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Just 15 centimetres of water can float a car – but we are failing to educate drivers about the dangers of floodwaters

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-peden-1136424">Amy Peden</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kyra-hamilton-331594">Kyra Hamilton</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828"><em>Griffith University</em></a></em></p> <p>Every year in Australia, people driving into floodwaters drown and many more are <a href="https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/disaster-tabs-header/flood/">rescued</a>. Do <em>you</em> know what to do when there’s water on the road?</p> <p>We searched all state and territory learner and driver handbooks for information about floodwaters, including signage. Our findings, published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437524000860?via%3Dihub">Journal of Safety Research</a>, are disturbing.</p> <p>Across half of Australia’s states and territories, the driver handbook ignores flooding. That’s a missed opportunity, considering the handbook contains road rules and provides advice on how to navigate safely. While some states fail to provide any flood-related information, others give detailed practical guidance. Only the New South Wales handbook includes explanation of the meaning and purpose of flood signage.</p> <p>This is despite almost all states and territories experiencing vehicle-related flood <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jfr3.12616">deaths</a>, including <a href="https://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/causal-pathways-of-flood-related-river-drowning-deaths-in-australia/">drowning</a>, between 2001 and 2017. It’s a major problem that is only going to get worse as the climate changes. So our research shows driver education needs to come up to speed, fast.</p> <h2>Why do people drive into floodwaters?</h2> <p>Our previous <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420918301869">research</a> revealed motorists can feel compelled to drive into floodwaters for a range of reasons. These include time pressures such as being late for work or school, or needing to get home to family or pets. Sometimes they feel pressured by their passengers, or motorists behind them on the road, urging them to cross.</p> <p>People also report having been encouraged or instructed as learners to drive into floodwaters. Past experience as a passenger also influences a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847823000475">learner driver’s</a> future willingness to drive into floodwaters.</p> <p>So the views of significant others, such as their supervising driver, strongly influence decisions around driving into floodwaters.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZtlXpDBjU1Q?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Avoid driving into floodwaters, for life’s sake.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>What we did and what we found</h2> <p>We assessed all publicly available, government-issued learner and driver handbooks (12 documents) across all six Australian states and two territories. We also looked for flood-related signage. We used a method for reviewing online material through a systematic search including in-document key words and imagery.</p> <p>Four jurisdictions provided no information on flooding in the handbook. In the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, drivers need to look elsewhere for information on floodwaters and driving safety.</p> <p>Only one jurisdiction provided information on flood signage such as depth markers and “road subject to flooding”. Hats off to the <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/Road-User-Handbook-English.pdf">NSW Road User Handbook</a>, which warns:</p> <blockquote> <p>Floodwater is extremely dangerous. Find another way or wait until the road is clear. It’s safer to turn around than to drive in floodwater.</p> </blockquote> <p>For the states and territories that did provide information on floodwaters in the handbook, the content varied.</p> <p>NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory warned against entering floodwaters in a vehicle. They highlighted the dangers and financial penalties associated with driving on closed roads.</p> <p>In the NT and Western Australia, handbooks provided practical information on when and how to cross floodwaters safely, such as how to gauge safe water depth based on vehicle size, and to avoid fast-flowing water.</p> <p>Although well-intentioned, judgements around what constitutes fast-flowing water are subjective and hard for any driver to assess, let alone learner drivers. Even drivers of larger vehicles such as four-wheel drives are regularly involved in flood-related <a href="https://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/causal-pathways-of-flood-related-river-drowning-deaths-in-australia/">vehicle drowning fatalities</a>.</p> <p>Just <a href="https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/news-and-media/campaigns/15-to-float">45cm</a> of water can float a large 4WD, and considerably less for smaller vehicles.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t4ilUbMXZAQ?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">A small car can float in just 15cm of water.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Handbooks represent valuable sources of safety information, particularly for new drivers who must learn important road rules to progress from one licence to another. Such graduated driver licensing schemes reduce road traffic injury, particularly among <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437523000385">young people</a>.</p> <p>However, many of these handbooks fail to provide consistent, practical evidence-based information about flooding. There is an opportunity here to support safer driving behaviours.</p> <h2>Safety tips for all drivers</h2> <p>We encourage drivers to follow these safety tips:</p> <ul> <li>avoid driving into floodwaters</li> <li>identify alternative routes, so you have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-roads-become-rivers-forming-a-plan-b-can-stop-people-driving-into-floodwaters-183036">plan B</a></li> <li>familiarise yourself, and any learner drivers in the household or under your care, with the meaning and purpose of flood signage</li> <li>understand the legal consequences of crossing a road closed sign</li> <li>discuss the dangers of driving into floodwaters with learner drivers and help them formulate their own plan B</li> <li>model safe driving for all passengers, including children.</li> </ul> <h2>Time to lift our game</h2> <p>Driving into floodwaters remains the main cause of <a href="https://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/causal-pathways-of-flood-related-river-drowning-deaths-in-australia/">flood-related drowning</a> in Australia.</p> <p>For our emergency service personnel, driver behaviour, including people ignoring road closed signs, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hpja.181">significantly complicates</a> the already dangerous act of performing a flood rescue.</p> <p>Extreme weather and flooding are likely to become more frequent and intense in the future. That means the chance of being faced with a flooded road is growing. So information about driving during floods is vital for all, from the newly licensed to the experienced driver.</p> <p>We hope our research will encourage all states and territories to include provide practical, evidence-based advice on floods in driver handbooks as soon as possible.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233116/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-peden-1136424">Amy Peden</a>, NHMRC Research Fellow, School of Population Health &amp; co-founder UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kyra-hamilton-331594">Kyra Hamilton</a>, Associate Professor in Applied Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/just-15-centimetres-of-water-can-float-a-car-but-we-are-failing-to-educate-drivers-about-the-dangers-of-floodwaters-233116">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

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Airbnb launches real-life "Up" house - and it actually floats!

