Being partial to books, and knowing my readers are too, I can’t resist the humour of this signboard, spotted outside a bookshop in Tauranga, New Zealand:
A sign of the times?
That’s all for today, folks.
Tag: travel
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Driving Creek Railway, Coromandel, New Zealand
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark (I haven’t aged at all since I first wrote this introduction) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
The TC and her travelling companion are travelling on New Zealand’s North Island. This worm is here too, to keep them on track and ensure good reading habits.
We took a ride on the Driving Creek Railway, outside the little town of Coromandel. The train is small, just high enough to sit in. Each bench can seat two adults side by side. It’s a beautiful, interesting ride, up steep slopes from the lower station to the playfully-named Eyefull Tower at the top. (Faithful readers may notice that this worm does appreciate a good pun.)
To get up the slopes the train goes through a series of zigzags and spirals. Every now and then the driver reverses up one leg of a zigzag, or gets out of the train and walks to the other end to change directions.
My impressions? An engineer’s dream brought to life.
The book I’m in
Rat Run, by Gerald Seymour. A mix of crime, terrorism and psychology. I’m looking forward to finding out what happened to make the hero the way he is.
Travel tip
It takes longer than you expect to get from A to B in New Zealand.
Recommended restaurant
Driving Creek Café, 180 Driving Creek Rd, Coromandel 3506. It’s a cosy restaurant combined with a second-hand book store. The people are welcoming, and they prepare the food with flair and skill. Photos below.
Recommended accommodation
Pauanui Pines Motor Lodge, 174 Vista Paku, Pauanui. It’s not close to Coromandel or the Driving Creek Railway, but it’s a restful lodging with welcoming hosts. Be aware that the nearest supermarket closes at 6.30pm. Any others are far away, so stock up as soon as you arrive.
The photos
Me and the Driving Creek Railway train:
The video below is taken from on board the train, as it leaves the lower station. You’ll see people in the engineering workshop wave as we leave. There’s also a view on one of the slightly scary bridges (viaducts) that carry the track across gorges and gaps:
The next video includes a zigzag. To get up the hill, the train stops at the end of a track and reverses up the next leg of the zigzag. Below the train you can see the section of track that we’ve just travelled. It’s an impressively steep climb. At the top, the engineer gets out of the train to switch the track, then we move forward again. The zigzag track is visible below the train.
The third video includes one of the short, narrow tunnels on the track. The video starts as we come to the end of a reversing section. The engineer gets out to switch the track, then gets back in and says “Tunnel three, everything inside please”. He mentions the pottery and artwork on the sides of the track as we approach the tunnel, and the bush environment after exiting the tunnel:
The train, unembellished by this worm’s attractive person:
At the top station is the playfully-named Eyefull Tower:
The view from the top is lovely:
One of the pottery artworks that stud the banks along the way:
A reversing point:
A closer view of the notices on the wall:
One of the reversing points is on a rather scary platform:
My (probably adrenalin-fuelled) delight in the view from the platform made the scariness worthwhile:
Looking across the carriage at the view on the other side:
Switching tracks:
Back at the lower station, ticket office and engineering workshop:
It’s worth taking the short bush walk down the side of the station, to see more eccentric bits of art and hear the birds singing in the trees. A sign clearly tells you when you’ve gone far enough:
After the ride, we stopped for a meal at the Driving Creek Café:
It’s cosy, and it has books, which make it a winner in this worm’s eyes:
That’s all for today, folks.
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Sydney Park with Conservation Volunteers Australia
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
The TC, bless her cotton socks, occasionally gets a bee in her bonnet about conservation, and goes out pulling up weeds with a group of like-minded souls. Today we went to Sydney Park, in the inner city area of Sydney. We joined a group of 15 volunteers hosted by Conservation Volunteers Australia.
My impressions? Hard work, but the volunteers loved it. Many of them go out once a week or more to look after sites around Sydney.
