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lindsaystravelblogs5 · 20 days

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An Aside! Some recent domestic trips – now ancient history

I said earlier that I had not blogged for some my last few domestic trips, but some aspects of them were quite significant so I will mention a few highlights here.

Lightning Ridge – 19 April-5 May

This trip was in our car, but without our caravan. It was a 3,500-kilometre jaunt, originally perceived as an opportunity to catch up with a string of friends down the east coast of Oz, from Noosa to Batemans Bay, most of whom we hadn’t seen for at least ten to fifteen years (and very sadly, due to their age and infirmity, it was unlikely that we would see some of them again). We decided that if we were driving so far north, we should call in at Lightning Ridge to view a couple of dinosaur teeth for which our donations had enabled the Australian Opal Centre to purchase from the miner who had found them. We had participated in the opal centre’s annual fundraising ‘Dig’ a couple of years ago and had made a (sizable, for us) donation to its Acquisition Fund. The Centre contacted us late last year and invited us to make a somewhat larger donation to enable them to purchase the teeth, one of which was a particularly important scientific discovery. (I can provide more information if anyone wants it.)

By coincidence, an ABC team was making a documentary about Lightning Ridge opals while we were there, and they took quite a lot of footage of us talking with the Centre’s chief palaeontologist while we were examining ‘our’ two teeth, so it is quite likely that we will feature in the program when it is aired.

As always, we loved the drive up, more hurried than we would have preferred, with a couple of road diversions due to traffic accidents and flooded roads, but then it was across to the coast to Caloundra, and then all the way down to Merimbula visiting nine friends, or groups of friends, staying overnight with some of them, but mainly staying in motels. We followed the coast as closely as we could, but then cut inland to the high country, and down to Lakes Entrance. Heather had arranged a wonderful surprise birthday treat for me there – a short stay at a hidden bed-and-breakfast place for just the two of us. (The hideaway was the surprise, not my birthday – I have one of them at the same time every year, and this year’s one was still a few days into the future.) It was a magical place hidden in the forest, in luxurious comfort, with superb food, and hosted by a lovely couple – a never-to-be-forgotten treat. Thank you, my love! And what a celebration with all the family after we got home. I am now a very proud octopus – or is that octogenarian? I think I am now officially old.

Southwest Western Australia – 10 June-4 July

We had a three-week trip to Western Australia to catch with my sisters. It was several years since I had seen them and with all of us having health issues (mine being the least concerning) and none of us are getting any younger (frustrating! and a great pity in my view), I felt compelled to head westward, because neither of them could contemplate coming to Melbourne. We flew to Perth and spent a wonderful week, during which we spent many beautiful hours with them and their families - as well as another lovely few hours together just before we headed home. We also had a great day in York (a delightful historic town where I started school as a 5-year-old), visiting a friend and colleague who now lives there.

We also spent two weeks touring the southwest in our hired car, visiting friends and relations, and exploring towns of significant sentimental value to me. We spent time visiting important people in Mandurah, Albany and Narrogin, but we also visited Lake Grace – a remote-ish place I have always wanted to see - and it was surprisingly rewarding, despite everyone telling us how boring it was. (Lake Grace had significance for me, partly because it was the next rail station beyond Dumbleyung. As an 11- or 12-year-old, my uncle, an engineer in the locomotive shed in Wagin, arranged for me to ride along on a 30-kilometre steam train trip to Dumbleyung one night. I was on the footplate with the driver and fireman and under instruction, I drove the train all the way. It was a fantastic experience for such a young boy, and I have cherished it all my life. I love steam engines and would love a repeat performance even at my advanced age.)

One very exciting incident occurred on the day we (eventually) reached Albany. We stayed overnight at Walpole and drove to Denmark next morning before my fantastic navigator found a less-used track down to the coast and along to Albany. The car we had hired was a Mitsubishi Outlander AWD that had a number of faults (awful driving position that couldn’t be adjusted, inoperative cruise control, and riddled with many sophisticated electronics that we could never figure out a tenth of them, but that kept up an incessant cacophony of beeps, bleats and blasts that almost drove me berserk. Its worst feature was its minimal ground clearance and, as we navigated this particular road, the ruts became deeper, and the front of the car was effectively grading the sand for kilometres at a time. Many times, we ploughed into areas of deep trenches and the car almost ground to a stop. We were thrown about quite violently as I tried to avoid the deepest ruts. Alas, we finally reached a hill that was a step/steep too far for the poor car and it simply bottomed out in boggy sand and died. After some debate, Heather persuaded me to attempt reversing a kilometre or so to where we had passed an alternative road. En route, we found a tiny place where we could turn around and managed to reach the other road - that actually turned out worse than the one we had been on – but we negotiated it without getting bogged again. We sustained some minor damage to the car, but about sixty kilometres later, we reached the bitumen – and headed off in the wrong direction. And to cap it off, a couple of kilometres later, I almost passed out. I think the tension of driving on that track got to me, and I was suddenly overcome with a spell of dizziness far more dramatic than anything I have previously experienced. For a few moments, I actually thought I was dying and swung off the road and braked violently – imagining the headlines of an ‘old person conking out and driving into the trees’. We sat beside the road for several minutes while I recovered, then turned in the right direction and headed safely into Albany. What an adventure!

We spent a couple of hours driving around Wagin, where my parents grew up. Wagin was where numerous family members lived for most of my childhood and teen years. Most of my school holidays were spent there and I have many wonderful memories of visits then, and throughout my teenage years as well.

It was a wonderful few weeks followed by a delightful trip home by rail. We took the fantastic Indian Pacific from Perth to Adelaide, and the Overland from there to Melbourne. We enjoyed a lovely day and a half in Adelaide, visiting the central market (an interesting experience in itself), the Museum, the State Herbarium of South Australia in the Botanic Gardens, and we called in at a couple of bars to maintain our hydration. The Overland was not a patch on the Indian Pacific, but anything would be better than flying.

Heather uses an app called Polar Steps that enables her to plot the course of each of our trips. It makes a few unfortunate assumptions, but we have found some workarounds to make it represent our travels fairly well. I will include the images she created for each of our recent trips (but not the one below) for information. It is really amazing when the images from all our recorded trips are overlaid worldwide.

Lightning Ridge – 16-27 August

During our visit to Lightning Ridge in April-May, we had been invited to do another ‘Dig’ this year. We had initially decided not to do it because it was so close to our ‘Two Poles’ trip, but we made a few more calculations and decided it was doable – in the first week, although return diggers are usually allocated to the second week. It was a fun week and added a few more dollars to the coffers of the Opal Centre (we pay for the privilege of working for the Centre).

It was a comfortable three-day drive up and a rushed two-day drive home, with the caravan bouncing along behind and providing us a slightly less expensive accommodation option up there. It started badly when we couldn’t find the key to unlock the wheel lock on the van but after a comedy of errors, we accessed a duplicate key and were on our way.

It was quite warm in Lightning Ridge, despite being cold at night, and the Opal Centre had quite a few ‘activities’ for us to enjoy, as well as the work – and the work is decidedly our personal preference. Lectures, mine visits, tours by local jewellers, and so on are entertaining, but we were there to work, and we were slightly disappointed that our efforts were sometimes constrained due to all the other things planned for the novices. As ‘returning diggers’, we would normally have been in the second week rather than the first with less extraneous activities, but alas, we couldn’t be in Seattle and Lightning Ridge at the same time.

The ‘digging work’ involves sorting through big bags of tailings donated by local miners, looking for fossilised treasures that had become opalised over the past hundred thousand millennia – the timescale has narrowed slightly because we now know that the opal formed between ninety-six and a hundred million years (what’s a mere four million years’ difference?) – but the potential ages were previously quoted as far out as 110 million, and conceivably as recent as yesterday (seventy-million years ago). Our eyesight suffered a little after peering at a few million pebbles ranging from a couple of millimetres to maybe ten centimetres across and selecting those with specific ‘fossil’ characteristics – potch with colour, shapes, striations, and so on – most of it too arcane for me to identify but we both found pieces that excited the palaeontologists who were associated with our group. There were only six ‘diggers’ due to some pulling out at the last minute, but they were all great people and we got along exceptionally well at a social level too – and will continue to stay in touch with at least some of them.

