G’day & Welcome To Leura!
Australia is a big country so it’s too hard to cover the lot, let alone the Blue Mountains which is the region where i live, so G’day & welcome to Oz to start off with!
No - that’s not the official flag of Australia, just my own one to enjoy for now. Just as the changing of our flag has been in question (as we’re not as advanced as our fellow Canadians scoring their very own one within 98 years), so has our national anthem. If you would like to view snapshots of what our land is like, the following video clips are done to songs which for some of us - tend to stir feelings of emerging patriotism. They’ll provide insights on our history, you’ll see aspects of the Aboriginal culture & also be introduced some Australian coloquialisms(jargon) with explanations of what some of our strange (but cool) use of words mean.
I Am Australian by The Seekers - you’ll see what i mean about the flag debate in this clip! (ships included)
I Come From The Land Down Under by Men At Work
Djäpana - by Aboriginal band Yothu Yindi. Djäpana means “sunset dreaming”, so you’ll see delightful moments of the sunsets and how spiritual the connection to the Australian sun is over here.
Waltzing Matilda - you’ll learn about our interesting use of colloquial jargon here.
I Still Call Australia Home - by Peter Allan. Pretty much the song i think of when a long flight from Singapore makes touchdown at Sydney airport. You’ll often here people cheering on such flights because they’re arriving “home”.
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My parents migrated from Turkey, but I was born here so that makes me a 1st generation Aussie. My mother’s side rooted with the Georgians, and i suspect that both sides of my family probably rooted with the Vikings at some point too. It could explain why my body prefers the cooler climate, why i am so tall (but of “average” height in Amsterdam) and why there’s quite a number of blue eyed blondes in my family, although i’m a brunette myself.
The following clips are songs that stir patriotic feelings towards my heritage and penchant for songs of war.
The Georgian State Dance Company - you’ll notice how there’s a sound very similar to the Aboriginal didgeredoo at the beginning of this clip.
Ceddin Dedden - A Hard Rock version of a Turkish Military song that always gets my blood hot as a bloody Turk. (ships included)
Bathory - A Swedish Viking Metal band i’ve always enjoyed! (ships included)
Leura (The Garden Village, coz like - the houses here have beautiful gardens every-bloody-where) - stands 985m above sea level, so we’re often “living in the clouds” and experience incredibly beautiful fogs, a lot! There’s trees every-bloody-where and the air smells devine on most days.
An unconventional non-tourist shot of the storms brewing in the neighbouring suburb Katoomba two days ago… this is not a classic Blue Mountains photo because it’s bloody raining, so you don’t see the classic bluey-green & orange colours. If you do want to go see a bog standard tourist shot of something like The Three Sisters during more favourable weather conditions, you can visit:
This is a fantastic site where you can do a virtual tour of the whole of Australia with great photography, and it will help you gain barings as to where i’m located. To find Leura - zero in on NSW and then you’ll see a link to the Blue Mountains, which will show you where my town Leura is located within the region, amongst other neighbouring suburbs and tourist sites. Near Katoomba, you’ll see “The Three Sisters” - so go there if you want to see the bog standard tourist shot of those three famous ladies chilling out on the mountain side.
Let’s go on a journey which will give you a very brief glimpse of the businesses that live in Leura, which is not only home to a lot of artisans, but more importantly - some very bloody good musicians. Introducing you to my husband’s business in Leura known as Oz Whistles.
Welcome to Oz Whistles!
…and now for the man behind all of those whistles - my husband Mitch, standing on our front verandah during a foggy day in Leura, holding the prototype of his first hand-crafted whistle.
Mitch claims that we have the largest range of whistles in the Southern Hemisphere, so this is one reason why we have….
…but this is the real reason why we have more whistles than you can poke a stick at! Introducing the actual Stick, who has been living as a member of our house for the last year!
I was struggling to find a way to make all of the whistles appearing on the website to scale, and was using a ruler when i first started. One day, I couldn’t find my ruler and my husband, Mitch - found Stick lying next to the whistles during a photoshoot. He pretty much tossed Stick over to me and said,
“Here! Just use this thing!!!”
…so I did!
We’ve had so many adventures with Stick helping us out at Oz Whistles that he’s now become a celebrity!
Here’s a shot of Ian Stewart playing with Stick at the Gundagai Folk Festival last year.
Stick is so popular, that even the “Haggis” Whistles started to worship him as soon as they arrived!
Stick on location at the Oz Whistles headquarters!
These are the Goons that Stick had to hire because we had a pretty scary incident occur after the Irish FaeDÓG whistles arrived.
