Trio of P&O ships head to Melbourne Cup
Fun for punters on board and behind-the-scenes at Flemington Dressed in a hi-vis vest and rugged up in a coat despite the late spring day, I join a busload of punters, in the true sense of the word, on a tour of Flemington. Apart from the 40 or so of us, and staff and...
Tribute festivals – musical salutes to your favourite bands
Can’t get the real thing – check out a fake festival Ten tribute festivals celebrating the genius of Elvis to Abba 1. Elvis Festival – Parkes, NSW, Australia. January 9 – 13, 2019 After four days at an Elvis Festival you’ll certainly know not to call those...
Thailand markets – saffron, ceremony and sweet treats
It’s worth getting up early for NAN markets in northern Thailand I’ve been to dozens of Asian and European markets over the years. For some reason, I’m drawn to vegetables – the more exotic the better – and luscious fruit as well....
Gold Coast’s new entertainment hub
Australian celebrities have strutted their stuff on the Logies red carpet – trophies and perfect teeth gleamed and dresses shimmered. The big annual event in Australian show business – named in honour of Scottish engineer John Logie Baird who invented...
Four Seasons Explorer – The Maldives
Caroline’s Cabin Fever discovers a cruise that makes everyone feel like royalty – if only for three blissful days. There’s a speck in the Indian Ocean called Tasty Sand Island. I can’t quite believe I’m lying on its savoury white stuff,...
Feeling sick is the pits when you’re travelling
Have I been sick when travelling? Yes, indeed. If you have to be sick when on the road, it’s best to be snuggled into a warm bed in a nice hotel somewhere, just an arm’s length from the phone, the glass of water, the drugs and the TV remote control. But...
Expedition Cruising – small ships and huge adventures
People ask: What’s it like on an expedition cruise? I love expedition cruising, especially the part where you jump into a Zodiac craft and zoom off to shore or head toward a pod of whales or a polar bear bobbing around in Arctic waters. While adventurous folk...
Derwent Pencils – nostalgia at our fingertips
The thing I wanted most as a primary school student was a box of coloured pencils, specifically Derwent pencils, emblazoned with a picture of Britain’s beautiful Lake District. My wish came true and I duly cherished those Derwents for years. Nostalgia is a wonderful...
Is it worth buying an all-inclusive cruise?
There’s plenty of perks on an all-inclusive cruise, plus a big price tag People often ask: It is worth buying an all-inclusive cruise or a cheaper one and pay as you go? First things first. There’s quite a lot of misinformation about cruising. Recently...
Diamond Princess – Northern Asia
Turning Japanese – dare to bare in the bathhouse on Diamond Princess Making promises over dinner and a few wines is OK but when it comes to agreeing to go naked in a Japanese bathhouse, it’s perhaps best to decide when totally sober. A couple of us thought...