Travel Center

11 Ağustos 2010 Çarşamba

Kayaking the Kangaroo River, Kangaroo Valley, NSW

The Kangaroo River is situated predominately in the Kangaroo Valley which is approximately a two hour drive south of Sydney in the Southern Highlands, Kangaroo Valley features over 80km of the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers.
We hired two Kayaks, well in the northern hemisphere they are called Canoes, don’t ask me why but in Australia Kayaks. In fact they have both Canoes and Kayaks the wrong way round. So we hired two Kayaks from Kangaroo Valley Escapes for our very own self guided trip down the river.
We started from Hampden Bridge and finished about 5km downstream at Bendeela, it took a little over 2 hours. I would have liked to have kept on going but the cold and wetness of my hands was getting to me. Next time don’t let anyone talk you out of taking your waterproof jacket!
The kayak down the river was amazing, having some interesting conversation over how far Bull Sharks can swim up rivers and how far south crocodiles can go. Probably not the typical conversation whilst in a small plastic vessel.
We didn’t get to see much wildlife, most likely, as a group of cub scouts an hour previously kayaked the same area and scared it all off. But we did get to see quite a few Australian Water Dragons which looked amazing perched on the rocks.
I also was very lucky to have a Lyrebird copying me whistling, it’s amazing how they can imitate other noises. It’s not uncommon for them to make chainsaw noises. There is a great video on Youtube thanks to the BBC.

Hampden Suspension Bridge, Kangaroo Valley, NSW

I’m not a bridge enthusiast or anything but I really love this bridge, it was crazy to see how much the wooden decking moved when trucks passed over it.
The bridge is also the only surviving suspension bridge from the colonial period of NSW and was an outstanding engineering achievement for its time.
Hampden Bridge replaced a 2-span timber trust bridge which was built in 1879 and was offically opened on 19th May 1898 by Hon J.H Young, Minister for Works and was named after Lord Hampden, Governor of New South Wales 1895-1899.
The bridge is a sandstone and steel structure suspended on each side by fourteen steel cables 37mm in diameter, with a tensile strength of 79.6 tonnes. The clear span is 77 metres, width 5.5 metres and deck 16.8 metres above the river bed. The medieval style towers are 16.8 metres higher than the decking.
The bridge was designed by Engineers De Burgh & Allen of the NSW Department Public Works and was built at a cost of $16,764AU by contractors Loveridge & Hudson of Bowarl.

Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Today Dorota and I went to visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship at Darling Harbour, Sydney. It’s set in the hustling centre of the CBD, yet is very quiet and all you can here is running water from the numerous waterfalls.
We visited the Garden in true Ming Dynasty style and hired Chinese costume. I was dressed as a warrior and Dorota as a Queen. It’s remarkable that such an amazing place is less than a ten minute walk away and we haven’t been there within the 7 months we have lived next to it.
The Gardens are full of large birds, koi carp and large lizards, it was a great day out and no doubt we will be back!
More info on the Chinese Garden of Friendship:
The Chinese Garden of Friendship’s design was inspired by a traditional Chinese art form dating back to the fifth century. It is the only authentic southern-style Chinese garden of its size outside of mainland China.
The Garden of Friendship is a Chinese garden proposed by the Chinese community in Sydney to celebrate the Bicentenary of Australia.
The New South Wales Government accepted this proposal and funded its construction. The Guangdong Provincial Government of the People’s Republic of China, holding in high esteem the friendship between Australia and China strongly endorsed the project and actively participated in it.
The Guangzhou Bureau of Parks and Gardens designed and supervised the project and worked in co-operation with the New South Wales Darling Harbour Authority to bring the Garden into being.
The Garden is situated in Darling Harbour. Set alongside the reflection of sails and gull-crested waves of water rippling out into the distance, the Garden captures the mood of a forest refuge in the bustling city.
The techniques employed are intricately manifested over the whole area of the Garden, revealing numerous variations within its confined space.
The Twin Pavilion with its linked roof symbolises the friendship between Australia and China, the Tall Triple-eaved Pavilion reaching up towards the clouds provides an excellent site for listening to the sound of moving water while resting against the railing.
The Double-Sided and Through-carved Dragon Wall depicts two dragons frolicking in the water, racing to fetch the pearl.
Rocks nestled amid bamboos and huts among the hills await the music of lutes to invite in the phoenix. The poetry couplets executed in fine calligraphy are infused with brilliance; their superb composition enhances the vibrant colours of the Garden.
The rivulets and the lights; the trees, rocks, birds and flowers, the setting for viewing platforms by ponds, the shelter of covered walkways and pavilions are all the creations of craftsmen who have extracted the essence of their inherent beauty.
On a fine day when the sun is shining, on a walk through the Garden enjoying the visual delights will leave one amazed at the boundless panoramas. A fondness for it lingers and thought of leaving are forgotten. Here in this Garden generates the warmth of a friendship which will endure for a thousand springtimes.
January 1988

