Recently, Google announced an additional feature to their popular Google Maps service: Google Maps Earth View. The new feature brings together the software-based Google Earth with the website-based Google Maps. I quite like the potential that this feature offers.

Google Maps Earth View requires the installation of a small plugin to enable it to function on individual computers. Once installed, a person can ‘fly’ around a city, looking at a landscape of buildings and hills that is rendered in 3D in varying degrees of accuracy.

^{Render of Sydney, NSW, Australia, showing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.}

So far, detailed CBD Earth renders been added to the maps of Brisbane (Qld.), Melbourne (Vic.) and Sydney (NSW). A small amount of 3D rendering has been applied to maps of Adelaide (SA), Cairns (Qld.), Canberra (ACT), Gold Coast City (Qld.), Hobart (Tas.), Launceston (Tas.), Perth (WA) and Wollongong (NSW).

Google Maps Earth View is a fun website to use, but the difficult directions control  panel makes navigation a challenge sometimes. In the window above, you can watch a 5-minute video presentation that I have created, demonstrating some of the features and problems.

Alternatively,  you can watch a high-resolution version of the video on YouTube.

^{Render of Brisbane, Qld., Australia.}

Because it is in its infancy, the amount of rendering is minimal, But in time, it will be possible to travel around Australia and the world, looking at the various sites.

On an international level, particular detail can be seen in the renders of Tokyo (Japan), Washington D.C. (USA), Paris (France) and London (UK). One of the funniest renders is  of the Kim Il-sung monument in Pyongyang, North Korea, which is very reminiscent of Flat Stanley!

^{Parliament House in Canberra, ACT, Australia.}

No doubt many people will enjoy this website as it grows and develops. You can access the website via http://maps.google.com.au and the plugin can be downloaded from http://earth.google.com/plugin/.

I recently paid a visit to the magnificent Otway Fly treetop walk in Beech Forest, Victoria, and was most impressed. Located near Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road, the Otway Fly offers the visitor a unique opportunity to walk through the canopy of a forest, as well as explore the forest floor.

The Otway Fly consists of a 600 metre long, 25 metre high, elevated tree-top walk which passes through a stand of cool temperate rainforest dominated by Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans).

The walk commenced with a moderately steep decent into the cool forest, before I arrived at the treetop walk. As I proceeded along the walkway, I quickly found myself amongst the upper canopy of the trees. From this vantage point, I was able to study the epiphytic vegetation that grows on the trees (such as Kangaroo Ferns [Microsorum pustulatum] and various mosses), as well as appreciate the tree canopies and look down to the forest floor below. The view really was quite impressive!

One of the highlights of the Otway Fly is the 45 metre tower (1oo metres above ground), which affords a magnificent view of the forest from the very tops of the trees. I spent quite some time up there, taking in the view!

It must be stated that people who are anxious about heights should be careful. The walking structure is designed to take some sway, and therefore the vibrations of others on the walk can be felt throughout the structure. The tower is accessed by a very narrow spiral staircase which lacks resting points. However, the structure is entirely safe, having been constructed in 2003 and costing $6.5 million to build.

After the tree-top walk, the path took me to the forest floor, where I could explore the terrestrial vegetation including the magnificent tree ferns. There were also some interesting fungi growing when I visited.

The walk back up to the tourist centre was moderately steep, but taken at pace was still quite enjoyable. There is a coffee shop on site, which sells a selection of foods and has a nice outdoor eating area. Entry to the venue is $22.

Here are a few photos from my recent visit:

I have not long returned from the Philippines; my third visit to this beautiful country. I want to share my experience of visiting some of the most ancient churches in the Philippines.

The Philippines is one of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia (the other being East Timor). The faith was introduced by the Spaniards  when they colonised the country in 1565.

From the very beginning, church construction was a priority. As a result, the Philippines is fortunate to have many beautiful and historic churches across its various provinces and cities. Here are some of the highlights of my recent visit:

St William’s Cathedral, Laoag

My first stop from Manila was the city of Laoag (la-wag), in the province of Ilocos Norte. Ilocos is in the northern part of the country, approximately 400 km from Manila. The most famous historic building in Laoag is St. William’s Cathedral.

