Upwardly Mobile

Being back home and being bored and depressed because you have to job hunt etc. is pretty rubbish. Hence my becoming upwardly mobile. By this I mean I'm moving back to the sunnier climes of Manchester. I'm also going to find the job of my dreams there (maybe not this year but surely some day I've got to get lucky). I'm also int he process of ceasing to smoke. This isno easy task but I'venearly managed 72 hours without a whiff of smoke. However, I am cheating a bit as I'm on NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) and so I'm using a surrogate cigarette that looks rather like a tampon and delivers nicotine as you suck on it (but not tar and other nasties found in smoke). I could quite easily see myself becoming addicted to the tampon-esque cigarette instead... if I didn't feel like such a complete tool using it.

Home Once More

Returning from holidays, travelling, whatever, is not a fntastic experience at the best of times. Thoughts of going back to work (unless you're a lazy bum like me who's 'currently between jobs'), the ever awful British weather, and the bills that have piled up in your absence. Luckily though, fate decided this wasn't bad enough for me, and the kindly folk at the airport lost my bag. Twats. That's all I have to say. I would thrill you with many a photograph of my French adventure, but obviously it was in my bag, aswell as many other things. For example, I have no belt. All my trousers are purposefully bought to hang low and so since I've returned I've been baring my arse to the general public. Of course, the kindly airport staff have told me to ring up occassionally to see how the search is going. It didn't fill me with confidence when I rang today to be told that they thought they'd found it. 'Was it a red suitcase because we've found one of them?' No, it was a brown leather over night bag you imbecile as I told the woman who filed the report. I feel my bag is lost forever and I don't think that the Ground Services Manager, a muppet who goes by the name of A.E. Stuart, will be of any help in searching for it. Incidentally, I don't know what the A.E. stands for in his name so any witty suggestions will be duly rewarded.

The Hunt Continues

Don't worry, this isn't a continued diatribe on the lost bag theme. This bit concerns a hunt of a different nature. The hunt for a job. Not only for a job, but for a life, a means to being accepted into this modern day society and to no longer be frowned upon by the economically effective percentage of the population. It's going great, I havve to say. In percentage terms, my applications that have lead to interviews stands at 100%. How good is that hey? Alright, so I've only sent of one application form but the kindly folk at the Environment Agency have given my confidence a boost, as I explained in the last post. Actually, it might be worth bunging in a few terms incase a headhunter is using google to find maverick graduates to work for millions of pounds a minute in the landfill sector, particularly concerning landfill gas and the monitoring thereof. Go on, employ me, you know you want to.

Pokey Poke Poke

Whilst in France I took the time and energy to teach my entire family the joys of Texas Hold 'Em. Unfortunately I could never convince more than three people to play at once but still, at least they have another transferable skill they can add to their CV. I've also discovered that one doesn't need to spend a fortune in casino's across the land to improve poker skills. It's as simple as going to the Ladbrokes poker site and entering the necessaries. I haven't got the balls to play for real money yet, mainly because I'm shit at it, but the day will come when I enter my first competition. Failing success on the job market, I can think of worse careers than professional poker playing. But seriously, it's good fun so check it out if your bored out of your mind and have 3 hours to spare.

Reality Ch ch check

Gone are the days of posts relating to swashbuckling adventure in remote corners of the earth. I'm back. Totally. It's had time to sink in and it's well and truly sunk. Not surprising with all this rain.

I'm looking for a job now, and have got my first interview in October. It's a position with the Environment Agency who, according to a friend in the industry, are 'All a bunch of dicks.' I should fit right in then. Still, at least I've got an interview to go to and it'll be a day out if nothing else.

So now that I've realised that I'm totally back and seeking jobs and looking at houses etc, I'm going away again. Well, you need a holiday before you can tackle all that serious shit, so a week in the South of France should suffice and get me fully prepared for a total assault on the job market when I return.

Interesting question that arose in the pub the other night. In the Olympics, England falls into the classification of being GBR, or Great Britain. Why? We're England in other sports, why do we suddenly get clubbed together with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales just because it's the Olympics? Any idea anyone?

Whoops!

Silly me. I was in Lao a while ago. Then I went back to Bangkok as I was meeting Phil in Pattaya for one of his company's 'lets get together and get drunk' weekends. I met him in Pattaya and there were hundreds of people there from his company. Indeed, we did get drunk. Funniest moments were the discovery of the new word for Canadians (Canidiots), getting in a Thai boxing ring and having a fight and the 'recovery' breakfast. Anyway, all that malarky lead to the worst CBS Phil or I have ever experienced.

In the fallout my brain must have got confused because somehow in the early hours of Tuesday morning I found myself on a flight to Singapore. Then I must've taken a wrong turn in transit because I was on a flight to London. Bugger! The end of my travels had crept up on me unawares and pounced when I was at my weakest. So I'm back.

I haven't been able to ring anyone because when I found a charger in Lao I got a little over excited and phoned people for far too long. My service provider now tells me that I've gone over my call limit so my phone is barred. I could pay it off............... or wait until I have to pay it off. The latter sounds far more attractive in my book.

British Beek... back on home soil.

P.S. As I look out the window all I can see is grey skies and a faint morning mist hanging about. I love this country but I hate it's weather.

Rubbishness

Indeed I have been a touch rubbish with the old blogger updates. That's purely because I haven't been up to much. I left Vientiane (no job for me... boo!) and caught the train down to Bangkok. Good train journbey all in all. Got talking with one of the guys serving food and drink and ended up playing about six million games of rummy with him. I arrived in Bangkook at about 8 in the morning and was strangely pleased to be back. I took a tuk tuk to Khao San and was shortly displeased to be back. Bangkok is opne of those cities that makes you feel extremely trapped. Hardly anywhere is there any open space and noise from the traffic and pollution just adds to the claustrophobia. So I spent three days there I think (managed to find a guesthouse with a pool on the roof and that offered a kind of getaway) and then decided to come to Pattaya as Phil'll be arriving here on the 22nd. My hopes of being able to lie on the beach and do nothing were pretty much shattered as there's some kind of Thai festival going on here this weekend. The beach road is lined with stalls selling everything imaginable (and some things that were beyond imagination), offering tours, stage shows, the usual things that you'd associate with festival type activity. I think it might have something to do with the queen but I can't be sure and I don't care that much to be honest. They're also having the X-games at the moment so for the last two days I've been watching skating and BMX, inbetween walking up and down looking at the various stalls. Although my beach lazing was shattered, it's been cool just wandering about checking out all the different stuff that's been going on. The time has come for beachness though, so today I'm going to have a look at Jawmthien beach just south of Pattaya. It's meant to be a bit quieter and cleaner and if it's good I'll move in there tomorrow. After that I'll be moving into the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel (or something along those lines) for Phil's arrival on the 22nd. Can't wait to see him again. As for the hotel, I'm sure you can imagine it's a touch flashpackerish, but it's out of the way so it makes sense for me to stay there whilst Phil's there, otherwise we'd have a nightmare trying to meet up. Haha, it's also got a bloody nice pool. Just found this; you can take a virtual tour of the room I'll be staying in if you click http://www.royalcliff.com/ipix/java.asp?javaName=RCLFbch_Mini_Suite_Jav.ipx on that. Take a look at the pools too. Mmm. Lovely.

A Choice of Stories

Right, I've actually nicked this idea off another blog but it serves to purposes. Firstly, it means I'll have some stories left to tell when I get home. Secondly, it get's the interactive thing going. So here's a choice of stories you can have told:

More Scooter Woe~ Driving safety on two wheels in Lao PDR.

Beek, International Reporter ~ Sauna's, networking and job hunting in Lao PDR.

