Wednesday, November 22, 2006
21st November A trip around the harbour and all things fishy
21st November (Tuesday)
Found a little internet café that offers wireless connection so I can upload some photos and blog. Global Gossip charge $6 for a 24 hour connection but if you log off then they charge you again to reconnect. Managed to upload a bit and catch up on emails. Then went to Circular Quay to travel the harbour and get some shots of SOH and Harbour Bridge. In the end I booked an evening tour of the harbour and a return ferry to Darling Harbour with admission to the Aquarium for right now. The ferry leaves in 3 minutes so get a move on! The ferry trip is fun and we stop at 3 places on the way. They act as a “bus”
Service for getting across the harbour and other parts of the bay which would take ages in the train or car or bus.
The Aquarium is large and has a seal sanctuary and an oceanarium along the lines of Melbourne. It was probably as big if not bigger than Melbourne but seemed to have too many fish, turtles, rays and sharks in it and had the feel of being crowded. There was a tank inside which had many types of fish and small sharks and rays. This was also a very large. Almost Oceanarium size and had a novelty. Usually the sell is that you walk through and under the aquarium and the fish swim over you. This aquarium had a glass floor and you walked over the fish. Different! I really didn’t enjoy walking around although some of the fact boards were quite interesting especially regarding crocodiles and alligators. All in all I felt the tanks were too small for many of the exhibits Had small lunch in café restaurant called 26, filo pastry topped with 3 slices large tomato, shredded red onion and water cress with a small serving of soured cream. Oh and schooner of Stella. That’s about 300ml.
Caught the ferry back to Circular Quay and headed for the hotel to change and return for the evening Sydney harbour tour at 8pm. Back to the quayside and onto the ferry ‘Charlotte’ for the grand one and a half hour around a large part of the immediate harbour and bay. But. Yes there’s always a but. I sat at the corner of the prow and starboard side of the ferry for a good all round view which is definitely what I got and looked forward to hearing the commentary as we sailed around. But the family from hell on holiday from Brisbane put paid to all that. As we left the dock their mobile rang and it didn’t leave her or his ear until 10 minutes before we re-docked. So the only commentary I got was all about their holiday and how they were sacrificing their time and needs whilst away, for the kids so they didn’t get bored. And how husband was going mad because he hadn’t visited a gym in 8 days and how he would have to leave them when they get to Melbourne because he’s so important at work he HAS to go back. And they’re really enjoying it but have to go shopping for food which the kids hate because they’re on holiday, but it saves money and the new car will be ready to pick up when they get back but hubby will have to do more overtime to pay for it and…………. Oh you get the picture.
Still, it was a good voyage and was pleasantly cool after a really hot but sticky day. It was 30c at 21.30 at the quayside.
Went and had dinner in a Austrian restaurant just around the corner from the hotel and ate Kalbfleisch mit cream champignons. Very good. And for dessert Cherry and cheese strudel, oh my word that was delicious. Back to the hotel for a lie down to nurse my full stomach. Groan! (Will pack in the morning)
Found a little internet café that offers wireless connection so I can upload some photos and blog. Global Gossip charge $6 for a 24 hour connection but if you log off then they charge you again to reconnect. Managed to upload a bit and catch up on emails. Then went to Circular Quay to travel the harbour and get some shots of SOH and Harbour Bridge. In the end I booked an evening tour of the harbour and a return ferry to Darling Harbour with admission to the Aquarium for right now. The ferry leaves in 3 minutes so get a move on! The ferry trip is fun and we stop at 3 places on the way. They act as a “bus”
Service for getting across the harbour and other parts of the bay which would take ages in the train or car or bus.
The Aquarium is large and has a seal sanctuary and an oceanarium along the lines of Melbourne. It was probably as big if not bigger than Melbourne but seemed to have too many fish, turtles, rays and sharks in it and had the feel of being crowded. There was a tank inside which had many types of fish and small sharks and rays. This was also a very large. Almost Oceanarium size and had a novelty. Usually the sell is that you walk through and under the aquarium and the fish swim over you. This aquarium had a glass floor and you walked over the fish. Different! I really didn’t enjoy walking around although some of the fact boards were quite interesting especially regarding crocodiles and alligators. All in all I felt the tanks were too small for many of the exhibits Had small lunch in café restaurant called 26, filo pastry topped with 3 slices large tomato, shredded red onion and water cress with a small serving of soured cream. Oh and schooner of Stella. That’s about 300ml.
Caught the ferry back to Circular Quay and headed for the hotel to change and return for the evening Sydney harbour tour at 8pm. Back to the quayside and onto the ferry ‘Charlotte’ for the grand one and a half hour around a large part of the immediate harbour and bay. But. Yes there’s always a but. I sat at the corner of the prow and starboard side of the ferry for a good all round view which is definitely what I got and looked forward to hearing the commentary as we sailed around. But the family from hell on holiday from Brisbane put paid to all that. As we left the dock their mobile rang and it didn’t leave her or his ear until 10 minutes before we re-docked. So the only commentary I got was all about their holiday and how they were sacrificing their time and needs whilst away, for the kids so they didn’t get bored. And how husband was going mad because he hadn’t visited a gym in 8 days and how he would have to leave them when they get to Melbourne because he’s so important at work he HAS to go back. And they’re really enjoying it but have to go shopping for food which the kids hate because they’re on holiday, but it saves money and the new car will be ready to pick up when they get back but hubby will have to do more overtime to pay for it and…………. Oh you get the picture.
Still, it was a good voyage and was pleasantly cool after a really hot but sticky day. It was 30c at 21.30 at the quayside.
Went and had dinner in a Austrian restaurant just around the corner from the hotel and ate Kalbfleisch mit cream champignons. Very good. And for dessert Cherry and cheese strudel, oh my word that was delicious. Back to the hotel for a lie down to nurse my full stomach. Groan! (Will pack in the morning)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
20th November 3 for 1 Ballet and cheap seats
20th November (Monday)
Woken up again by banging doors, check my watch and it’s only 05.55. Why can’t people be more considerate of others. It isn’t hard to shut a door quietly. Wake again 7.00. By half past I give up and get up.
Decide to go to Chinese Garden, and China town then the Aquarium then see about a ticket for the Ballet at SOH. First need to change some AMEX travel chqs. Get off train at right platform but walk way down Gearge St for AmEx. as the one in the book is now closed and moved even further down road. My bearings are screwed and I walk the wrong way for the Chinese garden and end up at Parliament and Sydney Hospital. (should nip in and have brain scan while I’m here). Past these buildings which are not the original 1813 buildings and there is the Australian Royal Mint which was use dto produce gold sovereigns and half sovereigns from 1853 to around the early 1930’s. from there I walked into Hyde Park past the Archibald Fountain and the Anzac War Memorial along Liverpool St and to the Chinese garden. Better late than never. Spent a lot longer here than anticipated as there is so much to see and lots of small, try to get you lost, paths. Also it is very peaceful and tranquil and I am loathe to leave it for the hustle and bustle of Sydney and it’s harbour areas. Had light lunch overlooking harbour area.
Went to SOH and got restricted view ticket on the left of the stage in the gods for $25. (£10) apparently there were only 6 left. The theatre always keep 20 or 30 seats unavailable to public incase some one important turns up. Like Bono I was told! Well I suppose HE thinks he’s important. Got the tickets and now can say I’ve been to see a show at SOH.
Arrived at SOH in good time bought a programme and glass of wine and settled in to wait fro the start. The things people wear on a night out. Guy in t-shirt and jeans. Girl dressed like a Goth but not one (Becky knows what I mean) Man in full Dinner Jacket ensemble and another girl wearing gorgeous cocktail dress and …………………. Trainers! I kid you not. Called to our seats with 10 minutes to go and find my seat has a view of about a quarter of the stage and it just got worse as old guy sat down in front of me and he is about 7 ft tall. Lady sits next to me and says this is ridiculous, look at all the empty seats. There are loads behind us. So we ask the usherette (sorry customer seating advisor) if we can move. The lights take their first dim to announce 1 minute to go and she takes us to new seats higher up but further in and yayyyyy! we have great view. By the way found out tickets for those seats would have cost $69.