Stick got quite a fright by them. My husband had a very hard time in trying to reassure Stick that the shop was not infested with dawgs and that he wasn’t in any danger of being “fetched”!
Yes, we’re crazy - but we’re proud of it and you haven’t even seen the worst of it either! Mitch has been working like a dawg the last few weeks with the production of his own whistles, that have been catching the eyes, fingers & tongues of many professional musicians that have come in contact with them lately.
One of them happened to be a very famous Irish piper known as Paddy Keenan. He not only bought a Reviol but he also wanted to knab one of Mitch’s very own Oz Whistles too as the tuning was very impressive. As Paddy was touring to Sydney for his next performance, we had to organise my sister in law to babysit our son and drive up to Sydney to deliver it in person - so this means that we’re now going to the frigging pub to start partying!
Why go over a mountain when you can just cut through it!
Wow - you can almost see the smog of Sydney on the horizon from here!
Appraoching a major intersection of some seriously heaving going arterial roads known as motorways. This means we’re getting very close to Sydney. The evening is shortly arriving and so is the crescent moon, which is what my first name - Ayça, means in Turkish.
…and finally, here we are at the pub!
A beautiful pub it is too, so here is some more eye-candy!
Let’s eat out al fresco over in the bistro then shall we?
No food on the tables yet, so while we get on with our ordering - somebody’s going to have to gather the drinks.
Guaranteed Guiness in your face everywhere in this pub, so here - have some on the house c/o Oz Whistles!
I had to opt for the orange and vodka tho…. =P
Some more eye candy - two sexy Aussie Shiela’s, Megan & Avril - visiting from Newcastle. The show’s about to start soon, so lets go and watch Paddy go psycho on the Irish pipes.
…and watch him play on the Reviol low whistle he got off Mitch!
…and then watch Mitch’s own hand-crafted whistle get a really goot tooting too!
Time for a bit of multiculturalism while a New Zealand woman introduces her own traditional instruments into the ensemble for the grand finale!
After the encore, Paddy finally starts making his way off the stage, with the irony of the “Ireland’s Own” sign lurking in the background.
A final parting shot of Paddy with Mitch…
…it’s well past 12:30am so we must get skidaddling back home to Leura and not forget to pick our son up from my sister in law’s house on the way!
DAY 2 - Back in Leura!
Back in Leura, after a very long & exhausting day. We deserve a good pamper, so lets go shopping for some more delicious eye candy to bring further warmth, comfort & rest to the soul by taking a short walk to the street known as “The Mall”.
Where should we stop off at first? Oh! I know! Let’s get some devine antique souvernirs over at Leura Interiors located at number 153!
How can we say no to a little ship with a tiny little Australian flag on it for our wonderful Captain?! Anywayz, I need to shut my mouth right up now, so let’s leave the pictures to do all the talking for a while!
Are your muscles feeling really sore & tired? Mine are! So lets go to that super funky & amazing candle shop known as Moontree living at number 157 to grab ourselves from lovely smelling things we can put into the bath or warm up the house a little bit more with beautiful things!
Inviting everyone around to my house for the evening to wind down with coffee & fine dessert. Although the house i am currently living in is beautiful - i’ll take you to my other virtual house that lives over at number 144 at the mall in that other really beautiful shop known as Inner Space. You know… that dream house after my life finally acquired the disposable funds to afford it all.
*yawns*
It’s way past my bedtime folks (erm…1:54am atm!), so i wish you all a great night with sweet dreams and hope you’ve enjoyed your stay in Leura.
Before i do go and rush upstairs to turn on my electric blanket - I’m leaving a “rope jumping” postcard from the Blue Mountains for Sanni - because it might make her sore bum from that really scary cliff dive in the Dominican Republic feel considerably better.
*brrrrrr* *rubs hands together* It’s a chilly night! As you can see, i’m really tired and need to go to bed now.
With love & G’night,
aka R’acquel
P.S - you see that green jumper i’m wearing? That jumper, was in part, responsible for starting Oz Whistles - but it’s too much of another long & very crazy story, so I’ll be indulging it another time in my anti-procrastination series!
Moyrah said,
April 1, 2007 @ 4:14 am
G’day downunder!!!!
Being an expat (mostly kiwi at present) gives me the benefit of every doubt in so many situations!!!
Cruising thru the ports of the world means I get to see some of the places I have already been to….
I just happened to be born in Blacktown, just out of Parramatta… NSW…. Australia. My parents lived there at the time.. so.. I am back ‘home’ for a visit then I guess.
Have a great one!!!! And a tinnie for me!
