Meeting other passengers is all part of the experience and this rather makes up for the hard and somewhat uncomfortable seating. People are friendly and may even share their food with you, however hawkers ply their wares on board too so you’re never too far from hot corn, chewing tobacco or various drinks.

The entire journey takes about 3-4 hours but at any point along the way you can jump off and catch a taxi or bus back into town. Tickets cost USD $ 1 for foreigners regardless of where you get off. Take your passport.

The Yangon Central Railway Station was first built in 1877 and again in 1954 using Burmese traditional architectural style with tiered roofs.

The Central station is a busy area full of waiting and disembarking passengers.

The crush of boarding. Some passengers bring all sorts of things on board with them from children to sacks of vegetables or live chickens.

The basic wooden seats inside the carriage are not the most comfortable but the social and communal atmosphere on board is enjoyable.

Smiling passengers pass by on another train.

The train flits through the inner city past typical housing like this.

A Muslim passenger on board the train.

Getting some shuteye at any of the stations is hard when a train trundles by.

A hat seller on the platform. Sellers with bananas, corn, tobacco and other paraphernalia are constantly jumping on and off hawking their wares.

Passenger portrait.

A friendly mother with her daughter wearing the thanaka, a cosmetic paste made from ground bark.

At some stations the platforms become makeshift markets during the day.

A tomato seller at one of the stations.

As the train gets further from the inner city there are more scenes like this one with open fields, rivers and more rural dwellings.

In this part of the city much of the land is given over to agriculture.

A common sight in this area are people using this hand held watering system.

All images by Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

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Cantilever Indoor Swimming Pool, Shanghai

If you’ve got enough pluck to brave this indoor pool, you can enjoy the experience of floating 100 metres above the streets of Shanghai. Suspended 24 floors above the ground the glass bottom on this pool is a real eye opener both for pedestrians on the streets below and those swimming in the pool. Those that don’t take the plunge can still enjoy sky high views out across Shanghai from the poolside lounge. The pool is located in the Holiday Inn, Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao.

Pic: Holiday Inn

Ross Jones Memorial Pool, Coogee Beach, Sydney

Sydney’s many ocean pools are one of the many delights of this city. Located south of the bridge, the pristine Ross Jones pool dates back to 1947 and has a unique design with turret-like concrete piers. Part of the aesthetic value of this pool is its location on superb Coogee Beach under the Surf Life Saving Club.

Pic: Rmonty 119 / Robert Montgomery, Creative Commons

Seagaia Ocean Dome, Japan

Ocean Dome in Miyazaki was 300 metres long, 100 metres wide and 500 metres from the sea. It also had a retractable roof that had clouds and a blue sky even on a rainy day, and the temperature inside was always an even 30 degrees. For all that it won the honour of being the world’s largest indoor swimming pool. However sadly the waterpark, part of the Phoenix Seagaia Resort Hotel, closed in 2007. Other features here included a sand beach, artificial volcano and wave generating machine.

Pic: Megapixie (Max Smith), Creative Commons

Chime Long Water Park, Guangzhou, China

This water park has the distinction of being the largest in the world. With internationally designed rides and attractions Chime Long offers plenty of splash for your buck. These have names such as the Master Blaster®, Family Boomerango^TM and AquaPlay Giant RainFortress^TM. While it’s huge at 400,000 square metres, expect to enjoy it with enthusiastic but large crowds. On one day alone it once boasted 35,000 guests and in 2011 recorded 1.9 million visitors.

Pic: whitewaterwest.com

Sands SkyPark Infinity pool, Singapore

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel has made yet another Asian best of list thanks to its 150 metre long infinity pool. This is one that might actually make you want to do some laps, although you’ll be hard pressed to tear your eyes from the view and concentrate on your strokes. This is pretty much a swim on top of the world at 57 stories, or 200m, above Singapore’s CBD. If you’re at all afraid of heights keep away from the vanishing edge! And if you were hoping to sneak past the door or pay an entry fee, do note the pool is for hotel guests only.

Pic: Marina Bay Sands.

The Red Pool, Koh Samui

It may look like the setting of a horrific murder scene, but the red colour of the pool at The Library on Samui’s Chaweng Beach is actually thanks to a base of mosaic tiles and the reflection from red mattresses around the edges. So no one has died. This is of course a boutique hotel and there are plenty of other similar funky touches in its design. Located along the Chaweng seafront with its white beaches, the signature red of the pool is indeed a contrast. At night underwater lights are turned on in the pool.

Pic: thelibrary.co.th

Visit any of these monuments and you’ll come across strolling locals, souvenir sellers, cafes, religious activity and all the life and breath of a living city. And take a good look around at the architecture and you’ll see ancient temples and squares, decorative carvings, shrines and palaces.

Visiting one, or all, of these sights is a must during any visit to the Nepalese capital.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

The palaces, temples and public spaces of this central part of Kathmandu are an incredible blend of living history. Dating back anywhere from the 15th to the 18th century, they are filled with incredible stone carvings, shrines, tourists and even souvenir sellers where you can haggle over Indian styled clothing or Tibetan jewellery. Find a spot to sit and watch locals visiting the temples, feeding the pigeons, filling their water pots or simply sitting around and chatting.

Pigeons in Durbar square, Kathmandu. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Patan Durbar Square

The Patan Durbar Square is the beating heart of Patan City and dates to the 3rd century A.D. As in Kathmandu there is a mixture of courtyards, temples and palace buildings around the various squares. There is also a former royal palace complex housing statutes and religious objects. As in Kathmandu enjoy the sights but leave plenty of time for people watching as well. There are a number of Hindu festivals held throughout the year in the Durbar Squares – a particularly good time to visit.

Patan's Durbar Square. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The final of the three Durbar Squares is Bhaktapur, about 20 kilometres from Kathmandu. It is famed for its terracotta and carved wood columns, elaborate carvings, gilded roofs, magnificent courtyards and various temples. There is a far more spacious feeling to Bhaktapur than the other Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, largely because an earthquake knocked out some of the buildings back in 1934. However while many of the buildings, courtyards and temples have been lost, there’s more than enough to take in and plenty of room to move around in. This is often the favourite of the Durbar Squares for many tourists.

Swayambhu

The religious ensemble of Swayambhu includes a 2000 year old Buddhist stupa, located on a hillock above the Kathmandu Valley. It is made of brick and clay and the eyes of Lord Buddha are painted on the fours sides of the spire base. To get to the temple you climb up steep staircases past chanting monks and marauding monkeys to the top. The views from the top are worth the effort.

The eyes of the Buddha on Swayambu. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Bauddhanath

While Swayambhu is the oldest, Bauddhanath is the largest stupa in Nepal. It is located on an ancient trade route from Tibet and Tibetans have always rested and prayed here. There is still a real sense of religious life here and pilgrims circumnavigate the stupa spinning prayer wheels – it is particularly busy early in the morning.

Pashupati

This extensive Hindu temple precinct is also the world’s most sacred temple of Lord Shiva and dates back to 400 A.D. It was once forbidden for non Hindus to enter and while Hindu pilgrims continue to flock here all are now welcome. During Hindu festivals, of which there are many, the temple is particularly colourful with ghee lamps and incense sticks, and bathing pilgrims in the river.

Locals lighting candles at a Hindu shrine, Kathmandu. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Changu Narayan

Changu Narayan is a traditional Newari settlement, and a Hindu temple complex located just outside Kathmandu. The tiered temples are a spectacular combination of overlapping terracotta, decorative carvings and brass ornamentation. Architectural buffs will love it. It is considered Nepal’s oldest temple, dating from the fifth century A.D.

For those unfamiliar with the Sunshine Coast here are some images that should provide insight into Rudd’s comments.

Walking the dogs on Peregian beach on a wet day – a great place even in bad weather. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The view from the top of Mount Cooroora near Pomona. Every year a race is held to the top of this picturesque spot but a walk is enough challenge with views for miles. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Surfing the point breaks, Noosa. A popular spot to catch some action. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The white gums of Noosa National Park. There are fantastic coastal walks through this park to remote and secluded beaches. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Triathlon start at Mooloolabah, one of the premiere sports events on the coast along with the Noosa triathlon, the second largest triathlon in the world. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Kayakers round the Noosa National Park. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Paddling through the 35km of the Pumicestone Passage, a narrow channel from Caloundra to Bribie Island. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The balcony view from Montville over the Sunshine Coast hinterland,the perfect pit stop and popular with passing motorists. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The Woodford folk festival is held every year immediately after Christmas. It runs into the New Year. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

You never know who you’ll meet in Noosa National Park. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The everglades are on the upper reaches of the Noosa river and perfect for boating and camping. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Farming land around Kenilworth. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The popular Kenilworth cheese factory. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Cycling is a popular pursuit on country roads in this area. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Kite surfing is a popular sport particularly at the mouth of the Maroochy river, Maroochydore. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

All images by Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

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For those of us that live in Brisbane’s flood affected suburbs, we couldn’t believe we were at it all again – evacuating furniture and belongings, studying the tide levels, watching the rising waters, sand bagging … how could it come to this again so soon?

