The Golden Desert

The road to Tara de Sala (the high altitude salt flats) was beautiful, going through fields of golden brush that feeds vicuna, llamas, donkeys, and other wildlife. The almost perfectly formed Tebinquinche Volcano, visible from almost any direction we traveled, is over 13,000 feet high. This is also where the donkey decided I was its best friend (see Junko's album - http://365project.org/jyokota/365/2014-12-19 ).

In extras album -- a scene from further up the desert mountains: http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2014-12-19

Thank you all for such wonderful responses to my postings of the trip -- and for commenting on the pelican in flight even though it's weeks late in posting! We fly home tonight, getting in tomorrow morning assuming the forecasters are wrong about a potentially crippling snow storm in the Chicago area. UGH! Happy holidays to all!

[Paula W]

Looks especially good on black. Love the colours and detail and the majestic sweep of the volcano.

[Eve Pulsater]

This is totally gorgeous. You should have taken the burro home though!

[Beryl Lloyd]

Stunningly beautiful scene of the golden land and the grey volcanic ashes covering the mountain ! A lovely capture !

[Elizabeth]

Magnificent clear sky!

[Sally Ings]

Such wonderful landscape, quite breathtaking

[Pam Knowler]

Fabulous landscape!! You have seen some wonderful sights on your holiday Taffy!! It seems to be ending very soon!! Safe journey home - hope the snow storm doesn't affect your journey!!

[Lisa Poland]

Wow, beautiful!

[Richard Hickey]

Incredible picture and processing.

[virtualbrownie]

What a fabulous capture the detail and clarity are terrific

[Junko Y]

How beautiful Tebinquince is, to see it close up and from all angles. The golden foreground here is particularly nice for setting the stage.

[Nicole]

Beautiful with the mountains, what a great view!

[Richard Hickey]

Congratulations on making the Trending Page.

[Kerri]

Beautiful

[Tony]

Amazing landscape.

[Andy Mcculloch]

Awesome landscape

[Elisabeth Sæter]

Wonderful shot.

[Kathie]

Love the light and shadow on the volcano. Terrific landscape

[sally agnew]

Love the austere environment , gorgeous colour contrasts :)

[Jan Rose]

Beautiful colours.

[Margo]

Very lovely Merry Christmas

[Leon Buijs]

Beautiful landscape shot,

[Iris]

so serene looking. And that dark blue sky!

[Margaret Obey]

This is such a different landscape. It looks great on black.

[~~JT]

This is simply amazing! Like you, I hope the predictions about the snow storm in the Chicago area are false - albeit for very different reasons. Safe travels to you and yours and Merry Christmas.

[Babs]

Amazing shot, I just love the wide open spaces. couldn't live in a city again.

[Gena Pegg]

Stunning!!

[Rachel]

An amazing landscape!

[Francoise]

looks empty and desolate.

[Joan Robillard]

Looks like an amazing vacation and maybe a little different then most.

[Rachel]

How beautiful! Brilliant shot! Merry Christmas!

[Marnie]

Sounds like you should stay in Chile Taffy. Love this shot. The colours of the tussock grass sets off the mountains very well indeed.

[Taffy]

@golftragic It was quite an amazing trip and so much beauty to capture. I'd highly recommend it as a destination to explore!

[Marnie]

@taffy I'd love to go there Taffy, but South America is a heck of a long way from Australia unfortunately and thus very expensive, especially compared with fares and flights to Asia. But I've put it on my bucket list!