Visiting Australia in July

LT_Ng · #1 04-07-2011, 01:42 PM

Hello All,

My name is LT (William Ng) from Hong Kong. Most of you should not know or have forgetten me as I become very inactive in this forum recent years.

But I spent my vacation in July almost each year from 1999 for astronomy. So, I really would take Australia as my second home.

This year in July from 14/7 to 24/7, I come back to this second home again with my wife Barbara and one more friend Alan. We will land on Sydney airport in the morning of 14/7. Then follow the M1 highway along the coastal route to Melbourne.

That is my first time to go down south to Melbourne and we will plan to stay 3 nights in Melbourne. So, it . Moreover, this time we come to Australia with the bright moon. So, we mainly do sightseeing in our first half journey.

As that is the first time for me to be to Melbourne, Melbourne and SA are totally some new places to me. So, for such a limit time, we don't know which places along M1, in Melbourne and her suburban area should not be missed to take a look. Could anyone here give us some recommendation?

After visiting Melbourne, we will go on our journey to Canberra to visit Bird. But it is seemed that Bird has become inactive these 2 months. What's happened on him? Is there anybody could tell me about something of him? Is he alright on everything?

As the moon will go up later and later in our second half journey, we can do astronomy on the way back to Sydney. Just hope the weather can cooperate with.

Last year we were so lucky to know Peter, holding a private observatory hosting service in Coonbarabran. I wish this time I could have the chance to know and meet up some of you in this trip. If you have interest to know and want to meet up with me to share this hobby or exchange culture and life experience with each other, please leave me a PM.

Welcome to take a visit to my homepage, and I hope I can update it with some shots taken last year before my trip.

www.william-lt-ng.com

Thanks for taking a look on this thread, and look forward to having a chance to meet up with you.

With my best wishes,

LT

(Paul, this year we can't catch up again. But maybe next year we could in November, if I could follow the plan to get retired in July next year. If you are available to go for the eclipse event, we may find a chance to meet up with other.)

AstralTraveller (David) · #2 04-07-2011, 02:49 PM

LT

The south coast of NSW is a beautiful area which, fortunately, is not well known. (OK you've heard of it but don't tell anyone else

.) It isn't well developed so there aren't many specific attractions. Mostly it's nice beaches, pleasant hinterland and small towns. You might stop off in Kiama and check out the Blow Hole. It can still be quite interesting when the swell is running the rigt way, though it is only a shadow of its former self.

Jervis Bay is nice, though more from a boat than on land. The view from Point Perpendicular is good. (If you go to the south headland don't park in the Steamers Beach car park - pm me for reasons.)

If you have a full day and the right shoes, water bottles etc the walk up Pidgeon House Mountain is great and the views are worth the effort. It's also much safer with the new metal ladders rather than the old wood and rope constructions that used to be there - though less adreneline is involved.

Further south I can't think of anything specific but I'll keep thinking. Lastly, you could stop off in Cann River and visit the garage on the left as you enter town. The owner is (or was 10 years ago) one of the biggest 'blow'ards' in the country, but I took a shine to him

.

gbeal · #3 04-07-2011, 07:17 PM

I met William, Barbara, and Alan a few years back, when they visited NZ, unfortunately all he saw was rain, rain, and more rain, it bucketed down the day he visited here. A shame really as I had wanted to show them the southern skies from our rural home, unfortunately not to be.
If you are in "his path" make yourself known to him, he is a good bloke, with a common interest, and I am sure both will be better for the visit.
Gary

OICURMT · #4 04-07-2011, 10:03 PM

William

HOLY SMOKE!!!!... took a gander at your website... I was left speechless when I saw one of your Saturn images (so clear)... http://www.william-lt-ng.com/Planet/...800stacked.htm

and your Mars image from Oct 2005 is as good as any ground based shot...

As for Jupiter... http://www.william-lt-ng.com/Planet/...stacked_2x.htm ... I'd say you can give Bird a run for his money...

As for lunar... !!!

All the best, enjoy the Land Down Under...
OIC!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #5 04-07-2011, 10:36 PM

Hi William. Its great to hear from you again. Yes i will be going to the Eclipse, but if you are retiring next July then maybe you might move to Australia and get away from all that light, smog and poor seeing and i could see you sooner.

Plenty of clear, clean open skies here.

Give my best to Barbara.

