#South Australian tourism

[southernimages]

Blanche Harbour

Dear Reader: There is a White-browed Babbler fossicking in the leaf litter which has accumulated under a small tree. Several more birds are perched in a nearby Lemon-flowered Gum watching me warily. Most of the Babblers I have encountered in this region seem to feed on the ground looking for insects, spiders, small lizards as well as fallen fruit and other vegetation. White-browed Babbler…

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#Australian birds #Australian parrots #Australian wildlife #Babbler #Blanche Harbour #Blue Bonnet #grey kangaroo #Gum trees #mangroves #parrot #saltbush #South Australian birds #South Australian tourism #south australian travel #South Australian wildlife #wildlife photography

[speedilydeepruins]

Sunrise in Goolwa, SA. This was taken just before the Australian Tour Downunder started

#original photography #photographers on tumblr #australian photography #australian photographer #original photographer #south australia #travel photography #landscape photography #nature #sunrise photography #goolwa #cycling #‘Australian Tour Downunder #tourism industry #local businesses

[vintagepromotions]

Australian National Airways (ANA) travel poster for Adelaide, South Australia (1955).

#vintage poster #vintage travel poster #1950s #Australian National Airways #ANA #australia #adelaide #south australia #travel #tourism

[reportwire]

Sydney's Bondi Beach Hosts Swimming's Ultimate Rivalry

Sydney’s Bondi Beach Hosts Swimming’s Ultimate Rivalry

Press Release – Aug 19, 2022 09:00 EDT SYDNEY, August 19, 2022 (Newswire.com) – Destination New South Wales (NSW) has announced that Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach hosted the ultimate swimming showdown this morning with Duel in the Pool. The Australian Dolphins went head-to-head in an open ocean “point-to-point” relay with Team USA, with the competitive ocean swim kicking off the three-day…

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#Australia #Australian Dolphins #Bondi Beach #Breaking news #Breaking Sports News #Destination NSW #Duel in the Pool #International Sports #New South Wales #Swimming #Sydney #Team USA #tourism

[mysticstronomy]

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO SPACE COLONIZATION??

Blog#342

Saturday, October 21st, 2023

Welcome back,

There's a huge difference between sending humans to Mars and colonizing worlds outside our solar system.

The answers to these questions depend heavily on which planet you're talking about. For Mars, decades isn't necessarily an unrealistic time frame. Serkan Saydam, deputy director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research and a professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, said human colonization of Mars is possible within decades.

"I believe by 2050 we will have a human colony on Mars," Saydam told Live Science.

Saydam is a mining engineer who specializes in researching future mining. The first major step in establishing a successful Mars colony will be water, and that can be extracted from ice and/or hydrated minerals, according to Saydam. He thinks water will then facilitate agriculture and the ability to grow food on Mars, like in the 2015 movie "The Martian," while hydrogen from the ice and minerals could also be used as an energy source for rocket propellant.

But there isn't a scientific consensus on Mars colonization by 2050, and other scientists have offered less optimistic opinions. Louis Friedman, an astronautics engineer and co-founder of the nonprofit The Planetary Society, suggested to Gizmodo in 2019 that Mars colonization was unlikely for the foreseeable future, while Rachael Seidler, a neuroscientist at the University of Florida who has worked with NASA astronauts, told Gizmodo that people like to be optimistic about colonizing Mars, but it sounded "a bit pie-in-the-sky."

Humanity will, however, likely reach Mars within decades. China plans to start sending human crews to Mars in 2033, while NASA aims to send astronauts there by the late 2030s or early 2040s. Once humans get there, the next step could be to build a colony.

Colonization implies some degree of self-sufficiency but not necessarily complete independence from Earth. Saydam compares Mars with a remote island where you'd still need to import things occasionally.

"Most of the equipment and tools will be sent from Earth," Saydam said. "I don't think you can manufacture a truck on the Mars surface."

Mars would need to produce something for a long-term colony to be financially viable. Space tourism is one option, but Saydam pointed to mineral extraction as key to colonization success.

For example, space mining on nearby asteroids for valuable materials such as platinum could create new space economies, thereby driving further investment and exploration.

Originally published on livescience.com

COMING UP!!

(Wednesday, October 25th, 2023)

"CAN WE HARNESS THE FULL ENERGY OF THE SUN??"