Moscow’s Metro – Underground Railway

Moscow’s metro was opened in 1935, it contains outstanding examples of socialist realist art. In my opinion the metro is a really good reason itself to visit the Russian capital.
Maybe it’s a bit overcrowded, maybe a bit old, but whenever I’m there I have a feeling it gives me the summary of the whole massive city. I wouldn’t say Russia, as Moscow is almost a country on its own!
The first plans for a rapid transit system in Moscow date back in the times of the Russian Empire, however were postponed by the I World War, October Revolution and the Russian Civil War. The construction started in June 1931 and the Central Committee of the USSR Communist Party had taken advice from the London Underground, the world’s oldest metro system. By the end of the II World War lots of stations were completed and Moscow’s metro was functional.
There is an interesting urban legend about the origin of the ring line. A group of engineers approached Stalin with plans for the Metro, to inform him of current progress and of what was being done at that moment. As he looked at the drawings, Stalin poured himself some coffee and spilt a small amount over the edge of the cup. When he was asked whether or not he liked the project so far, he put his cup down on the centre of the Metro blueprints and left in silence. The bottom of the cup left a brown circle on the drawings. The planners looked at it and realised that it was exactly what they had been missing. Taking it as a sign of Stalin’s genius, they gave orders for the building of the ring line, which on the plans was always printed in brown. This legend, of course, may be attributed to Stalin’s cult of personality. In fact the line was never shown as a circle on the Metro map until 1980, long after Stalin’s death. Prior to this time, the line was depicted much closer to the shape of the actual route.
In 1950s – 1970s some architects decided to build new stations in a more spartan decoration scheme. A typical layout was developed for all new stations, and the stations were built to look almost identical, differing from each other only in colours of the marble and ceramic tiles. Most of these stations were built with simplified, cheaper technologies which were not always quite suitable and resulted in extremely utilitarian design. For example, walls paved with cheap and simplistic ceramic tiles proved to be susceptible to vibrations caused by trains, with some tiles eventually falling off. It was not always possible to replace the missing tiles with the ones of the same colour, which eventually led to infamous “variegated” parts of the paving.
Anyway, the Moscow metro is really deep (84m), really busy (max 9,555,000 passengers a day), really long (292.9km) and REALLY beautiful! AND very punctual 99.96% on time.
I’ve visited Moscow twice, spending there about 3 months in total. I have my best friend living there, great memories and lots of reasons to go back

Top 10 places to visit in Thailand

Thailand, the backpacker’s paradise, is a country full of history and culture. With so many tourist attractions on offer, how does a first timer to this far-flung land know where to start? Well, I have made up a list of the top 10 places to visit, all my own personal opinion and in no particular order. It was a hard decision as so many places are so incredible. Of course, if you have a favourite place not listed here, please feel free to comment.

1. Bangkok – Bangkok. Well ok, it’s an obvious place to start really isn’t it? The Grand Palace has an entrance fee of 350 baht and a strict dress code, (so no bare shoulders or feet!), but if you forget to dress accordingly there are clothes to change into at the entrance (your passport must be left as security).

2. The Floating Market – The Floating Market is a beautiful place on the Damnoen Saduak canals and no trip to Thailand should bypass this one. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is worth a visit and at only 20 baht it’s a bargain, and for those who are looking for something a little different, the Philatelic museum, if stamps are your thing (or you just feel curious), then pop in – there are many stamps for sale to boost your collection, if that’s your thing.

3. Chang Mai – Chang Mai. Thailand’s highest mountain at 2,565 metres above sea level is west of Chang Mai. Doi Inthanon is two bus rides away (a total of 106 km) but is home to beautiful waterfalls and gorgeous sights. The Doi Inthanon National Park is open all year round. Make sure you don’t miss the famous Sunday evening market.

4. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs – A little bit closer to town at just 36 km away is the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs, known its restorative properties, so after visiting the mountain it may be a nice place to unwind.

5. Hin Daeng – Hin Daeng. From the Thai meaning Red Rock, it is the number one scuba diving site in Thailand, and with a whole host of underwater sights from Barracuda to Manta Ray, it’s easy to see why. Oh and look out for the odd whale shark!

6. Koh Samui – Koh Samui. One of the more popular tourist destinations probably due to its gorgeous white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The Full Moon Party is a popular monthly for those who love the nightlife, and for those who love diving there are amazing coral reefs to explore.