A major project that the Australian Opal Centre is investing in is its amazing Museum and Opal Centre under construction. It is a truly unique building – quite huge, and absolutely outstanding in design and technology – that should be completed and ready to be opened in April or May next year. We will definitely make that a ‘MUST BE THERE’ occasion, requiring another wonderful visit to this wonderful town, to visit with our several now good friends in the opal industry.

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interstatemovingchamps · 4 months

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How to Find Affordable Backloading Services from Brisbane to Perth

Introduction

Moving can be an expensive and stressful process, especially when relocating over long distances like from Brisbane to Perth. However, backloading offers a cost-effective alternative that can help you save money while ensuring your belongings reach their destination safely. In this guide, we'll explore how to find affordable backloading services, what to look for in a moving company, and how to prepare for your move.

Understanding Backloading

What is Backloading?

Backloading is a moving service where your belongings share truck space with other customers' items, allowing you to pay only for the space you use. This method is particularly popular for long-distance moves and smaller loads, as it maximizes efficiency and reduces costs.

Benefits of Backloading

Backloading offers several benefits, including:

Cost Savings: Since you're sharing space with other customers, the cost is significantly lower compared to hiring a full truck.

Environmental Impact: By consolidating shipments, backloading reduces the number of trips and fuel consumption, making it a more environmentally friendly option.

Flexibility: Backloading services often have more flexible scheduling options, allowing you to choose a time that best suits your needs.

Why Choose Backloading for Brisbane to Perth

Cost Savings

One of the primary reasons to choose backloading for your move from Brisbane to Perth is the cost savings. Traditional moving services can be expensive, especially for long distances. By sharing truck space, you only pay for the portion of the truck you use, significantly reducing your moving expenses.

Environmental Benefits

Backloading is also an eco-friendly option. By consolidating multiple shipments into one trip, it reduces the number of trucks on the road and lowers fuel consumption. This helps decrease your carbon footprint and contributes to a more sustainable moving process.

Researching Backloading Services

Where to Start Your Search

Begin your search for backloading services by looking online. Use search engines, local directories, and social media platforms to find moving companies that offer backloading from Brisbane to Perth. Websites like Google Reviews and Yelp can provide valuable insights into the experiences of other customers.

Tips for Finding Reputable Companies

Check Credentials: Ensure the company is licensed and insured.

Read Reviews: Look for companies with positive reviews and testimonials.

Ask for Recommendations: Reach out to friends, family, or online communities for recommendations.

Evaluating Moving Companies

Checking Credentials and Licenses

When evaluating moving companies, it's crucial to verify their credentials. Ensure they are licensed to operate in both Queensland and Western Australia and have the necessary insurance to cover any potential damages.

Reading Reviews and Testimonials

Reading reviews and testimonials from previous customers can give you a better understanding of a company's reliability and quality of service. Look for consistent positive feedback and note any recurring issues mentioned in negative reviews.

Requesting and Comparing Quotes

How to Request a Quote

Contact several moving companies to request quotes. Provide them with detailed information about your move, including the size and weight of your belongings, any special requirements, and your preferred moving dates.

What to Look for in a Quote

When comparing quotes, consider the following factors:

Price: Ensure the quote includes all costs, including fuel, insurance, and any additional services.

Services: Check what services are included in the price, such as packing, loading, and unloading.

Availability: Confirm that the company can accommodate your preferred moving dates.

Understanding Pricing Factors

Factors That Influence the Cost of Backloading

Several factors can influence the cost of backloading, including:

Distance: The longer the distance, the higher the cost.

Load Size: Larger or heavier loads will cost more.

Season: Moving during peak seasons can increase prices.

Additional Services: Services like packing and unpacking can add to the cost.

How to Get the Best Price

To get the best price for your backloading service:

Book Early: Schedule your move well in advance to secure the best rates.

Be Flexible: If possible, be flexible with your moving dates to take advantage of lower rates.

Negotiate: Don’t be afraid to negotiate with moving companies to get a better deal.

Booking Your Backloading Service

Steps to Book Your Service

Once you've chosen a moving company, follow these steps to book your service:

Confirm Details: Ensure all details, including dates, addresses, and special requirements, are correct.

Sign a Contract: Read and sign the contract provided by the moving company.

Make a Deposit: Pay any required deposit to secure your booking.

Confirming Details with the Company

Double-check all details with the moving company a few days before your move. Confirm the date and time of arrival, contact information for the movers, and any special instructions.

Preparing for Backloading

Packing Tips for Backloading

Use Sturdy Boxes: Ensure your boxes are strong enough to withstand stacking and transport.

Pack Strategically: Place heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top.

Protect Fragile Items: Use bubble wrap or packing paper to protect fragile items.

How to Label and Organize Your Belongings

Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This will make unpacking easier and help the movers handle your items with care.

What to Expect on Moving Day

How the Backloading Process Works

On moving day, the movers will arrive at your home to load your belongings onto the truck. Since you’re sharing space with other customers, your items will be securely packed to prevent any damage. The truck will then make its way to Perth, where your items will be unloaded and delivered to your new home.

Tips for a Smooth Moving Day

Be Prepared: Have everything packed and ready to go when the movers arrive.

Stay Organized: Keep important documents and essentials in a separate bag that you take with you.

Communicate: Stay in touch with the moving company throughout the process.

Handling Delays and Issues

What to Do If There Are Delays

If there are any delays, stay calm and contact the moving company for updates. Most companies will keep you informed and provide an estimated arrival time.

How to Address Any Issues That Arise

If any issues arise during the move, such as damaged items, document the problem and contact the moving company immediately. Most reputable companies have procedures in place to handle such situations.

Post-Move Checklist

Tasks to Complete After the Move

After your move, there are a few tasks to complete:

Unpack Essentials: Start by unpacking the essentials you need right away.

Inspect Items: Check your belongings for any damage and report it to the moving company if necessary.

Clean Your New Home: Give your new home a thorough cleaning before settling in.

Updating Your Address and Utilities

Update your address with all relevant parties, including banks, government agencies, and subscription services. Also, ensure your utilities are set up and ready to go in your new home.

Maximizing Cost Savings

Additional Tips for Saving Money

Declutter: Get rid of any items you don’t need before the move to reduce the load size.

DIY Packing: Pack your belongings yourself to save on packing costs.

Use Free Materials: Collect free packing materials from local stores or friends.

Using Discounts and Promotions

Look for any discounts or promotions offered by moving companies. Some companies offer discounts for booking early or moving during off-peak times.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Pitfalls to Watch Out For

Choosing the Cheapest Option: Don’t choose a company based solely on price; consider their reputation and services as well.

Not Getting a Written Quote: Always get a written quote to avoid any surprises later on.

Ignoring Reviews: Read reviews and testimonials to get an idea of the company’s reliability.

How to Avoid Common Moving Mistakes

Plan Ahead: Start planning your move well in advance to avoid last-minute stress.

Communicate Clearly: Clearly communicate your needs and expectations with the moving company.

Stay Organized: Keep all important documents and information in one place for easy access.

Conclusion

Finding affordable backloading services from Brisbane to Perth doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By understanding what backloading is, researching and evaluating moving companies, and preparing effectively, you can ensure a smooth and cost-effective move. Remember to stay organized, communicate clearly, and plan ahead to make your move as stress-free as possible.

#interstatemovingchamps #interstate moving champs #backloading service from brisbane to perth #backloading brisbane to perth

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caravanaccessoriesonline · 11 months

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Type “Caravan Supplies Near Me” in Google to Find Caravan Supplies Stores

If you are searching for "caravan supplies near me" in Australia, your quest will come to an end with a number of trustworthy online caravan supply stores that provide premium, innovative camping and caravan supplies so you can enjoy the conveniences of home on the go at reasonable costs. These stores make sure they can offer portable cooking, refrigeration, and sanitary equipment for RV, caravan, and camping uses. They promise that all of their equipment, including kitchen and bathroom appliances, are created to be portable for camping and have been designed and tested to be a perfect addition to any caravan or motor home. They assert that they can offer top-notch Porta-Pottis, cassette toilets, and other cutting-edge caravan items for use while travelling with a caravan.

