European Impact

Euopean states have often been ravaged by war, with national boundaries changing, religious allegiances enforced, new generations adapting to learn different languages and political systems transforming in constant flux. Although most of these states can be small in size, there are a few large players - Germany, France and Russia - that have exerted their cultural, economic and political clout on the landscape of Europe in different centuries.

The stress and dislocation caused to civil populations in the last century had made many Europeans emigrate to new opportunities in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. The constant scenarios of instability, military conquest and economic uncertainty had encouraged the several cantons of the Swiss Federation to declare a strong political neutrality.

The Roman Empire set the tone early more then 2000 years ago in its drive for territory expansion, control of trade routes and increasing its brand of Greek based civilisation and so called Western values. And then this Empire was overwhelmed by the Ottomans, especially in the Eastern Roman Empire and in the Iberian region.

Waking up from the Dark Ages, Europe went through its Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment. With a technologically superior array of skills, tools and military equipment, the more advanced Euro states began to look outward. 

Adventurers under the sponsorship of Spain reached the Americas by crossing the Atlantic, initially hoping to reach India. not realising they had headed in the wrong direction.

The Arabs and the Ming Dynasty Chinese had already effectively harnessed the power of monsoonal winds to come to India, Africa and South-east Asia. Once Bartolomeu Diaz successfully sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, the limitations and shackles of the land route from Europe to China, the Silk Road, were removed.

The interim drive to discover new lands in the European mind was embedded by the delights and benefits of the spice trade. Think of spices as powerful as petroleum, clean water, sustainable energy, data and internet connections today.

Thus began the age of colonialism, economic utilisation and occupation of other civilisations by the European powers - Portugal, Spain, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Britain and to a minor extent, Italy. Almost every corner of the non European world was taken over for control in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and the Americas, except for Thailand, Siberia and inland regions of China.

The British had already colonised Ireland, while losing the USA earlier in 1776. The British East India Company established its first outpost in South East Asia in Penang in 1786.

The European powers in this manner disseminated the use of their own languages, cultural habits, administrative structures, political thoughts, technology like railways and sharing of their DNA. The globalisation effect strengthened, with an exchange of ideas, culinary influences and socio-cultural practices. Fusion in society was reinforced, like what happened to the Anglos, Gauls, Germania and Eastern Europe at the height of the Roman Empire.

Some European colonists tended to ignore the existence of prior societies before they "discovered" them. Indigenous populations were especially vulnerable to the arrival of the European colonists. Foreign diseases, religions and trade arrived with various implications. Some powers were more violent in their treatment of their new subjects, others more benign. Various ethnic groups who prior had no relationships with each other found themselves saddled in the same country newly formed by the colonists.

Then came the two World Wars of the 20th century, with their breakouts initially happening in Europe. The Imperial Japanese military occupation of east and south east Asia had Japan urging these other Asians to throw off the yoke of European rule. A series of national independence declarations occurred especially in the decade after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs were dropped by the USA. Returning colonials in 1945 found a new political attitude in their subjects around the world. 

The last significant colony given up by an European power was Hong Kong in 1997. 

Previous subjects of colonised countries have come to settle in the land of their previous political masters. This is especially evident in the UK, France, Italy, Holland and Spain. Being legally settled in one EU nation means a liberating ability to be mobile throughout in seeking jobs, enjoying holidays, forming relationships and setting up businesses in fellow EU states.

A recent trend of heightened political correctness has had some European countries accepting large numbers of refugees and other categories of migrants from the Middle East and Africa, where war, economic decline and social disorder has been the norm on ours news media.

Germany and France continue to dominate the economic and other key affairs of contemporary Europe, while a revived Russia post the Communist era, now looks set to be a significant player on the world stage, together with China and the USA, in the 21st century.

The story of Europe continues, with a troubled record of union and now with the attempt of the United Kingdom to leave the EU. The borderless arrangements for travel, trade and financial integration within the EU can prove to be a two edged sword, particularly in a world facing the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Mr.Edward's Alehouse & Kitchen Brisbane

Eggs Benedict, first dished up in New York, is now a commonly found staple in breakfast cafes across Australia.