In A Tube ~ Beer, inner tubes, silly behaviour and a new TLA.

That's it. Just put in a comment of the one you'd like to hear most and democracy shall prevail. Depending on the number of votes, i.e. there has to be enough to warrant a tale, the story will appear on the the 11th of this month. Happy voting.

Revoposty

A new batch shall be out shortly. Lao post is safe I have discovered.

Personals

Martha, skirts are en route, let me know when they get there.

Jess, your skirt would be en route but you haven't given me your address yet (yes I know Katy, I'm only teasing her, and you're not shit you're class). Oh and Jess, please define a colour... I've got one already for you but I'm not sure it'll do.

Scroz, your prize is proving hard to find, I think I may have to send you some worthless tourist tat; will that be acceptable?

World leaders, please stop using my blog as forums for diplomatic chat.

Finally...

... civilisation. But could you call it that? Vientiane is the 'capital' of Laos, but let's face it, it hasn't really worked that hard to earn its title. Many of the roads are still dirt, last night the power was down for 3 hours in the guesthouse, and these guys are more mental than Thais on the road. Still, coming through Laos has been a treat.

On The Beaten Track

I have to admit I've followed the same route as probably thousands of travellers. Not something I like to do, but lets be honest, I always end up doing it anyway. Before I start, it might be useful to have a look at a map of Laos first off. So I started off in the North West coming in from the border with Thailand. From there it was two days up the river on a slow boat. Slow boat conjours up images of dangling ones toes in the water as you chug along and take in the atmosphere. Not when you're sat in the engine room. It should have been called the ear drum disintegrating boat. Haha, it was only the second day that we were in the engine room though and it wasn't that bad. incidentally, the picture I posted lasted time was from the film Apocaplypse now. The actual slow boats looked like this.

Luang Prabang was the next stop (after a night in Pek Bang... What noise does a chicken in a minefield make? Suspicious lack of chickens there!) and that place was great. Very little to do, apart from wander around aimlessly without a CBD in sight, or visit waterfalls. The waterfalls (two different ones) were unbelievable and the water was actually turquiose even with the sun behind cloud. There was also a random tiger, very strange. So what better thing to do in a place of such natural beauty than try a back flip off a waterfall and smash your face up? Nice one me. It wasn't that bad though, all healed now.

Vang Vieng was next on the well trodden trail. This is basically just a place to break up the long journey to Vientiane, and it shows. Hoards of backpackers, an over supply of guesthouses and a DVD player in every bar/restaurant. Not all bad but it gets tiresome after a while. They also had tubing there. That was truly inspired. If you go to Laos, go to Vang Vieng and tube. I did, two days on the trot.

Up to the Now

So now I'm in Vientiane, the capital city that never was (not even a city). I was thinking about getting a job here if possible but I've been under the weather for a few days now, swollen glans, sore throat etc so I'm not really bursting with the get up and go required. Still, three mails ain't that much to send is it? Might as do it now whilst I'm on line.

Revoposty and Other Matters

I'm afraid I trust the Laos postal system as much as I trust a Laos truck driver who's indicating left. Therefore, revoposty might be on a break for a while, but then again, nothing ventured and that.

As for the competition; well, we've a call for 2007 but that was my brother. We can't have that can we. 2008 was the next one called by a certain Scroz. I'm sceptical that she was 2008th but no call no prize. Well done Scroz, a genuine piece of Laos art work will be winging its way to you shortly. I bet 2000 was taken by some miserable random... come on randoms, give us your addresses... ooh, or anyone currently on the mailing list is welcome to send me some distant rellie's or a mates address. Whatever.

Get Yer Visa, Geezer

In the process of doing so. Unfortunately I hand over my passport to a shifty Thai guy (all Thai's look shifty when they take your pasport) and I only get it back tomorrow. I hate having to do that, but that's what it takes. So now I'm in the border town of Chiang Khong. It's right on the banks of the Mehkong River and over the water you can see Laos. How exciting. The journey here was uneventful despite taking 7 hours. You'd think that something interesting would happen in 7 hours but it didn't. I was on a second class bus with air con. The air con made the interior baltic and the seats were certainly not made with the average Western bloke in mind. Still the views on the way up were pleasant enough and I kept on thiking I was going to come across the reseach station in Khun Kong that I stayed at a few years back. Needless to say, I didn't. But it was the right area.

How to get to Laos?

Well Chiang Khong doesn't have a scooter rental place so my fvourite mode of transport is out. Oh yeah, plus the fact that rivers and scooters don't mix particularly well. Every guesthouse and travel agent in Chiang Khong offers a two day longboat trip up the river to Luang Prabang in Laos. Having looked around for the best price it dawned on me that every guesthouse and travel agent in Chiang Khong infact sells the same two day longboat trip. It looks class and for ten quid you can't moan so I leave tomorrow morning at eight thirty (passport and visa in hand or so I hope!) With England playing Switzerland(?) at eleven o'clock tonight my time, eight thirty sounds like a bit of a push. Since I'll be in Laos for a bit the blog may get a bit stale so amuse yourselves and others by putting up many witty comments.

Revoposty

Started to get word back about my forrays into mass postage. Gald to hear the some are getting through at least. I still need a random name and address though, come randoms... there's loads of you out there, though probably not that many that read this blog. As for the quality of the witticisms, I'm afraid that they might not quite be up to standard. As the number of addresses increases, the quality decreases. Sorry about that. At least you still get the bloody card.

Points Win Prizes

Indeed they do. As do page views. At the last look there's only about 30 or so to go. Don't forget to check. You wouldn't want to miss out on the super dooper prize that the lucky 2000th visitor wins. As always, the hit counter's at the bottom left of the screen.

Sunday, All Day

Indeed today is Sunday and has been all day. I'm now in Chiang Mai. I have a race against the clock to get to get a visa and get my ass to Laos before my Thai visa runs out. Okay, so I've dramatised it a bit. I do have seven days to get there. But I'm slow in my movements. You can't rush these things.

Peace in Phuket

Patong is not a peaceful place. In the Beach, when they go back to the mainland to get supplies and it's noisy and awful, that scene's filmed in Patong. So in search of a bit of peace I moved out to Surin and flash packed. Sod it, I needed rest before going up country. I over cooked it a bit with Surin as there's bugger all happening there and not much to do especially when it pisses it down every day. Nice room though.

Modes of Transport

My current favourite mode of transport is the scooter. I hired one in Surin to get about. Thrashed the shit out of the little 100cc chicken chaser and rode just about the length of Phuket, twice. The feds also got involved at one point.

This Country!

Coming down a hill into the next beach town and ahead of me was a lot of traffic. A bit weird for the beach roads in Phuket. Then I saw a bunch of cops and to my horror realised they were pulling over everyone. So I didn't blot through the road block like a hero crim on the run. I pulled over and started looking sheepish. This cop says, 'Where li ence?' Which I took to mean, could I have look at your license please. So I just shrugged and went, 'At hotel,' which I hope he translated as, I'm very sorry officer, I appear to have been rather foolish and left it at the hotel I'm currently residing in on your beautiful island. Of course, I have no such thing as a license, unless you class my license to swim without armbands when I was about five. I don't reckon that would have cut the mustard though.

