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Our accommodation

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic booking accommodation at Uluru was problematic on two grounds. The indigenous population is believed to be particularly vulnerable so that any evidence of community transmission is sufficient to close the Territory border. And because Australians, who love to travel overseas, have been kept home most Australian tourist resorts are fully booked months ahead.

The only accommodation available at Yulara (Ayres Rock Resort) was at the comfortable, three-star, 'Lost Camel'. Bizarrely, all the windows are frosted - even in those rooms with a potential view of the swimming pool or the surrounding countryside. Otherwise, the rooms are quite large with a sitting area and well-appointed with large comfortable beds; good linen; good showers with all the usual little bottles and soaps; a small fridge; and tea/coffee making.

 

Uluru Resort
Yulara (Ayres Rock Resort) - hotels in the distance

 

At Alice Springs we booked two apartments at an apartment hotel, each with a sitting room and kitchenette complete with washing machine (for clothes).

 

Alice on Todd ApartmentsAlice on Todd Apartments

 

At the Kings Canyon Resort, where there is little choice, as it is all one establishment, we booked two 'luxury' cabins that were conveniently close to the restaurant - facilitating big breakfasts and two, enjoyable, well-oiled evening meals - extending until throw-out time.  

 

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Travel

Cambodia and Vietnam

 

 

 In April 2010 we travelled to the previous French territories of Cambodia and Vietnam: ‘French Indochina’, as they had been called when I started school; until 1954. Since then many things have changed.  But of course, this has been a region of change for tens of thousands of years. Our trip ‘filled in’ areas of the map between our previous trips to India and China and did not disappoint.  There is certainly a sense in which Indochina is a blend of China and India; with differences tangential to both. Both have recovered from recent conflicts of which there is still evidence everywhere, like the smell of gunpowder after fireworks.

Read more: Cambodia and Vietnam

Fiction, Recollections & News

A cockatoo named Einstein

 

 

 

A couple of days ago a story about sulphur-crested cockatoos went semi-viral, probably in an attempt to lift spirits during Sydney's new Covid-19 lock-down. It appears that some smart cocky worked out how to open wheelie-bin lids.  That's not a surprise - see below.  What is surprising is that others are copying him and the practice is spreading outwards so that it can be mapped in a growing circle of awareness. The cockies are also choosing the red (household rubbish) bins that may contain food, disregarding yellow (cans and bottles); blue (paper and cardboard) and green bins (garden clippings). Yet, now they have also been observed checking-out other potentially food containing bins.

One has even been observed re-closing the lid - presumably to prevent other birds getting to the food.

Back in the 1950's I was given a pet sulphur-crested cockatoo we named Einstein. I was in primary school and I didn't yet know who Einstein was. My father suggested the name - explaining that Einstein was 'a wise old bird'.

Read more: A cockatoo named Einstein

Opinions and Philosophy

The Carbon Tax

  2 July 2012

 

 

I’ve been following the debate on the Carbon Tax on this site since it began (try putting 'carbon' into the search box).

Now the tax is in place and soon its impact on our economy will become apparent.

There are two technical aims:

    1. to reduce the energy intensiveness of Australian businesses and households;
    2. to encourage the introduction of technology that is less carbon intensive.

Read more: The Carbon Tax

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