ALMOST A PARADISE . . .

Many people in their life never venture much past front gate
nor travel our beautiful country, Australia, till almost too late
those that do, have memories of places they have been
diversity of landscapes, ghost towns, historical places seen

One such place could be a rainforest, after heavy rain
observing scintilitating colours in run-off, undulating terrain
tumbling past crazy angled boulders, moss covered trees
rushing in creekbed, into transparent pool, miniature seas

Underfoot a soggy mess, very careful here, slippery ground
brilliant fungi, colours of rainbow, on rotting trees abound
rays of dappled sunlight, magic, rarely touching forest floor
adding just finishing touch to overall wet rainforest decor

Makes you feel one with nature, your own world, feeling small
surrounded by all this beauty, almost a paradise, trees so tall
giant bird's nests ferns hanging from trees, buttressed trunks
here, there, signs of past vulcanic activity, old odd lava chunks

Spectacular views from some points high above the valley floor
on days of cloudless skies, see birds of prey majestically soar
sometimes this place is regarded as a birdwatcher's dream
maybe sight of rare bird, endangered species, seldom seen

On closer inspection, there is still more life than the eyes meet
great diversity of plant life, microscopic plant world under feet
a place full of wonder, nature's display of its everyday mystery
all for us to see, admire, storing for later, to revive memory

BEAUTIFUL, MYSTERIOUS, STRANGE . . . .

Not to be missed when traveling in this country is the Bungle Bungle Range
located in the East Kimberley, it's at once beautiful, mysterious, strange
Rising as a panorama of eroded crumpled sandstone hills, bee-hive like shapes
stark spires, jagged cliffs, natural phenomena of nature,, all real, no fakes

Rock walls of enormous heights trust themselves up from bare valley floor
tall Palm trees line the valley, and thrive in a soil that seems to be very poor
The gorges contain many offshoots, the groundcover a very resilient vegetation
dry creekbed with sun-bleached rocks, all shapes, all sizes, fires the imagination

Golden hues bathes scenery as the late afternoon sun strikes the massive wall
making them glow as if lit from within, already here, there, night predators call
One part is a series of domes in closed formation, like statues rising from the land
the impression is being conveyed of a carrillion, thrown there by a giant hand

Beware, it's easy to get lost, yet a must see, an elaborate, intriguing, natural maze
group of tall spires, black and orange striped domes shimmer in heat haze
Twisting tracks amongst a myriad of tall domes, short, fat, odd shapes and more
others like unfinished caves, some like coloured pancakes, plenty more to explore

One gets infected with a passion, never ever to be diappointed, in nature's quest
there is so much to see in every direction, always to be amazed by what was next
In the dry season there are occasional pools of water, to satisfy fauna's thirst
one can imagine thunderous cascades when monsoonal deluge makes them burst

Then there is the most beautiful hidden feature of all, when coming around a bend
amphitheatre filled with clear water, on other side small beach, pure white sand
When night falls, new perspective of ghost-like silhouettes before your very eyes
strange feelings envelop you, not easy to shrug off, no matter how hard you try

Often descibed as mysterious, remote, surreal, a place with whole new nature's feel
the magnitude is breath-taking, to human mind it seems to be completely unreal
To miss this natural attraction would be a shame, off course it's off the beaten track
having been caught up in it's magic, the urge doesn't ever leave you, to go back