The fed appeared to understand me and so I was happy. He then started writing me a ticket, and I was not happy. A license is required to ride the scooters in this country????? Honestly you should see the mess on the roads. I've just been driving through Chiang Mai for a couple of hours on a scooter, and it's a bloody god job I wasn't wearing white trouser. The upshot of the ticket was a 300 baht fine. Fine, that's only about 4 quid. Bloody annoying. So I paid my fine (which it appeared most of Phuket was having to pay judging by the queue to the payment table). Thoroughly annoyed, but happy not to have ended up in a Thai slammer, I got on my bike (haha, 'scuse the pun) and started looking to get back on the road. The cop about 7 meters infront of me started going mental and waving his arms and blowing his little whistle. So I just carried on shouting that I'd paid my fine and waving my receipt at him. Then I realised he was alerting me that I'd left my kickstand down. Red faces are a multi lingual way of proclaiming yourself as a twat.

About 5 minutes down the road I encountered the only roundabout in Thailand. So shocked to see such an advanced feature, I promptly went the wrong way round it. Maybe a license wouldn't be such a bad idea after all

Homecoming

Quite a few of the people that I've had the pleasure of travelling with over over the past months have been returning home recently, for all kinds of reasons. However, whatever the reason, it's usually not because they've had enough of travelling. My advice to avoid the imminent homecoming blues is to pretend that you're still travelling. Irish of UN fame (still in the field no less) sent me this genius piece of literature today. Inspired Christine. Thankyou.

How to Avoid the Homecoming Blues

When you return home from travelling it can be a shock. The culture shock, the shock of no longer backpacking, the shock of being clean. Therefore, to let yourself gently back into the normality of life at home I suggest the following steps be taken:

1) Replace your bed with two or more bunk beds, and every night invite random people to sleep in your bedroom with you.Ensure at least once a week a couple gets drunk and shags on one of the top bunks. Remove beds one by one as symptons improve.

2) Sleep in your sleeping bag, forgetting to wash it for months.Add some bugs in order to wake up with many unsightly bites over your arms and legs.

3) Enlist the help of a family member to set your radio alarm to go off randomly during the night, filling your room with loud talking. This works best if the station is foreign. Also have several mobiles ringing, without being answered. To add to the torture, ask a friend to bring plastic bags into your room at roughly 6 in the morning and proceed to rustle them for no apparent reason for a good half an hour.

4) Keep all your clothes in a rucksack. Remember to smell them before puting them on and reintroduce the use of the iron SLOWLY.

5) Buy your favourite food, and despite living at home, write your name and when you might next be leaving the house on all bags. This should include mainly pasta, 2 minute noodles, carrots and beer.

6) Ask a family member to every now and again steal an item of food, preferably the one you have most been looking forward to or the most expensive. Keep at least one item of food far too long or in a bag out in the sun, so you have to spend about 24 hours within sprinting distance of the toilet.

7) Even if it's a Sunday, vacate the house by 10a.m.,and then stand on the corner of the street looking lost. Ask the first passer-by of similar ethnic background if they have found anywhere good to go yet.

8) When sitting on public transport ( the London Tube would be ideal) introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you, say which stop you got on at, where you are going, how long you have been travelling and what university you went to. If they say they are going to Morden, say you met a guy on the central line who said it was terrible and that you've heard Parsons Green is better and cheaper.

9) Finally stick paper in your shower so that the water comes out in just a drizzle. Adjust the hot/cold taps at regular intervals so that you are never fully satisfied with the temperature. Because of this frustration, shower infrequently.

I think you'll find this helps.

Bit Slow?

Personally I'm not. I'm a master don't you know. However, naming no names, some people have failed to realise there is a counter at the bottom left of this page notifying you of how many times it has been viewed. If you go to the page and it says 2000, you win! Simple. And yes, you could just keep reloading until it says 2000. If you did that, you'd be a sad bastard, but cheers, you'd get me to 2000 quicker. You see, I can't come home until it hits ten. Just joshing. Anyway, prizes are as prizes does.

Revoposty

Now then now then, calling all recipients. Has anyone received a postcard recently? Preferably from Thailand. I sent off a few staggered over a couple of days but have heard of no receipts. The Lonely Planet assures me that Thailand has a very efficient postal system but I'm beginning to wonder. If I don't hear from the recipients, well, then I don't know if they've arrived, and if I don't know that then what's the point in sending them in the first place? Hmm, a quandary methinks. However, if they are never received there could be an explanation. If I have put enough postage on them, then I suppose they'll never get there. To solve this, I sent a few out about three minutes ago with twice the postage on them (i.e. 2 stamps) so if you get one.... aw bugger, you get the idea. I'll stop rambling.

An Invitation

And still we have yet to have a random person sign up. Don't worry all you random's out there, I am not an axe murderer or a stalker. I'm also bloody miles away, well, I suppose that depends on where you live. Anyway, feel free to send me your address and thou shalt receive a postcard. Granted, sticking your name and address on the comments section might not be the wisest thing to do but you can always mail me using the contact link at the top.

I thank you in advance.

Competition

We're coming up to the 2000 mark of how many times this page has been viewed. My oh my, there already hey? As with any land mark page viewing let me know if you're the lucky number 2000 and I'll send you a prize. Prizes usually cost around two pound fifty, to give you some idea of the quality, so mail me and I'll send it off. Bear in mind I am currently in Thailand, two fifty goes a long way out here. You could even win a Thai bride as my bartering skills are getting better.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

As of this moment I am finally a Master of Enterprise. From this day forth you may refer to me as Ollbeek B.Sc(Hons) M. Ent.

Haha!!!!!!!!!! It may have taken a while but I'm there at last.

Good things end....

... and thats a fact. Andy, without many previous difficulties traveling, has, upon his second last night in Thailand, managed to get stinking drunk, go for a swim in his boxer shorts and then proceeded to fall asleep in my bed. Foolish Glanners made the heinous error of leaving his T-shirt and shorts on the beach before retiring (to my bed I might add! Cheeky!) If one leaves one's shorts upon the beach and forgets to remove one's wallet, one's money will no longer be there in the morning. Tut tut Andy. Night swimming deserves a quiet night, and a wallet in a lock up. Poor guy.

Whereabouts

Currently located on Ko Chang, Thailand. The surf is shit, I've seen lakes with bigger swell. Phuket next, should be bigger! Go hard or go home.

Lies All Lies

I read an article once that delved into the idea that super powers, governments etc. keep the general public under control through creating a general sense of fear for everything. Don't do that, it's bad for your health, don't eat that you'll get fat, don't go to Hat Yai you'll get shot, etc. Okay, so it might have been in Bizarre magazine or something equivalent, and I haven't relayed it very well, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office must play a big part in this. Hat Yai seems fine. I'm fine too. Well, a four hour wait in Hat Yai, then another train up to Bangkok. By the time I get there, 8am tomorrow my time) I will have spent a grand total of 49 hours on trains or in and around train stations. Beats the shit out of the Adelaide Perth trek. It sounded so easy too, when Phil said, 'Fly to Singapore and then get the train up.' Haha, it's not been too taxing though.

Memory's a Strange Old Thing

Gave my self the shock of my life today. I can still remember a bit of Thai. Class. Albeit a very bit, bit (if you will) but still, I haven't spoken the words i found popping out of my mouth just a few moments, ago for four years!

Whoops

Hmm,I've made it to Kuala Lumpur alright. Bloody long train journey but it was okay. Fairly uneventful. However, when I was in the cab to the train station this morning, an idle chat with the cab driver culminated in him telling me to avoid the south of Thailand if possible. As I'm sat in the train station in KL with bugger all to do I figured I'd check it out. Here's what the foreign and commonwealth office haad to say:

There is a threat to British and other Western targets from terrorism in Thailand. On 28 April, there were attacks on security forces in 10 locations in the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla. More than 100 militants and 5 members of the security forces are reported to have been killed. We recommend against all non-essential travel to these four provinces.

