The Magic World of Czech Illustrators for Children

Photo gallery: The Magic World of Czech Illustrators for Children

The special exhibition has recently taken place in Sydney… Even in the Czech Republic I’d never seen a similar thing :). Almost each of these illustrators is world known and has won many international awards.

On one spot we saw the most popular pictures from fairytales by such names as:

• Adolf Born (e.g. Max and Sally, Puss in Boots, Pipi Longstocking),
• Karel Franta (e.g. Punch in Hell),
• Stanislav Holy (e.g. Mister Pip’s Walk),
• Vladimir Jiranek (e.g. Bob and Bobbek: Rabbits from the Hat),
• Josef Lada (e.g. K.J.Erben’s Fairytales),
• Zdenek Miller (e.g. The Mole),
• Radek Pilar (e.g. Rumcajs),
• Odrej Sekora (e.g. Book of Ferda The Ant),
• Zdenek Smetana (e.g. Stories of the Stump Cottage),
• Jiri Trnka (e.g. Arabian Nights),
• Helena Zmatlikova (e.g. Jenicek and Marenka), and much more.

The translated titles of fairytales are so funny, aren’t they? So sit down comfortably and go back to your childhood…

NYE 2006 in Sydney

Photo gallery: NYE 2006

The New Year's Eve in Sydney was spectacular!

During the day we went to the beach from where we moved to a club (made in an old English style) in the afternoon. Then we visited our good friends and late after midnight we went for a walk to the beach where a huge dance party had been on. Unfortunately we were too tired to start dancing :)

There were two fireworks - a "family" one at 9pm and a bigger one at midnight. We watched it from a hill several km from the city - a marvelous show! It included 7 main firing locations placed around the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thanks to our location we could see most of them.

There was about one million spectators celebrating in the city. Crowd of people began to arrive early in the morning to gather around popular spots to watch the fireworks.


Several interesting facts about the fireworks and bridge effect:

• Approximately 11,000 shells, 10,000 shooting comets, and a total of 100,000 individual
• pyrotechnic effects.
• More than 60,000 metres of wires and cables.
• Equates to 91,000 kg of equipment.
• In excess of 3,000kg of explosive devices.
• 6,000 hours of design and preparation by the crew of 35.
• Fully digitally launched, requiring 12 computers.

The organizer said, that the Sydney NYE fireworks display was regarded as the largest and most technologically advanced annual fireworks display on the planet.

Christmas time in Jervis Bay

Photo gallery: Jervis Bay

We spent the Christmas time in Jervis Bay that is about 200 km south from Sydney.

Jervis Bay is a serene beautiful stretch of coastline full of beaches, bushes, lakes, cliffs, forests and little villages. We have been to many of these places and met interesting animals in the nature.

We stayed a couple of nights in a camp in Booderee National Park where kangaroos, parrots, possumes and many other animals lived around us.

Among others we explored the Hyams Beach with the whitest sand in the world o), and an aboriginal village as well.

We spent the Christmas Eve on the beach next to our camp, where a group of dolphins appeared and started playing just twenty meters far from us. A simply exciting show!

So that was really unusual Christmas :).

Kiama and surrounding

Photo gallery: Kiama and surrounding

We spent Christmas on a trip to Jervis Bay driving through several small towns and along spectacular beaches. We also saw vast green highlands very similar to the Czech landscape. All these destinations are about 150 km south from Sydney.

Kiama is a pretty seaside town famous for its blowhole that can spout up to 60 meters high. Very impressive!

Berry is a small town with countless numbers of coffee shops. We had to stop and taste some of local goody :)

Seven Mile Beach is a beach more than 11 km long!

Unless we saw many "sitting Santa Clauses" on buildings we wouldn't know it was a Christmas time.

Xmas

Photo gallery: Xmas

There are several photos from sunny Christmas Sydney.

Enjoy the Christmas time!

Palm Beach

Photo gallery: Palm Beach

The Palm Beach is the northernmost of Sydney's beach suburbs, about 40 kilometres from city center. It's considered a "trendy" suburb and boasts some spectacular homes as well as it's popular thanks to great surf conditions.

In my opinion this is one of the best beaches in Sydney.

Petr's Party

Photo gallery: Petr's Party

There has been another party on Shelly Beach... Our friend Petr celebrated his birthday. Really great party, almost 50 people at one point!

No need of other comments :)

There are some Tina's and Sam's pictures as well, thanks guys!

Living on Bondi Beach - Winter & Spring 2006

Photo gallery: Living on Bondi Beach - Winter & Spring 2006

I published several photos from Bondi Beach that were taken during winter and spring.

The Rocks

Photo gallery: The Rocks

The Rocks is the oldest area of Sydney. It was changed into a vibrant pocket of cafes and restaurants and interesting tourist shops and stalls. This has been achieved without destroying the area's Old World charm and historic buildings (it is often described as "Sydney's outdoors museum").

