Salzburg Celebrates the Sound of Music

The newly opened Sound of Music Museum in Salzburg provides another compelling reason to visit the Austrian city made famous by the acclaimed Hollywood film. David Bowden sings along.

For decades, tourists have travelled to Salzburg to experience the magic of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born there in 1756.

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen

‘Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen, friendly old girl of a town’ . . . continues to enchant visitors with its traditions and easygoing personality. But there's more to explore as its varied and eclectic architecture ­– old and new – stirs 'for' and 'against' controversy, eventually melding into the visual fabric of the city, just as it always has. Bev Malzard goes in search.

Finding Colour in Marrakech: Yves Saint Laurent and Jardin Majorelle

Yves Saint Laurent found a lasting source of creative inspiration in Morocco. Today, the museum bearing his name and the neighbouring Jardin Majorelle rank among the most rewarding cultural attractions in Marrakech. Bev Malzard bathes in blue.

The Wonders of Borneo

Pygmy elephants, enormous squirrels, small bears, huge bull-frogs, orchids the size of pinheads, gigantic flowers, one metre wide, and monkeys with colossal noses. Has she stepped into a Jules Verne novel? No, Ros Freeman is in Borneo, in the world’s most ancient rainforest.

Our boat glides silently down the muddy river. On the banks, an egret stalks its prey, a safe distance away from a basking crocodile. Above us, eagles circle, kingfishers are poised ready to dive, and a band of fun-lovin’ macaques swings through the forest canopy. However, all eyes are on the pygmy elephant. He delicately steps into the river, splashes about, then carefully negotiates his way back into the jungle. What a way to start the day!

Flight Review: the Singapore Girl is alive and well

Flight reports have become something of a joke. Rather than offering a short, sharp assessment of the elements that make or break a journey, they have evolved into lengthy, often tedious stories illustrated with endless photographs of meals. I see them regularly in publications such as The Age. You sometimes wonder whether they have been written for travellers or to impress the airline’s public relations department. My advice is to start at the bottom: if you see the words “the writer travelled as a guest of the airline,” a few warning bells should ring.

Travel Snapshot: It's so quiet in Amsterdam

Sitting down at one of Amsterdam’s street-side cafes and enjoying a beer reveals more than bikes and the incredible number of European wasps. The quiet for a start. Cars are restricted by the number of canals - and most of them are electric. The cabs certainly are. Then you notice the lack of ugly high-rise poking its nose over proceedings. 

Galapagos of the South

Wildlife rules the roost on the subantarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand

Like a chorus line of overweight, bad-mannered beer drinkers, they gather to recite the only lyrics they know. Cavernous mouths agape and bulbous heads akilter, it’s a strangely musical sound despite the random, belching monotone each can only manage.

Portugal Uncorked: Ports, Parties and Pastéis

A festive welcome in Porto leads to a convivial voyage through the Douro Valley, where vineyard views, historic estates, spirited cocktails and custard tarts reveal Ros Freeman finds Portugal at its most irresistible.

What a welcome! We walked into the Porto café to rousing applause and cheering. Goodness Gracious, Oh me Oh my, we gushed, then noticed the TV screen located directly above our heads; Portugal had just scored against Congo in the World Cup.