All the way across the map
13. tammikuuta 2019, Singapore ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
First time on Singapore Airlines, and first time in Singapore (airport only). Possibly also the first time flying over Iran.
Not a bad list of firsts for one day. So how do I rate them?
Flying overLue lisää
And more map
14. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Landed at Sydney - a very slick airport with machines for everything. To save queues at the e-epassport gates, there are preliminary e-tickets. So you queue for an e-ticket from a machine that scansLue lisää
That's a funny looking pigeon
14. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Having had dinner, breakfast, dinner, breakfast over the past 3 days, and somehow lost a chunk of Sunday down the back of the sofa, the first order of business on Monday was a walk in the sunshine toLue lisää
Obligatory opera house photo
15. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
We saw the traditional view of the opera house from across the harbour, but what's the point of taking a photo of something so well known? It's much more interesting close up - the roof is tiled in aLue lisää
Victoria and Elizabeth
15. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Breakfast of fruit loaf in the beautiful Queen Victoria building, then up to see the clocks in action. The more elaborate one just turns round; the more modern castle clock displays a series of royalLue lisää
First day of explorations
15. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
After breakfast amd shopping we explored a bit of the city.
Up to the Observatory first to get an overview and meet some new birds - I've not identified these ones yet. There were a lot of exerciseLue lisää
Miscellany
15. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Random things from the day - working gas lamp, pavement graffiti, architecture, dinner, and the alleyway behind our hotel.
Naked Duck
16. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
After the previous night's Indian banquet we only wanted a light breakfast. Bit of French toast with some fresh fruit seemed a suitable choice.
What turned up wasn't quite as light as expected.
Are you being served?
16. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
"What's interesting over there?", a confused local asked as we were taking photos of buildings that are entirely unremarkable to locals, and never make the guide books. Where to start with explainingLue lisää
Springwood
17. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Wednesday was hot - 29°C - so we looked forward to a day up in the mountains on Thursday for a bit of relief. Turns out the Australian climate doesn't work the same way as the Austrian one. Here theLue lisää
Three sisters
17. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Our first stop in the Blue Mountains was a lookout over the 3 sisters - figures from the dreamtime. The views are spectacuar, but the part that cannot be captured in a photo is the fragrance. SteppingLue lisää
Scenic point
17. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Most of the scenic views are on my other camera, so will need to wait for a later post. Its a beautiful area, also overlooking the 3 sisters, with lots of ways to view it.
We started with a short,Lue lisää
Clyde
17. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
There is a very secure rail yard at Clyde. Train shed and loading yards all surrounded by high fences topped with razor wire. There's just one tiny flaw in the system - they need to be able to get theLue lisää
Tasman sea
18. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Friday was another scorcher of a day, and Derek had a pile of marking to do, so we took the ferry to the end of the Harbour - about a 40 minute ride on a fast catamaran. Watson's Bay is on a tinyLue lisää
An ideal fragment of China
19. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ 🌬 23 °C
The Chinese Friendship Garden is quite small on the outside - no more than a 2 minute walk along each edge - and most of the middle is taken up by a lake, but it still manages to be a good 2 hour walkLue lisää
Off to Surfers Paradise
19. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
After a week on the lookout, I finally tracked down a lamington at the airport. I'd already had banana bread, a breakfast of fruit loaf, and tried vegemite (verdict: marmite after a partiallyLue lisää
Persian feast
20. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Wonderful dinner - the dips are smoked aubergine, hummus, and a raita-like yoghurt and cucumber dip topped with dried mint and dried rose petal powder. The main dishes are ghorme sabzi (halloumi, redLue lisää
Why I'm not swimming in the sea
22. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Normally I like to swim - or at least paddle - in every sea I encounter. Even in wintry Vladivostok I found a crack in the ice large enough to briefly dip a finger in the water.
Surfers ParadiseLue lisää
The clock
23. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Our hotel balcony overlooks the Clock Hotel. The notable feature of which is, unsurprisingly, a clock. This lives on a turret on one corner of the building, and at every quarter hour it plays a tuneLue lisää
Stroll along the prom prom prom
23. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Evening walk along the esplanade.
Witches Falls winery
24. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
If you ever find yourself heading for the Gold Coast, immediately contact Helen at Ambience on Tour and book yourself a day trip. She has various types on offer - art, breweries and cheese,Lue lisää
Tambourine mountain distillery
24. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Wattle toffee
Toasted wattle seed liqueuer - 20% gorgous smooth nutty, maply, smoky.
Vodka (lemon), Limnoncello. Chocomint (taste like a bittermint), butterwhisky (more complex butterscotch), wildLue lisää
Mason wines
24. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Verdelho 2017 steel tank nose has the creaminess of a macadamia, apppe with a hint of papaya; flavour much crisper - crunchy apple, sharper than the nose - vinho verde youth. Prob needs food.
2015Lue lisää
Scenic point and Heritage wines
24. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Witches falls winery - Tambourine mountain
2018 Verdhelo , granite belt
2 yeasts (1 French 1 South African), stainless vat 6 months. Light straw colour, soft yeast on nose with pale tropical fruits.Lue lisää
Coombabah
24. tammikuuta 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
































































































