Cairns-Kuranda Railway in Australia

#KurandaRailwayAustralia

The Kuranda Railway will take you through dense rainforests, steep ravines and waterfalls all within the World Heritage Barron Gorge National Park.
 The journey from Cairns to Kuranda takes arounds two hours with some short stops for viewing plus  marveling at the engineering as you pass through fifteen hand carved tunnels plus over 37 bridges

 KeyTip; 
 There are three classes of tickets ( Heritage, Gold & Royale) so as per usual it depends on what service and add-ons you would like,
 I opt for Heritage ($84.00 Australian...$76.00 US) for a return ticket as i am here to experience the train and see the outside, not what is sitting in front of me with food / beverage 😅

 

The Beginnings
Construction of the railway began in 1866 which was completed five years later and went as far as Kuranda (which was established as a town in anticipation of the completion)
It was built so supplies could reach the northeastern part of Australia (rich mining areas) as the wet season made any roads impassable

Fatalities
With the removal of three million cubic meters of rock and earth (which had to be excavated during construction) for the rail, the tunnels and the making of the bridges, there were 32 men that were tragically killed by accidents

John Robb
Because of him and his brave workers it gave Cairns new life with the completion of a
consistent supply chain
So then the area prospered with its gold, tin / copper mining, logging, fishing and sugar
cane industry  

The Cairns to Kuranda Line
It opened up for passenger travel in 1891, since then a few interesting facts

 A) During The Second World War, the railway carried thousands of American and
Australian service men / women to Cairns as it was a RAAF base.
 It was also a location of a major repair depot for the US 7th Fleet.

 B) In 1973 the mountain line was the scene of Australias Great Train Robbery when two masked bandits blocked the rail and robbed the payroll that was headed to the workers

C) At the Kuranda Station look for the memorial for John Robb and his men; 
 A Pick and Shovel

D) The first operation as a tourist train was in 1936 using four seating carriages

 E) In 2010 the train was derailed by a landslide with a few injuries, after a geotechnical study of
 train line was assessed then reopened 

 The Streets of Cairns
 Most would not realize that a lot of rock and rubble from the construction of the rail line was used to fill in the swampy marshlands into solid ground for the roads
In another repurposing, it was also used for the building foundations here

Short Route
The railway is only 37 kms (23 miles) as it passes through the suburbs of Strafford, Freshwater
and Redlynch then finally onto Kuranda

Amenities
Once at Kuranda Station you are a short walk to the town that has a zoo, markets, art galleries
and ethnic Aboriginal crafts

The Carriages
 They were the original ones from the 1930s and then beautifully restored to its authentic Victorian design for this tourist train

Best Observation Tips
 On your journey to Kuranda make sure you get seats on the right hand side of the train to get the best views of the coast and valleys
Plus request a forward facing seat instead of backwards

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
On my way in the six passenger gondola (7.5 kms -11 miles) over the ancient Wet Tropics of Queensland that is estimated to be 130 million years old, which is more mature that the Amazon  
How timeworn you ask; some of the plants here have existed when the dinosaurs roamed our planet

Extreme Transportation
To protect the area no roads were built during construction, but instead used Russian Kamov Helicopters to carry all the materials to the tower sites to minimize any disruption to the forest floor

KeyTip
The journey includes two mid-station stops (Red Peak / Barron Falls) with boardwalks
Then a local expert guides you with tours to learn about the unique flora and fauna of the area

Corfu Greece & its Old Fortress

 #OldFortressCorfu

The Old Fortress of Corfu was constructed on a rocky peninsula as the Byzantines and later the Andeans (1267-1386) had built up the walls, plus towers to protect themselves from the barbaric
raids during these times
This is where the Byzantine City of Koryfo (where Corfus name came from) was
planned plus erected 

KeyTip;
 At a cost of 6 Euro for adults (children are free) it is well worth it, as you have accessibility to most of the structures within the forts grounds and is well preserved as you will see in my photos

During the Venetian Occupation
 (1386-1797) the City of Corfu had a strategic and commercial importance 

Because of This
 The Old Fortress was upgraded to withstand the attacks from the Ottomans with one of the defense mechanisms biggest improvements, the construction of the moat.
It was done to withstand the introduction of heavy artillery that was always evolving during these times

Sanatorium
In the background is the British Hospital that was constructed during its occupation of Corfu which some believe is now one of the most haunted buildings in Greece

Good Beginnings
As i do my research of its history one can read it has had a dark past, but starting with the positive;
 During the British rule it served its purpose of treating the
 sick and injured