Hmm, my next stop is Hat Yai, in none other than the Songkhla Province. I should really have checked this out beforehand but forgot that my Thailand Lonely Planet is a bit out of date. Apparently the Islamics and the Buddhists in the area aren't getting along too well either. So... my options are to get off at Butterworth instead and then get a train straight through to Bangkok, or, to just go to Hat Yai and hope for the best. I'll only be there for four hours, waiting for my next train so i might do that. Dunno, I'll find some Westerners on the train too (if possible) and discuss it with them whilst trying my best not to appear a neurotic freak. Obviously I'll let y'all know when i get Bangkok too. Bear in mind that when I was last planning to go to Thailand the warning was the same but for the whole country. The FCWO tend to over state things. Anyways, wish me luck.

Revoposty

Fantastic guys, keep those address' coming. This'll be superb. I've had responses off quite a few of you now. Yet to have a random one but I'm holding out. I have to admit that nothing has been sent as of yet as I've been sorting out some other stuff for the last few days, i.e. what the hell I'm doing. On that note, what the hell am I doing?

The Sweet Smell of South East Asia

Aaaaaaaah Singapore. I love it. Even though it is basically one big shopping mall it's fantastic. I totally forgot what it was like apart from a few sketchy memories but so much is coming back to me now I'm here. For example, I went to the train station today to look at getting to Bangkok, as I was walking up flood of memories came back. The last time I'd been to that train station was when I was here with my Dad in '97. Brilliant.

Journey of Epic Proportions

My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to meet up with Andy for his birthday on the 25th. One problem, I'm in Singapore he's in Cambodia. Not to worry, with watches sychronised the meeting place has been decided. Bangkok here I come. I've accepted my mission, but what a mission it is. It begins at 8am tomorrow morning when I'll get on the train to Kuala Lumpur. I'll arrive there at 3 in the afternoon and then twiddle thumbs until the next leg begins at 8.10pm; KL to Hat Yai (southern Thailand). I'll roll into Hat Yai at 10.15 in the morning. Now the brief gets a bit sketchy, I might need a bit of time off from trains having been on them for nearly 24 hours. Therefore, I might stay the night in Hat Yai before getting up to Bangkok the following day. We'll see. There's not that much of a rush though because Andy informs me that he might not make it for the 25th. Slacker! I bloody will though... you hear that Glanners... yeah, and I'll have a great time on your birthday even if your not... erm... there... hmmm. Yeah, that kind of defeats the point doesn't it? Oh well, not to worry.

Immediate Plans

Stop wandering aimlessly around Singapore. It's hot, about 34, and I'm sweating just from typing. There's a pool on my hostel roof dammit, why am I not in that? Well, first things first, I need to see if I need a visa for Malaysia. Hope not!

Responsive!

Absolutely class, I've got two addresses already. This post card thing is definitely a goer. No randoms yet but James (the Baroncuda) and Cath have both expressed interest and shall be receiving cards soon as. Hahaha, brilliant. Dave rang last night to confirm my flights and I leave at 4pm today. Woooooooooo! Unfortunately a touch hung over today but it was my last night in Oz last night. Bring on the singaporean massive! woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Only a Stamp Away

Click contact above, mail me your name and address and receive a more personal version of the REVOLICKTION direct to your door. I'm going through a phase of loving sending postcards so get on and send me your details. Complete strangers welcome!

Postcardtastic

I've recently discovered why people send postcards. I'd never realised before but it's actually really nice to hear they've received them. I've only been sending to the family at the moment and they've all been stoked to get the various ramblings I've sent. So on this theme I reckon everyone should be able to get one. The only problem is that in this day and age mailing address' seem to have fallen by the wayside in favour of the old electronic business. But, if you'd like to receive a post card from wherever I may be, please drop me an email (see contact above) with your details and I'll drop one in the post to you. Even if you don't know me and you've just stumbled across this site, if you're feeling a bit left out and a bored of receiving the same old shit through the mail then give us your name and address.

Alreet,

The time has finally come for me to leave Oz. I don't really want to but it's getting a bit cold and my visa runs out on the 30th so I guess that means I'd better leg. IT's Andy's birthday on the 25th so he's called me to BAngkok for it. Mind you, he just mailed me saying it might not be possible for him and so he might be late for his own birthday. Bloody goon. Anyway, I've yet to get my ticket so that doesn't really matter. I'm back in Sydney now. Wooooooo! No really, I love the place. Honest. I was in the city centre for a bit but soon realised why I always leave it, and now I've moved out to Manly. It's one of the Sydney beaches and much nicer than the centre. Went out surfing on Sunday just because I could. An all day sesh that left me knackered. It's no way as much fun surfing on your tod though. Even though there were loads of people out there, the conversation ain't up to much as everyone's just watching the horizon trying to beat you to the next wave. So once I've sorted out the ticket thing I'll let y'all know the craic.

Don't go Troppo

It's bad for your health. And don't go to the wet tropics. It's wet and there's no surf. Only joking, Cairns is alright. Been here less than 24 hours and already organising moving on. The drive up here was cool. IT took five days. You could do it one if you booted it but there were many things to see on the way. Not least the Burdekin Dam which is at the top of the Burdekin river, in the county.... BURDEKIN SHIRE !!!!!!!!!

OH my, it's amazing to see such a massive concrete structure built in your name. Class it was. On the way back it was dark and the devil cows kept bloking the road.

Devil Cows? What be they?????

Honestly, no messing, these cows were satan in bovine form. Evil buggers. We got past them eventually though. And on into Ravenswood, a tiny goldmining town. Nice place though. Very rural.

After Ravenswood we went to Townsville in order to get across to Magnetic Island. Magnetic Island boasts a dry climate all year round. We hired an open top car and it rained. It rained all day. It only rains three days a year at most. The locals were ecstatic. We had an open top car. We were not ecstatic. Good laugh driving it though. It was like a souped up golf cart, about 1bph and yet 5 gears. Weird.

After the Magnetic Island adventure we moved on as travellers must. We aqua planed all the way to Ingham, which has nothing going for it really. IT was Anzac day the following day so the usually bustling hive of activity that is Ingham was deader than the cricket stuck to the car radiator. Not to worry, 'there's water in them there hills,' was the cry. And indeed, water there was. A walk through the rainforest (ahhhhhh, memories of Thailand) and we were at the foot of the highest single drop waterfalls in Oz, The Wallaman falls. Spectacular. Due to the conditions the air was full of mist with hints of sunlight finding their way through the dense, golden green vegetation. Makes you glad to be alive. The Jurassic(esque) plants also added to the meeting of a Cassowary. Click here.

Post Cassowary we stopped in Innisfail. Innisfail is famous because Andy banana picked there for a few weeks. Honestly, I think that's the only reason it could even think about fame. Finally we'd found a DVD player at the hostel so we could watch the last surfaris video that Tao has with him. Only one week until we return to that old favourtie... wooooooooo! The next day was more waterfalls and mad fid trees. Fig tree seed are deposited in the branches of rainforest trees by insects. They then start to grom way up in the canopy and drop roots down to the ground. As they get older more vertical branches grow toward the ground making a curtained effect, a bit like this.

So now I'm in Cairns. Someone please mail me to give me something to do whilst I'm here.

Aaaaar ye scurvy land-lubbers

Howdy howdy. I'm back from the pirating adventure that was the Whitsundays. Bloody good it was too. Got three rolls of film back today so you can find the pictures in the usual place (photographs, then public albums, then albums with the word Whitsundays in them). Here's a taster. Go peek, they're alright. In fact I took so many photos that my bloody camera's packed up again.

