"around the corner" photo album featured on jalbum

The FotoLux web site has been re-designed in order to make it more 'modern' and to be less reliant on flash so it can be viewed on more devices including those nasty 'Apple' devices. More work will continue on the site in order to get rid of more 'Flash'

The opportunity has also been taken to rehash the Spain photo gallery (again making it non-flash), re-mastering the photographs and adding never before published photographs.
In addition the 'general' photo gallery has been updated in a similar way and renamed "from around the corner".

Visit FotoLux Web Site

Australian and Singapore Photos

Photo galleries of Australia and Singapore have been added to the FotoLux website.

Also there is a short video to view "Sunrise at Ayers Rock"

This can all be found at:            http://www.fotolux.co.uk

 

The Trip Home

The last day in Australia most of us will catch a flight to Singapore/Heathrow latter this afternoon. Some lucky blighters travel onto Hong Kong, Bangkok or elsewhere in Australia/New Zealand to visit friends and relatives.

The late flight allows me to see Melbourne when its not raining and to sample a beer to see if I like it yet – I think I do!

Quite an uneventful flight totalling some 23 hours in the air. Managed to watch 4 feature films, several TV programs and listen to numerous music albums. Served four airline meals – which are an acquired taste, which I’m yet to acquire – numerous snacks and drinks (I had a beer for a change) just to pass the time. Qantas is not a bad airline (providing they don’t go on strike) with the legroom being better than average (in my limited experience) – and the beer is free too.

After 36 hours from leaving the hotel in Melbourne I’m home, not feeling too tired considering how little sleep I have had. Decided it would be a good idea to have a bite to eat down the local Pub – plus a couple of pints of Fosters (didn’t see a Fosters in Australia once during the holiday!) – before catching up on my sleep.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I loved Singapore and the many faces of Australia.

It was a great holiday, well organised (a special thanks to Carol) with a super gang of fellow travellers.

Roll on the next one.

Farewell Dinner

It’s the last night and time for the farewell dinner this being held on a Melbourne tram while travelling around the Melbourne streets.

 

And all the drinks were included, all types, Possible not a good idea with our group!

I did not have a single beer, I just stuck to the champagne, wine and brandy.. 

The meal was superb and justYou has to be congratulated in providing a fitting ending to a great holiday.

Addendum -  not to disappoint, I did manage a few beers after the meal, back at the pub around the corner from the hotel.

Melbourne – Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill

It’s not raining! It’s supposed to be according to the forecasters, but Australia’s weather forecasters are just as good as they are in the UK so it’s nice and bright.

Sovereign Hill is a museum dedicated to gold mining from the 1850s. It is very well done with exhibits ranging from going down a simulated mine through gold pouring through confectionery making (although they got some things wrong!) to a hotel and bar (with real beer) – which I had to sample – well ………………..

Melbourne

Had a nice meal (and a few beers) on arrival – a great street café atmosphere.

Woke up to heavy rain, which continued most of the day. Difficult to really explore Melbourne in such conditions, except, of course for the bars - but I did my best (with the beer that is)

Beginning to get that end of holiday feeling, only one and a bit days left (plus some 24 hours travelling!)

 

Canberra to Melbourne

A long full day journey to Melbourne by road. An interesting journey with the landscape getting greener all the time, almost English like.

We stopped at a few interesting places on route to see the “dog sat on the tucker box” and the place where Ned Kelly was captured (Glenrowan)




Canberra

Farewell to Sydney, we leave by coach to Canberra. It is still raining when we leave – but Sydney is a fantastic place, really living up to its reputation.

First to a sheep station near Canberra (Gold Creek) for sheep shearing and a BBQ lunch – guess what we had?

                                                                 BEEF STEAK!!!!!

And its not raining, in fact its fairly bright and warm.

Then onto Australia’s Parliament House, a bit disappointed I was expecting Barack Obama to be there to welcome us, but he did a runner to Darwin – apparently he is not very good at giving speeches.
 

 

Parliament House is a relatively new building (opened 1988 by the Queen) but it still has some character with great views towards the war museum.



I don’t dislike Canberra from what I have seen of it – beer is cheap as well.

Sydney – day 3

 

Just like a nice spring day in the UK – dull and cloudy with rain coming in in the evening – and not very warm too!

Spent the time on the monorail and then on a boat up river to get a beer.

There are a few pests to be aware of in Australia – flies in Perth and Ayers Rock and Joggers in Sydney! I have never seen as many joggers before, it would be so easy to get trampled, after all they run faster than me! (most things do)