IT IS THE PEOPLE Beyond Japan's incredible scenery and cultural experiences, my enduring memories come from interactions with its people. Unfailingly polite, nothing is ever too much trouble for the Japanese people I have encountered on my visits. Being helpful seems to be in their DNA. Should they see you struggling with directions (whether … [Read more...]
Discover the many layers to Vietnam
Returning to Vietnam in 2023 Earlier this year I was lucky to be on a press trip of a lifetime. A 17 day famil with Azamara Quest on their Springtime in Asia Cruise. As I've not cruised before, I wondered how I would cope being on a ship for 17 days. I coped fine! It was amazing. More about that in another blog post. Part of the 17 days … [Read more...]
Reading the book Clanlands helped me escape to Scotland during lockdown
Clanlands by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish With Johnston for a surname, the likelihood of Scottish blood running through my veins is pretty high! A genetic connection to the land of tartan exists on my father’s side. The bloodline is not coursing, it runs a few generations ago, but the trickle could explain my unexplainable pull to the … [Read more...]
A hidden gem in the southern Flinders Ranges where music and wine go hand in hand
Meet David and Margaret Blesing whose boutique winery in Bangor is well worth deviating off the main road. The roses are the first thing to catch my attention as we arrive at Blesing's Garden Wines Row upon row of rose bushes awash with plump healthy blooms swaying in the gentle breeze. Deprived as I am of such beauties in humid Brisbane, … [Read more...]
A side of Texas that opened my eyes but not my heart
I wrote most of this story some time ago in 2022 after another mass shooting in America. I didn’t press publish as the topic of gun control is a heated one in America and I was cautious about expressing my opinion and weighing in on such a contentious topic. But I’ve woken to hear on the news there’s been another mass shooting in America, this … [Read more...]
Discovering nature, culture and adventure on Australia’s Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is not all about surf, sand, and sunshine although they’re three very good reasons to visit Australia’s sixth-largest city. I’ve written about my love for the Gold Coast hinterland, but mid-way through last year over 36 hours, I discovered a few hidden gems on the Goldie – a couple friends told me I must visit, others I’m now telling … [Read more...]
A nostalgic road trip from Adelaide to the Eyre Peninsula
With jaw-droppingly stunning coastlines, National Parks, endless stretches of white sandy beaches, unique marine creatures not seen elsewhere in the world, and intriguing maritime history, South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is the ideal place for nature enthusiasts with a penchant for the ocean. It’s also the place where my father spent his youth and … [Read more...]
The Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury where history and comfort charmingly coexist
My father was an avid storyteller who wrote a detailed memoir, tracing his family history and sharing memories from his childhood growing up in the South Australian town of Port Lincoln. Unfortunately, because I was too preoccupied with raising my three young sons and my ‘busy’ life I never found time to read his ‘recollections’ while dad was … [Read more...]
10 unique bookstores around the world
Online booksellers and eBooks are making it hard for independent bookstores to survive. Thankfully a handful of bookstores around the world are defying the online giants. They know that for many avid readers, searching for a book, then holding that book and slowly flipping through its pages is a tactile sensation no online purchase or download can … [Read more...]
The Cowboy legacy lives on at the Fort Worth Stockyards
A rich western Cowboy heritage thrives at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards through regular cattle drives, rodeos, and line dancing at the world’s largest honky-tonk. The area has been retained as a nostalgic nod to the Old West. For a couple of days, I felt like I was an extra on a Cowboy movie set. What happens when you get off a plane in … [Read more...]
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