Travel and Leisure Articles

The Lakeway Parks and Recreation Department aims to provide excellent parks, facilities and services to the Lakeway community. There are so many beautiful sceneries plus a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy. People are guaranteed to have a very relaxing and comfortable time with great year-round weather and park personnel constantly willing to assist.

Top Parks

In midtown Lakeway just at the end of Porpoise Street, people will find Porpoise Park. The park features playgrounds where kids can get to play soccer, Frisbee and walk their dogs. The park is also great for afternoon picnics where families can simply lay a blanket and watch the sunset.

The Canyonlands is the newest park in the city. The park got its name for the beautiful canyon running through the area. The landscape is one of the best traits of the Canyonlands especially during autumn when everything turns gold, orange and red. Spring is a great time to visit as well wherein everything comes to life with beautiful flowers and a barrage of green foliage. The department intends to keep the park as natural as possible with only minor renovations like benches and no other developments in the tract.

Individuals get to enjoy the Rim Trail in Canyonlands. Canyon Trail is better suited for the experienced ones looking for more challenge. Dogs are allowed with leashes and there’s really no need to invest in special hiking gear except for comfortable and tough walking shoes.

For picnicking families and individuals, City Park is a great place featuring 64 acres of breathtaking area. The park is at 502 Hurst Creek Road accessible via water as well from Hurst Creek Cove on Lake Travis. The park can be accessed freely by Lakeway residents but visitors need to pay for entrance. City Park is open daily from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Fun activities in the park include two miles of trails, bike and skate paths, a butterfly garden, playgrounds for toddlers and preschoolers and a dog park.

More Fun Parks

Dragon Park is located on Dragon Street just past the Village Square Shopping Center. The park is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. It is a great place for picnics and sports. There is a basketball court, volleyball court and an athletic field for soccer and Frisbee enthusiasts. Young children can play in the swing set and playscape as parents can watch among laid blankets on green comfortable grass spots nearby. A few simple rules include no picking of vegetation, no unleashed animals, no fireworks, no loud music and no alcoholic drinks.

Smith Greenbelt is another great place to enjoy hiking and walks. The area measures 4.5 acres and is accessible at two points. Parking facilities are available at the main entrance. The trails are well-maintained to provide the ultimate hiking experience. There are also bike trails available for avid off-road riders. Dogs are allowed but require a leash.

There are a number of centers in the city of Lakeway as well like the Swim Center, Heritage Center and Activity Center. People who own lakeway real estate and homes in lakeway get to enjoy activities that let them know more about culture, tradition and environmental awareness. Some activities are coordinated and monitored by park personnel. The activities follow a certain daily schedule as well so visitors may need to ask for information first before going.

Thai silk weavers in Ban Krua are an old Cham Muslim community in Bangkok. They wove the silk for Jim Thompson when he started his Thai silk company in 1948 and revived the Thai silk industry. What’s Ban Krua like today?

Although I’ve visited the Jim Thompson House several times before, I’ve never been to Ban Krua which is just across the Saen Saab canal from the Jim Thompson House. I was under the impression that the Thai silk weavers in Ban Krua were long gone after Thompson’s disappearance in the Cameron Highlands Malaysia in 1967. Well almost but not quite.

On 2 June 2009, I finally got my chance to find out more about Ban Krua. A Thai friend who lives in the area suggested, after a visit to the Jim Thompson House, that we cross the canal to visit Ban Krua.

We walked along the narrow footpath along the canal till we came across a sign overhead which read “Jim Thompson Thai silk”. The sign pointed to a narrow soi.

As we walked into the narrow soi, we passed neat and tidy rows of houses with very warm and friendly residents. Along the way, we met a man who invited us into his house which had several weaving looms and spools of Thai silk thread. This is the home and silk factory of Khun Niphon Manuthat, a silk weaver himself.

The warm and hospitable Khun Niphon was more than willing to share with us the history of his community and experience with Jim Thompson. Here is Khun Niphon’s story.

The BanKrua community is made up of Chams Muslims from Kampong Cham province in Cambodia. The Chams originate from the ancient kingdom of Champa in Vietnam. The kingdom was conquered by Vietnam in the 15th C and ceased to exist by 17th C. Many Chams dispersed to Laos and Cambodia. Later some of them migrated to Thailand.

