While in Broome we took the opportunity to visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm, which was a fascinating time and very educational. It seems that ‘natural’ salt water pearls are no longer available, and all the pearls that we see are ‘cultured’ if they are the salt water variety. Fresh water pearls are imported mainly from China. […]
It was an overnight cruise from Kuri Bay to Broome and this time we moved alongside the ‘new’ pier. Maureen and I visited Broome for a holiday in 2016 and I don’t think they had such a long pier at that time. Once again, we were able to take the free shuttle in to the […]
Unlike Brisbane, Darwin City paid for the coaches from the ship to the tourist office in the city centre. The transport ran all day to and from the ship. Maureen and I asked in the tourist office how to get to the Cyclone Tracy Museum. We were told that we could go by bus and […]
Coral Princess being owned by an American company, the staff followed American culture particularly for the 31st of October. It must be me, but I find it a little odd to celebrate the dead. I know it is usually a ‘fun time’ but I still think it odd. Various areas of the ship were decorated […]
Coral Princess – launched in 2002, maximum passenger number 1970, crew of 900 – maiden voyage January 2003. She and her sister ship Island Princess are the two smallest vessels in the Princess fleet. It is thought that the Coral & Island were kept by Princess because they were the only vessels small enough to […]
We hired a guide and a mini-bus from the hotel to see various sites of Penang. Our guide spoke English very well and was able to give us the history of the area and many interesting facts. Above two pics thanks to KI. Also known as the waterfall gardens due to there being a waterfall […]
Living in Australia brings one in contact with a number of nationalities and often the initial contact changes to friendship. Maureen and I have been fortunate in gaining a Malay Chinese friend who was married to a Polish lady, a Ukraine via German, married to a New Zealand lady, an Australian married to a British lady […]
The title of this blog is a dictate that is drummed in to authors – show the reader, don’t lecture the reader. A few years ago we were told that the e-book was overtaking the printed book in popularity – today I am not all that sure. I have an old adage that if I […]
A few years ago Maureen & I and three other couples had a seven week holiday of self catering, self drive around the UK. We hired a mini-bus and stayed in farms and apartments – all self catering. We were a mix of three ex Poms, three Australians, a New Zealander and a Russo – German. […]
A beautiful piece of history in Penang, which was created by four Armenian brothers in 1884. Originally named the Eastern Hotel, which soon became known as ‘The Premier Hotel East of Suez.’ Hotel de l’Europe, also in Penang, was run by one of the brothers who changed the name to The Oriental Hotel in 1885, […]
A few years ago Maureen & I and three other couples had a seven week holiday of self catering, self drive around the UK. We hired a mini-bus and stayed in farms and apartments – all self catering. We were a mix of three ex Poms, three Australians, a New Zealander and a Russo – German. […]
By late February we, in NSW, had over 35 days free of Covid-19 so I thought it was time for a short holiday. Not sure how clear the map is, but we decided to visit the Southern Highlands and we decided to stay in Mittagong (marked with the red line). We picked the Grand Country […]
By late February we, in NSW, had over 35 days free of Covid-19 so I thought it was time for a short holiday. Not sure how clear the map is, but we decided to visit the Southern Highlands and we decided to stay in Mittagong (marked with the red line). We picked the Grand Country […]
A beautiful piece of history in Penang, which was created by four Armenian brothers in 1884. Originally named the Eastern Hotel, which soon became known as ‘The Premier Hotel East of Suez.’ Hotel de l’Europe, also in Penang, was run by one of the brothers who changed the name to The Oriental Hotel in 1885, […]