Al_Core, I've been meaning to ask about that at the Ruby but never got around to it. The Chan family has significant investments in Canberra and I recall Jackie being here for his father's funeral in 2008 (www.reuters.com/article/idUSSYD17523720080308).

Our prime minister, Kevin Rudd, was once (very briefly) a workmate of Jackie Chan's. As the PM said when he caught up with Chan the day after the old man's funeral,

"In the 1970s in Canberra we both lived here and we were both builders' labourers. He did the work of three men for one year. I lasted for 24 hours."

Bokhara2, my rotten skills of observation exposed again (but GSM? You have the advantage of me there.)

The red was Granache, Shiraz, Mouverde (+ Temperanillo).

Hi Bokhara,
Great to see you stayed at the Rydges, its a great location. Refurbishments are finished? Is the pool open?

I liked the bar when we were there last year and the balloons were softly drifting past then too.

Just laughing at your driving all around parliament house and everywhere .....lol we walked it all and it was brilliant.

War memorial was my place to go and we walked up past all the smaller memorials which was very interesting.

Which reminds me I still haven't attempted a trip report yet.
oops

Waiting for more............


Muck

C'mon...
Move it Muck, on the trip report!

Good story, Bokhara.

They've pulled the pool out, Muck. Replaced it with an entertainment area - deck with some tables. Rydges probably think there's more $$ in food & beverages than a pool. Lakeside guests can swim at Rydges Capital Hill. Don't know how many blocks of flats were mid-construction when you were there, but the once glorious Lake views are now that Real Estate Agent's euphemistic "Lake Glimpses".

I know this is an older thread but I am toying with the idea of visiting Canberra on my upcoming trip to OZ.
Is most of this stuff still applicable like restaurants, museums, etc.? So much info to digest here.

Hello ahotpoet,

Yes, Canberra's still there, still interesting and well worth adding to your Itinerary.

I just noticed I didn't finish this report with the info on the War Memorial, which is a highlight of any trip to Canberra.

You might be interested in this June 2014 New York Times article.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/08..._r=0&referrer=

I've nothing to add - but great to see some old names surface.

Neil-Oz - sadly gone to a better restaurant!

Mucky - gone? to grand-dad-hood!