G'day! I'm Chris. I left my home in rural Australia back in 2007 to pursue a life less ordinary.
I specialize in ambitious travel - bucket list worthy journeys such as the Great US Road Trip, the ultimate African safari, and following the length of the Silk Road.
It’s t-minus two days until I board my flight in Shanghai and embark on the 18+ hour ride from China to Washington DC. It’s hard to believe I’m finally off on my next adventure and my first real solo international adventure ever.
When this post goes live I’ll have packed my bags and be teaching my last class for five weeks. Thank you to the lovely Charlotte from Travel Supermarket for putting this post together. She’ll be contributing an article once a month for the foreseeable future.
This week she’s writing about a topic very dear to my heart – the imbibing of alcohol in the form of fruity cocktails! Gotta love that!
Cocktails Around the World
Whether classy, cool, exotic or just plain fun to drink, cocktails are a popular choice all around the world. They are sold in high-end bars or mixed at home with pre-purchased ingredients and always go down a treat at parties.
Few people, however, stop to consider where and how cocktails gained their popularity, got their name or ended up the way they are today.
Here is a rundown of some of the most popular cocktails around the world, for the most intrepid of traveller it would be rude to not to try each one!
It’ll be little surprise that the Singapore Sling comes from, well, Singapore. It’s said that this renowned cocktail, which combines Cointreau, cherry brandy and Benedictine among other ingredients, was invented by a bartender called Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon and that its year of origin was sometime between 1910 and 1915. The original recipe used by the inventor can be seen in the Raffles Hotel, Singapore, where it is kept in a vault. And Raffles hotel is the ultimate place to enjoy this classic cocktail.
White Russian, Russia
I had my first White Russian during an Aussie bachelor party. It’s one of my favorite cocktails.
This Kahula, cream and vodka drink’s name harks back to a time when vodka was less commonly consumed and was a little more mysterious. The cocktail’s moniker isn’t a reference to it originating in Russia, but simply to the fact that it contains vodka, which was seen as being a major product of Russia in the 1930s and remains associated with that country today.
Daiquiri, Cuba
It wasn’t so long ago that I had one of these spilled in my crotch while drinking at my local Mexican restaurant here in Nanjing, China
One of the many famed Cuban cocktails, the Daiquiri is originally from a bar near to Santiago in the island nation. It’s said that the Daiquiri was created when rum was used to replace gin due to a stock shortage.
Whatever the exact origin, this cocktail, which also contains sugar and lime juice, was popularised partly thanks to the efforts of noted writer Ernest Hemingway, himself a big fan of Cuba.
The Dark ‘n’ Stormy, Great Britain
I have no interesting travel stories regarding the legendary Dark & Stormy. I’ve only ever had them in a mate’s back yard.
This cocktail sounds as if it should have its origins on the seven seas and unsurprisingly it does. The rum-based drink became a favourite of sailors in the British navy after the company Gosling’s began producing Black Seal Rum in the 19th century. The rum was added to ginger beer and sometimes lime and ice for the finished cocktail.
Caipirinha, Brazil
I haven’t tried one of these yet, but it looks bloody good!
This rum-based drink is not only from Brazil but also generally only encountered there. The reason for this is that it relies on a specific type of rum, cachaça sugar-cane rum to be precise. But if a bar has it, then bartenders can create quite a few varieties of the caipirinha, such as mango or kiwi versions.
The Kir, France
Now I think she’s just making these up. I’ve never even heard of a Kir. Shame on me.
Over in France and specifically the region of Burgundy, the Kir began life following the Second World War. It combines black currant liqueur with white wine, both of which were produced in Burgundy and were given as a mixture to visiting dignitaries by Mayor Felix Kir of Dijon in the absence of red wine. Nowadays, the Kir can also be made with cider or peach liqueur.
Mai Tai, United States
I remember sippin’ Mai Tais by the pool in Las Vegas. Good times.
The Mai Tai appears to have its roots in California, but just who invented this fruity cocktail is lost in the mists of time. Some say it was Victor Buergon, who created the Mai Tai at his restaurant to impress his friends visiting from Tahiti in 1944.
Others reckon that restaurateur Donn Beach was responsible for the Mai Tai’s appearance, back in 1933. Either way, the drink has long been associated with Hawaii and contains rums and fruit juices such as pineapple and orange.
Tinto de Verano, Spain
I haven’t tried this yet, but it looks suspiciously like the vast quantities of sangria I consume whenever able
This Spanish cocktail has become known beyond the country thanks to tourists who have sampled it on their holidays to Spain, particularly in the south of the country.