"Volunteers and friends and family help move furniture from empty houses in Milton after ex cyclone Oswald passed over south east QLD. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen" Pic: news.com.au

When a lot of the state went under in 2011 it was considered one of the Great Flood events of the era, a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. We didn’t expect it to happen in 2013, just two years later, when some people are still just settling back into their homes.

The speed of the disaster this time was disconcerting. In late 2010 we had months of preceding rain that culminated in the mergence of storm cells over Toowoomba that led to the inland tsunami through the Lockyer Valley and ultimately the submergence of Ipswich and Brisbane under our rivers. At the time there had been flood predictions for months. It was still a shock when it happened, but not unexpected.

Video courtesy of Reuters:

This time we had no buildup of rain. It was dry as a bone last week. In fact Australia was baking under unprecedented temperatures. Here in Brisbane the earth was so dry it was literally crying for rain, while down south much of the country was burning in terrible fires. “Australia burns” read newspapers in New Zealand prompting Kiwi friends to email about our well being.

Then ex-tropical cyclone Oswald emerged and suddenly tornadoes, yes tornadoes, were lashing Bundaberg on the central Queensland coast. We don’t usually have tornadoes in Australia.

Then north Queensland disappeared in the deluge: rivers, creeks and waves pounded communities and towns submerged. In Bundaberg hundreds were rescued from rooptops by helicopter as deep water rescue was not an option with 40 knot water piling around homes – some houses are expected to be swept away.

"A helicopter rescues a family at Fairmead on the Burnett River downstream of Bundaberg. Pic: Paul Beutel". Source: news.com.au

Even then, like last time, we doubted we’d have the same trouble in Brisbane. Then ex-tropical cyclone Oswald made its presence felt. At first the rain was welcome, celebrated even. But then it didn’t stop and the winds came. Trees went down, there was debris everywhere. We scurried around under raincoats securing outdoor items. The power went out. We immediately went for batteries to power the radio and ice for the food – they were almost sold out of both. Friends came to get our frozen food.

Then the flood warnings came: flooding expected, but two metres less than 2011. However this still would mean property inundation for us.

We hit the SES (State Emergency Services) depot early for sandbags and had three trailer loads in place by 10am in time for the expected 10.29am peak.

Unloading sandbags for the house. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

We stood with our neighbours on the street corner, just as we had in 2011, and waited. It seemed so surreal. The sun was out. It was hot and it was so quiet. It came up fast, far too fast, faster than last time and we grew nervous. No one said anything but we were all thinking the same thing.

Watching to see when the tide would stop. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

And then, it eased and retreated. It was far less than expected – just 70cm on the property. We heaved a sigh of relief and the waiting game began for the next high tide. This one was at midnight. So we set alarms and did the midnight check with torches. All fine. I sent text messages to friends that were up and waiting in case we needed them.

Today’s tide was forecast as the worst. Police came and closed the road, the council turned up and SES workers arrived with a boat. A crowd gathered. The phone kept ringing, friends kept turning up and we watched the brown sludge ease up and across the road.

Water closes the roads in Auchenflower. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Like the day before it surged, then eased, stopped and fell away. Water lapped at properties but didn’t go in. And for once the community of Auchenflower could celebrate. We’d been ready, we’d known what to do and for once Mother Nature seemed on our side.

But as we now begin the cleanup, thankful for how lucky we have been, there probably won’t be a lot of champagne bottles uncorked tonight. Our thoughts now rest with our Queensland friends in places like Bundaberg, Laidley and Ipswich. And further south down towards Sydney. Hang in there guys.

As I’ve visited all in recent times, this is the first in a series of profiles on these top cities to see whether Lonely Planet has really hit the mark or not. Hyderabad in Andra Pradesh, India came in at number three. Here’s what Lonely Planet had to say:

Hyderabad

Old City recapturing past glories

Best for: Culture, food, value for money

Vendor at street stall at foot of the Charminar. © Copyright Lonely Planet Images

Hyderabad was once the capital of a filthy-rich princely state. After India’s independence, the palaces and pleasure gardens were sold off, built over and looted, and you had to be really sharp to see the city’s beauty. But several palaces in Hyderabad’s Old City have recently been refurbished, including Falaknuma Palace, a seven-star hotel that was skilfully restored by the Taj Group and is now an exceedingly plush time capsule. Other monuments and buildings are being fixed up, but the city, and many of its architectural gems, are still off the radar – which keeps the masses at bay. Elegant and blossoming, but also weathered and undiscovered, Hyderabad’s Old City is ripe for exploration.

I was pleasantly surprised by Hyderabad, during a visit in September 2012. This was documented in a post last year: 4 things not to miss in Hyderabad, the city of pearls. So I’m not actually surprised it’s on the list, and it’s also great to see Lonely Planet venturing out beyond more well known wonders on the subcontinent – the Golden Triangle that includes Delhi, Jaipur and Agra (Taj Mahal); Goa’s beaches; and the meditation centres such as Varanasi and Rishikesh all spring to mind as the usual tourist haunts listed in India.

Let’s take a look at what makes Hyderabad a great place to visit.

A modern centre with everything

I hadn’t been to Hyderabad before and I was expecting just another big Indian city with dust, pollution, crowds and rubbish – something you expect when going to an Indian city of some seven million people. But while Hyderabad is one of India’s burgeoning modern metropolises, there are places in the city where you don’t really feel like you’re in India. For example you can wander the central business district and visit air conditioned shopping centres where Armani perfumes, Calvin Klein underwear and other designer items are available. Hanging out in coffee shops is also a popular trend with the increasingly ubiquitous Cafe Coffee Day chain around the city. There are also good bookshops, an inner city lake to enjoy complete with park and gardens and excellent dining around the city.

Markets and food

Despite its modernising and sanitising touches, Hyderabad is, and always will be, part of the colourful and wonderful princely nation of India. And one of the places you know you’re in India are its vibrant markets where turbaned men, sari’ed women, brilliant coloured cloth, rows of spices and tantalizing aromas exude from every corner. There are city markets in every district and these represent wonderful opportunities to taste local produce, meet some interesting people and really experience local life.

A woman cooking corn at a market in Hyderabad. Pic: Joanne Lane, wwwvisitedplanet.com

The Hyderabad biryani is one of the classic dishes of Andra Pradesh and famed around India. Most social occasions you attend here will include a biryani so you’ll have plenty of chance to get used to it. The dish blends Mughlai and Andhra Pradesh cuisine and features basmati rice, lamb meat (although chicken or goat may be used), yogurt, onions, spices, lemon, saffron, coriander and fried onions. As far as Indian dishes go it’s pretty sedate on the senses if you’re a bit wary of chilly and spices.

Historical sights

There’s also plenty of history to enjoy in Hyderabad for those attune to the ancient world. Highlights include the wonders of the 16th Century Golconda fort or the mighty towers of Charminar that date back to 1591. Both are open to visitors and well worth the time to explore. Go later in the afternoon to Golconda and enjoy the sunset and then a sound and light show on the grounds. While Charminar is indeed fascinating from a distance, and the markets around are worth a look, the bird’s eye view of Hyderabad from the top of the towers is well worth the admission fee (about Rs. 100).

While these are the most famous of Hyderabad’s sights, they aren’t the only monuments worth a look. There’s also the Mecca Masjid, Salar Jung Museum, Nizam’s museum and Falaknuma Palace.

The famed Charminar in Hyderabad. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Hussain Sagar Lake

The other highlight of Hyderabad is the Hussain Sagar Lake. The “lake” is actually manmade – built in 1562 on a tributary of the River Musi to help with the city’s water needs. It’s a pleasant space in the bustling roads of Hyderabad and lovely to walk around with gardens and fountains in the Lumbini Park. Boats can also be taken out to the Buddha Statue in the middle of the lake; a peaceful and restful place away from the movement of the city, and somewhat surprising given 90 percent of the state is Hindu. Buddhism is simply listed as the “other” religions for Andra Pradesh which measure 0.17% of the population according to Wikipedia.

Hyderabad zoo

The beauties of Hyderabad don’t stop at ancient sights. The Hyderabad zoo is truly one of the best I’ve seen in Asia with a wide array of animals from lions, to monkeys, reptiles and birds. It’s an easy way to spend the day, with plenty of food inside, and entertainment for children. We had a teenager with us and some younger kids and all of us found something of interest – the toy train, the lion safari in a clapped out old vehicle past said felines and the anaconda snake.

