The Musings of Mark Haggan
  • Travel
  • Randomness
  • Formula One
  • Motor Racing
  • History
  • Family & Friends
  • Me on Flickr

Oceania

Feeding Penguins

February 4, 2014February 7, 2014 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
Penguins at Taronga Zoo

Among my various exploits in Australia in 2013 was a trip to the famous Taronga Zoo, and whilst there, I managed to get involved in feeding penguins there. Many people associate penguins only with the colder climates of the world like Antarctica, and of course there are several species of penguins who are native to […]

Continue reading


Chinese Garden of Friendship

December 30, 2013January 25, 2014 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
The Chinese Garden of Friendship

There were many famous sights of Sydney that I was hoping and expecting to see on my recent trip – the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, etc –  but these did not include the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour, of which I knew very little before my trip.  The gardens were designed to […]

Continue reading


The International Fleet Review Tall Ships

November 28, 2013January 25, 2014 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
Tall Ships at the International Fleet Review

I have recently commented on the 2013 International Fleet Review warships, fireworks and air display from Sydney 2013. The activity also included a number of tall ships, with ten from Australia augmented by six others from four countries, including the STS Lord Nelson from the UK. The tall ships sailed into harbour in Sydney on […]

Continue reading


International Fleet Review Navy Ships

November 27, 2013January 25, 2014 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
Navy Ships at the International Fleet Review

I’ve posted about the fireworks and the aircraft in Sydney at the beginning of October, and of course, one of the highlights of the whole week was the International Fleet Review Navy Ships.  Twenty ships from the Australian navy were joined in Sydney by ships from a series of other navies including the UK, the […]

Continue reading


Palm Beach, New South Wales: Home of Home & Away

November 20, 2013January 21, 2014 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
Palm Beach. New South Wales

Modern media, through television and films, has had at least one interesting effect on being a tourist. There are many places around the world now that for many are instantly recognisable, even for those who have never been there before. An obvious example is New York. Standing in Times Square for the first time in […]

Continue reading


The Manly Jazz Festival

November 18, 2013January 21, 2014 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
The Manly Jazz Festival

I mentioned recently a trip to Bondi Beach during my recent trip to Sydney, and that this is just one of the many beaches around the city. Another one is Manly, which as well as being home to a series of beaches, is also home to the Manly Jazz Festival, which we managed to visit […]

Continue reading


The origin of the Didgeridoo

November 7, 2013 Mark Leave a comment History, Oceania, Travel

Of the various cultural items that represent Australia to the outside world, one of the most instantly recognisable, both visually and audibly, is the didgeridoo.  What is more unusual and less well known is the origin of didgeridoo.  I don’t mean the origin of the didgeridoo – the instrument – itself but rather, the word. […]

Continue reading


A trip to Bondi Beach

November 6, 2013 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
Bondi Beach

The city of Sydney is surrounded by beautiful beaches, some of which are more famous than others.  Among the most famous for those outside Australia is Bondi Beach.  The name conjures up images of surfers and golden sands, and there is some truth in that image.  The name itself apparently comes from an aboriginal word […]

Continue reading


A trip to Sydney Opera House

November 3, 2013November 3, 2013 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
Sydney Opera House

Among the “must see” things on our recent trip to Australia was a trip to Sydney Opera House.  When most people think of Sydney Harbour, two of the sights that spring to mind are the Sydney Opera House building and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the unusual shape of the Opera House being a famous […]

Continue reading


International Fleet Review Air Display

October 28, 2013 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
Aircraft at the International Fleet Review

I mentioned the fireworks in Sydney at the beginning of October, and that there were other events at the same time.  Those included the International Fleet Review Air Display that saw various aircraft from Australia and other countries flying over Sydney in general, and the harbour in particular.   There had been a series of […]

Continue reading


International Fleet Review Fireworks in Sydney Harbour

October 26, 2013 Mark Leave a comment Oceania, Travel
International Fleet Review Fireworks

I wrote recently about the International Fleet Review fireworks in Sydney Harbour that luckily coincided with my trip to Sydney, and I mentioned that I would post some more photos when I got home.  Well, I’m back home now, so here are a few more photos…   The International Fleet Review was a celebration of […]

Continue reading


Privacy Policy

Search markhaggan.com:

Search for:

MsportXtra

My Tweets
dazzling Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress