VirtualTourist Member tiabunna
| Page Views: 17,080 | RANDOM WANDERINGS by tiabunna - last update: Aug 22, 2008 |
Well, you have to start somewhere! | Starting point - from the top paddock |
Circumstances conspired to send us on two trips, to different ends of Australia, in short succession. Now we're home again, it's a matter of trying to catch up with the "real world" and with VT!
Our first trip was to Darwin, where we really enjoyed the VT Meeting and the opportunity to generally look around - my previous trips there were work-related and long ago. But, most of all, the prior "VT Survivor" trip was an unforgettable experience - delivering far more than any 'package tour' could ever hope: visiting far "OTBP" places, superb scenery, wildlife, and opportunities to delve a little into Aboriginal culture. What I can't so readily show on VT were the great times we shared with other VTers and their partners, the laughter, and good food. Maybe it's as well, in view of (dare I say it) some ribald humour and bad singing. I've promised myself that I will start soon on a page about the "Survivor" trip.
After the heat of the "Top End", we had only a short while at home before heading for Tasmania, for the 40th anniversary reunion with my 1968 Macquarie Island expedition pals. While there we did some touring - I've now completed small pages on the historic village of Ross and on a tiny place called Legerwood with some possibly surprising connections.
There's a saying that "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions" - that might well apply to my slow progress with pages on our 2007 overseas trip, but I've at last made a start on my Quebec page and Montreal is complete. |
| Gardens at the Schonbrunn |
|  | Wandering the world in 2007 we had a long but enjoyable "round the world" voyage which took in Vienna, Paris, Canada and Singapore and enabled us to catch up with some old friends. We successfully did that and enjoyed it, and the 'bonus' was that we also were able to meet many marvellous people we ‘virtually knew’ through VT! Because of other involvements outside VT, it's taking longer than I'd wish to prepare pages on our trip, but I'm gradually getting there. You'll find updated travel tips on my Brisbane page; a rather small page on Bangkok with some ideas for planning round-the-world travel; and I have completed my pages on Vienna and Paris. There's now also a small page on Lagny, outside Paris. After many delays, the page on Montreal, our first port of call in Canada also is now complete. |
| Adelie penguins and our ship, the 'Marina Svetaeva |
| | Our trip to Antarctica was great. In December 2005-January 2006 we had the "trip of a lifetime" to Antarctica. We travelled by ship from Hobart to East Antarctica (that's the roundish bit extending east from the Weddell Sea around under India and Australia to the Ross Sea), finally returning to New Zealand, and visiting subantarctic islands en-route. In the sequence we travelled, the travel pages are: Macquarie IslandAntarcticaAuckland Island |
| Us outside Mawson's Hut, December 2005 |
| | Outside Mawson's Hut. Way back, I'd spent a year in Antarctica working at Australia's Mawson station and, later, a year at Macquarie Island. It was good to revisit. If you're considering a trip to the Antarctic, we'd recommend making it a "must". Mawson station was named after Australia’s main Antarctic explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson – that’s his hut in the background to this photo and actually being among the very few to be able to enter it was my all-time travelling highlight. |
| Brisbane River and city buildings, 2005 |
| | Latest travels in Australia Australia is a big place - and we have family scattered around. So we seem to travel quite a bit in Oz, if mainly to the same places! Most recently, we went to Victoria for our son's wedding in the Dandenong Ranges. Easter 2007 was with our car club pals in western New South Wales in the little town of Cowra. In October 2006 we went to Brisbane for a short visit (mainly for family reasons), travelling up via Coffs Harbour and Murwillumbah . While we were there we visited Mount Tamborine. More locally, we often find ourselves passing through Captains Flat on our regular visits to Canberra, Australia’s capital city. During Easter 2007 we travelled to the town of Cowra which has some very unusual international links. |
| Camel wagon, Anna Creek Station, 1970 |
| | Earlier travels I’m gradually compiling VT pages for some of the places my wife Pauline and I have found ourselves in over the years. It’s a slow process, especially where old photos need to be scanned, but if you visit again from time to time, you should find some new material. This photo is from my Oodnadatta (central Australia) page. |
| Balloon liftoff, Canberra |
| | So, from here? As you've probably gathered, we enjoy travelling. Most importantly, we still have many more places we wish to visit, more to experience, and more people to meet. We're looking forward to it! |
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 Comments for tiabunna | | | | |
kokoryko Sat Sep 6, 2008 10:35 UTC
Take your time, George! The Pyrénées deserve it; adapting your motto, I will go back high while I can. Thanks for the visit, and:"bon week end à vous deux". Hermann | stevemt Sat Sep 6, 2008 06:29 UTC
George, regards to your other half, I miss Darwin, but I guess that other parts of the world will compensate. Keep well and have fun. STEVE | Trekki Sat Sep 6, 2008 04:22 UTC
Morning smiles from one-eyed me. I just fell out of bed and boy am I happy that it is weekend! I hope you both are fine and enjoying the spring :-)) | easterntrekker Fri Sep 5, 2008 14:59 UTC
Thank you for visiting my Shanghai pages. It is an incredible city!! |
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