Bear at Hyderabad zoo. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Absence of tourists

One of the striking things about visiting Hyderabad’s forts, lakes and other attractions is the absence of tourists, or even western faces. Tourism has not made a mark on Hyderabad yet and that remains refreshing, however inclusion in the 2013 Lonely Planet list may start bringing more visitors to its open doors. You may be one!

Assessment

Did Lonely Planet get it right? Absolutely! 10/10

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For those not familiar with the Australian penchant for changing and altering words see this advertisement for the new restaurant name.

If you struggled with some of the words here’s a help list:

rellos – relatives
ambo – ambulance worker
chin wag – talk
tinny – boat
chockas – full
coppers – policemen/women
ute – pickup truck
pulled an all nighter – worked all night

Pic: McDonald's Australia/AFP.

Macca’s is such a popular Aussie nickname–apparently the second most popular slang term in the country according to Reuters - that McDonald’s decided to embrace it.

“We’re incredibly proud to embrace our ‘Australian-only’ nickname,” said Mark Lollback, the company’s chief marketing officer in Australia, in a statement on Tuesday.

“What better way to show Aussies how proud we are to be a part of the Australian community than change our store signs to the name the community has given us?”

It seems however the Americans aren’t too impressed and couldn’t pronounce the name either. CBS reporters said after their report, that aired here, “What? Their changing the name? For that I say why? Nobody asked us.”

They may be relieved to find out the change is temporary for the Australia Day period (January 26). However it is the first time McDonald’s has altered its name for a local market, although menu items are made for local populations – in Australia there is a burger with lamb and beetroot, in India much of the menu is vegetarian, there’s a McFalafel sandwhich in Egypt, there are special Chinese New Year meals in China and pavlovas on New Zealand menus.

Apparently McDonald’s has also requested the Macquarie Dictionary to include the name Maccas in their online version. They obviously like it.

So if you’re walking around downunder in the next few weeks and see the golden arches with an odd name, yes it’s still McDonald’s.

And if you’re wondering what the number one slang term in Australia is – it’s footy.

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However one of the latest fads has been high end bicycle models. This is probably most surprising as bikes have long been a symbol of the working class in China and the only way of getting around, but today Brompton, Moulton, Gios and other high end bike brands are opening up stores in Beijing and Hong Kong. Not a bad thing considering the smog that has choked Chinese cities in recent weeks.

Some frames being sold cost over USD $ 30,000 and many are at least $ 2-3000. Watch the full report here from Reuters.

To celebrate the humble bike in all forms, here are some images of its use around Asia.

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The mountain is also known as Tatamailau meaning “grandfather of all” and has cultural and religious significance. In 1997 a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected on top and there are pilgrimages to it in March and October each year.

Mt Ramelau peaking above the clouds. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Because of this the track is reasonably well formed, although the initial 3km from the town of Hatobuilico to the northeast is eroded and a bit hard to negotiate even in a car. We were certainly glad to have a car with a driver to handle the washouts and rough terrain, and to wait in the car for our return.

It’s roughly a 900m climb to the summit and takes about 2.5-3 hours. Many people start out in the early hours of the morning to summit by dawn, but the climb is possible anytime of the day – although it is good to study weather conditions in the days preceding to see when cloud cover and the chance of rain is lowest.

The quiet roads of Hatobuilico. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

We started out mid morning as one of our group had been ill overnight and needed a bit of time to recover. It was beautiful and clear and the views were stunning over the farm land and hills around us as we got higher.

When we passed a group that had summited earlier in the day they said they’d not seen the view from the top because of cloud and we were glad we’d had an enforced later start.

Walking above the clouds on Mt Ramelau. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The initial climb was quite steep up a series of man made stairs through trees but it soon progressed into an even but dirt track. As we neared the top the terrain became greener with open meadows and plenty of sweeping views of the countryside around us.

The Virgin Mary statue on the summit. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The final climb up to the Virgin Mary statue went past vast swathes of daisies. There was a wind blowing and while it was exhilarating we found the 2986m height quite a lot cooler than down in Hatobuilico and after the obligatory summit photos and a snack we headed down again.

Getting there

While only about 70km from the capital Dili it takes several hours to reach Hatobuilico given the nature of the roads and the terrain. The last section from Maubisse alone takes about 1.5-2 hours and requires a four wheel drive. Most people rent a car and driver in Dili to make the journey.

Friendly local children in Hatobuilico. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Where to stay

Pousada Alecrim is the largest guesthouse in Hatobuilico with 17 bedrooms and meals available on request for about $ 10-15 per night. It is best to ring ahead to make a reservation. The owners speak excellent English, a number of local languages and Bahasa Indonesian. Phone +670 7304366

Inside the Pousada Alecrim. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

More information about Hatobuilico is available here – http://hatobuilico.com/

Alternatively stay at the wonderful Pousada de Maubisse that overlooks the town and landscape in Maubisse, two hours before you reach Hatobuilico. Phone +670 3325023.

Other walks

The climb up Ramelau is not the only thing to do in this area. The Pousada Alecrim has a number of walks described in brochures in the dining area. A guide to other walks in the area can also be downloaded here.

Local man near Hatobuilico. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

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It’s not the first time this has happened, in fact in recent years this has become an all too common occurrence. Last year I ran a piece on “5 notorious, and potentially dangerous, party spots in Asia“. Sadly cases continue to support this notion.

Kuta beach, Bali. Pic: AP.

The Sydney Morning Herald ran a summary in today’s paper of recent deaths:

Just over a week ago, Denni North, 33, died after being found barely conscious beside a pool in Bali.

Perth man Liam Davies, 19, died last week after suffering methanol poisoning from a drink on the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok.

Melbourne man Sebastian Eric Faulkner, 21, plunged to his death from the ninth floor of a hotel in Phuket on new year’s day.

Laos has become a popular destination for mainly young Australian adventure travellers.

Three Australians died in the country within a month last year, two of them from tubing, a sport involving floating down a river.

Click here for links to stories about these cases: Denni North, Liam Davies, Sebastian Eric Faulkner.

While obviously alcohol and water don’t mix, it’s sometimes the actual content of the alcohol that is causing the problem.

There have been a number of cases involving alcohol poisoning. From the Sydney Morning Herald:

An 18-year-old Australian school leaver was blinded in Bali last month and in September 2011, Perth-based rugby player Michael Denton died after consuming arak – which is distilled from rice or palm sap and described as a colourless, sugarless beverage with a 20 to 50 per cent alcohol content.

Also in 2011, Newcastle nurse Jamie Johnston suffered brain damage and renal failure after drinking a methanol-laced cocktail in Indonesia.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr is asking Indonesia to regulate its drinks better in tourist areas. The Australian Medical Association said the sale of drinks containing methanol could be likened to manslaughter.

Methanol is sometimes added to drinks to make them more alcoholic but it can induce vomiting, headaches, gastric pain, blindness, coma, liver failure and even death.

According to stuff.co.nz incidents of methanol poisoning have risen since an Indonesian Government crack down caused taxes on foreign drinks to skyrocket.

Whether the Indonesian government can make a difference or not, Aussie travellers should take heed of these cases and exercise caution.

Liam Davies’ aunt gave this advice:

“The only way to be safe is to make sure you drink from a sealed bottle and don’t drink the local cocktails,” Mrs Prentice said.

She said all tourists heading to Indonesia needed to be made aware of the risks and was surprised the Australian and New Zealand governments were not doing more.

“It needs to be that you can’t get into Bali without seeing a sign or being given information about the dangers of these drinks.

“If governments are the way to get that into force then yeah, they should be advising tourists.

Asia Travel Guides, Reviews, Diary, News | Travel Wire Asia

The Clarence River gorge, or simply “the gorge”, is heritage listed and the scenery is suitably stunning.

Campsites on the Winter’s property. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

While it takes some time to reach – almost 400km from Brisbane – it’s worth it. Not only it is a wonderful spot for canoeing with rapids and waterfalls to try your paddle skills on, but there are some great camping spots along the river, good angling, bush walking and even mountain biking.

A few dunnies (toilets) have been placed along the river – a mountain bike is a good way of reaching them from the campsite. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

I visit this area with friends every January to try out a section of the river as it’s generally considered one of the best canoe spots in Australia with several rivers to explore. This year we opted to camp at Neil and Sue Winter’s property “The Gorge” (via Copmanhurst along the Clarence) that has been in their family for over 100 years. With 8314 acres, about 600 head of cattle and 10 kilometres of river frontage it’s a superb location near Rainbow Falls with reflections on the river in the mornings and evenings.