#astronomy #outer space #alternate universe #astrophysics #universe #spacecraft #white universe #space #parallel universe #astrophotography

[antappreciationanonymous]

The Most Rarest, Ancient Ants and The Quest to Rediscover Them

Australia is home to a wide range of ant species. One that might spring to mind is the Bulldog/Jack jumper ant, genus myrmecia.

(M. gulosa, "Hoppy Joe!")

As you can see, these ants have quite big eyes. This is because bulldog ants are very dependant on vision, something most other ant species have replaced with pheromonal (scent) trails.

But we aren't here to talk about them. We're here to discuss their cooler, shady cousin,

the Dinosaur ant (Nothomyrmecia macrops).

They might look all cute, but they are much more than that.

These ants are possibly the rarest and most primitive of all ant species, and this shows in their behaviour.

Like the Bulldog ant, these ants rely only on their vision as apposed to pheromones. Colonies only range from 50-100 individuals, when most ant species have colonies in the thousands. Furthermore, queens only lay one generation of eggs every year!

Because of this small size, workers can not effectively compete with other species such as Camponotus and Iridomyrmex. Thus, these ants are exclusively nocturnal so they don't have to hunt alongside the diurnal ant species.

Infact, the Dinosaur and Bulldog ant are so similar that the Dinosaur ants genus name, 'Nothomyrmecia', means 'False Bulldog ant'. The species name, 'macrops', means 'big eyes'.

--------------------------------------------------

This species was first discovered in the form of two worker specimens by Amy Ena Crocker and colleagues, supposedly inland from Israelite Bay in Western Australia.

Due to its primitive appearance and unique body shapes, scientists were eager to find more specimens. Many expeditions were set out to locate this ant over the next three decades, all of which failed. One of the more notable expeditions was lead by the late, the great entomologist E. O. Wilson (who literally invented sociobiology!!!)

However, on October 22, 1977, entomologist Robert W. Taylor and colleagues would rediscover a lone worker in Poochera, South Australia. I'll let nullarbor.net take it away:

"Spurred on by rumours that an American scientist was coming to search for the lost ant, Dr. Taylor apparently mounted one last ditch attempt to beat the Americans to the punch. By an incredible stroke of good luck - if it could be called that - Dr Taylor and his group were driving to Western Australia when their vehicle struck mechanical problems at Poochera. As we all know, even the best laid plans can go astray, and Dr. Taylor's expedition was forced to make an unscheduled stop, and camp for the night at Poochera.

"Later that evening Dr. Taylor conducted an impromptu insect survey in the mallee scrub adjacent to camp. There's no doubt the last thing on Dr. Taylor's mind was Nothomyrmecia - after all, the last and only recorded sighting was made 46 years earlier, and even that was fully 1300 kilometres away to the west. Poochera was definitely the last place where Dr. Taylor expected to find Nothomyrmecia - but there it was, one solitary Nothomyrmecia worker ant crawling on a eucalyptus tree trunk.

"The sight was truly astonishing. Dr. Taylor then rushed back to his colleagues and in true Australian style he announced to the world, "The bloody bastard's here! I've got the Notho-bloody- myrmecia!"

I'd like to imagine that's true.

Poochera, which features Nothomyrmecia abundantly in the streets, is perhaps the only town I know of that survives exclusively off of ant tourism.

See you soon.

#ants #myrmecology #bugblr #entomology #antkeeping #insects #bugs #ant love #antblr #ant #nothomyrmecia #nothomyrmecia macrops

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New SpaceTime out Wednesday....

SpaceTime 20240214 Series 27 Episode 20

The discovery of a galaxy that shouldn’t exist

Astronomers using NASA’s Webb Space Telescope have discovered a dwarf galaxy that shouldn’t exist. The serendipitous observation reported in the Astrophysical Journal Letters is strange because it isn't interacting with a nearby galaxy and isn't forming new stars.

Virgin Galactic grounds space tourism flights

Virgin Galactic has grounded its space tourism operations after an alignment pin detached from its White Knight 2 mothership during the Galactic 06 mission.

The Odysseus lunar lander to launch today

NASA is targeting today for the launch of its next scientific mission to the moon. The Intuitive Machines' IM-1 mission will launch to the lunar South Polar region aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The cygnus cargo ship arrives at the space station

A Cygnus cargo ship carrying 3726 kilograms of equipment and supplies has successfully docked to the International Space Station.

The Science Report

Higher levels of air pollution and an increased risk of death linked to cardiovascular diseases.

The quest to fabricate the silicon chips of future quantum computers.

