Vivid Visions Tall Ships Cruise

In June 2014, Sydney will be transformed into a spectacular canvas of light, music, ideas and community when Vivid Sydney and the Rotary International Convention take over the city.

The Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney is proud to play host to the spectacular “Vivid Visions” cruise on Sydney Harbour on board the Southern Swan, an authentic 1920’s Tall Ship.

On Friday the 30th of May 2014 at 7:30pm we will be setting sail from Campbell's Cove for a wonderful evening adventure of light, music and Rotary!

Sailing though our magnificent illuminated harbour, you will learn how the e-Club focus on our international projects supporting development, education, and health in developing countries.

You will also see and hear the amazing story of the ship, be enthralled by a Kenyan Maasai warrior, take in the salty sea air and see Sydney at its brightest!.

For only $95 per person, the food, drink and entertainment aboard this two hour cruise, will be provided by the friendly Ship’s crew - all of whom are at your service!

Make this event a memorable part of your “Down Under Convention” experience.

To book please click the booking link http://www.sydneytallships.com.au/rotary-e-club.html 
Tickets are strictly limited and selling fast!!.
 



Global Connection Tours

My Friends

If you are wanting to see more of Sydney and Australia be sure to take advantage of these great Rotary Down Under tour packages, organized by the great people at Global Connection http://globalconnection.com.au

Global Connection are The HOC Official Travel Partner of the Rotary International Convention Sydney 2014. These tours exclusively for Rotarians, designed by Rotarians, so you know that they will be well planned, enjoyable and fun.




My wife and I have been on one of these tours before and let me say it was just amazing!

 

 

I highly recommend the Pre Convention Blue Mountains & Hunter Valley Tour

Just look at this fantastic itinerary!! Plus you get a free bottle of Hunter Valley Wine.

Day One:  Arrive Sydney

• Guests arrive Sydney Airport. You will be met by your local guide who will accompany your tour
• Transfer via air conditioned coach from airport to Sydney accommodation (check-in from 14.00 hrs)
• Remainder of the day is at leisure in Sydney
• Accommodation:  ParkRoyal Darling Harbour x 1 night

Day Two: Sydney to Blue Mountains

• Breakfast at the hotel
• This morning commence your extended tour to Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley, two of NSW most spectacular regions. Enjoy a stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park. Get up close and personal with more than 2200 animals where you can hand-feed wallabies, kangaroos and emus and even cuddle up to a Koala
• Stop for lunch at the quaint township of Leura (at own expense). Leura Mall is a treasure with many fine coffee shops, restaurants and galleries.
• Arrive to your accommodation early afternoon.
• Enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing by the fireplace in the lounge or for the more active join a short bush walk from the resort.
• Accommodation: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains x 2 nights

Day Three:  Blue Mountains

Scenic Railway

• Breakfast at the resort
• This morning visit Waradah Aboriginal Centre.  Here you are able to witness Aboriginal Dance and Didgeridoo performances, with explanations of the stories that accompany each dance.
• Travel to Scenic World Blue Mountains, home to 4 attractions, of which the most famous is the Katoomba Scenic Railway. The site also includes the Katoomba Scenic Skyway, the Cableway and Katoomba Scenic Walkway a 2.4 km elevated boardwalk through ancient rainforest
• Stop will be made for lunch (at own expense)
• Return to the Resort late afternoon

Day Four: Blue Mountains to Hunter Valley

• Breakfast at the resort
• This morning travel along the scenic Bells Line of Road. This road follows an historic route that has been a traditional Aboriginal pathway, a colonial track (from 1819), and a passageway for miners heading to the Bathurst goldfield (in the 1860s. Continue through to Hunter Valley Wine Country (approx. 5 hours travel time)
• Stop will be made for lunch (at own expense).
• Arrive to your accommodation late afternoon.
• Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley x 2 nights

Day Five:  Hunter Valley

• Breakfast at the resort
• Spend the day visiting this beautiful part of the world with some of the oldest and best vines in Australia with unique specialties such as Semillon and Shiraz grapes. Enjoy Vineyard inspection followed by a wine tutorial &; tasting at Hunter Valley Resort
• Lunch will be served at Bluetongue Brewery Café
• In the afternoon visit Hunter Valley Gardens. Spanning over 25 acres, be amazed by the sensational sights, colours, and fragrances of the ten stunning feature gardens.
• Return to the Resort late afternoon

Day Six:  Hunter Valley to Sydney

• Breakfast at the resort
• Depart the Hunter Valley for return journey to Sydney.En route stop at The Wollombi Tavern for a sample of Dr. Jurd’s Jungle Juice.
• Stop will be made for lunch (at own expense).
• Tour terminates at your Sydney accommodation

Tim Tam Slam

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After you have tried Vegemite and curled you're face up at the taste, then why don't you try the next best thing! a Tim Tam

A Tim Tam is a famous Australian chocolate biscuit that has gained celebrity status around the globe.
It is often in the carry-on luggage of departing expats and tourists.