Have been to the Ballet Revolutions at SOH and it was superb. They performed 3 ballets, Les Sylphides, Le Spectre de la Rose and Scheherazade. Each is a very different type of ballet. Les Sylphides has no story and is really a vehicle for the dancers to show off their artistry, The rose is about a girls dream and breaks all the rules by having the male dancer as principle and being pursued by the woman. Finally, Scheherazade is an erotic tale of love and loss of trust and infidelity. This was a riot of colour and an easy to follow story, danced brilliantly and naturally did not have an happy ending!
Eventually got home as the station has a limited train service due to track maintenance and then the station I need to change at is closed. So get off at a different station and have to walk to Town hall stn which is miles away. Sydney is deserted, where is everybody? Eventually get home at 11.15 having left city at 10.15. Normally takes 20 mins!
19th November Sydney Opera House
19th November (Sunday)
Nip out to Sydney Opera House do tour walk around see harbour bridge , walk round circular quay , see 2 guys playing didgeridoos but with modern dance sound track behind so bought cd $10. Going to update this later with more detail re SOH. We have small lunch (not) in CQ opposite Circular quay station and head back to hotel. Say farewell and au revoir to Jon and make him promise to visit UK in 2008. Had a great time seeing him again and he has been brilliant at showing me around Melbourne and making me feel generally at home. But now feel mentally and physically exhausted as have not really stopped for 2 weeks solid. Constant learning and seeing new stuff, being enthused by meeting new people and new experiences and then staying up late last night, Jon’s snoring (he probably says same about me!) having far too much to drink, but the first time since been away and catching up on so much, hardly surprising. Will just rest my eyes for 10 mins. Yikes ! It’s 2 hours since I began resting my eyes. Am finding Sydney a little disappointing so far but probably need to explore a little more.
Have decided to go out even though I don’t want to and find internet café. One down the road in Darlinghurst Road allows you to use your own laptop for $2 per hour. Well that’s what I think it means as the Chinese girl behind the desk just keeps saying “Ok”, “yes laptop” and “these is price” as she points to a menu. Will come back with laptop and check tomorrow. Had half hour for $1 and checked my e-mail and wrote to Becky and Lu. Carried on walking down Darlinghurst Rd Kings X but the “dodgy” area seems to end very quickly and doesn’t seem to spill out much into neighbouring roads and avenues. Come across some nice looking restaurants especially a German one called Maggies so will maybe eat there one night. Fancy a curry tonight as it’s months since I last ate one. It’s next door to hotel (DeVere Hotel, Macleay St, Potts Point) and called India Down Under. Sat me down at table next to elderly gent who was protesting about waiting too long. As he was talking his meal arrived so seemed happy. I ordered a gin and tonic and waited. And waited. Young waiter returned. “Your Gordons sir” It wasn’t in his hands. “Did you want tonic water?” Hmmmm, not good sign. When he returned I had to ask for the food menu! Waited 10 minutes for my order to be taken. Then waited 25 minutes for food to arrive. In this time 2 women had walked out, who were in there when I arrived and obviously hadn’t been served and a guy who had ordered a takeaway left without it. But, when the food came it was delicious. I had saffron rice, prawn do patio, prawns with chopped spring onion, chilli, tomato and a blend of spices. It was light, slightly sweet, not hot but with a hint of spiciness and fragrant. Really tasteful. When paying I found out 2 staff had not turned up to work and one lad, of the 3 staff working, was brand new.
18th November Sydney and the high spots
18th November (Saturday)
Jon and I catch a flight to Sydney. Post off more paper memories which won’t arrive until February or March! $21 by sea or $68 by air?!
Visit Jon’s rented unit which is quite bijou.
Get on plane wait for spare part for broken down plane in Sydney. Have our own breakdown with smoke alarm in toilet. Leave an hour late. Arrive Sydney shuttle to hotel on edge of Kings X and Potts point. (v. seedy and V posh) Hotel acceptable
Go into Sydney use train, monorail visit Darling Harbour drink in posh harbour side bar see hen nights groups, phone the revolving restaurants in the Sydney tower to make a reservation for dinner as we both fancy the idea of 250m high dinner whilst spinning around. Hah, suckers, they are both fully booked.
Visit Sydney tower anyway as we don’t hold grudges. 300m high, but observation gallery only at 250m. see sun go down over Sydney try and get in to buffet in revolving restaurant as we are up there any way, they refuse as still fully booked so we have drink in the very posh restaurant, 360 degree, below it instead. Takes me while to realise we are going clockwise and not anti-clock as I thought when we first arrived. Don’t ask, it’s quite involved with perspective and reminded me of the Eyes , Lies and Illusions exhibition in Melbourne. Then takes me even longer to realise that the ceiling doesn’t revolve with us and that results in much hilarity for Jon and a New Zealand couple we were talking to. Look, I’m nearly qualified to join Saga so make allowances. The bar supervisor Quentin has worked in 7 other revolving restaurants around the world, including Miami, Los Angeles, and somewhere in Italy and after we’ve been chatting with him for a while we ask if he can get us a seat in the buffet revolving restaurant. 10 minutes later we are being shown to our table. Cool dude! One up for us. How are you paying sir? It’s $116 for you both. Aaagggghhhh! One all. Great food though and the view makes all the difference. The staff are all pretty great to so all in all we have a brilliant evening.
Go back towards Potts Point. But have to go through a little of Kings X which is the seedy and sex area of Sydney. Very loud very bright and lots of “interesting” clubs for gentlemen with diverse hobbies and an interest in models. Wonder if they have the Flying Scotsman locomotive and tender I want for the train set.
We decide to go to night club Bourbon which the hotel concierge recommended as safe and well run and not expensive and used by the backpackers and locals alike. Great music, want to dance but would be oldest on the dance floor by 3 decades! Unlikely to have been a pretty sight. 2 drinks, bourbon and coke Jon, red wine me, cost the same as my glass of red wine in the 360degree bar in Sydney Tower! Stagger off to hotel at 1.30am. Jon falls asleep in about .05 of a second and then starts snoring! Oh no, how am I going to get to sl………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Monday, November 20, 2006
17 November Wines, Vines, Cheese and forgetfulness
17th November (Friday)
Picked up by Greg and Donna at 9.30 and drive off to the Yarra Valley a reasonably well known grape growing region of Victoria. Wineries here date back to 1838 or so and new boutique wineries from only a few years old. Stopped at Healesville, which is in the Yarra Valley wine growing area and had coffee and toast at The Mad Hatter Tea rooms. Old wooden house which we had to walk up wooden side stairs to gain entry. It has a number of rooms set out as shop selling all things Alice in Wonderland and strange bloke wearing hat in Mad Hatter style from the book. After our late breakfast is finished “Mad Hatter” offers to show us a card trick. He performs it in manner which doesn’t make us feel confident it ‘s going to work. But hey presto! It does. Reach or first winery, Tarrawarra, and it has metal cows sculpture by the driveway. Probably to remind me of MK. All the wineries in this area have Cellar Doors where you taste and discuss the wines and can then buy if they are to your liking. So really aimed at people with a love of the grape or at least know what they like. The wines here at Tarrawarra are young and grown from very young vines and unfortunately not particularly good. Whilst we are tasting a party of 6 or so elderly ladies and gents arrive. One of them asks the group if they want to taste some wines before having lunch. One lovely old dear replied “No, I don’t like wine”.
We move on to the De Bortoli winery which has a lot more history and vines going back 40 years or so in age. We try Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Viognier, Sangiovese (used for Chiantis) Cabernet Merlot and one or 2 others. All have a strange undercurrent of what I can only describe as violets, but the vignioron assures me is actually menthol or eucalyptus. Nice.