<p>Airbnb is taking its latest listing to the sky - literally. </p> <p>The accommodation provider has announced a partnership that will see the iconic house from Pixar's hit film <em>Up</em> being lifted into the air, balloons and all. </p> <p>In their ongoing quest to redefine hospitality, Airbnb has launched a permanent category called “Icons,” which features partnerships with brands and celebrities that promise unforgettable experiences.</p> <p>Suspended over the New Mexico desert with the aid of a crane, the property looks like an exact replica of the home and contains adorable easter eggs from the film - including the Adventure Book. </p> <p>“Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination — until now,”  Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky said in a statement.</p> <p>“As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world … we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth." </p> <p>The house offers a stunning view of the desert, which you can enjoy while sitting on replica's of Ellie and Carl's chairs or have breakfast with a view in the kitchen. </p> <p>Alternatively, you could look at the stars while sitting on the front porch - but don't look down because the adventure is out there. </p> <p>Of course there are questions about the logistics of the stay, including plumbing and electricity, but the accommodation giant has assured that the house is “fully functional,” connected to generators and utilities that will be seamlessly managed before and after its flight.</p> <p>Other fantastical listings include a replica of the mansion from the “X-Men ’97” cartoon, a stay at the Ferrari Museum in Italy, and Prince's house that was featured in the legendary film <em>Purple Rain</em>. </p> <p>Check out the <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1126185893236246260?_set_bev_on_new_domain=1715826165_M2NkZDdkODdhMjcy&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1715826166_A20M4770EGAtl8AV&amp;modal=PHOTO_TOUR_SCROLLABLE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Up</em></a> listing here, be warned the sweet listing may make you shed a tear or two. </p> <p><em>Images: Airbnb</em></p> <p> </p>

Real Estate

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Happy birthday AUD: how our Australian dollar was floated, 40 years ago this week

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/selwyn-cornish-1297285">Selwyn Cornish</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-hawkins-746285">John Hawkins</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865"><em>University of Canberra</em></a></em></p> <p>These days, we take for granted that the value of the Australian dollar fluctuates against other currencies, changing thousands of times a day and at times jumping or falling quite a lot in the space of a week.</p> <p>But for most of Australia’s history, the value of the Australian dollar – and the earlier Australian pound – was “<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/exchange-rates-and-their-measurement.html#:%7E:text=exchange%20rate%20volatility.-,Pegged,or%20a%20basket%20of%20currencies.">pegged</a>” to either gold, pound sterling, the US dollar or to a value of a basket of currencies.</p> <p>The momentous decision to <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-long-road-that-led-to-the-floating-of-the-australian-dollar-20141121-11ra30">float</a> the dollar was taken on Friday December 9 1983 by the Hawke Labor Government, which was elected nine months earlier.</p> <p>As they approached the cabinet room at what is now Old Parliament House, Treasurer Paul Keating asked Reserve Bank Governor Bob Johnston to write him a letter to say the bank recommended floating.</p> <p>The letter, dated December 9, referred to the bank’s concern about the "volume of foreign exchange purchases and its belief that if these flows are to be brought under control we shall need to face up without delay either to less Reserve Bank participation in the exchange market or capital controls."</p> <p>By “less Reserve Bank participation”, Johnston meant a managed float; direct controls were to be considered “as a last resort”.</p> <p>The bank had long maintained a “<a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-long-road-that-led-to-the-floating-of-the-australian-dollar-20141121-11ra30">war book</a>”, bearing the intriguing label “Secret Matter”, outlining the procedures to be followed in the event of a decision to float.</p> <p>An updated version was handed to the treasurer the day before the decision.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/floating-exchange-rates-after-ten-years/">US</a> and the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/23/newsid_2518000/2518927.stm">UK</a> floated their currencies in the early 1970s. Since the early 1980s the value of the dollar had been set via a “<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2018/dec/understanding-exchange-rates-and-why-they-are-important.html">crawling peg</a>” – meaning its value was pegged to other currencies each week, and later each day, by a committee of officials who announced the values at <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/inside-the-floating-of-the-a-20131211-2z698.html">9.30 each morning</a>.</p> <p>If too much or too little money came into the country as a result of the rate the authorities had set, they adjusted it the next day, sometimes losing money to speculators who had bet they wouldn’t be able to hold the rate they had set.</p> <p>Keating had Johnston accompany him to the December 9 press conference instead of Treasury Secretary John Stone, who had argued against the float in the cabinet room, putting the case for direct controls on capital inflows instead.</p> <p>Johnston’s presence was meant to make clear that at least the central bank supported floating the dollar.</p> <h2>Speculators now speculate against themselves</h2> <p>Keating told the press conference the float meant the speculators would be “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/from-the-archives-1983-the-australian-dollar-floats-free-20191206-p53hjq.html">speculating against themselves</a>”, rather than against the authorities.</p> <p>One banker quoted that night confessed to being “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/from-the-archives-1983-the-australian-dollar-floats-free-20191206-p53hjq.html">absolutely staggered</a>”. “I’m not sure they know what they have done,” the banker said.</p> <p>The following Monday on ABC’s AM program, presenter <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-12-08/20-years-since-dollar-floated/102568">Red Harrison</a> heralded “a brave new world for the Australian dollar”. He said, "from today the dollar must take its chance, subject to the supply and demand of the international marketplace, and there are suggestions that foreign exchange dealers expect a nervous start to trading when the first quotes are posted this morning."</p> <p>At the time, the Australian dollar was worth 90 US cents. At first it <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2013/sp-gov-211113.html">rose</a>, before settling back.</p> <p>Since then, the Australian dollar has fluctuated from a low of <a href="https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/australian-dollar-floated">47.75</a> US cents in April 2001 to a high of US$1.10 in July 2011.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="6ExL8" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6ExL8/3/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <hr /> <h2>The long road to the float</h2> <p>The idea first took hold in Australia when Commonwealth Bank Governor <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2022/dec/hc-coombs-governor-of-australias-central-bank-1949-1968.html">“Nugget” Coombs</a> visited Canada in 1953, at a time when it was one of the few countries with a floating exchange rate.</p> <p>On his return, Coombs wrote the bank should consider Canada’s experience.</p> <p>A strong advocate from the mid-1960s was the bank’s economist <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1475-4932.1986.tb00915.x">Austin Holmes</a>. Among those he mentored at what by then was called the Reserve Bank were Bob Johnston, Don Sanders and John Phillips.</p> <p>All three were in the cabinet room when the decision was taken.</p> <h2>Backed by Cairns, opposed by Abbott</h2> <p>An unlikely advocate in the 1970s was the left-wing Labor treasurer <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/05Hawkins.pdf">Jim Cairns</a>.</p> <p>But asked in 1979 whether he was in favour of a float, the then Reserve Bank governor <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/about-rba/history/governors/sir-harold-murray-knight.html">Harry Knight</a> responded by quoting Saint Augustine, saying “God make me pure, but not yet”. An oil shock was making markets turbulent at the time.</p> <p>In 1981, the Campbell inquiry into the Australian financial system delivered a landmark report to Treasurer John Howard, <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/publication/p1981-afs">recommending</a> a float. The idea was backed by neither the Treasury nor Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.</p> <p>Two years later, Howard watched from opposition as Labor did what he could not.</p> <p>The Liberal Party generally backed Labor’s move, with one notable exception – the later prime minister, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/tony-abbott-wrote-20-years-ago-floating-dollar-didnt-make-sense-20131206-2ywpm.html">Tony Abbott</a>, who in 1994 wrote that "changing the price of the dollar moment by moment in response to each transaction makes no more sense than altering the price of cornflakes every time a buyer takes a packet off the supermarket shelves."</p> <h2>A success by any measure</h2> <p>The floating exchange rate has served Australia well.</p> <p>When the Australian economy has slowed or contracted – in the early 1990s, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis and in the COVID recession – the Australian dollar has fallen, making Australian exports cheaper in foreign markets.</p> <p>When mining booms have sucked money into the country, the Australian dollar has climbed, spreading the benefit and fighting inflation by increasing the buying power of Australian dollars.</p> <p>It’s why these days, hardly anyone wants to return to a <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/exchange-rates-and-their-measurement.html">pegged</a> rate.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/217548/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/selwyn-cornish-1297285">Selwyn Cornish</a>, Honorary Associate Professor, Research School of Economics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-hawkins-746285">John Hawkins</a>, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a></em></p> <p><em>Image </em><em>credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/happy-birthday-aud-how-our-australian-dollar-was-floated-40-years-ago-this-week-217548">original article</a>.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Floating fracas: Hour-long brawl breaks out on cruise ship

