Outback

The Outback is the color of rust.  Literally, the color of rust.  It looks like the surface of Mars or, considering the twisted flora & vicious fauna, probably more like Barsoom.

I had a magical moment while driving north on the lonely A87 which cuts its way through the middle of the Australian continent.

I saw a kangaroo standing at the side of the road, looking right at me.  I slowed my car to a stop to let it pass.  The kangaroo seemed to nod in acknowledgement, crossed the road, and hopped off into the bush.

Smart kangaroo.

(The emu who I came across later were not nearly as smart.  They seemed genuinely surprised that I was waiting for them.)

Kangaroos look & move as alien as any creature I’ve ever seen in real life.  They would fit right in on Barsoom.