EASTER FAMILY FUN DAY

EASTER FAMILY FUN DAY

Looking for a fun free outing over the Easter break that the whole family can enjoy? Then save this date!

Put on an Easter bonnet and head to the Lizard Playground at Highbrook Park on Easter Saturday, March 31, for a fantastic free fun day out.

The Easter Bunny will be hopping in to the playground for a visit at 10.30am, there will be an Easter egg hunt at 12noon and the lucky “door” prizes will be drawn at 1.30pm.

The day runs from 9am to 2pm and there will be live music, plenty of free activities for the kids, including face painting and a jumping castle, and coffee, hot food and drinks will be available.

Easter Family Fun Day is funded by Bengalla Mining and supported by the Muswellbrook Shire Council.

EASTER FAMILY FUN DAY

SATURDAY, MARCH 31,
LIZARD PLAYGROUND, Muswellbrook, NSW Australia

MEKONG NATIONS AGREE TO SHARE INFORMATION TO JOINTLY MANAGE THE TRANSNATIONAL RIVER

Last month China has stopped discharging water from
Yunnan Dam into the Mekong River, affecting boat
services in the northern city of Chiang Rai.

The representatives of six Mekong nations formulated guidelines at an academic conference in Chiang Rai on how to share information and technology to jointly manage the transnational river this week.

The approach focuses on cooperation, rather than conflict, according to a high-ranking Thai official.

Worasart Apaipong, director-general of Thailand’s Water Resources Department, said yesterday that sharing information would help minimise negative impacts when upstream nations needed to release water from their dams on the Mekong River.

Originating in China, the river stretches more than 4,350 kilometers through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

“Farms along the river will be able to avoid damage if local farmers are informed of water-discharge schedules in advance,” Worasart said.

Chinese dams can hold up to 22 billion cubic metres of water and are mainly used for hydro-power, he said.

“We cannot prevent China from building dams. But we can talk for mutual coexistence and minimize any negative impact,” he said.

Eight Thai provinces are on the Mekong River, and residents are adversely affected when water levels do not rise or fall in line with seasonal patterns.

Worasart was speaking at the second conference for the six nations in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Held in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, the two-day conference started on Thursday for a working panel on water resources. Addressing the “ Trans-boundary Water Resources and Related Resources, this academic event was held as a part of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework.

“We need to pursue the sharing of information and joint research so as to best manage the water situation. We need to prevent flood and drought crises,” Worasart said.

Pakaimas Vierra, who heads the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce, applauded the move towards sharing information.

Read full article at Chiang Rai Times: http://www.chiangraitimes.com/mekong-nations-agree-to-share-information-to-jointly-manage-the-transnational-river.html

http://www.mekongtourism.org/

SCULPTURE AT SCENIC WORLD

SCULPTURE AT SCENIC WORLD

Set in the heart of the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains, Sculpture at Scenic World transforms the ancient rainforest into an outdoor canvas showcasing over 35 artworks from local, national and international artists.

Perfect for art lovers, families and couples alike, Sculpture at Scenic World has something for everyone. Interactive installations, subtle artworks that blend seamlessly into the environment, and loud masterpieces with bold statements – you name it, Sculpture at Scenic World has got it.

Meander along the 2.4 kilometre Scenic Walkway as you take in the stunning artworks and scenery, accessed by none other than the world’s steepest passenger train, the Scenic Railway. Better yet, top it off with a visit to Sculpture Otherwise, an exhibition of smaller sculptures held at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre.

Sculpture at Scenic World ticks all the right boxes for a perfect arts escape, with a number of weekend packages on offer with inclusions such as breakfast, Wifi, high tea and more. All Sculpture at Scenic World tickets include unlimited travel on the Scenic Railway, Cableway and the new Skyway, in addition to Sculpture Otherwise.

Plan your autumn arts escape now!

For more information: http://www.sculptureatscenicworld.com.au

Cherry Blossoms at Mt Fuji

Photo by Takashi — with Azra Halilovic.

Lake Kawaguchi is one of the places you can see a combination of cherry blossoms and Mt Fuji. 

Once the flowers fully bloom, many tourists hurry to witness this scene. 

Try to capture Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms together for yourself.

 It's sure to turn out lovely.

CREDIT CARD USE ON FERRIES AND LIGHT RAIL

Sydney commuters and visitors can now use their credit card to tap on for single trips when travelling on ferries and the light rail.

The contactless payment system began this week and is expected to be rolled out on Sydney trains by the end of the year. Commuters will also be able to use mobile wallets linked to their credit card, including phones, tablets and smart watches.