It’s produced using red wine, soda and slices of lemon and is probably best enjoyed during the peak of the summer months.
Spritz, Italy
The Spritz. Incredibly masculine.
The Spritz is a cocktail found throughout Italy, though it is sometimes called Brescia in the north of the country. Created using campari, soda, white wine and slices of fruit, a Spritz is served in a champagne flute and tends to be imbibed as a drink before mealtimes.
Margarita, Mexico
Believe it or not, I had my first margarita in South Korea >_>
The tequila and Cointreau cocktail, the Margarita, is another drink for which it isn’t hard to guess the country of origin. Yes, where there’s tequila, there’s Mexico.
Thanks to the Margarita’s widespread popularity around the globe, there are various versions in existence. But the original simply contains orange liqueur, white tequila and lime juice and ice of course.
If any of these cocktails take your fancy and you want to visit any of these countries to experience the cocktails as they were intended visit TravelSupermarket for great deals on flights and cheap hotel prices.
Your Favorite International Cocktails
Charlotte has listed ten pretty fantastic international cocktails above, but I know she’s only scraping the surface of the iceberg. What are your favorite cocktails from at home and abroad? More importantly, how do you make them?
It’s hard to believe I first started a draft of this post back in September 2011. Almost a year on and I still hadn’t entered a single word into the body of the article.
It’s not that I don’t realise the immense blessing that is my family or that I am not grateful each and every day for their presence in my life – it’s just… it’s hard to do them justice. I’m not a guy who shies away from expressing his feelings (as evidenced by my posts on goodbyes or on my battle with depression) – but there’s just an extra pressure when I’m attempting to express not only how special my family is to me – but also what a vital role they play in my travels and in my role as a travel writer.
But it’s about time I try.
Origins
When I stop and really think about what it is that draws me to travel, I come up with a thousand reasons. The newness of experience, the ways travel challenges me to improve myself, the friendships, the romance, the distraction from ‘real life, the life lessons I learn… the list really could go on forever.
But if I look past the rewards I take from travelling and try to pin-point what it is that got me started on my journey, it would have to be my parents. From an early age, wanderlust was something that was ingrained into me.
My father and I off on a worldly adventure before I was old enough to walk
My father’s role as a principal in the NSW education system meant we moved around quite a bit when I was a child. In fact, by the time I had graduated from primary (elementary) school in 1996, I’d lived in seven towns and attended a total of six primary schools along the way. One of those primary schools might have been because I was expelled for smacking my teacher after she told me to stop reading.
Seriously, what kindergarten teacher complains that her five year old student is reading while the rest of the class are still on phonics? I say she deserved a much harder slap than five-year-old Chris could have hoped to dish out.
From sleepy Merriwa to Menindee in the NSW Outback. From there to tiny Mallanganee on the northern NSW coast. From there it was out to the red center for eighteen months in scorching hot Tibooburra before a brief stopover in Newcastle. Then it was off to Mudgee in the heart of NSW wine country before we finally settled in idyllic Ben Lomond in 1995/6.
A much younger CWB all packed and ready to go on another adventure
Over the course of eleven years I had more best friends than I care to count, experienced everything from bullying to first crushes to minor superstardom when my mother featured in a commercial for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. When moving house is such a natural part of your upbringing, I think it’s fair to say that sticking to one spot just doesn’t feel right. And while my family has been settled in Ben Lomond for the better part of twenty years now, I have never been quite as comfortable with standing still.
Once I’d left high school and graduated from university in nearby Armidale, it was off to Newcastle. Then back to Glen Innes. Then to South Korea. Then Newcastle again. Ben Lomond. Sydney. South Korea again. Now China. It seems I can’t go more than twelve months without my feet getting itchy and my eye starting to wander in the direction of greener pastures.
My First Trip
The year was 2007. I was 23 and found myself back in my home town. Despite graduating as one of the top three students in my year and breezing through my Bachelors at university, I’d somehow found myself manning a check-out in the same sleepy country town I’d thought to never see again after I’d graduated in 2001.
I lived with a good friend, played entirely too much World of WarCraft, was still a card carrying member of the virgin club, and got by on 14 hours a week at the supermarket and one night of underwhelming drinking at the local RSL a week.