^{_{The exterior of St Williams Metropolitan Cathedral in Laoag.}}

The original church was constructed in around 1661, but following an earthquake and a fire, the church had to be restored in 1843. This church is notable for two reasons; it has a most unusual façade which features pots and pilasters, and it has a sinking bell tower located a massive 80 metres from the church (I had to cross the road and a car park to reach it).

^{The monolithic old bell tower in Laoag, Ilocos Norte}

The Philippines has historically been somewhat prone to earthquakes, and the Spanish quickly learnt that it was best to build belfries separate from the church to protect both structures.

As a result, the bell tower in Laoag is massive. And because of an earthquake in 1953, the tower has been sinking at a rate of 2.5cm a year. Folklore states that a man on horseback could once ride under the entrance arch, but now a man has to stoop in order to fit under the entrance arch. I happen to know this because I was lucky enough to gain special access to the bell tower.

Climbing the bell tower was quite an ordeal. The steps were uneven, the roof was very low and there was almost no light whatsoever. My tour guide disturbed a bat on our way up, which in a panicked state flew into his face!

We eventually made it to the top and the view was truly worth it . I was able to see across the entire city of Laoag. There were three giant bells in the tower, but I resisted the urge to ring one of them!

^{The view from the top of the bell tower, across the city of Laoag}

St Paul’s Cathedral, Vigan

From Laoag, I travelled south to the town of Vigan, in the province of Ilocos Sur. Vigan is the best surviving example of a planned Spanish town in Asia, and has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Register in recognition of its world heritage significance.

Unlike most Philippine cities, Vigan managed to escape the ravages of World War II and is just a sample of what most of the Philippines would once have looked like. Since this blog post is about heritage Philippine churches, I’ll save my description of the beautiful heritage city of Vigan for another post and just focus on St Paul’s Church in the heart of Vigan.

^{St Paul’s Cathedral and Bell Tower in Vigan, Ilocos Sur}

The first church was constructed in Vigan in 1574, but as was typical for the Philippines this, and several replacement churches, were destroyed by various earthquakes. The current church was constructed in 1790-1800 and is certainly one of the most picturesque that I saw in the Philippines. The bell tower stands on the other side of the road from the church. St Paul’s Cathedral is well-maintained and has a truly beautiful interior to match its grand façade.

^{The interior of St Paul’s Cathedral in Vigan, Ilocos Sur}

San Agustin Church, Paoay

In between Vigan and Laoag are many more heritage Ilocano churches, but by far the most famous and indeed my favourite was the Church of San Agustin in Paoay (pa-why), better known as the Paoay Church.

^{The famous Paoay Church, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Register}

This amazing structure was constructed in 1699 and appears on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its design style is described as “Earthquake Baroque“; a reference to its Baroque architectural  influences, but with the addition of ultra-wide buttresses to protect the building from earthquakes.

It is those buttresses, with their scrolled motifs, that give the building its “fat” appearance. I was astounded at the sheer size of the buttresses which were more than 3 metres thick and extending a massive 4 metres from the walls, which themselves are 1.7 metres thick.

^{Giant buttresses support the walls of the Paoay Church}

Equally as interesting as those buttresses is the very material from which they are constructed. Rather than using stone, the Paoay Church builders chose to use coral blocks as the primary building material. Coral is strong, but much lighter than stone and therefore construction is much easier. The coral was quarried from the nearby South China Sea and is held together with mortar. A close inspection of the walls where the render has fallen away shows the intricate coral details on each chiselled block.

Whilst the Paoay Church is spectacular on the outside, it is not nearly so impressive on the inside. The ceiling was once painted with a scene similar to that of the Sistine Chapel in Italy, but owing to earthquake damage was long ago destroyed. Today the ceiling consists of rows of steel trusses with corrugated iron above. Nevertheless, this is a very special place to visit.