Grim History
But during the Italian raid in 1923 (with its fleet) it occupied the island, then took over the hospital where a large number of refugees went missing so their fate remained a mystery, so slightly dark

Place of Healing
Back to positive times; the hospital was active again helping wounded British and Allied soldiers until 1940 when the British offered the use of the hospital back to the Greek Army

War Crimes
Then in 1941 when Corfu surrendered to the Italians the history changes to the dark; the hospital grounds and rooms where used as execution plus torture chambers 
Then followed the German military (who used it as the Italians did) for their acts of atrocities

Greece
Finally the hospital was returned to the Greek Army after the
Second World War

The Clock Tower
It was built when the Old Fortress was under British rule.
 It was constructed in the neoclassical architecture style with hand carved Maltese limestone, coated bricks and Tuscan columns.

Not Open But Information
 It has a wooden staircase leading to the clock mechanisms with a hatch to the bells, one was constructed in 1732 with the name etched Giovanni Bonardi Bresann and the other two made in 1827 by a British foundry T. Mears of London

Military Stronghold
Because of the location with access to the sea with full control of the nearby shores and with the high fortifications, it made it impossible for any raiders to get any advantage during an attack

The Old Fortress
It is also known as Fortetsa or Saint Nicolas Fortress

Construction Timeline
The fortifications of The Old Fortress were constructed over a period of about 15 centuries in which during the late Venetian period the Spianada Square was built

Weed Control
Every rainy winter,  conservation teams manually clear invasive plants and roots from the ancient stonework to prevent structural cracks

The Lighthouse
 It was built by the British in 1822 for the purpose to guide shipping (as usual) into its navy base
But now its a great vantage point for views and photography,
but only if you dare try the steep incline of stairs 😀

KeyTip
 The structure itself is closed 

 Island of Corfu
 It was never part of the Ottoman Empire (in which most of Greece was at some point) because
 of the Old / New Fortresses
 Even though they unsuccessfully tried three times in 1537, 1571 and 1716

Greek Construction Methods
Nature can begin to reclaim a structure in a few years with significant vegetation taking over in two decades, but complete disappearance would take centuries
 Especially in ancient Greece because of their use of certain building materials like limestone and marble, the timeline could last a millennia

Creative Sector
The Fortress now houses the Public Library of Corfu, The Hellenic Music Research Lab from the Ionian University plus the grounds are used for various types of
art and culture events

Tragedy
Back in 1718 lightning struck a storehouse filled with gun powder on the Old Fortress that killed hundreds of people, which is still considered the largest catastrophe in the history of Corfu

Contrafossa
The Old Fortress is separated from Corfu town by this artificial ditch, which now (as you can see) 
is a shelter for small boats
It also turned the fortress into an island,
 as the Venetians carved out the moat which connected the two bays onto the open sea

007 Film
For all you movie buffs; The James Bond flick For Your Eyes Only (1981) had 90%  filmed on Corfu With the one iconic scene where Bond pushes the Mercedes off the cliff from the Old Fortress

Local History
As i leave the Old Fortress and looking back from the streets of Corfu
 I marvel on how many nations (Byzantines, Venetians, French, Russians, English, Greeks, Italians plus Germans) left their imprint in the making of this magnificent structure for all of us to enjoy in
these modern times

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship New Zealand

#RTuckerThompsonTallShip

Here i am on the North Island of New Zealand and about to head out to the Pacific Ocean on the tall ship R. Tucker Thompson (1985)
It does daily sails during the summer so that money is used during the winter months for youth sail training programs with the intent to shape these young lives through their experiences from their seven days at sea, so a Non-Profit Organization

KeyTip;
 Included in your cost is ferry transfers to Russell from Paihia, Island stopover for relaxing and exploring, morning tea, be part of the crew plus lunch ($110 for adults & $55 US for children)

 

 Skull and Crossbones Flag  
Originally they appeared on Pirate Ships plus now on containers holding poisonous substances,
 which at both times warned of death or danger

Fun Facts
A) The British Royal Navy; as an act of defiance to one of their own Admirals (who considered submarines "underhanded" and called the crew pirates) would fly the flag upon returning from a successful combat mission

B) US Navy; the USS Kidd is the only American naval ship authorized to fly the Jolly Roger and flies it when entering or leaving a port 
 
C) Modern Pirates; they do not use it as they try to maintain a low profile plus the element of surprise usually disguising themselves as fishing boats 

 R. Tucker Thompson Travels
It has had some journeys to Japan and Korea, Tall Ship Festivals to my country of Canada  / USA,
plus many voyages to the Pacific
But its maiden voyage was around the world in 1987 through the Panama Canal to meet the flotilla in England for the First Fleet Reenactment

