I remember visiting Sydney when I was little and especially Taronga Zoo. It was a special event to go to Sydney, the ‘big city’ from the capital, Canberra, which was sleepy in comparison. … Read the rest
Taronga Zoo
Bribie Island
Bribie Island is the northernmost and most populated of the three sand islands that form Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia. Being accessible to the mainland by road, Bribie Island is also the easiest to get to by far.
Travelling to Bribie
On a good day, you can be here in 45 minutes (from Brisbane), although those that commute know that’s not realistic at 8am on a Monday morning, or perhaps more importantly, 5pm on a Friday afternoon.… Read the rest
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
A day out today at the beautiful rainforest of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve just outside Malaney. We pack up early and meet the neighbours out the front at a pre-arranged time – not too early for a Sunday morning but not so late that the kids won’t last the day – a fine balance that mothers are aptly attuned to but that can still go terribly wrong without warning.… Read the rest
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles Desert truly stands as one of the great icons of Australian travel. Set along the wild coastline of Western Australia, 200km north of Perth, this otherworldly landscape feels like a hidden treasure. Many of Australia’s 7.5 million annual visitors never make it to WA, let alone to this remote stretch of desert.… Read the rest
Terracotta Warriors
Not a trip for the unyielding traveler, finding your way from Xi’an city to the Terracotta Warriors is an exercise in patience and luck.
The Journey
We set out from our hotel with views of catching the very reasonably priced local bus out to the site of the Warriors, around an hours’ drive away.… Read the rest
The Forbidden City
The only word that comes close to describing the enormity of the Forbidden City is “vast”. Even this doesn’t seem to do it justice. It’s hard to comprehend that the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) was built in the Ming Dynasty (around 1420).… Read the rest
Drum & Bell Towers
The Drum and Bell Towers stand opposite each other at the ends of Drum & Bell Square. Together, they served as the city’s official timekeepers until 1924, with drums beaten and bells rung to mark each hour of the day.… Read the rest
Temple of Heaven: Imperial Walkway Bridge
The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing. It has the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece. By no means is the Temple the only structure though.… Read the rest
Temple of Heaven: The Imperial Vault of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing. It has the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece. By no means is the Temple the only structure though.… Read the rest
Temple of Heaven: Circular Mound Altar
The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing. It has the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece. … Read the rest