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The Rodin Museum in Paris and why I love it
The ‘Musee Rodin’ or Rodin Museum is one of my all-time favourite places to spend time in Paris. I never tire of visiting and always recommend friends go there to enjoy the sculpture, art and the peace and tranquility of the gardens in the heart of always bustling Paris. The museum building is compact but the garden surrounding it means it never feels crowded. There are so many galleries and museums in Paris that small establishments can be overshadowed by the larger, more famous galleries such as the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay. However, if you are a fan of sculpture the Musee Rodin is a must-see. Even if you’re…
Another country, another expat birthday
It was my birthday this week, my third in Australia, and it made me think how different birthdays feel when you are an expat. I’m a strong believer in the many benefits of spending some time living as an expat. However, expat birthdays are not for the faint-hearted. Cultural birthday differences For a start there can be different traditions. In Turkey young boys must approach birthdays with at least a bit of trepidation because, as exciting as a rite of passage might be, being circumcised sounds daunting to say the least. I can’t remember the number of times in Turkey, I would be distracted from whatever I was doing by…
Yabby racing in Western Australia
Before living in Australia I had no idea what a yabby was. I think Home and Away characters refer to a place called ‘Yabby Creek’ periodically, but beyond that reference I had never had occasion to give the creatures a second thought. So, when I learned there was a local event devoted to the crustaceans, I was keen to check it out. Towns in regional Australia regularly hold ‘fun days’ to bring the community together, often to raise money for local community groups or charities. That is exactly what Grass Patch’s ‘Yabby Classic’ is all about. What is a yabby? Yabbies are freshwater crustaceans found in waterways around Australia. They…
Fiji’s Hindu culture revealed at Sri Suva Subramaniye Temple
After seeing a few photos and hearing that Sri Suva Subramaniya Temple, in Nadi, is the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere I considered it a ‘must see’ on a recent trip to Fiji, both because I was interested in the structure as a Hindu place of worship and also because, according to what I knew at that time, it seemed a little out of place in Fiji. The island nation proved itself to be a fascinating melting pot of people, culture and religion however and a visit to the temple is a great way to learn about Fiji’s Hindu culture. The Indian population of Fiji Before visiting Fiji…
How to save money in Barcelona
Barcelona, with its tasty food, nightlife, city beaches and unique Gaudi-built architecture is an exciting and colourful city to explore. However, with so much to keep visitors occupied costs can build up quickly. Here are my tips on how to save money while enjoying the best Barcelona has to offer. Barcelona city transport Like most large European cities, Barcelona has an extensive and reliable public transport system. Buy a T10 ticket for less than €10 and you can take 10 trips on the metro or bus. Not only is it simpler than paying individual fares, as long as you take 10 trips, it is cheaper. If you plan to visit…
Why I fell in love with Fiji
Have you ever visited somewhere and absolutely fallen in love with it? I have been to many different countries and can count on one hand the number of places I have visited and instantly felt a connection with. I’m not sure if it is my familiarity with the Caribbean, or something else, but a recent trip to the south pacific promptly added Fiji to that list. Here’s why I fell in love with Fiji. Friendly Fijians I absolutely believe that it is the people that make the place and the Fijians are a genuinely friendly and lovely bunch. These days it can be easy to feel cynical when strangers are…
Why it is ok to be a Tourist
The travel community can be snobby about what defines travel, and in turn, travellers. Often, being described as a tourist seems derogatory. Of course it all comes down to perspective. Perhaps you get jealous when friends book a cruise or, if you’re a busy Londoner nipping to Oxford Street, getting stuck behind a group of tourists marvelling at everything may be frustrating. Tourists are regularly blamed when towns are busy and locals slightly inconvenienced, but how did you feel last time you were somewhere new? It was a conversation with a stranger in the supermarket last week that prompted me to write this post. Living in the most remote town…
Swim with Pigs in the Bahamas
Do you fancy doing something different on your next holiday? How about going on a trip to an island paradise in the Bahamas and, er, going swimming with pigs? I did say ‘different’! Contrary to tradition, it is not simply Hollywood’s elite that lives in luxury in the Bahamas. There is a gang of extremely lucky pigs that also call the island paradise ‘home’. A group of around 20 wild pigs live on Big Major Cay in the Exumas and welcome visitors. They are accustomed to guests and food coming hand in hand, so as soon as they hear the sound of visitors in the shallows the pigs come trotting…
Things to do on Norfolk Island
Remote Norfolk Island has an interesting, albeit somewhat brutal, history but what else is there to do on the island? Actually there is a lot to keep visitors occupied. Whether you’re fascinated by history and want to uncover the human stories of Norfolk Island, or want to enjoy outdoor activities in the unique Pacific scenery, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few things to start with. Kingston Historic Kingston was once the primary settlement on Norfolk Island and is home to the ruins of the second penal settlement that was on the island. You can wander around the ruins of the prison, hospital, crankmill and several stores. Seeing these…
Will Australia make an honest woman of me?
Australia swelled with even more national pride than normal last weekend in celebration of Australia Day. With January 26 being a Sunday, Monday was declared a public holiday and Australia basked (read ‘melted’) in the sunshine for a long weekend. Australia Day is widely promoted as an opportunity to appreciate the much-celebrated privilege of living in Australia, to understand and respect cultural differences and take pride in the country’s multicultural society. As a colleague put it however, it is also a chance to ‘get your bogan on’ and go around shouting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!” while sculling beer. Australians are frequently accused of being racist and interestingly, a few weeks before…