Travellers using their credit cards will be charged a full single trip fare and won’t get the discounts that come with the use of an Opal card.

The Greatest Easter Show Spectacular

The night time entertainment at this years Sydney Royal Easter Show is action packed with horses, cars and motorbikes. This year's entertainment also includes circus spectacles.

Step right up and take a seat for the one and only, greatest ever, best show in town. We've got Hot Air Balloon Trapeze, the Double Wheel of Death, Flying Trapeze, Motorcycle Highwire Trapeze, Extreme Vaulting and gorgeous Glowing Horses.

You won't believe what you are seeing as dare devils defy death, gymnasts perform on horseback, and for the first time ever in an arena show trapeze artists will perform suspended from a hot air balloon. It truly is the Greatest Easter Show Spectacular every night in the Spotless Stadium.

The Greatest Easter Show Spectacular
Where: Spotless Stadium, Sydney Royal Easter Show

When: Daily, 7.50pm to 8.20pm

RIVER FESTIVAL COMES CLOSE TO CAPITAL FOR FIRST TIME

The NOCC holds a meeting to discuss the 2018
Mekong River Festival at their headquarters
Photo: Yeun Ponlork

For the first time in four years the annual Mekong River Festival and multi-sport gala, a celebratory event to pay tribute to Asia’s seventh longest river, is to be held within easy distance of Phnom Penh.

Running from March 9-11, the fourth edition of the Mekong River Festival will be held in Takhmao town, just 10-12km from the capital.

Launched in Kratie province three years ago, jointly by the Ministry of Tourism and the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, in conjunction with local authorities and private sponsors and partners, Kampong Cham and Stung Treng hosted the next two editions.

With Takhmao so close to Phnom Penh, hundreds of thousands from the city are expected to attend the festival and watch the nine-sport programme and other cultural activities.

For the thronging masses, there will be plenty of popular sports competitions including swimming, boating, a fun run, cycling, football, volleyball, Khmer chess, kun Khmer kickboxing and wrestling.

Enhancing the entertainment value will be Cambodia-Vietnam contests in both football and volleyball.

‘Raising awareness’

While the focus during the festival, being sponsored this year by Cambodia Beverages, will be on highlighting the Mekong as an indispensable source of sustainable life and the key role the river has played over the centuries in shaping the lives of the people living along its path, a huge cultural element has also been built into the celebrations.

“The Mekong provides a sustainable lifeline for thousands in Cambodia, and this three-day festival is to raise awareness among people to keep it pollution-free so that communities can prosper from its enormous resources,” said secretary-general of the NOCC Vath Chamroeun.

The transboundary Mekong, which originates in the Tibetan plateau, covers an estimated 4,350km, flowing through China’s Yunan province, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before joining the sea in Vietnam.

One of the main objectives behind organising the Mekong River Festival every year is to complement the Sea Festival, a national initiative to celebrate coastal and marine life, held towards the end of the year.

Read full article at The Phnom Penh Post: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/sport/river-festival-comes-close-capital-first-time

SYDNEY SEIZES TOP SPOT IN TRIP ADVISOR AWARDS

Sydney

For the second year running, Sydney has been named the top travel destination in Australia, in the TripAdvisor 2018 Travellers’ Choice awards.

Sydney beat out the Gold Coast and Melbourne to take top spot, with TripAdvisor spokesperson Grant Colguhiun saying Sydney’s spectacular harbour, beaches and nightlife had obviously struck a chord with millions of world travellers.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said Sydney never fails to impress.

“Sydney’s natural beauty, iconic attractions, festivals and events and excellent shopping and dining options continue to amaze visitors from across the globe all year-round, and with the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas; Vivid Sydney kicking off in May, now is the perfect time to plan your trip to our incredible Harbour City, ” Mr Marshall said.

For more winning destinations, head to www.tripadvisor.com.au

Instagrammable Food Guide To Tokyo - Eddy’s Ice Cream (Harajuku)

Located in Harajuku, Eddy’s Ice Cream allows you to choose the cutest ice creams, or create your own. I find these to be so, well, Japanese! It’s Harajuku in an ice cream, basically. Everything is pastel and cute here, including the interior of the shop.

You can select from their regular menu, where they have ice cream designs all ready to go, or make a custom cone, with a range of chocolate and cookie motifs, including unicorns, bows, and cat themed treats, and even letters. I’ve seen many people spell out their name. I think the customisation element is also part of reason there’s usually a line out the door.

The ice cream itself is not the best I’ve had, you can choose between vanilla and strawberry, or mixed. The chocolate is also quite waxy in texture. However, I still eat all of it every time. I like to dip the cookies in the ice cream while we walk through Omotesando!