Paul Haese · #6 04-07-2011, 10:49 PM

Hi William,

Anthony (Bird) is tending to his sick mother of late. My thoughts are with him and his family.

Paul

firstlight (Tony) · #7 04-07-2011, 10:57 PM

The Queensland Astrofest starts on the 22nd July, but it is a bit further north of where you are talking of going. Enjoy your stay in Australia.

Cheers
Tony

LT_Ng · #8 05-07-2011, 10:37 AM

Hi David,

Thanks so much for your recommendation. If time allows, I hope we could visit all the suggested places.

LT

LT_Ng · #9 05-07-2011, 10:48 AM

Hi Gary,

How are you? Do you still very happy in using the VC? You are so skillful in deep sky imaging, I think you should have taken tons of very beautiful images with the VC. If okay, please email me of some.

Though I couldn't do much on astronomy with the trip to NZ in 2008, I was still very happy with it. Though I had got lots of rain, I had known some very smart NZ folks. Without your help, I couldn't have such a greats to know them. Thanks. And, do you get any winning from astrophotograph contest these years?

Lastly, please forward my thanks to George and Kenric.

Best wishes,

William

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbeal

I met William, Barbara, and Alan a few years back, when they visited NZ, unfortunately all he saw was rain, rain, and more rain, it bucketed down the day he visited here. A shame really as I had wanted to show them the southern skies from our rural home, unfortunately not to be.
If you are in "his path" make yourself known to him, he is a good bloke, with a common interest, and I am sure both will be better for the visit.
Gary

LT_Ng · #10 05-07-2011, 10:53 AM

Hi OICURMT,

Thanks so much for your kind words. My planetary images are just so so. Bird's bar is light light year ahead of mine.

LT

LT_Ng · #11 05-07-2011, 10:59 AM

Hi Paul,

Yes, there are plenty of clear, clean open skies in Australia, and thus why I have been visiting for so many times, and I am looking forward to seeing that day comes, if Barbara says yes to the move.

Hope seeing you next year.

Clear skies,

William

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Hi William. Its great to hear from you again. Yes i will be going to the Eclipse, but if you are retiring next July then maybe you might move to Australia and get away from all that light, smog and poor seeing and i could see you sooner.

Plenty of clear, clean open skies here.

Give my best to Barbara.

LT_Ng · #12 05-07-2011, 11:05 AM

Hi Paul,

I am sorry to hear that, and my thoughts are with him and his family too.

If you can have conversation with him, please pass my message to him.

Thanks.

LT

LT_Ng · #13 05-07-2011, 11:08 AM

Hello Tony,

What a pity to me for missing that great Astrofest.

LT

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstlight

The Queensland Astrofest starts on the 22nd July, but it is a bit further north of where you are talking of going. Enjoy your stay in Australia.

Cheers
Tony

Paul Haese · #14 05-07-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LT_Ng

Hi Paul,

I am sorry to hear that, and my thoughts are with him and his family too.

If you can have conversation with him, please pass my message to him.

Thanks.

LT

I rang him this morning and found out that he has a rather bad flu, but will soon recover. I let him know you are asking for him, so with any luck you can catch up.

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #15 05-07-2011, 10:34 PM

LT,
Hi. Terrible time to visit Melbourne. Rain, cloud, wind. Repeat....

Great images on your site.
Hope you enjoy your vacation!
Peter

LT_Ng · #16 12-07-2011, 05:53 PM

Hi Peter,

How about the weather this week? Still terrible as last week?

Is it very cold in SA? Any snow or ice on the road along M1 from Sydney to Melbourne? Is there any road closed too due to ice?

In NSW area, there is always a warning sign to remind driver of speed camera in operation ahead. How about that in SA region, especially in those rural area? Is there any speed camera that I should pay extreme attention when driving on the road?

Thanks for your comment/advice.

Regards,

LT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

LT,
Hi. Terrible time to visit Melbourne. Rain, cloud, wind. Repeat....

Great images on your site.
Hope you enjoy your vacation!
Peter

LT_Ng · #17 12-07-2011, 05:56 PM

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your help, and I decide not to visit him this year.

Hope he and his family can overcome finally.

Regards,

LT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

I rang him this morning and found out that he has a rather bad flu, but will soon recover. I let him know you are asking for him, so with any luck you can catch up.