Australia - The Lucky Country

As I start to write up my many, many experiences in Australia - The Lucky Country, I will be happy to relive the wonderful variety and enjoyable holidays I have had over the years. I have no idea how many times I have visited this expansive country. 30, 40 50 ........I lost count long ago.I'll be recording much of interest, tips, recommendations, must see's at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/guide-to-australia.html

I first visited in 1969, when I travelled by bus between destinations. Starting in Sydney, my cousin and I caught a bus to Brisbane........then a run down backwater......now a lovely town where the historic buildings have taken on a new lease of life, and the South Bank Park has created a great place for a day out.

Back to Sydney, down via Canberra to Melbourne.

Here we were fortunate to stay with friends and got to see much of Melbourne including some of the outer areas. Beaches at Frankston and Lorne, Mornington Peninsula and Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.

Back on the bus we headed for Adelaide. Here we were taken out and about by work mates of our hosts in Melbourne, so we saw Port Victor and the Adelaide Hills area.These were all places we probably would have missed, as we had a limited budget and no transport other than bus.

We took the return routes inland, so covered quite a bit of territory.

I have since revisited most of these places, and visited many more.

Cairns is a wonderful tropical place I am keen to revisit. We loved Port Macquarie when we had a week there last year.........see http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/camel-ride-on-lighthouse-beach.html

Western Australia is home to both my sister in Perth and my brother in Albany, yet I had not visited until last year. They are both beautiful cities, and Margaret River, is a wonderful holiday spot, in between.

The Great Ocean Road drive a couple of years ago took me back to Adelaide and Port Victor........ I barely recognised it.While my husband was there for a conference, we made the most of our time to visit the many wine areas......Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Harnsdorf,but have yet to get to the Clare Valley. Whale watching from the shores at Port Victor were a highlight.

The road and coast has to be surely one of the most beautiful in Australia, with the The Great Otway Lighthouse and Park, Twelve Apostles, Port Stephens, and Port Fairy.

This vast country has plenty to see. No wonder retired Australians...the Grey Nomads......... take to the roads in their campervans and motorhomes, to spend months or years roaming the country.See http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/travel-in-australia.html for more information.......which is being regularly updated.

Fascinating Travel Destinations Resurfaces, with Notes on Vietnam

It is quite a while since I have written here. Partly due to my own travels to Vietnam and Samoa. Three weeks in Vietnam was a wonderful experience in a beautiful country, rich in history and with an amazing culture. The pagodas and shrines were all different, and very beautiful. Much of the interest came from the Vietnamese people who revere these religious monuments.

Motorcycles fill the city streets, and there seems to be no limit to what one can carry on a motorcycle. I think the most impressive was the makings of a kitchen, from the cupboards, to the framing.The sheer numbers of motorcycles, is really impossible to imagine, until you are there.I had seen the traffic in Cambodia, but it is much more in Vietnam.Yet 8 years ago, most people rode bicycles.

Hanoi has so much of interest, you need to allow at least three or four days.Halong Bay was somehow much more touristy than I imagined, yet still very lovely, although the rubbish in the water was disappointing. The looming outlines of the 1964 islands dotting the Bay make a spectacular display.

We enjoyed a more off the beaten track stay at Lake Ba-be where we stayed in simple conditions in a Long House, took a boat out onto the lake and strolled the village.This was a look at rural Vietnam.

We loved our day trip to the Perfume Pagoda. A ride through rural countryside, a boat trip, and a gondola ride up to the pagodas.The Pagoda in the cave was an amazing place.

Hoi An was my favourite town, despite boats floating on the main street when we arrived! Being the wet season, it floods regularly, but the water had surprisngly dissapated by the next day.Made for walking, the character made this a truly fascinating travel destination!

Hue was another wonderful, yet totally different experience. The Citadel is a stunning example of early architecture. Our trip on a dragon boat down the Perfume River, was a great way of seeing several pagodas, mausoleums, or shrines, while saving the feet.It is also nice to support the street children by having a very nice, yet cheap meal at the Japanese training restaurant. Lac Thien restaurant run by deaf mutes is another Hue eating experience not to be missed.

You can read about the central and northern areas of Vietnam, with information on restaurants, accommodation, sightseeing and the different towns and cities at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/travel-to-vietnam.html I have given a good coverage of information, travel tips and suggestions here.