Item 65: Cornwall - Easter Road Trip

Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom

Easter long weekend came around faster than I expected but thankfully there were spare seats in a friend’s hire car and I hopped on the bandwagon as we headed on my first long weekend road trip down to the south west coast of the UK to Cornwall.

Good Friday and Easter Saturday were filled by day with scones with jam and Cornish clotted cream, fish and chips, a Cornish pasty and Cornish ice cream. The nights saw the threat of flying drink trays thrown by the renowned bucks and hens' weekends of Newquay. Searching the streets we discovered £2 Jagerbombs at the Belushi's backpacker bar, which turned out to be a winner. Its sticky floors proved to be a rather nice atmosphere to be spending our vacation.

Our trip continued through to the coast of St Ives, as we sought cover from the rains in the town's amusement parlour on the two penny machines. Again it was perfect weather for a Cornish ice cream or two.

Next stop was Penzance on Sunday, for the pirates. Slightly disappointing but the town was a good base to get to St Michael's Mount which we approached during low tide across the beach.

We also sought out a local craft and food market. Arriving an hour before closing time were excused of the exorbitant £3 entry fare. Afterwards, we went for a drive down to Land's End - the most western point of the UK, just so we could check that one off the list too.

On our drive home on Easter Monday, in free-flowing traffic towards London, we balanced off our tour with a visit to the giant biomes of the Eden Project. With 'Mediterranean' and 'Rainforest' environments in the giant greenhouses, a bit of cover from the weather in the artificial climates completed a most successful road trip!

Item 65: Cornwall? CHECK!

Item 64: Kensington Palace... Enchanted

Location: London, United Kingdom

After visiting many a 'historic' site during my stay in the UK, Kensington Palace was one at the bottom of the list on account that it is right next to Hyde Park and a possible side excursion to a summer picnic when the weather turned bad.

My weekend surprise, however, found me visiting just the place. Unlike the traditional ‘please stick to the walkway’ visit, the ‘Enchanted Palace’ encourages you inner child to explore the magnificence of living like royalty. Amidst the renovations there has been a surprising amount of freedom given to its curators. As you enter the palace, following your map to the 'Room of Beginnings' in search of seven cryptically hidden princesses the amazing interiors with contemporary artefacts by collaborating designers, including Vivienne Westward, contrast the traditional frescos and tapestries on the walls.

Everything inside Kensington feels highly accessible to guests. The wardens do more than just keep eye on the exhibits. They are a fountain of knowledge when asked about the former residents of the palace and they tell their stories as any good fairytale. And the performers rushing around to find 'Your Majesty', keep you on your toes as you wander around not knowing what to expect around the next corner.

Exiting the adventure into the gardens, I left with warm fuzzy feeling that I'd visited something more than just "another" palace.

Item 64: Kensington Palace? CHECK!

Item 63: York

Location: York, United Kingdom

The return of sunshine to the UK has given us good reason to get outside. This time York was the destination.

It’s a medieval walled city with cobblestone streets, windy narrow paths of the Shambles shopping area and Devonshire tea rooms, York is the picture of old England. Why, the Saturday market even had the wife-beating Punch and Judy Puppet Show on for the kids.

After catching the train into town, we stopped for lunch at J-Baker’s Bistro Moderne. As a sucker for the restaurant’s claim of having a one-time Michelin-starred chef in the kitchen, I couldn’t resist but to see what they had on offer. Although we were one of the first tables to be seated we found out that it was good foresight to have made a lunchtime reservation as impromptu parties were turned away at the door. Passing up the three course grazing menu at the bargain price of £12, we opted for the day’s special of pig’s cheeks and squid on a bed of seaweed. And it was tasty. Even better, we received the celeriac whip as a complimentary entree anyway.

I came up trumps with my order of the Lemon Pop dessert. It came light and fluffy, with subtle pop-rock mousse on layers of strawberries, jelly and ice-cream.... Luckily the sun was out so I could walk it off in the afternoon. After grabbing our own coats from the cloak room – the staff were apparently too busy for the job - we headed out into the perfect weather.

