It’s been ten years now since I enjoyed a traditional Christmas. A traditional Australian Christmas that is. One that begins with a breakfast barbeque on the beach and finishes with a full Christmas roast with all the trimmings in a room so hot and sweaty that the colour in the paper crowns from the Christmas crackers starts to run from the sweat on your brow. Good times.
I miss it terribly, of course. But for much of my life I hankered after a Christmas Card Christmas – the snow, the sleigh, the roasting chestnuts. That’s why the first Christmas after I moved to London I popped up to Stockholm. It was everything I’d imagined and more. Now I make a point of wearing Christmas jumpers and drinking eggnog lattes, something I could never do at Christmas back home.
I mention this because hmoat01 has popped up on the Forum asking myWanderlusters if they’ve ever spent Christmas abroad and what it was like. It’s something everyone should probably do, if only because it makes you focus on what is really important about the season – family. Thank God for Skype, I say.
Elsewhere on the Forum, Wanderlust's magazine editor, Phoebe, wants to know how many of the 20 Great Travel Experiences listed in the latest issue you have done. Not sure if there’s a prize for the person who has done the most, other than the respect and admiration of your peers, but feel free to pop over and let us know.
PeteC is just back from Sommarøy, an island just off Tromsø. Atrocious weather, wishes he’d stayed longer. Lots of whales and a great hostel. What more do you need? Howellsey, meanwhile, has returned from wandering the streets of Oxford, while Liz Cleere is back from Penang, well-versed in the ways of the East India Company.
Over at Experiences, DavidRoss pays his respects to Nelson Mandela, recalling his visit to Robben Island a decade ago. Morgan Hannah explains the challenges of caring for monkeys at an animal sanctuary in Bolivia. And DavidHigham provides yet more practical advice on visiting Burma, this time on negotiating Rangoon’s notorious traffic.
Finally to Photography, a veritable winter wonderland courtesy of our mini winter-themed photo competition. Way too many fantastic photos to highlight any in particular, but while you’re there, make sure you take up Liz Cleere’s offer to knock back a can of Kickapoo Joy Juice. And check out Bedouin’s pictures from Japan and China. Both worthwhile things to do.
I’m off for my daily eggnog latte. Until next week...
