The Magic of Skye Part Two The Isle of Skye on Scotland’s west coast offers a delectable assortment for the outdoor enthusiast. I recommend deviating from the popular routes and uncovering a few of Skye's lesser-known gems in the more remote regions. Thanks to isolation and no travel during the Coronavirus pandemic, I've finally found the time … [Read more...]
Sharing a few tales
Keeping me busy With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing us to stay at home, slow down and live differently to what we’re used to, it's apparent we're turning to activities that we never seemed to have found time for in our pre-coronavirus ‘busy’ lives. I’m now ‘finding’ myself sitting down to actually read a book from the stockpile on my bedside … [Read more...]
Top End magic
As the capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin is renowned for fun and adventure, but an interesting mixture of history and the slightly obscure is found in the Top End - when you know where to look. Darwin’s unique charm and character is a by-product not only of its geographical location - history and a couple of natural events played a role. … [Read more...]
Darwin lights up for tropical summer
Darwin is in perpetual summer mode. It's a place where winter attire is a rare requirement. But a noticeable change occurs when November 1 rolls around and the wet season rains appear heralding the start of ‘tropical summer.’ Dramatic thunderstorms bring a welcome respite from the heat and at dusk sunset lovers observe radiant golden colours as the … [Read more...]
The very special Tiwi Islands
Passing the island’s southern coastline from the open deck of our SeaLink ferry, I see nothing beyond the thicket of trees hugging the white sandy shore. Once inside Shoal Bay, the multi-coloured corrugated rooves of houses peek through the trees indicating the first sign of civilisation – Wurrumiyanga - Bathurst’s main settlement. The tropical … [Read more...]
Seattle and its love of literature
Seattle is a city worth visiting for many reasons. Here's my article in this month's edition of Stopover, Icelandair's inflight Magazine about the lesser-known aspect of Seattle - that it's a UNESCO-designated literary city. Icelandair Stopover Destination Seattle … [Read more...]
Bangkok’s little beauties
Discovering the best things to do in Bangkok In a city of almost ten million where the streets hum with a constant flow of people moving to and from their destination, imagine finding a little slice of serenity. Would you think it possible? Recently I travelled to Bangkok with a group of writers and bloggers from Brisbane. We flew with Air Asia … [Read more...]
Cruising Nitmiluk Gorge
There are numerous ways to get up close and personal with the impressive scenery and wildlife in Nitmiluk National Park. On this mid-May morning, I'm doing it via a boat cruise on two of the gorges in Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. At the southern tip of Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk (pronounced Nit-me-look) a Jawoyn word meaning cicada place, is … [Read more...]
Why not climb a mountain?
Hiking Mt Maroon Good Friday might be a day of rest for some, but for me, it was a day to hike a mountain. I’d responded to a media call out to join the epic Moonrise on Mount Maroon on Friday, April 19. The requirements: A writer/journalist who is fit enough to hike the seven-hour return night hike Available to depart at 2 pm on Good … [Read more...]
Hong Kong for writing inspiration
Another side to Hong Kong Don't think Hong Kong is only about food, shopping and the lights on Victoria Harbour. I’ve written about some of the new discoveries I made in Hong Kong during my trip in January 2018. I also visited the Man Mo temple and quietly asked the God of Literature for support and writing inspiration for 2018. I think he was … [Read more...]