tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11189678171557268202024-03-04T21:19:54.071-08:00Queen Of Nothing, King Of The WorldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-76988942794208488332014-07-01T22:06:00.000-07:002014-07-01T22:08:13.705-07:00The journey home.Bali glides past in the gathering dark, cloaked in cloud. Mt Agung rears its broken head above the sea of grey. The sun sets in a nimbus of gold.<br />
<br />
It is dark when we dock, and Tania has sent someone to pick me up on a bike. Driving back to the house it is immediately obvious how much more developed Bali is than Lombok, and how much less rural. Despite this, I am very glad to be back.<br />
The next morning Lempot gives me a ride up to Ubud where Tania is running a four day cob building course in a school, and building an oven and another Earth Bench. I arrive on the second last day to help out, and camp by the school with Tania, her daughters, and some guys from England who are on the course. The Welsh girls who I left not a week before are here too, with the aim of building their own cob oven when they return home, so it is great to catch up. <br />
It is a lot of fun, we spend the days jumping around in the mud (at one point I even treat myself to a mudbath) and the night is spent around the camp fire talking about the Lord of the Rings. Well some of us spend it that way. Rarely do I find an audience so interested in the history of Middle Earth, but two of the English guys couldn't get enough, and I was of course more than happy to oblige.<br />
It's amazing to see the process of building the oven. The base is made entirely of bottles and cob, then a layer of brick forms the floor of the oven. What will become its hollow interior is built from sand then covered with a layer of newspaper, after that the structure of the oven itself is made from three different layers of cob. The inner layer has no straw at all, as it will be against the flames; the middle layer, the insulation layer, is almost entirely straw, but coated in wet clay; the outer layer is standard cob. A chimney is built by sticking a bit of a banana tree into the sand and cobbing around it.<br />
Once complete the whole structure will be left to dry for two weeks before the sand is scooped out of the interior, it will then be left to dry further before a fire is lit within it to burn away the banana trunk and any newspaper stuck to the inside walls. Then it is ready to use, simply by lighting a fire within it until it is hot enough, then removing the burnt wood. True, it requires more effort than a standard oven, but it is also more fun. This is the sort of oven that Tania has, that is used for bread every few days and I used to make pies and pizzas when I last stayed. It really can do anything a normal one can do.<br />
But the best thing about the whole experience is the atmosphere. A great group of people, working together to achieve something tangible, backdropped by palm trees and summery music. Not to mention good conversation (anyone want to know any more about Galadriel?).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOGyvP7BoT17v-r5fTT-R5t56ECRNExY8G1nWuKX0-yyT98y64CLkxzbLakURKP1KgzxCVJHtRHO0UIppKQWFJIdM36XGp4juA0f_X3PRdPSvZQiigTmDaH5RuSNRrCj55rbtXGvW-vM/s1600/IMG_4277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOGyvP7BoT17v-r5fTT-R5t56ECRNExY8G1nWuKX0-yyT98y64CLkxzbLakURKP1KgzxCVJHtRHO0UIppKQWFJIdM36XGp4juA0f_X3PRdPSvZQiigTmDaH5RuSNRrCj55rbtXGvW-vM/s1600/IMG_4277.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINJeqMg9PxH_lGqlfdwy8Nm_hyphenhyphen_BTmamK_rT-qgUtW0c4O_fF25fzuaUCxqTLMyPufdGuKUkiMa8BYf4yEiEvigpWB-bZiBH_3dfCbCdRU6YFUJ9UrwNXno3fMUkXXCgudRzJJFr27VU/s1600/IMG_4278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINJeqMg9PxH_lGqlfdwy8Nm_hyphenhyphen_BTmamK_rT-qgUtW0c4O_fF25fzuaUCxqTLMyPufdGuKUkiMa8BYf4yEiEvigpWB-bZiBH_3dfCbCdRU6YFUJ9UrwNXno3fMUkXXCgudRzJJFr27VU/s1600/IMG_4278.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI5iIuxdfrnDC5F4nKCcas8582QDmiP1tEsvp6hgFhaIByjjoVvS4e6aCFHCHPVkclkAKEIdDqBtF4B4GPvmCC13pmQG0rGGchIObs6Zh4w9CDMoiCuc17KmeQ1hTjYrZSMeEUlLsZ78/s1600/IMG_4280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI5iIuxdfrnDC5F4nKCcas8582QDmiP1tEsvp6hgFhaIByjjoVvS4e6aCFHCHPVkclkAKEIdDqBtF4B4GPvmCC13pmQG0rGGchIObs6Zh4w9CDMoiCuc17KmeQ1hTjYrZSMeEUlLsZ78/s1600/IMG_4280.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoi-W6XFBA9h5hysEwEmFuNXX-5vKsdg4_Lf8NmkzfEsbXNCMWLydSqtXLh_vv22PONmKacPLBUn1kaw7D5ZHu9LfpySWUhlXrNBoJuJ4qgJI0dFtUv5yK2GAP70u4eiWqfEziF9yX0Q/s1600/IMG_4284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoi-W6XFBA9h5hysEwEmFuNXX-5vKsdg4_Lf8NmkzfEsbXNCMWLydSqtXLh_vv22PONmKacPLBUn1kaw7D5ZHu9LfpySWUhlXrNBoJuJ4qgJI0dFtUv5yK2GAP70u4eiWqfEziF9yX0Q/s1600/IMG_4284.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMo8yYZCKyBK0N10jzPSh_FONr6pS2nNV_ihkHxv-9HVPTUkMuBmS-Rk4JEfJqb3y8qFWdY-js3ZYEtc-jEhedXFFGaxcMYEdE_VRq-dfKFgeS7DAkYyhaT0dMxpsmgwOlrZBwleBd21s/s1600/IMG_4300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMo8yYZCKyBK0N10jzPSh_FONr6pS2nNV_ihkHxv-9HVPTUkMuBmS-Rk4JEfJqb3y8qFWdY-js3ZYEtc-jEhedXFFGaxcMYEdE_VRq-dfKFgeS7DAkYyhaT0dMxpsmgwOlrZBwleBd21s/s1600/IMG_4300.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN8iugO4CHfQooUd6QGxJEephWETwwOL6ZzVNMRwmHvY3jp9e9xc7UGTUv3ItIME2o6YB2VPmA2JWI_amXXiFKNuK8TqZLUKK3ahBDLnsYencGfVLyr_w19Xa3tNedIAeD3l9zHFciuY/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN8iugO4CHfQooUd6QGxJEephWETwwOL6ZzVNMRwmHvY3jp9e9xc7UGTUv3ItIME2o6YB2VPmA2JWI_amXXiFKNuK8TqZLUKK3ahBDLnsYencGfVLyr_w19Xa3tNedIAeD3l9zHFciuY/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8RVSCzl3S6b_HX_3Yo3je_qpq6mBmxNCy5P55CoUkXnj4JJP_A7UqMFzEIj_SPhRZo-Fd98HwXvMbAZNwRzkOQOHf-gq7PFlhvpxruRvOQ12wUvuIjbcUjwxzio6fB_Fk8CY9CeKnp0/s1600/IMG_4316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8RVSCzl3S6b_HX_3Yo3je_qpq6mBmxNCy5P55CoUkXnj4JJP_A7UqMFzEIj_SPhRZo-Fd98HwXvMbAZNwRzkOQOHf-gq7PFlhvpxruRvOQ12wUvuIjbcUjwxzio6fB_Fk8CY9CeKnp0/s1600/IMG_4316.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqR40gkiVYX2xDzH6QrEucT2sIGCaFo4-WIM8d4caNEdo3OIlXX_cfCFf68WxhQ9mE1wCHAhZU4pxakZB5-gPW7dS2ZN8q0LNCL9SYkZykldQ32DXYs7IEjRsBgFkXyQTPN8VjTaz6Ok/s1600/IMG_4334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqR40gkiVYX2xDzH6QrEucT2sIGCaFo4-WIM8d4caNEdo3OIlXX_cfCFf68WxhQ9mE1wCHAhZU4pxakZB5-gPW7dS2ZN8q0LNCL9SYkZykldQ32DXYs7IEjRsBgFkXyQTPN8VjTaz6Ok/s1600/IMG_4334.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLdzOJqnXcQ10iHz1rGtqNqKqSvHFoz5EVOgWlIW0ir-eVdp2zOHLpmKbMn3Am4kBiPmTNFWtqJ8f9JthTxQ6tYOM9KdLXjn5gNHXVrhsnGGf9zgVj9wEux3owJePR5R5NeTnsom_FMI/s1600/IMG_4335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLdzOJqnXcQ10iHz1rGtqNqKqSvHFoz5EVOgWlIW0ir-eVdp2zOHLpmKbMn3Am4kBiPmTNFWtqJ8f9JthTxQ6tYOM9KdLXjn5gNHXVrhsnGGf9zgVj9wEux3owJePR5R5NeTnsom_FMI/s1600/IMG_4335.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxLPW_jt4Y_fkJIeynlWVsJhxRjvuwu6OEupVw3gER8Dtj7PO7DNsaGUoS7Cc0fGwz-wJZOrVUV-cxAxVKDUsJsf59tuOwj8zILLKwKm3rVZQ_KRRagku6j3je1NhhXj-2GgI6aWZWwE/s1600/IMG_4338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxLPW_jt4Y_fkJIeynlWVsJhxRjvuwu6OEupVw3gER8Dtj7PO7DNsaGUoS7Cc0fGwz-wJZOrVUV-cxAxVKDUsJsf59tuOwj8zILLKwKm3rVZQ_KRRagku6j3je1NhhXj-2GgI6aWZWwE/s1600/IMG_4338.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxYeGePlVGlYh-t3f27NDBW7aSuqir2S571QoMVWFl4op_YDzc5DS0IOn3fqeZbEmtCyizwMg13olq98MdFgMWQRwHspai5Vv4ZL7OlVru67ZUJsMUvNTga2QoVM0TgkW0R_BEtqwZKY/s1600/IMG_4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxYeGePlVGlYh-t3f27NDBW7aSuqir2S571QoMVWFl4op_YDzc5DS0IOn3fqeZbEmtCyizwMg13olq98MdFgMWQRwHspai5Vv4ZL7OlVru67ZUJsMUvNTga2QoVM0TgkW0R_BEtqwZKY/s1600/IMG_4349.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8BdFzbekC4AM-Lvyeo9_07UrSJgxYRjCFSqh7TFzcb7G4fREmYvEtVG7j5NrCSzXFkzWQoCzZqmOlyiF5SqMpr2oiFUDTnsh1f1zlV7z7YYrdcUliOuXkvDVvjCx2UMOaxAKSfGn0FM/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8BdFzbekC4AM-Lvyeo9_07UrSJgxYRjCFSqh7TFzcb7G4fREmYvEtVG7j5NrCSzXFkzWQoCzZqmOlyiF5SqMpr2oiFUDTnsh1f1zlV7z7YYrdcUliOuXkvDVvjCx2UMOaxAKSfGn0FM/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
At the end of the course we go out for a final meal together in Ubud. We are all exhausted, although the rest of them have more excuse than me as I only turned up the day before, but we don't feel quite ready to part ways. We get a local who is hanging out on a street corner to take a photo of us all together, then Tania carries the sleeping kids into the car and we head off, leaving the rest of them to make their own ways to their respective hostels through the empty streets. Empty only for the reason that the thousands of people here are ALL watching the world cup.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
My last couple of days are spent back at Tania's, swimming in the sea, grouting the benches and sleeping in a lot. I have a very nice surprise in that the German girls who I spent a few days with in Kuta Lombok are back for their final night before we fly. We go for dinner and catch up, discussing how much we miss our favourite restaurant in Kuta (they did the most amazing vegetable nuggets!). Then it is time for them to leave, and before I know it it is time for me to leave as well.<br />
Tania drives me to the airport, and I won't deny that I am slightly glad to go. I feel ready to move onto something else. If I had a bigger budget I would happily let that something else be other parts of Indonesia, or other countries nearby. But I am just as happy to let that something be the journey home.<br />
Tania has been brilliant, she genuinely just wants everyone to have the best time they can in Bali, and she does everything in her power to see that happen. She cares about the environment and actually does work to make positive changes in her society. She is also completely mental. I mean completely. One of those 'the world is run by shape-shifting Satan worshipping reptiles, led by the British royal family, who prolong their life by drinking children's blood' sort of people. And she'll come out with things in normal conversation that are just so bizarre that you really don't know what to say. And don't bring up the complete lack of any sort of, legitimately scientific, evidence because obviously all the worlds scientists are in on it too. But really, she is lovely.<br />
On a side note I'm fairly confident that the vast majority of people who believe all these conspiracy theories, and there are a lot, also happen to smoke a lot of weed. I wonder if there's any connection?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVL0TPVa922c4VxkD5s7uPP3Jn7Vsy6YWFJ3VN1lwrOG6QopdXQ0buN5hVRLf-Vbh_C9zIlYRmIIf-_MfiJV418httK4BOnCjTyFCvkbuLq4fDD_aIfRWDyL-bbrysYQF7rPk0XsnTqw/s1600/IMG_4362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVL0TPVa922c4VxkD5s7uPP3Jn7Vsy6YWFJ3VN1lwrOG6QopdXQ0buN5hVRLf-Vbh_C9zIlYRmIIf-_MfiJV418httK4BOnCjTyFCvkbuLq4fDD_aIfRWDyL-bbrysYQF7rPk0XsnTqw/s1600/IMG_4362.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyw7KkPzu3X3yqngkS2o3A4j-8s9AkLNx9KD4CxWWKBThoxh0kCtsF28t5mkVT9eZP7QcQhDF1a-D2w4jsnhe5nFOUeAg0gwZROTLIm468jY4JwI2mBVPKJnC6RcUMH2RCnpBHc46XbQ/s1600/IMG_4370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyw7KkPzu3X3yqngkS2o3A4j-8s9AkLNx9KD4CxWWKBThoxh0kCtsF28t5mkVT9eZP7QcQhDF1a-D2w4jsnhe5nFOUeAg0gwZROTLIm468jY4JwI2mBVPKJnC6RcUMH2RCnpBHc46XbQ/s1600/IMG_4370.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74mECkiPzEaS9BLLPjfRMQjRtiDrji2xl2CupiqFaLUWMD3b4BIED9T_2iUsLKYfrIQJ8NJXUURCAQHs5UeG7EVuxkWdnvrYVx0OPugKtl-FYKVjyzAA8CM3-51TOce6UKqhEDldz0pc/s1600/IMG_4375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74mECkiPzEaS9BLLPjfRMQjRtiDrji2xl2CupiqFaLUWMD3b4BIED9T_2iUsLKYfrIQJ8NJXUURCAQHs5UeG7EVuxkWdnvrYVx0OPugKtl-FYKVjyzAA8CM3-51TOce6UKqhEDldz0pc/s1600/IMG_4375.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I arrive in Melbourne and almost instantly any animosity I had previously felt towards Australia or Australians crumbles away. I had forgotten just how much I liked Melbourne. It is a crisp autumnal afternoon, leaves are turning a thousand shades of gold and all throughout the day long the sky is lit with the beauty of evening. In reality it is mid winter here, but it feels and looks exactly like September or October back home.<br />
I am staying in a part of town I have only visited once before, and never fully explored, and I think it might just be my favourite area so far. The buildings are old and worn, the air is crisp and clean, the shops that line the street are either charity shops or small, independent stores. Fantastic and interesting street art abounds, and the posters that plaster empty walls all either seem to be promoting trains or disparaging roads. My sort of place.<br />
I go for a walk to a park nearby as the sun is setting and I can't help but fall in love with the city once again. As I do so, Goldfrapp's 'Monster Love' provides the perfect backdrop. The beautiful, gentle music matches the beautiful, gentle evening. And she sings my feelings for Melbourne right back at me.<br />
<br />
“I never thought that I would return, to be consumed by you again.”<br />
<br />
And I didn't think I would, I thought that I was 'over' Australia. But I am glad to find, even though I am going home, that I am not. At least I am not over Melbourne, and I don't think I ever will be. This is a wonderful place, with friendly and welcoming people, and one day I do hope to return.<br />
<br />
“Everything comes around, bringing us back again. Here is where we start, and where we end.”<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/V-wx-T_YFhA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/V-wx-T_YFhA&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/V-wx-T_YFhA&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6CJFuEwEAOjOmBZGXDDKrlvWgsOkh8Rnh7kxY02J1-e3oA-Zx9HVUSHCxhQro9tk2xMsVA8Q96jXrj9tyCQetLPSvxyjj5h1tAFJgju_gNubY-9pb9XgASjpLsbvx1-1m7JJ3SsFnmI/s1600/IMG_4387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6CJFuEwEAOjOmBZGXDDKrlvWgsOkh8Rnh7kxY02J1-e3oA-Zx9HVUSHCxhQro9tk2xMsVA8Q96jXrj9tyCQetLPSvxyjj5h1tAFJgju_gNubY-9pb9XgASjpLsbvx1-1m7JJ3SsFnmI/s1600/IMG_4387.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQevpkVb3LuPkpBNU4pgW5LzZozHwP4LU6bSa3HgNs8HAPKxxqg8ObQvpUNXLI2u1Yy8tE1W9Zc1oNDSs6_vKBAoLiGJdC3uoooJIze5YTcCPxVSPJ9D__PGBMvmTyFHyf8_PBoS2NxU/s1600/IMG_4396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQevpkVb3LuPkpBNU4pgW5LzZozHwP4LU6bSa3HgNs8HAPKxxqg8ObQvpUNXLI2u1Yy8tE1W9Zc1oNDSs6_vKBAoLiGJdC3uoooJIze5YTcCPxVSPJ9D__PGBMvmTyFHyf8_PBoS2NxU/s1600/IMG_4396.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh3r4dmE-_s_cBNN4cSKPpBt_uLaDndfxXUNOxg5aVssR4mH1H9xysA5C1_L2sS-dY1bzur50jJ2Q5VPFqyTu621Kp3wBOoMm0PIYaeztwz5GVhnsT-9foaSqwhpkBdFLVBN9GVzvAZo/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh3r4dmE-_s_cBNN4cSKPpBt_uLaDndfxXUNOxg5aVssR4mH1H9xysA5C1_L2sS-dY1bzur50jJ2Q5VPFqyTu621Kp3wBOoMm0PIYaeztwz5GVhnsT-9foaSqwhpkBdFLVBN9GVzvAZo/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO25PeCwa5Ri4WGpd5vrEcwzRn2SfOGSwOf-i30kk2V88fHRezhs6LfGwF_yVqHFKSxopigvU3BULc9NjH4fbcgUG2_OIDBuG06nKqKEKv2bYopPqk0F5U_3YG3wWbOz-1t9E2fEkfPk/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO25PeCwa5Ri4WGpd5vrEcwzRn2SfOGSwOf-i30kk2V88fHRezhs6LfGwF_yVqHFKSxopigvU3BULc9NjH4fbcgUG2_OIDBuG06nKqKEKv2bYopPqk0F5U_3YG3wWbOz-1t9E2fEkfPk/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8P1edagWaay9dXsOnNWldx_OYaSHmmvycb_l8E8racugaDDtKFJ7f7GLSOX9sVHObjTCiHL30q9MHLrjLaZu3zqJU1XWDEZ34Ls7mAEMrYftvxjZRiuhWbX3450HS_o3F8qLAm28V9g/s1600/IMG_4415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8P1edagWaay9dXsOnNWldx_OYaSHmmvycb_l8E8racugaDDtKFJ7f7GLSOX9sVHObjTCiHL30q9MHLrjLaZu3zqJU1XWDEZ34Ls7mAEMrYftvxjZRiuhWbX3450HS_o3F8qLAm28V9g/s1600/IMG_4415.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgrFOA-RWFiKoTBCTn_rkdyqCJJRGU64M1dIzeXAlr1gKf6yjy7OphYjc5DnskkOQ8al8LTp4TzzgPz4ahRIt2i7F35gRRZI2GjDoSFoC9QoS6XFloFyNl3h6RBKMnCQY4whVU9Mx1ME/s1600/IMG_4416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgrFOA-RWFiKoTBCTn_rkdyqCJJRGU64M1dIzeXAlr1gKf6yjy7OphYjc5DnskkOQ8al8LTp4TzzgPz4ahRIt2i7F35gRRZI2GjDoSFoC9QoS6XFloFyNl3h6RBKMnCQY4whVU9Mx1ME/s1600/IMG_4416.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqK0s5AGNSWr0fcVuvyp0ROrFJLt0ASxpoYhkdPQzPc4PnLZq0KXABqZZAa0OPi-jn4shTZ6imOba2B9ShPF691cMmVRs8v-Dy5CuB8jNtAu52P4XcSiSX-zsXgkOuB7jhWsAd4bZFd4/s1600/IMG_4421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqK0s5AGNSWr0fcVuvyp0ROrFJLt0ASxpoYhkdPQzPc4PnLZq0KXABqZZAa0OPi-jn4shTZ6imOba2B9ShPF691cMmVRs8v-Dy5CuB8jNtAu52P4XcSiSX-zsXgkOuB7jhWsAd4bZFd4/s1600/IMG_4421.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZQgC7yo5jHJPsc_NhigFhknFVMrmmbj3TZ42lYw47yjTCFZOVhXw8EIQKEHaOiUwBpz2vxiIRHmfW2vXw8twFM-YE4g7V3TBdOVhHC2DqD-1sDJNtvJsMYqYE7QzSVBkpuJpH97KVIg/s1600/IMG_4426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZQgC7yo5jHJPsc_NhigFhknFVMrmmbj3TZ42lYw47yjTCFZOVhXw8EIQKEHaOiUwBpz2vxiIRHmfW2vXw8twFM-YE4g7V3TBdOVhHC2DqD-1sDJNtvJsMYqYE7QzSVBkpuJpH97KVIg/s1600/IMG_4426.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pYNeNFSvTCc0nCSkKMMBSjqHDY3BgZbwRyFXiWmb-YNSk9-e5mIjc3zYGNNV3Z8rQFubXxb6qNZ0b0GFpuCU0V_mD4zRGKV6KsYh8XguOtoad1lIGZSPvsOBjxoE8bA7cuW_MUGr4Do/s1600/IMG_4430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pYNeNFSvTCc0nCSkKMMBSjqHDY3BgZbwRyFXiWmb-YNSk9-e5mIjc3zYGNNV3Z8rQFubXxb6qNZ0b0GFpuCU0V_mD4zRGKV6KsYh8XguOtoad1lIGZSPvsOBjxoE8bA7cuW_MUGr4Do/s1600/IMG_4430.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXJlyXDKn9Gp59eGxgMzqnoVmI7uU8Ku-rjDDj9Bp9SZaO-tcSMt5TqkyeXf6BOeJBTDxf09_7ScBvOKHi0RkPJ5g_mU-1NZMRpEB3S_mc5mk0SCQH3d9PaLjbacV6oMh09IvKl1HC2U/s1600/IMG_4435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXJlyXDKn9Gp59eGxgMzqnoVmI7uU8Ku-rjDDj9Bp9SZaO-tcSMt5TqkyeXf6BOeJBTDxf09_7ScBvOKHi0RkPJ5g_mU-1NZMRpEB3S_mc5mk0SCQH3d9PaLjbacV6oMh09IvKl1HC2U/s1600/IMG_4435.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The next day I continue much of the same, taking my wanderings farther afield to the banks of the Yarra river, the reason for Melbourne's existence. It is another cold autumnal day. I have missed this brisk weather so much, I almost don't want to go home back to summer. At least I know that I will appreciate it all the more when it comes.<br />
In the evening I visit my friend Mark and collect various items of clothing I had left at his. We go to the pub and somehow, at some point in the night, I manage to make it back to my hostel. When I return I find that almost everyone there is awake and having a great time in the kitchen, and I spend the night doing what I love best, meeting new people and making new friends.<br />
My hostel in Melbourne, although not having the greatest facilities, is exactly what I wanted. The people are varied and friendly. It is friendly and comfortable, if a bit dilapidated. Admittedly it is cold, personally I don't mind at all, but I am alone in that regard. It reminds me of places that I visit at New Year back home with my friends, and my excitement to return home grows a little more.<br />
<br />
My last couple of days are spent in much the same way. I wander the city (which is gradually getting more rainy), and I spend time with my new friends. It is all very relaxed. On my last day I decide to treat myself to see the new X-Men film. I book my ticket online, then on the way to the cinema go into by bank to close my Australian account. Once this is done I proceed to the cinema and try to claim my ticket from the machine. All I have to do is put in the card that I used to buy the ticket and the ticket should come out. Put in the card that is, that only half an hour ago got cut up and thrown in the bin by the nice man in the bank.<br />
I manage to deal with it, and get to see the film. I walk home from the cinema through the dark, listening to my favourite music (Laura Marling obviously), and thinking about all the times I have spent here. As enjoyable as the walk is it is also mildly stressful, you see I have two thousand dollars in my pocket and really, really don't want to get mugged.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VNvRbM2KMBPbadKtb5HgsfOVXYw1BTi3E-bhfzkFL-E0lzY7g2HbLIvBpIr1aUnQgfFOGDLiZy_HoW3yfr5RNU2xB7-L_iOj1qT2-ZK11vdgJXXJ2eC4F6NmU603eqGXDoXFU_y58tY/s1600/IMG_4439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VNvRbM2KMBPbadKtb5HgsfOVXYw1BTi3E-bhfzkFL-E0lzY7g2HbLIvBpIr1aUnQgfFOGDLiZy_HoW3yfr5RNU2xB7-L_iOj1qT2-ZK11vdgJXXJ2eC4F6NmU603eqGXDoXFU_y58tY/s1600/IMG_4439.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC396xIzXb5ezvi79DDZvJstf14f3aryMRjAiszjs7uw7dX7VoSVV5Awg2ONDBoS8TrIWTpgzH499oqYrofE7qB9AQdAFAQFGTyYH5KBo4CRgPqI-3zpGam6J11eRZhNBVYOFkjB2wYo/s1600/IMG_4448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC396xIzXb5ezvi79DDZvJstf14f3aryMRjAiszjs7uw7dX7VoSVV5Awg2ONDBoS8TrIWTpgzH499oqYrofE7qB9AQdAFAQFGTyYH5KBo4CRgPqI-3zpGam6J11eRZhNBVYOFkjB2wYo/s1600/IMG_4448.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgYMa4G7wBCd6IoyxbrqWE06eIuNP57Mp-Ta6lJghIuMX1AvFe_Rv-qSgQccAz9wMg28z_CTk5zvVqVD-wS-EgX4zRg4rQParXiOJJo4isF6-v40Yvj0FoAyB2pj7mVS80uIHiKn4S3k/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgYMa4G7wBCd6IoyxbrqWE06eIuNP57Mp-Ta6lJghIuMX1AvFe_Rv-qSgQccAz9wMg28z_CTk5zvVqVD-wS-EgX4zRg4rQParXiOJJo4isF6-v40Yvj0FoAyB2pj7mVS80uIHiKn4S3k/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD1I4cKwRxi5A1NC0DUraAh0N4CPr2XGhxCXK10-BBAVs5dSqsU9TVuSAGI4Uf1_9GksyP7eJQFBWuM8i45kgp6_-fpqgviJiXZwAqrpymtv2I55d9QC93K7g7yddhGZvXO-4BV4ARc4/s1600/IMG_4464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD1I4cKwRxi5A1NC0DUraAh0N4CPr2XGhxCXK10-BBAVs5dSqsU9TVuSAGI4Uf1_9GksyP7eJQFBWuM8i45kgp6_-fpqgviJiXZwAqrpymtv2I55d9QC93K7g7yddhGZvXO-4BV4ARc4/s1600/IMG_4464.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBcXDAC99ajWJWK1G5lY4v-ptm8dEmcQOE-yIQdjvY17BucTbUZ-DQ-wFUDyPd155wzlOJlDEKPgx3FecDlw1uBzbrA44UucrxG1XT9nahGstVriD2cBJWNApkiyyRakE76wgw5ApLTQ/s1600/IMG_4473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBcXDAC99ajWJWK1G5lY4v-ptm8dEmcQOE-yIQdjvY17BucTbUZ-DQ-wFUDyPd155wzlOJlDEKPgx3FecDlw1uBzbrA44UucrxG1XT9nahGstVriD2cBJWNApkiyyRakE76wgw5ApLTQ/s1600/IMG_4473.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq3f4HMaVEC64mAWSETkmVvHOZarLtxaTJ9cbKX_6LoInUQzCFyG6n_-ZPb4d-NTVzDWM-tNqOOmR5C_aT0ZH2Q6MJS1f_97e4GVzGneSMCnXCQ7onDG3ZRM8EFTgSQ7CYG_WbiTvCus/s1600/IMG_4477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq3f4HMaVEC64mAWSETkmVvHOZarLtxaTJ9cbKX_6LoInUQzCFyG6n_-ZPb4d-NTVzDWM-tNqOOmR5C_aT0ZH2Q6MJS1f_97e4GVzGneSMCnXCQ7onDG3ZRM8EFTgSQ7CYG_WbiTvCus/s1600/IMG_4477.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0QQZoXRtlsrqX4PmVeGyoeG2xgMC5oie_IotfxW6booqeXAAeawp2r-GaZQfTRZjFrg38deiwNih1z8EEL8_vfk4w99fvIITOMEnFVMM3gNMhge2Qu4ZFHlriADAvVSHQJVtwv5c4YY/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0QQZoXRtlsrqX4PmVeGyoeG2xgMC5oie_IotfxW6booqeXAAeawp2r-GaZQfTRZjFrg38deiwNih1z8EEL8_vfk4w99fvIITOMEnFVMM3gNMhge2Qu4ZFHlriADAvVSHQJVtwv5c4YY/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ72aliwqd2x0t9snkRuTsWW4PnPS7cYQiwMf2H5BCpMwmxTGSCuGGqoNVmthZ5cYvxVXpbbFilwFPuBZUGkFPN9FkwSeFtv31u2uwd3A1Ps1Oy8i5nay7wVUmYKx8cHshjUoqwjCPhc/s1600/IMG_4484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ72aliwqd2x0t9snkRuTsWW4PnPS7cYQiwMf2H5BCpMwmxTGSCuGGqoNVmthZ5cYvxVXpbbFilwFPuBZUGkFPN9FkwSeFtv31u2uwd3A1Ps1Oy8i5nay7wVUmYKx8cHshjUoqwjCPhc/s1600/IMG_4484.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GakZHWBekdt-U7_aK1SMV4FnnPf6-y6Mw3FSEdQsSoTiEh5z7sPCRoTbcvH5Z1ezHDgkeBsrRD-dca24CNh1192PttI3ykM17cycI8Yno8OuX7M0Sx85QAGSOINN_phDgapYD7vSHR0/s1600/IMG_4495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GakZHWBekdt-U7_aK1SMV4FnnPf6-y6Mw3FSEdQsSoTiEh5z7sPCRoTbcvH5Z1ezHDgkeBsrRD-dca24CNh1192PttI3ykM17cycI8Yno8OuX7M0Sx85QAGSOINN_phDgapYD7vSHR0/s1600/IMG_4495.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBuRMhZI8wddQeK1WqEuAgsDQ4ltHjLV2AkpxDLm7YQOlK3NPDuEnVTjsZGKjquyxe4fsO_x3fq_iu-PpU8KwvV2NabVZcYyDka7gCQSFR1uiEKrPKROssReAFs36Le7umK_qUAL3rmw/s1600/IMG_4500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBuRMhZI8wddQeK1WqEuAgsDQ4ltHjLV2AkpxDLm7YQOlK3NPDuEnVTjsZGKjquyxe4fsO_x3fq_iu-PpU8KwvV2NabVZcYyDka7gCQSFR1uiEKrPKROssReAFs36Le7umK_qUAL3rmw/s1600/IMG_4500.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmVF6c-zfEwBZ0TDb0H5UE7iUf81GnqpNb4twG2098bwHGzm29ZorXT3qFphCc3nslGkTroaXodx27nGHh89-rl2Y0LIN6OqqdAbTde7tL9qggdMpDRhjlhyphenhyphenxngSTskbliM7O6-palsI/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmVF6c-zfEwBZ0TDb0H5UE7iUf81GnqpNb4twG2098bwHGzm29ZorXT3qFphCc3nslGkTroaXodx27nGHh89-rl2Y0LIN6OqqdAbTde7tL9qggdMpDRhjlhyphenhyphenxngSTskbliM7O6-palsI/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkKXtU0XcleSa-X6RjAfai42hPR2a8d_Vnbz1-lQMHQVFACHYxxeJeZw_znRysE_AAyHln_9Oqd1L6egqHwhdhhXf8HGCrTM5oDlOlNU0CCLBX4gQdJM-2PEVneBql08amMIe1s7gd3U/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkKXtU0XcleSa-X6RjAfai42hPR2a8d_Vnbz1-lQMHQVFACHYxxeJeZw_znRysE_AAyHln_9Oqd1L6egqHwhdhhXf8HGCrTM5oDlOlNU0CCLBX4gQdJM-2PEVneBql08amMIe1s7gd3U/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3Gq0thDwD29U01x9vK6nEgzNoTruKoDIVo9GF7Jlxz3d41xOZEvs0A4iNNY6IfDpO2cq9nhXpV2lPy9CdelkVHyA4ZHuPt2Gy-dkzXJzw3JePdb2GPAXir4g6Cg8P03egILE7FnZF1g/s1600/IMG_4514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3Gq0thDwD29U01x9vK6nEgzNoTruKoDIVo9GF7Jlxz3d41xOZEvs0A4iNNY6IfDpO2cq9nhXpV2lPy9CdelkVHyA4ZHuPt2Gy-dkzXJzw3JePdb2GPAXir4g6Cg8P03egILE7FnZF1g/s1600/IMG_4514.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRR-GvL_OqjRZBEhljKG3evqM0UmqNp5UwCbUCyvHneLC7rzmKHGAtaRyKur2LhGS_QLZSuls9HiHXgPFEOTAiS-3WgSS82U22U57hZdBNyIb73Yk_frisTf4JdB_VudZKS9Ir_BMhyphenhyphenI/s1600/IMG_4516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRR-GvL_OqjRZBEhljKG3evqM0UmqNp5UwCbUCyvHneLC7rzmKHGAtaRyKur2LhGS_QLZSuls9HiHXgPFEOTAiS-3WgSS82U22U57hZdBNyIb73Yk_frisTf4JdB_VudZKS9Ir_BMhyphenhyphenI/s1600/IMG_4516.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbOD817bqaj0dWXiYp8NcYWMo1VGNfXT2sXmi2eB7CEadOBziTU_p6yAl1O8HtK78RDUuNrFnC9WgMWvZlQqCIoPHAg9FqmvPpLtv-dBpFuKiYjwxzh-zQc3etWfD8TkIUGKiYPpm8JA/s1600/IMG_4530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbOD817bqaj0dWXiYp8NcYWMo1VGNfXT2sXmi2eB7CEadOBziTU_p6yAl1O8HtK78RDUuNrFnC9WgMWvZlQqCIoPHAg9FqmvPpLtv-dBpFuKiYjwxzh-zQc3etWfD8TkIUGKiYPpm8JA/s1600/IMG_4530.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRiwNLMJg_tPmOC-807vg2f9reD2j8-uMK3IhgBVAM_Ca3yn2RRdPoFa3x6IaWRrT_3T2OfCaINooYRJRXNF6QKU_hP_A9gvOXYV48jfISiIWESulp4Snh3t7xjkZU5E8kw5zn2CiHZ4/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRiwNLMJg_tPmOC-807vg2f9reD2j8-uMK3IhgBVAM_Ca3yn2RRdPoFa3x6IaWRrT_3T2OfCaINooYRJRXNF6QKU_hP_A9gvOXYV48jfISiIWESulp4Snh3t7xjkZU5E8kw5zn2CiHZ4/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU435ujNNCvDO4hxGfC85vvqt06WKN1SxhYdnVNKhsO5p2VRQBkFxueU6KfUpehKYOXijuDVRk2uoH9YUuWwi-vnY-q1OQXjVVtUiJvb5QPbvgy8CatMVb5b8UrGd8ctpVXYBdF8Y8uN0/s1600/IMG_4537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU435ujNNCvDO4hxGfC85vvqt06WKN1SxhYdnVNKhsO5p2VRQBkFxueU6KfUpehKYOXijuDVRk2uoH9YUuWwi-vnY-q1OQXjVVtUiJvb5QPbvgy8CatMVb5b8UrGd8ctpVXYBdF8Y8uN0/s1600/IMG_4537.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcbdmkbFY7HNW25Xlfw9cjtZhmX36Z88dWoGIug7xqqxTSfqoSaKcb4uFL3XyyVYxKW-rljVekCFiaUR4TLtOa_65fJL58UFduM3vuOBma5tlhTXSMmqNXNilrzM8lLWS-Q6Mzfmo3co/s1600/IMG_4548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcbdmkbFY7HNW25Xlfw9cjtZhmX36Z88dWoGIug7xqqxTSfqoSaKcb4uFL3XyyVYxKW-rljVekCFiaUR4TLtOa_65fJL58UFduM3vuOBma5tlhTXSMmqNXNilrzM8lLWS-Q6Mzfmo3co/s1600/IMG_4548.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaa2RZZ28M1H3HJBHoqJz48xogGBcH387VgfG6PFEDaXqjNv3VuIAiQpG9ViTdUvuq9QDPmJ5NlouaN9At_usiXv9AirEUm1tugr6zXpUaw-n_XmsGRcjqTcxjElalgGnfJCs53wWyvU/s1600/IMG_4560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaa2RZZ28M1H3HJBHoqJz48xogGBcH387VgfG6PFEDaXqjNv3VuIAiQpG9ViTdUvuq9QDPmJ5NlouaN9At_usiXv9AirEUm1tugr6zXpUaw-n_XmsGRcjqTcxjElalgGnfJCs53wWyvU/s1600/IMG_4560.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDMDEJIC_oZJA8xXL7tmQeoXgL8LReK1U-teSY1l9wFiblXxKtheDaN9ks7wuXHFb1fZjYwZGrreHbSPk5NfQphRfhyYIMOwRUPGyWPetrlQzxOZKkfwr1xC_ClOnm44LIMf-VkdXfZ8/s1600/IMG_4562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDMDEJIC_oZJA8xXL7tmQeoXgL8LReK1U-teSY1l9wFiblXxKtheDaN9ks7wuXHFb1fZjYwZGrreHbSPk5NfQphRfhyYIMOwRUPGyWPetrlQzxOZKkfwr1xC_ClOnm44LIMf-VkdXfZ8/s1600/IMG_4562.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BhWtqGJ1sFV4WhlfZA2LAJgeE9nIbnQx6TE7sj5IeL4Q8OPUIx_753wyvhZwsxtKWnIJ80DQraiy4E-LouY9yHexMKYzfSNVgaqd0fbPpDD7FiqTxiuJMByu5eDHZZCJqGjie7GaFY0/s1600/IMG_4565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BhWtqGJ1sFV4WhlfZA2LAJgeE9nIbnQx6TE7sj5IeL4Q8OPUIx_753wyvhZwsxtKWnIJ80DQraiy4E-LouY9yHexMKYzfSNVgaqd0fbPpDD7FiqTxiuJMByu5eDHZZCJqGjie7GaFY0/s1600/IMG_4565.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv86wooK0kilJ5Vv6O65K6KhCkJirXtorn-R8oAZiYmxr1QFRghHSH6CIWMwKj5S5aqpg85FYWo9E69VlLafapAmPU7veEeAkIgnw753kBSmylKgNrpLKHvMZqppsNJsRWXHRNAfoyhhw/s1600/IMG_4575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv86wooK0kilJ5Vv6O65K6KhCkJirXtorn-R8oAZiYmxr1QFRghHSH6CIWMwKj5S5aqpg85FYWo9E69VlLafapAmPU7veEeAkIgnw753kBSmylKgNrpLKHvMZqppsNJsRWXHRNAfoyhhw/s1600/IMG_4575.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
So the day has arrived. As I write this I am sitting on the plane from Melbourne to Sydney, the first leg of the journey home. This was the fifth time I had been in Melbourne airport in my time here (two arrivals and three departures), and no doubt it will be the last for a very long time, perhaps even ever.<br />
I'm not really sure what I'm feeling just now. I listen to music that I remember listening to on my journey out and it makes me feel sad, and yet when I think about seeing my family and friends I am filled with excitement. I think I have discovered the truth behind the phrase 'absence makes the heart grow fonder', for right now everything about rings true. So all in all I am glad to be going home, it is just a shame that Australia is so far away, and therefore so hard to come back to visit.<br />
The landscape fades below me. The patchwork of green could as easily be England as Australia. The sky that started clear starts to dot with wisps of cloud. The further we go the thicker they become, blending into a great blanket that lies just above the ground. I know what I will be like underneath; dim, overcast skies and cold, bitter winds. And yet from above it is a sculpted sea of frosted glass, glistening in the strength of the sun unveiled.<br />
First Aid Kit, who so kindly provided me with not only a blog title but also a soundtrack to my journey out here, have stepped up again and released a new album just in time for the journey back, and it tides me on my way into the sky. On my way home.<br />
<br />
At one point I considered whether I would end up staying out here for good. It was always a vague possibility in the back of my mind, but now I can't even imagine it. I think love would have been the only thing that could have changed my mind, and it would have to have been a strong one, to overbear my love of my friends, my family, my country.</div>
<div>
<br />
For truly, in stolen words once again, how could I break away from you?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/zKmit_uQrSQ/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/zKmit_uQrSQ&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/zKmit_uQrSQ&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-22073375890383325242014-06-24T10:09:00.001-07:002014-06-24T10:09:34.954-07:00LombokOur boat speeds away from Bali and bright offerings burst from the stern, trailing behind us through the infinite blue. They disperse and float upon the wind, a flash of colour, then they are gone. The Island of a Thousand Temples diminishes to a pale line of distant hills, then it too is gone.<br /> I stretch out across a whole row of seats, making up for being parted from my music for four whole days. Nia and Lowri (the Welsh) nap nearby. We are on one of the many Fast Boats out of Bali, and Fast is certainly the correct word. Not an hour and a half later we dock on the island of Gili Trawangan, one of three tiny islands, collectively known as 'The Gilis', that are situated just off the North-West coast of Lombok, the next major island along from Bali in the Indonesian archipelago. The Gilis are small and beautiful, three coral fringed idylls of white sand and turquoise sea, none of which it takes more than an hour or two to walk around.<br /> We disembark, and I instantly like the feeling of this place. We are in a small town that consists of one earthy high street that runs along the shore, with houses and accommodation making up the many back streets that lead towards the islands centre. It feels relaxed and friendly, and there are no scooters or cars in sight. The only methods of transport across the three islands are bicycle and horse which, on the face of it, sounds fantastic. And there is no police presence either, which no doubt contributes to the chilled out atmosphere.<br /> After some searching we find ourselves accommodation that seems decent and ,more importantly, fun. It is run entirely by a group of guys,who do everything from the cooking to the cleaning, a situation I do not think I would ever have seen in Bali, and a situation that I see quite a few times during my time in Lombok.<br /> It is obvious that the main reason for settlement on the Gilis is tourism, and I see many more white people here than almost anywhere else I have been, and yet despite this I don't find myself hating it. Often the touristy places, like in Kuta, bring out the worst of both peoples, the ignorant foreigners who care nothing for local culture and local people, and the locals driven to theft and violence by all the wealth they see around them. But here, thankfully, this doesn't seem to be the case.<br /><br /> We spend our first couple of days exploring the shops and shores of Gili T. This island has a large collection of boutiques and craft stores that far exceed, in both quality and variety, the usual tat that pervades anywhere on the tourist trail. We find a brilliant jewellers that runs silver-smithing courses, Lauri and Nia had been planning on doing one later in their trip and decide to sign up for this one, with me, instead.<br /> One day we hire bikes and circumnavigate the island, stopping off for snorkelling breaks on the way. We follow shaded earthen paths and traverse pure white beaches, pushing our not particularly sturdy bikes through soft sand that slips and slides beneath the wheels.<br /> We hear of a particularly good area for snorkelling so we set ourselves up beneath some trees for the afternoon. Once again, getting in and out of the sea turns out to be the biggest problem. Due to the endless supply of sharp rocks and long dead coral you pretty much have to, for the sake of your feet, wear your flippers from the moment you enter the water. You then have to walk for a good twenty or thirty meters in the flippers through water that is too shallow to attempt to swim in but just deep enough to make walking in flippers nigh on impossible. And again, of course, are the regular and frequent waves that always seem to have just enough force to knock you off balance.<br /> Anyway, we make it in, and it is instantly obvious how strong the current is. Unless you try very hard to stay in one place, by swimming directly into the current, you are quickly pulled farther round the island. This means you can just float face down and watch all the wonders beneath you as you are pulled over them, which is great as long as you don't mind walking back to your starting point when you come out.<br /> The first time in is not particularly amazing. It is a lot of fun, I don't think I can go snorkelling and not have a lot of fun, but it is nothing extraordinary. The water upstream seems to be a lot clearer, but moving in that direction at any great rate is nearly impossible, so instead I spend a lot of time and effort getting out of the sea, I walk further up the coast then spend a lot of time and effort getting back into the sea.<br /> This time it is amazing. I see huge bulky fish, a good couple of feet long and wide as a football, slowly feeding on the coral. I see clouds of tiny fish clustered behind rocks, swaying and pulled as one by the current. The sea floor opens up beneath me into craters and valleys, amphitheatres and towers, and every one is teeming with life. A group of long thin fish that appear almost like eels swim past, many feet long and as thin as my wrist. A then I see what I have been looking for for so long, since first snorkelling in Australia over nine months ago, a turtle. A huge, beautiful, majestic turtle.<br /> It glides beneath me, slow and graceful, uncaring of my watchful eyes. It looks vast, though size is distorted by the water and my goggles so it is hard to tell, but I think it is almost a meter and a half. I dive down and run my hand down its patterned shell and it turns its head and fixes me with its piercing gaze.<br /><br /> I do not know how long I follow it, watching it feed, diving down with it after it comes up to breathe, but I could have continued forever. Then I see another, of the same species (Green Turtle I think) and a similar size. They swim by each other, taking only a mild interest in each others doings, then pass and continue on their way. Torn, I follow the new one, but it seems more wary of my presence so I return to the first. At long last the turtle heads out into deeper water and I decide to return to land, satisfied.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JrbvlR42uDhJxgGbsQPZEOYwZOqpKrX2CkBjzmVbEXI-0YbmvokIvEBx-CCKxQ4h_dRJk29-5JLd9ijDe3QYFdpYffkofj7tyTpCVDmpvGMYLWOaim-SzCWmyGzr9Me_3ssc2JL8wI4/s1600/IMG_3669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JrbvlR42uDhJxgGbsQPZEOYwZOqpKrX2CkBjzmVbEXI-0YbmvokIvEBx-CCKxQ4h_dRJk29-5JLd9ijDe3QYFdpYffkofj7tyTpCVDmpvGMYLWOaim-SzCWmyGzr9Me_3ssc2JL8wI4/s1600/IMG_3669.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu3YJIPznYoSLf7m2tlYtc8zt5gP6wczvEaLgSDdy66o4FbZ07C6a-FMoAT1haIc4r-va_75yRcRNH68sy_YRJCPD2DmOpqU7y_1u_6BdSZn7QGYbKo4yxSgPsHjkLJjvFhhrwOt0Z_w/s1600/IMG_3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu3YJIPznYoSLf7m2tlYtc8zt5gP6wczvEaLgSDdy66o4FbZ07C6a-FMoAT1haIc4r-va_75yRcRNH68sy_YRJCPD2DmOpqU7y_1u_6BdSZn7QGYbKo4yxSgPsHjkLJjvFhhrwOt0Z_w/s1600/IMG_3673.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16OXSJfLjyPj6OynEzWh1BKeKJaKIpNX-RPqWX0Rw_Mzi5Qhd-NfQs9cRWtuFTMW1JqZskREtOHfMvwYDc90rY962C-zVQuClzTgqIFdHhPBQ_uYELZGBHt8ZcfA2AT_umlG8nyIgE-4/s1600/IMG_3684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16OXSJfLjyPj6OynEzWh1BKeKJaKIpNX-RPqWX0Rw_Mzi5Qhd-NfQs9cRWtuFTMW1JqZskREtOHfMvwYDc90rY962C-zVQuClzTgqIFdHhPBQ_uYELZGBHt8ZcfA2AT_umlG8nyIgE-4/s1600/IMG_3684.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXkIrg8qtwViByouky9MvhHe-3fWIhKthHXSyXff5dr7teNDasol0LuCLPnp_cVRklHX-ce6ymys_dXFZdkeita7w5aFjw4t7ARcYa3Z2fZcv7kScWnBTILfzKx3pCvxDfhI7zSMfEhE/s1600/IMG_3691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXkIrg8qtwViByouky9MvhHe-3fWIhKthHXSyXff5dr7teNDasol0LuCLPnp_cVRklHX-ce6ymys_dXFZdkeita7w5aFjw4t7ARcYa3Z2fZcv7kScWnBTILfzKx3pCvxDfhI7zSMfEhE/s1600/IMG_3691.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN6bufq7y3TjUuDumrfCqnuXAUep-vug7gasKf57LR0bk47LCRTAhX5kyPMbZ200FFYQ2Fub_0XmyW_nBykYa2GKPc3fbU_Zi9wTOngQImHVkj029wtmNrdMVNCTnYe0GGS8ksjG7r_A/s1600/IMG_3693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN6bufq7y3TjUuDumrfCqnuXAUep-vug7gasKf57LR0bk47LCRTAhX5kyPMbZ200FFYQ2Fub_0XmyW_nBykYa2GKPc3fbU_Zi9wTOngQImHVkj029wtmNrdMVNCTnYe0GGS8ksjG7r_A/s1600/IMG_3693.