Welcome! I’m Richard Tulloch, a writer based half my year in Sydney and half in Amsterdam. And another half in airport queues.
In case you google me, I may as well be upfront and say that I write plays and kids’ books, and the most famous thing I will ever write in my life is the children’s television series Bananas in Pyjamas.
Now I’m writing travel articles, particularly about cycling, walking and other active adventures in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. This site is about those adventures, and you can read about them here, absolutely free of charge.
So come in, browse around, and I hope you enjoy it! Leave me an encouraging comment if you do, then tell all your friends how entertaining it is. Then come back. I’ll post new things each week, promise.
PS. While you’re visiting, click on a few posts, even if you’re not really interested. You don’t have to read them all, but it bumps up the hits and makes me feel better.
PPS. If you don’t like the blog, sneak off and say nothing. I won’t know who you are, I won’t even know you’ve visited, and you’ll never have to see me again if you don’t want to. Nobody gets hurt. That’s the beauty of cyberspace.
Richard Tulloch's LIFE ON THE ROAD 
Can you be a follower on this thing?
Dear Richard,
I am writing to seek your permission to reproduce your Blue Mountains cliff image for which we believe you hold copyright.
It is to be used in an educational resource on the Crossing of the Blue Mountains in 1813. This resource is for use by secondary students.
There are three elements to the resource:
• a 20-minute film
• a 44-page booklet of photocopiable activity sheets
• an online interactive ‘game’.
The image that we are seeking your permission to reproduce will be used in the print component of the resource.
Your material will be fully acknowledged.
The package will be reproduced on the website http://www.australianhistorymysteries.info, which is shared by the National Museum of Australia and Ryebuck Media. Teachers can buy a licence to gain access to the Blue Mountains mystery and sixteen others. The NMA and Ryebuck share the income from these licences to develop further educational resources for the site.
There will also be a limited hard copy publication of the resource — 300 copies, at a price of $88. Again, the income from these is shared by NMA and Ryebuck and used to develop further educational products that are based on the objects and expertise of the NMA, and that are in effect a form of outreach program to make the holdings of the NMA more readily accessible Australia-wide.
We hope you will give us permission to reproduce your material in the way indicated, and that you will take into account the non-commercial and educational nature of the publication in deciding on any reproduction fees.
If you are agreeable to this we would also hope to get a higher resolution image, if that is possible. The online one is fine for desktop publishing, but not of sufficiently high quality for professional printing.
I look forward to your reply and hope you can help.
Yours Sincerely
Robert Lewis
For
Mitchell Preston
Senior Education Officer
National Museum of Australia
Were you able to get permission? I’m producing a commercial for RENT, the musical, for a local, theater community benefit organization.
Mr. Tulloch,
Could we get permission to use and slightly doctor the great photo that’s on the home page right now, of the girl taking a picture of the graffiti in Lower East Side for the commercial, for free?
Please email me permission.
Hopefully,
Maggie Hollingsworth
Those bananas was very famous in Denmark too. Very! 🙂 Anyway, just wanted to say thank you for visiting, it gave me an opportunity to browse your place and who knows, I spent a lot of time in airport queues too :)…
Yes at almost the bottom on the right
Hi my name is tony and I am a great fan of your book. If possible, please email me when ‘scary stuff’ is comming out. My email is tonythepopup@gmail.com.
Ps
I love all of your books
I’m new to this too, but I’m told you click on the “Posts” feed on the top right corner, and it gives you a chance to subscribe. Then you get notified by email about new posts. Let me know how it works.
Richard.
I’m really enjoying your blog, Richard. Congrats.
Thanks, John – and glad to see (on jhalbrook.wordpress.com) you’re getting about too!
Hi Richard – I like that you get more photos in your blog than in the paper. Liked the last one in the Sun Herald about Battle – I used to spend lots of time with friends who owned an orchard just outside the town – lovely spot. I’ll organise a meal soon – I promise – been away lots just recently including NZ (freezing and rainy).
Jenny
Sawatdee kha Richard – Great stories!! You have landed on “The Land of Smiles”. I will make sure TU Drama circle gets updates on your movement. Keep cycling!!
Jom (Thailand)
Thanks Jom. Gee – how international is that – having readers in Thailand!
Hello Richard,
You remember my call in Amsterdam while you were heading for Sri-Lanka, and me, coming back from Japan ?
You write and collect unforgettable reports, if I understand the new Blog…
Let me just try to follow the track ; in a near future, in my dreadful ‘English as a Wog would utter’, may I do my best to submit reports on, say, Egypt, Greece, or Latin America, my favourite spots ?
I am sure this prospect shall entice me to better travel !
THANKS
Hello, Richard
John sent me the address of your blog and I took a look.
Nice article about the “Groene Hart”. I divide my time between Los Angeles and Dordrecht, and use the bike as my mode of transportation when in Holland. Wish I could do that in LA too.
My son and daughter-in-law did the same Green Heart trip a few years ago and enjoyed it very much.
Keep cycling!
Annemieke
Thanks, Annemieke,
I didn’t know about John’s Dutch connection. The single thing I enjoy most about living in Holland is having no car and five bikes; LA and Sydney can’t compete! We’ll certainly keep on riding and post more about rolling around Europe in coming weeks.
Hi Richard,
Great job on your blog, it’s very interesting. I’ve just been travelling to many of the places you have and love reading about them. I was travelling with a friend and was lucky enough to score a 9 month contact with the Sunday Herald Sun co-writing a weekly backpacking column called the Adventures of Georgie & Jess for th Sunday Herald Sun Escape.
