Tahiti Looks Nice
Adventures in Paradise – Exploring French Polynesia It’s amazing how the catchphrase from a 1970’s soap TV advertisement has made it into the vernacular. Who could forget the rich couple and their cuter-than-cute blond kid (who’s playing with a...
Fiery Flamenco and Gypsy Nights
Last month I was foot-tapping to the wonderful five-piece Gypsy fusion band Monsieur Camembert. Theirs is an Eastern European style of music but gypsies, or Romani, are found right across Europe and are said to have originated in India. Their music inspired Flamenco...
Deck the Medieval Halls with Holly
A Christmas Markets cruise is full of bountiful gifts When it’s sizzling hot in Sydney and the air dense with humidity, my thoughts turn to cool northern climes and a fantastic river cruise I took along the Danube. The snow continued to fall as we visited...
What a swell party it was
Sheraton Grand opens in style It must have been the two espresso martinis I had at the end of the night, after I’d already consumed a few champagnes, that did it, for it’s taken me a while to to wax lyrical about the party of the year – the one held...
It’s wave season and ships come rolling in
Summer spells surf, sun and cruise ships by the score Cruise fans can expect to see dozens of ships berthed at Circular Quay over the coming months and for those interstate cruise spotters, there’ll be plenty of ships to admire at terminals in Brisbane, Melbourne,...
Trio of P&O ships head to Melbourne Cup
Fun for punters on board and behind-the-scenes at Flemington Dressed in a hi-vis vest and rugged up in a coat despite the late spring day, I join a busload of punters, in the true sense of the word, on a tour of Flemington. Apart from the 40 or so of us, and staff and...
Tribute festivals – musical salutes to your favourite bands
Can’t get the real thing – check out a fake festival Ten tribute festivals celebrating the genius of Elvis to Abba 1. Elvis Festival – Parkes, NSW, Australia. January 9 – 13, 2019 After four days at an Elvis Festival you’ll certainly know not to call those...
Thailand markets – saffron, ceremony and sweet treats
It’s worth getting up early for NAN markets in northern Thailand I’ve been to dozens of Asian and European markets over the years. For some reason, I’m drawn to vegetables – the more exotic the better – and luscious fruit as well....
Gold Coast’s new entertainment hub
Australian celebrities have strutted their stuff on the Logies red carpet – trophies and perfect teeth gleamed and dresses shimmered. The big annual event in Australian show business – named in honour of Scottish engineer John Logie Baird who invented...
Four Seasons Explorer – The Maldives
Caroline’s Cabin Fever discovers a cruise that makes everyone feel like royalty – if only for three blissful days. There’s a speck in the Indian Ocean called Tasty Sand Island. I can’t quite believe I’m lying on its savoury white stuff,...