The Numbers
It has eleven single berths, two double cabins plus the galley that can cater to a crew of sixteen with a gas stove and hot water showers

Sailcloth
It was woven from flax fibre during the period when England, France and Spain were fighting over the control of the worlds waterways
Today cotton has replaced the original material as it produces a better quality canvas

Hybrid Power
The R. Tucker Thompson has a total sail area of a 179 sq meters (3000 sq feet) plus if needed,
carries enough fuel for a 3200 km (2000 mile) range

Ship Materials
The wood used for masts has to have a good rot and decay resistance plus for UV degradation
So it came down to the care of the crew with what they did concerning the coatings (Varnish or Paint)

The Costs
The annual budget for the maintenance plus repairs runs into the thousands of dollars and add into that every five years a professional detailed inspection is required, which may require the mast to be removed for a deep dive into its condition

The Crows Nest
It was the structure in the upper part of the main mast of the ship that was used as a lookout point
The sailor who had this job was called a Barrelman as in the early days that was what was used,
simply a barrel or basket

Fun Facts
 A)  From the Vikings folklore, the basket used to contain a crow in a cage which was released (hence the name) as then the ships navigator would use it as a guide in bad weather, because the bird instinctively flew towards land

B) Because of its location (as it greatly amplifies the rotational movement of the ship) it often caused severe seasickness, thus been assigned the Crows Nest was considered a punishment 

C) Titanic two crew lookouts where the first to spot the iceberg from their high perch, but too late as their binoculars (to be used that night) were stored in a locker,
 which unfortunately that key was inadvertently taken by an officer reassigned before
the maiden voyage

D) Officers Club in St. Johns Newfoundland with that namesake was popular spot for Allied Naval Officers during the Second World War 
Famous for the hundreds of handwritten messages plus drawings left on the walls (also the ceilings) by the men who served in the Battle of the Atlantic
It even has a periscope from a captured German U-Boat located at the bar

Skipper in Charge
So as we had out on our journey, the Capitan in charge asked me to grab the wheel as a few of his students where having some issues with the sails
Having zero nautical experience (but had three glasses of wine that gave me the courage to get on the ship, long story but i was in a submerged car accident years prior) but said certainly

60 Minutes as Shipmaster
Thinking it was going to be a just a few minutes, one hour into being Sea Capitan Terry 😄
 i yelled at him for what to do
His reply was look for something onshore then aim towards it
So as i turn the creaky ships wheel with the wind blowing on my face, you learn to
 Respect The Sea Mates as it is Vast and Unforgiving

 Ernest Hemingway
To borrow his quote;
It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end

Thank You R Tucker Thompson
 For an experience i will never forget, Commodore Keys 😄

London England

#LondonTownEnglandUK

 London is one of those cities everyone needs to visit at least once in their lifetime.
 Besides being the capital of England and dating back to Roman times with that history, you will experience a very trendy cosmopolitan vibe when here

KeyTip;
 Now hotels can range from $150 - $1200 per night so do your research, plus take advantage of the Underground (The Tube) to book a room away from City Centre plus use the Smart Card (Oyster Card at a great discount for single or multiple uses) that can be tapped on Buses, Tubes, Trams, Rail and some River Services 

To See Free in London;
Tate Modern Gallery, Natural History Museum, The British Museum, The National Gallery, Imperial War Museum, Hyde Park, Tower Bridge, Sky Garden, Regents Canal, The Royal Parks, Victoria and Albert Museum, The British Library plus 170 other museums which most have no admission

 

Ride The Rails
In 1911 the city built a 10km (6 mile) long underground railway to carry the mail around London to different sorting stations from Paddington to Whitechapel and everything in-between which finally
was stopped in 2003

But now you can ride the mail train by going to the London Postal Museum in which an adult ticket is 17 Pound Sterling, which gives you unlimited access of the museum for one year plus a ride
on the Mail Rail

Early History
London was founded by the Romans in AD43 and was originally
 called Londinium

Many Firsts
Now it is one of the most vibrant cities in the world with a population of over 8 million, plus it was the first city on the planet to have a citizenship of over one million that occurred in the 19th century
So because of this population growth, it was first to have an organized police force called the Metropolitan Police Service founded in 1829

Gold Medal
Finally, also the first to host the Summer Olympics three times (1908,1948 & 2012)

The Tower Bridge
 Its the only span on the river that has not been rebuilt and has a walkway of 42 meters (138 feet) above the River Thames (which flows entirely threw London and England)
This is to allow pedestrians to cross while the overpass
is being lifted