Nestled at the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks is the foundation place of Sydney, and of enormous historical signifiance.

Shelly Beach

Photo gallery: Shelly Beach

Shelly Beach is a small pleasant beach perching just a couple of minutes by walk from Manly. As usual, we took a ferry from the city to Manly. Water in the ocean was much warmer then what we are used to in Bondi but I missed its peculiar big waves.

The main reason we came there was to join the Barbara's farewell party. At the end of the party several possums that looked very hungry climbed down from trees :). They were really friendly and obviously it wasn't for the first time when they enjoyed a dinner with people.

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi

Photo gallery: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi

"Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi" is Australia's largest annual outdoor free to the public exhibition of contemporary sculpture.

Staged along Sydney's spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, the exhibition attracts over 400,000 visitors and exhibits over 100 works by artists from 15 different countries.

We saw sculptures made from wood, metal, bronze, ceramic, stone and other mixed medias.

South Head

Photo gallery: South Head

South Head is perched on the southern edge of the Sydney Harbour, opposite to North Head. It offers fine views of the Harbour and Pacific Ocean as well.

We went from Rose Bay (walking distance from Bondi Beach) to Watsons Bay by ferry. Watsons Bay is the charming fishing village adjacent to small sand beaches and cliffs.

Australian International Motor Show

Photo gallery: Australian International Motor Show

The Australian International Motor Show is Australia's largest automotive event and one of the top ten motor shows in the world. It is Australia's largest exhibition of any kind in New South Wales after the Royal Easter Show.

It took place in the newly-built Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour and more than 60 all-new, updated or concept cars are unveiled amongst the more than 500 vehicles on display.

Although we really liked the inner exhibition the test drive in Touareg 4WD was the greatest experience of the whole show.

Sydney Night

Photo gallery: Sydney Night

I published several night photos of Sydney (Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Martin Place,...).

Nan Tien Temple

Photo gallery: 25. Nan Tien Temple

We visited Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. "Nan Tien" in Chinese means "Paradise of the South".

The temple is situated near the town Wollongong, about 80 km from Sydney, and consists of several various, very nice buildings. It was established in 90's of the last century and has adopted the Chinese palace building style. The main objective is propagation of Buddhist teachings through cultural activities. It is one of the branch temples of Fo Guang Shan, founded in 1965, which has over 200 branches worldwide.

We also enjoyed the gardens around with many small various statues :))

Sharks on Bondi Beach

Two sharks came to within 50 meters of the beach several days ago!

Hundreds of swimmers were called out of the water after two sharks were spotted close to shore. Because it was very hot day there were about 30.000 people on Bondi beach at 2pm. We just saw lifeguards on two jet skis, guided to the sharks by the helicopter support.

After half an hour people were allowed back into the water. People slowly went back in but some said they were never coming to the beach again :). The lifeguards patrolled the water for the rest of the day while the sharks disappeared into the deep.

The sharks had most likely been whalers, considered to be most dangerous fish in the ocean. The Sydney Council is currently trying to reitroduce aerial patrol which ceased operation two years ago. The aerial patrol are the only safe option to protect beachgoers against shark attacks. According to experts we should expect to see more sharks in the coming month.

In the picture is a shark spotted on Bondi several months ago.

From South Head to Bondi

Fotogalerie: 24. From South Head to Bondi

South Head je jizni vybezek pevniny, kde konci Sydney Harbour (naproti je vybezek North Head (photos comming soon...). Je odsud tedy videt jak siroky ocean, tak misty az CBD (Central Business District, cetrum Sydney). I proto tu v minulosti byla vojanska uzemi, nyni jsou videt pozustatky bunkru a podstavce velkych otocnych samopalu.

Hned vedle South Head je The Gap - site of where Sydney's worst maritime tragedy (shipwreck) occurred in 1857.

South Head je soucasti Watsons Bay, kde mj. jsou unique blend of secluded beaches, spectacular coastal walks, historic charm and waterfront restaurants.

Od South Head je pesi cesta, prevazne nad utesy, pres Diamond Bay, Rose Bay, Dover Heights, North Bondi az k Eastern Beaches (Bondi Beach, Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Coogee Beach, Maroubra Beach).

Pridal jsem fotky jak myho Winter Trip, tak First Spring Day's Picnic :)

O mobilech

V Australii je standardni 900/1800 MHz GSM a melo by tu byt bezne take CDMA. Hodne jsou tu ted reklamne na 3G sluzby. Signalem samozrejme neni pokryta cela Australie, pokryto je urcite pres 90% populace a vsechny dulezity silnice a dalnice.

