Spring Facebook Tales

This month’s travelling tales by *you* is about SPRING.

We asked where have you spent a memorable Spring – or taken some gorgeous spring photographs?

 

Desolie Page

As I’ve lived all my life in SE and Central Queensland, spring has not been a remarkable event – apart from the rapid change from ‘cool’ to ‘very warm’.

Perhaps you can imagine my delight when a September holiday to the Blue Mountains introduced me to the reality of fields of daffodils. And the delights of jonquils, freesias and irises emerging in the most unexpected places.

Two trips to the UK during spring were memorable for the swathes of bluebells, the bronzed leaf buds unfurling into the freshest of greens, and the joyous frolicking of lambs, who soon formed into teenage gangs up to all sorts of mischief and games.

Spring Lamb frolicking

Photo by the mad LOLscientist

 

Annabel Candy

Hehe, I visited England in April so I hit spring before everyone here in Australia :)

Spring blossom

Photo by Annabel Candy

 

I really miss the transition of the seasons. It’s a fair trade for living in a tropical climate and never really being cold though!

 

spring daffodils

Photo by Annabel Candy

 

Linda Fairbairn

After two years in the tropical Northern Territory of Australia (where there’re only two seasons – Hot & Dry, and Hot & Wet), we were heading ‘home’ to England. We’d travelled up through SE Asia, overland through the arid Middle East, across the Bosphorus and into Europe – when we came upon Switzerland in the Spring. The mountains were green, lush and verdant and the pastures were a mass of wildflowers in full bloom – Fields of colour swaying on dainty stems of life, abuzz with urgent new beginnings ~ The start of a fresh chapter.

Wildflowers in Switzerland including a Poppy

Photo by keepps

 

Kirsty Wilson

Spring in Malta: this was one of my most vivid memories of a Spring elsewhere. We arrived to Malta early March after a cold English winter and it was simply heavenly to feel warmth again. However, on arrival to our accommodation we found everything was damp … even the bedding! This apparently wasn’t uncommon on the small Mediterranean island after the winter months. So, we did spend many days simply basking in the sun … and we did find alternative accommodation with less dampness! Now this week I head to Vanuatu for a Spring holiday and I wonder what I’ll find there. :)

Cat soaking up the spring sunshine in Malta

Photo by mac_filko

 

Genevieve Frew

I had the joy of experiencing spring in both London and New York in 2009 as hubby and I did the Trans-Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2. The flowers in Hyde Park were sensational, and I got to see the Princess Diana Memorial Garden, finally. The best part though, was having a lovely spring lunch at Tavern on the Green, in New York, with 2 new English friends we met on the cruise. Having seen this iconic restaurant in many movies, I’d always wanted to see it.

Tavern on the Green, New York

Genevieve at Tavern on the Green

 

 

Editors Note

Spring contrasts strongly to the cold winter months when you live on high latitudes (the equator is 0) such as London that’s 51 N – Geneva, Switzerland which is 46 N or in the southern hemisphere Tasmania’s Hobart 42 S.

I wrote a post last year about Spring in the Sub Tropics  as I live in Brisbane on the 27th parallel, which as both Desolie and Annabel above mention can verge on being a bit of a non-event but… if you keep eyes peeled there are fleeting glimpses of change as the cooler season phases into Australia’s renowned summer heat.

Where have you experienced a Spring to remember?

Do share in the comments below :)  

Journey Jottings

Birthday Bashes Around the World

August is my birthday month…

so this month’s travelling tales theme from our Facebook friends is:

Where in the World have you spent a Birthday?

Kaylene Higgs

I remember only one away from home!

Traveling for a work trip through WA. Monkey Mia for my birthday morning, up early and a dolphin came in for a feed and a social visit.

Dolphin at Monkey Mia, WA

Photo by Blair Little

Annabel Candy

Gosh, I can never remember any of my birthdays!