Georgie
Gosh, Georgie – a 9 month contract? For travel writing??? Well done, and how can I get luck like that?!
Hello Richard,
It’s nice to read about montain trips we did together with our group. I enjoy each time also the pictures. It’s the second time I can see Kees’s backside and Klamie’s nice coloured shortpants….
Tonight big party in Amsterdam for Marga’s special birthday. We’ll think about you while drinking a pint of bier….
Agnès
Hi Richard,
Can’t find an email address to contact you on the site.
Would love you to check out this post and contact me for details if you are interested! http://ourhikingblog.com.au/2010/02/3-best-kept-travel-secrets.html
keep up the great writing. Always enjoy your posts!
Frank
Hi Richard
Great blog!
I was wondering if you have cycled between Bruges and Amsterdam. We are wanting to do this route mid April to see the spring flowers. Do you have any advice on how to find detailed cycling routes for this?
Much appreciated.
Lee
Thanks Lee, I’ve never ridden directly from Amsterdam to Bruges, but I have done most of the route in stages. Google The North Sea Cycle Route and you’ll find most of the route you need.
My best suggestion for maps is to go to a travel bookshop in Amsterdam called Pied a Terre, Overtoom 135-137. It’s easy to find and get to, they have a great selection of cycling maps, will speak better English than you or I do, and are knowledgeable about advising on routes.
Their website is in Dutch, but for the record: http://www.jvw.nl
Hope this helps and have a great ride – you’ll love it! Want me to come with you? 😉
Thanks very much, Richard. I’ll try and contact the travel bookshop through their website to see if they can send me a map. Can’t wait! I’m sure it’ll be amazing with the flowers in full bloom.
Looking forward to becoming a site groupie.
Pete
Groupies are always welcome! Thanks Pete!
Hello Richard … I love your site. See? There really are people who read you. But shouldn’t you be getting paid by the word?
In the words of Winston Churchill “I must start one of my own.”
Damien
Damien, your nice friendly comment has now been approved, so you can subscribe and become a FAN, and your subsequent comments will appear without me even moderating them!
To get paid by the word I’ll need maybe 500,000 hits a week. I’m not quite there yet, but thanks for doing your bit anyway. Cheers, Richard.
Hi Richard, my adventurous relative! I’m using your blog because I’ve misplaced your email address. I hope the 2010 travels are going well. Can you pass on my birthday greetings to Agnes?
cheers Mary
Thanks Mary, I’m delighted to have the blog used for any useful purpose at all!
Hello Richard!
I really enjoy reading your blog. I can feel parts of the world here. Hope you can write more about Indonesia.
PS : I saw Bananas in Pyjamas series when I were in elementary school. Love it! 🙂
Cheers from Indonesia,
Ami
Thank you, Ami, (I don’t know what your name means in Indonesian, but it’s French for ‘friend’ of course, which is nice and appropriate!). I have written a little about Indonesia, and I go to the Riau Islands at least once every year now. And hope you get to the Keukenhof one day! Go well, Richard.
Thank you, Richard..There’s no specific meaning of Ami in Indonesian, but I like the French version. I’ve never been to Riau before because I live in different island. Hope that you can visit more beautiful places in Indonesia!
Cheers 🙂
Ami
Hello Richard,
i’ve been reading through a number of your posts and you do such good work. It’s lovely to read such humour and down to earthen stuff (I’ve just made a new meaning for the word!!). I’d like to subscribe using therese@quiltingthejourney.com and NOT my yahoo address so lead me in the right direction. Oh and thankyou for subscribing to my blog- I’m really honoured. best wishes, Therese Waddell
Thanks for the encouragement, Therese. I’m a bit of a technological klutz, and a newish blogger too, so I’m not sure about how to get subscriptions directed to one address rather than another. (If anyone else is reading this and can help out, please let us know.)
What I suggest you do in the meantime is just make a ‘favourites’ link to this blog of mine, and click on it whenever you have time and interest. I’ll be posting new stories every couple of days, certainly while I really am on the road during the next few months.
Hello Richard,
I have a site for the Brazilian community in Holland and would like to know if you would let me use a few pictures that you took on the Queen’s Day. I need to make an article about it for my site and I don’t have any pictures.
Of course I’ll give the credits on the pictures published.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Marcia
Thanks for asking about the photos, Marcia, and you are welcome to use them if you acknowledge them and if you can, link to the post on this website. No charge – I’m flattered that anyone is interested. Let me know if you need me to email them to you. Best wishes, Richard
Hi Richard, I really enjoy your blog, but I am a lazy commenter. Know that you have a fan in Morgan St, albeit a silent one.
Thanks for being encouraging, Fiona. You may be pleased to hear that this is the last day of Giromania in Amsterdam, so I’ll have to find something other than lycra to write about after this week. But it’s been the most successful blog topic I’ve had – late night net surfing and cycling must go together. The Tour de France starts in Le Rotterdamme this year, so perhaps you haven’t heard the last of it. Greetings to all in Morgan St.
Great travel writing Richard – keep it coming!
Thanks Tim – enjoying your sports blogging too.
Hiya, Richard, thanks for your comment on my blog entry. I loved your description of the kayaking adventure you had. You’re braver than I am!
This seems like a fascinating blog. Thank you for your comment on highheeledhistorian as well.
http://highheeledhistorian.com/
Best wishes,
highheeledhistorian
Richard Tulloch you are far from boring 🙂
I must remind all that this is an Aussie we can be proud of
(PS) I am not Richard’s mother.
Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Hi Richard, came across your site my chance when looking for some pics on the web. I dont want to nit pick, just to help you get stuff in order, your pic of Rumpledrumskin drummers in Hastings is actually a pic of Section 5 drummers, I know for sure because I’m in Section 5, although not in your snap. If you pass through East Sussex again e mail me, maybe we can get you to a Section 5 event and you can dress up too? If you are coming back to the South East we are nearly in bonfire season which is FANTASTIC, torch lit parades every Saturday up to Nov 5th and after, maybe see you this year or next?
Thanks Sue, and I’m delighted that anyone takes my site seriously enough to pick its nits. I’ll fix the caption and thanks for the offer to let me come in fancy dress next time. Don’t give me a drum though – I’m a fiddle player, so naturally have no sense of rhythm. Bonfire season sounds great too, though I’ll be in Australia on Nov 5. Here Downunder Guy Fawkes used to be a good night, but then they decided that it was too dangerous – all those kids losing their eyes in backyard fireworks. A pity, but a fair call, methinks. Cheers and drum on!.
Hi, nice to meet you !
Thanks for visiting, RH. I went to your site too, and noticed that you had a alphabetical list of famous authors. ‘Tulloch’ would fit nicely between Tolstoy and Twain.
Hi Richard,
You’ve inspired me… now committing myself to ink.
———————————————————————-
It was a Friday afternoon, ten minutes to the bell
Everyone felt all puffed out, the teacher, too as well.
But in that final moment – she grabbed a book to read
About a boy called Danny, who was as stubborn as could be.
Danny was in the toybox. He was angry with the world.
‘Sometimes, I also feel this way,’ thought some of boys and girls.
But Danny didn’t stay angry, he forgot eventually.
And so did all the children forgot their tired minds and knees.
Well done, Natasha! I’m flattered that my little story (put together in a couple of hours) should have inspired someone to write poetry over twenty years later!
My step-sister was brought up on Bananas in Pyjamas!
Great blog 🙂
highheeledhistorian
Thanks, HHH…and I feel the same about high heels as I do about foot massagers – not quite worth the pain. Besides, those heels are a bad look in my case!
Haha! From my experience, the heels are very much worth it. And I’ve done the research!
Did you fail to mention the Bananas in Pyjamas accolade whilst in Nepal?
That’s a Fanastic byline.
All the best for 2011, look forward to reading more adventures and studying your photos! 🙂
Hello- So I saw you wrote Bananas in Pajamas. That one of the only cartoons liked. Any who. I was searching for people who has traveled in Korea at temples and your site popped up. I am going all over Asia this summer and wanted to read others trips. Thanks for the reads.
-sandy
Happy travels, Sandy. I do recommend the temple stays in Korea, though there are a lot of them available and they’re all different.
And thanks for visiting my site!
Hi Richard, I am a bit slow on the uptake. I have just read your About Me page. I had now idea you wrote Bananas. I know it well. My son is a bit old to have been a fan, but used to love watching kid’s programs with him. I also love children’s books. I went week at the knees when I met Morris Gleitzman and was able to quote whole paragraphs of his books. When he asked how old my son was, I had to admit that he was in his 30s. Have you read Allan Marshall’s (I can jump puddles) Whispering in the Wind? It was my son’s favourite book – and mine – when he was growing up. We both still read it again from time to time.
I also loved I Can Jump Puddles but never read Whispering in the Wind. Will look for it in my local library. Morris will be delighted to have made someone go weak at the knees. I read (and loved) his early books years ago, contacted him, and we became friends, which was very nice.
I’m sure Morris would be thrilled to know that he has a soon to be 58 year old groupie. I’d like to think he remembers our meeting at the Curly Flat stand at a Sydney wine show.
Whispering in the Wind is out of print, but you may be able to track it down. It is about a boy named Peter who sets off to find the last beautiful princess, who is guarded by a dragon who squirts water, because it is clean and wholesome and doesn’t leave a mess. Peter is accompanied on his journey by a kangaroo named Greyfur who can pull anything she wants from her pouch. I won’t give away any more – I don’t want to ruin the ending. I think it should be compulsory reading for all Australian children.
Hi Richard,
I really love you Blog and your books
as well, especially “Weird Stuff”!!***
Hope to see you again at Telunas
Vanessa
Thanks for encouraging me, Vanessa. All the best with YOUR writing (and reading) too!
Hi Richard
A friend from Cairns sent me your link today and I really like your website.
I am Australian born to Dutch parents and are heading there soon to catch up with a few relies before we meet other Aussie friends in Turkey to sail for a week. My husband loves riding and is trying to encourage me to do a bike holiday with him, so perhaps Holland would be a good start ( as I’m not to fond of hills). I look forward to following your blogs…..
Wendy
Thanks for the encouragement, Wendy, and indeed Holland is a great place to start for a hill-hating cyclist!
Hi Richard,
I think you called me but reception was poor (As I was riding in the country in the wet). Please give me a call 0623 678 454, maybe best to get me after 6pm tonight.
Hopefully speak then!
Paul 🙂
Thanks Paul, yes I called you a couple of times and left messages.
And I noticed the rain – real riding Dutch style! But I’ll ring tonight and see if it’s still an option to meet up tomorrow – maybe in Hoorn or Enkhuizen. I hope so.
Richard
Richard, Thanks once more for making the trip out to Kazakhstan a few weeks back. Our three kids enjoyed very much the time that you spent at their school DAIS, and for us adults the evening workshop was interesting. Everything you reported in your blog about the trip is spot-on about living in Atyrau.. unfortunately!
