Travel Wonders of the World

Rock Art and Red Soil (Gundabooka, Australia)

2012-02-08T01:40:00.000-08:00

The rocky plateau of Mt Gundabooka rises awkwardly in a protrusion of rust coloured rock and olive green bush a few hundred metres above scrubby arid plains, the mountain visible for vast distances around. Fifty kilometres south of Bourke, it represents an important landmark for the Ngembe Aborigines or Stone People, a meeting place for millennia for various tribes and a source for shelter, food,...

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The Unmissable Sights of London

2012-02-06T19:41:00.000-08:00

guest post by Central London Apartments There’s a definite feel-good factor in and around London in 2012 as the countdown continues to this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, prompting many tourists to head to England’s capital city for a spot of sightseeing and to soak up the culture. For those looking to book short-term accommodation London has something to suit every budget located all...

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Photo of the Week: Charcoal Cooler (Cobah, Australia)

2012-02-04T13:11:00.000-08:00

Continuing the journey in Outback Australia, the photo of the week shows an early evaporative cooler used to counter the harsh heat. This charcoal cooler and others using similar principles were used in the heat of outback Australia as a refrigerator from the late 1800s through to the mid-1900s, when electricity or generators were not around. Water in a tray under the fridge is drawn up through...

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Games Around the World: Pass the Pigs

2012-02-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

For the last two years on the first of the month, Travel Wonders has featured a drink of the month, iconic to a certain country or region. This year in a similar manner, I am going to feature games around the world identifiable with a certain place or country. I am starting the series with a favourite game that I have owned for over twenty years that has travelled with me on most of my journeys...

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Three Top Mountain Spas

2012-01-30T11:19:00.000-08:00

guest post by Spa Breaks Spa hotels of all descriptions are synonymous with relaxation, tranquillity and stunning views. However, mountain spas take all those attributes and amplify them tenfold. Surrounded by an imposing yet beautiful range of snow-capped peaks, you’re able to treat yourself in comfort in a well-heated spa while gazing upon the Alps, Rockies or other alpine haven. Holidaying in...

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Of Drought and Flooding Rains (Bourke, Australia)

2012-01-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

For several decades, Bourke (and most towns far around) have been protected from flooding waters by giant levee banks. Like comforting blankets, these raised banks track the river through Bourke and sweep around its outskirts. Life-giving flood waters revitalise parched soils and rivers, slowly creep down across the flat lands from the north but no longer inundate the town centres. The waters...

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Photo of the Week: Red-Tailed Cockatoos in Silhouette (Bourke, Australia)

2012-01-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

A favourite photo (click on it to enlarge), mildly in the style of moving picture pioneer Eadweard Muybridge, showing three magnificent red-tailed cockatoos each in different aspects of their flight. The explosion of scarlet tucked under their tail can be seen on the front bird and a superb sight when viewing a flock from below.

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Must Visit Sights of Edinburgh (Scotland)

2012-01-22T12:33:00.000-08:00

guest post by Euro Bookings There’s nothing worse than arriving in an exciting new city when time’s at a premium and not knowing which places of interest are worth visiting and which are well worth steering clear of. With that in mind, here’s a brief guide to Edinburgh’s best sites and it’s also worth noting that hotels in Edinburgh are in a plentiful supply. Edinburgh Castle Perched above...

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Historic Court House: 100 Years of Change? (Bourke, Australia)

2012-01-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

Bourke has a most distinct and unusual courthouse, one of a number of historic buildings. Built in a colonial style surrounding a small garden area for cooling and for legal folks to commune and contemplate, remarkably little has changed since its construction in 1899 (for the princely sum of 9,500 pounds) as the archival photos show. As Australia's only inland maritime court (the crown on the...

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Historic Buildings (Bourke, Australia)

2012-01-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

Now the Gidgee Guesthouse, the London Bank building was constructed in Bourke in 1888, still retaining its sense of grandeur and opulence of Bourke's golden period as a major inland port. Today the guesthouse has an eclectic feel with their rooms leading to a garden courtyard filled with native plants and various knick-knacks. Around the corner, the equally fine Lands Building (built in 1899)...

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Top Five Historic Amusement Parks

2012-01-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

guest post by Nick Sim The early 20th century was a boom time for amusement parks in North America, Europe and beyond. Magnificent, towering wooden rollercoasters, beautifully handcrafted carousels and a range of innovative new contraptions drew in droves of excited visitors to these bustling new leisure areas. These early attractions helped to lay the foundations for what today is a...

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Bourke and Outback Australia

2012-01-11T15:43:00.000-08:00

Outback Australia is an immense sparsely populated timeless land of arid plains and rugged country. Ochre red ancient landscapes meet cobalt blue skies. Slow meandering rivers bursting with birdlife give life to the parched lands. Small towns and communities, often on a river are separated by vast distances. Between remote settlements, the areas are shared between treasured national parks, some...

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Photo of the Week: Ama Dablam (Nepal)

2012-01-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

At just under 7000 metres, the towering peak of Ama Dablam silently oversees trekkers for a few days as they slowly walk towards the base camp for Mt Everest and the Gokyo Lakes. With the riotous crimson of a barberry bush and a cobalt blue sky, its reassuring presence makes for a photogenic visual feast. Though taken over a decade ago, it remains a favourite memory walking among the Everest...