Except maybe my 21st when my dad gave me a case of champagne to share with friends before “treating” me to a specially arranged tour of the Houses of Parliament in London. I think that was more of a treat for him actually and unfortunately I was rather hung over after all the champers. I nearly fainted in the Royal Throning Room…

Robing Room, Houses of Parliament London

Photo by UK Parliament

Catherine White Photography

My mother has only one sister, who gave birth to one child. Unlike my mother who gave birth to seven children, of whom I’m the eldest. Ironically, the sisters first born girls were born on the same day in the month of June. We didn’t grow up together, or know each other much, as before our births, my mother immigrated from Ireland for Australia, and my Aunt to New York.

Last year we spent our birthdays together on Long Island, New York. She doesn’t know it yet, but I will be also be there for the birth of her second child later this year.

The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree, as the familial, genetic code is so strong, she is more like a younger sister, than a cousin in a distant land.

It was a good birthday.

Long Island, NYC

Photo by KiHoon Park

Leanne ~ Getaway Guru

Over the last few years, my husband and I (and family) have celebrated some significant birthdays in Florence, on a Greek island and in Priano on the Amalfi Coast, whilst my son celebrated his 7th birthday in Thailand.

We’ll be in Tuscany in a villa for about 20 people for another significant birthday in 2013. You can see the theme huh! I love celebrating a birthday and a memorable location adds even more excitement.

Tuscany, Italy

Photo by Jeremy Vandel

 

Kris ~ Reserve123.com

Oh, can I still submit my favorite birthday!

It has to be my one of my best friend’s birthday in Oxford. Our term was ending and everyone was starting to loosen up. My friend and I spent many a days finding new cafes and eateries and I knew her favorite chocolate cake was at a Greek deli near our flat.

I walked for 30 minutes with a giant chocolate cake to the restaurant in the city on her birthday, so it would be a surprise. At the end of dinner, our server brought out the cake and she was so friggin happy.

Chocolate Cake

Photo by Dave Mee

Mardi Dean

On the plane to Vietnam

A surprise birthday present a few years ago. 10 days to Vietnam leaving on my birthday. Had the most amazing time. We spent most of it in Hoi An which we loved. Would love to go back very soon. The people are so friendly. They just smile. It is actually the best place to go to de-stress.

Vietnam from the airplane

Photo by Marufish

Linda Fairbairn 

Under a mossie net tied between my motorbike and a bush, beside a billabong in the Northern Territory of Australia…
Now which way around is it when you shine your torch at night over the water and see the eyes of animals reflecting – Is it the green eyes are buffalo and red eyes are crocodiles or… ?!

Billabong, Kakadu Northern Territory

Photo by Ben n Rebecca McIntyre

Bobbie ~ Heels and Wheels

I spent one in Aruba that was really special!

Another in Brisbane, Australia with new friends which was also quite nice!

Aruba, in the ABC Islands off Venezuela

Photo by David Stanley

Where have you spent a special birthday?

Do tell in the comments below :)

Journey Jottings highlights holiday adventures

Worst Travel Tales

This month’s themed travelling tales from our Facebook Page is

Worst Travel Stories

This time last year we started a monthly ‘travelling tales’ feature that’s posted on our Facebook Page. Its a free-for-all where everyone shares their travel stories ~ focused on a theme.

Because the first was Favourite Travel Tales’, and this is the year old anniversary, it seemed appropriate to celebrate with something related – so have gone for its antithesis ;)

Worst Travel Tales

Debbie Yeomans

“Staying in a motel in Malaysia that ran out of water so there were no flushing toilets :(

It was when I was in my late teens and there were six of us sharing a room, needless to say it made our stay very interesting.”

