Simple Treasures Yellow treasure flowers (Gazania rigens) bring cheery brightness into any day; they might be native to Africa, but they are perfectly at home in the sandy soils at the ocean’s edge in South Australia.
It is easy to hit over-load while travelling: too many wonderful sights, engaging activities, interesting people, and novel tastes and smells… This can be especially the case after spending time in an environment so sublime that it transports you, producing a nature-induced “peak experience”.
We had just driven the length of Australia’s Great Ocean Road, a drive through scenery so magnificent that it rates its own UNESCO World Heritage listing. Anything after that was bound to be anti-climactic!
But, we still had 620-720 kilometres – depending on the route we chose – to drive to Adelaide. So, with some trip-notes printed from the internet in hand, we took a deep breath, left the Great Ocean Road behind us, and pointed the car northwest.
South Beach and Pea Soup Cove, Port Fairy The Great Ocean Road slipped away with no fanfare; by the time we reached the charming seaside town of Port Fairy, it was already half an hour behind us. Our first brief stop was for a breath of salt air overlooking the pounding turquoise waters.
Seagull, Port Fairy It was late afternoon, with a tearing wind, as we watched the gulls swoop on the drafts.
Windmills I couldn’t resist an iPhone snap out the window as we headed northwest across a golden rural landscape, replete with windmills. (iPhone 4S)
The Umpherston Sinkhole Early next morning in Mount Gambier, South Australia’s second largest city, we took the time to explore some of the local attractions. Sitting on the side of the volcano of the same name, Mount Gambier boasts craters, sinkholes and caves. This one, the Umpherston Sinkhole, is a collapsed limestone cave that was first landscaped and planted by James Umpherston in 1886.
Sheoak (Casuarina) Overhead The sinkhole garden is planted in layers, with trees overhead…
Young Grape Leaf … foliage and flowers around the upper rim…
Ivy … and thick curtains of ivy tumbling down the sides.
The Umpherston Sinkhole The shadowed gardens at the bottom of the sinkhole include a fountain, slow-growing tree-ferns and colourful hydrangeas.
Blue Lake One of Mount Gambier’s most popular attractions is Blue Lake, the extinct crater, filled with high-quality artesian drinking water. We were lucky: the colour of the lake changes with the seasons, being a steel grey in winter. Sometime in early November each year, it changes – almost overnight – to the spectacular cobalt blue we were treated to. Late February the colour gradually returns to its winter grey.
“Waawor” The 3.6 kilometre walking circuit around Blue Lake – Waawor in the indigenous Boandik language – includes information signs and viewing points.
Blue Lake Not yet noon, the day was already crackling with heat. Some of the foliage around the lake was clearly suffering from the recent dearth of rainfall and unusually high temperatures. The city of Mount Gambier can just be seen on the horizon.
Purple Flower The hot, dry air hummed with insects and birdsong.
Flowering Trees The hot air was also filled with the delicate scents of the native blooms.
Cactus Garden A local group of cactus enthusiasts maintain a fenced and gated private garden of large cacti.
Rook Wall and Lookout At the tail end of WWI, the Mount Gambier District Progress Association came up with a plan to do something for the town. Thanks to 1100 local volunteers (800 men and 300 women), in only one day the dolomite and limestone wall and lookout were predominantly finished. The feature was named for Mr. Arthur Rook, local publican and chair of the planning committee, who died prematurely from the Spanish flu in 1919.
The Pumping Station The old Pumping Station, built from cream and pink dolomite in 1884, and extended in 1909, nestles across the Riddoch Highway from the Rook Wall.
Beachport Surf Beach Our next stop was just east of the coastal town of Beachport to marvel at the colours and the expanse of empty beach.
Beachport Surf Beach The surf beach, stretching in both directions, was almost deserted.
Beachport Jetty Beachport is widely known for the long Beachport jetty; a steel screw pile jetty built between 1878-1882.
The Jetty Originally 1220 meters long, the jetty still extends 772 meters into Rivoli Bay, making it visible on the horizon, even from a distance.
Whaling Monument On the north side of Beachport is a cairn commemorating the area’s first white settlement: a whaling station established here in 1843.
Echidna As we continued along the Southern Ports Highway, we had to stop the car to let a spiny anteater waddle across the road. I was prevented from taking a great shot by: 1) the speed at which the little creature moved, and 2) the searing heat of the pavement on my bare feet!