By the way checked out the story re drop bears, koalas being permanently stoned. It’s true. They are very fussy eaters and will only eat about 5 types of the many available varieties of eucalyptus leaves. Apparently these leaves contain a drug which affects koalas and keeps them permanently stoned. They don’t like being sober so won’t eat non druggy ones! Anyway sometimes they get so high they lose their grip and fall out of the trees. Look out!……… drop bear. It’s a wonder they breed.
Oh and their claws will rip you to shreds as they are used for gripping bark and their beaks will give you a very nasty bite. So apart from the lacerating, biting and falling on you from a great height they are really cuddly and harmless!
We drive on to Balgownie Winery and have a little cheese and biscuits with our next selections. The cheese guy is really passionate about his cheeses and persuades us to try a selection including goats cheese. Which I really find disgusting, they are so bitter. Well suffice to say one of the goat cheeses is delicious so make a liar of me, see if I care. This set of estate wines, some of which are mixed with shiraz and Merlot varieties from their estates in Bendigo are much stronger fuller and tastier than any we have so far tasted. Bendigo is a wine region north west of Melbourne which has a hotter and drier climate than the Yarra and produces grapes with a fuller, deeper taste. Greg and Donna really like these so I buy them a couple of bottles as a thank you. Stop and have a snack lunch at 2.30 in a little village called ………….. No can’t remember, but it no longer has a railway running through it! We visited one more boutique estate and for the life of me I cannot recall its name. Can’t think why! But they didn’t do half bad wines either. By this time my taste buds have been shot to hell and I’d probably have said a glass of tar had a lovely nose and pleasant and lingering after taste.
Return home and make goodbyes to Donna and Greg. Hope they keep in touch as a lovely couple.
Go for dinner at Sammys Pizza restaurant and treat Craig and his girlfriend Sriani and Jon as a thank you for letting me stay in the house. They all have pizza and I opt for steak. It gets cooked medium not medium rare and tastes like sawdust. Worst meal I’ve had in Oz which is disappointing as generally the quality has been very high. Jon and I head into Melbourne and have a coffee and cake in Chapel St which famous in Melbourne for being the place to be seen and eating. Very very busy but we squeeze into on of the street cafes Jon uses a lot and have a delightful dessert. Leave about 10ish and return home to pack. Tomorrow Sydney.
Picked up by Greg and Donna at 9.30 and drive off to the Yarra Valley a reasonably well known grape growing region of Victoria. Wineries here date back to 1838 or so and new boutique wineries from only a few years old. Stopped at Healesville, which is in the Yarra Valley wine growing area and had coffee and toast at The Mad Hatter Tea rooms. Old wooden house which we had to walk up wooden side stairs to gain entry. It has a number of rooms set out as shop selling all things Alice in Wonderland and strange bloke wearing hat in Mad Hatter style from the book. After our late breakfast is finished “Mad Hatter” offers to show us a card trick. He performs it in manner which doesn’t make us feel confident it ‘s going to work. But hey presto! It does. Reach or first winery, Tarrawarra, and it has metal cows sculpture by the driveway. Probably to remind me of MK. All the wineries in this area have Cellar Doors where you taste and discuss the wines and can then buy if they are to your liking. So really aimed at people with a love of the grape or at least know what they like. The wines here at Tarrawarra are young and grown from very young vines and unfortunately not particularly good. Whilst we are tasting a party of 6 or so elderly ladies and gents arrive. One of them asks the group if they want to taste some wines before having lunch. One lovely old dear replied “No, I don’t like wine”.
We move on to the De Bortoli winery which has a lot more history and vines going back 40 years or so in age. We try Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Viognier, Sangiovese (used for Chiantis) Cabernet Merlot and one or 2 others. All have a strange undercurrent of what I can only describe as violets, but the vignioron assures me is actually menthol or eucalyptus. Nice.
By the way checked out the story re drop bears, koalas being permanently stoned. It’s true. They are very fussy eaters and will only eat about 5 types of the many available varieties of eucalyptus leaves. Apparently these leaves contain a drug which affects koalas and keeps them permanently stoned. They don’t like being sober so won’t eat non druggy ones! Anyway sometimes they get so high they lose their grip and fall out of the trees. Look out!……… drop bear. It’s a wonder they breed.
Oh and their claws will rip you to shreds as they are used for gripping bark and their beaks will give you a very nasty bite. So apart from the lacerating, biting and falling on you from a great height they are really cuddly and harmless!
We drive on to Balgownie Winery and have a little cheese and biscuits with our next selections. The cheese guy is really passionate about his cheeses and persuades us to try a selection including goats cheese. Which I really find disgusting, they are so bitter. Well suffice to say one of the goat cheeses is delicious so make a liar of me, see if I care. This set of estate wines, some of which are mixed with shiraz and Merlot varieties from their estates in Bendigo are much stronger fuller and tastier than any we have so far tasted. Bendigo is a wine region north west of Melbourne which has a hotter and drier climate than the Yarra and produces grapes with a fuller, deeper taste. Greg and Donna really like these so I buy them a couple of bottles as a thank you. Stop and have a snack lunch at 2.30 in a little village called ………….. No can’t remember, but it no longer has a railway running through it! We visited one more boutique estate and for the life of me I cannot recall its name. Can’t think why! But they didn’t do half bad wines either. By this time my taste buds have been shot to hell and I’d probably have said a glass of tar had a lovely nose and pleasant and lingering after taste.
Return home and make goodbyes to Donna and Greg. Hope they keep in touch as a lovely couple.
Go for dinner at Sammys Pizza restaurant and treat Craig and his girlfriend Sriani and Jon as a thank you for letting me stay in the house. They all have pizza and I opt for steak. It gets cooked medium not medium rare and tastes like sawdust. Worst meal I’ve had in Oz which is disappointing as generally the quality has been very high. Jon and I head into Melbourne and have a coffee and cake in Chapel St which famous in Melbourne for being the place to be seen and eating. Very very busy but we squeeze into on of the street cafes Jon uses a lot and have a delightful dessert. Leave about 10ish and return home to pack. Tomorrow Sydney.
16th November Ancestors
16th November (Thursday)
Last day for sightseeing Melbourne as going to Yarra Valley wineries tour tomorrow. So go off to the State Library which has a good history, historically interesting and good architecture. Also has a number of exhibitions one of which displays Ned Kelly’s armour and a history of his exploits and capture. Found out that one of the policemen killed by Kelly’s gang at an ambush at Stringy Bark Creek in 1838 was called Michael Scanlon. Will follow that up when I get home and see if any ancestors went or were sent to Australia in 1788 or after.
Go to the Old City Gaol which held Ned Kelly until his hanging. Nasty place, very small cells and the hanging area was inside the jail where the prisoners could hear it all happening. Finish up at 3ish so walk back to Australia on Collins and visit La Scala Italian café restaurant and have coffee cake and glass of wine. Will update this later as my head hurts and going to bed early.
Last day for sightseeing Melbourne as going to Yarra Valley wineries tour tomorrow. So go off to the State Library which has a good history, historically interesting and good architecture. Also has a number of exhibitions one of which displays Ned Kelly’s armour and a history of his exploits and capture. Found out that one of the policemen killed by Kelly’s gang at an ambush at Stringy Bark Creek in 1838 was called Michael Scanlon. Will follow that up when I get home and see if any ancestors went or were sent to Australia in 1788 or after.
Go to the Old City Gaol which held Ned Kelly until his hanging. Nasty place, very small cells and the hanging area was inside the jail where the prisoners could hear it all happening. Finish up at 3ish so walk back to Australia on Collins and visit La Scala Italian café restaurant and have coffee cake and glass of wine. Will update this later as my head hurts and going to bed early.
