Sydney Seafood Classes, Munich Synagogue and James Egan, artist

On the latest Travelradio Australia podcast I introduce our regular contributors John Crook and Frances Beasley who provide reports as diverse in topic as the popular seafood cooking classes offered in Sydney (Australia), the synagogue in Munich (Germany) and an interview with a renowned Australian artist, James Egan whose works are found in 'high' places like Buckingham Palace. We visited him in his studio at Ballarat (Victoria).

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Sydney City Scenes captured on video

On a recent weekend trip to Sydney I shot some random city scenes in and around the downtown area, capturing sites like Pitt Street Mall (and the brand new very popular Zara store) and Hyde Park. We then boarded the Sydney City Sightseeing bus and headed through Kings Cross, Paddington to Bondi and stopped over at ritzy Double Bay with its exclusive (and expensive) shops on the return trip. Above is the video I posted on my 'Travel With Ren' youtube channel and on tripfilms.com. Hope you enjoy the sights!

Sydney Harbour is a glistening jewel in the city's crown

• Sydney Harbour - a jewel in the city's crown.

A weekend in Sydney featuring a journey on the Manly Ferry brought home, once again, the beauty of this natural harbour that city offers its visitors and residents alike. If the number of yachts on the water on the Saturday afternoon was anything to go by, this would have to be Australia's leading aquatic playground. In fact, on the return journey we noticed another Manly Ferry travelling in the opposite direction blowing its horn continuously to carve a safe pathway through the other smaller watercraft. On the mainland, Manly's famed Corso pedestrian/shopping mall has been spruced up nicely and its ocean beach is still as beautiful as ever. An ideal spot for peopl,e watching over a cappucinoi along with fish and chips! Our central Sydney base for the weekend was the Capitol Square Hotel, ideally positioned next to the Capitol Theatre which is currently presenting the Australaian production of 'Wicked'. We didn't see the show (despite it being on next door), but from other hotel guests' reviews, it was well worth the $120 admission cost. The hotel lives up to its three star rating - a good clean room and single elevator access directly from the reception desk to the upper floors (the building only boasts four floors). A discounted buffet breakfast was offered at just $12 per person upon check-in. Capitol Square Hotel is managed by Rydges and offers economical stays. We paid just $90 per night through HotelClub.com.au

PODCAST: Around the World travel radio #42-08

Original broadcast date: 15 October, 2008


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Program details:

1. John Crook reviews a new travel guide - ‘Time Out Sydney’.
2. Arthur von Wiesenberger and Richard Mineards chat with Max Hartshorne of gonomad.com about Columbia as a tourist destination.
3. Frances Beasley reports on the French city of Bordeaux.
4. John Crook interviews Australian resident Margaret Jasper who has recently returned from a business trip to Iran.
5. John then ’sends’ us an audio ‘postcard’ from Phillip Island

Sydney-based whale watching cruise back in 2008

With whale watching cruises more popular than ever, Captain Cook Cruises is again operating its daily Whale Watching cruises off the coast at Sydney throughout the Whale Watching season of May 27 to November 15, 2008.

The Whale Watching cruise takes passengers past the Sydney Opera House, Fort Denison and all the beautiful homes located in the bays of Sydney Harbour and then out through the heads and onto the open waters. There the direction of the vessel is totally dependent on where the whales have been sighted – north towards Manly or south towards Coogee. Most whales are found within 2km of shore.

The number of Humpback and Southern Wright whales passing through Sydney on the annual northern migration between Antarctica and their winter feeding grounds as far north the Great Barrier Reef, is expected to reach its traditional peak around the Winter Solstice on June 22.

After calving in the northern waters between August and September, the whales will then again head south through Sydney, making their long journey back to Antarctica.

All Whale Watching cruises are held on a 75-passenger, 16 metre super sea-catamaran purpose built for Whale Watching and featuring two decks both offering spectacular open air viewing and a comfortable all-weather lounge for the entire family.

Captain Cook Cruises offers a whale guarantee - if a whale is not sighted in the months of May to November 2008 passengers can rebook another cruise free of charge or for those cruising in June and July they also have the choice to receive 50% of their money back.

Whale Watching cruises depart daily from Circular Quay at 1.30pm and twice daily from Darling Harbour at 9.00am and 1.15pm from May 27th to November 15th, 2008.

Whale Watching Cruises are priced at: adults $69, concession $59, child (4-14yrs) $39, family (2ad+2ch) $179 and additional child same family $30.

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises on Tel: 02 9206-1111 or visit www.captaincook.com.au