AI language models don’t always apply strict ethical codes when making decisions.

Alex on Tech vision pro is now out in the wild.

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States.  The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science.  SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research.  The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network.  Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor.  Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. Later, Gary became part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and was one of its first presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.  The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually.  However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage.  Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently.  StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016.  Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #nasa #esa #astrophysics #spacetimewithstuartgary #starstuff #spacetime

[newtonsheffield]

Molly, do you have any sense of why Bridgerton was having premieres and events in Bowral this week? Am I as a non-Australian person missing something about why that place was chosen? Or is it completely random to you too?

Mmmm it’s not completely random but it’s very unexpected as well?

Mostly because Netflix doesn’t care a huge deal about the international community when it’s marketing, especially for big shows. The Australian/trans Tasman Market is relatively small by comparison so they don’t put a whole lot of energy into catering for it so I’m surprised that one of the first events was… in Australia. Like… why?

As for Bowral, it’s a historic town, there’s lots of historic buildings there so it passes the vibe check. They’re not going to have it somewhere like Sovereign Hill I guess (L-O-L).

That being said, I still don’t know why they’re doing it in Australia when it would make much more sense to have it in the UK. Like… there’s historic towns there as well. And you know, with the whole it being set there thing it makes more sense.

The truth of the matter is probably that the New South Wales (The state Bowral is in) probably paid them to do it here. Australia is trying to make a real push for tourism again as it’s an industry that’s sort of dipped post pandemic and we’re tryna get it back. We even paid for that train guy from instagram to come over to see the trains.

I… yeah.

Never been to Bowral though, I’m think I’m too poor for that area of the country

#bridgerton

[thecodyagenda]

ASSI RECOGNITION DAY

Hi everyone today, the 25th of August, is Australian South Sea Islander recognition day. From 1863 to 1904, over 62,000 South Sea Islanders were coerced through deception or kidnapping to work as slaves or poorly paid labourers in Australia, most notably in Queensland. Then in 1901 with the 'White Australia Policy' many Pacific Islanders were deported between 1904 and 1908.

Despite the government insisting that this is a "bittersweet" event that was simply a "fraught" part of Australia's history, Australia continues these racist traditions, refusing to acknowledge or recognise how they have harmed Pacific Islanders and furthermore Australians encourage tourism within the Pacific Islands, often to the detriment of the Pacific Islanders themselves.

Australians view ourselves traveling within Polynesia, Micronesia and, most notably, Melanesia as adventurers exploring the unknown, instead of calling it what it is, tourism that exploits the rest of Oceania and encourages the discrimination and ideals of colonisation.

Australian South Sea Islander Day is a day that not many Australians know about, in fact I hadn't known the day existed until a friend prompted me to search for it in June. Despite the impact of Pacific Islanders on Australia and Australia's history with Pacific Islanders, we teach little-to-nothing about this history in schools, we do not acknowledge our part in reinforcing racist ideas and we don't recognise days like ASSI recognition day that highlight important parts of our history.

So I am going to make a start by recognising this day and what it should mean to Australia. August 25th, ASSI Day and I have linked below many resources about our history that are worth reading whether you are Australian or not.

LINKS:

Sugar Slaves: Australian South Sea Islanders are descendants of the Pacific Islands Blackbird trade

Who Are The Australian South Sea Islanders?

Australia Should Open The Door To Melanesians - Article

Australian Travelers In The South Seas

Difference Between Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia

Please note that I am a white australian. If you see anything that I have linked as outdated/incorrect or have anything else you'd like to add, feel free to add it in the reblogs or let me know!

#ASSI Recognition Day #Australia #Australian History #pacific islands #sidenote: for the love of all that is good pls stop bothering random people on the internet for information #even if someone posts something informational doesn’t mean they’re constantly available for questions #just bc someone is part of a marginalised group doesn’t #mean they want to talk about it to some random guy all the time like chill #I’m just some random white guy and I found all these articles AND MORE that weren’t really relevant but still interesting #pls learn how to research im begging #read an article from a trusted source and maybe it’ll fix u

[nintendont2502]

Kin assigning american states to Australian ones based on my (damn near non existent) knowledge of American states

Western Australia - Virginia and Vermont are calling to me but honestly I think that's just because they're both 'V' states (WA has literally nothing going for it)

Tasmania - Alabama (haha incest state), Alaska (trees? Separate from rest of country, left off maps sometimes i think)

Northern Territory - Texas (hot, vaguely bigoted?), Florida (slightly insane), Alabama (hurricanes? I swear Alabama has tornadoes)

South Australia - also Texas (south?), man fuck SA what do y'all even have

Queensland - Florida (tropical, humid, crocs/alligators, theme parks, tourists?)