15 November More like England than England
15th November (Wednesday)
Arranged to meet Jon for lunch back in Kew today so spent a little time in the city updating the photos and writing a little. The weather is foul today. Thunder, lightning, wind, hail and rain so a good opportunity to catch up a bit more. So damned annoying that you get partway through uploading photos to Snapfish and the line disconnects. Still, managed to upload a few more. The blog is proceeding slowly but I am persevering as I will regret it otherwise in days, months and years to come. Return to Kew and Jon and I go to a pub he recommends called the Spotted Dog which is well known for huge chicken or veal escalope. I am filled with trepidation as to the size of this monster dish and surprise, surprise, I am not surprised! It is the size of a large dinner plate and is accompanied by a plate of French fries and enough salad to feed 2 people. The portions size thing gets me thinking and I determine to look out for the size of Melburnians in general. Well, I manage to finish the Veal escalope, have a few fries and make a manful attempt on the salad. Still leave half a plate of food though.
Back to the city but have left my camera in Jon’s car and still it is miserable and cold and raining. I spend a little time in the Tourist information centre as I am thinking about taking one of the Yarra Valley wine tours. Well, I won’t be doing the tours as they start at $135. The rain has stopped now but I feel sort of naked without the camera and know that I will see stuff that needs to be photographed. Walk around Collins and Swanston but getting so cold I hop on a 35 Circle tram for free and go round the city to warm up! Normally they have a commentary running about places of interest but the driver has turned it off. He probably knows it off by heart. But I’m a visitor and I DON’T!
Arranged with Jon to go bowling tonight and find he’s invited his friend Alison (Ally) to join us. Ally bowls her best ever game and Jon and I don’t do so bad either. Just love those shoes every body has worn before you. They’re so uber trendy! We have a great time at the bowl and then go for pancakes after.
Arranged to meet Jon for lunch back in Kew today so spent a little time in the city updating the photos and writing a little. The weather is foul today. Thunder, lightning, wind, hail and rain so a good opportunity to catch up a bit more. So damned annoying that you get partway through uploading photos to Snapfish and the line disconnects. Still, managed to upload a few more. The blog is proceeding slowly but I am persevering as I will regret it otherwise in days, months and years to come. Return to Kew and Jon and I go to a pub he recommends called the Spotted Dog which is well known for huge chicken or veal escalope. I am filled with trepidation as to the size of this monster dish and surprise, surprise, I am not surprised! It is the size of a large dinner plate and is accompanied by a plate of French fries and enough salad to feed 2 people. The portions size thing gets me thinking and I determine to look out for the size of Melburnians in general. Well, I manage to finish the Veal escalope, have a few fries and make a manful attempt on the salad. Still leave half a plate of food though.
Back to the city but have left my camera in Jon’s car and still it is miserable and cold and raining. I spend a little time in the Tourist information centre as I am thinking about taking one of the Yarra Valley wine tours. Well, I won’t be doing the tours as they start at $135. The rain has stopped now but I feel sort of naked without the camera and know that I will see stuff that needs to be photographed. Walk around Collins and Swanston but getting so cold I hop on a 35 Circle tram for free and go round the city to warm up! Normally they have a commentary running about places of interest but the driver has turned it off. He probably knows it off by heart. But I’m a visitor and I DON’T!
Arranged with Jon to go bowling tonight and find he’s invited his friend Alison (Ally) to join us. Ally bowls her best ever game and Jon and I don’t do so bad either. Just love those shoes every body has worn before you. They’re so uber trendy! We have a great time at the bowl and then go for pancakes after.
14 th November 2006 View from the top
14th November (Tuesday)
So, back into the city on the tram with all the other morning commuters and go for breakfast at Beleize in Australia on Collins again. Mainly because it’s the only café serving hot cooked food there. I’m using Australia on Collins because of the free wifi to try and upload photos and blog. Nice breakfast of 2 poached eggs on toast. Successfully logon on today and upload some photos, but it takes nearly an hour to do it!
Today I’m going to go up the Rialto Tower 253 metres to the 360 degree observation deck where you have a panoramic view of Melbourne. $12.50 and that includes a 20 minute film about the city. Which of course just turns out to be a tourist appetizer for what you can visit in and around Melbourne and includes the world’s worst sound track and song called “My Melbourne.” Take the express lift to the 54th floor, The Observation Deck and take in the wonders of Melbourne from approx 250 metres above street level. There are 2 outside platforms as well as the glassed observation level so you can view from the comfort of the inside, (comfort as in warmth, no wind and Oh my God I don’t feel safe up here) or the more raw, close to edge, look directly down below you outside view. I did them all and I think, got some decent pictures. Look out for the tennis courts on the roof of a tallish building, gardens on some others, water features, and a children’s play area on top of another. I quite like the shot of the model railway!
Had lunch for a change in the Observation Deck Café and ordered the smallest piece of quiche I could see in the chiller display and a pot of tea. How very English of me. The lady said she would bring it all to my table in a few moments after serving the other customers. A few minutes passed and she appeared by my table with my quiche………………………………....... which was surrounded by a huge salad! Small and sensible portions just don’t exist here in Australia. After large lunch waddle back to the lifts and wait my turn. I did suggest to the lift guy that the stairs might be more appropriate and he told me a small story. Once a year Melbourne holds the Rialto tower race where competitors take it in turns to race up the stairs and the fastest time wins. Last year the winner took 20 minutes! I have unfortunately forgotten how many stairs he said there are. The lift downwards option seemed a good idea after that tale.
Back at ground level, I decide to take a look at the South Bank which is across the River Yarra and houses a lot of the new arty areas of the city. Some good views can be found of the city as you look back across the river. The river front is a sea of cafes, restaurants and a small shopping arcade. As I make my way along I come to St Kilda Road and a building with a steel tower which really looks like a radio mast. This building is the Melbourne Concert Hall which has 3 theatres inside, each designed in a different style but with an Aussie theme. Had a good look round and took a look at an exhibition of photos depicting Aussie actors holding one object which was dear or important to them. Clever idea, might copy that.
Next door was the Victoria Arts Centre which I thought might be worth a look, I could enhance my culture levels possibly! But no, it was shut on Tuesdays!
I walked back across Princes Bridge and crossed over into Federation Square and down towards the Yarra River again to see an open air exhibition called “earth from above”. This is a stunning collection of aerial photographs which highlight the changing face of our planet, taken by a guy called Yann Arthus-Bertrand. There is a website about his photography and this particular project, which is at www.yannarthusbertrand.com or very similar. Google it and you’ll find it. These photos are truly remarkable, not just because of the fact they are aerial shots but because they are a commentary on how we, mankind, live our life on this planet and our wastefulness, selfishness and carelessness in protecting what gives us our home and food. Went back into Federation Square and had a glass of red wine at the Time Out café and rested my weary feet for half an hour before catching the tram back towards “home”.
Jon has had a telephone call from Donna saying that the trip on Friday has to be cancelled as Greg is not very well. It’s a big disappointment but Greg’s health is more important. She said she will phone later in the week to arrange for us all to catch up before I leave.
Went with Jon in the evening to watch him have a dance lesson with his instructor Julie and was also able to watch some other couples taking lessons or just practising. Not sure if I have mentioned this before but the house Jon is house sitting belongs to a family who have gone to Singapore temporarily. The eldest son, Craig and his girlfriend, Sriani have just returned from the UK where they have been working but also dancing and taking lessons from world class coaches to better themselves. Craig is a very personable young man and in the top amateur ranks for Latin dance in Australia so Jon has told me. At this point I have not really met Sriani but understand she is also a top ranked dancer and Craig’s girlfriend and dance partner. They are also at the studio tonight and working out a new routine. Now, I have seen some people doing dance practice, lessons and watched the competition at Williamstown on Sunday so if you like, I have a benchmark to which, in a very amateur manner, I can judge. Craig and Sriani are very, very, very good. They were only rehearsing but it was obvious that it essential they get every detail right and they wouldn’t be happy until it was. Managed to get a photo of Jon with Julie for the record.
So, back into the city on the tram with all the other morning commuters and go for breakfast at Beleize in Australia on Collins again. Mainly because it’s the only café serving hot cooked food there. I’m using Australia on Collins because of the free wifi to try and upload photos and blog. Nice breakfast of 2 poached eggs on toast. Successfully logon on today and upload some photos, but it takes nearly an hour to do it!
