In the frame: one of the world's most picturesque destinations

The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the most spectacular travel destinations on the planet.

From the quirky capital city of St John's to 29,000 kilometres of coastline, Newfoundland and Labrador offers any number of eye-catching images.

You are off the beaten path, there is plenty of fresh, clean air and red and the 16-million square miles of Atlantic Ocean at your feet. 

Oh, and lots of unspoiled wilderness and wildlife. 

The local tourism organisation, Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, has just posted some of the best images capturing the province taken in 2025.

Well worth a look. 

https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/trip-ideas/travel-stories/top-imagery-of-2025

Tourists have to be told: "Don't feed the bears"

Tourists can be dumb. Seriously dumb.

So dumb that they need to be warned not to feed wild bears.

The Japan Tourism Agency has had to roll out a series of pictograms warning tourists of the dangers of getting too close to wild bears, the Japan News reports. 

The signs warn against approaching or feeding bears, and urge caution in areas where bear populations are found.

The images were produced for local authorities to display in relevant areas and for local businesses that serve travellers in these areas.

JTA collaborated with the Environment Ministry to create the three images with the messages: ‘do not feed bears,’ ‘do not leave trash behind’” and ‘do not approach bears.’

It comes after a Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear in Gifu Prefecture in October.

Luckily, that tourist only suffered minor injuries.

That said, 13 people have been killed in bear attacks in Japan this year  compared to six in 2024, which was still a record year.

Visions of generations past exhibited in Melbourne

The European Union’s flagship cultural diplomacy exhibition Inside Pompeii: Origins of a European Way of Life featuring photographs by Luigi Spina has opened to the public at CO.AS.IT in Melbourne.

The Museo Italiano will be showing the images until December 23, offering a glimpse into one of Europe’s most iconic archaeological sites in the city considered the most European in Australia.

This free exhibition by the European Union Delegation to Australia is part of the EU’s foreign policy initiatives and aims to highlight the importance of cultural diplomacy between the EU with its like-minded partners.

The exhibition explores how history has shaped European identity and culture, and shows the everyday lives of Pompeii’s people, from intricate mosaics and personal graffiti to household objects and grand public spaces.

The commonalities with a modern way of life are striking and Melbourne - with its vibrant multicultural community and deep European heritage - provides the perfect setting for this dialogue between Europe’s past and a shared future, says the EU.

Renowned Italian photographer Spina captured the images during the Covid-19 lockdown, when Pompeii was closed to visitors.

His 38 large-format images take audiences inside the homes, streets, and everyday spaces of the ancient city, capturing a moment of stillness that connects today’s audiences with lives lived two millennia ago.

“As the EU-Australia partnership goes from strength to strength, we take time to celebrate culture, history, heritage and our shared humanity," said EU Ambassador to Australia, Gabriele Visentin.

"Melbourne is so often considered the most European city in Australia, and its vibrancy reflects these same values - freedoms that should be celebrated and preserved through greater dialogue and cooperation.”

Inside Pompeii: Origins of a European Way of Life - Photographs by Luigi Spina will be held at CO.AS.IT. Museo Italiano, 199 Faraday St, Carlton, until December 23. Admission is free. 

New Jansz offering illustrates Tasmania's wild side

 

Looking for a present for the sparkling wine lover in your life? 

Jansz Tasmania has just unveiled its new seasonal-release packaging, illustrated with striking photography by adventure, travel and lifestyle photographer Jess Bonde.

The collaboration between Jansz Tasmania and Tasmanian-born Bonde is "inspired by their passion for their Tasmanian home and the untouched beauty and pristine natural wilderness that forms the essence of their craft". 

Owned by the Hill-Smith family, Jansz Tasmania has been making sparkling wines in Tasmania since 1986 - well ahead of the style becoming ultra-fashionable. 

This is the house’s fourth limited-edition collaboration with a local artist, celebrating Tasmania’s culture and community.

The collaboration between Jansz Tasmania and Jess Bonde sparked an expedition where Bonde captured a series of images revealing the island’s beauty.

Bonde aims to replicate the Jansz Tasmania philosophy, Méthode Tasmanoise. 