<p>A mass brawl has broken out on a cruise ship heading into New York. However, it remains unsure if anybody will be charged.</p> <p>The brawl broke out on the dancefloor of a nightclub of the Carnival Magic cruise ship in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday the 28th of June.</p> <p>At the moment of the brawl, the ship was heading back to New York, but the exact location of the vessel will have a bearing on a criminal investigation depending on the jurisdiction of law enforcement it falls under. However, if it took place in international waters, it is possible everybody involved will get away scot-free.</p> <p>The NYPD has confirmed security on-board were unable to contain the fight and had to summon the Coast Guard. "Security onboard the boat attempted to de-escalate the situation and subsequently called for the Coast Guard," the police said in a statement.</p> <p>"The Coast Guard escorted the cruise ship to Pier 88, confines of the MTN Precinct. Uniformed personnel and Traffic Agents met the ship and the ship disembarked passengers without further incident".</p> <p>An eyewitness passenger Theresa James claims the fight began over a "threesome".</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Massive brawl breaks out in nightclub of Carnival cruise ship just off New York harbor. It started because someone got jealous over a “threesome”. The Coast Guard was summoned to escort the ship back to New York. <a href="https://t.co/2Xnljgi3O9">pic.twitter.com/2Xnljgi3O9</a></p> <p>— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeSington/status/1542467886223982592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>She said the fight lasted for an hour and stretched from the fifth floor to the first floor, involving up to 60 people.</p> <p>Carnival described the brawl as an "altercation".</p> <p>"Thankfully no serious injuries were reported and our onboard security team intervened."</p> <p>The brawl came at the end of an eight-day voyage, which went into various islands in the West Indies before heading back up the US east coast.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Sobbing girl floats 800m to sea

<p>A young girl had the scare of her life after she was blown out 800m to sea.</p> <p>The eight-year-old child had to be tearfully rescued by a speedboat after she had floated away, due to offshore wind on a beach in Rhyl, Wales.</p> <p>The dramatic moment she was rescued was caught on camera, with the sobbing girl seen clinging to safety once they approached her.</p> <p>She had been having a day under the sun with family, with her dinghy connected by a rope to a family member before it was accidentally released.</p> <p> </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841588/ocean-girl-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/aa81c5820b8845e7af41f4c9de68e477" /></p> <p>The UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a lifeboat search and rescue charity were thankfully up to the mission to grab the youngster.</p> <p>Video of the child’s rescue was made public.</p> <p>“It was very lucky that the crew was in the area, attending another call, we they were very quickly on the scene,” Rhyl Lifeboat Station press officer Paul Frost said.</p> <p>One of the crew could be heard yelling to the girl, “Are you OK, are you alright?”</p> <p>The eight-year-old’s heartbreaking screams could be heard through the footage, along with pleas to “get out” of the dinghy.</p> <p>Mr Frost said that although the sea wasn’t rough, there was an offshore breeze “so the dinghy was quickly being blown out to sea.</p> <p>“The crew was only about two minutes away at the time (of the emergency call),” he said.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841587/ocean-girl-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e0b771dad9c14144bc801f23c9e5f56a" /></p> <p>“She had drifted about half a mile off shore.</p> <p>“But she did the right thing by staying in the dinghy, and not trying to swim to shore.</p> <p>“She was crying when the crew found her, and they took her back to shore to her family. No medical help was needed – she was just a little bit shaken.</p> <p>“Her family explained that the dinghy was attached to a line, but they let it go and within seconds it had drifted away.”</p>

