Blogs from Oceania - page 7835

Oceania » Tonga November 4th 2003

Tonga is a group of Polynesian islands, a paradise in the Pacific. On the main island of Tongatapu, people smile (the gold in their teeth flash) and say hello on the street. After a week some would even know my name. This is a beautiful place; the sea, the walkway, kids swimming, the cool breeze, the palms, the ships off shore all add to the atmosphere. The shops open late and close early, and on Sunday the streets are empty, - huge bars on protect the doors and windows. Musical bells call congregations to church. The services are famous for the singing - even the preacher does his sermon in a sing song voice. The high soprano of the ladies contrasts with the low voices of the kids playing in the aisle. On another Sunday we ... read more

Maclean, Yamba & Angourie

Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Yamba November 3rd 2003

Maclean

SouthernCross

In November of 2003, we drove down to spend time with friends in the north part of New South Wales near the small town of Maclean. It's lovely! Our friends had moved from Darwin in 2002 and have built a beautiful home in Gulmarrad near the Clarence River. Known as the gateway to the Australian sugar industry (cane fields everywhere!), Maclean is rich in Scottish heritage and personalized plaid painted poles are found everywhere. At dusk and dawn we saw about 20-30 kangaroos (some with joeys in pouch) grazing and roaming throughout the neighbourhood. They were EVERYWHERE…crossing the road in front of us and out in the yards. What a sight to see! We enjoyed dinner outside along the Clarence River where dolphins swam by freely. It was just fantastic! Of course we didn’t bring a ... read more

There is no place like home

Oceania » Papua New Guinea October 30th 2003

Construction

Global Adventuress

PNG News #3 - There is no place like home "I love Canada…..It is a great country much too cold for good sense, inhabited by compassionate, intelligent people with bad hairdos." Martel, Yann. Life of Pi p.6 " Don’t we say, There’s no place like home." p.17 Yesterday’s induction the Vice President, Administration included a briefing on security. Benjamin N. told Evangelia P. (an academic from Crete and my fellow VSO volunteer/temporary housemate) and me about the two settlements that surround the campus. On the north end of the campus Gabasta Settlement is made up of people from many tribes. These people were attracted to the bright lights of Madang and make up this illegal shandy town. 85% of all of PNG land is owned by clans…remember wantoks from last week? The people in settlements have ... read more

Wiating in transit- survival airport guide

Oceania October 29th 2003

krizchin

When spending a long time in airports there are a few essential things you need to do. This was my routine; how I would make the airports of the world my home for over a month. 1. Find out about luggage storage. Is there a place where you can keep your luggage, which is cheap, secure and can be accessed easily? 2. Pick a good sleeping spot. This is the most essential part of airport life, if you don’t get sleep you can’t function. Find somewhere quiet, undisturbed and reasonably comfortable. 3. Find the cheapest place to eat. This isn’t easy; if it’s a big airport there will usually be a cheap food stall tucked away for airport employees and those clever enough to find it. 4. Act innocent and keep a low profile, airports ... read more

Cape Tribulation

Oceania » Australia October 29th 2003

Dragon Lizard

Rin

"Where the rainforest meets the beach" is the famous description of Cape Tribulation. Brie and I managed to get 2 days off of work and hired car with our English friend, Emma, to see the Daintree Rainforest and beaches north of Cairns. It was fascinating driving along the east coast of Australia having scenery change fromm the beaches to farmland to mountains. Our first stop was Mossomons Gorge, which is the start of the Daintree Rainforest, and a natural beauty with rapids flowing through perfectly placed rocks. We were entertained while watching some bloke try to jump from rock to rock and unfortunately he was unsuccessful. Once we arrived in Cape Trib we checked into our cabin-like room and headed toward the beach. The beach was peaceful covered with mangroves, palm trees, and best of all ... read more

Tjapukai...

Oceania » Australia » Queensland October 29th 2003

Brie

I have always related the Aboriginals in Australia as being similar to the Indians in the United States. Their history and presence in Australia goes back way before Captain Cook discovered Australia and the English ruled what was once their land. It's true. The Aboriginal situation is not unlike that of the Native Americans. But, here, Aboriginals are seen as another breed and the tension and discrimination they face is painfully obvious. While I was living in Sydney I did not encounter the Aboriginals. My one experience was with David, a half Aboriginal and half white man, who I had the pleasure of getting to know and babysitting for his daughter, Kaiya. A friendly, compassionate man, David also took great pride in his Aboriginal descent and encouraged me to visit the Aboriginal communities in the Outback ... read more

Weaver

Oceania » Australia » Queensland October 28th 2003

Brie

As I sat in the Cairns City Library today reading Bill Bryson's latest I was approached by a well-tanned, rather rugged looking man. "Would it bother you if I sat here? I can't find anywhere else to plug in my laptop." "Sure," I replied. And as I got up intending to leave, I didn't have the opportunity. Within minutes I was immersed in conversation with an American man, who as he says, "Came to Canberra in the '60s and never went back." Travellers, in general, tend to have a more open-minded, liberal way of thinking. Although each traveller is different, they seem to be more willing to let their guard down and more open to really listening to what others have to say. As I listened to this man, I was intrigued and immediately comfortable. For ... read more

Waiting in transit one- packages

Oceania » New Zealand October 27th 2003

krizchin

Mr. Belkin informed us that we are on a very tight schedule. We can take carry on luggage only; this can basically fit two pairs of pants, a couple of shirts, a jersey, sox, boxers and toiletries. We are also instructed to travel in pairs. My travel companion’s name is Julian. He is a hippy who spent three months in The USA about five years ago, yet still speaks with an American accent. He is harmless enough and we get on pretty well. I count myself lucky; I was told the other pair loathed each other. One deserted the other on a Moscow street one mid winter night, without passport, ticket or money. The police ended up taking the distraught tourist to the airport where she found her travel companion in the nick of time. ... read more

Morwell 2003

Oceania » Australia » Victoria October 24th 2003

Colin

24 October 2003 I'm sitting in a Budget Motel in the town of Morwell. Below us, lies one of the largest deposits of the brown coal in the world. The ore is taken from large open cut mines not far from the town. It is then processed and used to feed the furnaces that in turn keep the generators working. In most directions from my motel you can see plumes of clouds produced from the steam that feed the generators. In the evenings at sunset the clouds turn pink and give a surreal effect to the town. I haven't photographed anything on this trip because the weather hasn't been the best. Churchill is a small community just a few kilometres south of Morwell and work at the kindergarten has been busy for the last two days. ... read more

Daintree Rainforest

Oceania » Australia » Queensland October 23rd 2003