Moyrah
R’acquel: G’day Moyrah! Yep - i know where Blacktown is and drove past it today on my way to to my parent’s place in Auburn, which is on the other end of Paramatta! Thanks for stopping by & cheers mate! *ching ching*
RennyBA said,
April 1, 2007 @ 4:52 am
G’day Down Under! Thanks for taking us through your wonderful country’s story, culture and tradition. It really took me down the memory lane as I was in Australia (3 weeks in Perth and 1 week in Sidney). For an Norwegian it was kind of strange to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the loveliest summer weather:-)
Your post and all the lovely pics really shows that wherever you’ve been or whatever you’ve done in Australia: there is always more to explore!
R’acquel: Takk Takk
Claudie said,
April 1, 2007 @ 7:50 am
What a beautiful and interesting life you have!
Captain Bumerang Lifecruiser said,
April 1, 2007 @ 9:04 am
G’night Crescent moon
When you have night, we have day over here, so it’s time to go to bed over here NOW. We’ve been to the movie with my sister. Taking an early night for once, the clock is only around midnight - I’ve been up way to late lately - around 3 in the morning as you had now….
Oh, my, this only confirmed my earlier wish of going to Australia some day! And made the wish stronger…. Why am I not a millionaire? *lol*
I see exactly what you mean by letting us hear those choosen songs. They really did give me the right perspective of Australia at once. Very good choices! Loved the first one, could hear the proud voices - and the Waltzing Matilda is wonderful. Coming home I guess we all feel like that when born in the country?
The steamtrain is one of my wishes with all that scenery around the railway it must be like a dream. The viaduct looks similar to the Glenfinnan in Scotland - which we’ve been riding on the “Harry Potter” train over - such an experience that too! I love steam train, all that puffing
So I went over and saw it all, the three sisters, the caves and the falls. Bloody wonderful neighbourhood!!!
You must be proud of your hubby, that is one awesome hand craft work, his whistles! *whistles of admiration from me*
Holding up the Guinness:
Cheers
R’acquel: Tack tack, Kapten. Den er morgon nu utom jag er stilla trött. God natt.
Gattina said,
April 1, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
I very much liked the first song ! I never thought that Turks also immigrated to Australia ! Have you ever been in your country of origin ? If you wish to see pictures and a reportage of a roundtrip I made in Turkey in October, go to my blog “Countries & Cities”. The landscapes I have seen there are just marvelous (even for Australian eyes, lol ) Now in May I will do another roundtrip this times the cities, museums and history. It’s a very beautiful country and so rich of history !
My son has been in Australia for 5 weeks and travelled by car and plane a little everywhere he went there for diving and found a paradise ! He also spent Christmas and New Year with English and Australians at the beach, which was quite strange for him too ! I will send him your link so that he can dig out his souvenirs !
Thanks !
Today you can join the cruise in Brussels and walk around the midi market with the other cruisers ! Put good shoes on !
R’acquel: Cheers Gattina
I have visited Turkey twice. Once as a child, another time during my teens in ‘92. Enjoyed a *real* Christmas in America during that winter, but as there was no snow at the time - my dreams of a White Christmas weren’t fulfilled until a snow blizzard hit Istanbul on the morning that our next flight was due for Singapore. I enjoyed building my first snowman while the airline organised hotel arrangement until the snow cleared 
Looking forward to Brussels so i’ll see you there with my shoes on.
Ramblin Rose said,
April 1, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Wow what a fantastic post!!! Love the candle shop!!! I so want some of those candles and aroma beads!@! !!! And the furniture shop…. oh so in love!!!!!! And the whistle Mitch made looks great@!! Perhaps youj can embroider him an oz whistles shirt and when you go out youll have free publicity…. and one for aka racquel!! Thanks for the trip to the mountains…
luvu omm omm omm omm 555 mwah!!!
R’acquel: Glad you enjoyed the trip RR. That’s the cadle shop that G* fell in love with
Very busy working on original embroidery designs inspired by the Ottoman empire for the whistle bags. Here’s hoping that i won’t break too many needles during the process! Mwah Dahling! *555* luvu too.
Captain Bumerang Lifecruiser said,
April 1, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
Thanks for yesterday touring. It was wonderful. I only wish it were for real…
The Crazy Hat Parade winner is announced!
Don’t miss the new port Monday - Iceland - or the new event on Wednesday - post 1 photo from somewhere you’ve been and have strong memories from - beautiful or whatever.
R’acquel: Ooooh - Iceland! That sounds like fun!