Cruising

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Four-year-old girl found floating alone at sea on giant inflatable unicorn

<p>A ferry crew and its passengers could not contain their shock when they spotted a small child that had been swept away from the shore on a giant inflatable unicorn.</p> <p>The young child had been swept out to sea and was drifting off the coast of the Greek town of Antirrio in the Gulf of Corith.</p> <p>Local press reported the daughter of the parents, that was aged between at least four to five years old, had lost their focus as she played on the toy that would eventually take her away from the shore.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Mum and dad probably pissed on the beach dont even notice she’s gone! <a href="https://t.co/DRfkkrQJa3">pic.twitter.com/DRfkkrQJa3</a></p> — LEE LEE THE 3RD ⚔️ (@LeeBrasco) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeeBrasco/status/1298895389291098114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>When the parents realised that their little daughter was out of sight, they informed the port authorities, reports the Greek City Path.</p> <p>The authorities reportedly alerted the captain of the local ferry “Salaminomachos.”</p> <p>The ferry's captain on the Rio-Antirio found the child in the middle of the sea and slowly manoeuvred the vessel to her rescue.</p> <p>Footage captured the extraordinary incident that showed the girl calmly sitting on her raft as the boat crew plucked her to safety.</p> <p>The clip showed her wearing a pink bathing suit and holding on tightly to her inflatable.</p> <p>Her unicorn began to float away as the crewmen plucked her out of the water to safety.</p> <p>The little girl was reportedly returned to her parents unscathed.</p>

News

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COVID-19 warning: Nine cruise ships floating offshore could “flood our system”

<p>Police are urging foreign cruise ships floating off the NSW coast to sail home rather than risk flooding the state’s hospitals with coronavirus patients.</p> <p>NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Tuesday said there were a total of nine ships either docked in NSW or waiting off the coast.</p> <p>“There are thousands of people, potentially, in cruise ships off our coasts that aren’t members of our state and if we take them in, then that could well flood our system unnecessarily,” Fuller said.</p> <p>“All the hard work we've done could be over. We will continue to allow them to have fuel and food ... but it is time to go to your port of origin.”</p> <p>The call came after the operator of the Ruby Princess cruise ship, which has been linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases, asked the government to allow the company to repatriate its foreign crew “on compassionate and humanitarian grounds”.</p> <p>Carnival Australia said it was “in high-level federal and state discussions with the aim of enabling the repatriation”.</p> <p>“It is not safe for the ship to sail away from Australia while there are crew members on board who are ill,” the company said in a statement.</p> <p>“While illness on board has been reduced due to strong health management, the ship needs to remain within reach of Australia to access healthcare services if an urgent need arises.”</p> <p>The ship has 1,100 crew from 51 countries, <em><a href="https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6704572/humanitarian-call-to-repatriate-ruby-crew/?cs=9397">AAP</a> </em>reported.</p> <p>The Ruby Princess cruise ship has been linked to 10 per cent of Australia’s coronavirus cases, <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/31/more-than-400-coronavirus-cases-australia-total-ruby-princess-cruise-ship">The Guardian</a> </em>reported. As of Monday, at least 440 passengers across the country had tested positive for COVID-19 after disembarking from the ship, which <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/01/morning-mail-stay-at-home-measures-explained-10-of-cases-from-ruby-princess-locked-down-weddings">docked twice in Sydney in March</a>.</p> <p>NSW has banned all cruise ship passengers from disembarking until new policies are in place. The state will continue to let people disembark cruise ships on humanitarian grounds under Fuller’s personal approval, such as the three crew members with severe symptoms who were taken to hospital on Sunday night.</p>

Travel Trouble

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New $10 million floating hotel lets you stay in the Great Barrier Reef

<p>A new $10 million floating hotel on the Great Barrier Reef is offering Australia’s first underwater suites, which means tourists are able to wake up to the natural wildlife.</p> <p>The <a href="https://cruisewhitsundays.com/experiences/reefsuites/">Reefsuites</a> at Hardy Reef are set to be a “game changer” for the local tourism industry, according to Tourism Minister Kate Jones.</p> <p>“This will be one of the most iconic tourism projects in the world,” she said in a <a href="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/8/1/new-attraction-to-bring-thousands-of-tourists-to-the-whitsundays">statement</a>.</p> <p>“We want to invest in tourism attractions that we know will attract more visitors to the Whitsundays and support local jobs – this project will achieve just that.”</p> <p>The two exclusive suites sit four metres below the surface, with just three inches of glass separating you from the reef life outside.</p> <p>At night, outside lights illuminate the waters so you can see what happens in the reef after dark.</p> <p>Floor to ceiling windows are a part of the experience so you don’t miss anything.</p> <p>The project began in 2017 as the pontoon was reconstructed after damage from Cyclone Debbie. The project was developed by Cruise Whitsundays and the Queensland Government.</p> <p>“Today is a landmark moment for Australia,” says Luke Walker, from Journey Beyond, the parent company of Cruise Whitsundays.</p> <p>“We are extremely privileged to have access to such a truly breathtaking and remote part of Australia and to provide both local and international guests the chance to gain a deeper appreciation of our wonderful Great Barrier Reef,” he says.</p> <p>Each Reefsuite has a two-person capacity, but guests can also camp under the stars as the roof of the pontoon is set up to accommodate a dozen queen beds in custom-built canvas canopies. Up to 28 visitors at a time can be on the pontoon.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see the pontoon and how the suites will look underwater.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: <a href="https://cruisewhitsundays.com/experiences/reefsuites/">Cruise Whitsundays</a></em></p>

