Struth: the world's most expensive cheese

Smile 'Cheese' when you see the price

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says the world's most expensive cheese doesn't come from cows or goats, and you won't find it in the plushest restaurants or finest delis in London, New York or Paris.

Ottawa - Visiting Canada's exciting capital

#MYOttawa #ExploreCanada

story by Roderick Eime with additional text by Ottawa Tourism.

One of the first things told to me by a local is that Ottawa is the city fun forgot. Well, I don't know where they got that idea from because now, on my second visit to the capital, I've found it a most welcoming and vibrant city, with plenty of fun things to do.

Aussies who have travelled to Canada know this already, especially the hordes of young ski bums and bunnies who regularly exchange into the various ski resorts in the country's western regions, that Canadians love us. That Commonwealth affection is similarly returned.

Getting around Ottawa is dead easy. It's a simple city to walk, cabs are easy and there is the famous Uber rideshare just like almost everywhere else. I chose the familiar 'hop on, hop off' double decker tourist bus as seen in so many major cities and tourist destinations. Stamped with 'Lady Dive' signage, the buses have a live guides and make 15 stops at key locations around town.

In a jam-packed summer's day, I join the throngs for a sample of Ottawa's fabulous hospitality and activities.

Ottawa River Rafting adventure (R Eime)

My morning is taken up with whitewater rafting, a 3.5-hour trip that departs from Britannia Park (a lovely beach and park about a 15-minute drive west of downtown) and ends just west of the Canadian War Museum and downtown Ottawa. We crash through a series of small whitewater rapids within view of the city skyline in inflatable boats while the daredevils among us do the famous cliff jump and bridge hang. A great family adventure.

Come lunchtime, I was ready for some of Ottawa's famous fare and the place to go is the ByWard Market, one of the oldest and largest farmers’ markets in Canada, as well as the name of the eclectic neighbourhood that surrounds it.
Ottawa’s entertainment district is filled with great restaurants, clubs, bistros, coffee shops, boutiques and food retailers. In the height of summer, up to 175 outdoors stalls sell plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables as well as art and crafts. You’ll find ByWard Market vendors outside, no matter the weather, 363 days per year (closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).

Check out some of the staple food shops—some of which have been around since the early beginnings of the Market: Saslove’s Meat Market, House of Cheese, Lapointe Fish, and more. And make sure to visit the ByWard Market Square building, which features a wide selection of food vendors, artisans and boutiques. And don’t miss the cobblestoned courtyards behind the shops of Sussex Drive; from south to north, the Clarendon Courtyard, Jeanne d’Arc Courtyard, Tin House Courtyard and Beaux-arts Courtyard each have their unique charms—from restaurant patios to quirky public art.

My choice is the funky Sidedoor Restaurant, a contemporary kitchen and bar in York where I dine on such novel dishes as tuna sashimi with yuzu marmalade and Thai basil sausage tacos.

There's plenty of choice for the afternoon too, so let's head to The National Gallery of Canada, one of the country’s finest art museums and the permanent home of the world’s most comprehensive collection of Canadian art, including Inuit art. The Gallery sits in one of the most spectacular sites in Ottawa, and its award-winning architecture (designed by Moshe Safdie), features the luminous Great Hall, spacious galleries, and interior gardens and courtyards. You can't miss the iconic Louise Bourgeois sculpture, Maman, a mammoth 9.25m bronze spider.

Back on the bus, it's time for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, home to the most extensive aviation collection in Canada and one which ranks among the best in the world. Canada’s rich aviation heritage is revealed through exhibits of vintage aircraft from the museum’s permanent collection. Interactive activities, films, demonstrations, and guided tours offer visitors a chance to explore the story of flight. Open-cockpit biplane rides and helicopter rides are offered for an extra fee, weather permitting. The museum is also home to the Canadarm—the mechanical arm used on the NASA Space Shuttle. Star Trek fans can get a dose of their favourite TV series with a special exhibition until mid-September.

Otherwise, I could venture to the Canadian War Museum located along the Ottawa River just west of the Parliament Buildings and downtown Ottawa and a living memorial to Canada’s proud military history—from the earliest days of New France to current-day operations. It features large artifacts such as tanks (including a super rare German Panther) and airplanes, as well as a stunning collection of war art (including a gallery of “nose art” from World War II Lancaster bombers). 

If I have the courage, I might take a tour of local ghost stories and Ottawa's “darker” history when the lights are low and the atmosphere is just right for a good ghost story. The tour guides wear cloaks and carry a lantern as they lead their group from one haunted spot to the next.