Reflections in the late evening along the Clarence River. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

While time can be whiled away simply at fantastic camping spots all along the river (firewood is provided – a huge bonus), the best way to explore the country is by boat. In other years we’ve done multi day river trips camping along the way (the 45km downstream from Buccurambi to Jackadgery on the Nymboida River was a highlight), but we opted for a base camp this year, given the excellent river access from the Winter’s property. For example it’s possible to paddle upriver to the gorge from their property in an hour or so, with sheer rock walls rising above you at every stroke.

The gorge. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The Winters can also arrange for a motorboat to take you there, but nothing beats the quiet ripples of the canoe on this stretch and an engine would simply spoil the serenity.

The serenity. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Angling is also possible but it’s a catch and release policy. Eel however can be eaten and the night catch of one large fellow provoked an impromptu late supper. Members of our group fished into the wee hours saying it was one of the best freshwater experiences they’d ever had.

Action on the Clarence. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Another excellent river trip is the 27km of river down to the Lillydale bridge. This took us about seven hours with numerous stops to swim, snack, lunch and negotiate a series of rapids – the hairiest being “slippery rapid” which was every bit as tricky as it  sounds.

Deep water rescue when the kayak tips. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The great thing about paddling the Clarence is the excitement of the rapids. While most are grade 1 or 2 and often quite easy to manage, sometimes the littlest thing can make you come unstuck and so attention and concentration is required at all times to watch for currents, rocks, logs and any other hazards. We actually snapped a boat in half on this section of river some years back in the most unlikely place.

A camp fire at lunch on the way to the Lillydale bridge. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

While after this particular day trip most of us were glad to jump back into the cars to head back to the campsite, a few of our group hit the dirt road on mountain bikes to finish off the day for another 30km. Neil Winters was suitably impressed and gave us a bottle of wine that night for our troubles – a true country gentleman.

As with most of our trips on the Clarence, or the other rivers in this region (the Nymboida and Mann), we thankfully emerged unscathed but decided we hadn’t conquered the river, it had merely tolerated us for another year.

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These are the weather forecasting charts now being used by the Bureau of Meterology; the purple indicates temperatures of 54 degrees, a change that has been forced by the heat and well above the 1960 record of 50.7 at Oodnadatta in South Australia.

Even though Oodnadatta only reached 48.2 on Monday, it was still too hot to refuel as fuel was vapourising and couldn’t pump in the heat.

Fires are also breaking out across the nation, the most horrific so far in Tasmania where families were forced to find shelter in the sea as this photo shows.

Flames by a jetty in Dunalley, Tasmania. Pic: ABC News

However in order to cool us all down across Australia here are some happier images to consider and ways people are beating the heat.

A man takes refuge in the cool water behind a waterfall of a fountain in central Sydney, Australia. Pic: AP.

A dog gets some water relief. Pic: Twitter/Craft Ledger

A female lion with an iceblock at Taronga Zoo. Pic: AFP PHOTO/ MANAN VATSYAYANA

Kids in buckets. Pic: Twitter/Raven Zech

Posted on vmusic.com.au Facebook page with the tag line: “How are you keeping cool today?”

Cooling off in a water trough at Mt Gipps Station, Broken Hill. Picture: Braden Fastier Source: The Sunday Telegraph

Sydney’s beaches were popular this week. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: The Sunday Telegraph

Bondi Beach at night when the temperature was still 35 degrees. Picture: Bill Hearne Source: The Daily Telegraph

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Celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age at the Tikal archaeological site, Guatemala. Photo: AFP

However I was asked on Facebook yesterday from people in other time zones if the world had ended in Australia. I told them it had but somehow Facebook had survived. Tourism Australia also posted on Facebook twice: “Yes, we’re alive” and later “No worries mate” followed by this quote:

Pic: Tourism Australia

Here’s some reports about how Asia marked the end of the world.

Business Insider:

“It’s December 21, 2012 In New Zealand And The World Still Exists”

A couple hours ago, Kiwi Vincenza Basile tweeted at his friend Scott Beale:

“12:01am on 12/21/12 & we’re still here in NZ!”

So…phew.

Unless the Mayans were being very specific about their time zone, we can probably relax.”

ABC:

“Almost 1,000 Chinese doomsday cult members arrested”

China has arrested nearly 1,000 people in a crackdown on a Christian sect that spread doomsday rumours and targeted communist rule, state media reports.

The Christian-inspired group Almighty God has been accused of spreading doomsday rumours apparently linked to the ancient Mayan calendar and urging followers to slay the “red dragon” of communism.

The Almighty God sect believes December 21 is the last day in the ancient Mayan calendar and thus signifies the apocalypse.

Read more…

WSJ

“As World Doesn’t End, the Parties Remain the Same”

…

One thing became clear by Friday morning: The world had not ended.

Australia was one of the first countries to see the sun rise on December 21, and Tourism Australia’s Facebook FB -4.02% page was bombarded with posts asking if anyone had survived Down Under.

“Yes, we’re alive,” the organization responded to fretting users.

Sydney Morning Herald:

“Hysteria, then silence, marked the end of the world”

The Mayan calendar might have ended, but the world certainly has not.

As the clock struck 10.11pm on Friday, December 21, there was no fanfare nor fatal collision with another planet. Instead heavy rain fell over Byron Bay, where close to a thousand people gathered to witness the Mayan prophecy of the end of the world as we know it.

The four day Uplift festival celebrating the event crescendoed in complete silence with a mass group meditation. Only the soft sound of a young boy snoring and the rain drumming on the roof could be heard in the auditorium.

It was a remarkably sedate end to the growing hysteria about the so-called doomsday.

Uplift festival, Byron Bay. Pic: Sydney Morning Herald.

The Nation:

“The morning after doomsday”

If you’re reading this, it should be fairly obvious to you that the world did not end yesterday as many permanently frowning people were hoping.

The Suan Dusit Poll was relieved to report that 92 per cent of the Thais it surveyed had laughed off the “Mayan calendar prediction” anyway. Many pointed out that the silly Mayans didn’t even mention the demon god Rahu devouring the sun.

So, while the rest of the world cowered yesterday, Thais threw themselves on the sacrificial fires of satire, which burned hottest, naturally, on the social media.

Well-known football blogger @fourfourtom offered a “Doomsday Football Chant” that went “Stand up if you’re still alive, stand up if you’re still alive!”

A Harry Potter fan called @_Snape_ tweeted to remind everyone that NASA had confirmed that the sky would become very dark late in the evening on December 21. “This is a phenomenon called ‘Night’,” he explained.

The Thai term for doomsday is wan sin loke, with “sin” pulling double duty as the word for “sarong”, so December 21 was also commemorated as World Sarong Day. Many Facebook users posted photos of themselves wearing sarongs, and the staff at movie studio GTH wore sarongs to work.

Jakarta Post:

“Jakartans take Mayan doomsday lightly”

In other parts of the world, people are rushing to properly equip themselves in readiness for the Mayan Apocalypse prophecy.

But in Jakarta, it is business as usual, with most residents believing the world is not going to end anytime soon.

Eduart, 31, a resident of East Jakarta, said he did not believe Armageddon would take place on Dec. 21, as predicted by the Indian Mayan tribe. “There have been several other predictions of doomsday previously, but none were real. I don’t think this prediction will be true either,” said Eduart, who is a Catholic.

In addition, he said, no one could know exactly when doomsday would arrive.

Read more…

Sg News:

“Some Singaporeans brace for the end of the world”

Even though many Singaporeans may not think the world will end on Friday, some are already preparing themselves just in case.

47-year-old public policy researcher Andrew Teo is one person who thinks it is better to be safe than sorry. The family man has already gathered enough supplies and tools to last him and his family a good six months.

“I have oil, water, canned food, milk powder, rice… my things are shoved everywhere around the house,” Teo said in an interview with Yahoo! Singapore on Tuesday.  Stockpiling essentials are crucial because if a disaster strikes, be it man-made or natural, there will be no stores or law and order to get necessities from, he adds.

And if he ever needs to leave the house, he has a pick-up truck that he plans to convert to be electricity independent.

Read more…

Andrew Teo’s family. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Teo)

Do you have a story about the end of the world? Feel free to share it here.

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January – Bungy jump gone wrong
An Australian woman survived a 111m bungy jump above the Zambezi River when her cord broke.

February – Asia in love

Quirky Asia celebrated Valentines Day in spectacular fashion with a cliff rappelling marriage, underwater ceremonies and kissing competitions.

March – an odd Easter

An odd collection of festivals marks Easter in Asia including crucifixions, Roman soldier reenactments and even the blessing of sailing fleets.

April – RMS Titanic

The world commemorates the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. We listed events taking place in Asia.