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwEqNDosamQ7vRjbXqOowPXDVVZI6WA6NBXc9lztDE_YoVpGsY9N_-zoGpTi0h3Ogxd9P00Mx9-KYTotUUoJT0ADAghoM51sadxKG7T6aHRW1fijbqG24QtV3-Ajp5p3o5TqDAhLDA_g/s1600/IMG_3703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwEqNDosamQ7vRjbXqOowPXDVVZI6WA6NBXc9lztDE_YoVpGsY9N_-zoGpTi0h3Ogxd9P00Mx9-KYTotUUoJT0ADAghoM51sadxKG7T6aHRW1fijbqG24QtV3-Ajp5p3o5TqDAhLDA_g/s1600/IMG_3703.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SG9McGtK13xvS86z-qyMUX8Itqtb8j9XtwZ511olgEGGUdPS4xtP3x7ucsAcvPr27B8cP_qQDJMxhbyAoA4qfB6PankVO9qzduludfXwo4nMvitfWrZFYLCQp4WI8fmX0WQJJHCk5Os/s1600/IMG_3708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SG9McGtK13xvS86z-qyMUX8Itqtb8j9XtwZ511olgEGGUdPS4xtP3x7ucsAcvPr27B8cP_qQDJMxhbyAoA4qfB6PankVO9qzduludfXwo4nMvitfWrZFYLCQp4WI8fmX0WQJJHCk5Os/s1600/IMG_3708.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdVAztkp4W3FCs_g14koNntR5gaTdrCI_Dy6w31GR08AA3TPhlai-5pGOVeNrCNquxLNHNwg-2VY4Erqao6jUCbFn8DsOinQ5CnocjybkWIiKm66mTDdeVhuZFw1cA29Eyo0JW4CTD44/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdVAztkp4W3FCs_g14koNntR5gaTdrCI_Dy6w31GR08AA3TPhlai-5pGOVeNrCNquxLNHNwg-2VY4Erqao6jUCbFn8DsOinQ5CnocjybkWIiKm66mTDdeVhuZFw1cA29Eyo0JW4CTD44/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is one aspect of island life that is not at all the great thing it at first seemed, and the more time we spend here the more apparent it becomes. This is the treatment of the horses that live and work here. As I said, there are no cars, so the transportation of tourists and goods is up to these massively overworked and massively underfed and under-watered creatures. They work all day in the baking heat, pulling carts piled high with, for example, boxes of beer, without a moments rest. On the rare occasions when they stop moving they simply stand, shaking and foaming at the mouth, staring into the distance, offering no response to a friendly touch. And trying to give them water often just makes their handlers angry. Once we saw one collapse at it attempted to pull a cart piled with goods and people into the central market. It just lay on the ground, panting and spent. The gentle chiming of bells that signifies their approach, a noise that when I first arrived inspired joy, has become sinister and vile.<br /> There are organisations that are hard at work to fix this. The problem lies, as so many do, in a lack of education. The people that work these horses the way they do not see them as living beings that should be cherished, and they do not realise that if they were to care for them properly they would end up with a stronger, more effective work force, that would live longer. The horses would be happier, they would get more work done, and the people would be happier as a result. And the sound of bells would be joyful again.<br /><br /> On our last full day we attend our silver-smithing course. We are given five grams of silver to work with, and can create, under instruction, whatever we want. I design a pendant of an English Oak leaf. The process itself is not really as hard as I had thought, I cut the shape out of the plate of silver, and hammer in the indentations, using the blowtorch to soften it. I do admittedly make a small hole through the middle, but then again I believe it is the flaws not the perfection, that make the greatest works of art. After this there is a lot of filing to perfect the shape and round off the edges, and then it is a case of sanding and polishing, and it is done. The whole thing takes about three hours and is a lot of fun. If only I had the tools available to me, it is the sort of thing I would love to do more frequently.<br /><br />The next day it is time for me to move onto mainland Lombok while the Welsh continue to the other Gili islands. Another farewell, another new beginning. I get the local boat across to the mainland, a short but beautiful journey, and from there manage to barter a pretty good price all the way down to the south coast, where some of my friends are staying, and learning to surf.<br /> The drive through Lombok reveals twisting green mountains, steep and towering, and far, flat plains dotted with glistening rice fields. It is instantly obvious that it is more rural than Bali, more untouched.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8_3_mHHzFE84StTHkt-LdAouGywtcHpscogeod8-CZypF3R6v0hr3nmZE6ks3M2HXM3YJgN_g7qAnHf1YoV9Rr-yZhn3IW_TwbHZzCkjkqJttB1g0pyZVAU46lTgyeZwbO_7RSh8ivs/s1600/IMG_3727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8_3_mHHzFE84StTHkt-LdAouGywtcHpscogeod8-CZypF3R6v0hr3nmZE6ks3M2HXM3YJgN_g7qAnHf1YoV9Rr-yZhn3IW_TwbHZzCkjkqJttB1g0pyZVAU46lTgyeZwbO_7RSh8ivs/s1600/IMG_3727.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdxYoQD2hD9WXqBsJ2aFYl0_AXo6DCqaHXTQtcaPNAan5hem2ZscFX-5zbPYptTgzayRpW51mxo9Kq1sxnQ8dNZ9XrX64r6kPNXft-fXsF0Y_FQuc246ItYHrDEGZXHc3KNHmNwMgtLc/s1600/IMG_3735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdxYoQD2hD9WXqBsJ2aFYl0_AXo6DCqaHXTQtcaPNAan5hem2ZscFX-5zbPYptTgzayRpW51mxo9Kq1sxnQ8dNZ9XrX64r6kPNXft-fXsF0Y_FQuc246ItYHrDEGZXHc3KNHmNwMgtLc/s1600/IMG_3735.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbv33GNAghQav-etq3G4Kzl_zuwR-_zKAjdOBa2MVq4RrIw2QkPriVl6Z24Chi5esYgjZAu1NoHE5FxqPljuL9czpatdTQH8c5-TKQ4-FfJYvp7MOAqeYOYes1PMUqQyMBsrm3qQA1aw/s1600/IMG_3742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbv33GNAghQav-etq3G4Kzl_zuwR-_zKAjdOBa2MVq4RrIw2QkPriVl6Z24Chi5esYgjZAu1NoHE5FxqPljuL9czpatdTQH8c5-TKQ4-FfJYvp7MOAqeYOYes1PMUqQyMBsrm3qQA1aw/s1600/IMG_3742.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f6GBlJbR3rNXd3h5tIQpgbExphuauaz2oyRWxclEB16DUiUkwOyQ4g1zNVdntkorzm8nOAhvflZwbIO3cPbkWJOLDoQGqnBAs-7WuPZnfvihSsWMeZqz1r9IG8VmuKUYijZU522Gpvk/s1600/IMG_3755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f6GBlJbR3rNXd3h5tIQpgbExphuauaz2oyRWxclEB16DUiUkwOyQ4g1zNVdntkorzm8nOAhvflZwbIO3cPbkWJOLDoQGqnBAs-7WuPZnfvihSsWMeZqz1r9IG8VmuKUYijZU522Gpvk/s1600/IMG_3755.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />The town I am staying in is called Kuta, though it is very different to Kuta Bali. It is small but slightly sprawling, and a haven for surfers. My two friends from Germany, Hannah and Johanna, I met when first staying at Tania's, and they have been here learning to surf ever since. Luckily I made it just in time to spend their last few days with them before they leave.<br /> They show me to all their favourite bars and restaurants, and at the full moon we go to an all night party on the beach. The surf shop they use is across the road from my hostel and we spend a fair bit of time drinking arak with the group of Indonesian guys who run it.<br /> I hire another motorbike and when they are surfing I spend my time exploring the beaches and coves nearby. The landscape here it, in a word, vast. Lombok is a much smaller island than Bali, but the landscape is larger and wilder. The south coast is made of huge, sweeping bays surrounded by great towering hills that tumble down onto windswept beaches and churning seas.<br /> When it comes time for the Germans to leave I too head off. I drive north on my bike, with the aim of visiting the mountains to the north. After driving for about half an hour I am pretty confident that I am on the right track, until I find myself driving past the hostel I had just left in Kuta. Take two is much more successful.<br /><br /> I drive north through tilth and town, altitude slowly increasing. At last I come to the entrance of Gunung Rinjani National Park that contains Mt Rinjani, the second highest peak in Indonesia, and my path twists towards the sky. Settlements fall behind until all that surrounds is layers of deep valley, verdant and bursting with trees. As the land gets more fruitful my view is obscured more and more until I am driving through natural tunnels, occasionally getting glimpses of the lofty peaks I am among. And then it starts to rain.<br /> It rains with the vehemence of the monsoon. A sudden, extreme downpour. I pull over and put on my raincoat and the waterproof cover for my bag. Anything not well protected is instantly soaked. I drive through the rain and it fees like the canopy above offers no refuge. It cascades through the trees, driving and cold. I wonder if I do miss the UK so much after all.<br /> At last it stops, and the world is left a place of fog and mist, with air fresh as ice. The foliage to one side of the road drops away and a valley of cloud and tree soars above me. Clouds roll over the heights and snake down the walls to pool at the base. They spread and disperse over the forest, bathing the trees in icy water.<br />My path winds upward further still and mountain tops and ridges reveal themselves, similarly swathed in blankets of mist. At last I come to a pass, and before me stretches the Sembalun valley, the road plummeting into its depths. A collection of small towns dot its floor, ringed by a series of hills and mountains that form the rim of a great caldera. I make my way, carefully, down the wet road. The world is saturated and alive, resounding with the noises of life, a celebration of the cleansing rain.<br /><br />I drive into town and check into one of the few places available. It is expensive and offers little, but I don't have much choice. The rest of the afternoon I spend exploring the sodden landscape, and have my tea at a small family warung (a place that serves food), and the daughter, Ayu, takes quite a shine to me! I'm sitting eating my fried rice when she sidles up to my table and asks if she can 'company' me. I eventually work out what she means and invite her to sit down, and proceeds to ask me all about Scotland and what I think of Indonesia. I think she's about fourteen or fifteen, and I'm not sure how old she thinks I am but she definitely thinks the age gap is appropriate. She is very surprised, and pleased, when I tell her that I don't have a girlfriend, and she invites me into the garden and makes me taste the family blackberries (very different from blackberries back home), then gets my name so she can add me on Facebook.<br />At one point, when discussing food, I tell her how much sugar everyone uses in Indonesia, and how sweet all the food is, and how I'm looking forward to not having sugar when I get back home. She thinks I'm calling her sweet and proceeds to blush and giggle while thanking me profusely. I promise to visit again on my way past the next morning, then I return to my accommodation before I am made to stay the night.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-sLOVuwQKPPEMEKoyPByJzuro0MQVG1GYGpQm69yHwD8oYwZoi4Hn40nDY7jOJ8msqhVhMyFiJR_9V0idEtN9ot_9HGuweJLFnNDOB8X6lvVIUaK1OvCtxKh_f9eE2EC2wWXLwPwNzE/s1600/IMG_3767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-sLOVuwQKPPEMEKoyPByJzuro0MQVG1GYGpQm69yHwD8oYwZoi4Hn40nDY7jOJ8msqhVhMyFiJR_9V0idEtN9ot_9HGuweJLFnNDOB8X6lvVIUaK1OvCtxKh_f9eE2EC2wWXLwPwNzE/s1600/IMG_3767.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7i59iqNRE3OfRsmkXD0cRFt_h6Y2C3KJqTL2XQDOkDJwpIbaMoUgSmWaWvMMrMvO5Xzcimk_YXV5KN4UIqL7uwZMHO9oUqt8UrhFRrxxjUXwM0ok1ynh0M50PrNMNjpgM35ePfYjio4/s1600/IMG_3770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7i59iqNRE3OfRsmkXD0cRFt_h6Y2C3KJqTL2XQDOkDJwpIbaMoUgSmWaWvMMrMvO5Xzcimk_YXV5KN4UIqL7uwZMHO9oUqt8UrhFRrxxjUXwM0ok1ynh0M50PrNMNjpgM35ePfYjio4/s1600/IMG_3770.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjkaPQw_C0nFYy1BdVxpWMWrzhNoHt3GI8Ysu4d4JQNrWqRF-ClPK83rTBP37T0delTlVMt5Ni8D20DadLtVwsxMvowPfVgEGi3UhJY1H9Em2QdlA1VDBAYMsuHYSkFzNv8WDX9IagZQ/s1600/IMG_3771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjkaPQw_C0nFYy1BdVxpWMWrzhNoHt3GI8Ysu4d4JQNrWqRF-ClPK83rTBP37T0delTlVMt5Ni8D20DadLtVwsxMvowPfVgEGi3UhJY1H9Em2QdlA1VDBAYMsuHYSkFzNv8WDX9IagZQ/s1600/IMG_3771.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1rmD0pYUZdU-ESzW2_Azfalrq4xMPhZ-4-zbAq_WTywzKEIpq3_unqkVYYN2i6JEw3wY15XY5zYSI-cWCbiWUIyVOZhyphenhyphenzHghGhFRcdx2ZA_bl9XVfgmMkms0fwjZpK9qaXF5OZnOqps/s1600/IMG_3799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1rmD0pYUZdU-ESzW2_Azfalrq4xMPhZ-4-zbAq_WTywzKEIpq3_unqkVYYN2i6JEw3wY15XY5zYSI-cWCbiWUIyVOZhyphenhyphenzHghGhFRcdx2ZA_bl9XVfgmMkms0fwjZpK9qaXF5OZnOqps/s1600/IMG_3799.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Urzc_lcZhfU_Qln2E9HSiBTAKchri8XeiDm4A4NZUpiOCPssy556hsBgFfV1L9hLTmXlKHWqu-JiftFaIhbaGMp85mvzaEHZ_77wMRWAx9YDW0PSbcwYOXdpBNDne6i_rEIHo3PtCm4/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Urzc_lcZhfU_Qln2E9HSiBTAKchri8XeiDm4A4NZUpiOCPssy556hsBgFfV1L9hLTmXlKHWqu-JiftFaIhbaGMp85mvzaEHZ_77wMRWAx9YDW0PSbcwYOXdpBNDne6i_rEIHo3PtCm4/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk-jRKJPUjs1bLb8_Z1ySm73wMUTfLZSiCOcY4xSAqHsltQZC4Wy5iNiHZxmP-oUq3OIMdQSOqIyoHipeMNPgSoEvMJkmACieU2_5X7U2zLG_yeNoUwF5L_PN1PtGlyxlW0LMCc1tFXs/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk-jRKJPUjs1bLb8_Z1ySm73wMUTfLZSiCOcY4xSAqHsltQZC4Wy5iNiHZxmP-oUq3OIMdQSOqIyoHipeMNPgSoEvMJkmACieU2_5X7U2zLG_yeNoUwF5L_PN1PtGlyxlW0LMCc1tFXs/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSTnAUDhwj5kBc3EguUpC5fztoki2bkUyrFigeBD4CxarYPi7MmbPtyIcc1mynGnNS0CUYgiEU1hgXP5rJW4YMz0QIoYksL8MJIyOlEVN9WHdHJ97hRej1PAC49UO-HoKBB0rl5EVbvI/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSTnAUDhwj5kBc3EguUpC5fztoki2bkUyrFigeBD4CxarYPi7MmbPtyIcc1mynGnNS0CUYgiEU1hgXP5rJW4YMz0QIoYksL8MJIyOlEVN9WHdHJ97hRej1PAC49UO-HoKBB0rl5EVbvI/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchv_TwgGOD55oenA2tYPo7WGAnAcMxcaPYB-_sQ0i-6ntOy_uSeWloC5zSlLytfO-JPSDifsexTCwsVB6EMNTuLVnzn5imNeNkfeATucO4sGKv6eQXdueO-d_UhyLWjdXanurIIpIY_Q/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchv_TwgGOD55oenA2tYPo7WGAnAcMxcaPYB-_sQ0i-6ntOy_uSeWloC5zSlLytfO-JPSDifsexTCwsVB6EMNTuLVnzn5imNeNkfeATucO4sGKv6eQXdueO-d_UhyLWjdXanurIIpIY_Q/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUzfEpzF2SiqC97_UoHj3NT2BFcIhE5miKFlIiIliHb4ozoXC9qjPLwZhfcjtyBZr57fmZ7rU6gariiLZelEVe6b6xW-jfqQAn7TM04ZTd5NWKovXOwUaA_Ep79d-TvshjnvG8GFIF6U/s1600/IMG_3854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUzfEpzF2SiqC97_UoHj3NT2BFcIhE5miKFlIiIliHb4ozoXC9qjPLwZhfcjtyBZr57fmZ7rU6gariiLZelEVe6b6xW-jfqQAn7TM04ZTd5NWKovXOwUaA_Ep79d-TvshjnvG8GFIF6U/s1600/IMG_3854.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPexBwLxluzeHzYPdaC3hIr5k8D52Me8gbNva7GGxtqvS4iNLq5lpfU-Q2rLiA9cGDH8DvqAiURCQ1RRRJNQqiZSOQMqI4sM7vuwPzHaGweWce-obd-aepRNppSVyTIokiKbKMtHsSdE/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPexBwLxluzeHzYPdaC3hIr5k8D52Me8gbNva7GGxtqvS4iNLq5lpfU-Q2rLiA9cGDH8DvqAiURCQ1RRRJNQqiZSOQMqI4sM7vuwPzHaGweWce-obd-aepRNppSVyTIokiKbKMtHsSdE/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkkc-5I_j3a4yNQpLYEVgCXXyMpCCwwcEn8k39WH6-mreEFcgx9D30OpKlL3HB4Y2l_RwvfJUNrUwwWRy-kcUJ5r2rBRfT-rCtcOvcUS8dc4-ArkkrtC_aNrbVY3pe6WyEy0QnhIaupA/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkkc-5I_j3a4yNQpLYEVgCXXyMpCCwwcEn8k39WH6-mreEFcgx9D30OpKlL3HB4Y2l_RwvfJUNrUwwWRy-kcUJ5r2rBRfT-rCtcOvcUS8dc4-ArkkrtC_aNrbVY3pe6WyEy0QnhIaupA/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienrH5yj2jqUy1uT7sSBtCGEFFyAvv0gqgbaGlcmAeTF8WWyh79IEB_5cAF9jBAgHQ-ELCPPxEd1Ihi4tdllbFMSo2LEKpjgXnPPbEe5SVl8k4rBoi5tHNz5MBwFBfgzIbfSDx7JftRnI/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienrH5yj2jqUy1uT7sSBtCGEFFyAvv0gqgbaGlcmAeTF8WWyh79IEB_5cAF9jBAgHQ-ELCPPxEd1Ihi4tdllbFMSo2LEKpjgXnPPbEe5SVl8k4rBoi5tHNz5MBwFBfgzIbfSDx7JftRnI/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX6XUdAReTfWiRZk01y5WMN77s_Fka4IUrz1bTvRcP3tZNPHvdswGLdjn9eJ3np9-5qpQCHM5JtcnH-mzyHqqahYqbVQPJIfO1FVloPYKFbyE4rlurw4GoHd-5Q7nxCGjAD2YlMItJw4/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX6XUdAReTfWiRZk01y5WMN77s_Fka4IUrz1bTvRcP3tZNPHvdswGLdjn9eJ3np9-5qpQCHM5JtcnH-mzyHqqahYqbVQPJIfO1FVloPYKFbyE4rlurw4GoHd-5Q7nxCGjAD2YlMItJw4/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHSZPcd6bWYFb9XKUTq5FY5YYzYDEfPlGaVu9etmaQmReOtHNc7vaRuNvC6vr-X6IDjpGuZdqi6lhC1ALlqKZVRCybnZ2b9HWiQ_ixhiA5uJhjFuTPK13uvyBWyGmy-4dreo4BEuxiI0/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHSZPcd6bWYFb9XKUTq5FY5YYzYDEfPlGaVu9etmaQmReOtHNc7vaRuNvC6vr-X6IDjpGuZdqi6lhC1ALlqKZVRCybnZ2b9HWiQ_ixhiA5uJhjFuTPK13uvyBWyGmy-4dreo4BEuxiI0/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSejkodY_iWX5JOTHiVK31jzaGPT7Wb1jm6yZDRhxef0YZDPM6H4tTlmRgKeHeY51xSitdCmhAEKZxi0fwhyphenhyphenplj1bZLKqTJR23TcRAHcDR9XspHdkLOUcfj9JZkRXqhR26DedxFoT-wew/s1600/IMG_3903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSejkodY_iWX5JOTHiVK31jzaGPT7Wb1jm6yZDRhxef0YZDPM6H4tTlmRgKeHeY51xSitdCmhAEKZxi0fwhyphenhyphenplj1bZLKqTJR23TcRAHcDR9XspHdkLOUcfj9JZkRXqhR26DedxFoT-wew/s1600/IMG_3903.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1yhST-DvSUXmw6JLLk69Cxf55lBEt050Bcm84LZ75pSF2-UAMRqfqUs7qWfKfivdoDGCChl0-Tp4-ZVlSdYzpmAOJ6GoAY9n3C0sgs_kJJWCju807sR9lcUSkpEhyphenhyphenB1CpojZ29DvGZI/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1yhST-DvSUXmw6JLLk69Cxf55lBEt050Bcm84LZ75pSF2-UAMRqfqUs7qWfKfivdoDGCChl0-Tp4-ZVlSdYzpmAOJ6GoAY9n3C0sgs_kJJWCju807sR9lcUSkpEhyphenhyphenB1CpojZ29DvGZI/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv8Uep6m6QBIlvDuWUO-6gl5zHErlopJahxdn-Mv7miUE9Z3vm9Mj_GYUUwqIdB-2ROrcOgnehVThpP9OLIqGD5QViMTw7RPvurGag6nljwdyUUx7_23EYEuWmbiafK6rLWrrkDWCzNk/s1600/IMG_3931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv8Uep6m6QBIlvDuWUO-6gl5zHErlopJahxdn-Mv7miUE9Z3vm9Mj_GYUUwqIdB-2ROrcOgnehVThpP9OLIqGD5QViMTw7RPvurGag6nljwdyUUx7_23EYEuWmbiafK6rLWrrkDWCzNk/s1600/IMG_3931.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVsS7dUWikooM0dVRuR9eqlj1nddqnOfKffTjdSC2dABWmfLV-F02DvEcEoqWRop56sKsAd8_tl0qjdJJobO_IZ3idOXHvyKLMkkVfd522ouitZAX1cJ1LzoHOvzZDBkF51242KFLha0/s1600/IMG_3936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVsS7dUWikooM0dVRuR9eqlj1nddqnOfKffTjdSC2dABWmfLV-F02DvEcEoqWRop56sKsAd8_tl0qjdJJobO_IZ3idOXHvyKLMkkVfd522ouitZAX1cJ1LzoHOvzZDBkF51242KFLha0/s1600/IMG_3936.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9DnXF9SDStdqCfIE-oWmI92RpCeev-btnNgJ7bRUApK39uo-b7kHgdcmQEebCT2ovS_ueyz4ewLkTsH-WuARg_Kk1cQv21zGrXAAJ_mdWEYX2C8Ax7Y0qtz5vfq-dlclNb_qm3A7VLk/s1600/IMG_3948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9DnXF9SDStdqCfIE-oWmI92RpCeev-btnNgJ7bRUApK39uo-b7kHgdcmQEebCT2ovS_ueyz4ewLkTsH-WuARg_Kk1cQv21zGrXAAJ_mdWEYX2C8Ax7Y0qtz5vfq-dlclNb_qm3A7VLk/s1600/IMG_3948.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xP5p9A0g_tXm4mp9bSx-QHAFpZAJksuurrS3bZriNlJF6qwJPZoHmRlXtztGXtjl0KveUVydjDg6zV8p-nNp-bUwWHpdhygq6uv9dO22v6tzUtBkHSbPGOCMZwmWPGDbxvZHXzDzFx8/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xP5p9A0g_tXm4mp9bSx-QHAFpZAJksuurrS3bZriNlJF6qwJPZoHmRlXtztGXtjl0KveUVydjDg6zV8p-nNp-bUwWHpdhygq6uv9dO22v6tzUtBkHSbPGOCMZwmWPGDbxvZHXzDzFx8/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdEpjZdqCvcpaiCkSp-IFRfgKrvaavO0YKFteHrPJEBo2HYyZsDXdPXAtjGIHGdLtE03x5DI6BQyZDUoXi4DxPk8qN5ENK5yfOfZtNVLaRjXJ4Rn2bgVmt3lJvXZ6PJbhJ6ZxjEgSplM/s1600/IMG_3965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdEpjZdqCvcpaiCkSp-IFRfgKrvaavO0YKFteHrPJEBo2HYyZsDXdPXAtjGIHGdLtE03x5DI6BQyZDUoXi4DxPk8qN5ENK5yfOfZtNVLaRjXJ4Rn2bgVmt3lJvXZ6PJbhJ6ZxjEgSplM/s1600/IMG_3965.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C-jsStows2dCvoXC9Gr3KBtOJmUrFwKXB73BbANj-CrDCt5u_2GU0jLFZksD82xSHd0A1k_DgODpf-38Ty1cGqb0e8sSRPXUvULEgGzcloa9thuyFyCe3foVE4YGqbUzc7NQ1wMFKRY/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C-jsStows2dCvoXC9Gr3KBtOJmUrFwKXB73BbANj-CrDCt5u_2GU0jLFZksD82xSHd0A1k_DgODpf-38Ty1cGqb0e8sSRPXUvULEgGzcloa9thuyFyCe3foVE4YGqbUzc7NQ1wMFKRY/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWQEqjDyNm7Ykj7p3K1gqS5L3wEGeBvuDNAPV48yroH6h3Oaj5xxUpt0JlrvccKeuBiNgUVjBV7e-DOrL5NmRIVxzxbKtkMCfSe_73gSlRA212agbiyZlb_4nnDMaNblEH3LA-j9csQc/s1600/IMG_3993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWQEqjDyNm7Ykj7p3K1gqS5L3wEGeBvuDNAPV48yroH6h3Oaj5xxUpt0JlrvccKeuBiNgUVjBV7e-DOrL5NmRIVxzxbKtkMCfSe_73gSlRA212agbiyZlb_4nnDMaNblEH3LA-j9csQc/s1600/IMG_3993.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately chained :(</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyH2V_sjFuRvTJvUwe_FzDcZdVwX40hIZt1iPebd1i9XgZXTGoffs_-ofTMlGQM8jfSY4YQ_tp0zIHVxccZP3uFoTdYY3fSF5FXXxZwJprhRLMtDVVsfDw9THHT-1NCQwdInzaRO7Fms/s1600/IMG_4001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyH2V_sjFuRvTJvUwe_FzDcZdVwX40hIZt1iPebd1i9XgZXTGoffs_-ofTMlGQM8jfSY4YQ_tp0zIHVxccZP3uFoTdYY3fSF5FXXxZwJprhRLMtDVVsfDw9THHT-1NCQwdInzaRO7Fms/s1600/IMG_4001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZvRF_E396iAor3pmgisBDzPDzK17IXm2q0wIvs7u5z_cSo4pv8wclO1YgPZ6_pKMSumKPCROajjoCdDcZFw_0sQwXt0q1hMUpnVClfFMzuhOg8c0bee9RFaQVVDWPbu-yOJBKr9Ee5w/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZvRF_E396iAor3pmgisBDzPDzK17IXm2q0wIvs7u5z_cSo4pv8wclO1YgPZ6_pKMSumKPCROajjoCdDcZFw_0sQwXt0q1hMUpnVClfFMzuhOg8c0bee9RFaQVVDWPbu-yOJBKr9Ee5w/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The blackberries in question...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The next morning I step outside to a world transformed. The sky is clear and bright and the valley that I am in is lit in the pure light of morning. The hills rise around as emerald mounds, vast and glistening. The hills are ridged and coiled and their roots extend out to the valley floor like the limbs of the leviathan.</div>
It is so beautiful that I have to return to the places I visited yesterday, and so I once again drive the length of the valley and back. It is as impressive as, and yet the complete opposite of, the untamed and secret beauty of the day before with its masked hills and draped fog. Today the world has been torn open and laid bare, the grand reveal at the end of a magicians show, and it is spectacular, not to mention immense.<br /> After re-exploring my haunts of the day before, I set off to my next location, Senaru, further round the mountains. I drop in to see Ayu on my way and am coerced into staying for tea. Her mother brings us a tray piled high with little packets of cream crackers, and one tiny bag of fried sweetcorn kernels (nope no idea either), and she makes comments about Ayu's Scottish boyfriend. I haven't the heart to tell her that the chances of that happening are slim to none.<br /> I figure out that Ayu actually stayed home from school today to wait for me to come and see her, and she phones her brother who is in school and tells him to come home early to see me. I spend a while convincing her that I'm not going to stay and spend the day with them, or stay overnight, so the family find out where I'm going and start to plan an impromptu outing to the town next to it. I realise things are getting out of hand so I tell them I am just visiting that town, and not staying, then carrying on around the coast. She's not happy, but doesn't have much choice in the matter. I eventually manage to extract myself, and hit the road only an hour or two later than planned.<br /><br /> In a similar vein to this experience, it is extremely common to be asked by locals to pose in photographs with them. The Balinese don't seem to do this much, but in Lombok it is all the rage. In Bali it did happen, but normall with people from Jawa visiting Bali. The askers range from the ridiculously embarrassed, and disbelieving if you say yes, to the quite controlling. In the latter category was a man who wasn't at all happy when I merely stood next to him smiling. Upon seeing my chosen pose he turned to me with a frown and said “No, no, no! Put your arm here!”, then grabbed my arm and put it around his shoulder. In the former category was an entire class of teenagers from Jawa who all wanted photos. Their teacher asked for one first, and once that was done asked me if I minded some of the students getting involved. When I said yes and he told them to come closer, they were all hovering around in a circle at this point, one girl said “I don't believe you, I don't believe you”, as if I was some sort of con artist who came to Indonesia just to lure locals into trying to take photos of me, only to vanish as the moment the shutter clicks.<br /> I'm not going to lie, it's nice to feel wanted, and I don't want to be rude by saying no, but it is a sad state of affairs where a photo of yourself with a white person is considered a status symbol. And apart from that it can be downright annoying. <br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqwsF0AT6v516uUAKnu9b01q7GaxlAxeIyBIkF9w6xfQnewQ6XHYSkPK1paHSJY5eudxOKZn-8Oj3iM-RexA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yk_QFDfbYC8ryM1JXTBHblRW7YBOdEbxDfujvq0S2dzs6ndzHWAJBBMXQ4PODvLw0ep6fTs76ExFlnVF1fnm6QiUPyWn2U9DQykyhNkx717P7gXnP8mTUbOHNRxUMWmMTBt_ty70AHM/s1600/IMG_4013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yk_QFDfbYC8ryM1JXTBHblRW7YBOdEbxDfujvq0S2dzs6ndzHWAJBBMXQ4PODvLw0ep6fTs76ExFlnVF1fnm6QiUPyWn2U9DQykyhNkx717P7gXnP8mTUbOHNRxUMWmMTBt_ty70AHM/s1600/IMG_4013.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiN9vio5pfyubk8SjeKKOKMoH7SUC6zcoR5B-2LKQ90oqWRoSi23hojUaCkDRJoEX9Aq-VAhkbT2xeEbY735eHfc1_b7QCTxwiv3gvFNMdjNz8ESx7N7Ie00ZFcgm2L3jBGqh4AKhu9k/s1600/IMG_4017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiN9vio5pfyubk8SjeKKOKMoH7SUC6zcoR5B-2LKQ90oqWRoSi23hojUaCkDRJoEX9Aq-VAhkbT2xeEbY735eHfc1_b7QCTxwiv3gvFNMdjNz8ESx7N7Ie00ZFcgm2L3jBGqh4AKhu9k/s1600/IMG_4017.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVjMU-DG0x7odDglN8I8cKABAg3rFSNpIlybGFOKiq5mTeojFqcLOfYGwX-HrbNcYud5fe7NW8cXDkIddv-oG2hDdjWnskcB7p_p9Hk1L2Sn01qCLDdGIeQ98FmcMkrirYmUWgrQrZWQ/s1600/IMG_4029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVjMU-DG0x7odDglN8I8cKABAg3rFSNpIlybGFOKiq5mTeojFqcLOfYGwX-HrbNcYud5fe7NW8cXDkIddv-oG2hDdjWnskcB7p_p9Hk1L2Sn01qCLDdGIeQ98FmcMkrirYmUWgrQrZWQ/s1600/IMG_4029.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSLFGtSlG4Owl_XBV5PrA-MUOBNO5RYt87Q6acQ7NvDVOiK7sj2pfZ2WR5oLAg5Q-yt2DkQwvlWYlrmUpy0sRwf3lqxA4M0j3takdIFEqiDphbbR2U46SQD-cciGLNX4FUxpl8lLNh9c/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSLFGtSlG4Owl_XBV5PrA-MUOBNO5RYt87Q6acQ7NvDVOiK7sj2pfZ2WR5oLAg5Q-yt2DkQwvlWYlrmUpy0sRwf3lqxA4M0j3takdIFEqiDphbbR2U46SQD-cciGLNX4FUxpl8lLNh9c/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifhZgKJxkdpWv88W757xmbp0zGScMysG7PJd2jbCZWI7bNqfvLfn1WK5vO2bsgNIb7_kVe5cOotOKtIi7UL1p-zPzueZS2raYy_9XkzFDBAOVEtAmNLAdF5Nq0vfpbX9aQ_3Bi0T3dxw/s1600/IMG_4039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifhZgKJxkdpWv88W757xmbp0zGScMysG7PJd2jbCZWI7bNqfvLfn1WK5vO2bsgNIb7_kVe5cOotOKtIi7UL1p-zPzueZS2raYy_9XkzFDBAOVEtAmNLAdF5Nq0vfpbX9aQ_3Bi0T3dxw/s1600/IMG_4039.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />The drive to Senaru takes a few hours, down the mountain, around the mountain then up the mountain. And, of course, it is lovely. I arrive and see that, though the landscape doesn't quite possess the same wild drama as it did in Sembalun, it is the sort of place I could stay for a while. In Sembalun there was little in the town itself, and it felt quite dirty, not to mention expensive, whereas here the town is clean and pretty, arrayed along the side of a valley, tiered rice fields building the view from a thousand layers of green.<br /> That afternoon I go for a walk to a waterfall nearby which is one of the few places you are allowed to go without a guide. In Lombok, despite how rural it is I have found it very hard to find any decent walking trails, and many of the ones that do exist you aren't allowed on without hiring a guide for the day, which I really do not want to do.<br /> The waterfall itself is two tiered and mystical, but the 'viewing area' is covered in people, mainly locals offering guides to other waterfalls. I climb down to the creek itself and find a spot that is completely secluded, not a soul in sight. The water pours from heights at least forty meters above me and falls in two silken ribbons to a small natural platform then continues down to the forest floor, rainbows bursting into the air as it lands. Further downstream more crystal streams soar free of the sheer green cliff face, and the high land is cut with slashes of silver. Trees tower high into the air on either side, and vines drape from their branches to trail all the way to the glistening water below. The stream is perfectly clear, glass melded over smooth stone.<br /> I explore some unmarked paths, guide free, and follow a small irrigation canal along the side of a cliff. Occasionally it vanishes into the stone and I pass dark carved out hollows, the noise of flowing water echoing out of their depths. That evening I watch the sun set from my balcony, illuminating the rice fields in a citrus haze.<br /><br /> The next day I primarily spend relaxing. I briefly visit a traditional Sasak village which looks quite nice, but there isn't really anyone to talk to, then I spend most of the day sitting on the balcony writing and enjoying the view, and expecting Ayu and her family to appear at any moment.<br /> I drive out of Senaru in the morning and follow the coast past white beaches and jungle filed coves. The road winds up and down over endless headlands, flanked by eternal seas, each more beautiful than the last, and the Gilis form pale blue lines on the horizon.<br /><br /> I reach my destination of Sengiggi, a tourist resort really, and not that exciting, but it is just down the road from the main city of Mataram, where I hope to do some shopping. Mataram has nothing much to offer, but I eventually manage to find the small artist / craftsmen’s village just out of town that I am looking for. Here they primarily make furniture, but also masks, table settings, decorations, pretty much anything you could imagine making out of wood. Most of what they make is beautiful, but I feel that they sort of ruin their furniture in the process of making it. The wood is naturally a beautiful pale brown, but they stain it so dark that it becomes almost oppressive. The result is very impressive, and it is attractive, but I wouldn't want it in my house.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqLv6lL3FovySwKwpb8286rPi9hikpFhggOutQc39E8b_ZaDPN5E89epLJMJvufbhoicaXLN_K2K2tfQpDTij3nxIv0BQjx8pu94lFEqARt4FgtHp87I6f-LURKbQ1b4p6ZN086Ix6U4/s1600/IMG_4096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqLv6lL3FovySwKwpb8286rPi9hikpFhggOutQc39E8b_ZaDPN5E89epLJMJvufbhoicaXLN_K2K2tfQpDTij3nxIv0BQjx8pu94lFEqARt4FgtHp87I6f-LURKbQ1b4p6ZN086Ix6U4/s1600/IMG_4096.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdfmJihl6LLnmTty-1Wc9MqJdEXYbtb_xW7ByyiPJW1dxG188pWRz_Xw1qE4bBfzMNk0Nu4WGohyphenhyphenASQbKdcimU7IVYDbq8vFYPdEdwEoQuQM9v6DpHUGj8zxZjqRsunooX91jztfEBOA/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdfmJihl6LLnmTty-1Wc9MqJdEXYbtb_xW7ByyiPJW1dxG188pWRz_Xw1qE4bBfzMNk0Nu4WGohyphenhyphenASQbKdcimU7IVYDbq8vFYPdEdwEoQuQM9v6DpHUGj8zxZjqRsunooX91jztfEBOA/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfJlIYQxt_ekjGzenxvRKXRKgYQMV3noWsnxZ1RDCJKU7HFBCTNC5jRRYKFMy1BKjMXpmalajTn5lpWOKJz1bDn4BZ6Z0S_HzJpDmXByH3kOt2-L6VHsNocbaBO1EZ_6omOV-ToKOxCs/s1600/IMG_4107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfJlIYQxt_ekjGzenxvRKXRKgYQMV3noWsnxZ1RDCJKU7HFBCTNC5jRRYKFMy1BKjMXpmalajTn5lpWOKJz1bDn4BZ6Z0S_HzJpDmXByH3kOt2-L6VHsNocbaBO1EZ_6omOV-ToKOxCs/s1600/IMG_4107.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFRTipu22rhDHNHDMJqB2EB__HyLKwYTs9d5JTIVTVLBsiqyIXea_q2QLhjUdEca2I7O-se6mpi1ahQGz6Q-DPb57D4y0xLg00YBrZLe0fkGUooiBKzkZc4mgv-UYf8n9V7zH8l4hY2A/s1600/IMG_4130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFRTipu22rhDHNHDMJqB2EB__HyLKwYTs9d5JTIVTVLBsiqyIXea_q2QLhjUdEca2I7O-se6mpi1ahQGz6Q-DPb57D4y0xLg00YBrZLe0fkGUooiBKzkZc4mgv-UYf8n9V7zH8l4hY2A/s1600/IMG_4130.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL53Gut4_zPw_G6E-YTeWGedw6WSByNSirINre5tngMxf_ERDn1NLKyCVm2JUvCcBL-Oisgmv6EMdkEWTAhlGIy7ncKS3b6oFjHeJt3Qu2-_GV1epp904VZNhPo0667DCe_IBXfeRsWGE/s1600/IMG_4137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL53Gut4_zPw_G6E-YTeWGedw6WSByNSirINre5tngMxf_ERDn1NLKyCVm2JUvCcBL-Oisgmv6EMdkEWTAhlGIy7ncKS3b6oFjHeJt3Qu2-_GV1epp904VZNhPo0667DCe_IBXfeRsWGE/s1600/IMG_4137.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlC_jpZOXHspzZVLH33BBeZ9mQ79foqg4mnDj-g3NjiMgyyK-QrC1Ylg_pSmq-J3TXTidFnFyg_vZeQDg9iHxoRN-cBqL9DrQNUUHIXayUzTHCb9lvEL5AhH8InEOBgRF1K_Wi3sOHJE/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlC_jpZOXHspzZVLH33BBeZ9mQ79foqg4mnDj-g3NjiMgyyK-QrC1Ylg_pSmq-J3TXTidFnFyg_vZeQDg9iHxoRN-cBqL9DrQNUUHIXayUzTHCb9lvEL5AhH8InEOBgRF1K_Wi3sOHJE/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxEHIrLaQiMrD8Pj8S-JNPUf5i6RP99daOjLv-a1HAU377admzmN_hv30UDCgJSOwWxdi7-SRRgslS1EGL2y2_TiQajojUJvSZmWrXJ8iyG4TwIn-XdfKdwCvYgth5Tkj_OxhL9B7NRQ/s1600/IMG_4151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxEHIrLaQiMrD8Pj8S-JNPUf5i6RP99daOjLv-a1HAU377admzmN_hv30UDCgJSOwWxdi7-SRRgslS1EGL2y2_TiQajojUJvSZmWrXJ8iyG4TwIn-XdfKdwCvYgth5Tkj_OxhL9B7NRQ/s1600/IMG_4151.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4lFWRkD4_hJa1wz_H8YAEu5oxd9zSc1lnvzUaBqTwzMK19UB1rZj1MQYr1lWb3-kTaR8UsxiPUXJQ0H8PCy8eaMLVkpT_fiZGaz3NEpFzDD7imjL6jhuoUHLYVDv0jF4n_hZFL0hiDc/s1600/IMG_4158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4lFWRkD4_hJa1wz_H8YAEu5oxd9zSc1lnvzUaBqTwzMK19UB1rZj1MQYr1lWb3-kTaR8UsxiPUXJQ0H8PCy8eaMLVkpT_fiZGaz3NEpFzDD7imjL6jhuoUHLYVDv0jF4n_hZFL0hiDc/s1600/IMG_4158.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLP_iYbR-cXzsMrBNGLg8qXQM9q21dZXjiWIgMavpFLuP-jsjTiqe2s-CUrcAdmTnH77AQSX4KaN2z_yDeZruIk025Ps1xgVrDPgbJX07NF5eHYwaE8PFupJJ9Is9-VPTuSgOdDbOLwI/s1600/IMG_4163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLP_iYbR-cXzsMrBNGLg8qXQM9q21dZXjiWIgMavpFLuP-jsjTiqe2s-CUrcAdmTnH77AQSX4KaN2z_yDeZruIk025Ps1xgVrDPgbJX07NF5eHYwaE8PFupJJ9Is9-VPTuSgOdDbOLwI/s1600/IMG_4163.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqxustC-xn0r_K0yASjDhvn09PSQG6OybKWRyW9ODo39cdk9FX9jHVgbek85yVFNabvNyOImxJgyl6zaiteoSVmE1Whx-fO417kXk9djiolNPKm_oRv78xLD-XQne7Yzos0-Vubl2vtw/s1600/IMG_4165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqxustC-xn0r_K0yASjDhvn09PSQG6OybKWRyW9ODo39cdk9FX9jHVgbek85yVFNabvNyOImxJgyl6zaiteoSVmE1Whx-fO417kXk9djiolNPKm_oRv78xLD-XQne7Yzos0-Vubl2vtw/s1600/IMG_4165.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkP7WYQ3nBMFr-wqrhvsRRXQM8ZveEyIJOrbOmRSCpGxBsoK4BQT7BqEE_1atxHBeVHSM5T0rWPaksheZTG_rQdCC5FsCWz7attNQVD2eolmDWWROKevUVo-vRHT_glHrd6uTapnwgdE/s1600/IMG_4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkP7WYQ3nBMFr-wqrhvsRRXQM8ZveEyIJOrbOmRSCpGxBsoK4BQT7BqEE_1atxHBeVHSM5T0rWPaksheZTG_rQdCC5FsCWz7attNQVD2eolmDWWROKevUVo-vRHT_glHrd6uTapnwgdE/s1600/IMG_4168.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnu0GXzIIFDZOpL-wAIrwV1qopjnKd6hMWde147EYaz5TkVGwC66fLz4BKzzBRqDRNOwLVdU9XwTc_zzSN5tKIPAdp_Vlr_DOEIlCkpk2_mLwCESqn_tLuovRwWYn4HQeSKPtUwDfFE4/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnu0GXzIIFDZOpL-wAIrwV1qopjnKd6hMWde147EYaz5TkVGwC66fLz4BKzzBRqDRNOwLVdU9XwTc_zzSN5tKIPAdp_Vlr_DOEIlCkpk2_mLwCESqn_tLuovRwWYn4HQeSKPtUwDfFE4/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJYmk-zhjvI-x_YCyaTBE9dpigkvX0tjJ4RHFVxGW-h7kp4mrYkVwJ-8wXEAKTVtJ7yAgwHk4JYlKpYwLQkXEslGtvFbKsWhHzDhhWGh-y7Y80Nei35Ym1-ALSGzHaH6KBJPvPtgRj1w/s1600/IMG_4191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJYmk-zhjvI-x_YCyaTBE9dpigkvX0tjJ4RHFVxGW-h7kp4mrYkVwJ-8wXEAKTVtJ7yAgwHk4JYlKpYwLQkXEslGtvFbKsWhHzDhhWGh-y7Y80Nei35Ym1-ALSGzHaH6KBJPvPtgRj1w/s1600/IMG_4191.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbonC8LkQ2GH8TKbmu6tjpbLmNbujbnLJf5rKEUpWNZXEdnfeA3__ZjP9cojY4mWZGmcWIW_ByPkJgVNo6NQDtFXq2AxbvIkis7bdf7f-a8wE_L0LMX8P-1A5QRN102fwkyP1Z439I_8/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbonC8LkQ2GH8TKbmu6tjpbLmNbujbnLJf5rKEUpWNZXEdnfeA3__ZjP9cojY4mWZGmcWIW_ByPkJgVNo6NQDtFXq2AxbvIkis7bdf7f-a8wE_L0LMX8P-1A5QRN102fwkyP1Z439I_8/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUQfhyphenhyphenWKrgb2IO5At6K4aupEd_CAEFv4IhgQ75hjNh5rz-XORLYEU-Cs7P41SyZniJhHTpyT95kpf1heV3WlCiacoAndJJMFcGEvwHKvdMOUx7dwWDl5cqNLWKGCpaMirvmjDOec0U2Q/s1600/IMG_4205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUQfhyphenhyphenWKrgb2IO5At6K4aupEd_CAEFv4IhgQ75hjNh5rz-XORLYEU-Cs7P41SyZniJhHTpyT95kpf1heV3WlCiacoAndJJMFcGEvwHKvdMOUx7dwWDl5cqNLWKGCpaMirvmjDOec0U2Q/s1600/IMG_4205.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1lAl_NviR9Fe6muovAyGauVT_5nl0sE_bweBI7bBuSkWIjzn0UWKqsLPhxX81OGl-37sBWh85wC4DVGDp6sqlT4Cw4QDCSt5k_HVooGBF98CLbzLH6F7RCZ_DDzZSjaNg0pdIsigbvA/s1600/IMG_4213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1lAl_NviR9Fe6muovAyGauVT_5nl0sE_bweBI7bBuSkWIjzn0UWKqsLPhxX81OGl-37sBWh85wC4DVGDp6sqlT4Cw4QDCSt5k_HVooGBF98CLbzLH6F7RCZ_DDzZSjaNg0pdIsigbvA/s1600/IMG_4213.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKKL_8XeAB19m9lBdIjvzoqHUxuivwIV-5Nu0Ik5O_EZKhBKj1HdeBXJ6ZCB3Cvxs05cdv4HnyQDRNyfjuN_sKgMlF5LpwUMJCpJxKkdaiqY-ml7VxAwQ4Gi-h2lh2B1jO3OjKuGByf8/s1600/IMG_4218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKKL_8XeAB19m9lBdIjvzoqHUxuivwIV-5Nu0Ik5O_EZKhBKj1HdeBXJ6ZCB3Cvxs05cdv4HnyQDRNyfjuN_sKgMlF5LpwUMJCpJxKkdaiqY-ml7VxAwQ4Gi-h2lh2B1jO3OjKuGByf8/s1600/IMG_4218.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtfhLg72yvYQQDu-vqQcB4oLRsbt5mxp0sPddrHxXSPOKalYLKfoc44xyx7njGh3HgzZe5KXanlVL71a0q3NF6A7YjhrNISXNVp7bxNfZTp62OTby89Qx98Dx6lWqy6SnrPhNYFb4ICk/s1600/IMG_4224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtfhLg72yvYQQDu-vqQcB4oLRsbt5mxp0sPddrHxXSPOKalYLKfoc44xyx7njGh3HgzZe5KXanlVL71a0q3NF6A7YjhrNISXNVp7bxNfZTp62OTby89Qx98Dx6lWqy6SnrPhNYFb4ICk/s1600/IMG_4224.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMMKm0wNBwlpFNCTdcz2UORCJAAqJZ44O0k1at3GIz-BQxU61bmubEyC13k90vU2CwZz9e7e985TPFQgcKIVnss_jgG7q6t8Ni3bnHwnzRUobH4S4UapNuNCm-Mjt79chhxD7NChyphenhyphen4AE/s1600/IMG_4232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMMKm0wNBwlpFNCTdcz2UORCJAAqJZ44O0k1at3GIz-BQxU61bmubEyC13k90vU2CwZz9e7e985TPFQgcKIVnss_jgG7q6t8Ni3bnHwnzRUobH4S4UapNuNCm-Mjt79chhxD7NChyphenhyphen4AE/s1600/IMG_4232.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89zAtvT_uG-ykHtMnhb4TZiRsyDy2uK19zXztzRdG6oogXDWf_g1vDmxJ6oumfcpg1ipLqZ-eAQuN789uhBMPFLo0jmWftkT9mFarQY3yylEPxsRsmDS5_aKe0RKrfDcyvAAOYo7PYwk/s1600/IMG_4234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89zAtvT_uG-ykHtMnhb4TZiRsyDy2uK19zXztzRdG6oogXDWf_g1vDmxJ6oumfcpg1ipLqZ-eAQuN789uhBMPFLo0jmWftkT9mFarQY3yylEPxsRsmDS5_aKe0RKrfDcyvAAOYo7PYwk/s1600/IMG_4234.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW_77XWNVJGRWqaEGEz6BUjGDjPItAWadA_0qp4Mpz8Jm2msVG33AkcRChjEhwqljOwV8ywKQ6qIYvT5DdkRpJunR6vsYjhLqQ3KqkQGZ1UGJVGXhzJKWwVXDK2iTTfy0lppupqKBeZw/s1600/IMG_4237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW_77XWNVJGRWqaEGEz6BUjGDjPItAWadA_0qp4Mpz8Jm2msVG33AkcRChjEhwqljOwV8ywKQ6qIYvT5DdkRpJunR6vsYjhLqQ3KqkQGZ1UGJVGXhzJKWwVXDK2iTTfy0lppupqKBeZw/s1600/IMG_4237.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpoQoWzN6y16z_VEAloUzuVJWIkFVHWiOYwESnZGJVOi6EflTZOF4yqc3oQvugUcNcbY-JGj48yFWae-7cyqJj2sAmFYm22QQQ1TmpschDcuXiy10Bh73oae8DSekH7-Yi-bwzYv-Lpk/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpoQoWzN6y16z_VEAloUzuVJWIkFVHWiOYwESnZGJVOi6EflTZOF4yqc3oQvugUcNcbY-JGj48yFWae-7cyqJj2sAmFYm22QQQ1TmpschDcuXiy10Bh73oae8DSekH7-Yi-bwzYv-Lpk/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I find a Hindu temple!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HgVSkZ2-sr0uQY_I2WEw08Plp8ykILh5TyNYJAoCNBoRNVfEcXn21x5yKr7G25v6XyI2mCtRtGhiHnoY13kEb9wLIoO9LJFMAdwPMnZoh96WIPsfZjfZse7itxmNBqC8Hzbo_pDfMeI/s1600/IMG_4249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HgVSkZ2-sr0uQY_I2WEw08Plp8ykILh5TyNYJAoCNBoRNVfEcXn21x5yKr7G25v6XyI2mCtRtGhiHnoY13kEb9wLIoO9LJFMAdwPMnZoh96WIPsfZjfZse7itxmNBqC8Hzbo_pDfMeI/s1600/IMG_4249.