"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." RLS
Writing back to his masters in London on 15 May 1788 the first Governor of the New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, wrote:
“…we had the satisfaction of finding the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security…” Continue reading “Tank Stream and Tank Stream Museum”
If I were to pick a single hotel in Sydney as a favourite (taking cost into account) The Grace Hotel would be it. Continue reading “The Grace Hotel – Great Location”
When I am in Sydney for work, or when I can otherwise afford it, I like to stay at the Grace Hotel, conveniently located in the centre of the city.
On the ground floor of the Grace, through a totally separate business with separate street access as well, is P.J O’Brien’s Irish Pub. Continue reading “As Daylight Fades the ‘Craic’ Begins”
The primary item of interest related to the Museum of Sydney, and you don’t have to pay the exorbitant $10 entry fee (you might want to consider a Museum Pass – see later) to appreciate it, is that it is built over and around the remains of Australia’s first Government House. Continue reading “The Museum Of Sydney”
My Reader will be familiar with the fact that in many countries newlyweds seek out special spots for their wedding photographs. Such spots are typically spots of outstanding beauty so you will come across newlyweds having their photos taken in parks and gardens, by waterfalls, at old castles and so on. Such photo shoots are invariably private affairs and typically do not involve tourists. Continue reading “The Pre-nocturnal habits of newlyweds in North Korea”
Having checked into our hotel there were a couple of hours before dinner so it was determined that this would be spent in the Folk Park across the road from the hotel. Continue reading “Sinuiju Folk Park”
Until mid 2013 Sinuiju was off limits to western tourists and those who exited North Korea by train only stopped in the train station for customs and immigration formalities which took place on the train, as they still do for those proceeding into China. Visitors from China could only enter on a day trip with no overnight options.
Since mid 2013 it has been possible to stop-over in Sinuiju. At present there is only one hotel at which foreign visitors can stay – the Amnokgang Hotel. Continue reading “Amnokgang Hotel: “Clean and Comfortable””
Buried in here are details of our arrival into Sinuiju train station and how we got around Sinuiju on our short stopover here – but that’s not the fun bit. Continue reading ““We want to see a black man””
While many western tourists have, over the years, passed through Sinuiju when exiting North Korea by train it was not until mid 2013 that western tourists could leave the train station and stay overnight here.
A stop in Sinuiju was offered as an extra to my main tour of North Korea. I am glad I took the option – few do. Continue reading “In North Korea – On the Border with China”
When I admired the former General Post Office (GPO) spandrels, or rather the adornments thereon, I had never heard of a spandrel – though, as it turns out, I have seen and admired many. Lest my reader be as ignorant as I in architectural nomenclature, a spandrel is the space between two arches or between an arch and a rectangular enclosure.
When admiring the former GPO building do make your way around to the Pitt Street side of the building and look up at the spandrels. Continue reading “The Post Master General’s Flirtatious Maid”
The Rambling Wombat 