Was I miserable? Not exactly. But there’s only so many times you can answer the question “So, what are you doing with yourself now? Honors? Masters?” with a half-hearted “Nope, this is all I do now” before you feel like maybe you’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere.
So, when a friend suggested I take a gig in Korea in ESL teaching, I immediately leapt at the chance.
About five hours after I’d received a formal offer to move halfway around the world, I panicked.
And that’s where my mother stepped in.
“I know you, Chris,” she said, “And I know you will be miserable if you don’t do this. You’ll beat yourself up ten years from now because you didn’t take a chance. You’re better than what you are in life right now“.
I paraphrase, of course. No speech, regardless of how inspiring it is, stays with you half a decade after the fact.
A chubbier, more naive Aussie on the Road farewelling his family in Sydney
The point is, despite always having wanted me close to home, my mother urged me to travel to a country none of us knew much about because she wanted me to have more in my life than video games and “Do you need a bag for that?”
A month later (and not without several repeats of the speech), my parents and my youngest brother accompanied me to Sydney and treated me to a whirlwind tour of my future home before I flew out. We took in the iconic sights, ate ourselves into a sushi coma, and shed more than a few tears at the airport when I realised I wouldn’t see them for another year.
There were times in my first weeks and months in Gwangju that I regretted ever stepping onto the plane. But when I left two years, three girlfriends, dozens of friendships, and a whole lot of life experience later – I couldn’t have been more sure that I’d made the right decision. Travelling to South Korea to teach was (and remains) the best thing I’d ever done. I am a vastly improved person because of my mother’s selflessness.
Visits on the Road
My mother might have nudged me out of my shell and into the wider world, but that doesn’t mean she left me to deal on my own. I remember teary eyed Skype conversations around Christmas where I expressed the doubts that I’d ever survive my year. Thank God for the ability to make free calls.
In April of 2008 – five months after I’d moved to Korea – my parents and my youngest brother visited me. Their two week visit somehow managed to reinvigorate me and ultimately stopped me from leaving Korea much earlier than intended.
My family and I enjoying some galbi in Gwangju, South Korea in 2008. And holy shit, I’m wearing the same shirt!
Over the course of two weeks we explored my home town and its surrounds and I learned first hand how much fun it is to play tour guide for the people you love. I’d later show my family around Seoul in 2011 and introduce my other two brothers to travel when we toured Fiji for two weeks in early 2011.
The support wasn’t just visits or phone calls, either. It was care packages and messages on Facebook. It was the unspoken but understood fact that – no matter what happened – they’d be there to take care of me at the end of the day.
My Aussie Christmas care package saved Christmas 2007.
“I was worried we’d have to fly over there and collect you,” my mother once confided as we discussed my battle with depression and how it ruined my stay in Busan. I would never have let it get to that point, but it’s always been something of a safety net to know that my family would be there in a heartbeat if I needed them.
And that brings me to my fantastic…
Support Network
For a long time in my life, it felt like it was my family against the world. Whether we were dealing with bullies (something my siblings and I all had to endure at some point in our lives), school politics, or a hostile or isolated lifestyle – we always had one another. Growing up in a family of six (and later seven) is the greatest blessing I’ve ever had bestowed upon me.
Regardless of the time of night – there’s always somebody in my family home I can talk to. No matter the topic or the turmoil I’m going through, there’s always a shoulder there to cry on. I’ve consoled siblings through break-ups and disappointments; given (hopefully) sage advice on dealing with difficult work situations; and played every role from tutor to relationship counsellor to psychologist and the roles have been reversed as well.
My brothers and I left our mark on Kuata Island, Fiji
I know that if I needed anything from any member of my family, they would gladly provide it.
In 2009 my brother, Dom, stepped in when a drunk and his friends looked like picking a fight with me. He knocked one of them out in the resulting ‘blue’.
When I was dealing with my very first heart-break in 2002, Izaak (then only three years old) listened to my sobbing explanation of my heart-break, put a tiny hand on my leg, and matter of factedly replied “Bitch”.
In 2011, fresh off the end of my two year relationship, Dom and Leigh flew to Fiji (on my mother’s dime) to ensure I wasn’t alone in the wake up my first real heart-break.
Countless assignments were completed with the help of my mother at the last minute.
My sister, Heather, put me up in her own home for weeks after I returned to Australia following the abortion that was my stint in Busan.
Every single sibling has, at some point, loaned me money. I’m pretty sure I’ve loaned all of them cash at some point too.