Bohol Churches

If it’s a church interior that one is interested in, then I highly recommend a visit to the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Luz (Our Lady of Light) in Loon (lo-on), Bohol.

Bohol is an island in the Visayas, an island group in the middle of the Philippines. Whilst Bohol is most recognised for its wildlife and beaches, it hosts several heritage churches, of which Nuestra Señora de la Luz is one. Constructed in 1862, this church is elegant on the outside. But inside, it’s nave is filled with beautiful detailed paintings on the ceiling.

^{Nuestra Señora de la Luz in Loon, Bohol}

Despite the beauty of Nuestra Señora de la Luz in Loon, my favourite church interior was that of the Immaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria (Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary) church in Baclayon, also on Bohol Island.

^{Immaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria in Baclayon, Bohol.}

Built in 1595, Immaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The relatively ordinary Romanesque exterior conceals  the beautifully-designed interior which features arched ceilings, Corinthian columns and a beautifully-sculptured altar in the rococo style. Most importantly, this church is skilfully illuminated from the inside to highlight the decorative elements of the interior. By far, this was my favourite Philippine church interior.

^{Interior of the Immaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria in Baclayon}

Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú

The last great Philippine church that I wish to mention is in fact a minor basilica. The Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú (Minor Basilica of the Holy Child of Cebu) was constructed in 1732 following the destruction by earthquake of the previous buildings. This church is significant because it effectively represents the birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines. Cebu was the first Spanish settlement on the islands and it was from here that evangelisation started. The church hosts Magellan’s Cross, a historic relic.

^{Interior of the Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú}

Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to come to the Philippines in 1521. When he and his crews landed on Cebu island, a native chief, Rajah Humabon, met and befriended him. Rajah Humabon, his wife and hundreds of his native warriors agreed to accept Christianity and were consequently baptised. Magellan planted a cross to signify the introduction of the Christian faith in Cebu.

^{Magellan’s Cross}

Aside from the historic cross, the church itself is an elegant building with a beautiful bell tower on its front and an attractive interior.

The Philippines is full of many beautiful, old and historic ecclesiastic buildings. As an Australian, I was fascinated to visit churches that were erected more than 200 years before my country was even settled!

The Church in Philippine Society

The method of construction using the “Earthquake Baroque” style or variants thereof, tell the story of a nation that seriously valued (and values) the presence of the local church. It is no coincidence that the churches have become the most enduring architectural structures in the Philippines, much as they have in Australia. What a society values the most, it will do the most to protect.

The churches in the Philippines were not just places of worship during the Spanish colonial period. Nor were they mere symbols of the authority of the Spanish Crown or the Catholic clergy. They have also became much-loved symbols of Filipino cultural identity, which persists to this very day.

One of the interesting cultural aspects of the Philippine churches is the double-use of the bell towers. Their primary function was to host the bells, but they had an important secondary function as watch towers.

In the sixteenth century, there were two threats. On land, the Spanish faced opposition from some Filipinos who objected to Christianisation and colonial rule. At sea, there was a threat that other European powers might seize the Philippines. Therefore the bell tower doubled as a watch tower in many places, so the Spanish could prepare for any attacks.

It is ironic that the roles were reversed in the 1890′s when the Filipinos were fighting the Spanish for their freedom and independence. One of the many reasons the Filipinos wanted independence was to allow native-born Filipinos (as opposed to insulares, mestizos or Spaniards) to be ordained into the Catholic Church.

During the Spanish-Philippine war, the bell towers were utilised by the katipuneros to keep an eye out for the Spanish Army which sought to quell the rebellion. The same technique was used again when the Filipinos unsuccessfully tried to prevent the Philippines becoming a colony of the United States in 1901.

Given this colourful history, the historic churches in the Philippines are more than just significant architectural treasures, or places of contemporary worship. They are tangible and important symbols of Filipino culture and tell the story of a nation.

Visiting these places was fascinating on so many levels, and I am really pleased that I was able to see these amazing historical sites for myself.

I recently spent some time in the beautiful state of Western Australia. One of the most enchanting places I visited was the small town of New Norcia, 132 kilometres north of Perth. New Norcia is unique because it is Australia’s only monastic town.