The Chams in the Ban Krua community are as old as Bangkok itself, having arrived in Thailand in the reign of King Rama I. They fought on the side of Siam during the Burmese-Siamese wars and for their loyal service they were granted land outside the old city.

The site is in present day Ratchathewi district just north of the National Stadium skytrain station. Silk weaving was a traditional craft of the Chams and they brought these skills with them to Ban Krua.

When Jim Thompson started taking an interest in Thai silk in the late 1940s, he visited Ban Krua often and convinced a group of Thai silk weavers to produce a sample batch of silks which he took to New York. The silks hit Vogue magazine and from then on Jim Thompson silk took off.

Back then Thompson worked a group of eight Cham families who produced the silk for his Thai silk company. Khun Niphon was a boy when Thompson first came to Ban Krua. Khun Niphon’s father was one of the eight silk weavers who worked with Thompson.

Fond memories of Jim Thompson linger on. An old black and white photograph of Khun Niphon’s parents taken with Jim Thompson hangs from the wall of the room together with another old photo of Thompson working with one of the weavers.

Today Khun Niphon is the only descendant from the original eight families of silk weavers. Most of the members of Ban Krua have left the community for other jobs and only about 40% of the original residents or their descendants remain.

Unlike his father, Khun Niphon doesn’t supply the Jim Thompson stores as the Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company has its own factory in Korat.

It’s hard to tell if the traditional craft of this old community of Thai silk weavers can survive for another generation. Or will it be another vanishing cottage industry?

Arkansas attractions draw millions of visitors to the state each year. From scenic byways, wildlife preserves, and family theme parks to big city attractions like the Clinton Library and the Little Rock Zoo, Arkansas offers something for everyone. However, when it comes to planning vacations, Arkansas tends to fly under the radar because so many people don’t have a clue about the wide variety of activities available there or the incredible affordability to do them.

The “Natural State” is probably best known for being blessed with abundant natural resources, including lakes, clear streams, forests, wildlife, rich farm lands and scenic vistas. With its’ six national park sites, 50 state parks, 2.6 million acres of national forest lands, 13 major lakes, and two mountain ranges, Arkansas provides some of the best outdoor experiences in the country.

Arkansas attractions also include its friendly people that fill wonderful towns like scenic Mountain View and the village of Eureka Springs, which is the only city in the country whose entire downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Probably one of the most famous cities in the state is beautiful Hot Springs, which home to some of the some of the oldest and best natural spas in America.

Did you know that Arkansas is the only diamond producing state in the United States? The Crater of Diamonds State Park, located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is the only place in the nation where you can dig for diamonds and keep what you find. Over 75,000 diamonds have been found by lucky visitors since it became a park, the largest being a 16.37-carat white diamond found by a visitor from Amarillo, Texas. That sounds like a great souvenir!

Arkansas is also home to dozens of upscale dining establishments with impressive food and wine pairings as well as thriving cultural communities that include museums, performing arts centers, historical sites and sports teams. Tours and scenic drives make for a fun day, as does a tour of the Clinton House Museum or the Arkansas Air Museum. If you want to take a walk on the wild side, you can visit the Little Rock Zoo, a nationally recognized 40-acre garden with approximately 170 species represented.

Arkansas theme parks are also great places to visit on your trip. One of the most popular attractions in Hot Springs is the 70-acre Magic Springs and Crystal Falls theme park. This combination amusement park and water park is the largest entertainment package in the state of Arkansas and includes thrill rides such as the “Gauntlet” inverted roller coaster and the classic wooden coaster, “Arkansas Twister”.

Wild River Country, Arkansas’ largest water park at 29 acres, features over 20 rides and attractions like a wave pool and a 600-foot winding tube ride. You and your family can have fun in the activity pools, ride the waves, speed down a water slide, or just drift along on the Lazy River, soaking up the carefree Arkansas atmosphere.

Arkansas is full of color during every season and the climate is humid and sub-tropical. There tend to be very hot and humid summers, which is great weather for Arkansas theme parks and water parks, followed by mild winters. You may want to visit during the Fall and enjoy the splashy color of autumn in Arkansas. The color change begins in early October in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas and moves slowly to the south until it reaches the peak of color in late October and early November.

