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Travel Tales and Reviews from around the world, Places to go and things to see

Man Walking at Sunset - 80 Mile Beach, Western Australia - Free Desktop Wallpaper

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Read my most popular articles or learn more about Neerav Bhatt. Want more frequent updates follow me on Twitter. Thanks for visiting!Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo of a Man Walking at Sunset - 80 Mile Beach, Western Australia.
In late […]

Memorable Fox Glacier Helihike - South Island New Zealand

My Fox Glacier Helihike departed from the chartered helicopter helipad at 0945 & returned at 1300. It was the highlight of my trip to NZ South Island and I will remember it forever.
At several $100/person Yes it is expensive but it was definitely worth the cost unlike the money I wasted on the Tranz […]

Leadville Colorado USA - High Altitude Winter Wonderland

GUEST ARTICLE: There are many well known spots in the state of Colorado which the typical tourist may be familiar with such as Rocky Mountain National Park or the Garden of the Gods.
The tour buses and guide books are full of ways to get there. The real beauty of the mountains, I believe is […]

Alien Adventures in Rachel, Nevada USA

GUEST ARTICLE: Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas? Then head off on a day trip towards Rachel, Nevada.

If you like interesting road trips with an odd twist to them, take US Highway 93 North out of Los Angeles and head out to Rachel, Nevada where they filmed part of […]

TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition: 7 Seas + 7 Summits

The Swiss family Schwörer are on a round-the-world TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition powered only by wind, solar and human energy to:

Raise awareness of environmental issues and promote the search for environmentally compatible solutions
Encourage the start of projects beneficial to the environment
Move as many people as possible towards solidarity for the people affected by climate change […]

Flying over Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand - Free Desktop Wallpaper

Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo taken by me as I was flying over Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand
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Click on the preview photo
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Flying over Fox Glacier, South Island, […]

Dont Waste Money on Tranz scenic TranzAlpine train - New Zealand

During my last visit to New Zealand’s South Island I took a trip on the TranzScenic Tranz Alpine train from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass.

Don’t waste your money on it - do something else instead.
While the township of Arthurs Pass is a good base for trampers with various walks starting there I think catching […]

Coromandel: Gateway to Beaches and Walks

GUEST ARTICLE:Unless you enjoy driving for 400 km, stopover and rest in Auckland on your drive to the Coromandel Peninsula.
To satisfy those car cravings, a lunch break at La Nonna’s Italian Bakery located roadside outside Whangerei (north of Auckland) is the go. Pick up some fresh sweet or savoury muffins, almond croissants or brownies […]

Paihia: Seaside Hub of Mo-Hotels and Crafty Cruise Operators

GUEST ARTICLE:As you drive around North Island you’ll notice that many signs and speed limits are poorly placed, but at least special orange signs thank you for driving through temporary road works.
On the drive to Paihia, only detour through Whangarei Falls (literally pronounced Fungeray) if you’re excited by small-ish waterfalls or if you’ve never seen […]

Auckland: City of Sails Shops and Snores

GUEST ARTICLE:I was extremely parched and desperate for water upon arriving at Auckland International Airport thanks to security restricting liquids on board.

So in a useless act of defiance, I took my water bottle through security and on board, empty though of course. So I had no choice but to fork out a ridiculous $3.50 […]

Worlds Largest Aircraft Graveyard: Tucson Arizona (USA)

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona is the biggest aircraft graveyard in the world.

“The Boneyard” as it is often called was created in 1946 to store some surplus DoD and navy planes but eventually grew to become the storage area for all out-of-service U.S. government […]

Camels at Sunset on Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia - Free Desktop Wallpaper

Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo of Camels at Sunset on Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia.

