IT’S official, I’m perfect. I had long suspected as much, but it was confirmed today when I visited the Mevlana Museum in the Turkish city of Konya. There’s a sign above the front door explaining “those who enter here incomplete will come out perfect” and after walking through the grand Ottoman doors, and exiting theContinue reading “Whirling perfection …”
Category Archives: Destinations
Arequipa’s curious discoveries …
THE life of a nun never appealed to me. When I was little, and there were a couple of “Boston buns” knocking around my Catholic primary school, the vow of poverty was an instant deal-breaker, as I couldn’t imagine giving up my yellow Walkman or my collection of Judy Blume novels. A few yearsContinue reading “Arequipa’s curious discoveries …”
Soaking up the views …
SOAKING UP THE VIEWS IN SINGAPORE … When designing new buildings to decorate the Singapore skyline, architects like to think outside the box. Examples of this include the Singapore Opera House, with two domes that look like giant fly eyes; the Supreme Court, with a “UFO” on the roof; Parkview Square and its Gotham moodiness;Continue reading “Soaking up the views …”
When second is best …
IT’S fair to say America’s Grand Canyon is the world’s most famous gorge. But when it comes to deep, the Grand Canyon is a couple of spots from the top sitting third on the list of the globe’s most cavernous ravines. There are two canyons in the Peruvian Andes that are considerably deeper than theContinue reading “When second is best …”
Climbing to Canyon …
TRAVELLING in Peru is all about altitude, and today we got our first serious helping of high. We started the day at 2335m in Arequipa, tonight we’re sleeping at 3635m on the edge of the Colca Canyon, and we crossed an Andean mountain range that took us up to 4910m to get here. It costContinue reading “Climbing to Canyon …”
On shaky ground …
IT was back on to a plane today for our first flight in Peru with a LAN Airbus taking us Arequipa. This is the second-largest city in Peru, a destination that’s growing at a rapid rate with tourists using it as a launching point to see the Colca Canyon, and we had a driving tourContinue reading “On shaky ground …”
The big five-oh …
AFTER sitting on 49 countries for the better part of a year I’ve finally added the 50th destination to the list of places I’ve been. I’m in Peru for a couple of weeks, on an expedition organised by LAN Airlines and Adventure World, and starting this visit with a day in Lima to get usedContinue reading “The big five-oh …”
Explore the outback …
MY father, John, loves the Outback. The more sunbaked the landscape, the happier he is. And while most of us dread a dirt track full of potholes and corrugations winding through hundreds of kilometres of dusty land, that’s his idea of a great day out. So he was jealous that I saw the Flinders RangesContinue reading “Explore the outback …”
High country history …
→ When visiting an historic hilltop hamlet it’s only right to stay in an historic cottage … THERE are not a lot of options when it comes to accommodation in a little spot like Walhalla. The Star Hotel offers pub-style digs, there are a couple of B&Bs around the place, and those who really wantContinue reading “High country history …”
Glamping at the Prom …
I HAVE introduced my dad to something new today. He is no stranger to camping, having slept on the ground from one end of Australia to the other, but tonight is the first time he’s engaged in the very civilised activity of glamping. Instead of pitching our own tent, and then curling up in aContinue reading “Glamping at the Prom …”
And now for Rotto …
I’VE been to Rottnest Island a few times now – we used to hang out there during my uni days when a group would make the journey across Gage Roads to the patch of land sitting just off the West Australian coast – and the pace of those previous visits was always very relaxed. WeContinue reading “And now for Rotto …”
Kiwi pedal power …
GRETCHEN Bunny has a simple rule for people who want to use her bicycles to explore Martinborough, and that’s no Lycra allowed. “Lycra is discouraged, and wedges are firmly encouraged,” Bunny says with a laugh, referring to her footwear as we cycle around her home patch on New Zealand’s North Island. “Riding a bike inContinue reading “Kiwi pedal power …”
Free-o …
WELCOME to Perth, home of the big blue sky. I spent my first full day in Fremantle enjoying the sunshine and warm weather, strolling the streets remembering what I love about this place. Freo was one of Australias first settlements, so the streets stretching back from the busy port are still clogged with colonial-style architectureContinue reading “Free-o …”
In the vines …
→ Peppers Parehua offers wine-loving travellers a play to stay right in the vines … PEPPERS Parehua sits in the heart of a Martinborough vineyard with the cottage-style suites perfectly positioned so guests can explore the delights of the pretty New Zealand settlement – including dozens of wineries, restaurants, and cafes – on foot orContinue reading “In the vines …”
Motoring around London …
TRAFFIC in London often grinds to a standstill and, as a result, the English capital isn’t considered the best city to explore on four wheels – until now that is. A couple of years ago three mates, Mini Cooper enthusiasts, established a boutique tour company that takes visitors around London’s busy streets in little carsContinue reading “Motoring around London …”
