Robs Global Blog

Announcement to Authors!

2006-02-25T11:00:00.000Z

I've mentioned Shared Creation in this blog before. The site is now accepting members and is running it's first few projects. I would like to draw your attention to one of them. Writing on the Web is an indexing project. It's aim is to create a collection of posts on Shared Creation that link back in the authors own words to fiction published online. It is especially interested in looking at blogs that publish both fiction and poetry.

If you run or know of such blogs / web sites then please come over to Shared Creation, register and post. If nothing else it is an easy way to gain a link back to yourself.

Technorati Tags: Fiction, Links, Poetry, Blog, Web, Writing

This Frosty is no snowman

2006-02-19T19:37:00.000Z

An odd memory from Australia is that of a budgie.
A sweet looking white and blue budgie called Frosty
A sweet looking budgie with all the instincts of an axe wielding serial killer, a peregrine falcon and a velociraptor.

To be honest all Frosty ever wanted to do was play, be talked too and fussed over.

Not a lot really

Except for one little thing....

His play instincts would put Hannibal Lecter to shame.

His wings seemed to be tipped with razor blades and there was a chainsaw hidden in his beak

This budgie was a killer on wings.

Yet he was liked by all.

I ended up quite attached to the killer Frosty.

Technorati Tags: Australia, Budgie, Killer, Velociraptor

Spirit Mars Rover Reaches 'Home Plate': Formation Has Researchers Puzzled

2006-02-11T10:30:00.000Z

NASAs Spirit Mars rover has arrived at a site dubbed "Home Plate" within Gusev crater. But what the robot found has left scientists puzzled.

I had to include this - a fascinating puzzle, interesting photograph and travel across another planet - it's got everything.

read more | digg story

How to Be Creative

2006-01-26T09:05:00.000Z

An excellent read detailing 30 ways to be more creative!

read more | digg story

Raisin' a glass to Robbie

2006-01-25T20:16:00.000Z

It's Burns night, or if you're reading this a little late. It was Burns night.

There's not much to say, except that I'll be drinking a dram to the great man.

Here is : To a Haggis. Which despite years of reading the Beano do not roam free amongst the highlands of Scotland. Pity really.

To a Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckles as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' blody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' hands will sned,
Like taps o' trissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!

New Year, And a Secret Slips

2006-01-12T20:25:00.000Z

It's another year. I strangely welcomed New Year and my own celebrations of ageing with somewhat open arms, yet published nothing here. I dare say that lack of comment means something to the right people. Personally I think it means I'd rather write about Christmas, that and I'd rather not bore people with every little detail. Just talk about interesting things.

I've also been doing some work on a pet project that is currently being tested. The idea is to see to create a collaborative working environment that allows people to exchange ideas and skills in order to create things. When I say things I mean things like films, music videos, music, books, web sites, stage productions, or even just ideas that might one day mature into something cool. Testing is only just starting (very early). If you are interested in helping out take a look at http://www.sharedcreation.com

It's also the reason for less posting over the last month or two. That and Christmas of course.

Theoretical warp drive gains credibility.

2006-01-10T08:50:00.000Z

Potential uses for anti-gravity technology gains credibility within the scientific community as well as the US military.

The source of the article is credible, and it certainly sounds interesting.

read more | digg story

Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image

2006-01-05T10:34:00.000Z

This is a link to one of the most spectacular photographs ever taken - the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Save for five foreground stars, every point of light in the photograph is a galaxy. This 1 million second exposure was taken over the course of 400 hubble orbits of the Earth, and is the farthest into space we have ever seen!

read more | digg story

Merry Christmas

2005-12-24T10:59:00.000Z

It's Christmas Eve.
All that remains is for me to wish this blogs readers for the past year a Very Merry Christmas

and a passing thought

I was cycling this morning and noticed that the retro styled Smart Car roadster coupe brought back memories of Opal Manta's and Sunbeam Alpines. Only shrunk in the wash

Pity the Fool Waiting for this Flight

2005-12-20T20:10:00.000Z

A recent conversation - mostly regarding the more ridiculous merits of Chuck Norris and Mr T brought on this memory of my time in Rarotonga. I hope you like it

The primary airport of Rarotonga is just outside Avarua town. By this I mean steps not miles, this is not an airport surrounded by miles of motorways. There is after all just one road on Rarotonga.

My flight leaving the island was scheduled for 11pm that evening. That wasn't a problem, I was staying at Vara's Resort on Muri beach and transport was laid on via a small and rather full minibus. All residents at Varas' were picked up and dropped of at the check in. It seemed that most other people were dropped of at the same time. We arrived there a lot later than say a Heathrow check in would have been; not really that long before our Air New Zealand plane was due at all.

Then we discovered a nearly four hour long flight delay. Some wanted to go back to the hostel, but that wasn't really going to be practical - simply because the only transport had left. Most of us decided to get ready and trotted off to pay our departure tax (a small but necessary amount). Others found a local fish and chip shop not far from the airport. Before long a good many were sitting on the benches in the open air area that was the departure lounge. Most of this Airport is open aired. Given the location - it makes sense - if feeling a little odd. We'd all yet to go air side. Air side was a corridor full of closed shops and an open garden populated by roofed picnic tables.

So we were in an tiny airport. It was late at night with hours to kill.

The only thing we could do was watch the A-Team!

A few guys there had a 17 inch Apple powerbook and some A-Team DVD's. So on went the laptop. In went the DVD's and soon one of the most famous pieces 80's music - Mike Post's theme for the A Team was echoing across the South Pacific. Followed as always by the rattling of AK47's and the screeching tyres of a certain well known black Ford Transit. Of course it wasn't long before Mr T pitied some fool.

I will admit that I wander off to some sleep before the flight.

But it was nice for someone to supply the A Team to use forlorn passengers as we waited for Air New Zealand.

Plasma Engine Could Open Up Space Exploration

2005-12-15T09:10:00.000Z

The European Space Agency is developing a new thruster based on the same physics that power the northern and southern auroras. This new plasma thruster could eventually deliver more power than the efficient ion engines which have been installed on several spacecraft.

Ok It's true - I'm a sucker for exotic space engine stories

read more | digg story

And the Yakuza Carried Handbags

2005-12-14T20:03:00.000Z

I'm entering a new Grande Tour phase, well o.k. a new post Grande Tour stage. To put to bluntly I'm starting to remember adventures and misadventures through rose tinted spectacles. Yep I'm having nostalgic moments, memories and reflections. I think it's time to pass some of these on.

So no promises on how many or when but; let's start in Japan.

This story happened in Kyoto. In Kyoto train station there is a booking office for many (a great many) of the hotels in the area. It's a long narrow office. On one side of it's desks are seats for customers and sitting in a uniformed rank on their side of the desk are the nearly identical girls who will try and help you out. Also on the customer side are some comfy square cushions that think they are chairs that think they are posters, but that's about it.

I'd made it to a desk, to be warmly welcomed after my bullet train ride from Tokyo. It was mid afternoon and as usual in Japan had nowhere to sleep that night. So we started going through my options (this isn't the point of the story but in the end I slept near Osaka Castle - which is not far from Kyoto as the bullet train speeds).

Suddenly the entire office went very quiet. Extremely quiet. I was in the middle of conjugating something in Japanese so caught on a little more slowly than everyone else. So I was about to speak when I noticed everyone behind the desks was silent and slightly paler of complexion. Meanwhile my fellow customers were also not looking to happy either. I traced the worried gazes to the door. Two young Japanese men had walked in. Both twenty something. Both wearing expensive looking clothes. Oddly both wore sleeveless T-Shirts that revealed some very complex and ornate tattoos. Each of them had in their right hands small leather clutch handbags. They were looking around the room. Searching for someone it seemed. After taking a good long stare at everyone they turned and left.

As the door closed behind them people started talking. The atmosphere lifted into the usual polite calm of a Japanese office. All the fear just evaporated away.

We'd apparently been visited by local Yakuza.

Amazing pictures of coffee

2005-12-11T11:56:00.000Z

Coffee as art.
Purely Sublime!

read more | digg story

How to: Build a Webpage (cute!)

2005-12-11T11:54:00.000Z

Step by step process on creating and designing a webpage with little dolls used as visual aids! Very cute (and accurate)!

read more | digg story

I Declare this Season Open

2005-12-01T21:24:00.000Z

Festive season that is.

Perhaps hunting season would be more accurate. Hunting of course for suitable presents. Hunting feels more natural description. Shopping in December is a little like braving the wilds. Then again that may not be entirely true - it's more like a zombie movie where the malls of full of present hunting zombies ("Need ... Present ... Two .... For ... Price ... of .... One).

The funny thing is that despite my dislike of the hot, humid and obstacle strewn course that Christmas shopping is ; I always leave it until this time of year. True it's easier a little more in advance, but Christmas doesn't feel right without preparing for it in December. The natural exception is of course the cake - which needs a little more time to mature, but that's another story. That's the important bit. Almost as important as getting presents right, getting them delivered and enjoying presents of Christmas day it's the action of getting everything together in a few scant weeks whilst doing other things that's matters. It has an intensity. It builds up to Christmas day. To me - hitting Christmas day full of exhaustion and adrenaline; before hitting the big relax is nice.

It's also nice to get the right presents for the right people and having to do it focusses the shopping hunter gatherer instincts.

Christmas has a nice primeval quality if you approach it in the right kind of way

I suspect the Vatican wouldn't be keen on that idea.

Japan: 'Lost' probe lands on asteroid

2005-11-24T09:12:00.000Z

Despite reports of failure, the spacecraft had successfully touched down on an asteroid 180 million miles from Earth.

read more | digg story

Do you Digg it?

2005-11-22T16:41:00.000Z

You may have noticed the entry previous. It came from digg. Digg is a news aggregation web site that allows users to post it's stories to there blogs. What's much more interesting is the mechanism that gets stories into Digg and onto it's front page. Stories are submitted by anyone who notices them. The users of Digg then vote as to which are the most interesting and it's the one's with the most votes that get the premium spot. As for the stories themselves, well they have to exist on the Internet. In other words these articles can come from any web site anyway.

It makes Digg an interesting place to read from, and I intended to use it to transmit things I find interesting into this blog. I don't want to over use Digg, but I dare a reasonable number of items will come from it.

Mysterious Antarctica may be the home of the oldest civilization

2005-11-22T15:15:00.000Z

Lots of surprises may be hidden under the Antarctic ice and are waiting to be discovered by humans. The existence of the prehistoric civilization in Antarctica started drawing attention of professional historians after the World War II

read more | digg story

Pointless Fun

2005-11-18T20:51:00.000Z

Here is a fun sign that I discovered via John Dvoraks (yes the Dvorak who floods the US with cool computer opinion) blog

Click Here to go to an LED sign that allows you to post a message to the sign and then view it via a webcam

Here's a sign I made earlier

And

Fireworks

2005-11-16T22:00:00.000Z

A little late (my apologies - the results of circumstances), here are some photographs of traditional small fireworks taken on Bonfire night this year.

I hope you enjoy them.

Findingviews - updated

2005-11-16T14:01:00.000Z

At the core of my web site and blog collection is Findingviews I dare say you may have found it already, but in case not; here it is.

The point of Findingviews is to provide a backbone to my activities. It is the domain on which all my online activities are based. It hosts my web sites; though not this blog - which is hosted by blogger. It also hosts a couple of web sites where I have an involvement or interest. It's main job is to provide a platform to for my creative activities online.

This refinement of the site is a focussing on it's activities. Simply put I've pulled out the web directory. The directory was always really a side order. A little used experiment in providing a small and specific list of web sites. In worked, and ran without any problems; but it just did not really fit in with the point of the site - providing a hosting facility, and a means to the end of providing a place to put things that explore our place in the world. I want findingviews to focus on what I am doing now, so it was time to end that little experiment.

To further explain all of this I've added some notes onto the Findingviews mission statement.

So with the web site updated - time to get on with other things. (actually it took very little time - the bulk of the work was the Mission statement addition).

A Grande Tour Milestone

2005-11-12T11:27:00.000Z

Today was major closing milestone in the Grande Tour. I closed the Cafe Press merchandising account. Since opening we had no sales and with the Tour complete I could not really justify the cost of maintaining it's presence.

The bigger question is why a lack of sales? I think there are two reasons for this. A big one was the U.S. location. Whilst this suited the International nature of the project it didn't suit the UK market. I have problem ordering from the US, but a lot of people do. So that was a problem. I think also store focussed on the Grande Tour logo. Whilst that was Ok, and in fact a need - most of the time on tour, the tour process itself made running a shop from on the road impossible, it wasn't really what people wanted.

Do I feel disheartened? No not really. The Grande Tour was enormously beneficial to me and I know it routed some traffic to the supported charities - so it's not really a problem. The shop was a nice add on. Sales would have been nice, but nothing compared to the journey itself.

A touch of Nostalgia from something New

2005-11-08T22:16:00.000Z

I've been listening to a lot to Supernature by Goldfrapp. It's a fantastically decadent album. It's also more than faintly nostalgic. If you want to know how can something that's pretty fresh, new and hip possibly be nostalgic then here's the answers. A lot of the musical themes remind me of the 1980's. I think it's the mix of synthesised sounds and rhythms used in the music that helps bring me to this feeling. That and the use of lyrics. Perhaps not the lyrics themselves but the way in which they are used.

Of course the short version is that I like this album.

But I love the idea of something new reminding me of the past.

Travelling Again

2005-11-01T22:12:00.000Z

The last two weekends contained a lot of unlogged travel. That will never do.

Two weeks ago I spent one night and just over a day in Edinburgh. It's much cheaper and easier to get there from where I live these days. Actually there was a hope to go further - but that didn't really work out. Side stepping the negativity Edinburgh is amazingly cool. It's a gorgeous city and the castle - well pictures will never do that justice. Though I did try. What a location! I also had one of the best meals in a long long long time at the Wildfire restaurant on Rose Street. If you happen to be in the area - check this place out - it's fantastic. Any negative points - well torrential rain wasn't a bonus. All in all a trip that must go back (but when the skies are not doing a very good impression of Niagara Falls).

Last weekend was my first Fear of the Dark game in a long time. Probably close to a year; and I loved in. Set in Perth Y Pia - just above Llanbedr in the Welsh mountains it was a beautiful location. Perched on a Welsh hillside. No photos - at least of the location - mainly due to yet more rain. I'm starting to feel persecuted. I think the rain is following me. However back to the game, a scary skit on the whole reality TV show thing. Or what would happen if Big Brother played for blood. We actually build a working Big Brother set-up fairly easily, and introduced 11 willing contestants into a weekend of claustrophobic stress and fear. Everyone had a ball. Highly recommended!

So that's my latest trips.

Keep on travelling - that's what I say!

Connected Again

2005-10-27T17:06:00.000Z

Just celebrating the fact that I'm back on broadband.
After the Grande Tour having a solid Internet connection again makes me feel well ... connected if you'll pardon the pun. I think after a while of wandering having a house, utilities, phone and the big extra of rock solid Internet feel as if I'm home. I suppose it's the plus side of bills. The downside of bills is of course the paying of them.