Domestic Travel

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What floats your boat – choosing the right cruising category

<p><span>When it comes to travel trends, nothing has exploded with quite the same magnitude as cruising. Catering for multi-generational getaways, romantic couple’s retreats or adventurous solo expeditions, cruise lines have capitalised on demand from a diverse customer base by crafting voyages for all budgets and preferences. Setting off to sea can be done in style and sophistication, venturing downriver doesn’t have to break the bank. Jump aboard this travel trend, see what the fuss is about and pick a cruise category that suits you.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Mainstream cruising</span></strong></p> <p><span>Mainstream cruising, also referred to as the ‘contemporary’ category, refers to the mass-market, resort-style ships, generally with the capacity for upwards of 3000 guests. The consequences of these big numbers include smaller average cabin size and decent but not exceptional service. The onboard vibes are busy, energetic and potentially noisy; there is always something going on and the climate is communal and social. Activities and facilities generally include pools, waterslides, ice-skating rinks, rock-climbing, Broadway performances, comedy nights, movie theatres, bars, lounges, clubs, gyms and spas. The onboard entertainment, affordable rates and special package deals endear these lines to families.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Good for:</span></strong><span> A convenient budget holiday with extended family and active kids, where shore excursions are not a priority. Mainstream cruising is popular for a reason – there truly is something for everyone, and the idea of unpacking once and having everything you need nearby is certainly appealing.</span></p> <p><strong><span>You can expect:</span></strong><span> Competitive and affordable rates (but additional onboard costs), lots of families and young people, and a lively nightlife</span></p> <p><strong><span>Lines:</span></strong><span> Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line</span></p> <p><strong><span>Premium cruises</span></strong></p> <p><span>Premium and deluxe-level cruising also offers a myriad of diversions, although facilities and service are of a distinctly higher quality. State rooms are more spacious, the food and dining options more varied, and the décor more refined. Some lines like to provide more traditional cruising experiences with suggested dress codes and assigned dining, but usually you will find a very relaxed atmosphere with some extra perks like excellent Internet access and more privacy. The differentiating factor between premium and deluxe is typically the size of the boat and its capacity; the more intimate and personalised the experience, the more you can expect to pay.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Good for:</span></strong><span> A little bit of glamour on a multi-generational trip that caters for everyone. Impressive, professional standards are a guarantee, although you should do your research as there is some variation between lines.</span></p> <p><strong><span>You can expect:</span></strong><span> families and couples, great service, extra perks and a spectrum of interesting activities and workshops like movies, cooking demonstrations and snorkelling</span></p> <p><strong><span>Lines:</span></strong><span> Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises</span></p> <p><strong><span>Luxury cruises</span></strong></p> <p><span>With top of the line, luxury cruises, you get what you pay for. This means high staff to guest ratios (there are often more staff on board than guests), low capacity (guests can be as few in number as 50) and larger rooms (sometimes all cabins are suites with balconies). Sleek, smaller-sized vessels with beautiful interiors promise peace, privacy and an intimate, personalised experience. The necessary bi-products, however, are fewer onboard activities and no large-scale entertainment activities; the focus is instead on demonstrations, lectures and port excursions in interesting spots inaccessible to mainstream cruises. All-inclusive costs cover gratuities like alcohol with meals, and the special extra touches like fresh flowers, quality tableware, bath products, branded linens and sometimes even butler service.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Good for:</span></strong><span> Ticking off those bucket-list destinations in supreme style and comfort, and spending relaxed, leisurely time with a loved one.</span></p> <p><strong><span>You can expect:</span></strong><span> Intriguing, well-crafted shore excursions in lesser-known locations, faultless service from attentive and professional staff, and plenty of inclusions</span></p> <p><strong><span>Lines:</span></strong><span> Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Sea Cruises</span></p> <p><span>Whatever floats your boat can be found in the wide array of lines and packages on the cruise market. Ocean cruises aside, there are also niche lines, river cruises and sailing ships to test out. All you’ll need is to pick a destination and duration, and cast away!</span></p> <p><em><span>Written by Sophie Cullen. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/what-floats-your-boat-choosing-the-right-cruising-category/">MyDiscoveries</a>. </span></em></p>

Cruising

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Floating down Northern Territory’s magical Daly River