7. Mae Hong Son – Mae Hong Son. Travel by bus for the complete experience from Chang Mai to Mae Hong Son. It can take 7 or 8 hours to get there but well worth a stay. With plenty of guest houses to choose from you won’t be short of a place to rest your head after a full day of trekking in the mountains off the Thanon Thongchai range between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand, or alternatively you may want to visit the Pha Sua waterfall for a more exotic walk. Handicrafts and artworks of the hilltribe people can be purchased at the night market, ideal for unique souvenirs or mementos of your trip. Mae Hong Son is home to the Padaung (Long-necked Karen). The Padaung are a group of Karen refugees who originate from the eastern Burmese state of Kayah on the Thailand border, they have their own language and call themselves “Lae Kur” or “Kayan”. Padaung women use brass rings to stretch their necks. The sad thing is the women who wear the rings recieve money from the Thai government due to the tourists they bring in, which then incentivises them to put the rings on their young children.

8. Ayutthaya – Ayutthaya is a UNESCO world heritage site and only an hour outside of Bangkok. The ruined city is packed with temples, museums and buildings with historical and architectural significance. Hiring a motorbike to cover the surrounding areas is most definitely recommended.

9. Railay and TonSai – Railay and TonSai are the places to visit for those who love an active holiday (and of course those who like to watch others being active). The area is well known as the place to be for rock climbing, and visitors can enjoy wonderful treks through the lush mountainside. This is all bordered by amazing sandy beaches and a beautiful tropical seascape. There is a variety of accommodation, enough to suit every taste and budget.

10. Phuket – Phuket offers fun of a different sort, yes there are gorgeous beaches surrounding by beautiful scenery, but here you can sample other delights such as the crocodile farm, butterfly farm and an aquarium, which is ideal for those who want the joy of the scuba dive without actually getting in the water.

Visiting Thailand is to visit a land of pure beauty in abundance – once you visit you will be hooked, it’s guaranteed.

Trial Bay Gaol (Jail), Laggers Point, South West Rocks

Back in September 2009 Dorota and I visited Trial Bay Gaol when we booked a weekend away to dive Fish Rock Cave at South West Rocks.
Laggers point provides a dramatic setting for Trial Bay Gaol (Jail). It is the only example of a station prison specifically constructed to carry out a public work. Built from exceptionally hard local granite from the nearby hill, it created many construction problems. The construction of the seawall by prison labour, and object of the public work, was never completed.
Many of the original buildings at the prison no longer exist. Prior to 1900 three timber huts were used to accommodate some of the more trustworthy prisoners. You can still see the ruins of the hospital block and silent cells which troublesome prisoners were isolated. There are also remains of a building which housed light electric machinery, shoe smith, bathrooms and the bakehouse and kitchen. Washrooms, a watershed, six water tanks, a store, and a former underground water storage tank no longer exist. The water storage tank used to be 35 feet long, 25 feet wide and 18 feet deep, which held 37,700 gallons of water.
Both the Public works era and enemy alien era cells have been restored, and also the North Western Guard’s watch tower which gives you amazing views over the bay.
A plan was devised in 1861 to build a breakwater off Laggers Point to create a harbour for ships which were too big to cross the Macleay River mouths. It was planned to use prison inmates for the construction of the breakwater, hence Trial Bay Jail was established specifically for the purpose of housing the workers, and became a Public Works Prison.
Work on the prison started in 1877, and 64 cells were completed in 1886 when the first prisoners occupied.
The breakwater the prisoners were to build was supposed to go out 1,500 metres out into the bay. Over the years of construction strong winds frequently damaged the breakwater. Between the years of 1898-1899 a second wing (South) and a junction between the second wing and the older section of the prison was added to Trial Bay Jail, which suggested the breakwater work was going to continue. Alterations in 1900 were completed creating a kitchen, bakehouse and scullery.
Apparently the prison was costly to run and also at this time the government was rethinking their penology ideas and didn’t believe this type of work was an appropriate treatment regime, decided to abandon the project in 1903.
Only around 300 meters of Laggers point breakwater was built, which shoaled up the bay and made it very shallow for ships. A wharf was then built in 1898 within the breakwater to be used by passenger ships which couldn’t cross the Macleay River’s mouth.
Nowadays none of the wharf is visible, and only a very small section of the breakwater exists, around a 50m length.
The last use of the prison was between 1915-1918 when it was used as an enemy alien internment camp. Most of the detainees at this time were officers from the German Army Reserve. In 1917 It was rumoured that the Germans planned to rescue these men. When in 1918 an armed merchant raider the German Hilfskreuzer SMS Wolf was seen all the men from the prison were relocated to a larger prison on the outskirts of Sydney.
It was dormant for several years and was completely stripped of fixtures in 1922.
This was the last use made of the prison and it was stripped and fixtures sold off in 1922. Today it’s open to the public, operated as a heritage site by the National Parks and Wildlife Service
Today Trial Bay prison is open to the public 7 days a week from 0900-1630 and operated within Arakoon State Conservation Area, a heritage site by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It also provides thousands of visitors yearly with facilities for camping, swimming, boating, fishing and scenic walks.