Before I head out tomorrow, there's time to join the crowd for the ceremonial changing of the guard up on Parliament Hill or perhaps visit the Diefenbunker, a Cold War shelter built to house the entire government in the event of nuclear attack.

And before you head there, brush up on a little of your high school French as Canadians will be delightfully tolerant of your rusty pronunciation. Even the everyday greeting is “Hello, bonjour”.

Other activities to consider for a fun-filled visit to Ottawa:

• historic biplane sightseeing flights from the Aviation and Space Museum
• take a tour of the inside of Parliament’s Centre Block
• Visit the Bytown Museum to learn about Ottawa’s early history
• Watch boats as they pass through the Ottawa Locks of the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal
• Canadian Museum of History across the bridge in Quebec
• Take a Rideau (electric) Canal Cruise through downtown Ottawa

The writer stayed at ARC the.hotel, Ottawa’s first boutique hotel to offer comfort and luxury paired with contemporary design in the serene and sophisticated ARC the.hotel. Located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, ARC the.hotel is within walking distance of the major attractions mentioned above. 140 Slater Street, www.arcthehotel.com

For more details on Ottawa attractions and activities, visit www.ottawatourism.ca

Struth! World's smallest hotel rooms in NYC Skid Row

Smallest hotel rooms toe the line

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says you would think that a hotel with the world's smallest rooms, and in the heart of its city's once-Skid Row, would need to do some pretty fancy footwork to promote itself.

But not The Bowery House Hostel in New York City's now-famous The Bowery, that from the 1940s to '90s was home to that city's Skid Row, it's Bowery Bums, notorious street gangs and flophouses.

Because today's The Bowery House concedes that its 110 historic and "compact" rooms have just enough space to shuffle 'tween beds and walls and that some of those beds have even had to be cut-down to under six feet (around 175cm) to fit in. They are even called 'cabins'.

And that while stowing your luggage can be a juggling act, and toilets and showers are shared down the corridor, there's a great rooftop terrace with city views, and there's free Wi-Fi.

NOW that's a small hotel room: One of New York's tiniest
Bowery House Hostel rooms - but location and price
are a magnet for the budget-conscious. (BoweryHouseHostel)

Thus budget-conscious travellers flock to this circa-1920s hotel whose rooms were sub-divided into multiple temporary digs in the 1940s for troops returning from WWII and are still only just big enough today for a single or double bed and side table.

But no longer is the surrounding Bowery district Skid Row, instead its now all trendy shops, bars, cafés and galleries, and just a short stroll to the Lower East Side, Little Italy, SoHo and Chinatown. And with plenty of other major attractions only minutes away by subway.

Prices start from just AU$102 for The Bowery House's most minuscule single-bed rooms. See  www.theboweryhouse.com

Come along for a free-wheelin' bike tour of New Orleans

New Orleans is a city perfectly suited to bicycle touring. It's flat with quiet street route options and affords the visitor an intimate and comfortable experience.

Of course, you can hire your own and do your own thing, but we tagged along for one of the guided tours from The American Bicycle Rental Company centrally located at 325 Burgundy Street.

Our guide, Jonathan, took us on a relaxed cycle through the back streets and neighbourhoods, pointing out significant buildings and sites along the way with fun, informed commentary. The bikes are classic cruiser cycles, comfortable and easy to ride for the three hours we were in the saddle, covering about 15kms.

We toured on a Sunday, so traffic was quiet and we enjoyed waving to families relaxing in their yards and would recommend this to anyone contemplating the same. The popular advice is not Fridays as the roads are busy.

We stop often for interpretive stories at significant sites

The heritage-listed Dufour-Baldwin House is just
one of many superb historic houses along the route.

The spooky Catholic cemetery, where the deceased cannot be buried below ground

Centuries-old oak trees in city park.

Jonathan leads the group through scenic back streets like this one.

Book a bike tour now

Contact: The American Bicycle Rental Company

325 Burgundy Street

New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone: 504-324-8257

MAP

Queensland's Gold Coast - a special place in the hearts of Australian travellers.

THE HEART OF THE GOLD COAST

Words and photos by Dallas Sherringham / www.wtfmedia.com.au

Australia's Gold Coast holds a special place in the hearts of Australian travellers.

For many families it was their first experience of an exotic destination and two weeks in a "flat" at Kirra, Coolangatta or Broadbeach was like travelling to the moon.

As a young boy living in outback NSW, I ticked off the months until they turned to weeks and then days until the big day finally arrived. We were off to Queensland on a two day journey in the two tone 1958 Holden.

To give you an idea how primitive it was, we took our Pye TV with us because you had to hire one on the coast - they weren't provided. As a wide eyed youngster in 1963, the Gold Coast was as close to America as I was ever likely to get. There were streets named First Avenue and there high rise apartments with names like Shangrila and Waikiki;  beaches had exotic names like Miami and Surfers Paradise.