It’s more famous than Crocodile Dundee in some parts of the world and it’s just a biscuit!


Arnotts make the biscuit, and Tim Tams are still classed as an Aussie institution.

One thing foreigners often don’t know about a Tim Tam is that there is a special way to eat it. It’s called a Tim Tam Slam and it is awesome. Here’s how you do it:

1. Make yourself a glass of hot Milo, milk, coffee or tea.
2. Bite a little bit off one corner of the Tim Tam.
3. Now bite a little bit off the diagonally opposite corner of the Tim Tam.
4. Lean down towards the glass and put your mouth over one corner of the Tim Tam, like a straw.
5. Dip the other corner into the glass so it is slightly submerged.
6. Suck the liquid through the Tim Tam.


7. As soon as you taste the liquid, put the whole Tim Tam in your mouth.
What happens then is a true miracle in the chocolate sense of the word. If you have a hot drink (which is the preferred method), then the Tim Tam melts completely in your mouth. It is amazing.










If you need to see a visual, check out this video of Natalie Imbruglia teaching Graham Norton on a UK talk show - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHzMfZ1FaqA


As I mentioned, this is a bit of a local secret that has been passed on since the dawn of the Tim Tam. Now, when you come to visit, you can try it.
Once you have mastered the Tim Tam Slam, spread the word!

Driving in Sydney

Sydney Driving

 

Here are some few simple road safety tips can help make your driving holiday in Australia safer and more enjoyable.      

 

For our international visitors visiting Sydney and planning to drive, you must hold a valid international driving permit accompanied by the driver licence issued in the country you live in.

                                          

Keep left!!

Australians drive on the left side of two-way roads. Ask passengers to remind you of this every time you set off and when you are turning at an intersection. You should always remember to look right, then left and then right again when you are walking across the street if there are no traffic lights close by.

 

Seatbelts and child restraints

Seatbelts must always be worn when driving. All passengers in the car must also wear seatbelts. Children under age 7 must be in a child restraint appropriate for the child’s size and weight.    

Obey the road signs

You should familiarise yourself with the road signs in Australia and make sure you obey them.

Road markings

Where the centre line marking on the road is a single broken line, vehicles may cross the line to overtake when it is safe to do so. If the centre marking has two lines you must not overtake if the line closest to your vehicle is unbroken. Where arrows are painted on the road, you must only drive in the direction they indicate.

 

Speed limits are enforced in Australia

Speed limits are strictly enforced in Australia. The speed limit is the maximum speed permitted on that road and you must not drive above the speed limit at any time. Some roads do not have visible speed limit signs, but speed limits still apply. You should be especially careful in residential areas and in school zones.    

Alcohol and drugs

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is extremely dangerous and Australia has very serious penalties if you are caught doing this. In Australia, you are not permitted to drive a car if your blood alcohol level is 0.05 per cent or higher. If you hold a probationary or provisional driver’s licence, your blood alcohol level must be zero at all times. Driving after taking drugs that affect your ability to drive is illegal and penalties are severe.

No mobile phones

 
 
 
 
 
You are not permitted to use a handheld mobile phone when driving. This includes making or receiving calls, texting, playing games or web browsing.

 

 

 

 

 

Take a break and arrive safely

It is common to travel long distances in Australia, so you should plan your journey to include several rest breaks and ensure you have enough petrol for your journey. Rest areas are located every 80-100 kilometres on main highways and roads for people to pull over and rest when tired.

Road conditions

Road conditions can vary from a sealed road surface to gravel and unsealed roads. You should have a four-wheel drive (4WD) if you are travelling on unsealed roads. You should also avoid speeding on unsealed roads to avoid dangerous hazards like holes, soft road edges and changing road surfaces. If you do drive off the side of a road, don’t overcorrect, but slow down and return to the road when the vehicle is travelling at a safe speed. Obey road closure signs.    

 

Watch out for wildlife and livestock

Watch out for wildlife on the road, such as kangaroos, emus, wombats and koalas. Livestock such as cattle may also graze on the side of an unfenced road. You should always be travelling at a safe speed, so if an animal crosses in front of you, you can further reduce your speed. Do not attempt to swerve your car violently or you can roll off the road.

Emergency assistance

000 is the number for emergency services in Australia. They can connect you to Police, Ambulance or the Fire Brigade. You should only contact 000 in an emergency.

E-tags and tolls

E-tags and tolls

Many of the motorways around major cities in Australia are toll roads, meaning you have to pay a toll to use them. Some are also fully electronic, so you can’t pay the toll with cash at a tollbooth. Instead, you need to pay the toll with an electronic tag or a pass. You can set up a pass before you leave home or up to three days after you use the road. E-tags can often be used on motorways throughout Australia, but it is best to check with the local state roads and traffic authority to avoid fines.

