Down Under

Greetings all,

Hope you’re still managing to stay healthy. Sorry it’s taken this long to add a new post. For me it’s been a very active, hectic, and rewarding thirteen months with trips to East Africa, Antarctica, and Australia. (Exhausting but packed with wonderful memories!) In addition to the actual few weeks experience (and very long airplane rides) each trip included months of preparation and then months of processing (including thousands of photos to catalogue). During “processing” Susan and the boys seldom see me because hours each day I’m at the computer reviewing notes and photos. But I’m finally coming up for air from this most recent adventure: two magical weeks down under in Australia.

This trip was a long time coming, its inspirational seed planted in the late 1990s when I first met my friend Paul Taylor, a gifted Australian storyteller and musician. It was through meeting Paul I learned about his collaborative work with senior Aboriginal Elder Yidumduma Bill Harney to document Bill’s culture and people. (To learn more about the Yubulyawan Dreaming Project visit https://ydproject.com/index.php/blog/.)

Ever since meeting Paul I’ve wanted to join him and Bill (and a small group of fellow travelers) to experience the home of Australia’s First Peoples. Below are some very special photos from this trip and a link to a short 29-minute YouTube video https://youtu.be/eEIMyvy_8Qc .

Sydney Harbour – New South Wales, Australia

Vivid Sydney (light show) – New South Wales, Australia

Eucalyptus sunrise, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Boab tree, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Termite mound, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Dingo, Darwin Wildlife Park – Northern Territory, Australia

Flying foxes, Charles Darwin University Rural Campus, Katherine – Northern Territory, Australia

Dance performers, Barunga Fest 2023 – Northern Territory, Australia

Dance performers, Barunga Fest 2023 – Northern Territory, Australia

Dance performers, Barunga Fest 2023 – Northern Territory, Australia

Dance performers, Barunga Fest 2023 – Northern Territory, Australia

Making didgeridoos, Barunga Fest 2023 – Northern Territory, Australia

Yidumduma Bill Harney entering a sacred site, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Yidumduma Bill Harney introducing a sacred site, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

“Moon Dreaming” sacred rock art site, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Dreamtime rock art, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Dreamtime rock art, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Yidumduma Bill Harney, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Yidumduma Bill Harney and travel companions, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Starry night with Southern Cross, bush camp, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia

Yidumduma Bill Harney visiting with Paul Taylor, Wardaman Country – Northern Territory, Australia