Top Things to Do in Amsterdam

One of the great things about Amsterdam is that no matter your age, gender, or outlook on life, the city has something to offer. From beautiful architecture to concerts, great food to beautiful seasons, you can enjoy Amsterdam on your own, or take loved ones along for a wonderful holiday. Here are some suggestions of the top things to see and do in amsterdam during your holiday.
Food
Whether you are in the mood for something casual or something elegant, Amsterdam has everything that you need to make your idea of a great dining experience happen.
For those who just want to rest and relax, packing a picnic lunch and heading to the Vondelpark is the ideal solution. Easily the largest park in the city, the facility is named after the city’s best known poet, Joost van den Vondel. Sports enthusiasts can work off some of the food by participating in cycling or football, or enjoy a brisk walk through and around the park. Visitors can also enjoy the Nederlands Filmmuseum, or any of the various dance festivals that are held in the park during the summer months.
For those that want to give herring a try, heading to the Museum Quarter is a good idea. The Old Centre is also an excellent choice. You can also ask the concierge at the hotel for ideas on where to find the best herring in the immediate area. There are a number of locally owned shops throughout the city that offer herring that is fresh and prepared to perfection.
Amsterdam is noted for its rich and varied cuisine. It is possible to enjoy Indonesian, Surinamese, and Chinese food alongside traditional Dutch dishes. The rich blends of herbs and spices can tantalise just about any palette. For vegetarians, there are plenty of options that do not include any type of meat and fish.
History
Amsterdam is the site of the house where the world famous World War II diarist, Anne Frank, hid with her family from the Nazis. Now a museum, the guided tour includes visits to the secret rooms where the family hid, along with a new wing that provides information about the war, the persecution of the Jews, and the rise of fascism during that era.
Cruising the canals that run throughout the city can also be a great way to spend the day. These waterways make it easy to reach many of the key districts around the city, as well as providing the ideal opportunity to enjoy all the sights and sounds that Amsterdam has to offer, including churches and other structures that date back several centuries.
Nightlife
When visiting Amsterdam, enjoying the nightlife offered in the cafes and clubs around the city is essential; there is something to suit any taste. Families can find places that offer music, dance, and selections of food and drink that are ideal for every member of the group. Couples looking for romantic out of the way spots can also find what they crave. For the adventurous, there are also a number of adult entertainment spots, making Amsterdam a popular destination for people from all over the world.
Music is always part of the entertainment scene around the city. Visitors can enjoy traditional music as well as more contemporary sounds at the various clubs located in different districts. Musical theatre is also found in a number of locations, offering everything from the comedic to the risqué.
Culture
In order to learn more about the Amsterdam of today, visiting any of the museums found around the city can be extremely informative as well as entertaining. Amsterdam’s Historisch Museum covers over 700 years of Dutch history, giving visitors the opportunity to learn all about the creation of such uniquely Dutch products as wooden shoes (clogs).
A trip to the Rijksmuseum to see the works of the Old Masters from the 17th century all the way through to the dawn of the 20th century is recommended. Housed within its walls are over forty Rembrandt’s, as well as four Vermeer’s. All in all, the museum has the largest selection of artwork of its kind to be found in the nation, making it an essential stop during any holiday to Amsterdam. Recently Damien Hirst’s For the Love of God a Diamond encrusted human skull.
If your tastes run to more modern sensibilities, plan a trip to the Stedelijk Museum. Here, the works of some of the finest artists of the 20th century are found. Works by artists such as Chagall, Picasso, and Matisse are on display there. Artists who came onto the scene during the latter half of the century, such as Judd, Lichtenstein, and Warhol are also represented among the artwork found at the Stedelijk.
While touring around the city, be sure to enjoy the tulips found along the Singel, as well as the wonderful cheeses that are made in and near the city. You can also visit historic windmills, and learn of their role in keeping the city safe and dry. For those who prefer to venture out from the confines of an organised tour group, it is possible to rent bicycles in many places around the city, and thus stop wherever you like for as long as you like.
When planning a trip to Amsterdam, the best approach is to fly into the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Located in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, only a short distance southwest of the city proper, the airport is one of the largest in the country, and routinely receives flights from just about every country around the world.
Many hotels operate shuttles to and from the airport, making it easy to settle into your accommodation before you venture out into the city. It is also possible to rent vehicles, take taxis, and hire private tour guides at the airport.