Wednesday 22nd February - Young, Cowra

We had another drive today, this time to Cowra to see the Japanese Gardens.  First we had a look at the Visitor Information Centre, then we made our way to the garden.  It was beautiful.  The web site calls it tranquil - there really is no other word for it.  You immediately felt at peace with the world when you were walking through the garden.  We had bought a bag of fish food to feed the huge koi in the ponds.  They practically jumped out of the water at me.  Even a duck got in on the act at one point, floating directly on top of the koi and beating them to the food pellets!

Koi at Cowra Japanese Gardens

There was also a Cultural Centre which included a traditional rock garden.  This appeared to be a fairly simple example of rock gardens.  When I was in Japan many years ago I was privileged to spend some time at one of the most famous rock gardens, Ryoan-ji in Kyoto.  This a link to another interesting site regarding the Ryoan-ji garden. The intriguing thing about this garden was that no matter from where you viewed the garden it was impossible to see all 15 rocks at the same time.  The rock garden at Cowra possibly contained 15 rocks, but they were all placed individually, not in the classic groupings of one group of five, two groups of three and two groups of two rocks.

Rock garden at Cowra

Ryoan-ji Rock Garden in Kyoto

It was certainly a wonderful place to visit (actually both Cowra and the Ryoan-ji!) and a visit to Cowra wouldn't be complete without a visit to the garden.  In the Cultural Centre there were also some painting, wooden models, Japanese dolls and pottery.  All exquisite.  The whole experience made me remember my one and only overseas foray with fondness.  We bought a small and a tiny mykino dolls to add to my apparently growing collection, a lipstick container which I am going to use as my pill box, a spray 'cooler' to help combat the heat, and a 'grow your own crystal garden' set.  I also bought the short DVD of the garden, which was taken during springtime when the trees were in blossom, and also includes a section on the building of the gardens.  A very special place.

Train in Roundhouse at Cowra

We had a bite to eat in the cafe before we headed for the Roundhouse at Cowra.  This is technically only half a Roundhouse.  They ask for donations, but it is all on an honesty system because there is not necessarily anyone there to talk to.  And even when someone is there they just say have a look around.  the man we saw did give us a brochure which we hadn't noticd on our way in.  Bill still seemed pretty impressed, but I thought the whole place just looked like a junk heap.  You couldn't go into any of the carriages or engines like you could at Junee.  However, Bill enjoyed looking around.
We made our way back to Young, where we went looking for the Chinese Tribute Gardens.  These were quite some way out of town, but well worth the visit.  There was obviously some construction going on, because we couldn't access the gardens from one side.  From other photos I have seen of the gardens I suspect they have either pulled down the lovely pagoda that was there, or it isn't visible from where we accessed the gardens.
For tea we went back to the RSL.

Chinese Tribute Gardens at Young

Tuesday 21st February - Young, Cootamundra, Junee

Might not have done much yesterday, but a busy day today.  We drove back to Cootamundra to pay a visit to the Don Bradman Museum.  This was quite an impressive display.  The volunteer on duty was quite a character!  Very helpful, full of information and most hospitable.

Bradman's Birthplace

Bill even had his photo taken next to a bronze bust of Bradman.  We spent several minutes watching a short video of Bradman's life and career.  It really was something to know we were standing in the very room in which Don Bradman was born.
We bought a few more souvenirs of our visit.  Next door there was a memorabilia display which we went to look at for a few minutes.  Lots of "olden day" things - some of which we sadly remembered from our easrly years - in about three rooms.

Bill and the Don

We had a bit of a look around Cootamundra as we tried to find the Captains' Walk.  We eventually found it, and spent a few minutes strolling through the park and admiring the bronze busts of all the Australian Cricket Team Captains.

Captains Walk

We left Cootamundra and headed for Junee.  We looked around Junee a bit, then went out to the Roundhouse Railway Museum.  I think the man who spoke to us thought I might not find it very interesting, but I assured him that I had been taken along on train rides, especially steam trains, since I was a child.  I do actually like trains.  I drew the line at climbing up and down steps to look inside the engines and carriages.  Left that to Bill.  As well as the real trains and carriages there was a wonderful model railway set up.

Model Railway at Junee

Steam Engine at Junee

Roundhouse at Junee

As it was getting on we headed for the Junee Railway Station where the old refreshment room was doing service as a cafe.  Had lunch there.

Junee Railway Station Refreshment Room

Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

We also visited the Junee Licorice factory.  We opted not to take a guided tour - rather we just had a bit of a sticky beak through the viewing windows as they were extrudung some licorice.  They were just starting a run, and had to chop off the first few centimetres of the licorice rope that appeared. One of the employees gathered up the off-cuts and offered us a piece each.  It was nice licorice.  They also make chocolate, so I bought Mum a box of chocolate covered ginger, and me a box of chocolate covered licorice.
We drove back to Young. On our way back we
saw part of the Bethungra rail spiral. This is a unique spiral path taken by the rail lines so the trains can cope with the steep hill.  We didn't actually manage to get to the best viewing spot, but we did see one of the tunnels and some of the track -you could tell it was a loop.

For dinner we went to the Australian Hotel.

 

Australian Hotel

When we came out into the street after dinner Bill took this photo of the building opposite.  Not sure what it is, but it sort of a facde above a series of shops.