May – Burma to become an expat heaven?

We assessed the merits of this claim as tourism numbers blossom in the formerly isolated nation.

June – winning the online game

Tourism Australia surpassed three million Friends online with its popular destination page and Jimmy the koala became an internet sensation.

July – dangerous Asia

Beautiful, fun but deadly – we listed five of the notorious party spots in Asia where backpackers have come to grief.

August – hot action in London

Attention turned to London, and the droves arrived, over the summer as the Olympics swung into action.

September

The museum at the World Trade Center memorial site opened in September 2012, a year after the memorial officially opened. The site continues to attract millions of visitors from around the world who come to connect with the tragedy. More than 90 countries lost civilians in the attacks on the twin towers.

October – Astronaut drops to earth

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner’s “giant leap” from space amazed all. The daredevil leapt from 39,045 metres and landed safely in New Mexico, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier.

November – solar eclipse

On November 13th, Australia was treated to an eclipse as the moon blocked the sun for a few minutes early in the morning.

Eclipse gazers from north Queensland were treated to spectacular views of the rare astronomical occurrence. But partial eclipses could be seen as far south as Brisbane.

December – The end of the world

The prediction that December 21 could herald the end of the world attracted tourists to the Mayan heartland in Central America. We published the doomsayer’s travel guide as a good way to look into places to consider if it did/does all end.

Of course there were many other travel moments in 2012, feel free to add others to the list.

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When the man discovered his luggage exceeded the airline’s limits he put on more than 60 shirts and nine pairs of jeans to board a flight to Nairobi, Kenya.

Dressed like a sumo wrestler he underwent a full body search too.

A scene from the sitcom Friends where the character Joey wears all his friend’s clothes.

Read more here.

According to Asiaone.com he almost got away with it:

“He would have gotten away with it, too, if he hadn’t stuffed his pockets with batteries, thumb drives and device chargers, all of which triggered the metal detector alarm.

After he undressed and emptied all his pockets—which were also packed with neckties and toys—all that was left standing there was a skinny man with a red face and a bruised ego.”

The Australian suggested he should just have used a Jaktogo that allows travellers to wear their luggage instead of paying the fees for checking in a bag.

Now.msn.com said they would vote for him in the award for Stubborness at the Airport Weirdness Awards 2012.

On gadling.com the blogger said he’s seen people wearing 2-3 hats on some flights.

The question might not be would you do the same to avoid paying excess baggage fees, but who packs 70 pairs of clothing in their luggage?

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From Santas to Christmas kangaroos here are some unique ways the event is heralded in Asia.

The Variety Santa Fun Run

Held every year in Brisbane, Australia, the 5km event can be run, walked, skipped or hopped. Registrations include a Santa suit to be worn on the day. It’s pretty warm come November/December in Brisbane at this time so Santas tend to wear board shorts and other cooler Aussie style Santa suits.

Six White Boomers

Australian great, Rolf Harris, came up with “Six White Boomers” as an alternative Christmas carol for Australian school children back in 1960. It’s still very popular today so if you hear the song this brief explanation might help you decipher what exactly is going on. The lyrics describe Santa using animals that are used to hot weather, so he uses old man kangaroos or boomers instead of reindeer. Here’s an excerpt:

Pretty soon old Santa began to feel the heat,
Took his fur-lined boots off to cool his feet,
Into one popped Joey, feeling quite okay,
While those old man kangaroos kept pulling on the sleigh.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

To listen to the lyrics click here.

Tokyo Dome lights up for Christmas

The extensive entertainment city, Tokyo Dome, in the Japanese capital lights up with Christmas and light displays every year for over 100 days from mid November. In fact the illumination ends after Valentine’s Day. In fact, there are amazing lightshows to be seen all around Tokyo at Christmas time.

Snow fall, Singapore

While Singapore is in the tropics, Tanglin Mall makes artificial snow every year for shoppers to revel in. They have set snow and avalanche times each day.

 Snowalk i-City, Kuala Lumpur

The biggest snow theme park in Malaysia at i-City is the best place to spend the Christmas season. There are igloos, ice houses, slides, ice sculptures and more. At Christmas giant Christmas trees and reindeer lit by LED lights make for a very festive setting.

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, China

This year the Shanghai Aquarium is inviting visitors to create their own environmentally friendly Christmas tree out of recycled materials.

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The photo by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. Photo: Malenchenko/Russian Federal Space Agency

However it was later revealed to be Saser Muztagh in the Karakoram Range of Kashmir in India.

The incorrect posting drew notable ire from the Nepalese.

From the BBC:

Journalist Kunda Dixit, an authority on the Himalayas, tweeted: “Sorry guys, but the tall peak with the shadow in the middle is not Mt Everest.”

However, he himself first wrongly guessed that it was “Xixapangma in Tibet”.

Apparently Everest is notoriously difficult to photograph from space.

From news.com.au:

Everest, which is 8,848 metres (29,028 feet) high, is sought-after photographic target for astronauts in orbit but is tricky to capture, according to astronaut Ron Garan, who lived on the International Space Station last year.

“No time is allotted in our work day normally for Earth pictures. So if we want to capture a specific point on the ground we have to first know exactly when we will fly over that spot,” he told The Atlantic.

Ironically however NASA has an online tutorial about how to find Everest from space, identifying landmarks from space in a series of slides .

This is the slide identifying Mt Everest.

Pic: nasa.gov

In this morning photograph, the Everest Massif with its many peaks is just right of center. Mt. Everest itself has two peaks, Everest (29,035′, 8850 m) and South Peak (28,700′, 8,748 m). In the north within the group is Changtse (24,803′, 7,560 m), in the northwest, Khumbutse (21,867′, 6,665 m), just to the south Lohtse (27,940′, 8516 m) and in the southwest, Nuptse (25,791′, 7,861 m). Mt. Everest is distinguishable by having its entire left (west) side in shadow.

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This top 10 list should get your travel juices going, and if of course the world doesn’t end soon, there’s plenty of time to tick some of these off in 2013.

1. Go around the world in 80 hours

The classic adventure novelist wrote about doing this back in 1873. He probably never thought it’s possible to do in 80 hours now, or even a lot less.

2. Go epic

There’s still time to tick off that ultimate tourist attraction you’ve always wanted to see: the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, Sydney harbour, Great Ocean Road, Uluru, the Gobi desert, the Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall of China etc.

3. Visit Middle Earth

If you’ve always wanted to see New Zealand and Tolkien’s world come to life, now is the time. New Zealand is not far from anywhere in Asia. Sights to see include the jaw dropping Milford Sound, the beauties of lakes like Wanaka and Wakatipu, wonderful day hikes like the Tongariro Crossing and more. READ MORE: The real Middle Earth: Five locations from The Hobbit

Milford Sound, New Zealand. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

4. Cruise the Three Gorges Dam

You don’t have time to cruise the entire Yangtze River but there’s plenty of time for the impressive Three Gorges Dam.

5. See Sydney Harbour

CNN recently rated it 12th on its list of things to see before you die so it must be good! And it is. Take a ferry ride to Manly taking in the bridge, the opera house and the Sydney heads. Superb. READ MORE: Things to do in Sydney you won’t find in your guidebook

6. Go ancient

See some of Asia’s most ancient sites: the temples of Angkor Wat, Indonesia’s famed Borodur, the wonderful temple plain of Bagan in Myanmar, India’s monument to love the Taj Mahal, the forts of Rajasthan…

Bagan temple plain, Myanmar/Burma. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

7. Go rail

Undertake that epic rail journey you’ve always wanted before it’s too late. There’s the Trans Mongolian from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar or you could undertake an outback sojourn across the dead centre from Adelaide to Darwin, or Sydney to Perth. READ MORE: 5 great Asian train journeys

8. Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Hang with the fishes at one of the world’s most remarkable natural wonders. There’s plenty to see and do above or below the water.

9. Get to high altitude and see the world’s highest peaks

Time is running out for a summit of Everest but you could do a fly or drive past! Get your high altitude highs in other parts of Asia also such as the peaks of the Annapurna range in Nepal, India’s Karakoram or K2 on the border of Pakistan and China. Alternatively simply head to places like Tibet and Mongolia with some of the highest natural steppe in the world. READ MORE: Trekking in Nepal: Poon Hill – Ghandruk 

K2. Pic: Svy123, Creative Commons.

10. December 21

Make your plans for doomsday. If you’re in Russia, this might involve buying an apocalypse kit that includes a bottle of vodka.  There are plenty of festivities taking place around the world, the most notable ones in the Mayan heartland itself.

Got a travel bucket list to tick off before December 21? Add yours here.