Onward and Upward

So following the Sundays of Whit we're now heading north to Cairns. Me Tao and Christine are hiring a car tomorrow. We'll be going through Burdekinshire (its got a dam and everything!) and then stopping off at various places (Magnetic Island, Mission Beach). Once we get to Cairns it'll be a case of fooling around up there for a while. Posst Cairns, the withdrawal syptoms of not surfing are starting to make me upset. Only one thing for it then, yes, at the end of the month Tao and I (and maybe Christine, but looks like she's gonna be a piker) are flying south to do yet another surfaris. Haha. Addicted.

Here's the three of us with our pirate bandanas on---> Aaaaaaaaaaaar!

For Jimmy's Eyes Only

Jimmy, sorry I didn't say bye to you today at the cafe. Nice to meet you though. By special request of our mutual, absolutely fabulous friend, please click the following links for a bit of a chuckle:

Christine 1

Kitty O'Shea

Hope you enjoy them pal.

Olly

Brisbane Blues

As predicted by the ever astute Glanville I'm still in bloody Brisbane. It sucks. Why I'm still here is quite a long story of various mishaps, let downs and laziness. It basically follows the South Park theory of blaming Canada. *sigh* if this wasn't a family web page I'd tell you in more detail about the problems with Canadians. However, I'm finally busting out tomorrow to go back to Noosa. Been there done that but it'll break up the journey to Airlie beach a bit. Instead of 24 hours it'll only be 20 hours from Noosa. Brilliant.

Why travel 20 hours to a beach? Well, that'll be the launch point of the ocean bound united nations (Canada, Yorkshire, Irish). We'll be on a yacht for about three days. Eye patches and all. It should be good so I'll let you know about it when I get back. Ooooooooh, and there'll probably be more pictures of folk you guys don't know, and if you're really really lucky so more beautiful beaches and blue sea.

A Family of Tomatoes is Walking Down the Road

It's time to catch up. Once again I've been super slack on the updates, but I'm travelling. Which means when the sun is shining I don't want to be holed up in some net cafe getting headaches from staring at a screen. Anyway, looking down at my last post it's only been a week or so, although it wasn't a really informative post. I just wanted you to check out my photos (but more on that later). So where've I been. Mainly in places with slow connections or no connections causing contact tensions. Aside from contact issues, the last time I posted I was in Brisbane. A quick synopsis of activity, I went up to Noosa (beach town) and then to Hervey Bay to launch into the 4x4 extravaganza known as Fraser Island. I'm now back in Brissy. I know not why but I shall not be here for too much longer (although the lure of seeing a live show by Steve Irwin may keep me here longer than intended.

A Quick Note

It's come to my attention that some folk are having trouble accessing my photos for numerous reasons. Getting lost in the lomo site, slow downloads, being in net cafes and not having the time/money/inclination to check them out. Fair does, I say, so I'm trying a new approach. Through my tales click on the links that appear looking like this and (fingers crossed) you'll magically be transported to the relevant picture. Good eh? That way you can choose what you want to see. Any advice on how to better this (thumbnails maybe?) in the comments thanks.

The photos corresponding to the following words are all a bit of an experiment. The experiment being cross processing. That's why they all look bleached and a bit weird. Pretty good though I reckon.

<

A Story in Pictures

So where to begin. At the start I suppose. As you know I was on surfaris prior to Brissy and they dropped us off at The Arts Factory. After three weeks of surfing there had to be a lot recuperation in the form of sitting around or just shuffling around Byron.

Byron can hold it's own for only so long (hey Tao?) and then it gets just a touch tedious. So, as you all know, it was time to move Northward. Brisbane to be precise. Only trouble is that Brisbane is a bit limited on the activities and so more sitting around ensued. Good thing was the backpackers had a pool so a relaxing time was had by all. The pool also had a window in it which gave me the opportunity to get some underwater shots which came out pretty well.

All this talk of pools reminds that they had a pool competition in the bar there. It was killer until the last four (out of twenty nine) remained, and then full matches for the semis and finals. Phil, I did you proud and got to the semis. Should have been best of three like but only one match; what can you do?

After Brisbane I knocked on up North to Noosa, a small beach town with not much going on apart from the Easter holidays. Yes that means it was pretty busy. I had a bustastrophe there but that's a story for when I get back.

Following the bustastrophe it was up to Hervey Bay to meet up with the ditherer (Glanville) and do a three day 4x4 self drive excursion to Fraser Island. Hervey Bay pretty much exists because it's close to Fraser Island, i.e. there's bugger all to it. It's full of red necks with the most nasal Oz accents (and stereotypical Oz male attitudes to life and women, and machoism) I've encountered yet. The briefing was designed to shit us all up into thinking that we'd roll our vehicle and all die or become paraplegics in the process unless we crawled around the island. True, it has happened in the past, but as the rednecks would put it, you'd have to be a dickhead to do it.

Fraser's the biggest sand island in the world. 100kms long and not very wide. It's a really beautiful place and, being made of sand, particularly delicate in terms of erosion and conservation. As a result, I didn't feel that environmentally sound jumping into a three ton vehicle and tearing it up. I swallowed my morals though and did it anyway. Glad I did too.

Unfortunately my camera was on the roofrack for the first day and I couldn't be arsed to take it down. We went to a lake though (freshwater) called Lake Wabby. Following that we just drove around a bit really and then set up camp. (I love camping... nothing better!)

Day two was full of stuff to do. First pack up camp. We made a bit of an error there. You see, the beach is a registered highway. It's got speed limits and you can be breathalised etc. It's also impassable at high tide. So we packed up and were ready to go an hour before the tide dropped enough. Then it rained. I suppose at least we didn't have to pack up in the rain but we were confined to the truck. Uno was played and bible readings given... ?! Yes, four of our group were in Oz to go to bible school. Bit weird but they were nice enough.

The first stop was Indian Head. A big rock outcrop (but I thought this was a sand island???) where you could climb up and look down to check out shadows of sharks munching fish. Knowing the shark population existed, why the hell Andy and I went for a swim in the sea on day three is a question still begging an answer. Here's a shot of the rest of the group shark spotting. (left to right, Orin and Roi (israel), Morten (denmark), some goon, Maria and Annika (germany)).

We were then onto champagne pools. Beautiful spot and my favourite bit of Fraser without a doubt. Next was the Maheno Shipwreck. Pretty cool. Got some good shots there. Also watched a plane land. The beach is not only a highway but a landing strip too. Madness. Then it was camp again and much revelry as we hooked up with the two other groups. Any envi sci peeps remember Ho Down?... Urgh, leathered.

Day three was Lake Mackenzie. This place was gorgeous. Fresh, turquoise water, white sand... and loads of people. Ahaaaaaaa, enter the role of the second beach. For some reason no one had gone to it (apart from Morten invading the far right of my picture).

And so that was Fraser Island. Top times in a four by four. On the day we left everyone had a plan but me. Only solution, play rock, paper, scissors to see whether to go north or south. South it was so now I'm back in Brissy. Where to next? Who knows?

End Note

Man that was long. Hope you could hack it. Hope it loads up alright. There's more pics in the public album, 'adventures in x-processing' on my lomo home page (click photo's at the top to get to it).

A Family of Tomatoes is Walking Down the Road

It's time to catch up. Once again I've been super slack on the updates, but I'm travelling. Which means when the sun is shining I don't want to be holed up in some net cafe getting headaches from staring at a screen. Anyway, looking down at my last post it's only been a week or so, although it wasn't a really informative post. I just wanted you to check out my photos (but more on that later). So where've I been. Mainly in places with slow connections or no connections causing contact tensions. Aside from contact issues, the last time I posted I was in Brisbane. A quick synopsis of activity, I went up to Noosa (beach town) and then to Hervey Bay to launch into the 4x4 extravaganza known as Fraser Island. I'm now back in Brissy. I know not why but I shall not be here for too much longer (although the lure of seeing a live show by Steve Irwin may keep me here longer than intended.

