March 2026

Back from Australia / Asian stopovers...

And here we are back in France, with plenty of lovely memories from our stay in Australia and on the way home: from Brisbane, we headed to the shores of Lake Macquarie, a body of water that has captivated us ever since Banana Split was stuck there for a long time a few years ago due to the pandemic; it's the largest marine lake in the Southern Hemisphere, it suffers from neither currents nor swells, you're always safe there, and if an anchorage suddenly becomes exposed to the wind, you only need to sail for an hour or two to find a spot sheltered from the new wind direction; there are dozens of these anchorages, in front of quiet towns like Belmont or Bonnells Bay, or deserted spots with forests of gum trees where kangaroos roam freely; and also some good restaurants, like the extraordinary "Eight at Trinity", with its unforgettable architecture and decor; Lunch there marked the southernmost point of our trip this year. We weren't on Banana Split, but on a simple rented houseboat.

Then we headed back to Brisbane with our dear friends Serge and Claudie, who have been living in Australia for 40 years. On the way, in a place called "Little Italia," I rediscovered the story of survivors of an attempt to create a "New France" further north in New Guinea, by a swindler named Marquis de Rays. It was here that the few survivors of this failed colonization took refuge. I recounted this incredible, little-known historical anecdote in my second travelogue, Bord à Bord (Border to Board). By the way, if you'd like to read or reread one of my earlier books, you can order the digital file from our website.
A few more days in Brisbane, where we also found some excellent little restaurants. We stayed in one of the skyscrapers overlooking the Botanical Gardens, and then in a neighborhood that Francette and I adore, New Farm.

The drive back took us to Saigon, where the decorations for Tet, the local New Year, were as lavish as ever; then on to Malaysia, at the foot of the towering skyscrapers that dominate the center of Kuala Lumpur, and on the steps of the immense, multicolored staircase leading to the Batu Caves, home to numerous pagodas. We also made a quick stop in Penang, which, unfortunately, has seen a lot of construction since my visit in 1994. The immense temple overlooking the city remains magnificent, and we found a charming place to stay in George Town: the Oh Yeah Palace!

Last stop, northern Thailand, to take Francette on a bamboo raft down a river near Chiang Maï, and a visit to a huge complex of brand-new pagodas populated by all sorts of colorful creatures.

Back in France, I'm putting the finishing touches on the mix of new versions of seven of my songs from 1966, which will be on social media around March 15th.


Hang in there for three more weeks, and it will be spring!

Antoine