The book I’m in
Hotel du Barry, by Lesley Truffle. A delightful romp through the streets of London, with more than a glimpse of the dark side of life.
Travel tip
Take a hat and plenty of water.
The photos
Me at the old brickwork kilns in Sydney Park:
This row of kilns is near the corner of Sydney Park Road and King Street, near St Peters railway station:
The chimneys from the old brickworks are an imposing sight:
Slopes and skylines are a characteristic of Sydney Park:
Down to the business of the day: bush conservation. These were the TC’s tools today:
A handy tip from one of the seasoned volunteers: hang your bag on a branch, or you’re likely to find the ants have eaten your lunch:
The volunteers wore bright yellow vests:
The bright outfit makes people easier to spot when out in the bush:
The group’s task today was to pull up weeds. Conservation Volunteers Australia and the local council cleared this site a few months ago (it was a mess of grass and weeds), covered it with Sydney sandstone to provide a good base for native plants, then planted a number of bushes and ground cover. The aim is to restore the area with mid-height vegetation, to provide food and homes for small birds and other creatures.
The new plantings are growing well. Spot the conservationists:
But things are not all good. Meet the enemy! Fleabane is one of the non-native plants the group wants to eradicate. This one was a large specimen, about four feet high. The TC wrestled with it for quite a few minutes, employing mattock and brute strength to pull it out by the roots:
Another baddie bites the dust. Kikuyu grass. The TC found it very satisfying to pull these long strands of grass up from amongst the native bushes:
And now for the goodies. This is a tea tree (Leptospermum):
More tea tree, intertwined with a pink-flowered something:
A colourful fly enjoying tea tree nectar:
This Dianella caerulea has bright blue flowers, and eventually blueish purple berries that are edible. The TC, bless her soul, delights in plucking them straight from the garden and popping them in her mouth:
There was a lot of this yellow-flowered bush. The TC doesn’t know the name of it:
A profusion of yellow:
A hardy white flower, the name of which currently escapes the TC and me:
A rare shot of the TC photographing some grass. Note the hat!
The TC isn’t sure if this is a fossilised leaf or just a pattern in the sandstone rock:
That’s all for today, folks.
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Wentworth Falls and Valley of the Waters, Leura
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
The TC recently spent a couple of days in Leura, a town in the Blue Mountains near Sydney. I was there too, but I spent my time cosily buried in a book. The TC, brave soul that she is, went on a four-hour hike from Leura to Wentworth Falls and back. The walk is 6 to 7 kilometres in distance, with a vertical drop and ascent of 200 metres.
My impressions? To judge by the TC’s glowing face and weary limbs, this was a walk and a half. She loved it, and had sore muscles for days afterwards.
The book I’m in
Jupiter War, by Neal Asher.
Travel tip
When walking in the Blue Mountains, take plenty of water and some food. Although your intention may be to stay out only a couple of hours, weather can change and mishaps can happen.
Recommended accommodation
Fairmont Resort, 1 Sublime Point Rd, Leura NSW 2780. Comfort, warmth, and friendliness.
The photos
Looking out over the Blue Mountains from the Fairmont Resort in Leura. This is where the four-hour walk started. Early in the morning, the valley is filled with mist:
On the way to Wentworth Falls, the path takes you up and down, through forest-filled glens, under overhanging rocks, along cliff faces:
The views are stunning:
At the top of Wentworth Falls, the ground just ends. The water falls over the edge:
Wentworth Falls, seen from the bottom:
To get down there, you can take the National Pass, a spectacular cliff-face path of metal and rock:
Cockatoos frolic around the falls:
On the loop back to Leura, the TC’s group walked through the Valley of the Waters. This is a gorgeous walk, with waterfalls and hanging gardens and spectacular views. This shot is taken from behind the curtain of water that drops off the cliffs:
Here’s a short video taken from behind the same waterfall:
The Cascades are a silver shower of water on black rock:
That’s all for today, folks.