Their caravan fridges for sale are available in two models such as absorption and compressor. Their absorption models have features of three way power sourcing technology which makes it easier to stay off the grid for longer. Compressor is used for a more homely feel but packed into a powerful size for your caravan, camper or RV while on the grid. Their fridge for caravan use comes with a promise that it is been extensively tested to the highest quality standards. These caravan supplies shops ensure that their caravan fridge freezer for sale offers unparalleled first class cooling performance and runs as quietly as a whisper. They built to maximise use of available space.

Importance of Buying Caravan Supplies for a Caravan Trip:

Verified research indicate that you should purchase camping and caravan supplies that will make vacationing easier and more fun if you have family or friends who adore the outdoors or who are planning a summer camping trip. Caravan supplies are essential for a comfortable travel because they improve your on-the-road cooking, bathroom, and other amenities. Every family member can enjoy a caravan journey because to the convenience, safety, and added storage space that caravan supplies and camping equipment can offer. In Western Australia, camping is a fantastic way to experience the environment. Finding appropriate restrooms, though, might be difficult. Campers must bring their own portable toilets because there are frequently no restrooms accessible in campgrounds.

In summary, caravan stores offer various supplies such as toilet, refrigerators and more. Someone looking for caravan supplies should browse their website to shop.

Source

#caravan supplies near me #caravan fridges for sale

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dancingnotes · 1 year

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Cheap School Holiday Programs Perth

School holidays can be expensive for parents, but you don’t have to break the bank for your kids to enjoy some fun activities. Check out our list of cheap school holiday programs perth below!

Let your kids unleash their inner warrior at Lazer Blaze. This exciting game is sure to be a hit with the whole family!

Ranger Red’s Zoo & Conservation Park

Formerly known as Peel Zoo, the boutique zoo is home to over 100 native and exotic animal species. Its menagerie includes koalas, wombats, dingoes, exotic birds, reptiles, spotted quolls and possums. The zoo also offers visitors the chance to hand feed animals and pat kangaroos and ferrets in its unique ‘hands-on experience’.

Children can also learn about animal husbandry, feeding and captive breeding at the zoo’s Junior Zookeeper program. A highlight is a huge walk-through aviary, where guests can admire and interact with 150 bird species. The zoo’s Tasmanian devil breeding program is a top priority and contributes to the survival of the endangered species, which has been hit by an incurable facial tumour disease in the wild.

Other attractions include a camel ride, crocodile presentations and a salt water pond where visitors can feed the fish. The zoo also goes on the road to schools and childcare centres, shopping centres and aged facilities to provide interactive wildlife experiences with incredible furry, feathered and scaly creatures.

Outback Splash

Located on the doorstep of the Swan Valley in Bullsbrook and just over 30 minutes from Perth city, Outback Splash is a top family outdoor entertainment destination. The waterpark (open September to April) offers four awesome waterslides as well as year-round attractions including mini golf mazes sensory play activities a children’s playground Australian animal experiences and onsite food and beverage outlets.

Outback Splash’s 4 new slides have been designed with thrill-seekers in mind. The Wall, Blackout, Gold Rush and the Wedgie are all exhilarating raft slides that will have hearts pounding and blood pumping.

The island-themed Splash Island water slide playground and tower slide area is suitable for a range of age groups. There’s also Octopus Bay, a kid-friendly water activity pool that includes a 3-slide giant octopus and miniature tipping bucket – perfect for little adventurers. An expansive lawn area is great for picnics while onsite food and drink outlets The Burger Bar and Snack Shack serve fresh meals and locally-roasted Yahava coffee.

Rottnest Island

Known locally as ‘Rotto’, this day trip destination is an absolute gem. With 63 secluded beaches and bays to explore, it’s a wonderland for swimming, surfing, fishing, walking and more. It’s also home to the incredibly cute quokkas and many gorgeous bike rides.

Discover Rottnest Island’s unique cultural history on a guided tour with Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours & Experiences. Learn of the Wadjemup (Rottnest) Island’s significance to the Noongar people on an immersive experience that includes Dreamtime stories, songs and dances.

Get a great deal on an all-included day trip to Rottnest Island with this offer. After hotel pickup, hop on the ferry to cruise over to the car-free island and enjoy a full sightseeing tour that includes the Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks, Oliver Hill Guns and Tunnel, Cathedral Rocks, and Strickland Bay. Includes a box lunch, morning tea, round-trip ferry, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Kings Park

Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner city parks and offers a huge range of activities holiday programs. Enjoy sweeping views of the Swan River and city skyline from the vista points throughout the park. Visit the botanical gardens which have a huge focus on Western Australia’s native flora. Take a guided walk with a volunteer through the Botanic Garden on either a morning or afternoon walk. Or, climb all 101 steps of the DNA Tower for a unique view around the park.

There are many things to do in Kings Park including visiting the exhibitions at the Botanic Garden Discovery Centre. Or, explore the Yarra Yarra Riverwalk and May Drive Parkland or go for a bushland nature walk on the Boodja Gnarning Walk to experience the traditional Noongar use of the land.

The State War Memorial is a somber place for reflection and the May Drive (formerly Synergy) Parkland has a children’s nature playground with logs to balance on and rock climbing for kids.

#school holiday programs perth #school holiday programs #kids holiday programs perth #holiday programs perth #holiday programs

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tandrew · 1 year

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Back to posting from my January 2023 Malaysia/Australia Trip!

January 2023 - Thistle Cove to Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, Esperance, Western Australia

Our next stop in Cape Le Grand National Park after Frenchman Peak was one I had been excited to check out which is Lucky Bay where supposedly you could find kangaroos hanging out by the beach.

Unfortunately we didn't see any kangaroos, but we still had a nice scenic coastal trail run starting at Thistle Cove over to Lucky Bay and then back. It was a pretty short and flat 1.2 mile (2 kilometer) trail run with only 570.9 feet (174 meter) elevation gain.

We ran into another family (no pun intended!) and chatted a bit since they too were disappointed that they didn't see any kangaroos. We ran into them again as we turned around at Lucky Bay and then ran into them a third time when we got back to Thistle Cove lol. And when we were at Lucky Bay Brewing, when we ran into the first family who jokingly thought we found an elevator at Frenchman Peak, the two families happened to be friends!

📸 Susanna Tan (my cousin, twin sister, and road trip buddy!)

For the full experience (no login required if viewed on a web browser - just click the links!):

Public Facebook reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/215387678113964

Public Instagram reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ctw10OApHDJ/

#westernaustralia #westernaustraliaroadtrip #roadtrip #esperance #esperancewa #capelegrandnationalpark #capelegrand #hiking #trailrunning #luckybayesperance #luckybay #thistlecove

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bellelimous · 2 years

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Looking For The Right Wedding Car Hire

In the course if preparing for a wedding event, you can think that you have covered everything but it can actually be the opposite. Wedding preparations can be tricky since there are plenty of things you need to think about. Your best effort can still not be enough when you forget to search for the right wedding car hire. Every wedding is special and would require a fantastic car to complete the couple's matrimonial event. As a practical move, you should be hiring stretch limousines since this vehicle is huge and will accommodate the whole family at once.

Yet, before placing your reservations for this type of vehicle, search for local limo operators in your area. While many of these companies promise the best services but you still have to do your job in order to ensure that everything is taken cared of when it comes to your wedding transportation

The first best thing you should do is to ask from the people around you - like your friends or family, if they have tried a wedding car hire. Sometimes, you find your best options when people recommend a limousine service for you or they may discourage you from renting from a known source because they do not provide the best services. Ask if they have a good experience with the company you are eyeing to avoid being disappointed. Remember that it is a wedding that needs to be serviced by the best transportation.

Should you be accommodating guests from other places who have come to attend the wedding, then arrange for airport pickup on the day that these guests are coming. You can let your guests avoid the traffic by letting them ride a chauffeured car.