“It's my backyard,” said Bonde. “I fell in love with its elements, the pristine waters, rugged mountains, rich and fertile soils.

“When Jansz Tasmania approached me to make Tasmania the canvas of my next shoot, I was proud, super excited and quite curious to capture the essence of our unique environment and create a product inspired by the land. 

“To capture the essence of our unique environment and create a product inspired by the land - that’s what I’ve been doing in all my years of shooting.

“The beauty of Tasmania is in its roughness, from soil under your feet to the harsh bite of the air.”

The images showcase some of Tasmania’s most picturesque peaks, from Federation Peak in the remote Eastern Arthur Range to Barn Bluff in the Central Highlands and Mount Murchinson on the West Coast. 

This collab follows Jansz Tasmania’s previous seasonal links with Tasmanian artists Eloise Lark, Jamin, and Daniel Gray-Barnett, but is the first to feature photography.

The limited-edition Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvée gift box is now available at jansz.com.au and in wine retail stores ahead of the festive season.

The collaboration will extend to Jansz Tasmania’s Premium Rosé early in the new year, in time for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. RRP $33.

Taking a stroll around the neighborhood

Final night of my Vietnam trip: the Pan Pacific Hanoi is a big, well-operated international hotel overlooking West Lake. 

It is a hotel with several excellent F&B outlets, uniformly helpful staff and all the amenties an international traveller needs. 

A full hotel report follows but here are some fun snaps I took on an afternoon stroll through the local streets. 

The writer/photographer was hosted by Vietjet and the Pan Pacific Hanoi.

Vietjet flies from Ho Chi Minh City to major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, and also connects Hanoi to Sydney and Melbourne. Economy fares start at around $250, while business class fares begin at $1,100, with frequent seat sales on offer. 

A morning stroll around Hoàn Kiếm Lake

A morning stroll around Hoàn Kiếm Lake is a must for anyone visiting Hanoi.

Locals and tourists were posing for photos this morning as Vietnam readies for its 70th anniversary of independence next week.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake means "Lake of the Returned Sword" or "Lake of the Restored Sword") it is a fresh water lake, measuring some 12 hectares right in the centre of the Vietnamese capital. 

# The writer is visiting Vietnam as a guest of independent airline Vietjet, which flies from major Australian capitals to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Further information at www.vietjetair.com. He was hosted by the luxury Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi https://www.sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com/

For one night only: Australian wine gets cosy with Albo

Just about every day of the year there is a wine show somewhere around the globe. 

And just about every day some wine producers will be rejoicing and sending out press releases saying their winning wine is "the best in the Barossa", "the best in Australia", or "the best in the world". 

It's a lot of fun and nonsense - but effective marketing for the winners. 

Gourmet on the Road does not cover wine show results for many reasons, not the least that many of the best producers in Australia/the world do not enter them.

But last night the winners at the National Wine Show of Australia - arguably the biggest of the year - were presented with their awards by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club.

Murdoch Hill’s 2022 Rocket Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills won the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show. 

The presence of the PM triggered a flurry of photos from winning producers keen to pose with the main man. 

I wonder if any of them had a word with Albo about his wrong-headedness over the Middle East, AUKUS and other important matters? 

Probably not. 

Anyway, here are some photos from the night. With Albo a ubiquitous presence. 

Should you be so inclined, The full winners’ catalogue can be found at  www.nationalwineshow.com.au/2024-results

Images: Studio Vita/Supplied 

Bali off the beaten track: Sights of Lovina

I am currently spending a few days in the hills above Lovina on Bali’s quiet north coast as a guest of the excellent The Damai hotel. 

A full review of The Damai will follow shortly but here are some random images that captured my interest. 

The “real” Bali a little off the beaten track. Please enjoy. 

AI images a challenge for the wine industry

Wine and grapes are wonderfully evocative subjects for photographers. 

As someone who often needs generic images, I was tempted to create some AI photos by giving some simple commands. 

It took just seconds to create these images. What do you think? 

I hope it is rather harder to create coherent and accurate wine reviews.