<p><img width="110" height="149" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/40571/anne-in-text.jpg" alt="Anne In Text" style="float: left;"/></p> <p><em><strong>Anne Sinclair, 68, was born in England but spent most of her youth in Darwin, Northern Territory. Now in a position to travel and explore the world, Anne looks forward to sharing her personal experience and encourages others to step out and have fun. </strong></em></p> <p>The Daly River is absolutely renowned for its large Barramundi and is one of the Top End’s most popular waterways, for recreational fishing and boating.</p> <p>It is not too long after the wet season has directed the many feeder rivers to pour and flood into the Daly – that, this magic starts to happen. This Daly River has tidal influence which amazingly sees the introduction of both freshwater, and saltwater crocodiles.</p> <p>For me, there can never be enough warning signs about the potential harm if these animals are not respected, in their natural habitat. You just need to be responsible and vigilant!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/40570/1_497x280.jpg" alt="1 (202)"/></p> <p>The ‘Barra Classic’ and the ‘Barra Nationals’ are two major fishing competitions held each year – encouraging competition fishing on the Daly River. Fishing Charters and Boat Hire are readily available at parks and resorts positioned on this riverbank.  The area is also known for its scenic surrounds, and diverse wildlife. The bird life includes kingfishers, sea eagles, brahminy kite, whistling kite and all manner of ducks. Millions of migratory birds visit here each year. So picturesque - as the freshwater mangrove and paper bark trees stand side by side with Pandanus palms – growing on the river banks; as Pandanus like to populate in the damp soils.</p> <p>Organised tours invite you to visit the Ngangikurrunggurr people – a small community famous for their weaving. The tours are available to visit Peppinmentari Art where you may shop for artefacts and souvenirs, and learn more of this traditional culture.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="496" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/40568/2_496x280.jpg" alt="2 (193)"/></p> <p>The wider area is referred to as the Douglas Daly Region. Some places of interest and beauty include the Butterfly Gorge Nature Park. These mineral pools are shaded by paperbark trees up to fifty metres tall. Robin Falls is another beauty! Just off the Stuart Highway near Adelaide River Township, the Falls are easily reached by a short walk through scenic bush surrounds. A wide variety of flora and fauna unique to the Top End and this Daly region, offers fantastic viewing – in support of Robin Falls cascading waters.</p> <p>Copper was first discovered in the Daly River area in 1882/3, with mining going on periodically over the next twenty six years. The machinery relics are still at the site today. The machinery is indicative of the early mining technology of the late 19th century. This site also embraces the graves of four deceased mine employees, with a little of their story. There is an amazing mine cavity still facing the sky and sunlight, remnants of the Northern Territory’s first commercial copper mining enterprise; and a little care should be taken if you like to get some of those really close photo opportunities.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="360" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/40567/3_498x360.jpg" alt="3 (164)"/></p> <p>There are Hot Mineral Springs and their Caravan Parks dotted throughout this region. The Douglas Daly region, also has cool crevice and spring waterholes too - offering a chance for a refreshing swim, if cool water is what you might prefer.</p> <p>There are Jesuit Ruins (recorded as being established in 1890’s {Peter Forrest – The Spirit of the Daly}) remains on the Daly River Mango Farm, which is located along the Daly River. This is one of the earliest examples of European settlement in the Top End. The ruins are accessed via a two kilometre scenic bush track. White settlement of the Daly dates back to the 1880’s.</p> <p>The Mission Church is still used at the Nauiyu Aboriginal Community which began as a Catholic Mission in the mid 1950’s. Nauiyu Community have postal, eftpos, workshop and health clinic facilities. The town also includes a child care centre, community school and local airstrip.</p> <p>The camping and accommodation facilities dotted along the Daly River banks are modern, clean, also quite varied; and most roads are sealed.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/40566/4_500x375.jpg" alt="4 (134)"/></p> <p>But, it all began much earlier. Peter Forrest – The Spirit of The Daly – writes of the beginnings of pastoral and mining settlement here. He submits that ‘ it is possible the first Europeans to pass near the Daly River region were Abel Tasman and his crew, who in 1644 sailed into or past Anson Bay during their voyage along the north coasts of Australia’.</p> <p>John McDouall Stuart then made a successful crossing from south to north, in 1862. Stuart’s amazing contribution made it possible for South Australia to not only have the vision but compounded their knowledge for advancements in Australia, creating our history. Through continued discovery it was soon realised the lands supporting the Daly River, were lush and fertile – the transportation of goods via the Daly River however, was not considered as suitable.</p> <p>While this amazing area of the Daly River has seen the copper mining industry come and go; cattle by pastoralists come and go; white and Chinese mining and farming activity come and go; floods come and go; tobacco farming come and go; peanuts farming come and go; worthy settlers have come and made their marks…one could wonder what form of challenges and enjoyment of barra fishing had taken place during this auspicious time.</p> <p>The Daly a beautiful place, just oozing history. Just oozing barramundi fishing opportunity – you just have to make sure you have the right spot on the Daly River, the right day and time, the right bait or lures – and away you go! Bucket list material! Everything is in your favour….come and make your mark - fish the Daly River when next in the Top End. We will be expecting you…</p> <p>Have you ever been to this beautiful part of the world?</p> <p><em>Image credits: Anne Sinclair</em></p>

International Travel

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Why this cruise liner looks like it’s floating mid-air

<p>In a scene that wouldn’t seem out of place in an <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/cruising/2017/04/progression-of-cruise-ships/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>old tale of the sea</strong></span></a>, a picture of a cruise liner that appears to be floating mid-air has become an internet sensation.</p> <p>The image, which has attracted over 44,000 views since posted online only a few days ago, illustrates a<a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/mind/2017/04/optical-illusions-that-will-test-your-brain/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>rare optical illusion</strong></span></a> known as Fata Morgana or “superior mirage”.</p> <p>In Fata Morgana, idea climactic conditions see light travel over vast distances and even cross horizons. It only ever occurs when the air is colder on the ground than above, which can cause light to be bent across the atmosphere. In this way, projections of images from hundreds of kilometres are made can appear on the horizon.</p> <p><img width="499" height="510" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35342/cruise-ship-in-text_499x510.jpg" alt="Cruise -ship -in -text" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><em>Image credit: Imgur</em></p> <p>This illusion is thought to have created the myth of the Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship that was sighted multiple times in the throughout the 19th and 20th century.</p> <p>Perhaps this cruise liner is a sign Davy Jones has upgraded his ride?</p>

Cruising

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Discover the floating city of Venice from a cruise