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A tad chilly at the Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
Me and the TC just spent a day and a half in Melbourne, Victoria. On Saturday we drove from the big smoke down to the Twelve Apostles on Australia’s south coast. The drive takes around three hours. It’s well worth the trip, to see the Apostles themselves as well as the bush and coastal area down the bottom end of Australia.
My impressions? Bright, clear beauty.
The book I’m in
My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante. Teenage angst, beautifully written, with a hint of dreadfulness to come.
Travel tip
Take layers and layers of clothing to the bottom end of Australia. Even in spring, the cold can be bitter. Leave the brolly behind, unless it has gale-force certification.
The photos
Me at Twelve Apostles, Victoria:
The Apostles are these strange steeples of rock rising directly out of the waves:
The vegetation is pretty in a low-stated way. It’s early spring, with tones of silver and green:
You can walk down the cliff path at the Gibson Steps and stroll along the beach. This shot is taken with the Twelve Apostles out of sight behind the photographer:
Now for a last look at the Apostles before I go:
That’s all for today, folks.
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A stroll down Broadway, New York
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
Me and the TC are in New York, New York. The city that’s so big, you have to say it twice.
My impressions? Smiles are a little hard to come by, but all’s well when you get to know someone.
The book I’m in
Kill Decision, by Daniel Suarez. Convincing death-by-tech end of days adventure. This worm thrives on it.
Recommended food store
Whole Foods Market Chelsea, 250 7th Ave, New York, NY. There’s something for everyone.
Travel tip
Take a stroll through the city in the early morning. It’s cool and quiet. People potter around getting ready for the day. Colours are bright, tempers are soothed.
The photos
Me, your sleepy travelling worm, in early morning Times Square:
Now that you’ve seen the obligatory me pic, let’s jump back to the start of our stroll down Broadway. The Flatiron Building is near Madison Square Park, on Fifth Avenue and Broadway. It’s called “Flatiron” because its shape is similar to that of an iron:
Big Bling is a sculpture by Martin Puryear in Madison Square Park. The shiny bit is covered in gold leaf:
Being a little short in stature, I tend to notice things that loom. The skyscrapers in New York are good at looming, particularly when viewed from a park. Here they are, doing it Madison Square Park:
This Serbian Orthodox Cathedral on West 25th Street caught my eye as I strolled up Broadway. It’s just a shell. You can see sky and other buildings through the openings:
Colours, flowers, and bikes outside the Martinique Café:
It’s early morning on Broadway:
Poor pickings for pigeons:
Gotham Hall, with appropriate steam effects:
Approaching Times Square:
There’s a strong police presence this morning, possibly because the Gay Pride Parade is due to start nearby in a few hours:
All is quiet in Times Square. Just some early morning travellers strolling and the usual billboards scrolling:
That’s all for today, folks.
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Lost and found in the Googleplex
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
Me and the TC are in California again. This worm has had an interesting day, navigation-wise.
My impressions? It’s very easy to get onto U.S. Route 101.
The TC decided, bless her cotton socks, that she now knows her way around Mountain View. No need for a navigation aid today. So we set off in good cheer. Faithful readers can guess where this post is going, particularly if they’ve read my previous scribbling.
Our first foray into unaided navigation went well. We found the Googleplex, which was our intended destination. After a few hours in one office, the next step was to get from one part of the Googleplex to another. To those unacquainted with the TC, that mayhap sounds simple, but not so.
In the blink of an eye, in the twitch of a steering wheel, we found ourselves on U.S. Route 101, heading north for San Francisco. Now, the highway is worth a visit, as a venerable and worthy piece of navigation history. Wikipedia says that US 101 is one of the last remaining and longest U.S. Routes still active in the state, and the longest highway of any kind in California. It was one of the original national routes established in 1926. Still, if you don’t need to head north at speed, it’s probably not the best place to be.
