While in lockdown, we all watched quite a bit of television – queue music from Prisoner or Orange is the New Black- if you’re like me and don’t mind watching the occasional soapie – it tends to be a bit of escapism from the everyday. Tourism has a lot to thank tv shows, movies and…
Category: Destinations
Three Pub Meals – Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
OK, so the title is a lie. Due to lockdown in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, in this post I visit two pubs and a Cafe for takeaway. I live at the base of the Blue Mountains and love to head up there on the weekends or a day I have free. If you love…
The Markets of Hakodate, Japan.
In the spirit of the Olympic Games being held in Tokyo, and while we’re under duress of not being able to travel, I thought I would take you on a journey, back to pre COVID-19 times, when I visited the Japanese city of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido. It’s not Tokyo but has wonderful…
QANTAS Airways Flight QF179 – Sydney to Norfolk Island.
You’ve probably read some of my Norfolk Island posts, posts on the food, the history, and the cows. In this post I will tell you all about the flight to the island. I was able to use up some Qantas Frequent Flyer points for this trip – my shopping at Woolworths has come in handy…
Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken
With a current Sydney lockdown (and still no International travel on the cards for awhile) I am missing international food. A Taiwanese friend gave me this easy recipe which is so tasty, and easy to make, it’s a banging good dish! Many years ago, I was flying from Australia to the United States via Asia….
Three Pubs – Rockhampton, Central Queensland.
I’m visiting a good mate who moved to Rockhampton (Rocky) a couple of years ago. Rocky has a country vibe and is known as the beef capital of Australia. I’m not a huge fan of beef but you know…when in Rome… We’re visiting three pubs while I’m here for some country fare. The first two…
Norfolk Island food review – and some fun foodie facts!
Welcome to Norfolk Island, a small island that lies some 1700 kilometres or so off the east coast of mainland Australia, almost midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand. I’ve just spent a week here… Get ready for an interesting island food ride…and some fun foodie facts. My BFF and travel tag-along (“Lets go here!”… “OK”), Ciaran,…
Norfolk Island Fun Facts – Communication.
Welcome to Norfolk Island, a small island that lies some 1700 kilometres or so off the east coast of mainland Australia, almost midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand. I’ve just spent a week here… Get ready for an interesting island ride…and some fun facts. Communication //kəmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ Noun1. The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing,…
Ancient Buddhist Temple Borobudur, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Love to travel? Me too, so I thought I might share a post from 9 years ago, 2012 – What an amazing adventure into history this was! This is Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. What: Borobudur, the largest and oldest singular Buddhist Temple worldwide Where: Approx. 38kms from Yogyakarta (Jogjakarta) in Central Java, Indonesia When: 9th century…
Norfolk Island Fun Facts – Power.
Welcome to Norfolk Island, a small island that lies some 1700 kilometres or so off the east coast of mainland Australia, almost midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand. I’ve just spent a week here… Get ready for an interesting island ride…and some fun facts. Todays post is all about POWER. Power /ˈpaʊə/ Noun:1. The ability or…
City Park – Launceston, Tasmania.
If you know me personally, I can be a bit of a monkey, all over the place but I also like things in order, symmetrical, a crooked picture will annoy me. Matty: “Could you give me directions to the closest supermarket please?” Hotel Concierge: “Sure, at the end of the street, it’s just a diagonal…
Stunning Cradle Mountain, Tasmania – “For the People, For All Time”.
Having visited the Rocky Mountains in Canada several times – I have dear family there – I was not overly excited to visit Cradle Mountain in Tasmania – I thought it’d be just a hill compared to the Rockies – It wasn’t. And there is also a wonderful little side story to the mountain the…
Central West NSW – Mudgee.
We’re off on a road trip around the Central West of NSW. First stop, Mudgee, a winery town. It’s a great place for wine lovers – or a New South Welshmen tired of constant state border closures at the hint of a sniffle. The first stop on this trip was Moothi Estate Winery just outside…
Thai Airways – Bangkok to Sydney – Boeing 747-400 – Economy Class.
I’m on my way home from from Paris. After a few hours layover in Bangkok, visiting the Miracle First Class Lounge, I am finally on my way home to Sydney. Read my Paris to Bangkok flight here. Get up to date FreakyFlier posts delivered direct to your inbox! Sign up at the bottom of the…
Camping in Kananaskis Country, Canada
I loathe it when people say I am so lucky to travel, I usually respond with: “It’s not luck! I’ve worked hard and saved my money – lived off pot noodles – I didn’t win this trip!” But I tell you what is travel luck, knowing someone where you are travelling to, they show you…
American Airlines – Los Angeles to San Francisco – Economy Class.
It’s a mad rush from my WestJet flight, which arrived 20 minutes early only to wait 40 minutes for a gate, from Terminal 2 to Terminal 6 at Los Angeles International Airport. Its the last flight of the night departing at 11:00pm. I don’t want to get stuck, sure the airline may pay for my…
Miracle First Class Lounge – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
I’m back doing my favourite thing at an airport – other than plane spotting of course – I’m in an airport lounge. I’m not flying First Class – sigh – so I’ve payed my way into the Miracle First Class Lounge. Nothing dodgy and no money changed hands under the table. It’s all legit, you…
Air France – London Heathrow to Paris Charles De Gaulle – Economy Class.
It’s a 9 hour transit at London’s Heathrow airport. I try to change my ticket to an earlier flight but it’s going to cost me more than the ticket itself. I’ve just flown from Sydney via Dubai on my way to Paris. Get up to date FreakyFlier posts delivered direct to your inbox! Sign up…
Salon iCare Airport Lounge – Charles De Gaulle Airport, Paris
For someone that adores travel and loves flying, I’ve started to dislike airports, obviously not the plane spotting part, and I respect the security aspect but its the crowds, the kids, the people who suddenly have this dumbness about them, mostly though, it’s the inflated prices for food and drink. Want more FreakyFlier delivered…
BC Ferries – Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Nanaimo (Departure Bay).
“Remember to be at the bus stop by about 11:30 and catch 257 Horseshoe Bay express. Bus leaves from Georgia Street, cross Street is Granville”. My friend Simone had messaged me. I’d been given pretty clear instructions yet after my flight from New York, and arriving at my hotel at around 3am – or 6am New…
British Airways Concorde G-BOAD at The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York
While in New York for a few days recently, one of the places I had to visit was the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. As an AvGeek, I was here mostly to see the Concorde. Want more FreakyFlier delivered to your inbox? Sign up at the bottom of the page! You can imagine my…
Matty Somewhere 