After breakfast and filling up a couple of our water tanks we were on the road again, albeit for less than an hour to Echuca, or Echuca – Moama if you include its sister town of Moama, across the river in New South Wales. In days past Echuca was Australia’s most significant inland river port. Located on the Murray River, it is over 1,700 kilometres or 1,000 miles from the mouth of the river. Today the former hustle and bustle of a busy trading port has been replaced by the comings and goings of tourists, particularly short term visitors from Melbourne, only a couple of hundred kilometres to the south. In addition to being a popular tourist destination the town remains an important service centre for the surrounding agricultural region.
Continue reading “Echuca and a surprise festival – Day 316”Getting to and from Canberra International Airport
After many years Canberra International Airport became an international airport again in mid September 2016 when Singapore Airlines started services to Singapore and Wellington, in New Zealand. Additionally, via a combination of direct or indirect flights it is relatively easy to get to anywhere in Australia. Be warned though that domestic flights into and out of Canberra are expensive.
The airport is approximately 10kms from the city centre (Civic). Continue reading “Getting to and from Canberra International Airport”
Tilley’s Devine Cafe Gallery: “Tilley’s – For Something Devine!”
Tilley’s Devine Café Gallery, is something of an institution in Canberra, now in operation for over 30years.
How does one describe this place? Permit me to quote from Sally Pryor ‘s article in the Canberra Times, 16 January 2003: Continue reading “Tilley’s Devine Cafe Gallery: “Tilley’s – For Something Devine!””
Multicultural Festival – Showcase On The World
Canberra’s multicultural festival started out on a very small scale in 1980 and is now a major annual event with hundreds of stalls (420 for 2013), half a dozen or more performance stages, buskers and side events all over the city centre. The festival incorporate Chinese New Year festivities, the Greek Glendi, a Turkish Bazaar, India in the City and so many other elements which could easily stand as separate events on their own. Continue reading “Multicultural Festival – Showcase On The World”
Sinuiju School Visit
Universal free education is a trademark of most socialist countries and North Korea is no exception in this regard. Free Pre-school, primary, secondary and higher level education is offered to all. Compulsory primary and secondary education was introduced in 1956 and 1958 respectively and from 2012 minimum education requirements became 12 years (formally 11) – one year of pre-school, five years of elementary school, three years of primary middle school, and three years of advanced middle school. Continue reading “Sinuiju School Visit”
Moranbong Youth Park Walk – S**t Happens
While having lunch we were advised that our first post lunch activity would be a walk in the park – a ‘star attraction’ of our trip. We would be able to see ordinary people having a picnic and generally enjoying their day off. As it was Kim Il-sungs 102nd birthday bash there would be more people than normal in the park so we needed to ensure we didn’t get lost – read veer away from our guides. Continue reading “Moranbong Youth Park Walk – S**t Happens”
The Rambling Wombat 