Luckily it’s almost as easy to get off U.S. Route 101 as to get on it. Also luckily, the Googleplex is a big place and thus easy to find. The TC kept calm and steered us to our destination unscathed although not unrattled. There to greet us were a giant Google map pin, a Street View car, and the Code the Road bus.
The book I’m in
Caleb Williams, by William Godwin (1794). This worm is enjoying the richness of language and the care taken with phrasing, though it be at times a trifle archaic. Mr Godwin is adept at building up an atmosphere of menace that lurks close beneath a seemingly civilised society.
Travel tip
Ne’er cast a navigation aid til journey be made.
The photos
Me on the giant map pin outside the Google Maps offices. I am here:
A Street View car took a well-earned rest nearby. I made use of its rearview mirror for a quick face-and-hat check:
Me hanging out with Pegman:
My own dear Peg needed a bit of me time after seeing the above snap. So here are me and Peg, and a big green fuzzy person who happened by:
The Google Maps Code the Road Bus was in the neighbourhood too:
Me on the Code the Road bus:
That’s all for today, folks.
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Lost in Portland, Oregon
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
Me and the TC are in Portland, Oregon. They told me it’d be summer. They said I wouldn’t be cold. They were mistaken.
My impressions? Warm, friendly people. They smile as you pass them in the street. I feel they’d take care to avoid stepping on a humble worm.
The book I’m in
Rich Man’s War, by Elliott Kay. Military sci-fi as a genre has a strange appeal, especially when travelling. This worm puts it down to a camaraderie among people shoved into small spaces under stressful circumstances.
Recommended accommodation
Hotel deLuxe, 729 SW 15th Ave, Portland, OR. The rooms are furnished with care and talent, and the reception is friendly.
The photos
Me outside Portland Central Library:
Storm clouds loom over McMenamins Ringlers Annex, a tavern at the corner of SW Stark Street and W Burnside Street:
The TC and I went for a stroll to explore the city. Our outing progressed in typical fashion. Before setting off, we checked the map and located downtown Portland. On a whim, we diverted to see the Pioneer area. So, we spent a few hours doing what the TC does best – getting lost!
Here’s the Pioneer Courthouse in SW 5th Avenue, Portland:
For a different atmosphere, the Portland Outdoor Store in SW 3rd Ave:
With apologies for the bleached out appearance of the lighter areas (the TC says the lighting was difficult) here’s a colourful place in SW First Ave:
They have trams in Portland:
After our impromptu tour of the Pioneer area, the TC and I set off again confidently, continuing our quest for downtown. A few blocks later the TC checked the map, only to discover that we’d been heading in opposite direction. (May I say that this is not an uncommon occurrence when going for a stroll with the TC.) The Portland riverside was now nearby, so the TC decided that was where we wanted to be anyway.
The vintage tugboat Portland, moored off SW Naito Parkway:
The tug is a paddleboat, lovingly restored, which now houses an exhibition of the Oregon Maritime Museum:
Geese taking off in front of the E Burnside bridge:
The N Steel Bridge in Portland has a bare nuts-and-bolts feel that must surely appeal to engineers:
It’s sad to see that there are homeless people in Portland, as in so many cities around the world. The TC and I saw many homeless people during our ramble. In the middle of this scene is a shelter built of cardboard and black plastic:
On another day, we hiked along the trail from Macleay Park to Washington Park, in the hills above Portland. The TC, bless her cotton socks, was in her element. She’s quite a one for woodsy walks. Moody moss dripped from the trees:
That’s all for today, folks.
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Colour and sound on Indian roads
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
Me and the TC spent the last week or so in Bangalore and Mysore, India. I’ve already posted my impressions of the two cities. Now for a wrapup about the traffic. Trust this worm, the traffic is a topic all on its own.
My impressions? Communication is key. Follow the sage advice on the back of the truck: toot when coming through; toot when it’s safe to make a move; toot when in doubt.