A Quick Note

It's come to my attention that some folk are having trouble accessing my photos for numerous reasons. Getting lost in the lomo site, slow downloads, being in net cafes and not having the time/money/inclination to check them out. Fair does, I say, so I'm trying a new approach. Through my tales click on the links that appear looking like this and (fingers crossed) you'll magically be transported to the relevant picture. Good eh? That way you can choose what you want to see. Any advice on how to better this (thumbnails maybe?) in the comments thanks.

The photos corresponding to the following words are all a bit of an experiment. The experiment being cross processing. That's why they all look bleached and a bit weird. Pretty good though I reckon.

A Story in Pictures

So where to begin. At the start I suppose. As you know I was on surfaris prior to Brissy and they dropped us off at The Arts Factory. After three weeks of surfing there had to be a lot recuperation in the form of sitting around or just shuffling around Byron.

Byron can hold it's own for only so long (hey Tao?) and then it gets just a touch tedious. So, as you all know, it was time to move Northward. Brisbane to be precise. Only trouble is that Brisbane is a bit limited on the activities and so more sitting around ensued. Good thing was the backpackers had a pool so a relaxing time was had by all. The pool also had a window in it which gave me the opportunity to get some underwater shots which came out pretty well.

All this talk of pools reminds that they had a pool competition in the bar there. It was killer until the last four (out of twenty nine) remained, and then full matches for the semis and finals. Phil, I did you proud and got to the semis. Should have been best of three like but only one match; what can you do?

After Brisbane I knocked on up North to Noosa, a small beach town with not much going on apart from the Easter holidays. Yes that means it was pretty busy. I had a bustastrophe there but that's a story for when I get back.

Following the bustastrophe it was up to Hervey Bay to meet up with the ditherer (Glanville) and do a three day 4x4 self drive excursion to Fraser Island. Hervey Bay pretty much exists because it's close to Fraser Island, i.e. there's bugger all to it. It's full of red necks with the most nasal Oz accents (and stereotypical Oz male attitudes to life and women, and machoism) I've encountered yet. The briefing was designed to shit us all up into thinking that we'd roll our vehicle and all die or become paraplegics in the process unless we crawled around the island. True, it has happened in the past, but as the rednecks would put it, you'd have to be a dickhead to do it.

Fraser's the biggest sand island in the world. 100kms long and not very wide. It's a really beautiful place and, being made of sand, particularly delicate in terms of erosion and conservation. As a result, I didn't feel that environmentally sound jumping into a three ton vehicle and tearing it up. I swallowed my morals though and did it anyway. Glad I did too.

Unfortunately my camera was on the roofrack for the first day and I couldn't be arsed to take it down. We went to a lake though (freshwater) called Lake Wabby. Following that we just drove around a bit really and then set up camp. (I love camping... nothing better!)

Day two was full of stuff to do. First pack up camp. We made a bit of an error there. You see, the beach is a registered highway. It's got speed limits and you can be breathalised etc. It's also impassable at high tide. So we packed up and were ready to go an hour before the tide dropped enough. Then it rained. I suppose at least we didn't have to pack up in the rain but we were confined to the truck. Uno was played and bible readings given... ?! Yes, four of our group were in Oz to go to bible school. Bit weird but they were nice enough.

The first stop was Indian Head. A big rock outcrop (but I thought this was a sand island???) where you could climb up and look down to check out shadows of sharks munching fish. Knowing the shark population existed, why the hell Andy and I went for a swim in the sea on day three is a question still begging an answer. Here's a shot of the rest of the group shark spotting. (left to right, Orin and Roi (israel), Morten (denmark), some goon, Maria and Annika (germany)).

We were then onto champagne pools. Beautiful spot and my favourite bit of Fraser without a doubt. Next was the Maheno Shipwreck. Pretty cool. Got some good shots there. Also watched a plane land. The beach is not only a highway but a landing strip too. Madness. Then it was camp again and much revelry as we hooked up with the two other groups. Any envi sci peeps remember Ho Down?... Urgh, leathered.

Day three was Lake Mackenzie. This place was gorgeous. Fresh, turquoise water, white sand... and loads of people. Ahaaaaaaa, enter the role of the second beach. For some reason no one had gone to it (apart from Morten invading the far right of my picture).

And so that was Fraser Island. Top times in a four by four. On the day we left everyone had a plan but me. Only solution, play rock, paper, scissors to see whether to go north or south. South it was so now I'm back in Brissy. Where to next? Who knows?

End Note

Man that was long. Hope you could hack it. Hope it loads up alright. There's more pics in the public album, 'adventures in x-processing' on my lomo home page (click photo's at the top to get to it).

Stop doing what you're doing

And go look at my photos. It's the usual procedure. Click on Photos at the bar on the top of this page. That'll take you to the lomography site. Next scroll down and click on my public albums. From there, click on the one called surfaris and there you go. Easy as a walk in the park.

I'm off to Noosa tomorrow as Brissy's a bit dull and I'm going to meet Andy on Sunday in Hervey Bay to crack on with a trip to Fraser. That means I'll be out of touch again next week but such is the travelling way. Enough chit chat, go look at my pictures.

End of an Era (for now)

The time of surfaris is finally over. Due to a host of factors, not least conditions and injuries This is the first week in a while that I'm not in the sea. I realise that I haven't really described what it was all about all that well, but I found when I was in South Africa last year that if I put absolutely everything I've done on this here blog, I'll have nothing to tell you when I get back. For those of you salivating for more details though, we stayed at Yuraygir National Park in various campsites. Absolutely beautiful spots that I'd love to return to. And it seems that that is in the pipeline (forgive the pun). There's talk of some of us returning to the wilderness in early May, after we've done a few various things, such as Frasier Island, etc. After arsing about in the North for a while we'll meet up back down in Byron, fully recharged, and hopefully not injured, to embark upon another week (or maybe two) of surfing. I am actually missing it loads. Not only the surfing but the whole outdoorsy sleeping in tents, the campfires, the sound of the sea as you go to sleep. City life's shit in comparison. Oh yeah, and I'm back in a city now. Brisbane to be precise. I met up with Clever Claire last night (lived with her in 3rd year of uni) which was cool. Everyone was knackered though so it wasn't a late one. Mind you, I get the feeling Claire returned to her hostel to tie one on.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm in Brissy as I'm once again a bit directionless. However, the north looks good and maybe Andy and I will hook up for a bit of island hopping japery. Never know though. I think he's in Innisfail at the moment. Hmmm, actually Glenda, drop me a mail or ring me or something! Right, I'm off to score some food now. I was threatening to get ill over the last couple of days (a bastardised hybrid of Irish and Canadian illness which has been mercilessly slaying surfaris members left right and centre) but I do believe I've managed to beat it. Feeling a bit better today. Well, that belly rumble's sealed it. Food time.

Oh yeah, photos will be going up tomorrow in the usual place, click the photos bit at the top and then look for my public albums. It'll probably be under surfaris or something equally as imaginative.

Surf Tastic

Been out of touch with everyopne for ages. Incredibly sorry but I've been in the sticks. National Parks down the East Coast, camping right on the beach and surfing every day. Thursday was incredible. So good that we spent 6 hours in the water with only a reluctant break for lunch. I hurt now. Wednesday was pretty insane too. 6 foot waves (that means a 12 foot face) in stormy conditions (the swell came from a cyclone up north). Apparently the radio gave out warnings of dangerous high seas. So me Tao and Jack toodle off to the rocks and flung ourselves into it. Jack's an instructor so he was catching so class waves. I was morew concerned about survivng as I think Tao was. I got smashed by about three waves in a row and on the third my leggy came off. Panic. In high seas and no more surf board. I managed to get it back and had to paddle in with my head low. At least I'm still alive though. Tao caught one of the monsters and rode it for a bit. Lucky bastard. Anyway, more surfing is required, just as soon as I've had a massage. Ciao peeps.