<p>River Countess has an apt name. Uniworld's river ship is sleek as an otter, all white but for bluish tinted windows, sedately afloat at its pier in Venice, Italy.</p> <p>The captain is standing by the gangplank in braided sleeves and gold buttons, and looks as if he's about to pipe me aboard like a news-reel Windsor arriving at the royal yacht Britannia.</p> <p>Inside, I'm wafted into a lobby that has a chandelier, gilt mirrors and leopard-skin seats.</p> <p>A continental European countess, clearly: impeccable pedigree, but with a taste for flamboyance and startling clothes.</p> <p>Soon I have my identity card and room key and am whisked from a hot, dishevelled day of travel into a cool cocoon of a cabin, which I won't have to give up for ten days.</p> <p>Could this be the best moment of any cruise?</p> <p>I close the door, kick my suitcase under the bed, shower, and sink into the embrace of my bother-less bolthole.</p> <p>I'm in cabin 419 on the highest accommodation deck, well above the waterline and somewhere near the first-floor level of canal-side buildings that pass by in coming days, all geranium pots and hanging laundry.</p> <p>I have what's optimistically called a Juliet balcony, though Juliet would have to be extraordinarily svelte to make use of it. Never mind. It means I can open the glass doors wide and soak up the Venice sunshine, which skips across my ironed white bed linen with dappled exuberance.</p> <p>I'm used to small cabins on river-cruise ships, but this one demands more than the usual nimble ninja contortions.</p> <p>There's a tiny desk that might be suited to writing aerogrammes, a little shin-knocking glass table for in-cabin dining, and some good storage space.</p> <p>But it has what matters: a big, comfortable bed with sheets smooth as a nun's wimple and a doona of snuggle-worthy softness.</p> <p>A mirrored wall behind the bed makes the cabin feel larger than it is, and the finishes and detailing are pure quality: cupboard lighting, reading lights, a pillow menu.</p> <p>The decor is light and, for a Uniworld ship, surprisingly restrained in white with blue trim (red in some other cabin categories).</p> <p>The bathroom, though so small even mouse-swinging would be difficult, has a de-mist mirror, warming towel rack, marble finishes and my favourite L'Occitane products.</p> <p>The ship's decks are named for famous Venetians – Bellini, Casanova, Tintoretto and Marco Polo – but the decor is sharp and contemporary, with nods to Venice only in its glass chandeliers, winged-lion arm ends on some chairs, and hanging carnival masks.</p> <p>Browns, blues and creams predominate, though the lowest corridor is an eye-aching red. Though elegant artwork is everywhere, Uniworld's usual bling is rather toned down, providing gorgeously luxe spaces that won't overly offend minimalist sensibilities.</p> <p>A forward lounge-bar provides the main public space, and there's also a beautifully presented library.</p> <p>The "coffee lounge" is so cramped there's scarcely room to ease myself into an armchair; unaccountably, most of the surrounding space is taken up by a shop and mostly unused gym. (The lounge proves to be a better place for coffee, with the added temptation of help-yourself marshmallows and biscotti.)</p> <p>After two weeks on the road, however, I'm thrilled to discover a laundry, unusual on a river-cruise ship. A spa and small internet corner complete the amenities.</p> <p>The most-used public area is the top deck, which covers the entirety of the ship. It has tables and chairs up front, loungers behind, and an informal dining zone in the middle for lunchtime salad and pizzas.</p> <p>It's immaculately kept and nicely presented with potted plants, olive trees and a giant chess set.</p> <p>Early morning exercise and yoga classes are held here; not, I must confess, independently verified, though I can confirm that, during the day and evening, waiters pass to and fro, taking orders for ice-clinking drinks.</p> <p>Stefania is a cheerful asset, chatting to guests and bringing a touch of Sicilian exuberance to the deck without ever flagging in her endless to-ing and fro-ing of tray-wielding duties.</p> <p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28090/image__498x245.jpg" alt="venice cruise" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>In a destination like Venice, though, the deck's biggest asset is its uninterrupted, 360-degree views of the passing scenery.</p> <p>I'm here for hours, lounging under sunshades and strutting the rails, and always gawking at Venice's constant backdrop of bulging baroque domes, church spires, pleasure palaces and bridge-stapled canals.</p> <p>You can have gorgeous cruise hardware galore (and Uniworld ships do), but it all comes to naught if the service isn't up to scratch.</p> <p>Happily, River Countess is well run. I seldom see my housekeeper despite my cabin being serviced twice daily: there's no in-your-face presence on this ship, perhaps because gratuities are included in the fare.</p> <p>Genial young Dutch captain Thijs van der Lee is a standout, always at the gangplank (often with other members of his crew) for daily send-offs and returns from shore excursions, and later mingling with guests on deck.</p> <p>Mostly Eastern European staff tread that hard-to-attain zone between efficient and friendly.</p> <p>Attentive waiters learn passengers' names and drink preferences and are ever attentive at the table, no easy task given changing daily menus and the gluten-free, vegetarian and low-salt requirements of some guests.</p> <p>It's common to dine on cruise ships and never be aware of the cuisine from the destination in which you're sailing.</p> <p>Fortunately, River Countess provides constant reminders that we're in Italy, dishing up the likes of delicate chicken broth afloat with tortellini, vitello alla piemontese (veal with truffles), osso bucco Milanese style and the classic Venetian dish spaghetti alla vongole (with clams).</p> <p>After-dinner cheeses are very fine, providing me with taste-buds travels through Italy.</p> <p>I discover that the semi-soft taleggio is mild and fruity, asiago crumbly and nicely aged, stracchino from the Venice region so soft it oozes across my plate, begging for a bread crust.</p> <p>I overdose on gorgonzola, wondering why poets have never written an ode to cheese.</p> <p>This is the best food I've had on any ship – river or ocean – and that it comes out of a cramped galley is truly remarkable.</p> <p>The main Savoy Restaurant kicks off the day with a buffet breakfast spread that includes fresh pastries, smoked fish, cold cuts, cheese, cereals and hot dishes served by waiters on request (hello, French toast with maple syrup and berries).</p> <p>Lunch too has a smorgasbord of soups, salads, sandwiches and gluttonous desserts, as well as pasta cooked to order.</p> <p>A la carte dinners offer several choices over four courses courses, including Italian and vegetarian, as well as simple fall-back options such as salmon and steak. Wines are complimentary.</p> <p>Grumbling isn't uncommon on cruise ships, as elsewhere in life, but my fellow passengers are almost unanimous in their admiration for the food on River Countess.</p> <p>When someone mentions that the gorgonzola is served too cold one lunchtime, you know there's probably nothing else to complain about.</p> <p>Guests are well-travelled and well-fed, and know good food.</p> <p>They're a mix of retirees and younger couples, often on special anniversary holidays; and mostly American, though with a leavening of Canadians, Brits and Australians.</p> <p>(River Countess has no program for children and there are none on board on my cruise, but that changes during specifically family-oriented departures in July.)</p> <p>The ship style is smart casual, and there are no formal nights, though many passengers are slightly dressier for the farewell dinner.</p> <p>Hallelujah, there's no need for a tie, that item of clothing most guaranteed to spoil a holiday atmosphere. And when you're on a ship this good, nobody wants to do that.</p> <p><em>Written by Brian Johnston. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/travel-agent-guide-to-italy/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>A travel agent’s guide to Italy</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/the-cheapest-way-to-travel-from-venice-to-paris/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The cheapest way to travel from Venice to Paris</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2015/11/cruising-to-venice/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Does cruising to Venice have a future?</strong></em></span></a></p>