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East Timor
War and conflict is all over in East Timor, making it one of the newest tourism destinations waiting to be discovered. Just one hour by flight from Darwin, East Timor has excellent diving, snorkelling, fishing, trekking and mountain biking. While much of the nation is developing there is already a tourism circuit that includes the capital Dili, the beautiful islands of Jaco and Aotaru, the regional centre of Baucau and the delights of the interior and the highest peak Ramelau.

Sunrise at Aotaru island. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin has come of age in recent years with steps in urban renewal transforming the city landscape. There’s plenty of history for buffs seeking out WWII remnants, there’s also fantastic food and dining to be had at the markets and harbour areas around the city, the waterfront area is particularly splendid with a sunset cinema and even a wave pool, and there’s beach just outside the city limits with the famed sands of Mindil and its equally well known weekly market. Mindil is also home to the annual beer can regatta where boats made of beer cans are raced in the sea.

Darwin’s annual beer can regatta. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
In Kota Kinabalu you can dine on succulent seafood, fruits and local delicacies; take a short boat ride out into pristine waters perfect for diving and swimming; organise your trek up the famed Mt Kinabalu a soaring 4000m over the city; and see wildlife as varied as orangutans, Malayan tiger and Proboscis monkey. It’s a feast for sights, sounds and experiences.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Kota Kinabalu. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Kathmandu, Nepal
The Himalayan kingdom is experience a resurgence in tourism numbers as peace returns to the nation. Kathmandu and the surrounding valley has numerous sightseeing opportunities including a number of UNESCO world heritage sites, excellent shopping in Thamel and plenty of colourful festivals year round. For those that like a bit of adventure it’s also a starting point for treks.

View from Poon Hill of the Annapurna range. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Kerala, India
While Goa has long been the beach destination of choice for holidaymakers to India, the joys of Kerala are still undiscovered by many. While beaches such as Kovalam are an alternative to the packed sands of Goa to the north, there is plenty to do away from the ocean front as well. A rich system of backwater canals makes for the perfect house boating holiday, while the cities themselves are full of old churches, synagogues and spices. Kerala is also home to Ayurveda and the oily, but relaxing massage, is the ultimate way to unwind on holiday.

Houseboating in Kerala. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Vientiane, Laos
Fifty heads of state from Europe and Asian nations met in the Laotian capital in November this year, pushing the city into the spotlight. With roads, hotels and other development taking place to accommodate the international guests, it’s also touted as a boom for Laos tourism. It’s not the only event they will host either, with the Asean Tourism Forum taking place here in January 2013. While the capital has a population of 800,000 it remains one of the most laid back in Asia, perhaps thanks in part to its watery location by a meandering bend of the Mekong River. This river not only provides plenty of lovely watery vistas and cool escapes during the hotter months, but is the feature in the annual boat racing festival and a good place to dine.  There are also some wonderful historic sights in Vientiane including temples, Buddhist statues and great markets.

Mekong River, Laos. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

To see the 2012 list click here.

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The solar eclipse from Mt Coot-tha. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The anticipation in Queensland over the last few days has been palpable. Radio, television and other media have reported the preparations, the weather, the best vantage points and so on.

And so yesterday afternoon I decided to join the eclipse watchers and rushed around the city trying to locate the last solar glasses in Brisbane along with hundreds of other people, and get some protective paper for the camera lens.

Solar eclipse glasses needed to see the sun safely. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Here’s a timeline of events and some photographs illustrating the eclipse.

5.30am
Woke up and looked out the window – clear and sunny already. Thank God. There had been some talk of it being cloudy in Brisbane. Ran through the checklist – bicycle (to cycle to the vantage point to avoid traffic and parking problems), backpack containing camera, special paper, solar eclipse lenses, food for breakfast, newspaper with eclipse times.

5.56am
Still at home but try out the glasses as the partial eclipse begins. Frankly can’t see if anything is happening yet but jump on the bike and head off.

6.15am
Half way up Mt Coot-tha and there’s already far more people up here than normal. Telescopes, solar lenses, cars; everyone has found a spot and is gearing up for action.

It’s clear, even with the naked eye, that the sun is starting to disappear.

6.30am
Make it to the top of the mountain. There are cars everywhere in the parking lot. Find a posy amongst the hordes and enjoy the mood. It is ripe with anticipation as people prepare for maximum eclipse. Take a good look at the sun – it is definitely disappearing. It’s very hard to photograph however, even with the paper, and I keep getting ghost illumination perhaps from other light getting in. I decide to leave the photography to the eclipse pros.

Anticipation builds just before maximum eclipse. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

6.40am
There’s a doctor next to me using xray paper (2 sheets) to show his kids the eclipse.

“I don’t think it’s completely safe,” he says, “but I remember my father showing me this when I was a kid.”

“Such ingenuity,” the Channel 7 news reporter watching him says to me.

The doctor and his children. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

6.45am
Television cameras keep passing through the crowd interviewing anyone of interest. I spot two guys holding up photographic paper to look through. There are enormous telescopes all trained on the sun. Most of them come from the Brisbane astronomers club and they’re happy to let anyone look through them.

A man adjusts his telescope. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

6.55am
Maximum eclipse. Glasses are shared around as everyone enjoys the special moment in a display of community spirit. Strangers come up and ask to use our glasses. It’s fun to share the moment. It is truly spectacular, and I can safely say I’ll be back for another.

The viewing platform at Mt Coot-tha. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

7.00am
The crowd already starts to dissipate. I chat to a telescope owner; he’s only brought his “little one” today but it’s still about two metres long. He’s seen several full eclipses, a couple of partials and numerous other astrological events.

7.15am
Partial eclipse is by no means over yet but the mountain is suddenly largely deserted and we depart leaving the telescopes, the pros and the eclipse die hards to stay right until partial eclipse ends at 7.59am.

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Like all travellers I’m not averse to buying a few souvenirs and can tend to be a bit of an impulse buyer, but it’s always nice to know what some of the signature arts and crafts are to buy from a particular country or region.

Given the diversity of ethnic groups in Malaysia these vary from place to place, and because of this, and to avoid the need to lug everything around with you as you travel, many resort to going to KL’s Central Market at the end of their trip to fill their suitcase with items from all around Malaysia. However there are a few things you could look out for while you’re moving around, plus if you buy direct from the artisans themselves you’ll probably not only get a better price but you will know your money goes direct, or more direct, to the creator’s hands.

Craft stalls in markets like Kuching, Sarawak are good places to pick up locally made products. Pic: Joanne Lane.

Here are five main crafts to look out for during your travels.

 Batik and other fabrics

Yes this is inherently an Indonesian craft, but batik is also prevalent around Malaysia and somewhat different in style to its neighbour’s. Batik is basically created by drawing or printing a pattern on fabric with wax. It is then dyed. This design is often reproduced on anything from clothing to tablecloths or cushion covers, but you can equally find it simply as wall hangings or art works.

The best places to find batik crafts are on Malaysia’s eastern coast in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu but you can also find it in Penang. In Malaysia most of the batik designs are floral motifs and quite colourful and the patterns tend to be simpler.

The Malaysian government is actively promoting the development of batik patterns and promoting it as a national dress. There’s also a biennial convention, Kuala Lumpur International Batik (KLIB) Convention and Exhibition, that brings in anyone related to batik. The last event was held in December 2011.

Another kind of fabric to keep an eye out for is kain songket. This textile with hand woven silver and gold threads was once reserved for members of royalty only. Now anyone can wear it but it’s usually only used for special occasions. Kelantan, Terengganu and Khota Bharu are where you’ll still find small cottage industries making this product.  A songket factory is located at Kampung Penambang north of Khota Bharu. Try the Buluh Kubu Bazaar, also known as Bamboo Fort Bazaar, for a variety of other textile products in Khota Bharu.

Malaysia is renowned for its many fabrics and woven materials. Pic: Joanne Lane.

Metalwork

If silverwork is your metal of choice you may want to look out for the silversmiths of Kelantan where there work is generally considered intricate and of superior quality. They use two techniques here – filigree and repousse – and you’ll find everything from tea sets to brooches and bracelets. Visit the silvercraft factory at Kampung Sireh, Kota Bharu.

If brasswork is more what interests there are ample industries producing various work in Kuala Terengganu. Silverwork, textiles, woodcraft and kites are also produced here, particularly in the waterfront district of Kampung Cina.

Woven products

Various weaving methods are used around Malaysia to produce an array of gift boxes, mats, bags, hats, shoes, fans and more. You’ll see many of these practiced as a cottage industry all around the country.