Car Hire

Car rental in Australia can be extremely cost effective when planning to travel around Australia by road. When renting a car in Australia, there are certain essential requirements which are common across the car rental industry, including holding a valid driver’s licence; a credit card as a form of security; and passport for ID. You will find most of the major international car rental companies in Australia including Avis Car Rental, Hertz, Thrifty, Budget and Europcar.

 

 

The Great Australian Beer Myth!

I will let you in on Australia's worst kept secret.......We don't drink Fosters Beer!!!
But we drink pretty much any other beer though.

You see Fosters is the stuff we export coz nobody "Down Under" likes it. We call it a Bath Water Beer.
After all that, beer-drinking in Australia gets pretty complicated but as long as you've got a beer in your hand you can't really go wrong.

Some people are really getting into boutique beers at the moment, but others find it just more important to have a big enough carton full of *piss. * note this is what beer is called in Sydney eg "getting pissed" and or "on the piss"

When you go to a Pub who can order two glass sizes a "Schooner" 425ml or a "Middy" 285ml

Here is my top 6 Aussie Beers you must try while in Sydney.


6: Crown Lager or "Crownie" - At first taste it's a bit fruity, followed by a rich malty flavour, and finally a crisp hop finish. Crown goes great with your red meats, along with Mediterranean and most Asian dishes. It's a bit LaDeLa.

5:Pure Blonde: This was the first low carb beer to hit Australian shelves and has been a top seller ever since. Brewed longer to reduce the amount of carbohydrates, yet still a full strength beer, it is light, crisp and delivers a superior taste.


4:Hahn Premium - a crisp premium lager with a bitter hoppy taste and a clean bitter finish, it's often compared to a northern German Pilsener. Best served with seafood dishes such as oysters, seafood marinara and grilled fish. It's also well suited to chicken and pork dishes with a cream sauce.

3: James Squires: This brand is brewed in Sydney. If you like something a little sweeter than normal, try the Amber Ale, it has 3 kinds of hops, a citrus bitterness and a long sweet finish. If you prefer a more traditional Ale, the Golden Ale is a great choice being fresh and fruity with a dry finish.

2: Tooheys New is one of Australia's most popular beers. It is a standard, clean, mass-produced lager. The lager is clean and bright: golden-orange in color. Upon opening a bottle, it has a faint aroma of caramel, grains and malt.
Toohey's New isn't going to win any serious awards for taste or creativity, but if a mate handed me one I'd say "Thank you"... and really mean it.


1 VB (Victoria Bitter) - One of the many iconic beers produced in Victoria. First brewed in the early 1900's, it currently maintains the highest market share of all beer sold in Australia, both on tap and packaged. "For a hard earned thirst, you need a Vic" Matter of fact I got it now!

Ok now for the serious side..

Australia has strict laws about drinking alcohol and driving. Australian Police are authorised to stop any vehicle and breath test the driver at any time. There is no absolute safe level of alcohol consumption for competent driving. For fully licensed car drivers the legal limit is 0.05 g/100ml.  If tested by the Police, drivers must be below their allowable legal limit.
If you are going to drink any alcohol the best advice is to plan not to drive at all. Guides are available for drinking very moderate quantities of alcohol over time and remaining below the 0.05 legal BAC level (for fully licensed car drivers) but because everybody's metabolism differs the effects of alcohol will not be the same in every case.

The police perform regular roadside "random breath testing" (RBT) of drivers in metropolitan and rural areas. There are heavy penalties for drink driving, including imprisonment.

 

 

 

What is a standard drink?

The legal limit in Sydney (NSW) is .05  A good guide is: 2 standard drinks in the first hour and then 1 per hour after that.

A 'standard drink' is the measure of alcohol used to work out safe drinking levels.
All these drinks (common servings in NSW) are different sizes but each of them has about 10grams of alcohol. The drinks are different sizes because some are stronger (have more alcohol) than others. Each is one standard drink.

Light beer		Ordinary Beer		Wine		Spirits		Port/Sherry
	=		=		=		=
1 schooner 425mls 2.7% alcohol		1 middy 285mls 4.9% alcohol		1 glass 100ml 12% alcohol		1 nip 30ml 40% alcohol		1 glass 60ml 20% alcohol

Credit Crunch....mmm tasty!

Credit cards

Credit cards such as American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in Australia.  VISA or MasterCard are commonly accepted and are both accepted everywhere credit cards are accepted. American Express and Diners Club are accepted at major supermarket and department store chains and many tourist destinations.        