Cruising

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Floating art installation lets visitors walk on water

<p>Most of the time the ability to walk on water is beyond us mere mortals, but for residents of a town in Northern Italy this dream has become a sudden reality.</p> <p>Thousands have flocked for the opening of The Floating Piers, an eye-catching orange walkway spanning Lake Iseo and is the latest work by environmental sculptor Christo Vladimirov Javacheff. As you can see in the gallery, the results are incredible.</p> <p>Constructed with stain-resistant fabric atop 200,000 floating cubes, The Floating Piers features a walkway that is nearly four kilometres long and allows visitors to walk from the mainland to two small previously inaccessible islands in the lake.</p> <p>"It's a very physical project, you need to go there (to understand it)," Christo said of the project, which is open to the public from June 18 to July 3.</p> <p>The Floating Piers cost approximate 15 million euros ($22.8 million) to create but will be free to the public and is expected to 500,000 visitors by the time it closes.</p> <p>To see the audacious project, scroll through the gallery above. It’s quite a spectacular sight. Do you think you’d like to visit something like this?</p> <p>Share your thoughts in the comments. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2016/06/10-lesser-known-new-zealand-holiday-spots/"><em><strong>10 lesser-known New Zealand holiday spots</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/japan-beach-illuminated-by-mysterious-natural-phenomenon/"><strong><em>Japan beach illuminated by mysterious natural phenomenon</em></strong></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/10-breathtaking-photos-celebrate-the-beauty-of-britain/"><em><strong>10 breathtaking photos celebrate the beauty of Britain</strong></em></a></span></p>

International Travel

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The five-star hotel that floats in the ocean

<p>It looks as though we’re approaching a time where our accommodation itself can set sail!</p> <p>London designer Gianluca Santosuosso has developed a concept for a futuristic floating hotel that will kind of work as a cross between a luxury hotel and a cruise ship.</p> <p>Called the MORPHotel, this design consists of a linear, spinal structure composed of individually connected capsules and has the ability to adapt and move with ocean currents.</p> <p>The hotel would be in constant motion across the ocean (albeit at a rate slower than an average boat) and offer guests ever-changing views from their rooms.</p> <p>The hotel will be able to tie up at pods with a functional doc that can be attached to a city’s harbour and is designed to be as self-sustaining as possible with solar panels and a floating veggie garden.</p> <p>What do you think of the design?</p> <p><em><strong>No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card­.<a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> To find out how you can apply for a card today, click here.</span></a></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance">Click here</a></span> to read more about Over60 Travel Insurance.</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/12/sleep-on-plane-tips/"><strong>10 tips for sleeping on a plane</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/12/11-weirdest-museums-in-the-world/"><strong>11 weirdest museums in the world</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/12/aircraft-design-puts-passengers-in-the-cargo-hold/"><strong>Controversial new plane design has passengers sitting in the cargo hold</strong></a></em></span></p>

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How to make a floating bookshelf

<p>Tired of boring regular bookshelves? Why not make one of these illusory floating bookshelves to house your favourite novels?</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">You will need:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>2 L-bracket wall mounts</li> <li>Screws</li> <li>A hardcover book (must be hardcover to support the weight of other books)</li> <li>Drill</li> <li>Level</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How to: </span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Flip your book so the back cover faces up. Screw the base of each L-bracket into the book using your drill. Make sure your screws are no thicker than your book or they’ll go through the front cover.</li> <li>Flip and close book over brackets.</li> <li>Mount brackets to wall using screws and a level.</li> <li>Top with more books!</li> </ol> <p>You can also <a href="http://zoxoro.com.au/Products/Umbra-Conceal-Wall-Book-Shelf-Small-Silver.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw0tCuBRDIjJ_Mlb6zzpQBEiQAyjCoBpa_G0ZzwknbIGU9YoSrXCtguoTnRO5m3EyEtKPvX3gaAovD8P8HAQ" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>buy pre-fabricated floating bookshelves that don’t damage your book here.</strong> </span></a><a href="http://zoxoro.com.au/Products/Umbra-Conceal-Wall-Book-Shelf-Small-Silver.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw0tCuBRDIjJ_Mlb6zzpQBEiQAyjCoBpa_G0ZzwknbIGU9YoSrXCtguoTnRO5m3EyEtKPvX3gaAovD8P8HAQ"><br /></a></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/08/watercolour-fabric-diy/">How to watercolour your fabrics</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/08/diy-refurbished-planters/">3 DIY ways to revamp your planters</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/08/diy-kitchen-tablet-holder/">DIY kitchen tablet holder</a></strong></em></span></p>

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