No matter the time of year your vacation time falls in, consider discovering all the wonderful and diverse Arkansas attractions on your next family adventure. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Vienna is a city full of sweet surprises from its Art Nouveau facades to attractive parks and traffic free boulevards. Possibly one of the most beautiful baroque cities in Europe, Vienna is adorned with grand architecture and impressive sculptures.

The river Danube runs through the city of Vienna, which stands in a somewhat regal manner in the Danube Valley. The city is divided into two sides by the river, with the old centre and many major attractions lying on the south-western side. The sloping hills of Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) are visible beyond the northern and western suburbs and consist of a densely wooded and rambling series of hills and mountains.

With marked walking and hiking paths the woods are a rejuvenating place to spend time and even contain a few surprises themselves including vineyards and old vintner’s villages. Vienna’s vineyards make it the only metropolis in the world where wine is grown within the city limits so sample Austria’s finest whilst there for the ultimate authentic experience. Vienna Woods are easily reached by public transport so jump on a train or bus and be on your way to the foothills of the Alps.

Whilst on the subject of public transport it’s worth mentioning that Vienna is well serviced by trams, trains and buses though most of the city is easy to see by foot.

Within the ring of broad streets that replaced the old city’s walls stands Vienna’s medieval centre which is dotted with delectable pastry shops, restaurants and coffee houses for the hungry and art galleries, museums and operas for the curious.

As most of the key sights and attractions lie in the historic centre (Innere Stadt) this makes a practical starting point. St Stephen’s Cathedral can be found at the heart of Vienna’s historic centre and is easily the most important Gothic building in Austria. Built during the 13th and 14th centuries you can climb the steeples to gain a bird’s eye view of the city and delve down to the catacombs to sneak a peek at the innards of the Old Prince’s vault.

The sprawling Imperial Palace (Hofburg) encompasses almost every architectural style from the 13th to 20th century and is worth a look when visiting. The Jewish Quarter (Judenplatz) is another notably authentic area to visit and soak up the Viennese Jewish traditions unfolding around you.

Vienna acted as both home and inspiration for a myriad of famous musicians and composers; Strauss, Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn to name a few. The city therefore has a strong musical focus with concerts held throughout the year.

Getting to Vienna should prove as easy as getting around the city itself. The international airport (Flughafen Wien Schwechat) lies 19k from the city centre so a short journey will have you in the thick of it. The airport is served by around 80 different airlines so flights to Vienna shouldn’t be hard to come by and before you know it you could be enjoying the highlights of this Austrian treasure in no time.

The library was created in 1788 as the Belfast Reading Society. This was during the historical period of “enlightenment” which encouraged discovery and knowledge amongst the upper classes in society. It was a huge success and interest grew amongst the wealthy class of Belfast, and in 1792 was known as the Belfast Society for the Promotion of Knowledge.

The Society was a home to many with radical thought, and those inspired by the French and American Revolutions of the late 18th Century, and thus the society attracted many members of the United Irishmen Movement, who rose against the British government in 1798.

This rebellion was quickly crushed, and one of the Belfast Society members Thomas Russell was executed. The Library escaped destruction by Government forces however, due to the membership of the Society by many Conservative members, and those loyal to the Crown.

For a time, the society went into decline, as the Society had no permanent home, but this was rectified in 1802 when the Library procured its first proper home. This was in the clock tower area of the White Linen Hall, which is where the City Hall stands today.

The Library suffered some lean years in the 19th Century, and as a result a loss in members; particularly students who were asked not to attend Queen’s University. As the 100th year anniversary of the Library approached, its fate looked doomed, as it had to make way for the erection of a new City Hall. However, a permanent home was found, in a warehouse designed by esteemed architect Sir Charles Lanyon (who constructed the famous Lanyon building on Queen’s University Campus) at 17 - 19 Donegall Square North.

This building was previously used as a workplace for the construction of linen, the new home derived its name from its previous industry. This led to a period of mass reformation of the library, in terms of the change of its ownership from private to public, and the mass collection of books, from early Belfast and provincial journals. Belfast was always a divided city, but the Library tried to incorporate cultural events to highlight both cultures, and held an Irish Harp Festival at the time.

It’s fair to say that the Library suffered a huge decline in the years following the War of Independence in Ireland, and subsequent Civil War. Belfast had its own share of troubles at the time, with many religious pogroms and street fighting being common.