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIytICgeTFaPqUTo_wmwAfzREGkNIuUWW5WNXVYedn5N-Kvk2d0hB-r-30z-PWRRz74H5VIoIWVCdsr339beMUutb2nv8GSkg6I5AHB5vPqhFHWdHHx3wujS1QeSBTwDctK9AaMzkKAwQ/s1600/IMG_4253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIytICgeTFaPqUTo_wmwAfzREGkNIuUWW5WNXVYedn5N-Kvk2d0hB-r-30z-PWRRz74H5VIoIWVCdsr339beMUutb2nv8GSkg6I5AHB5vPqhFHWdHHx3wujS1QeSBTwDctK9AaMzkKAwQ/s1600/IMG_4253.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUQ1FYaQz967VZrJJ__Z3doI9nITi6u_1cvgkrHFP8q8Wj1GnGxN_r_tmnrQ-f6e11-hAodvBtODZDfFSZcxGgg7zmJe1zX2zjVhKIyTM0IoKDiPG6cwrsYffVUksBzjNiyQ1fRUqsWM/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUQ1FYaQz967VZrJJ__Z3doI9nITi6u_1cvgkrHFP8q8Wj1GnGxN_r_tmnrQ-f6e11-hAodvBtODZDfFSZcxGgg7zmJe1zX2zjVhKIyTM0IoKDiPG6cwrsYffVUksBzjNiyQ1fRUqsWM/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrS3txSdxl7X737f5sFSAsrg46YS4PujER6Z5m69M9x-CT9YlX1Gi4yxg7YG_RPoHFa2Bttt-187QMRlHGpXXnynbljpXn4kzWhqePeONk713mGY3wJcPaRrzgunjBmhSiXq4Mxua-rg/s1600/IMG_4264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrS3txSdxl7X737f5sFSAsrg46YS4PujER6Z5m69M9x-CT9YlX1Gi4yxg7YG_RPoHFa2Bttt-187QMRlHGpXXnynbljpXn4kzWhqePeONk713mGY3wJcPaRrzgunjBmhSiXq4Mxua-rg/s1600/IMG_4264.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzdvpCWutog52rGL8qhGkrCpg4ygpsBAxXZ13IDSGk9Q7V_yuR3N1_SaQYxHz7MQ5_pNVtUe8vQdp6H27IoWykL8AR2K9R22sPkcyB4VSbDHiifg3KijfT4lfVge-2Zrsev8237W_60Q/s1600/IMG_4268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzdvpCWutog52rGL8qhGkrCpg4ygpsBAxXZ13IDSGk9Q7V_yuR3N1_SaQYxHz7MQ5_pNVtUe8vQdp6H27IoWykL8AR2K9R22sPkcyB4VSbDHiifg3KijfT4lfVge-2Zrsev8237W_60Q/s1600/IMG_4268.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />And like that my time in Lombok is pretty much at an end. I drive back down to Kuta where I drop off my bike and arrange transport to the ferry terminal for later that day. I decide to take the pubic ferry back to Bali to save money, but I get ripped off on the way there so I end up saving extremely little, if any.<br /> I had heard horror stories about this ferry, it's hot and smelly, it's so busy you can barely move, it can take up to nine hours, you will be pestered by touts the entire way. I arrive and am immediately let on, the ferry is really quiet so I get a whole row of ocean view seats to myself. I need to deal with a few people trying to sell me super noodles but their extremely friendly and not at all annoying. And then we are off, and I have a nice, cool quiet journey lasting about four hours.<br /><br /> Lombok slowly fades behind me, stunning and wild. It was wonderful, but despite its remote beauty and its swathes of untouched land, I prefer Bali. There is more happening in Bali, I found it to be friendlier, and I felt safer, not that I felt particularly unsafe in Lombok. And Bali is Hindu, which means temples and brightly coloured sarongs. Despite my feelings about offerings taking up the vast majority of both the time and the money of the average family, I like being surrounded by a religion as exotic and fascinating as Hinduism. Lombok, like all of Indonesia except Bali, is Muslim. I love spotting the patterned domes of mosques protruding above the towns and the trees, the temples of Bali are often hidden from afar, but I have a serious issue with getting woken up at five am every morning and having to endure an hour or so of increasingly tuneless calls to prayer. When I'm already awake these can actually be quite nice, but when I am most definitely meant to be asleep, there is nothing worse.<br /><br /> As the ferry approaches Bali I find my excitement growing, I have only been away for ten days and yet I have really missed it. I feel like I am going home. Home to Tania's for six days, then home to Melbourne for six days, then I truly am going home. And then what will I write about?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-42941252622137635292014-06-15T03:59:00.002-07:002014-06-15T03:59:50.626-07:00Building swings.Tania picks me up from the building site, I mean Tasha's house, and we don't hang around, heading off as soon as I've located my missing pack of strawberries. They're not as good as Scottish strawberries but they're pretty decent considering they were grown in the heights of a tropical island.<br /> On our way back we stop off at the house of one of Tania's friends. I say house but it's more of a manor. He is an artist from Sumatra and his sixtieth birthday is only a few days away, to celebrate he is hosting an exhibition of his work spanning the last thirty years or so, and it's on display all over the house. His art is very abstract, flowing circles, colours and shapes reminiscent of leaping waves or lithe dancing forms. A few of the pieces I am impressed by, and could stare at for hours, but most do little for me. The thing I enjoy the most is the tiled area around the pool, where he has painted great arcs and swirls of colour onto the ground. We go for a swim as the sun sets in the long pool that lies between the house's two elegant white wings, then set off for home (Tania's home, though I feel like I'm going home too).<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0RzBsv2U4lSOIExkiWmBUBvfBqNU_ThHjPLNTfxX8MfBbbIjnV9s_6zET_bGSaJoO_YSZU_wkUU4stcB9NY3qNsdFzTb2oPEIz8F7RPkjaTmfwe5bZEwwVZe1vcvY_RqOq0kRUtyTbk/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0RzBsv2U4lSOIExkiWmBUBvfBqNU_ThHjPLNTfxX8MfBbbIjnV9s_6zET_bGSaJoO_YSZU_wkUU4stcB9NY3qNsdFzTb2oPEIz8F7RPkjaTmfwe5bZEwwVZe1vcvY_RqOq0kRUtyTbk/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tasha's, see what I mean?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOMuPl0tF6Z22u5uWwHQneTnNF5PRGJO4NNbA91e0_OGcSk_VTRo_LH0B2VMUDKCf8osvmr4EA5kQUuhhyY01b_HwoIpR_9-eTWzfElS6hWTcT4zLvkplNIsfNo5MEew0ri395J23Cgc/s1600/IMG_3343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOMuPl0tF6Z22u5uWwHQneTnNF5PRGJO4NNbA91e0_OGcSk_VTRo_LH0B2VMUDKCf8osvmr4EA5kQUuhhyY01b_HwoIpR_9-eTWzfElS6hWTcT4zLvkplNIsfNo5MEew0ri395J23Cgc/s1600/IMG_3343.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Remember this guy....?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2jjDReQ383F8yRx9PfQUf4XshwFj2IEdGlOOFrCauvF7yKT4-_ytSMCcYuhl2B3EJrYPDskoIWcC69FfTLyP2iNb3CmnwuyxZeH5BX6xJ4k-JvsBvExtrVrhVyn0RKSU_76Z_Y5wyyA/s1600/IMG_3347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2jjDReQ383F8yRx9PfQUf4XshwFj2IEdGlOOFrCauvF7yKT4-_ytSMCcYuhl2B3EJrYPDskoIWcC69FfTLyP2iNb3CmnwuyxZeH5BX6xJ4k-JvsBvExtrVrhVyn0RKSU_76Z_Y5wyyA/s1600/IMG_3347.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP7MRS1KPz9hXV8To_CYslZ0e-6DQ2-YktvmxjHqhIeg2rh70nR1c4UULImwtqamCoEM39eJxMtFuEGXrKlpwRmvZ8KIH-X98Xz7iE2rjMk_y90IcnHEgmV-N1IRosRRbwo9KvsoI8sw/s1600/IMG_3357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP7MRS1KPz9hXV8To_CYslZ0e-6DQ2-YktvmxjHqhIeg2rh70nR1c4UULImwtqamCoEM39eJxMtFuEGXrKlpwRmvZ8KIH-X98Xz7iE2rjMk_y90IcnHEgmV-N1IRosRRbwo9KvsoI8sw/s1600/IMG_3357.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /> It's evening and the roads are quiet, we hurtle along leaving the motorbikes far behind. Or so we would think. A scooter pulls up beside us and slides forward into the open road ahead. It's a girl, casually doing at least a hundred kilometres an hour like it's not a big deal. Her music is in and her hand is in the air, dancing as she goes. Another bike speeds past and approaches her from behind, a young man. He draws beside her and says something to her, most likely flirting or goading based on his expression, he pulls in-front of her, intentionally getting in her way. She throws him a look of contempt and leans forward. She shoots ahead and swerves around him before he has a chance to think. She accelerates into the distance and is gone. He is forced to fall back, too afraid to pursue, defeated and humiliated. We like this girl.<br /> Tania hits the accelerator and we too fly past him, in our car we quickly catch her up, we wind down the windows and cheer and whoop as we pass her. At the next junction she pulls up beside us. She can't be more than sixteen, and there is something about her that I haven't before seen in anyone here. There is a spark in her eyes, a fire, like a hunger to live life to the full, to explore, to experience. She grins at us devilishly. Tania leans over me and starts up a quick conversation in Indonesian. Half way through a sentence the lights turn green and we surge forwards together, she zips around us and fades into the dark. We catch up with her at the next traffic light and the same thing happens. We continue this way for a while and Tania invites her back to hers, as she only lives in the next village along.<br /> It turns out this girl is working in a truck garage in Denpasar, and her parents make her drive home to the country every day. She has dreams of becoming an aeronautical engineer, or even a pilot. In school the children all had to say what they wanted to be, she stood up and told them her dream and was laughed at, derided. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, she continued to pursue her goals regardless of what other people said, and ended up getting offered a scholarship in Indonesia's best engineering school. Unfortunately her mother is refusing to let her accept, as the school is on a different island, so she could not come home every day. Beyond that she is a girl, so she will most have to get married soon, and once married there is no time for women to work.<br /><br /> Here, in a family, it is the women who do everything. They do all the cooking and cleaning yes, but they also do the farming, the carrying, the weaving and producing of goods. Old ladies so shrunken and shrivelled their features have vanished into their faces trudge along with bundles on their heads that I doubt I could even lift. The men, in my experience, largely sit around, often drinking.<br /> Beyond this, the women are tasked with the role of making the offerings for the gods. Each offering is made up of a little woven basket containing incense, flowers and some food (normally chocolate bars still in their wrappers, and maybe a mound of rice and some crackers or rice cakes), and they are put out all over your property four times a day. And on ceremony days, which happen exceedingly often (there has been one each time I have stayed at Tania's) the number of offering needed is phenomenal.</div>
<div>
On a normal day the women of a family will spend a good few hours making that days offerings, but to prepare for a ceremony they will spend days, I think about three or four, doing nothing but making offerings. In some ways there is something very nice about them, walking through Tania's mini jungle and seeing little baskets of flowers, incense wafting across the path before you, is truly special. But if you consider the sheer number of them, and that each one will likely also contain at least one plastic wrapper that will be left on the ground, and plenty of food to attract the rats, they are not so pleasant after all. The men on ceremony days sit around, always drinking.<br /> But back to this wonderful, intelligent, feisty girl. As far as her family is concerned, she is completely unable to leave to attend engineering school. How will she marry a Balinese man if she doesn't live in Bali? How will she make offering to keep the gods happy? Tania pays someone to do hers for her (apparently that's allowed), as she has no time or interest, but this girl wouldn't have money to do that. After she leaves, Tania has a determined look on her face, and I suspect that she is planning to take a hand in the matter.<br /><br /> It is wonderful to be back here, all her rooms are full and I am sleeping in a spare room in the house. On my first night back I sit around the table with Tania and some of the guests chatting. Oddly, they are all Dutch, which is great. Dutch people are great. Two of them, who I instantly get on with, have just come back from spending the better part of a year in Papua in a small and remote community. There they were doing wonderful work, Wiljanne was helping a group of mothers who desire a better education for their children to set up a school and was training them how to teach. Theo, who studies discipleship, was teaching them how to apply their faith to their lives. This included many, many things, not least of which was teaching them, now this may sound strange, how to live in a loving relationship</div>
<div>
In Papua there is a huge problem with aids, largely spread through husbands engaging in extra-marital sex (perhaps rape, but I'm not sure), and the cause of this is their belief that pregnant women are unclean, so even their husbands cannot touch them. One of the many things then, that Theo was trying to do, was to teach them that you can love and cherish your wife to the point that you would not want to have sex with someone else. That you can spend time together, and have a relationship that extends beyond producing children. It is so bizarre to me that that is a thing you would ever have to teach, but it is a sad fact that it is.<br /><br /> All the Dutch are very eager to get involved in helping out around the place, and Theo has the idea that he'd like to build a swing for the children. Me and Bas (another Dutchman) eagerly offer our help. The next morning is spent searching for an appropriate spot, a search that at first seems fruitless. There are some perfectly spaced coconut trees right at the front of Tania's garden but unfortunately her wall and many large plants get in the way. We consider building the swing over the wall and putting in some sort of ramp, but that would be too elaborate, not to mention dangerous. Then Tania comes up with the suggestion we have been waiting for. We break through her wall and uproot her intervening garden.<br /> We saw an appropriate length of wood and drill holes though it. Bas, our resident rope expert, works out all the knots we will need. He comes up with an ingenious method of fixing the rope to the swing that involves weaving the rope back into itself, and while him and Theo are working on that I head out and work on mosaicking the Earth Benches some more with a lovely Iranian / Indonesian couple who are also staying here. Once the swing is ready it is time to knock through the wall. With the help of shovels and crowbars, we make light work of it. All the plants we uproot are saved to be planted elsewhere, and the body of the wall itself is crushed and trodden on and becomes a new dirt path into the property.<br /> Theo and I scale the two trees and machete ridges into each one to give the rope extra purchase, then we send Bas up to work his knotty magic. And we have a swing. A superb, ocean view swing, suitable for one adult or multiple children (two adults at a push), ideal for stand-up swinging. It is an instant his with the children of the entire village, and soon there is an extensive waiting list. Today is a ceremony day, so the whole village is out by the sea, watching us and chatting, gambling and eating. It feels like a mini festival.<br /><br /> That night there is more of the same, beer, company and good food. I sit out by the waves, talking with Theo. We discuss going home, and how we will feel, how we will have changed. Despite reservations, we are both very much looking forward to it.</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPeUFgn3trmRzxnqcdV-RmaxrblZqU1eR47UDig7geyRqNuGaZbct80_tpTgykB-ACxIVkO3JEN7jBRUanNAK6NLlJAdhaPapJJRXpg8pwUa7xZEtFuiUfy7lKlcoxQ2_194cbnlxS2A/s1600/IMG_3359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPeUFgn3trmRzxnqcdV-RmaxrblZqU1eR47UDig7geyRqNuGaZbct80_tpTgykB-ACxIVkO3JEN7jBRUanNAK6NLlJAdhaPapJJRXpg8pwUa7xZEtFuiUfy7lKlcoxQ2_194cbnlxS2A/s1600/IMG_3359.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And so it begins.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRboQxj8AjHyYaUZDcXrp1zDrBL-smgTOzpiN0LMuJeS02NxUjqATMLkOyq2M9-swiJ2e7QzimWyMpMRLV8TjuwsLL47N7_bJidmqhQlC-2pA_v26Ao1SbyNGaFgtmXTod_6thoJyh1A/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRboQxj8AjHyYaUZDcXrp1zDrBL-smgTOzpiN0LMuJeS02NxUjqATMLkOyq2M9-swiJ2e7QzimWyMpMRLV8TjuwsLL47N7_bJidmqhQlC-2pA_v26Ao1SbyNGaFgtmXTod_6thoJyh1A/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnOzUe9QXbZqyIwYpTYNWx-DfXhgU6OLnZugLQlAnJ9hwyTCpcnPUL54-4w2QsiSWKkteY-ID0OQebvdF2g1voypex_LmlAF3XWS8qS5a4ljgYIBB1mOXdDZUvDtDnpNQ97OdakVssn4/s1600/IMG_3372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnOzUe9QXbZqyIwYpTYNWx-DfXhgU6OLnZugLQlAnJ9hwyTCpcnPUL54-4w2QsiSWKkteY-ID0OQebvdF2g1voypex_LmlAF3XWS8qS5a4ljgYIBB1mOXdDZUvDtDnpNQ97OdakVssn4/s1600/IMG_3372.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9CwxaWWzRmF2mgvWYrogigEoEOCbfHc9cpoC5izgyFHBVDBFF_osy9vxvVMPmcugMSDEyJp0MHC9h1IprBH10b2zCmkw9jXCwtvBIgIeTimOuVDPT-obsl2WeqWjdB9FhuCyaNVngnQ/s1600/IMG_3373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9CwxaWWzRmF2mgvWYrogigEoEOCbfHc9cpoC5izgyFHBVDBFF_osy9vxvVMPmcugMSDEyJp0MHC9h1IprBH10b2zCmkw9jXCwtvBIgIeTimOuVDPT-obsl2WeqWjdB9FhuCyaNVngnQ/s1600/IMG_3373.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
'My' bench is the one of the left.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6b3tyL5jnhQZ457YN_zcmZ9oUHIk-Bi8pNw43Zhya5mBtUtoFloAc47PX0AyToX1z_YBgPrNkWX6ueJobOkHLcztg7oU_XVIJhFJSD0_U7UKieFzuJiOqp__pHMfwLqAfYwaLEXMq_s/s1600/IMG_3382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6b3tyL5jnhQZ457YN_zcmZ9oUHIk-Bi8pNw43Zhya5mBtUtoFloAc47PX0AyToX1z_YBgPrNkWX6ueJobOkHLcztg7oU_XVIJhFJSD0_U7UKieFzuJiOqp__pHMfwLqAfYwaLEXMq_s/s1600/IMG_3382.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_4bzg5NHkAMHcDfEiPxoJj1i13ndG0aMgg2wDMzMck6ywxZ_itLGaZojBoEwl7j8VtxE8hVY3Y6cdg_bWjrGpX4avSIsue7lY5ReA5dZ2v6HkGeeo-J4HVS2hfXVAdfkd8Bvc6AVKIU/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_4bzg5NHkAMHcDfEiPxoJj1i13ndG0aMgg2wDMzMck6ywxZ_itLGaZojBoEwl7j8VtxE8hVY3Y6cdg_bWjrGpX4avSIsue7lY5ReA5dZ2v6HkGeeo-J4HVS2hfXVAdfkd8Bvc6AVKIU/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCHcc5jxuA9tPYpFJBophKle89up375k06tBXd9t_5t48XGLaXYw3vGUy_o3cYRu84kZ9EzvX8eRsHsJnIi6yDe5ln_QMqY-4Ra8mis3ySgBUQ3rXXYQ5PZnew25eokDcpsDW3w4PW8s/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCHcc5jxuA9tPYpFJBophKle89up375k06tBXd9t_5t48XGLaXYw3vGUy_o3cYRu84kZ9EzvX8eRsHsJnIi6yDe5ln_QMqY-4Ra8mis3ySgBUQ3rXXYQ5PZnew25eokDcpsDW3w4PW8s/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Isn't that impressive!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNNvwjeFN9iofkv2pk4_8yEWIxkgKqBjuzrhhPyHruxV9CtlhaXYYiKkzG8cnl6lJ-ZA20lRYkR943Z3h3rAkGPKcqMag1UN_R1Cd4MnEqjl_WmllF8TM9Z_-dHp-XBxNg8kwAaggOgc/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNNvwjeFN9iofkv2pk4_8yEWIxkgKqBjuzrhhPyHruxV9CtlhaXYYiKkzG8cnl6lJ-ZA20lRYkR943Z3h3rAkGPKcqMag1UN_R1Cd4MnEqjl_WmllF8TM9Z_-dHp-XBxNg8kwAaggOgc/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW_gwolSciqyuc6F2ZYa8yJErgSHpRA0SW3C7u2x-mU-p0Be7urFfLRFbXJtfSVfF71s1dc1Eaa2MUDSoc_Mt4kW5r5FGoKncHfLkOnl6t0tOIMTDGEjyMSUAYjbkMkUXH5xcAh_bTj8/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW_gwolSciqyuc6F2ZYa8yJErgSHpRA0SW3C7u2x-mU-p0Be7urFfLRFbXJtfSVfF71s1dc1Eaa2MUDSoc_Mt4kW5r5FGoKncHfLkOnl6t0tOIMTDGEjyMSUAYjbkMkUXH5xcAh_bTj8/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7lnW5NjW9Km-BSJhqBH3gKiqLu0E7tfdueDe0hMDv7cES3QdBEmh2X-IVQaiIN9ez2KiiWHtyvhLvr3OSN1javfo_350oHHqfF183geCIbZmZn4yA9lpx8rahLY9iOIaoI9rQ9dMoFM/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7lnW5NjW9Km-BSJhqBH3gKiqLu0E7tfdueDe0hMDv7cES3QdBEmh2X-IVQaiIN9ez2KiiWHtyvhLvr3OSN1javfo_350oHHqfF183geCIbZmZn4yA9lpx8rahLY9iOIaoI9rQ9dMoFM/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wbjiHi1dZvvQp8F5p0b9mIlKzOaqK-CYa_Ri_IKfmEhWAi81o57l-gthge0sVEi5R7hO58cVm862N5_J7M0th5Cf8PI-qOsCBmd2_kBjRStTkB9iMazZ6S9wPEwefhl7re46i6zWch4/s1600/IMG_3417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wbjiHi1dZvvQp8F5p0b9mIlKzOaqK-CYa_Ri_IKfmEhWAi81o57l-gthge0sVEi5R7hO58cVm862N5_J7M0th5Cf8PI-qOsCBmd2_kBjRStTkB9iMazZ6S9wPEwefhl7re46i6zWch4/s1600/IMG_3417.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdZdsSceEfSciY6nicPC-OBz8vv3wNL372KDOXtbAzbJ0Nlo1qxLUKEdXMMTMBQUrFzTKy7v3it_3adb9zdlfI9bcw0TpdRxfWdcIfjTnWPFEc2xv5KfqgRj-oJrSlgydxcqZykKOZ28/s1600/IMG_3424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdZdsSceEfSciY6nicPC-OBz8vv3wNL372KDOXtbAzbJ0Nlo1qxLUKEdXMMTMBQUrFzTKy7v3it_3adb9zdlfI9bcw0TpdRxfWdcIfjTnWPFEc2xv5KfqgRj-oJrSlgydxcqZykKOZ28/s1600/IMG_3424.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL_Q04lcyQ61UjHlJtT4GeXjJDBm9gmVrCBGxEAAmQBK51xPEn9GCB9VxMEyvg8tZd63AGq9o8NF1IXGTQC7QoSM37iy25-q45PR9ybsFH8p-xc8pPQgAbHg8pfhxB5qMD0fvHV6b1aA/s1600/IMG_3432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL_Q04lcyQ61UjHlJtT4GeXjJDBm9gmVrCBGxEAAmQBK51xPEn9GCB9VxMEyvg8tZd63AGq9o8NF1IXGTQC7QoSM37iy25-q45PR9ybsFH8p-xc8pPQgAbHg8pfhxB5qMD0fvHV6b1aA/s1600/IMG_3432.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHatb8qZwVfdex1uE6Ib9FH05_4M0CHj0Xj92W5w5TY31rbl9YsNSOTv2M2WPZwsowwWvM_sgvCPDfIhZdUesjPM_SnRtUzWV7Kp47wlkJYhx94rubZLNXrQxma0c49LDN0_cqrT-9is/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHatb8qZwVfdex1uE6Ib9FH05_4M0CHj0Xj92W5w5TY31rbl9YsNSOTv2M2WPZwsowwWvM_sgvCPDfIhZdUesjPM_SnRtUzWV7Kp47wlkJYhx94rubZLNXrQxma0c49LDN0_cqrT-9is/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Swing view.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxJflo3X7YDxGxgvj44UE3duNPfnDKxZKW9Ix2x-YXsQ04jKn-C_LR6oKGVsvKA_0HO3Imt8D6tIz_c_cHynNifO11rxJ0KHSBs_IZRBpojixe9i-u7JKJCKsQf0A_D36EVmg-GsHISY/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxJflo3X7YDxGxgvj44UE3duNPfnDKxZKW9Ix2x-YXsQ04jKn-C_LR6oKGVsvKA_0HO3Imt8D6tIz_c_cHynNifO11rxJ0KHSBs_IZRBpojixe9i-u7JKJCKsQf0A_D36EVmg-GsHISY/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The next day Theo, Wiljanne and I go snorkelling, there is pretty decent reef only twenty meters off shore. It is wonderful, I love snorkelling. I get a glimpse into a completely different world.. Fish the colour of lightning dart in and out of cathedrals of coral. Majestic Angel Fish drift serenely across the ocean floor. Tiny orange Clown Fish peek out from the waving tendrils of anemones. I dive down and swim through canyons and crevasses, fish swirling around me. Unfortunately there are no turtles, one of the few things I really wanted to see that I have not yet seen. I am running out of time, I vow to go snorkelling more often.</div>
<div>
<br /> In the afternoon we all visit the water palace that I went to last time I was here, an opportunity to reclaim lost photos! On the way we stop at a village that makes cloth for tourists. They also have some cockerels that they have dyed various colours, I have no idea why. But we do find an elaborate swing / Ferris wheel that we decide we will have to build for our next project.<br /> The first time I came to the water palace I was alone and it was abandoned, blue skies and afternoon light providing the perfect photos. Today, due to the holiday, it is completely packed, and the sky is a thick blanket of bright cloud. Nevertheless, it is a lot more fun with company, and we play on the stepping stones and take silly photos. A couple are here getting their pre-wedding photo's taken. The perfect location at the worst time.<br /> The open building at the end of the gardens is set up for some sort of party. There is a band and dancing girls, all waiting for something. It turns to be the birthday of some presumably very rich white man who walks up the main pathway to great fanfare. A white object buzzes through the air, a drone, recording the whole event. The man and his five guests sit down for dinner at a table that frankly looks like it came from a cheap wedding. A tiny table of white people (apart from his wife who I think was Balinese), alone in a large pavilion, serenaded and served and entertained by an entourage at least twice the size of their own party, videoed by a flying drone. Meanwhile all around the edge the locals who are spending their holiday here stare on at the flagrant display of wealth in their midst. I think I speak for my whole party when I say we shared their disgust.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlROTDWbp6Hzdx5FTA_PuIzPSdYv4SFSOcM-STt3ySdViQUTGldNvoxrDEiWdYztsrcdXq-8o6TwtbpCSMpnyzoBJU_Zbg8_487M2mkUVcadQoF1xuS6ScXnPHT9dB0un_KJ9JvVdLLD8/s1600/IMG_3454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlROTDWbp6Hzdx5FTA_PuIzPSdYv4SFSOcM-STt3ySdViQUTGldNvoxrDEiWdYztsrcdXq-8o6TwtbpCSMpnyzoBJU_Zbg8_487M2mkUVcadQoF1xuS6ScXnPHT9dB0un_KJ9JvVdLLD8/s1600/IMG_3454.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Walking into Tania's.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaqRgXqTN-V9wqVoQ32_gh9yDP0bmVzO38lbJV2Vq3pNVml8CWTvZe4cqmiMVUntVszGBJ3ZWC88Uahbct7LRk5ohGM3Gaz3IUKH5bISVzTr6rz32ok0snXO-bexHvIPg775quEgdqUo/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaqRgXqTN-V9wqVoQ32_gh9yDP0bmVzO38lbJV2Vq3pNVml8CWTvZe4cqmiMVUntVszGBJ3ZWC88Uahbct7LRk5ohGM3Gaz3IUKH5bISVzTr6rz32ok0snXO-bexHvIPg775quEgdqUo/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiKiDmsha_9rJYvyMqrhqezvd4dNdoD7sd7L8fnC-T7Bbd6_dyt3TC1hzA0hWt47SE3mQV6xpadh7KvaFniuAKyPDUR23JnlsV7ZBT3IczaQq-678S011aZcmPP5VUX-pQYurhJ5qeTo/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiKiDmsha_9rJYvyMqrhqezvd4dNdoD7sd7L8fnC-T7Bbd6_dyt3TC1hzA0hWt47SE3mQV6xpadh7KvaFniuAKyPDUR23JnlsV7ZBT3IczaQq-678S011aZcmPP5VUX-pQYurhJ5qeTo/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65H2nBoWCDwaNU2aKMq87RS5cK5I15SYHzg5lVYS1OaVR7V5ssnI5FmmIRk7GRzwDu4nwEmbUSnMi2fmMNooCxyOfZ2mOF2I_pAYxT4H7TEklzNKlUZVsji7TY2Rai8wO0t9ZygPtqCU/s1600/IMG_3467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65H2nBoWCDwaNU2aKMq87RS5cK5I15SYHzg5lVYS1OaVR7V5ssnI5FmmIRk7GRzwDu4nwEmbUSnMi2fmMNooCxyOfZ2mOF2I_pAYxT4H7TEklzNKlUZVsji7TY2Rai8wO0t9ZygPtqCU/s1600/IMG_3467.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nope, no idea either.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismHVV_wd-Gq4HXLTJjf7QCRn1602lk1VIXsZX3LYdooXfhpo2lUFMFqkHoceE_EBG_6D2NmB8hq5jfhKPsauBWbQ5VvH25HG8X3kp0TYLLpk0D5FF1hUcw9VqmtvvjsTn9-eGJ2YeUas/s1600/IMG_3473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismHVV_wd-Gq4HXLTJjf7QCRn1602lk1VIXsZX3LYdooXfhpo2lUFMFqkHoceE_EBG_6D2NmB8hq5jfhKPsauBWbQ5VvH25HG8X3kp0TYLLpk0D5FF1hUcw9VqmtvvjsTn9-eGJ2YeUas/s1600/IMG_3473.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZMh1R-9LBtbsMaSbWWFB7yfxuJ18lK8TKq9ZxiY4QdR7hMUMUqf4C7eSeKflvOv_K6jU5T3rYN66kgtFtdpcZjso8f2cqYCQaNG-bCqUvdyeEWY02CvQEjqsUL2w9sDKFj0XYWCLzFQ/s1600/IMG_3474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZMh1R-9LBtbsMaSbWWFB7yfxuJ18lK8TKq9ZxiY4QdR7hMUMUqf4C7eSeKflvOv_K6jU5T3rYN66kgtFtdpcZjso8f2cqYCQaNG-bCqUvdyeEWY02CvQEjqsUL2w9sDKFj0XYWCLzFQ/s1600/IMG_3474.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL3hu2cTe26ayvG3Z_J4TUQXh7XlmKeIS8JjxhxTtRKzjAJWFkQ8rkqeInyKcRvo3Ng0p_qYSkzf8IyNJNFoYCRxe3hC_bVJpJObPyZPWWNahwBwFGImm7_BAg7IkRwfhkWcZ4UXyYME/s1600/IMG_3477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL3hu2cTe26ayvG3Z_J4TUQXh7XlmKeIS8JjxhxTtRKzjAJWFkQ8rkqeInyKcRvo3Ng0p_qYSkzf8IyNJNFoYCRxe3hC_bVJpJObPyZPWWNahwBwFGImm7_BAg7IkRwfhkWcZ4UXyYME/s1600/IMG_3477.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHWEdt1I9fJlZiX44EDQxvHq-uPt08cT5W8CShX-xfci7J5NNZDJwT8_wjnivkBiofyKlucTVjT-yfx9seCrgzwBbbhNXjAcxJYgy7MoPYhsFrMn_yVzlNnWeTEManC2MYtrtDXqSFq4/s1600/IMG_3482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHWEdt1I9fJlZiX44EDQxvHq-uPt08cT5W8CShX-xfci7J5NNZDJwT8_wjnivkBiofyKlucTVjT-yfx9seCrgzwBbbhNXjAcxJYgy7MoPYhsFrMn_yVzlNnWeTEManC2MYtrtDXqSFq4/s1600/IMG_3482.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9ZwIzXMujsNApWbfvqStRKEAXJvBjx2Z3uRrE6qgBsxieshpyH2TO0IF8OVS2o0n4dFPn50PJne_i831Q8BnwrZAm7QT8oKl8EIiViyzueuc1BFcX3N1hE15yMnCW0KiPJ_2fzUtQyU/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9ZwIzXMujsNApWbfvqStRKEAXJvBjx2Z3uRrE6qgBsxieshpyH2TO0IF8OVS2o0n4dFPn50PJne_i831Q8BnwrZAm7QT8oKl8EIiViyzueuc1BFcX3N1hE15yMnCW0KiPJ_2fzUtQyU/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our next project!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5nyOGpp7Cv7fbrxoLBDtkDWWEPsGoZCL98Xkn1q-bi4nfd_DkufQilFNcvVykZURkF0RV1sIVojGr1H5w6hTaroTWNC5LOOqujgCrJhVSFnjOy8xCLgM4doyZp2yTmO6kryIFFGX_TA/s1600/IMG_3490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5nyOGpp7Cv7fbrxoLBDtkDWWEPsGoZCL98Xkn1q-bi4nfd_DkufQilFNcvVykZURkF0RV1sIVojGr1H5w6hTaroTWNC5LOOqujgCrJhVSFnjOy8xCLgM4doyZp2yTmO6kryIFFGX_TA/s1600/IMG_3490.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHH1xD4R0BlpqF-I7l72yedkg8WWqjMFe6DKXSi6FVSAfGtZfit982tSKkol6CnklO0XbQEKwvtduhEmpyx7vDdD54ISTQh7VC0ozP0NVGqqEJj1lW50ah2GCHp8VqFxiH6Ka76BMD0A/s1600/IMG_3498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHH1xD4R0BlpqF-I7l72yedkg8WWqjMFe6DKXSi6FVSAfGtZfit982tSKkol6CnklO0XbQEKwvtduhEmpyx7vDdD54ISTQh7VC0ozP0NVGqqEJj1lW50ah2GCHp8VqFxiH6Ka76BMD0A/s1600/IMG_3498.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5-Us_M-JJcaDMaPzOTcJMekrSjzfkXDE81beh_Vdj65v3NHdhTlTOf0lwDrjty4B1-7_FK9dffJPg19L3ZwaDU7UNtrWFOGXtO_P7ATq08mkW0c7mJkPlBParJgWCtcD25GgX3ArGZg/s1600/IMG_3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5-Us_M-JJcaDMaPzOTcJMekrSjzfkXDE81beh_Vdj65v3NHdhTlTOf0lwDrjty4B1-7_FK9dffJPg19L3ZwaDU7UNtrWFOGXtO_P7ATq08mkW0c7mJkPlBParJgWCtcD25GgX3ArGZg/s1600/IMG_3514.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl_JTpsjqZIEwbTFu6iyxCKKkxJmy79RhdJzTcWNxzQSkMF8r2T9R7dRwfLQZTGp0n0fcSWSo1H59CHYcPP0pC04BgiV309oB2HQtbKbGEe8LbPURfJZ7_TuiG6ROyqrSIyH47bCkZmI/s1600/IMG_3515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl_JTpsjqZIEwbTFu6iyxCKKkxJmy79RhdJzTcWNxzQSkMF8r2T9R7dRwfLQZTGp0n0fcSWSo1H59CHYcPP0pC04BgiV309oB2HQtbKbGEe8LbPURfJZ7_TuiG6ROyqrSIyH47bCkZmI/s1600/IMG_3515.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TdIBv0uEZu27IGZII7hytTB2XD0vXVdDSSgayYwD1OTxzpAr3IFdfJkYG0h0bk9cbvZe1BtzyXpRIotfU6Sqpj1MsYp8YAU4Mpg6XA5DdADu_5XFTJG1Q4YBw24Hx5N3v2EX2fHVuEA/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TdIBv0uEZu27IGZII7hytTB2XD0vXVdDSSgayYwD1OTxzpAr3IFdfJkYG0h0bk9cbvZe1BtzyXpRIotfU6Sqpj1MsYp8YAU4Mpg6XA5DdADu_5XFTJG1Q4YBw24Hx5N3v2EX2fHVuEA/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_RKbSpxFdtpA1UCcn0eEiwAsFs3-YIkIFFPITZkoFKribNK5VYpUF2H67pqSJGlnV0pjdwGBcw8L8JEvje2A4jiKNFmjh0xRwFuRsi_d_SXEjG3EQbqMIqufg8l48PoedVuT6m4RA8U/s1600/IMG_3535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_RKbSpxFdtpA1UCcn0eEiwAsFs3-YIkIFFPITZkoFKribNK5VYpUF2H67pqSJGlnV0pjdwGBcw8L8JEvje2A4jiKNFmjh0xRwFuRsi_d_SXEjG3EQbqMIqufg8l48PoedVuT6m4RA8U/s1600/IMG_3535.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalS7w0eOZp98SI2Vf3l-H2EnGRWZ0_SzF8B7qUZC5Hz9PyYR9uGxfJLtqsp5OMUGNzvHj9JClouOzVY99utGHtqVIvGPpPzCWg0A15953qU9UuHOl-MjEwJhBFJTEVfeWfIbnUA5eLjA/s1600/IMG_3539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalS7w0eOZp98SI2Vf3l-H2EnGRWZ0_SzF8B7qUZC5Hz9PyYR9uGxfJLtqsp5OMUGNzvHj9JClouOzVY99utGHtqVIvGPpPzCWg0A15953qU9UuHOl-MjEwJhBFJTEVfeWfIbnUA5eLjA/s1600/IMG_3539.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I couldn't help but feel it was going to attack.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzaz8suUg_1QD7gFZQcPJ4I8MCRFBHLCtCnBT160rFCLAKocV4pN49slxh5Cr9NwHq4hqY-OqkMbFyJ6S7-2qbRHWEMqLbOG8Rv4GqyDJoL0WG4Pp4vzDfvflFqDgL43CBxbzjh2FGmc/s1600/IMG_3543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzaz8suUg_1QD7gFZQcPJ4I8MCRFBHLCtCnBT160rFCLAKocV4pN49slxh5Cr9NwHq4hqY-OqkMbFyJ6S7-2qbRHWEMqLbOG8Rv4GqyDJoL0WG4Pp4vzDfvflFqDgL43CBxbzjh2FGmc/s1600/IMG_3543.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBMh9_kAjmD3_c73tnVtOlzDVwyLIomsQsiHIYCTam-SIuUXn5Xueqe4R6k3_aitAUf6HCX0-fxzAZ0lIUP5uw53_XcaCpopGX5lGRgo_6fJlWLcwf6GC8WIxs3TRBfMFBJ1280irmh4/s1600/IMG_3546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBMh9_kAjmD3_c73tnVtOlzDVwyLIomsQsiHIYCTam-SIuUXn5Xueqe4R6k3_aitAUf6HCX0-fxzAZ0lIUP5uw53_XcaCpopGX5lGRgo_6fJlWLcwf6GC8WIxs3TRBfMFBJ1280irmh4/s1600/IMG_3546.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VesJ1j5WAQNoGbIaBP4kUYA2_h44QzhRb7H6RTFpYMT03VRuy_esKgudESFNyZhZop0YiIqTnIDHo47KzL_LrU818kILWfbbM9xX7_X0Y-2aigVn7TMA3hTKgRMFCvhROJwTaK4D5NY/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VesJ1j5WAQNoGbIaBP4kUYA2_h44QzhRb7H6RTFpYMT03VRuy_esKgudESFNyZhZop0YiIqTnIDHo47KzL_LrU818kILWfbbM9xX7_X0Y-2aigVn7TMA3hTKgRMFCvhROJwTaK4D5NY/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboa8L3hq4N-lkQnHiXXulwVqowU8GQzxTx71285kJE5qiwGOCkXvttYia4TeOGlVBfnvLADPdsE18QsFvaoYwUnCFsnSDOwMmA8-Ze5hOD2M__KhS4Am77B_x6oyQvtyz5nG-DV5GwBE/s1600/IMG_3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboa8L3hq4N-lkQnHiXXulwVqowU8GQzxTx71285kJE5qiwGOCkXvttYia4TeOGlVBfnvLADPdsE18QsFvaoYwUnCFsnSDOwMmA8-Ze5hOD2M__KhS4Am77B_x6oyQvtyz5nG-DV5GwBE/s1600/IMG_3551.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /> The next day is one of those days. They days where people leave and you make promises of future meetings, never quite sure if they will happen. I sincerely hope that they will. Theo and Wiljanne are hoping to take a trip to Scotland this summer, in which case we will undoubtedly meet up. And if not I will just need to go to the Netherlands, which would be no great trial!<br />And it is not just them, the whole group I have spent the last few days with leave, the Dutch couple, the other Dutch couple and the Iranian/Indonesian couple. But I have a group of three girls from England and Wales to take their place, and we spend the day mosaicking benches, creating anchors and skull and crossbones, and it is a lot of fun. I love meeting new people from new places, and discussing similarities and differences in culture and language. But I also love it when it has been a while and I come across some fellow Brits. There is a shared sense of humour that is almost instantly apparent, and makes for easy and comfortable, for want of a better word, banter.<br /><br /> Tania drives the girls down to the south where they are going to spend a few days, before heading to the Gili isles just off Lombok (the next island along from Bali) where I will meet them. I decide to accompany them for the ride, and to pick up my passport in Denpasar. We arrive on a cliffside paradise overlooking a pale beach and an endless sea of Lapis Lazuli, and I realise I don't want to leave. Luckily I don't have to, I decide therefore to stay with my new friends despite having no possessions whatsoever apart from (very luckily), my swimming shorts and camera.<br /> The next few days meld and merge into a haze of relaxation. We wander along the beach and swim in the sea, we have long breakfasts splayed out couches that overlook the beach, we draw and paint, we make bracelets, I write, thanks to a borrowed iPad. Some of the girls do yoga in the mornings on the beach, or in the evenings watching the sunset. I sit on our balcony and watch the surfers as the sun burns its way towards the horizon. A blazing white ball that seems to light the very sea itself, before fading to a deep gold and melting onto far off clouds, leaving them gilded with a thin line of light.<br /><br /> This place, Bingin beach, is apparently a haven for world renowned surfers, and based on some of the displays I watch from the beach I am tempted to believe it. One day we see another of the flying drones out filming the surfers in action. With these waves, I am not tempted to try it, but I do go for a few swims in the sea and that is disastrous enough. Imagine trying to clamber over seemingly flat but actually deeply pocked and ridged, sharp and jagged rock, without shoes, while constantly being pummelled by waves that will happily knock you down and sweep you back a few meters over said sharp and jagged rock. And then once you make it in the water you either have to try very hard to stay in roughly the same place or get drawn steadily further down the beach by the current and eventually make it out nowhere near where you went in. Despite all that, and despite never coming out not bleeding, it's a lot of fun.<br /><br /> One of our member leaves for home, via Thailand and military coups, the same morning that the rest of us head to the Gilis. She has had quite a n amazingly terrible time trying to make this journey, including two emergency passports and a multitude of un-taken and cancelled flights. We send her off wondering what else might go wrong, and get picked up by our boat company for our crossing. They take us to the port where Tania is supposed to be meeting us with all of my possessions that were last seen strewn all over her spare room.<br /> We arrive and check in, and Tania is nowhere to be seen. The time ticks away and I try to decide what I would do if she didn't turn up. The girls had both packed small bags and were planning on leaving their suitcases with Tania. As the time to leave approaches they decide to put their bags in the trailer for the ferry, and my anxiety heightens. Despite having realised that I don't need my possessions there a few things that I really would like. Primarily my bank card, so I don't have to borrow and more from the Welsh. My laptop would be nice too.<br /> Just as it seems all hope is lost Tania sweeps in. She hands me my small rucksack, packed with everything I might need for my journey, and my laptop and kindle in a lovely aboriginal printed laptop bag that I've never seen before. She puts my bag in the trailer that is about to leave for the ferry and, upon discovering that the girl's cases are in there (at the very bottom) demands that the staff get them out, the whole time chatting away at top speed in Indonesian. I hear her explain that there is no point in them carrying all their stuff around if they don't need it, she uses the world 'schlop' a lot. There is time for a quick hug then she is gone and we speed off to the ferry. It was all classic Tania.<br /><br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9qhXW1HvFeUUm0X6pNoUcNR0-vgPBbMoeNrKVkTzVrQbKWbbiioQEpfYZl_Z5sm6C00-d58i_JjkWvimWWNSCX_SoIBn-C8NgTfYcS6G8RJOxIJQSQdcPlhLt852huGcO5IdKSxAgmA/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9qhXW1HvFeUUm0X6pNoUcNR0-vgPBbMoeNrKVkTzVrQbKWbbiioQEpfYZl_Z5sm6C00-d58i_JjkWvimWWNSCX_SoIBn-C8NgTfYcS6G8RJOxIJQSQdcPlhLt852huGcO5IdKSxAgmA/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBEwxtpQWkiLYmX9k5ohl7BGXxhv14hH95QWHH05ntX-zLvqpqFHCOx3es_QPJxx3DuayvEz-LV_hNGi0Ji2gI79ojY-nDzLP0MXb_mH6GFd3unX8QVCpsa5I14vxgZ_Fnr8RyXui3_A/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBEwxtpQWkiLYmX9k5ohl7BGXxhv14hH95QWHH05ntX-zLvqpqFHCOx3es_QPJxx3DuayvEz-LV_hNGi0Ji2gI79ojY-nDzLP0MXb_mH6GFd3unX8QVCpsa5I14vxgZ_Fnr8RyXui3_A/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1UeSg2BxldVkVTG1I_Rv-y880KS3R8mQVnNPv3q6VgmJVx27RBh25Frm360XHKbNOJFvtXPLdimPp4JIIYEdmT8jz9sK7pxXBERkY94OL0zB6BDGCcp0iaMUWEk2u6BuJv7E5cV1xdo/s1600/IMG_3563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1UeSg2BxldVkVTG1I_Rv-y880KS3R8mQVnNPv3q6VgmJVx27RBh25Frm360XHKbNOJFvtXPLdimPp4JIIYEdmT8jz9sK7pxXBERkY94OL0zB6BDGCcp0iaMUWEk2u6BuJv7E5cV1xdo/s1600/IMG_3563.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh yes the kittens! Still very cute.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl8b2P9XG-Q1DkyK81Gq69sImbpTJoIJcgKF64hJPNuCto5YxBZPcU4DrPjMQK8mBgvolgiB0OKRJsnC2c0L6q13qSevVkJvjkQAzX5-jOUfKzDU1dot-63T6ZDfd5OFqIfoJe1tucyo/s1600/IMG_3586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl8b2P9XG-Q1DkyK81Gq69sImbpTJoIJcgKF64hJPNuCto5YxBZPcU4DrPjMQK8mBgvolgiB0OKRJsnC2c0L6q13qSevVkJvjkQAzX5-jOUfKzDU1dot-63T6ZDfd5OFqIfoJe1tucyo/s1600/IMG_3586.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEWOmp-vIONdRUGYDe34eD9bnW5xdTY-sdSys6mhKdkEKE8HYyROZR1R9fNULCtuxb5G4iIvzDb9Z8d6ZensyTsvM9AkUrotzYAVHtSektPoIoH8CPvjfic0KdKoyUGjx4PSNv4S6QjE/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEWOmp-vIONdRUGYDe34eD9bnW5xdTY-sdSys6mhKdkEKE8HYyROZR1R9fNULCtuxb5G4iIvzDb9Z8d6ZensyTsvM9AkUrotzYAVHtSektPoIoH8CPvjfic0KdKoyUGjx4PSNv4S6QjE/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWCJMIJiVOW5T7sAg8ufW9H_Fa-sTAcTAMgYApnTSNaD5OwqsDv9I6f34af2JQoY8zURetUPIF8R1lRMNCrVfozrJfwid2JXRXMX5Falsl1M0DF2caZBdeG6Fuu46-qSIk3LvDbOrF98/s1600/IMG_3591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWCJMIJiVOW5T7sAg8ufW9H_Fa-sTAcTAMgYApnTSNaD5OwqsDv9I6f34af2JQoY8zURetUPIF8R1lRMNCrVfozrJfwid2JXRXMX5Falsl1M0DF2caZBdeG6Fuu46-qSIk3LvDbOrF98/s1600/IMG_3591.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcMs9hhwwOe3ctXzsevWO6OgkIRDPSSzbUQbYJ9_iMPnQ4PX37ofGB6LMPg4mabVqQEUXn6YSnwe0OT39JZ8pB-QYU5IVEV6406v5bABMH6Sy4reiF_lmtbbt2ISWDRCN7Qo2Js9YAtA/s1600/IMG_3595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcMs9hhwwOe3ctXzsevWO6OgkIRDPSSzbUQbYJ9_iMPnQ4PX37ofGB6LMPg4mabVqQEUXn6YSnwe0OT39JZ8pB-QYU5IVEV6406v5bABMH6Sy4reiF_lmtbbt2ISWDRCN7Qo2Js9YAtA/s1600/IMG_3595.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarBebegRDK2YHdW8sXV0Db24fK-YCTOBdlqltNmvlULh19SD5Ji0SfwwXyx8F__UI2lFfkofVz5unM5-s9lHkTcymoEBsd7hW4ckjkzecS17Tw0MQ9YlE-ETFe9V-9ZJstBnQZe5NbKg/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarBebegRDK2YHdW8sXV0Db24fK-YCTOBdlqltNmvlULh19SD5Ji0SfwwXyx8F__UI2lFfkofVz5unM5-s9lHkTcymoEBsd7hW4ckjkzecS17Tw0MQ9YlE-ETFe9V-9ZJstBnQZe5NbKg/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElIKJ7-O5MYfK-J4uGTR1Opz1GyhhwkhF7bHX38dInSpn3mnE0DJR5agI0kfvmxOgaIlEQWU5Q94RvQr8Rx6opnetiV0qJbOEjA65UUavmepUnXqpXJcxyez0yO0nB_cgxhS3xEtome8/s1600/IMG_3605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElIKJ7-O5MYfK-J4uGTR1Opz1GyhhwkhF7bHX38dInSpn3mnE0DJR5agI0kfvmxOgaIlEQWU5Q94RvQr8Rx6opnetiV0qJbOEjA65UUavmepUnXqpXJcxyez0yO0nB_cgxhS3xEtome8/s1600/IMG_3605.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UAAM4qeK3peNMKuKukht7-tSxHIHsgvi3QmldNW0Efc-yitw3VkHS5WZDQ6-Hgn6Jp2KmShWz5brKayeUVZJ_R65-_uaDfUnyaQi_tqSjXnuUnrzs66mtisYH3M5Zuy54tgOt_oyWbw/s1600/IMG_3632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UAAM4qeK3peNMKuKukht7-tSxHIHsgvi3QmldNW0Efc-yitw3VkHS5WZDQ6-Hgn6Jp2KmShWz5brKayeUVZJ_R65-_uaDfUnyaQi_tqSjXnuUnrzs66mtisYH3M5Zuy54tgOt_oyWbw/s1600/IMG_3632.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYq1195Fdb6-_-GPCVpdN1JIevrlulEbRd36AKsdyFzNuOtm_q9yseUKJH-uHo2gf0rkwT_a_ZaJE40X-neTx6R81wCM-Cu0MT1NeGaxi59VTfFR08L-FNzEssL-I6lI4GIsjHpDT39U/s1600/IMG_3641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYq1195Fdb6-_-GPCVpdN1JIevrlulEbRd36AKsdyFzNuOtm_q9yseUKJH-uHo2gf0rkwT_a_ZaJE40X-neTx6R81wCM-Cu0MT1NeGaxi59VTfFR08L-FNzEssL-I6lI4GIsjHpDT39U/s1600/IMG_3641.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11FXsW0d1jTWVf0cBayAnwoOO1XlBMXhwyKciOhKYlInFIcSt0XBevbpk4E1RL_AGzVCh6AwlnIhQFLqifI16y200rFzppi0BDQq29uVBmP-4_PwHpOjsQIwW2M_Q0K8YXacjcNngo5Q/s1600/IMG_3643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11FXsW0d1jTWVf0cBayAnwoOO1XlBMXhwyKciOhKYlInFIcSt0XBevbpk4E1RL_AGzVCh6AwlnIhQFLqifI16y200rFzppi0BDQq29uVBmP-4_PwHpOjsQIwW2M_Q0K8YXacjcNngo5Q/s1600/IMG_3643.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmVsJXMp2MlsNIhyphenhyphenPty_caEesYwiWTPPWcBs-r5Dh9GA-YOw6h40BjnEhdwFoQeOssgVRoNkUgpSb8UHX3FIGGr5jUsvkUuRDAEMvam7c-DhOZjXZ4R94d5ST3buKBlObGgU9B0Ub0E0/s1600/IMG_3646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmVsJXMp2MlsNIhyphenhyphenPty_caEesYwiWTPPWcBs-r5Dh9GA-YOw6h40BjnEhdwFoQeOssgVRoNkUgpSb8UHX3FIGGr5jUsvkUuRDAEMvam7c-DhOZjXZ4R94d5ST3buKBlObGgU9B0Ub0E0/s1600/IMG_3646.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYiHyXBfbhYLKoNaNl9VOSZOz8ptz-iE65s4-ZNkiymeZMx94saDMIjPGGW3Ak3w4t7ZuPC7tx-7cfndDZ5vnU99XOoqPunL1O2qmBh3xCKx_t0smMmGd32AKzn6ml9NM5TE5E3wpR34/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYiHyXBfbhYLKoNaNl9VOSZOz8ptz-iE65s4-ZNkiymeZMx94saDMIjPGGW3Ak3w4t7ZuPC7tx-7cfndDZ5vnU99XOoqPunL1O2qmBh3xCKx_t0smMmGd32AKzn6ml9NM5TE5E3wpR34/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So that is it, in a rush, I leave Bali behind. I will be back, it still has my passport, but probably only for a day or two at the end. My last few weeks will be spent on Lombok, and how it will differ to Bali I have no idea. I have heard very good things though. And after Indonesia there will be one final week in Melbourne and then I will be home. What a strange thought. Strange, and yet also enticing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-33661332096865182732014-06-08T20:40:00.003-07:002014-06-08T20:40:49.336-07:00Into the clouds.Once again I find myself alone. This time I have Kai, and the whole of Bali to explore, if no phone to document it. Before leaving Kuta, which let's face it can't come soon enough, I head out to try and find myself a new camera. After trawling the streets for a good hour on a completely fruitless search for some sort of electronic store I finally encounter a man who asks me if mind a camera that's 'second hand'. For the sake of saving money, I accept. A woman speeds off on a motorbike and returns a few minutes later, camera in hand. It's pretty decent, and I bargain down to a price I'm happy with.<br />
