Travel

Our accommodation package included breakfast, but we needed to fend for ourselves for the rest of the day. (Mind you we did not usually need much for lunch if we had partaken of the buffet at breakfast!!!) That meant we could try many of the eating places that are on Norfolk Island. They vary in atmosphere, layout, type of food,  - some have views, and many don’t, but one thing is certain, it is all served with lots of enthusiasm.  I don’t think we had a bad meal, but some were more memorable than others. Most made a point of stating that they used local produce “when available”.

I was pleased to find that when you ordered salad or vegetables – it was all beautifully fresh - because it is all grown locally no doubt. I did not see any sign of the “mixed veg” that is common in...

For those who like history this is catered for in abundance and fine detail on Norfolk Island. For those who have only a cursory interest – you are also well catered for.   There is so much you can choose to see and do that will give you an insight into the sometimes bloody, barbaric, colourful, and at times inspirational past.  You can get as involved (or not) as takes your fancy. Most (but not all) of this is centred around the Kingston area. This is the original settlement site, and is now part of the World Heritage listed area.  It was where Philip Gidley King established the first settlement, the Sirius (of First Fleet fame) was wrecked, the second settlement was built, and later the first Pitcairn settlers moved into on arrival, so there are lots of different ‘history’ stories to...

I was having dinner with my friend Anne-Maree in November when she mentioned she and Lorraine had booked to go to Norfolk Island in February. I said if I had known that was on the cards I would have come too. About a week later she called to say she had been in touch with the agent and I could join them if I would like to. So, on 14th February we travelled to Norfolk Island on an Air New Zealand Flight from Brisbane. (Anne-Maree and I travelled to Brisbane the day before and Lorraine flew in from Melbourne that morning.) You need to go through the International Airport, check in 2 hours before the flight, and do the usual Customs and Immigration processes as for any other International flight.  I noticed though that there was a special line for those going to Norfolk Island. Flights go...

I am getting very excited now as the countdown is on for my trip to Norfolk Island. I have not been before but always wanted to go. I think the tales we read when at school fired up the imagination as it seems to be one place that many people have on the 'bucket list' or the list of places they went. I leave here (Cairns) Monday, overnight in Brisbane and fly in there on Tuesday. I can hardly wait to see what I think of it, as the reaction from people I have told has ranged from "Eleven days - what on earth are you going to do for 11 days as you can see it all in an afternoon?" to "Only 11 days, you will not have time to see it all let alone appreciate it properly", with some conceeding that "Eleven days will be about right to see it all in a leisurely fashion and fully appreciate the...

As I mentioned before, in Turkey we had to purchase all drinking water and use it to brush teeth etc. It only costs 2 Turkish lire for a 5 litre bottle at the shop over the road from our Istanbul Hotel, yet a 500ml bottle is 1.75lire. Buying it in restaurants (and if you want to drink water you have to buy it EVERYWHERE) it can cost as much as 4lire for a 500ml bottle, and 6lire for the 1.5litre bottle. (One Aussie dollar is worth 1.62 Turkish Lire or thereabouts.)

One thing I forgot to mention last time was about the Packs we got at The Gallipoli Service. EVERYONE who attended was issued with a cotton carry bag that had Gallipoli and Gelibolu (which is the Turkish name) and a motif made up of the Gallipoli Rose and a sprig of Rosemary. Inside, were two books setting out the...

On Monday 18th, I travelled up to London from Moreton in Dorset by train. I enjoyed the 2 and half hour trip immensely. The countryside is just so beautiful and it was a glorious day. I saw so many farmers in the fields, and so much is in flower it was a joy to see as we sped along. I stayed overnight with my friend Anne who has taken a flat in London in St Catherine Docks area. This is right beside the Tower bridge and across the road from The Tower of London. At her front door is City Quay with many pleasure boats and yachts moored in the basin. They have to use a lock to enter and leave as the height of the water in the Thames differs from that in the quays by up to 15metres at times. There were so many lovely restaurants around there I had a hard time choosing where I would have...