Customs House, Robe The coastal town of Robe was declared an official port in 1847, shipping wool and receiving boatloads of Chinese immigrants heading to the Victorian goldfields. The Customs House was built in 1863 and was managed for many years by pioneering shipping agent George Omerod.
The Coorong Our last, late afternoon stop before hitting the highways into Adelaide, was overlooking The Coorong: a string of saltwater lagoons at the mouth of the River Murray. Shielded from the Southern Ocean by the Younghusband Peninsula, the area has international importance as a wetland, as well as deep cultural significance to the local Ngarrindjeri people. It was hot – breathtakingly hot – and the brackish smell that spoke of salt-water organisms dying, was overwhelming.
We could have spent days at each of our brief stops. What a fascinating, beautiful stretch of road, rich in scenery and history.
One day, we’ll be back – with the time to explore properly!
Sumatran School Child A group of school children were on an excursion to the crocodile farm at Asam Kumbang near Medan, where we made our first road stop of the day.
Some time ago – last April, to be exact – I wrote about the breathtakingly awesome experience of meeting Sumatranorangutans in their wild jungle habitat (Ursula’s Weekly Wanders: Meet the Locals). Truly, it was a memorable encounter – one not easily matched.
It was hard to leave the Gunung Leuser National Park, but our itinerary called for us to move on. And, much of the overall impression of any trip comes from the smaller things: the insights into day-to-day life, the “ordinary” landscapes, and the people you meet along the way, as you travel from one place to another (q.v. Ursula’s Weekly Wanders: Medan to Bukit Lawang).
We were driven by car from Bukit Lawang back to Medan,and then on to Berastagi in the foothills of the Barisan Mountains: three hours according to Google Maps; closer to twice that according to my trip notes.
Taman Buaya: Crocodile Farm Our first road stop was at Indonesia’s largest private crocodile farm near Medan. The crocodiles bred here can not be exported or sold, so the owner must feed them from the entrance fee. This probably accounts for the crowded and run-down nature of the place.
Sumatran School Children A couple of classes of school children were at the “farm” when we visited. With her pen and notebook in hand, a schoolgirl climbs up on a vantage point to better see the crocodiles in the swamp.
Schoolgirls Her smiling friends below wait their turns to climb up to the fence.
Crocodiles in the Swamp In the swamp, the crocodiles are almost invisible, …
Crocodiles in the Swamp … hidden by the algae until they lift their heads.
Sumatran School Girl A young girl sits in front of the fence around the swamp.
School Children at Lunch More girls, in their school uniforms, sit in some shade eating their lunch.
School Boys at Lunch In another corner of the hot, concrete yard, the boys find a patch of shade for their break.
Sumatran Baby After the crocodile farm, we drove back to Medan, where we took our coffee break in the home of our local guide, …
North Sumatran Baby and Dad … and met his young son.
Santa Maria Annai Velanghanni Our next stop was at Santa Maria Annai Velanghanni. Built in 2005 in Indo-Mogul style, this extraordinary building is a Catholic temple.
“Our Lady of Good Health” The shrine is a devotion to Mary, who was said to have appeared in the 17th century in Velanghanni, Tamil Nadu.
Medicinal Bats? We then stopped briefly at the side of the road where bats were being kept – reputedly as medicine for asthma.
Woman with Cinnamon Bark Our last stop was at a mixed small farm holding, where cinnamon, from the bark of the cinnamomum burmannii tree, was one of the products being harvested.
Shaving Cinnamon An inherently sustainable crop, cinnamon trees grow easily, …
Shaving Cinnamon …albeit slowly, and can be intercropped with other plants.
Young Coffee North Sumatra has the perfect soil for Arabica coffee. Most of it, too, is grown by smallholders.
Cocoa for the Picking One of Indonesia’s most important agricultural export crops: cocoa, is another product predominantly grown by smallholder farmers.
Dried Cocoa With rumours of an impending shortage, cocoa is a lucrative crop.
Spilt Cocoa Ironically, the government’s attempt to promote value-added processing industries by taxing the export of cocoa beans puts pressure on small growers.
Pineapple The beauty of cinnamon, coffee and cocoa – unlike the rubber and palm oil mono-plantations that are threatening the local orang-utan habitats – …
Cassava or Tapioca … is that these basic food crops can be mixed in with cash-crops.