Cost: An ice cream will cost you roughly 900-1300yen (quite expensive), depending on your order and customization! Don’t forget to bring cash as they don’t accept card payments.
Address: 1F 4-26-28 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Hours: 11:00- 20:00

* By Tara Milk Tea
https://www.jnto.org.au

REAL BODIES THE EXHIBITION

Real Bodies The Exhibition, a stunning and thought-provoking exhibition of human anatomy makes its Sydney Debut at The Byron Kennedy Hall at the Entertainment Quarter from Saturday 14 April 2018 for a limited time. This powerful exhibition explores life by displaying real, perfectly preserved human bodies and over 200 anatomical specimens.

Through a compelling narrative that contemplates both the wondrous mystery of the human anatomy and the philosophical realities of birth, life and death, Real Bodies The Exhibitionwill connect audiences to a deeper sense of what it means to be alive. Founded on anatomical, cultural, and emotional narratives, the exhibition transforms the way we view the mysterious organism we all share - the human body - and reminds us of all the complexity and magic within us that we often take for granted. Real Bodies The Exhibition digs deeper into the beauty of the body, mind, and soul than any other exhibition of its kind, and invites you to explore the entire human experience from the first breath to the last.

Real Bodies The Exhibition consists of 10 approachable galleries that offer unique perspectives on human anatomy and its importance to world cultures as well as the emotional expression embedded in each of our physiological functions. Galleries consist of subject matter such as “Breathe” exploring the respiratory system, “Rhythm” revealing the delicate interconnectedness of the circulatory system, “Love” presenting the science of physical attraction, and more.

The exhibition pushes boundaries while seamlessly blending art, science, and emotion as a museum of the self. Real Bodies The Exhibition reveals the deep synergy between breathing, hunger, the rhythm of the heart, love, motion, and thought that makes each person unique.

Where do we come from? What are we made of? Why are we here? Real Bodies The Exhibition takes visitors on a philosophical journey and introspection about what to do with the life and body they have been given.

The exhibition is the next in a successful recent lineup of Australia Exhibitions from Imagine Exhibitions, producers of the recent Titanic: The Exhibition at the EQ in Sydney and Jurassic World: The Exhibition in Melbourne. Those two exhibitions drew a combined audience of over 550,000 guests.

“While the exhibition moves through the anatomical systems of the human body, it also looks far beyond the physical aspects,” said President and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions Tom Zaller. “It explores the symbolic and cultural significance that bodily systems--such as the nervous system or circulatory system--have had from the beginning of time, and questions why we do what we do and how we do it. Whether or not a visitor is spiritual, they’ll emerge from Real Bodies The Exhibition with a sense of greater connection—a connection to the whole of humanity.”

Real Bodies The Exhibition

Gavin Burland, President, Australasian Institute of Anatomical Sciences; Scientific Officer, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, says “It is exciting to see an exhibition of human plastinates be available to the general public in Sydney. These Plastinates provide a unique view into the human body that is normally reserved to the medical field, the public will be able to explore and interact with these displays to better understand what’s inside that makes us function as people, a unique insight that can’t be gained via the technological world that we live in today. As one of Australia’s most experienced technical experts on plastination, it is a privilege to be able to engage with the public and have them experience the art and science of producing plastinates through this exhibition.”

www.RealBodiesExhibition.com.au

REAL BODIES THE EXHIBITION
Opens Saturday 14 April

BOOKING INFORMATION – TICKETS ON SALE TUESDAY 3 APRIL
Ticket Pre-registration: Due to anticipated demand and expected sellouts, a ticket pre-registration is available to guarantee ticket access. To register, visit www.RealBodiesExhibition.com.au
Venue: The Byron Kennedy Hall, Entertainment Quarter,
122 Lang Road, Moore Park, Queensland, Australia

Dates: From Saturday 14 April 2018
Times: 10am to 5pm (check the website for details)
Prices: Adults from $33, Student/Concession from $28, Junior (4-16) from $19, Family pass from $71
Discounted tickets for student and adult groups of ten or more are available now.
Portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Red Cross
Groups & Schools email groups@realbodiesexhibition.com.au

Information: www.RealBodiesExhibition.com.au or (02) 8310 7948

Parking: Two hours free parking at Wilson Parking at The Entertainment Quarter (enter via Lang Road)
Public Transport: Many bus routes travel along Anzac Parade and visitors should alight at Sydney Girls High School on Anzac Parade or at the Entertainment Quarter stop on Lang Road.

The world-renowned exhibition, seen by millions worldwide, features over 200 real anatomical human specimens and provides fascinating insights into the wonders of the human body.