So I suppose this makes the new place really mine.

I'll stop now - this blog is wandering about a bit. Next entry - hopefully a bit more focus

Moved but not much else

2005-10-20T15:01:00.000Z

I’ve not written much recently. Primarily once RobArt was up and running and once the underwater photography was posted I really didn’t want to bore with the minutiae of daily life. The big thing since my last post has been a move into my own residence. So I now once again have roots, or at least a commitment to somewhere to live. On the bonus front - my new abode is in an area I’ve always wanted to live in. So big bonus there. As I write this an Internet account is a few days away. So I’m not entirely sure how long this blog will be on file before getting published.
I hope to be getting out and about more soon, and also putting new photography online soon, plus of course pushing RobArt.
So once again it’s a case of watch this space.

Putting the Duds Online

2005-10-10T15:32:00.000Z

Ok it's done. A few of you are waiting for this. As for the rest - well I said it would happen and so it has. I'm talking of course about late developed pictures taken on the Great Barrier reef and in the seas of Fiji using a disposable underwater camera. The ones that I wasn't too happy with. Well these have been placed in the Grande Tour photostream. Hopefully you will enjoy them. Personally I wish I could of captured the colour and wonder of these places better. Unfortunately I didn't do too well; though to be sure - these are the kinds of places that have to be seen to be believed - so go there!

The Terror of Duds

2005-10-06T11:45:00.000Z

I have my long awaited photographs back from the developers. This is the set taken with an underwater disposable camera. All the shots were exposed in Fiji and on the Great Barrier reef. Reasonably I was hoping for something special. Unfortunately this was not so. It turns out that my ability to use a Kodak disposable underwater is err - could be better. Me - I'm blaming the sea sickness I encountered on the Barrier Reef. In the meantime I will look more closely at my shots. There are a couple of naturally good photographs - the best being of another snorkeler , so those can be posted. I'll post process a few more in Photoshop. Hopefully in a couple of days they will appear online for you to enjoy.

RobArt

2005-09-29T17:48:00.000Z

My new art publishing endeavour has started. I've previously talked about outgrowing the photogallery and that a more discoursive and flexible replacement was required. I have now opened up the new site. It is called RobArt, simply because RobArt is a nice if a little light hearted and cheesy way of describing my work. I invite you to visit and take a look. I also invite all comers to make comment. One of the aims of RobArt is to encourage discussion. As I write this you will find two entries. One a new piece and previous to it, an opening statement. The statement was placed a two days ago as a kick start. I then waited as I checked the site out. Then I placed the new first artwork to truly open it up.

For the moment the site is open and tested with the bare requirements for doing it's job. I suspect that in due course I'll be adding some static pages to cover essential information.

So go, visit and I hope enjoy.

Summary Reference

2005-09-28T14:03:00.000Z

The Grande Tour is complete, but the rest of my life goes on, including this blog and my photostream. There was a danger of losing track of blog entries and also in future times having essential information regarding the trip hard to find on the Grande Tour website. Also a trip like this needs a sense of closure on it's main website that isn't going to just vanish off into a blog archive.

Hopefully I have just circumvented this by placing a new page - Summary Info on the Grande Tour site.

Getting On with It

2005-09-27T14:52:00.000Z

Ok so I'm back home and it's time to get on with the rest of my life.

Actually I've been back 2 weeks and that is pretty much underway.

It looks as if I have a new place to live sorted out. Just waiting for what I hope will be formalities to complete.

Development work is nearly done on my new art site. This is important to me. It's an area of my life I want to assign an increased importance too. The new site uses blog technology and will I hope allow for both an easier presentation and if all goes well actual discourse and communication surrounding my work. The original photogallery site will remain online and if anyone orders from it - I will honour those orders. However from this point on it is to be more of an reference as to how I got to this point; which was really it's primary aim anyway. I'll be announcing the new site once testing has completed and it is in a healthy enough state to accept visitors.

This blog and the associated Grande Tour flickr photostream will continue. I will oddly enough continue to both to post. I see the Grande Tour as being an event, and although it is over the idea of moving through and looking at the world will never stop. New photos of things I visit and see will be posted from time to time and the Grande Tour site will echo this blog. The blog is of course the findingviews blog, although it was always meant to cover the grande tour with that over the content will alter but I hope the read will be interesting. I'll need to come up with an updated title to cover all this, but that's not a priority. Just a sentence that needs some focus.

I think I can sum all of this up simply as - I'm putting my life back together - but taking account of all I have learned whilst doing the Grande Tour.

It's going well.

The Homebound Catchup and Peter Gunn

2005-09-22T10:31:00.000Z

Good news - I've caught up with my photograph backlog. Pictures from the South Seas, and the USA are now on the photostream. It's taken over a week to get these online after getting back. I'm sorry for the delay; it's a combination of exhaustion, jetlag, and catching up with family and friends.

Making this a waypoint in the blog.

So what happens next?

Well this blog started as the blog of the findingviews project that was round the world bound. I think it's best is this blog continues and takes on the job of both what happens next plus anything else of interest that is going on and potentially related to the findingviews idea. So keep on reading and I'll keep on posting.

The Flickr account was always focussed on the Grande Tour, I think a plan here is to use it to record any trips, travels and interesting things I see. If there has been one result from the Grande Tour it's been the realisation that all trips be it down the street or around the world are valuable. So I'll continue adding onto the Flickr Photostream.

This leaves the photogallery website. I think my work has grown and changed. I also want to expand how I present my artwork and photos online. Allowing more scope for both description, discussion and adding in more points of interest on the site. I have a plan for this and will start testing some new technologies soon. In the meantine the Photogallery will remain as a record of how I got here. I'll also always honour any picture purhcase requests made on the photogallery.

So the main part of the adventure is over. The next adventure is building everything up, according to what the Grande Tour has taught me.

I've started that already, by buying a guitar.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

2005-09-16T13:00:00.000Z

I'm back!!!! (that'll be a plasma launcher in the 40Mw range please)

Ok I've been back for a couple of days. Well physically been back; I've actually been caught in a strange miasma of extreme jetlag, and emotion. It's odd to not be planning the next phase of the trip and possibly stranger to be home. But also very very good to be home and exciting to be putting life back together. Of course the real fun starts now - as I try and build a lifestyle that incorporates all I've learned on the tour.

The one thing I'm looking forward to is catching up with everyone I know.

So right now all that can be said is that I'm recovering from travel.

I will also be updating the backlog of pictures on the flickr gallery. So that should start to substantially rise over the next few days. Once I've done this the blog will be updated to let you know it's done and to also start planning the next phase. The blog will not stop. Instead the focus will switch. More information to come on that in the future.

So I'm back, with more interesting things to come.

To JFK and Beyond

2005-09-12T19:13:00.000Z

I'm writing this from the Holiday Inn (free wifi) at JFK airport. I'll shortly be heading for an early check in - so that I can meander through US border security and then head for some terminal shopping; not my last shopping ever - just last for the US).

It was tough getting here. My flight from LA to Vancouver was perfect. Even if LAX was a disappointment as an airport. Just found the terminal facilities to be small, old and minimal. Far from my expectations of LA. Just guess that sometimes myth and reality just refuse to match up. Vancouver airport on the other hand was nice. Had to pass through US immigration whilst in the airport. That felt a little disquieting. After passing through US procedures all passengers to the US are then segregated from everyone else. Boarding the plane to New York was on time.That was when it all went pear shaped. Preflight checks found an engine sensor fault and we were forced off the plane as it was repair. The repair turned into a summoning of a new plane and the flight much delayed. We were originally due into New York around 10.30pm. We got in at around 3am the next morning. Strange though this wasn't too bad. My hotel arranged for a late check out at no extra charge (due to my Amex booking) and on the flight got into conversation with the flight attendants (not paid whilst held in the airport during the delay), and some boat designers heading for New York to work on the fire boats there. Quite cool.

I'm writing this from my hotel at JFK airport and will shortly head for the airport to do an early check in and do my final meandering through a terminal.

Feels odd not really exploring New York, but there's a stack of good reasons.

Will have to come back one day.

Also feels odd knowing that the tour is heading for a close. But I think that what comes next will be exciting and of course - blogged.

One last strange feeling. Feels like I am on a boat. Must be tiredness

Strange Times

2005-09-11T04:54:00.000Z

Ok I'm in LA

I've seen Hollywood.

I've seen the studios

I've walked around Beverley Hills and had a nice lunch on Rodeo Drive, and seen some more of LA.

Now I'm back into Journey mode.

The plan was to go to New York (via Vancouver - the story involves an earlier change in plan leaving me with a ticket to use). I'm still doing that. The sad fact though is that I'm not spending time in New York. Day after I arrive I head home.

There's a lot of reasons for this. Some are financial, some are the fact that I found getting a decent hotel in New York very difficult and some relate to the fact that I feel the need to stop traveling and do something more useful. It's more than a bit disappointing to be missing out on NYC. One day in the not too distant (perhaps with all the airmiles I know have) I'll have to go back and give it some time.

Until then - I'm heading home.

There's a backlog of photos to display. I will be putting those on line. Also there will be some more notes thoughts and retrospectives in this blog. I suspect the journey is not nearing the end. It's nearing a beginning. And besides - it's not over yet, Still time for news to happen.

Does the Shark look fake?

2005-09-10T04:26:00.000Z

Of course the shark looks fake. Still makes you jump when it lunges near your face though

As you might have guessed I spent a day at Universal Studios. Great fun. The classic studio tour is tremendous and everything I'd expected it to be; and then there is the theme park. The theme park is not huge. However it terms of ride quality it rocks!

Top favourites - for me at least (excluding the studio tour) are

Terminator 2: 3D. Far far better than I was expecting. This is a slick show nicely merging stage actors, and film sequences. What makes it work is the imaginative use of 3D projection. This is the best 3D work I've seen and it is simply great.

Van Helsing - Castle Dracula - Simply put - this is a house of horror. You walk through it and things scare you. There's all the usual tricks - rotating walls, mirrors, animatronics, sound effects, projections. So far so ok. Add to that beautifully done sets and actors. Yep live actors. The actors don't talk to you. They're just there to add the human touch to some scares and it really really works. Scariest fun ride I've ever been on. Really had me yearning for a fear of the dark game.

Jurassic Park - The Ride - Ok this is just a boat ride with some animatronics. Nice dinosaurs the animatronics. Nice water jets. Nice 84 foot vertical drop into more water. Wet would be the word to use.

Of course there's plenty of others to enjoy. Those were just by 3 faves.

Hooray for Hollywood

2005-09-09T05:18:00.000Z

I've made it back to the Northern Hemisphere. Toilets now flush in the right direction!

It was tough getting here - the flight from the Cook islands was long and delayed.

Tougher on Arrival. Mostly due to my first hotel. I've stayed in a huge variety of places on the tour; ranging from fantastic to bad, but this one - it made me feel ill (or was that the strange smells?). And very unsafe. So in the morning I arranged a new place and made for it post haste in a yellow cab. The good point was that it was near Hollywood Boulevard. So I got the see the Walk for Fame and the famous Chinese theatre on my first night.

I've now recovered from my flight and first night and am heading out to see Universal studios in the morning. So the states is looking up!

First thing I've noticed - the Cars. The roads aren't just awash with cars, they're filled with hi spec luxury cards. This is huge change after the Cook islands (motor scooters and old British buses), Fiji (everything is rebuilt over and again), New Zealand and Australia (lots of utilitarian vehicles - mostly from Asia). That and huge signs advertising TV shows and films.

Not squashed any movie stars with a classic fall yet, but my time in the states is young!

On Fiji Time

2005-09-09T05:07:00.000Z

Here is the promised discourse on Fiji. Written on September 3rd - Posted When I reached Los Angeles

In Fiji, staying on Bekana island the phrase "Fiji Time" was adopted utterly and completely by all guests. Simply put it described the pace of life. Life there worked at it's own pace. Never early, sometimes late yet always happy, relaxed, polite and helpful. Between the small number of guests and incredible staff there developed a real sense of community. It was strange but as everyone worked on the important business of total relaxation everyone also helped it each other out. If you needed help - it was there and no one who didn't want to be alone was alone. Making Bekana island the friendliest place in the whole of the Grande Tour so far. The friendliness was overwhelming, quite fantastic.

Oddly as I write this Fiji was also the place that as furthest from Western Civilisatin - so very alien, and disquieting. I'm at bit of a scardey cat when it comes to bugs. My first morning I encountered a cockroach the size of a family car, and various our crawly things with too many legs. This made sure that in a couple of days I got through a big family sized can of bug repellent and also tucked in my mosquito net tight everynight.

So nighttime was scarey. Perhaps an infestation of Aliens would have calmed me down a bit, a more familiar sight you see.

The stark contrast between what we have and what the Fijian people have is also very obvious. This is a poor country. Everything is old and repaired time and time over again. Yet it still runs. Nice and easy - on Fiji time. In fact - and this is special the Fjians runs everything for people. People come first. Not schedule or procedure. It's nice to see that. It's a lesson a lot of places could do with learning.

Fiji was always intended as a recharge lay over for me. A place to stop charging around - to lie still and get ready for the Cook Islands - recharge part 2, but since the place is so small - perhaps some additional looking around, and then the States - no point in relaxing. Best to just go see and do things. After that of course - comes the flight home.

It's also the Geographical halfway point of my trip. I'm sitting just before the International Date Line. My flight to Rarotonga takes me over the line. Instead of travelling further ahead of the UK - I fall behind and then catch up. This means I have to do the 3rd of September twice over. Once in Fiji and once in Rarotonga.

So I leave Fiji. A happy place, a little scary, a little disquieting and uncomfortable yet something special and to be remembered.

Gecko on Toast

2005-09-05T08:30:00.000Z

Still in the Cook Islands (Yay!!!)
Having dinner in a house over looking a perfect tropical bay. To ensure the house is truly tropical - geckos are having territorial disputes accross the inside of the roof. For those who know me - this is not the house where I am staying. I have small studio near the beach - I can always hear waves breaking on the lagoon reef. We just spend time having meals in this house.

There are an army of chickens here that crow on the hour every hour after 4am - if they ever get together with the Japanese umbrella machines then it's curtains for humanity
. The chickens check everything and I think run this remote island

Overwise...

This place is paradise on earth.

Saturday the third - part 2

2005-09-04T03:40:00.000Z

I've left Fiji and arrived in the Cook islands. Arriving at 2am in the morning - after leaving 8pm the same evening. Giving me two Saturday September the 3rd's for 2005. Amazing thing the International Date Line.

Fiji was strange. I've a lot of thoughts on my time in Fiji - there's a blog entry written on this - but with no way of upoading it. The short version is that it counts as probably the friendliest place on my travels but also disturbingas well. I'll get the full version online as soon as I can. At the moment I'm having trouble receiving my current load of emails. The Internet here seems to be collapsing under that load.