Gruyères Castle Courtyard The medieval castle that comprises the old town of Gruyères, in the upper valley of the Saane River, is a popular Swiss tourist spot.
A castle, cheese, wine and chocolate: what’s not to love about Gruyères?
We were meant to be hiking around Leysin in the Swiss Alps, but it was raining, and had been for days. We went through the guide books and asked locals about alternative amusements (q.v.: A Trip to the Salt Mines). The medieval town of Gruyères was three train-hops away from our accommodation; so, with our Swiss Rail Passes and our umbrellas in hand, we set off to visit the home of the well-known cheese.
Three trains (Leysin-Aigle, Aigle-Montreux, and the seasonal “Chocolate Train”: Montreux-Gruyères) and two-plus hours later, we arrived in Gruyères. It was still raining.
Gruyères is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, which usually makes my task easier – as my patchy French is better than my fledgeling German. According to the books, the Gruyères train – dubbed The Swiss Chocolate Train – would also take us to Broc, home to the Maison Cailler, a chocolate factory which offers tours. Unfortunately, the attendant at the Gruyères railway station was less than helpful – in any language! We watched him give short-shrift to some Indian visitors who spoke impeccable English, before getting no help from him in French or English ourselves. Travel is not without its moments of uncertainty.
So, we decided to hedge our bets, and walked up to the Château de Gruyères before travelling further.
Up to the Castle After our three trains, we had a fifteen minute walk up to the Château de Gruyères.
Through the Castle Wall Built between 1270 and 1282, Gruyères Castle is one of the most important medieval cities in Switzerland.
Young Lovers What could be more romantic than a stolen kiss on a medieval battlement wall?
Inside the Castle Walls The castle was bought back by the canton of Fribourg in 1938, and is currently maintained by The Gruyères Castle’s Friends.
In the Entry Wherever there are tourists, you will wait a while for a clear shot! 😉
The City Crest The crane (“grue” in French) in the crest gives Gruyères its name.
Castle Courtyard We were pleased to discover the range of shops, museums and restaurants inside the castle walls.
Jesus over the Doorway In the centre of the castle courtyard, an old chapel …
Egg Painter … now houses artisans working, …
Turkey Eggs … and crafts for sale.
Museum HR Giger Since 1998, Château St Germain has housed the official museum of Hans Rudolf Giger, the surrealist Swiss artist responsible for the Academy Award winning design work on the movie Alien.
St.Theodul Church Looking outside the walls of Château St Germain, one of the two castles in Gruyères.
Le Château de Gruyères Looking up at one castle – Château de Gruyères – from another – Château St. Germain.
Wall Plaque Giant metal plaques decorate the entrance to Castle of Gruyères; this one is on the left wall.
Old Armour Gruyères Castle contains many old artefacts and has been refurbished as a museum.
The Garden A formally sculpted French garden is maintained behind the château.
Paintings Gruyères Castle hosts regularly-changing exhibitions by modern artists.
Put me in a Swatch It wouldn’t be a Swiss town without a Swiss watch shop!
Fait à la Main Finely woven linen, with delicate pulled-thread-work decoration, is on display in another shop.
Walkway to Gruyères After a lunch that mainly consisted of – you guessed it – cheese, we walked down to the new town. Visitors were still walking up to the castle through the mist and rain.
La Maison du Gruyère “The House of Cheese” beckons through the wet…
Watching Cheese Making Safely inside, we head to the upstairs viewing area where wall plaques and audio-guides explain all about making the famous Gruyère cheese.
Factory Floor We watch as the milk churns in giant vats.
Cailler-Nestlé Reflections Somewhat optimistically, given the lateness (and wetness) of the afternoon, and the fact that it was school holidays, we jumped back on the train and headed up the tracks to Broc. A helpful sign told us there was a two and a half hour wait for tours. We opted for some chocolate-shopping and a stop in the Café instead.
Broc Station Heading back down the line, I had time to reflect again on the charm of these small village railway stations…
“La Gruyère” … and on the comfort and efficiency of the Swiss trains. For while we had not indulged in the First-Class Pullman train – complete with tour guide and croissants – we’d had an enjoyable day.
Not even the incessant rain, or the impossible wait for the chocolate factory, or the grumpy Station Master – who was still working in the Gruyères station when we passed through in the evening – could ruin our day.
For we had bags full of cheese and chocolate, bellies full of wine and photo cards full of images.