The above is just a sample of the selfless things my wonderful family have done for me over the years. I’ve doubtless forgotten more than I can recall, but I’m sure my family knows I would be there for them in a second if they needed it too.
Grateful
I know how lucky I am. I know that not everybody can say they have a family as uniquely wonderful as mine. We’re not without out dysfunctions or quirks, but underneath it all, we all love one another unconditionally. It’s that knowledge that lets me spend so much time away from them.
It’s knowing that I can go back to them and slip seamlessly back into their lives that makes it okay for me to spends years abroad teaching or exploring.
My mother summed it up best when we spoke last night:
“I don’t want you to come home,” she said honestly, “I want you to stay in China as long as it’s making you happy. I haven’t read or heard a single down moment from you since you moved there. I’d rather you be happy and far away than close by and sad“.
I paraphrase again, of course, but you get the gist. My family understands that I may never be happy leading a ‘normal’ life and they don’t begrudge me my time away.
I don’t get to see my youngest brother grow from an awkward kid into the cool teenage kid he is today. I won’t be around when my adorable nephew, Ezekiel has so many of his big moments. I’ll miss birthdays and Christmases, good times and bad. I can’t be there to help when my sister is having a difficult time or to offer advice as my brothers move away from home and start lives of their own. I can’t help my mother prepare for Christmas or tag along for a motorbike ride with my father.
Not a day goes by when I don’t miss them. That’s the sacrifice I make to do what I love, and I love my family all the more for allowing me to do that.
Thank you Mum & Dad. Thank you Heather, Dominik, Leigh, and Izaak.
Thank you to Mumma for watching over me as I travel.
Thank you to my aunts and uncles, cousins and second cousins, and grandparents.
Get your asses to China. I owe you all about a thousand hugs.
My family and I taking it in a slightly different direction for last year’s family portrait…
Most Australian travel itineraries stick pretty close to the coast with the exception of Sydney or Canberra. Booking a few nights at a hotel in Canberra may put you further away but it will save you some money. Some may go to the Nullarbor Plain crossing with the potential visit to Uluru or the Outback. People generally don’t venture too far away from the ocean when in Australia.
It’s a real shame because the predominantly rural NSW interior is not without its considerable charms. Sure, you won’t find hostels every five hundred meters or a single night club worth a damn, but there’s no reason why the New England and North West regions of New South Wales don’t warrant a brief visit.
Having grown up from 1996 until 2006 in the area, I feel like it’s criminally undervalued. There are hidden gems scattered all across a region whose primary industries certainly don’t include tourism. But at only eight hours by train (or 5-6 by car) from Sydney and 4-6 hours drive from Brisbane, it’s not a huge sacrifice to see a bit of Australia that most people aren’t even aware exists.
Not convinced? Here, let me give you a few reasons…
#10 – The Rail Experience
Call me old-fashioned, but I’m an unabashed sucker for a good train journey. I don’t mean a crowded, urine-reeking train in Sydney’s built up metro, either. There’s something wonderfully relaxing about watching the world roll by as your train speeds through idyllic Australian farmland, quaint country towns, and rugged mountain terrain as you leaf through a book or simply listen to a little music.
The Ben Lomond Railway Station hasn’t seen action since the early 80s. It is one of many beautiful heritage stations along the tracks.
Rail journeys are, in my mind, the best way to see a region. Buses are too loud, driving takes too much focus, and planes just move too damned fast.
The near eight-hour trek from Sydney to Armidale in the heart of the New England takes you through the mining country around Singleton, through the industrial steel city of Newcastle, up into beautiful green mountain country, across mile after mile of farming land, and finally into probably the most beautiful town in rural NSW.
While rail is most certainly a dying mode of transportation out of the cities, I’ll never get tired of the relaxing ride and the slightly overpriced train fare as we rattle through Australia as it exists outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane. It’s beautiful country.
#9 – Celtic Festival, Glen Innes
My hometown of Glen Innes is renowned for three festivals: the Celtic Festival, Minerama, and the Land of the Beardies Festival. I’ve attended just one of the three (Minerama), but I’m excited to finally be losing my Celtic Festival virginity this year.
With names like Llangothlin, Glen Innes, Tamworth, and Ben Lomond in the surrounding region – it’s easy to fathom who the area’s primary settlers were. And while you’re a long way from Scotland and Ireland, you’ll be surprised just how European the town of 6000 or so feels. With its rolling green hills and cool winters, it’s easy to forget you’re in often drought-ridden territory.