Mind your budget. You can rent a limo hire only as your budget allows you. If you have the chance to splurge, do it with a limousine rental. Take note that not all wedding car hire companies can impose the same rates. You can expect that limousines, especially the stretch vehicles, can impose higher hourly or daily rental than the ordinary cars. Smaller limousines also have lower charges so be on the lookout for the best deals. Low rates don't mean that you get good services. Thus, it would always be a good thing if you can do you research of reliable companies.

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Talk to the company if their units are insured and the particular car of choice. They also should be licensed to operate as limo providers since this will ensure that accidents on the road can be avoided. Better yet, inspect the unit that you want to rent. Ask for permission to check the units or the limousine fleet so you can pick the best ones during the inspection.

Ask if they allow out-of-town trips. Most limo companies offer this, and the itinerary for the day should be determined already.

Rent your limousine ahead of time. You are not wasting time when you settle this first since you may have other competition with a said unit for the particular days of renting a limousine. It is not rare to have the same wedding day with other couples who also want a limousine. To keep away from this coincidence means that you should book early for your limousine.

Belle Classic Limousines

4 Jones Street, O'Connor, Western Australia 6163, Australia

Phone: 0419559900

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://belle.net.au/

Company Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

External Links

Onenote.com

Penzu.com

Guilded.gg

Evernote.com

500px.com

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melbournenewsvine · 2 years

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Molly Schmidt Salt River Road won the TAG Hungerford Award

Coming of age story of small town life and the complexity of family and community relationships was based on Schmidt’s own experience growing up in Albany, a town in the Great Southern District of Washington, and losing her father to cancer. Schmidt was 15 when she first wrote the story idea in a notebook on a car trip from Albany to Perth. The Hungerford Prize has launched some jobs including that of the world’s best-selling author Natasha Lister. attributed to him: For a while it was “more of a therapeutic job” and it remained unchanged in my desk drawer while I got my degree in creative writing and started working in media. After three years as a journalist, she became “familiar with the ignoring and ignoring of Aboriginal stories and voices in the media in general” and it occurred to her that she was a writer in Western Australia with a responsibility to write in an inclusive manner. She decided to include Noongar characters in her book, but to avoid cultural appropriation, profiling, or symbolism, she did a college honors project in which she returned to Albany and consulted directly with the Noongar Elders. “In March of this year, when I presented salt river road To Hungerford, I have spent a few months in a six month period in Albany. I just started a new job in the ABC office there, and my partner, Pete, and I are still surrounded by packing boxes,” she told Fremantle Press at the time of her award nomination. “There was so much to do, a dog that needed a walk, and emails that needed checking, yet I wrote the ‘Hungerford Prize’ on the board in big red big letters. I never for a moment imagined I would be on the long list, let alone the list abbreviated, but it was my first time getting a full draft of my manuscript, and I had this nagging feeling of “If not now, when?” So she postponed her other jobs and spent weeks honing the manuscript for submission. “I thought it was the end of it. I was proud just to refine and submit the draft. Fremantle Press has always been my dream publisher salt river road; So, to be recognized by them? I’m still squeezing myself.” salt river road It will be published in November 2023. Follow WAtoday on InstagramAnd the LinkedInAnd the Facebook And the Twitter A handpicked selection of the biggest local, national and international news of the day. Source link Originally published at Melbourne News Vine

#Melbourne News Vine

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rein-ette · 3 years

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Are you still working on your Commonwealth study? Do you have any thoughts on Arthur's relationships with his colonies apart from Canzuk + US?

Not properly, unfortunately with exams and then work I haven’t had mental/emotional capacity to do real research (and probably won’t for a while 😔). But I have continued to think about and develop certain relationships, and I think I also have old hcs I’ve never shared, so I’ll put those down!

Born into the Empire

Australia

@oumaheroes has already done such great hcs on him idk what I can add, but basically he was a little bit of a rowdy child, always breaking windows and shattering fancy pots, never able to sit still. I think rainbow once mentioned that Ken (short for Kenneth, my name for Aus) was a lot like England as a child in his curiosity and energy, and I wholeheartedly agree. But I think Arthur’s intensity was more inwardly directed, pushing him to pursue and master new talents and learn whatever he could, while Australia is a little more carefree in his love for the outdoors, exploring, jumping around and off things, little wild animals. Unfortunately for him, he was born in a period of the empire when Arthur was very serious about his kids education, and therefore often praised those who studied hard and learned fast, which really just wasn’t Australia’s cup of tea. Australia took this kinda hard and thought he was the “dumb” one in the family that Arthur was always scolding, but in reality Arthur knew and appreciated that Australias interests lay elsewhere — he was just a frustrated, tired, parent who really wanted to give his kids the best while also holding his empire together, two goals that were never going to fit well in the end and would completely exhaust him.

As Australia’s grown older he’s realized a bit of this (not entirely, though) and also that 1) he really did break a lot expensive things and cause general mayhem 2) scolding us Arthur’s way of showing he cares, if he didn’t he wouldn’t have payed attention to him at all 3) despite being a penal colony, he was still one of Arthur’s more “legitimate” children (being white and a boy) and was therefore still incredibly privileged — never having to question, for example, why it was that Arthur was his dad, if it should be this way, or if he had a seat at the family table at all (more on this later).

New Zealand

Zee, from birth, was a clear favourite. Obedient, calm, quietly intelligent, he would also later develop a blistering sense of humour which combined with his appearance made it overwhelmingly clear who’s child he was. If Ken questioned his place in the family because of his poor academic record and others did because of their appearance/race/other complications, Kaelan never had such problems; his siblings called him the “prince.” Zee, however, also had a charm that, like Matthew, endeared him to his siblings and mostly protected him from jealousy, though he certainly still had issues with being called a try hard, daddy’s boy, bossy, arrogant. Certainly as a child Zee was a little prideful and, under that unperturbed demeanour, willful, but he grew out of it by the 20th century and became one of those most trusted by Arthur, second only to Matthew. He’s also always been inseparable from his brother Australia despite their differences, and today they both have one of the healthiest and most amicable relationships with Arthur of any nation, let alone former colonies (family road trips, every summer).

Bermuda

I absolute fell in love with this girl after reading about here, once, in this fic by @shachaai, and after that my mind just ran away with me. For me, her human name given to her by Arthur just has to be Ariel — for the little mermaid reference, yes, symbolizing her connection to the sea and stunning good looks, but also because:

1. Ariel is a biblical name, meaning lion of God. This makes sense to me, because Bermuda began as a Portuguese trade post, so Arthur definitely consulted our resident bad catholic Port before naming her.

2. Ariel used to be boys name. This also makes sense, because I hc Bermuda was and still is a tomboy. Bitch is fierce, takes no prisoners, and has zero filter. Her letters to Arthur, which all the colonies sent so Arthur could keep an eye on things, were full of shit like “I swear to god if the Spanish don’t get out of my waters I might eat one of them,” and “father, I asked you for destroyers two months ago, and yet you sent them to Hong Kong — could you explain this most unusual occurrence, surely it’s not that you forgot”, and “thank you for the harpoon on my birthday, I caught a small shark a couple days ago and have sent you some of its teeth for your collection.” Arthur tolerates this attitude because he’s weak when it comes to girls; he absolutely spoils his daughters (and flushes like a 16 year old when a woman so much as bats her eyelashes at him). Yes, p*ssywhipped Arthur is a hill I will die on.

3. It also suits her because? Ariel? Shakespeare? The Tempest? Bermuda Triangle? Shipwrecks? Daughter-like figure of powerful and vengeful sorcerer? Yeah. And this girl is a fire spirit — she is so lively, snarky, clever. As she’s grown older she’s mellowed out a little, but still: a no shit taken, no fucks given type of gal.

4. Speaking of growing up, she’s also become quite the beauty. Shacha, if I’m remembering correctly, described her as dark skinned, wavy-haired, and green eyed and that image has been burned onto the back of my eyelids ever since. Those Iberian genetics really be pulling through for her, that’s for sure. Engport love child if I’ve ever seen one. Definitely one of the prettiest in her family.