Thanks Debra – I may not have rated Atyrau 10/10 as a tourist destination, but I really enjoyed my time there, not least because of the friendly locals!
Hi there,
Hello,
I’m a freelance researcher for a series for History Channel Canada–and I’m exploring the possibility of doing a show that will focus on Amsterdam (see attached document for more information). The show is called Trashopolis–the idea being that cities have been shaped by they dealt and deal with waste (and this is an extremely broad definition–from, let’s say, boat-house trash, canal-waters clean-up, to leftover flowers after a flower festival, to dog poo, lost and found bicycles….to neighborhoods having to be moved because of a waste-related issue—to cannabis and other coffee-house-related waste issues….you name it).
This approach is fascinating and allows us to discover cities from around the world from fresh angles….we are now working on developing Amsterdam. A city iconic for its urban planning—and its canals, of course!
Right now I’m looking for different people to talk to about a whole range of subjects so I can get a good idea of the potential stories we could do in your city: I’m looking for historians, experts, tour guides, city officials, anyone, basically, with some knowledge and interest in the city who I could talk to explore some of the ideas outlined below and to perhaps suggest other ideas I could explore. Right now, this is all preliminary research that we are doing quickly to gauge which cities we will focus on—so the essence here is for me to get in touch with people fairly quickly in an unofficial capacity to gather basic –and interesting information. Once we’ve selected our final cities, we will dig more deeply and make a final, formal selection of experts.
I’m interested in looking into the stories and history of a city that has been able to control a lot of what happens within its boundaries—and, of course, I’m interested in looking at what is not controllable. I’d also love to understand how recycling and dealing with waste is dealt with by the city.
Some of the avenues I would like to explore include:
CANALS AND DIKES
– Amsterdam is the most watery city in the world. Its canals and harbours fill a full quarter of her surface. Its waterways have always been its essence and its source of wealth.. What are the city’s issues with this reality?
– History of canals and interesting facts—where all the dirt went, sanitation issues while building them—the empress who demanded that one of the canals be filled up because it stank. Past and present smell issues. What kind of garbage we find there—where it’s brought and how it’s dealt with. Dredgers and cleaners clean the canals in boats that carry the trash around. The canals used to be filthy—they are getting better-what kind of stories can we tell on that front?
– Why windmills existed (to circulate water and get rid of stink…among other things). Why they exist now? Old mills?
– Houseboats and houseboat trash/sewage. (Even though it’s illegal to dump raw sewage into the canals, people who live on houseboats still do it-are there stories we can do about this?)
– Water. Waste water. Canals’ clean-up-keeping the water clean. Drinking water.
FLOWERS
– Tourism is important to the country, and many come to see Dutch art, architecture—and the flowers. Tulips are a major industry, and the Dutch produce billions of bulbs a year—more than any other country. What happens to all of these flowers? The bulbs? Dead flowers?
– Amsterdam’s flower market is HUGE-we would like to investigate how they manage waste there.
PUBLIC WORKS-DEALING WITH TRASH
– How does garbage pick up and recycling work in Amsterdam? Where does it all go and how is it dealt with? What are the logistics of a city that is very tight for space and has no room for trash? How did it deal with this in the past and how is it dealing with it now?
– I’ve read that there is no room for landfill, so they incinerate, then sort the ash for metal after. The ash is shipped to German salt mines, end up with 2% of volume in waste they need to send somewhere. Any other stories and info? Who should I talk to about how trash is reduced in Amsterdam and learn more about this?
– The eastern docklands and Java island-it was created from scratch—are there interesting ways that this new part of Amsterdam’s designers decided to incorporate dealing with trash?
DRUGS & THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
– Are there trash or waste issues relevant to the district? Are there housekeepers who specialize in cleaning up the houses and locations where prostitution takes place? Are there other issues?
– What about for drugs and coffee houses and places where harder drugs are taken? Any special way to deal with trash and waste? What about the Canabis cup? Any special stories on that front?
OTHER STORIES
– Old bikes. Stoteln bikes-bike cemeteries?
– Dikes, old windmills stories?
– Stories: problems with litter, dog poop (as in seems to be big), graffiti and public urinals (which they seem to plop at inappropriate places). Any special task forces, issues?
– Jordaan-a former slum with open sewers became a refuge for artists-and now has flea markets etc
Every city we have featured on our show have had to deal with waste in various ways—and we’ve discovered that each city is unique in the way it deals with these problems, and that each city has unique stories to tell on that front.
I’m looking for all sorts of stories along those veins–as well as suggestions for stories (modern and old). Reading your blog on bikes and dog poop-I thought you might be an interesting person to contact. Would love as well ideas and suggestions of names of experts, historians, etc, to whom I should talk to. It would be greatly appreciated if I could talk to people in your public works department, water works, recycling, and green initiative programs—and any other person you think might be helpful for my research. Your help, ideas, suggestions in this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Heidi Miller
PS-one of the other cities I’m going to be working on is Sydney–looking for ideas for that city as well!
Hi Heidi,
I’m glad you found me and enjoyed the blog posts.
Your program sounds interesting and I’d be very happy to talk to you about Amsterdam, though I have no special expertise in Dutch trash management – only as an Amsterdam resident and consumer of the services. I know how to take out the garbage on a Monday evening, in other words. And I saw what happened when the garbage collectors went on strike last year. I’d be interested to see where all the dead bikes go too – I’ve seen the machine that picks them out of the canals.
But if you think I have something to contribute, or if I can help with your research, I’d be happy to do it.