Hodne jsou tu prosazovany predplacene karty, pokud nechcete dotovany telefon, neni potreba smlouva. Nejcastejsi variantou je bud nakup klasicke predplacene karty nebo zakoupeni spacialniho programu, kdy je napr. za 49AUD mozno utratit 250AUD, ovsem tam je doba platnosti omezena vetsinou na 1 mesic a pak je treba znovu "dobit". Prezentace nabidek operatoru mi prijde jednodussi nez v CR.

Operatori
- Optus - nyni masivne zacal propagovat take pevne linky a internetove pripojeni, vlastni mj. i paterni internetove spoje
- Telstra - byvaly monopolni operator vseho co se da, vlastni vetsinu tel.budek (obdova naseho byvaleho CTc),
- Vodafone - vyhradne mobilni operator

Krome toho jsem zaregistroval take znacky Orange a Virgin, ale zastoupeni na trhu bude vyrazne mensi a dost mozna jde o virtualni operatory. Nejvice je videt (reklamy) Vodafone (reklamni styl jako byvaly CZ Eurotel), pak Optus (reklamni styl jako byvaly CZ Oskar), o dost mene pak Telstra.

Osobni zkusenosti
Kvalitou prenosu hlasu ale Australie za CR vyrazne zaostava, no je to obcas dost otresny. Take s pokrytim signalem v Sydney jsou misty problemy a konkretne ve vyskovych budovach chvili signal je, chvili neni... To je hruza, jsou cely kancelare, kde signal proste neni (a to i v prizemnich patrech - hovorim o budove stare jeden rok primo v business centru Sydney). Na druhou stranu jsou pokryte nektere tunely vlaku (v Sydney).

I pres celkovou spokojenost a dostupnost pokrocilych sluzeb je kvalita nekterych sluzeb nizsi nez v CR:

Clovek si nemuze pri nakupu SIM vybrat libovolne (volne) cislo, ale musi si vybrat jen z tech mala, co zrovna na prodejne jsou.

Zaslu-li informaci o stavu kreditu, odpoved (via SMS) prijde za 2 hodiny (?!).

Byl jsem svedkem prechodu Vodafone na novy webovy portal a nekolik tydnu to bud nefungovalo vubec nebo nastavaly dlouhe vypadky. "Hezky" bylo, ze na webovkach jsem se docet, ze k nekterym informacim o uctu se nedostanu ani kdyz zavolam na call centrum(!), to je v CR nemyslitelny. Podobny nefunkcnosti jsem zaznamenal i na web portalu Optusu.

Protoze aktivace SIM podleha nadiktovani mnoha osobnich udaju (dost casto chteji videt pas uz pri zakoupeni SIM), musi se absolvovat pomerne dlouhy hovor s call centrem, kde clovek zadava nekolik hesel a doted nechapu, k cemu to vsechno je vlastne dobry (nutno dodat, ze podobny "preheslovani" je i napr. pri zakladani bankovniho uctu a rozhodne to neznamena vyssi ochranu uctu, i zde je tak CR napred - konkr. porovnavam s eBanka). Registraci SIM slo udelat i pres web, ale call centru jsem se stejne nevyhnul :(.

Call centra nefunguji 24 hodin denne.

PS. clanky jako tento, nazvane "O ... ", casto vyjadruji moje osobni zkusenosti a vy se mne hodne ptate mailem na radu dalsich veci. Zkuste dotazy zadavat pres diskuse (Comments) pod clankem, tak Vas dotaz uvidi vsichni :). (pri zadavani zvolte Other nebo Anonymous vpravo dole)

Newcastle

Fotogalerie: 23. Newcastle

Newcastle je sesty nejvetsi mesto Australie, 160 km severne od Sydney. Mj. je tu univerzita a velky pristav (jsou tu velky naleziste uhli). Asi nejzajimavejsi jsou vsak parky pri pobrezi a nekolik mestskych plazi (10 minut pesky z centra).

Voda byla prekvapive tepla, takze ve meste jsme moc nepobyli a vyrazili na plaze a vecer pak na prochazku po okoli...

Featherdale Wildlife Park

Fotogalerie: 22. Featherdale Wildlife Park

Featherdale Wildlife Park je vyborny misto, kde se da pohybovat v tesny blizkosti nejcastejsich australskych zvirat: klokani, koaly, emu, dingo, wombati, Tasmansti certi, sovy, netopyri, papousci, plazi, zelvy a dalsi. V parku je mj. jedna z nejvetsich soukromych koalych kolonii v NSW a jedna z nejvetsich australskych ptacich kolonii. Behem dne jsou pravidelne programy krmeni zvirat.

Nejvetsi sranda byla, kdyz jsem jednomu papouchovi jen tak rek Ahoj a on suverenne odvetil Hello :)) Taky mne prekvapila koali neuveritelne jemna a husta srst - jen najit nespici koalu byl trochu problem :)