Stories behind the stories. By Travel Writer, Amy McPherson
It has been a good weekend. Since Friday, there has been ships invading Sydney Harbour. It is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and warships from all over the world are here to celebrate with us with an International Fleet Review week. The warships arrived on Friday after a week of joint military …
It’s a funny thing. We are drawn to randomly placed large objects and when giant colourful snails invaded Sydney last week as part of the Art & About Sydney 2013 festival, I noticed that we all can’t help but stop and pose with them. It’s an urge even I can’t resist. The annual Art & …
The smell is never as imminent as they say, and lunch at the Sydney Fish Market is always a treat for me. “Fresh fish doesn’t smell”, is the tip I got from the man behind the counter at Peter’s, one of the larger fish mongers here at the market. I select a few prawns, freshly …
Have you ever arrived at an attraction, after much anticipation of seeing it and feeling it and thought… “WTF?” I felt that when I saw Pis. Yep, the little Pis of Brussels. It took me a bit of time navigating the back streets of the city from central station, through unmarked cobble stoned lanes and …
Pinch and punch for the first day of month! It is also the first day of spring and Sydney is glowing. I love this time of the year, for it marks the start of a period where I can really enjoy Sydney’s great outdoors and the many festivals that are about to start. Last week …
The husband looked up at me from his plate of breakfast and said “do you want to do some outdoor activity today?” The question was sudden but not entirely random. It was a beautiful day today in Sydney and it was hard to ignore the great outdoors. So out of the doors we went and …
I’ve been daydreaming more than usual lately, because I haven’t really done that much travelling in the past ten months. Right now, I am thinking of Saarbrücken, a German city I studied in for a year, a city that will forever remain somewhere special for me. And the reasons are not what most people think: …
Sydney isn’t all about the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. I find beauty in Sydney’s back streets, where autumn leaves add that extra charm to the backdrop. Here are some corners of Sydney that I love, both in the rain and on sunny days!
[Originally posted on old site] Wellington is a socialite’s paradise. Not only is the city full of great cafes and restaurants, its night life is second to none when it comes to quirky hang outs. Wellingtonians enjoy a bit of individualism and there are plenty of night spots that would satisfy even the pickiest drinkers. …
Photos by William McPherson Some hate it, some love it. While it’s just another harbour city, Auckland does have redeeming qualities. Its Parnell district and Devonport districts are so charming that visitors often forget they are in fact in the largest financial hub of New Zealand. My article Charming Parnell of Auckland describes one such …
I am struggling to like Auckland, and it isn’t just an Aussie vs the Kiwis thing. Having came from a harbour city to visit another harbour city, I just couldn’t find anything special about it. The ‘Auckland, Whats On’ guide I picked up at the airport urged me to get on the Auckland Hop on …
Either my memories are failing me or Melbourne is starting to clean up. I stood in front of ‘the’ corner of Central Place famed for its gratified dumpster dead end usually covered with the vinegary stench of the human urine and found a brightly lit new entrance to an apartment hotel. (Read: Melbourne: Coffee, markets and long …
While Kuala Lumpur is on my mind, I want to share this video of the New Year fireworks I filmed. It was for the 09/10 New Year, and with the intention of getting the best seat in the house, we had booked a Twin Tower view room at the Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, and …
“Are you from Malaysia?” is generally the question Malaysians would ask me whenever I start talking about Kuala Lumpur (KL). I know the city like the back of my hand; I know how to work its public transport system, the locations of the best shopping malls, the best streets to hit up for a good …
The only thing I knew of Battambang was that Maddox from the Jolie-Pitt gang came from this province, and that there is a foundation in his name for the orphans here. So I was almost expecting to see pictures of Angelina everywhere, or at least, Santa, seeing that it was Christmas day and we haven’t …
Summer is when Sydney really shines. As the weather gets warmer, organisers are busy doing their last minute preparations to the many festivals to come. Now is the time to really enjoy this harbour city. October Starting with Crave Sydney International Food Festival, which began earlier this month and will run until 31 October 2012. …
Ricky Martin, Enrique Ingles… we know the type, the type that can dance, shake their bum bum and look lusciously Latin. Now, keep that thought in your mind, and welcome to streets full of that vibe: Buenos Aires. Besides being the capital of Argentina and home to the story of hit Broadway musical Evita, it …
Bavarians have an attitude. They are so much better than the other Germans. They have some of the world’s bests, including cars and beer, and well known for the world-wide celebrated Oktoberfest. Yes, indeed, Oktoberfest is just around the corner, with celebrations to start on the 22nd September. Beer tents will be erected large enough …
On Monday, I was treated to a food tour. Yes, I hear you. I was also a little skeptical too. Why go on a food tour if you can just find out about restaurants on the internet or follow the Michelin’s guide to dining? I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the tour. It …
The past two days have been… busy. My itinerary was packed with visits to Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand), an interview with the concierge at Rydges, a night tour of Zealandia, a Capital Tastes Tour with Zest Food Tours, a ride on the cable car up to the Carter Observatory then back down …
The hype is coming to Wellington again. With the world premiere set for 28 November and the release of the first movie set for 13 December this year (with the second movie to follow on 13 December 2013) the city is preparing for the estimated 250,000 people that will gather – with and without costumes …
It is surprisingly comfortable. Before coming I had expected Wellington to be freezing, grey and lifeless, but the sun shun through the clouds and it was like some one’s just pulled opened the curtain – Wellington immediately became colourful, lively and really not all that cold. We arrived here last night at around 12:30am. (well, …
There is something about Melbourne. I used to have to go around twice a year for work and now it’s like our second home, our ‘getaway from Sydney’ home and we can never get sick of it. Makes me think perhaps it’s time for us to move there? Arriving in Melbourne around 6pm on …