Every major beach at a live show beside the surf club each morning with hundreds of visitors taking part. The Currumbin Bird Sanctuary was THE main attraction followed by Gilltrap's Auto Museum. The Water Ski Gardens on the Nerang River would eventually morph into Sea World.

To get to Surfers Paradise, you drove out across the flat from Burleigh Heads on a skinny road through the sand. From the back seat I gazed in amazement at the wonders unfolding before me.

Surfers had a few high rises and the famous hotel beside Cavill Avenue was right at the centre of the action even in those days. However the glitzy Chevron across the street was the Mecca of the well healed traveller.

Beautiful bikini clad girls in gold wandered the streets putting sparkling silver five penny coins in the parking metres. An amazing side trip was a  drive around the Isle of Capri and Chevron Island, two man-made wonders where you could actually buy a home overlooking a canal.

I recently made another trip to the Gold Coast. I have been their many times as a father with five kids and later as a mature traveller. Through the years I noticed my Gold Coast quickly turned into a major city with four world class theme parks, fine dining opportunities, sophisticated night life and even a casino with a monorail.

Now the Gold Coast is set to gain a new boost of world-wide acclaim thanks to the Commonwealth Games being held there in 2018. The city is currently gearing up for the biggest influx of visitors ever.

I found that the coast still has the simpler lifestyle of my boyhood available if you go looking for it.

You can still sit on the rocks at Burleigh and watch the surfers swoosh and fly on white foamy monsters. The power and majesty of the warm blue ocean is still the major attraction on the coast.

You can still feed the birds at Currumbin and watch the water skiers at Sea World and the island real estate developments now stretch on forever. You can still buy a feed on king prawns and enjoy them on the sand overlooking South Stradbroke Island.

Meter Maids still save the tardy visitor with deposits of gold. People are friendlier on the Gold Coast than they are in the Big Smoke down south. I was taken aback by a coffee shop staff that made me feel like a long lost friend. The theme continued at Nobby's Surf Club with it superb views and a fine restaurant serving barramundi and wedges.

And you can still sit on the balcony of your high rise apartment and watch the tapestry of life unfold before you.

However the Pacific Fair shopping centre, once famous for being an "outdoor" shopping centre is now a huge mall with stunning architecture. It is a "must see" on any coast visit.

The easiest way to get there is to "ride the G". For the uninitiated, the G is the new light rail system that links all the major points between Pacific Fair and Southport. It costs $10 for a day pass and you can easily ride from, downtown Surfers to Pacific Fair.

I think it will be amazing when it links all the way to the Gold Coast Airport and downtown Coolangatta. Traffic has become a major problem on the coast, but the G promises to ease the congestion in its ultimate format.

I enjoyed my short stay on the coast. I know some Australians have abandoned it for cheaper holidays in Asia, but the Gold Coast can still be a relaxing holiday if you want it to be. There are still nostalgic treasures to be found amongst the modern facade of a world class city.

You see, the forever sea still draws thousands from around the world to enjoy its pleasures and the sun still smiles down every day. And so may it ever be.

Feature supplied by WTF Media: www.wtfmedia.com.au/



CAPTIONS:

Surfers Meter Maids always the centre of attention

Cavill Avenue is still at the heart of the Gold Coast

Counting down the days to the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Watching the waves at Burleigh Heads

The new 'G' light rail leaves Pacific Fair

Surfers Paradise introduced canal living into Australia

Struth! bizarre tests for China's glass deck bridge

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says that in one of the more bizarre acts of confidence, builders of a bridge in China that has a glass decking so users will have the feeling of walking in space, are going to have volunteers try their hardest to actually shatter that bridge's see-through decking before it officially opens in July.

On the 25th of this month, with scores of TV crews and newspaper journalist watching-on, the volunteers will be given hammers to try to break panels of the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, and when that hopefully fails, twenty of them will jump up and down on the hammered glass panels – and finally a car laden with passengers will be driven onto it.

The bridge designer, Israeli architect Haim Dotan say that all this will prove just how strong is the glass on the 430m (1,400ft) long bridge, and while an upper layer may possibly crack, the layers below will not (because if they do, those undertaking the tests know they will have a horrible 300m fall to the river below.)

The Zhangjiajie bridge will be the longest and highest glass-deck bridge in China when it opens next month 60km south-west of Zhangji in Hunan Provence, and according to Mr Dotan will be strong enough to carry 800 users at a time.

Those who suffer acrophobia (fear of heights,) are advised to give it a wide berth.



