Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day really doesn't get much better than this Down Under. This is the view that greeted Garry and I at 7am this morning. We're staying at Saffire, an award-winning, 20-room resort nestled on the edge of Coles Bay, Tasmania. It's easy to see why this is considered one of Australia most picturesque locations.

Posted from my iPhone

Binalong Bay

Our first night in Tasmania was spent in Binalong Bay on the southern fringe of the Bay of Fires coast.  It really is as postcard perfect as these photos suggest.  It's also famous for it's red, lichen encrusted granite rocks.

 

The view from our cottage was simply stunning - even as a brief rain shower passed overhead. The following morning, we were greeted by dazzling sunshine and scene that simply blew our minds.

North-east Tasmania

Here are some tantalizing images of our first day in Tasmania.  Our day began with a 5am wake-up call on board the Spirit of Tasmania.  We drove directly to Launceston for a hearty breakfast at a popular local café, before heading east into the mountain ranges of northeast Tasmania.

Emotional breakdown

Our Tasmanian road trip was almost over before it began.  On Saturday morning, bright and early, we loaded our car with luggage, a picnic hamper and an eski.  Next stop, Crackenback, in the Snowy Mountains.  As we attempted to start the car an ominous electronic ignition failure light began glowing on the dashboard.  It was soon clear that we were going nowhere fast. 

Garry was devastated.  In recent months we've spent thousands on a major service, washed and vacuum every inch and saved Supermarket discount coupons by the fistful.  However, three hours later, after collecting a hire car, our fallback plan was in place.  Hertz were happy to give a brand new car with less than 800kms on the clock.

We finally made to our first night's accommodation about 5pm.  I'd booked a superb farmstay B&B ten minutes south of Jindabyne called the Crackenback Farm. When I booked the venue months ago a slew of professional images on its website seemed too good to be true.  We therefore pleasantly surprised to find the real thing every bit as impressive in real life.  Think upmarket rustic and you'll picture our first night on the road.

The following morning after a divine cooked breakfast we made our way south via the Alpine Way, and on to the Hume Highway.  Our boat was due to depart Port Melbourne at 9pm.  We wanted to arrive no later than 7pm.  We broke up the journey with several brief stops including a ride up the Kosciuszko Express chairlift at Thredbo, a wander through the Murray 1 power station visitor's centre and numerous scenic lookouts.

Our road trip is already proving highly educational.  During a brief stop by the shores of Lake Jindabyne we learnt that Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, was named by a Polish explorer, Paul Edmund Strzelecki.  He named it in honour of Poland's national hero, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko.  How do we know this?  A rather prominent statue stands proudly on the lake's foreshore gesturing out into the wild blue yonder.

We timed our arrival into Melbourne to perfection.  Less than 20 minutes after reaching the Port, boarding began, and much to our surprise, the Spirit of Tasmania departed 40 minutes ahead of schedule. We felt rather smug to be sailing away as the heavens opened, coating the receding city skyline in a dark, murky mist.

Waveboard weekend

 

My brother’s built a new house. His family moved in three weeks ago. They now live a new, booming sub-division at Papamoa, 12km south of Tauranga. Last week I was in Wellington on business. I took advantage of the relative proximity to fly north for the weekend.

I couldn’t have picked a better time to visit family. While Sydney was inundated by cold, wet and windy weather, both Wellington and the Bay of Plenty were enjoying gentle winds and lots of sunshine. While in Tauranga I enjoyed a walk around the base of Mount Maunganui and a BBQ at my brother’s new digs.

My nieces also took great delight in teaching me to wave board. In fact, I showed my age by professing complete ignorance as what a wave board was. I’ve certainly seen them around but had no idea what they were called. For the record, they’re a type of skateboard with a single wheel mounted front and back on a deck with a central pivot. Rhythmically wiggling the around its pivot deck propels the rider forward while maintaining their balance. It’s a lot like rollerblading while standing on one leg.

Going green

Sea lettuce is a naturally-occurring green algae that grows in coastal regions around the world. It grows in sheets that sometime resemble the leaves of butter lettuce. At least one rather stringy species is native to New Zealand where seasonal blooms can clog harbours and deposit thick, rotting mounds along pristine beaches.

Last weekend, while visiting my mother in Mount Maunganui, I found the main beach carpeted by fresh deposits of sea lettuce. I’d never seen such an extensive bloom before. At least a hundred metres of beach front had been inundated by a sea of green. Mum says these blooms have become more frequent in recent years. I vaguely recall small deposits along the shore as a child, but nothing as extensive as the sight the greeted me in the weekend.

Critics claim nutrient rich run-off from surrounding farmland is to blame. However, research reveals a surprisingly strong correlation between blooms and El Nino weather patterns. During an El Nino winds blow predominantly from the west. Persistent winds push warm coastal water along New Zealand’s east coast away from the land. Cooler, nutrient rich, deep ocean water rises in its place and blooms swiftly follow. These verdant reproductive bursts go unnoticed until stormy weather washes tones of green deposits along the shore and into sheltered bays.