We were looking for breakfast and were diverted from visiting the Anthology Cafe in downtown Brisbane, due to the road blocks set up for Chris Helmsworth and Tom Hiddleson doing their stuff on location shooting their movie Thor: Ragnarok.   I always find magic when something is preventing achieving a plan but then we get to discover something else.    This early morning it was not exactly going on the less trodden path, as the shut off for foot traffic at the junction of Mary and Albert Streets on a working day did cause traffic diversion of both vehicular and human versions spilling on to the nearby city centre roads.


And this was how we discovered Mr. Edward's, aptly named right alongside the road's namesake.    I sensed we were sort of in a tourist visitor area but I could be wrong.  The Verve Hotel was just a stone's throw away, providing a kind of pub and dining environment, and so was Mr. Edward's.  Well this was just at 9am on a work day, but the male staff greeting us, was absolutely helpful, engaging and welcoming.


Mr. Edward's has many cured and smoked meats, so I opted for their version of the   Aussie Big Breakfast.  I was duly rewarded by the most lovely sausages and mushrooms, with a hint of southern European and the Australian farming regions.    What topped my serving was the rather well made bread, good enough to eat by themselves.


Perhaps I have seen too many Eggs Benedict in the greater Sydney area and the Illawarra coast.   The version by Mr. Edward's is drier and the poached eggs are not Onsen style, so there was some comparison in discussion with my breakfast companion SK.  


I am told that the chef here has an experienced reputation, so expectations are set rather high.    We did not experience long waits for our food on this visit.   I reckon it is also a gathering place for parties, with an extensive alcohol bar featuring crafted beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and more - the way to go like in contemporary Sydney and Melbourne, a licensed place with meats, seafoods and in a happening place.   Further, Mr. Edwards is a showcase of Coopers Brewing stuff  - and I did note the Coopers beer infused banana bread...


A further peek into the menu reaffirmed my positive vibes in what they put out for their customers.    Simple sides for main meals later into the day and night included duck fat roasted potatoes;  chips served with Parmesan cheese and truffle;  beetroot slow roasted with almonds and Greek yoghurt; and saute button mushrooms.   The cheese selections are worth checking out - with Cremeux from the Adelaide Hills; the Barossa Triple Cream; Cave Age Cheddar from Somerset; and the Ubriaco Al Prosecco, a salted Italian cow's creation with light citrus notes.

Big Breakfast Mr. Edwards style.

The Trio of pork as a shared plate has ham hock parcels, Tamari char grilled Chorizo, slices of crispy pig ear, braised pork belly and potato scallop.  Tamari is a niche soy sauce produced in the Chubu area of Japan.


The seafood Paella is brimming with spiced Pimiento  (a large, red and heart shaped cherry pepper), Whiting fish, mussels, octopus and squid, and further enhanced by Chorizo, peas and fresh herbs.


I must return....especially for the cherry baked Alaska, with vanilla bean ice cream, hazelnut sprinklings and chocolate sponge.   Plus the wild Rabbit Saddle Sous Vide Ballentine, a rather captivating dish that has artichoke puree, blueberry gel and hand picked spinach looking Sorrel gracing an apricot flavoured pork and rabbit Bon Bon. 


There is also a spanking new barista coffee machine at the front (Edward Street side) - Establishment coffee.   Mr. Edward's opened at the end of July 2015  - owners Daniel Whiffen and Gerry Murphy have designed and run a place to stand apart from typical competitors by offering an Euro feel not just in cuisine like slow cooked meats, but also in the drinks list, and still retaining a familiar ambiance for Brisbane diners.

The early morning after the night before....

Mr. Edward's Alehouse & Kitchen visited is licensed and located at  46 Edward Street, Brisbane.  This is at the junction with Margaret Street.

Opening hours are from 7am to midnight every week day and from 9am to midnight every Saturday.  Closed on Sundays.
Contact +617  3137 1590

Canberra - National Gallery of Australia

Is The Grass Greener?

Latest statistics on legal migration numbers to European countries reveal 125000 persons moving from Poland to Germany, 89500 individuals leaving Romania for Spain, 62300 persons leaving Romania for Italy and 33,500 former Australians settling in the United Kingdom. 9500 Algerians moved to France, 2500 Brazilians relocated from the tropics to Portugal and 1300 persons came from China to Denmark. Some migration movements seem natural as they involved neighboring countries, like from Sweden to Norway, Ukraine to Poland, Russia to Finland, Germany to Austria and France to Belgium.

