High tea is a practice that dates back to the late 1700's. The Duchess of Bedford is said to be the originator of this custom. In that period, it was customary to only serve two meals a day, making it very hard to go from breakfast to dinner without eating. The dutchess began inviting friends over for high tea which included dainty sandwiches and breads. This practice became very popular and is still used today as we know it. High Tea is alive and well in Brisbane and below are a few favorite spots to enjoy this custom.

For a true old world experience, visit Joseph Alexander's at Milton. Here you can dine in a beautiful historic house with traditional charm and a menu that will certainly satisfy your desire for traditional high tea. This building is a hundred and twenty years old, it has some of the greatest views of the Brisbane skyline and the Brisbane river. There is also a fabulous ambiance to the place, that gives you the feeling of eating at home, even though you are out at a cafe.

In Clayfield you can visit High Societea. This is a great location and is often used for bridal showers, baby showers and birthday parties. Since it's opening in May '04 their emphasis on detail and presentation has made them a favorite for high tea.

Located on the river at Stamford Plaza is the Brasserie. The several high tea options here include an all chocolate infused buffet. Traditional high tea is served all day featuring baked goods, pastries, coffee and tea.

Queenies Traditional Tea House is located in Nundah. This tea house offers many desserts and baked goods all of which are made here on site, and include Chocolate Guinness Cake, Passion fruit Sponge (Queenies signature cake) and Cheery and Almond Cake. High tea is served in a traditional manner with all the usual accompaniments.


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Windchimes are often found in gardens or hanging from the eaves of houses. They impart a lovely sound to the atmosphere that can be calming. Some windchimes are tuned to play music while others have random tinkling tones. They are made of many materials and you can find one that will please your senses without any trouble at all.

Windchimes have been in use since prehistoric times but no one is sure if they were used to warn of intrusion, to tell how the wind was blowing or if they were just there because they sounded nice. An archaeological dig in South East Asia produced some ancient windchimes that dated back to about 3000 BC. These early windchimes were frequently made out of bone, wood or stones and then later bamboo and shells. The first people to use metal to make a wind chime were the Egyptians and they made them out of bronze.

The Buddhists in Asia were the ones who developed windchimes to the fullest mostly because they used them in ceremonies. They hung windchimes to the rooftops of pagodas and temples that would ring deliriously whenever the wind came through. In Asia and the Mediterranean people believed that the windchimes would call to good spirits and they would come to protect the people who put them up. It was also believed that windchimes would keep evil spirits at bay. You can find windchimes on many residences in China and Japan the owners hoping the good spirits will protect them. In other cultures it is believed that windchimes will make you have good luck.

The Celtic people of ancient Britain made and used windchimes to keep away intruders. They placed windchimes in the woods near their villages so that when the intruders came near they would hear them and think the woods were haunted. They would be tricked and run quickly away from the village.

There is a belief that the sound of windchimes can have a calming affect on the mind. It is said that certain chimes have a specific resonance that can heal the body and mind of a person. It is said they can bring about awareness and connection with the spirit. They help one relax and reduce anger and bring balance to the whole person. Windchimes are used in Feng Shui because of the ability to bring that so sought after balance.

Farmers used to use windchimes not to gain balance but to tell what the weather was going to be like. When a wind blows from a certain direction in a certain area it can bring about good or bad weather conditions. Farmers could tell if there was going to be rain by hearing the windchimes ring in a particular manner because the wind was coming from that direction. They could tell how hard the wind was blowing as well. They also used windchimes in the corn field in order to frighten away the birds that would eat all the corn.

Today windchimes are still popular and are made from suspending tubes or other materials from string. Some are made of rods or tubes and are often made of metal or wood although there are still some being made with glass prisms and shells. Some metal windchimes have a ball like clapper or a horizontal disk that is suspended from the center with the chimes all around it. When the wind blows the chimes bump against the clapper or disk causing them to ring or make another sound. Other windchimes may suspend the materials in a row and when they hit each other they make a pleasant tinkling sound.

Windchimes can be found everywhere these days and the reason usually does not include intruders or scaring away crows. It usually is not to forecast the weather either or to beacon to good spirits. Windchimes do give off sounds that can be calming and relaxing and come in a variety of materials including glass, wood or bamboo, seashells, and all types of metals. They may or may not bring luck but everyone who hears them enjoys the tinkling melodies.


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When you are traveling around the TNQ region of Australia , the going can be tough, especially if you are unfamiliar with the region. Taking the time to prepare yourself and your vehicle for any issues or problems that may arise while traveling will help ensure a smooth holiday in this region.

The first thing that you can do is rent your vehicle through a reliable car hire company. You will find that many of the names that you are familiar with, including Budget, as also available for your overseas vacation to Australia. You want to make sure that your vehicle is reliable, especially when traveling around the Outback.

The next step is to prepare yourself in case of an emergency. You can do this by obtaining a set of current maps for the region you are visiting, always travel with water in your car, and be sure to have a first aid kit on you at all times. Even though you may never need these items, it is still a good idea to have them on you, just in case.

The last thing that you need to be sure to have is a cell phone with an overseas SIM card. This will allow you to make international phone calls with your phone, as well as local calls while you are on your vacation. A cell phone is also great to have on hand should you have an emergency or your car brakes down and you need to contact roadside services. Before you depart to your destination you will also want to save your emergency contacts, hotel information and car hire company in case there is an emergency and you are unable to get this information across to the emergency assistant.

One last tip, that will be allow you to have a safe vacation is to never abandon your car if it was to brake down in the Tropical North region. Always stay in your vehicle and never wander around. There are a lot of desolate areas and you do not want to get lost and have to have a search party looking for you. Stay with your car and wait until assistance arrives.


If you are ready to holiday in Australia be sure to use the car hire Surfers Paradise has loved for years. Log onto www.budget.com.au for the best deals available. You can also get a brisbane car rental vacationers have enjoyed while driving from sight to sight.

When you are planning your trip to the Tropical North Queensland region of Australia you will want to be sure and pack a pair of binoculars and a camera. This Australian region is the perfect place to observe bird life in their natural habitat.

A favorite amongst bird watchers, the Tropical North of Australia is the perfect destination for a bird watching holiday. Whether you find yourself staying in Daintree, in the Highlands, or on the Cairns Coast , you will find that some of the accommodations land you right in an incredible location to be able to catch a view of some of the most amazing birds of the rainforest from the balcony of your accommodations.

The Tropical North Queensland region is filled with many lakes, parks and beaches in addition to the rainforests making the entire region a haven for various species of birds and the year round moderate climate makes this region the perfect habitat for the birds all year long.

Some birds are more easily spotted during certain times of the year. The Channel Billed Cuckoo, Paradise Kingfisher and the Koel can be found easiest between October and April. This is also breeding season for birds which will give you the opportunity to see newborns hatching and mothers taking care of their young.

The Tropical North Queensland of Australia is a wonderful place for bird watching, but if that isn't your thing, don't worry because there are plenty of other things to see and do in the region. Just choose accommodations that are centrally located to whatever you want to see and do in the region. This will ensure that you have the best possible holiday, whether you will be enjoying the beaches or scuba diving in the reef, there are many natural wonders to explore, with just about something for everyone, you are bound to find that the TNQ will become your favorite vacation hot spot.


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