Today has been simple. Do some shopping. Need sleep after the oddest times on something like -22 hours jet lag.

Been through the largest town, travel here is fairly easy - Rarotonga is a very small island.

Feeling oddly stymied on typing anything up. I suspect there will be a big outpouring of thoughts and observations at some point over the next few days - for now though everything is calm and peaceful.

This also means that geographically I'm past the halfway point. All travel from now on instead of taking me further from home will take me closer to home.

And finally - is this lack of thought something today with today being a repeat. Repeats or sequels are never as good as the originals?

Extreme Road Crossing

2005-08-28T21:27:00.000Z

A few hours before I depart for the South Seas.
Time to quickly report on a New Zealand past time not mentioned in any of the guide books. It goes a little like this

You reach a pedestrian crossing and press the button. At this point the little red and green man circles are dark. As soon as you press the button they light up to either Red or Green. If it's red you will probably be waiting a long time for the light to turn green in order to build aniticipation. Should it be green you need to run for your life. Green does not stay on for long. I've yet to see anyone cross the road with a green light all the way. The same is true if the light naturally turns from red to green. You have little time to cross in!

Ok to be fair after green does come a flashing red man - but you're never sure how long it will be there.

Not to mention the fact that left turning road traffic can still move accross the road even when pedestrians have a green light.

Hence - Extreme Road Crossing.

Riding Along on the Magic Bus

2005-08-28T09:03:00.000Z

It's been a full week. I'd elected to take a Magic Bus tour (yes they really fo have a bus company called Magic - it's logo is a lizard); around North Island. This didn't mean a clever flying bus, nor a bus able to transport us to magical dimensions (though maybe it did - you should see North Island). Instead the Magic Bus moves you through fantastic destinations with drivers intent on entertaining you. It also had big discounts on some activities. The result was a frantic and fun filled 5 day journey around the North Island.

First up was a view of Auckland from the extinct volcano of Mount Eden, followed by a trip to Waitomo caves, populated by thousands of tiny glow worms. The Worms line the cave roof over a river and feast of on insects brought in by the flow of water and that are then attracted to their greenish light. From my point of view it looked like a eerie night sky. Lots of glowing stars, one or two moving the rest having some depth of perspective created by the cave roof. Beautiful and eerie.

Our acutal destination one was Rotorura. Capital of Maori activity in New Zealand, thermal hotspot extraordinaire and access point to some wonderful locations. I had three nights in Rotorura. Arriving at the start of the evening of the first night with less than an hour to clean up, chat to some American guests and Jack & Di's lodge (a real home from home) and get myself of to a Maori cultural evening and Hangi (a meal cooked on hot stones in a covered pit). What an evening - great food, loads of chat going on between all the guests, and a really interesting and fun performance of traditional Maori culture. During which I got hit by the thought that Welsh or at least Celtic culture was (and is) really similar to Maori tradition and attitude. Over the next few days I talked to a lot of people who would share that attitude. It turns out that the Maori have great sympathy for the Welsh - a combination of also having regenerated a language over the past few decades and having a good rugby team. Under no circumstances can conversations about Rugby be avoided in New Zealand.

One the second day it rained. It rained in a way that made the flow of water at Niagara seem insignificant. Still I was an hour or so drive away from Rotorura in Hobbiton. Yes it was THAT day. The day of the Lord of the Rings set tour. Or at least what is left of the set. Actually the fact that the set is there in any form is down to ... the Rain! It seems that rain stopped demolition work after filming, preserving the set to be seen. So perhaps a visit in the rain was appropriate. Most of the set has been removed; but what is left combined with the a fascinating tour really gives some insight to the incredible lengths that were taken to bring Lord of the Rings to the screen. So more fascination,

Rain and tiredness caught up with me for the rest of the day leaving me watching the steam rising. In Rotorura even on a bad day you do not watch the rain falling. One watches the steam rising. The town of Rotorura is slap bang on some seriously big geo-thermal vents. Steam rises out the drains, from cracks in street walls, broken asphalt on the road, peoples gardens and Lake Rotorura itself. There are geo thermally heated bus shelters. The B&B I was in had a natural geo thermal hot tub. People even tap of the vents to make self powered barbecues. Rotorura is geothermal city. There is also a down side, houses sometimes have to be demolished if a vent opens up in the foundations and there are occasional earthquakes. The locals love their geothermal nature so all is not so bad. You do have to watch for the sulphurous rotten egg small that sometimes wafts through the air.

Next day and out to Te Whakarewarewa (pronounced as written - remembering that Wh is an F in Maori). Long place names is also something the Welsh and Maori have in common as the full title really is - "Te WhakarewarewaoteOpeTauaaWahia" (the gathering together of the War Party of the Wahiao". This place really should get together and twin with a certain well known train station. I'd love to see the finished signage for that ! To see the amazing Te Pohutu geyser and it's surrounding thermal area of hot pools, hot falling water and bubbling mud. The weather was good so this turned into a fantastic exploration. Also included was another and very polished Maori concert and a chance to see an actual Kiwi Bird up close. The Kiwi was bigger than I'd realised, standing tall to almost my knee. Maybe a bit bigger than a large chicken. It's a really strange bird to see up close.

And then it was back on the Magic bus to Lake Taupo. With a few stops. First to see a redwood forest. Then to the Wai o Tapa thermic wonderland for the Lady Nelson geyser but perhaps to me more importantly for the big hot lakes and ponds. Permanently covered in steam and coloured strange by rising metal oxides and high temperatures. Of course being a magic bus with well known driver Dangerous Dean at the helm meant that the day would not be complete without something New Zealand being done. I ended up on the Huka Jet. A jet boat ride that stops at the bottom of the Huka falls. Even jet boats have trouble going up waterfalls - despite a top speed of around 80Kph. The jet boat with it's ability to turn 360 degrees on the spot and also skim and slide almost sideways to the direction of travel made this the single most fun thing I'd done in New Zealand. If you have a chance have a go on a big and powerful NZ jet boat. They are incredible. The rest of the day was more sedate - a walk in the Town of Taupo and a look at the Waikate river. Before meeting up with the bus folks for drinks.

That was really the end of the big fun. The next day was trip to Mount Maunganui via Rotorura and then travel back to Auckland where all i needed to do was a bit of essentials shopping.

Next stop - Fiji!

The Gathering

2005-08-22T10:04:00.000Z

Just a quick word to all those of you going to the Gathering this year.
Have a great time.
Don't let the LT get you down
Enjoy the battle

But most of all

Whatever you do

Do Not Let Silent Bob do Guard Duty again!

Towers and Volcanoes

2005-08-22T05:28:00.000Z

I've been in Auckland for a couple of days. Home to lots of sails, a tall tower and quite a few extinct volcanoes. The city is nestled in between ex volcanic peaks. I took a walk up on; Mt Victoria on Sunday. It's not very tall but is quite interesting. Being as it is a near perfect cone. Now grassed over and containing the remains of first a Maori and then a European naval fort. The last fortifications were for use just over a 100 years ago, when New Zealand feared invasion from Russia. Todays the main forts main gun; based in the centre of what would have been the caldera has been restored. It's fascinating. A gun embedded in the top of a hill that fully disappears down into the hill. Quite incredible. There's also an ocean facing bunker that used to contain a gun battery. Now it's used as a folk music club. So.. it's still a scary place.

At Aucklands centre is the Sky City hotel and casino complex. Boasting one of the taller towers in the Southern Hemisphere. Used as a restaurant and bungee jumping platform it's quite an impressive sight. Though I'm sure the rumours that the Kiwi's want to turn it into a space elevator to create a orbit to earth bungee platform cannot reallly be true.

Auckland itself reminds me a British city. If a little quiet. Considering that a million people live in an around Auckland it's centre can seem quiet. I think the answer is that the city spreads itself out over quite a large area - and that most of the population don't venture all the way downtown that often.

Not true of foreigners though. Plenty of non New Zealanders in the centre of Auckland. Mostly contemplating things like "do I really want to jump off that building; or should I take a jet boat ride instead?"

Which brings me onto the the subject of rides. I'm about to leave Auckland for a six day tour of North Island that'll see me visiting the depths of the Glowworm caves at Waitmo, the firey pits and sulphurous stench of Rotorua and of course Hobbiton (sssh, I'm hunting hobbits). Hobbits it seems are even rarer on the ground than the little kiwi birds. Oh and a couple of surprise locations.

Done In in Dunedin

2005-08-17T23:03:00.000Z

On a tight schedule things don't always go to plan. Dunedin had been a planned two night stop, to give me a chance to book ahead a hotel in Auckland, see the city and get out on the local peninsular and see some of the local wildlife - hopefully yellow eyed Penguins and seals; if I was really lucky cruising by the castle was hoped for.

Unfortunately I'd picked up a what I was claiming a very heavy head cold. More like a small dose of flu - if the temperature I was running was anything to go by. In fact one look at me on my second day in Dunedin and the lady at the booking desk politely recommended that I not go clambering over an exposed coastline and instead rest up in my motel. That would turn out to be advice I was forced to follow that afternoon.

The good news is that I did get a hotel booked and I managed to see park of the historic city. Historic in that it holds the oldest university in the island, and is built almost entirely from stone. This is unusual and it really gives Dunedin a different feel. An almost Scottish feel. Of course the gifts loaded with Kilts and Claymors and kiwis wearing kilts helped too.

Sadly most my time was spent sitting done shivering, or lying down feeling very unwell. So there is little I can say; a pity since this was part of the trip with some promise.

The good news was that the journey to Dunedin needs mention. The journey off the Glacier was spend in mostly appalling weather - very heavy rainfalls. The rain though could not take the edge of the scenary. Riding from the glacier we passed mostly through forest. Lots of very dense temperate rainforest. Then through the highest mountain pass in South island (and I think in New Zealand) at about 1700m. Around the pass there were mountains. Lots and lots of tall, jagged and snow capped mountains. In a valley in a middle of the mountains lay Queenstown . I only had one night in Queenstown - but it really looked the part of a snow mad, adventure mad town. Hopefully a good preparation for Auckland.

But I digress - the important part was being blown away by yet more scenary.

And on leaving Quenstown - yet again far too much beautiful scenary to take in on the road to Dunedin. The same would also be true of the road from Dunedin back to Queenstown.

Bringing me nicely onto a point about all this natural splendour. I'd been told that New Zealand was a lot like Wales. This would be true, if Wales had been taking steriods for the past few tens of millions of years. If the IOC drug tested the New Zealand countryside in a natural wonder olympics - New Zealand would fail. It's simply far too much variety and scale pushed into a small space.

I'm scheduled for North Island. I wonder now what that will be like.

Robzilla Vs the Glacier

2005-08-17T04:02:00.000Z

A couple of days ago I was on Franz Josef Glacier in South Island. Since then I've been more or less on the road, getting to Dunedin. Where I'm spending a day and a half. To get here I've been through just about every type of scenary going. With the possible exception of sandy desert. But who wants sand in their ice cream anyway.

Back to the point

I'd decided to take a helihike onto Franz Josef Glacier. The helihike because it involved a helicopter flight, but more importantly because it got me onto the really interesting ice quite high up the glacier. Walking up there and back - for me at least wouldn't be an option.

It was money well spent.

Our helicopter pilot after a flawless lift off buzzed the valley walls over the glacier for us before moving on to take a look at mountains looming over Franz Josef (used in LOTR for the fans) and then dropped down to a snow landing - blasting out snow and ice from beneath with copters downdraft.

We were on the ice. Myself, Ule and Anneile (a couple of scandinavian travellers from Stockholm) and our mad ice guide - Sean. Who was determined to find us the best ice slides on the Glacier and who was missing his snowboard (we'd had fresh snow overnight).

There's almost too much to but in this blog regarding what happened next. The ice formations were incredible we got see iris's curved in the ice - think big open arches), wormholes, crevasses, icicles, caves, streams, ice bridges, and ice chimneys . Game for seeing how much we could do the mad fun seeking Sean soon had us pushing or way through tiny wormholes of pure blue ice and up tall, steeply angled chimneys were we needed to use ice axes to haul ourselves up. Fantastic fun. And of course we got to make ice slides. All thats need is a steep slow - no shortage of those on the ice with some snow and a slide was born. It was fantastic fun. A combination of walking, sliding and ice climbing.

I do have one small confession to make. I managed to break the Glacier... Ok I got myself onto some thin ice - only to find one food plunging through it. True to ususal form that was followed by my usual high speed throwing myself in the air response to land in a pile of snow. The bad news was that up to my left knee was covered in ice cold water. Yep it wasn't an open hole I'd found it was an iced over pond. The solution - keep on having fun to keep warm. I think the rest of our little party were a little surprised by the speed at which I'd thrown myself from potential freezing doom. If only they knew my capacity for falling and how I recover from calamity!

Fortunately my little escapade didn't spoil the day and we continued to run over the ice. Getting to see some avalanches in the high mountains above us and an ice fall from the glacier morraine face. This wasn't a small amount of ice that fell. I'm talking about big house sized blocks here. The face of ice I'm talking about is effectively a giant frozen waterfall where ice moves down from the glaciers ice catchment onto the main body of the glacier. It's an enormous wall of ice made of blue ice and also ice made dirty from breaking up rocks beneath it.

Eventually though we made our way back to the helicopter for the flight down. Our pilot had one more surprise. Flying right at a cliff face then popping the helicopter vertically over the top of it at the last minute to reveal dense forest below.

Planning and Plotting and Laundry

2005-08-13T21:59:00.000Z

I'm in Greymouth where the western forests plunge into the sea. Greymouth has been a centre for mining and way before that an important Maori fort. Today it looks like a cross between a wild west gold rush town and a British seaside resort; with Jade cutting thrown in to boot.

I've been planning here - a hopeful heli-hike onto Franz Joseph Glacier, a night in Queenstown and then sometime exploring Dunedin (think Scottish Castles with Penguin and Seal colonies). I'm expecting some diversity over the next 5 days. 5 Days because in 6 days I fly up to Auckland for sometime on New Zealands warmer north island.

I've taken in easy in Greymouth. Seen the town and done some chores. Basically making sure that I can make the most out the next few days of travel and exploration.

Still wondering when Peter Jackson is going to give me a call regarding Robzilla Raids Hobbiton. Still I should make it to Hobbiton for my own exploration a few days after hitting Auckland.

Sorrry about the lack of pictures - loads of cyber cafes - but few locations that I can plug my mac in. I've found a few locations that will give me wireless internet - but only after I pump in a credit card number over an unsecured network. That's not going to happen - wireless operators take note - anyone with any sense isn't going to do any kind of financial transaction over an open network - if you want custom think of alternate billing methods; you are losing money.

Into The Misty Mountains and Beyond

2005-08-12T05:03:00.000Z

Friday - time to depart (7:40 bus pickup) for my journey by train into the Alps. Almost a disaster - my alarm didn't go off as I'd forgotten to move it from Aussie to New Zealand time. Still - woke up and got ready anyway.