Debate currently focuses on the impact of global warming on the frequency and strength of El Nino weather patterns. The phenomenon is a result of extensive warming of the Pacific Ocean’s surface along the South American coast. This heat sink draws the planet’s atmosphere away from Australia and New Zealand, creating warmers temperatures and drought conditions in these nations.

It’s shame to see the beauty of Mount Maunganui’s beaches desecrated by these blooms. Even more so as the Summer cruise ship season gets underway. Tourism is a regional growth industry and the city’s stunning beaches constantly surprise and delight visitors.

Delicious Melbourne

I was in Melbourne this week for work. The city was considerably cooler than Sydney. Sydney’s forecast for today predicts a high of 31C, while Melbourne will only reach 15C. Melbourne’s climate encourages a lifestyle reminiscent of our time in London. The cooler weather encourages a more diverse wardrobe. Melbourne residents are better dressed and retailers sell a wider variety of fashions. The city’s laneways also encourage a wonderful café culture.

The food scene in Melbourne is superb. This week I enjoyed conveyor delivered sushi at Sakura Kaiten Sushi. The dishes on offer rivaled those of a far more up-market restaurant. The quality and variety was impressive; delicious sashimi, tasty Takoyaki and elegantly presented nigiri sushi combinations.

I also had dinner one night with the Group Finance Director at Cecconi’s Cantina, a cozy Italian restaurant on Flinder’s Lane. The ingredients are always fresh and seasonal. We enjoyed some wonderful fresh pasta and risotto before retiring for a cocktail at RU CO bar in the Grand Hyatt.

Finally, I caught up with a old friend for a glass of wine at the Script Bar.  We reminisced about life in Europe and our plans for the future while soaking up the casual cafe atomsphere that Melbourne does so well.

Bushfire Season 2013

We woke to the following scene on Sunday morning.  A dull ash haze covered the city skyline and a smell of smoke was in the air.  Bushfire season has come early this year.  Four massive fires are currently sweeping through the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.  To date at least a hundred homes have been lost and one person suffered a fatal heart attack while fighting the fires.

Tomorrow's forecast is predicted to be a fire-fighter's worst nightmare.  Temperatures are expected to reach the high 30s, with very low humidity and winds gusting up to 100km/h.  They're already calling these New South Wales worst bushfires in more than a decade. We're in for a long, hot Summer with endless fire alerts.

Gyrate expectations

Ricky Martin burst onto the global music scene in February 1999.  He performed live on television at the 41^st Grammy Awards. His energy and rhythm stunned the crowd, earning him a long and loud standing ovation.  In the years since Ricky has sold more than 70 million albums, including 95 platinum records, 6 #1 Billboard albums and 11 Number 1 hit songs.

My parents and I saw Ricky perform live on Broadway in September last year. At the time he was playing the role of Ché in Evita.  His performance was solid but not exactly breath-taking.  However, the audience gave him a rousing ovation which left me feeling rather sorry for the actress who’d played the production’s namesake role.

Earlier this year Ricky signed on as a judge for a local version of The Voice reality television show.  He was instantly popular with the Australian public. It was therefore no surprise when he announced plans for a national nine-date concert tour. Garry and I fell for the bait.  We attended his is second sellout Sydney concert at Olympic Park on Saturday.

We had a great night out despite a nightmare 90-minute commute into a Homebush parking lot.  The concert sound stage included an impressive floor to ceiling video wall and plenty of agile dancers.  However, I’d have to say that Ricky’s showing his age.  His signature swiveling hips looked stiff and often out of sync.  Gone were the astonishing gyrations that captured the imagination of a global Grammy audience. It seems that none of us stay young forever.

The smuggler's curse

I'm guilty as charged.  Last month I failed to declare four jars of Marmite as we came through customs at Sydney airport.  It was an honest mistake.  I'd forgotten that Garry and I had made a last minute purchase in Auckland.  As luck would have it our luggage wasn't searched. 

However, it was one heck of shock to discover the hidden booty as I opened my suitcase. Television reality shows are forever broadcasting stories of reckless passengers who fail to declare food products at the airport.  These omissions can result in an on-the-spot fine of $340; which is considerly more than the shelf price of my four Marmite jars.

In recent months, I'd grown dispondent that Sanitarium Marmite would never reappear on Australian shelves.  Week after week I'd diligently check our local supermarket for a delivery. The shelf remained resolutely empty.  Production of this breakfast elixir restarted more than six months ago in New Zealand.  You'd think that was plenty of time to restock Kiwi shelves and send a few boxes across the Tasman.

It was therefore somewhat ironic when Marmite reappeared on local shelves the day after our return from New Zealand.  Garry had a little chuckle when he spotted the jars in stock.  We'd driven out of our way to collect our Auckland stash and here they were in Sydney less than 48 hours later.  Smuggling clearly doesn't pay.

