-
Valletta, Malta
•
Malta lies in an historically significant strategic position in the Mediterranean. Squeezed between Sicily and Africa, control of Malta was critical for trouble-free trading, plundering, and warring.
-
Passage to Malta
•
Our passage to Malta, the longest of our voyage from Turkey to Tunisia, would take three and a half days. We were all looking forward to getting ashore for a shower, a meal and a beer.
-
Bumper Stickers and National Heroes, Turkey
•
The other day I saw a couple of bumper stickers featuring modern Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Ataturk. Which got me thinking: what if patriotic Aussies could have bumper stickers of their favourite giant of Australian politics, instead of just the southern cross and Ned Kelly?
-
Old Bodrum, Turkey
•
Bodrum, Turkey, is a popular resort town for sun-deprived Europeans, but isn’t just hotels, souvenir shops, nightclubs and STIs. The place has a long history, and some interesting sites to check out.
-
A Place to Call Home
•
I was fortunate to work in Central Australia for nearly twenty years, and a big part of the jobs I did was working with Indigenous people. I remember a friend of mine, who also worked cross-culturally, once saying: ‘I envy Indigenous people. They have a true sense of place. They…
-
The Kindness of Strangers II, Turkey
•
The Skipper had told us that the Turkish people readily go out of their way to help visitors to their country. A local bloke definitely made our visit to Ayvalik memorable, making sure three strangers and a dog felt welcome in his town.
-
The Dardanelles, Turkey
•
Today I motored down the Dardanelles, along the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, one hundred and five years after my relative John (Jack) Gibbs arrived at ANZAC Cove.
-
Topkapi Palace, Turkey
•
The architecture of Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace is impressive to say the least, with buildings being added over the centuries as successive Sultans tried to out-magnificent each other
-
Swallows and Amazons
•
A chance discovery in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands Urupukapuka is the largest island in New Zealand’s aptly named Bay of Islands. During a recent kayak trip (see Paddling the Bay) I had the opportunity to explore Urupukapuka, and climbed the grassy walking track to the Island’s highest point. I…
-
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
•
Paddling the Bay New Zealand’s Bay of Islands is located on the north-east coast of the North Island. Maori called the Bay Ipipiri, however Captain Cook re-named it the Bay of Islands in 1769 on account of it being a bay of islands. Paddling the Bay’s intricate coastline promised a…