Today I’m going to go up the Rialto Tower 253 metres to the 360 degree observation deck where you have a panoramic view of Melbourne. $12.50 and that includes a 20 minute film about the city. Which of course just turns out to be a tourist appetizer for what you can visit in and around Melbourne and includes the world’s worst sound track and song called “My Melbourne.” Take the express lift to the 54th floor, The Observation Deck and take in the wonders of Melbourne from approx 250 metres above street level. There are 2 outside platforms as well as the glassed observation level so you can view from the comfort of the inside, (comfort as in warmth, no wind and Oh my God I don’t feel safe up here) or the more raw, close to edge, look directly down below you outside view. I did them all and I think, got some decent pictures. Look out for the tennis courts on the roof of a tallish building, gardens on some others, water features, and a children’s play area on top of another. I quite like the shot of the model railway!
Had lunch for a change in the Observation Deck Café and ordered the smallest piece of quiche I could see in the chiller display and a pot of tea. How very English of me. The lady said she would bring it all to my table in a few moments after serving the other customers. A few minutes passed and she appeared by my table with my quiche………………………………....... which was surrounded by a huge salad! Small and sensible portions just don’t exist here in Australia. After large lunch waddle back to the lifts and wait my turn. I did suggest to the lift guy that the stairs might be more appropriate and he told me a small story. Once a year Melbourne holds the Rialto tower race where competitors take it in turns to race up the stairs and the fastest time wins. Last year the winner took 20 minutes! I have unfortunately forgotten how many stairs he said there are. The lift downwards option seemed a good idea after that tale.
Back at ground level, I decide to take a look at the South Bank which is across the River Yarra and houses a lot of the new arty areas of the city. Some good views can be found of the city as you look back across the river. The river front is a sea of cafes, restaurants and a small shopping arcade. As I make my way along I come to St Kilda Road and a building with a steel tower which really looks like a radio mast. This building is the Melbourne Concert Hall which has 3 theatres inside, each designed in a different style but with an Aussie theme. Had a good look round and took a look at an exhibition of photos depicting Aussie actors holding one object which was dear or important to them. Clever idea, might copy that.
Next door was the Victoria Arts Centre which I thought might be worth a look, I could enhance my culture levels possibly! But no, it was shut on Tuesdays!
I walked back across Princes Bridge and crossed over into Federation Square and down towards the Yarra River again to see an open air exhibition called “earth from above”. This is a stunning collection of aerial photographs which highlight the changing face of our planet, taken by a guy called Yann Arthus-Bertrand. There is a website about his photography and this particular project, which is at www.yannarthusbertrand.com or very similar. Google it and you’ll find it. These photos are truly remarkable, not just because of the fact they are aerial shots but because they are a commentary on how we, mankind, live our life on this planet and our wastefulness, selfishness and carelessness in protecting what gives us our home and food. Went back into Federation Square and had a glass of red wine at the Time Out café and rested my weary feet for half an hour before catching the tram back towards “home”.
Jon has had a telephone call from Donna saying that the trip on Friday has to be cancelled as Greg is not very well. It’s a big disappointment but Greg’s health is more important. She said she will phone later in the week to arrange for us all to catch up before I leave.
Went with Jon in the evening to watch him have a dance lesson with his instructor Julie and was also able to watch some other couples taking lessons or just practising. Not sure if I have mentioned this before but the house Jon is house sitting belongs to a family who have gone to Singapore temporarily. The eldest son, Craig and his girlfriend, Sriani have just returned from the UK where they have been working but also dancing and taking lessons from world class coaches to better themselves. Craig is a very personable young man and in the top amateur ranks for Latin dance in Australia so Jon has told me. At this point I have not really met Sriani but understand she is also a top ranked dancer and Craig’s girlfriend and dance partner. They are also at the studio tonight and working out a new routine. Now, I have seen some people doing dance practice, lessons and watched the competition at Williamstown on Sunday so if you like, I have a benchmark to which, in a very amateur manner, I can judge. Craig and Sriani are very, very, very good. They were only rehearsing but it was obvious that it essential they get every detail right and they wouldn’t be happy until it was. Managed to get a photo of Jon with Julie for the record.
13th November 2006 Melbourne city, Away alone
13th November (Monday)
My first day on my own in the big metropolis. I get up early and Jon gives me a lift to Kew where he works and I hop on a tram bound for the city centre. $6.10 for an all day rover tram ticket, not bad. Get off at Flinders and Elizabeth and head for Australia on Collins and some breakfast in the food court there. Tried to logon to the free wireless internet service the y have but it is so sporadic I give up in frustration. No uploading of photos and blog again! Go for a walk following one of the Melbourne Tourist offices suggested tours but do it by myself. Walk through small arcades like Block and look at shops and arcades built back in the 1870’s In that distinctive Victorian style. There is an old tea and coffee shop that apparently has barely changed since those days and I think I saw one of the original 1870 customers sitting in the corner with her tea and scones! As you walk through Melbourne it becomes clear that an awful lot of modern building has taken place but whilst managing to leave a considerable amount of historical buildings untouched and they sit together in a typically unique Melbourne way. Walk past the huge and imposing old Post Office on Collins St and get a couple of good photos. Find a building called the Manchester Order of the Oddfellows, strange but reassuring to find so many familiar names from home on the opposite side of the world.
As a small aside it is very odd when looking at the descriptions given to houses which are for sale. Especially the one which describes the house and rear garden as “ideally located in a North facing direction.” ? !! You can work it out for yourself.
Found myself on Swanston St and a parade of shops which included “Arthur Daley’s Famous Warehouse Store”. Couldn’t resist having a look. Well it was the stack ‘em high sell ‘em cheap option and there were 4 floors of it. Looked hard but couldn’t see Terry. Next door was a similar shop but not quite so cheap and next door to that was another one selling Christmas cards at 5 for $1. Was very tempted! Next to that was ……. Another Arthur Daly Discount Warehouse store! Made my way to an exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Federation Sq which was called Eyes, Lies and Illusions. This exhibition explores and displays the ways in which the art and science of visual perception has been used to deceive and entertain us down the centuries. Displays covering tricks of the light, perspectives, optical trickery and the precursor to the true moving image, sequential photographs or flip books. On of the displays was about 50 or so table tennis balls suspended from the ceiling at various heights and distances from each other to form a sort of one dimensial block. Projected onto the balls was the image of an eye and as you watched the display they appeared to blink. Quite intriguing and strangely hypnotic. One other display was swarms of bees being projected onto other displays periodically so you didn’t actually know when or where it was about to happen. A lady actually stopped one of the display attendants and said there was a funny noise in the exhibition which was interfering with her concentration and could they locate it and turn it off!
Left the exhibition at about 3.30 and returned to a little café I had noticed earlier in the day in a small lane off Block Alley and ordered Chocolate Mud Pie and a glass of house red. The wine was delicious, a Cabernet Sauvignon and just what the palate wanted. The mud pie was the size of a house! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, beware of the portions here.
Met Jon after work and I got a Thai take away on the way home, mixed meats soup, chicken pepper and garlic and special Thai rice. I am so tired I only drank the soup and ate a small piece of the rice and chicken and then I went to bed. Woos.
My first day on my own in the big metropolis. I get up early and Jon gives me a lift to Kew where he works and I hop on a tram bound for the city centre. $6.10 for an all day rover tram ticket, not bad. Get off at Flinders and Elizabeth and head for Australia on Collins and some breakfast in the food court there. Tried to logon to the free wireless internet service the y have but it is so sporadic I give up in frustration. No uploading of photos and blog again! Go for a walk following one of the Melbourne Tourist offices suggested tours but do it by myself. Walk through small arcades like Block and look at shops and arcades built back in the 1870’s In that distinctive Victorian style. There is an old tea and coffee shop that apparently has barely changed since those days and I think I saw one of the original 1870 customers sitting in the corner with her tea and scones! As you walk through Melbourne it becomes clear that an awful lot of modern building has taken place but whilst managing to leave a considerable amount of historical buildings untouched and they sit together in a typically unique Melbourne way. Walk past the huge and imposing old Post Office on Collins St and get a couple of good photos. Find a building called the Manchester Order of the Oddfellows, strange but reassuring to find so many familiar names from home on the opposite side of the world.