Singapore

I’ve already mentioned this to needcake, but I’m not too big a fan of canon Singapore, so this is my oc version. Singapore is fascinating to me because it had only a very small local population before it became a colony (The original settlement had actually been destroyed by the Portuguese about two centuries before the British started building a port there.) So nation-tans like Singapore and Bermuda really are Arthur’s children in the most direct sense of the word. And yet, Singapore is mostly ethnically Chinese, with Malays being the second largest group. Growing up Asian in a white, Victorian era family surely cannot have been easy and more than once Singapore probably wondered if there hadn’t been some mistake. To make up for the constant fear that he wasn’t “really” British, Singapore studied ferociously and had a truly terrifying work ethic. I’m not sure if this is common knowledge outside Asian circles, so I’ll mention that this hc comes from the fact Singapore is well known for having truly exceptional students and some of the most prestigious schools. Singaporeans score highly in literally everything and they have an advantage with good English learning environments, a highly desirable trait in Asia, but these results come from brutally long hours — and its really saying something that they’re known for working hard, considering the studying ethic of students in Korea, Japan, and China aint nothing to sneeze at, either. To me this actually fits really well with Singapore’s upbringing in Arthur’s household, because Arthur himself prizes intelligence and hard work above all else, being a workaholic himself.

As for their relationship, it was probably the best when Singapore was young and peaked in the 1930s with the massive naval base the British built at Singapore, at the time the largest dry dock in the world. Singapore was a well-behaved child, not necessarily introverted but not rowdy either, and all the way into his teenage years he truly admired Arthur and was proud to be a part of the British Empire, despite his lingering unease and insecurities. The British defeat in World War II, however, was a massive turning point. He had worked his ass off to be a good son, a good brother, to contribute to the only family and system he had ever known, and he had thought by the 30s he was finally on his way to becoming a fine adult. And suddenly, the British surrender brings his entire world crashing down. He had followed the rules faithfully thinking it was his destiny, but suddenly it was clear that all rules were made up. Of course, his insecurities exploded. If the empire was a ruse, what the hell was he? A part of the illusion? He couldn’t have a truly Asian identity, because many of the old East Asian nations shunned him for his Western upbringing, and he could not entirely understand their values either. So he was a kid who kinda had to figure out late and very very suddenly who the fuck he was and wanted to be.

And, well, he’s done pretty well for himself, hasn’t he. After having a total crisis and questioning everything, I think Singapore slowly started to realize that just because the British Empire as a political entity didn’t last forever, that didn’t mean that his entire childhood and identity weren’t real. The love he gave to his siblings and the love he got back, the hard work he put in, his bond with Arthur and the safe, happy childhood he had — those memories and feelings didnt have to be diminished by what came after. Essentially, he learned the lesson all nations have to learn, which is that one needs to be able to discern between duties as a nation and feelings as a human being, and to some extent keep them separate to protect both.

Whoooooo ok I’ll stop there because this turned into a dissertation, sorry. Let me know if there are any specifics u want me to elaborate on or anything I missed, but I’ll leave this here for today :)

#hws england #hws Australia #hws new zealand #oc: hws Bermuda #not gonna tag anymore I’m lazy #fun times with the commonwealth #I probably won’t write so much for all of them I just put it there to remind myself #needcake #ask #my hcs

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nikolai-novak · 3 years

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Nikolai’s Travel Timeline

Nikolai graduated from high school in 2018, shortly before his 18th birthday in August. Given his family circumstances at the time, he really needed to get away so he took advantage of the fact that he had a full drivers licence and more than enough money to fund his travels.

June 2018 - December 2018

Nikolai was inspired by a photographer that he really liked -- Brian DeFrees -- when it came to mapping out his road trip around the state. In 2011, Brian travelled through 30-odd states in 53 days to see all the major landmarks. Nikolai followed a similar pathway by catching a flight to Virginia, bought a Kombi van, and started the road trip. Nikolai, however, took a full six months to complete the trip. Nikolai visited the following states and explored significantly in each:

Virginia

South Carolina

Georgia

Florida

Louisiana

Texas

New Mexico

Arizona

Nevada (in which he caught up with old friends from high school)

California (in which he briefly stopped in and visited his parents to ease their nagging)

Oregon

Washington (in which he met August Bright for the first time and his intended short stay in Washington was extended considerably. This is a major contributing reason as to why a trip that could have been completed in two months ended up blowing out to six months in duration. (@augustbright)

Idaho

Montana

Wyoming

Utah

Colorado

Nebraska

South Dakota

North Dakota

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Iowa

Illinois

Ohio

New York

Nikolai then sold his Kombi van in New York and booked the cheapest round the world ticket that he could find. The ticket included flights from New York --> London --> Bangkok --> Singapore --> Sydney.

December 2018 - September 2019

After booking his flight to London, Nikolai spent the next nine and a half months backpacking around Europe. Now this was genuine backpacking, with Nikolai relying on various forms of transport -- including trains, buses, and even hitchhiking at times. His adventures were as follows:

Great Britain leg - England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland

Central Europe, primarily via train - Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, France

Balkans leg - Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo

Iberian leg - Spain and Portugal

Transylvanian leg - Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania

Baltics leg - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Russia

Scandinavia leg - Denmark, Sweden, Norway

South Caucasus leg - Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Greek Islands leg

Note: It was in London that he first met Hannah Callaghan. The two met in a bar, hit it off, and fell into bed together. Nikolai didn’t stay in London for long, however he and Hannah have remained in sporadic contact ever since and will always hook-up again when they’re in the same place at the same time. @hannahcallaghanmu

October 2019 - November 2019

After finishing in Europe, Nikolai booked the next flight on his round the world trip and headed to Bangkok. He spent the next two months backpacking around Thailand, both north and south:

Thailand - Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin, Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Samui, Khao Sok National Park, Krabi, Rai Leh, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta

December 2019

After finishing his travels in Thailand, Nikolai used the next part of his round the world the world ticket to head to Singapore.

Singapore - exhausted from all the backpacking, Nikolai just spent a week in a resort in Singapore. Whilst he did explore the city, he was mainly focused on relaxing and recuperating in a 5-star hotel after primarily sleeping in vans, backpacker hostels, and even tents in some places since first beginning his travels.

December 2019 - July 2020

After Singapore, Nikolai booked the last leg of his round the world ticket and headed to Australia. After landing in Sydney, Nikolai scoured local car dealerships and bought himself another second hand Kombi van and commenced a backpacking trip around Australia. Starting from Sydney, Nikolai’s journey was as follows:

New South Wales - The Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Byron Bay

Queensland - Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Lady Musgrave Island, Lady Elliot Island, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

He sold the Kombi van after finishing in Cairns so that he could fly over to Western Australia. After spending about a week on Rottnest Island, he managed to buy a second hand van that the owners had renovated for their own past long distance road trips. From there, the adventure continued:

Western Australia - Margaret River, Denmark, Albany, Esperance, Perth, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Karijini National Park, Broome, the Kimberley

Northern Territory - Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu, Katherine, Alice Springs, Uluru, The Red Centre

South Australia - Adelaide, Grampians National Park, then the Great Ocean Road into Victoria

Victoria - Melbourne, Carlton, St Kilda, Brighton, Collingwood, Fitzroy

Nikolai then sold the van, took a flight over to Tasmania, and rented a vehicle as he knew that he would only be there for a few weeks:

Tasmania - Hobart, Wild West Coast, Cradle Mountain, Launceston, Bay of Fires, Wineglass Bay, Port Arthur

Nikolai then took a flight to Australian Capital Territory, where he spent a few last days in Australia before having to fly back to start at MU:

Australian Capital Territory - Canberra, Jervis Bay

July 2020

After finishing his mammoth Australian adventure, Nikolai received the ultimatum from his parents: either come back to California and get a university degree or they would be cutting off his access to his trust fund. Nikolai requested a couple of weeks to think about it and immediately booked a flight to Bali, Indonesia. Nikolai spent the two weeks in Bali thinking about the offer, before reluctantly booking a flight back to California.