Victoria - California (warm, hippies, weed, also tourism maybe)

Australian Capital Territory - Washington? I guess?? (Politics, boring, no one goes there) or Ohio (boring, nothing to do, no one goes there)

#apparently I don't know shit about aussie states either despite living in all of them #god damn #anyway literally anyone feel free to correct me these are. terrible #me.txt #aussieposting

[srijellyfishtempura]

what do yall have in aidelaide im curious i know nothing

Tourism guide to Adelaide with Nathaniel!!!

There's very little to do here as a tourist if you're not interested in wildlife or landscapes - there's the museum, art gallery, and a whole lot of heritage buildings (all right along the same road in the CBD, North Terrace).

But look how pretty some of these buildings are

However. If you're into wildlife and landscapes and all that nature shit, we have SO MUCH. We have the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, the Adelaide Zoo, Monarto Zoo, Cleland Wildlife Sanctuary, Gorge Wildlife Park (these two are both open-range sanctuaries for australian animals where you can feed kangaroos and such)

Also, the Adelaide Hills that surround the south and east of the city are full of tiny little cafes in small towns that will absolutely blow your tits off with how good their specific niche is (red cacao dos FANTASTIC chocolate), and especially in autumn the Hills are just so fucking beautiful. Both of our zoos are world-class in terms of conservation, and in my opinion much better designed than Melbourne and Weribee zoos (not biased at all) (I know the curator of Adelaide zoo).

Here are some pictures of the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens (which are right next to a lovely hiking trail that is part of the 1200 km Heysen trail across the entire southern portion of the state!)

#ADELAIDE #I adore this city #also what i haven't mentioned is that we have 3 fantastic universities #and the adelaide parklands #and green spaces throughout the CBD #and passable public transport #and a walkable cbd #and the O Bahn (busway; one-of-a-kind in australia outside brisbane) #and the culture #i love this city idk i cant explain it

[southernimages]

Meadows to Cox Scrub along Bull Creek Road

Meadows to Cox Scrub along Bull Creek Road

White-cheeked Rosella Dear Reader: There is a layby just a 400 meters along Bull Creek Road which starts just outside Meadows on the road to Ashbourne. It is a unique viewing point as the road also passes through a cutting which exposes the root systems of a large eucalypt. The layby overlooks a steep hillside providing a direct line of sight into the canopies of the surrounding trees. I can…

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#Australian birds #Australian wildlife #butterflies #grey fantail #historic bridge #Little Raven #old inn #South Australian birds #South Australian tourism #south australian travel #South Australian wildlife #superb fairy wren #wedge-tailed eagle #White-cheeked Rosella #wildlife photography

[alexracheltravel]

Island Paradise

We awoke to our first island resort. While we only had a brief stay in Koh Samui, that didn't make it any less beautiful. We enjoyed breakfast beside the beach, sipping coffee and dipping our toes into the yellow sand. Stray dogs walked beside our table. Signs told us deliberately not to feed them. We've seen a lot of wild/strays on our trip in each country we've visited.

Although we were staying in the Gulf of Thailand, our plan was not to stay on the larger island of Koh Samui, but on the more remote, secluded island of Koh Tao. The only way to get there is by ferry. We purposely checked into a hotel in Koh Samui because of its proximity to the ferry. The ferry was smooth and quick. We traversed 60km in an hour and a half, including stops. The television screens on the ferry advertised tourism in Thailand. Some of our favorites included:

-A influencer-style travelogue of a couple (westerners, possibly Australians) who spent two days in Bangkok and then in Phuket. We noticed they omitted jet-lag, getting sick, and financial concerns. We were also pretty sure they were actors. Not even a real couple.

-Some sort of "discover Thailand" series of commercials, stylized in movie commercials. The first imagined discovering Thailand as a sci-fi/horror film. It did not make us want to visit Thailand, but they were innovative.

At last, we arrived at Koh Tao, where we will ring in the new year! Our resort, Jamahkiri, is incredible. It is at the top of a hill on the south end of the island, overlooking an inlet called "Shark Bay." We have our own villa with an incredible living room with multiple couches, dining room, and full kitchen with doors that completely open onto our private deck with private infinity pool overlooking the ocean. One of the more beautiful views we could have asked for. 