A completely walkable town, it’s hard not to miss York Minster during the visit. After the indulgent lunch and with clear skies there was no excuse not to pay the five quid to climb the 275 steps to the top of the Minster’s Central Tower to get views of the city from above.

Item 63: York? CHECK!

Item 62: Jorvik Viking Centre

Location: York, United Kingdom

York has a Viking museum! “That one has to be added to the list”, so my inner child screamed.

Reopening after a big refurbishment, I had high expectations for our visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre. Adding to the excitement was being able to ‘Gift-aid’ our £8.95 entrance fee which meant donating our ticket price to the centre instead of buying an actual ticket, giving us unlimited access to the centre for a whole year.

The discovery of the village of Jorvik (the Viking name for York), nine meters below where the current city stands, has allowed for the centre to recreate the historical experience to an amazing degree of accuracy. The artefacts collected from archaeological digs piece together Viking life, as visitors are transported in the centre’s ‘ride’ through the ancient village to meet the locals, into houses and to the local markets.

Animatronic Vikings are impressive enough, blinking and speaking as you pass by. But most confronting was the way the centre attempts to capture all your senses. There’s a distinct whiff in the air, right from the entrance at ticket desk which follows you through the exhibition and on the ride, varying only slightly when you pass the exhibit of meat and food. This was all a little overwhelming for one little boy the day of our visit. I assume it was the pure smell of it all that made the poor kid’s stomach churn. His tummy turned, blocking off entrance to the ride, holding up the rest of the queue in the stinky little Viking Village of Jorvik.

Item 62: Jorvik Viking Centre? CHECK!

Item 61: Jet lag

Location: London, United Kingdom

Flight Details: Melbourne to London

Total Travel Time : 23:30 hrs

Jet lag - Can't be avoided.

At least the Tim Tam Crush Mint Crisp biscuits I packed makes up for it (almost).

Item 61: Jet lag? CHECK!

Item 60: Darwin - More Sunshine!

Location: Darwin, Australia

The coldest winter in the UK for 31 years! I’m getting as much warmth as I can before I head back – Darwin here I come!

In the 33 degree heat, the humidity didn’t hit me as hard as I’d expected when I exited Darwin Airport just after midnight on my four-hour Jetstar flight direct from Melbourne.

It’s the wet season in the Northern Territory. The houses are built to withstand the cyclones and today they appear torrential rain-proof too. The folks ‘down South’ apparently just don’t know what a real storm is! The short down-pour in the morning has decreased the temperature a few degrees, and I’m enjoying being outside by the pool just chillin’ with the geckos in the yard.

This city reminds me of a little country town, homes with corrugated iron roofing; people hanging about in shorts and t-shirts, enjoying life; a local shopping mall that’s been left behind in the 80’s and it’s all viewed with a tinge of red-desert coloured glasses.

This visit is my summer holiday, (except I’ve been warned about visiting the beach because of the crocs and jellyfish). But hey, it's the temperature's in double digit territory and today sunshine is my friend.

Item 60: Darwin? CHECK!

Item 59: Melbourne - Bring on the sunshine (and drinks)!

Location: Melbourne, Australia

A welcome relief from the longest winter of my life in the UK, Melbourne has welcomed me back with days of sunshine!

Whipping out the summer clothes and slip-slop-slapping on the sunscreen before heading out to catch-up with some of my favorite people, there's definitely no place like home.

Degraves Street amongst the office-worker crowds was a reminder of decent lunchtime eating. No mash and fries from the canteen for these locals! A lunchtime walk, some take-away sushi or an eat-in panini is all they need.

The city has also introduced me to some new bars that have popped up since my last visit. The Aviary in Victoria Street had a funky Richmond feel; Siglo Bar with balmy views from the rooftop terrace of Parliament House and St Patricks Catherdral on a Summer's night was Melbourne in a nutshell; and the Riverland (underneath Transport Bar in Federation Square), for an after work drink while watching the rowers along the Yarra, was a reminder of why this is one of my favourite cities in the world.

Melbourne may be renowed as a food capital in the country, but it's selection of bars are well up there as the perfect place to catch up for a drink with old and dear friends.

Item 59: Melbourne? CHECK!