The book I’m in
Zero’s Return, by Sara King. This is part 3 of the Zero chronicles. This worm is enjoying this story as much as the first two, and is impressed with the change in theme. Sarah King has managed to retain the magic of the Zero character even while throwing him into a completely different situation. Sink or swim, again, Joe Dobbs.
Recommended garb
Wear something comfortable and adaptable. Be ready to toss a scarf over your shoulders (this is a tip from the TC, of course, since this worm’s shoulders are adequately covered by my academic jacket) or discard your sandals at the drop of a hat.
Travel tip
Hire a driver, at least for your first foray or two into Bangalore traffic. The drivers know a thing or two.
The photos
Experience a ride in a car with a hired driver. Note the expert use of the horn to let everyone know where we are and what our intentions are.
The next video is longer, and shows some interesting roadside scenes. We’re driving along MG Road in Bangalore for most of the way. In two places (around 15 seconds into the video, and another at 1:21) you’ll notice an auto rickshaw travelling in the opposite direction to the rest of the traffic. This is a not uncommon sight. In other countries, you might say the vehicle is on the wrong side of the road. In Bangalore, you’d say it’s in exactly the right place to get where it needs to go.
At 30 seconds, the car passes a laundry business on the left. See all the sheets and other washed items hanging out to dry. One of the TC’s acquaintances visited the laundry, and was amazed how the staff keep track of every single item without written records.
Here’s the video:
There’s quite a variety of vehicles on the road. The TC, bless her cotton socks, was taken with the colourful decorations on the trucks:
Another:
This one’s a Tata, like the first. Tata is a very big auto manufacturer in India:
And another colourful truck:
And another. Yes, the TC has a fondness for trucks:
On the rear of the trucks, it’s very common to see pleas and encouragement to hoot. That’s right, hooting is part of the system, and truckies ask you to do it to let them know you’re there:
This one has tassels too:
As well as trucks, there are carts:
Coconuts:
Pedestrians – the TC took this photo for the scaffolding in the background as much as the people strolling past:
Auto rickshaws – this one with a colourful view of Bangalore:
Scooters – with an interestomg background of stalls:
Bikes:
And more bikes:
That’s all for today, folks.
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Mysore or Mysuru in India
This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 25-year-old bookmark and can proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).
Today’s travel notes
Me and the TC are visiting the city of Mysore, in India’s state of Karnataka. Mysore, officially named Mysuru, is about three hours’ drive from Bangalore, up into the hills.
My impressions? Bright air and fresh colours.
The book I’m in
Zero’s Return, by Sara King. This is part 3 of the Zero chronicles. This worm is enjoying this story as much as the first two, and is impressed with the change in theme. Sarah King has managed to retain the magic of the Zero character even while throwing him into a completely different situation. Sink or swim, again, Joe Dobbs.
Recommended accommodation
Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, 1 MG Road, Mysore. It’s comfortable, and the staff are very pleasant and attentive.
Travel tip
Drive up Chamundi Hill, or walk up if you can manage a staircase of more than 1000 steps. Stroll around the temples at the top of the hill. It’s beautiful and peaceful up there.
The photos
Me with part of Mysore city behind me:
Here’s the same view of Mysore, without this worm embellishing the foreground:
A busy street scene in Mysore:
A quiet side street:
Mysore Palace is full of activity, and the buildings are attractive and interesting. Here’s a temple near the palace gate:
Mysore Palace:
The palace courtyard:
An alleyway behind the main palace building:
We drove up Chamundi Hill, just outside Mysore, and walked the circuit at the top of the hill. This is a view of Chamundi temple:
Chamundi temple from a different angle:
A closer view of the temple. Click the image to zoom in:
Back in the city of Mysore, Gothic huddles up close to telephone lines, carts and auto rickshaws. St Philomena’s Catholic church, built in 1936:
That’s all for today, folks.
Travelling Worm 