We ordered an easy room service, Alex got a spicy green curry and Rachel got laarb and both got a coconut cocktail. We spent the day relaxing in our pool, reading in our covered outdoor couches, and generally relaxing. Rachel booked an in room massage for tomorrow and we both decided to call it a night early, but kept our shades open so we could see the stars from our floor to ceiling windows. 

As we reflect on 2022, which, aside from this trip, was not the best year, we decided to talk about the things we did love from this year. So, instead of our usual conversation, we decided to think about some of our favorite things from 2022. Read our rankings of our End of Year Best lists:

Movies/TV

A

1- Inu-Oh

2- Mad God

3- Cha Cha Real Smooth

4- Cyberpunk 2099

5- Neptune Frost

R

1- Severance S1

2- Heartstoppers S1

3- Sex Education S4

4- Sex Lives of College Girls S2

5- The Rings of Power S1

Books

A

1- Dilla Time

2- Life Ceremony 

3- Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

4- Shuna's Journey 

5- It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World that Made Him

R

1- Hook, Line, and Sinker

2- Princess Trap

3- Get a Life, Chloe Brown

4- Heart stoppers v4

5- From Blood and Ash

Albums

A

1- Kumoyo Island - Kikagaku Moyo

2- Renaissance - Beyonce

3- Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam - The Comet is Coming

4- Motomami - Rosalia

R

1- Renaissance - Beyonce

2- Harry's House - Harry Styles

3- Special - Lizzo

Food/Meals

Note: for fairness we're not including any meals from this trip. We'll do a final ranking of our favorite Honeytrip meals next week!

A

1- whole roasted cauliflower from Zohara in West Hartford

2- vegan burrito at Ursula 

3- pan seared soup dumplings f om Dumplings House in SF

4- An epic reast at Skewers by Miriam with Lyndsi, Alon, Leo and Vicki

5- Turkey Ramen made by Mr. Alex Moser (probably the best thing he's cooked this yr)

R

1- Pan-seared soup dumplings from Dumpling House in SF

2- whole roasted cauliflower from Zohara in West Hartford

3- turkey ramen made by Mr. Alex Moser 

4- Strawberry White Chocolate Layer Cake - Clementine

5- New Year's Charcuterie Board Upstate (might have been 12/31 but who's counting)

Honorable Mention: Dairy-free Boursin (shout out to Wine Squad for this epic discovery)

Happy new year, family and friends. Onward to year 2566 B.E.!

[wandererstwo]

The trek to the Red Centre of Australia is a long, excilerating, yet tiring journey. The transition from the green rolling pastureland of the southern regions of South Australia to the flat plains and desert country of the North comes quickly then seems to go on forever.

Ularu is the focal point for most excited travellers. One could almost say that for many Australians the overland trek to the ‘Rock’ is almost a rite of passage. The early European explorers named it Ayres Rock but particularly since the indigenous people of the area have taken possession back once again it has reverted to its original name of Ularu . ‘Climbing the Rock’ has been an experience most europeans love to engage in. The traditional owners feel that this dishonours their traditions. Many ‘whites’ are happy to conceed this and respect their wishes. I guess it helps relieve the guilt of past abuse and is a small attempt to honour a downtrodden people . Others more strident in their 'white mans all conquering world view’, proudly scale the rock with their metaphorical flag in hand and a few snide remarks about ’ those bloody abos’.

It was heartening to see many of the indigenous locals now employed in a type of tourism that attempts a compromise between engaging 'white fella culture’ with their own dreamtime stories and mythology. I often wonder how can this ancient people group sucessfully integrate their culture with the modern world? On the other hand the poverty, alcoholism and dispossesion of the majority is an on going generational cycle that has robbed them of their identity for far too long. It will take the wisdom of the Almighty and maybe centuries of trial and error to fully redeem these people

.

One of the first things we noticed, especially after setting up camp at the end of each day was the feeling of solitude. The silence of the desert to a city dweller is strange and mysterious with the capacity to cause an inner shift. On one level we were operating with our daily agendas and self constructed calendars, but on another the memory of city life was slowly fading into the background as time took on less and less meaning.

