June 2007 - Australian Traveller

Australian Traveller

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Australian Traveller - June 2007

Victorian Cricket Day

June 28th 2007 13:30

If you are fortunate enough to be in Alton, Hampshire (England) this weekend or anywhere that is close enough for you to get there make sure you head to the Butts for the annual Victorian Cricket Match. My word this is the biggest laugh!

Basically 9 pubs in Alton get together a cricket team and have a fundraising event - Victorian Style! Authentic bat, ball and stumps are used for the game.... and if you turn up minus your Victorian gear you cannot play!

Our day unfolded as such last year - the team gathered for what was agreed to be an early night (yeah right!), just to discuss the final bits of the game plan at the pub the night before. Seeing as I lived at the pub I had no choice but to stay to the bitter end - our two opening batsmen left at 4am.... the first game was at 10am with everyone congregating at the pub at 8am for breakfast. Thankfully someone had their head screwed on (not me) and was up bright and early with breakfast on the go to greet some very weary players.

10am saw us down at the playing field stretching and getting ready for the action.

Actually we were getting some 'refreshments' - I forgot to mention that most teams drink throughout the day. I did mention the teams were made up of PUB players. You can only imagine the chaos of tipsy cricket players... in Victorian gear.... in the rain! From our pub to the field was a good 2km walk - the stares from passing motorists were classic as we trudged down the road.

The history if the area is fascinating too. Only a short stroll takes you to Chawton and the home of Jane Austen (she would have crossed this very field on her walks in to town).

Ever heard the saying "Sweet F**k All?" - well this area was once the place of the rather gruesome murder of a young girl named Sweet Fanny Adams. One day while out playing with her friends she was lured away by a young man, taken into a local field and raped. Her body parts were found strewn across the area and sailors at the time, hearing of the terrible tale, began to refer to their measly ship meals as Sweet Fanny Adams, or Sweet F**k All.

The young man was working in the local soliciters office, which is still in use today and the pub where I lived was once the jailhouse where he was held, tried and later hanged for his terrible crime.

There is a ridiculous number of pubs in this little town, some really great little places to eat and the people will make you feel right at home. So if you are fortunate enough to be in the area make a day of it, there is plenty of fun for everyone - even the kids.

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Whale watching

June 22nd 2007 11:54

If you are on the East Coast of Australia now would be the best time to have a peek at the whales that are making their way up north. (Make sure you keep an eye out for Migaloo ('white fella" in Aboriginal language), a very rare albino whale).

Hervey Bay is one of the best places to see these gentle giants from. Leaving humanity far behind you jump on board one of the vessels (Tour Operators will normally pick you up from your accommodation) and head out on the aqua sea, always keeping an eye on the water for any splashes and water spouts or on the shores of Fraser Island for any lurking dingoes.

It takes a while and a bit of patience to catch up with these guys. Some whale facts and photos to follow...

Whaling was Australia`s first primary industry and during the late 1820`s really started to boom. For the 12 years between 1950 and 1962 almost 125 000 humpback whales were killed along Australia`s East Coast.

In 1939 Humpback Whaling was banned for ten years to allow numbers to increase after they became dangerously low. Finally in 1978 all whaling ceased in Australia. During the period between 1954 and 1962 10 000 tons of oil were produced from 1146 whales processed at the Byron Bay Whaling Station.

Humpback Whales are the ones that you will see swimming along the East Coast of Australia, although some other species have apparently been spotted too. 1963 saw them becoming protected after their numbers dwindled. They get their name from the 'hump' their back forms when diving. Their migration is one of 7000 nautical miles which is one of the longest migrations known in the animal world.

Although play is an important part of any baby`s life it is particularly important in the animal kingdom because it is a time when they can learn movements that may save their life. Breaching is when the animal 'jumps' almost completely out of the water. If a predator is after a young one this can mean life or death.

Whales have two lungs each the size of a small car so when exhaling you can imagine the force of air that comes out - hence the spray. Whilst out watching these creatures keep a watchful eye out for dolphins, turtles and dugongs too!

