donutinoz

Go away

2006-05-22T21:08:00.000Z

nothing to see here. this is an ex-~~parrot~~blog.

there is a slim possibillity of another donut travel blog later this year. but, don't count on it.

now go away.

oh, alright. here's a picture of tasmania.

this blog is officially closed. the pieces may be dismembered for future use.

An ex-Parrot?

2005-01-04T21:39:00.000Z

No, not a Norwegian Parrot, but some green thing in Kings Park, Perth.

This is my first test BloggerBot picture.

Footy

2004-12-22T21:34:00.000Z

Aussie's like their footy, be it League (NSW and Queensland), Union (NSW) or Rules (Victoria and South Aus).

Freemantle Oval, where South Freemantle and Freemantle Football Clubs play. Here it's kids playing.

Outside the MCG, there's the classic footy pose of great Ron Barassi.

Aussie Rivers

2004-11-25T21:51:00.000Z

A collection of river pics from Australia.

The beautiful Swan from Nedlands, Perth suburb.

Out in the bush (or maybe on the way to the bush), the Avon river near York. The Avon was the first white inland settlement in Western Australia. Now a farming area. With drought conditions prevalent for the last decade, the area is now on a knife edge.

Tasmania's Derwent river which winds from the highlands to Hobart. This picture is at the bottom of the Tarraleah power station part of Tassie's hydroelectric combine. Hydro has long been a big environmental issue in Tassie. That and loggging first growth forests.

The Franklin, a tributary of the Gordon, Tassie's last remaining wild river (well, a bit of it is).

The aforementioned Gordon. You can take a short cruise up part of the river as it spills into MacQaurie Harbour, Tassie's only natural harbour on the west coast.

Back in Melbourne, here's the Yarra. This part of the river path on the Yarra in Richmond recently suffered a landslip. Australia fighting hard against man.

Cheers!

2004-11-10T21:20:00.000Z

Readers of I am a Donut will know I'm partial to a margherita or two. En route to Oz, there was a 12 hour lay over in Singapore.

What do you do in Singapore? Shop? Na! Rover cruise? Nope. Nighttime safari? Past my bed time.

No, you go to Raffles Long Bar for an overpriced Singapore Sling. A bit sweet, but the nuts were good. And, the Tiger Beers afterwards revived the taste buds.

Twelve Apostles

2004-11-07T20:58:00.000Z

At the "end" of the Great Ocean Road stand the Twelve Apostles, a dozen or less sea stacks.

Like Stonehenge, in order to control the crowds, the authorities have built a new car park on the opposite side of the road with a sterile visitor centre and tunnel under the main road.

Still, it remains an iconic site.

The wind blew, the spring showers scudded along. The stacks stood there defiant.

Another Surfer Dude

2004-10-24T21:59:00.000Z

Surf's Up!

2004-10-19T20:42:00.000Z

Trawling through the several hundred piccies from the recent trip to Oz, it's clear I was mesmerised by surfing.

At the beginning of the Great Ocean Road you pass through the Surf Coast near Angelsea, the cradle of Aussie surfing.

Well, here a picture of Surfies Point on Phillip Island instead.

I haven't got a clue about surfing and I'm pretty useless in water. I don't understand why these guys don't get the surf board clonking them on the noggin'

Anyhow, here's another piccie from Surfies Point.

Swan Lager

2004-10-17T21:14:00.000Z

Sorry Aussies. I never really developed a taste for Aussie beer. I tried Victoria Bitter, Melbourne Bitter, Cascade, Boag's and Cooper's. Of them all, my preference was for Cooper's Sparkling Ale. Also tried Redback, a wheat beer. Not bad, but I'm not a huge fan of wheat beer.

Must admit I didn't try the local Perth drop, Swan Lager. It used to be brewed at this lovely site on the Swan River.

Oh, I'm not too keen on Aussie wine either. But, nothing personal. Don't fancy wine generally.

Overlooking Perth

2004-10-15T21:17:00.000Z

Here's a nice picture of downtown Perth.

Oh bugger, someone put a freeway in the way.

Arrive Alive

2004-10-12T20:31:00.000Z

Driving around Australia was not quite as daunting as I thought it might.

Generally speaking I found Australian drivers far more courteous and law abiding than their UK counterparts. Most drivers kept their speed on open roads; not always careful in built up areas. There was little in the way of aggressive driving, certainly no tailgating.

Okay, this was a limited three week period, but it was in three different states and in urban, suburban and rural areas. Some apsects weren't that great such as poor lane discipline on motorways/freeways and not a huge awareness of pedestrians at intersections (though I put that down to bad signalling where drivers get a green filter light when pedestrians have right of way.)

However, overall driving behaviour was markedly better.

