Taylors Ink

We only have two days in Hawaii, and didn't really intend to write another blog, but this place is so lovely we changed our minds. We both agree that Hawaii has to be at the top of the list of places we would love to return one day. When James (our son) was about ten years old he bought a board game called "Hotels". The setting of the game was Waikiki on Oahu, Hawaii. Players would circle the board and buy and develop hotels in a manner remeniscent of the gameplay of "Monopoly". Despite its simpicity, the game was surprisingly immersive and enjoyable and it conjured mental images of the Honululu beachfront - something that up until today we had never experienced. This morning, as we walked along Kalakaua Ave, the main street of Waikiki, ... read more

Canada seems very familiar. It's not just the language, it's something about the way of life. Admittedly, the hats are different - theirs curl up at the sides, cowboy style. And they don't include their sales tax on advertised prices. And sometimes they add an additional 15% gratuity to the price even if you are not particularly grateful (rare - Canadian service staff seem extremely polite, respectful and hard working). But besides that, there do seem to be more points of connection with Australia than most other countries we have visited. Like Australians, Canadians appear to "pullulate timidly on the edge of alien shores." Geographically, they hug the borders of their land and, for the most part, populate only the edge of a vast expanse. Their European derivation and colonial history also places them in ... read more

England is a strange kind of home-coming. We were looking forward to reaching the British Isles for the relative ease of travelling in a country whose primary language is English and the cultural divide is easily navigable. So much of our national heritage (and my husband's personal heritage) is derived from the Mother Country that it has been fascinating for me (Dee) to actually see it at last. However, there have been a few surprises. Northern England seemed to be overflowing with floral prints, wall papered rooms, and bone china. I mean, I expected it, but it was still a surprise when it arrived in such unapologetic abundance. Nice, but slightly creepy. The first B&B we arrived at served us a huge pot of tea on a tray in the lounge. I had flash-backs to our ... read more

I have always harboured a secret, preposterously childish, romantic fantasy. In fact, the kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower has long held more allure for me than any ribbon bound box of roses, giant fluffy bear or even white wedding extravaganza. Loathe to admit it to even my closest friends and family, I have kept a silent romantic vigil that burned fiercer and fiercer, the closer we came to France. With heart pounding, I headed for the tower at the first available opportunity. There were two lines of approximately 500 people queuing for tickets to the tower. They were all clearly hot and tired and had been standing there for some hours. Many had small children whining around their ankles. The entire area under the tower was filled with other camera wielding tourists craning ... read more

At Nellie's, we ate and only occassionally ventured outdoors. For the first time since our sojourn began, the grey clouds moved in and the rain began to pour down. Nellie had invited our old Westfield's mate Laurie and his lovely wife Jocelyn (and cute daughter Elsa) to stay so that we could all catch up. The rain provided the perfect weather for eating, drinking and generally lazing around enjoying each other's company. Those of you who know Nellie will understand why the rain was a perfect blessing. The talk revolved almost entirely around food and we began to get some idea of just how seriously French people take their taste buds. The first excursion on the agenda was to the local market in Sarlat. In regional France there is still a strong tradition of going to ... read more