said...

Beautiful rocks w/ interesting history.

Leslie: said...

I love these virtual tours to places unknown and where I'll probably never go in my life. Thanks so much! :D

Unknown said...

WOW!I love your stories that go along with your pictures! Fascinating stuff! Hope your week is wonderul! God bless!

Bear Naked said...

Thank you for showing us a part of Australia that we probably will not be able to see live.
Your photos are wonderful.

Bear((( )))

Suzanne said...

I really like the cave paintings, so amazing that something like this can last for so long. Thanks

antigoni said...

Beautiful place and wonderful pictures.

Saz said...

awesome post and images..l bow to this post!!

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

How fascinating - lovely to hear a tale of a place such as this - not been anywhere quite like it myself.

Maria Verivaki said...

what an amazing place - and that art work in the rocks, awesome!

me ann my camera said...

The rock paintings are very beautiful and wonderful!! How I would love to see something like that.
Glad that you enjoyed my mist on the cobweb, perhaps you will find something like that yet.
ann

TwD said...

Very informative "J"!

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Just judicious post, jumbo sized.
We're jammy to know a person like you !

Gretchen said...

What great photos! Thanks for sharing them. Some day I'll get there to see them for myself, but until then, I can enjoy it through your eyes.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Again very interesting Wil!
I love seeing the Australia through your eyes 'Jowalbinna' is VERY pretty for sure.

BTW I added you an my linklist, this way I can find you easier.

JoAnn-D-eyes/Holland
www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com
Happy ABC-wishes

Pat said...

Very special photos and post! Bravo. I would love to visit Australia, but it's so far, and I don't know anyone there.

magiceye said...

that sure was a very interesting post!

Marie Reed said...

What a J! I am just entranced. I can see the littl Wallaby too:)

abb said...

I'd love to see those hieroglyphics up close and personal! Neat post and great J capture!

nonizamboni said...

Stunning post, Wil! I am always left speechless by rock painting. And I did see that little guy! Thanks for sharing.
Happy Wednesday!

Miss_Yves said...

Merci pour votre aimable commentaire.
Vos choix et vos photos sont extraordinaires !
The paintings in caves reminds of me that of french caves (I'll find you some links later, if you want)
The wallaby is so cute
miss Yves

Adventure girl said...

OK...........
1st-Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.
2nd- I love your blog and your profile story. What a life! My oldest daughter, Megs, studied in Australia one semesters and loved it! I am adding you to my blog roll;)
Happy Hump Day!

DeeJay said...

Fascinating history
Thanks for visiting and yes I did take the jackal photos and it was at very close quarters

Kim said...

Great pictures. I am a geologist, so I love the rock formations :)

Carletta said...

What a wonderful post - thanks for sharing. The paintings are wonderful.

Tamara Jansen said...

Wow! That's an amazing place....I shall have to try and visit one day!

Anonymous said...

Loved your photos and the rockpaintings!

Suburbia said...

Wow, amazing shots. I especially love the rock art.

Patty said...

Looks like more of your great trip to visit daughter and grandchildren.
Very nice photos.

Richard Lawry said...

I am amazed how much this area reminds me of my area here in Arkansas. I have heard of a cave in Arkansas that has old cave pictographs by native people. Thanks for the photos

Kim from Hiraeth said...

Very interesting! I'd be so excited if I happened upon such great drawings! It made the hike worth while, didn't it?

raf said...

Wonderful post, Wil! Thanks for bringing the fascinating world of downunder to all of us. Beautiful images!

Annie said...

So pleased you have had time to visit Queensland...a great place to be! Great pikkies! Thanks for sharing them with us!

Annie

ps Thansk for your visit!

gma said...

This is an awesome post! I love this kinds of ancient rock art!

peppylady (Dora) said...

Never heard of Jowalbinna Australia but more blogs in visit more place I want to see.

Thanks for stopping by.

Rambling Woods said...

The drawings are so interesting..

kml said...

What great photos - especially the first one. Great post!

MumbaiiteAnu said...

Interesting choice for 'J'.
The little kangaroo is cute.

Thank you for visiting MDS.

Sherrie said...

Awesome "J"!!!!! Thanks for the trip to Jowalbinna, Qeensland, Australia!!! It was very enjoyable. Take Care!!

Sherrie

Anonymous said...

slick, slick photos. fascinating place.

Dragonstar said...

It's great to visit here and learn things about Australia that I wouldn't normally find out. This is fascinating.

Digital Polaroids said...

Australia has EVERYTHING!

Gemma Wiseman said...

How I love these rocks! How wonderful to capture those carvings so clearly!

Janice Thomson said...

Love these tours in Australia Wil. I'll never get there I doubt so I'll live vicariously through your eyes :)
In the fifth from the bottom photo are those termite mounds?

DeniseinVA said...

Fantastic!