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Aussie Jingle Bells and Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T12:52:00.000-08:00

Best wishes to you all for Christmas season and for a prosperous and healthy 2012. The blog will close for around ten days. The photo shows the superb Christmas light show using St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney as a backdrop. To help celebrate Christmas, I have included the words of an Australian version of Jingle Bells sung to the familiar tune, by successful Irish-born Australia singer and...

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British Columbia – Splendour without Diminishment (Canada)

2011-12-22T22:18:00.000-08:00

guest post by Nazeli K. Kyuregyan The Latin motto splendor sine occasu suits perfectly the most exciting Canadian province. Let its natural gems inspire your soul while its vibrant cities conquer your mind. Splendid Nature Incredibly naturally gifted, British Columbia is venerated by adventurers from all around the world. Whether you are a skier, snowboarded, free-climber, hiker,...

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Photo of the Week: Watermelons For Sale (Luxor, Egypt)

2011-12-20T18:40:00.000-08:00

With a backdrop of centuries-old walls and only a block from the stunning Karnak Temple, a watermelon salesman tries to sell his stock of watermelons before the heat of the midday sun empties the streets. The Egyptian streets were filled with wonderful seasonal fruits and spices grown on the banks of the life-giving Nile. Luxor Vacations

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The Quirkiest Ski of Your Life

2011-12-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

guest post by Kirsty Leckie-Palmer This New Year as you’re busy flinging your glass to the heavens and toasting health, wealth, and happiness, remember to make room on your list of resolutions for a new experience. Once you’ve been on a ski holiday once, it’s unlikely you’ll change the routine if you’ve found a smart little resort with good snow coverage, a cosy fireside and swift access to the...

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The Frenzy of Otavalo Markets (Ecuador)

2011-12-15T20:54:00.000-08:00

Every Saturday morning Otavalo awakens from its week long slumber to launch a giant market bazaar selling crafts of all descriptions along with animals, meat, vegetables, fruit, grains and hardware. A similar market has been conducted for a remarkable four thousand years providing a central meeting point for Indian villages from miles around. A cacophony of sounds from the noises of frenzied...

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Aloha Hawaii (USA)

2011-12-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

guest post by Leslie To, Aqua Resorts Hawaii has long been the getaway for those seeking to witness the superbly sublime--a type of natural beauty that startles the mind with its breathtaking profundity and serenity. With the soothing tumble of the Pacific's rolling waves providing a marvelous score, Hawaii provides an outlet for experiences unlike anywhere else on the planet. Whether you're...

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Photo of the Week: Eastern Water Dragon (Australia)

2011-12-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

This cute little fellow (click on the photo to enlarge)contentedly poses for the camera as he suns himself on a small rock. Equally adept as swimmers and on land, water dragons are a reasonably regular sight in the Australian summer, especially in parks and near waterways.

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Mappa Mundi - The Ultimate Medieval Map (Hereford, England)

2011-12-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

Hand-painted on calfskin vellum, the Hereford Mappa Mundi is the world's largest medieval map. Created in the very late 1200s the map has spent its entire life in Hereford Cathedral surviving fire, flood, theft, various battles and world wars to present to today's visitors a mesmerising detail of the world as it was understood at the time. Measuring around 1.6 x 1.3 metres, the cloth of the...

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Top 10 European Destinations to Visit at Christmas

2011-12-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

guest post by the Travelsupermarket holidays team As we enter December it is a reminder that Christmas is a hectic time for most people, but if you want to get away from it all for a few days, and are struggling for inspiration on where to go, read our guide to the top 10 European destinations to visit this Christmas. Vienna One of the best-known and most popular Christmas markets in Europe...

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Drinks Around the World: Spritz (Italy)

2011-12-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

Spritz is the name of a variety of drinks but the original hails from Venice and the Veneto region. Created when under Austrian rule (hence its Germanic name), it is made by mixing equal measures of Prosecco wine (a very dry sparkling wine), the bitter liquor, Campari and sparkling mineral water. The Campari gives it a vivid orange colour. Chill with ice and add a slice of orange and an olive and...

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Photo of the Week: Jesuit Church (Cusco, Peru)

2011-11-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

The La Compañía de Jesús (Jesuit) Church rivals the Cusco Cathedral in its beauty, both sitting on the Incan capital's main square. This church which looks superb with its night lighting replaced the reportedly resplendent Incan leader's palace. Both feature Christian and local artworks including the cathedral's quirky Last Supper where the main feast is guinea pig. Cusco Vacations

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Ten Best Railway Journeys of the World

2011-11-28T11:33:00.000-08:00

guest post by Paul of Look Trains Trains are one of the most romantic ways to travel, because they offer not only comfort and, some of them, even luxury, but also the opportunity to enjoy amazing landscapes as no other means of transportation. Thus, the beauty of the sights, the charm of the restless, diverse train stations and comfort combined make these railways the best in the world. 1....

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