[…] mostly travelled down the hill, rather than up, to try to escape the wet mountain weather (see: Castles, Cheese and Chocolate; The Salt Mines; Lake Geneva’s Medieval […]ReplyCancel
[…] Balade Des Fontaines, Aigle; Château de Chillon; Schaffhausen and Neuhausen am Rheinfall; Gruyères; The Salt Mines of Bex; Leysin; Lucerne; […]ReplyCancel
Qutb Minar Look up! India’s 2nd tallest minaret rises 73 metres into the air. (24January2010)
It is pretty impressive: the world’s tallest brick minaret, set in a complex of archaeological ruins dating back to 1193 AD, on a site that is much older than that. The stories behind it are quite something as well.
Qutb Minar, sometimes spelled Qutubor Qutab, was started in 1192 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi and ruler of North India from 1206 to 1210 AD.
Some say Qutb Minar was intended as a minaret for the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. Others, however, argue that it is a Victory Tower: commemorating the conquest of Mohammed Ghori (Muhammad Ghari) over the Rajputs and celebrating the beginning of Muslim rule in India.
Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the man responsible for having the Qutb Minar built, was born to a Turkish family in Central Asia. Sold as a slave in his childhood, he was lucky that his owners were powerful mentors: the first was a Qazi, a sharia judge, and the next was a Sultan – ruling over Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India.
Educated by his first owner, Qutb-ud-din Aibak became a fanatical Muslim. In 1192, under the command of his later owner Mohammed Ghori, Qutb’s garrison occupied Delhi. The young military commander ordered the destruction of twenty-seven Hindu and Jain temples to supply building materials for the construction of Quwwat-ul-Islam (“Might and Glory of Islam”), Delhi’s first mosque. He also started work on the red sandstone and marble tower.
Qutb crowned himself Sultan of the MamlūkDynasty after Mohammed Ghori’s assasination in 1206. Unfortunately, he only ruled four years – dying after impaling himself on the pommel of his own saddle while playing polo. The completion of the giant minaret was left to his successors, who added stories, renovated and repaired damage.
Although the magnificent tower is dedicated to a famous Sufi saint, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, it is commonly believed that the name, Qutb Minar, is in honour of Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibakwho had it built.
In 1993 the whole archaeological site around the minar, including funerary buildings and the remains of two mosques, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entrance/Exit A beautiful arched gateway gives an indication of the delicate sandstone carving that is found within the complex. (12April2008)
Rose Ringed Parakeets The Mughal Garden and Mughal Mosque are next to the entrance. (24January2010)
Five-Striped Palm Squirrel Once inside the walled Mughal Garden, it is like being in a lost, wild world. (24January2010)
Path to Qutb Minar and Alai Darwaza(2008April12)
Qutb Minar (24January2010)
Alai Darwaza The beautiful domed Alai gate into the mosque complex was erected in 1311 by Alauddin Khalji. The red sandstone structure is decorated with stunning Turkic features made of white marble inlay. (12April2008)
Calligraphy Detail The red sandstone of the Qutb is richly inscribed with Arabic calligraphy. (24January2010)
Young Couple Surfaces everywhere are ornately decorated. (04November 2013)
Great Arch Ruined arches surround the old walls of the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque. (12April2008)
Carved Colonades Worn columns around the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque include Hindu motifs, remnants from the temples they were pillaged from. (04November2013)
Alai Minar Sultan Alauddin Khilji, who expanded the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, started a second minar, intended to be twice the size of Qutb Minar. He died, however, before the structure rose above the first story. All that remains is a giant rubble masonry core. (24January2010)
Brick Layer The Qutb Minarcomplex requires a fair bit of maintenance. (07April2010)
Brick Layer’s Apprentice On one of our visits, extensive renovations were taking place. (07April2010)
Brick Layer He needs to work fast – the searing heat dries the mortar quickly. (07April2010)
Female Labourer The ring on her head helps her balance the slabs of rocks she must carry. (07April2010)
“Bring your Children to Work” Labourers don’t have access to childcare: children look after each other, while their mums work nearby. (07April2010)
Who could resist that solemn gaze? (07April2010)
Sandstone Detail The housing around Iltutmish’s Tomb is finely carved. (07April2010)
Iltutmish’s Tomb The beautifully carved white marble cenotaph of Iltutmish, the second “Slave Dynasty” Sultan of Delhi (r. 1211–1236 AD) is an important feature within the Qutb complex. (04November 2013)
Photographer in Situ On one of my visits, an Indian woman was sitting outside Iltutmish’s Tomb taking visitors’ pictures with their own cameras. (24January2010)
Indian Woman She was equally happy to have her picture taken – for a tip! (24January2010)
At the Back of the Ruins (04November 2013)
Qutb from the Back Doorways and arches … (24January2010)
Qutb from the Back … make the complex fun to explore. (24January2010)
Security Guard A guard finds a shady spot from which to watch the site… (24January2010)
The Girls … while young women on a day out clamour to have their picture taken. (24January2010)
Young Couple The Qutb Minar site is a popular destination for Delhi residents. This young couple was celebrating a birthday. They even offered me some of the cake they had brought with them! (07April2010)
Imagine: from lowly slave to Sultan and ruler over vast territory, leaving behind buildings still celebrated over 800 years later. Qutb-ud-din Aibak was the founder of a dynasty – albeit a short-lived one (1206 to 1290) – that ruled Delhi and northern India, Nepal, and part of Pakistan.