After she's gone, and I've taken a few selfies, I have a look on the memory card to discover a selection of photos and videos of Indonesians going about their day, and before that, some American girls in a small village in Africa. Having contributed both to the supply (my old iPhone) and the demand (my new camera) of Kuta's black market I decide it's probably time to leave. I get on my bike and head south. My next destination is Uluwatu, the southernmost tip of Bali.<br />
<br />
I soon discover that I am better than ever at losing my way, and without my phone re-finding my way becomes a lot more troublesome, but I get there eventually. Padang-Padang beach is in a beautiful little cove, and appears to be a haven for surfers. I have my dinner by the sea and watch on as children play in the waves and a young couple have their pre-wedding photos taken in the deepening light. Pre-wedding photos are a big thing over here (mainly in Australia I think). It involves dressing up as if you've just gotten married and getting photos taken in locations that usually have very little in common with where you will actually get married. don't really get it.<br />
The next day I head off to visit Pura Ulu Watu, another of the nine sacred directional temples, responsible, I presume, for the South. I walk down a wide tree lined path and approach a group of buildings at the foot of a small rise. I know we are on a cliff but from where I am I cannot see it. I decide to bypass the temple for now, and as soon as I do the cliff reveals itself. I peer over the wall and see the sea long below, great crashing waves reduced to languid white ripples by the distance between us. Back along the path the cliff rises even higher and protrudes out to the ocean like the hull of a great ship. Adorning it's peak I see a tiered roof poking above treetops, a shape now both strangely familiar and enticingly alien.<br />
My path takes me through a woodland and to a cliff greater still. The face is dark but mottled with the brightest of green. The emerald land surrounding me seems to spill over the sheer edge and cascade down to the far water below it. An emperor's bounty of jade and malachite. And the water. The water is the purest of blue; sapphire, topaz, and silver glass. And it is perfectly reflected by the sky above. Great swathes of surf blossom from tiny waves and briefly dominate the shore before fizzling to nothing as quickly as they arose.<br />
The clifftop path takes me thought a patch of grassland and for a moment I am in Britain on a summers day. The breeze cools the heat to recognisable temperatures and meadow recedes to rolling forested hills. Cows graze in the distance and rest in the shade of a lone tree. It's only the monkeys that ruin the image.<br />
I return to explore the temple and it is much the same as any. I find that I can easily describe, and forever gaze upon, scene upon scene of the endless natural beauty that surrounds me, and yet the temples are growing wonted or even mundane, and I tire of writing of them. I do find an enticing white stone avenue, a feature I have not seen before (which is unusual) and therefore it greatly intrigues me. It leads to the pagoda on the cliff but unfortunately is of bounds for tourists.<br />
<br />
My next stop is 'Impossibles' Beach. I am not sure if this is so named for the difficulty of the surf or the difficulty of finding and reaching it, but I suspect both. After much driving and clambering I reach a perfect and abandoned patch of white sand. Great boulders mark its edges and a sheer cliff its back. Two dogs dart across but there is not a human in sight. On my return I find one of the dogs firmly entrenched in the middle of the path, guarding an unmarked territory. He growls whenever I get too close so in the end I have to scramble my way up a rocky hillside to get around him.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HYNW05SeffUr1fUjlQBN-eDARedeWK91vNfoLyHBQU27xs_OK1hslyTxu5_ebph1_UvbdcKXLuHj4Lk2OzXx7jJ-KtUQewxELlPouqjnvaAIslp832HxRzFyb8vUckkqLSlOTeXeAuo/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HYNW05SeffUr1fUjlQBN-eDARedeWK91vNfoLyHBQU27xs_OK1hslyTxu5_ebph1_UvbdcKXLuHj4Lk2OzXx7jJ-KtUQewxELlPouqjnvaAIslp832HxRzFyb8vUckkqLSlOTeXeAuo/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB7HMvl9scgPnJ1jpN1deJcAB-7kxmqvgPgRIZ0OYiXZsXPgGmWTtRd3nC19s53orS4ddBpey4bC3pyW-HhlO9WmjzFIRQwFydA35FBsuf7zfPJzv-bXWMQKHMICBO3kprU-us4iPUIc/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB7HMvl9scgPnJ1jpN1deJcAB-7kxmqvgPgRIZ0OYiXZsXPgGmWTtRd3nC19s53orS4ddBpey4bC3pyW-HhlO9WmjzFIRQwFydA35FBsuf7zfPJzv-bXWMQKHMICBO3kprU-us4iPUIc/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Stnk6t9gWakveQ9bQKsd0mrkttZxDkdUlkVTNdTB6HFkgogZPoLj4Pr8SXEolcn3JGNzxQ69uuhCHSHcDJyIlftgu3l9aKzIrdqSCv6TrfnNVVsw0iVj-G3NMZmGYG7OtIJsOMqlUkE/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Stnk6t9gWakveQ9bQKsd0mrkttZxDkdUlkVTNdTB6HFkgogZPoLj4Pr8SXEolcn3JGNzxQ69uuhCHSHcDJyIlftgu3l9aKzIrdqSCv6TrfnNVVsw0iVj-G3NMZmGYG7OtIJsOMqlUkE/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2NIYl0Vv6TstC5Ukzw0rOF85u2-6M2pxImMnbLKtXlXuiBJgXM_nOMcsr-KcKpbUYHAynAtNqmOXh2hEthAyWoHYmPqy27e-6r0XNdp0akJy_MD8yRQaOZC1Q2U2nFWbkOT6T5r2_zk/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2NIYl0Vv6TstC5Ukzw0rOF85u2-6M2pxImMnbLKtXlXuiBJgXM_nOMcsr-KcKpbUYHAynAtNqmOXh2hEthAyWoHYmPqy27e-6r0XNdp0akJy_MD8yRQaOZC1Q2U2nFWbkOT6T5r2_zk/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWfbmUIqbq0PgKJ-pevFzGOfFx2Hd7Jclm_ewLjjH2p6NkwcBvZX3l4XD7toqQ73mcyrWQrcPeMqPLRKTEOdN7toAgw6HPqECOJGnPBCc58cAlu7DMqSfZ4-GGCO-f-Iy4pj_f5emYPY/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWfbmUIqbq0PgKJ-pevFzGOfFx2Hd7Jclm_ewLjjH2p6NkwcBvZX3l4XD7toqQ73mcyrWQrcPeMqPLRKTEOdN7toAgw6HPqECOJGnPBCc58cAlu7DMqSfZ4-GGCO-f-Iy4pj_f5emYPY/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wrMig_AzmgaQRo7HZOQWbtoBTRJfhRLEgqmaJZ68O1OFu5SAbXqf48d5FYP2UaU1_-OdzUvzuIQEkMk-aYZgJBMj2ay_V852CsmGocR99LR-pN28rhxGiZNmtFPZ0HQv0-sQxqT2OSw/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wrMig_AzmgaQRo7HZOQWbtoBTRJfhRLEgqmaJZ68O1OFu5SAbXqf48d5FYP2UaU1_-OdzUvzuIQEkMk-aYZgJBMj2ay_V852CsmGocR99LR-pN28rhxGiZNmtFPZ0HQv0-sQxqT2OSw/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0cCm71dQ4RoRezsF5_N6i82NV7QNVI2Lj870G8-vzAALAEf0sXdjVZRVxHx30mrJbZIEwNsDRCPqfJsquIrBDZ2hPrDXHTNltqu2_2FdTfpkYm-EheUa_SWEt6_lSyFyJvDSEWxIwZ0/s1600/IMG_2531.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0cCm71dQ4RoRezsF5_N6i82NV7QNVI2Lj870G8-vzAALAEf0sXdjVZRVxHx30mrJbZIEwNsDRCPqfJsquIrBDZ2hPrDXHTNltqu2_2FdTfpkYm-EheUa_SWEt6_lSyFyJvDSEWxIwZ0/s1600/IMG_2531.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLO59CaEILiSgvmWuOLqfaj_3mYr89joiulHOmwD-Qomw1XB_PVDkx2h8f3ZG8GCfXDGdQAOZeSiCIfA3reCPM80H_0bHhtIfuelLChyphenhyphenbl3gSimPB2v5MRcgt4s74mqsilMhY_tBIN3I/s1600/IMG_2533.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLO59CaEILiSgvmWuOLqfaj_3mYr89joiulHOmwD-Qomw1XB_PVDkx2h8f3ZG8GCfXDGdQAOZeSiCIfA3reCPM80H_0bHhtIfuelLChyphenhyphenbl3gSimPB2v5MRcgt4s74mqsilMhY_tBIN3I/s1600/IMG_2533.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1edcKT5MAuGS-QqJM_gR1tMS_V-675XhiPmsss8m5CJfN9p2Oal3MJaV7YpSQmW7dcC6PmObR7RuHxoNA-gTSATj-9T3Iv8lU75bm2cQD261ZAM5T96mcajuyfTVieNwMobdg7w-i0zg/s1600/IMG_2535.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1edcKT5MAuGS-QqJM_gR1tMS_V-675XhiPmsss8m5CJfN9p2Oal3MJaV7YpSQmW7dcC6PmObR7RuHxoNA-gTSATj-9T3Iv8lU75bm2cQD261ZAM5T96mcajuyfTVieNwMobdg7w-i0zg/s1600/IMG_2535.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZZEcPu1nPhKuWfUb8WW624Gbv9z3Ib65NcR1JEo7WSkXVQ28AkOjlG0XQY_d4lzC2-aK5EID-hSyZkd1ljP9GQrrsFTbipgiqEdnCbSLHStKvRbdMKQf00mm6ycAg_oDAGJjjsdi6h4/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZZEcPu1nPhKuWfUb8WW624Gbv9z3Ib65NcR1JEo7WSkXVQ28AkOjlG0XQY_d4lzC2-aK5EID-hSyZkd1ljP9GQrrsFTbipgiqEdnCbSLHStKvRbdMKQf00mm6ycAg_oDAGJjjsdi6h4/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JK2FR88K8po9RvOPhdJEOnx0TW1m9wmPP-QKjwH52J1WvX4p2VAhAEDxkrL3jW4PEcyZTCnP8StC-CYWmvvTWrk3lxkXwS1aq4Bsuk27FnT59NeDj-N29DvFNpCsdh2_lTLCBAZ3W5Q/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JK2FR88K8po9RvOPhdJEOnx0TW1m9wmPP-QKjwH52J1WvX4p2VAhAEDxkrL3jW4PEcyZTCnP8StC-CYWmvvTWrk3lxkXwS1aq4Bsuk27FnT59NeDj-N29DvFNpCsdh2_lTLCBAZ3W5Q/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsWNYtyCNrh7si9rf0x8z8f6MXLYYkWL-MaInL1EdMsIPa-7kOC4zOLld2zsP5KvCktibRyStVdWF__TuqBJrrAIaJ-NgQ1iG52kZYsSV6DSi5PCrjAJUHm3_66kKnUCRkYEzoTuIQr8/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsWNYtyCNrh7si9rf0x8z8f6MXLYYkWL-MaInL1EdMsIPa-7kOC4zOLld2zsP5KvCktibRyStVdWF__TuqBJrrAIaJ-NgQ1iG52kZYsSV6DSi5PCrjAJUHm3_66kKnUCRkYEzoTuIQr8/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwG2Nl-7tRAykS5RLsAoG1ReIhEaC-ppl3VuMEOsUDUUW7gdVdKnjDKIzXdimfOFhoR9uoKg8C8AY3XuYrXK14_ZVVf81CWBtDTl0PJSoUcykjoKK74HwN5jcSL_XrVKyH2pKFlGVxro/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwG2Nl-7tRAykS5RLsAoG1ReIhEaC-ppl3VuMEOsUDUUW7gdVdKnjDKIzXdimfOFhoR9uoKg8C8AY3XuYrXK14_ZVVf81CWBtDTl0PJSoUcykjoKK74HwN5jcSL_XrVKyH2pKFlGVxro/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like an orange tip, but huge!</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX90abVE0kb5aPpRxpY-4sNN6IG_L12wjgC0MfTilTfvZTx2TxYnw8BmcK__hVsTMhJSKyfOLPCrTFTsgncW8zPaJoKiVjAU_-AyFvbji3GjLEUeaYhkrlaeBsCor2NxuWxqrv8bzkcA/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX90abVE0kb5aPpRxpY-4sNN6IG_L12wjgC0MfTilTfvZTx2TxYnw8BmcK__hVsTMhJSKyfOLPCrTFTsgncW8zPaJoKiVjAU_-AyFvbji3GjLEUeaYhkrlaeBsCor2NxuWxqrv8bzkcA/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dZilZ5WwxexGlkefyiFO96-9dkMChH4ox2-My1So3sczOjeUB6t61MVKmjIDCXKqN0hNdu-58UlBjb6Ai6v1s6LjxNHC7Vk83eGCFRglQNAXBZ6653Fp8cY-4X7FDwmx0irSBDeoS5g/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dZilZ5WwxexGlkefyiFO96-9dkMChH4ox2-My1So3sczOjeUB6t61MVKmjIDCXKqN0hNdu-58UlBjb6Ai6v1s6LjxNHC7Vk83eGCFRglQNAXBZ6653Fp8cY-4X7FDwmx0irSBDeoS5g/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qIo-XRPcZLQ7RbF9WlsztMH1AlAO7gJQQl1U0j_Q5AU5upTsC8ie2LLUWmMAjXDCPWDCYQ4Q19_qTuhriXQt1UbgXHd7CxBzA6_xlQ7Z-bYqw0JIE6UaX7AAe8VrSR93yOEM-aRg6a8/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qIo-XRPcZLQ7RbF9WlsztMH1AlAO7gJQQl1U0j_Q5AU5upTsC8ie2LLUWmMAjXDCPWDCYQ4Q19_qTuhriXQt1UbgXHd7CxBzA6_xlQ7Z-bYqw0JIE6UaX7AAe8VrSR93yOEM-aRg6a8/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0uD1YNYEhIJqV2-SrxjMpJSCnPdrCAxDJ9PUKHvmqtlnC0Emsn5bx1PxbByRD1a0rpFXnjTGs_y3FNs5H1HdwT-giQyd8U652_2Eji4CfJG8DWmkJA4Lz5syLujZ69WtZvFIeiyI_Gc/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0uD1YNYEhIJqV2-SrxjMpJSCnPdrCAxDJ9PUKHvmqtlnC0Emsn5bx1PxbByRD1a0rpFXnjTGs_y3FNs5H1HdwT-giQyd8U652_2Eji4CfJG8DWmkJA4Lz5syLujZ69WtZvFIeiyI_Gc/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxy-Wlz44LITcm4nCB7vuWwL-MNI1Jxe9t2qkrGOOXchyJQe8Qx0KzipaHNCrj6dtLBLcN8p7MMeyJr2bKPt3xV1vSi8P1e4Mr72nObTpFqGYKjtJyt10Hz4Ew2MHKU_eOc0qKFVldlI/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxy-Wlz44LITcm4nCB7vuWwL-MNI1Jxe9t2qkrGOOXchyJQe8Qx0KzipaHNCrj6dtLBLcN8p7MMeyJr2bKPt3xV1vSi8P1e4Mr72nObTpFqGYKjtJyt10Hz4Ew2MHKU_eOc0qKFVldlI/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzapMsLyc6L3lwlmwJDj2nbmsEIaIVAcOY0URiihOZI1xSmKtyX6ZysLCkQaPelNu0dW_vhBFDiq1Y_VDCnrH69i-s_pZ0ADnB5CMJG9YpUVfxxgtTsFftbSLggtRTSq5Mw87DRAtVdQ/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzapMsLyc6L3lwlmwJDj2nbmsEIaIVAcOY0URiihOZI1xSmKtyX6ZysLCkQaPelNu0dW_vhBFDiq1Y_VDCnrH69i-s_pZ0ADnB5CMJG9YpUVfxxgtTsFftbSLggtRTSq5Mw87DRAtVdQ/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUcrR78IYXXZylBa6TUT8o-RsNC82OHZGs6kTsLXg84L0-2AhiHEUbbVA1oAtnZ1ouf6Hz_-9QB3C1YV3cWPGGhEupI1RHLtRvR_ZoIKCeAEkXoOfhyphenhyphenxUmAxDCduuEGZo4LeFPJQVqnQ/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUcrR78IYXXZylBa6TUT8o-RsNC82OHZGs6kTsLXg84L0-2AhiHEUbbVA1oAtnZ1ouf6Hz_-9QB3C1YV3cWPGGhEupI1RHLtRvR_ZoIKCeAEkXoOfhyphenhyphenxUmAxDCduuEGZo4LeFPJQVqnQ/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TWC7cKrNdTnLkKVn-gSX-go2yF3zNQEdLqYgWDVURYpvpOCbIojWbNziNuo99aftnMiN9hBr8VdmkpZo8TLPXfvJkQC6daGXy-yVH69XnB6RUBlQe_dQtxsNXjhOkfdG8oETS2u4LXM/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TWC7cKrNdTnLkKVn-gSX-go2yF3zNQEdLqYgWDVURYpvpOCbIojWbNziNuo99aftnMiN9hBr8VdmkpZo8TLPXfvJkQC6daGXy-yVH69XnB6RUBlQe_dQtxsNXjhOkfdG8oETS2u4LXM/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDotl5BprUnp3QkBcPpDDdjagYkIGjXnvu6CNDevHIgsaw6bBnOpmSnfgGVsWIuFrcgyUZ1qOyyJRKVko7yCy3f0ncb1zk05XJeVgaeS1r0n7FMxCzA76YVgLDXTYQh2B97Bzn3BFReCQ/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDotl5BprUnp3QkBcPpDDdjagYkIGjXnvu6CNDevHIgsaw6bBnOpmSnfgGVsWIuFrcgyUZ1qOyyJRKVko7yCy3f0ncb1zk05XJeVgaeS1r0n7FMxCzA76YVgLDXTYQh2B97Bzn3BFReCQ/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZFZlIzOTaCgbeTrz_3Nq7IwcHnsAgxSuIZSegsTklv_PfH1qmJTPibE4Mj7ZvqIEgbuB98XSkxa7vZDttGQs4x9wd6D8Qn625m_-fYNxRN1c_7FoSTlFZhRxchWhRip9IQaPa56RoMo/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZFZlIzOTaCgbeTrz_3Nq7IwcHnsAgxSuIZSegsTklv_PfH1qmJTPibE4Mj7ZvqIEgbuB98XSkxa7vZDttGQs4x9wd6D8Qn625m_-fYNxRN1c_7FoSTlFZhRxchWhRip9IQaPa56RoMo/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkQ-_qE83RuvSG0VPlXJct3jmxHyjMBSh9GPJMX6tU0iIDeX5QVhPAIOo5yvCFbzougqbo4rQaTYslhzncX8GuqXkk9rlLx3mWg8pGekq-Hv2mWqzqzkqSoXcnpCFqkbehW2nqBOVtdQ/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkQ-_qE83RuvSG0VPlXJct3jmxHyjMBSh9GPJMX6tU0iIDeX5QVhPAIOo5yvCFbzougqbo4rQaTYslhzncX8GuqXkk9rlLx3mWg8pGekq-Hv2mWqzqzkqSoXcnpCFqkbehW2nqBOVtdQ/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The next day I set off early, not really knowing my plans. I decide to return to Tasha's for the night and plan from there. After getting hopelessly lost (again) I finally arrive. The big move is now complete and there is barely a spare patch of ground in sight. After catching up I decide I might as well carry on right away, and I hit the road once more with the destination of Lake Bratan. As could be expected, I lose my way. I fail to even find the main road I am supposed to take and instead end up slowly winding my way through the dark country back roads of central Bali. I do enjoy a scenic route, but unfortunately it is dark, so I can't even see the scenery. I'm sure it was stunning though.<br />
About three hours later than planned I pull into Candikuning, and lo and behold the homestay I was going to stay in is bolted and chained, and only dogs answer me. I ask in the local shop and am swiftly, after finding someone who understands my plight, directed to another. It is comfy and clean and I suddenly find myself to be unbearably happy, the memories of my missing phone at last forgotten.<br />
Up here in the mountains it can feel as cold as at home when the sun is away, which seems to be most of the time. And the even the fauna and flora are different, they grow strawberries and herbs such as rosemary and basil, the trees of the jungle are replaced by towering Kauri pines, and swifts dive and swoop through the air by the thousand.<br />
On my first morning I get up early, my plan is to hike the rim of Lake Bratan, the edge of a volcanic crater, to a temple upon it's peak. Unlike the similar hike I did up Mt Lempuyang this temple is completely off the tourist trail, and even I suspect the local trail. The temple itself is marked on a map in my lonely planet guide but nowhere does it say how to get there or what the walk is like, it is not mentioned anywhere. What little information I manage to gather online speaks of an all but abandoned path through an overgrown jungle up the steep slopes of the mountain. It sounds ideal, I just need to find it.<br />
<br />
Kai takes me to where I think I need to go and with the help of some locals I manage to find an extremely faded sign that looks like it might be directing me to where I want to go. The path I take starts off surprisingly wide and robust, I even see the odd scooter pass. It winds around the hillside for a while and before too long I realise I am on a definite downwards route. I hadn't seen any turn offs so I carry on regardless and after some time come to farmland, I carry on through, taking in the rows of crops and long views across the plateau. The land bears little similarity to farms at home with their acres of imposed order, more with a market garden, but spread across a whole hillside.<br />
I hail down a man on a bike and ask him the way to the temple, in Indonesian, he looks confused so I repeat the word 'pura' at him, which means temple, a lot. He says he doesn't speak English and I try to explain that I'm speaking Indonesian then I say pura some more but it doesn't seem to help. At last he just nods and smiles then drives off. I carry on and come to a little lady hard at work in her field. She speaks no more English than the man but she understands my attempts at Indonesian, and proceeds to laugh in my face. She points right back the way I came and shakes her head at me. I turn around and head back the way I came though heat that is slowly building to the temperatures I expect from Bali.<br />
After having wasted well over an hour trawling through the farmlands I come across a path that heads directly into the jungle off of my original trail. I explore it briefly but it seems to peter out after a few meters so I turn around and head for home, beaten, I think, by the mountain. No sooner have I done so than a bike comes along with someone who thankfully understands exactly what I want. They point up the dent in the jungle that I just emerged from and nod vigorously. I head back up it and after climbing over a large collection of dead and growing plants I find that the path does indeed continue. At last I am on my way.<br />
The rim of the crater rises swiftly and soon the ground is far below. I climb over fallen trees and duck through tunnels of fern and bamboo. Huge lizards scramble from the ever narrowing pathway. The air cools dramatically, and after about an hour the path suddenly steepens. I find myself climbing muddy slopes and rocky ledges, literally scrambling on my hands and knees more than on my feet. I am reminded of a similar hike in the Daintree Rainforest I did with Amy and Libby, only there ropes had been put in place to help you pull yourself up. Here, of course, there is nothing.<br />
I pass a group of middle aged Chinese women, the only people I have seen, and my wavering faith that I am on the right track is restored. The path grows steeper and narrower and steadily more treacherous. Occasionally I catch glimpses down and out to either side but all I see is white, the ground long since left behind. We enter the clouds and water drips from every leaf and twig. I feel I am on an endless journey, that the temple, and perhaps even the top of the mountain itself, is but a legend. My knee starts to give me trouble so I select some appropriate hiking sticks from the roadside and carry on. I have no idea how far I still have to go, but I am very aware that I will also need to come back. I seriously consider turning around, but then I remember the group of ladies still struggling, I assume, up the path behind me. If they can do it then I have no excuse.<br />
At last I see a patch of blue through the branches above me, a glimmer of possibility amongst the eternal world of grey, then it is gone. I feel as though the trees are thinning. I crest a rise and the temple reveals itself. It is small and simple, but it is perhaps its simplicity that makes it stand out in my mind.<br />
Here it lies, in a cloud, among pine and grass, alone and all but abandoned. A tiny collection of shrines and a single tiered tower reaching to the heavens in praise, of what god I do not know. Swifts speed across this island in the clouds and dart around my head with a skill and precision only seen in the instincts of the natural world. It is completely silent save for a distant roar. At first I think it is a waterfall, or perhaps a far off motorway, but it comes and goes and I conclude that it is the wind streaming though the clouds around me.<br />
To either side the world is a sheet of grey, I peer down the sides of the hill and see the trees fade away after twenty meters or so. I am on a tiny spit of land, shrouded in a pale cloak, it could be anywhere, any time. The world beyond may as well have crumbled away to dust, leaving nothing but a hidden temple forever adrift. Wisps and phantoms of cloud twist their way inwards, sometimes from one side sometimes from the other, sometimes from both and then the tendrils meet in the middle where they twirl and dance about each other in ephemeral flirtations.<br />
I spend at least half an hour just wandering around and taking it in, and on occasion I am taunted with patches of blue, revealing a place outside where time still moves freely. As I am intent on one of these small glimpses, desperately willing it to open up to a view, something makes me turn, and as always seems to happen, my breath is taken away.<br />
The mist on one side of my island has fallen away, and a great wall of cloud is revealed before me. In the far distance it stretches down, melding with the wall of the mountain that drops fast and steep, and it ranges up, in roiling boulders to a rocky peak. It is as though I am on the edge of a great bowl or ring of cloud, but vast on a scale I can scarcely even now conceive. It is like the view through a plane window, but here there is no panel of thick plastic to remove the immediacy of the beauty before me. Here, I am right in the middle of it, and it is almost unbearably immense. It feels almost a taunt at the intimacy and closeness of my world not five minutes before.<br />
I have often looked up at distant clouds and wondered how large they were, and what they would look like near at hand. If this is anything to go by then my conclusions always fell far, far short of reality. We are so proud of our achievements as humans, and everywhere wants to have the tallest tower or the largest building, and yet have we ever built anything on a scale such as this? Even our Great Wall pales to nothing besides this one that is greater still, that whips itself up and tears itself down in a mere hours.<br />
As the cloud twists slowly around, my island recedes back into its body and the celestial arena is hidden from view once more. Unless a plane stays through it there will be no one on earth who can see it, and certainly not as I did.<br />
I decide it is it time to take my leave, and I begin my slow and unsteady descent. Only when I pass the group of ladies again, now on their way down, do I realise that they never made it to the top. I was the only person that day, perhaps even for a few days, to set foot in that unknown place. The Chinese must have made it tantalisingly close, I decide not to break it to them just how near the summit they were. By the time I return to Kai I am feeling uplifted and satisfied, though my body is tired, and my knee thankfully gives me surprisingly little gyp.<br />
I spend the rest of that afternoon wandering the markets, then head to a temple built on the shores, and somewhat on the waters, of lake Bratan itself. The cloud lies close to the ground and the ridge I climbed is now completely lost in its depths. The temple is just another temple, though there is a small island and shrine built on the water itself, dedicated to Vishnu, and another to the water goddess that is the source of the water and fertility of the whole region. The sun sets, devoid of colour. The grey world slowly fades to black.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocZ6fE3i1AtQAPQ2H7OXm4D5yb-aF1jV4P6qCqLwYNUvNJrea9BeeKflwKH4ehLsoSRYin3AN5QKlijr54WhN6_W5dxWydTcceml04czjiGqzFDP72fzgBEgZEztmbgW34uSXOQj60po/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocZ6fE3i1AtQAPQ2H7OXm4D5yb-aF1jV4P6qCqLwYNUvNJrea9BeeKflwKH4ehLsoSRYin3AN5QKlijr54WhN6_W5dxWydTcceml04czjiGqzFDP72fzgBEgZEztmbgW34uSXOQj60po/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfes-Wc-BdBvJMsFGGE9Sg1x5RYD-6Dklq1TX5lrjJcqUBeHnH2BGSgPas3oWKqQWM_enXCu-ufw9yULqRzUCxvgT10hkQ3lpqTec3xXqrnQ-Q1_qxnjnKXmuqXo17Hxabo9wHof3u2Y/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfes-Wc-BdBvJMsFGGE9Sg1x5RYD-6Dklq1TX5lrjJcqUBeHnH2BGSgPas3oWKqQWM_enXCu-ufw9yULqRzUCxvgT10hkQ3lpqTec3xXqrnQ-Q1_qxnjnKXmuqXo17Hxabo9wHof3u2Y/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS3gOgjygB_6059yQveEKIxaIyGWLxl0fAxw-fo-nkx-tj2Hdti4HobmIyq7WgpagMVxP8bUECq_-Wx9dz2k9Cgo9kmOuBzUl9ebRpKDSnsONhONSHn9Et97tv8NlstorifflKsmtEK8/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS3gOgjygB_6059yQveEKIxaIyGWLxl0fAxw-fo-nkx-tj2Hdti4HobmIyq7WgpagMVxP8bUECq_-Wx9dz2k9Cgo9kmOuBzUl9ebRpKDSnsONhONSHn9Et97tv8NlstorifflKsmtEK8/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqFjwhIBrOwes18qXUk-9AM2jLksbyAjje0VcYXFqtp-SZhSxlLEc1yuwnc6-hxG12pE6Y5F5b-a0svtrwrSbal7LuC6pypzwnKYiyyLthN6ivOQgnGJhp33mK53e0hKGSgFXd-JvVkk/s1600/IMG_2692.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqFjwhIBrOwes18qXUk-9AM2jLksbyAjje0VcYXFqtp-SZhSxlLEc1yuwnc6-hxG12pE6Y5F5b-a0svtrwrSbal7LuC6pypzwnKYiyyLthN6ivOQgnGJhp33mK53e0hKGSgFXd-JvVkk/s1600/IMG_2692.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMTM8v_qvx1YVCcbgycf7VxJWbuMNhjaWx7O-3EbGxAreMd_9LRaFNRGQmxxmAX64hwWnXOg-kGErsQnfcumrLhdyT5k5B_4AhCDGK_ND77xL-okKwOtR9SaFGw6oQEHi7lqFlV_RVmI/s1600/IMG_2697.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMTM8v_qvx1YVCcbgycf7VxJWbuMNhjaWx7O-3EbGxAreMd_9LRaFNRGQmxxmAX64hwWnXOg-kGErsQnfcumrLhdyT5k5B_4AhCDGK_ND77xL-okKwOtR9SaFGw6oQEHi7lqFlV_RVmI/s1600/IMG_2697.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Testing out my new Macro settings.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cCwD5UgZDLk3V5EjeSr2pr2tyJUcnzatGMkOMu0pzf2zh701Y4lr7BHlzcSlsZVT4nQI1P-P07Skbe7_BIwCO9GODUct_bX1kgkWcV8KpnB9P3ji32-9aNIyazfmqBt6MNwAVYhdo0I/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cCwD5UgZDLk3V5EjeSr2pr2tyJUcnzatGMkOMu0pzf2zh701Y4lr7BHlzcSlsZVT4nQI1P-P07Skbe7_BIwCO9GODUct_bX1kgkWcV8KpnB9P3ji32-9aNIyazfmqBt6MNwAVYhdo0I/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
My path.</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAH5vRmFtwbwCbXWtGJZwMskbpgSNQWDtYCcQg3RpcW21weTpKMJ3inv0SKmupbT4dfZ6PBzYo7vR1shbE94WuIXHe5J_p90zeD9QYCK338UBNOAOF9xn8o0knFbaY_schiQIb1naUQc4/s1600/IMG_2704.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAH5vRmFtwbwCbXWtGJZwMskbpgSNQWDtYCcQg3RpcW21weTpKMJ3inv0SKmupbT4dfZ6PBzYo7vR1shbE94WuIXHe5J_p90zeD9QYCK338UBNOAOF9xn8o0knFbaY_schiQIb1naUQc4/s1600/IMG_2704.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqexJj6sjYUXyF9B5B-ReM0wKYF8xyE_mBaUxW-wL6LZv2aRVUp2z0lsjCHKGe7bScsz37s_6BjNS5GIMb5EnhW3dyJhlNMib0c4mofO3AHnO2wEOPvi-3MBUi4aN4ogOgFmwcBm1CSwU/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqexJj6sjYUXyF9B5B-ReM0wKYF8xyE_mBaUxW-wL6LZv2aRVUp2z0lsjCHKGe7bScsz37s_6BjNS5GIMb5EnhW3dyJhlNMib0c4mofO3AHnO2wEOPvi-3MBUi4aN4ogOgFmwcBm1CSwU/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJP3723QHbOL5HEbGjmayEUfeQweA6meZO_yB4bGBgO9SsSm0xI7Y9mfMcKFY6HR3yymSGLNEK-NDnAesf3SEpigqdwHgT0BXRJuD2nwwn5gxiC7YPdoB41-ejmBgKHqrrcOqKDuVIWg/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJP3723QHbOL5HEbGjmayEUfeQweA6meZO_yB4bGBgO9SsSm0xI7Y9mfMcKFY6HR3yymSGLNEK-NDnAesf3SEpigqdwHgT0BXRJuD2nwwn5gxiC7YPdoB41-ejmBgKHqrrcOqKDuVIWg/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4NO5WLo1urXMkfPuXAK8tpiSsqX-GPbhxOMDastzXOLs0mlVYCwWdrUuq_ivptWlyrcqOiui-a4kAFyXKPFqY25Tg7aVlVmLQfNcF9oOrhq7ZyVXWMvm1id-YO3G3GXI9M4aSlsbg_o/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4NO5WLo1urXMkfPuXAK8tpiSsqX-GPbhxOMDastzXOLs0mlVYCwWdrUuq_ivptWlyrcqOiui-a4kAFyXKPFqY25Tg7aVlVmLQfNcF9oOrhq7ZyVXWMvm1id-YO3G3GXI9M4aSlsbg_o/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8Sm7eK0dt4HuGVATFcLsP8CxUqCtLD-i3Q4bPipV5dAx15vpmso9uyRGKlIMespyBtaY9IYyDhAbReC8Lqukh_v7iD4xfWRUrh4O8C9fG4tI1c75Sx7dNwrZu_B03o_0tsy_fYnKw2c/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8Sm7eK0dt4HuGVATFcLsP8CxUqCtLD-i3Q4bPipV5dAx15vpmso9uyRGKlIMespyBtaY9IYyDhAbReC8Lqukh_v7iD4xfWRUrh4O8C9fG4tI1c75Sx7dNwrZu_B03o_0tsy_fYnKw2c/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm5xnC8dKz9bPmUsBCSgsUJi-YtQMjMLKcR3AsG1T1Wb3sk9XUsd35B6SkNXW4w9Uk6xl9zasPeq8WL9iR_RRfbX_x8XoU7K0pWIV8edVLm9_SPmpx0a036uypmDm6oy-t_bhFDEZ6No/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm5xnC8dKz9bPmUsBCSgsUJi-YtQMjMLKcR3AsG1T1Wb3sk9XUsd35B6SkNXW4w9Uk6xl9zasPeq8WL9iR_RRfbX_x8XoU7K0pWIV8edVLm9_SPmpx0a036uypmDm6oy-t_bhFDEZ6No/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgR1HBtL_30b-bDz2TnS06cljh6ljgnh_gc5jrcKweiHgUSQYSfQ8TK6rypE60rQffXRiEBUubVQ7qLu5cwv0T5bwGGyEsWJolASjuZ64TEUKwesoL-7I5Qc6RXizH_wEk65XBHEG2y4/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgR1HBtL_30b-bDz2TnS06cljh6ljgnh_gc5jrcKweiHgUSQYSfQ8TK6rypE60rQffXRiEBUubVQ7qLu5cwv0T5bwGGyEsWJolASjuZ64TEUKwesoL-7I5Qc6RXizH_wEk65XBHEG2y4/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlK0eGJw-0IMRj0-yES2MTAaK_WMJNqhiuatTLUzwsMfA8fZWKZcM0qQ9YNBEhJSLh9eHpDe67K8Drafu2JXQkk4lUid3q9PgpJbW45Y8QKFg140NSJn6cCdOptCtfqlM6XskM0ckl44/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlK0eGJw-0IMRj0-yES2MTAaK_WMJNqhiuatTLUzwsMfA8fZWKZcM0qQ9YNBEhJSLh9eHpDe67K8Drafu2JXQkk4lUid3q9PgpJbW45Y8QKFg140NSJn6cCdOptCtfqlM6XskM0ckl44/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjSo-KJe2G3b0Lkn5brTCmpgtaFYR-XOS5s7-c9AVNQTH3WdtUIu43S9l_9HErw9w2GbFlG8BVGaSl0pn5qvWCAwTaZGObV_E_Oufum3DT3yRAtgzn91_XJ0qQ99686x70SDeYzdD4Fw/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjSo-KJe2G3b0Lkn5brTCmpgtaFYR-XOS5s7-c9AVNQTH3WdtUIu43S9l_9HErw9w2GbFlG8BVGaSl0pn5qvWCAwTaZGObV_E_Oufum3DT3yRAtgzn91_XJ0qQ99686x70SDeYzdD4Fw/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWrH6TP84W_8H5JccR3MEhl7BWp76YS54JSXTzczoy4wDlMPcnxY7v1napyHB42QckiUj4fZ3ZgNvmSBjAC6ctpbVpY8tKyY7sEF7i0VRpK2lXyWetvOtxFxAXW7h-ihZ4J0hPtgXQX8/s1600/IMG_2765.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWrH6TP84W_8H5JccR3MEhl7BWp76YS54JSXTzczoy4wDlMPcnxY7v1napyHB42QckiUj4fZ3ZgNvmSBjAC6ctpbVpY8tKyY7sEF7i0VRpK2lXyWetvOtxFxAXW7h-ihZ4J0hPtgXQX8/s1600/IMG_2765.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71d4BUSwDAwRUf13zU4uj-X2BhF8f4rMYQUkDxcnCbF4Hg81kTTJbNwoyBo7k2UztygBv65X7w62teevnXBl25fBbW3Rg-hNyFuYybAsF2nskwInd6J-ktalfYBQiQUnrvW5UeEY6mwk/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71d4BUSwDAwRUf13zU4uj-X2BhF8f4rMYQUkDxcnCbF4Hg81kTTJbNwoyBo7k2UztygBv65X7w62teevnXBl25fBbW3Rg-hNyFuYybAsF2nskwInd6J-ktalfYBQiQUnrvW5UeEY6mwk/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE_e95cunnLafhDkDIBeidJLlNuL9jErK4NTjiYccca6733MeEQk9EYYL_FdjWzF0SGboiYC4czTjtJPgd2LwYa3qXIDbkTfmxRhJJeh_60DxNwjqbgni-1t_3e04JMwlRBy-sN3UA1w/s1600/IMG_2780.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE_e95cunnLafhDkDIBeidJLlNuL9jErK4NTjiYccca6733MeEQk9EYYL_FdjWzF0SGboiYC4czTjtJPgd2LwYa3qXIDbkTfmxRhJJeh_60DxNwjqbgni-1t_3e04JMwlRBy-sN3UA1w/s1600/IMG_2780.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FTypnrHrZ9IFUFkfHm3SW85FBrqlA1nOHIb3I4L8Wr7_MQLCP8LjD1z5kbEpfbADQdlk5X0bN-re0rZ-gDMBRrV5clD4LeTPMcQyyICXTjqC9Hctx-HIzS5epyt7TU5Zc43kJmfKVRI/s1600/IMG_2781.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FTypnrHrZ9IFUFkfHm3SW85FBrqlA1nOHIb3I4L8Wr7_MQLCP8LjD1z5kbEpfbADQdlk5X0bN-re0rZ-gDMBRrV5clD4LeTPMcQyyICXTjqC9Hctx-HIzS5epyt7TU5Zc43kJmfKVRI/s1600/IMG_2781.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaBDpCpohOtI3Au_AabLtxrox1qvIvzx5VKMpv__mrnRYki3RcfK5v7gGU1aR9S3lbGKcFQnt3QsPJAtrG1FWFB1hZl7szfS3XQXF9pbl6qqM9n6AI9UradSSb_2OZabUPXnR0s8b3AM/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaBDpCpohOtI3Au_AabLtxrox1qvIvzx5VKMpv__mrnRYki3RcfK5v7gGU1aR9S3lbGKcFQnt3QsPJAtrG1FWFB1hZl7szfS3XQXF9pbl6qqM9n6AI9UradSSb_2OZabUPXnR0s8b3AM/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapBrrNtPihIQpO-GpeEdZCG4sFrtBH40CYmw6cizD9vydZyQEfFmLnEISY0neQxMvMJn6yXS_kAr1XmRdPQl6Ax58wxi0ahNfoRekp7hJeEq-M07fN5h6Ctc9CxCdoOg9s5yAzAc1NDQ/s1600/IMG_2795+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapBrrNtPihIQpO-GpeEdZCG4sFrtBH40CYmw6cizD9vydZyQEfFmLnEISY0neQxMvMJn6yXS_kAr1XmRdPQl6Ax58wxi0ahNfoRekp7hJeEq-M07fN5h6Ctc9CxCdoOg9s5yAzAc1NDQ/s1600/IMG_2795+-+Copy.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4GsR5FO615nX29i0NJxHJvJryAnYmfWHv49nKQZ3Hr_jYqL1ODCHlQI5xZ6APLBbOeeIzleRKRcsjBiT0EgPp7Mhkf9zOnqYVCki7m5yIyvnn7eiKuFfJqnRSKnTw3qWHyX1dMuP4sI/s1600/IMG_2799+-+Copy.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4GsR5FO615nX29i0NJxHJvJryAnYmfWHv49nKQZ3Hr_jYqL1ODCHlQI5xZ6APLBbOeeIzleRKRcsjBiT0EgPp7Mhkf9zOnqYVCki7m5yIyvnn7eiKuFfJqnRSKnTw3qWHyX1dMuP4sI/s1600/IMG_2799+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgrSFue3AgAjfJZp0vsPrPDNSprA7enbWE1Ase5I0PGvdiVzo9TvkjSiDgs9pc68wJMRy7_Ci3XWo_-XShhyphenhyphenyEcAK1KragNBhfINzikXdqCEjUhSqQHAkr1iJlZ4tVQm8xI9xZZ35qMk/s1600/IMG_2828+-+Copy.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgrSFue3AgAjfJZp0vsPrPDNSprA7enbWE1Ase5I0PGvdiVzo9TvkjSiDgs9pc68wJMRy7_Ci3XWo_-XShhyphenhyphenyEcAK1KragNBhfINzikXdqCEjUhSqQHAkr1iJlZ4tVQm8xI9xZZ35qMk/s1600/IMG_2828+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRofBinBoI95d3_Rdq6U0JA3PwL0G1vnpq-f1i16TqJRBkHIdQn7yshFlonPzv_gdMykbITYMR2N6hyphenhyphenzn5am5-vAjp4J2HU_JkOdEzq-f5Vp-9sAE4qbwukiAZvtOYiG5w-cr4IFIM9M/s1600/IMG_2830+-+Copy.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRofBinBoI95d3_Rdq6U0JA3PwL0G1vnpq-f1i16TqJRBkHIdQn7yshFlonPzv_gdMykbITYMR2N6hyphenhyphenzn5am5-vAjp4J2HU_JkOdEzq-f5Vp-9sAE4qbwukiAZvtOYiG5w-cr4IFIM9M/s1600/IMG_2830+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAqKpWXzOxp5wTD0UP4BtIKsAJybKIMSisYFdqIkpbULiR0YsUaIGZ8LYlc_flaUXW4pdnEK8J8khNXCa1DYIE4wLM2ItckJ9-ItXvtQAIZN_pviVP-c0T7qjkkxNm9-O3o8rMeN587g/s1600/IMG_2855+-+Copy.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAqKpWXzOxp5wTD0UP4BtIKsAJybKIMSisYFdqIkpbULiR0YsUaIGZ8LYlc_flaUXW4pdnEK8J8khNXCa1DYIE4wLM2ItckJ9-ItXvtQAIZN_pviVP-c0T7qjkkxNm9-O3o8rMeN587g/s1600/IMG_2855+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanId0hA9hJOpBfSJ7nAy1qiLxdm8fuxsu_KLfy9O6BOZKVynsQdO-gDSWll1nZI1-jpeh_IJSZ0iv9FnPG18zLoFE1fZ0Agv85XnxFCy_0P-h6uazv6ITOgXPcCva0_sqVgPt9UG5gg4/s1600/IMG_2856+-+Copy.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanId0hA9hJOpBfSJ7nAy1qiLxdm8fuxsu_KLfy9O6BOZKVynsQdO-gDSWll1nZI1-jpeh_IJSZ0iv9FnPG18zLoFE1fZ0Agv85XnxFCy_0P-h6uazv6ITOgXPcCva0_sqVgPt9UG5gg4/s1600/IMG_2856+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAcO7XVD3p7WwOSzzf2pTfcUnFzkEntj_JWpLnWp8NS9yHDLKeHNAzAzUPuOHv30SoVC4qNt-aQOBC1rny2dZ25braG8LGVndZ-1DZ1RTRInzT9wGvocIlvvEUjHHHP1KOzf_fB7Jijw/s1600/IMG_2858+-+Copy.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAcO7XVD3p7WwOSzzf2pTfcUnFzkEntj_JWpLnWp8NS9yHDLKeHNAzAzUPuOHv30SoVC4qNt-aQOBC1rny2dZ25braG8LGVndZ-1DZ1RTRInzT9wGvocIlvvEUjHHHP1KOzf_fB7Jijw/s1600/IMG_2858+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvw8Glqt-AWlmZlP3T9bP7BHmejSeORF7ofqtyI9L7vrS-arPCcFwLB33u4ieH08pTQneszof3bZXj1EGSDNtUy9beRrBzlUXWyaNmjkeev1U6QAW57f72ho3CEJRFTCzexclqKniqvM/s1600/IMG_2861+-+Copy.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvw8Glqt-AWlmZlP3T9bP7BHmejSeORF7ofqtyI9L7vrS-arPCcFwLB33u4ieH08pTQneszof3bZXj1EGSDNtUy9beRrBzlUXWyaNmjkeev1U6QAW57f72ho3CEJRFTCzexclqKniqvM/s1600/IMG_2861+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnXpN7axOGaB3-hYmsNIvtHeWXUtrPjEged6JDMB7jha3ktZnvZEeyv-RaJdIhPJbx1TnZWEbnfFOVWNVDoxUMdFASIvRXy2GZOruMPcIOloICFloeHF9nuGCmemLoW7kvXfTb9jOiwA/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnXpN7axOGaB3-hYmsNIvtHeWXUtrPjEged6JDMB7jha3ktZnvZEeyv-RaJdIhPJbx1TnZWEbnfFOVWNVDoxUMdFASIvRXy2GZOruMPcIOloICFloeHF9nuGCmemLoW7kvXfTb9jOiwA/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pC5GfA2zmuHajC3oGOJs_lGhVYjI6zLuiYp6fARjPFV-BLeI10lATEM6PsO8qKJAh3OwE7svj1vJmoynJQhdIcW5klU_m1rrJL3ex0r75YSTA4X79RHP8soDL-rpNlbbgC1d-KoF3YY/s1600/IMG_2880.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pC5GfA2zmuHajC3oGOJs_lGhVYjI6zLuiYp6fARjPFV-BLeI10lATEM6PsO8qKJAh3OwE7svj1vJmoynJQhdIcW5klU_m1rrJL3ex0r75YSTA4X79RHP8soDL-rpNlbbgC1d-KoF3YY/s1600/IMG_2880.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The next morning I head to Bali's botanical gardens. A sprawling stretch of land across the side of a hill that contains greenhouses, woodlands, ponds and parks. Apart from one very exciting tree I find the whole thing rather disappointing, and I don't last long. From there I drive up and around the edges of the three lakes that make this region famous, get a few nuts dropped on my head by marauding swifts, and wind down from the hills into Munduk, where I will stay for the next two nights.<br />
