Staircase to the moon
The Staircase to the Moon is one of nature’s marvels, and one of the sights that many people plan their visit to Broome around. I didn’t…
Exploring the pindan in Australia’s North West
I learned a new word while I was in Broome: pindan. It’s the word the Indigenous Bardi people of this area use to describe their country.…
Broome’s ‘pearler’ tourist attraction
Travellers hate tourist traps. And I was a bit afraid that I was headed for one. In the Western Australia pearling town of Broome, it’s hard…
Camel rides on Cable Beach
For those of us who live on the east coast of Australia, seeing the sun sink into the Indian Ocean is usually a highlight of a…
Winter wanderings
It’s winter in Australia, and you can spot the visitors, especially where I live in Queensland. They’re the ones wearing t-shirts and shorts, and sometimes even…
Hats off to Hmong headgear
Covering our heads is common in many cultures. Christian women traditionally wore hats to go to church, many Muslim women wear headscarfs. But it’s not just…
Letters from Dundee
Since the age of 10, I’ve had a penpal. Does anyone still use that term? Probably not…but that’s what we’ve been, Caroline and I, for all…
A Gold Coast sunrise
Artists and writers often talk about the quality of light in Australia. It’s different to anywhere else in the world; but subtle is not always a…
Feeling literary
Best-selling Australian author Graeme Simsion was kind enough to sign his second book, The Rosie Effect, for me last night. It was the second time I’d…
Teaching youngsters about culture
One of the delights of attending the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival, held every two years on Cape York in remote north Queensland, is seeing indigenous youngsters…
A Glass Half Full 