[] CHINA'S longest and highest glass deck bridge during its early construction phase; bizarre tests on June 25 will prove just how strong the glass floor panels really are.   (Haim Dotan Architects.)

Struth! World's Longest Bridge with world's fastest trains

China Says Now This Is A Bridge


IN his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says that when it comes to bridges, China's got the rest of the planet beaten by a country mile for having the longest one in the world.

Because it's Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge between the cities of those two names, stretches an incredible 164km, or 102 miles, and took 10,000 workers four years to build using some 450,000 tonnes of steel and 1,800,000 cubic metres of concrete.

On average 31m (100 feet) over lowland farms and rice paddies, canals, rivers and lakes, and winding its way around cities and towns along the way, the bridge was built as part of the 1,300km (811 miles) Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway.

And while it was completed in 2010, a whole year was taken testing it with train after train running its whole length over and again to ensure its stability, and with the first official passengers going aboard on June 11 2011.

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge cost the equivalent of AU$11.5b to build, with a mix of thirty-three high-speed and express trains now using it at any one time daily, and offering Second Class, more spacious First Class and luxury Business Class options.

And the fastest trains have only one stop along the 164km journey, helping trains on the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway do that 1,300km trip in just 4-hours-48-minutes at speeds of up to 300km an hour.

                                                         ………………

PHOTO CAPTION:

[] A BRIDGE too far – just a tiny part of China's 164km long Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, the longest in the world. (Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway)

Queensland: Bewitching Mt Tamborine

 by Helen Flanagan

World-heritage rainforests, glow worm caves and soft adventure plus cool mountain-top villages with galleries, wineries, cheesemakers and snug cottages are dotted around Mt Tamborine.

Heart-pumping theme parks, high-rise, glitz and no glamour are considered by many to be the quintessence of the Gold Coast.  Maybe true near the Glitter Strip but 30 minutes away, west of the steel and glass towers there's a quiet, more refined aspect.

Head to the hinterland hills where the ancient volcanic ridges, national park wilderness, world heritage rainforests, and the mountain-top villages of Mt Tamborine are a breath of fresh air - literally.

The main street is jam-packed with galleries, art and craft shops, cafes, a brewery, wine centre and temptations such as fudge and hand-crafted cheese. Get a bird's eye view of the lush rainforest on the Tamborine Rainforest Walk, which soars 30 metres above the valley, has spectacular views and the gradual descent gives way to rock pools and waterfalls.

Try chocolate liqueur, Moulin Roos absinthe and lemon myrtle leaf vodka at the internationally-awarded Tamborine Mountain Distillery, one of only a handful of privately-owned distilleries in Australia. Michael and Alla Ward use a traditional pot-still and local fruit to produce a range of liqueurs, schnapps and spirits in hand-painted bottles.

Stop for a coffee at the Mount Tamborine Coffee Plantation and Gallery Café run by Kees and Maria van Rijssen who recognise the value of the super-rich soil, as does Meredith Morris, owner of Witches Chase Cheese Company, who sources all her milk from a herd of local jersey cows. A must-stop is Witches Falls Winery cellar door where winemaker Abbey Nicholas could tempt you with a tipple of pinot noir.

Nearby in North Tamborine, abutting Queensland's oldest national park, nestled among scented secluded gardens, towering rose gums and bird-watcher's paradise is Witches Falls Cottages. Meeting convivial hosts Daniela and David and deciding on breakfast and dinner options, before opening the door of your home-away-from-home, a stone-gabled cottage with a bull-nose verandah, you quickly realise this getaway will be everything you've dreamed about and more.

Charming throughout, there are timber floors on split levels, a private courtyard garden with barbeque, a fireplace for chilly winters, aircon for summer and the romantic double spa bath is surrounded by full glass walls and roof. Sipping bubbly and star gazing is recommended!

Accoutrements such as chocolates and liqueur are a fitting finale to the delectable dinner prepared at your leisure from the supplied basket of first quality produce. Ditto the oven-fresh home-made bread delivered to your door the next morning.

Celebrating? Why not take it up a notch with a Ripple massage for two. A professional massage therapist arrives at your door, ready to turn the living room into a relaxing spa then promptly send you on a heavenly pampering path.  Options include Russian deep tissue to unlock knots; rich Honey to nourish; and a decadent Wicked Chocolate for chocoholics who don't want the kilojoules.

Experience the magic of Mt Tamborine. There's a bewitching ripple effect all year-round.

If you go:

Witches Falls Cottages:   www.witchesfallscottages.com.au        

Ripple Massage: www.witchesfallscottages.com.au

A professional massage therapist arrives at your door, ready to turn the living room into a relaxing spa then promptly sends you on a heavenly pampering path.