Because of my travel writing I’m out of town a lot. I’ll be hiking in France (and out of email contact) from tomorrow till July 4, then in Italy July 7-14 and Iceland July 19-26. (Tough life I have!) The month of August I’ll mostly be here in Amsterdam, then back in Sydney from mid-September.
Are you visiting Amsterdam some time, or would you like to talk on the phone? Let me know, and I’ll try to make myself available.
Can I contact you by email?
bbbbbbbbb
by your story about the strangest hotel inZaandam you placed 2 picture that aren’t from the hotel but from the monsterous townhall they just finnished next to the hotel( pictures 3 and 5 counting downwards)
Just stumbled upon this– I like it alot. I envy your travels. As a literature major at UT austin, I hope someday to do something similar. Keep up the good work!
-k
Thanks for the encouragement, Katie. Good luck with the studies and I’m sure you will get to travel before too long. It certainly is fun!
Hello Richard Tulloch.
Since i spent much time here to got your email and didnt found it, i am writing here.
Can you please contact me on janko.petek2@gmail.com
I like your pictures so much and i want to ask you for a favor.
Great blog btw.
Thank you for your answer, Janko Petek
Hi, This is a desperate attempt on my behalf to contact you and see if you can help me. I am a primary school teacher and love the story of Midnite by Stow, as do my class. In googling I discovered that you adapted the story to a play and I would LOVE to get my hands on a copy. This has proved impossible after searching for many hours on the net but I thought one last chance might be that you have copies just floating around. If you have any ideas on where I could buy a copy could you leave a message here. Thank you – I will keep enjoying your travel writing blog – so many interesting places.-Jane
Hi Jane. Yes, I love Midnite too. And I have some copies available. Just send me a mailing address and I’ll get one to you.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! That would be fantastic, I am happy to pay for it – Just let me know the details when you post it. The address is to J. Vaughan c/- Railway Town Public School, Broken Hill, NSW 2880. Thank you again so much! I cannot wait to use it! You’re a champion.
Whoops! Railway Town Public School, Wills St, Broken Hill.
It’s in the mail, Jane. Let me know if for any reason it doesn’t arrive and I’ll try again. Hope you enjoy it.
Thank you so much Richard, it arrived today!! it looks fantastic and I can’t wait to give it a run! Payment will be on its way asap.
Regards, Jane
Hi Richard, I stumbled upon your blog when googling about the Great Vic Bike Ride. I’m doing the first three days the 2011 ride in less than 2 weeks time – I’m a little nervous! Just wondering if you took a camera and if so, did you keep it with you on the bike or did you have it in your bag that went on the transport? I’ve got a DSLR so it’s too bulky for the bike, but I’m worried it would get damaged if the bags are thrown about…I’d love to get some great pictures though! Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks for the visit, Jacqui, and I understand the problem. Yes, those bags do get thrown on and off trucks, and you’d want your camera on the road with you. Taking a luggage rack and pannier on the bike would be an option.
I have a bulky DSLR too, but for bike touring I also have a Panasonic Lumix FZ24 which fits in a bag on the handlebars. The FZ24 has a better lens (24 x optical zoom) than most compact cameras so it’s good for long road shots. But there are very cheap compacts which would be good for the road too.
Have a great ride – I did last year’s (and GVBR 2007, and the Great WA Escapade this year), and enjoyed them all very much. I can’t make the GVBR this year, but it would be nice to see your shots. Let me know if you set up a Picasa or Flickr file or suchlike.
Thanks for the advice! I’ve got a little point and shoot which is not the greatest quality, but I think I’ll stick to that and avoid the risk of damaging the DSLR. And a great point about being able to take photos on the road! I’ll definitely send through the Flickr link when they’re up.
Cheers!
Hi Richard, just a follow up as I’ve finally gotten around to doing a blog post about the 2011 Great Vic Bike Ride! Here’s the link: http://hoarehouse.blogspot.com/2012/01/great-victorian-bike-ride-2011.html
I managed to take some nice pictures so thanks for your advice!
Hi Richard. I found your link over on Bagni di Lucca and you’ve found a new follower. I love reading about others travels, and well I also have fond memories of Australia.
Hi Richard,
Fantastic site 🙂 As a half dutchie/half australian biking enthousiast living in Holland, I think it is great you are promoting cycling in Australia. I live in Utrecht and am heading down to Sydney on the 8th of january visiting family for a week and then heading down to Batemans Bay for two weeks. I love biking and wanted to fly my bike with me to sydney and bike around. Reading about your cycling in the Blue Mountains has sparked my interest to tour there. I would love to get in touch about nice trips/ bike hire (or take my racingbike on the plane??) near Blackheath (where my Dad grew up).
Could you contact me on “kate dot napier at gmail dot com”?
Thanks, keep up the good work!
Kate
Hi Richard,
What an amazing life you lead. Banana’s in PJ’s – AWESOME – Loved that show as a kid. However, as a young adult love your travel articles. Thanks so much for sharing your blog. Look forward to following your stories in the future.
Thanks for following, NP. Nice that there is life after Bananas. Your adventures look pretty amazing too.
Hi Richard,
Great blog! I hear you’re planning a visit to New York in a couple of months and I’d love to see if you’d like to include a side visit to Washington, DC. I work in international public relations for Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital. I have some great ideas for you and would be happy to assist with all arrangements. It’s about a 2-hour and 45-minute trip by Acela Express train. Please feel free to contact me at alicia.malone@destinationdc.com or 202-789-7053.
