The chill is in the air and I bet for many of you Canadian teachers, all you can think about is Term 2 teaching holidays in Melbourne. Wondering where you should go?
1) Uluru – OISE student teachers and other Leading Out teachers just returned from a great 4 day camping trip to the Outback and they have said it was incredible!
2) Great Barrier Reef – don’t miss one of the 7 wonders of the world.
3) Tasmania – a secret haven not to be missed (although cold this time of year so may want to consider a summer visit!).
So you are teaching in Australia and want to know where to stop in? Have you already checked out China? Vietnam? Other countries?
Don’t forget before you leave – Purchase the Japan Rail pass! You cannot get this once in Japan.
If going for 5 to 7 days, we recommend starting in Tokyo and heading down to Kyoto as well.
Day 1: Tokyo
Fish Market; Meiji-Jingu shrine, shopping for electronics in Akihabara, and that night, heading to Shibuya Crossing for all the lights, busy street corners etc.
Day 2: Road trip to Kyoto
You can stop to see Mt. Fuji but in the winter, you might not have much luck seeing it! Once in Kyoto, head to Nishiki Market; and the Ponto-cho (night market).
Day 3: Kyoto
Go to all the Temples in S.Higashiyama. Also go to the Imperial Palace and the Gion region for the Geisha dancing.
Day 4: Kinosaki
Head to Kinosaki from Kyoto for the Onsens (hot baths!). In this town, they have 5 hot baths in the village that anyone can go to, plus you can get a private hot bath in certain accommodation.
Day 5: Tokyo
Head back to Tokyo. Fit in any more temples, markets, museums, etc. that you can!
At Tiananmen Square you should see
1) the portrait of the “great” leader Mao on the wall of “Tiananmen” (which means Tian(sky) An(peace) Gate, the front gate of the Forbidden City);
2)The monument of people’s heroes in the middle of the square;
3) “The Great Hall of People” (the parliament) on the west side of the square;
4) The Chinese National Museum on the East side of the square and
5) Chairman Mao’s museum on the south where you can take a look at Mao’s corpse in a crystal coffin.
The museums and the parliament will cost some money but not a lot in terms of AUD or CAD.
In the Afternoon:
Visit the Forbidden City (the Chinese imperial palace) on the same day you visit the Tiananmen Square, simply because they are close to each other and you can experience more “real & ancient” Chinese culture in the Forbidden City.
DAY 2:
The summer palace was the imperial gardens so in there you can see many ancient Chinese architectures and paintings on walls etc. and it’s a huge place.
DAY 3:
The Great Wall is about 60km north from the city, it’s in the mountains and pretty cold and windy in winter. We suggest going there with a group of tourists and it will definitely take you one day.
DAY 4:
Visit the Birds Nest (from the Olympics) and also see the “water cube” right next to it, which is the National Aquatics Center, and from there you can walk to the Olympic Park.
So we are getting close to the holidays – where should you go?
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Magical! That is how many describe the centre of Australia once visited. There isn’t a place like it, and if you see it the right way it will be a trip of a lifetime.
So what to see and what’s the best way to see the outback?
1) Sleep in a swag under the stairs – there is nothing like being beside the campfire looking up at the stars.
2) Walk around the Rock – they will ask if you want to climb the rock but we highly recommend that you don’t (please respect the Aboriginal Culture). Plus going around the rock is incredible.
3) Visit Kings Canyon – This is a must stop and one of the most beautiful places in Australia. The Ghost gum tree, the beehive geological formations, the hike to the very edge – there’s nothing like it!
4) Valley of the Winds – the hike through the Olgas is spectacular with views of Uluru.
5) Depending on how much time you have either go on a 3-day or 7-day tour. The 3-day Rock Tour is the best value for money and is highly recommended. If you have 7-days then start in Adelaide and go through Flinders Ranges, up to Coober Pedy (look for Opals!) and into Ayers Rock/Kings Canyon/The Olgas and we highly recommentGroovy Grape tours.
Kakadu National Park
Another great place to go and the best way is to definitely go on a tour. Adventure Tours is a good option. Make sure to go to Litchfield National Park, and Twin and Jim Jim Falls.
So what are you waiting for – book your tour today! If you have already been, tell us how you explored the area. Did we miss something?
Interesting in travelling somewhere else in Australia? Check out July Holiday Options and wait for our next article on Fraser Island, WhitSundays, and the Gold Coast.
In July it is Winter in Australia which actually means great things when it comes to travel. Not only as teachers do you have 2 weeks off at the beginning of July, but you have so many places to choose from to visit.
In this series of blogs we will discuss a number of good places to visit in July. If you are interested in any of the places or tours, then contact us and we can help you arrange a memorable trip!
Trips in Australia
1) Uluru (Ayers Rock)
2) Fraser Island
3) Whitsundays
4) Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast
5) Kakadu National Park
Watch here for details on each of the July holiday trips in Australia.
So many of our teachers arrive in Australia and instantly miss their pets at home. Well have you ever thought about fostering a pet while you are here?
Responsibilities of Foster Parents
– Take care of kitten/cat or puppy/dog
– Provide food and make sure to feed your pet
– Give them lots of love!
– If they get sick, you will need to drive them to the vet
– Drop them off when the pound/organization has someone to adopt them or drop them off at the vets to get desexed.
What you are not responsible for?
