Thursday’s Special: Past

Stu’s great uncle is buried in France. The “Great War” wasn’t really so great, was it.

What a shame mankind doesn’t learn from their past.

Thanks, Paula, for your challenge this week.

The path of death and survival

I blame the smoke for my tears.

It was hot, steamy and fires in the area made it smoky too.

Nothing to do with thinking about the thousands of prisoners of war who died there or those, like my Uncle Dick, who survived and came home but were forever changed.

To walk part of the notorious Thai-Burma railway, including Hellfire Pass, was a truly emotional journey for me.

No matter how uncomfortable I was, it was only a drop in the ocean compared to the suffering this path has seen.

Posted in response to

Ailsa’s Travel Theme.

My (non-Google) street view

Google street view hasn’t made it to our small-town back street. So the only chance you have of seeing it is if I let you.

You’re in luck! I don’t have a photo from my front verandah, but here is an evening on our street at sunset.

posted in response to Nancy’s A Photo a Week Challenge.

For more views from close to home and further afield, check out my travel blog at

Flying Goannas.

Exposure

Exposure to the elements is one of the things that creates the beautiful world that we share. Can you even begin to imagine the forces of nature that have shaped the cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi?

Posted in response to Jennifer’s One Word Photo Challenge

See more of our travels at Flying Goannas.

On the road

Emus are a common sight on the roads in western Queensland. Give them the right of way. You definitely don’t want to hit one.

Posted in response to the Daily Post Weekly Challenge.

See more of our travels at Flying Goannas.

Incremental: Up, up, up!

A few years ago, when we were in London, we visited Harrod’s. Not everything was unaffordable but we were stunned by the prices of the meat.

As you look higher up the board, the cuts become more and more expensive until you reach the Wagyu ribeye at the incredible price of £33.00.

More incredible still, if you look closely at the board you’ll see that this is per 100 grams.

At today’s exchange rate, that’s about $530/kilo in Australian currency.

Ouch! I’ve never wanted a piece of steak that badly.

Even the T-bone works out to about $160/kilo, and that’s a pretty standard cut here in Oz and fairly affordable at about $21/kilo.

Posted in response to Thursday’s Special Pick a Word Challenge.

See more of our travels at

Flying Goannas.

Escape

At least one of us made it out alive from the cooking pot on Mystery Island.

See more lucky escapes at this week’s One Word Photo Challenge:

And see more of the fun we have on our travels in our travel blog at Flying Goannas.

Focus

It’s hard to focus when you’re speeding past the Fall foliage them on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Just perfect for this week’s Thursday’s Special.

Read more about this great day out and other adventures on my travel blog Flying Goannas.

Thursday’s Special: Traces of the Past

Norfolk Island has a history of convict settlements. This picture depicts some of the ruins from that time.

After the end of the 2nd convict settlement, Queen Victoria granted the island to the descendants of the Bounty mutineers. Many of their families still live there today.

Click the logo to see other traces of the past.

One Word Photo Challenge: Diary

When Dad moved out of his home he passed his boxes of family history information to me.

Amongst the many books and genealogy charts I found the diary my aunt kept when she sailed on the SS Lakemba in 1957 to her new life in Canada.

I wonder what other treasures are in those boxes.

Posted in response to Jennifer’s One Word Photo Challenge.

Click the logo for more diary entries.