Monthly Archives: March 2007

Places

Canberra

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I felt cold when I landed in Canberra as the local temperature was only 23 degrees Celsius – compared to Brisbane with its low 40s.

This city has a lot of nice real restaurants. I had a nice dinner with redshift at the Gus’ cafe where I opted for Pumpkin and Lentil croquette with a fresh watermelon juice: awesome.

I stayed at the YHA where the people I shared the room with were working in Canberra so it seems that finding a place to live is somewhat difficult.

I left for a full day cycling to the NASA Deep Space Center via the Mount Stromlo’s observatory. The beginning of this 100 km return trip was almost flat and easy, until I cycled so fast (10 km in 10 minutes) that I would have to pay for it; which was right as my rental mountain bike was stuck at 5 km/h on the bitumen going up for an hour. It was worth the effort! On the way, the stigmata from 2003 are still visible, when the bush fires around Canberra turned very badly and was on the news headlines in Europe.

Trees on Mount Stromlo Mount Stromlo observatory
Swimming conditions sign Stop here on red signal sign
Rental bicycle, about half way to the NASA Deep Space Center Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
Instructions near Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Old antenna

Walking in Canberra is nice but it was the only place in Australia where I managed to get lost, fortunately never for a long time! The sunset was enjoyable in the park nearby the war memorial with a picturesque view shared with plenty of wallabies!

Sunset near Canberra Shade
Thomas Cook Memorial Sunset over Telstra Tower

Inside the Canberra Centre, a brand new Apple store and offered me a piece of chocolate cake!

On the last day, I left to Sydney by coach where I transferred to the Blue Mountains by train.

Places

Brisbane

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My impression about Brisbane, capital of Queensland, was pleasant and nice even though it was very hot. For the first time, I changed my mind about cycling somewhere over the mountain nearby because of the heat so I walked instead. Now I understand the people from Brisbane I met in Tasmania who wanted to stay away from the heat.

The city used to be a huge cowboy town with a serious lack of culture (at least that’s what I’ve heard about it), so they decided in invest in culture. With all these museums, galleries and other stuff (I like this word as it can fit almost anywhere), it seems that Brisbane increased the average Australian’s culture by about two hundred percent.

The South Bank is a great place to chill out, to walk, to look thoughtfully around or to enjoy a swim; especially at night with the amazing lights.

And of course, I went to the botanic gardens and spent some time looking at the mangroves and a massive ficus benjamina.

I wish I had more time to visit Brisbane, but it was only a stopover between the Whitsunday coast and the Australian Capital Territory, so it seems that I will have to come again.

Balls Brisbane CBD
Trees Trunk
Weird branches Ice Tea

And the mangrove:
Mangrove mangrove tree

City roos Kangaroo and Queensland bottle tree:
City roos Kangaroo

Places

(in)competent crew!

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I got my boating and sailing passport filled and I am officially a competent crew. This means I am now a real beginner and I hope I will always consider myself as it; whatever experience I will acquire. Many thanks to Willo for the course and those great tips!

We had almost no wind during these days so it was very easy to sail (3 to 5 knots) compared to the introduction course.

Also, the world is so strange: some parts of Hook Island in the Whitsunday somewhat reminded me Norway.

I celebrated this success in Airlie beach lagoon! I want to sail to the islands now 🙂

boat Blue rocks on Hook Island
BBQ onboard Hook Island
Clip overboard Airlie Beach lagoon

Places

Mackay

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I stopped in Mackay for a day and did not find it especially exciting; most people seem to do a stop-over on their way as I did.

Surrounded by those typical tyre repair stores found in general in bigger cities’ suburbs, the centre is about one block and a half where it is difficult to find any food after 7:00 PM.

The botanic gardens are recent and some parts still under construction; also they are very close to the highway from Darwin to Cairns. Since I visited Rockhampton’s gardens first, I guess it’s normal to be somewhat disappointed with these, so let’s give them a few years to grow and absorb urban noise.

At least the weather and the pool at the motel were enjoyable.