There seemed to be a back and forth movement between the two worlds. A threshold, that enabled two views of reality. A brief but curious walk into a five star tourist resort was one world. This world was abuzz with well heeled travellers jet setting in to take their obligatory photos of the Rock at sunset with cameras and chardonnay in hand. Within a few days most would be back in their structured cities planning perhaps for their next fly in fly out of Paris or New York. Then again, as we drove out into the surrouding areas of Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon we crossed the threshold and the mystery slowly returned.Walking along these ancient paths in a timeless land gives one space to reflect upon what is really important. I remembered during these times thinking how the ancient Christian Mystics disheartened and disillusioned by the ever growing and all encompassing Roman Empire of Constantine fled to the solitude of the desert for solace. These brave men and women grew in wisdom and stature as they allowed the desert to strip them of all their illusions. Desert places have that capacity if we can slow down to a different rhythm.

In this age of ever increasing Globalisation illusions are a dime a dozen as nations like Australia have all but hitched onto the vision of this current Global Empire - created largely by some of the largest nation states and global corporations the world has ever seen. I believe however that a remnant of the disheartened and the disillusioned have arisen within this system. Those on the fringes of this generation who see through the illusions of Empire. It is inevitable that this all powerful system will collapse leaving untold millions without an identity or a future. Left on the scrapheap of history like our aboriginal brothers and sisters to sift through what is left of their culture. Not knowing who they are or where they are headed.

Perhaps we would do well to consider the desert and to make a move either physically or symbolically, outwardly or inwardly in order to grow in wisdom and stature. Perhaps asking the right questions will begin to take precedence over having the 'right’ answers. A world where the best elements of the past can be integrated with new and alternate ways of living. A more sustainable world where the never ending growth of global capitalism can be replaced by a never ending growth in human relationships. Where personal, psychological and spiritual growth becomes the primary focus. I guess it sounds utopian, but every movement in history began with a vision of those on the fringes of Empire.Those who had been pushed into the extremes of the 'desert’ and finally arrived at their true Centre.

[rosefrancaise7]

Sunday 3 July 2022

Three days in and this is my first post! Alan and Jess are moving to Perth to start a new chapter and Jess’ father (also Alan) and I are driving over with them.

Day 1 ended at Murray Bridge in South Australia and Day 2 at Streaky Bay. Tonight we are at Border Village, just steps from the quarantine station on the WA border and a giant kangaroo - and in a time warp that a Dr Who scriptwriter would be proud of. This roadhouse stop is 45 minutes behind WA and 45 ahead of SA. That means that the time zone we are in is set to the quarter hour. This only affects a stretch of 340 kilometres along the Eyre Highway and is very rare. Apparently this came about as the result of a compromise back in the days when the Eucla Telegraph station was operational. It took an hour and a half to pass messages between each capital city so they split the difference. We have racked up 1964 kms - only 1440 to go.

The Murray Bridge leg is a blur to me now. Our first pitstop was in Ararat, our second at Nhill and we arrived at our destination just in time to see the old one-lane bridge we were crossing and find our way to the hotel bar before the sun went down. Lured by a river view and the idea of stretching our legs we trekked cross country to the Community Club. No lights on the river unfortunately but the food didn’t disappoint. The raffle draw was a highlight also. Winners spun a wheel to claim their prize, which more often than not landed on a stubby holder or a $5 voucher. This procession of winners looked like they knew what to expect. We were up and out of the Bridgeport Motel the next morning before daylight to get some kms on the board.

The Gawler bakery provided a surprisingly good breakfast. Driving though the Clare Valley brought back happy memories of the cycling David and I did along the Riesling Rail Trail some years ago. Everything was just where we left it, including the Sunrise Hotel. We drove alongside the Ghan railway line into the Spencer Gulf, stopping for lunch at a little shop in the city centre that promised home cooked meals. One of the great things about travelling is that eventually every experience ends up reminding you of something else. This little place that looked more like someone’s house than a cafe, reminded me of a restaurant David and I stumbled upon in Portugal that really was someone’s lounge room. Despite not being able to read any of the items on the menu, we ended up with the best chicken and chips we had ever had.

Streaky Bay came into view not a minute too soon for Al and I. Not as salubrious as the Bridgeport but the colonial looking West End hotel facing the bay had everything we needed, including a continental breakfast the next morning after a stroll along the pier at sunrise. Streaky Bay, home of the Wirangu people, is a coastal town on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia just off the Flinders Highway. It is the centre of an agricultural district with established fishing and tourism industries. The streaks Matthew Flinders saw in the water when he named it are now thought to be the result of oils released by certain species of seaweed in the bay. Dinner at Drift was the best so far. It had to be as it started with a dozen oysters. As elsewhere on the Eyre Peninsula, Streaky Bay and nearby Elliston were the scene of some terrible conflicts with Aboriginal people.

