Trams of Melbourne

This new tram seen undergoing tests on city streets this week, carries a slogan "Step into the future".
















The City Circle line provide free rides and introduces places of interest to tourists. This is the heritage class that has been in service for 60 years. The tram driver having a chat with my visiting friend
















Trams are part of Melbourne's heritage and its network lay claims to be the largest in the world with 245km of tracks. 2006 marked the 100th year anniversary of the tram service. It survived pressure of partial closure in the 80's that proved to be wise.





















Motorists are to give trams priority at intersections with "Hook turn", unique to Melbourne in Australia.





















The city started with cable trams in 1885 prior to use of electric trains.














Electric trams were successfully introduced in 1906. Various tram designs in service over the years:-
The heritage W Class - runs only on City Circle line serving tourists currently.
















The Z Class was brought into service in mid to late 70's
















The A Class was introduced in 1984.
















The B2 Class introduced in 1988, with 2 sections.
















The sleek C Class trams are French built.












The D Class trams are German built by Siemens
















Wikipedia provides a detailed history of the Melbourne trams.

Wilson Promontory National Park

One of my favorite National Park of Victoria is Wilson Prom. It is at the bottom of the Australian continent, the southern most point one can go on the mainland. The sea looking out from here is Bass Straits towards Tasmania.
















Satellite view & park's boundary to an area of 49,000 ha!





















Tidal River is just a short walk from the Visitor Center.















Across Tidal River, walking trials lead to hill tops offering magnificent views of the coastlines.





















































The park offers many walking trails with different levels of difficulty. Hiking to the light house is pretty arduous.. 6hrs one way.










































The views are rewarding.
















Rodondo Island is aprox. 16km to the south of the Prom.





















There are many wild life within the park of course!














This is an excellent link for more facts & figures about Wilson Prom
http://cehorn.customer.netspace.net.au/prompage.htm

(P.S. Photos are from Google Images)

Grampians National Park - after the fire

How nature returns after the fire?







The Grampians National Park was swept by a large fire in Jan. 2006. Six months later on the way back from South Australia, we decided to stop by and check it out. I had fond memories from the last visit more than 10 years ago.

Files pictures of the fire from Google.
























Our camp ground at Halls Gap, just outside the national park.





















Pleasant to wake up in the company of kangaroos.
















At the visitor center, we learned much of the park was still closed to public for safety concerns of falling branches or trees.

A new building in progress.. you may not notice a wall of hands to the right side of picture.
















Are these the lending hands? Fire fighting or the building efforts, I wonder.
















Good that many vantage lookout points were safe to visit.















































Dark patches are burnt marks, spread over wide areas.
















This area was safe for a walk.





















Need to watch our steps though.










































Life is coming back amidst the charred remains.





















Dead? Not quite, another sign of life returning.
















Practical use of a dead stump.





















These trees were sparred the worst and recovers too.
















Though a little sad to see such devastations, it was a worthwhile visit to witness how nature began to repair itself!

Lisa feels on top of the world here.
















Carefully stepping out.. nothing to either sides or below.
















Looking up at McKenzie Falls.





















I found recent photos of the recovery process at the official web site
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources/mresources/gramps/gramps-fire-pics.htm

Here are some samples:













































































Given time, nature will rebuild anew - life cycles of nature have gone through zillions times before! Perhaps no need to regard this as disaster if it was started by nature in the first place.