Total Travel TAG Issue 1

written by
VARADA SARIF
AUSTRALIA
Edinburgh and San Diego are two beautiful
cities, and the love for their dogs is
celebrated. Scotland’s capital city may not
seem like it would have much in common
with a Southern California beach town. The
architecture, the accents, and most notably
the weather are relatively different. Despite
both being coastal cities, Edinburgh and San
Diego are far apart in their likeness. However,
through all their differences, one small part
of their canine history has connected them
in a unique way.
Since the mid-1800’s, Edinburgh’s Greyfriars
Bobby has become the city’s most prized pooch
and an enduring story of devotion. Bobby, a
Skye Terrier, belonged to a local Edinburgh
policeman named John Gray. Following John’s
untimely death, Bobby’s unconditional loyalty
was demonstrated as he faithfully remained at
his master’s grave for the next 14 years. Leaving
only for food or occasional shelter, Bobby
always returned to John’s side in Greyfriars
Kirkyard, thus earning him the name “Greyfriars
Bobby.” The devoted dog kept watch over the
grave until he too passed away on January 14,
1872, at the age of 16. In remembrance of his
commitment and dedication, a statue of Bobby
written by
MATTHEW CEMENTINA
from Wanderxlove
www.wanderxlove.com
SCOTLAND & USA
was placed out front of Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Around this same time, another furry friend was
making his impression over 5,000 miles away
in Southern California. Lovingly named Bum
by his newfound colleagues, the St. Bernard/
Spaniel mix arrived in San Diego as a stowaway
aboard a ship coming from San Francisco in
1886. His free-spirited nature soon captured the
hearts of his community, and he was happily
taken in. Even after being struck by a train and
losing one of his legs, Bum never lost his upbeat
personality. Food, shelter and even medical
treatment were provided for Bum by his fellow
San Diegans until he passed away on November
10, 1898. As a tribute to his positive impact on
the city, a statue of Bum now resides in San
Diego’s historic downtown.
In commemoration of their extraordinary
connection, Edinburgh and San Diego became
Sister Cities in 1977. This officially joined them
together through acknowledgment and
adoration of their furry friends. To symbolize
this friendship, Edinburgh presented San
Diego with a duplicate statue of their beloved
Bobby. Moreover, in return, a statue of Bum
was given to Edinburgh. Both cities now hold
a permanent place for their precious pets.
It is fun traveling to such different and distant
destinations and still finds a familiar face.
If you are interested in visiting each statue
location, here are some helpful hints on where
to find them. Edinburgh’s Bobby statue is set
on a pedestal located out front of the gates to
Greyfriars Kirkyard and across from Greyfriars
Bobby Bar. Bum, often nestled amongst leaves,
is laying at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle
near King’s Stables Road. In California, Bobby
and Bum can be found together in Pocket Park
at the William Heath Davis House Museum in
downtown San Diego.
While the Land Down Under has
a ton sights that should be on
everyone’s bucket list like the Reef
and Kangaroo Island, it also has
a ton of secrets that are tucked
away in all corners of the country.
One of these beautiful secrets is
Lake McKenzie – a freshwater
lake in the middle of the world’s
largest sand island; just off the
east cost of Queensland. The
island is probably the strangest
thing I have seen – it has got
bright yellow sand dunes that
hug the coast and rainforests
full of eucalyptus and palm trees
in the middle. I did not even
know rainforests could survive
in the sand till I saw this island. I
suppose the island is an accurate
depiction of the strange wonder
that is the landscape of Australia;
it feels like it should not work, but
somehow not only does it work,
it thrives.
Getting to the lake is not exactly
an easy drive in your car because,
well, there are no roads on the
island. The best way is renting
an ATV and strapping in for
the ride because if your guide
is anything like mine, he will
insist on providing the “full ATV
experience” which means driving
over every bump in the road and
forgetting that the ATV comes
with brakes.
The lake is just a short hike
through the forest after the ATV
ride. The walk leads to a large
clearing with an awe-inspiring
view of crystal clear waters and
bright white sand. I do not really
think there’s a way to describe
the beauty of that lake – other
than saying that the view is
jaw-dropping. The water is so
clear and vibrant, you can see
about fifty different shades of
blue across the lake. The sand
surrounding the lake is made
from white silica, and it is the
softest I have ever walked on.
The fine grains of silica make it a
perfect exfoliator for your skin!
Moreover, because there are no
inflows into the lake, the water is
spotless – making it a great place
to swim!
The white sand, blue-green
landscapes, and quiet atmosphere
leave you wondering how
this paradise is even possible.
A local legend does offer an
interesting explanation for the
vibrant colours of the lake. The
natives believe that the island
was created when the goddess
K’gari transformed herself into
the land. The lake is said to be
one of the goddess’ eyes. More
recently a different explanation
has been offered - the organic
matter at the bottom makes the
water too acidic for most plants
and wildlife. A lack of aquatic life
leaves the lake a perfect shade of
aquamarine. Whether you believe
the local legend or the scientific
reason, I think we can all agree
that the blues and whites of this
lake are fascinating and worth a
visit!
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