As hard as it might be to conceive of today, apparently this was not an uncommon practice in early Muslim societies. From the 9th century, Mamlūks (Arabic for “owned” or “property”) were soldiers of slave origin who had converted to Islam. By the 13th century, these Mamluks held political and military power across the region.
Even so, it is an impressive legacy he leaves behind: in stone – and in stories.
Until next time!
Pictures: 12April2008, 24January2010, 07April2010 and 04November 2013
Flag over the Stuart Channel A flag flaps wildly as a sailboat motors through the protected waters of British Columbia’s Southern Gulf Islands.
“Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.”
-Brooks Atkinson
There are those who sail just for sailing’s sake: for the feel of the wind, the rush of the waves, and the challenge of managing a boat and the elements. As much as I enjoy the physical activity of sailing, I also love it as a means to an end: as a way of being part of the natural environment, and as a way of visiting new locations.
“Travel” takes on a whole new dimension when you are at the helm of a boat on the water. There is a real feeling of freedom that comes with a good day’s sailing: the joy of slicing through the waters towards places that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Of course, in a sailboat, access to those destinations is dependent on the the whims of the winds, the turn of the tides and the sailor’s own abilities. My husband and I get out onto the water whenever we are able, which, unfortunately, is not often enough to make us very good sailors. But, when the opportunity presented to travel with another boat through the tricky Dodd Narrows into the Southern Gulf Islands, we jumped at it. What we lack in skill, we make up in enthusiasm.
We had already been out sailing several days on Graystone, a comfortable 38-foot Hughes (On the Straits and Narrows (Part 1)), so we had our sea legs. Even so, traversing the 60-metre-wide Dodd Narrows had me nervous. Timing is everything: in a sailboat, the Narrows can only be safely crossed under motor and around slack tide. The currents run between 6 and 10 knots, with rips and eddies even during the short slack tide: that six-minute interval, four times a day, when the tide pauses briefly before changing direction.
So, even with careful planning, I was happy to have more-seasoned sailors in a companion boat to keep an eye on us – and to join us in exploring new landfalls.
Into the Narrows The crossing through Dodd Narrows has to be planned carefully to coincide with slack tides.
Sails and Mountains Once through the challenging rips of Dodd Narrows, you are in amongst the Southern Gulf Islands; the potential for exploration is almost limitless.
Thetis Island, a sheltered little gem (2,560 acres ~ 4 sq. miles) across the Stuart Channel from the community of Chemainus on Vancouver Island, is one of those places only accessible by water: seaplane, scheduled ferry, or your own boat.
First Nations people have lived around the area for 8000 years, and Europeans have been settled on the island since the late 1800s. Today, the population stands at 350 people: mostly engaged in managing holiday rentals and Christian church camps. The one-room elementary school has room for up to 50 young children; older students make the daily ferry trips to Vancouver Island. Classified as an “unincorporated community”, the island has no public lands and is self-managed through a special “Islands Trust” administration.
As small as the island is, it’s sheltered location makes it popular with boats cruising in the Gulf Islands. There are two privately-operated marinas. We booked our boats into the smaller of the two, at Telegraph Cove.
Telegraph Harbour Marina The sun lowers in the sky as we settle into our moorings at Telegraph Harbour Marina on Thetis Island.
