AUSTRALIA | Tuesday, 4 Sep 2007 | Views [2084] | Comments [2]
On the morning of November 16 th 1629, two men rowed ashore just south of modern day Kalbarri onboard the dingy of the Sardam , a jacht belonging to the VOC ( Verenigde Oost-indische Compagnie ), the Dutch East-Indies Company. They were marooned ... Read more >
Tags: ambassador van, culture
AUSTRALIA | Tuesday, 28 Aug 2007 | Views [2052]
In the early 17 th century, the Dutch were the masters of the sea trade. To reach their colonies on Java, they were rounding the Cape of Good Hope, and using the recently discovered “roaring forties” to go straight east, before heading north to Batavia, ... Read more >
Tags: ambassador van, culture
AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 15 Aug 2007 | Views [1187]
So the Kimberleys were ruled out for me and I didn’t want to dwell on it. The decision was made, I had to move on. Destination Broome, and along the way, I figured I could still see a few things, like the towns of Wyndham or Derby at both ends of ... Read more >
Tags: ambassador van, culture
AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 8 Aug 2007 | Views [1287] | Comments [1]
Kakadu National Park enjoys the rare distinction of being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site both for its flamboyant wildlife and rich vegetation, and for its unique aboriginal heritage. There are literally dozens of rock art sites throughout ... Read more >
Tags: ambassador van, culture
AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 1 Aug 2007 | Views [801] | Comments [1]
When he learnt that Captain John Lort Stokes from the Beagle , a former shipmate, had named a beautiful bay in northern Australia by his name, evolutionist Charles Darwin must have been quite flattered. It was back in 1839, and the name was Port ... Read more >
Tags: ambassador van, culture