Stumbled onto your blog while following the trail of a hindu temple. Great to see that you made time to go off the beaten track in Singapore. Enjoy your travels.
Thanks. I’ve seen a lot of beaten tracks in Singapore too, so I’m always looking for alternatives now.
Tag you`re it! http://laavventura.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/tag-youre-it/
Hi Richard, I enjoyed reading about you and your travels. You are one of my legends, as I have had lots of laughs rehearsing The Cocky of Bungaree with my students. When sorting stuff in my shed, I regularly have to decide should I throw out the wooden sheep with and without wool.( I keep them just in case). I also loved doing Space Demons. The GVBR is part of our family adventure lore and I was there serving lunches, it was lots of wet fun.
Thanks for all that encouragement, Sue…and for the wet lunches on the GVBR. We were usually eating them about 10 am, having ridden too far too fast to try to beat the queues, but they were much appreciated.
Hello, Richard Tulloch,
Your dialogues for Bananas in Pijamas were hilarious which made me curious to find out who was the writer. It was YOU! That’s how I knew about you. So talented texts and so nice series. Thank you.
Tanya
Thanks Tanya, it’s flattering that someone still remembers those Bananas. They were a big part of my life for ten years.
Any Amsterdam tips for this weekend? I am travelling there for a few days on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry.
gud site… 🙂
Hey Richard – thanks for all the great info you post.
I’m just trying to locate a mailing address for you, I have something I’d like to send you. Sorry that this may not be the right place to post, but can’t seem to locate where I can reach you. Doei, Denise
Hi Richard,
Stumbled on your blog while researching on Korea hanok stay as i’d be going backpacking there end of month. BRavo! really enjoyed your writings, some are so funny… e.g. the one on the temple stay.
Keep it up! and thank you. 🙂
Su Ann
Thanks Su Ann. I had a great and fascinating time in Korea.
I can remember when I was 3 and 4 and liking Bananas in Pyjamas. Now I’m 9 and I like the books Weird Stuff and Freaky Stuff. The dictionary definitions are funny and the people that are in the books are also very weird like Kelvin Moray who is really negative and says Derrrr about everything. Nathan Lumsdyke is kind of a boy version of Cassie Wyman. I look forward to reading your blog now and it will give me some ideas of what to go and see when I go to Europe. Thankyou for your great writing for little kids, middle sized kids and older kids/people too.
Thanks very much for writing, Blake. It is extremely encouraging to me. I’m so glad you’re reading the Weird Stuff books. I really enjoyed writing them, so it’s wonderful to hear others like them too. All the best to you.
Hello Richard, I have really enjoyed reading your posts and just came to it as I was searching for one of your plays, Midnite – which I have now learnt is out of print. I thought that I might be able to track down a copy but I haven’t had any luck…as I have some enthusiastic children/young people wanting to have a read and possibly perform it for their families. So I thought that I would just ask you directly to see if you know any places that might sell a copy to me..as I live in Cairns FNQ and have searched high and low for a copy….fingers crossed you might be able to assist me :)..congratulations also with the success of your show, ‘The Book of Everything’ in New York…how wonderful!!
Clicked on a few posts. Likey…. follow.
Richard, it’s Awards Season and I couldn’t not add your fabulous blog to my list of nominations for the Kreativ Blogger Award. I won’t be upset if you can’t find the time to play, but if you can, pop over to check it out: https://thewanderlustgene.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/confessions-awards-and-the-atlas-game/
Ciao
TWLG
Hi Richard. My name is Jen Wills and I work for the ad agency in Sydney. We are interested in using a shot you have of the MCG for a print ad. Can you please contact me urgently on the email address supplied. I would need to negotiate a rate and get the hi res image from you tomorrow (Weds 19 June). I am hoping very much that you happen to read this in time. Thanks for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.
hey richard, have been following your trails and trials around some of the territory we followed a couple of months ago, and great to relive through your eyes and feet!
would like to touch base about a project that might be of interest on your return, assuming before mid-october? i am coordinating start-up of an event in lane cove called voce-n-ale (anagram) that is to be a celebration of the word as a catalyst for community engagement on a range of fronts, attached flyer gives you a bit of info and program is still evolving. If you are interested and available please advise
cheers and happy hiking
jon johannsen
VOCE-N-ALE
19 – 28 October 2012 An event to capture our collective voices
A celebration of Vocal Art, Communication and Expression
“THE WORD IS OUT”
VOCE-N-ALE – (an anagram of Lane Cove) is an event being planned by Lane Cove ALIVE in
conjunction with Lane Cove Library as part of The National Year of Reading 2012.
With broad scope for various forms of expression, communication, performance and other arts based
disciplines incorporating words, song and text(ing), VOCE-N-ALE will be an all inclusive cultural and
social event with potential to involve a wide range of individuals, performance groups, schools, seniors,
local business and culturally diverse networks. This event creates a new vehicle for celebration both
within and beyond our village.
The actual scope and content of the event are best described as ‘works in progress’. With this in mind
we seek expressions of interest from interested parties for to assist and participate. Poets, writers,
speakers, singers/choirs, artists, sponsors managers, local business owners and entrepreneurs,
promoters and you are all invited to respond.
Lane Cove Library already has an enthusiastic team preparing and contacting local writers and poets,
reading groups and cultural associations and we are hoping to involve local schools such as Lane
Cove Public School, Lane Cove West Public School, Mowbray Public School, St Michaels, Riverview,
book shops such as Dymocks, Moirs and Fusion, singing groups such as Lane Cove Choristers,
Aqualuna, seniors’ clubs and retirement villages such as Waterbrook, Greenwich & Kamilaroi, all
contributing to events. The potential for poetic and vocal quirkiness from, for example artist/poet
Richard Tipping http://www.richardtipping.net is intended to extend the written/vocal realm.