Pua kumbu weaving is common in Malaysian Borneo amongst Iban people for producing ceremonial items for use in birth, marriage, funeral and other rituals. For example a child may be cleaned when first delivered and then laid on a pua kumbu, or a corpse may be screened with such a cloth. Pua kumbu are also used to veil structures. To produce the pua kumbu a special dyeing process called ikat is used by which the designs are dyed onto the threads before they are woven.

Mengkuang is the practice of weaving the strands of the pandanus tree that grows in mangrove forests and jungles. The leaves are stripped, split into strands, soaked, dried, boiled and dyed with vegetable colours. The colourful woven fragments are then used to make various products. This practice still thrives in the eastern states of Peninsular Malaysia.

Woodcarving

The Kenyah and Kayan peoples of Malaysian Borneo are generally considered very skilled carvers. In places like Semporna you’ll also find designs of lepa boats, a traditional wooden-hulled single-mast boat.

A carved lepa boat in Semporna, Sabah. Pic: Joanne Lane.

Woven baskets

Woven baskets are commonly found in Malaysian Borneo and produced by a variety of ethnic groups including the Iban, Kayan, Kenya and Penan. Here you’ll find baskets, mats, seats and other materials made from rattan, bamboo, swamp grass and pandanus. These are commonly sold in markets around Borneo such as in Kuching but you’ll also find them in longhouses where they maybe available for purchase.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Tourism Malaysia website

__________________________

Author Bio

Joanne Lane (Australia)

Joanne Lane is an Australian freelance photojournalist based in Brisbane. A love of writing from an early age led her to complete a university journalism degree in 1996 with the idea of pursuing sports journalism, but she soon found the constraints of the newsroom too much. The travel bug soon hit and Jo has now travelled to some 40 countries or more and lived in a few as well, writing and documenting her experiences for newspapers, magazines and online sources around the world. For more details, see www.visitedplanet.com.

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Borneo is famous for its orangutans and the highlight for many travellers here is to see them in the wild. While it is possible to join trips going deep into the jungles of Sarawak and Sabah, these can be expensive and while there are an estimated 20,000 or so orangutans in Borneo there’s no guarantee you’ll actually come across them.

Orangutans are naturally shy creatures and live solitary lives mostly up in the trees so it can be hard to come across them.

Orangutans are mostly arboreal, meaning they live in the trees. Pic: Joanne Lane.

So many short on time that want guaranteed sightings will visit places like the Semenggoh Rehabilitation Centre, just outside Kuching (Sarawak) or the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary near Sandakan (Sabah).

I visited the former during my visit to Kuching as I was very keen to see these “people of the forest” – the direct translation of the name orang utan. What’s important to note about the orangutans at Semenggoh is that while they aren’t purely living in the wild, they are largely free to come and go as they please.

Food is provided twice daily to supplement their needs as there simply isn’t enough protected forest left for them to roam. Apparently large adults will naturally roam a large area of forest each day just to find enough to eat, so without the supplemented diet at Semenggoh there wouldn’t be enough food for them all.

Orangutans are of course an endangered species and thankfully protected by law in Malaysia. Authorities have been trying to counteract their loss of habitat, and the live animal trade, that has decimated their numbers, by setting up these rehabilitation centres.

Feeding time at Semenggoh. An orang-utan reaches down for an egg. Pic: Joanne Lane.

We had a car and driver to take us to Semenggoh from the hotel in Kuching as there were quite a few of us. This saved us a 20 minute walk from the gate, as the public bus, number 6, only drops you at the entrance. It also returns at 5pm so you have to watch the time if you go in the afternoon.

It is best to visit during the feeding times which take place daily from 9-10am and 3-3.30 pm. There’s usually a considerable crowd gathered for these so it’s not a completely unique or camera free experience, but once the orangutans start arriving you forget about everything else.

Around 9am workers at the sanctuary started putting out fruit for the primates. This seemed to be predominantly bananas and pawpaw but apparently they are fond of figs, eggs and even the pungent durian. For awhile we all stood there with our gaze skyward to the trees hoping to catch a glimpse of them.

Before long the first of the primates appeared – its long reddish hair distinct against the green foliage of the trees. It was a confident adolescent male and it worked its way along a well placed rope with incredible agility until it could reach down and pick contentedly at the offerings. It seemed unfazed by the crowd gathered nearby.

Minutes later a mother and baby arrived. The youngster seemed almost dumbstruck by all the attention and gazed at us with wide eyes, hiding intermittently in its mother’s hair. Meanwhile mum herself barely blinked at the waiting audience while she took the offered bottle of milk and sucked away. They seemed almost human in some of their mannerisms and it was easy to see where the name “person of the forest” had come from.

A mother and baby at Semenggoh. Pic: Joanne Lane.

By this stage more and more orangutans began to appear—1, 2, 5, 10… I lost count—and what had originally been a large group of 30-plus tourists began to dissipate as people wandered off to follow a particular primate.

We had been instructed about how to behave around the orangutans and not to give them food, smoke in front of them, touch them or get in their way. At times it was impossible to follow the last of these instructions as occasionally one of them would simply appear within metres of the made paths, above you in the trees and occasionally on the path with you.

When they did come to ground they lumbered along in an almost comical way, babies clutched to their chests, but would then suddenly swing gracefully up by a branch and disappear above you.

There was a notice board in the vicinity that listed the names of each one and some of the park wardens pointed them out when they appeared. There was Ritchie, Rose, Anaku, Selina, Murray and many others. Their date of births were given and their age and mother, if known.

When the food ran out soon after 10am, and they were contented with the feast, they began to leave just as they had arrived. One by one they flitted off into the trees; there would be flashes of red hair here and there and then they would vanish behind the leaves, exactly like people of the forest.

For more information you can contact the Visitors Information Centre at the National Parks Office, tel: (+6) 082 248088 Fax: (+6) 082 248087 or the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre (+6) 082 618423.

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Author Bio

Joanne Lane (Australia)

Joanne Lane is an Australian freelance photojournalist based in Brisbane. A love of writing from an early age led her to complete a university journalism degree in 1996 with the idea of pursuing sports journalism, but she soon found the constraints of the newsroom too much. The travel bug soon hit and Jo has now travelled to some 40 countries or more and lived in a few as well, writing and documenting her experiences for newspapers, magazines and online sources around the world. For more details, see www.visitedplanet.com.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Tourism Malaysia website

Asia Travel Guides, Reviews, Diary, News | Travel Wire Asia

The Mooncake Festival in Kuala Lumpur is held in September, the eighth month of the year. Now before you think I’ve been eating too much mooncake or drinking too much moonshine, let me tell you why.

It’s simple. The Chinese New Year begins in February so September is not actually the ninth month on the Malaysian timetable. But whatever your calendar is, it’s a dazzling spectacle, especially at night when the city lights are complemented by the colourful paper lanterns of all shapes, sizes and colours displayed outside homes and shops or in street parades.

Incense coils are a common sight around Malaysia particularly in districts such as Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. Pic: Joanne Lane

The festival is celebrated to signify the end of the harvesting season but it also celebrates the overthrow of the Mongol warlords in ancient China. Here we’ll have to take back in time to 1280 AD to explain. This is when the Mongols overthrew the Soong dynasty in China and imposed the Yuan dynasty in China.

Why is this important in Malaysia you may well ask? Well there are a lot of Chinese in Malaysia and until quite recently they were the largest ethnic group. Even though they aren’t any more, that honour belongs to the Malays themselves, Chinese festivals are celebrated with gusto. In fact in multi-ethnic Malaysia festivals of all traditions are celebrated including those of Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist and Christian origins.

Today lanterns form a big part of the celebration, as they are to remind the people of the time they used lanterns as their only source of light. Kids in particular love this aspect of the festival and are often seen roaming around with lanterns in the shape of animals. In Malaysia this particular event is often called the Lantern Parade. There are also lantern parades during the Chinese New Year celebrations, so if you see any such parade advertised just consider what time of year it is. If it’s around February it’s Chinese New Year, if not it could well be part of the Mooncake or Mid-Autumn Festival.

One of the best displays of Mooncake Festival lanterns is the Thean Hou Temple on Robson Hill. In 2011 a lantern parade was held at Central Market in Chinatown.

The best bit about the festival is of course what you get to eat. The round mooncakes are sweet or savoury and often given by younger Chinese to their seniors as an attempt to gain favour. Eating mooncakes in the market place is a delight; biting through crunchy pastry into red beans, ham or creamy egg yolk. Some are also sweet with chocolate and cinnamon flavours. Others have a distinctly Malaysian twist with pandan leaves and durian inside – eek some of you will no doubt say!

Mooncakes. Pic: misbehave, Flickr.

The best place to eat them in Kuala Lumpar is Jalan Petaling in Chinatown where eateries display them in brightly coloured boxes.

