Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic Yacht Race

11/10/2015 0 Comments read Travel

By Neena Bhandari

It is seldom that an argument triggers a boat race, but this is precisely what happened in December 1966.

Two Goolwa greats, the late Bill Appleby and the late Bill Ballard, set sail on their yachts from Goolwa to Milang to settle their argument about who had the fastest boat.

Their yachts almost matched the timing, but soon other boats joined in the competition. The numbers soared to 584 yachts in 1986, making it the largest individual freshwater classic yacht race in the country.

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The Jungle Book: In Australia’s oldest rainforest

09/10/2015 0 Comments read Indigenous, Travel

Photo Credit: © Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

Cairns (Queensland, Australia), 09.10.2015 (Khaleej Times): Nestled between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range of mountains on a long narrow coastal strip is the city of Cairns, the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest on earth.

This cosmopolitan city’s close proximity to Asia has made it an international tourist hub. It is worth a stopover either on the way in or out of Australia. The city centre lined with mangroves and mudflats, and the Esplanade, stretching along the city’s foreshore, have plenty to do for the young and old from children’s playgrounds to designated exercise and barbeques areas. The Esplanade Lagoon is a good place to cool off from the steamy heat of the Tropics.

From here, tours to the Reef and the Rainforest abound. One can choose from the itineraries on offer or custom make a tour to suit one’s needs. Most operators pick up and drop off from main hotels.

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Adelaide lures gastronomic travellers with its clean, green, fresh produce

07/11/2014 0 Comments read Travel

By Neena Bhandari

Adelaide (South Australia), 7.11.2014: The apple weighs heavy in my bag as my eyes fall on the billboard at Adelaide Airport displaying strict quarantine restrictions – `Fruits, Vegetables and Plants prohibited in South Australia. Fines apply’. I promptly retrieve the ripened fruit and discard it in the designated food bin in the arrivals hall.

South Australia prides itself for its clean, green, fresh produce, zealously protecting its farms, orchards and vineyards against fruit flies and pests. From seafood and grain-fed meats, to cheese and pates, artisan smallgoods and chocolates to world-renowned wineries, this fourth largest Australian state and its capital, Adelaide, has become a much sought after destination for the growing group of gastronomic travellers passionate about food and wine.

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