As a small aside it is very odd when looking at the descriptions given to houses which are for sale. Especially the one which describes the house and rear garden as “ideally located in a North facing direction.” ? !! You can work it out for yourself.
Found myself on Swanston St and a parade of shops which included “Arthur Daley’s Famous Warehouse Store”. Couldn’t resist having a look. Well it was the stack ‘em high sell ‘em cheap option and there were 4 floors of it. Looked hard but couldn’t see Terry. Next door was a similar shop but not quite so cheap and next door to that was another one selling Christmas cards at 5 for $1. Was very tempted! Next to that was ……. Another Arthur Daly Discount Warehouse store! Made my way to an exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Federation Sq which was called Eyes, Lies and Illusions. This exhibition explores and displays the ways in which the art and science of visual perception has been used to deceive and entertain us down the centuries. Displays covering tricks of the light, perspectives, optical trickery and the precursor to the true moving image, sequential photographs or flip books. On of the displays was about 50 or so table tennis balls suspended from the ceiling at various heights and distances from each other to form a sort of one dimensial block. Projected onto the balls was the image of an eye and as you watched the display they appeared to blink. Quite intriguing and strangely hypnotic. One other display was swarms of bees being projected onto other displays periodically so you didn’t actually know when or where it was about to happen. A lady actually stopped one of the display attendants and said there was a funny noise in the exhibition which was interfering with her concentration and could they locate it and turn it off!
Left the exhibition at about 3.30 and returned to a little café I had noticed earlier in the day in a small lane off Block Alley and ordered Chocolate Mud Pie and a glass of house red. The wine was delicious, a Cabernet Sauvignon and just what the palate wanted. The mud pie was the size of a house! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, beware of the portions here.
Met Jon after work and I got a Thai take away on the way home, mixed meats soup, chicken pepper and garlic and special Thai rice. I am so tired I only drank the soup and ate a small piece of the rice and chicken and then I went to bed. Woos.
12th November Come Dancing Australia style
12th November (Sunday)
Jon and I met up with his sister Nicola again and this time her husband Robert came too. We all met at a lovely little street café in St Kilda and had a fine brunch. The Melburnians have a hardy street café mentality and weekends is the time to indulge this favourite pastime. Families, friends and acquaintances meet to catch up over long macchiattas, short blacks and breakfast eggs Benedict and the like.
After brunch Jon and I take the road out past Luna Park fair and head out on to the Great Western Freeway which rises over the harbour and docks and gives great views back towards the city. W are aiming for Williamstown and a dance competition which Jon had been hoping to compete in. It’s a long story but sadly he and his dance partner couldn’t go. I am going to beg your indulgence and describe the day, the competition the levels and dances and hopefully make some sense. I rely on Jon for the accuracy of the detail and myself for the hyperbole. But your going to have to wait ‘coz he’s gone to bed and I’m too tired to write any more. Hope we don’t lose too much of the colour of the day by sleeping on it.
So Williamstown Dance competition is a non qualifying event which means nobody is dancing to gain points for their medal levels so should be a more relaxed time for the competitors. The entrants range from about 7 years old to mid to late fifties and they dance in a wide range of categories such as Latin, modern, progressive etc. They also compete at different levels from beginners level 1 to to level 5 but today the highest level is 4. The couples get approx. a minute and a half to show the judges their dance skills and then they qualify or not for the semis and finals in their particular category and level. To my eye some of the dancing is excellent and the costumes and dresses of the ladies are incredible, bright, flamboyant and beautiful. The men wear elegant suits and tails and they all look magnificent swirling and twirling around the Old Town Hall dance floor. We watch the youngsters first as they always go first and see some good and not so good latin and progressive. The programme intersperses a few adult and Masters (over 55) qualifiers and the youngsters near the finals. I’m not really sure who wins and why but they seem to get a great deal of enjoyment out of it and I think that’s the main thing. Jon and I wandered off after the awards and went down to Williamstown harbour and checked out he yachts and ships. It also is one of the dockyards for the Australian Navy and there were a couple moored but we couldn’t get a clear view of them.
Back to the competition and the adults groups were in full swing. The Latin categories are extremely energetic and I hate to think how many muscles I could pull all at once if I attempted any of those moves! Again the Masters was the one to watch if you wanted to watch elegant, graceful dancing by beautifully dressed men and women. This probably sounds a bit daft but I could watch this for hours without getting bored. Anyway we left around 8pm and they were all still going strong. Jon says some competitions run until 10 or 11pm. Poor ol’ Jon has to go to work tomorrow as his company wouldn’t let him have 2 weeks holiday for my visit. Also looks like he may not be able to have next Monday off for our visit to Sydney. Poor show by OAMPS the financial company he works for. There, they are named and shamed.
Jon and I met up with his sister Nicola again and this time her husband Robert came too. We all met at a lovely little street café in St Kilda and had a fine brunch. The Melburnians have a hardy street café mentality and weekends is the time to indulge this favourite pastime. Families, friends and acquaintances meet to catch up over long macchiattas, short blacks and breakfast eggs Benedict and the like.
After brunch Jon and I take the road out past Luna Park fair and head out on to the Great Western Freeway which rises over the harbour and docks and gives great views back towards the city. W are aiming for Williamstown and a dance competition which Jon had been hoping to compete in. It’s a long story but sadly he and his dance partner couldn’t go. I am going to beg your indulgence and describe the day, the competition the levels and dances and hopefully make some sense. I rely on Jon for the accuracy of the detail and myself for the hyperbole. But your going to have to wait ‘coz he’s gone to bed and I’m too tired to write any more. Hope we don’t lose too much of the colour of the day by sleeping on it.
So Williamstown Dance competition is a non qualifying event which means nobody is dancing to gain points for their medal levels so should be a more relaxed time for the competitors. The entrants range from about 7 years old to mid to late fifties and they dance in a wide range of categories such as Latin, modern, progressive etc. They also compete at different levels from beginners level 1 to to level 5 but today the highest level is 4. The couples get approx. a minute and a half to show the judges their dance skills and then they qualify or not for the semis and finals in their particular category and level. To my eye some of the dancing is excellent and the costumes and dresses of the ladies are incredible, bright, flamboyant and beautiful. The men wear elegant suits and tails and they all look magnificent swirling and twirling around the Old Town Hall dance floor. We watch the youngsters first as they always go first and see some good and not so good latin and progressive. The programme intersperses a few adult and Masters (over 55) qualifiers and the youngsters near the finals. I’m not really sure who wins and why but they seem to get a great deal of enjoyment out of it and I think that’s the main thing. Jon and I wandered off after the awards and went down to Williamstown harbour and checked out he yachts and ships. It also is one of the dockyards for the Australian Navy and there were a couple moored but we couldn’t get a clear view of them.
Back to the competition and the adults groups were in full swing. The Latin categories are extremely energetic and I hate to think how many muscles I could pull all at once if I attempted any of those moves! Again the Masters was the one to watch if you wanted to watch elegant, graceful dancing by beautifully dressed men and women. This probably sounds a bit daft but I could watch this for hours without getting bored. Anyway we left around 8pm and they were all still going strong. Jon says some competitions run until 10 or 11pm. Poor ol’ Jon has to go to work tomorrow as his company wouldn’t let him have 2 weeks holiday for my visit. Also looks like he may not be able to have next Monday off for our visit to Sydney. Poor show by OAMPS the financial company he works for. There, they are named and shamed.
11th November Chuck a Tuna steak on the Barbie mate!
11th November (Saturday)
Lazy day today as Jon is having dance lessons and helping out at the studio with other dance lessons and practice. So to be honest I have done nothing today but read a newspaper and dwashing and ironing. This evening we are going to visit Donna and Greg for dinner.