August 2020 - December 2020

It was during this period that Nikolai was a student at Monarch University, having enrolled to study Exercise Science and Physiology. Nikolai really didn’t want to be at university and certainly wasn’t passionate about his chosen major. Struggling to adjust to life at MU, Nikolai crunched the numbers and he realised he could continue funding his travel expenses through his travel and photography blog. With that realisation, he called his parents bluff and left campus. His parents didn’t fully cut off his access to the trust fund but did restrict it (meaning that he was able to withdraw less money than usual each month) but between that and his blog, he was able to make it work.

January 2021 - April 2021

After leaving MU, Nikolai impulsively booked a flight to Florida. He intended to just stay for a couple of weeks to party and blow off steam but ended up meeting Este Castillo (@estecastillo) in Miami. The couple of weeks turned into a few months whilst the two of them casually dated -- which is the most commitment that Nikolai has given to anyone since the whole mess with Lily. Whilst in Florida, his blog really started to take off. Despite the fact that he wasn’t travelling as extensively as he had in the past, people really loved his photos of Florida; and he had plenty of unseen pictures and stories from his previous adventures that he finally had the time to fully share. Este and Nikolai eventually had an amicable breakup as Nikolai was itching to hop on a flight.

May 2021 - June 2021

Hopping on a flight led Nikolai to another backpacking adventure, this time in Brazil. Nikolai really hit a sweet spot with his photography and travel blog -- when he had first started the account after finishing high school, he had posted a photo a day; which really was only the briefest snapshot of his adventures as he would take countless photos each and every day. Each photo was accompanied with a brief caption to explain where said photo was taken. Having had some time to fully fleshed things out in Florida, Nikolai started posting more and more of the photos that he had taken over the last few years and accompanied them with detailed stories. The combination of his photography and genuine passion for travel was a recipe for success and this only continued as he backpacked through Brazil for two months.

July 2021 - current

Nikolai is back at MU and studying Business and Photography because he wants to figure out a way to make his blog into a sustainable career. Nikolai still has thousands of photos in his back catalogue that he can share, along with countless stories. Still, he’s making sure to supplement the blog by fully exploring everything that California has to offer; and whenever he can, he will take short weekend trips away or make the most of semester breaks to ensure that people get a good combination of both old and new content.

#muse #travels #nikolai's travel journey #itinerary #guys #you have no idea how long this took #what a mammoth effort #yet I regret nothing

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kyndaris · 4 years

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Flower Trains and Musicality

Seeing an old bridge as we drove along the new Grafton Bridge towards the place we were staying at, my mother immediately wanted to find a way to get close and snap a photo. Put upon by my mother’s disappointment that she hadn’t been able to do it when we arrived, I made sure that, as we packed our bags ready for the next leg of our trip around northern New South Wales, to find a way to get underneath the rickety, single lane death trap for an opportunity with the camera. And as we greeted the morning joggers, it wasn’t long before we were back in the car to take a gander at the park that my grandmother visited a year and a half ago, when COVID-19 was still just a tickle in someone’s throat.

As it was not quite the season, the treas were mostly bare of the iconic purple flowers. My grandmother was quick to reminiscence about her time there, spent with a gaggle of other elderly ladies such as herself. Looking around, she was surprised to see a new playground that had recently popped up. True to form, both my mother and grandmother regressed to their childhood years as they swung on the swings and tried to make music out of colourful xylophones. Being the only adult there, I snapped a few shots and was eager to leave within minutes of arriving. After all, there was still a lengthy drive ahead of us and I wanted to get a good head start.

Our next stop on the tour of northern New South Wales was Armidale. The reason why? Because my mother was eager to take photos of the university campus. Along the way, we rested briefly at a lookout for the Guy Fawkes river. Terrified of the huge flying wasp-like insects, it took me a good long while to sit my tush down on the toilet seat. But I did! By the time I left the compost toilet, my mother had already scoped out the area and was heading down a nearby track to take a look at the scenery. She was followed by my grandmother, who admired the nearby waterfall that she felt was much more admirable than the one at Natural Bridge.

Once I had safely herded the two children back to the car, we were back on the road, winding through several road work projects, before we finally arrived at Armidale at noon. By now, we were hungry and so I, being a faithful navigator, searched up a few local restaurants. With a lot of choices vetoed, I decided to try Paper Tiger - a fusion of West and East. To my surprise, both my mother and grandmother were open to the choices and we had an excellent meal before we headed to the University of New England.

Driving around campus, my mother admitted that she had not taken a photo with the Hogwarts-esque building at the University of Sydney. As an alumni of the University of New South Wales, I was disheartened to hear her say how superior the architecture was at the rival university and tried to point out many of its flaws. Still, it did not deter her and there’s every possibility that one of these days, she’ll go visit the University of Sydney campus just to play Chinese tourist.

Most of the buildings around the University of New England was less than impressive. We did, however, stop by a Museum of Natural History. It had a tortoise display near the front and what appeared to be a dinosaur behind it. Unfortunately, it was closed. And so, we resumed our impromptu look around UNE. Satisfied that we had taken photos of the most prominent buildings, we started on the long journey to Tamworth: the home of Australian country music.

We arrived quite early. After checking in, summoning what little energy remained, we headed to the Golden Guitar. After snapping a shot of the sculpture outside the visitor information centre, my mother was adamant about seeing the Australian Standing Stones. To her dismay, she learned that they were NOT in Tamworth, but actually in Glen Innes.

In the end, she settled for the busts of many music greats at the Botanical Gardens of Tamworth, though she wasn’t very happy about it.

Our last day of travel was really a mad dash back to Sydney. Knowing that my friend had returned from Western Australia and was temporarily staying at Muswellbrook as they looked for more permanent lodgings due to the nature of her husband’s job, I also determined to drop by and say ‘hello.’ This we did. As we caught up, chatting about life and future career choices, we also looked out on the horde of bats that had set up home in the trees behind her hotel. It made me a little uneasy, wondering if there was a possibility of new diseases springing forth from the Australian country.

COVID-19, while contained and subdued in Australia, was still threatening the livelihoods of many people around the world. Still reeling from the disaster of the pandemic, it was very easy to see the spread of more deadlier viruses. All trapped in those blind flying mammals.

An hour passed in quiet chatter before we were on the road again, reinvigorated for the last part of our journey home. In many ways, it was a mad dash. Three hours it took (trapped due to traffic once we had finally arrived in Sydney because of school zones), for us to finally arrive at our front door. But it was all worth it in the end as we unpacked and unloaded and I finally got to go back on my computer.

The trip around northern New South Wales had its ups and downs. After all, it wouldn’t have been a family trip if we didn’t have a few arguments along the way. While I didn’t get to spy on the Hemsworth family or stalk Zac Efron, I did get to see a few interesting things on my trip, as well as sneak in a bit of gaming. And while I don’t think I’ll ever feel a hundred percent comfortable in the country towns of Australia - I know that I’m no stranger to this country. Small pockets of diversity exist, even in the most far-flung places. True, Sydney probably has them all beat in terms of quality and authenticity of multicultural food, but it’s also nice to see friendly faces everywhere.

#personal blog #travel blog #visit nsw #domestic travel

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conqueror4x4 · 4 years

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Camping – Know before you do?

Camping is an open-air activity including all night stays away from home in a shelter, such as a tent or a recreational vehicle. Usually, members leave developed areas to be with the nature along with the activities providing them enjoyment. The night (one or more) spent outdoors differentiates camping from day-tripping, picnicking, and other similarly short-term recreational activities.

Camping can be a nourishing, bonding experience with your friends and family.

However, it could turn into a nightmare affecting portable-stove-nuked sausages, collapsing tents, and invading bears. Fortunately, there are many measures you can take to fix camping ahead of time and grab yourself a wholesome, outdoor experience.

Let us take you through the top camping spots.

Cleaverville, WA – It is Located between Karratha and Whickham, approximately 1600 km from Perth. The water here is like glass and is for months on end. The fishing was spectacular, and the diving even more so.