From the window of my room I get superb views down the mountains and across north west Bali all the way to the distant sea, and even to Jawa beyond. I sit in a valley that points almost exactly west, and the sun sets at its far end framed perfectly first by the hills to either side, then by two pale and far Jawan volcanoes. The distant world lights up in a halo of purest gold, burning fierce, bright and swift between the layers of misty purple hills.<br />
<br />
Munduk is simply superb, it is cheap and friendly, and the people here are so kind and so accommodating. I take a drive into the hills and explore the local area. Some builders let me into their building site to take views of the rice terraces that lace the hillsides in ribbons of green. I visit three waterfalls. The first is a dramatic spout that cuts through the dark rock in a single streak of silver. The second is smaller and gentler, nestled amongst the fields and houses that cling to the steep valleys. Dogs follow me suspiciously along the path, barking with every step. The third is vast and powerful, pouring into the sky high above the ground and cascading down through a steep and enclosed hollow, sheer sides thick with jungle. It hits the ground and explodes into the air with a force that creates a driving gale down the valley away from it. I battle my way closer getting wetter with every step. I feel like I am walking into a hurricane. I take a few hasty photos then scarper, completely soaked. I climb the steps to the top and a rainbow glimmers into view, masking the savage power beneath it.<br />
<br />
I spend a lot of time sitting in the restaurant writing, places like this inspire me, and when I can live easily on ten pounds a day it makes it hard to find reasons to leave. But It is time to return Kai to his owner, and I told Tania I would return to hers for a few days before I take the ferry to Lombok.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVCq12EjbR4rjZcqbJPLTOjWvtVLjLf1C6rYOwyiKpdpwrCD7hCDZRz5sbny7kjUBBgvzARcQYPY98sh-IlY9c1GU3DNfK3Dk1kM5YfHOVyDY6bClKWnI_R6ARmtQnkfmabBxHlIfg5I/s1600/IMG_2891.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVCq12EjbR4rjZcqbJPLTOjWvtVLjLf1C6rYOwyiKpdpwrCD7hCDZRz5sbny7kjUBBgvzARcQYPY98sh-IlY9c1GU3DNfK3Dk1kM5YfHOVyDY6bClKWnI_R6ARmtQnkfmabBxHlIfg5I/s1600/IMG_2891.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06FXtb0qxGyGX0Um6Krskcen4mZX4mxGkEiwI65ZuBBjmHqCdSYDJg7uWpgJ50CmAGIZeA8d9bBLHIpiRm6EcYqCdtDGHRB2H2aDSARyy9zSEXq1y6OyaK6PMxTFzhLGAPOzv4TA-MXY/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06FXtb0qxGyGX0Um6Krskcen4mZX4mxGkEiwI65ZuBBjmHqCdSYDJg7uWpgJ50CmAGIZeA8d9bBLHIpiRm6EcYqCdtDGHRB2H2aDSARyy9zSEXq1y6OyaK6PMxTFzhLGAPOzv4TA-MXY/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyulL18rgqaYLBGAsoHiQE3Yw2ibj37b79g83qfHlNbfKGNT4QpBd2ujvNtmBOz_7dZt_5ulwYSYgH8hUZ8V72Qb7IcE1ibxT9cFMO7_PlfvCv3ZGXCDVWz716CN9RPr_2rGX6W5GUHK4/s1600/IMG_2915.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyulL18rgqaYLBGAsoHiQE3Yw2ibj37b79g83qfHlNbfKGNT4QpBd2ujvNtmBOz_7dZt_5ulwYSYgH8hUZ8V72Qb7IcE1ibxT9cFMO7_PlfvCv3ZGXCDVWz716CN9RPr_2rGX6W5GUHK4/s1600/IMG_2915.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34ta_DiODS0uNR4-o22YNWqUdeVzrocLumsWGBci81nqLRzIoJX22L0oSSevbWeaQSB-AqoAcy05dIOq1xE9l3CUr_xyDUCHHLYyUYILvmfPpt08TtpWAFcY_HDQdFM4cEx4aos7t2Vo/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34ta_DiODS0uNR4-o22YNWqUdeVzrocLumsWGBci81nqLRzIoJX22L0oSSevbWeaQSB-AqoAcy05dIOq1xE9l3CUr_xyDUCHHLYyUYILvmfPpt08TtpWAFcY_HDQdFM4cEx4aos7t2Vo/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwELC_BZHjb1ZJyjN3yc3hs4ZAT_IOp6chyphenhyphenLV5CkdJRP7MHZc6BnRSyhY89PhIq-U91TV-Yw2_LmhG90Zr9fliXz4cjDFgSsIFvyWw2J8PLhDneK0BheoMA4xE-eingHiNnwOMn6oJfI/s1600/IMG_2946.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwELC_BZHjb1ZJyjN3yc3hs4ZAT_IOp6chyphenhyphenLV5CkdJRP7MHZc6BnRSyhY89PhIq-U91TV-Yw2_LmhG90Zr9fliXz4cjDFgSsIFvyWw2J8PLhDneK0BheoMA4xE-eingHiNnwOMn6oJfI/s1600/IMG_2946.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXAvYFpMBVlujf3mnKLmklWIpZLQ_JVcwtcCSIKrku-ei9GWS10bBM37HYzxitXrcg2l_sDE7vKeyZENveYiCpAvkZ9xM17h7xREthdMvkiU-p6VFHKOeoDlDHIPqTJ4semJT2Ld7Y18/s1600/IMG_2953.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXAvYFpMBVlujf3mnKLmklWIpZLQ_JVcwtcCSIKrku-ei9GWS10bBM37HYzxitXrcg2l_sDE7vKeyZENveYiCpAvkZ9xM17h7xREthdMvkiU-p6VFHKOeoDlDHIPqTJ4semJT2Ld7Y18/s1600/IMG_2953.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFfc5BPcla15ianHtx6DsWr6p77dF2RQY0JfR9HOkBFALBoB7OKPlyqAOjmoRBruTrw5hNPppAEVIYHyupyiein4t72SMeliKLqn0vZrbaSMB1fqyZ0EcvI9Psgm_Tnzwjex_ykuVXJQ/s1600/IMG_2959.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFfc5BPcla15ianHtx6DsWr6p77dF2RQY0JfR9HOkBFALBoB7OKPlyqAOjmoRBruTrw5hNPppAEVIYHyupyiein4t72SMeliKLqn0vZrbaSMB1fqyZ0EcvI9Psgm_Tnzwjex_ykuVXJQ/s1600/IMG_2959.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahI9MRkE-C0Z1pcxM9tciMs3qSR7_TwiDnF16rZFkXIgtGSchfDg4pS9-xTYWE1LZMPnGA-gM5qoBesOWLwX2pGsL5NVKgFBOsC16KysbhuN_8ZhBR5DOa1y-5qXam6DCMp8M3QTWuxc/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahI9MRkE-C0Z1pcxM9tciMs3qSR7_TwiDnF16rZFkXIgtGSchfDg4pS9-xTYWE1LZMPnGA-gM5qoBesOWLwX2pGsL5NVKgFBOsC16KysbhuN_8ZhBR5DOa1y-5qXam6DCMp8M3QTWuxc/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GJ2lKO7n7jeV1oRkErn2DP8X5IaYZejeIDZUmo2Td1dWdFn54AppL4A4LUjepSAPIJWmpBW63Dmbbcr-Sv_zPed6GqBi5bw7QPrMLqbF5gYbY5z-ZfKtAqg4dZX6daPkuSQL2oMg8ZQ/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GJ2lKO7n7jeV1oRkErn2DP8X5IaYZejeIDZUmo2Td1dWdFn54AppL4A4LUjepSAPIJWmpBW63Dmbbcr-Sv_zPed6GqBi5bw7QPrMLqbF5gYbY5z-ZfKtAqg4dZX6daPkuSQL2oMg8ZQ/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
No idea what this is trying to tell me.</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0di61wHJdzsOOQZE-3um2kfhTPLfRhL7t-Fiti4Ds5PdC1V6DyIxCZgZe9eopsnliawpbUTkfGqJRB541DstA16xx32eCav2xR-u-OXwhoJCFEAFRpEGSbpQeueq3AuYm-h2LNleVQGk/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0di61wHJdzsOOQZE-3um2kfhTPLfRhL7t-Fiti4Ds5PdC1V6DyIxCZgZe9eopsnliawpbUTkfGqJRB541DstA16xx32eCav2xR-u-OXwhoJCFEAFRpEGSbpQeueq3AuYm-h2LNleVQGk/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAFXhPJRTGlmMt4WMXWJ8p4ALds8nrMMYRExlpnvwjWufTY7cY-TOY-tT221jkP7XXpFj9PNjoNi2L9-7BW8TS5OjbcNM-1R79n60hmYuKyXkkxPP7IELcBLfkQoJvDYUKBX6SjOaqBc/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAFXhPJRTGlmMt4WMXWJ8p4ALds8nrMMYRExlpnvwjWufTY7cY-TOY-tT221jkP7XXpFj9PNjoNi2L9-7BW8TS5OjbcNM-1R79n60hmYuKyXkkxPP7IELcBLfkQoJvDYUKBX6SjOaqBc/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The most bizarre spider I've ever seen. Any ideas?</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn0oHxFu1uzdBGQFfzNyqgGP1J6fzI2GcXsx-PyhLgh8IP1alJ3UcTPbYXgH6l4dE1CJoV8OBql5oj5hnyyCyNu3Ys0Y-4_U6cXbCDlxifY8pYN9MoiR2twA9VfQY1UC3h10bfBZVzXI/s1600/IMG_3037.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn0oHxFu1uzdBGQFfzNyqgGP1J6fzI2GcXsx-PyhLgh8IP1alJ3UcTPbYXgH6l4dE1CJoV8OBql5oj5hnyyCyNu3Ys0Y-4_U6cXbCDlxifY8pYN9MoiR2twA9VfQY1UC3h10bfBZVzXI/s1600/IMG_3037.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZtPxwdr70F4oNQCwh6neCVVpRAs39fsLOOLL3DYF1nMvbLlHo7yNcMJoxFjO7rDlKjGu81VD72ThqqLF_KP81NVcd64Bs_x2aG2qTDRx50-R7HCU5tEOQykkhx67ybm8YCLJ5wpxfTg/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZtPxwdr70F4oNQCwh6neCVVpRAs39fsLOOLL3DYF1nMvbLlHo7yNcMJoxFjO7rDlKjGu81VD72ThqqLF_KP81NVcd64Bs_x2aG2qTDRx50-R7HCU5tEOQykkhx67ybm8YCLJ5wpxfTg/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXWdQNiM4IZAAV6GAypBuuZ_hAiudDclHX49h6GHOV2HiY-4s8lLS_6KXjHye6PEbPtn0zv3ErwE6K5sUj_jBImbMfk3vGN14AIYAo7bDXLb_tVB-eEpzqaZR-1BBNC81VCyXd1HwABE/s1600/IMG_3079.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXWdQNiM4IZAAV6GAypBuuZ_hAiudDclHX49h6GHOV2HiY-4s8lLS_6KXjHye6PEbPtn0zv3ErwE6K5sUj_jBImbMfk3vGN14AIYAo7bDXLb_tVB-eEpzqaZR-1BBNC81VCyXd1HwABE/s1600/IMG_3079.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVrxxXgE6jGL0jsHb_WTU7zTRa3407D4dnaBG_lPiJG4Yl1ADDOeSuknx-9Pe8Ed7wUUck6sexZcBF2ApATdVQzBqwQ5Snlu-ffBvWcXhRUKp2HKb5GWbgnM70bmYRlhc_1dHl8PKfVc/s1600/IMG_3090.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVrxxXgE6jGL0jsHb_WTU7zTRa3407D4dnaBG_lPiJG4Yl1ADDOeSuknx-9Pe8Ed7wUUck6sexZcBF2ApATdVQzBqwQ5Snlu-ffBvWcXhRUKp2HKb5GWbgnM70bmYRlhc_1dHl8PKfVc/s1600/IMG_3090.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP6bCR8jhgk4QzHhCXNECiFlFcl7dcvMHXa0MRCm-1OB8nn3DpflE5gFSLbVANsCPCTTEsdY4Zi_K9CbiWo7dIsOs0sp7f1okgUpeXwSCArxR1W-Hq8Ezmikp-s6DIjK9S4nlxQl5cUU/s1600/IMG_3123.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP6bCR8jhgk4QzHhCXNECiFlFcl7dcvMHXa0MRCm-1OB8nn3DpflE5gFSLbVANsCPCTTEsdY4Zi_K9CbiWo7dIsOs0sp7f1okgUpeXwSCArxR1W-Hq8Ezmikp-s6DIjK9S4nlxQl5cUU/s1600/IMG_3123.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZH-Zx77gnNut3s9eHf_9YH0aCIuW6JprFEzuDQYPIwfipGnABi6ufUFl5_wmSW0HvPGVB42QYT_DmcrRXMnn_KELI3Fqf1r-kDcPwX5o19yhGM2t4oNfdN_b6VJtgLVwnoESriuov08/s1600/IMG_3137.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZH-Zx77gnNut3s9eHf_9YH0aCIuW6JprFEzuDQYPIwfipGnABi6ufUFl5_wmSW0HvPGVB42QYT_DmcrRXMnn_KELI3Fqf1r-kDcPwX5o19yhGM2t4oNfdN_b6VJtgLVwnoESriuov08/s1600/IMG_3137.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjBMTsi_GmT4VcQMHAQwu1KSMbIGigTKqvbkDvi5OJ4M3FDHweMzfaf_jnORu_iz7tHoYtU0Z1e2Ghs42PheSmJzERLEZhG2btDMEhK02kJ7SGfy3M8UycAO9XfMBkbD5oewwvM-KBbg/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjBMTsi_GmT4VcQMHAQwu1KSMbIGigTKqvbkDvi5OJ4M3FDHweMzfaf_jnORu_iz7tHoYtU0Z1e2Ghs42PheSmJzERLEZhG2btDMEhK02kJ7SGfy3M8UycAO9XfMBkbD5oewwvM-KBbg/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC2YMv8g_9V3TFIa9CkXphX60Q2721aSIEnbSv8tpsi_sw4yN4aadcGVBREGz2o3CzZFbksvUDgNkn1ijhlc0FUQdpMRkoDOXNx8BX2Ahw1lqvuyi9pIJbh1uLDxwd-h_9RDz6I-x7ak/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC2YMv8g_9V3TFIa9CkXphX60Q2721aSIEnbSv8tpsi_sw4yN4aadcGVBREGz2o3CzZFbksvUDgNkn1ijhlc0FUQdpMRkoDOXNx8BX2Ahw1lqvuyi9pIJbh1uLDxwd-h_9RDz6I-x7ak/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XRX_nHnVIXDJpY5TFQlTqSovxdlGOGl-ppvJnQxVXUnB3guCrspGbbp5GPFCE98w5T_K8B2Q-So6ZAIXnXVsy8BcFqhyphenhyphenAexGSr8IbLfAoW3DIzQFNhUvISnzXON-8Qucqcbe0unClng/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XRX_nHnVIXDJpY5TFQlTqSovxdlGOGl-ppvJnQxVXUnB3guCrspGbbp5GPFCE98w5T_K8B2Q-So6ZAIXnXVsy8BcFqhyphenhyphenAexGSr8IbLfAoW3DIzQFNhUvISnzXON-8Qucqcbe0unClng/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr2ADw_wsHOR044ObbT8UgRI643SDpxUu6PvAdwJe0gQewtqvCR6EBleQq6zNn70wVZ4CVQ6d6G2fIXTfMqbM8P96ksndGswirEzg4YGTquOijJuQa6Wi3BcjoApmhyphenhyphenNMjg-qHyECPv8/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr2ADw_wsHOR044ObbT8UgRI643SDpxUu6PvAdwJe0gQewtqvCR6EBleQq6zNn70wVZ4CVQ6d6G2fIXTfMqbM8P96ksndGswirEzg4YGTquOijJuQa6Wi3BcjoApmhyphenhyphenNMjg-qHyECPv8/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBzpdQ3nxpGW3oV1bL7-zIYdENtrQKNIGachloLjuY6-akFRvW7JWMPTnhU68P1omVXqNFO5pcOUBAnq5C1uVs-fCoScezt9iighn5p5z2dFvH0b1iLZISuWTMBvP9vrZ6HpecrVEuso/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBzpdQ3nxpGW3oV1bL7-zIYdENtrQKNIGachloLjuY6-akFRvW7JWMPTnhU68P1omVXqNFO5pcOUBAnq5C1uVs-fCoScezt9iighn5p5z2dFvH0b1iLZISuWTMBvP9vrZ6HpecrVEuso/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So do I go up or down?</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmXVd5lrDsPdWFk5Z36MWZSR04CU-yaxbzAM0C2KqoOcek8-UO0-Q4JrxabXWoMsoDP8LanhLwYk4HuqJxWb_o-qfv9_lr2b5IdUMWRyetTupsW5QGRYS3DrevvRkHWjoj68tmHkIsiQ/s1600/IMG_3223.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmXVd5lrDsPdWFk5Z36MWZSR04CU-yaxbzAM0C2KqoOcek8-UO0-Q4JrxabXWoMsoDP8LanhLwYk4HuqJxWb_o-qfv9_lr2b5IdUMWRyetTupsW5QGRYS3DrevvRkHWjoj68tmHkIsiQ/s1600/IMG_3223.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Houses perched on sheer hillside.</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr44619Z1wRH_Tk3rM0m4QQBiR1Ht9UINh8I4oYgBe3fhMS6xe_XXfcLVgdSpHWmdmd-gjmVyY9jdk9eYW9cp37QsIdmvkne4DHYstGQ7fO0PgOmPXtAIPs_jdRaBaIzZIb0nWI2eAZRU/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr44619Z1wRH_Tk3rM0m4QQBiR1Ht9UINh8I4oYgBe3fhMS6xe_XXfcLVgdSpHWmdmd-gjmVyY9jdk9eYW9cp37QsIdmvkne4DHYstGQ7fO0PgOmPXtAIPs_jdRaBaIzZIb0nWI2eAZRU/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Pq9HWF9qMDDpUPkonWyjFoDJCpbgDz2EB71yfimO1ASQKzeocTHV_raTJVh65PHIP62h0cysjJOlGI_q8x4VfYb7OyRTeMgRoz35fXaJi9NQhtr6XDBPi01EQEFzFKr7em4-obCs-p0/s1600/IMG_3253.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Pq9HWF9qMDDpUPkonWyjFoDJCpbgDz2EB71yfimO1ASQKzeocTHV_raTJVh65PHIP62h0cysjJOlGI_q8x4VfYb7OyRTeMgRoz35fXaJi9NQhtr6XDBPi01EQEFzFKr7em4-obCs-p0/s1600/IMG_3253.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFwxj_2Ii1YoAqxrOXzuy5MqFyGqubwf4MLXjduEzlRRrHiWpFrHCxHIEXoqP-OYQnWceYSABQ2EzoHOwJSAPMaNzeBtxfgKiaYex0Zd1ErT9h2dyl1aI0VUorBD3IbeZ0tWRa60WWJU/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFwxj_2Ii1YoAqxrOXzuy5MqFyGqubwf4MLXjduEzlRRrHiWpFrHCxHIEXoqP-OYQnWceYSABQ2EzoHOwJSAPMaNzeBtxfgKiaYex0Zd1ErT9h2dyl1aI0VUorBD3IbeZ0tWRa60WWJU/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggflVrv3VC0pCXPCjjv3-lMvMXCvow4Bcz2duBiy54l8yZRCkd5tXJ5zMkApVK_Du70Os8mdyrytcnuzYyk-sHqptBYcBANQcWTkvxk_olBP_VmKZYMIm8-fD-XemVpkv0zTbVHKI6vgw/s1600/IMG_3293.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggflVrv3VC0pCXPCjjv3-lMvMXCvow4Bcz2duBiy54l8yZRCkd5tXJ5zMkApVK_Du70Os8mdyrytcnuzYyk-sHqptBYcBANQcWTkvxk_olBP_VmKZYMIm8-fD-XemVpkv0zTbVHKI6vgw/s1600/IMG_3293.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVvBOoJnYsdEBaVLLTVxUCcDXKoiQqKhpJoDwH4iJZ9jqdLRTpYhL0tw4jfXKi7edkaHvXOdqpAwn1q2grP-9B9wdQYzuhZNPP1Xt8qxfzyasFLL44CSykgEuFI431-YLJ7BWnAsa-kI/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVvBOoJnYsdEBaVLLTVxUCcDXKoiQqKhpJoDwH4iJZ9jqdLRTpYhL0tw4jfXKi7edkaHvXOdqpAwn1q2grP-9B9wdQYzuhZNPP1Xt8qxfzyasFLL44CSykgEuFI431-YLJ7BWnAsa-kI/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
It is with a heavy heart that I begin my return drive through the mountains. For the first time there is not a cloud in the sky, the world is bright and alive and the distant sea sparkles with possibility. I drive back past the three lakes, dodging the swifts and their flying nuts, and stop for a few photos of views of deep green hills glistening in the sun, only now revealed from their clouds. I can even see a large part of the ridge I climbed a few days previously, and the exact point where it underwent a dramatic increase in gradient.<br />
The mountains are quickly left behind, the cool wet world of clouds and waterfalls, of deep verdant valleys and wide sprawling vistas, winding rice fields and crystal lakes.<br />
<br />
Of all the places in Bali I have visited so far I think this was my favourite, I could easily spend weeks wandering these hills and relaxing before the magnificent views. But it will be nice to return to Tania's, my home from home, and who knows who I will meet there or where it will lead.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qU5_kt0Ud3U1e354-jzEt-A2QjCAfIn2EWdwb0vCAiaM_oxHcCJIwD0kcu3_f2bZa3tRdbALj_6w8yqP3j-XrAWxTNkWd0hbbv1G3sO4uvPXSc6xCQI4zdcjaJxgQ8GeHz7G9FeikHU/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qU5_kt0Ud3U1e354-jzEt-A2QjCAfIn2EWdwb0vCAiaM_oxHcCJIwD0kcu3_f2bZa3tRdbALj_6w8yqP3j-XrAWxTNkWd0hbbv1G3sO4uvPXSc6xCQI4zdcjaJxgQ8GeHz7G9FeikHU/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXwO6MCd0NV1CVbXln2qANrq6q4ExScCgbH3p415G55-ywSw0og4A34pR7N2iB7gkemA0NsTBLTM7eKMRdztqq9qCvx1Ol2L0MiAZKJ1FfhmZCRTSjzbfW1rTJ2NdECY88GH53A5-1XA/s1600/IMG_3308.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXwO6MCd0NV1CVbXln2qANrq6q4ExScCgbH3p415G55-ywSw0og4A34pR7N2iB7gkemA0NsTBLTM7eKMRdztqq9qCvx1Ol2L0MiAZKJ1FfhmZCRTSjzbfW1rTJ2NdECY88GH53A5-1XA/s1600/IMG_3308.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ctGdpjEp23DFZhBiJa_3T0QKIKIKLlCrTTXftOT89_h5Le-NUABGx7DIf_r_rWMh0_ECzm3IYlGmmOLlNZbzsMxL27QSZEnJPJzhgP9GExf7GhteTScx3VJcAa1-3pWetCkT7pZQYxs/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ctGdpjEp23DFZhBiJa_3T0QKIKIKLlCrTTXftOT89_h5Le-NUABGx7DIf_r_rWMh0_ECzm3IYlGmmOLlNZbzsMxL27QSZEnJPJzhgP9GExf7GhteTScx3VJcAa1-3pWetCkT7pZQYxs/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCLNbEAB2O6H-LkOcSZV87M7vnmIlDTVq0uMUSf9jc0eFJQZRUOJQ5-mPRa_Fc0pXZLCRcvRncWeFD4Ko1IdXTXVfp01dk2iQvZBbL7gJtJa4ieD9JCp1NgohRbbLhhqkwOq0NO8EbkY/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCLNbEAB2O6H-LkOcSZV87M7vnmIlDTVq0uMUSf9jc0eFJQZRUOJQ5-mPRa_Fc0pXZLCRcvRncWeFD4Ko1IdXTXVfp01dk2iQvZBbL7gJtJa4ieD9JCp1NgohRbbLhhqkwOq0NO8EbkY/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL_rJPaXYgLKdpLPjSYGVPPHmSg1X4JhdGSdWUqL3wA3HhMLJUl1GMjNi_iuhgoJ5Q1UaZYHRKjILfQ6n7t3ECCz56dQelmt-UGcYFPuwBSsTwTIM3xm5YWPRINAHb86UPU9YvV7PGH8/s1600/IMG_3327.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL_rJPaXYgLKdpLPjSYGVPPHmSg1X4JhdGSdWUqL3wA3HhMLJUl1GMjNi_iuhgoJ5Q1UaZYHRKjILfQ6n7t3ECCz56dQelmt-UGcYFPuwBSsTwTIM3xm5YWPRINAHb86UPU9YvV7PGH8/s1600/IMG_3327.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I drive to Denpasar in about a third of the time it took me to leave, avoiding the scenic route the entire way, and bid my farewell to Kai once and for all. He has been wonderful and I will miss him dearly. I return to Tasha's briefly, and it is just as crazy as ever. Fences and gates are starting to appear from the rubble, but the work still to be done appears endless. As much as I enjoyed my time here, I am glad that I am going to Tania's, where life is always relaxed and there seems to be nothing to worry about.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFI5sagpL1YnNm4IV1ci6S4qzdua9a0Q5Ee16Jj_5IJT0Swpz_kvhMo2Tp-wnRrrMe1v_NI0gh9dEZMUPAYWj11_feCsERXZbwej6RdtcIEJQA8fpOb962RumYDUxnHHK6SHX7OUFKPA/s1600/IMG_3330.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFI5sagpL1YnNm4IV1ci6S4qzdua9a0Q5Ee16Jj_5IJT0Swpz_kvhMo2Tp-wnRrrMe1v_NI0gh9dEZMUPAYWj11_feCsERXZbwej6RdtcIEJQA8fpOb962RumYDUxnHHK6SHX7OUFKPA/s1600/IMG_3330.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tasha's old land, now abandoned.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MQ58F1WUiiPgVmE4uwkv5HD-fs4yFjl49bRljCE0GyBM7oXKnXHCfly41ccy84k_OtAnsMhw6mPVOKA0B8qaFySVY2m5jSY8tBN_LhK2XZwVQ_6bYk8UUCrYSAnJuzLhRv60K8BXjYM/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MQ58F1WUiiPgVmE4uwkv5HD-fs4yFjl49bRljCE0GyBM7oXKnXHCfly41ccy84k_OtAnsMhw6mPVOKA0B8qaFySVY2m5jSY8tBN_LhK2XZwVQ_6bYk8UUCrYSAnJuzLhRv60K8BXjYM/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Farewell Kai.</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-RV4J3HofW9k%2FU4qUQ5qmGhI%2FAAAAAAAACSg%2FpUHaqc9g4pc%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2789.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaBDpCpohOtI3Au_AabLtxrox1qvIvzx5VKMpv__mrnRYki3RcfK5v7gGU1aR9S3lbGKcFQnt3QsPJAtrG1FWFB1hZl7szfS3XQXF9pbl6qqM9n6AI9UradSSb_2OZabUPXnR0s8b3AM/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-cLO2dt40tl4%2FU4qRPMY32iI%2FAAAAAAAACPI%2F0YdljWm05OY%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2608.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUcrR78IYXXZylBa6TUT8o-RsNC82OHZGs6kTsLXg84L0-2AhiHEUbbVA1oAtnZ1ouf6Hz_-9QB3C1YV3cWPGGhEupI1RHLtRvR_ZoIKCeAEkXoOfhyphenhyphenxUmAxDCduuEGZo4LeFPJQVqnQ/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-_NkEcd7_V74%2FU4qM1Fy0shI%2FAAAAAAAACME%2FPG8ESSir_A8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2456.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HYNW05SeffUr1fUjlQBN-eDARedeWK91vNfoLyHBQU27xs_OK1hslyTxu5_ebph1_UvbdcKXLuHj4Lk2OzXx7jJ-KtUQewxELlPouqjnvaAIslp832HxRzFyb8vUckkqLSlOTeXeAuo/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KKbG2R-4_Q4%2FU4qWDyJW7yI%2FAAAAAAAACU4%2FaDiY_SqsU2M%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2959.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFfc5BPcla15ianHtx6DsWr6p77dF2RQY0JfR9HOkBFALBoB7OKPlyqAOjmoRBruTrw5hNPppAEVIYHyupyiein4t72SMeliKLqn0vZrbaSMB1fqyZ0EcvI9Psgm_Tnzwjex_ykuVXJQ/s1600/IMG_2959.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-DbCslIh_wPo%2FU4qW4WKvUVI%2FAAAAAAAACWA%2F8lLPWQKEVM4%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3079.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXWdQNiM4IZAAV6GAypBuuZ_hAiudDclHX49h6GHOV2HiY-4s8lLS_6KXjHye6PEbPtn0zv3ErwE6K5sUj_jBImbMfk3vGN14AIYAo7bDXLb_tVB-eEpzqaZR-1BBNC81VCyXd1HwABE/s1600/IMG_3079.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-eBBx-e7wcl0%2FU4qXjjakuuI%2FAAAAAAAACXA%2FXRmWE3n7baw%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3220.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBzpdQ3nxpGW3oV1bL7-zIYdENtrQKNIGachloLjuY6-akFRvW7JWMPTnhU68P1omVXqNFO5pcOUBAnq5C1uVs-fCoScezt9iighn5p5z2dFvH0b1iLZISuWTMBvP9vrZ6HpecrVEuso/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ULg2euopC8M%2FU4qYeixGzkI%2FAAAAAAAACZA%2FgCgIGaTFIyo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3332.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MQ58F1WUiiPgVmE4uwkv5HD-fs4yFjl49bRljCE0GyBM7oXKnXHCfly41ccy84k_OtAnsMhw6mPVOKA0B8qaFySVY2m5jSY8tBN_LhK2XZwVQ_6bYk8UUCrYSAnJuzLhRv60K8BXjYM/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-_-PIDhK3SZc%2FU4qUGp9m-XI%2FAAAAAAAACSQ%2FIuwiWpC_0L4%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2780.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE_e95cunnLafhDkDIBeidJLlNuL9jErK4NTjiYccca6733MeEQk9EYYL_FdjWzF0SGboiYC4czTjtJPgd2LwYa3qXIDbkTfmxRhJJeh_60DxNwjqbgni-1t_3e04JMwlRBy-sN3UA1w/s1600/IMG_2780.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-shHz04NpxU4%2FU4qUwt5DO6I%2FAAAAAAAACS8%2FTcVLARj0Gvo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2799%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4GsR5FO615nX29i0NJxHJvJryAnYmfWHv49nKQZ3Hr_jYqL1ODCHlQI5xZ6APLBbOeeIzleRKRcsjBiT0EgPp7Mhkf9zOnqYVCki7m5yIyvnn7eiKuFfJqnRSKnTw3qWHyX1dMuP4sI/s1600/IMG_2799+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6GC3KDj6fZ4%2FU4qQcY0-reI%2FAAAAAAAACOQ%2FiMh7lkqt10c%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2589.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dZilZ5WwxexGlkefyiFO96-9dkMChH4ox2-My1So3sczOjeUB6t61MVKmjIDCXKqN0hNdu-58UlBjb6Ai6v1s6LjxNHC7Vk83eGCFRglQNAXBZ6653Fp8cY-4X7FDwmx0irSBDeoS5g/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-rEydPVKsNbI%2FU4qUKDmKrcI%2FAAAAAAAACSY%2Fo2A3QV7xwO8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2781.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FTypnrHrZ9IFUFkfHm3SW85FBrqlA1nOHIb3I4L8Wr7_MQLCP8LjD1z5kbEpfbADQdlk5X0bN-re0rZ-gDMBRrV5clD4LeTPMcQyyICXTjqC9Hctx-HIzS5epyt7TU5Zc43kJmfKVRI/s1600/IMG_2781.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-FAsEvKmdDFk%2FU4qYBgEvN7I%2FAAAAAAAACYA%2FCIJdRll2ohA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3300.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qU5_kt0Ud3U1e354-jzEt-A2QjCAfIn2EWdwb0vCAiaM_oxHcCJIwD0kcu3_f2bZa3tRdbALj_6w8yqP3j-XrAWxTNkWd0hbbv1G3sO4uvPXSc6xCQI4zdcjaJxgQ8GeHz7G9FeikHU/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-18-6u6-SeG8%2FU4qTrFXKR9I%2FAAAAAAAACSA%2Fb8yv_C721kU%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2772.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71d4BUSwDAwRUf13zU4uj-X2BhF8f4rMYQUkDxcnCbF4Hg81kTTJbNwoyBo7k2UztygBv65X7w62teevnXBl25fBbW3Rg-hNyFuYybAsF2nskwInd6J-ktalfYBQiQUnrvW5UeEY6mwk/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-UWKPXEjf99s%2FU4qTSly4nOI%2FAAAAAAAACRw%2FjOcUbl2Mi9Q%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2762.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjSo-KJe2G3b0Lkn5brTCmpgtaFYR-XOS5s7-c9AVNQTH3WdtUIu43S9l_9HErw9w2GbFlG8BVGaSl0pn5qvWCAwTaZGObV_E_Oufum3DT3yRAtgzn91_XJ0qQ99686x70SDeYzdD4Fw/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ai2MdmjXEcc%2FU4qSxpbUvNI%2FAAAAAAAACRQ%2FkthnjAqXqLU%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2730.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8Sm7eK0dt4HuGVATFcLsP8CxUqCtLD-i3Q4bPipV5dAx15vpmso9uyRGKlIMespyBtaY9IYyDhAbReC8Lqukh_v7iD4xfWRUrh4O8C9fG4tI1c75Sx7dNwrZu_B03o_0tsy_fYnKw2c/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-5wEOU96Sr-o%2FU4qO5JD-4wI%2FAAAAAAAACNQ%2F7Z7CEAxJaPg%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2531.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0cCm71dQ4RoRezsF5_N6i82NV7QNVI2Lj870G8-vzAALAEf0sXdjVZRVxHx30mrJbZIEwNsDRCPqfJsquIrBDZ2hPrDXHTNltqu2_2FdTfpkYm-EheUa_SWEt6_lSyFyJvDSEWxIwZ0/s1600/IMG_2531.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MF8dFzKZ19M%2FU4qWiLmR1hI%2FAAAAAAAACVY%2F7QyFdksoAVM%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2992.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0di61wHJdzsOOQZE-3um2kfhTPLfRhL7t-Fiti4Ds5PdC1V6DyIxCZgZe9eopsnliawpbUTkfGqJRB541DstA16xx32eCav2xR-u-OXwhoJCFEAFRpEGSbpQeueq3AuYm-h2LNleVQGk/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KzexCjo3U1A%2FU4qX7SlkqtI%2FAAAAAAAACX4%2FF_jbOsfwhOM%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3297.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVvBOoJnYsdEBaVLLTVxUCcDXKoiQqKhpJoDwH4iJZ9jqdLRTpYhL0tw4jfXKi7edkaHvXOdqpAwn1q2grP-9B9wdQYzuhZNPP1Xt8qxfzyasFLL44CSykgEuFI431-YLJ7BWnAsa-kI/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6xcHvpbJt_I%2FU4qRSAvM22I%2FAAAAAAAACPQ%2FVeRGOmlhS5Q%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2639.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TWC7cKrNdTnLkKVn-gSX-go2yF3zNQEdLqYgWDVURYpvpOCbIojWbNziNuo99aftnMiN9hBr8VdmkpZo8TLPXfvJkQC6daGXy-yVH69XnB6RUBlQe_dQtxsNXjhOkfdG8oETS2u4LXM/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-nR_9Mkqd9oM%2FU4qVxqa8fwI%2FAAAAAAAACUo%2FtGB9Rv6dlE4%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2946.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwELC_BZHjb1ZJyjN3yc3hs4ZAT_IOp6chyphenhyphenLV5CkdJRP7MHZc6BnRSyhY89PhIq-U91TV-Yw2_LmhG90Zr9fliXz4cjDFgSsIFvyWw2J8PLhDneK0BheoMA4xE-eingHiNnwOMn6oJfI/s1600/IMG_2946.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-7KN-fISVZ3o%2FU4qWtqqgn1I%2FAAAAAAAACVo%2Ftwm-rkY0sB0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3037.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn0oHxFu1uzdBGQFfzNyqgGP1J6fzI2GcXsx-PyhLgh8IP1alJ3UcTPbYXgH6l4dE1CJoV8OBql5oj5hnyyCyNu3Ys0Y-4_U6cXbCDlxifY8pYN9MoiR2twA9VfQY1UC3h10bfBZVzXI/s1600/IMG_3037.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-YfgUOapmypo%2FU4qTH5OyX-I%2FAAAAAAAACRo%2FmhPlbLnW5ZA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2761.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlK0eGJw-0IMRj0-yES2MTAaK_WMJNqhiuatTLUzwsMfA8fZWKZcM0qQ9YNBEhJSLh9eHpDe67K8Drafu2JXQkk4lUid3q9PgpJbW45Y8QKFg140NSJn6cCdOptCtfqlM6XskM0ckl44/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-qT_O86Hxd74%2FU4qW4Kr-wyI%2FAAAAAAAACV8%2FAoWN95NmdDU%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3090.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVrxxXgE6jGL0jsHb_WTU7zTRa3407D4dnaBG_lPiJG4Yl1ADDOeSuknx-9Pe8Ed7wUUck6sexZcBF2ApATdVQzBqwQ5Snlu-ffBvWcXhRUKp2HKb5GWbgnM70bmYRlhc_1dHl8PKfVc/s1600/IMG_3090.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-5Gl1PUc2mos%2FU4qU8n66iwI%2FAAAAAAAACTc%2FbcxqUxCcEL8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2858%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAcO7XVD3p7WwOSzzf2pTfcUnFzkEntj_JWpLnWp8NS9yHDLKeHNAzAzUPuOHv30SoVC4qNt-aQOBC1rny2dZ25braG8LGVndZ-1DZ1RTRInzT9wGvocIlvvEUjHHHP1KOzf_fB7Jijw/s1600/IMG_2858+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-r43UfNrr2Bs%2FU4qSl9pOmOI%2FAAAAAAAACRA%2FkA2ySi_Z0w8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2716.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJP3723QHbOL5HEbGjmayEUfeQweA6meZO_yB4bGBgO9SsSm0xI7Y9mfMcKFY6HR3yymSGLNEK-NDnAesf3SEpigqdwHgT0BXRJuD2nwwn5gxiC7YPdoB41-ejmBgKHqrrcOqKDuVIWg/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9xr0swgF9Sw%2FU4qUyep5nYI%2FAAAAAAAACTI%2Fq03bGmeo8Ss%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2830%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRofBinBoI95d3_Rdq6U0JA3PwL0G1vnpq-f1i16TqJRBkHIdQn7yshFlonPzv_gdMykbITYMR2N6hyphenhyphenzn5am5-vAjp4J2HU_JkOdEzq-f5Vp-9sAE4qbwukiAZvtOYiG5w-cr4IFIM9M/s1600/IMG_2830+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-YR6xmmva9hQ%2FU4qYdckfdDI%2FAAAAAAAACY4%2F00smmqf8-hc%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3330.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFI5sagpL1YnNm4IV1ci6S4qzdua9a0Q5Ee16Jj_5IJT0Swpz_kvhMo2Tp-wnRrrMe1v_NI0gh9dEZMUPAYWj11_feCsERXZbwej6RdtcIEJQA8fpOb962RumYDUxnHHK6SHX7OUFKPA/s1600/IMG_3330.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-q0vcg8yplzQ%2FU4qSFA7IjDI%2FAAAAAAAACQg%2Fajvz56VCzXE%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2697.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMTM8v_qvx1YVCcbgycf7VxJWbuMNhjaWx7O-3EbGxAreMd_9LRaFNRGQmxxmAX64hwWnXOg-kGErsQnfcumrLhdyT5k5B_4AhCDGK_ND77xL-okKwOtR9SaFGw6oQEHi7lqFlV_RVmI/s1600/IMG_2697.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-arXrBe33AuM%2FU4qWBOWcAmI%2FAAAAAAAACUw%2FMaC-ostbpG8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2953.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXAvYFpMBVlujf3mnKLmklWIpZLQ_JVcwtcCSIKrku-ei9GWS10bBM37HYzxitXrcg2l_sDE7vKeyZENveYiCpAvkZ9xM17h7xREthdMvkiU-p6VFHKOeoDlDHIPqTJ4semJT2Ld7Y18/s1600/IMG_2953.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-b0YGD2PfRu4%2FU4qXWGNpS8I%2FAAAAAAAACW4%2F721PdmVco6g%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3212.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr2ADw_wsHOR044ObbT8UgRI643SDpxUu6PvAdwJe0gQewtqvCR6EBleQq6zNn70wVZ4CVQ6d6G2fIXTfMqbM8P96ksndGswirEzg4YGTquOijJuQa6Wi3BcjoApmhyphenhyphenNMjg-qHyECPv8/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9WuZu7TWPmw%2FU4qRl6MW9WI%2FAAAAAAAACPo%2FWrBe1Jn7Bfw%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2655.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkQ-_qE83RuvSG0VPlXJct3jmxHyjMBSh9GPJMX6tU0iIDeX5QVhPAIOo5yvCFbzougqbo4rQaTYslhzncX8GuqXkk9rlLx3mWg8pGekq-Hv2mWqzqzkqSoXcnpCFqkbehW2nqBOVtdQ/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-WxqR-78a2kM%2FU4qSCi-bqSI%2FAAAAAAAACQY%2FkyphZVZacaM%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2692.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqFjwhIBrOwes18qXUk-9AM2jLksbyAjje0VcYXFqtp-SZhSxlLEc1yuwnc6-hxG12pE6Y5F5b-a0svtrwrSbal7LuC6pypzwnKYiyyLthN6ivOQgnGJhp33mK53e0hKGSgFXd-JvVkk/s1600/IMG_2692.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-AQiQZ8k5P-A%2FU4qSWyXW2FI%2FAAAAAAAACQw%2F5Hq4tPngT88%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2701.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cCwD5UgZDLk3V5EjeSr2pr2tyJUcnzatGMkOMu0pzf2zh701Y4lr7BHlzcSlsZVT4nQI1P-P07Skbe7_BIwCO9GODUct_bX1kgkWcV8KpnB9P3ji32-9aNIyazfmqBt6MNwAVYhdo0I/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-BsgAUK4iVWo%2FU4qX3dG3QZI%2FAAAAAAAACXo%2FF2hR9uFXYp0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3277.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFwxj_2Ii1YoAqxrOXzuy5MqFyGqubwf4MLXjduEzlRRrHiWpFrHCxHIEXoqP-OYQnWceYSABQ2EzoHOwJSAPMaNzeBtxfgKiaYex0Zd1ErT9h2dyl1aI0VUorBD3IbeZ0tWRa60WWJU/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-56YJ0IraSss%2FU4qWnQnN9GI%2FAAAAAAAACVg%2FoNGsmgVaSgE%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3072.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZtPxwdr70F4oNQCwh6neCVVpRAs39fsLOOLL3DYF1nMvbLlHo7yNcMJoxFjO7rDlKjGu81VD72ThqqLF_KP81NVcd64Bs_x2aG2qTDRx50-R7HCU5tEOQykkhx67ybm8YCLJ5wpxfTg/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bHOZIo5-aGQ%2FU4qYVtCplxI%2FAAAAAAAACYw%2Fc-gyySzoEKY%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3327.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL_rJPaXYgLKdpLPjSYGVPPHmSg1X4JhdGSdWUqL3wA3HhMLJUl1GMjNi_iuhgoJ5Q1UaZYHRKjILfQ6n7t3ECCz56dQelmt-UGcYFPuwBSsTwTIM3xm5YWPRINAHb86UPU9YvV7PGH8/s1600/IMG_3327.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MzNFUNEou5E%2FU4qW7709a6I%2FAAAAAAAACWI%2FzbOKy5jfVYo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3137.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZH-Zx77gnNut3s9eHf_9YH0aCIuW6JprFEzuDQYPIwfipGnABi6ufUFl5_wmSW0HvPGVB42QYT_DmcrRXMnn_KELI3Fqf1r-kDcPwX5o19yhGM2t4oNfdN_b6VJtgLVwnoESriuov08/s1600/IMG_3137.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-sAq6bFEAYf0%2FU4qU9CKomyI%2FAAAAAAAACTg%2Fr4dcY0JuCZA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2856%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanId0hA9hJOpBfSJ7nAy1qiLxdm8fuxsu_KLfy9O6BOZKVynsQdO-gDSWll1nZI1-jpeh_IJSZ0iv9FnPG18zLoFE1fZ0Agv85XnxFCy_0P-h6uazv6ITOgXPcCva0_sqVgPt9UG5gg4/s1600/IMG_2856+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-kX8NhSf-lm8%2FU4qRKd-JjWI%2FAAAAAAAACO4%2F_N-FjeO5MGQ%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2604.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzapMsLyc6L3lwlmwJDj2nbmsEIaIVAcOY0URiihOZI1xSmKtyX6ZysLCkQaPelNu0dW_vhBFDiq1Y_VDCnrH69i-s_pZ0ADnB5CMJG9YpUVfxxgtTsFftbSLggtRTSq5Mw87DRAtVdQ/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-oSDCyhch4ug%2FU4qSbwy0geI%2FAAAAAAAACQ4%2FScTbgskyZVg%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2713.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqexJj6sjYUXyF9B5B-ReM0wKYF8xyE_mBaUxW-wL6LZv2aRVUp2z0lsjCHKGe7bScsz37s_6BjNS5GIMb5EnhW3dyJhlNMib0c4mofO3AHnO2wEOPvi-3MBUi4aN4ogOgFmwcBm1CSwU/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bdRlVaPW1Vw%2FU4qYD9YCAOI%2FAAAAAAAACYI%2FeHUb6fbnj30%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3308.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXwO6MCd0NV1CVbXln2qANrq6q4ExScCgbH3p415G55-ywSw0og4A34pR7N2iB7gkemA0NsTBLTM7eKMRdztqq9qCvx1Ol2L0MiAZKJ1FfhmZCRTSjzbfW1rTJ2NdECY88GH53A5-1XA/s1600/IMG_3308.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-mylLrZ4shQs%2FU4qXtA7jC9I%2FAAAAAAAACXQ%2FWkFvHUTo554%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3231.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr44619Z1wRH_Tk3rM0m4QQBiR1Ht9UINh8I4oYgBe3fhMS6xe_XXfcLVgdSpHWmdmd-gjmVyY9jdk9eYW9cp37QsIdmvkne4DHYstGQ7fO0PgOmPXtAIPs_jdRaBaIzZIb0nWI2eAZRU/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-L0R2OKg4aHw%2FU4qM1eQnnEI%2FAAAAAAAACMM%2FG0zomnphoeE%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2465.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB7HMvl9scgPnJ1jpN1deJcAB-7kxmqvgPgRIZ0OYiXZsXPgGmWTtRd3nC19s53orS4ddBpey4bC3pyW-HhlO9WmjzFIRQwFydA35FBsuf7zfPJzv-bXWMQKHMICBO3kprU-us4iPUIc/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-4O5mCKSQWUc%2FU4qRavQLd6I%2FAAAAAAAACPY%2FMaUk6fWApj0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2653.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZFZlIzOTaCgbeTrz_3Nq7IwcHnsAgxSuIZSegsTklv_PfH1qmJTPibE4Mj7ZvqIEgbuB98XSkxa7vZDttGQs4x9wd6D8Qn625m_-fYNxRN1c_7FoSTlFZhRxchWhRip9IQaPa56RoMo/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Y3N2TIKZjgY%2FU4qS0j4hW1I%2FAAAAAAAACRY%2FMNGEQe4oSYA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2743.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm5xnC8dKz9bPmUsBCSgsUJi-YtQMjMLKcR3AsG1T1Wb3sk9XUsd35B6SkNXW4w9Uk6xl9zasPeq8WL9iR_RRfbX_x8XoU7K0pWIV8edVLm9_SPmpx0a036uypmDm6oy-t_bhFDEZ6No/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-OemKA71z7_s%2FU4qPtXVS3XI%2FAAAAAAAACNo%2FRy1nUOlpVpo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2558.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZZEcPu1nPhKuWfUb8WW624Gbv9z3Ib65NcR1JEo7WSkXVQ28AkOjlG0XQY_d4lzC2-aK5EID-hSyZkd1ljP9GQrrsFTbipgiqEdnCbSLHStKvRbdMKQf00mm6ycAg_oDAGJjjsdi6h4/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-3JtxW7KAfDc%2FU4qYOGT9tbI%2FAAAAAAAACYg%2FBkyfQzDzaYY%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3323.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCLNbEAB2O6H-LkOcSZV87M7vnmIlDTVq0uMUSf9jc0eFJQZRUOJQ5-mPRa_Fc0pXZLCRcvRncWeFD4Ko1IdXTXVfp01dk2iQvZBbL7gJtJa4ieD9JCp1NgohRbbLhhqkwOq0NO8EbkY/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-t_4tJMAtXAI%2FU4qVm65HtEI%2FAAAAAAAACUY%2Fo4a2EVf9hMQ%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2915.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyulL18rgqaYLBGAsoHiQE3Yw2ibj37b79g83qfHlNbfKGNT4QpBd2ujvNtmBOz_7dZt_5ulwYSYgH8hUZ8V72Qb7IcE1ibxT9cFMO7_PlfvCv3ZGXCDVWz716CN9RPr_2rGX6W5GUHK4/s1600/IMG_2915.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-R9fNZ2iDaDc%2FU4qW4BcIOVI%2FAAAAAAAACV4%2FcxKfNrhD_LI%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3123.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP6bCR8jhgk4QzHhCXNECiFlFcl7dcvMHXa0MRCm-1OB8nn3DpflE5gFSLbVANsCPCTTEsdY4Zi_K9CbiWo7dIsOs0sp7f1okgUpeXwSCArxR1W-Hq8Ezmikp-s6DIjK9S4nlxQl5cUU/s1600/IMG_3123.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ji7PFeBoLZo%2FU4qXHSclWgI%2FAAAAAAAACWg%2FTSKjPCPobSk%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3168.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjBMTsi_GmT4VcQMHAQwu1KSMbIGigTKqvbkDvi5OJ4M3FDHweMzfaf_jnORu_iz7tHoYtU0Z1e2Ghs42PheSmJzERLEZhG2btDMEhK02kJ7SGfy3M8UycAO9XfMBkbD5oewwvM-KBbg/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-fiqHejziVMs%2FU4qXOx-ZMoI%2FAAAAAAAACWo%2F2EgcqCfvFvY%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3210.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XRX_nHnVIXDJpY5TFQlTqSovxdlGOGl-ppvJnQxVXUnB3guCrspGbbp5GPFCE98w5T_K8B2Q-So6ZAIXnXVsy8BcFqhyphenhyphenAexGSr8IbLfAoW3DIzQFNhUvISnzXON-8Qucqcbe0unClng/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-THTAchT0qy8%2FU4qVOSfBYOI%2FAAAAAAAACUI%2FfOVUk4iHZm8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2891.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVCq12EjbR4rjZcqbJPLTOjWvtVLjLf1C6rYOwyiKpdpwrCD7hCDZRz5sbny7kjUBBgvzARcQYPY98sh-IlY9c1GU3DNfK3Dk1kM5YfHOVyDY6bClKWnI_R6ARmtQnkfmabBxHlIfg5I/s1600/IMG_2891.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-0Kgj5GBmC9U%2FU4qPqB7ZIGI%2FAAAAAAAACNg%2F-Xptmjk1vEQ%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2533.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLO59CaEILiSgvmWuOLqfaj_3mYr89joiulHOmwD-Qomw1XB_PVDkx2h8f3ZG8GCfXDGdQAOZeSiCIfA3reCPM80H_0bHhtIfuelLChyphenhyphenbl3gSimPB2v5MRcgt4s74mqsilMhY_tBIN3I/s1600/IMG_2533.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Sze2JD8reqg%2FU4qQ60-1x_I%2FAAAAAAAACOw%2FG8TfuNxylrc%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2601.