They are a lovely couple, Greg has his own Air conditioning and plumbing business and Donna is a talented freelance sculp(tor)? (tress)? (trix)? The house is a beautiful Edwardian Melbourne style chalet but with a huge extension built at the back in a more modern style but still in keeping with the older part. Greg barbies (been dying to say that) the tuna burgers and Jon’s lamb steaks to perfection. (Jon is allergic to most shellfish and fish). The mixed salad is delicious and we finish with a gorgeous Pavlova made by mine hostess. Excellent hosts and company and Jon and I have had a great night and met 2 very lovely people. The finale to the evening is that they have invited me to tour The Great Ocean Highway with them on Thursday and Friday. This is one of the great drives of the world along the south Victoria coastline and as they have a property somewhere along the route we can stay overnight. I am stunned by this generosity and they insist it is their pleasure to show me this heritage area of Australia. Where else in the world would you get this kind of generosity? In fact every where I go here, people just want to help and are polite and kind and always interested in where you come from and how are things back in the UK. I would say a vast majority of Australians have visited UK and Europe and in general are a widely travelled bunch. They also seem bemused that many of us want to emigrate from UK as they think it a great and historical place. But I am regularly thanked by them that we sent them here because it is definitely God’s own country and they love it!
Lazy day today as Jon is having dance lessons and helping out at the studio with other dance lessons and practice. So to be honest I have done nothing today but read a newspaper and dwashing and ironing. This evening we are going to visit Donna and Greg for dinner.
They are a lovely couple, Greg has his own Air conditioning and plumbing business and Donna is a talented freelance sculp(tor)? (tress)? (trix)? The house is a beautiful Edwardian Melbourne style chalet but with a huge extension built at the back in a more modern style but still in keeping with the older part. Greg barbies (been dying to say that) the tuna burgers and Jon’s lamb steaks to perfection. (Jon is allergic to most shellfish and fish). The mixed salad is delicious and we finish with a gorgeous Pavlova made by mine hostess. Excellent hosts and company and Jon and I have had a great night and met 2 very lovely people. The finale to the evening is that they have invited me to tour The Great Ocean Highway with them on Thursday and Friday. This is one of the great drives of the world along the south Victoria coastline and as they have a property somewhere along the route we can stay overnight. I am stunned by this generosity and they insist it is their pleasure to show me this heritage area of Australia. Where else in the world would you get this kind of generosity? In fact every where I go here, people just want to help and are polite and kind and always interested in where you come from and how are things back in the UK. I would say a vast majority of Australians have visited UK and Europe and in general are a widely travelled bunch. They also seem bemused that many of us want to emigrate from UK as they think it a great and historical place. But I am regularly thanked by them that we sent them here because it is definitely God’s own country and they love it!
10th November A Very Zoological Day
10th November (Friday)
Zoo and Phillip Island
Today we visited Melbourne Zoo and met Jon’s friends Richard and Angela there too. It is not a big zoo and I believe it has been criticised in the past for not giving enough space nor the right environment for the animals to thrive and flourish successfully. However they seem to be putting that right currently. There are 3 new Asian elephant arrivals who have just gone on show this week and who have 3 new enclosures, one by their elephant house with play area and mud bath, another larger roaming compound and finally an area with a huge swimming and bathing pool. Looked more like an elephant Jacuzzi. Then there were new orang-utans who also have a new housing area, indoor play area and outside area all with many play items and climbing rooms. They even had blankets and clothes to play with. The pathways around and leading to enclosures have all been planted with bamboos and tall grasses to give a feeling of jungle and is quite effective. Much better than open walks and wood or steel fences. Wandered through the butterfly house and saw many varieties and asked the zoo keeper why she was tipping out baby stick insects onto the bushes and flowers. They were the babies that were not needed by the zoo for the insect house and so were released into the butterfly house as food for the Sun birds who were also housed there. We then headed for the indigenous Australian species paddock and saw lazy kangaroos, red kangaroos, wombats, platypus, koala, which is not a bear but a marsupial, Echidnae which is a large hedgehog with a very long snout (also known as spiny anteater) and emus. Been told a story that koalas are actually permanently stoned because of their diet of eucalyptus leaves. Jon said be careful because the drop out of trees and injure people, he calls them drop bears! Not sure if he’s pulling my leg or not. After a brief lunch we continued and saw little penguins, a beautiful red tree bear, lions, tortoises, reptile house and least rare of beasts, the Souvenir shop.
Left the zoo for the city to catch the Little Penguin Express coach to go and visit Phillip Island and the nightly penguin parade. My thanks to Richard and Angela for some excellent background info regarding the zoo and its inhabitants. The zoo also offers sleepovers to kids in the grounds. Wonder how many actually sleep.
Well, we’re off on the 2 hour coach journey to Phillip Island to witness, what I’ve been frequently told, is the highlight of any visit to Melbourne. How exciting can the walk of some penguins across a beach be, I thought. Nightly, little penguins leave the ocean to make their way across a long beach and up a grassy hill to their burrows where their mate and offspring are waiting for supper. The journey is hazardous because being only 12 inches in height they are the target of predators such as birds and sharks and land creatures including cats and dogs. But the biggest menace to them was, as usual, man because since time immemorial visitors have gone to the island to watch them come ashore. What wasn’t understood up until the ’70’s was that walking over the dunes more often than not crushed their burrows and would often bury penguins and their babies inside. Aside from that, the presence of humans put off the penguins from returning to certain parts of the nesting coastline and for many years the colony numbers where known to be decreasing. Currently they believe there are 60,000 or so. It is now a full time sanctuary as well as a tourist destination but it is controlled tourism and the penguins are the most important part of the equation. Viewing areas which are elevated above the pingwin pathways have been built using tourist income, rangers are employed and full time vets are on hand each evening in case of pingwin injury. On the night we were there one was rescued with a foot injury and packed up and sent to the vet.
It is truly a marvellous spectacle watching the little fellas waddle up the long beach in the twilight gloom, in gaggles of 30 or so. It’s not until you are there that you understand the distance they have to walk on their short little legs. Pingwins are designed to swim, not walk. They reach the grassy area and have a rest before the uphill journey towards their burrows. The noise of the waiting babies and partners is quite loud and often partners will venture out of the burrow and back toward the beach in search of hubby or wife. The rangers told us that the journey is also a social event where everybody catches up on the gossip because generally they spend up to 3 or 4 months at sea fishing and eating. They only return to land to mate and rear their young. Needless to say we saw some having pingwin nookie! It was pretty much all over within an hour (the pingwin parade not the nooky) and we all embarked on our coaches and drove back to Melbourne. No photos as it is prohibited, even non flash photography. As much to protect the income of the sanctuary through the sale of photographic souvenirs as the protection of the pingwins.
Zoo and Phillip Island
Today we visited Melbourne Zoo and met Jon’s friends Richard and Angela there too. It is not a big zoo and I believe it has been criticised in the past for not giving enough space nor the right environment for the animals to thrive and flourish successfully. However they seem to be putting that right currently. There are 3 new Asian elephant arrivals who have just gone on show this week and who have 3 new enclosures, one by their elephant house with play area and mud bath, another larger roaming compound and finally an area with a huge swimming and bathing pool. Looked more like an elephant Jacuzzi. Then there were new orang-utans who also have a new housing area, indoor play area and outside area all with many play items and climbing rooms. They even had blankets and clothes to play with. The pathways around and leading to enclosures have all been planted with bamboos and tall grasses to give a feeling of jungle and is quite effective. Much better than open walks and wood or steel fences. Wandered through the butterfly house and saw many varieties and asked the zoo keeper why she was tipping out baby stick insects onto the bushes and flowers. They were the babies that were not needed by the zoo for the insect house and so were released into the butterfly house as food for the Sun birds who were also housed there. We then headed for the indigenous Australian species paddock and saw lazy kangaroos, red kangaroos, wombats, platypus, koala, which is not a bear but a marsupial, Echidnae which is a large hedgehog with a very long snout (also known as spiny anteater) and emus. Been told a story that koalas are actually permanently stoned because of their diet of eucalyptus leaves. Jon said be careful because the drop out of trees and injure people, he calls them drop bears! Not sure if he’s pulling my leg or not. After a brief lunch we continued and saw little penguins, a beautiful red tree bear, lions, tortoises, reptile house and least rare of beasts, the Souvenir shop.