In late 2003 I travelled up the West Australian Coast from Perth to Broome, where I took a camel ride with Ships of the Desert.
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Click on the preview photo
When the full size photo is displayed from the […]

Face to Face: Our Endangered Primate Cousins

credit: tashiya

Writing about the plight of our primate cousins the orangutans, gorillas and chimps has been on my todo list for a while so when I heard that the Australian Museum was featuring the “Face to Face” exhibition created by the Natural History Museum, London I immediately made time in my schedule to see […]

Saudi Arabia: The Magic Kingdom

GUEST ARTICLE: You don’t go to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a tourist. In fact, there’s no such thing as a tourist visa in Saudi. The only holiday makers are on their religious pilgrimage to Mecca for the Hajj. If you are not Muslim, the only way to get into the country is with […]

Modern Day European Pilgrimages: St James Way and via Francigena

GUEST ARTICLE: Babette Gallard and Paul Chinn, two UK corporate management drop-outs, have completed over 6,000 Pilgrim kilometres on horseback and bicycle - an experience Babette Gallard highly recommends.
In my part of the world rumour has it that for a large number of Aussies the European Tour is an important rite of passage, or perhaps […]

Scotland: Visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh

GUEST ARTICLE: I arrived at Glasgow after a 5 hour Virgin train trip from London. The very attentive first class trolley service allowed me to get in some drinking practice for my weekend stay with friends from my Sydney Uni days.
Glasgow
On Saturday we popped in to see the refurbished Kelvingrove Museum - which still retains […]

Australian Museum: Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Review)

I’ve just returned from the excellent Wildlife Photographer of the Year photography exhibition displayed every summer at the Australian Museum.
In 2003 I lived for a year in the UK and saw that years Wildlife Photographer exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum.
That was the year I first became really interested in photography, particularly of […]

Hong Kong: at the Doorstep of China

GUEST ARTICLE: Hong Kong was the stop-over point for my trip to and from Europe so I was there for 2 days in September and 3 days in October.
Hong Kong Airport is just enormous. So big, in fact, that you need to catch a fast train from the arrival gates just to get to the […]

Discover the Wild Lands of Olympic National Park, USA

GUEST ARTICLE: Seattle went to bed one night as a small town, and woke up the next morning having been transformed into a burgeoning city.

We’re not quite comfortable with the arrangement - much like a middle child - but on reflection it’s hard not to appreciate the eclectic mix.
While Microsoft and Boeing […]

Tourists Guide/Review of Sydney Observatory and Observatory Hill Park

This is a guide/review of Sydney Observatory and Observatory Hill Park to convince you that it’s worth visiting this under-appreciated area.
I live in Sydney, so I’ve seen all the regular tourist sights several times as we’ve shown visiting international relatives and friends visiting Australia around the city.
However until recently even I as a local […]

Guide to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)

Every summer countless Sydneysiders and visitors from interstate and overseas come to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to watch matches like the Sydney New Year’s Test Match, One day internationals and domestic matches.
I’ll give you tips to help you get to the SCG quickly and enjoy your day as best as possible.

Situated in Moore […]

Tourists Guide/Review of Sydney Wildlife World (Darling Harbour)

This is a guide/review of Sydney Wildlife World to convince you that it’s not worth buying an entry ticket for it compared to other wildlife parks like Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
I live in Sydney, so I’ve seen all the regular tourist sights several times as we’ve shown visiting international relatives and friends visiting Australia around […]

Tourists Guide/Review of Sydney Centrepoint Tower Observation Deck

This is a guide/review of Sydney’s AMP Centrepoint Tower to help you decide whether it’s worth buying a ticket to go to the top for a view of the Sydney skyline from the Observation Deck.

I live in Sydney, so I’ve seen all the regular tourist sights several […]

Sunrise on Top of Mount Kosciusko New Years Day - Free Desktop Wallpaper

Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo of Sunrise on top of Mount Kosciusko at 4:59AM January 1st 2007 (New Years Day).