– Vet bills (if your pet gets sick, you need to take them to the vet but you don’t pay anything)
– Litter box will be provided
– You do not need to find a home for them (although if you know someone who is looking for a pet, it is a great idea to suggest them to the organization as ultimately we want all the pets to be adopted).
You can stare at kittens playing together for hours. Doorways fascinate them. Moths terrify them. They hunt balled paper and ribbons. Any sort of jingling or loose thread is worth attacking, you know, just to see.
One of our kittens was so intrigued with a bit of leftover coke in the bottle, I thought I’d share an episode from “Kitty TV” with you, and you can see why fostering kittens could be for you!
If you are interested, contact your local pound or you can also go to Save-a-Dog Scheme(and they have kittens/cats/dogs/puppies to foster).
3) Supper (link to http://leadingout.net/blog/2008/11/05/australian-slang-25-essential-words-and-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-1034)
4) Bring something first time, second time, try to cook, alwyas offer to help clean up
5) eating out: dutch
As I’ve previously posted, there are a number of Australian ‘meal’ terms that will be unfamiliar to North American visiters in Australia.
Bringing a ‘plate‘ is the Australian form of “potluck“, and coming to “tea” means a full meal (Unless it’s “Morning tea” which is the equivalent of “elevensies” in Hobbits’ terms.)
And further, “supper” is more of an hors d’oeuvres and drinks thing served late at circa 10 pm. (Read more about Australian slanghere.)
etiquette for dining with Australians
Here are a few more things you should do to be polite when dining with an Australian:
If you go to their home:
1) Always bring some alcohol.
2) The first time you go to someone’s house, it’s a good idea to bring a gift.
3) AFter the first time, I always like to bring a gift too, but it usually ends up being wine/flowers. This is a nice gesture and appropriate.
4) Offer to help clean up, or just start cleaning up, if you feel comfortable.
It’s a good idea to have your friends over to dinner too — Aussies love to cook and share food.
If Australian dine at your home:
1) If they bring wine and say “this is a gift for you” then you don’t drink the
gifts of wine--should you store it or serve it?
wine that night; but if it is just brought, you can open it and serve it (some ppl bring a bottle they’d like to try with you). (There’s no real set rule abou tthis, but this is a helpful policy that doesn’t offend anyone, I think).
2) Clean your house so people feel like they have somewhere to sit.
3) People tend to like to be able to help you, so if they ask, don’t feel like you have to do all of the jobs yourself.
4) Prepare to serve some cold hors d’oeuvres and don’t be offended if they are 30 minutes late or so…this is ‘very Australian’. (Usually once you become close friends though, you can set some expectations about punctuality. For instance, with some friends, we are both always 15 minutes late. But with others, we are both more punctual.)
5) There are usually at least 3 courses and never forget to serve dessert!
If you go out to dinner:
1) Try not to be late. People eat out a lot in Melbourne — you might lose your reservation (and its always a good idea to make one)
2) It’s normal to ‘go dutch’ in Aystralia and split bills. Usually you leave a bit of a tip too when you are doing this, although tipping is not as expected in Australia as it is in Canada as serving wages are higher.
Here are a few key terms and some points to note about accommodation in Oz and NZ (Australia and New Zealand):
Self-contained: this is one of the Australasia’s best gifts to tourism. They contain a full kitchen (what you need to cook ‘with’, ‘in’ and ‘on’: pots, utensils, stoves/fridges). You will literally have everything you need for a cozy stay (towels, linen (They call this “Manchester” here) and hopefully a ‘car-park’ (a.k.a. “parking space”). If you are traveling in a group of 3 or more and plan to save money by cooking at home–definitely search for these.
Hostel: Can be quite similar to Italy’s hostels (Europe in general). Make sure you do your research/hostel. If it is a YHA it should be in good condition. There are a serious variety in quality, but if you look at the traveler’s comments then you should be ok. After some experiences in Vietnam, I learned that you NEVER BOOK ONLINE ACCOMMODATION without going to Trip Advisor first! Make sure there is parking and breakfast, and find out where your bathrooms will be located.
What does your accommodation really offer you?
Motel/Hotel: These are basically the same thing in Australasia. Hotels are typically more upmarket-but make sure you look at the star-rating (on a 5 star scale, just like North America) to make sure which quality you are getting. I don’t tend to prefer anything less than 3 -star for the cleanliness can decrease signficantly with each star). Usually each room will have tea and coffee making facilities.
Caravan Parks: these are the equivalent of Canadian “car – camping” grounds. They include toilet/shower facilities, usually a kitchen/bbq area and a small shop. They often offer Cabins which can be a great deal for a double room at $45/night (but you might not get a private bathroom or linen in this price).
Resorts: these are more up-market. If you’re going to stay in one, make sure you get all the trimmings: spa, parking, massage upgrades, free bottle of wine/champagne on arrival, and 4-5 stars. Note that only really a 5 star place is full-on luxury. 4 star can be pretty average in NZ and in Oz.
Studio: This is an open-style apartment.
www.freedigitalphotos.net
You will be cooking and sleeping in the same room. You will likely have a separate washroom area. Often these will be combined with “self-contained”.
B & B: They serve you breakfast, included in the price. Usually each room will have tea and coffee making facilities. Sometimes the B&B will provide you with breakfast making provisions in Australia/NZ. But usually it is more traditional, where the ‘hosts’ serve you breakfast, etc. It’s great if you really want to meet the home owners, not so great if you prefer to sleep-in and be independent (which is why old-people usually frequent these places more than the young.)