EYRE PENINSULA, SA - The water is not exactly tropical and is home to some rather big sharks, but it has some of the Australia’s most dramatic coastline, the best seafood in the country and next to no tourists.

Francois Peron National Park, WA – It is in the northern part of Shark Bay/Denham, approximately 830 km from Perth. This is close to Perth; you can come across the orange sand butting up to pristine white beaches and stunning blue ocean. You can lie/ sit at top of the National Park and oceanic beauties like whales, turtles, sharks, seals and a heap of other wildlife swim right by. There are lots of places to camp here.

MOUNT AUGUSTUS, WA - Most impressive thing here is Mount Augustus, the world’s biggest rock.

England Track, NSW – It is located just south of Coffs Harbour, approximately 500 km from Sydney. The England Track is about a quick drive out of town and is a steep, slippery route that is a worthy challenge for any vehicle and driver.

WESTERN DESERT, WA - It is about as remote as you can make but spending time in the desert is an experience that last forever. These are challenging but really are the ultimate roads less travelled.

There are many things that every Off Road Camper Australia will need to bring for Conqueror Australia. There are also a few items that are necessary for the Conqueror Off Road Campers and Conqueror Off Road Caravans but needn’t be carried by every individual member of the party.

For the most part, we need these things no matter where we are heading for. Because we use these items on each and every trip, it is always wise to prioritize these things when allotting your camping-gear budget. Like sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight, multi tool, survival kit. Few things are required for the whole camping party like tent, Water purifier, camp stove, first aid kit, Mess kit, Map.

On the Other Hand, car campers will probably want to double or triple the length of this list. And if you are driving up to your campsite, there is nothing wrong with that at all.

Happy and Relaxing Camping!

#Conqueror Australia #Conqueror Off Road Campers

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canaryrecords · 4 years

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According to George Katsaros’s WWII draft registration, he was born April 3, 1898 in Trikala in western Thessaly, Greece. He arrived through Ellis Island alone on October 20, 1913, and his declared age at the time was 17, which would have meant he was born in 1896-7. His brother Harry (whose also WWII card as well as a 1930 border crossing document also give Thessaly as his place of birth) had preceded him and settled in the Detroit area. Their parents’ names were Kristos (Gustos) and Zoe.

Much of the information about Katsaros’ life that has circulated for decades, drawn from stories he told in the 1980s and 90s when he was an old man, including that he was born ten years earlier on the island of Amorgos with the surname Theologitis appears to be false. For reasons we haven’t ascertained, Katsaros was by then an untrustworthy narrator of his own life. Two serious studies of his biography and music have been undertaken - one in Greek by Panagiotis Kounadis (which, unfortunately, I have not been able to read because of the language barrier) and another in English by Steve Frangos. The interviews conducted by Frangos in 1985 (available through the site of the State Library and Archives of Florida) and that articles Frangos subsequently wrote based on on those interviews are an invaluable resource on Katsaros’s self-mythology and some of what follows in drawn from them.

Katsaros’s memories of his life were often highly detailed and therefore more or less verifiable. There are some vast craters in his narrative and some apparent fantastic invention. It seems reasonable to suppose that he is telling the truth that he was playing at a cafe called the Zapeion in New York around early 1917 when he had an opportunity to go to San Francisco to play at the Minerva and Acropolis Cafes, both on Folsom Street. The Minerva at the time widely promoted its family-friendly French dinners and 30 cent vegetarian lunches while, around the same time, being under close scrutiny by the police for underworld activity, resulting in the 1919 withdrawal of its liquor license after a fire and a drugging-and-theft incident there made the news in quick succession. Police found the cafe in violation of the wartime prohibition act.

Katsaros named no less than 16 towns in California where he played during the period 1917-18 and another dozen in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, and Nevada in 1918-19. Performing a wide array of traditional Greek (and some Armenian) folk songs for audiences of agricultural workers, port workers, and miners, he spoke in generalities of this period, but the fact that he names specific venues (the Parthenon and the Aphrodite in Salt Lake City, for instance) and some bandmates, including cymbalom players Frank Gazis, who later recorded with violinist Demetrios Poggis, and Spiros Stamos, who later recorded for the Greek Record Company in Chicago, gives credence to his story. He bragged of earning $50 ($750 now) a night, often playing almost continuously from 7PM to 2AM. By 1920, he says, he was back east, playing at the Kentron Restaurant at 1018 Locust Street in Philadelphia. His claim of having been called to sign a 5 year contract with Victor Records in 1919 seems to be fabricated or at least unverifiable, as were his descriptions of a tours to Mumbai, India (via Australia, Burma, Singapore, and other locations) or his assertion of a 1924 trip to Algeria, Tunis, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa. "My records, they went all over the world," he said. "From every place in the United States and South America and Europe [...] they pay me and I take a boat and I go. Playing for the big concerrts. I play for the churches, for the rich people." But he hadn't actually made any records yet.

We can be sure of two significant events in the Summer of 1927. On June 6 and 16, he made his first recordings for Victor across the bridge from Philadelphia in Camden, New Jersey, resulting in his first issued disc, a 12” with the zeibekiko “Elleniki Apolausis (Greek Pleasure)” on one side and “A Kakoorga Eli (Cruel Hearted Elli)” on the flip. And then, at 29 years old, he married a 20 year old woman named Ouranea (b. Dec. 25 1907; d. April 28, 1984). Years later, she told a newspaper that she was the niece of Theodoros Pangelos who had become President of Greece in April 1925 in the aftermath of a coup, only to be deposed August 1926 in a counter-coup.

By June 24, 1928, George and Oura were in Michigan, where George’s brother Harry lived, for the birth of their first daughter Arete (Rita). During the onset and and deepening of the Great Depression four more children arrived there near Detroit - Steve (Jan. 13, 1930), Cleopatria (ca. 1933), James (ca. 1934), and Paul (April 23, 1936.) Parallel to the growth of their family, George made approximately annual trips to New Jersey, New York City, and Chicago to record. His memory in 1985 of the number of sides he made during that period is pretty close to the facts: 18 for Columbia and 36 for Victor, he said. In fact, he released 8 on Columbia and 33 for Victor as well as an additional 20 or so for Victor that were rejected and unissued. At present, we have evidence of one concert during that period, a fundraiser for the Women’s Organization for National Prohibition Reform under the auspices of a Greek organization in Detroit on December 1, 1931 along with a Greek soprano and pianist. A photo given by Katsaros to the researcher Pangiotis Kounadis in 1987 apparently depicts him with a friend in the early 1930s in Birmingham, England.

His reputation as a seminal force in the development of rebetika, the music of the Greek underworld, based on certain of his 1920s and 30s discs is only part of the story of what he did. The vast majority of what he recorded were his own compositions and many of them spoke plainly of the nightlife, of an empathic eye for modern women, a wicked confidence as a gambler, a powerful appetite for hashish, rough companions, and the hustling all of it entails. He also recorded songs that were comedic or deeply pathetic, as often in tango rhythms or with similarities to American songsters like Jimmie Rogers or Mexican conjunto as they were to the zeibekiko rhythms and quasi-Turkish tonalities of the rebetika demimonde that grew in Athens at the same time. Playing a spruce-topped Martin parlor guitar made in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, his songs were straight-shooting, deeply honest, and totally syncretic of his experience as a Greek-American. There is nothing Hellenistically “purist” about Katsaros’s records, but they are adamantly pure in their relationship to his own sense of himself. That is what made him so unique and, perhaps, what made him one of the very, very few Greek performers to have been able to continue to record at all during the 1930s in the U.S. The 1929 stock market crash had simply ended the recording careers of most the Greek-American performers on records, including for instance Marika Papagika, (with whom Katsaros said he worked in the 30s on the road and characterized as a "very very lovely singer and a very very good person") or made their performances feel like remnants of the “old world." It was Katsaros’ singular approach to his instrument and his plain-talking songwriting, as in his exhortation of Herbert Hoover at the end of his Depression ballad “With Pockets Empty” or his lament for the sick “Mother, I Have Tuberculosis [Consumption]” that gave his records such legs that they were regularly repressed, year after year into the 1940s.