Geneva’s festival …
GOOD luck, rather than good management, has put me in Geneva on the weekend of the Swiss city’s biggest celebration. The Escalade is three days of non-stop festivities that commemorate and celebrate the night in 1602 when the residents of Geneva’s walled city repelled an attack by the Duke of Savoy. The Duke wanted toContinue reading “Geneva’s festival …”
Pleasantest sensation …
FREYA Stark, the British explorer who was one of the first women to do this travel-writing thing, once said “to awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world”. There’s a good chance Ms Stark was in some exotic Middle Eastern location when she made the now-famous statementContinue reading “Pleasantest sensation …”
Table with a view …
THIS is the table I occupied at breakfast this morning. I took a magazine to read while I enjoyed my bacon and eggs, but I didn’t even get to the first page as the view was far more interesting than anything inside my glossy travel publication. The sun doesn’t rise here until a little afterContinue reading “Table with a view …”
Mmm, macarons …
I JUST had my first real French macaron, and it was delightful. The outside was defiantly hard and broke with a firm crackle, the interior was a deep shade of rose and enticingly gooey, there was a light gel in the middle that exploded in my mouth with a burst of pink, and the flavourContinue reading “Mmm, macarons …”
Lofty French Alps’s stay …
→ While travellers are welcome at Club Med Valmorel during any season winter really is something special … ANOTHER travel first for me today. A few months ago I was the first passenger to sit in the fifth row of the brand new Qantas 737-800 called Tamworth and now I’m the first guest to occupyContinue reading “Lofty French Alps’s stay …”
So close, but yet …
I WAS 12km from Venice today. It was 12km straight up, so there was no chance I could pop in for a limonata at one of the cafes in St Mark’s Square, with my Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Geneva passing right over the top of the enchanting Italian city. I was flying toContinue reading “So close, but yet …”
Sacred Singapore …
I TURNED my back on the bright lights of the big city today and headed to a quiet spot on Singapore’s northern edge to remember an important episode in Australian history. With a car and a driver at my disposal for a few hours I decided it was a good time to visit the KranjiContinue reading “Sacred Singapore …”
Black and white …
THE black and white house is just as much a Singapore icon as Orchard Road, salt-and-pepper crab, Raffles, Sentosa Island, Changi Airport, Merlion and afternoon thunderstorms. “The black and white houses of Singapore occupy a fascinating position in the architectural record of South East Asia,” Julian Davison wrote in his book Black & White: TheContinue reading “Black and white …”
Glorious Kampong Glam …
TAKING a deep breath of the cool Shangri-La Singapore air, I headed out into the Equatorial heat to explore two more of this island nation’s colourful neighbourhoods this morning. Today I ventured into Little India and Kampong Glam, the two districts that are home to a couple more of the ethnic groups that came toContinue reading “Glorious Kampong Glam …”
What GFC …
WHEN it comes to the financial side of life, things are pretty good in Singapore. While the rest of the world is feeling like it’s just gone 10 rounds with Ali, and only now thinking about stepping back from a state of being alarmed to alert, Singapore in basking in the golden glow that comesContinue reading “What GFC …”
Now that’s luxury …
HOW do you tell the difference between a good luxury hotel and a great luxury hotel? Seems the difference is in the details. I checked into the Valley Wing at Shangri-La Singapore today, the most opulent accommodations in the luxury hotel and the place heads of state choose to stay when they’re visiting the islandContinue reading “Now that’s luxury …”
A rare thing …
I THOUGHT I would post a picture of something you don’t see very often in this part of the world, and that’s a fiery red sunset. Singapore’s position on the Equator means tropical afternoon thunderstorms blow in most days, covering the horizon is a fluffy layer of menacing clouds at the end of the day,Continue reading “A rare thing …”
Chinatown snaps …
Here are a few more photos taken during my afternoon in Chinatown. Visit the Visit Singapore website … posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Singapore fling …
IT’S Singapore in December, which means today was 35 degrees with 100 per cent humidity. The best thing I could have done was find a spot by the pool, park myself on a lounge under the sun, order lots of cold drinks, and submerge myself in the pond every time my core temperature startedContinue reading “Singapore fling …”
Bathroom with a view …
I HAVE a bathroom with a view. I’m staying at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, which sits on the south-western tip of the little island that snuggles against Singapore southern coast, and my room has a glorious view across the beaches and man-made lagoons to the busy shipping lanes that run between Indonesia and Malaysia. MyContinue reading “Bathroom with a view …”
Far Near Or Here 