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxy-Wlz44LITcm4nCB7vuWwL-MNI1Jxe9t2qkrGOOXchyJQe8Qx0KzipaHNCrj6dtLBLcN8p7MMeyJr2bKPt3xV1vSi8P1e4Mr72nObTpFqGYKjtJyt10Hz4Ew2MHKU_eOc0qKFVldlI/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-CokehySJUfM%2FU4qWc1aFKcI%2FAAAAAAAACVQ%2F172FyC9QVKM%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3014.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAFXhPJRTGlmMt4WMXWJ8p4ALds8nrMMYRExlpnvwjWufTY7cY-TOY-tT221jkP7XXpFj9PNjoNi2L9-7BW8TS5OjbcNM-1R79n60hmYuKyXkkxPP7IELcBLfkQoJvDYUKBX6SjOaqBc/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Af1migPZfWg%2FU4qOO_9FsCI%2FAAAAAAAACM4%2FgsQtj5rf6Mc%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2527.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWfbmUIqbq0PgKJ-pevFzGOfFx2Hd7Jclm_ewLjjH2p6NkwcBvZX3l4XD7toqQ73mcyrWQrcPeMqPLRKTEOdN7toAgw6HPqECOJGnPBCc58cAlu7DMqSfZ4-GGCO-f-Iy4pj_f5emYPY/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Dt9cFJlzt5Y%2FU4qVWWi3zHI%2FAAAAAAAACUQ%2FZ4Zk_xuirvs%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2898.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06FXtb0qxGyGX0Um6Krskcen4mZX4mxGkEiwI65ZuBBjmHqCdSYDJg7uWpgJ50CmAGIZeA8d9bBLHIpiRm6EcYqCdtDGHRB2H2aDSARyy9zSEXq1y6OyaK6PMxTFzhLGAPOzv4TA-MXY/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-y16B0BbMnN4%2FU4qXwW1sgCI%2FAAAAAAAACXY%2FXHjUjT0APR0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3253.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Pq9HWF9qMDDpUPkonWyjFoDJCpbgDz2EB71yfimO1ASQKzeocTHV_raTJVh65PHIP62h0cysjJOlGI_q8x4VfYb7OyRTeMgRoz35fXaJi9NQhtr6XDBPi01EQEFzFKr7em4-obCs-p0/s1600/IMG_3253.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9va5_Wo-GJ4%2FU4qRcqKqcUI%2FAAAAAAAACPg%2FN4O7QICQT04%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2648.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDotl5BprUnp3QkBcPpDDdjagYkIGjXnvu6CNDevHIgsaw6bBnOpmSnfgGVsWIuFrcgyUZ1qOyyJRKVko7yCy3f0ncb1zk05XJeVgaeS1r0n7FMxCzA76YVgLDXTYQh2B97Bzn3BFReCQ/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-4rmATLewg3U%2FU4qR48qLKDI%2FAAAAAAAACQI%2Fou29euslgb0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2684.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfes-Wc-BdBvJMsFGGE9Sg1x5RYD-6Dklq1TX5lrjJcqUBeHnH2BGSgPas3oWKqQWM_enXCu-ufw9yULqRzUCxvgT10hkQ3lpqTec3xXqrnQ-Q1_qxnjnKXmuqXo17Hxabo9wHof3u2Y/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-UH7c2zx1kiQ%2FU4qWXRwMyTI%2FAAAAAAAACVI%2FrSOXn3msJaQ%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2986.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GJ2lKO7n7jeV1oRkErn2DP8X5IaYZejeIDZUmo2Td1dWdFn54AppL4A4LUjepSAPIJWmpBW63Dmbbcr-Sv_zPed6GqBi5bw7QPrMLqbF5gYbY5z-ZfKtAqg4dZX6daPkuSQL2oMg8ZQ/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Bn3JlGEaayA%2FU4qSULkALtI%2FAAAAAAAACQo%2FSqzae3E0GLM%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2704.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAH5vRmFtwbwCbXWtGJZwMskbpgSNQWDtYCcQg3RpcW21weTpKMJ3inv0SKmupbT4dfZ6PBzYo7vR1shbE94WuIXHe5J_p90zeD9QYCK338UBNOAOF9xn8o0knFbaY_schiQIb1naUQc4/s1600/IMG_2704.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yleNYgbz0I8%2FU4qX5prlenI%2FAAAAAAAACXw%2FePsi3y1L7bA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3293.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggflVrv3VC0pCXPCjjv3-lMvMXCvow4Bcz2duBiy54l8yZRCkd5tXJ5zMkApVK_Du70Os8mdyrytcnuzYyk-sHqptBYcBANQcWTkvxk_olBP_VmKZYMIm8-fD-XemVpkv0zTbVHKI6vgw/s1600/IMG_3293.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-53-P24EMz28%2FU4qYH9ubFxI%2FAAAAAAAACYQ%2F8v-w14-mXf8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3310.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ctGdpjEp23DFZhBiJa_3T0QKIKIKLlCrTTXftOT89_h5Le-NUABGx7DIf_r_rWMh0_ECzm3IYlGmmOLlNZbzsMxL27QSZEnJPJzhgP9GExf7GhteTScx3VJcAa1-3pWetCkT7pZQYxs/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F--00Nha9s8Po%2FU4qQevX6uXI%2FAAAAAAAACOY%2FEXKwZp50a98%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2587.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX90abVE0kb5aPpRxpY-4sNN6IG_L12wjgC0MfTilTfvZTx2TxYnw8BmcK__hVsTMhJSKyfOLPCrTFTsgncW8zPaJoKiVjAU_-AyFvbji3GjLEUeaYhkrlaeBsCor2NxuWxqrv8bzkcA/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-pEddvT9sGiA%2FU4qS6_3imQI%2FAAAAAAAACRg%2F7M9b6Uz3OEA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2747.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgR1HBtL_30b-bDz2TnS06cljh6ljgnh_gc5jrcKweiHgUSQYSfQ8TK6rypE60rQffXRiEBUubVQ7qLu5cwv0T5bwGGyEsWJolASjuZ64TEUKwesoL-7I5Qc6RXizH_wEk65XBHEG2y4/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ZaC2YRVL6zM%2FU4qXSnBzmjI%2FAAAAAAAACWw%2FNc6FlotFtSI%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3188.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC2YMv8g_9V3TFIa9CkXphX60Q2721aSIEnbSv8tpsi_sw4yN4aadcGVBREGz2o3CzZFbksvUDgNkn1ijhlc0FUQdpMRkoDOXNx8BX2Ahw1lqvuyi9pIJbh1uLDxwd-h_9RDz6I-x7ak/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-IaAHDB5xCak%2FU4qOoIYLDNI%2FAAAAAAAACNI%2Fze0Oqem2XqI%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2523.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2NIYl0Vv6TstC5Ukzw0rOF85u2-6M2pxImMnbLKtXlXuiBJgXM_nOMcsr-KcKpbUYHAynAtNqmOXh2hEthAyWoHYmPqy27e-6r0XNdp0akJy_MD8yRQaOZC1Q2U2nFWbkOT6T5r2_zk/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-AYSieV6G0IM%2FU4qU4Z3hSBI%2FAAAAAAAACTQ%2FR3ggPBHf1SY%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2855%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAqKpWXzOxp5wTD0UP4BtIKsAJybKIMSisYFdqIkpbULiR0YsUaIGZ8LYlc_flaUXW4pdnEK8J8khNXCa1DYIE4wLM2ItckJ9-ItXvtQAIZN_pviVP-c0T7qjkkxNm9-O3o8rMeN587g/s1600/IMG_2855+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Ntx-14N8ng8%2FU4qQaG5eQjI%2FAAAAAAAACOI%2FeIT6X9_mYqA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2581.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwG2Nl-7tRAykS5RLsAoG1ReIhEaC-ppl3VuMEOsUDUUW7gdVdKnjDKIzXdimfOFhoR9uoKg8C8AY3XuYrXK14_ZVVf81CWBtDTl0PJSoUcykjoKK74HwN5jcSL_XrVKyH2pKFlGVxro/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-0Fwob9s9kDc%2FU4qVNK9wMMI%2FAAAAAAAACT8%2Fol3NBdbphfc%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2880.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pC5GfA2zmuHajC3oGOJs_lGhVYjI6zLuiYp6fARjPFV-BLeI10lATEM6PsO8qKJAh3OwE7svj1vJmoynJQhdIcW5klU_m1rrJL3ex0r75YSTA4X79RHP8soDL-rpNlbbgC1d-KoF3YY/s1600/IMG_2880.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-lUanRTNmsao%2FU4qU_J14NfI%2FAAAAAAAACTo%2F29WdMyUIKOU%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2861%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvw8Glqt-AWlmZlP3T9bP7BHmejSeORF7ofqtyI9L7vrS-arPCcFwLB33u4ieH08pTQneszof3bZXj1EGSDNtUy9beRrBzlUXWyaNmjkeev1U6QAW57f72ho3CEJRFTCzexclqKniqvM/s1600/IMG_2861+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-7lrcMuEMfcQ%2FU4qOnghr-JI%2FAAAAAAAACNA%2FiOHBf9XPVd8%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2530.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wrMig_AzmgaQRo7HZOQWbtoBTRJfhRLEgqmaJZ68O1OFu5SAbXqf48d5FYP2UaU1_-OdzUvzuIQEkMk-aYZgJBMj2ay_V852CsmGocR99LR-pN28rhxGiZNmtFPZ0HQv0-sQxqT2OSw/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-71-DEjIf_rI%2FU4qVG5XOj5I%2FAAAAAAAACTw%2FLY49M7hzL_g%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2876.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnXpN7axOGaB3-hYmsNIvtHeWXUtrPjEged6JDMB7jha3ktZnvZEeyv-RaJdIhPJbx1TnZWEbnfFOVWNVDoxUMdFASIvRXy2GZOruMPcIOloICFloeHF9nuGCmemLoW7kvXfTb9jOiwA/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-67eXuVm_6eo%2FU4qSAR1O6oI%2FAAAAAAAACQQ%2FpyzbvCeOrtY%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2688.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGS3gOgjygB_6059yQveEKIxaIyGWLxl0fAxw-fo-nkx-tj2Hdti4HobmIyq7WgpagMVxP8bUECq_-Wx9dz2k9Cgo9kmOuBzUl9ebRpKDSnsONhONSHn9Et97tv8NlstorifflKsmtEK8/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Y-Fq7iOFH2w%2FU4qUl5NnBhI%2FAAAAAAAACSo%2FawbIal4-VUY%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2795%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapBrrNtPihIQpO-GpeEdZCG4sFrtBH40CYmw6cizD9vydZyQEfFmLnEISY0neQxMvMJn6yXS_kAr1XmRdPQl6Ax58wxi0ahNfoRekp7hJeEq-M07fN5h6Ctc9CxCdoOg9s5yAzAc1NDQ/s1600/IMG_2795+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-kd-cgHdQ1Ww%2FU4qUxcgtu-I%2FAAAAAAAACTA%2Fj0O1Wly0H24%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2828%2B-%2BCopy.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgrSFue3AgAjfJZp0vsPrPDNSprA7enbWE1Ase5I0PGvdiVzo9TvkjSiDgs9pc68wJMRy7_Ci3XWo_-XShhyphenhyphenyEcAK1KragNBhfINzikXdqCEjUhSqQHAkr1iJlZ4tVQm8xI9xZZ35qMk/s1600/IMG_2828+-+Copy.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-WZsJIfGhU_g%2FU4qNzktbeoI%2FAAAAAAAACMg%2F-fO3QdVRZcs%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2478.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Stnk6t9gWakveQ9bQKsd0mrkttZxDkdUlkVTNdTB6HFkgogZPoLj4Pr8SXEolcn3JGNzxQ69uuhCHSHcDJyIlftgu3l9aKzIrdqSCv6TrfnNVVsw0iVj-G3NMZmGYG7OtIJsOMqlUkE/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-A3tdRdWNAt8%2FU4qVrWOWBrI%2FAAAAAAAACUg%2FptjWjqeBKb0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2927.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34ta_DiODS0uNR4-o22YNWqUdeVzrocLumsWGBci81nqLRzIoJX22L0oSSevbWeaQSB-AqoAcy05dIOq1xE9l3CUr_xyDUCHHLYyUYILvmfPpt08TtpWAFcY_HDQdFM4cEx4aos7t2Vo/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-RCtM8rthkLQ%2FU4qQC44QjtI%2FAAAAAAAACNw%2FEJG1oBLVuio%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2574.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsWNYtyCNrh7si9rf0x8z8f6MXLYYkWL-MaInL1EdMsIPa-7kOC4zOLld2zsP5KvCktibRyStVdWF__TuqBJrrAIaJ-NgQ1iG52kZYsSV6DSi5PCrjAJUHm3_66kKnUCRkYEzoTuIQr8/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Idi4s-ie50A%2FU4qRzgyxViI%2FAAAAAAAACQA%2F904P3eAwH9o%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2683.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocZ6fE3i1AtQAPQ2H7OXm4D5yb-aF1jV4P6qCqLwYNUvNJrea9BeeKflwKH4ehLsoSRYin3AN5QKlijr54WhN6_W5dxWydTcceml04czjiGqzFDP72fzgBEgZEztmbgW34uSXOQj60po/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-4wI_o3-47xA%2FU4qSoEnV3HI%2FAAAAAAAACRI%2FnaoT3rqhm54%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2719.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4NO5WLo1urXMkfPuXAK8tpiSsqX-GPbhxOMDastzXOLs0mlVYCwWdrUuq_ivptWlyrcqOiui-a4kAFyXKPFqY25Tg7aVlVmLQfNcF9oOrhq7ZyVXWMvm1id-YO3G3GXI9M4aSlsbg_o/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-1LuJltR33hc%2FU4qXk1Wbm9I%2FAAAAAAAACXI%2F4oqv8XmNYZU%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3223.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmXVd5lrDsPdWFk5Z36MWZSR04CU-yaxbzAM0C2KqoOcek8-UO0-Q4JrxabXWoMsoDP8LanhLwYk4HuqJxWb_o-qfv9_lr2b5IdUMWRyetTupsW5QGRYS3DrevvRkHWjoj68tmHkIsiQ/s1600/IMG_3223.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-46O93pdX0cc%2FU4qQ5sBEXUI%2FAAAAAAAACOo%2Fc_66RgpVofA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2599.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0uD1YNYEhIJqV2-SrxjMpJSCnPdrCAxDJ9PUKHvmqtlnC0Emsn5bx1PxbByRD1a0rpFXnjTGs_y3FNs5H1HdwT-giQyd8U652_2Eji4CfJG8DWmkJA4Lz5syLujZ69WtZvFIeiyI_Gc/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-oK6l87SbIxo%2FU4qWRfnRQwI%2FAAAAAAAACVA%2FPc4WsjNE_AI%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2966.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahI9MRkE-C0Z1pcxM9tciMs3qSR7_TwiDnF16rZFkXIgtGSchfDg4pS9-xTYWE1LZMPnGA-gM5qoBesOWLwX2pGsL5NVKgFBOsC16KysbhuN_8ZhBR5DOa1y-5qXam6DCMp8M3QTWuxc/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-1eHuktTzjTI%2FU4qQ2V9YpFI%2FAAAAAAAACOg%2Fjqsgh-3Rv1c%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2590.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qIo-XRPcZLQ7RbF9WlsztMH1AlAO7gJQQl1U0j_Q5AU5upTsC8ie2LLUWmMAjXDCPWDCYQ4Q19_qTuhriXQt1UbgXHd7CxBzA6_xlQ7Z-bYqw0JIE6UaX7AAe8VrSR93yOEM-aRg6a8/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ZyuZCSEr4uA%2FU4qTUwv2OQI%2FAAAAAAAACR4%2FEc9pfdUir9E%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2765.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWrH6TP84W_8H5JccR3MEhl7BWp76YS54JSXTzczoy4wDlMPcnxY7v1napyHB42QckiUj4fZ3ZgNvmSBjAC6ctpbVpY8tKyY7sEF7i0VRpK2lXyWetvOtxFxAXW7h-ihZ4J0hPtgXQX8/s1600/IMG_2765.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Gson8zWYEMM%2FU4qPoigaToI%2FAAAAAAAACNY%2F8hUam7yr6mw%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2535.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1edcKT5MAuGS-QqJM_gR1tMS_V-675XhiPmsss8m5CJfN9p2Oal3MJaV7YpSQmW7dcC6PmObR7RuHxoNA-gTSATj-9T3Iv8lU75bm2cQD261ZAM5T96mcajuyfTVieNwMobdg7w-i0zg/s1600/IMG_2535.JPG" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-55335543951576350912014-05-28T05:35:00.001-07:002014-05-28T05:35:12.839-07:00Fortune and misfortune.Due to a recently undergone traumatic experience I am afraid to say that there will be no photos or videos in this blog post. Considering the fact that I also use these photos as a memory prompt when writing, the chance of me recalling much at all of what I have undergone in the last ten days is slim to none. But here goes.<br /><br />I manage to make my way out of Ubud without getting too lost too many times. I almost constantly seem to encounte junctions in which the road signs all point to places I have never heard of, and I have to guess based on the vague direction I think I am meant to be headed. It seems to work. More or less. Eventually I find myself on the main road that hugs the coast as it moves north and east. Kai is raring to go and I am happy to oblige him.<br />The road, my side at least, is surprisingly quiet and I find myself at times alone; the sea glittering on one side and the mountains looming on the other. I cross a bridge and a bright sprawling valley unfolds to my left. Swathes of green recess and ride up to great hills in the distance and the sun glares proudly down from the tip of an august jade peak, igniting the tree tops.<br /><br />I stop to take photos. They should go here.<br /><br />At last I reach the vague area that I suspect my destination is within. I pull over to look around and no sooner than I do Tanya, my host, wanders out her back gate. She is instantly friendly and talkative. She shows me around her amazing home and introduces me to her beautiful family. She is Dutch, though she grew up in Indonesia, and her husband is from this village. They have three children, a boy and two girls, and a beautiful home. As well as their own house they have five bungalows nestled in amongst a tiny patch of jungle, greeted by the sea at the front.<br /> As if that isn't enough, then come the baby animals. I arrive to find no less than six puppies and two kittens. The puppies, about six weeks old I think, are lively and excitable, and thankfully being largely looked after by their own mother. The kittens are much younger, recently rescued, scrawny, and eyes still unused to all the light in the world. I have barely had time to be introduced to them when Tanya gets a phone call. The goat is giving birth.<br /> We jump on our scooters and head over to their land on the other side of the village. When we get there the babies must only be about five minutes old. The mother is lying on her side, exhausted and panting. The babies are sprawled beside her, covered in gunk and shivering, still attached to their placentas. Their eyes are already open. They are beautiful.<br /> They are wiped down with leaves and left where they are. Within half an hour of their birth they begin their struggle to stand, and one triumphs in the short time I am there. I film his first tentative and stumbling steps. You will never see it. On the way back we pass the newly born calf and a young hen strutting before her vast brood of chicks.<br /><br />If you ever come to Bali I really would recommend this place, it is called Lumbung Damuh, tell your friends. While most people are guests as in any hotel or hostel I get to stay in one of the bungalows here, and eat with the family, in exchange for help around the land. There are always things needing done in a place like this:gardening, painting, cooking, and recently Tanya has been turning the land next door into a community garden, although it it currently only used by her. In front of the garden, overlooking the beach, three Earth Benches are being built.<br /> Earth Benching is a worldwide movement to spread environmental awareness and encourage eco-living The main structure of the benches here is made of rubbish cleaned from the beach which was then covered with a layer of cob, two were sculpted into the shapes of crashing waves while the third is being made into a pirate ship, complete with mermaid figurehead. They are currently being mosaicked with broken tiles in shades of sand and sea, a process that I will be helping with. And once complete Tanya has plans to install a wheel and rigging on the pirate ship for the children to play on. This whole area between the garden and the beach is being turned into a beach zone where guests, locals, tourists, anyone, can relax during the day or sit around the fire pit at night.<br /> Despite how much there is to do here the atmosphere could not be more relaxed. You work when you feel like working, on whatever you feel like working on. And there always options, wonderful options. For example, on my first evening I am tasked with making an apple pie in their earth oven, and it is a task I eagerly accept. Tanya calls it a Peace Pie so I carve a peace sign into its crust. It is so popular that only two days later I am asked to make another, and some banana bread while I'm at it. Tanya tells me that they often bake and give some to the local shop to sell. It seems like a good idea so I double the recipes and make two pies and two loaves with the full intention of donating them. Somehow it never happens, and we eat them all.<br /><br />Every day it seems that my work is different, and yet always enjoyable. I build some raised beds in the garden and plant chillies and passion flower. I cut tiles to form the decking of the pirate ship. I bake. I spend days decorating a bench with shining blue tiles and delicate white stones. I pick up rubbish washed in by the tide. I bake some more. I become surrogate father to the puppies and surrogate mother to the kittens.<br /> I eat with the family and I taste delights that I never thought I would experience travelling Indonesia. Roast potatoes, caramelised onions, real yoghurt, real cheese! Fresh bread every day, with real butter. I realise that if I don't watch out, I will spend the rest of my time here.<br /><br />N.B. I don't think this flows nearly as well without the photo breaks.<br /><br />A few days into my stay Tanya's husband, Lempot, has to have a cyst removed from his leg. The operation is completely successful but he has to stay in for a couple of days afterwards, and I get to have a look around an Indonesian hospital. Lets just say I hope I don't get ill.<br /> To start with I don't see a single doctor or nurse. And the corridors between wards are all outside, we just walk into his without encountering any sort of reception or entrance hall. There are four beds to a room, and most patients seem to have the vast majority of their family living with them. There is one plug beside each bed in case you want to bring a fan, which you do as there is nothing to quench the oppressive heat pouring in through the open doors and windows. Lempot warns us away from the bathroom. Tanya comments on how quiet it is compared to when she last came. I leave not entirely convinced that the place has any employees.<br /> In the evening the sea and beach are clear and I play with the kids in the warm sea as the sunset paints the sky with lavender and rose. I float upon sparkling blue beneath darkening pastels. I fall into my bed, drifting in and out of sleep with the swell of the tide, the walls of my room seem to fall away and I am lost in an endless sea of rolling waves.<br /><br />In my time here I have learnt a lot about the Indonesian, or perhaps just the Balinese, people and I have discussed this at great length with Tanya. Firstly I must say that everyone I have encountered is nothing but kind, friendly and helpful towards me. They are open and easy to talk you, they are accommodating and funny. But they are also the most stubbornly fastened to tradition people that I have ever met, and beyond that, apparently, one of the most easily offended (or 'long-toed' as the Dutch say.) Now this is not always a bad thing, of course tradition is important and I am by no means suggesting that anyone should abandon a history of rich tradition. But I think that there are negative consequences to this one of which is that that almost any relationship between an Indonesian and a Westerner, even one raised in Indonesia, requires an exceeding amount of work and sacrifice, and part of that is due to this unwillingness to see things from a different point of view.<br /> For example, when Lempot is in hospital Tanya visits him a couple of times, she brings him some food and books to read but doesn't spend all day every day there, as would be expected here: she has guests to look after, and as I have been through, many other things to do. Lempot doesn't mind of course, but to the family (who also constitute most of the staff as Lumpung Damuh), this means that she doesn't care about her husband, and so the whole lot of them become extremely offended on his behalf. The day I visit him, his dad has been there the entire day, which sounds nice in theory, but they weren't talking, he just sat on the next bed. And that evening all the male members of the family go in to visit, leaving the hostel unmanned, and spend all evening drinking and smoking outside Lempot's room while he reads his book in bed. Why? Because 'that is what you do in Indonesia'. How that shows more affection than visits that involve thoughtful gifts and conversation I don't know.<br /> There are many problems that I think arise from a general unwillingness to change and unwillingness to accept criticism of the populace, and not just in this country by any means. But here one obvious effect is the rubbish situation. It is pretty much the worst I've ever seen. So many people throw all their garbage out on the street or into the rivers from where it washes into the sea until many f the beaches are covered in trash. In defence of the people, I think an important reason behind this is that you need to pay to have your rubbish collected here, and even those who do pay sometimes find it dumped just further down the road. But another reason, revealed upon questioning the offenders themselves, is that they throw it on the street because, again, 'that is what they have always done'. Because they didn't have plastic until the west invented it, so everything they threw away would degrade. As if it is the fault of westerners that they throw plastic in a stream, of even the fault of the plastic itself for not degrading. As if every death from the end of the gun can be blamed on the man who made the first. <br /> Every few days Tanya collects bags of rubbish from the beach, hoping that the villagers will learn by example, and many are, as the consequences of their own actions become more and more apparent. She spent years here trying to explain to others in her village why they should pick up their litter, but that was taken as criticism so it only offended and made people even less likely to do it.<br /> One last, highly amusing, thing about the people here that again arises from tradition: in Bali, not the rest of Indonesia, everyone has one of four names. Honestly. The first child has a set name, the second child has a set name, the third, the fourth, and if you have a fifth then you revert to name one and carry on. How confusing is that? The weird thing is that they are given additional names, I would presume to avoid the obvious problems that arise from everyone having the same name, and yet they don't use them. Many of them don't even seem to know them! (N.B. I have since discovered that there is a different set of names for each of the three castes, but since they don't intermingle that much I don't expect it helps).<br /><br />The next day I get up early and drive out into the country when it still dark, making my way to Pura Lempuyang, a temple perched on the summit of Mt Lempuyang, and as I drive the sun rises around me. The sky bursts into colour and rice fields shimmer into view along valleys and glades. My road wends its way up steadily steeper hillsides, and I see the grand form of Mt Agung briefly reveal itself. A perfect cone. I drive into the clouds.<br /> At last I reach the end of the road, and the beginning of the sacred trail that works its way up the nearly two thousand steps to the temple at the peak. I am early enough that there is no one else in sight. Not a single tourist, not even a single local. I put on my sarong and start walking.<br /> The path winds through dank forest dripping with cloud, where trees slowly recede into the endless mist; past temples that cling to the steep sides of the mountain, monkeys silently swinging and sprawling over walls encrusted with moss and vine; along narrow trails where it feels as though the mountain must fall straight to the ground on either side, if only you could see it. I am walking along, peering into the eldritch fog that is sweeping out from between the dark wooden sentinels to my right, trying to work out how far into the distance I can see, at what point the mist and trees fade into each other in a pale shroud of grey. Wisps float across the ground and through the air, phantasma drifting where they will, heedless of the living world. And then I glance to my left and it is as though a veil is torn from my eyes, and the sun lights the clouds aflame.<br /> On my right the forest continues as before, but on my left the spectral mists pour from a great ledge, and beyond is a sight, I will unashamedly claim once more, that is like nothing I have seen before. The world drops, nigh on vertical, to a land that is further below that I ever would have guessed. The cliff continues to rise under the path infront of me and its sides are abundant with dripping plants clawing their way out into the abyss. The far ground is just perceptible, it is emerald and platinum and burning white, and it shines and blends with the morning fog that cloaks it and burns it and draws silver rivers and snakes across its surface. In the distance the land rises dramatically, though remains far below my own level, and it seems that the mountain I am on is encased in a great shining ring, whether to keep something out or to keep something in I do not know. Farther even than the ring of hills, everything turns to blazing silver, and the distant sea blends seamlessly with the sky.<br /><br /> I hope that words can capture this scene in a way that my photographs could never have done, for my pictures of this place are perhaps my biggest loss.<br /><br /> I continue up the hill, apprehensive, for what could possibly follow such a display of majesty. I pass more temples, statues and flags, and before too long see a sign that tells me I am at the top. Pura Lehur Lempuyang. It is one of nine directional temples spread throughout Bali, often considered the most important or most sacred of the thousands upon thousands here as they are the ones responsible for the protection of the island and its inhabitants from evil spirits. This particular temple guards the north east. The temple itself is no more impressive than most I have seen, but it is made by its location.<br /> Currently I am in a cloud, so I have a look around, taking in the sounds of the jungle that surround me. I wait for twenty minutes or so and at last there is a slight break. The sea of grey parts and the mighty dome of Mt Agung looms at me from across a vast and cloaked valley. Perhaps it is just that the shape of a volcano is so iconic, and that I know this one still to be active, but it feels as though it contains an unknowable power, wreathed so in its firmamental raiment, that is just waiting to be unleashed. I want to climb it before I leave, should my knees allow.<br /> I catch glimpses of the landscape in the other direction but I know that I will not get a view to rival the one that I have had from that side already, so after taking some atmospheric pictures of Mt Angng I do not hang around. I leave just as the priests and stall owners are arriving. They seem surprised to see me up before them. Slightly unnervingly, a few of them have rifles, I don't ask why.<br /> My way back down is less exciting, the fog is trailing away, leaving the world a more banal place in its wake. As I am approaching the base I suddenly realise that I have left my motorbike key in the ignition. I hurry back and find that my bike has gone. Panicked, I ask the nearest person in religious dress, thinking that they might be the most trustworthy. He smiles and points at the bike park, which I had not known existed as there had been not person nor bike when I arrived, and where they had kindly moved my bike to, as it had been in the way where I left it.<br /> I visit another temple on the way back down, a much more impressive building it must be said, but it fails to inspire me in the way that the walk to Pura Lempuyang did.<br /> From here I head to Tirta Gangga, a water palace built in 1948 nestled in the heart of a wide valley packed from side to side with glittering rice paddies. The palace itself is stunning, a network of squares and pools, each perfect. Statues stand in rows upon glass-still water, and stepping stones wind their way in between them. Fountains burst from crystal ponds and bridges arc over wandering schools of fish. Statues of dogs and dragons, gods and guardians, preside over it all.<br /><br />In the evenings I mingle with the guests. Tanya and Lempot's living room is outside (but covered) in Balinese style. Guests, family and friends gather here almost every night. We sing and make music, play with the puppies, and drink far too much Arak, the local poison. I meet many interesting and lovely people here, some of whom I hope to meet up with again when I start travelling, and we chat late into the night. Despite what must be sacrificed, I can easily see why people move here for good.<div>
<br />I do not want to leave, but I know that I must if I am ever to see all that I want to see. Besides, my Americans are leaving in two days and I desperately want to meet them for a final night or two. I drive off, promising to return, wanting to just finish my bench, but excited for the next stage of my journey.<br /> After dramatically overshooting my destination I arrive in Kuta, not a place I really planned on visiting, but it is next to the airport and is a good place for a night out before you leave. I drive aimlessly down what I think might be the right street and just as I pull over to have a look at my map I glance to the side and there my friends are. This happens to me far too often. They have already booked me into their room, and I get straight into the pool.<br /> That next two days are fantastic, my Americans are fantastic, we dance in the night and swim in the day. Drinking a beer in a swimming pool with friends, lit by the sun, I wonder if it is possible to feel more content. I don't think that it is.<br /> The second night, their last, we plan on just going for dinner then heading home as they have a flight to catch the next morning. As a result I foolishly take my phone out with me, a thing I would not do if planning on going to bars or clubs. Of course we do not end up just going for dinner, of course we go to bars, and of course my phone gets stolen.<br /> The next morning not only do they have to leave but I have no phone (nor camera, as it was what I used for photos). I am devastated. I spend a day in mourning. I do not truly mind losing the phone itself, and I don't really mind the fact that I now have to buy myself a camera, but I have not uploaded any photos to my computer since the beginning of this blog, and those I cannot replace. Beyond this there were a few songs and idea things that I had written on my phone that I had also never transferred, which seems silly now, but it had never occurred to me to do so. I will not make the same mistake again.<br /><br /> Considering how long I have been away for I think that I am really quite lucky that I haven't had more misfortune. And if I truly want to I can recreate most of the photos I lost without too much bother. I can revisit my mountain climb and I can revisit the water palace; it would only take half a day, and I will be in that part of the country again. And I can take pictures of my bench again when I return to Tanya's, and also of the beaches and of the sunsets I saw from her house. But there is something I can never recapture. By the time I am back the kittens and the puppies will be gone. And they were truly irreplaceable.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-25151188795153112192014-05-13T09:33:00.001-07:002014-05-13T09:33:40.981-07:00The Island of a Thousand Temples.I know that there are many far and diverse parts of the world that I have never visited; the sweeping savanna of sub-Saharan Africa, the dense and endless jungles of South America, there is even much of Europe that I still want to discover. But I think I can safely say that there is nowhere like Southeast Asia. This is the fourth country I have visited in this part of the world and, so far, I have yet to be anywhere approaching disappointed. Beautiful countryside, beautiful buildings, beautiful people. These countries are at once frenetic and hectic while simultaneously being serene and restful. I feel safe waking around here, sometimes even more so than I do at home. And as with anywhere, there is always so much to see.<br /><br />I stand in the queue waiting to get my visa, the security guard tells us that the queue is three hours long and that if we want to get seen quicker we need to pay him. I estimate the queue to be about forty-five minutes and kindly decline. I am mildly concerned that I will make it to the end only to be cast out of the country on the next possible plane. Tourist visas here last for thirty days, and in some places you are required to show proof of an outbound flight within that time period. I have an outbound fight, but in fifty nine days time. I have heard that there are ways, possibly underhand, of extending said visa to sixty days, and if that fails I plan on hopping over to Singapore for a day or two when this visa expires and getting another thirty days upon my return. I just need to get into the country first.<div>
There is a brief panic about an abandoned bag in the queue, but it turns out it belongs to an elderly couple who don't want to carry it as they snake back and forth across the room when they could just shove it under the barrier into the next section each time they pass. I vaguely consider what I would do if I get turned away. Probably try again in a few days time armed with a flight to Singapore, but who knows.<br />The immigration officer barely looks at me as he fixes the visa in my passport. I step into Bali, Indonesia, and find a man holding a sign with my name on it.<br /><br />We drive for an hour or so through the night, the streets of Denpasar glowing as only streets in Asia do; lit by the headlights of countless scooters, lined with statues and temples in proudly illuminated grandeur. We turn away from any form of major road and make our way down into less well kept dirt tracks, here everything is dark, save for the odd light marking exposed houses. We pull in and I step through a gate to find a small gathering of people chatting and laughing, relaxing with a couple of beers after a hard days work.<br /> Tasha, the owner, welcomes me and introduces me to everyone: a couple of her friends, a fellow volunteer, and a few Indonesians from Java who live here and work for Tasha. We sit and chat and have a wonderful dinner from a stall just down the road. Then I am taken to where I'll be sleeping, in a lovely bamboo hut on another piece of land a short drive away (Tasha is in the middle of a move) and I swiftly fall asleep, exhausted.<br /><br /> Zahara Urban Farm is a bizarre and fascinating place, and just now is quite different to how I would imagine it is normally. It is in no way a farm, but that doesn't really matter. What it is, I think, is a place where Tasha teaches sustainable living and, primarily, cob building. Cob is a material that has used by humankind since pre-historic times and it can be found spread across the whole world; from the UK (primarily the south-west: Cornwall, Devon, Wales) to Africa, the Middle East, the U.S and New Zealand. Traditional English cob is made from clay heavy soil, sand, straw and water. It is strong, cheap, fireproof and highly resistant to seismic activity, the buildings are easy to keep warm in the winter and easy to keep cool in the summer, and it is currently undergoing a resurgence in the natural building and sustainability movement.<br /> Z.U.F. is also the permanent home of Tasha, her daughter, and the five Javanese she employs, and currently the entire project is being moved from one location to another due to the land owner's refusal to renew the lease; they want the land back, I don't know why. This process involves moving everything from the old land to the new, and I mean <i>everything</i>. The houses, right down to the foundations, are being dismantled and rebuilt; trees are being uprooted and re-planted; sacks are filled with soil, sticks or stones and piled onto a truck. Nothing is wasted.</div>
<div>