Do people move because of the search of a better life, better jobs or returning to similar shared cultures? Romania is the single country in the European Continent with the largest emigration. The destination countries for Romanian immigrants all have a better economic and social quality of life. Does the high value of the British pound induce Australians to forsake blue skies and better meat to come to the inclement weather of the British Isles? Why do people travel so far to start a new life? 4800 Russians moved to Greece, possibly for the warmer Mediterranean weather. The outstanding recipient countries are Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain.

There is easier movement of people and yet at the same time increased border control restrictions apply. Some parts of Europe are seeing a noticeable return of its native wildlife as villages get depopulated. It is also logical to note that some major recipient countries did not have any significant outflows of migrants, for example, Spain, Ireland and Italy. We cannot assume that the ethnic mix of immigrants and emigrants are the same. The changed stratification of particular economies may induce immigration from certain groups, as when different types of jobs are no longer attractive to long time residents of a country, and for the country to practically operate,it is imperative that it open up its borders to people who are willing to perform jobs for which there are serious labour shortages.

When Asians descend on to an European country with a relatively small population, the impact of an obviously different culture can weigh heavily in social interaction. If such an impact is confined to bringing in more outlets of a tasty cuisine, the results can be positive. However, what comes with the food are so-called foreign habits in shopping, crossing the road, driving a vehicle and so forth.
Such contrasting scenarios may not apply when you have 1600 Czechs moving to Slovakia.

Internal movements within the EU can only help in the direction of developing a United States of Europe. The recent numbers do not show strong trends in vertical population movement, like from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsular. With some exceptions, most emigrants try to stick within the same climate zone.

A Traveller's Life

The only three essential things to have, when travelling, are having sufficient money, authorised passports if you cross different countries and the right tickets at the required time. Beyond those basics, what is really important is a sense of adventure, humour and friendship.

I was in Rome when I thought I was being ripped off for a transaction. A well dressed lady approached me and the vendor and helped settle the misunderstanding. In Shanghai, I knew I did not have sufficient speaking grasp of standard Mandarin and went to a MacDonalds outlet along Nanjing North Road to get some change in currency -as they spoke English there. In the darkening forests near a lake in New Zealand's South Island, I temporarily got lost on the walking trail but got back to the known, through some benign force.

At Kobe in Japan, I befriended a local motor bike rider who was coming on the same overnight ship to Oita on the southern isle of Shikoku. In Koh Samui,life was so easy going no battered an eyelid when the testicles of a Brit backpacker hung out through in front of everyone of us in a small group having an islander's breakfast at the beach. I saw snow flakes for the first time in the mountains near the Swiss-French border and that was a wonder for someone originally from the equatorial regions.

I realised in my sojourn through the European continent that Chinese restaurants had tables of six, eight or ten in different countries, but never four. Greek food was really salty, but I did think of why anyone would leave Santorini for Melbourne. I recall with fondness how a good mate of mine from uni days and I were confined to free Auckland accommodation (courtesy of Air New Zealand) for two nights due to Typhoon Bola. I enjoyed the Lebanese spread one dinner time on a wintery night in Canberra because a nice colleague took me there.

On the way to the Phi Phi Islands off Phuket, my fisherman's boat encountered a storm, accompanied by the expected choppy waters. Through another benevolence, the boat boy and I managed to reach the safety of the lagoon village. Outside Nanjing, my commercial tour bus coach broke down for a few hours, but I appreciated better what it meant to be a farmer in China. On a summer's evening in Tassie, I got lost driving with a Singapore friend along a remote road, but we managed to get the right road instructions from a group of elderly walkers.

In Seoul, I was invited to an English-language focus group meeting after I chatted with someone off the street. My Singapore friends in turn do take time off to spend time with me when they hear that I am in town. I woke up one night in windy Welington and had to go to an ice-cold toilet, but found out later the next morning that fellow travellers also faced the same dread. Travel can be infectious, but so can be the sharing of experiences, with hindsight and lots of laughter! People who seem to be strangers just turn out to be indiviudals whom we are yet to know.