Blogger Happy

I've been a bit post happy over the last couple of days. Pure and simple because it's pissing it down here. Yes very funny, but it does rain in Australia sometimes. I've also signed up some new folk. For those of you that haven't got a clue what this is, it's my travel journal type thing. Photos, words and nonsense relating my nomadic roamings. If you want to unsubscribe feel free. Tis up to you. Links at the top allow you to mail, look at the photos, etc. So have a look around.

Shout Outs

Thanks all and sundry for your latest comments. Most profound some of them. Al, there's absolutely no need to put the same comment up 7 times but fear not, your hard work at the mouse button has won you a rare e-mail from yours truly. Katy, much more sensible putting it up only once and you too have a textual joy waiting for you. Bell, you've won the longest comment ever award. Congrats. Your prize is a tin of HP's All Day Breakfast, to be consumed hot or cold... the choice is yours! One problem though, your yahoo mail address doesn't seem to be working. Please advise.

In Touch with being Out of Touch

The surf trip is finally upon me. If the rain doesn't stop soon it could be an awful and expensive five days of damp misery. Mind you, I suppose I'll be wet most of the time anyway whatever the weather but the tents we'll be using don't look best water proof. As I'll be in the sticks I'll be out of touch for at least five days, including moby as it'll probably be out of range. Just thought I'd let you know, but feel free to leave many a mail for me in my inbox. Usual address. Or use the link at the top if you don't know my address. I've changed that to another mail address (didn't want my personal one flaunted shamelessly over the net) but I'll be checking regularly as always.

Look forward to hearing from you all. The Beek.

Some things you just have to do

Anybody read McCarthy's Bar? Apparently it's really good. I can't comment as I've only read a little bit of it. I rememeber one line though. Something along the lines of, you can never go past a bar that has your name on it without stopping for a drink (he undoubtedly phrased it more eloquently than that... but anyway). Same rules apply here, only on a bigger scale. Click here! Now, dammit! Honestly, it'll knock your socks off. Well it would if you were me.

Been a while

Yep indeedy, I haven't posted on here for ages. Terrencely sorry for the slackness but there you go. Right, quick synopsis of what I've been up to.

Perth was shit. Didn't like it at all. Therefore, I went back to Melbourne. I wanted to go up the West Coast though, and looking back on it I probably should've. Still no regrets. It was one of those drop of the hat decision things to back to Melbourne (been having quite a few of those recently) and I'd really just run out of steam a bit. So back to Melb it was. I do like Melbourne, alot, and it didn't fail to please. Stayed in the same place I was before and just chilled out for a bit.

Whilst there I went to see the Cat Empire for free. A bloke called Phil just walked in and asked me if I'd like to go. Why not? Not that I'd ever even heard them but it was a cracking gig. Recommend you all go out and but it now (perhaps listen to a bit first though).

Following day I was sitting (or rather slouching) outside the kitchen and an American girl called Jesi walked in and asked if anyone wanted to go to Sydney. Much as I hate the city I said yes... for why???? I know not. Still that set us rolling the next day for a three day road trip up to Sydney. It was quite sound actually, with the highlights being:

a Ned Kelly museum (I knew nothing about Ned Kelly before that, let alone that we were in the heart of Kelly Country... every day's a school day),

me driving (to be honest I was sure we were going to get pulled over but it was nice to be back behind the wheel),

just the fact that Gunagai exists (that photo is of the apparently 'famous' Niagra restaurant... Hmm!),

watching the senate in session at Canberra's Parliament House, arguing over whether or not the Iraq war was justified,

finally buying some cds in Canberra; I only had mds and shitty little speakers and Jesi had none,

and the blowhole in Kiama. I'm confident my photo of it is better than that one. I pick it up tomorrow.

Change of Plans

So why back to Sydney of all places, especially when I don't like it that much? Well, Phil and Helen were supposed to be coming out to Cairns in the middle of March for Helen's mate's wedding. I was heading up to Cairns. However, poor Phil had to have his appendix out the other day. The op went well and he's doing fine apart from being, I should imagine, a touch pissed off about being in hospital rather than Cairns. As Phil put it, 'Appendicitis is a right pain in the arse... well, almost.' Good to see he hasn't lost his sense of humour.

What Now?

Flitting between plans is all good and well but eventually you need a little direction otherwise you will become a true nomad. So, with Phil not coming out (thoroughly gutted but what can you do?) I'm still going to go up Cairns way. First off a surf trip from here to Byron Bay. Then up to the Whitsundays and Frasier Island for some yacht / 4 x4 action. Following that up to Cairns. Then over to Ullaru and back down to Adelaide (hmmm....) then...? Well that's as far as I've got for now.

Last Words

Sydney's Mardi Gras starts tomorrow (I think). As a result, Sydney is filled with raving homs. Haha, should be pretty funny though.

My oh my...

... What a long train journey. I reckon it clocked in at about 41 hours. Yes that's right, not 4.1 but 41. Needless to say it was long. Should I ever have a similar rush of blood to head and decide to do it again, I think I'll pay the extra and take a sleeper. Somehow the nice people on Indian Pacific had managed to make chairs that were impossible to sleep on. And no it's not just me whinging. I know this on three counts; firstly everyone else around me had the same problem, I usually have no trouble sleeping on aeroplanes, and finally, I had two seats to myself and STILL couldn't manage it. What with all the time difference and the hallucinatory pressures of sleep deprivation, I'm not really sure, but I think I'm in Perth. Perth's beendescribed to me as a sprawling city that's quite dull. The only reason it's got so many people is that it's so far away from anything else no one can be bothered to leave it. Haha, considering the fact that I've only just booked into the backpackers I really can't pass judgement but I'll let you know within the next couple of days.

Extending your visa is easier than extending your overdraft

That's right, my visa extension has come through. How quick was that? I sat down on Thursday afternoon in a net cafe, 20 minutes later my application was complete, and today the confirmation is through. I'm now allowed to stay in the country till the 30th of May. I don't know if I will or not but it's nice to have the buffer. So Phil, I'll definitely see you in March! Wooooooooo! I reckon it's the West Coast for me now at a nice leisurely pace.

Time difference time schmifference

Where's all my valentine's messages? :-(

Hello everyone. Photo's have finally been scanned in. I'm in Adelaide. It's shit. I'm leaving today... Hurrah! Andy's legged it up to Alice Springs and I'm going to Perth today on the train which'll only take 39 hours. Hmmm. So anyways, click on the photograohy bit at the top and then look for the album called Oz. Here's a little taster.

G'day peeps. And how be all of you? All well and good I hope. The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous for the last couple of days and the Great Ocean Road is proving a good trip (for the second and a half time around). We've had more time this time though, and a car, which makes all the difference. Phil, I didn't get chance to stop in at Warrnambool as Andy and Tina weren't too keen on the idea. Sorry about that.

Been doing loads of sight seeing too. Stopping off at random beaches for a dip in the freezing sea, a tree top walk (47m up in the canopy), saw the twelve apostles again, and am currently in the Grampians which are gorgeous. We went to Mackenzie Waterfall, The Balconies (rock formation with a stunning view) and the aboriginal museumy type thing today. Staying in an eco friendly hostel tonight. Everything is recycled including the shower water (only to flush the toilets though) and the place is lovely. If we had the car for longer I'd push to stay here for a bit longer but we have to be in Adelaide for tomorrow night.