<br />I awake the next morning to a tiger above my head and Ganesha by my side. I get up and have a look around. On the new land there is already a large two storied bamboo house where the family and the workers will sleep temporarily, and a small bamboo hut with two beds where I sleep. The rest of the land is filled with piles upon piles of building materials. I find a tiny hut packed with boxes of kitchen-ware. Around the land are rice paddies, green and fertile.<br /> I head over to the old land and spend that day shoveling broken tiles off the ground into sacks, they are going to be used to create a mosaic floor in the new house. The main building here, a sturdy and attractive two story house, has yet to be taken down. I can't really see how that's going to happen, let alone the other buildings still dotting around.<br /> That afternoon I am taken to get an Indonesian sim card, and witness many questionable products at the shop as I do so, then I practise driving Tasha's scooter on the dirt roads around her house and the many houses and warehouses surrounding it. Slightly nervous at first and with traumatic memories of my first time on one in Vietnam I decide not to get my own quite yet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapKuGioV3L7oWpXRAPvn5zs8qIXnHEsq3nEqJBJ1yrbEBsPhovzJyB9g4JsVnH9R5iG1_fiAX2OobsZ7o2zAMFmV0FSSbZSqWg-18qeCI0BWgRpOJpddJfCkjB1q79yfjkHyjlmByRj4/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapKuGioV3L7oWpXRAPvn5zs8qIXnHEsq3nEqJBJ1yrbEBsPhovzJyB9g4JsVnH9R5iG1_fiAX2OobsZ7o2zAMFmV0FSSbZSqWg-18qeCI0BWgRpOJpddJfCkjB1q79yfjkHyjlmByRj4/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+010.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My bed.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbC0qsJjtNdd-oBl8eyhbKumo3UK6p7LUhonI-oDYkZM68mmBE-icN5Fsgi4TTUr5u-j1My9pStmjXwSrQL_WXo15Ih467yNhCQNpROsmp_m6yW08b33tN1GESZrXcNGiG5AU1w_w7UY/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbC0qsJjtNdd-oBl8eyhbKumo3UK6p7LUhonI-oDYkZM68mmBE-icN5Fsgi4TTUr5u-j1My9pStmjXwSrQL_WXo15Ih467yNhCQNpROsmp_m6yW08b33tN1GESZrXcNGiG5AU1w_w7UY/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+011.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dismantling the old land.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R2xCmP6ItRa1WB-25jvzCHUr9VckIb1dHTnqSXp_1yrDtK3XWm1aIBPN4u4z00bs43M7RF6yhnp1qBGIafIvZtQ7XEpGnCBzINqtpUZb_btI3tPCWSycsPurktGrhL4rKE8Zd8TF-mo/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R2xCmP6ItRa1WB-25jvzCHUr9VckIb1dHTnqSXp_1yrDtK3XWm1aIBPN4u4z00bs43M7RF6yhnp1qBGIafIvZtQ7XEpGnCBzINqtpUZb_btI3tPCWSycsPurktGrhL4rKE8Zd8TF-mo/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+016.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The new land.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8ZxlSsT3b2qHf-4jx7lcfzH94zwz2L3Otzx59QdCDQ68v_nAev7D3iGNcxlD-AJUwZZSmSR_zsF1jTjIi3aj5fugZSkPV2SxA8LMQNQZ_FIkqUW8ummPdBUxF36PiZtn8Yrm0lTvPLs/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8ZxlSsT3b2qHf-4jx7lcfzH94zwz2L3Otzx59QdCDQ68v_nAev7D3iGNcxlD-AJUwZZSmSR_zsF1jTjIi3aj5fugZSkPV2SxA8LMQNQZ_FIkqUW8ummPdBUxF36PiZtn8Yrm0lTvPLs/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+017.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRivH3_uXqApx9ULhw_6R_2ZTRr8avkx-xdXsjQXHGAijX44k5Kv5_JQA-YosHngT7OUafR28rgUbZ9uZcZXVTi9D0UsoxRJjv1ogDhDbnaXJhUBbwhCM6t5NWs4V8m1Y57C-PuWnkB3Q/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRivH3_uXqApx9ULhw_6R_2ZTRr8avkx-xdXsjQXHGAijX44k5Kv5_JQA-YosHngT7OUafR28rgUbZ9uZcZXVTi9D0UsoxRJjv1ogDhDbnaXJhUBbwhCM6t5NWs4V8m1Y57C-PuWnkB3Q/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+020.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfFQzq3cxxirJOXrePUVMKBhhnGBk30XbEKe5_uSyRaVTOFZqQDrnRc1RMzC9kHWqEAjdIEHx23T6U8Hc3tq0cE1O6bnh-S9Dy00jl4xtGRSb_JGs4sgVR7UzIuUnro-PLdouimHV_qg/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfFQzq3cxxirJOXrePUVMKBhhnGBk30XbEKe5_uSyRaVTOFZqQDrnRc1RMzC9kHWqEAjdIEHx23T6U8Hc3tq0cE1O6bnh-S9Dy00jl4xtGRSb_JGs4sgVR7UzIuUnro-PLdouimHV_qg/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+015.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The latest iCherry. Seems legit.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The next day, after spending all morning moving rocks from one place to another, I give the bike another go and drive to the new land and back. The roads here, although completely mental, are nothing compared to the roads in Vietnam. Roads in Asia in general are crazy and hilarious. Entire families ride around on a single scooter, followed by people with so much luggage on theirs that they take up half the road. Men and wmen carry around crates, fridges and cows (dead or sedated) to name but a few, and it works. It's the cars that cause the problems. And every country has its place on the scale of madness, with Vietnam undoubtedly at the peak. Indonesia, or at least Bali, is quite high up, and yet it feels like going for a relaxing stroll in comparison.<br />I decide to go for it and get a scooter for my time here, I will spend less and see more, and walking around on these pavement-less streets is the real way to get in an accident. And beyond that, it's fun. That's one great thing about Tasha, if you need something she knows how to get it. Kai gets delivered right to the door within half an hour and we instantly hit it off. <br /><br />Two French girls who are just staying for a night arrive and we take a drive down to the beach. The waves are large and powerful as they crash against the dark sand. We stroll along the shore and stop for some, exceedingly large, coconuts. The coconut water is fresh and refreshing while the slippery interior that I greedily spoon out is simply divine.<br />Tiny crabs build complexes around the small dark holes that mark the entrances to their underground caverns. Some build ever expanding rings, some great fans, they appear almost to be temples, or labyrinths, dedicated to some ancient being long beyond our recall.<br />The sun sets and the world is repeated in the shining sand that stretches before us. Every so often a great wave comes washing far across the beach, well beyond the reaches of its feeble counterparts, and leaves a surface that is as smooth as polished silver and as reflective as the clearest mirror. From the dark line of the sea a burst of gold spreads up and down, fading into fiery orange, bright peach and soft apricot. Clouds are drawn with pastel against a deepening blue sky, and repeated against the deepening blue sand. Then the sun gloriously descends beneath the horizon, revelling in the might of its own performance; the clouds turn dark, encasing a smouldering band of embers from above and below. The light fades and the embers catch fire. Colours bloom though the sky once more, it is like the sunrise at Uluru in reverse, the flame that hovers just above the horizon grows and spreads until the sky is one great spectrum. And then the encroaching dark slowly begins to squeeze the light away, and darkness descends.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyLZ0_JfVK4czKGuTInAzF3KUNxdB4_3s6JuKxmogDnOHu2bdeQkvLLVUhpJyGwWFLv3_rchHbkLfgcY1qPYWfgDQhFGAWFawnXxLM18GYhkQgCaG5R1DjFgbcua5mHATgbqA-xsPPQo/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyLZ0_JfVK4czKGuTInAzF3KUNxdB4_3s6JuKxmogDnOHu2bdeQkvLLVUhpJyGwWFLv3_rchHbkLfgcY1qPYWfgDQhFGAWFawnXxLM18GYhkQgCaG5R1DjFgbcua5mHATgbqA-xsPPQo/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+034.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUU-kNpL3CCGQYL8s2npTNWz2HlyltVdXMlwH2bYgNxezzsN11Tx8p2CkqPozTAxpkN62uW1Copg0TrgzqLKL6nBte35sjUw9MzKuIifyHqGaFwSlNaAwIY1Lc6qhNZxLP4toRY9uRGHM/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUU-kNpL3CCGQYL8s2npTNWz2HlyltVdXMlwH2bYgNxezzsN11Tx8p2CkqPozTAxpkN62uW1Copg0TrgzqLKL6nBte35sjUw9MzKuIifyHqGaFwSlNaAwIY1Lc6qhNZxLP4toRY9uRGHM/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+046.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Those tan lines though.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih084CaxhqK4dwhKbH3S3ykN28PeDmOEfYNiRb5Bkln8rOj3znp0gWTNQxKQ486eEU_p5h2gQ0KC-wDO_K0H-yZMWIACnfWZMB5Ct72EduQGSN0Ow05E7beeazmHUxRz8INmd2vcg4k5o/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih084CaxhqK4dwhKbH3S3ykN28PeDmOEfYNiRb5Bkln8rOj3znp0gWTNQxKQ486eEU_p5h2gQ0KC-wDO_K0H-yZMWIACnfWZMB5Ct72EduQGSN0Ow05E7beeazmHUxRz8INmd2vcg4k5o/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+050.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlVyu1w0ZT8em0prkvc92XPtHQ9-ZvSoXnlolZqPxF-ylUKruJZF9xKN3rwVIRj_JRUyaH-QGpG-VPfer7iFPfs9f8a1FENZLv1_1BaMeIgvEDaDsSOAvEmPRLgcmlcQn41fpSW_WC4I/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlVyu1w0ZT8em0prkvc92XPtHQ9-ZvSoXnlolZqPxF-ylUKruJZF9xKN3rwVIRj_JRUyaH-QGpG-VPfer7iFPfs9f8a1FENZLv1_1BaMeIgvEDaDsSOAvEmPRLgcmlcQn41fpSW_WC4I/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+063.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBbj1DywuBg-XSP7XFN6XJABj5-_uzoS0bEPi5xhrKPSdT4rV_zaAMkWEFMNK3BhmaD1uHnXqmefPlvkEj8TcxaS2s3NItul6w0a94BuV4Z5P05-RlFsIO4WA8uTsoVAjMtWREFfuwMU/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBbj1DywuBg-XSP7XFN6XJABj5-_uzoS0bEPi5xhrKPSdT4rV_zaAMkWEFMNK3BhmaD1uHnXqmefPlvkEj8TcxaS2s3NItul6w0a94BuV4Z5P05-RlFsIO4WA8uTsoVAjMtWREFfuwMU/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+066.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITxEcpC3DdX68KB3Xcc_X4uK9iZfpNMkJBsikB-PLUu_cogM6rHm53anETMEynf29TS8FSklfV-oHIzyggWal87W7DDzEpldo0mVkjA8eIJpfLdAlQo8FfZwxIgLEJwLJooLZI4ic4-o/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITxEcpC3DdX68KB3Xcc_X4uK9iZfpNMkJBsikB-PLUu_cogM6rHm53anETMEynf29TS8FSklfV-oHIzyggWal87W7DDzEpldo0mVkjA8eIJpfLdAlQo8FfZwxIgLEJwLJooLZI4ic4-o/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+078.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVCTZZ-11ccZPTE2iMpmm3t61z214s1FZ9o82Q9rbh9cMD0riOVbOrwrdlJvyAMs8zmULZyVG4rXSnn-6INF7HrudpOUq35jvOqJO7nDj2h_YWZYSdRkmedN8_P-LOtdj-AGq1AQ4h4E/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVCTZZ-11ccZPTE2iMpmm3t61z214s1FZ9o82Q9rbh9cMD0riOVbOrwrdlJvyAMs8zmULZyVG4rXSnn-6INF7HrudpOUq35jvOqJO7nDj2h_YWZYSdRkmedN8_P-LOtdj-AGq1AQ4h4E/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+081.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdZX6LOwUZs4X3Zdt2068z9zZLu4ll_i9sbUN06PPsqIrfFKfo2a3beUIOrT6SFBHRDZS3MDrItueOnVOd9DaeWMIPsZU-lhhKMqQtJBRmDdcMpC_2HnEOeQGxYrwGMYOM5MneuGKw7k/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdZX6LOwUZs4X3Zdt2068z9zZLu4ll_i9sbUN06PPsqIrfFKfo2a3beUIOrT6SFBHRDZS3MDrItueOnVOd9DaeWMIPsZU-lhhKMqQtJBRmDdcMpC_2HnEOeQGxYrwGMYOM5MneuGKw7k/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+098.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwoDSXMilFHc5pCOhFAh2h8RAJ_TfgrRLYoZTxun73HR7-jSCHOalSWOjKwOhulqv1rN9sROiL_6b4k7eTKqTvEEbVRB8U35XpQ31k-glYvXaDmJL6qYkoFxHfQEyHuv654DUBaS6Igo/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwoDSXMilFHc5pCOhFAh2h8RAJ_TfgrRLYoZTxun73HR7-jSCHOalSWOjKwOhulqv1rN9sROiL_6b4k7eTKqTvEEbVRB8U35XpQ31k-glYvXaDmJL6qYkoFxHfQEyHuv654DUBaS6Igo/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+109.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T0wEKJkN8mCR5zVUz5ROBsV_2QfAn9fV1I3Zc0mBtKjjumhueE9TMNj35wTw9J_ykMbUTKkdYw9zZQnLRtRnfj5kMcMumV0S0u2aaJ3cfsZErwzsQ3O5zHcd_bZWF1tBsYJCC0WI-xY/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T0wEKJkN8mCR5zVUz5ROBsV_2QfAn9fV1I3Zc0mBtKjjumhueE9TMNj35wTw9J_ykMbUTKkdYw9zZQnLRtRnfj5kMcMumV0S0u2aaJ3cfsZErwzsQ3O5zHcd_bZWF1tBsYJCC0WI-xY/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+120.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The next day my only task is to look after a puppy that we rescued from the side of the road, while Tasha takes her model daughter to a photo-shoot. I take the dog to the beach in a box on the back of my scooter feeling like a proper local, and she plays in the sand while I wonder why all work isn't this fun. That evening three American girls arrive and we instantly hit it off, though it may just be because I am carrying the world'd tiniest dog. They are travelling north to Ubud, home of yoga, for a few days and in a few days and I decide I'll follow them. One of Tasha's friends owns some bungalows by the beach on the East Coast and I manage to arrange a place there helping out in the garden in a weeks time.<br />We spend another day moving piles of rocks and piles of wood and piles of tiles, it is hard and hot, but at the end we feel well worked and can clearly see the progress we have made. We discover an unbelievable bakery just down the road and treat ourselves to their all you can eat breakfast. Every morning. Honestly, if you could taste these pastries.<br /><br />In the evenings we sit around with beer and discussion while sorting or unpacking boxes. Tasha, it quickly becomes apparent, is mental. She is kind, friendly, helpful, fun, and completely crazy. And she has had one of the strangest upbringings I've ever heard. Born in New York, her mother was a designer who became famous for putting leopard print on clothes and moved in circles with the likes of Jimi Hendrix. Then her mother sold her brand for thirty million dollars and moved to Bali where she has spent the last thirty years or so spending it all. Tasha herself has spent a lot of her life working as a designer too, but since becoming interested in sustainable building has invested all her time and money in this project, spending a couple of months each year working in the clubs of the great cities of the world to fund it.<br /><br />The Americans leave but the work goes on. It never stops here just now because the deadline is so tight. Tasha rarely goes to bed before two in the morning, and four is more common, and she'll be up again by eight or nine the next day. I prefer to work during the days and have my evenings free, so I spend a couple of days helping the guys dismantle the top floor of the house before I leave to follow the Americans to Ubud. Mostly I pull nails from beams while they clamber around on an ever thinning frame. Despite being monotonous there are moments of fun mainly involving making friends with people whom you can't communicate with verbally, and being made to take endless selfies with them.<br />On my last morning I attend 'International No Diet Day' at the bakery; an all you can eat spread of cakes and pastries. I eat so much I can barely make myself clamber onto my bike, but clamber I must. I bid farewell to Tasha, swap some music with Zahara (the name of the daughter as well as the farm), and promise to return. Now that I think about it I have to return as my passport is currently at Tasha's travel agent getting amended with a sixty day visa. I handed it to him the day before, at night, on the edge of a dark road. It was all very legit.<br />With that cheerful thought Kai and I hit the road, bound for Ubud.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LkyC0fC-bb-KiEqtdblhNn-yYpPi0B-5IgqQf6gf0h4YlIVSTtnKhE9C7t4taKhUlDdEX4vOY-Lzy5mlVH3ya-rWdShqf24mW7z_wbUC7n1ECbzc99A47b39KfTUIfkkXvrhAsSTAtY/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LkyC0fC-bb-KiEqtdblhNn-yYpPi0B-5IgqQf6gf0h4YlIVSTtnKhE9C7t4taKhUlDdEX4vOY-Lzy5mlVH3ya-rWdShqf24mW7z_wbUC7n1ECbzc99A47b39KfTUIfkkXvrhAsSTAtY/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+132.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Unfortunately I don't have time to visit this club. Right next door: 'Dix'</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIx5ph89AElokioSiO4Lib3Py4Ak342UkJc4tWgQQEOJA-fhwOJK5iGyUgUp6zv5VyCsU5KxSi2WWBxovwR5p0zaUjIGQ205YWHHXHT6HTsLgLIINJz8jpZE2TCdI4MAQxCWdM1mYPyI/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIx5ph89AElokioSiO4Lib3Py4Ak342UkJc4tWgQQEOJA-fhwOJK5iGyUgUp6zv5VyCsU5KxSi2WWBxovwR5p0zaUjIGQ205YWHHXHT6HTsLgLIINJz8jpZE2TCdI4MAQxCWdM1mYPyI/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+142.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Boonga.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXg6zop-VIPdPJHy61KwbK6kW8AOx0h-fK6cstpc4NjzCJ9mIu5QRG_RtW3gtulfPF0MQAnt0aBILWFhcRUe6A7vb2bFtGVIQgw45DMV46Q4TM6eUmWZGHNMd4J3MwVKF0AYcVniuwWM/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXg6zop-VIPdPJHy61KwbK6kW8AOx0h-fK6cstpc4NjzCJ9mIu5QRG_RtW3gtulfPF0MQAnt0aBILWFhcRUe6A7vb2bFtGVIQgw45DMV46Q4TM6eUmWZGHNMd4J3MwVKF0AYcVniuwWM/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+174.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASdCM3HuVhYDR7QEPgrfick8nJtvTwoJEq8iebfdMZXFt2aHoxE_LOPPjjPgTCZl4VaNSHyQPQoKJ8esZlfh4QhK39BbSMbvXagDlUlW8FyFZGiC7ZERv6K02x6dpz-ZFKd6nF0j5nd8/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASdCM3HuVhYDR7QEPgrfick8nJtvTwoJEq8iebfdMZXFt2aHoxE_LOPPjjPgTCZl4VaNSHyQPQoKJ8esZlfh4QhK39BbSMbvXagDlUlW8FyFZGiC7ZERv6K02x6dpz-ZFKd6nF0j5nd8/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+176.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6hV7Ac3y11gl_IVl2lSjHYKWg_ecVIb6ozeZZkjHijpqLZlje2QxZcwmv06lpQK9hWP5JQ0vJ3K5XHL1IlZKS8ZxcJkspMPR8ligdH6y8kwRDspk1nc97VZcKGi2J5JnRk1Coww8XQ4/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6hV7Ac3y11gl_IVl2lSjHYKWg_ecVIb6ozeZZkjHijpqLZlje2QxZcwmv06lpQK9hWP5JQ0vJ3K5XHL1IlZKS8ZxcJkspMPR8ligdH6y8kwRDspk1nc97VZcKGi2J5JnRk1Coww8XQ4/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+194.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1lXrCH5PqTT8WFe0S8veVNi4Dyb9WmZWT5ttg59b85rOS4zT8y7IJC0LrdBwiIPvk0ceeUdXU5Vy7uNGCeEFM6tpiZQtNnHYwS5RfZWu7wwFnvZjmDLG3qGD6J8YJnJb6hN4jVQ7D_Q/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1lXrCH5PqTT8WFe0S8veVNi4Dyb9WmZWT5ttg59b85rOS4zT8y7IJC0LrdBwiIPvk0ceeUdXU5Vy7uNGCeEFM6tpiZQtNnHYwS5RfZWu7wwFnvZjmDLG3qGD6J8YJnJb6hN4jVQ7D_Q/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+196.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERfTvHKSG7tosw2AhIqd684O3sqOlsczM_0P9ARVQU621VyZ4K62xXCv7WCjH-5gLvngZdF4nKlqny_HxLj5ynywACSkOXRixggDkMd1N8OjU9BV9NlLQph_1GykY74FqpfLzIRAN3WU/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERfTvHKSG7tosw2AhIqd684O3sqOlsczM_0P9ARVQU621VyZ4K62xXCv7WCjH-5gLvngZdF4nKlqny_HxLj5ynywACSkOXRixggDkMd1N8OjU9BV9NlLQph_1GykY74FqpfLzIRAN3WU/s1600/Denpasar,+Zahara+Urban+Farm+198.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Standard (delicious) lunch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPns_UYFbHV0bac2-Pr_J9DznYApYwRVvdbCPu4UIGyMXlOKCuMRkOHnZv2Cxnm7DT0zVjrY6899uGNVifylFcIcU1RNGmfnAJSYckYu5NqKqVrDTFABM0HHLMxrlKrU8oHGdvPExZu3c/s1600/Ubud+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPns_UYFbHV0bac2-Pr_J9DznYApYwRVvdbCPu4UIGyMXlOKCuMRkOHnZv2Cxnm7DT0zVjrY6899uGNVifylFcIcU1RNGmfnAJSYckYu5NqKqVrDTFABM0HHLMxrlKrU8oHGdvPExZu3c/s1600/Ubud+001.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Standard (delicious) breakfast, plate one.</div>
<br />The journey is a mixture of busy city and relaxed country. Nothing is too stressful, people actually pay attention to the rules when you're on the big roads and the small roads are quiet enough that it doesn't matter. I take a slightly less direct route that leads me though wide fields, bright green and dotted with hunched workers in wide brimmed wicker hats.<br />I arrive in Ubud, feeling triumphant, and reward myself to a beer in the nearest cafe. Just as I am wondering how I am meant to contact my friends two of them walk past and I yell at them excitedly. I end up getting a room in their hostel, just down from their own.<br />I say hostel. Here a very common way of getting accommodation is in a thing called a 'homestay'. It's effectively a bed and breakfast, though much more enjoyable. Thin stone pathways wind back from the street, bedecked in greenery and ornamental stonework then open out to small gardens surrounded by intricate and ornate wooden doors. My particular door has a large stone porch that looks more fir for a temple than a bedroom, and before it a passion-fruit vine grows, laden with heavy fruit the colour of plums. I am told I can help myself to any that are ripe. I do.<br />That evening we go out for tea then head to bed early. I get up in the morning to watch the sunrise from the roof. Considering I have already described more of these things than anyone needs to read about I will, this time, refrain, save to say that it was very impressive and that the sun rose from behind Mt Agung; an active volcano and the highest point on Bali.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKAWBlgV21tRfJe9sek2qxiWqiJHW5JyIDf7UCuIMchDT435szUDt6DmCP7JJbe-AQ3b9vvxyKx_Tp9PAiKPGJXreYzILkWE4lXB7znb53JMDJ95s3uqN39xtji4WPPjbqjge3zTAhV4/s1600/Ubud+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKAWBlgV21tRfJe9sek2qxiWqiJHW5JyIDf7UCuIMchDT435szUDt6DmCP7JJbe-AQ3b9vvxyKx_Tp9PAiKPGJXreYzILkWE4lXB7znb53JMDJ95s3uqN39xtji4WPPjbqjge3zTAhV4/s1600/Ubud+006.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the way into our home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMj4_K5sQ-mB5C9HTisKT-dvkcFqR9TDD1_9pRb_etz5yNuMiwSJfVHp5HcmVbLDg4yWBUJNld7BYoH7ymFUxVTCaRzjhHIJrFpuvi-qjZP8lO7nt_jTrPLqpYoJkFRweJCwkjhyMgSc/s1600/Ubud+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMj4_K5sQ-mB5C9HTisKT-dvkcFqR9TDD1_9pRb_etz5yNuMiwSJfVHp5HcmVbLDg4yWBUJNld7BYoH7ymFUxVTCaRzjhHIJrFpuvi-qjZP8lO7nt_jTrPLqpYoJkFRweJCwkjhyMgSc/s1600/Ubud+013.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Through my window.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6-4yP3g2woPIf5PKvylc9zSjXXqbMuuRi5oVW9jrxrM0A_R303IIzn-xbzMr5AWcKv9gUe-y6aDWa2Umm20n4aoAUI4-6UT_Wi-rofGfMEjfB25vc9f5g96xH7W7eiSZP7hyE2T30hk/s1600/Ubud+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6-4yP3g2woPIf5PKvylc9zSjXXqbMuuRi5oVW9jrxrM0A_R303IIzn-xbzMr5AWcKv9gUe-y6aDWa2Umm20n4aoAUI4-6UT_Wi-rofGfMEjfB25vc9f5g96xH7W7eiSZP7hyE2T30hk/s1600/Ubud+035.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
After returning to bed for a nap we all head to a forest on the outskirts of Ubud that contains many a monkey and, of course, a temple. We have heard many many stories about these monkeys and their ferocity, their thievery and their tenacity. We take as little as possible and clutch onto these few possessions with a death grip.<br />The monkeys seem alright and none of them so much as look at me. They are everywhere though, and you are never quite sure if they are sneaking around behind you to get out of the way or to launch a surprise attack.<br />The forest is of course beautiful. I pass between two elephants and descend a long stone staircase to a temple surrounding a giant fig tree. I haven't seen one of these since my East Coast Australia travels in October and I had forgotten just how impressive they could be. Although no doubt not as large or magnificent as the Cathedral Fig or the Curtain Fig from those travels the location of this tree adds something that neither of them had.<br />The temple looks almost as if it had been built to honour the towering giant in its midst. Ancient pools and alters overlook a deep canyon and a swift flowing stream, a bridge arcs up and over to the heights beyond, but all is dwarfed by the fig in the centre. Great sweeping tendrils hang in the air over the whole scene, and the sky is lost in an endless criss cross of roots and vines. Great curtains trail just above my head, greedily stretching to the ground where they will undo rock and stone, and turn a temple to dust. It is a lost world, an abandoned relic of an old war between man and nature.<br />From there we proceed to the 'main' temple; less wild, less impressive, more monkeys. I gaze through a closed gate and across an empty courtyard and wonder what hidden secrets can be found behind the enticing red gateway at the far side. The tips of concealed shrines poke from above the carven wall.<br />We have an unfortunate experience where a lone monkey waves menacingly at one of my friends and we make a swift exit. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPV5k8dFh_AjxAI2i-R1HK-fkUdr83kBSeAxJzoOjQL74pOcIy-CgjHJZSf9-Y0Oevw3HugaMBWB4CnQ5cm_MEkowhyZ9P2ZUN1pBLh7tbsjGFNkWwrgCblZjxsN9i8ZmjigEaw-KQ38/s1600/Ubud+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPV5k8dFh_AjxAI2i-R1HK-fkUdr83kBSeAxJzoOjQL74pOcIy-CgjHJZSf9-Y0Oevw3HugaMBWB4CnQ5cm_MEkowhyZ9P2ZUN1pBLh7tbsjGFNkWwrgCblZjxsN9i8ZmjigEaw-KQ38/s1600/Ubud+070.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj169PbPxedcko0w_FnoqAxqOH0olhuZEI1JOosD0CaRrA-J1ZJCnJFDgm4Czr8qHABzTSIuwx4SEFccEZChF16qwSWqv4X5pGiKbpln7mSSXieEcOaTj72rQRR42LdNYPNLoLZChzRrfc/s1600/Ubud+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj169PbPxedcko0w_FnoqAxqOH0olhuZEI1JOosD0CaRrA-J1ZJCnJFDgm4Czr8qHABzTSIuwx4SEFccEZChF16qwSWqv4X5pGiKbpln7mSSXieEcOaTj72rQRR42LdNYPNLoLZChzRrfc/s1600/Ubud+083.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii9Pq425PLZCzPebKPk5RxXVf2-TDe8E8y1AIcJ4GEKaJR2dXwqth4stZdr_bBMU1Jak6l2NsWPTpzuflPLYKKcufoE2lzdI4xR8YEEeS2qRZi6n5bNIPuoRqc3j7h1iwo3toomIHsNw/s1600/Ubud+085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii9Pq425PLZCzPebKPk5RxXVf2-TDe8E8y1AIcJ4GEKaJR2dXwqth4stZdr_bBMU1Jak6l2NsWPTpzuflPLYKKcufoE2lzdI4xR8YEEeS2qRZi6n5bNIPuoRqc3j7h1iwo3toomIHsNw/s1600/Ubud+085.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7XoqaQKC2uIxO0qOovY13K9DlWlU8cffz-FDtmMGzUL1jpdT31K1yZBi4nMA_uB8NOR8UT4-f5RO8lCUY2E2RQKFyJ3y3e1ElWekDpYBpOWHpPPZtP3Wrr-WSKqHXpKJaO0qHB4DzaE/s1600/Ubud+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7XoqaQKC2uIxO0qOovY13K9DlWlU8cffz-FDtmMGzUL1jpdT31K1yZBi4nMA_uB8NOR8UT4-f5RO8lCUY2E2RQKFyJ3y3e1ElWekDpYBpOWHpPPZtP3Wrr-WSKqHXpKJaO0qHB4DzaE/s1600/Ubud+103.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrgWmjm74qjEgRDTerMpNByYXeoNGhI_8pm3OKxoaoLDKu12b6ffShYN82JbCQdEcL1IQOO_Xlw5KIiqilEeOat1RbWCsRH3vMaOYasC6pF5eB-eK8dVZnQszf0I-tS_65Mo1giI_7Nk/s1600/Ubud+139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrgWmjm74qjEgRDTerMpNByYXeoNGhI_8pm3OKxoaoLDKu12b6ffShYN82JbCQdEcL1IQOO_Xlw5KIiqilEeOat1RbWCsRH3vMaOYasC6pF5eB-eK8dVZnQszf0I-tS_65Mo1giI_7Nk/s1600/Ubud+139.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHFGSBmvxoa_UA1FmzgQuV-bI1KqoYWm7Hf8qW-gh6cgvsNrQbkWHeSlzSkMvkLzEDiXAwDQycplbQkU00EjDH16cAX6IXhezzJB3wDT0eQQNCTuqwp2FZ-z9n3Ekc0x8A1BGIJfHFsE/s1600/Ubud+146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHFGSBmvxoa_UA1FmzgQuV-bI1KqoYWm7Hf8qW-gh6cgvsNrQbkWHeSlzSkMvkLzEDiXAwDQycplbQkU00EjDH16cAX6IXhezzJB3wDT0eQQNCTuqwp2FZ-z9n3Ekc0x8A1BGIJfHFsE/s1600/Ubud+146.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
From there we head to a place called Goa Gajah; more temples, more forest. The highlight of this place (besides having to wear a sarong which is far too much fun!) is what is known as the 'Elephant Cave'. The outside of this cave is extravagantly carved to look like the gaping maw of a great demon with a mane made up of countless creatures and figures. Before it is a bathing temple, only uncovered abut sixty years ago, and within it is a short dark corridor ending in a dimly lit shrine. Alone and within its depths I feel like I am intruding, I don't stay long.<br />We spend a few hours exploring the forest trails through temples, along cliffs and under trees. At one point we come to a beautiful river flowing between great boulders towards and past us. The path continues across a bridge made from three lengths of bamboo that have been lashed together and placed over the churning waters exactly where the river flows fastest. We decline the crossing and turn around.<br />At one point we are directed out of the forest by a local who wanted to guide us to a nearby temple that she claims is the biggest in the area. We assure her we don't need a guide so she points us in the right direction and we head off, scrambling up a hill. She seems fairly convinced that we will get lost and tells us than when we return not having found it, she will happily guide us there. We soon come to a village and, before turning the direction instructed, ask a man passing on the scooter. He points in the opposite direction from what we were told, we follow his advice and about three minutes later find the temple, a lush courtyard of green edged by high orange walls and even higher towers and gateways. Groups of priests in white robes stand around chatting and we quickly slip in and out, not wanting to intrude.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc7aKuR31seXijKjks2fkD9h4lruKnyyopWcpMpRWuHY_37TFokn7c5JVAGztwkgtgk5IBF2GTPhBZftN9Qgkn-0C0FbmMhe6NIb_JxqZMnzfd4osL65Aw7vOhnu0EQD9RaHu0axnIlQ/s1600/Ubud+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc7aKuR31seXijKjks2fkD9h4lruKnyyopWcpMpRWuHY_37TFokn7c5JVAGztwkgtgk5IBF2GTPhBZftN9Qgkn-0C0FbmMhe6NIb_JxqZMnzfd4osL65Aw7vOhnu0EQD9RaHu0axnIlQ/s1600/Ubud+173.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPVIZA-EH0oPh5hPhg5qV5udY24oyRvOHBoTkwGb3mfiQDqmQ1JintQxIHe582pQKGZkmKAoEFzAV28HSX6iMTNjR2MaOVTFAtX1sierQGwDRnK0pALcjgnv3xAmfY3ISgqCeMs1CTkE/s1600/Ubud+175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPVIZA-EH0oPh5hPhg5qV5udY24oyRvOHBoTkwGb3mfiQDqmQ1JintQxIHe582pQKGZkmKAoEFzAV28HSX6iMTNjR2MaOVTFAtX1sierQGwDRnK0pALcjgnv3xAmfY3ISgqCeMs1CTkE/s1600/Ubud+175.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIO8A-_sRDTt2GRK8UvlpZIPoiCpx6dObPbvcWgR6Ls6008mLZ8O2R79fykLjvN96NJTMGAWty_l0JywpGY6tl_UKho4od3Jr0dqL8BvjEhB2dANVDEQz8wtkrkCLxw1lMfOdxBXV6cs/s1600/Ubud+178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIO8A-_sRDTt2GRK8UvlpZIPoiCpx6dObPbvcWgR6Ls6008mLZ8O2R79fykLjvN96NJTMGAWty_l0JywpGY6tl_UKho4od3Jr0dqL8BvjEhB2dANVDEQz8wtkrkCLxw1lMfOdxBXV6cs/s1600/Ubud+178.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgMlmqdAdgSSGyCwTmWoiqwUhlhRe0CJcI0RL-NnRwsJJV2-pMWIR53WnwCi3GtECTWztcypk0x4lMxta8AbK5-_gRUSeS7fk7oSeOwS4FqTK92zlgh1-9MXEBBBFgKrP3KGWElioE1U/s1600/Ubud+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgMlmqdAdgSSGyCwTmWoiqwUhlhRe0CJcI0RL-NnRwsJJV2-pMWIR53WnwCi3GtECTWztcypk0x4lMxta8AbK5-_gRUSeS7fk7oSeOwS4FqTK92zlgh1-9MXEBBBFgKrP3KGWElioE1U/s1600/Ubud+190.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99b1InKkDczyxfHmOjeOIBbZHAWTxid5fnNa-2oai6C8KJv8P-ibl6hlqdwyq23eRU96AGdS8tJ5DdLzKPgidUyAGTaqtFmozPLFUlYAs33Yb8QDB1tTwB7aajnHLUcXl1kRY-gStK0k/s1600/Ubud+207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99b1InKkDczyxfHmOjeOIBbZHAWTxid5fnNa-2oai6C8KJv8P-ibl6hlqdwyq23eRU96AGdS8tJ5DdLzKPgidUyAGTaqtFmozPLFUlYAs33Yb8QDB1tTwB7aajnHLUcXl1kRY-gStK0k/s1600/Ubud+207.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKUJHrfccl2CIQqeSaav5Wh1gaz5VtTl61Wz4UmykHEwQ2Z1AaRD7zmpv2nhuDdIfp1iTVfYfiocLNKERnDxdeJRQcZheNt5UnUCrtnZK2JVObPPXJqc_F58YXv2jSmN_kf5_a2uyPK4/s1600/Ubud+216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKUJHrfccl2CIQqeSaav5Wh1gaz5VtTl61Wz4UmykHEwQ2Z1AaRD7zmpv2nhuDdIfp1iTVfYfiocLNKERnDxdeJRQcZheNt5UnUCrtnZK2JVObPPXJqc_F58YXv2jSmN_kf5_a2uyPK4/s1600/Ubud+216.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-_ifXIOiYPW7PzADfr6vmoW_Shdm8cP8pLzKc3qr_0mIW6orCAQ5CHB4TJfs3i3SlgCSIddyZhAjINEI28xFYSV4ol29fE0uCflc6efZGUk0zEyfvYz1CR83haaRDKNHSu823jKyGSA/s1600/Ubud+238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-_ifXIOiYPW7PzADfr6vmoW_Shdm8cP8pLzKc3qr_0mIW6orCAQ5CHB4TJfs3i3SlgCSIddyZhAjINEI28xFYSV4ol29fE0uCflc6efZGUk0zEyfvYz1CR83haaRDKNHSu823jKyGSA/s1600/Ubud+238.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Look at that leaf!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpWYAlbRx-9OKoIB5BNVbLytMXc1BBNFKAIXuY4BdvTg1Wp9PT7WED_jnsH1GybB5QWhoRtuxiZ40N3kd1nXIPaMPbCjhQOnGKd07lfPci39lAFvhTqmLUxluSvK43RTnvplP15wLXwE/s1600/Ubud+240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpWYAlbRx-9OKoIB5BNVbLytMXc1BBNFKAIXuY4BdvTg1Wp9PT7WED_jnsH1GybB5QWhoRtuxiZ40N3kd1nXIPaMPbCjhQOnGKd07lfPci39lAFvhTqmLUxluSvK43RTnvplP15wLXwE/s1600/Ubud+240.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7eceAx1O97MeFllcY22Cg5cvhGYCaFJ-hsEuW2G5FWOSM8Y7FJavjclkWotnQEuiwNYnXEySzwpGrC02K_dkkw5NFd065baoT4gMZGZ_z2IbIVnVPNrWJflaLMurCZJrLEoNe8kC63U/s1600/Ubud+244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7eceAx1O97MeFllcY22Cg5cvhGYCaFJ-hsEuW2G5FWOSM8Y7FJavjclkWotnQEuiwNYnXEySzwpGrC02K_dkkw5NFd065baoT4gMZGZ_z2IbIVnVPNrWJflaLMurCZJrLEoNe8kC63U/s1600/Ubud+244.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jWFP2CyF2OUCEMb7TGTs6Zv1qBrOOEHtN1Qoe3GRNjP_pF3Cmczmo85aJbfSO92dm2dXZ0ISK2G5kmUoAchP-RAkIebuvx_F-UXFZD-Q8FJDUGSE1OHNkKPFHdZW7uNtn9hT9B4X1yE/s1600/Ubud+274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jWFP2CyF2OUCEMb7TGTs6Zv1qBrOOEHtN1Qoe3GRNjP_pF3Cmczmo85aJbfSO92dm2dXZ0ISK2G5kmUoAchP-RAkIebuvx_F-UXFZD-Q8FJDUGSE1OHNkKPFHdZW7uNtn9hT9B4X1yE/s1600/Ubud+274.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0SJNh1c4V7D_KwNng6zoS2vSYXzjuK5THrnUftc1goQQUfeJzEq5D5MqaXtPBdmpxlVn36La4OTz9Qk-d8cVX5pqYe4gBR9hu9Q4XDOfF7CGin32BGwp2uI_aVwcG9hrT1RFGrPIWds/s1600/Ubud+268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0SJNh1c4V7D_KwNng6zoS2vSYXzjuK5THrnUftc1goQQUfeJzEq5D5MqaXtPBdmpxlVn36La4OTz9Qk-d8cVX5pqYe4gBR9hu9Q4XDOfF7CGin32BGwp2uI_aVwcG9hrT1RFGrPIWds/s1600/Ubud+268.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBCXzkgioPf5N5fVCHyGStzhjKXuvGwsF2X9pF6KvpNmhrOmVewhlBi1dDDO-Bkx-AW9JXLXq5B-pxiQq_zR1nwO9YuD8JZUGxiZduAGMVxg1eE1-WkMNZyskbrCl5RlcBxUmjBFS6Mg/s1600/Ubud+277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBCXzkgioPf5N5fVCHyGStzhjKXuvGwsF2X9pF6KvpNmhrOmVewhlBi1dDDO-Bkx-AW9JXLXq5B-pxiQq_zR1nwO9YuD8JZUGxiZduAGMVxg1eE1-WkMNZyskbrCl5RlcBxUmjBFS6Mg/s1600/Ubud+277.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The next day I explore Ubud itself. It is a town of art galleries and book shops. And amazing restaurants. We discover a place called the Melting Wok, run by an exceedingly nice French lady, and every day of our stay at least one of us finds a way in, sometimes more than once. The mains are local and fantastic, the desserts and French and fantastic. You can always trust the French to cook good food, even, apparently, if it isn't French food.<br />From the rooftop Ubud is a field of green and orange, tiled roofs poking up between trees, and in the background are the ever present volcanoes.<br /><br />While two of the Americans try to plan their life the third one, Sarah, and I head off on Kai for further sightseeing. She injured her foot, possibly breaking a toe, the day I arrived and can barely walk. We drive north until I see a sign for some rice terraces and pull in. To one side the land drops away then swiftly rises again in manicured tiers. Twisting bands of emerald and jade wind around the hills. We descend into them and climb the far side. Small golden fields are surrounded by darker mossy grasses and then the deep olive of the trees. I run out of words for shades of green, and I promised myself I wouldn't use the word 'verdant' in this post.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP9s7J-9fSoJY9yYB_UgIAu2h3SCZ0iIYBb56ZBqtzi42-48a-nzjbTNzFIpe9frvlK-7c-k9scGto_ZgGE441Ylo75uaYul8jM_pYNOQj4r6ngfTdqt3Bt45oUEfcEy8yRh4_WHgPqg/s1600/Ubud+287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP9s7J-9fSoJY9yYB_UgIAu2h3SCZ0iIYBb56ZBqtzi42-48a-nzjbTNzFIpe9frvlK-7c-k9scGto_ZgGE441Ylo75uaYul8jM_pYNOQj4r6ngfTdqt3Bt45oUEfcEy8yRh4_WHgPqg/s1600/Ubud+287.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRl69JFxRMS4iXeVde9jXfe__uUN38y4tvKRBcT9s6lDjpHsFIzBNNU_8X-UpSDjW5JShwlv1oGpS3ZN34xKSPx9KmAMISPgukbRyP8aZL3fRIFzLZClh6Mt5-D0EACoK-jctRR_E6_8/s1600/Ubud+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRl69JFxRMS4iXeVde9jXfe__uUN38y4tvKRBcT9s6lDjpHsFIzBNNU_8X-UpSDjW5JShwlv1oGpS3ZN34xKSPx9KmAMISPgukbRyP8aZL3fRIFzLZClh6Mt5-D0EACoK-jctRR_E6_8/s1600/Ubud+288.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Meat cleaver anyone?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfnX7Av0VlNMiI2EaB1MJTMK680M5FJokBA6DLFUBou-7WA7RSsFCd4WSaUHtCl8QtIagUbmZAED32sNrt_8TAgMBcSnKjBUQxe93J_mNoo8K84AxQFMV7JG5qw-HjwSikszxzOwFI_0/s1600/Ubud+289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfnX7Av0VlNMiI2EaB1MJTMK680M5FJokBA6DLFUBou-7WA7RSsFCd4WSaUHtCl8QtIagUbmZAED32sNrt_8TAgMBcSnKjBUQxe93J_mNoo8K84AxQFMV7JG5qw-HjwSikszxzOwFI_0/s1600/Ubud+289.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHKHTDudN-Nbw_NLGegDILN_C95k0AIUBLXQohIzPzWXGQxmxsY8mDwqyEDwqBGI5tHP5-fMjetM66Jp1YC_P_-li6EIctjvGtl0K3PmbBFJmQAwDaQCVAvnUnem1MJB0oSN57G274BI/s1600/Ubud+307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHKHTDudN-Nbw_NLGegDILN_C95k0AIUBLXQohIzPzWXGQxmxsY8mDwqyEDwqBGI5tHP5-fMjetM66Jp1YC_P_-li6EIctjvGtl0K3PmbBFJmQAwDaQCVAvnUnem1MJB0oSN57G274BI/s1600/Ubud+307.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYDXFXXzacVe_NZOFhT9Mdc34C_R1_wfcYF0k1ef9VlUY54KPFPW_hyg7gX43gahkOcBa0S9OPvWSf7hafJ2hMEuBUXwWdZrRmo9IiVBSyKJNZ7H1EtupLqUyOrWLm-Eo1NHWUuOcigc/s1600/Ubud+318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYDXFXXzacVe_NZOFhT9Mdc34C_R1_wfcYF0k1ef9VlUY54KPFPW_hyg7gX43gahkOcBa0S9OPvWSf7hafJ2hMEuBUXwWdZrRmo9IiVBSyKJNZ7H1EtupLqUyOrWLm-Eo1NHWUuOcigc/s1600/Ubud+318.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDoypLZMnAuGudOxhi2ZakKTZV2bNVluYb4SEh1sO_daU68AaaC26sj-XaPN9tlFuVB0gUGbOAASsgvTignA9q7-t2lb154sjSNc0WSzujI0dO19RXR5msgiuFmx2Iezxr9wTosuFaTo/s1600/Ubud+327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDoypLZMnAuGudOxhi2ZakKTZV2bNVluYb4SEh1sO_daU68AaaC26sj-XaPN9tlFuVB0gUGbOAASsgvTignA9q7-t2lb154sjSNc0WSzujI0dO19RXR5msgiuFmx2Iezxr9wTosuFaTo/s1600/Ubud+327.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />We continue to a temple, perhaps the most peaceful I have been to yet. It is a complex of turquoise pools and shaded gardens. Chickens scratch and cluck at the ground and there is barely a tourist in sight. The clear water of the sacred pond is so blue I can barely resist throwing myself in to join the hordes of fish lazily drifting just below its surface.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNCU-W2BcoCtnUl5I1DHIs47Lua_GnVHAyLwnIH68otRx0ifGNk_KW_gogJ0h8xZVGXxSDcMa4DUNLu2350jsmauUNpsIi3ujW-VJwxlfoDDgZtv9UXD7UB6Rs1grfVL1oXNH_Bi2qdE/s1600/Ubud+333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNCU-W2BcoCtnUl5I1DHIs47Lua_GnVHAyLwnIH68otRx0ifGNk_KW_gogJ0h8xZVGXxSDcMa4DUNLu2350jsmauUNpsIi3ujW-VJwxlfoDDgZtv9UXD7UB6Rs1grfVL1oXNH_Bi2qdE/s1600/Ubud+333.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6axErLrDOl7dWmYUtqjmqqjDT-CT2gdDtbVo5EdgcqINex4Lus50Pp3r19Tf2Jef0SHoHvkVR9dMc2Lw4LCaeKCIHUPOem_9epj8j9xnqUgLx9Rul-ojghl7K3VOfvF-lzyo2slBLsHE/s1600/Ubud+335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6axErLrDOl7dWmYUtqjmqqjDT-CT2gdDtbVo5EdgcqINex4Lus50Pp3r19Tf2Jef0SHoHvkVR9dMc2Lw4LCaeKCIHUPOem_9epj8j9xnqUgLx9Rul-ojghl7K3VOfvF-lzyo2slBLsHE/s1600/Ubud+335.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujIADl5AqTEyYy5e5oPVDqLJyT-sAmPtdZuDLrYejPV3fMoUklP3ZHXFnAj5rT0lZJ1qJhwFSw-S5gBT-HJ8Eu_ojV4uBWD50Gcn3mLspsedT77JeIROi_w5pacBoCsHWJ4MHeJaGFTc/s1600/Ubud+336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujIADl5AqTEyYy5e5oPVDqLJyT-sAmPtdZuDLrYejPV3fMoUklP3ZHXFnAj5rT0lZJ1qJhwFSw-S5gBT-HJ8Eu_ojV4uBWD50Gcn3mLspsedT77JeIROi_w5pacBoCsHWJ4MHeJaGFTc/s1600/Ubud+336.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDlxfYOgBGv-wmvZh5tYEeEvt6SZmYCL85u2OkwW4Bt0OBJ7jW6L37qtqPUWYqCrk55zu89GJe3JcWMXUM-qmcMSq2npzwbDSuEzL1_D6h8AiOVbLJ65jHXwSjkzW0EVwyhQQ7kmKckU/s1600/Ubud+360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDlxfYOgBGv-wmvZh5tYEeEvt6SZmYCL85u2OkwW4Bt0OBJ7jW6L37qtqPUWYqCrk55zu89GJe3JcWMXUM-qmcMSq2npzwbDSuEzL1_D6h8AiOVbLJ65jHXwSjkzW0EVwyhQQ7kmKckU/s1600/Ubud+360.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvdtmuB7ECTnZY_K0dxZba190kfOJGucHZ7J-ZouIzee5w-J1Zi05q5rE5g6rt_pumZ_3cP_sAgRXwBg7PO5LBtheMegnd1mU2IZFd6s2hnpsq-sQO1C3quTeUpn2T1BZgS4ENp0aeLA/s1600/Ubud+379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvdtmuB7ECTnZY_K0dxZba190kfOJGucHZ7J-ZouIzee5w-J1Zi05q5rE5g6rt_pumZ_3cP_sAgRXwBg7PO5LBtheMegnd1mU2IZFd6s2hnpsq-sQO1C3quTeUpn2T1BZgS4ENp0aeLA/s1600/Ubud+379.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfOVkqTgEfw3rCwKx2yTG-pAz5YohlIHYlTa0HrGbp2oqMfkQmkYKLwYn9VQrdyB7P9Z9dnXgddyIpJnG127QE_ftMxaus0GYjUKfSoL2SzUP-CIfPbL9lJRMClsIxe08kDEU9uwJ6cY/s1600/Ubud+410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfOVkqTgEfw3rCwKx2yTG-pAz5YohlIHYlTa0HrGbp2oqMfkQmkYKLwYn9VQrdyB7P9Z9dnXgddyIpJnG127QE_ftMxaus0GYjUKfSoL2SzUP-CIfPbL9lJRMClsIxe08kDEU9uwJ6cY/s1600/Ubud+410.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
From there we head to our final temple of the day. Once again I take the scenic route. We pass some locals who yell something at us as we pass, 'go carefully' or perhaps 'go slowly', we continue on. The road we come to is simultaneously the steepest and the most pot-holed road I have ever seen in my life. Half way up, engine at full throttle, it becomes apparent that poor Kai is at the end of his tether and has no hope of carrying us both up. Sarah dives off the back and yells at me to leave her and get out while I still can. Without the extra weight we struggle to the crest of the hill. Sarah limps her way along behind me.<br />This last temple I am pretty sure was just built to keep the truckloads of Japanese tourists away from all the other, real, temples. It is busy and bland. There is a rather attractive sacred spring, but you can't even approach it without a local in traditional dress trying to coerce you into joining the lengthy line of tourists waiting to take a dip, for a fee of course. It's odd, everywhere else I have been, if a place is considered sacred then tourists aren't allowed inside it at all.</div>