We had less driving to do today so allowed ourselves the luxury of a bowl of coco pops and a sunrise (in reverse order) before hitting the road. Streaky Bay was asleep when we bought the makings of lunch to enjoy when the opportunity arose. Fortunately Jess and her dad found a turn off to the coast and with some strategic manoeuvring we managed to create some tasty and rustic ham cheese and salad rolls (if you count cucumber as a salad). The expanse of the Great Australian Bight was something to see. Limestone rock underneath us and dainty little pig-face and leptospermum plants emerging from lesser trod sandy paths. Very lovely. On the Eastern end of the Nullarbor today, we experienced more of the short sharp rains that seemed to be the handiwork of just one single cloud, soon outrun by the Corolla doing 110.

Tomorrow we head for Norseman.

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Australia's Top Regional Areas for Permanent Residency

Examining Australia's regional locations is a great place to start if you're thinking about moving there but are unsure where to begin. These outlying neighborhoods of big cities offer affordable housing, distinctive job and business opportunities, and a good standard of living.

The top ten regional places in Australia that offer exceptional chances to gain permanent residency will be highlighted in this article.

PERTH:

                                                           Because of its varied work prospects and attractive lifestyle, Perth is regarded as one of Australia's top regional PR locations. Its industries—mining, energy, healthcare, technology, and finance—make it a desirable option for professionals from throughout the world looking to relocate.

Adelaide:

Adelaide, a city in South Australia, is widely recognized as the best regional center for public relations in Australia. Its robust economy, excellent standard of living, and laid-back way of life are well-known. Adelaide is a desirable location for talented professionals and entrepreneurs because to its broad labor market and vibrant start-up culture. It is an economical choice for people looking for PR possibilities because of its very low cost of living when compared to other major Australian cities.

Canberra:

Australia's primary regional center for public relations is Canberra. Being the capital, it is home to a large number of government agencies, which makes it a vital destination for public relations specialists. With access to important government decision-makers and national media outlets, the city acts as a focal point for media relations and communication strategy.

GOLD COAST:

The Gold Coast, which is on the southeast coast, is known for its lovely beaches, outdoor recreation opportunities, and temperate weather. It's a great option for families looking to settle down because it offers a robust education system, a burgeoning healthcare industry, and a laid-back coastal lifestyle all combined with urban comforts.

WOLLONGONG:

Wollongong, which is in New South Wales' Illawarra area, is a popular place to live permanently since it's close to Sydney while still offering the advantages of a more intimate, smaller town. It's a popular location for people looking for a sustainable and socially conscious way of life because of its reputation for inclusivity and environmental sustainability.

NEWCASTLE:

One of Australia's best regional cities for PR is Newcastle, in the state of New South Wales. It offers a good standard of living, a wide range of work opportunities, and a vibrant economy powered by sectors like tourism, health, education, and renewable energy. It also boasts a lively, multicultural climate.

DARWIN:

Darwin is regarded as Australia's top regional PR destination; its thriving economy provides a wide range of employment options in the mining, agricultural, and tourism sectors. For those looking for permanent residence, its advantageous location, thriving economy, and laid-back culture make it an intriguing option.

HOBART:

Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is a popular travel destination for public relations specialists because of its extensive historical and cultural significance. It provides a great quality of living, stunning natural landmarks, and a wealth of outdoor leisure options.

BUNDABERG:

The Queensland region of Bundaberg offers a variety of outdoor activities, gorgeous beaches, and a mild temperature. In addition to having a rich history and culture, it also has a robust economy with jobs available in industry, fishing, and agriculture.

CAIRNS:

Cairns, a tropical region of Queensland, is one of Australia's top regional destinations for PR. It is a tourist haven with lots of job opportunities, a friendly local population, a thriving arts scene, and a pleasant tropical environment.

In summary, Australia provides a range of geographical locations, each with specific benefits, for people looking to obtain permanent residency. There is a regional place in Australia that suits your needs and tastes, whether you're searching for a quiet beach lifestyle, a bustling cultural scene, or a strong economy. Consider your own needs and goals when choosing the best regional area for PR in Australia, as each area offers a unique combination of advantages and disadvantages.

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