The Standing Stones overlooking Glen Innes. Photo by Tony Bush.
Each year the town’s humble Standing Stones monument (which offers a beautiful view of the mist shrouded town year round) is transformed into a medieval pageant of Highland games, parades, bagpipe performances, combat demonstrations, craft stores, and other tributes to the culture from which the region arose. People travel from all around the world to attend the festival, which each year focuses on a particular culture of Celtic/Gaelic history. 2013 will see Scotland take center stage. Where else in Australia can you watch some caber tossing, throw back some haggis, and see the sun set over a stone-henge like monument?
The festival next takes place from May 29th to May 2nd in 2015.
#8 – Aboriginal & Colonial History
The history of the New England/North West region of NSW is far more than just farmers battling the elements. There were bloody conflicts and displays of genocide committed against the local aboriginal population as well as the region’s notorious bushranger stories as well.
For those wishing to gain a better understanding of Australia’s original inhabitants, much of Aboriginal culture can still be explored in the region. Whether these be former tribal lands or darker monuments such as the infamous ‘Gin’s Leap’ near Tenterfield, there is an abundance of both ancient and modern aboriginal culture to be seen. Towns such as Moree and Tingha, in particular, boast large modern day aboriginal populations. Armidale also boasts an impressive collection of aboriginal artifacts at the Aboriginal Culture Centre and Keeping Place.
Sites such as the Stonewoman (near Tingha) and Mount Yarrowyck National Reserve allow you to step back in time without having to travel too far afield.
The Captain Thunderbolt Statue in Uralla, NSW. The notorious bush-ranger has taken on a mythic hero status in the eyes of locals.
If you’re interested in the swashbuckling adventures of famed bushrangers such as Captain Thunderbolt, Mad Dog Morgan, or the Wild Colonial Boy – you’ll find a wealth of tall tales and genuine truths scattered across the region. Uralla, in particular, was a famed haunt of Thunderbolt and the town still does brisk business on his legacy. There are plenty of Captain Thunderbolt attractions to be found in the town included museums and the bushrangers final resting place.
Most towns of any real substance will have at least one museum dedicated to its local history. Get a feel for just how rough and tumble life west of the Great Dividing Range was.
#7 – Moree Mineral Springs
There’s no need to travel all the way to Europe or the volcanic Pacific islands to soak in mineral water and unwind. Moree may seem a dusty and unremarkable place at first glance, but its artesian mineral baths are a big draw in the region and once you dip your toes into the piping hot water – you’ll understand why.
A woman enjoying the Moree Artesian Baths.
Bringing ancient waters up from the Great Artesian Basin (almost a kilometre below), the mineral springs are renowned for their rejuvenating affects. Some even go so far as to dub them the ‘fountain of youth’. Far fetched cries of magical powers aside, you won’t find a similar experience anywhere else in Australia. It’s a real treat.
#6 – Sapphire Fossicking in (and around) Inverell
The town of Inverell in northern NSW has dubbed itself the ‘Sapphire City’ after the wealth of sapphires to be found in the region.
While the majority of the region’s business these days is in the form of agriculture, there was a time where the entire New England region was caught with gold and gemstone fever. People came from all over the country to try their luck panning for gold, sapphires, or other precious minerals in the rivers of the area.
Inverell is named the Sapphire City for its rich sapphire culture, but there’s no shortage of fossicking experiences on offer in neighbouring towns.
Grab a pan, head out to one of the many largely dry rivers in the region, and see if you can’t find a small souvenir to take back to your family. Don’t fancy standing out in the sun looking? Festivals such as Minerama in Glen Innes attract sellers and jewellers from all over Australia. There’s no shortage of pretty presents to be found.
#5 – Autumn in Armidale
It’s no secret that Armidale is one of my favorite cities in Australia. It might not boast a stellar night life or killer beaches, but it’s got a real beauty to it that you’ll struggle to find anywhere else. Experiencing a full four seasons including a truly magnificent autumn in which the leaves change to brilliant reds and oranges, Armidale is as close to a North American New England town as you get.
Armidale is simply stunning in autumn. Photo courtesy of Armidale Tourism.
The annual Autumn Festival, held each March, is a celebration of the city’s natural beauty. Colourful parades, charity events, food, and markets all turn the town into a portrait of human creativity against the beauty that only Mother Nature could summon.
Armidale’s role as a university city also means that it has a distinctly younger feel that other nearby towns. Foreign film, art and comedy festivals, a burgeoning local theatre scene, and a large group of foreign students give the student a far more cosmopolitan feel than you might expect to find so far from the coast.