In the middle of Summer at the end of 2006, I went on a 4 day bush walking and camping trip organised by fellow members of the UTS Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) to […]

Istanbul, Turkey: Where East and West Meet

GUEST ARTICLE: To borrow a phrase from my old Roman Law lecturer, late on Friday during the Autumn of 2007, I arrived in Constantinople, or Istanbul as the Turks insist on calling it. Personally, I prefer Byzantium, simply because “Byzantine” is such a great adjective.
West
What would you expect to see from an Istanbul Hotel window? […]

Thorny Devil in the Australian Outback - Free Desktop Wallpaper

Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo of a Thorny Devil in the Australian Outback.
In mid-2007 I went on a holiday crossing Australia South to North from Adelaide to Darwin by road, along the way I visited Alice Springs Desert Park where I got this great photo of a Thorny Devil in the Australian […]

Deadly Injustice in the USA : Equal Justice Under Law?

With Australian television drowning in American crime and legal fiction, Washington-based correspondent Mark Simkin offers a reality check on the flaws in the American justice system that can lead to death row.
Broadcast: 03/07/2007
Reporter: Mark Simkin
Network: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Transcript begins: “Hello and welcome to Foreign Correspondent. I’m Mark Simkin outside the Supreme court in […]

Kopi Luwack : Extreme Coffee in Sumatra

It’s the most exotic, rare and expensive coffee in the world. Kopi Luwack which comes from the dung of the Common Palm Civet or Luwack is so rare some believe it doesn’t exist.
Much of the coffee which can sell for more than $50 dollars a cup in New York, Hong Kong or Tokyo has been […]

Extraordinary Rendition: Americas Outsourced Torture Program

The CIA is engaging in an unlawful practice – “extraordinary rendition” – abducting foreign nationals for detention and interrogation in secret overseas prisons. The practice is a violation of both international law and domestic law. There is no excuse for lowering American standards to the same despicable level of the terrorists they are fighting against.

Behind […]

Aerial view of the Oodnadatta Track - Free Desktop Wallpaper

Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo of an Aerial view of the Oodnadatta Track
In mid-2007 I went on a holiday crossing Australia South to North from Adelaide to Darwin by road, along the way I did a Scenic Flight over the Anna Creek Painted Desert where I got this great photo of an […]

Jumping Crocodile in Mid Bite - Free Desktop Wallpaper

Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo of a Jumping Crocodile in Mid-Bite in the Adelaide River, Northern Territory, Australia
In mid-2007 I went on a holiday crossing Australia South to North from Adelaide to Darwin by road, along the way I did a Jumping Croc cruise on the Adelaide River near Darwin where I […]

Adelaide Tourist and Backpacker Guide: Transport, Sight Seeing, Food, Accommodation

I have twice spent a few days in Adelaide as a stopover on backpacking holidays. I hope this overview of my time there will be of use to you if you ever decide to spend a few days there yourself.

Accommodation
I stayed at the Adelaide Central YHA Backpackers Hostel
Transport
Adelaides CBD (city centre) is compact and […]

Anna Creek Painted Desert Scenic Flight Review

I recently took a scenic flight over the Anna Creek Painted Desert (aka Painted Hills) during my Trans-Australia Road Trip through the arid desert which dominates central Australia
These spectacular painted hills are located within the confines of the Woomera rocket range within an hours flight from William Creek (population 10) a former stop on the […]

Rainbow Bee Eater Snapping Up An Insect - Free Desktop Wallpaper

Download a free 1024×768 resolution desktop wallpaper photo of a Rainbow Bee Eater snapping up an insect - taken near Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
In mid-2007 I went on a holiday crossing Australia South to North from Adelaide to Darwin by road, I visited the Alice Springs Desert Park where I got this great photo […]

Adelaide Central YHA Backpackers Hostel (Review)

This is a review of the Adelaide Central YHA Backpackers Hostel which I stayed at over the Queens Birthday long weekend.