The bus took my to the train and the train ... took me into a wonderland.

This is supposed to be one of the world most amazing train journeys and in terms of scenic splendour it is - easily beating anything I'd seen in Australia or Japan so far.

It starts by crossing the Canterbury plains towards the mountains. The moutains rise like a long, solid and jagged wall on the other side. As we cross the plains the trains killer feature is unveiled - the OPEN observation car. That's right they had a car on the train open to the elements. It has a floor, a roof, some railings and not much else. It's a great platform to take photos from and also a great place to feel the journey. Forget in train comfort. You want to know how cold the mountains are - step out here please! Fortunately my layers of clothing approach to insulation stood me well in the freezing temperatures.

The sheer amount of scenary, the colours and textures of this journey are hard to convey so I hope the photos taken come out well and do it some justice. We're talking wide, clean rivers, tall craggy peaks, multi coloured stone, dense forests, waterfalls and snow!

Unbelievable.

I'm not on the west coast of New Zealand and for the safety of myself and others (plus any unsuspecting ski lodges) I am forgoing attempts to snow board. The plan is to climb the Franz Josef glacier instead!

New Zealand - the arrival

2005-08-12T04:50:00.000Z

Left Australian soil in my socks. Well I keep setting off metal detectors so airport security keeps putting my shoes through X Ray machines

The trip to New Zealand was different.
I suspect that may hold out for the whole trip to the two islands

It started by me being sat next to Hank. A retired miner who according to all his stories has worked all around the South Pacific and Australia. He had loads of classical tall tails. Most of them involving beer, beaten up old aircraft and headhunters!

However even Hank went quiet when we flew over the South Island Alps on our approach to Christchurch. It started with the clouds having some white pointy bits in them. Swiftly followed by the realisation that clouds don't have pointy bits. Then the cloud cover broke for a series of stunning views of the South Island Alps. These mountains are tall, steeo, snow capped and just go on forever. They were used to create the Misty Mountains in Lord of the Rings and I don't think the film makers needed use much in the way of special effects. Incredible.

Anyway - reached Christchurch. A short bus ride got in me into the City. First sign post other than for Chirstchurch itself was for a place called Bryndwr. Talk about home from home.

Christchurch it turns out is a really nice city. Think of it as being a bit of a cross between Oxford and Bath. I spent a very pleasant time exploring the city and around. Including more restored 1920's trams!. And started making plans for the rest of my stay as I had arrived with only 2 nights booked accomodation. Still - no problem as that was sorted out very easily. Think I'm getting the hang of this arriving and sorting out places to stay lark.

My First plan - going accross the Alps in the famous TranzScenic train.

In Rehearsal

2005-08-09T04:14:00.000Z

Last few days in Australia
A quick spate of shopping and back to my favourite walk around Circular Quay.
Glorious weather too.

Also of course getting myself ready for New Zealand.

Forget Hollywood - I have a film pitch for Peter Jackson. And with Peter (Lord of the Rings) Jackson at the helm it'll be a smash. The movie itself if classically themed. Being a great battle of good against evil, man against camp table. Featuring popular locations, and iconic figures. The title of this film is of course "Robzilla Raids Hobbiton".

I know Peter Jackson can do this, he's proven at both the handling of epic scope - in LOTR and of course his work in low budget horror with Bad Taste will I'm sure stand in him good stead and he's just made King Kong so no problems with monster movies.

Ah I can see it now the irrepressible leveling of underground abodes with round doors during a huge bout of accidental tripping and hiccups.

The Forums

2005-08-06T10:10:00.000Z

You may have noticed. The Grande Tour forums have been offline for some weeks now. Unfortunately I've had no word from the hosting group, and I've been unable to ascertain why this has happened. However it looks as if something catastrophic has happened since the groups domain also seems to be entirely out of action.

Due to this I've changed the Grande Tour website. The Forum link now directs to page giving instruction on posting comments via this blog for the remainder of the Tour, I hope this makes it possible for some additional discussions to take place.

My apologies to anyone who liked the forum. It may not have carried a lot of posts but I believe that it was liked by some users.

I'm not starting a new forum simply due to time constraints. I need to focus on the trip rather than to either install phpbb on the Grande Tour server or find a new host and configure a new forum. I hope that posting via the blog results in fun and interesting exchanges.

Photo Catchup Complete

2005-08-05T06:13:00.000Z

A quick update.

I've completed the catch up photograph upload work. This means that photographs of my trip up the East Australian Coastline are now online. The only exceptions are those taken on the Great Barrier Reef. I need to finish off the film and get the underwater camera developed for those. I'll do this as soon as I can. Of course I want to make sure I use the camera in appropriate locations...

Currently - I'm in Sydney working on the New Zealand leg of the Grande Tour.

Bearing the Mark of 42

2005-08-02T02:19:00.000Z

First of all I haven't annoyed any brain filching mice trying to get onto intergalactic chat shows.

I have been to the Sydney International Boat show, and just to prove it I have the number 42 stamped onto my right hand in pretty indelible ink. To be fair a method of identifying attendees was needed as the show was spread between Darling Harbour and the Sydney Convention Centre. Fortunately right next door to each other. It was a big walk getting around the boats in either venue. Having to travel between venues would really have made the day hard work.

A big show like this means big boats, really big boats. Sail around the world no problem at all sized boats; and in total luxury if you want it. Absolutely amazing. Be it a powered or sail you could get just about whatever you wanted here.

Personally my cheque book doesn't stretch to a huge luxury cruiser. I did find a nice line crossover boats. Part high speed launch - able to water ski from; and part yacht if you fancy a bit of sedate sailing. Very nice idea indeed.

Although in honest truth I was looking for ideas even further down the line. I was checking out touring and surf canoes / kayaks. Some nice long tourers with sails caught my eyes. As did two man go anywhere boats. Also liked the latest in jet boats but that's another and very expensive story.

Also talked to some people rigging sailing dinghies for the disabled about Project Hover. Have say they liked the idea a lot.

By the end of the day tired and aching but a least I'd seen a lot of interesting floating things. Now all I have to do is figure out how to boat bac home.

Quick Report

2005-07-31T04:42:00.000Z

I'm back in Sydney after a flight down from Cairns. A pleasant flight, not especially good or bad.

I'm haven't got an exact plan between here and the flight for New Zealand, but will try and pack some interesting things in.

For the moment I'm reviewing the pictures taken on my journeys up the east coast of Australia - so expect to see some picture updates in the Grande Tour Photostream at long last.

One question - freebb.com who have been hosting the Grande Tour Forum seem to have been out of action for a considerable amount of time. If anyone knows what's happened to them can you let me know?

Adventures on the Barrier Reef

2005-07-29T00:41:00.000Z

Another glorious tropical day (lots of sunshine and warmth). Time to head for the Great Barrier Reef on the Passions of Paradise twin mast catamaran, with a great crew and two sparkling destinations. The reef and Upolu Cay (a tiny sand island just barely rising out of blue ocean).

I had a dive planned and on the way out hit a snag. I have considerable scarring. Actually it's serious spinal scarring. Here's the hitch. There was a high chance the scaring would have dumped large amounts of nitrogen bubbles into my blood as I ascended from my dive. The dive was off - the risks were just too high. Could still snorkel and play in glass bottomed boats though, so that was ok.

Second snag when I went to pick up my wetsuit for the day. During changing I became overwhelmed with sea sickness and was quickly rushed to the back of the boat for a loud and fast loss of my breakfast. I never stopped feeling sick after that and it dogged my day. This is the first time I've ever felt sick on a boat and it came as a total surprise. Fortunately staring out at the horizon at this location was incredibly pleasant. Warm fun, water that was just too many colours of blue. Incredible.

Time to snorkel. Snorkelling quickly became a 1 flipper affair. I didn't lose the flipper, I dumped it. My right foot runs at a funny angle. The only flippers big enough to fit where huge and whale sized; just the right size to make me corkscrew. Still once properly equipped I drifted over the reef. and wow. I thought the rainforest was diverse. The reef challenges the forest on that score. The shapes and colours of the coral, seeing tropical fish and giant clams up close. Incredible. I will have to admit to only limited snorkelling. I was swimming in something like and 4 - 7 foot swell and kept getting mini bouts of sea sicknesses when snorkelling. Worth it for every minute spent over the reef.

Also took the chance for a glass bottomed boat tour (with more accompaniment from my now empty stomach). The view from one of these is different, still bright and spectacular.

During the day it's true I was ill, but that could not detract from where I was. Fortunately the crew were sympathetic, and a travelling couple from Cork helped me out with a motion sickness pill.

After a day like that I got back, salty, tired and happy. Treated myself to a big steak.

The plan for today was to head back out to sea for some kayaking and more snorkelling. Unfortunately that didn't happen. I woke up feeling quite ill. All my time on deck and getting dehydrated from the vomitting had left me not at all well (mild case of sun stroke - nothing serious). So today I'm resting up; tomorrow night I fly back to Sydney.

One important thing - after my experiences out here - I definitely want to get a boat when I get back. Seasickness it seems isn't enough to put me off that idea.

Sending the boys round

2005-07-27T06:27:00.000Z

It's a true tropical day. Balmy temperatures, a light wind waving the fronds of palm trees. What a day to see the rainforest on!

The plan - simple - a pickup by bus that would transfer me to the Kuranda Scenic railway. The railway would lift me up high up into rainforest covered mountains where I'd explore the scenic town of Kuranda and then return via the Skyrail (ok cable car).

The weather was with me, but nothing prepared for the views. The trains carriages were recently restored and took you back in time to when passengers journeyed on leather covered benches and everything was made of varnished wood. The platforms where all at a lower level than the carriages so getting on the train meant climbing a 3 rung ladder. All aboard and the train wandered up the mountain. Just about clinging to the slopes. Passing through 15 tunnels, and when there was no tunnel it bridged the edge of deep gorges. The rest of the time there was just a near vertical drop into dense and luxurient forest. A highlight stop was at Barron Falls. An enormous collection of falls and plunge pools. Winter is the dry season here so the falls were not in full force, but still looked amazing.

Soon after the falls we reached Kuranda.

These days Kuranda is a tourist visit village. Full of shops, markets, restaurents, bars and most of all digeridoos. If Japan is in trouble if the toilets get organised, then the Aussies will be serious trouble if the Didges form a revolutionary party! Greeting us to Kuranda was the handle bar moustached owner of the biggest bar in town (an ex World War II field hospital), who liked to lean over some railings and pretend he was in the film Titanic.

Still Kuranda is a nice place to visit.

Then it was time for the skyrail.

On the way everyone had spotted just how HIGH! the skyrail went. In the queue to get onboard one of the tiny bubble shaped gondolas there was not one confident face. Just a lot of scared people. I have to admit to some nerves.

Fortunately it was just too fascinating and spectacular an experience to be scared. A shared my carriage with a couple from Western Australia and the three of us became amazed and the scale and diversity of the rain forest canopy, the birdsong that came up from it, and sheer complexity of the rain forest. There are also stops on the way down where you can take a board walk into the forest. By the end of this journey I was simply stunned.

Which is where the title of this blog comes from. I've always believed in the preservaton of forests and rainforests alike. Now that I have been in a rain forest there is only one thing to say. "Put down the chain saws - or we'll send the boys round". Seriously once you get close to a rain forest there can be no justification in the wanton destructions of there marvellous and essential wonders. This will be one of the memories from the tour that I'll not be able to forget.

Treading Water

2005-07-26T00:20:00.000Z

In Cairns.
More relaxed about public terminals (I've gone into the local Backpackers travel - in Oz Backpackers Travel has a well built Internet service. It may use windows - but their custom PC cleanup software keeps everything rock steady. That's how it should be done - get the right hardware / software combination. Windows needs tender care, suppliers who don't know that - well don't get me started!

Rant over.

A quick update on the grande tour forum - Freebb who host the forum appear to be experiencing extended downtime. If it's working ok for you then that's cool and I've just got a local problem in Australia. Otherwise my apologies. When I get word on this I'll post an update.

Meanwhile over in Cairns. I'm booked up for diving, kayaking, reef and rainforest exploration. Alas the bad weather of the last few days has kept things quiet. Not a problem I've caught up on some mailing I've wanted to do and explored the city, it's muesuem and galleries. I like the small independant galleries in Cairns - they host some very impressive work. Cairns itself is a peaceful and laid back city. Even in the rain it's climate is lovely; and everyone here is very friendly. Still I'm shortly to start the adventures I came here for - and cannot wait.

Other news - I have a new quest. In Japan it was cream deodorant. In Australia it's become socks. I need to replace some socks but can only find toe coverers laced and cut with nylon and polyester. I'm fussy about socks due to my toe depletion problems and I'm therefore determined to find ones made of nice non sweaty natural (or hiker special) materials.

I think a special mention to my cheap hotel here. Price is nice. Especially considering that the main area is built of wood with tree trunk pillars holding up a tall wood. Very South Seas, very melanesian. I like it. Room is nice - stone tiled floor for keeping toes cool in the hot.

I've also been checking out underwater cameras ready for my dive. Don't want to get to the reef and find I can't use the camera. Fortunately - no problems there.

On the pictures front - I know it's a long wait for the next batch of photos to go on line. Please be patient. It will be worth the wait.

That's all for now. Next entries should (all going well) be much more interesting.

Cairns

2005-07-24T09:20:00.000Z

I tried a blog update yesterday, unfortunately windows crashed I lost my work and money. At the moment I type very much faster than this machine can respond to. It may be virus ridden. Will people please stop using Windows for public access terminals. It is no longer up to the job! Use something not ravaged by bugs and viruses!

The good news was my first walk into Cairns where upon I was smacked in the nose by a host of tropical perfumes as I hit the esplanade. Wow!! Most incredible. For some reason the rest of Austalia had not readied me for this. Simply wonderful. Walking along the front I ran into signs warning me of the presence of crocodiles in the water. Ok so no paddling on the main front in Carins. Interestingly a bunch of tough looking no nonsense pelicans where by the waterfront; however they looked able to handle themselves. Try imagining a pelican staring at a croc and saying "Are you feeling lucky punk; well are you" and you'll get the idea.

Cairns itself is the expected mix of souvenier shops, boats and places to book tours; plus a very high population of art galleries. Mostly stocked with reef and aboriginal art. Cool.

So far not much has happened. Primarily because of the weather. Cairns is experiencing heavier rain than usual and I've had to put back my reef adventures until later in the week. Don't worry though no matter what I am determined to commune with tropical fishies!

Brisbane to Cairns

2005-07-22T23:15:00.000Z

Ok I made it out of Surfers Paradise on the late bus; leaving about 1 and a half hours after the bus station closed; so all bus passengers had to wait on benches outside hoping the rain didn't get anyworse. By the time I reached Brisbane all was fine.

Next day and a chance to look at Brisbane itself. A small, pleasant, and reasonably European looking city. I'll admit I spent a lot of my time here confirming my onward train (or leave the next day or wait another 4 days for a train with a seat), and booking somewhere to stay in Cairns. The bookings took a while, but I still managed a look at the city - nice park if small city square.