Four figures and counting

A recent burst of Japanese vacation posts saw this blog clock up its 1000th post.  I must say I'm rather proud of this milestone.  I never imagined for a moment that I'd still be maintaining the site almost eight years later.  It's become a remarkable diary of some truly incredible life experiences.   I'd clocked up more 20,000 visitors before the free counter I'd installed was suddenly discontinued last year.  If you've been reading diligently from the those early days I thank you for your loyalty.

Tokyo Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree Tower rises a staggering 634 metres (2,080 ft). It’s currently the world’s second tallest structure, only surpassed in height by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. It’s also the world’s tallest tower, exceeding the height of Toronto’s CN Tower and Guangzhou’s Canton Tower. Skytree has observation decks at 350 m (1,150 ft) and 451 m (1,480 ft). 

You first take the lift up 350 metres to Tembo Deck, which runs around the building and is encased in five-metre-high windows. Then continue to Tembo Galleria, where an internal spiral ramp encircles the tower. The ramp rises from the lift lobby another 20 metres or so, taking you to a final height of 451 metres.

Skytree was built to relay digital television and radio signals across the Tokyo metropolitan area. It replaced the region’s previous transmission tower, Tokyo Tower, as its signals became increasingly compromised by high-rise buildings in the same area. I vividly recall my first visit to the base of Tokyo Tower. It’s a wonderful structure, whose elegant design was inspired by the Eiffel Tower. However, it was clear at the time that the tower was overshadowed by many of its neighbours. 

Skytree has no such problem. It stands alone, well clear of any tall structure, less than a kilometre from the Sumida River. Since its opening in May 2012, the tower has become a popular tourist attraction. Media reports claim an incredible 1.6 million people visited Skytree during its first week. More than a year later, tickets to the tower’s main observation deck still sell out on public holidays and many weekends.

As many readers will know, I’m an avid civil engineering fan. Therefore, it goes without saying that I was keen to see the tower for myself. The opportunity to do so came during my recent Japanese vacation. I had a full day to fill before my mother’s flight arrived from Auckland. As a frequent traveler to Tokyo, I’d seen most of the city’s classic tourist venues so Skytree was an obvious place to go.

Getting there is a bit of an exercise. Skytree sits on a private railway line. This means that most visitors must make numerous interchanges to reach it by train. However, the inconvenient transit was worth the effort. Skytree is spectacular. It’s an incredibly sturdy looking structure. The lifts are ear-poppingly fast.  

At 450 metres the view is simply mind-boggling. You feel as though you’re flying over the surrounding area, with an unimpeded view of the vast Tokyo metropolitan region. It’s difficult to convey in words what it’s like to look dozens of kilometres in any direction and see nothing but a vast sea of buildings.

Japan in 15 posts or less

I added the last missing link to the summary page that captures the recent Japanese vacation Mum and I enjoyed.  You can access every post from the list displayed here.  Alternatively, start here and click forward using the "Newer Post" link to enjoy posts on our journey as it occurred.

Lunch on the harbour

Garry and I celebrated a slew of September birthdays last Sunday with lunch at Fort Denison It was perfect day on the harbour; a gentle breeze, blue skies and the Sydney skyline forming an eternally stunning backdrop.

Garry’s parents, Murray and Rhonda, joined us as they’ve both had birthdays in recent weeks, as have I. Garry’s nephew, Adam, also joined us as he’s spending the school holidays with Murray and Rhonda.

We had a wonderful day. As we enjoyed gourmet oysters, fish and chips and kangaroo loin; tall ships, racing yachts and city ferries glided by. Fort Denison isn’t the cheapest lunch venue, however, on warm and sunny day the experience is simply priceless.

The Big Seven Zero

We've just returned from an eventful weekend in New Zealand.  We flew out on Friday night to join my family in celebration of my mother's 70th birthday.  My brother Hamish worked feverishly to arrange a memorable lunch at Mills Reef Winery.  He booked a private room for our 30+ guests and arranged a feast fit for royalty. 

My brother Matt organised the birthday cake.  Although on this occasion the cake was replaced by a display of truly dazzling cupcakes.  They were the talk of the party.  The afternoon was filled with laughter, memories and family fun.

Unfortunately, the story on everyone's lips at lunch had little to do with Mum's seven decades.  In a truly unexplainable moment of stupidity, the previous night I'd collected the wrong bag from the carousel at Auckland airport.  I discovered the error shortly after midnight, almost two hours south of Auckland, in a McDonald's carpark. 

As a result, I spent the next 36 hours returning the misappropriated bag while chasing down my own.  My bag was finally delivered to Tauranga airport on Sunday afternoon, a mere two hours before Garry and I headed back to Auckland.  Saturday morning was also a blur as I scurried off to the nearest mall to buy an entire smart-casual wardrobe before the birthday lunch kicked off at 11:30am.