Left the zoo for the city to catch the Little Penguin Express coach to go and visit Phillip Island and the nightly penguin parade. My thanks to Richard and Angela for some excellent background info regarding the zoo and its inhabitants. The zoo also offers sleepovers to kids in the grounds. Wonder how many actually sleep.
Well, we’re off on the 2 hour coach journey to Phillip Island to witness, what I’ve been frequently told, is the highlight of any visit to Melbourne. How exciting can the walk of some penguins across a beach be, I thought. Nightly, little penguins leave the ocean to make their way across a long beach and up a grassy hill to their burrows where their mate and offspring are waiting for supper. The journey is hazardous because being only 12 inches in height they are the target of predators such as birds and sharks and land creatures including cats and dogs. But the biggest menace to them was, as usual, man because since time immemorial visitors have gone to the island to watch them come ashore. What wasn’t understood up until the ’70’s was that walking over the dunes more often than not crushed their burrows and would often bury penguins and their babies inside. Aside from that, the presence of humans put off the penguins from returning to certain parts of the nesting coastline and for many years the colony numbers where known to be decreasing. Currently they believe there are 60,000 or so. It is now a full time sanctuary as well as a tourist destination but it is controlled tourism and the penguins are the most important part of the equation. Viewing areas which are elevated above the pingwin pathways have been built using tourist income, rangers are employed and full time vets are on hand each evening in case of pingwin injury. On the night we were there one was rescued with a foot injury and packed up and sent to the vet.
It is truly a marvellous spectacle watching the little fellas waddle up the long beach in the twilight gloom, in gaggles of 30 or so. It’s not until you are there that you understand the distance they have to walk on their short little legs. Pingwins are designed to swim, not walk. They reach the grassy area and have a rest before the uphill journey towards their burrows. The noise of the waiting babies and partners is quite loud and often partners will venture out of the burrow and back toward the beach in search of hubby or wife. The rangers told us that the journey is also a social event where everybody catches up on the gossip because generally they spend up to 3 or 4 months at sea fishing and eating. They only return to land to mate and rear their young. Needless to say we saw some having pingwin nookie! It was pretty much all over within an hour (the pingwin parade not the nooky) and we all embarked on our coaches and drove back to Melbourne. No photos as it is prohibited, even non flash photography. As much to protect the income of the sanctuary through the sale of photographic souvenirs as the protection of the pingwins.
9th November Gold Fever!
9th November (Thursday)
Up early today, well 8.00am anyway, due to a 2 hour drive to Ballarat, the site of the Great Australian Gold Rush. There is a village in Ballarat called Sovereign Hill which has been recreated as Ballarat was around the late 1850’safter the gold rush had begaun. It started with a few finds and then turned into full scale free for all with prospectors arriving from all over the world to make their fortune. It was a grim and tough existence but a few did make their fortunes but of course many more made their money from offering services to the miners and prospectors, such as hardware stores, bars, hotels, bakeries, apothecaries etc. and so Ballarat was made. The village was very good and supposedly as authentic as they could make it, but the beer was dispensed from old hand pumps by modern electric pumps. There was the opportunity to pan for gold from an artificial stream which, we were told was populated with gold shavings on a daily basis. Unfortunately for us we also shared the village with several hundred school kids on an educational so panning was impossible due to the number of kids “prospecting”. But they were having fun making “finds”. There were many local volunteers who dressed up in clothes of the time and wandered around the streets and shops adding a little authenticity to the feel of life. These included a mayor, a policeman, who arrested a young girl for “chewing her hair!” and handcuffed her to a post in the middle of the street, to waitresses, smithies, wheelwrights and a goldsmith. We watched this guy give a demonstration of the art of removing impurities and then pouring and casting 99.95% pure gold into an ingot. Oddly enough he wouldn’t let us near it and when he had cooled it using water he put it in a glass safe! See the photos. There was an awful lot to see and we did our best but just ran out of time. We didn’t manage the underground mine tour but did see the building where they still crush the quartz and separate out the gold. We didn’t see the wheelwrights working but did go 9 pin bowling as they used to do after a hard day ’s work. Didn’t manage to take the stagecoach ride around the village but did watch the Soldiers march around the village supposedly looking for hidden gold finds that weren’t reported and assayed. A great day and finished it, looking briefly in the Gold Museum only to find that many finds of gold nuggets in the last 20 or so years have been reported. The finders tend to keep hold of them and not have them smelted although they do register the finds and some eventually sell them to the Gold museum to put on display. There were about 20 nuggets and thousands of gold coins and other gold artefacts on display and it got me wondering. With all this gold on display the value of the contents must be in the millions, not to mention all the other displays of original papers, books, diaries and the like. It must be a prime target for thieves, so why has it not been burgled or whatever it would be called for such a high value crime. Of course, silly me, where would sell the only one of its kind in the world and who would be stupid enough to buy it. These items only have a value in the legitimate world of gold.
Drove a long journey home and I must thank Jon for it as he is not used to driving long distances in day. I forget that what I count as normal and do on a daily basis others regard as a very long journey and would do only 2 or 3 times a year. So, thank you Jon.
Up early today, well 8.00am anyway, due to a 2 hour drive to Ballarat, the site of the Great Australian Gold Rush. There is a village in Ballarat called Sovereign Hill which has been recreated as Ballarat was around the late 1850’safter the gold rush had begaun. It started with a few finds and then turned into full scale free for all with prospectors arriving from all over the world to make their fortune. It was a grim and tough existence but a few did make their fortunes but of course many more made their money from offering services to the miners and prospectors, such as hardware stores, bars, hotels, bakeries, apothecaries etc. and so Ballarat was made. The village was very good and supposedly as authentic as they could make it, but the beer was dispensed from old hand pumps by modern electric pumps. There was the opportunity to pan for gold from an artificial stream which, we were told was populated with gold shavings on a daily basis. Unfortunately for us we also shared the village with several hundred school kids on an educational so panning was impossible due to the number of kids “prospecting”. But they were having fun making “finds”. There were many local volunteers who dressed up in clothes of the time and wandered around the streets and shops adding a little authenticity to the feel of life. These included a mayor, a policeman, who arrested a young girl for “chewing her hair!” and handcuffed her to a post in the middle of the street, to waitresses, smithies, wheelwrights and a goldsmith. We watched this guy give a demonstration of the art of removing impurities and then pouring and casting 99.95% pure gold into an ingot. Oddly enough he wouldn’t let us near it and when he had cooled it using water he put it in a glass safe! See the photos. There was an awful lot to see and we did our best but just ran out of time. We didn’t manage the underground mine tour but did see the building where they still crush the quartz and separate out the gold. We didn’t see the wheelwrights working but did go 9 pin bowling as they used to do after a hard day ’s work. Didn’t manage to take the stagecoach ride around the village but did watch the Soldiers march around the village supposedly looking for hidden gold finds that weren’t reported and assayed. A great day and finished it, looking briefly in the Gold Museum only to find that many finds of gold nuggets in the last 20 or so years have been reported. The finders tend to keep hold of them and not have them smelted although they do register the finds and some eventually sell them to the Gold museum to put on display. There were about 20 nuggets and thousands of gold coins and other gold artefacts on display and it got me wondering. With all this gold on display the value of the contents must be in the millions, not to mention all the other displays of original papers, books, diaries and the like. It must be a prime target for thieves, so why has it not been burgled or whatever it would be called for such a high value crime. Of course, silly me, where would sell the only one of its kind in the world and who would be stupid enough to buy it. These items only have a value in the legitimate world of gold.
Drove a long journey home and I must thank Jon for it as he is not used to driving long distances in day. I forget that what I count as normal and do on a daily basis others regard as a very long journey and would do only 2 or 3 times a year. So, thank you Jon.