The Library still held major esteem as the public library system was slow to be encouraged by the Government and up to the end of WW2 it was still in high regard, attracting playwrights, artists and novelists to its fold, as well as a large array of political material collection.

However, poor strategic policy led to further decline and in the years following the troubles in the late 1960’s, the library had to depend on Government aid to continue, due to dwindling memberships. The old building was crumbling, and the organisation suffered from money problems and closure seemed inevitable, and the threat of leasing of the property to the public library service.

At the start of the 1980’s a “Save the Linen Hall Campaign” effectively saved the Library. The City Council offered grant funding to the library and the governors made the decision to allow free public access to material and promote Irish studies, study of Politics and Culture. The move was a success and it had almost 4,000 members by the late 1990’s.

During the mid 1990’s it was plain to see that a lack of space was hindering the revival of the library. This was remedied in 1995 with the acquisition of a lease on part of the neighbouring property at 48-50 Fountain Street, which gave the Linen Hall Library almost 50% extra room.

The Heritage Lottery Fund, together with public generosity enabled the connection of both buildings, and with 3 million sterling in raised funds, the Millennium extension was officially opened in 2000, which links the two buildings, provides more space, and allows for increased membership and visitors to the Library.

What to see at the Linen Hall Library…

It’s estimated that the linen hall has possibly 250,000 volumes of books. Not only does it have a free public referring service and a book lending service for adults and children, but it also hosts many collections of huge importance.

It’s the main focus for Irish and Local Study in the North of Ireland, and has a huge collection as well as early Ulster and Belfast publications, with newspapers dating back to the early 18th century. In addition it has a huge manuscript collection, historical maps, archived material, and a huge testament to the Political situation in Northern Ireland from 1968, with over a quarter of a million items relating to “The Troubles” from both sides of the divide.

The Library also has many genealogy collections, poetry material by esteemed writer Robert Burns and Art in Northern Ireland.

Holiday rentals are one of the fastest growing holidays on the internet. They have grown greatly in popularity with tourists wanting to choose a vacation rental home as the ideal choice for their holiday. Holiday bookings direct is one of the easiest ways of selecting a rental home on the internet.

To select your vacation rentals all that you have to do is decide which country that you want you holiday rental in and also what sort of rental home that you are looking for. If you decide that you want a vacation rental in France all that you have to do is click on France. That will then give then bring up France and show you all of the properties that are available. It will also give you useful information about holiday rentals in France and what you can do in France once you have rented a property.

By selecting a French rental property you will then see which homes are available in the area of France that you have chosen for your vacation. So if you were looking for a French holiday rental in Marseille all you have to do is select Marseille and you will then see which properties for are available there. When you have looked at all of the properties in Marseille you can then contact the owner of the one that you like and rent it.

The growth of vacation villas has also spread to Cyprus with many tourists now booking Cyprus holiday rentals on the internet. Vacation accommodation is popular in Cyprus due to the great climate and the growth of the low cost airlines. Many families now go on holiday to Cyprus and stay in self catering accommodation use these properties as a base to explore the local culture and night life.

Vacation homes give families a sense of independence when they are on their vacations. Many families stay in holiday rental homes in Spain by the sea. These are very popular in Spain and many have swimming pools. Families can then choose to stay in their villa and swim in the swimming pool and catch some sun or maybe leave their accommodation for the day and go down to the beach. The great thing about a Spanish villa is that it allows you to sample the local Spanish culture.

The same can be said for a villa in Italy. You can choose a traditional property in Italy and stay in the heart of a small village or town. By choosing a villa in Italy you can truly live the life of a local Italian.

Some Italian families have holiday rentals next to their own houses and make tourists feel most welcome during their holiday. You can choose to eat out in the local restaurants and sample the local food and wine. On other occasions you can choose to have a relaxing night in your holiday home and may take back some local food and wine to cook yourself.

Spending holidays in Greece is a splendid life experience. This is because in Greece vacationers can enjoy in the same time excellent weather, gorgeous sandy beaches, warm waters of Mediterranean Sea, tasty dishes and great wines, many archaeological remains, interesting cultural artifacts, friendly people, and accommodation in some of the best resorts and hotels of the entire Mediterranean basin. Hotels in Greece are spread out everywhere, on the mainland and islands alike, and are of all types, from simple budget accommodation units up to extremely luxurious resorts which can satisfy expectations of the most picky travelers.