New Norcia has a long history by Australian standards. Founded by Benedictine monks in 1846, the New Norcia settlement was designed to be a largely self-sufficient community, based on agriculture.

The foundation stone for the monastery was laid in 1847 and under the direction of founding bishop, Dom Rosendo Salvado, the community grew steadily in the following decades. Eventually New Norcia consisted of various churches, several Catholic schools, boarding houses, a winery, bakery, hotel, museum, petrol station, convenience store, art gallery and a vast area of farms, all run by the monks.

Today, New Norcia still stands as a visible expression of the Catholic faith in Western Australia, despite the closure of the schools. Yet the town  is also a major tourist draw card, notable as much for its beautiful architecture and history as its religiosity.

I made the drive from Perth to New Norcia a few weeks ago, and thoroughly enjoyed my visit.

Visitors to the town are first greeted by the imposing Museum and Art Gallery building, which originally served as a boarding house, and stands right on the edge of the highway. It was from here that I booked one of the  tours that are available.

Taking one of the tours of New Norcia is a must. The tour lasted for two hours, and we were taken through the monastery as well as the various other sites in town. The real benefit was in having a tour guide explain the significance of the various sites, as well as gaining an insight into what monastic life is like.

Some of the architecture was amazing, as were the details of the lives of the monks! My favourite place was the Abbey Church, which was filled with beautiful paintings and featured a giant Spanish altar.

New Norcia has some truly fascinating stories to tell. In1847, a bushfire threatened New Norcia. In order to save the fledgling settlement, Dom Salvado produced a painting of the Virgin Mary and pointed it in the direction of the flames, then prayed. The wind promptly changed direction and the bushfire dissipated, saving the town.

In 1984, New Norcia was the target of organised crime, when two men bound and gagged the attendant at the monastery’s art gallery and made off with 26 paintings. Many of the paintings were hundreds of years old, but were damaged by the thieves who recklessly removed them from their frames and rolled them. They slashed other artworks too, causing thousands of dollars of damage. It only took a fortnight for the Western Australian Police to catch the thieves and recover the artworks, but more than 20 years to restore them. Most have now been returned to the New Norcia art gallery where they’re once again on display.

After discovering New Norcia’s rich history, I went to the New Norcia Hotel and ordered some spaghetti lunch. Not only was the food was absolutely delicious, and quite reasonably priced, but it was served amazingly fast too!

If you’re ever in Perth, do make time to visit New Norcia, which is 1.5 hour’s drive along the Great Northern Highway. You won’t be disappointed!

For years, I’d heard rumours of a set of amazing public toilets in central Melbourne that doubled as a sight-seers delight. A Loo With a View, so-to-speak.

The rumour went that you could see for kilometres whilst conducting your business. Intrigued, and with some time on my hands, I decided to scout these toilets out and see this apparent marvel for myself.

After researcing their location, I took a visit to the infamous bathroom yesterday and can affirm that the view really is something to behold!

The Loos With a View are located on the thirty-fifth floor of the Sofitel, and take in views of State Parliament, the Treasury and Fitzroy Gardens, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. On a clear day you can see as far as the Dandenong Ranges.

This grand vista is provided through floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows that span the breadth of the bathroom. As soon as you enter the bathroom, the view is there to greet you.

It probably goes without saying that most folks would not take too kindly to sharing the bathroom with a photographer. Luckily it was quiet when I visited, so I was able to take these photos before anyone entered. I’ve since discovered that the Ladies are just as impressive as the Gents!

The Loo With a View is well worth a visit, just to satisfy one’s curiosity. And believe it or not, the view is even better than the one at the Eureka tower!

How to get there: The ‘Loo With a View’ is located on Level 35 of the Sofitel Hotel at 25 Collins Street, Melbourne. The toilets are open to members of the public. You can enter from Collins Place (at the foot of the ANZ Towers) and proceed into the hotel foyer. From there, take the lift to Level 35 and then proceed into the Gents or Ladies as is appropriate.