evf networks

Avoid the big museum in Paris and visit somewhere new

evf travel — Sat, 28 May 2011 05:35:55 +0000

The Grand Palais on the Champs Elysees (the actual entrance is in the Avenue Winston-Churchill) is an impressive building, which reminds many visits of a grand old train station. The main reason to visit is that it holds big ticket exhibitions.

The Jacquemart-Andre Museum is located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann holds the collection of the industrialist Edouard Andre and his wife, the painte Nelie Jacquemart.

Emei Shan (Mount Emei)

evf travel — Sun, 01 May 2011 22:58:39 +0000

Emei Shan is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sichuan province in western China.

Oxford’s covered market

evf travel — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:28:50 +0000

A trip to Oxford is not complete without a visit to the covered market in the city centre. You may even find something to take home with you.

Martindale Hall, South Australia

evf travel — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 04:27:48 +0000

Martindale Hall, South Australia

Martindale Hall is one of South Australia’s best known historic houses and is located near the town of Mintaro. It was built in 1879, is a Georgian style mansion built for Edmund Bowman who lived the princely life here until 1891.

There is an amazing collection of antiques inside each of the rooms and it well worth spending an afternoon to look around the house. It is situated near the wineries of the Clare Valley.

In fact considering the antiques it is treat that you can investigate on your own and in your own time. If you are lucky you can also book a room to stay the night in one of the stately guest rooms and play a game with friends on the snooker table.

Contact

Martindale Hall

Manoora Road

Mintaro

SA 5415

Telephone:: 08 8843 9088

Fax:: 08 8843 9082
Entry Cost*:: Group: $7.50; (Per person, group must be pre-booked. Minimum of 10 people.); Adult: $10.00; Child: $2.50; Concession: $7.50; (students/pensioners/seniors)

Opening Times:: Mon – Fri: 11am to 4pm; Sat: 12pm to 4pm; Sun: 12pm to 4pm; Public Holiday: 11am to 4pm; Christmas Day: Closed; Good Friday: Closed

Magpie and Stump Hotel, Mintaro, South Australia

evf travel — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:49:01 +0000

The Magpie and Stump Hotel is a historic pub in the small historic town of Mintaro, South Australia. The town of Mintaro was established in the 1850’s to provide services to the teams transporting copper from Burra to Port Wakefield.

The pub does good food (we particularly enjoyed the lamb) with Coopers on tap and a selection of local wines from the Clare Valley. However it is the interior that makes worth a visit, it lives up to its reputation as an historic watering hole. It is worth phoning ahead to book a table for dinner. In summer you can sit outside in the beer garden and enjoy the peace and quiet of Mintaro.

After the refreshments consider a short drive up the road to Martindale Hall.

Address:
Mintaro Burra St
Mintaro
South Australia 5415

Phone: (08) 8843 9014

Marco Polo labelled the wealthy trading hub of Hangzhou the City of Heaven

evf travel — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 06:52:20 +0000

“Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou”. Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province and was once a wealthy trading centre, reaching it’s zenith of influnce and power during the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279).

In the late 13th century, Marco Polo (the Venetian merchant-traveller) visited Hangzhou at the height of it’s glory and called it “the City of Heaven, the most beautiful and magnificent in the world”. He was impressed by its “10,000 bridges”, “10 principal squares or market places”, countless “high dwelling-houses” and its people, “always clothed in silk, in consequence of the vast quantity of hat material produced”.

Today Hangzhou has a population of 4 million and still no western suburbs, instead it has the West Lake, or Xi Hu. Make a visit and explore the arched bridges and angular trees, lakes and curved roof tea houses.

Train journey from Tibet to Hong Kong

evf travel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:09:41 +0000

Lhasa, Xining, Golmud, Lanzhou, Xian and Chongqing provide the scenes. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway traverses the countryside and the starting point for the adventure is Lhasa. If you spend 3.5 days on a train in China you will start to understand the country and you will feel like you have shared a journey with millions of people.

It’s a 5,000km journey you won’t forget.

The Hexi Corridor – the long neck of China’s Gansu province

evf travel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:05:58 +0000

On you next trip to China you should consider a special trip to visit the Hexi Corridor – the remains of the world’s greatest wall and greatest road snake side by side, forced together by parallel mountain ranges.

Jiayuguan is almost but not quite, at the end of the Great Wall. The wall’s last 8km struggle to the Beida River. Built at the “throat” of the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor – the narrow passage between the 5,000 metre Qilian peaks and the dry, rocky Mazong mountain range – the spectacular 14th century Jiayuguan Fort. This was once the only gateway into China forover land travellers from the west.

If you travel to just outside Shandan Country, the Wall is astonishingly complete – except where over the ages shepherds have cut gaps to drive their flocks through. The Shandan section of the wall runs parallel to and only about 1km from the Zhangye-Wuwei highway.

Getting there: Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport to Jiayuguan (a five hour journey) via Shanghai Airlines (www.shanghai-air.com).

Where to eat in Texas’ bohemian city of Austin

evf travel — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:59:51 +0000

The home of the South by Southwest annual music festival, Austin has long been a bohemian oasis in a redneck state. Austin is a great city for breakfasting: huevos rancheros (ranch eggs), pancake, quesadillas and other American staples. The Magnolia Cafe sits in the middle of “SoCo” (the South Congress neighbourhood). The Magnolia Cafe is one of the classic low-lying, neon-lit, with the promise of root beer floats and apple pie.

Where to go in Peru – Huayna Picchu

evf travel — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:22:30 +0000

One of the must do things on a trip to Peru is to visit the “other picchu”, Huayna Picchu. The tough trek to the top of mountain also reveals jaw-dropping views. The view from the summit of Huayna Picchu is one of the most inspiring on the planet. Now and again the clouds disperse to offer fleeting glimpses of Machu Picchu, the fabled lost city build by the Incas.

Access to the path ascending Huayna Picchu – not to be confused with a smaller hill immediately behind the ruins is via a manned checkpoint at the back of Machu Picchu. Only 400 people a day are allowed to attempt the one hour climb and everyone must start before 1pm and be back by 4pm. The dry season runs from April to October, as it not recommended to attempt the climb on a wet day.

The key to the climb is to acclimatise the alitude, try staying in Cusco, the nearest city, which is 3,300 metres above sea level. Drinks lots of water and enjoy the views.