Victor Billot » Travel

Neptuno Street, Havana, Cuba, August 2006

admin — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 08:33:00 +0000

Havana Vieja, Cuba, July 2006

admin — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 12:41:00 +0000

Melbournia

admin — Sun, 08 Aug 2004 10:27:00 +0000

We spend the last several days of our visit in Melbourne. I had never been here before, and wasn’t sure what to expect. I was surprised at the size – even though it’s smaller than Sydney, it’s still enormous.

Stayed at the Nunnery in Fitzroy, big city prices but a nice place, very convieniently located. Wandered down Brunswick Street and … Read more

The Man from Snowy River, and Quokkas

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 06:34:00 +0000

After returning to Perth, we’re tired and spend the day recovering from The Big Drive. Heading down to “Freo” we get an overpriced ticket for the ferry to Rottnest Island. It’s a great short trip and we get to see our first “Quokkas”. They actually do look like large, friendly rats . . .

Then we finally have to get … Read more

For the birds, and wave watching in Lancelin

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 15:13:00 +0000

We stay at the Kalabarri Motorcamp, which reminds me of Christmas holidays as a kid. More pelicans and galahs. We are turning into birdwatchers so decide to get serious and head down to Rainbow Jungle, an enormous local privately run aviary.

The place is built around a series of enclosures where every parrot under creation seems to be featured. Fountains … Read more

Pelican Encounter at Shark Bay

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 14:46:00 +0000

Awake in the cool dawn and depart early from Dongara. The countryside around Geraldton is nothing as I expected – rather than dry, it is green lush farmland for around a hundred kilometres. The temperature is cool and rainshowers periodically pass over us.

The landscape gradually changes into a flat, endless expanse of scrubland with a straight long highway cutting … Read more

Stopping for Emus on the Coast Road

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 16:33:00 +0000

We have decided to head north from Perth to see some real Australia and I go down to Budget to get a rental car. I take the wheel of the V6 Magna and within a minute I have somehow got myself onto the southbound freeway out of town, and have also managed to lose my street map. But I keep … Read more

Wake up age 32, on a night train outside Perth

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 09:14:00 +0000

After three nights on the train, we arrive at Perth 9am on 20 July (my birthday). We are feeling a bit crumpled after our journey and head to Governor Robinson’s a small hostel in inner city Northbridge. It’s a great place, very sharp, clean and comfortable, well-priced and run by a friendly guy by the name of Philip.

Northbridge itself … Read more

Indian Pacific: 2 Dimensional Drift

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 16:54:00 +0000

The train pulls up in the middle of the plain. This is in theory a station called Watson. There is nothing but small grassy clumps and red soil. An aboriginal woman and her small child step down from the train together with a steward with their bags. I overhear their conversation at the door. She is a teacher; her husband … Read more

Indian Pacific: Plain Talking

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2004 18:19:00 +0000

The country outside Adelaide is initially greener than I imagined (no drifting sand dunes or camel trains yet.) However the ubiqitous red soil is there; and after some time you realize the landscape is impercetibly changing. The last distant low uplands slide away and the perspective is of a vast surrounding tabletop.

Small scubby plants cover the expanse and trees … Read more