Also worth a mention are two spots that ought to excite beer fanciers: one in Armidale and one in neighbouring Uralla.
The new Welder’s Dog bar is a true Sydney hipster vibe bar serving quality Aussie and international microbrews, while Uralla’s New England Brewing Company is producing some great local beers that you can taste at pubs all over the region. You can even take a tour of the facilities.
Armidale is also surrounded by a number of beautiful natural reserves and some stunning gorge country. But I’ll comment on that later…
#4 – Green Valley Farm, Tingha
I dubbed it Australia’s strangest theme park after visiting earlier this year, and my fondness for the quirky Green Valley Farm outside of dusty Tingha has in no way been diminished. With rides pieced together from scrap metal and a great sense of Aussie pride, the park is a truly unique stop on any itinerary.
My brother emerges from the end of Green Valley Farm’s mammoth water slide.
I wrote at length (and with lots of photos) about the park before, so I’ll direct you there rather than describe it all again here. Suffice to say, it’s an experience.
#3 – National Parks and Fishing
While there’s no shortage of farmland in the region, that isn’t to say there aren’t some beautiful national parks to be explored. Hikers, fishing enthusiasts, and nature lovers are in for a real treat as they traverse a land of dense eucalyptus forest, subtropical rainforest, and dizzying gorge country populated with possums, kangaroos, echidnas, and other iconic Australian wildlife.
Washpool National Park, near Tenterfield, was recently voted one of Australia’s top five national parks by the Sydney Morning Herald. More than 140 species of bird call the gorge country home, and rarer Australian animals like pottaroos and quolls can even be spotted here.
Washpool National Park is one of Australia’s best kept natural secrets
Other worthwhile national parks in the New England include New England National Park, Guy Fawkes River National Park, Torrington State Recreational Park, and the Nimboida National Park.
Fishermen will find no shortage of places to cast their lines, either. Copeton Dam near Inverell and Keepit Dam near Gunnedah offer perfect playgrounds for both fishing enthusiasts and water sports lovers, and there’s also an abundance of commercial trout farms in the region for those who want to boost their chances of a catch.
If you’re a fishing newbie like me, I’d recommend checking out Total Fishing Tackle and getting yourself some fishing gear.
#2 – Experience Country Life
You’re not going to find a lot of cinemas, nightclubs, or trendy shopping spots here (although Armidale and Tamworth do boast a few of each) – but you will find a wonderfully quaint window into rural Australian life.
Farm stays such as those offered by Silent Grove Farmstay (near my true home of Ben Lomond) offer you a chance to live like a local, do a little fishing or yabbying (freshwater lobster), and a bit of 4WDing for much cheaper than you’ll find at bed and breakfasts closer to the coast.
Most towns still maintain a historic ‘main street’ lined with beautiful architecture and faded signs promising 2 cent matinees or authentic wool sweaters. Glen Innes, in particular, has a wonderfully old-school feel to its main street.
Glen Innes Town Hall is one of many beautiful, colonial style buildings on display across the New England
Tea houses, cafes, craft shops, and boutiques are king all through the New England. You may be hard-pressed to find a name brand, but shoppers are bound to fall in love with the veritable mountain of boutiques in most towns. Cafes, coffee shops, and the like are plentiful and offer a nice alternative to McDonalds or service station pies. You won’t find many places with the notorious Sydney prices, either.
#1 – Tamworth Country Music Festival
You really can’t go past the Tamworth Country Music Festival as a cause to venture inland. Even if you’re not a huge fan of the steel guitar and banjo, there’s something about a town gripped by festival fever that is just too infectious.
Each year (next year it’s January 18-27), the always too hot for comfort city is overcome by country music fanatics. Hotels book out and couches quickly fill up as people travel from all over Australia and the world to see the best of Australian country music (and a little international flair too).
The iconic Golden Guitar marks Tamworth as Australia’s country music capital
It’s not all gigs, though. Talent competitions, rodeos, line dancing, parades, and the popular Fitzroy Street Stalls offer a variety of ways to while away the warm days before finding a pub and listening to some great country music. It’s a festival I’ve not yet had the pleasure to experience, but would someday love to cover.
Australia’s country music scene is a different beast to the more well known American style. Get out to see some real Aussie musicians and bush poets do their stuff. Incidentally, bush poetry has its own day of days in Tenterfield each year in the form of the Oracles of the Bush festival.