Next morning - I attempt to get a BBQ breakfast at the hostel / hotel (one of these inbetween placed, quite nice though) and ... rain but it off. Since I was travelling by train I trotted down to the transit centre and had a decent breakfast (small place alongside the McDonalds that did really nice scrambled eggs, really cheaply) and then found the train. After considerable walking found my carriage. This was a long, long train, and my home for the next 32 hours. Yes that's right 32 hours by train from Brisbane to Cairns. So in terms of duration and I think miles my longest train journey yet.

At least I got to see a lot of the countryside. After we escaped the city we hit alternating scrubland and farmland. This was obviously cattle country but the scene didn't stay the same forever. We had bits of forest and lots more open land. Ant / Termite hills. The bigger the more northern we got. The largest topping off at around the 4 - 5 feet tall mark. There were rivers a plenty. Most big and swollen. One or two dried up. The more northly things got, the more tropical things got. Cattle giving way to banana and sugar plantations. Gum tree clusters and woods being relaced by soirees through the start of the rainforest. Probably the best sight though was dawn on Friday. Dawn broke as we moved through very open country. Big country meant a spectacular transit from night to day.

My fellow passengers were a mixed bunch. Mostly the old, the injured or those taking children on a long trip. Funniest moment was the train crew declaring lights out at around 10pm on Thursday evening, something that nobody took really seriously.

Still I'm now in Cairns. Hotel has palm trees everywhere. The rain has followed me, but now it is warm. Time to get out and really see the town, beaches, cays, reef and rainforest.

Surfers and Seaworld

2005-07-19T01:07:00.000Z

Two days in Surfers Paradise. One of them spent in Sea World.
The good news was that my cheap accomodation in Surfers Paradise was spectacular. I'd gotten one of the cheapest holiday apartments I could (cheaper than a hotel). Around 10 minutes walk from the centre of the town, but still only moments from the beach. The place was family run and felt like a B&B. A 28 story B&B with big clean apartments instead of dodgy rooms. I'd ended up on the 22nd floor in my biggest place to stay to date. A huge living room, dining area, balcony, kitchen, bathroom, laundry room of a place. Nice. Views - incredible. Especially in the morning. It's called Surfers Century and is well worth a look.

The town itself is all high rise holiday homes and traditional seaside resort values. Or lots of shops and lots and lots of takeaways. Not to mention places selling tickets for attractions and theme parks.

It's the sea that is incredible not the town and the famous surf did manage to summon me in. I've not been in the for a few years due to my serious infection problems. However in the all clear I decided that I had to try Surfers or regret it. After all the surf didn't look that tall. Well when I got on the beach it rose about 3 feet over the swell. What I didn't notice at first is the power of the surf. It blasts in at and incredible rate, and that's only the start of it. As it breaks and hits the beach the rips and currents are massive. Pulling in all directions, so much so that sometimes spray is thrown up in the direction of the current. Fortunately the beaches are well patrolled and safe areas (quite small) clearly marked. Absolutely exhilerating. Really yearning for a kayak now. However I kept the exposure short. Why? Because I want to avoid damage for later and greater plans to come.

Next day saw me in Seaworld at around opening time (very good bus transfer from my digs). Seaworld seemed smaller than I expected. However that didn't matter at all as during the day I got quite close to an assortment of Dolphins, Sharks, Polar Bears, Fish, Dugongs and assorted aquatic beasties. The habitats provided for the animals were fabulous. The exception being some fairy penguins. I'd been amongst a wild fairy penguin reserve in Melbourne and in comparison the sea and rising hill and cliff dwellings there this small enclosure seemed very small. The sharks were treated better in a vast man-made lagoon. The dolphins had the most room and seemed to be continually enjoying themselves. I did get to see the famous dolphin show - and that was a sight to behold. Overall - seaworld was pretty fantastic and worthwhile.

The evening saw me back in Surfers, resting up my aching ankles after a couple of very busy days

One quick note - sorry for the lack of pictures - I seem to have taken hundreds but my Internet access is restricted to renting space on a keyboard only. At the moment I have no means to load up the new images. I will do as soon as I get a chance.

Turtles Denied

2005-07-16T01:01:00.000Z

My last entry saw me Whale watching in Byron Bay with a plan for snorkelling with turtles the next day. Unfortunately the plan couldn't occur. High offshore winds (the turtles live near some rocks 2.5km into the sea - sorry can't remember the Km to miles conversion) meant that it would not be safe to go.

Instead a day of relaxing in Byron Bay was called for. A very easy thing to do since that seemed to what 99% of everyone else was doing (including those working - this is the most Aussie place visited to date in that respect).

Caught my late bus to Surfers Paradise, while waitng chatted to a couple of guys from Oxford and Sunderland who travelling more randomly than myself.

Others waiting for the bus - were busy reading the newly recent latest Harry Potter installment. Even on Australia's most easterly point there is no escaping Potter

Cap'n Here There be Whales

2005-07-15T03:54:00.000Z

Morning - early the weather was overcast with rain in the air. Not the start of what would turn into a truly auspicious day.
I was booked into a morning Whale watching session with the local dive school.
The start was simple we all arrived, got kitted out in waterproofs and driven down to the beach in a rusty old landcruiser with our boat in tow (a big inshore dive boat - think in shore lifeboat for design and size). With the crew of 2 there would be 9 of use on the water today.
First job - help launch the boat - or to put it another way - once it was in the water - push it out until it floated and jump onboard. By this point we'd already spotted some dolphins playing nearby. Just a hint of things to come.
The boat headed out, stopping soon for a quick briefing on spotting Whales and dolphins and a chance to take a quick look for those playing near the surf. Then out of the bay we went, bouncing over the waves.
Today we were more than lucky. Things got spectacular. The first sighting of a whale plume was followed by it breaching the water. Some distance out but still spectacular. So we headed on in that direction.

A quick note - all the whales seen were humpbacks. All the dolphins - bottlenose.

It turned out that we'd stumbled onto some young humpbacks taking a few minutes to mess about in the sea. A few cheeky dolphins were playing with the whales and riding the whales bow waves when the big beasties were moving and not jumping.

A quick note on scale - these were humpback whales - 2 - 3 times longer than our boat, maybe weighing in around 40 tonnes each.

We were getting quite close. The plan was not to go closer than 100m for both the whales peace of mind and ours.

Our skipper started to shadow the whales from the safe distance. A dolphin started surfing the bow wave of our boat, jumping out of the water occaisonally. Circling us if we stopped or went too slow. It wanted to play.

Tailing these whales we got to seem them jumping, diving, bashing their fins against the water and just plain swimming. There are two sounds not to be forgotten. The sound of a humpback crashing into the water near you is incredible. Even more so the sound of it breathing - especially when close; which is what happened next. The whales decided we were worth looking at and came straight at our boat, with their friendly attendant dolphins alongside. In the sea when a whale comes straight at you - you give way. Sharpish. Still they got to within 20feet (6m or so ) of the boat. Forced to move away more we picked up three dolphins all intent on playing around us. Watching dolphins swim just barely below the surface or jumping out just ahead is amazing beyond belief.

We stayed with the whales and dolphins for over an hour. Before the whales started moving on and we had to head for home.

So we blasted at full speed back to shore. Spray everywhere, bouncing over the waves - fantastic. Briefly halting near some rocks to try and get a look at some turtles (no luck, be there was maybe a reef shark in the area - a fin broke the surface for an instant and then vanished).

Eventually it was all over.

Did I get pictures - well maybe. I fired off quite a few pictures, but I'm pretty sure that I got nothing really special. Certianly nothing special compared to what I'd seen. I've not checked the shots yet - but if I do have anything I'll post it. Today I was using the small compact camera. There wasn't space to handle the big SLR on this boat. Not really the cameras fault. Whales move faster than you'd think and only break the surface from time to time - and you don't see a whale in it's whole - they are that big.

An incredible experience though.

When we got back - the cloud cover had burned off and it was a glorious day.

The plan for tomorrow - snorkelling; with sea turtles!

To Byron

2005-07-14T00:41:00.000Z

I'm at Byron Bay. A discovery regarding Australian Trains enroute. Actually it was something I got 'warned' about let me explain\
The trains I've taken are rebadged Intercity 125's. Yep how un-Australian is that. However the carriages have that ribbed aluminium design that I always associated with the USA. Wait it gets crazier. Inside the carrigae all seats point in the direction of travel, and can turn around should the need arise. Just like the train seats in Japan. The service on the trains however is very good (in British terms) with cheap hot meals available. How can I put this, the trains here are a mix of to me Britain, America and Japan. Must be in Australia! However just to keep me comfortable - most the seat coverings are pretty tatty in places. Just like home.

A couple of hours out of Sydney spotted a wild Koala in a tree.

First port of call - Port MacQuarrie - a gentle seaside town, all campsite, hotel and retirement home. I'd a nice little wood cabin hired for a couple of nights. Close enough to the sea that I could hear the surf pounding. Only one day there - but enough time to take a boat trip, visit an Oyster farm, feed some mullet and see the town. Did try I see some wild dolphins - but no luck there.

Next day - 12 hours of combined waiting and travel saw me in Byron Bay. First a quick note - as the train stopped in stations I noticed a small sense of occaison. Then I realise some places only see a train once a day, sometimes a lot less often than that - so the arrival of a means to travel does still have some occaison. Don't tell the UK rail authorities that. I'm sure they'll try and include it in some stats to say that they are good!

Some I'm in Byron Bay. The weather is hot but very comfortable. Pretty Idyllic if you ask me. The beach and sea look beautiful. I've truly left the Aussie winter behind me. First impression - apart from being totally seaside orientated it looks like a total mish mash of counter culture, beach culture and the main stream. Think Glastonbury, with surf boards and a hint of Bognor Regis.

Haven't found a place to upload a pictures yet. This is a shame as I think I have some good ones in the camera for you.

Getting ready to travel

2005-07-10T04:42:00.000Z

Today is a day of catching up with things online (and getting plenty of net access). Over the next few weeks as I travel to Cairns it looks like I'll only have limited net access (the Internet doesn't seem all pervasive as you leave Sydney). Hopefully I can get some blog entries and photos online, but I'm not sure how much I can do or how often. Hopefully it'll be enough - if not - my apologies but I'll try and make it up.

In the meantime there are some more fun polls in the Grande Tour Forum.

Thoughts - A v J

2005-07-09T12:54:00.000Z

I'm about to prepare for the big Journey north, stopping off at some choice destinations along the way. If a journey is to long to do in one push - the best thing I can do is use it to see more of the country.

Before I go I'm wondering what the differences between Japanese and Australian Intercity trains will be. Certainly the Japanese trains are the faster. I think the only passenger service on rails faster than the shinkansen is the French TGV (very nice by the way). That's gotten me thinking apart from the trains what are some of the other noticeable differences between Japan and Australia. I'll ignore language - it's obvious and ridiculous to make a point about.

I'll start with toilets, all westerners when thinking of Japan think of toilets so it's a good a place as any to start. Australia's contribution to toilet technology is the dual flush running backwards. Ok so it's really just a half and a full flush. The running backwards thing is solely due to hemisphere but sounded good in the description. Virtually all Australian toilets deliver a water in an environmentally sound half or full measure - up to you of course to choose what you want to use. The Japanese have techno toilets, they have toilets that would fit nicely onto the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. They have toilets with buttons and remote controls. Of course they also have hole in the ground squats, but even some of these have cool chrome plated buttons. The real difference though is not design. It's availability. It's easier and faster to find a toilet in Japan than Australia. Much easier. I have a theory about this. Australia is a great sporting nation, and Japan isn't. I think part of this comes from the Aussie need to run in order to reach a toilet. The Japanese don't need to run. Ergo - the Aussies are fitter and better at sport. Interestingly the Australians have nearly (but not quite) the number of coffee shops the Japanese do. But the Australians don't put toilets in coffee shops anything like as frequently. They'll sell you a powerful diuretic but then you have to seek the place to expel it yourself. This has to be one of the hidden secrets in the Aussie Olympic training program.

Food is a big difference. In Japan getting fish, rice or cakes is easy. In Oz, getting any cuisine from almost anywhere is easy. When it comes to food and choice Australia is a land of plenty o'choice.

Even with massive globalisation, Japan wins on design. Everything and I mean everything has cool artwork and design principles on it. Australia is a strange mix, bits look British, bits look American, some has an Asian feel to it. Yet everywhere there are design and art right out of the seventies. Whilst Australians go about their business loaded with mobile phones, and paranphenalia of the 21st century so much of the country seems seventies in bound. In Japan the only thing that seems trapped in a time warp is the pop music - which steadfastly refuses to leave the '80's.

I'll think again on this and come up with more ideas - probably after I've spend time on trains. I think that will be a cathartic experience.

London

2005-07-09T01:30:00.000Z

I've been trying to find a good way to express sympathy for those in London during the recent bombings and the hope that those responsible will be caught soon. Then an old friend of mine put down the words perfectly in his blog. Please take a look.

Fun with Polls

2005-07-08T08:56:00.000Z

I thought that it was about time that I put the Grande Tour Forum to some additional use.
Since the start of the Tour the Forum has existed as a place to chat and talk back about all things GT. Whilst not heavily used there are some fun conversations on there.
Recently I realised that I'm the not really making the most of it so here's the plan. I recently added a short (daft) poll on the forum and over the next few days as I get ready to ride the train north I'll add more. I suspect the result will be a combination of serious and ridiculous questions. The hope is to generate more involvement and hopefully everyone involved will get more out of the entire Grande Tour Concept

New Pictures

2005-07-06T05:54:00.000Z

At last; new pictures of the Grande Tour.
I've just uploaded the first pictures from my trip to Melbourne into my Flickr account.

I'm now preparing for the next part of the trip. My staged train ride from Sydney to Cairns.

Boats, Boats Everywhere

2005-07-04T12:38:00.000Z

There boats of all sizes, dinghies through to yachts. Hardly any water though. Except for one large tank where some new kayaks where being demo'd. What's so revolutionary about Kayaks. These were pedal powered. Work the pedals and two flaps under the kayak flap - like the wings on a manta ray. Very fast too.

I was at the Melbourne boat show.

I've always had a thing about boats and haven't spent enough time on them for too long. So I thought I'd take the opportunity to check out was new and cool in Australia. One island nation to another and all that.

Well the big thing is that the Aussies like their motors. They like open boats. They like to enjoy the sun and they love to fish. There was a serious amount of fishing kit on sale. That and a whole lot of gear for water skiing.

The boats were gorgeous. Some really nice little day cruisers and runabouts. Some really nice big yachts. Some really fun looking catamarans and canoes. But it was the current generation of canoes of Kayaks that really made me sit up and notice. I really like the new designs

Maybe I should think about getting a boat after the tour...

And then..

Saw an exhibition of portrait photographs. Some very interesting work. Unfortunately a lot of it featured Aussie celebrities (I think - I never was one for celeb spotting), so most of it went - nice shot ; Who?.