I wonder how much of this is down to the extensive road safety advertising campaigns. Victoria runs a very in your face campaign. The latest drink/drive campaign features the tag line: "Just over the limit? You bloody idiot".

On most main roads in the country there are frequent signs alerting drivers to fatigue and the perils of "micro sleeps".

You will also find that the use of speed cameras is not popular, but perhaps not as much as it is in the UK. I don't know if cameras are limited to accident blackspots like they are supposed to be in the UK. Cameras are less visible because they've not painted them yellow like they are in the UK.

Still, there must be bad driving around. We saw an overturned car on the Westgate Freeway when driving back into Melbourne.

My Mate

2004-10-11T20:53:00.000Z

According to the Footprint guide to Australia, you are either a Marmite person or a Vegemite person. The latter is the Aussie version of the former. Or is it the other way around.

For the uninitiated, both are yeast extract. What might that be? Well, it's one of the few yummy black foods around. You spread it on toast in the morning. It fills you with the goodness of vitamin B. So good!

For most breakfasts in Oz, Vegemite was on offer. Being a good boy, needing my vit B, I spread the vegemite and munched away. Okay, a bit waxy and not quite as tasty.

So, Saturday morning it was a delight to dip in the Marmite jar.

This mate is a Marmite person.

Regular or Premium?

2004-10-10T09:23:00.000Z

These pictures brought back to mind a very bad cartoon from way back.

An alien lands at a deserted petrol/gas station and, talking to the pump, says

"Take your finger out of your ear Earthman and take me to your leader!"

Funny what the road can do to your brain.

The G

2004-10-09T19:09:00.000Z

One of the last things we did in Melbourne...

A tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the MCG, which is undergoing massive renovations in preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Only ten days previously, the MCG staged the 2004 Aussie Rules Grand Final. Port Adelaide beat the defending champion Brisbane Lions to take their first ever AFL premiership. I watched on TV, stubbie in hand.

Aussie Politics

2004-10-09T18:42:00.000Z

Dateline: back in Blighty

During a break from driving in Tasmania, the Donut came face to face with the island's federal member, Dick Adams.

It was on a sunny day in the historic burgh of Hamilton on the way to the west side of the island. We were walking around the "town" looking for food for lunch. As we stopped to peruse the local information board, a car pulling a caravan pulled into the town's middle. The car was blazoned with Adams' election banner, as was the caravan.

Adams, the consummate politician, wandered up and introduced himself. He immediately recognised that we were visitors. I reaffirmed that telling him that unfortunately we couldn't vote for him.

In what seems a common occurrence on telling him we were from England he announced a direct family linkage. His wife is from Devon.

Well, Adams may have retained his seat, but John Howard has retained the premiership.

It was interesting to observe the election whilst in Oz. A much more confrontation and personal campaign that we experience in Britain. Australia allows direct TV advertising - like the US. It was also interesting to see that real policies - like the opposition Labor Party's Medicare policy - emerging in the midst of an election campaign.

Howard easily kept hold of power. Labor, led by the comparative novice Mark Latham, put up a good show. But, from the outside it looked an uphill struggle.

zzzzzzzz

2004-10-07T20:27:00.000Z

Dateline: Singapore: 4:29 am

Must stay awake. Musn't miss flight.

stay on internetttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Spending time in Tassie

2004-10-01T07:28:00.000Z

Finding a place and time to post has not been easy. But, fear not the Donut is alive and not yet stung by a Aussie venomous creature.

A couple of days in Philip Island - not quite Melbourne's Delaware Beach to DC, nor Brighton to London - over the weekend were nice and relaxing. Weather wasn't that brilliant, but plenty of walks and booze made up for that. I think.

In Tassie, it's been a bit of a raod trip. Tassie's a bit bigger than you might imagine. Takes about 4-6 hours to cross from east to west, depending on how often you stop and refuel or just wander of the road to look at the sights.

Earlier this week, we were in Strahan (prnounced Strahhhhwn), which is the only port on the west coast and the hub for activities in the World Heritage Site. In the wind and rain, our catamaran, the Lady Jane II cruised out through Hell's Gates into the Southern Ocean, then back trhough McQuarie Harbour and up the Gordan River into the rain forest.

Yes. It rained in the rain forest. But, in case you don't know, the Gordon is one of the few truly wild rivers left in Australia if not the world. The pictures look great, but I've not found a place to upload them yet. May have to wait for Blighty.

Today was spent in the former penal colony of Port Arthur. I need a few more minutes to deal with Port Arthur. Right now, I need to dash back to the motel (think Motel 5 1/2). Suffice it to say for now, it was a good day, but one that leaves me feeling sad. I'll tell you why the next time I can get some surfing time.

