Recently Published
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From the Sex Pistols
to The Smiths
Traveller, 6 December 2018
"The Sex Pistols' loss of face was Manchester's
gain, for what happened next was an extraordinary
surge of musical activity that stretched through
the 1980s and 1990s. At the heart of the late
1980s 'Madchester' era was the Hacienda, a
nightclub owned by Factory Records and housed in a
dilapidated old warehouse on the Rochdale Canal.
It's that fabled club that inspires The Hacienda
Years walking tour..."
Taking a walking tour through the
lively musical past of Manchester, UK.
[Read the
full article here] |
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A Glimpse of North
America's Fishing Industry
Traveller, 5 December 2018
"Standing on the dock of the North Pacific
Cannery, on an arm of Canada's Skeena River, all I
can see is tranquillity. The still silver waters
are a mirror, reflecting the trees and snow-capped
mountains of this remote part of British Columbia.
What's boggling my imagination is the contrast
between the serene vista and its reality a century
before. In those days a thriving salmon fishing
industry centred on the facility, and it would
have been a busy, smelly, messy place at odds with
the beautiful surrounds..."
Visiting a museum within a former
cannery outside Prince Rupert, Canada.
[Read the
full article here] |
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How to Get into Hot
Water in South Korea
Traveller, 3 December 2018
"There's nothing delicate about a body scrub at a
jjimjilbang, the South Korean institution which is
a cross between a traditional bath house and a
Western-style spa. Though it may sound like a spot
of pampering, in practice a scrub is a vigorous
(and occasionally painful) procedure – the masseur
turns me one way then the other, scraping me down
ruthlessly with a roughened cloth. This is
followed by a forceful shoulder massage. Nothing
about this experience is elegant, but it gets the
job done..."
Soaking in the spa culture of Seoul
and Busan, South Korea.
[Read the
full article here] |
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The Dinosaurs of
Winton
Active Retirees, December 2018
"I’m glad I made it here, to see the aftermath of
a prehistoric event preserved forever in the rock
of Lark Quarry. All those millions of years ago,
when this was much wetter terrain, herds of
two-legged dinosaurs came one night to drink here.
Suddenly a huge carnivorous theropod, looking
something like a tyrannosaurus, charged the
gathered prey. Their fleeing footprints were later
covered in sediment, and now they’re visible
forever..."
Discovering dinosaur fossils near
the Outback town of Winton, Queensland.
[Subscribe
to read the full
article here] |
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The Other Great Wall
Active Retirees, December 2018
"If we head west along the trail, it should take
about an hour to pass Sycamore Gap. It’s not a
difficult walk, but has many ups and downs which
cause us to pick our steps carefully. It is lovely
though, an atmospheric hike with splendid views.
Always there’s the metre-high remnant wall to our
right, and at one point we come upon the remains
of a stone arch which would have allowed access to
the unruly north..."
Exploring Hadrian's Wall, UK, by
bus and on foot.
[Subscribe
to read the full
article here] |
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A Great Place to See
the Magnificent Seven
Traveller, 21 November 2018
"I don't know what's more startling, the
open-mouthed lion or the dead zebra in the grass
next to him. The king of the jungle is only
yawning, but he has a terrifying set of teeth and
will soon be sharing his kill with his brother.
Two jackals are lurking behind the bushes, hoping
to snatch a piece of the unfortunate zebra when
the lions' backs are turned. It's the Circle of
Life in operation, big time..."
Spotting exotic wild animals in the
Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Queen of the Murray
River
Traveller, 15 November 2018
"You don't know what you've got till it's gone, as
Joni Mitchell was just singing, and that verse
could apply to our departure port of Echuca. In
the 1860s the Victorian government built a railway
from here to Melbourne, spawning a busy
paddlesteamer trade from all corners of the
Murray-Darling river system. In the 20th century,
however, Echuca faded as a port – except for
paddlesteamers serving tourists, of which the
wood-fired PS Emmylou is arguably the
queen..."
Cruising along Australia's Murray
River for three nights aboard a paddlesteamer.
[Read the
full article here] |
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Airline
Review: Asiana Airlines Business
Traveller, 2 November 2018
"There's a sign on the bulkhead designating this
as 'Business Smartium Class', which denotes this
style of Asiana business seat: each a small
cubicle neatly interlocked with those in front and
behind. They alternate between seats opening
directly onto the aisle, and those with a shelf
between seat and aisle. I've deliberately chosen
one of the latter on the right hand side of the
plane, as I like the cosy contained space it
creates, with an element of privacy..."
Reviewing the Business Class experience
on a flight from Sydney to Seoul, South
Korea.
[Read the
full article here] |
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King Richard III
Comes to Life in Leicester
Traveller, 24 October 2018
"Standing on a grassy hill outside Leicester, it's
hard to imagine King Richard III shouting
Shakespeare's famous line here more than five
centuries ago. But on 22 August, 1485, the
unhorsed Richard was slogging away with sword and
armour on the peaceful ploughed fields I can see
from the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre. It
was the final bloody battle of his short reign,
and would end with his death and the ascent of the
Tudor dynasty..."
Visiting attractions related to
King Richard III in and around Leicester, UK.
[Read the
full article here] |
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A Rail
of a Time
Discover,
Spring/Summer 2018
"Then it’s time to
hop aboard the most impressive train of
all: the Indian Pacific. A
two-night journey west to Perth includes
top-quality dining, stark desert scenery,
and dinner in a remote ghost town. It’s a
fitting finale to an almost 8000 kilometre
rail
odyssey..."
Detailing how to
catch trains from Far North Queensland
through NSW, Victoria and South Australia,
all the way to Western Australia.
Available
for republication (print and Web).
Images
available.
[Read
the full article
here]
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Lonely Planet:
Amazing Train Journeys
(section on Eastern & Oriental Express)
October 2018
"Tracing a route between the busy cities of
Bangkok and Singapore, the Eastern &
Oriental Express is an appealing way to
sample the sights of South-east Asia. Passengers
experience a little of everything on the two to
three-night journey: luxurious comfort within
finely-crafted décor; quality dining with a choice
of Asian and European dishes; beautiful scenery as
the tropical landscape slips past the train
windows; and cultural knowledge..."
Describing a luxurious way to
travel between Bangkok and Singapore by rail.
[Find the
book here] |
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Welcome!
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I'm a freelance
writer with published articles on
various topics: including travel, lifestyle,
the arts, science, and pets.
My writing has
appeared in newspapers, magazines and
websites around the world. I'm also an author
of travel books for Lonely Planet.
I'm available to
write on any subject, and also undertake business
writing jobs such as proofreading,
editing and copywriting.
Learn
more about my published work and writing
services.
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All articles in this
archive are available for republication (fee
to be negotiated). Articles can be rewritten
to meet your style or length requirements.
Please contact me by email
with your query.
articles by
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& Technology
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507/225 Elizabeth St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia
email:
tim@iwriter.com.au
phone:
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