The Hellenic Republic, as Greece is officially named, is located on the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and is one of the oldest countries known in the entire human history and also it is the recognized birthplace of modern democracy. The country is made up of a mainland and a huge number of islands and islets located in the Ionian Sea (in the western part) and Aegean Sea (in the southern and eastern regions), both included in the Mediterranean Sea. Holidays in Greece are great everywhere, but a special flavor have vacations spent in Athens, the capital city of the country and one of the oldest cities in the world. Actually, Athens is since ancient times a leading center of arts, philosophy (great philosophers like Socrates, Pericles, and Sophocles have been born and lived there), science, and culture. Hotels in Athens are almost all year-round crowded by holiday makers wanting to see the many treasures that this city has to offer. Some of the most important attractions of Athens are the Parthenon, which is perhaps the most renowned spot in the entire city, monuments from the Roman and Byzantine eras, remains of the Ottoman rule, and many others.

Hotels in Athens are of all types and categories. There are budget hotels and luxury 4 & 5 star resorts, all welcoming tourists with excellent accommodation, high level services, good restaurants which offer both Greek and international cuisine, and a wide range of amenities. People who want to enjoy holidays in Greece in luxury should choose between 5 star units such as Hotel Metropolitan, Hotel Royal Olympic, Hotel King George Palace, Hotel Electra Palace Athens, Hotel Sofitel Athens Airport, Hotel Classical Baby Grand Hotel, Hotel Classical Athens Imperial, Hotel St. George Lycabettus, Hotel Arion Resort and Spa, Hotel The Westin Nafsika, Hotel Grande Bretagne, Park Hotel Athens, Hotel Holiday Inn Athens-Attica Avenue, Hotel Hilton Athens, while vacationers with lower budget have at disposal a wide range of 3 star hotels like Hotel Marina ATH, Hotel King Jason, Hotel Best Western Zinon, Hotel Arion Athens, Hotel Marilena Boutique, Hotel Athens Cypria, to mention just a small part of them.

Resorts and hotels in Athens are a great base not only to enjoy the splendors in the capital city area, but also to take different trips to other holiday spots from mainland (Meteora, Delphi, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Halkidiki, or the second largest city, Thessaloniki) or from islands like Crete, Rhodes, Santorini, Corfu or Mykonos, to enumerate just a few of the most renowned places where can be spent excellent beach holidays in Greece.

If you want to create a strong style statement and be associated with class, elegance, sophistication and grace, a limo ride is ideal for you. Countless limo shuttle services and rentals have sprung up in the last few years to cater to the aspiring demands of affluent middle class people and because the prices of hiring a limo have been slashed drastically, a luxury limo ride has become much more affordable and is no longer an unattainable dream.

However you have to keep certain things in mind while hiring a limo.

Before you hire a limo run a check through their rules and regulations for hidden costs/terms and conditions. Try to be sure about the specific amount that the rental service will charge for the duration of use of your preferred limo brand. These cars are usually hired on an hourly basis and the charges will multiply if you exceed the agreed limit of duration.

You can get hold of the contact details of limo rentals from airports. Most airports are provided with the toll free numbers of airport limo shuttle services.

These limo rental services boast of a huge fleet of cars. Firstly you have to zero in on the brand of limo you want. The elegant lineup comprising Mitsubishi Dignity, Lincoln Town car, Toyota Century, Holden Statesman and Nissan President will spoil you for choice.

The color of the giant sized car is the next determinant. The kind of event/occasion for which the car has been hired and the number of passengers that need to be transported will be the other important determinants.

With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching, a reality check shows that Delhi hotels are ill prepared to handle the expected surge in 2010. According to industry experts, the number of hotel rooms required in the national capital region (NCR) for the Games would be around 40,000. Currently the number stands at around 7000 to 7500 rooms in the branded hotels segment. And according to trade analysts even if one were to add hotel rooms in areas like Karol Bagh, Paharganj and Daryaganj, the total number would not add up to more than 15,000. With an estimated 5,000-6,000 additional branded rooms expected to be added in the interim, the shortfall is still huge. Almost 50%!

Bread & breakfast (B&B) accommodation units are seen as an alternative. The current 300 units in the city are expected to touch the 1000 mark. But the numbers simply do not add up. Just to get a comparative perspective, Shanghai in China alone boasts of 135,000 rooms as against 110,000 in all hotels in India in the three to five-star segments.