If you or your family/group/organisation/business is inspired to assist, sponsor or contribute on any
level we would like to receive responses by Thursday 17 may, either by mail or email to
Lane Cove ALIVE Project Manager Bronwyn Clarke on
M: 0403 073 006 T: 9428 5755 or bronwyn@lanecovealive.com.au
I often get the theme song for Bananas in Pyjamas stuck in my head. Now I know who to blame. However, I DO share the song with others in hit-and-run fashion and that makes me feel better!
I will poke around your posts so that your hits keep on comin’.
Happy travels!
Hi. I found you through Andrew Petcher’s blog. Saw your comment. My husband and I plan to walk the Camino de Santiago, maybe next year. So, I’ve been reading your walking trips. Now I’m more inspired.
It’s a great thing to do. Pick your time of year, though. It gets hot and dry there in the summer. Yes, I’m a regular Andrew Petcher follower too.
They said end of September to October would be good. There might be some rain, however.
Hello, you may see me from time to time. My husband and I live in Amsterdam and love to go on rides. We’ve been on all that you’ve suggested. I will add another one to the list: Ride to the beginning of the Amstel River – De Kwakel. It is about a 60 kilometer ride from our apartment (near the RAI). Lovely ride throughout. With a little break for refreshments at the locks in Hherrlijk. Do that one!
Richard, if we’d like to contact with you about some job connected with audioguides, what e-mail should we right at?
Richard, when you get settled a bit down down on the other side of the world I’d love it if you’d think about entering some of your photographs in the 7 Super Shots challenge. Here’s the link: https://thewanderlustgene.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/seven-super-shots
I loooooved the banana’s in pyjama’s! I was in highschool when they were on tv here and I watched them every morning 😀 I still sometimes sing the song (eeeh or the first sentence of it), but they’re not on tv here anymore for years.
I believe new Bananas episodes are still being made in Singapore, though I’m no longer involved. Glad you enjoyed them while in high school – and eventually grew out of them!
😀
What! You wrote Bananas in Pyjamas! So it was you who started that B1 and B2 thing? We use it in our family – 2 of our sons have partners named Bec, so we call them B1 and B2. Thanks! And Well Done!
Well, I grew out of it eventually, Trish. But I’m pleased and proud to have contributed to Australian popular culture in a small way.
Great blog Richard. I wonder if you are about in Sydney late February 2013? I will be completing the NZ end-to-end, then flying over to Sydney (Feb 25th) to ride the coastal route to Melbourne. It would be great to meet up and have a beer.
You’re blogs are great.
I enjoyed reading it 🙂
Congratulations on your many successes, which I can tell is a result of much hard work, and a great deal of talent. In two clicks, you’ve sold me. Now I’m off for a bit more browsing before I go back and answer comments. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by my blog and liking! I will stroll around here on yours…I love writers, children’s books (many other books too…), hiking, traveling and New Zealand. So, I might stay here for a while.
I love your blog so I wanted to let you know I am nominating you for The Clements Award. If you are interested you can find it here, http://midsommereve.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/just-because-a-new-award/
Great blog. Reading about your travels is making me nostalgic for my trips Down Under…what I wouldn’t give for some sunshine and beautiful scenery, and a break from the grey cold here in London…*sigh*
Thanks, cwh. Though with the temperature here heading for the 40s, a bit of cold and grey sounds appealing too.
I’m so glad I found your blog, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about your adventures and seeing your wonderful photos. I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award, you can read about it here: woblackdoggies.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/roll-out-the-red-carpet/. Feel free to accept or ignore, I won’t be offended.
Hi Richard
We’d like to use your photo of the rock art in Kakadu National Park in a half-hour ABC documentary about Judith Wright and Nugget Coombs. Could you please email me at penelope@yaytractor.com and I can give you the full details?
Many thanks
Penny
Hello dear.
I absolutely love your blog! It’s so full of life, adventures, and wonderful stories – makes me feel like I’ve travelled somewhere with each post! Hah, keep up the awesome work, and I’ll be keepin’ a close eye on ya.
Nice to meet you Richard!
Thanks for the visit and the encouragement. Will enjoy visiting your blog too.
Hi Richard,
Wasn’t sure how to email you. Worked with you at Farifield Heights Primary School many, many years ago. I’m desperate for a copy of the Brown Felt Hat and I can’t seem to get it anywhere. Any ideas?
Peter
Hello Richard.
Thanks for dropping by my simple blog. I was so glad you replied on my posting and finding that it’s one of your memories. I hope you can visit here again. I love travelling even though just around Java Island. Hahahahahaa….Especially from temple to temple. I love it so much.
Let’s keep in touch
Regards
Nono..
Hello Richard,
The picture of the gate, is “De Koepoort,” of Enkhuizen.
Regards,
Ans
Bedankt, Ans!
Hi Richard – I’ve only just stumbled across your blog, but I love it, there’s some really great stuff here. Will be exploring some more over the next few days…
Thanks, LitL. Sounds like you’ll soon have some good blog stories to tell yourself.
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Hi Richard, I had to think of you when I drove through California yesterday! 🙂 Picture
Hi Richard,
My partner and I are a late 20s couple from Sydney. He impulsively volunteered himself for a secondment in Amsterdam, so suddenly I find myself living on the Prinsengracht contemplating living a half and half life, like you. I stumbled on your blog whilst googling things to do outside Amsterdam. There’s some great content. Thanks very much for sharing!