Shallow Waters The waters around our mooring at Telegraph Bay on Thetis Island are green, shallow, and surrounded by trees.
Night Fisherman We were amused to find an old Asian night fisherman guarding the Telegraph Bay Marina shopfront.
Pennants Flags from yacht clubs around the world decorate the rafters of the barbecue shelter at the Telegraph Harbour Marina.
Jellyfish Like eggs with tentacles, jellyfish float in the waters of Telegraph Harbour.
Dinghy Our travel companions explore the waters of Telegraph Harbour.
Rocky Point The shoreline around Telegraph Harbour is rocky and uneven.
Wildflowers Thetis Island lies in a rain shadow, giving it a mild, relatively dry, climate.
Maple Bay Marina We spend our second night moored at Maple Bay, Duncan, on Vancouver Island. In the morning the light on the waters is stunning.
Towards Crofton Against the backdrop of Vancouver Island, the Crofton Pulp Mill stands out as one of the few examples of industry.
No Wind! It’s slow motoring when the winds won’t blow…
Sheltered from Georgia Strait by the much large Valdes and Gabriola Islands, DeCourcy Island (about 460 acres) feels miles away from the “real world”.
Not only does the island have no ferry service – access is by boat or float-plane only – the only marina is restricted for residents (most of whom are weekenders or holiday stays) only. Property advertisers tout the “Off the Grid Island Life”: the few available house lots need to organise and maintain their own power, water and septic services.
We dropped anchor in the calm waters of the bay at the south end of the island, right next to the 76-acre Pirates Cove Marine Provincial Park.
Anchoring at DeCourcy In the sheltered bay at the south end of DeCourcy Island, we drop anchor for lunch on the boat, …
Dinghy on DeCourcy … then take a dinghy ashore for a walk …
Harbour on DeCourcy … along Pylades Trail, where we have views down over the harbour.
Natures Abstracts: Curling Arbutus Bark
Pine Cones
Grasses The bright afternoon sun glints through the grasses on the hill.
Sailboat From the trail we watch another boat motoring into the south harbour at DeCourcy.
Treasure Chest In order to live up to it’s name: Pirates Cove Marine Provincial Park, a treasure chest full of plastic beads and fake gems sits on the point, not far from the warning beacon and overlooking the boats in the residents-only marina.
Brother XII Trail Brother XII, born as Edward Arthur Wilson in Britain in 1878, was a self-proclaimed mystic and founder of the Aquarian Foundation, a spiritual group – or cult. With money from his many followers, he bought tracts of land on DeCourcy and nearby islands to build a self-sufficient community. Before long, cracks in the planned Utopian lifestyle lead to a series of sensational court battles. He is said to have fled to Switzerland with the Foundation’s money.
Still Waters As we make our way back to the harbour, the still waters of DeCourcy are a sharp contrast to the Dodd Narrows which we must face again – this time travelling north.
Tugboat and Log Boom We sit at the south end of Dodd Narrows, glued to our radios. Working tug boats with their massive log booms get right-of-way, so we wait for our turn.
Log Boom The massive logs are chained together, but you don’t want to get too close – and you really don’t want to meet a log that has broken free!
Twilight Daylight is fading as we chug north through Newcastle Island Passage to Nanaimo.
Nightfall
On the way back to our mooring, we learn the truth of another sailing axiom attributed to Francis Stokes: “The sea finds out everything you did wrong.”
For, it turned out our running lights were not working. Like an old-fashioned figurehead, or Kate Winslet in the Titanic, I stood at the prow of the boat with a flashlight, making sweeps across the dark waters in front of us, tying to see and be seen. Even at night Newcastle Island Passage is busy with tugs, fishing boats and the massive BC Ferries.
It was with a relieved sigh we found our “home” berth and tied up safely, had a quick drink at the local pub, and reflected on another great sail – and some great landfalls.
- Performing the Ganga Aarti from Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi
- Buddha Head from Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar
- Harry Clarke Window from Dingle, Ireland
- Novice Monk Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, Myanmar
Packets of 10 for $AU50.
Or - pick any photo from my Flickr or Wanders blog photos.
We could have spent days at each of our brief stops. What a fascinating, beautiful stretch of road, rich in scenery and history.
Cinnamon. Coffee. Cocoa.
It was with a relieved sigh we found our “home” berth and tied up safely, had a quick drink at the local pub, and reflected on another great sail – and some great landfalls.