Most disturbing picture - Thom Yorke of Radiohead (and someone I actually recognised - Yay!). Somehow - that fits!

Wine, Wombats and Squawks

2005-07-04T10:37:00.000Z

When I planned my trip to Melbourne it was in hope of seeing the Little Penguins of Philip Island. Every night large groups (over a evening quite easily in the hundreds) of the penguins come ashore to roost in the hillside burrows. The little penguin is the only penguin in the world to come in only just after the sun has set. It promised to be spectacular. In turned out that the tour I had picked included plenty of other treats.

Leaving Melbourne and headed into Asparagus country to make our way to a picnic lunch at the Gurdy Winery. So named after nearby creek; Hurdy Gurdy creek, that according to local legend got it's name after a circus carousel got stuck in the creek during a particularly bad storm. The winery was high on an exposed hillside with fantastic views. The wine was an odd mix. A delicious chardonay, and a truly bad selection of red's that were made up of some really nice fortified wines. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, the mix of wines interesting and everyone on the trip (all 14 of us), got to know each other.

Our guide then whisked us off with wine related music playing in the background. All the music on this tour was via an iPod and some truly cheesy themed playlists accompanied us each step of the way. Every time we left a location; we were hit with music relating to that place.

With the day warming up it was off to a wildlife sanctuary to see some of the indigenous beasties. Here we met a Dingo that thought a disposable camera was food (the camera was unwrapped from it's foil packet in front of an increasingly interested and expectant Dingo). Wilma the wombat was a big hit. Wilma had been hand reared and was just starting to turn wild again (oddly a hand reared Wombat is tame - until it reaches maturity then it's genetic heritage kicks in and it suddenly understands how to survive in the wild again - which means reintroducing them to the wild is very successful). Still we were able to pat the wee beastie - which is a very odd experience. It's quite hard to describe the short fur of a wombat. Kangaroos are a different matter. Kangaroo fur feels like rabbit fur. I always find Kangaroos (in Australia) - to be quite like giant bunnies. No recitals of "Kill the Wabbit" here. I was face to face with 4 - 5 foot tall grey kangaroos. Who were all after the cones of Kangaroo food I was carrying, and looked like they could pack a punch. Actually I quite like being among kangaroos. It's really nice to hand feed and pet one these odd looking animals. One enterprising 'roo (no dullard this one) had the sense to grab my hand holding the food with both paws. Must have been an experienced beastie.

We also had a chance to see assorted birdies, koalas and a great white shark. Well okay the shark was a bit of a cheat. It was a 5 metre great white that had been giving a fish farm a hard time (shark thought it was a take-away), so the shark had been caught and sadly mounted in formaldehyde. So instead of a huge tank and a swimming shark, we had a shark encasing glass case. A strange greenish liquid and a chance to walk around an unmoving great white. A very strange slightly creepy experience.

Then we were off the the coast for tea and biscuits on top a cliff looking down onto a black volcanic coastline. The hard black rocks being battered by the sea was a cool look. Also there some penguins here desperately trying to avoid any fuss. A look onto some offshore rocks - The Nobbies and the location of a seal colony.

Finally down to the penguin viewing area. A splendid penguin park has been built. In order to keep the people and the pingos separate viewing areas to watch the wee birdies coming ashore are restricted to boardwalks and a concrete stand. So onto the stand we are settled, a cold wind blows in off the sea and the lights are raised. Flood lights have been installed to help us see the little penguins (about a foot tall - 30 - 33cm). The lights go on just before the penguins are due and seem to have no effect on them at all (except perhaps to make finding the way home a little easier). So it's time to sit and wait quietly. Camera's are banned as the flash can hurt the penguins eyes. We sit and wait. The surf roars in and the light dims. We wait and slowly notice that some of the surf isn't receding - it's standing up. Penguins have surfed in and are checking the area out. First it's just one or two then a bigger clump of penguins (maybe 10 or more) has formed and suddenly they are off and scarpering over the beach to find there way onto the grassy hill. Up and down the beach penguins are checking the beach out. Some heading back into the sea, some rolling up and down in the surf - looking for an appropriate bunch of friends to cross the beach with, The penguins always cross in groups. Never alone. Even with penguins ashore it was not over yet. Going back up the boardwalks there were penguins tottering alongside us, or sitting in the undergrowth, chattering and squawking to their friends.

It's quite and incredible thing to see. Watching these little seafaring birds do something they have been doing successfully for ... well a very long time. It really makes you feel connected to something incredible The whole sight is very heartwarming and makes you realise just how many incredible sights are probably hidden just out of view in the world.

An amazing day.

The terrible absence of Pictures

2005-07-02T10:30:00.000Z

I do have plenty of shots of Melbourne for you all to take a look at. However I only have very limited Internet access in Melbourne. So please bear with me - I'll have a nicely expanded gallery for you in a few days time

In Melbourne (Aussie Rules)

2005-07-02T09:49:00.000Z

If you know me sit down.
In fact if you know me sit down and have a drink by your side. A good stiff drink would be preferable.

Went to see a football match last night. Well no not "soccer - (blagh!!!)". I went on a match tour of the Telstra Dome in Melbourne. A small tour three of us (there was a drop out), and our footy mad guide. We met at all hotel for drinks and snacks , had a chat about the stadium and the rules of Aussie Rules Football (there are actually rules!!! believe it or not), had some of the best seats in the house (on the halfway mark at pitch level - just a few feet from the action (nearly got hit by a wayward ball). During the match there was more drinks and food, a personal commentary and afterwards - a chat back at a nearby bar and a drop off back at the hotel. The end result .. Aussies Rules - well Rule. Seeing a match live was a lot more fun than I'd expected - and I suspect a lot more fun than watching most team sports. The thing that makes Aussie rules so different is the way it is designed to cover a lot of ground very fast. The ball can move in any direction at any time and all 18 players on each team cover the whole pitch to try and setup goals. Oh yes and each team has 3 goals to defend not the measly one as in most sports. I enjoyed the experience. I went as a personal challenge - to do something different and out of character and had a really good night, My thanks the guide and the tourist info volunteer who suggest I give it a go.

Today was a day to explore. I had considered boat rides, but ended up going for a long walk around the river; but before that. Sitting on a river bridge, taking some photos, rowers sculling past below, trams sparking and humming by to my back there was a a slight smell of ozone in the air and up behind me crept a man. A conservatively dressed who quickly whipped out a small bright pamphlet and started quoting from a bible. Yep a Jehovah's Witness and no handy door to close in his face. Actually his consideration of the text from Daniel was quite scary. This man earnestly believed in removing all other politics and beliefs in order to create a singular ordered and controlled society. Was a talking to Hitler or perhaps a Dalek. He certainly didn't sound like a man of peace. Fortunately my camera provided an excuse to escape fast. it did leave me wondering one point. What would Jehovah's Witness Daleks actually be like. Anyone out there have a script?

I spent most of the day taking pictures and exploring around the river - Melbourne has very nice river frontage. Eventually staggered back to my room - so that I can get ready for the big outing tomorrow. A trip to Philip Island.

Melbourne (You....Blade Runner!)

2005-06-30T12:11:00.000Z

Massive rains and floodwaters rising in Australia, it's the long awaited day (following my recovery) to strike out again and start exploring. Maybe the weather is just trying to make me feel at home? My relatives here think I've brought it (I'm Welsh I must therefore bring rain with me ) Either way - on goes on the rain coat and off to the Airport I go. I do have a small dragon mascot with me. Maybe there is a connection.

Despite a slight delay (which brings the opportunity to watch a Thai Airlines jumbo take off in heavy weather - quite spectacular) we blast up and out of Sydney. It feels like blast off. I'm sat near the back of the Airbus and can see the jets changing rain into mini clouds, small torrents of water appear in mid air and shoot behind us I even catch sight of a tiny temporary rainbow. I'm feeling a bit jaded and odd on the flight. The jetstar airbus is new and comfortable (nice padded leather seats), yet it feels very strange to traveling alone again. Still we're barely in the air an hour and here's Melbourne...

I think? We land flying over fields. No sign on Airport perimeter - just fields and is that a small sewage plant? (I get a flashback of "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines") and we're on the runway. Heading past a farm house (sorry one of the control towers) and to some huts (sorry I mean - arrivals lounge). Still it's pleasant enough inside. The outside toilets are nice and clean. This airport is called Avalon. Can't see any references to King Arthur though there is a reasonably odd and brightly painted statue as walk in.

We hang around arranging for transport to the city. You can rent a car, a go on the bus. I make for the bus and try to enquire which is the best drop off point (there is a choice). I'm with a stony faced - "so you want a ticket", errrr yes. "thats $24". This person (hatchet faced woman) behind the desk isn't in the mood to tell me the difference between the station drop offs. When fate intervenes. One of the other passengers has just discovered a lift waiting - after buying tickets for herself and her family - she's trying to get a refund. Not a chance. Hatchet face hits her with a blunt no - not a chance - nada - please stop asking such silly questions. The woman is upset. Obviously she has a lot of useless tickets and just a collection of rude replies, so isn't going to go in, So she starts offering them to other passengers. I check one - it's for a train station near me hotel so I pick it up. Hatchet face is going purple and laser beams are burning out from her eyes. People are working together to break her monopoly. It's unheard of - don't these people respect the raw brutality of monopoly. Well errm - Nope!

It's a 45 minute bus ride to the city. The roads are wet and traffic light. We start to approach Melbourne through an industrial hinterland. There are bright lights and triangular plumes of smoke rising to meet the low cloud base. As we go over the Westgate bridge it's dark, low clouds chase between and slightly obscure a line of skyscrapers the lights of which are glowing amber and green. There's more smoke plumes and lights beneath. For a moment all I can think is ... Wow - I'm in Blade Runner and start looking up for low flying police spinners. Then we dive down and then up another bridge and we're into the city. An ancient tram rattles across a bridge just ahead. Then we've stopped and I'm in Melbourne. A short cab ride (it's still raining) - 5 minutes and 5 bucks later I reach the UniCity Apartments.

I've got a self contained student apartment booked for the next nights. A nice home to home. Only if this is student accommodation why is there marble tiling on the floor and brass fronted elevators. This is somewhat better than the student digs I used to have. The apartment - is very clean and very pleasant. Also right in the heart of Melbourne.

I have a good feeling about this.

MCA and the DigeriBoom

2005-06-29T07:35:00.000Z

The plan today was to keep things simple before flying tomorrow. So into Sydney I trundled to take a look at the Museum of Contemporary Arts (The MCA), at Circular Quay. The MCA is housed overlooking the Quay in a big Art Deco building. Inside it's all marble and exhibition spaces.

The art - well the art is contemporary. A lot of installation work, video displays and use of sound and found materials. Some of this stuff is fascinating. A lot though just looks like it's trying too hard to escape the bounds of what people consider to be art. There are times you wonder if this has value or the ability to last and has the artist sacrificed some opportunity by just saying - Hey - I'm going to challenge what you think is art. It's a big old discussion and everyone has an opinion. So long as some is interesting - well what is there to complain about. Except for the big fear that if art relies of mechanical (or electronic) media for it's presentation will future generations be able to look at it? Or will it just vanish into oblivion as equipment breaks down and becomes irreplaceable.?

Before heading back I needed some lunch so found a place on the Quay to sit down, eat and watch the world go by. Every time I come back here it's always the same. A continual stream of people. Most with backpacks and cameras in tow. Still there are people here from all around the world. Take ordering lunch (look at the food, order at desk, get a ticket, go back and get the food, sit down and eat. Watch owners of food stalls case seagulls away. Ignoring the big white birdies and whilst other tourists, and harbour police (with semi-automatic handguns and large McDonalds) as boats go to and fro.

Last thing before the trains - ran into some performers from The Web (a musicians collective that tries to fuse together different styles of music). Sat on the front player Digeridoos, drums, sticks (all linked into an amp, beatbox, boombox and sampling system). It was a cool setup. A sort of combination of Aboriginal music with hints of the Goan Trance, The Ozric Tentacles and Future Sound of London. Ended up with a copy of their CD (about £4) now on my iPod.

New Picture in Gallery

2005-06-28T10:19:00.000Z

An artistic day today. Decided that a picture I've been working on was going about as far as it was going and so .. it's uploaded into my gallery at: http://photogallery.findingviews.com/

Hope you like it. It comes from a photograph taken at Onuma Quasi National Park - I still love the idea of an important park being Quasi National.

After this - well I hope to try out a few new ideas in coming pictures.

To Cairns (Well booked anyway)

2005-06-27T11:52:00.000Z

I've just booked the train pass that will take me to Cairns
I'll be stopping off along the way see places such as Port McQuarrie, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise and Brisbane. This will be the longest train journey I've attempted not just in time (well over a week) but with distances around 1553 miles (2500km) quite some track coverage as well.
Quite happy that I'm getting moving. Melbourne this week, Cairns and the east coast of Australia soon after!

This means that between Melbourne and Cairns I will be covering a lot of Australia!

Melbourne Booked

2005-06-26T09:20:00.000Z

I'm getting back on the road again. I've just booked flights to and from Melbourne, plus somewhere to stay (right in the heart of the city).

I fly again on Thursday the 30th. The flight from Sydney to Melbourne takes and hour and a half. I'll be there for 5 nights with plans to take in the city, surrounding countryside (maybe the wineries), and take a look at some South Australian wild life (I'm hoping for penguins en masse).

It should be a good trip with plenty of really great photo-opportunities.

More details to come as I have them.

After the south - will come the North and with good luck - the reefs

Shock, Horror and big bats

2005-06-25T13:05:00.000Z

Ok - first a travel update. My plans are coming along nicely - I should be booking tickets over the next few days and back on the road (or rail, or air) before the end of week. Hopefully that will mean more interesting pictures being produced. I hope so - I feel a need to produce work that's a bit more creative than it has been lately. So hang on and stand by - because my foots healed and I'm raring to go - whilst still trying to look all relaxed and aussie.

Now for the shock horror - I went to see Batman Begins. Compared to the last few bat movies - a good step forward. Though perhaps someone should have told Christian Bale that he's not in Equilibrium. To be fair - he's not bad as Bruce and the Bat - just lacks some of the charisma I associate with the characters. So where's the shock horror? Well I've yet to find any Ben and Jerry's ice cream in an Aussie cinema. Something needs to be done. Will someone tell Australia what they are missing. Can messrs Ben and Jerry send a container load of their finest over to Sydney right now please!

Trains, Planes and Ferries

2005-06-24T10:29:00.000Z

Ok so it should be automobiles, but anyone who knows me, knows that me driving anything but a special car is not the best idea in the world (brakes aren't really important ... are they?).

I've had a quote for a trip to Cairns (very classy - but expensive and three weeks in the future). That's a dilemma - I've just recovered after Japan and if I pick up another injury then that might my plan of swimming (and talking) with tropical fishes amongst coral reefs. The trouble is - if that last quote was expensive then the one for the next couple of weeks was astronomical. School holidays have just started (June school holidays in Australia last for a princely 2 weeks), and travel to the warm north is pricey. The cold south - is much cheaper - and likely to stay that way.