Katsaros claimed to have recorded another 24 sides for Decca in the 1930s-40s, but we have no evidence of those having been released. We know that he made about 10 sides for the Gary, Indiana independent label Grecophone and then in the 1940s about six sides for the New York Metropolitan label (related to Adjin Asllan’s Balkan label) and four or more for Standard (run by Tetos Demetriades, who had previously been the head of the Foreign division of Victor in the 1930s and had championed Katsaros then).

In 1940 his family of seven was living in Wayne, Michigan in a heavily Polish neighborhood along with a 51 year old boarder, who, like George, was making $1,900 ($35,000 today) a year working six days a week as a switchman for the Grand Trunk Railroad between Six Mile and Nine Mile of Detroit. The census that year also counted them at another house in Tarpon Springs, Florida where a "John Katsaros" is listed as the head of the household was working as a driver. Katsaros spent the Summer of 1943 playing hotels in the Catskills - the Monte Carlo, the Olympia, and the Sunset. Performing was lucrative enough that he and Oura got their picture in the Detroit Free Press that November for having bought a total of $842 in War Bonds (about $12,500 today), and his occupation was mentioned as “nightclub performer.” But on February 7, 1945, they divorced. He was 46; she was 37. A few years earlier the German occupying forces in Athens had killed his mother for having hidden two American servicemen. Her house was burned. George’s sister Sophia survived and later emigrated to the U.S.

By 1950, he was living in Brighton, Massachusetts at 100 Washington Street. On his way home just before 5 in the morning in November, 1952 Katsaros was robbed at gunpoint. The two muggers grabbed $150 in small bills from his inner jacket pocket but, he said, neglected to check his pants, where he had another $2,000 in cash.

Meanwhile, back home, George and Oura’s eldest child was in the papers. Having been drafted in 1949 to the Korean war, he’d been called back for another year of service as an enlisted infantryman in 1950. On February 12, 1951 he was captured and held as a prisoner of war until August 1953. He was 23 years old when he was reunited with his mother and siblings, living at 2961 Hanley St in Hamtramck, Michigan, including his younger brother James who had also served in Korea. Every member of the family is mentioned in the press notices of his joyful return except for his father.

Katsaros worked in the late 50s in Chicago in Boston at the Club Zara at 475 Tremont St. According to researcher Amy E. Smith, the Club Zara might have had mob ties. On May 6, 1960, 25 days of police surveillance a resulted in the dispersal of a crowd of 300 people at midnight and the arrest of seven women (five of them dancers in their 20s) and five men (including the maitre d, the manager, and an Armenian singer) under charges of “participating in or contributing to an immoral show.” Whether Katsaros was present that night or was even still working there at the time, we don't know. He said in 1985 that he’d been one of its cofounders and took credit for hiring the club’s first bellydancer “Morocco.” The trial that resulted from the raid was a media circus, and all but one of those arrested was fined between $200 and $1500. Four of the dancers were given 3 to 6 months in prison. One dancer lost custody of her eight year old daughter. The club lost its liquor license. The District Attorney told the press “This is filth, real filth. It’s about time we get rid of that show.” If they’d been looking for evidence of underaged employees or other illegal activities, the catalyst for the raid was when one dancer’s bra straps snapped.

Whether or not Katsaros was still in Boston when the raid happened, by about 1962 he’d moved to Holiday, Florida near Tarpon Springs, a town founded in the 16th century as a Greek sponge fishing village. Through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, he performed sporadically at Greek community events and restaurants, often with the accordion player John Gianaros whom he’d known since the 40s back in New York. Katsaros was getting old with several lifetimes’ worth of experiences and songs in the head, still covered in a thick pile of of kinky hair that he kept vainly under a net at home.

When a new generation of Greeks got hip to the 1920s-30s material of the old dope-smoking hipsters, they found him there in Florida. At 80-something years old, he wanted to know where the money was. In 1985, he asked Steve Frangos about how to collect royalties on his recordings from 50 years earlier or how to get a new record deal. In 1988, he traveled to Greece to perform and gave interviews. His old music was reissued. In March 1995, he was flown again to Greece to be honored by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at a widely-broadcast concert and spoke and played for his countrymen (now available on YouTube).

When he died at home in Holiday, having outlived practically everyone who could have remembered him, on June 22, 1997 at the age of 99, newspapers around the world told an incredible story about 109 year old badass, a walking antique, who had been everywhere and done everything. Among them, the researcher Aydin Chaloupka noticed a mention in the Pappas Press that Katsaros had a birth certificate from Amorgos for one Yiorgos Theologitis born in 1888 that he'd had authenticated and showed visitors, letting them make copies of it. The story he told that his last name Katsaros was a stage name referring to his his hair ("katsaros" means "kinky" or "curly" in Greek) might hold true if his brother, a grocer in Detroit, didn't share the same name.

Why would Katsaros lie about his date and place of birth and go the trouble of obtaining someone else's birth certificate? We can only speculate, but it is not out of the question that there was something in his life that he did not want to catch up with him even as he attained some notoriety in the late 1980s. Perhaps is was the family he left behind in Detroit in the mid-40s. Perhaps it was the authorities for something he'd done (or felt he'd done) wrong. Perhaps it was some of the underworld characters he'd crossed paths with in the course of his career. Maybe the birth certificate was an insurance policy so that, if someone knocked on his door, he could say "you've got the wrong guy. I'm not George Katsaros, born 1897 in Thessaly. I'm Yiorgos Theologitis, born 1888 on Amorgos." Plausible deniability.

Something is true. But George Katsaros was probably not the person who would have told you.

#rebetiko #78rpm #78 rpm #greek #immigrant #rebetika

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rilefdsarthur-blog · 4 years

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Benefits of CBD

There are so many good reasons why you should visit Perth in Western Australia. I will tell you why in the next few hundred words as a 'local boy' who has lived here for the past 25 years. I believe Perth is still one of those hidden gems that many tourists know nothing about, or confuse as being the same as Australia's better known Eastern capital cities such as Sydney & Melbourne.

The truth is, Perth is very very different than these much larger cities that are comparable with other major cities in the world such as London & San Francisco. Perth is simply not in the same size bracket as these cities. Perth is a small city of approximately 1 million people & is the size of many large towns in other parts of the world.

This much smaller size, coupled with the remoteness, the pristine beaches & coastline, world class wineries & surfing Benefits of CBD breaks, magnificent caves, tall timber forests, & an excellent road system to get to these places within a half a day from the CBD, makes Perth a fantastic city to visit & live.

I moved here with my family from Sydney looking for a better quality of life with my young family, seeking to get out of the rat race as so many people do. What we found was a much slower pace of life, with significantly less traffic, allowing us to travel much greater distances in much less time than a city the size of Sydney. The people were much more relaxed & very friendly & welcoming. There is a saying in the other major Australian cities that WA (Western Australia) stands for 'wait awhile', sarcastically suggesting that the pace of life is too slow, & the locals too laid back & relaxed.

Well I think this is exactly what Perth's unique appeal is based on. We are not a thriving metropolis with a population of millions of people, living in a predominantly over-crowded city with an infrastructure that is struggling to cope. Instead, there is room to spread-out, with a spacious feeling that is best demonstrated on local beaches & tourist destinations that are often sparsely numbered with visitors during the week, & even on weekends there is plenty of room for all. Contrast this with common scenes of packed beaches, zoos, & other tourist destinations in other capital cities around the world.

As a tour operator I probably get to appreciate more than most these unique benefits of living in & visiting Perth. I take visitors on wine tours through the week, & many times we are almost the only ones at some locations. The roads are almost empty with traffic allowing a most enjoyable trip & the ability to fit so many more stops into the trip. I do fully appreciate how fortunate I am as I often take time-out to look up at the clear blue sky on a beautiful sunny day as I sit outside with a tour group, & say thank you for my great job in such a great city. I get to share this experience over & over again with many different people, all agreeing what a great time they have had while visiting this perhaps lesser-known & under-appreciated tourist destination.

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