I was already familiar with the facilities at Adelaide Central YHA because I’d stayed there for a few days previously in 2003 and this time around I […]

Catch the Jetbus from Adelaide Airport to the City (Review)

The cheapest way to get from Adelaide Airport to the Adelaide CBD or various suburbs such as Greenwith, Tea Tree Plaza or Golden Grove Village is to catch public transport via the Adelaide Metro Jetbus routes J1, J2 or J3.
It cost me $3.80 one way to […]

Adelaide to Darwin Backpacking Road Trip Overview

I’ve just returned from a backpacker holiday road trip from Adelaide to Darwin which would easily have covered 4500-5000 kilometres mostly on the Stuart Highway including several side trips like going to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and drives on unsealed and bush roads like the Oodnadatta Track.

Over […]

A tale about Australias Overland Telegraph

When this pre-written article is published I’ll in the middle of a one month holiday on the road travelling from Adelaide to Darwin. Along the way to some extent I will have followed the route taken by an explorer that many Australians have probably not heard of: John McDouall Stuart.

In the early 19th. Century Northern […]

My version of Stephen Colberts On Notice Board

Fans of the popular American satirist Steven Colbert might be interested to know you can now generate your own 8 line “On Notice Board” like the one I’ve created below.
If you’re wondering who Steven Colbert is and why he has an “On Notice board”, he has a TV show on Comedy Central called The Colbert […]

River Caves Canyon Walk Review - Wollemi National Park

On Saturday 5th May several members of the UTS Outdoor Adventure Club went on a day trip to the River Caves Canyon in Wollemi National Park, the largest wilderness area in NSW and part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area - a maze of canyons, cliffs and undisturbed forest.
I arrived at Strathfield station […]

Royal National Park - Uloola Track Bushwalk Review

Today’s bushwalk was my first UTS Outdoor Adventure Club trip as a Trip leader
However to be fair, I wouldn’t have done it if one of our experienced club members Marty didn’t join the trip as deputy trip-leader because I don’t have any first aid training and he’s done much longer day bushwalks than […]

Tulip time: Bowral Sydney Southern Highlands

In 2008 the Bowral Tulip Time Festival is scheduled to start on 25 September and close on 8 October 2008.

Bowral was founded in the 1860’s and has become a summer retreat for Sydney residents. Many of Bowral’s earlier visitors built stately mansions and some of these historic homes and gardens can be appreciated by visitors […]

Sydney Public Transport Trip Planner: Train, Bus & Ferry

Probably my most frequently used website travelling for planning social outings or meetings for work, the Sydney Public Transport Trip planner is the best way to plan a trip on public transport in Sydney, whether by Train, Bus or Ferry or a mixture of methods.
It allows you to state exactly when you want to leave […]

Pindar Cave Bushwalk Review - Brisbane Water National Park

On Saturday March 10 2007 twelve members of the UTS Outdoor Activities Club met at 7:30 outside Central station and caught the 7:45 train to Wondabyne station which is less than one train carriage in length! Note you will need to tell the train guard that you want to get off there before you get […]

Beginners Guide to Rogaining - Cross Country Timed Navigation

Last Sunday I competed in the 2007 Manly Metrogaine run by the New South Wales Rogaining Association inc (NSWRA) in the UTS Novices team (for people who’d never done rogaining before). Our team were all members of the UTS Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC).
If you don’t know what Rogaining is, what equipment you need, how to […]

Kosciuszko National Park and New Years Eve on top of Australia

In the middle of Summer at the end of 2006, I went on a 4 day bush walking and camping trip organised by fellow members of the UTS Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) to Kosciuszko National Park that ended with us waking up on Monday, New Years Day 2007 on top of the highest Mountain in […]

Travel Guide: Broome & Cable Beach (Western Australia)

I visited Broome for a week in late October and stayed at a backpackers hostel. Although it wasn’t summer yet temperatures were mid 30’s to 40 degrees celsius.

Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley in the far north of Western Australia. The year […]

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Travel Tales and Reviews from around the world, Places to go and things to see