So after talking, reading and investigating and ruling out all other options I'm just about to start on a new plan. Travel north by train - stopping off at key points like Port McQuarrie, Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast, and Brisbane on the way up. The journey would take quite some time. Then I get to Cairns - spend my time on the reef and rain forest and come back by plane. If I time it right the plane back will be cheap (less than £80).

Of course all this thinking didn't happen on it's on and I spent some time cruising around Sydney harbour on the ferries (bought a cheap rate bus, train and ferry pass for the day). It was raining intermittently - but not heavily - the locals ran indoors for cover - but myself (and some americans) were enjoying the view too much to go indoors.

I suppose at this stage I'm thinking a lot about travelling in Australia. I guess it's a combination of time and distance. I've got time - and the distances are really big. Huge in fact.

Getting the hang of the local laid back buses and trains now.

There's also been a cold snap (only one hours drive away - there was an early snowfall). Still plenty of parrots and cockatoos in the trees though.

Questing and Gallery

2005-06-23T05:15:00.000Z

Yesterday and today have been all about deciding how to get up to the Great Barrier and where to stay. I've done a lot of reading and researching and talking and think I am near a booking with a couple of great tours to both the Reef and the Rainforest.

So it looks like this quest will be a success (I never did find deodorant cream in Japan so I need a quest to go well)

In a moment of madness I decided to make use of some web space provided to me by my Mac account and set up another gallery. It'll include some pictures seen already plus a few alternatives that you may enjoy.

The new gallery is at: http://homepage.mac.com/robertldavies/PhotoAlbum1.html

Consolidation

2005-06-21T06:59:00.000Z

Ok, a quiet day. The plan was simple, go to Parramata (a town just outside Sydney that early in Australia's history was actually bigger than Sydney). talk to some travel agents, perhaps look at alterations to my baggage and do some shopping.

The idea is simple - I need some winter (ok Autumnal clothes) for southern Oz and these will stand me in stead for the New Zealand winter (snowboarding!) and I wanted to get a better low down on prices for booking my trip to the barrier reef (tropical weather). So much weather to deal with on this trip! I also didn't want to go to far as I'm building my damaged foot back up - ready for some swimming on the reef.
After today I've decided that I need to spend some time online and on the phones to sort out my excursion to North (as usual I rarely find travel agents I can work with - they like to sell - I like to shop, change parameters and custom build trips). So tomorrow is booking day. After which I'll get back out doing things.

The slow build up is a little boring - but should pay off dividends in the long run. I planned Australia as a relaxed stop. I won't have so much time elsewhere, but the plan seems to be working out ok.

Return to the Opera

2005-06-20T08:07:00.000Z

Into Sydney city centre today for the first time in 5 years. Via a short bus journey and a ride on one of the many double decker trains that run in and out of the city.

When I first tried these trains I was really impressed. 5 years on I'm wondering that apart from the novelty of two decks why? I've probably been spoilt by more hi-tech French and Japanese designs in the meantime. One point of note - my return journey was at commuter time and compared to a similar run on a British (or Tokyo) train - very little standing - so mark 1 up for the Aussies.

Are these trips turning me into a train geek? I hope not.

Back into the city and it's wonderful as ever. I didn't do that much today. A short ride on the monorail, a bit of walk, some money changing (I have cash again - Hurrah!!! - I was getting short on dollars), and some time around circular Quay and Opera House. If you don't know circular quay is the major ferry terminus and from the area between it are fantastic views of the Sydney Harbour bridge and the Opera house.

Couldn't help noticing the way people were dressed. T shirts and vests for those not acclimatised to this warmer part of the Sydney winter -all manner of fleeces, coats, and scarves for the rest. Temperature today - around 20 degrees C. In a cosmopolitan and warm place like Sydney you really can get to see how people handle the warm and the cold.

P = Action

2005-06-19T04:41:00.000Z

Yesterday I saw an Australian podiatrist. The good news is that he did a fantastic job at cleaning things and we took a look a possible problem area. The result is that most of the damage done in Japan is healed (there are few small areas to watch out for and I will be doing that). He also saw me good with some really useful gel based weight distribution dressings.

This is great news

I can start to take a look at things again.

So the plan now - take a look at Sydney (nice to reacquaint myself with the city) and to plan for other Australian trips

There are limits - but as longs as I am careful - seeing things is back

That should mean more photos.

New Picture

2005-06-17T11:25:00.000Z

There's a new picture.

Not in the Grande Tour photo library

This one is an update to my original online art gallery.

To take a look please visit photogallery.findingviews.com

I hope you enjoy it

Deadly Spiders!

2005-06-12T09:18:00.000Z

Just spent my first night in Australia

What should make a web just a a foot or so from the front door - a deadly redback spider. It's the first time I've ever seen one of these so good to see.

The even better news - in the tussle for property rights - the spider lost and more anti-redback spray was used to secure the area.

Final Days in Japan

2005-06-11T08:24:00.000Z

So, I find myself in Narita with a flight booked for the 10th of June heading into Sydney on the 11th. It takes 15 hours on a plane (plus an airport change) to do Tokyo to Sydney. It's quite a haul.

I know this stay in Japan is shorter than I would have liked and I've done less than people would see me do. The Japanese have a saying - Shigata Ga Nai (what can you do). Ok I could push myself a lot harder, but everyday I find limits being put on me by my problems (still can't eat a lot of the food) and I find myself worrying about my foot. It's healing and all healing takes a long time (at least with that foot it does), so what do I do. I head to a place where I think for at least a short time life can be easier. That's important; because although on this trip Japan had great iconic importance; it's the South Pacific where I have a lot of ambitions to do things. To say the leas to reacquaint myself with the ocean. In my current condition I just can't do that.

So I spent my last few days in Japan - Narita

Which is not all that bad.

Most people know Narita for it's airport but it's also home to some of Japans most important and ancient Buddhist temples. These are places that I had marked as really wanting to see and know I am in close proximity to them. True I placed sorting out some shopping and presents ahead - but that's just clearing the way so that I can spend some of my final time here in these places. I think that will give me the memories I want to take away from Japan. Not the ones where I am worrying about being able or not being able to do things. I hope it's a zen attitude.

And ...

I was right to go the temple (to be exact the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple - consecrated by the founder of the Shingon Buddhist sect. It;s an enormous complex of buildings, lakes, and woods. It is everything that you mind suspect such a place to be. I'll be honest and say that it is hard to adequately describe such a location. Instead of trying to capture it in words let's instead but it simply as this - if somewhere is everything you might imagine it to be then it's really quite something. I will be posting some pictures. I hope they help.

I've now left Japan. After having my shoes X-Rayed - my feet went beep on a metal detector (there's metal screws in my right foot), so my shoes had to be X-Rayed. I was offered slippers during the procedure. As usual my feet squished the slippers. My feet really are too big for Japan to comprehend.

I'm going to catch up with things over the next few days; start getting ready for the next phase of the tour. Try and make things more interesting in the future.

So out of the Summer - into the Winter.

Piccies

2005-06-11T07:56:00.000Z

I've made the move to Australia successfully.

I've blog notes on this that I need to finish and upload - so when I do that this journal may seem a little non sequential - but will hopefully make sense in the end.

Meanwhile I'm back on a good Internet connection and have started the process of uploading and cataloging the backlog of photographs. I hope you find something you like in the new collections

Still no upload

2005-06-09T01:20:00.000Z

Sorry again about the lack of photos
I have no ability to upload large files from my Mac.
The frustrating thing is that I can't get an ID on the NTT Docomo public wifi system. If I could there'd be pictures to see. I'll update first chance I get as there are a lot of good images coming up.

So Sorry

2005-06-06T12:21:00.000Z

Sorry about the lack of pictures

The last couple of days I've been in places with either not enough room to work, so hot the Mac wants to overheat or with no Internet access.

I've loads more piccies to sort through - so give me a day or two and I'll get more photos online soon

Sorry

Rob

Morioka - Explorations

2005-06-06T12:19:00.000Z

I'd had a good night, and didn't really want to get up. Worse there was a strange churning in my stomach... nothing serious though.

The good news was that although the hotel was Internet free (strange to be cut off from the net in a hotel in Japan) the breakfast was fine. A simple combination of water, fruit juice, coffee, and bread rolls (filled with sultanas and raisins). It was simple, it was just what the doctor ordered.

My aim for the day was to explore Iwate Koen - a park built from the ruins of a castle, see the rock breaking cherry tree - deemed to be one of Japans most beautiful cherry trees and to take in anything else I could in the area before the time came to go back to the hotel and do some laundry (sad that I have to break for laundry - but it has to be done - especially in a Japanese summer).

It was raining when I went to leave, so the desk clerk insisted on presenting me with a loan umbrella.

Deciding to take the bus to the park I made my way to bus station and found the start of a festival. I had some difficulty making out the name of celebrations, but apparently this was part of Moriokas start of summer rituals. Involving tying small children to huge horses whilst teams of mothers and grand mothers danced in front of them. Later the children and horses would be taken up into the hills. As - from another part of town would effigies of shrines carried on the backs of teams of men.

Made a nice discovery here. When there's a crowd watching something - anyone taking pictures with a camera is automatically given some deference and space to try and get a good. This rule seems to apply to anyone - with anything from a cameraphone up to whopping great SLR's.

Eventually I left the proceedings and got bussed to the park.

En route the bus passed a Japanese Nationalism Protest. Mostly shouting about the horror of English words diluting their language. I can't say I blame as more and more loan words appear traditional Japanese changes a bit. The French have the same problem. Then again it's in the nature of all languages to change. Anyway - slid a little deeper into my bus seat as we trundled on hoping no agitator noticed the long haired gaijin.

A good move. Iwate Koen is fantastic. Most of the castle walls remain. What's missing are the buildings - well being a Japanese castle they built the defences from huge tapering stone walls. The buildings were all of flammable wood; which is why few original castles - such as Matsumoto remain. Not that I'm complaining Iwate Koen (Koen means park) is an island of tranquility. Steep steps take you up the walls to raised plateaus of lush parkland. I spend ages wandering around and just resting. At this time, looking at the walls ( that all slope inwards) I realised that they wouldn't be that hard to climb. The masonery had really big joints and the incline would make them easier to traverse than a vertical wall. Suddenly all those movies showing Ninjas running up castle walls made the mad Ninja wall dash look very doable. Very very doable. The castle walls looked very inviting indeed.

Tempted I might have been do it - I thought not. For two reasons. One of was slightly inflating bad foot. The other were the elderly locals keeping an eye on me. I decided that that adding Ninja antics to my tarnished reputation (kill the wabbit) wasn't the wisest move. Besides I wasn't really in good condition for climbing.

No proclamations of - I am the worlds greatest Ninja were made from castle wall tops today.

So I made off to see the Cherry tree. Not in bloom at this time of year; but an impressively ancient looking tree it is - seeing as it really does break a great boulder in two.

The rest of the day was domestically boring. Although the coin laundry I had to use was stocked with a vast number of telephone directory sized comics. All weekly editions.

The evening came and I decided to attempt to see some anime in a Japanese cinema. The new version of Z Gundam was in town so I trotted off to see the 8pm showing. Slight problem - the owner decided to close up. On a Sunday - 8pm is just too late to be showing cartoons to an audience in this town. So slight disappointment on my part. Amazement on the face of the guy locking up that anyone wanted to watch anime so late.

Tomorrow - back on the trains as I head south again.

Glad I stopped off at Morioka. It's a cool town - even if it doesn't like late night Sunday cartoons (hang on 8pm is not late .. is it?)

Morioka - Arrival

2005-06-04T13:45:00.000Z

I've just arrived in Morioka. I'm heading due south back towards Tokyo. The decision I'm making is do I head for Narita and arrange a flight out of the country towards the end of next week (after a few days of sightseeing temples and dropping back into Tokyo for a last look and a few things - Narita is about and hour and half from Tokyo by train). I'm inclined to cut short - It'll put me in a better position for doing more on the rest of the Tour.

Right now my movements are being restricted by my injury and food tolerance problems. If I move to a safe haven I perhaps heal up a bit and can do more in other locations. I've had enough time here to get a feel for Japan, but will be disappointed at not seeing some sights.
Then again the Grande Tour is about more than just sight seeing so perhaps no big loss.

The next few days will be critical in my decision - though I think in my heart it is already made.

So far - Morioka seems a pleasant place. Though I am in my first hotel without Internet. Not so nice when feeling ill Internet is a link to the world. It's also a hotel when the tourist information people have vaguely dumped me. I've had mixed reception from Tourist Info people. Some are amazingly helpful. Some though seemingly helpful just want you booked into the first place that comes to their mind no matter what. I think in Narita I'll try and arrange something myself.

Tomorrow i'll explore Morioka - I think I can fill a day here quite easily. It gives me time also to sort out some laundry that I desperately need to do. I may be forced to use hotel laundry (normally hideously expensive - but I can't find an alternative at the moment).

On the journey off Hokkaido my limited super express train (no - really - thats exactly what it was called), came to a halt in the Seikan tunnel (links Honshu and Hokkaido). Here there were many concrete man sized off shoot tunnels. Most seeming to link up to an underground (under the sea) roadway. You could almost see signs directing hearty workers to the Mecha Godzilla Silo or the offices or Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Every now and then Japan delivers these fantasy images. I suspect they are different for everyone - but when they arrive man are they good. I can't think of another country that unconsciously does this so well.

The journey complete easilly enough and so late in the afternoon I am in Morioka considering both the future, tomorrow (also the future) and what to eat next (a scary version of the future).

In Japan - you need to be mindful of the now (lest a taxi, bicycle or runaway umbrella squish you); and the future. Cause the future is always next.

A little later - still in Morioka

I've been wandering Morioka like a lost ghost. Looking for somewhere to eat that I would not explosively vomit in.

Found one (after about an hour of wandering), under my own hotel. Remember in Japan distance is irrelevant - spatial coordinates are everything.. Must remember that at some point; or next time - come to Japan with a time lord in tow.

Anyway this place does the most fantastic barbecued meat and veg. Using chicken broth as a bar snack. I sat at a bar (with a glass shield between me and the barbecue). Being served up beer, soup and meat on sticks. This probably amounts up to one of my best nights out in Japan.

To me this brings home a point. I've been down at times. Mostly claustrophic, home sick and a little paranoid, but Japan really is a great country. If I'm thinking of leaving a little early it says nothing about Japan. Just my dodgy wounds, strange food intolerance's and inability to think of nothing other than the big picture (ie - gettting over problems and seeing more of the world). In fact my ability to take on a long term view may be one of my problems that needs addressing. Must think more in the moment, with great respect to the long term? Perhaps that is a goal I need to look at.

Also found a place called Cinema Street - lots of small cinemas scattered everything from the basement to 5th floor along the street. Been looking for the new Miyazaki (Howls Moving Castle), but found a re-imagining of Z- Gundam - will take a look if I can make time tomorrow.