Eating our dinner tonight we were invaded by Kookabarra's (recognised them off the cricket bats) and what I think were cockatoos. Walking back to the car after a fine meal Andy noticed two Kangaroos just munching grass in the park. The whole place is like a safari. Loads of insects too. Haha, playing scabble this evening (it's a quiet place) and two midges landed on the board. They looked to be mating and had aptly chosen the 'e' of the word vet to get down to it on. Caused a titer amongst. I won at scrabble by the way, but does the word 'mutings' exist?

Ask and thou shalt receive

Loads of comments. Haha, cheers guys. I think out of all 18 of the new comments, only four different ones existed. The trick is to just type it, click comment and then leave it till the comment window disappears. If you want to see if it's worked, wait a bit and then refresh the revolicktion page. Aaaaaaaah, genius.

As for me I'm doing a true Birt Packing thing tonight. I'm going to the Neighbours night where I shall meet no less than, Harold Bishop, Toadie and special guest Alf from Home and Away. It'll be Toadie's first night back following a ban (for wooing all the English 'ladies') so he should be on good form. How funny will that be? We were also supposed to be touring the set this afternoon but alas, they'd doubled booked us. No probs though as that means we just go tomorrow and get it for half price. Haha! The only slight problem is that Andy and I need to hire a car, sharpish, to drive to Adelaide in. That was tomorrow's job but now today will have to be spent shopping around for one. Best bet is to go a for a relocation vehicle (cheaper) but whether we'll find one..? who knows?

Checked out the casino last night as it's apparently the largest in Oz. Managed to get away with spending virtually bugger all as we found the poker tables. Haha, you can learn to play for free so we did that for about 2 hours. Just like Late Night Poker except no cash involved. Very much fun.

So the trip to Adelaide should be commencing on Wednesday. Tina from the hostel has also expressed an interest so she may or may not be coming with us.

How are you all doing at home? Hope you're all top and Dandy and fine. Incidentally, could someone please send me Pratt's e-mail address as I need to speak to the young man, if he even has an address these days. And the leg's address wouldn't go astray either.

Jess got off to Finland fine yesterday I believe. Spoke to her in the morning but haven't heard whether or not she got there alright. I'm assuming she did. Right then, sorry for the lengthy post of not much value but I haven't writte for a while. anywho, see y'all anon.

Why does no one leave comments anymore?

Morning morning. Well the great ocean road (once again) proved to be a bit of a pain the arse. Without having a car it's almost impossible to do the activities surrounding the sleepy towns along it. As a result at Apollo Bay it was decided that Melbourne should be returned to. So here I am. Back in Melbourne for Australia Day!!!!!!!! Wooo. And what is Australia Day? A big party basically for when this marvellous country was founded. The Big Day Out (loads of bands playing a festivally type thingamy jigamer) is on and loads of processions etc through town. The big day out costs a fair whack though so I'm off to watcha skating competition instead (it's free and should be a good laugh). Watched 21 grams last night. Excellent film but not the most cheery I've ever seen. Andy's getting to Melb on the 31st (ish) and it'll be good to see the WBP (whinging bloody pome) again. Right. I'm off to prepare for some skating madness.

Hello dere everyone. Just a really quick message as my time's about to expire. Got to Melbourne okay and stayed in the nunnery. Great little hostel and had a good laugh there. Katy has now flown the antipodean nest and should be back in blighty by now. Probably shivering and being generally miserable. Ffi and I are now doing a whacky races effort across the South to hook up with Laura and the Irish lads but progress is slow. Had one of those days yesterday but today is all good. Bugger all in Torquay though and I can't really be arsed to go surfing (beach is miles away). Moving on to Apollo Bay tomorrow though and eventually getting to Adelaide, then to Perth. Perth will probably involve a purchase of a car to then attack the Western Coast. Following that I can finally get involveed int he volunteering I want to do. Oh yeah, and visa extension is required. Whther or not I'll get it is unknown but it should be okay. No news on the Masters yet but fingers crossed. Mail me, and I'll see you all later. Oh yeah, The Hartless one (Claire) and her botfriend should be in Adelaide on the 30th. Mad as. And Moony might also be out in a little while (March time) in Perth. Andy's still stuck in Sydney so god knows when I'll see him again. Right then, sees ya.

Escape from Sydneytraz

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! I'm finally getting the hell out of Sydney. Tomorrow night to be precise. Not sure at exactly what time though as I haven't checked train times yet. I keep getting hassled to go out tonight considering how it's my last night in the big smoke, but I really don't feel like it. Therefore, I must be a miserable old git (but don't start nodding in agreement just yet). If I get a late train out of here I can go out for a bit beforehand, have a couple of ales, go and get the train and then we're all happy. Marvellous.

Also got some photos back today. Haha, they're pretty crap to be honest but they were mostly experimental. I followed Sophie's advice and shot from the hip (to make your pictures shit) and I wasn't too impressed with the results. Still got some alright ones out of it. I get three more rolls back tomorrow afternoon and then I'll bundle them all up and send them home. The original plan to get them onto the lomo site was sound apart from the fact that I'm using public computers. Therefore, there is the problem of not being able to install necessary programs, which I'm sure none of you care about but I thought I'd tell you regardless. They'll be up for viewing pleasure as soon as I return. Betcha can't wait. Although I have another plan, so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a fox, but it depends upon the computing skills of the old dear.

So farewell Sydney. I've had a great time here but cities don't hold my attention for all that long. So where am I going. Haha, straight to another city. Nice one. But apparently Melbourne is far more laid back and should suit me more. Not that I'll be there for long. I reckon once I start moving again it'll be hard to stop.

One of the reasons for the Sydney delay was the fact that I was waiting for the cricket (day nighter between Oz and Zim) and was it worth it? Well, no. Oz batted first scoring a measly 225, 112 of which were singles. Boring? To say the least, we ended up playing cards. The bowling was a little more impressive though and Zim were 17 for 5 at one stage. Thought they might get a worse score than England's one day worst ever for a while, but alas they ended up with 126. Not exactly an evenly matched... errr... (for want of a better word) match. Still the crowd were as entertaining as ever.

This morning was spent at the Art Gallery, taking in some cultural highlights and wondering how most of it could be classed as art (honestly, painting a canvass black and then daubing biblical quotes over it in white?.... ) Still a good 20c Oz section made up for it.

Hannah got in touch via e-mail the other day about a uni reunion so if any of you UMEC folk are having a squiz at this then mail me (contact at the top) for Hannah's e-mail address if you're interested. I've also set up a message board type thing for any comments / suggestions about venues or whatever.

Right then. I'm orf to sort me train out and I'll see y'all later on. Ciao.

Bloody hell, this was a blast from the past. A mate Matt who I met in Prague (the second time around) has just sent me pictures of when we were there. Haha, not expecting that at all but here we are.



As for the now, I'm back in sweaty Sydney again after a most relaxing time in the beautiful blue mountains. We went to watch the cricket yesterday. Bloody Indians have been playing for a draw all along particularly since they went back in to bat after they could've made Oz follow on. Cheeky monkeys. Anyway, I could go again today but I can't be arsed.

Ffi and Katy are leaving today (booo) to go to Melbourne, with a couple of stops on the way. Which means I'll be left in the familiar old sitch of staying somewhere longer than everyone else. Still, super Andy (to be said in a Scottish accent) and Alex are still kicking around. Could do with somewhere to go for the next few days until the day nighter against Zim but I'm becoming lazier and lazier and I might just book in here for a few more days. Hmmm we shall see.