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As you can see, there’s plenty to see and do in the often overlooked and criminally underrated New England region of New South Wales. Festivals, Australian heritage, history, and natural wonders are all in abundant supply – it’s just a shame more people aren’t aware of it.
Interested in exploring the New England? See below for tourism pages for the region’s major cities and towns. Don’t say I don’t ever do anything for you.
We’ve all experienced it. You and a good friend decide to go away on a trip together and it doesn’t pan out exactly as planned. That Dr. Jekyl you got along with so well with at work or at school is suddenly a Mr. (or Mrs.) Hyde and your entire trip is a nightmare as a result.
Whether they’re arguing with you over their share of dinner, bitching about the locals, or just refusing to do anything more adventurous than walking down to the beach – we’ve all travelled with one (or more) of the following unsavory characters. Hell, I’ve even been one of them on at least one occasion.
So, here are the ten people you should never travel with. But heck, if you do, it’ll at least make for some funny anecdotes once the dust has settled over the inevitable break-down of the friendship…
#10 – The Self Taught ‘Expert’
With a copy of Lonely Planet in one hand and Wikipedia set as the homepage on their iPhone, the self taught expert isn’t a bad person – they’re just annoying. They mean well and may even come in handy when you’re trying in vain to make yourself understood to your taxi driver, but their rigid adherence to the Gospel according to Frommer may make it hard to get them out of the shiny tourist district and into a hole in the wall restaurant.
“Lonely Planet says…”
may be their favorite way to start a sentence, and you’ll have a hard time convincing them that a world exists beyond the Insadong’s of the world. Insadong is Seoul’s tourist district, by the way.
They’re going to be a lot of help in plotting out your trip and in making it happen, but have a word with them before you leave about your desire to see something that doesn’t have a mile long queue. The world is bigger than even the weightiest Lonely Planet tome can illustrate.
#9 – The Homebody
You’re halfway around the world and they’re in the darkened hotel room watching movies on HBO and leafing through a book they picked up downstairs.
“I’ll be down in a little while,” they promise you, “You guys go ahead with me”.
But as the sun is setting on another wonderful day exploring some exotic new land, you’ve seen no sign of them. And maybe later that night you’ll stagger back into your room just a little tipsy and they’ll still be there.
The homebody is a close relative of the coward, except they don’t even make the effort to look like they’re game to try. They’ve come all this way to basically do the things they would have been doing at home. They’ll have excuses like “Oh, it’s too humid” or “I’m feeling a little under the weather”, but basically – they’re terrible human beings. Perfect candidates for post birth abortion.
You have my blessing.
#8 – The Patriot
“This shit would not happen in America, I’ll tell you that”.
“FREEDOM!” Wait. Wrong movie.
Your reservation at a Fijian resort has been lost and you’re understandably frustrated. But then some loud mouthed Yank or ocker Aussie is shouting about their outrage and all you want to do is find the nearest blunt object and redecorate the reception desk in brain matter grey.
The patriot loves their country – and that’s admirable, but their blind love prevents them from finding fault in their own country and – worst of all – it forces them to project their own country’s values onto whichever place you’re visiting.
They’re the ones who flinch away from the local food, complain about the people who spit in the street, and are horrified to learn that the bar you’re in doesn’t have Budweiser on tap.
“How dare this country with its own culture and history not better emulate the country I left behind?”
It’s normal to find things you dislike when travelling and it’s not uncommon to draw comparison from time to time. But when the entire trip is basically seen as one giant slight against one person’s delicate sensibilities, it gets old and it gets old fast.
Ditch them in a dark alley in down-town Vladivostok. I hear they’ve got uses for people you should never travel with.
#7 – The Whore (or Man-Whore)
My good friend (who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent) had a less than enjoyable experience when a friend of his visited and basically enlisted him as the sexless innkeeper as she proceeded to go out and hook up with a different drunken local every single night of her visit.
You know the kind I’m talking about. After a few drinks they’re into the lap of the nearest muscle bound figure of dubious intelligence, only returning to ask for money for a drink or to confirm that they’ve got the right directions to tell a cab driver after tomorrow morning’s walk of shame.
And of course, it’s not just girls either. The man-whore is much worse. At least the female equivalent doesn’t boast about her conquests the following morning.