Hakodate and the Quasi National Park

2005-06-03T11:09:00.000Z

I've taken a sleepy train ride down to the southernmost tip of Hokkaido the the port of Hakodate. Hakodate was the place where the West (actually the Americans) first started trading with Japan and broke it's self isolation. Today Hakodate feels like a town that was very rich in the past but is now a little down on it's luck. Still from what I've seen it's a pleasant enough place - and I certainly won't complain about it; especially as from the look of the harbour and train station there is some rejuvenation going on.

When I first arrived my Japanese was down on it's luck and I was communication in English, sporadic grunts, pained expressions and a bit of gesturing. Enough to get me a hotel. Right in front of the morning fish market. Normally - that would have been good, and I'd have taken a chance to explore the market.

However - I still cannot face fish; rice is still a problem - though not as bad as a few days ago. The really odd thing is that I'm having trouble with Miso soup - something I was really enjoying when I first arrived. Now it's hard to tolerate. So is green tea. Something is definitely going on.

All that was yesterday. Today was a chance to go out of town and explore the Onuma quasi national park. So I took the 20 minute express ride out to the park. I'm not sure why the Japanese have named it Quasi National. It's certainly beautiful, with lakes and scenary that packs a punch. Even if some of the town around the park station is a little run down. Though there are plenty of other places like this in the world. However - out in front of the plaza or just past the place where you can hire bicycles, where boats can be hired or cruises taken was a forest of mobile umbrellas. That was the problem today - it was raining a little. Not too bad at first - a light drizzle. Then it got heavier - and heavier and heavier.

A note about umbrellas - where ever you go there are umbrellas
There are convenience stores and vending machines selling cheap umbrellas - normally with white plastic handles and transparent canopies.
Umbrella stands
Plastic sheaths to buy and put wet brollies in
Expensive umbrellas
Big pots of old communal umbrellas

I'm thinking that Japan may have an umbrella population issue.

It is understandable. When it rains - it RAINS!

The Japanese do not like getting wet.

Personally I don't mind getting a little damp, and don't really like umbrellas that much. Besides I had my Mammut jacket on that I'd bought in Bettws Y Coed. Now that is a waterproof coat. Not a drop of rain gets through it at all.

The result - a few pictures taken between downpours. A few taken in a downpour. A little exploration. A bowl of Udon noodles (that my growing miso intolerance made hard to swallow) and a train ride back to town.

Tomorrow - Morioka as I had south back into Honshu

The Biurren

2005-06-01T11:06:00.000Z

Ok - to the olde Sapporo brewery and beer garden. Well beer has been brewed here for something like 130 years and is probably Sapporos best known export - so the tour of the old brewery had to be checked out.

But first changing money - getting my big new camera cheap had cost me a lot of yen (cash instead of credit card easily enlarges discounts in Japan - although I had originally planned to use a credit card for insurance purposes - but that in the end with the paperwork offered by a Japanese store wasn't so necessary). So had a few other sundry expenses (like getting locked out of luggage a couple of days ago) so it was time to find a bank

Well finding a bank wasn't to hard. Finding the right counter (on the second floor - remember you have to be 3 dimensional in Japan), took slightly confused conversation with the welcoming welcoming manager. Up stairs I proffered some travelers cheques got showed the exchange rate and how many yen I would get. Perfect. Then came the form and a conversation that contained a lot of
"Hai, Hai, ahhh soo desu"
"Aieeeee Iie Iie -(arms waving in air)"
"So desu ne - Hai"
"Ah Hai Hai"
"eerrr - Iie iie"
"ok!"
"hai , Hai - chotto matte kudasai (please wait)"

After a little wait - yen on a plate - phew

Time to catch the number 88 bus (brewery special). A quick stop en route at the factory - a mall that started life as part of the Sapporo brewery and then onto the brewery itself.

The weather is warm, for a change not too humid and I relax in the Beer Garden, Actually inside not out, the seating arrangements are better there; with a medium beer (about 1 litre!). Managed to get a lunch of beef strips - no fish or rice in sight - phew!

Onto the brewery - the tour is more of a wander through 3 stories of working space and some odd little dioramas. Until you get to the end. Then it's pick your beer - and how much you want from a vending machine. Hand it to the friendly bar staff who will serve you. Oddly your in a bar, being served and have no need to talk to the barman. Doesn't seem normal to me.

The rest of the day was questing,
I'm on a quest to find some cream deodorant, so far I only find spray on powder. Not nice, I have some because I'm about to finish my supply of the good stuff, but really would like to find a more comfy underarm cream. Still no luck.

I also wanted something to eat - as tonight I needed to put my bad foot up in my room - the injury is under control so my measures are working. However shop I went into stank of fish and rice - my new intolerance's kicked in and out I ran. Eventually got hold of some bagels. It's wrong to be eating bagels in Japan so hopefully normally service will be returned soon.

To Sapporo

2005-05-31T12:45:00.000Z

I may come back to my days in Matsumoto in some later reflections. Time however to cover the trip to Sapporo.

I kind of under estimated how long it would take to travel from Matsumoto to Sapporo. Partially because I can't find a train route planner for Japan (at least not yet - but if you know of one - please let me know). In the end it was a 12 hour haul from start to finish on 5 different trains. Simply put to it took a long time because to get there in one day meant doubling back to the outer edges of Tokyo rather than simply pushing north.

It was worth it. 12 hours of Japanese countryside Lots of mountains (some still bearing snow at the end of May despite the sweltering heat of the low lands), rivers, deep basins, suburbia, run down villages miles from anywhere, cinemas, ships, rivers and forests. In twelve hours you pass a lot of variation.

You also sometimes forget you are on a train. At one point I think I started singing along to my ipod. That may have been ok; but the train had just passed a Warner cinema, the ipod of was playing Ride of the Valkyries so naturally I think I broke into a chorus of "Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit " etc.

Couldn't of done too much harm. A little later an elderly traveller kept giving me mini packets of travel nuts. He spent the entire journey eating nuts and looking for seats to put together so he could make beds.

About four hours out from Sapporo I was starving hungry and bought a railway O'Bento (lunch box). This one turned out to be full of rice and fish (I'm getting used to fully understanding what I'm ordering to eat only some of time); and looked a little like the Chinese restaurant special meal from eXistenZ. I couldn't finish it. In fact I barely touched it before running the train toilet (which on all Japanese express and shinkansen are really big) and being quite ill. And continued feeling ill (well at time of writing - one day on - I still am not really well) for at least a day. Odd when past and present mix like that isn't it.

The big problem is - I've tried rice since then and cannot swallow it, and I cannot bear the smell of fish. It seems that for the moment rice and fish are taboo foods for me.

The next day - I managed to see Sapporo. A pleasant city, with an excellent subway. Unusually Sapporo is laid out on an exact grid - so is kind of American to look at.

A quick tip on Navigating in Japan. You must do it 3 dimensionally. Ground level may not reflect what you are looking for - to reach a destination you may have to think several stories up, or go underground.

Sapporo is also the home of Ramen noodles. All hail delicious Ramen in Miso. A very simple and very satisfying dish - with no rice or fishy influences at all.

Tomorrow I plan to travel by bus out of town.

Heading for the Hills

2005-05-29T12:20:00.000Z

Matsumoto city
Located in central Honshu - in the Japanese Alps.
It may be called a city, but really it's more of a large town with a lot going on.

However let's not forget the journey - by Shinkansen to Nagoya and then limited express all the way there. The express section of the journey was nothing less than spectacular. Nothing short of forested hills and mountains. Deep valleys flowing with rivers of deep green water. Tall peaks crested in snow. True there was some industry here and there. Plenty of small towns and villages. Lots of paddy fields. A lot less golf and baseball nets. In truth this was the Japan I wanted to see.

So the train whizzed along and the driver - the driver played the trains horn at every possible opportunity. A horn that really should have belonged to a steam drive. So horn blaring we rushed passed vertical drops and arrived at Matsumoto. A nice station. Not to hard to navigate and not to hard to find the tourist information office. Who quickly found me a Ryokan to stay in for a couple of nights.

Cool because one of the things I wanted to achieve was a stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), and this one - the Nunoya was just that. Small, laid out with wood everywhere - except the rooms - all done out in traditional tatami mats, plus a splendid Japanese style bathroom.

First problem - shoes off... slippers on - well no shoes off - not a slipper in sight large enough for my feet - so socks it was. Much to the amazement of my landlady (my feet had defied the biggest slippers available locally). At least my room was perfect - very tranquil a small futon bed, a table, cushions, teapot (full of green tea) and a few other sundries. It was cool, simple and tranquil.

I've had a chance to explore Matsumoto castle (one of the four surviving castles from the Edo period - Samurai) , relax in the park and take a look at the shrines.

The first few days in Matsumoto were very relaxing.

Transition Time

2005-05-26T12:47:00.000Z

Last entry was really an I'm ok and I'm in Matsumoto broadcast.

Let's look at the story

I left Tokyo - after much complaining by Shinkansen bound for old Kyoto. The Shinkansen are terrific trains. No - even better than that. I'm talking clean, punctual, stylish and comfortable. Deep comfy seats, well laid out cabins, excellent toilets and and overall atmosphere of relax, enjoy the ride, the train will arrive ok. A real case of letting the train taking the strain.

So zooming through Japan. A glimpse of Fuji shrouded in cloud, rice fields, tea plantations, plastic dinosaurs, wide rivers, and concrete. The Japanese will put concrete anywhere. There's an awful lot of concrete in Japan. Mostly shoring up river banks, railway cuttings and mountain sides. One day Japan may sink from the weight of concrete.

There's also an awful lot of nasty blocky architecture too.

Yet so many beautiful houses with glazed tile roofs, clear rivers, mountain covered hillsides and baseball nets.

I was expecting nets from golf driving ranges. There are even more nets around baseball practice courts and pitches.

Yet we reached Kyoto. Nice and pleasant. Nowhere to stay at all. At least as far as could be determined in reasonable time. Unable to walk around hunting - I managed via a helpful travel agent contact a reasonable priced hotel in Osaka. Only half an hour away so Osaka it was.

Back onto the ever comfy Shinkansen and into Shin-Osaka station. At this point I was a little turned around and mistook Shin-Osaka for Osaka. A muddled 30 minutes later I was back on the platform. This time for a local trip (via a conversation with an old lady - yes this train went to Osaka - but I had to find a different coach). First train - too full to use. Second train (a whole 5 minutes later - I love the frequency of Japanese public transport)

To cut a long story of trains - platforms, bridges, underground walkways, I got into the enormous Hankyo hotel. Actually a complex of department store, hotel, train station. Absolutely enormous.

Hungry I went out hunting for food and found a wonderful little place in an absolute maze of bars and restaurents

Anyway time to stop this entry - it's turning into a boring I did this then that sort of entry. Suffice to say after a few hiccups things were going much better

Heading for the Hills

2005-05-26T10:53:00.000Z

Hi all

I`m in the moutains. It`s getting on into the evening and I`m using a library computer. I`ve got lots to post about but given the hour I think I should just let everyone now my situation.

I`m feeling much better - but realise that being stuck in Tokyo gave me problems
a) the heat and press of people were getting to me
b) the little injury I had was worse than I thought and although not (as usual) in pain - it was having a detrimental effect on me.

The trip to Kyoto went well - I feel better - but failed because I couldn`t get a room so I had to swiftly move to Osaka for the night

At Osaka I realsied the extent of my problems so decided I needed to sit down and rest for a day - so took a long train ride into the Japanese Alps. I`m writing this from a late night library in Matsumoto.

So things are back under control. My emotional crisis is over and my old nemesis (for those who don`t know I have chronic foot problems) is back. But it`s an enemy I can see and that I understand.

Not Narita (Yet)

2005-05-24T23:47:00.000Z

I've had a long think (in a long bath) and decided that yes - I've had problems and true I've learned loads and yep I'm fed up. But Tokyo isn't Japan and I have decided that I do not like Tokyo.

Today I'll take a softer option than Fuji and attempt to reach the ancient city of Kyoto. From there I can decide what to next. Kyoto is only a few hours from Tokyo and so shouldn't be too hard to reach (or to get back to Narita from If I can throughly fed up).

I need to give Japan a chance and not be in too much of a rush - so Kyoto it is

What Next

2005-05-24T11:54:00.000Z

odd note - after the fluffy music extravaganza last night - Japan TV showed eXisTeZ (I thing that's how you spell it). Cronenburg being very Cronenburg - talk about a contrast!

Stuck in Tokyo
I had big problems today - and I've ended up spending a fortune on an expensive hotel. Still it's near Shinjuku station and whatever happens I need the station tomorrow.

Here's the problem

I missed todays train out to Fuji. My baggage nearly caused me an injury so I rested and tried to find an answer. Things are better, but could be better again. Trying to fix my problems cost a lot of time. I've noticed that everything takes time. A combination of distance, language and my own innate ability to walk in the wrong direction

Gripes continue

The baggage is killing me. It's just not working out very well. The humidity is not fun. I can't find anything. To be fair that last bit isn't really Tokyo's fault. I just don't work well in large cities when I have no idea how to find things. At best finding things isn't a strong point. So I'm fed up

And I've had a revelation.

I don't need to be here. I want to see everything - the world expo, the mountains the castles, the temples; and I know I can resolve my baggage issues. Give me a day or two and I'll be fine (because it takes time to find things out here).

No I don't need to be here because the Grande Tour has surpassed my expectations. I know things I didn't know a week ago. The learning curve once away from home has been astonishingly fast.

It leads to the question - do I push on in Japan as planned or do I move on to a cheaper and easier country? What do I do?

Japan is expensive and difficult. But I truly like the people and the food. Don't think I could take the Tokyo lifestyle. Tokyo is not Japan. It's just another megacity.

It's just that with all these revelations I wonder if it's worth staying in a country I always wanted to see. Or moving on.

The true story is that I want to go home and but what I have learned into effect; but then I always was impatient.

So why not go home - because I believe in tour.

Why not stay in Japan. Because to be honest I'm not sure I'll find much more here. But not doing so would also be a great waste

I have tonight to resolve these feelings and carry on tomorrow

Last Night in Tokyo

2005-05-23T12:15:00.000Z

Well it's my final night in Tokyo
Rain is doing it's best to break it's way into my hotel room with huge rain drops.
However I'm safe inside - packing and watching a TV show celebrating the music used in classic animations over the years.

Today has really been one of consolidating - looking for cards and presents. Sorting out a big purchase I wanted (a new camera - the D70S) and trying to figure out a better way of filling my pack.

I found some great (and cheap) places for food and uncovered bits of Shinjuku that I'd floated past in my earlier jet lagged fuge.

Tomorrow the more exciting bit of the journey starts - the bit where I make it up as I go along - at least until my next flight that will take me off to Australia in June.

For now - it rains, the TV blares and I play with the 3D puzzle of filling bags with too much stuff