ON TRAVEL
An alternative blog on travel for people with a strong desire to travel and explore the world.
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Monday, April 11, 2022
Sydney to Hobart, Tasmania
Monday, October 25, 2021
Sydney freedom & travel plans for 2022
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Sydney is out of Lockdown
Sydney is out of Lockdown, well, for the fully vaccinated at least. We are got out two weekends ago, however it didn’t feel official until I went to the beach 🏖. Being Lockdowned & restricted to 5km from my home is something I don’t want to go through ever again.
Of course Sydney & New South Wales was the first Australian State out of Lockdown. Well, NSW is a third of Australia's GDP, so it was costing a fortune. When we entered Federation in 1901 there wasn't such a big wealth disparity. Once Victoria was the wealthiest State in Australia, but not any more.
Soon, Sydney will be open for international arrivals & we will get our skilled migrants back in quantity! Australia 🇦🇺 has always had a skilled labour shortage. NSW as the most dynamic economy in Australia 🇦🇺 desperately needs them.
If you wish to come to Australia 🇦🇺 (who wouldn’t) then have a look at the Australian government website to see the list of skills we are desperately short in.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Finland is the Happiest Country in the World again!
One of my favourite countries Finland has been found to be the World's Happiest Country for the fourth time in the row!
Finland top many of the world's rankings from honesty (they top the Lost Wallet Test) & they are considered by many educators to have one of the best education systems in the world.
Saturday, October 24, 2020
The Lincoln Memorial & The Battle of Gettysburg
The Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC. A fitting memorial for the great man. Sit on the steps & reflect on his achievements, whilst looking across National Mall. Perfect late in the day. Washington DC is easy to visit if you are travelling by train from New York City like I was - Penn Station is in the heart of Manhattan & the train station in DC is opposite the Capitol Building!
The South couldn't win the American Civil War or 'War of Succession' as the South called it, right? Not so fast, Lincoln was not politically popular at the time before the Battle of Gettysburg. You have to remember war is a political act for a political purpose. If the North had suffered a big defeat in General Lee's campaign in the North then it could have dramatically changed the result of the upcoming election. That was the aim of the strategy. This is a great presentation by historian Steve Knott on the lead up to the Battle of Gettysburg at the US Army War College (above).
I would love to visit Gettysburg, because I studied American history, and I've read so much about the campaign. Maybe on my next trip to the United States.
Monday, June 8, 2020
SURPRISING cultural differences between ICELAND and AMERICA
I have not been to Iceland yet, but its definitely on my list to do. Maybe next year. In many ways Iceland as described in Hfarna's video is similar to the Nordic countries I have visited - Finland, Sweden & Norway. However, you can buy beer in the supermarket, but for spirits you have to go to the special government owned shop. I understand that this was to curb alcohol abuse.
I hate carpet, and yes it is true, that most Nordic homes have wood floors, not carpet like in many homes in the Anglo-Sphere. Although this is slowly changing with many people installing timber flooring in my home country Australia. You take your shoes off at the door in every Nordic country I visited.
Nudity - I had a German girlfriend who grew up in a nudist family, which is quite common in Germany. In Finland you are generally nude in the sauna, however I've been told it is mainly segregated unless you are with close friends. The Finns have a saying, "everyone is equal in the sauna." In general, we in the Anglo-Sphere have more of a problem with nudity.
Hfarna raised the fact that in Iceland everybody, including teachers, are called by their first name. This is the same in Finland too. In Australia we have to call them by their title. Nordic countries are probably more committed to the concept of equality.
In conclusion, I like Hfarna's videos and her take on the differences between Iceland and the United States. I really like Nordic countries and their practical way of dealing with life. I think we can learn a lot from Nordic countries.
What did you find interesting from the video?