It’s not that you begrudge them finding a little ‘summin’ summin” on the road. It’s that they’re doing it every night and basically ignoring you while they do it. And it gets so much worse if their one night stand turns into a constant travel companion – an annoying ‘local’ with an inflated sense of self importance who seems intent on basically steering you and your friend towards the nearest bar as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
Get them a shot of penicillin, wish them well, and go about your business. That pretty girl at the bar looks like she could use a vodka cranberry.
They all drink vodka cranberry.
#6 – The Coward
The coward is an unfortunate beast. They may not be doing it intentionally, but that doesn’t really make it any less annoying when they girlishly squeal and back away from the ticket booth.
The coward just isn’t built for travel any more dangerous than a guided trolley tour or a presentation given in an air conditioned auditorium. Put them out in the real world and it’s all just too scary for them. The streets are too dirty, the carnival rides too poorly maintained, and the food too poorly prepared.
The world is basically one terrifying labyrinth of rusty nails, diseased water, and crumbling buildings. They’re fine travel companions while you’re exploring museums or visiting well run tourist traps, but take them out of their comfort zone and they’re jumping at shadows.
Best to leave them at the hotel if you’re planning to venture off of the beaten track.
Read on to uncover five more terrible travel companions.
I very nearly made the visit to Tibet earlier this year, but opted at the last minute to switch my plans to Xinjiang due to the difficulties in gaining access to China’s most enigmatic province.
While it’s obviously not Nepal, the two regions share a similar sense of mystery and scale. There’s a beauty in the Himalayas that I someday hope to experience, and this guest post paints a picture that makes Nepal all the more alluring. Enjoy!
Discovering the Mystique of Nepal
Nepal invites visitors to embrace its ancient spiritual view of life while indulging in the comforts of modern luxuries. From secluded monasteries nestled into mountaintops to the bustling city of Kathmandu, Nepal is a land of extremes full of exotic beauty and natural wonders. Sightseeing tour packages (such as through Bales Worldwide) allow guests the chance to truly absorb this land’s diverse personality with hikes into the wilderness, tours of holy shrines and a safe escort through fascinating, yet rough, areas like Kathmandu’s Freak Street.
Garden of Dreams
Tucked away near the old Royal Palace is a secret garden that is like an oasis from the bedlam of Kathmandu’s busy streets. Tour guides can direct you to the tiny ticket booth that opens into this sanctuary of restful quiet where the deep shade provided by the lush plants make an excellent place to relax and unwind. Around the park are restaurants and tea rooms housed in romantic neo-classical buildings that reflect the serene mood of the secluded garden.
The enchanting Garden of Dreams in Nepal
Phewa Lake
This beautiful lake in Pokhara is a favourite destination for shutterbugs and fishermen alike. Surrounded by a lush, tropical valley, the placid waters are excellent for paddling around in a rowboat, either self-propelled or manned by local boatmen. On a forested island in the lake is the two-tiered Varahi Temple made entirely of wood.
A beautiful shot from Wikipedia of Phawa Lake and Pokhara. Breath-taking!
Bodhnath
The largest structure in Nepal, this Buddhist stupa has been constantly upgraded since it was built sometime before 600 AD, and its significance has grown through the centuries. Visitors can climb into the upper layers of the stupa to watch the pilgrims below who circumnavigate the building, pausing at various places along the surrounding brick wall to turn the prayer wheels and chant prayers.
The Bodhnath is Nepal’s largest structure – a stunning tribute to the Buddhist religion
Bhaktapur
Know to movie fans as the setting for “Little Buddha,” this cultural gem of Nepal is home to Durbar Square with its massive 55-Window Palace accessed by the Golden Gate, a spectacular display of Hindu mythology captured in stone. In the Pujari Math district, art enthusiasts enjoy the Woodcarving Museum with its fabulous Peacock Window. Right across the street is the Brass and Bronze Museum displaying ancient examples of everyday house ware items and metal tools used in rituals. Take a hike to the top of Nagarkot Mountain, the second-highest point in Nepal, for an excellent view of Mount Everest and the Himalayas.
Bhaktapur is Nepal’s third largest city and a truly stunning display of Nepal’s ancient culture
Freak Street
A favourite hangout of the counterculture, its real name is actually Jochne, but in the 1970’s it acquired the name “Freak Street” and it has stuck ever since. Although it has its dodgy moments, the “far out” fashions found in the shops, the incense stands and inspirational prayer flag vendors appeal to souvenir hunters and iconoclasts.
Your Say
Ever been to Nepal or any of the above spots? What are your Nepal recommendations? I’d love to hear them!
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