Administrative Center
During The Second World War  London was the governing capital of five other countries; Norway, Poland, Belgium, France and The Netherlands
 Their respective leaders stayed in London between 1939 to 1945 as their countries were
 being conquered by Germany 

 Eco-Friendly
The City of London has over 8 million trees making it the worlds largest community woodlands, so because of this it is known as The Forest City

Several Styles
The architecture of London varied because of the many periods of history and influences it experienced; from Romanesque, Norman Period, to English Gothic, Queen Anne Style and
 onto the Modern Age

Cosmopolitan Area
There are over 300 languages spoken in London making it the most linguistically diverse city
 in the world.
Some of the non-English spoken that you would hear walking the streets are Polish, Turkish, Bengali, French and Punjabi

 Apollo Theatre
It was built in the Art Nouveau style and opened in 1901

Many Entertainers
From early performers like Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Stevie Wonder up to modern and contemporary artists including Lauryn Hill, George Michael and Chaka Khan
The audience was known for being tough with acts that were not good enough which resulted in you being booed off the stage, making it a true test of your talent, or not 😅

 
West End London
It is famous for its theatre shows and one of the most prominent areas for this
genre in the world 

KeyTip;
 In Leicester Square look for the discount theatre ticket booths as i went three times to see
 We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre at a reduced price 

The Musical
It was created by Ben Elton plus members of the band Queen

Epic Numbers
The show had a twelve year run at the Dominion making it the longest continuous show at the venue
In total it had 4,600 performances
 plus globally has been seen by 20 million people in 28 countries

The Royal Albert Hall
It opened in 1871 and can hold 5,000+ guests

Past Performers
Now there is a one hour guided tour but why not just go to a concert
who has played here you ask;
Eric Clapton (200 times), Roger Daltrey, Adele, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd etc
So you are living history as you enter these hallowed halls of music

Drinking Rules
Back in 1872 a it became law that it was illegal to be drunk while at a pub and only allowed to have too many at your own property 
What are the chances (in which a country that has over 35,000 bars) that this bi-law has been
broken a few times 😂

Pub Grub
 A) Full English Breakfast; tomatoes, fried eggs, beans, mushrooms sausages or bacon
 B) Black Pudding; pork or beef blood, oatmeal cereal plus pork fat
C) Deviled Kidneys; lamb kidneys in spiced (paprika, cumin and cayenne pepper) sauce
D) Kedgeree; spiced rice, eggs with fish

Hackney Carriage
The iconic Black Cab fun fact; there are no bi-laws saying it needed
 to be this color
Just the fleet owners would buy in mass orders and this was the cheapest stock color choice

School
Also to be a cabbie, there are years of study on what is called the Knowledge Exam
To know the name plus location of every street, also the fastest way to that destination

Different Standards
Now with Uber, those drivers are required to pass some assessments plus tests but are considered
as a private hire vehicle

Cool Photo Op
Looking down from inside of Wellington Arch located in Hyde Park (350 acres of park land established in 1637) and at one time home to a Police Station on the bottom floor

Fab Four History
Also Hyde Park is famous for the ONLY place all the Beatles lived together
 in a flat in 1963

Costumier Perruquier
 It is French for Costumer and Wigmaker and is acknowledged that the Theatrical Wigmaker
 William Clarkson (1861-1934) had his shop here
Another case closed but Detective Keys 😎

On Guard For Birds
Folklore has it if the six ravens leave the Tower of London, the structure will fall
 and the Monarchy will collapse

 Quintessential Double Deck Buses

History of Colors
They were not always red, as before painted in different shades to highlight the routes
 they were servicing
Then in 1907 the company ( London General Omnibus) decided to paint all their buses red to separate itself from the competition
Smart business move to say the least

Bizarre Ordinance
There is a law here that forbids you for walking into the Parliament Buildings in a suit of armor
Really 😂

 Ta Ta to London; Quirky Fun Facts
 A) The British Government has employed cats since the 16th Century as a mouser plus pet
(the current feline, Larry has outlasted four Prime Ministers)

B) 60% of the Underground Transport is actually above ground

C) London Bridge was sold in 1968 to an American businessman and now
 is in Arizona

D) London has less rain than Miami, Paris or Rome

E) There are over 10,000 foxes within the city

F) Every year (since 1947) Norway sends a giant Christmas Tree to be placed in Trafalgar Square
 (as a way of saying thanks) for being an ally during the Second World War 

G) There is a law that forbids placing a postage stamp with the Queens head upside down
 on an envelope