"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." RLS
The arrival of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fleet into Sydney Harbour on 4 October 1913 was a great moment in Australian history. Australia now had direct control of the seas around the continent and no longer had to rely on the British Royal Navy. Continue reading “HMAS AE1 Memorial (…’the ocean bed their tomb’)”
Lest my reader be surprised at seeing a lighthouse on the waterfront of the perfectly calm Darling Harbour I should explain that it is an exhibit of the adjacent Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM). Given it size, it perhaps goes without saying that the lighthouse is part of museum’s permanent galleries collection. I actually say this because, being part of this collection it is free to visit the lantern room, though you do have to be on a tour to do so. More on that later. Continue reading “Cape Bowling Green Lighthouse”
In my separate review, Big Boats at the Maritime Museum, I gave brief details on the larger vessels at the Australian National Maritime Museum which I feel are worth boarding and thus buying a BIG ticket at A$30 to do so, especially so if the special exhibition on at the time of your visit is of interest as the BIG ticket gives access to it as well. Continue reading “Little Boats at the Maritime Museum”
The most important decision you will need to make when you visit the Australian National Maritime Museum (particularly if the special exhibition on at the time of your visit holds little or no interest for you) is whether or not you want to board the museum’s small fleet of ships/boats or view them from the boardwalk. Continue reading “Big Boats at the Maritime Museum”
In January 1921 an honour roll listing the names of the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club members who had served and died during World War I was unveiled in the clubhouse. The Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club, based at Bondi Beach was the first surf life saving club in Australia, created in 1907, and is also, without doubt, the most famous in their red and yellow gear. Continue reading “Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club Murals at the ANMM”
The Wharfie’s Mural, part of which is on display in the Australian National Maritime Museum, is a classic example of working class art in Australia.
Socialist realist in style, the mural depicts the lives and struggles of Australian waterside workers as well as major themes in the history of Australian (and indeed international) workers more generally from the mid 1800s to WWII and beyond, all the time exalting the struggle of workers against oppression and extolling the power of unity. Continue reading “The Wharfie’s Mural at the Maritime Museum”
Given Darling Harbour’s maritime history it is very appropriate that Australia’s national maritime museum should be located here.
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) can be roughly split into three parts – the permanent galleries, special exhibitions and a collection of ships, boats and the like, outside and on the harbour itself. In addition to the exhibits the museum has a souvenir shop and a couple of eating options though there are many more (better) eating options within metres of the museum. Continue reading “Australian National Maritime Museum”
Less than an hour out of North Korea and I wondered, was I never going to be able to get away from bronze statues of leaders in squares? Continue reading “Chairman Mao Zedong”
After lunch our passports, entry permits and exit cards had been returned to us and we were asked to sign the pre-completed exit cards which were written in Korean and completed in Korean. Having jokingly asked our guide what she had written about me on my exit card she had a second look and changed one answer explaining that I had now been converted from female to male. I signed the card, wondering what else might be incorrect on it and what fate might shortly befall me for ‘my’ false declarations. Continue reading “Our short crossing – Sinuiju to Dandong, China”
Our final activity in Sinuiju, and indeed in North Korea before leaving the country, was a visit to Ponbu Kindergarten where we were shown around the facility by the headmistress (Chief) and then enjoyed a wonderful show put on by the children. Continue reading “Ponbu Kindergarten Show – Totally Amazing”
The Rambling Wombat 