"A Beggar For Travelling" Wisedancer's Profile

That hits the nail right on the head.

"He's a beggar for travelling my Dad used to say and he hit the nail right on the head. And I have been doing just that from the time I was 22years and took my first trip to New Zealand.
My Dad always enjoyed it when I came home and told him where I went and what I saw.
My Dad only travelled from The Mountain ,Queensland, to Grafton (NSW), Roma (QLD), and Gympie (QLD). And he drove his Hudson 1928 sedan. In the 1920's this travel was quite a feat.

My first adventure.

New Zealand 1999

My first overseas trip was to New Zealand where I was among the first to work on the Manapouri Power Station which now provides New Zealand's underground hydroelectric power . In subsequent years I spent a lot of time on both islands and one of my mates married a New Zealander and lives there to this day(when they are not travelling around Australia).

Rhodesia

A view in Zim

Rhodesia (now of course Zimbabwe)is such a lovely country and will always hold a special place in my heart. When I first arrived I flew into Salisbury (now Harare) .As I travelled around and saw gum trees and spectacular scenery I was reminded very much of my own home.

I stayed for sometime with friends in Mutari. From their home in the hills you could look down to the Mosambique border. Unfortunately not so long ago they had to flee with only 6 containers of their prize possessions . Not much to show for a lifetime of living.

I always thought I would make a good "Rhodie" . I might even have made it as an "honorary" by now.

"ex Rhodies" or "ex Zims"are among my best friends to this day.

Travelling in My Own country.

We go Outback

In my own country "distance" always comes to mind when I think about travel.I have been as far north as Cooktown and as far south as Tasmania. Marg and I flew to Western Australia a few years ago.
In the year 2000 we went on a "tag-a-long' from Quorn to Alice Springs returning to Queensland on our own via the Plenty Highway, Boulia, Carnarvan back to Sunshine Coast.

One of my early journeys was on The Old Ghan Train (I am a train buff by the way) and this old train track was part of our "tag along route"

Other parts of the world.

Omaha Beach 2009

Though I have been to a few other countries there are heaps more I want to see. I have enjoyed a few cruises such as the inside passage to Alaska on the Zuiderdam and most recently the Q Mary 2 from Singapore to France.

Places I have especially enjoyed and will always remember include :

Figi in the South Pacific (every hotel had a band) ;

France and Normandie landing beaches;

Blackpool Tower, England ,where we danced in the historic ballroom;

Ireland where we often spend a week in Killarney ballroom dancing at the Glen Eagle Hotel;

St Petersburg and the Statue of Peter the Great and the Hermitage; and the Baltic states where in Estonia we had afternoon tea with a dear old Estonian lady whose relatives in Australia were dear friends of my Dad.

For some places I have only touched base : a day trip into China from Hong Kong, day tours into Alaska , and from QM2 , Cochin, India; Egypt, Greece; Italy; Spain.

The Euromeet experience 2011

Well I visited places I am sure would never have ever have had the good fortune to be if it were not for Virtual Tourist.

The premeet in Belgrade (arranged by Fugu (Keti)) and then in Macedonia the Euromeet with our own Valentina (MacedonianUK). People and places I will never forget.

And there was more ...after our usual Ireland/UK we visited Croatia and Slovenia on our way to the Euromeet.
On our way home we had an exciting 5 days in Istanbul then a cruise to Venice on The Seabourn Odyssey through the Geeek islands and along the Dalmation Coast (this included a bit of 'turkish delight').

Parlez vous Francais?

Bonjour Paris

It is great to be able to say "hello" and "thank you" at least when visiting other countries.
At one time I studied Esperanto but this never really helped me to any degree.

Though I have a bit of an "ear" for language I can speak only a few words in Russian, Japanese, German, and French. After visiting Isla de Tenerife I can now say "Hola".

Want More?

For more reading on me, my travels and my family please go to

this page and this personal page album%.

Intro Updated Nov 27, 2012
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Personal Pages (1)

Written Nov 15, 2010

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History of Our Town

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Comments (9)

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nicolaitan Nov 22, 2012 at 2:20 AM

you have family in cornwall new york? worked there for a number of years, beautiful area.
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  Wisedancer Nov 27, 2012 at 11:39 AM
  
  No Cornwall in England. My family come from Helston.
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australia2 Oct 15, 2012 at 3:35 AM

I'm determined to do that Boulia trip 'gunna..do'. P'raps after next 'Wet'?
;-) Laurie.
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  Wisedancer Oct 17, 2012 at 12:57 PM
  
  Yes we really enjoyed Boulia...
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  australia2 Oct 17, 2012 at 3:29 PM
  
  Interesting 'bike. Shades of my old '49 Trumpy Speed Twin?? Vague shades. A bit CZ'ish too!? A four??
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tropicrd Jan 21, 2012 at 2:57 PM

I hope they did too David,it would be sad to lose another cassowary to road kill.Thanks for visiting.
D xx
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starship Jul 13, 2011 at 7:25 AM

Great home page! Thanks so much for signing the postcard which I received from the Macedonia VT Euromeet! Looks like I missed a great meet!
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afrette Jul 3, 2011 at 12:34 AM

Hi there! I have sent you a couple of emails - did you get them? Give us a shout sometime, eh? Hope you two are well! Cheers, Toni.
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adelaidean May 26, 2010 at 4:16 PM

gret to see you coming to Alice for the meet...Rosie and I will be finalising details in the next few weeks so stay tuned.
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jumpingnorman Dec 7, 2009 at 6:36 PM

David, your father's JUMPING IN TIME picture is awesome (from 1905 to 2001 - wow!) Thanks so much! I have it at #8 Jumping in Time at "#8 GUESS WHO'S JUMPING IN TIME THROUGH TRAVEL?" - Quezon City Travelogue by jumpingnorman
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ViajesdelMundo Jul 6, 2009 at 4:45 PM

HOLA, David! fr Hot and very Humid Mexico!! Great start to your pages! I am envious you having been to St. Petersburg; we really want to go. Buen Suerte!
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kiwi Jul 6, 2009 at 2:52 PM

How amazing you worked on Manapouri! Did you know they put in another tunnel not so long ago? Nice to see you build your homepage :-) Pam.