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El Arish:
What does a North Queensland town, named after an Egyptian city with a population of 232, have to offer tourists?
To be honest, not much.
But, it is worth a short detour off the Bruce Hwy, or a 20 minute drive from Mission Beach, to vist the El Arish Tavern.
Built in 1927, the tavern is authentic old world at its best - but with added comforts and touch-ups, keeping within its unique style. (Cyclone Larry in 2006 caused some damage, hence the much needed restoration).
Beer drinkers sit on stools made of twisted branches and tables formed of tree-stumps, gazing across the road at the historic train station.
Inside, pub memorabilia literally drips from the walls and ceilings, with old bikes, tools, signs and photos clamouring for space.
The restaurant serves up steak and seafood and the locals give it the thumbs up - the best reason of all to go.
Melbourne is full of cosy cafes, mysterious laneways and hidden bars to wile away an afternoon in - drinking, eating and people watching.
But Acland Street, St Kilda, combines loopy Luna Park and beach-side markets, with Melbourne's signature loves of good food, trendy restuarants and cutting edge fashion.
Walk up both sides of the street to discover the famous continental cake shop windows, stacked high with mouth-watering pastries, stores such as IDS and Rose Garden and people spilling out of restaurants and crammed around bar stools on the pavement - at any time of the day or night.
The Vineyard Restaurant sits on its own on a busy corner, with an outdoor courtyard facing Luna Park across a stretch of idealic park-land. The interior is a mix of punk-rock and shabby bohemian splendour, while the courtyard begs to be used for a sunny afternoon of cocktails and thick-cut chips with Japanese mayo.
From creative types, to dog-walking locals and tourists on hysterical shopping highs, Acland Street's unique vibe extends to everyone, and keeps you going back for more.
Dirty Dagwood dogs, the overriding stench of the Cattle Pavilion and Sideshow Alley are all on offer at this year’s Brisbane Ekka.
This year, however, is the last time regular Ekka goers can experience the iconic chairlift, floating across the grounds, as well as the hustle and bustle that is the B105 Showbag Pavilion.
Hoards of sample bag fanatics will no doubt lament the reconstruction of the action-packed building. Tired parents, on the other-hand, might rejoice in the option of a new way to view every child’s fantasy of colourful, goodie filled bags, in 2010.
Daytime entertainment includes the Coffee Club Fashion Parades, plus the Sunny Queen Little Miracles Newborn Corner, full of baby animals. Sideshow alley promises old favourites with a new twist, such as the dodgem cars, with new ride ‘Sky Flyer’ being the first of its kind in Australia.
The Channel Nine Broadcast Centre will host the 6:00pm news on-site at the Ekka, and guests will have the opportunity to walk through the working news station, complete with celebrity sightings and the chance to sit behind a news desk.
Sex? Beer? Travel?
After conducting a random survey into the daily thoughts of others, the following were the most common, in order of frequency
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Grey, cold and starting to snow, New York showed us the bite in her tail on our last day. Having had tantalising glimpses of Central Park through double decker bus windows, or from across the street as Bloomingdales beckoned, we'd decided to save indepth exploration until our last day, to fully enjoy and relax among the acres of parkland and frolicking squirrels.
Naturally, the weather had been superb, although chilly, with the sun shining brightly every day for eight days. Yes, it was snowing, but not enough to create pictures of glowing, white splendour. The soft flakes simply melted into slippery mush that seeped into our non-waterproof shoes and created crusted patterns on the bottom of our jeans
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The 'glitter strip' of Surfers Paradise is loaded with designer brands (think Gucci and Louis Vuitton), their exclusive, shiny stores standing out among cheap T-shirt shops and duty free windows full of kangaroo toys and sheep skin rugs.
Pacific Fair, in Broadbeach, has long been the jewel in the Gold Coast's shopping crown, with major chain stores such as Target and Myer and specialty shops ranging from Sportsgirl to Australian Geographic
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Byron Bay Bluesfest, 9 - 13 April 2009
John Butler Trio and Ben Harper head a long list of acts at this year's Bluesfest at Byron Bay. With international food stalls and enough space to chill out on the grass among the bongo drums, the Bluesfest is an Easter weekend tradition for many and an exciting new experience for first timers
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We're all bombarded with dire news of the world's economy, so where does that leave die-hard travellers desperate to embark on a new adventure? Especially if your income no longer supports such expensive jaunts?
Cheer up, travel is possible on the smallest of budgets, and, without expectations of five-star accommodation and flights on the premier airlines, a whole new world of travel opens up - if you're open to it. Best of all - views are free! All you need is a cheap, fold up camping chair to be comfy and enjoy...(and maybe a special on your favourite wine at the bottle -o
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The world is full of historical and natural wonders, penned by travel enthusiasts (or clever advertising gurus) as 'breathtaking', 'one of a kind' and 'must see destinations'.
For many reasons, branching across endless opinions, some of these destinations more than surpass expectations, others can leave you wondering what all the fuss is about
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Once little more than a surfer's haven, specialising in corner store fish and chips, the Gold Coast has transformed into a city with food options galore.
Surfers Paradise remains the quintessential tourist trap, however, 'Circle on Cavill', with its big screen TV overlooking a grassy seating area, is a more stylish version
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Comment by The Travelling Fairy Dancer
on An Afternoon in Central Park
Travel Magic