Add to this the fact that rentals of hotels in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore are among the highest charged by hotels anywhere in the world, pose a rather daunting challenge. Hotels in Delhi presently charge $350 plus. London hotels charge roughly the same while Moscow and Rome charge considerably less at $260-350 and $140-350 respectively. Beijing managed a reasonable rate of around $155 during the just concluded Olympics. And if Delhi has to match up in 2010, it has to do better than the present $350 plus in the deluxe category.

Hence, in the count down to the Commonwealth Games the challenges are two pronged - increasing the numbers of hotel rooms in Delhi (NCR) and reducing the rental cost. A great opportunity to push tourism in India to the next level should not go a begging.

We’ve all seen the adverts. First theres a close up of a bronzed beauty in a white bikini sashaying down the beach, her damp, sun-kissed locks bouncing from side to side with each step. Then the camera zooms out to a wide angle shot of the dazzling white sands and the turquoise waters lapping up against them. On the lush foreshore the palm trees can be seen gently swaying in the breeze, and in the corner of the screen a man lazily tosses a cricket ball at his son. Cue the start of the girls narration- her seductive Australian drawl is enchanting and enticing, expounding on all the great things Australian beaches have to offer and reminding you how average your life really is. By the end of it your on the phone booking your next holiday to the seaside.

But theres something that always niggles away at me, not only when watching an advert like that, but also when I’m at the beach, on the coast, or just in the general vicinity of the ocean. And this is it: I don’t want to be eaten. Of all the ways to go, I think being eaten alive troubles me the most. Years and years of trying to stay healthy, eating the right things, keeping trim - and all it boils down to is me satisfying the hunger of some shark. As a result there are a few places in Australia I avoid- its unfortunate, because they are beautiful places, but my will to survive is strong.

Number one on my list is the coastline of South Australia, a large section of which is known as the Great Australian Bight. More like Great Australian Bite. In 2004 an 18 year old was killed by two Great White Sharks there while he surfed just a few hundred metres away from a very crowded beach. Four years before that particular incident, off Cactus Beach, (600 kilometres west of Adelaide- an area with the morbid nickname ‘Shark Restaurant’ because of the frequency of shark reports) a 25 year old kiwi surfer became the special of the day for a hungry shark. The very next day, 200 kilometres away, another surfer suffered the same fate, this time to a Great White. Lets just say if I ever visit South Australia Im going to book into a nice little winery about 200 kilometres inland, where I can sip on a bottle of classy red and watch the kangaroos hop past.

And then theres Byron Bay. Bohemian enclave, hippy heaven, booming tourist town and absolutely beautiful spot- it seems even the sharks cant stay away. Late 2007 saw a spate of sightings- in just one month there were eight official reports. One lady, Linda Whitehurst, was knocked off her surf ski by a Great White after it circled her a couple of times. With her paddle as a weapon, she punched and flailed and fought and got back onto the ski, suffering minor lacerations in the process. In a seperate incident two girls were swimming when a shark began to circle them. Terrified, they made their way to an exposed shipwreck where they waited for some time while the shark continued to swim around them. With the tide coming in the water was splashing around their ankles before help arrived. Chilling, no?

150 kilometres up the coast, on North Stradbroke Island, a young female student was not so lucky. Swimming with a group of friends in the shallow waters in early 2006, she was attacked by a pack of bull sharks, who gave her only a fraction of a second to yell out ’shark!’. Reports coming out of Stradbroke in the weeks following suggest that tourists there were generally unaware of the high numbers of sharks living and breeding off North Straddy. Well, I guess now we know. And so to Stradbroke I will not go.

The good news is that the chances of getting munched by a shark are pretty slim. Actually your twice as likely to get struck by lightning, and 300 more times likely to drown, which makes my fear seem slightly irrational. And luckily for the Australian tourism industry most people have a slightly more logical way of looking at things- the fear of being eaten is so foreign that they relegate it deep to their subconscious, only to let it reappear when there actually is a shark circling them ravenously. Yep - not everyone’s as big a pansy as I am, so dont let the sharks scare you away from our gorgeous beaches because they really are rather special. As for me, Ill be on a road trip through the outback, far away from ominous looking fins and razor sharp teeth.