Melli said,
April 1, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
*singing* Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matildaaaaaaaaaa…. I never really listened to that song before! I had NO idea it was about an australian — of course, the first time through the words it is sO obvious! I guess all I ever really heard was the chorus! What a GREAT song! As are the others! And beautiful photos… just beautiful….
WELL! I suuuuure am BLOODY glad this was a two day event — because I missssssed day one altogether! Wonderful of you to allow me to toddle along behind and catch up!!! (i’ll tell ya …. ya gotta watch out for that bartender on board - he’ll have ya missin’ days all over the globe!)
So. I am thoroughly in LOVE now! I’ve always wanted to VISIT Australia — I just didn’t know that I wanted to LIVE there! But now I do! Oh yea! (don’t I need 6 lifetimes to live in all the ports we’ve visited on this trip?) What a GREAT and beautiful and FUN area you live in! And I had NO idea whistles were such an important and sought after product — but YOU, miss wifey, are a fabulous advertisement - I hope your hoosband knows this! I find myself suddenly NEEDING a whistle! Matter of fact, I think I NEED 5 or 6 of them! And I don’t even know how to blow a whistle! LOL!
I loved the tour through your “home” — I think you’ve well covered the fantasy tour as well as your regular tour - all in one shot! But you’ve convinced me I want to come SHOP in OZ! And now… it’s Sunday morning here… and I’m having coffee… and I think I just might NEED a bloody Pecan Delight to go with it! *nods*
THANKS for the tour!!!
Melli: Thanks for the lovely comments Melli. You can always stop over at my place for a visit if you do ever come here
If you need 5-6 whistles, it sounds like you could be developing an early case of WAD (whistle acquisition disorder). I can highly recommend the Feadog tripple pack, which comes with book, whistle & CD to help teach yourself at home.
Thanks for your proliferous use of the word bloody too, I couldn’t help but laugh!
Irish Church Lady said,
April 2, 2007 @ 1:47 am
Great post Racquel!
I loved the first video of Australia. The song was wonderful and the pride of Australians really came through. I love things like that! *wipes eyes*
The stick and the whistle is pretty funny stuff! We have a tin whistle in our house like the one you pictured but not as beautiful as the original ones your husband has!!
Beautiful shops and decor pictures too!
You’re post got me thinking about Australia and how I’d love to go. My daughter has been and I put a slide show of snaps from her trip on my blog today. I’ve also written about a family connection I have to Australia on my blog today!
Thanks for the shout out about our Canadian flag and for sharing a pint of Guinness with me (even if you only had vodka and orange!) LMAO
Cheers, mate!!!
~ICL~
Tagged by ICL « 0cean Lady said,
April 2, 2007 @ 3:38 am
[…] Yesterday in Australia. […]
Coffee 2 go said,
April 2, 2007 @ 8:36 am
Aaaaaaaah… I always wanted to go on a long (loooooooooooooooong… it has to be long - I wanna see everything!) vacation to Australia. Since you took us on this fantastic trip I´m sure I´ll feet my little piggy bank with every EURO I can afford to put into to make this dream to come true someday. SInce today I´ve been to an Australian restaurant in Germany so far… and I bought a boomerang at Disneyland *LOL* - I haven´t tried yet because I fear it will not come back… but brought back by someone very very angry
I´ve been here yesterday, but our internet connection played tricks on me when I wanted to watch the Rope Jump. It broke down and didn´t get back until today *grrrr* - however, I´m back, watched the video: “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Oh my!” - I love it - and I want to jump to… maybe… until I´m up there…
Thanks so much for this amazing tour, the stunning pictures, the great entertainment and the cool music… Music… Ha! Consider yourself tagged with the MUSIC MEME at my place =)
aka R’acquel » Memory Lane said,
April 5, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
[…] knows if this is how the Oz Whistles Stick just happened to appear on our front verandah the day that he was discovered! Maybe it was a stick […]
TorAa said,
April 16, 2007 @ 12:47 am
What a wonderful sightseeing in and around Leura. I’m so impressed. The Stick - excellent, the Whistles, the Pub, the Road, the Shops and all the photos of such high standard and with great story-telling ability.
I’m a bit late with this comment, but that’s what makes this cybercruise extra exciting. You can come and go when you have the chance, whithout being left back.
R’acquel: Glad you enjoyed it TorrAa
Thanks for stopping by!
aka R’acquel » The Leura Cascades Walk said,
April 23, 2007 @ 10:21 am
[…] monitors. I was unable to score good shots of the actual Blue Mountains scenery with my former Leura Tour due to the poor weather a few weeks ago, so here are the good ones on a nice & sunny day, […]