The Prison Tree
The boab tree has always fascinated me. This strange, bottle-shaped tree has such an unusual form and each one is unique. Australian boabs are found only in…
Remembering Gallipoli
The sense of overwhelming loneliness is what I remember most. Just row upon row of flat marble headstones, flanked by cypress trees and watched over by…
Sydney’s QVB shopping centre
Shopping centres generally hold little appeal for me. But there are exceptions, and one of them is Sydney’s gorgeous Queen Victoria Building (affectionately called the QVB).…
Cirque du Soleil brings TOTEM to Brisbane
It begins with the “Crystal Man”, descending onto the stage in a costume made of 4500 small mirrors. It ends with a cast of 45 mesmerising…
A village in monochrome
Easter in the northern New South Wales village of Ulmarra brought patchy weather. Everything from blue skies and sunshine to a massive 3am thunderstorm and drizzly…
Lunch Timed at NEXT Hotel Brisbane
The days of the long, languid – and often liquid – lunch are long past. Gone are the days when businessmen and women would linger over…
Taking a walk in Sturt National Park
The Dingo Fence – also sometimes called the Dog Fence – runs for more than 5600 kilometres through Australia’s remote desert country and is the world’s…
Remembering Springtime
As Australia heads into autumn, my friends in the northern hemisphere are celebrating the arrival of spring. This week’s challenge from fellow blogger Ailsa at Where’s…
Tipples and tastes of Ireland
Happy St Patrick’s Day to all my readers – Irish or not! My first visit to Ireland last year was among the best writing trips I’ve…
Thailand’s fantastic Wat Rong Khun
Thailand, like many parts of Asia, is all about temples. But Thailand is also home to the most fantastic temple I’ve ever seen: Wat Rong Khun…
A Glass Half Full 