Introducing Craig Lawton. Talented writer. Global Traveller. Well versed in Australian travel and culture. And funny down to earth guy.
Hear what he has to say about Melbourne, his home city, and Australia, the land he calls home.
- Name Craig Lawton
- Occupation Infrastructure Architect Telstra Pty Ltd.
- Country of Residence Australia
- Country of Origin Australia
- email/contact/ website
- Why do you love Travel?
I have a difficult relationship with travel. Dave Graney song is my reference. Mt Gambia. Gave his memoirs.
“You want to go there, but you don’t want up travel.”
When you’re moving it’s not stressful, but it’s the planning and the preparation and thought of it that daunts me.
To go to places that you don’t know anything about can be scary and exciting. Act of travel is stressful. Not knowing where you’ll sleep? Not knowing layout of city?
I like going to places that friends don’t know. Something different.
The Trans Siberian is def one.
- Favourite place in your home country and why?
Stretch of coast from Cairns to Cooktown. There is a trail up there. Only bout 1000m or something but it’s laid back and reminds me of being on the frontier. Cooktown is great. Looking out over Endeavour River, can see the country going all the way North from there like it could go forever. It’s like going wild, back to the wilderness. You get the sense up there that you can imagine what it used to be like.
Giant fishes in the water. Very chilled out. I just keep going back.
You gotta go for the drive, it’s one of the great drives!
- Best place for tourists to visit in your country?
People come so far and travel so long to get here it’s a shame if they don’t explore. In Victoria visitors must go to Wilsons prom, it’s totally under appreciated.
South West of WA is also a little undiscovered but beautiful. Pemberton and Margaret River.
- What other country would you live in if you had to leave your country?
Have lived in England for a couple of years. And I would choose that. Great location. History. Friends there. Easy to travel to virtually anywhere from there including Asia, Europe and the Americas. First-world country so easier with kids and a family.
- Best travelling experience anecdote in your own country?
Time at Wilson’s prom, on windy saddle a few hours into this walk, all the travellers sitting, elderly couple sitting on other side of the Grassy clearing, head of brown snake came out from behind a man, and then behind the woman. Sat there watching and just went in slow motion. The snake went right around them and then went back into the bush and they were none the wiser.
Another story,
In eastern Kimberley on my honeymoon at Emma Gorge. Semi luxury tents, El Cuestro , hotel cabin, tent roof, en-suite. Wife wanted to go for walk , something wrong with toilet, went to use shared ones. I stood around looking dazed in the sun. Heard a scream but was off in the distance….. my wife, who had screamed, then laughed, waited for aftermath, then she started laughing.
Wife picked a toilet. And frog jumped up and out into the air then felll back in and slid down the toilet bowl.
- Favourite activity when around your city?
In city everyday for work but I love walking through the city through the lane ways. Trekking through city and never going on main roads. State library is a must see and jus to enjoy the reading rooms.
Explorer!! City safari man!
- Do you feel you know your country well, or is more exploring of your homeland needed?
I know the country and it’s people. I think on one level we’re quite shallow so not so hard to understand. Local peculiarities you forget when you’re away.
In terms of the whole country, you could travel your whole life and still not see the whole thing. Open spaces. Nothingness. Because we don’t know what’s there?
Something terrifying and haunting about the Australian interior. Memories of Lindy chamberlain, Falconio.
Aboriginals history.
Dark side of it.
Sense of the country that would be hard to understand now, the aboriginal side,
Maybe do a tour like that and learn more about the indigenous heritage.
- Any warnings for travellers visiting in your country?
Don’t go to the interior. Who knows what’s there?
Shit stirring stories just for fun i.e. Drop bears, spiders, then brown snakes
Seriously – around the coast, beware of the water. If we put up warnings, we mean it!!
Snake stories. Ran straight over a red belly black snake once. Just another day in Oz.
- Must see movie featuring your country and Why?
The hunter
William de foe
Tassie wilderness, myth of Tassie tiger
Lantana – captures Sydney suburban without the trite.
Mature and honest look into suburban Sydney and Australian life.
- The best book to read before visiting your country?
Dirt music. By tim Whitton.
For Melbourne – photo book.
- The must eat dish or delicacy of your country?
I wouldn’t say anything. All exciting stuff is blend of Asian and European.
Come to Melbourne. Go to Vic market and get fresh produce.
- The top three sayings to make travellers stay in your country easier? E.g. How much? Too expensive or Hello.
– How ya goin mate?
– No worries
– Get ya hand off it.
– Ya dickhead
I reckon I’m less passionate about Australia then I am about Melbourne.
Love being Sarcastic
- Best time of year to visit?
Melbourne. Autumn. Or spring. The changing seasons.
Tropics – June / June
- The 4 words that best describe your country:
Young, clean, open, conservative
Make sure to check out Craigs blog: www.anacoluthia.net
Photos by http://www.steveweller.net/
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