How not to use a toilet - Toilet Use Malaysia

Photo by willposh

 

Andy Peverill

“In June 1977 my wife and I were married and honeymooned on the River Thames UK. We ran out of money after the first week. River flooded and only private cruisers were allowed on river. We carried on and the rudder broke beyond repair. On our way home the boat crashed into a bridge. The best thing was that my wife’s father had stocked up with alcohol on the boat so we mostly drank our sorrows away. I handed back a very battered boat after two weeks and the father-in-law has not lent me anything since. Can’t blame him.

Despite being June, it rained then poured and was so cold when we went to bed I put socks on. When we awoke my feet were saturated because they had discovered a leak. My new wife did not find this romantic.

I bought a cheap straw hat for protection from the rain which was red. When wet, the dye came out and ran down my face and I resembled something from a Stephen King novel.

The first lock we entered was flooded so before mooring I took my wet shoes and socks off and jumped off the side to secure the boat. The water was 2 feet deep and above my knees – why I took my shoes and socks off remains a mystery to this day.

We got to a place called Abbingdon when the rudder broke and we drifted onto some submerged piles which were put there to stop ppl from mooring. I had to get into the water to lift the boat over the piles to get back onto the river.

A boat hook was lost prior to entering a lock but fortunately floated and met us on the over side of the lock. As we had run out of money my wife invited the new in-laws to take us out to dinner. On our honeymoon – now that was different.

Everyday of our honeymoon had its own tale to tell and what has been told is but a mere fraction – We laugh about it now and have been married for 34 yrs. Love conquers all as they say”

Boating down the river in the rain

Photo by Roger Marks

 

Annie Payne

“Losing a huge filling (sucking a butterscotch toffee at take-off) while flying to the UK & Europe for a 6 week holiday & having problems with hot & cold for the whole trip!”

Tooth Powder

Photo by viscousplatypus

 

Kaylene Higgs

“In Cuzco Peru I was paranoid of ‘electric showers’, which was pretty much just an electric element under the cold shower of running water, basic rule: water & electricity shouldn’t mix kept entering my mind…

Finding a cheap place with a ‘normal’ shower was quite difficult.

Our first night was spent in a room where the bathroom was that dirty I didn’t shower for fear of getting dirtier. We shopped around for another room and the next place showed us a nice room with normal shower but when we came back with our bags they gave us a different room… dirty + electric shower… I complained in my best Spanish and got yet another room but it was really dirty… not just a bit of dust (since you can’t flush the paper in Peru, a waste paper basket is provided.)… however not emptied between guests stays :( …made us wonder if they bother to change sheets…  skin crawls…

We went on our 4 day Inca trail Hike and on the last day before the sun gate there was an option to shower… I didn’t give a rats by this stage and sat under that electric shower until my money ran out.”

Electric Shower Head, South America

Photo by funkz

 

Andy Peverill

“A friend of mine that was accident prone – went on a skiing holiday to Switzerland. We all thought he would break a leg on the slopes but instead he was taken from the train on the way to Switzerland and taken to hospital where they removed his appendix.”

Train Switzerland

Photo by Simon Aughton

Linda Fairbairn

“Driving overland from Nepal to Europe, we were going slowly through a small town in Iran. A young lad on a bicycle, excited to see foreigners, started cycling along beside us on the inside lane. Smiling through the window of the front passenger seat, whilst madly pedalling to keep up, he failed to see a car that had parked and the occupant opening his door to get out – WHAM – He was gone.

We stopped to ensure he was OK but rather than seeing our concern his friends who had now caught up felt it was ‘our’ fault and we should pay for his bicycle damage. A gang of youths formed around us with demonstrative arm movements gesticulating as voices became raised – The atmosphere felt riotous as we edged our way back into the van, and as the boys used their bikes to placard us from leaving, we gently nudged forward through their shouting taunts until we broke free and made a bolt for it.

Feeling threatened is the worst.”

Iran Boy on Bicycle

Photo by Desmond Kavanagh

What ‘worst travel tale’ have you experienced?

Do tell in the comments below :D

 

Journey Jottings highlights holiday adventures