Really Long Link
Really Long Link

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Aussie Sightseeing

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The Dreaming Festival

June 10th 2007 09:39

Who would think that behind these tranquil green hills a three day celebration would be rocking the trees and rumbling the hills? The Dreaming Festival is now in its third year and according to Organisers, is 20% up on ticket sales from last year. It attracts both local and international audiences in a massive celebration of Indigenous Arts on the site of the annual Woodford Folk Festival. Disabled facilities are available and children are seen having just as much fun, if not more, as the adults.

Anita Heiss was the first speaker I saw. What a hilarious woman! She read from her various books and had some rather profound statements - one which has stuck with me -

there is no such thing as an Aborigine. That is simply a name that settlers gave us.

A story that also stuck in my mind was of her once being on a plane to LA from Melbourne and overhearing a conversation where a woman proclaimed her pride at being a FOURTH GENERATION Australian. She turned to her colleague and asked what they would think of her being a FOUR THOUSANDTH generation Australian! In making reference to the Cronulla riots and placards that were raised stating WE WERE HERE FIRST she laughed and announced, 'Well, we would not expect them to say "WE WERE HERE SECOND" '. If you can get hold of any of her books I would recommend the read, even better if you can catch her in person.

Sadly, one of the dancers passed away on Saturday morning so out of respect all dance performances were cancelled for the day. Concerts went on as planned and with a line up of performers such as Casey Donovan, Shellie Morris and Blue King Brown who could be bored? (they were the only bands I managed to catch - check The Dreaming Festival website for more).

What would any festival be like without street performers? A lot of the children set up their own busking stalls throughout the site which was really cute. There were a lot of instruments on sale and you could see that a lot of parents had gone wild on them. I would just love to be a fly on the wall when they got home... and the instruments followed!

As the sun was setting the Festival took on a whole new light. The sun was just tinting the bottom of the clouds that had been hanging around all day. All the lights started flickering on and the fires were lit.... a winter wonderland! The food was an amazing array from all over the world - Turkey, Hungary, Jamaica, India... the best? Organic doughnuts made from all organic ingredients and rainwater. YUM!

As the fires lit the place and warmed the cold bodies so microphones and speakers were dragged out and story tellers began their tales. The best environment to be in! Cold, fresh breezes circulating the air mingling with tales of days gone by and warmed by the flickering light of burning logs... what better way to spend an evening?

What I felt the best thing about the whole experience was the fact that for one day I was surrounded by a massive mix of cultures, an entwining of accents, of skin tones, of beliefs... and everyone could join together in a celebration and just be. By the time bed was calling the wind had really picked up. I had opted out of the tent option and slept in the car which I was really happy about considering the chill factor outside. 4 duvets and a woollen blanket later I was quite happy to be locked away in my little cocoon being lulled to sleep by the rhythmic sounds of a group of drummers. If you are into Cultural Experiences and interested in celebrating the real Australian history and heritage I would suggest a visit next year!

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Experimental Travel

June 1st 2007 14:36

With more places opening up to the intrepid explorer (unfortunately normally to the detriment of the local area) and even pleasure trips to the Moon being scheduled, travel has never been as exciting… or has it? Imagine what it was like travelling into the unknown with only the stars as your guide. Monsters lurked under every wave and dread beat in every heart with the uncertainly of when your ship would simply drop off the edge of the Earth. Now, in our hi-tech, busy world we become consumed by thoughts of our plane being hijacked or our train derailing. Ever run out of fuel on a dark moonless night or had a flat tyre on a hot summer day in the middle of nowhere? Travel definitely has its ups and downs and everyone has a story to tell.

Be thankful you were not part of the first pleasure cruise hosted by Englishman Richard Hore in 1536. The Portuguese and Spanish were roaming in their ‘Voyages of Discovery’, exploring and developing new trade routes. This was the start of globalisation. It had been 39 years since an English expedition had ventured out and after this one it would be quite a while until the next.