YESTERDAY IN YORK

2004-09-23T04:10:00.000Z

York was the first inland settlement in Western Australia. It is, therefore, categorised as an "historic city". It has a nicely preserved main street, but that sems to be a feature of most Western Australian towns. Even commercial centres ike Northam look quaint and "historic".

York sits in the fertile Avon valley and has been a major agricutural site sine settlement in the 1830s. But, York lost out to neighbouring Northam as a major rail head, so time seems to have passed it by.

Nevertheless, it's become a major tourist attraction in its own right. There's a auto museum and lots of buildings from the early 20th century.

40 km south stands Beverley. Another little agricutural town, but the home of an imipressive aero museum and seeral cappucine bars.

Time is money, so signing off for now.

Promise to get some pics loaded soon.

GREETINGS FROM A VERY EXPENSIVE INTERNET TERMINAL IN PERTH AIRPORT

2004-09-23T04:06:00.000Z

Time's up for our time in Perth.

Spent this morning wandering around Kings Park overlooking the ~~freeway~~ city. Such a nice overlook of the skyscrapers, offices, Swan river and Swan brewery ruined by the freeway.

About to board Virgin Blue's express for Melbourne. Another two hour time difference to bugger up the body clock.

B'n'B

2004-09-22T05:53:00.000Z

Comments about the B'n'B in Perth will have to wait until we move on the Melbourne.

The B'n'B is in the Perth suburb of Nedlands. Presumably named after Ned Flinders. Or, perhaps not?

Avon Valley

2004-09-22T05:49:00.000Z

It's a fairly pleasant day in the community of York, about 60 miles east of banal and sterile Perth. Just finished a very nice falafel and salad roll, plus thick banana milk shake.

This part of the world reminds me a bit of central Texas around Austin: the rolling countryside, ranches every mile or so and small towns with a little remaining charm.

But, there are a few difference. It's sheep rather than cattle here. The accent is different. And, there's not much in the way of German influence that you get in Texas. Still, it's brought back memories of my visit to the LBJ ranch.

Taxi Drivers

2004-09-22T05:45:00.000Z

What is it with taxi drivers?

Why do they want to engage in banal conversation? Do they think they will get a bigger tip?

The cab driver from home to Heathrow hardly let us in the cab before he had regaled us of tales of traffic jams on the M25 and around the Elephant and Castle. He even butted in with his own stories in the middle of a "private" conversation.

In Singapore, we got "Ah, England. Tony Blair!" Whatever happened to foreigners on recognising you were English saying: "Manchester United. Bobby Charlton"?

Packed the wrong clothes again

2004-09-22T05:42:00.000Z

As usual I seemed to have packed the wrong clothes for holiday. Last time, the shorts didn't come out: that was Madeira in the rain and cold.

Well, Perth has not been too warm so far. Yesterday in Fremantle was windy and wet. Standing on the spit watching a big container ship come in was a bit like back home on a Bank Holiday Monday.

25 deg in Melbourne according to today's paper. So, let's home that weather holds. Otherwise, my shorts will stay put in the suitcase!

Changi

2004-09-19T23:57:00.000Z

Just a few minutes before departure from Singapore. Sorry if I was a bit harsh on the city state. But, for all the efficiency, cleanliness and organisation, it just doesn't really grab me.

Perth, next stop!

Oh, and there'll be pics soon, I hope

Sling 'em back

2004-09-19T14:12:00.000Z

Dateline: Singapore, sometime after alcohol.

When in Singapore, one must as a transitting tourist visit Raffles Long Bar for the obligatory Singapore Sling. One part gin, one part sweet something, one part more alcohol. Followed, of course, by Tiger beer. And, more Tiger beer.

Approx 12 hours 20 mins on the plane. The IFE (that's entertainment, to you and me) was f@ck#d. So, it meant alcohol and meal; zopiclone; sleep; fidget; bodily relief; more, fidgety sleep.

Singapore. What a place. Part Europe; part Asia; mostly Disneyland. How can such a vibrant place be so bland?

Monday beckons. More aluminum tubing. More checking-in and duty-free-ing. More immigration procedures and all that.

It's Perth and the Swan ~~Lager~~ River tomorrow. Bladders permitting.

At some stage, there may be pictures. But, tonight's internet cafe is lacking in USB portage.

All Packed and Ready to Go

2004-09-18T14:51:00.000Z

Welcome, Possums

2004-09-18T14:38:00.000Z

The Donut is about to embark on a three week odyssey to the land of the Golden Sun. Judging by the weather forecasts, looks like a rather cool and damp sun at the moment.

Anyway, it's off to Oz this evening. There'll be a short stop off in Singapore to catch breath and get a few hours of kip (and a Singapore Sling in Raffles Long Bar).

With any luck there'll be another post fairly shortly and some pictures from Down Under.

Just a wee experiment from the good folks who bring you I am a Donut.