While you may not be surprised that mooncakes are round, their shape represents the unity of the family to the Chinese. So in Malaysia the Chinese celebrate the festival with family gatherings and prayers.

There’s some tradition to this. In Chinese Halika and Foochow families the oldest women lead the prayers at the moment when the full moon appears. Before you eat a mooncake they are first offered on altars to deities with the customary lighting of joss sticks, red candles and the burning of golden joss paper. Thirty minutes later the eating begins.

Another Chinese festival that is very popular around Malaysia is the Festival of the Hungry Ghost.

If you miss the Mooncake Festival this year, Malaysia has a wealth of public holidays and special holidays. There are 44 public holidays each year largely based on the Muslim calendar or the Hindu and Chinese calendars.

Guandi Temple in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. Pic: Joanne Lane.

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Author Bio

 Joanne Lane (Australia)

Joanne Lane is an Australian freelance photojournalist based in Brisbane. A love of writing from an early age led her to complete a university journalism degree in 1996 with the idea of pursuing sports journalism, but she soon found the constraints of the newsroom too much. The travel bug soon hit and Jo has now travelled to some 40 countries or more and lived in a few as well, writing and documenting her experiences for newspapers, magazines and online sources around the world. For more details, see www.visitedplanet.com.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Tourism Malaysia website

Asia Travel Guides, Reviews, Diary, News | Travel Wire Asia

The Cameron Highlands is a hill station perched on a corner of the Titiwangsa Range in Pahang. It is considered one of the last remaining stretches of virgin forests in peninsular Malaysia and if you like walking you’ll love the nature walks and mountains here. Plus there are plenty of chances to enjoy the flora as well including brilliant orchids.

A view of tea in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Pic: Will Ellis from Reading, England, Flickr.

However it is advisable to take a guide on some of the trails as they are quite poorly marked. Some of the guesthouses have free walks and many shops and hotels sell or provide maps showing the local trails. They will also advise which you can or can’t do on your own.

Thanks to the elevation of the highlands it offers a far cooler climate for enjoying such exertions. However you should always take food, snacks and rain gear with you and let someone know where you are going.

Orchid flowers in a flower garden, Cameron Highlands. Pic: Saravanan.

Parit Falls (30 minutes)
This is one of the easiest trails to undertake. It is listed as trail 4 on maps and starts in the centre of Tanah Rata town at the Century Pines Resort near the Old Smokehouse. The trail leads direct to the falls, although it is mossy, damp and with plenty of tree roots underfoot. Near the falls a side trail leads up to a 30 foot high watchtower from which you have a nice view of the Cameron Highlands tea fields.

Robinson Falls (1 hour)
A slightly longer trail from Tanah Rata leads to this more impressive waterfall and is another frequently trampled option. The trail starts southeast of town on the road to Mardi.

Boh Tea Estate (3 hours)
To combine your walk with the Cameron Highlands’ most famed resource, tea, consider this route to the Boh Tea Estate. According to their site they are “Malaysia’s largest producer of premium black teas and the country’s No. 1 preferred brand.” To test the theory go along and try them for yourself. To get there take the 9A trail past the Robinson falls to Habu Village main road, then turn left and continue another 3km.

The BOH Visitor Centre. Pic: Loke Seng Hon.

Gunung Beremban (4 hours)
Gunung Beremban at 1,840m in altitude is another medium level hike with well-worn trails. There are a number of ways to reach the top. From Tanah Rata you can take trail 7, from Brinchang trail 2 behind the Sam Poh Buddhist temple, or trail 3 near the golf course, or even follow the route to Robinson’s Falls and branch off trail 9 onto 8. Many consider this latter route as the least arduous. Whatever way you go, great views await from the summit.

Gunung Brinchang (4 hours+)
This is the highest peak in the highlands at 2032m and a must for many walkers. Indeed it is well worth it as the summit provides incredible views of the surrounding region, however it can often be clouded over. Start early for the best chance of an unimpeded summit view. It can be advisable to get a guide for this trek, otherwise take trail 1 on the main road north of Brinchang.

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Author Bio

Joanne Lane (Australia)

Joanne Lane is an Australian freelance photojournalist based in Brisbane. A love of writing from an early age led her to complete a university journalism degree in 1996 with the idea of pursuing sports journalism, but she soon found the constraints of the newsroom too much. The travel bug soon hit and Jo has now travelled to some 40 countries or more and lived in a few as well, writing and documenting her experiences for newspapers, magazines and online sources around the world. For more details, see www.visitedplanet.com.

 If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Tourism Malaysia website

Asia Travel Guides, Reviews, Diary, News | Travel Wire Asia

Rumah Bundong is a 60 year-old, 50-door longhouse near Kapit in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is inhabited by about 40 families of Iban ethnicity, who are famed, amongst many things, for headhunting.

Yes that’s right—headhunting—and 40 families means there are a lot of them. Still, I’m encouraged to learn they ceased the practice around WWII because I’ve elected to stay with them for two nights and frankly I don’t want them getting any ideas.

When I first arrived at Rumah Bundong, one of the first things I saw were skulls swaying from rafters in front of the headman’s bilik (door). Whether it was a warning for unruly guests or a gruesome souvenir for tourists, who knows? In any case I soon took little notice of it because there were so many other things to take in.

Skulls hanging from the rafters at Rumah Bundong. Pic: Joanne Lane.

The longhouse was located about an hour’s bumpy drive from Kapit and across a suspension bridge; in many ways a dramatic arrival that added to the experience.

A ruai (verandah) connected the 100-metre long structure with doors leading to individual family areas. The verandah was a communal area where women dried grains, divided the fish catch, worked on handicrafts, minded children and chatted. The men also grouped together to smoke, mend fishing nets and carve hooks. There was a real sense of a close-knit community.

I was given accommodation for a fee with the headman, Tua Rumah Bundong Tajok, and his family. His married children lived with their own families in a series of rooms in the same quarters, while single members slept in the lounge or near the guest quarters – a loft above the living area.

The 100 metre long stretch of the Rumah Bundong longhouse. Pic: Joanne Lane.

There was electricity, a television, they had mobile phones and lived in basic but comfortable rooms. An outhouse was used for washing and toileting, but most people bathed down at the river.

Few in the family spoke English but it didn’t matter. The headman’s wife and daughters prepared delicious meals of meat and vegetables that we ate communally on the kitchen floor. It was wonderful to be included in family life and not treated differently and I dived into the bowls with everybody else.

The first day I spent playing with the headman’s grandchildren, bathing in the river and exploring to get a sense of the rhythms of the longhouse. Most people were farmers and spent the days working in the fields. There was also a school on site for younger children. In the afternoon the workers would return home and gather on the verandahs.

On the second day I accompanied the headman, some of his family and a dozen workers to their fields. We set out at dawn, walking for 30 minutes across hillsides and rivers to reach what appeared to be a series of burnt out, hilly paddocks.

It didn’t look too promising to me but I guessed they must have recently cleared them for replanting – the task for today. While we sat eating breakfast one of the older men, covered liberally in tattoos, produced a chicken and slit its throat. When he dipped the feathers in the blood and set them in a dish of food—perhaps to bless our work—visions of headhunting came to mind again.

The lunch time feast after a sweaty morning in the fields. Pic: Joanne Lane.

However it was soon clear the chicken was our lunch. The headman burnt its feathers in a fire and began to prepare it. Meanwhile the men started making holes in the ground with poles and the ladies trailed behind filling the pockets with rice seeds.

After watching for awhile I joined the women and was soon scratched, sweating and covered in ash. It was hard work. When we broke for lunch the women gave me a long sleeved shirt, pants and a conical farming hat for protection.

We feasted on chicken, rice and vegetables in a hut by a small stream. Before returning to the fields we all jumped in the water to cool off. As the midday sun came out in burning glory I wondered if I could bow out gracefully, but I didn’t want to let the side down.

By the time we were finished I realized I had earned my kudos and back at the longhouse was invited into homes, had food pressed on me and treated as part of the community.

On my final day a tour group visited the longhouse. Each was given a sip of tuak, rice wine, and food to eat and there was music and dancing. I was seated with the headman’s family throughout this and it seemed an acknowledgement I had become part of the family even just for those few days.

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Author Bio

Joanne Lane (Australia)

Joanne Lane is an Australian freelance photojournalist based in Brisbane. A love of writing from an early age led her to complete a university journalism degree in 1996 with the idea of pursuing sports journalism, but she soon found the constraints of the newsroom too much. The travel bug soon hit and Jo has now travelled to some 40 countries or more and lived in a few as well, writing and documenting her experiences for newspapers, magazines and online sources around the world. For more details, see www.visitedplanet.com.

Asia Travel Guides, Reviews, Diary, News | Travel Wire Asia