It is best to carry more than one type of card as not all cards are accepted by all merchants. Always carry a little cash, because many shops will not take cards for purchases under AUD$15. Merchants may impose credit card surcharges in some places. So make sure you know what these surcharges are.

Bringing money into Australia

There is no limit to the amount of currency you can bring in or out of Australia, however, if you plan to arrive in Australia with more than AUD$10,000 in cash (Australian dollars or foreign equivalent), you must declare it to Australian Customs at the airport when you land. You may also be required to fill in a Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNI) form if you're carrying promissory notes, traveller's cheques, personal cheques, money orders or postal orders.

For further information visit the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Goods and Services Tax  (GST)

Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 per cent. You may be able to claim a refund of the GST paid on goods bought here if you have spent AUD$300 or more in one store, no more than 30 days before departing Australia. Tourist Refund Scheme facilities are located in the departure area of international terminals. For more detailed information see Australian government information on the Tourist Refund Scheme.

Currency converter

I always use this handy currency converter whenever I shop on Amazon! It will help you convert your own currency at the current exchange rates. Universal Currency Converter.

Money, Money, Money

 

Australia’s national currency is the Australian dollar which comes in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes. Coins come in 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent and 1 and 2 dollar denominations.

In 1996 Australia became the first country in the world to have a complete series of polymer (plastic) notes. So it's ok if you forgot you left that $20 in your pocket while your pants are spinning in the washing machine.
 
Money, Money, Money
       
Our colourful notes depict famous Australians both past and present.


The $100 green note features world-renowned soprano Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931), and the distinguished soldier, engineer and administrator General Sir John Monash (1865–1931).

The $50 yellow note features Aboriginal writer and inventor David Unaipon (1872–1967), and Australia’s first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan (1861–1932).
The $20 red note features the founder of the world’s first aerial medical service (the Royal Flying Doctor Service), the Reverend John Flynn (1880–1951), and Mary Reibey (1777–1855), who arrived in Australia as a convict in 1792 and went on to become a successful shipping magnate and philanthropist.

The $10 blue note features the poets AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson (1864–1941) and Dame Mary Gilmore (1865–1962).

The $5 purple/mauve note features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Parliament House in Canberra, our national capital.






The standard $1 coin design, along with the 50, 20, 10 and 5 cent coin designs, was created by the Queen’s official jeweler, Stuart Devlin.

MONEY!

The $1 coin depicts five kangaroos.

The $2 coin depicts an Aboriginal tribal elder set against a background of the Southern Cross and native grass trees.
The 50 cent coin features Australia’s coat of arms: the six state badges on a central shield supported by a kangaroo and an emu.

The 20 cent coin carries a platypus,

the 10 cent coin features a male lyrebird dancing; and the 5 cent coin depicts an echidna.

Spend Wisely :-)

The Cross!

The Cross, The Golden Mile, The Strip or just Sleaze Street.

I wont lie to you,Sydney does have an underbelly!

Kings Cross is possibly the only suburb in Sydney that nearly everyone has visited and that everyone has an opinion on. It has worked as its own best publicist and its own worst enemy, with as many tales of bohemian freedom as there are of back street deals and random violence. Its place on the ridge overlooking the city has always set it apart from the rest of town, an 'exclusive' address from the start. It has often led Sydney in coming trends, from coffee shops and delicatessens to apartment living.

Once was the bohemian center of Sydney, Kings Cross is now a wild mixture of prostitution, drug dealing, police corruption, trendy restaurants and nightclubs. Its the red-light district of Australia and remains today as the suburb that never sleeps. With all its sleaziness it still holds many fine restaurants and excellent nightclubs for all ages. It holds inspiration to all artists and performers, its Sydney's character all mixed into a wonderful inebriating cocktail.

Situated 1.5km east of the city, it is easily reached by public transport, buses and trains run regularly from the city and Circular Quay. Although its a crime related area "mostly" it is safe to visit at night. Its just a matter of shifting through the sleaze on offer.

The "Cross" refers to the major intersection formed by William Street and Darlinghurst Street, which also displays Sydney's famous icon the flashing Coke- a Cola neon sign.

You will also find a large supply of backpacker hostels and budget accommodation mostly in this area. It attracts a fascinating diversity of people from budget travelers, colourful characters, tourists, bohemians, businessmen, artists, writers, sailors, and trendy locals.

Kings Cross is a fun place if you ignore the sleazy underworld and really is a must do to see, even if only for a look at how the "other half" live and play or for a quick nightcap at one of Sydney's best nightclubs.

My own suggestion and warning is don't walk down lonely dark alleys or lanes alone, stay in a group, ignore those whom pester and persist, watch your drink at all times as spiking can occur in this area, and make sure you are prepared to wait for a taxi.

But like Soi Cowboy in Bangkok or Bourbon Street in New Orleans sometimes you have to take a "Walk on the Wild side"