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Tag: history

  • See Historic Ships for Free at Australian National Maritime Museum

    Australia’s historic ships and naval heritage are celebrated at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

    The museum’s galleries feature important documents and other relics from Australia’s maritime history. You can explore these displays at your own pace or join a free guided tour. The interactive touch screens in the museum’s foyer give times and information about this service along with other museum events and activities.

    But for most visitors, the most exciting parts of the museum are outside its halls. Several ships are docked in the harbor just outside, including the navy destroyer HMAS Vampire, the 1847 tall ship James Craig, the Blackmores First Lady sailed around the world by Australian solo voyager Kay Cottee, and a replica of the Endeavour, the ship that Captain James Cook traveled to Australia in.

    All those boats and talk of history can be a bit dry for the kids, so if you’re taking the family visit on Sundays or during school holiday periods. Extra activities including craft projects, story time, and games should keep children aged between five and 12 entertained. These sessions do attract an extra fee of $7 though, so they can get pricey if you have a large brood.

    The Australian National Maritime Museum's replica of the Endeavour
    The Australian National Maritime Museum's replica of the Endeavour

    The Australian National Maritime Museum is conveniently located on the western side of the bubbling Darling Harbour precinct. This tourist hub is easily accessible by Sydney’s bus, light rail, and monorail networks.

    The Australian National Maritime Museum is one of Sydney’s free museums, although special exhibitions and activities may attract a small fee. It’s open every day except Christmas from 9:30 am in the morning. The museum closes at 5 pm, except in January when it closes at 6 pm.

    [Image Source: Andy Mitchell/Flickr]

  • Discover Maori Culture in New Zealand

    The traditional ways of the Maori people are fading as the original inhabits of New Zealand assimilate with the Europeans who now call New Zealand home.

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    However there are still many places around the country that allow you to experience the culture of these indigenous people.

    Many historians regard Waitangi in the Bay of Islands as the birthplace of the modern New Zealand nation. It was here that the white settlers and native Maoris came together to sign the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, an agreement which gave the Europeans the rule of the nation and the original inhabitants their land rights. Its history makes Waitangi a great place for learning more about Maori culture. Today Treaty House, the site where the original pact was signed, is a meeting house decorated with intricate wood carvings. A waka, or war canoe, is also on display. It was built to celebrate the centenary of the treaty, and photographs show exactly how it was done. The Waitangi National Reserve also offers Maori tours twice daily and cultural performances called He Toho. The women dance while the men channel their warrior traditions with the haka.

    A Maori warrior
    A Maori warrior

    While Rotorua has a reputation for extreme sports, it’s also rich in Maori culture. After you’ve worked up an appetite with the bungee jumping and white water rafting, make sure you visit the Tamaki Maori Village for dinner. The Maori people serve up a traditional hangi feast, which will fill you up while offering an insight into Maori traditions.

    Wellington has New Zealand’s National Museum, which is also known by its Maori name Te Papa. There are more than 30, 000 artifacts there, including clothing, weapons, jewelry, and tools. The museum also tells the history of the Maori people, from their early settlement to interaction with the white people. On Wednesday nights the museum hosts Taonga Mataora in its meeting house. This cultural event includes dancing, dinner, and a few cheeky cocktails.

    If you’re in the mood for more museums you can’t go past the Tairawhiti Museum in Gisborne. It centers on the arts and crafts of the Maori people living on the North Islands East Coast.

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    Local artists sit alongside prominent artisans from the rest of the world. It’s also a great place for souvenirs, with many of the artworks available for purchase. While in Gisborne make sure you visit the Te Poho-o-Rawiri, which is open to the public whenever official Maori business isn’t going on. The decorative wood carvings look much more impressive and authentic here than in any stuffy museum.

    While in New Zealand you don’t want to miss the Maori culture. It’s always just there below the surface, a reminder of this country’s proud heritage and history.

    [Image Source: Geoftheref/Flickr]

  • The River Kwai and Kanchanaburi Province – Learn More About Thailand’s War History on Vacation

    When most people think of vacationing in Thailand they imagine shopping up a storm in Bangkok or lazing by the beach in Koh Samui.

    But the Asian country also has a rich history just waiting to be explored. The best place for history buffs to discover is Kanchanaburi Province, home to the famous River Kwai. This is the site the Japanese Imperial Army invaded during the Second World War, and there are many remnants of this tragic time in Thai history. Visitors can take a train ride along the stretch of the Thai-Burma Railway commonly known as the Death Railway. The Japanese soldiers used this passage to carry supplies to their troops in Burma. The train trip leads to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Immortalized by the Hollywood film, prisoners of war built the bridge so the railway could cross the water. Many prisoners lost their lives here, and seeing it today is a sobering reminder of the horrors of war. If you want to learn more about the Death Railway and the River Kwai, make sure you call in to the Hellfire Pass Museum. Located at Konyu Cutting, otherwise known as Hellfire Pass, this museum features artifacts from the period which tell the story of the Thai-Burma railway in unflinching detail. [caption id="attachment_3440" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The famous bridge over the River Kwai"]The famous bridge over the River Kwai[/caption] There is a memorial walking trail on site which takes travelers alongside one of the old railway tracks. At four kilometers long it's not a trip for tourists short on time, but it's a journey worth making for the gorgeous valley views from Kwae Noi Lookout. By all means, enjoy Thailand's shopping opportunities and soak up some rays. But make sure you take the time to see some of the country’s historical sites as well. They're the memories you’ll have long after your sun tan fades.

    [Image Source: Ahoerstemeier/Wikipedia Commons]

  • An Ancient Army at Terracotta Army Museum in China

    On your trip to China you must allow time to see the terracotta warriors and horses, which are regarded by many historians as the most significant archaeological discovery of the last century.


    You’ll find them at the Terracotta Army Museum in Lintong, Xi’an in the Shaanxi Province. It lies 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum. This ruler, known as China’s first emperor, commissioned the creation of this model army during his reign from 211 to 206 BC.

    The life-sized figures, carved from terracotta and poised for battle, are the museum’s star attractions. Each is completely unique, with his own facial expression, hairstyle, clothes, and gestures. Many of the figures are armed with weapons of the time, including bronze swords, longbows, dagger-axes, and spears. They are arranged in faithful battle formation, recreating a real army designed to protect the emperor in the afterlife.

    The Chinese Terracotta Warriors
    The Chinese Terracotta Warriors

    The museum is divided into three sections or pits, which are numbered in order of their discoveries. The first pit, the largest, was opened in 1979, five years after the incredible unearthing. It houses rows of soldiers at the front, numbering around 6000, followed by impressive war chariots. The second pit was unveiled in 1994. It is home to more than a thousand warriors and almost 100 wooden chariots discovered in 1976. The third pit features the discoveries of 1976. Here you’ll see more than 7000 pottery armed soldiers, horses, and chariots carefully restored to their former glory. This large section was opened in 1989. As work is ongoing at the original site, we can only hope more treasures will be added to the collection in the years to come.

    The Terracotta Army Museum is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. Tourists should allow three hours to see the museum’s attractions. Getting to the museum is easy. Trains run from all major tourist centers to Xian Railway Station. Once there, visitors can take the #914 bus or tourist bus 5 directly to the museum.