Shona
My daughter loved Bananas in Pyjamas. I have to admit,I rather liked it too!
I loved reading about Turkish Viagra in today’s Age, Richard.
Thanks for spotting it, Caroline. It ran in today’s Sydney Morning Herald too I see, but it’s nice to know Melbourne will also soon have a whole lot of people rushing to Istanbul for Turkish viagra. See you soonish, Richard
> Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 09:25:51 +0000 > To: richardtulloch@hotmail.com >
Wonderful blog, thanks for writing!
Hi Richard,
Friend of mine from Singapore American School sent me your link as you have previously worked with her at Telunas. Enjoyed your reflections on Singapore as I have lived there for 5 years and am familiar with Telunas. During my stay there I also worked at SAS, we took grade 5 for a cultural service community trip there and loved the place. Will be contacting you directly r.e. a potential visit to Wollongong!
regards
Fabiola
So happy to see you in a week in the class camp p6 at Telunas
thx so much for coming i hope we will have a great time
I´m sure we will have a super cool time with you in telunas beach. Your book “freaky stuff” is really awesome!!! We read it in class every time we have English.
looking forward to meet you,
Philipp
Only in a few more days and il see you
yaaay
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Richard Me and a friend will fly from glasgow to amsterdam then cycle to den helder to catch the ferry. Can you advise a route from amsterdam/ where to stop enroute say 40 miles on the first night and where we could hire bikes in amsterdam.
Richard, I stumbled across this blog whilst researching multi-day cycle tours in the Netherlands. It is surprising how difficult it is to find useful info, but your blog has been the most useful yet. We can get killer cheap flights to Amsterdam for a week in the school hols and love the idea of exploring the dutch countryside, but, my question is this, would you recommend this for novice cyclists with three kids, ages 8,5, and 3?
Glad to have been of help, Lianne. I’m biassed of course, having myself started as a novice cyclist (at a late age) in the Netherlands. But I don’t know a better country to ride in as a rookie. Or as an experienced rider!
I really enjoy your Camino posts!
Hi Richard,
I’m exploring your blog tonight and I’m really interested in your travel writer lifestyle sharing Amsterdam and Petersham- did I get that bit right? My parents were Dutch migrants to Australia and I speak Dutch reasonably well. I find myself being drawn more and more to the Netherlands and have visited more regularly over the last few years. I’m considering a move to Amsterdam as an option. Why did you choose Amsterdam and how beautifully does it fit in with your work? Or did I just answer that question? regards Peet
Hi Richard
Congratulations on your series, Bananas in Pyjamas. As a child, my son LOVED the program, and so did I. In fact, I bought him the videos (they were still in VHS format) and I still have them, despite that my son is now 23 years old!
Thanks Joan. We all had a lot of fun with those bananas.
Dear Richard – as always great to catch up. Incoherently I tried to describe the Patrick Melrose books written by Edward St Auburn – quite scary/wonderful pieces of writing. Hopefully tales of their time but I suspect not. Jenxxx
Dear Richard, I am so happy to find this amazing website! Originally from Japan, I still keep watching Bananas in Pyjamas every single day. I am late 20’s but whenever I watch Bananas, I learn something new, something fantastic.
Currently training as an actor in London and Los Angeles, I am about to get a working visa in the US. Life is hard but every time I feel stressed out, your art and Bananas heal my heart 😉 Someday I would like to creat a great TV show for next generation! Thanks Xxx Please visit Tokyo, London and LA 🙂
thanks for the encouragement, Eru! It was a lot of fun writing Bananas, so it’s good to know people also enjoy watching it.
Thanks Richard! I watched in Japanese as a child and now I enjoy in English. There are so many bananas and teddies’ fan in Japan, too 😉
Thanks Richard for your bike rental in amsterdam piece. I’ve been wrecking myself trying to decide if I should go on the bike and barge tour or just rent a bike myself and have extra time to stop and take photos. This makes me believe I can just go it alone.
Please bring back to print Danny in the toybox, it’s my son’s favorite book! We went to the store to purchase one to replace the one that was lost and it’s no longer available. Bedtime are just not the same for him anymore! Would love to see this wonderful book back on the shelves!
Thanks for the encouragement, Kristina. Of course I’d love to see it back in print – it’s been as successful as anything I’ve ever written. A note to the publishers (Ashton Scholastic in Australia, Tambourine Books in the US) may help, but it’s been over 20 years! I’m delighted that it’s been giving children pleasure all that time.
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Hello Richard, I love your website – thank you. I am a cyclist from Sydney and would like to hire a house for five couples in Ghent next August 2016. We would like to ride every day somewhere from our house. Could you suggest rides or where we could get maps please. We probably could stay for one week, using the train as well as our bikes. I appreciate any help or suggestions you could give us please. Thank you, Jud
Excellent idea to use Ghent as a base, Judy! It’s one of my favourite towns. From there you can easily ride to Bruges, Kortrijk, Ypres and Antwerp (and bring the bikes back on the train if you like). Ghent is on the wonderful Vlaanderen Fietsroute (Flemish Cycle Route) and there are downloadable maps on this website: http://www.groteroutepaden.be (You should be able to access it in English by clicking in the top corner.) Otherwise, the Visitors Centre in Ghent will have maps and all the Belgian routes are very well signposted.
Happy riding!
We just read Danny in the toybox to our grandchildren.
I was going to put it on your FB but I don’t think you got one .
Anyway.
25 years later….. its still a winner.