<div>
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6sFb7O0bOsvDEq_aULqhtbgU03jsLp-qbrbuoDNaOv86-eHOL-hsQ_nbE8WFvJZolhi0EhNSU6vKUAdDv-61pwlHa55ChtM84HoxxN0QXrqsUaXjt5fqs4NbMBgLa8PbGKVIGxxoUI8/s1600/Ubud+412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6sFb7O0bOsvDEq_aULqhtbgU03jsLp-qbrbuoDNaOv86-eHOL-hsQ_nbE8WFvJZolhi0EhNSU6vKUAdDv-61pwlHa55ChtM84HoxxN0QXrqsUaXjt5fqs4NbMBgLa8PbGKVIGxxoUI8/s1600/Ubud+412.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just before 'the ascent' all is calm and peaceful.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7-jc7OmJB8mob6FXuzXnyJELYj_aNnxvDFhLV5paNHPSUuNHnp0UPxiAP22m7QKI63aBBuroZzjUAV7TydTVsnZ5ZrlMypGm1mRx2LOnMpydsWN_ExfZ8O8g_dpUzOI5-ZWNDd1EGTs/s1600/Ubud+418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7-jc7OmJB8mob6FXuzXnyJELYj_aNnxvDFhLV5paNHPSUuNHnp0UPxiAP22m7QKI63aBBuroZzjUAV7TydTVsnZ5ZrlMypGm1mRx2LOnMpydsWN_ExfZ8O8g_dpUzOI5-ZWNDd1EGTs/s1600/Ubud+418.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How I managed a photo with no one (obviously) in it I have no idea.</div>
<br />That evening we have a final meal in the Melting Wok and leave to a retinue of waiters who all want to wish us farewell individually. We work our way down the line, feeling like the queen, do the French double kiss with the owner at the end then head out into the night with much waving and well-wishing.<br />In the morning the three of them head to Lombok, the island to the east of Bali. We plan on meeting up again in Denpasar in a couple of weeks for their final night in Indonesia, if I am nearby. And then it is time for me too to leave. My next port of call is this delightful sounding guest-house by the sea, backdropped by mountains.<br /><br />I don't know how long I will stay there, it depends on how much I enjoy it. But there are many things I want to do on Bali and Lombok and further afield, and sometimes two months really doesn't feel like that long. But I am taking things at a relaxed pace, and for once I have no plans set in stone. I can go where I like, whenever I want. With Kai I have endless freedom. And I like it.<br /><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-10127727821097984552014-05-05T21:46:00.001-07:002014-05-05T21:46:18.468-07:00Crocodiles and aliens.Once again I find myself in a position that I never would have guessed, never would have suspected, that I would be in. Two weeks ago my plan was as it had ever been, head west. Ideally travel down the coast of Western Australia, ending up in Perth. Due to circumstances on the farm I found myself left with much less money than anticipated, which put a serious hammer in the works of my plan.<br />
For a few days I felt exceedingly unsure about what to do. Try and get a job in Darwin? Fly to Perth and do the same? Hitch-hike my way down the West Coast? This last option was one that scared me, but despite that, or perhaps because of that, it was the one that appealed the most. Yet none of them were to be.<br />
When still in Alice Springs I met a really nice couple from the UK, they had just spent a good few months travelling Asia and waxed lyrical on the wonder that is Indonesia. Initially I dismissed the idea, I wanted to see the west coast, but after a while the conversation began to remind me how much I enjoyed my previous travels in Asia and how much I have been wanting to experience more. Beyond that I really didn't feel like getting another job. I decided to look at flights, just to see.<br />
A couple of hours later I had not only booked a flight to Bali but had also managed to arrange a volunteer position on an urban farm somewhere in Denpasar. The west coast, I decided, could wait for another trip.<br />
<br />
And so I find myself, a little worse for the wear, on the bus north from Alice Springs. As has happened so often, I leave that which I do not want to leave. And yet, as has happened so often, I approach that which I desperately want to see. I gaze wistfully out the window pondering my lost sand and wait for sleep to reclaim me. At 5.38am we cross the tropic of Capricorn.<br />
<br />
Our first stop is a strange little place called Wycliff Well. It looks to be little more than a service station and a caravan park and yet it has a great claim to fame, for every place in Australia, no matter how small, has to have something that makes its inhabitants think it famous, and if a town does not possess such a thing then the locals are just as happy to make something up.<br />
This place is legitimate though. This tiny patch of desert is the UFO capital of Australia. Of all the three million square miles of ancient beauty that makes up this country the aliens decide that they just have to visit this sixty acre holiday park. It does have a lake for swimming and recreation so that could explain it. And just in case you don't believe him, the owner of the service station has decorated the whole place with green men and exceedingly dated spaceships, as if to prove a point. We are warned not to make fun of anything we see as the locals (local?) take it very seriously.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg86rGVPUrLfXKJRwtDpewTlfoVxDR9Yx7WHEicU1-4CLLvv04JBYOp0aLlOQg-LY7FNnlIAZKxIs0zPm9RKrKOoCBzyuY-hd_jE9boxXdFOOM__KnTeXvxPRLfXn70kH2yafIvRZ7PI/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg86rGVPUrLfXKJRwtDpewTlfoVxDR9Yx7WHEicU1-4CLLvv04JBYOp0aLlOQg-LY7FNnlIAZKxIs0zPm9RKrKOoCBzyuY-hd_jE9boxXdFOOM__KnTeXvxPRLfXn70kH2yafIvRZ7PI/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+001.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwQ4BB-bpBqK2B4cjh0wcQRcQWVfxYvDTx_1EeXHmoC9UKCFhqlu3qVpmpFjF51JVPJroLwtk3waphHw_IS2ETVWYQpzXxFYkDyQ323myOtULSP1ciLKBKrBsKL545FoDGpawj1N8iy0/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwQ4BB-bpBqK2B4cjh0wcQRcQWVfxYvDTx_1EeXHmoC9UKCFhqlu3qVpmpFjF51JVPJroLwtk3waphHw_IS2ETVWYQpzXxFYkDyQ323myOtULSP1ciLKBKrBsKL545FoDGpawj1N8iy0/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+005.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2WwF85-u5wsj7xUa1OOlwFras3Y6B1vJiJYOc_t8XVsVicxBO147o8ZoxiTWl4mTNVTO65x32HcaxWvq9hBFYk2RFxxVGh6yPbZyAnOKp16p9I8Ia5j9nEUXhURvhwby1FFvtZYFpQg/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2WwF85-u5wsj7xUa1OOlwFras3Y6B1vJiJYOc_t8XVsVicxBO147o8ZoxiTWl4mTNVTO65x32HcaxWvq9hBFYk2RFxxVGh6yPbZyAnOKp16p9I8Ia5j9nEUXhURvhwby1FFvtZYFpQg/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+006.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
I do get a free cup out tea out of Wycliff Well so it will forever be a good place to me, aliens or no. After a brief stop (there wasn't much to see) we are back on the road.. We drive for hours without so much as a hint of habitation, the only road around stretches straight before us and behind us to both horizons and beyond.<br />
<br />
The next stop is at the Devil's Marbles, and they are much more interesting. They are made from a patch of granite that had long been buried under the sandstone that pervades this area. Ancient tectonic movements brought this rock to the surface and as the pressure on it diminished it expanded and cracked into large blocks. In the years since then the blocks have been worn down until today where they appear as vast round boulders. And although they are made of granite it is like no granite that I have ever seen. There isn't a speck of grey in sight. As at Uluru the surface of these rocks has rusted red. Imagine if Aberdeen was this colour:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyauMO4GjUeC3ssl9cWnQLX-DFV0ePF2eIgHpcZedG3FqUMGt4XhKsCby0YYn2KqljyR22d_Pg0FswbZ8wysdYOpV9X0UrFiIeN8oNvjY29yzLt38C0I1IJz523LeJHa5OiGxtJ5-zkjc/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyauMO4GjUeC3ssl9cWnQLX-DFV0ePF2eIgHpcZedG3FqUMGt4XhKsCby0YYn2KqljyR22d_Pg0FswbZ8wysdYOpV9X0UrFiIeN8oNvjY29yzLt38C0I1IJz523LeJHa5OiGxtJ5-zkjc/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+016.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
To the Aboriginals this place is called Karlu Karlu, which roughly translates as 'round boulders', and it is an extremely important site to them. There are many old aboriginal stories associated with this area but unfortunately almost all are deemed unsuitable for sharing with outsiders. One story that I do know is how it came by its English name. The 'marble' bit is fairly self explanatory, but the reason these particular marbles were thought to belong to the devil is not, as you might guess, to do with the colour.<br />
Some time in the 1800's, I think, a farmer on his way through the area with his livestock put his cattle out to graze overnight in the area around the Devil's Marbles. In the morning he awoke to find all his cattle dead without a mark upon them. For a long time the area was avoided until another farmer found himself in a similar position and decided to take the risk. The same thing happened, and thus was the reputation of the Devil's Marbles established. The culprit in question turned out to be not the devil but a flower, small and irresistible to cows, that grows with thorns so sharp that they can cause internal bleeding, and death, if ingested.<br />
<br />
We walk between hulking saffron boulders and climb to the heights of great mounds of them to see the land dotted for miles around. Some are perfectly round, most are not. Some are balanced precariously upon each other, or form a bridge between two others much like a past Stonehenge that has long been forgotten and only now is slowly being revealed. Some are even split in two as if by some unknowable act of power, and their grey matter is bared for all the world to see. I treat myself to a solo climb up a particularly challenging area of rocks and am rewarded with yet another burnt vista.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix1VmIJAQ8tmlWC6UyvaJY8UKFKdpVYAWaOb1tkoK2kn8oHMfx0SOt8uaZ6ofpJQvVt_in5DpzVWB7DWpVv184avgN5GDnpjtFIKydesSz3RuBBzgx4AFzsnRj-2RR37vV1sYQSPNOyA/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix1VmIJAQ8tmlWC6UyvaJY8UKFKdpVYAWaOb1tkoK2kn8oHMfx0SOt8uaZ6ofpJQvVt_in5DpzVWB7DWpVv184avgN5GDnpjtFIKydesSz3RuBBzgx4AFzsnRj-2RR37vV1sYQSPNOyA/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+028.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eLayBKG_l7IzZjcAg5b9qElsp5TVh7qzX-YxVd-7QCUpCoAMgCxBU6Nhhq3P_ECM-MaxaQyIAq2cOvk4BGfuAcRxdVPxZ6d6_Rv0SVdDCwHHspGhnk4FhUvOIGR4VnRo-wJ_QIBpRD0/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eLayBKG_l7IzZjcAg5b9qElsp5TVh7qzX-YxVd-7QCUpCoAMgCxBU6Nhhq3P_ECM-MaxaQyIAq2cOvk4BGfuAcRxdVPxZ6d6_Rv0SVdDCwHHspGhnk4FhUvOIGR4VnRo-wJ_QIBpRD0/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+025.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdSRH1GeGyLg4i3p5vQYCxGADwG8YIi9zZarS2NITx_JPZXexZNFR0UBQA18S642dJW5efUyET65oXDFFKZwkv4AePttzvwY3A_DftUOq4v15Q2sHPEoytYLp335fAf-txykzJ-kRrxo/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdSRH1GeGyLg4i3p5vQYCxGADwG8YIi9zZarS2NITx_JPZXexZNFR0UBQA18S642dJW5efUyET65oXDFFKZwkv4AePttzvwY3A_DftUOq4v15Q2sHPEoytYLp335fAf-txykzJ-kRrxo/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+043.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6vxJTXTUfDEH22RctNiSvtVV_oakp51404284aFyfMXlwYAzRWso0ZvyamV5QzlaR2EuOlv9Sj5Kh4Y1ae79WTviwcGVnxez0lLKWb2dv3qA6CnYe3CYcjBNSXdzgsl26TCmuLBg7Rc/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6vxJTXTUfDEH22RctNiSvtVV_oakp51404284aFyfMXlwYAzRWso0ZvyamV5QzlaR2EuOlv9Sj5Kh4Y1ae79WTviwcGVnxez0lLKWb2dv3qA6CnYe3CYcjBNSXdzgsl26TCmuLBg7Rc/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+068.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrqOH2gxHgmQbDhyphenhyphenZjv9sHptpJjHkAWoAj_GPe6Gde01oM9fWCUHQHQNGqgbnahtbc5HPOKj6lNCZKmE2zlXQVwws1EPOWoN-vFa1hVfJX423MXXotIY27AiDghc0uIoc1gG6885gNXw/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrqOH2gxHgmQbDhyphenhyphenZjv9sHptpJjHkAWoAj_GPe6Gde01oM9fWCUHQHQNGqgbnahtbc5HPOKj6lNCZKmE2zlXQVwws1EPOWoN-vFa1hVfJX423MXXotIY27AiDghc0uIoc1gG6885gNXw/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+088.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_VXVlEfmrg3P-V4-FgT9YTY-5FfcRS6ww2sUzW3lVdi9dgJITWkbbKbkudMIGnVuHDug0WkLfagmfTFze8g-95vauGdflWygbHoB9Qg4Oz3i6QSn5FOTFK_Zrnf79DrTryvRGyUnpm8/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_VXVlEfmrg3P-V4-FgT9YTY-5FfcRS6ww2sUzW3lVdi9dgJITWkbbKbkudMIGnVuHDug0WkLfagmfTFze8g-95vauGdflWygbHoB9Qg4Oz3i6QSn5FOTFK_Zrnf79DrTryvRGyUnpm8/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+100.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the Devil's Marbles we drive. We drive and drive and slowly the landscape shifts from desert to tropic. The sun sets as we arrive at our accommodation for the night. The town of Daly Waters. Population: nine. We are assured that it is not always so low, it can rise to eleven at the right time of year. It is home to a remarkably busy pub complete with a large bar room decorated with items of clothing of the many people who have passed through (interesting idea, slightly disgusting), a stage with a comedy musician (local, awful) and an outdoor swimming pool (bliss).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQjWBe57p1Oc1FVr5CvSOH3IPzyM8D0rzQZlgC_KCJ69Ki5hi2vHTtiJjL3kMZ90NiRgnz_ZCWys7Er76wxYwqQ-IJuD010FJcF0Ew0VCghVOQxfPXccXUxw64zCK2Pq95WVc2KOY_3k/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQjWBe57p1Oc1FVr5CvSOH3IPzyM8D0rzQZlgC_KCJ69Ki5hi2vHTtiJjL3kMZ90NiRgnz_ZCWys7Er76wxYwqQ-IJuD010FJcF0Ew0VCghVOQxfPXccXUxw64zCK2Pq95WVc2KOY_3k/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+120.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A stop off on the way.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN7FnYUG_UonGste-fWssQZhTIPei91nTSSYRdAGT5mODt1Zvvsru-hLMGhsdv2tSzYGFONkXkID2PAOSmdbipLvE6nK6sCne2z2PTbmIiiLX1fEOobs8bitDnDvt6lYhkUm6zJBKCCs/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN7FnYUG_UonGste-fWssQZhTIPei91nTSSYRdAGT5mODt1Zvvsru-hLMGhsdv2tSzYGFONkXkID2PAOSmdbipLvE6nK6sCne2z2PTbmIiiLX1fEOobs8bitDnDvt6lYhkUm6zJBKCCs/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+124.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The pub kindly provides directions to the nearest McDonalds.</div>
<br />
That evening two of the locals take us on a tour of the long abandoned prison and post office, the latter of which is the home of a grisly death. A suicide that everyone suspects was a murder. The building feels like it's falling down around us and unfortunately we can't enter the room where the deed itself took place due to a ceiling collapse. If there hadn't been so much company it would have been a terrifying place. Pale walls stripped of adornment close in around while flaking doors hang from their hinges. The flash of your torch reveals unwanted shadows through beckoning dark doorways.<br />
One of our guides, and one the nine town residents, is from, believe it or not, just north of Inverness! He has been here long enough that he looks like the most Australian person I have ever seen, but his accent still screams Scotland. The other guy is Australian in both appearance and voice. He is an interesting one for sure and he makes the guys at Wycliff Well look boring and mundane, and he disparages them as being no more than a gimmick. The real aliens, of course, come to Daly Waters, specifically his back yard where to this day there is a circle of land that plants refuse to grow on; a result of a visit he had the day he moved in. No doubt they just couldn't wait to find out who the eighth resident of Daly Waters was going to be.<br />
He regales us with extraterrestrial stories. He even reveals that he used to work for the government and that he personally was the one ordered to burn all the official documents relating to aliens, all a part of the Great Cover Up. He assures us that he managed to save a few files and they are currently hidden away in his house. At one point he comes out with this gem of worldly wisdom, and I assure you he was being utterly serious when he said it:<br />
“I know now what the important things in life are. One, family. Family always come first. And two? Looking for UFO's."<br />
<br />
Now that I think about it Daly Waters could well be some sort of alien experiment.<br />
<br />
After the tour me and Laura get talking to the Scot about the stars, which here are clearer than I have ever seen, even in Uluru. He tells us to walk about twenty meters down the road so we are out of the streetlight and look again. We do so.<br />
The moon is new and without its obscuring the light the full majesty of the heavens is unveiled. The Milky Way is an eonian girdle, effervescent across an occult sky. Stars burn and flicker with ancient fire, planets blaze clear and strong, and light seems to permeate in the air before me like dust suspended in a sunbeam, almost opaque, almost within my grasp. It is pure beauty, eternal and separate, a world of glass and silver that is forever just beyond the reach of your fingertips. It barely seems real. <br />
<br />
The following dawn again sees us well on the road, and by nine in the morning we have stopped for a swim. The creek we are taken to winds through the jungle and we drift upon its warm currents under trailing fronds and drooping palms. And spiders. Hundreds upon hundreds of spiders. Huge spiders. Huge spiders with webs that stretch from one side of the river to the other and swoop down until they are but a few centimetres from the surface of the water and you have to dive under them lest you shake loose a black and yellow nightmare the size of your outstretched hand. They aren't poisonous. But in 2012 one of these spiders was caught consuming a half meter long brown tree snake. Make of that what you will.<br />
Spiders aside, it is beautiful. The water is perfectly clear and you can see the dappled sunlight twisting and twining across its sandy bed. Eventually we come to a bridge where we haul ourselves out and walk back up the stream to where we started. We make the journey again.<br />
<br />
After lunch we find ourselves swimming once more, this time in a wide and open pool at the base of a small waterfall and there isn't a spider in sight. Crocodiles however, can cause a problem. A much more severe one I would imagine. Today the signs say the pool is safe, and the crocodile traps just down the river form a last line of defence should any stray this far upstream. Our guide tells us that only a few days ago a three-meter-er was caught making its way into this particular pool. I'm not sure if I believe him.<br />
At long last our bus pulls into Darwin, two days of driving, swimming, and learning about aliens later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuyudSO45qTTsV-Ky2OCJGjrzVupDJU6drpPuh1uPnnkPheNSKI5N5gKSotAOcmZa9-SaScSmtINJ4170KsbMbi3jHgwmxhk6r7O0_9ASymzMZw7EyDbUd_T5qGPsCYUmgJ2Gty0LLjA/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuyudSO45qTTsV-Ky2OCJGjrzVupDJU6drpPuh1uPnnkPheNSKI5N5gKSotAOcmZa9-SaScSmtINJ4170KsbMbi3jHgwmxhk6r7O0_9ASymzMZw7EyDbUd_T5qGPsCYUmgJ2Gty0LLjA/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+130.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here be spiders.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgHt3xRW8-8zqho0ZaIbOwa7Wik8G38VaPshcsKpczPaHBa74Q1Oe8xwLrg-t5_8zreBfF9qScOhDmF2N6Hm8R7aV76rssffg-4X5_6LEiUO7KGIXP7jlnLs_oovYDbURLUq1o539-24/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgHt3xRW8-8zqho0ZaIbOwa7Wik8G38VaPshcsKpczPaHBa74Q1Oe8xwLrg-t5_8zreBfF9qScOhDmF2N6Hm8R7aV76rssffg-4X5_6LEiUO7KGIXP7jlnLs_oovYDbURLUq1o539-24/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+136.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here be termites.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR23Rs5EkaHkA1UZqVUx_8y-veRUgiOH4F0Lxt8yoEYqEBZ7BgfW976xnAmbrxB0K2nJCkW5BY_dsSl_z11nfhIMwQr8NkbGzbZH7JkOo3gkgqiY67sb3hKgIXdEhchc6FdboCEZLxI5o/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR23Rs5EkaHkA1UZqVUx_8y-veRUgiOH4F0Lxt8yoEYqEBZ7BgfW976xnAmbrxB0K2nJCkW5BY_dsSl_z11nfhIMwQr8NkbGzbZH7JkOo3gkgqiY67sb3hKgIXdEhchc6FdboCEZLxI5o/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+138.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here be crocodiles.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz3lNy0ellLFQSt1wV5gCSDeASMB1V-5-Ep6lku-NzWxxlqpV0ysw_rytnOLUx7dJy-l81xyWWTsJ1ni6Xg6_CZ5CSYSYIeSrV5x0SL0tt6aEa0uyyeKTkDOx-oQvk2YVMZMpR_v3kRU/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz3lNy0ellLFQSt1wV5gCSDeASMB1V-5-Ep6lku-NzWxxlqpV0ysw_rytnOLUx7dJy-l81xyWWTsJ1ni6Xg6_CZ5CSYSYIeSrV5x0SL0tt6aEa0uyyeKTkDOx-oQvk2YVMZMpR_v3kRU/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+141.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA4q2rujUyq7XrzNRS8nCKtOjNt5eupTbsaUnwTpyx2IqTMbRJwAjnc6VcpLht72-9KBeWLqXQZkvwt7KWZTSCAzQeuYyeFW5fAMTa27p-xVCq_uMcG0bK2Zqg3Sm_i4XHngUKCWQ6ds/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA4q2rujUyq7XrzNRS8nCKtOjNt5eupTbsaUnwTpyx2IqTMbRJwAjnc6VcpLht72-9KBeWLqXQZkvwt7KWZTSCAzQeuYyeFW5fAMTa27p-xVCq_uMcG0bK2Zqg3Sm_i4XHngUKCWQ6ds/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+157.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_7Kpcw6PJbyxAh7PYCxNVXSqH88_skVxFCDCH10CZcyQ5crY7ULtrKzWhr183cbU_eInpi99OFjHU4Em9dUEKOeRQ03Dri2XlwtrMc18bP5UQ1nzlV1ARW2mCAaD0E7kDK83XvhVC20/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_7Kpcw6PJbyxAh7PYCxNVXSqH88_skVxFCDCH10CZcyQ5crY7ULtrKzWhr183cbU_eInpi99OFjHU4Em9dUEKOeRQ03Dri2XlwtrMc18bP5UQ1nzlV1ARW2mCAaD0E7kDK83XvhVC20/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+161.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Darwin is much like Cairns that Amy and I visited very briefly on the east coast, although it's not quite so tragic. It is still relatively devoid of culture and creativity, but I can see it could be a lot of fun for a short time, and it is surrounded by gorgeous tropical scenery. On our first night we meet up with people from our tour and I dance so vigorously that I have to remove my flip-flops lest they fly into someone's face. Half a song later I notice they have gone missing so I proceed to continue through the night barefoot until the bouncer tells me to go home and get more shoes. I grudgingly oblige.<br />
The second night we attend a firework display on the beach and a night market stretched along the shore. The fireworks are massively below par, I mean ever Jerilderie put on a better display and they only have seven hundred people, six hundred of whom are Irish, and Darwin is supposed to be the capital of the Northern Territory. But the Northern Territory, I am slowly discovering, leaves a lot to be desired. To start with you can't buy peaches or nectarines anywhere within its borders, which is nigh on unbearable. And secondly, there are only about two shops in the entire place that sell boxes of wine (those places being the drive through alcohol shops – have I ranted about this before? I mean come on people, you don't know how to fix your massive drink driving problem and yet you persist in opening drive through off-licences), and these boxes of wine can only be bought between six pm and nine pm, they can only sell one at a time, and they aren't allowed to stock any that are over two litres. I mean what is the point.<br />
I realise that was simultaneously a complaint about both not being able to buy alcohol and about Australians selling too much alcohol but what can you do. I stand by both.<br />
The night market however was very good. Lots of classic Australian tourist ware abounded; boomerangs and didgeridoos and the like, and lots of wonderful food. I overheard one jewellery stall owner claim that Australia is the only country in the world where you can find opals, which I'm pretty sure isn't true, but it's the sort of thing an Australian would say. And it did help her make a sale.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-352PViibiuCZdPvq6OjtfDvvfP3MBqyxVgI8rO6w32nFx4H-G5DiP9fljLu7Wyo5nzJI3QmduGKR85RiTmnPq7uiwiF6sFK5FeC7MSyXeFJ65tW0oUAJ3TnoNTS7gjEaB_Mj7lZo3U/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-352PViibiuCZdPvq6OjtfDvvfP3MBqyxVgI8rO6w32nFx4H-G5DiP9fljLu7Wyo5nzJI3QmduGKR85RiTmnPq7uiwiF6sFK5FeC7MSyXeFJ65tW0oUAJ3TnoNTS7gjEaB_Mj7lZo3U/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+173.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Darwin in Darwin. How did I only just realise that?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZFC1i-JzCWwUn_O3ToYKHlu5fT1V0WhYGNDE7PiAnr9sg_s-7N24sAplcDCGF-a2hutJFmdDI_pTo5N24X1FgjqjbcGhi13fFPxwXSlEz_ALiB5s5zOayhQZoKo7q7vPK43tvtImXP8/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZFC1i-JzCWwUn_O3ToYKHlu5fT1V0WhYGNDE7PiAnr9sg_s-7N24sAplcDCGF-a2hutJFmdDI_pTo5N24X1FgjqjbcGhi13fFPxwXSlEz_ALiB5s5zOayhQZoKo7q7vPK43tvtImXP8/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+175.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The old town hall, destroyed in a cyclone.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoPaGk7-FgplxAv8-CScPBlOoqdIVpdX5AWeJ47_TZ14yB1pYwJ98rlpriwtB_H8GYiJO5rVa8C9BCHqtXaT0-yh2NlblROmASYoEVAhHQw5-AGwry4CKP_30bzVtAWqA62NIiUqNn6c/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoPaGk7-FgplxAv8-CScPBlOoqdIVpdX5AWeJ47_TZ14yB1pYwJ98rlpriwtB_H8GYiJO5rVa8C9BCHqtXaT0-yh2NlblROmASYoEVAhHQw5-AGwry4CKP_30bzVtAWqA62NIiUqNn6c/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+176.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some hotel. Oh no wait that's the government.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFagMJRNLNQmhdKTmhK1bOqET7-ZGei7ftnuaxmu-j28J3_3VoC5tpGuPSYzL2QKTii9cdFJ84SED_P8DHWbjSpse0tGmAR5A6OGyhWdXfYlRYD1CXI1OB5fq17SADEvq__WUmYjJkqM/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFagMJRNLNQmhdKTmhK1bOqET7-ZGei7ftnuaxmu-j28J3_3VoC5tpGuPSYzL2QKTii9cdFJ84SED_P8DHWbjSpse0tGmAR5A6OGyhWdXfYlRYD1CXI1OB5fq17SADEvq__WUmYjJkqM/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+185.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMKMPhSIbeLpJJr45Fb1WsCYKaJ5l3qspcgGj4VuzUUmmB94wlIZLMz-ygO7kKQhwCy-81Jej-NHMhYP4W40kCDhC0DB4jkZVw0rBgnIQCdbdesvLFLMV2A02PsXNqEuZ3ubyz234wqE/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMKMPhSIbeLpJJr45Fb1WsCYKaJ5l3qspcgGj4VuzUUmmB94wlIZLMz-ygO7kKQhwCy-81Jej-NHMhYP4W40kCDhC0DB4jkZVw0rBgnIQCdbdesvLFLMV2A02PsXNqEuZ3ubyz234wqE/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+206.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
On mine and Laura's final day together we take a trip into Lichfield National Park. It is much like the more famous Kakadu National Park only smaller, cheaper and easier to get to. We are in a small group, just us two, a German girl, and a group of three guys (two English, one Welsh) one of whom is passed out at the back of the minibus due to overindulgence the night before.<br />
Our driver, it swiftly becomes apparent, is another nutball. He is an odd mix of characteristics and opinions that both appeal and detest me. On one hand he is carefree and doesn't seem to take life too seriously, and he has very good views on preserving the natural world. And on the other he tells us how he and his friends are planning on going out and catching a wild pig, tying it up, and throwing it to the crocodiles 'just to see what happens'. I'm pretty sure I know what would happen, and it would involve taking pleasure out of death. Killing animals for food or necessity, ok. Killing purely for enjoyment, disgusting. Then he justifies himself by saying “because you can do that sort of thing here. That's just the Northern Territory lifestyle', as if that would convince anyone that life in NT was more fulfilling that anywhere else in the world.<br />
<br />
Our day in Lichfield is superb. We visit termite mounds that tower many times above me, some up to two hundred years old. They are amazing structures, vast networks of tunnels built to perfectly maintain the exact temperature and humidity that the queen requires to hatch her eggs. In some places they dot the ground far around, soaring above the grass like great cities of the future stretching above trees, built to withstand an inhospitable outside<br />
We swim beneath waterfalls surrounded by sheer cliffs topped with rainforest green, trees cascade down the steep slopes and take root against all the odds. We bathe in crystal pools where streams have worn the rock perfectly smooth, and we clamber over rocky temples where water plunges into the depths of the earth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIrxU-Y6BVnS5B05HB2fp50AlWfvsgIwhs0kFbGvSlnA-OyoRUi7WEIjAzv_8W6U_47h22_VUKdHYd5d3Zp6vn1u4wDJEcRiHgIz8VsrxkvrVrJp-A05grezaU0mG-v2wpusSm77pR4c/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIrxU-Y6BVnS5B05HB2fp50AlWfvsgIwhs0kFbGvSlnA-OyoRUi7WEIjAzv_8W6U_47h22_VUKdHYd5d3Zp6vn1u4wDJEcRiHgIz8VsrxkvrVrJp-A05grezaU0mG-v2wpusSm77pR4c/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+215.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynTv0JNJe0jrSBBb7gyEbjiKbqG1-BMyT8x8oZHpm-3ZSxdTgRkfb-9GiRVkt8lUIKGyEzUrjvxZPE1_vNjv0hu0_Av3TWx8yfzOQWwxwV75eKzn7B64TCD3Pp3IBP-2P7kELPOK5zSI/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynTv0JNJe0jrSBBb7gyEbjiKbqG1-BMyT8x8oZHpm-3ZSxdTgRkfb-9GiRVkt8lUIKGyEzUrjvxZPE1_vNjv0hu0_Av3TWx8yfzOQWwxwV75eKzn7B64TCD3Pp3IBP-2P7kELPOK5zSI/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+216.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6vkZUaOo0AxnfadQbFQffvGuDXCkofivfoIB8QeXgP74yQGIvjSz4ND9Nk4rnfYCxcsHT03bjp73bSckC7tn9SSHqVQ3pfTYuWfva36joevC4LDbjRVccTpGSrIoedQUjyv5om0BJ3o/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6vkZUaOo0AxnfadQbFQffvGuDXCkofivfoIB8QeXgP74yQGIvjSz4ND9Nk4rnfYCxcsHT03bjp73bSckC7tn9SSHqVQ3pfTYuWfva36joevC4LDbjRVccTpGSrIoedQUjyv5om0BJ3o/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+222.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd2JT6YGrIzW5ujG1Ea8sQJJhMtImxiY9tBEwsUDfZyI6SJzVGPI7eGCsdwKJFgK-JKP7EipFKANWEIvIWpSo8NEYcr_4KatQN-lUfF6lRrbNk-jOlDV5Z72zpePr8WBVQzOhPYpvL9U/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd2JT6YGrIzW5ujG1Ea8sQJJhMtImxiY9tBEwsUDfZyI6SJzVGPI7eGCsdwKJFgK-JKP7EipFKANWEIvIWpSo8NEYcr_4KatQN-lUfF6lRrbNk-jOlDV5Z72zpePr8WBVQzOhPYpvL9U/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+240.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uJyvOED22fye6Q6k1X3kJh1oPam7JyEIYzU6lI23ZBL499kbMMO2I-qkl8RETU2oI4ouzfWGFX2C_k3DgJDSkl-4SYCeLYmE5xXRchb4goz6RwCAdGFG_Xt8LCQMrxqVKvAUrSRrM6Y/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uJyvOED22fye6Q6k1X3kJh1oPam7JyEIYzU6lI23ZBL499kbMMO2I-qkl8RETU2oI4ouzfWGFX2C_k3DgJDSkl-4SYCeLYmE5xXRchb4goz6RwCAdGFG_Xt8LCQMrxqVKvAUrSRrM6Y/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+249.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg2Y3C9hzrminLdNmRrO-d58q7Cp46yCvmA4mgXZZ8_UElWSZdg2IVw5TpEdUHr2n8x7IE5pvpjcmtB4-iz6MgI4ZmUMRVNvTnrVjNjzGrePSzQhRKBpcDQi-uchldzETLI9VGpmoXOQ/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg2Y3C9hzrminLdNmRrO-d58q7Cp46yCvmA4mgXZZ8_UElWSZdg2IVw5TpEdUHr2n8x7IE5pvpjcmtB4-iz6MgI4ZmUMRVNvTnrVjNjzGrePSzQhRKBpcDQi-uchldzETLI9VGpmoXOQ/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+262.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpCz8n3L_c7L_hjw6YFgju-LdAmTjwX7e0vLstjEuWbryykIzgp0RXUSi3bGkMw0eIxvaPoByoaIsdhHXnk2f_NoxF6-GeuXYPKvw_Rn8pYcVYxSdCe8SNWnIj-RCgWhVqIFoM3VLTEs/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpCz8n3L_c7L_hjw6YFgju-LdAmTjwX7e0vLstjEuWbryykIzgp0RXUSi3bGkMw0eIxvaPoByoaIsdhHXnk2f_NoxF6-GeuXYPKvw_Rn8pYcVYxSdCe8SNWnIj-RCgWhVqIFoM3VLTEs/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+267.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowcuGl4gsxviuchjTTLxYUqbFsEeNPBmEe30LNlInBSw7E5giPkKjPsAGqTVOQ8TBewdLnO0qMFA8SUvp0xELhsvdrvJrD8of5P1OVGfw02LK7DyvgDYftGZvQZKeEIUXCvFn6d92pnw/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowcuGl4gsxviuchjTTLxYUqbFsEeNPBmEe30LNlInBSw7E5giPkKjPsAGqTVOQ8TBewdLnO0qMFA8SUvp0xELhsvdrvJrD8of5P1OVGfw02LK7DyvgDYftGZvQZKeEIUXCvFn6d92pnw/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+277.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW0cttAZWnECXDSTpS_v5ESAk68LZ8JY6OOONlwdFhv_LLuew6nG58QPcJaNC1yH7zvFCDISbcnN56RtjNhoQDqPvlXa7dSXmGmToQrLtt6BoRvvaqxyG9dYg9dJTnmtd90xUhm0tMhY/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW0cttAZWnECXDSTpS_v5ESAk68LZ8JY6OOONlwdFhv_LLuew6nG58QPcJaNC1yH7zvFCDISbcnN56RtjNhoQDqPvlXa7dSXmGmToQrLtt6BoRvvaqxyG9dYg9dJTnmtd90xUhm0tMhY/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+278.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyHJcUA58Dsvw9ImvPdBqfRBzoBHG0watO2ZZyYkFKMhEPW-a9bXotOrj99s8_dvlXMUSDwI_f4uJM-BgKgJJo7VmK9MV5InFuOTrrdkhTj6YtTCumh-72ApwfFBjXPLJxgNDlcWDHZQ/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyHJcUA58Dsvw9ImvPdBqfRBzoBHG0watO2ZZyYkFKMhEPW-a9bXotOrj99s8_dvlXMUSDwI_f4uJM-BgKgJJo7VmK9MV5InFuOTrrdkhTj6YtTCumh-72ApwfFBjXPLJxgNDlcWDHZQ/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+295.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
See the spider?</div>
<br />
After Lichfield we make our way to a boat that will take us on a trip down crocodile infested waters. While afloat a member of the crew holds a fishing line over the side and entices crocodiles with pieces of meat, tempting them to jump from the water to reach it whilst giving those on board a closer view than is usually possible without losing an arm or two.<br />
The crew here know a lot about, and obviously care a lot for, the crocodiles. It is very important to them that the crocodiles do not become in any way dependent on humans. They ensure this first by never feeding each crocodile more than one time in any given day, and second by making the crocodiles jump at least three times before they are allowed to catch the meat. This way the crocodile will have expended more energy in getting the food than they will get from the food so they will still have to hunt for themselves. Although the jump that they perform is a completely natural manoeuvre, it is one that uses a lot of energy.<br />
Here our tour guide reveals his own brand of bizarre Australian beliefs when he tells us that the universe is inside of everyone, and that a remnant of the big bang can be seen inside our eyes. I mean I suppose he's right, because that is when all matter was created, but I don't think that's what he means. I nod along anyway. He then deduces therefore that if we want to see billions of years into the past all we need to do is look deep into a crocodile's eyes. Or something.<br />
I wouldn't put it quite like he did, but there is something primeval, and downright scary, about the deadly creatures that silently slip from the mudbanks as we pass, scaled in armour older than the river itself. Their eyes, I think, lack the depth that so many creatures possess there, they are reminiscent of painted stone more than glass. They seem almost another to be just another scale, so perfectly do they blend in with the tough glistening shell that encases them.<br />
The crocodiles effortlessly drift across the water, ridged spines cutting the water with lethal grace. They hover beneath the dangling meat and lower their body down into the water, eyes fixed on their prize. The tip of the tail remains just at the surface. At the last minute they swoop their tail under then they lunge upwards, sometimes getting their entire body out of the water in a huge surge of power, and revealing the softer yellow skin of their underbelly as they do so.<br />
<br />
They are amazing creatures, and beautiful in their strength and skill and tenacity in survival. Did you know that they can survive for months without nourishment, and if they are caught far from water when the dry weather hits they will coat themselves in mud and slow their heart down so it beats as little as twice a minute, and thus wait out the dry season. Beyond this, wounds bother them little, and they never bleed out for they can simply stop the blood from pumping to different parts of their body. Even if they lose a leg or four they seem completely unfazed.<br />
Female crocodiles stop growing at around about three meters, but the males continue to grow for their entire lives, and it is thought that they can live for as long as two hundred and fifty years though few now surpass one hundred. It is currently unknown exactly how big or how old they can get (some that we saw were easily six meters) because all the oldest were killed for their leather when hunting was still legal. Crocodile leather is the most expensive animal skin in the world, and nowadays it is still farmed, but hunting has been outlawed since 1971. When it became apparent that the crocodiles were in danger they started to record the size of all those that they caught, the largest recorded being 8.7m. There are no official records before this but it is said that when crocodile hunting started it wasn't uncommon to catch one that was ten meters long. As sad as it is that these terrifying behemoths are no longer in the world with us, if they had been jumping from the river I think they would have eaten the meat, fishing rod and the poor woman holding it. Give it another hundred years and they may well be.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjmXaD7wQzaD49x0ZD5dWKnqt2WaaI6JJz7OJeYgvlwPM1DKEPnVXqoCaCKG_SW_hlROWcFCbc9cj9kyS4kb364VOkotRZfZDjI9YZ6UbcSS4mKCFZ218tY0aZwHU4fBbOnXtohkOKOE/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjmXaD7wQzaD49x0ZD5dWKnqt2WaaI6JJz7OJeYgvlwPM1DKEPnVXqoCaCKG_SW_hlROWcFCbc9cj9kyS4kb364VOkotRZfZDjI9YZ6UbcSS4mKCFZ218tY0aZwHU4fBbOnXtohkOKOE/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+301.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3OJLCuaJhd2nFb3uiAq65h2OXzL0C_gT0yGWSwR4cLrsDLEd9gKfmiDfheoiDkNbJ96WhfhqEZIEq-sKlGTQLnzRfOAljBeTxvN9VqsEogRsLW3IjVnYq1iLJOp-2DkDvdQu_98sF_U/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3OJLCuaJhd2nFb3uiAq65h2OXzL0C_gT0yGWSwR4cLrsDLEd9gKfmiDfheoiDkNbJ96WhfhqEZIEq-sKlGTQLnzRfOAljBeTxvN9VqsEogRsLW3IjVnYq1iLJOp-2DkDvdQu_98sF_U/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+334.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGeoyC41Rn2U_4Y1DgC63CvSJQoBqiKqjaULxx6MkF8TTIi9N8tXCxC7HCnJHxpVdhSgXQWye5UNpDcfTv_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No legs? Easy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gaQItKxl7ks8Ul2RxxYQ9fkCzh2uQLNz6UWohZbbOegHYofyLq6dp2xwdA40MXvhJknCfiMvVeSlfLj2kZG69zhDPESRqM8HgvdwpU3Y3SiTm8wsYSS5neF4JInroYtgaI2wIcpbeJ0/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gaQItKxl7ks8Ul2RxxYQ9fkCzh2uQLNz6UWohZbbOegHYofyLq6dp2xwdA40MXvhJknCfiMvVeSlfLj2kZG69zhDPESRqM8HgvdwpU3Y3SiTm8wsYSS5neF4JInroYtgaI2wIcpbeJ0/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+344.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qb6jo47lpGZ-P6QHeAkJRyt9YJBndKw18xvtwsXGpdX6HtgWWPkPxGrXepBcCly4cLYMuzuUm4mzRibYJkN3NjKggOk1Y8ZwtJrb0XYmaFuhawgueB1D-ADty0XAQc9vpVMYdVSxnBg/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qb6jo47lpGZ-P6QHeAkJRyt9YJBndKw18xvtwsXGpdX6HtgWWPkPxGrXepBcCly4cLYMuzuUm4mzRibYJkN3NjKggOk1Y8ZwtJrb0XYmaFuhawgueB1D-ADty0XAQc9vpVMYdVSxnBg/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+348.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After the crocs we fed the kites.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMkUJIvuFK5oES9vg1OOzBwFHOToTTia7tJHtOdk9VXHVEqZsUQYjUOEDB7CPP7TotCvOV6IFeMWts64c_4IDnzT4Wcu2nL2lB9UCXv-juqnYk8CBjvozoP9n5X453NzukMki4MRS0Uk/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMkUJIvuFK5oES9vg1OOzBwFHOToTTia7tJHtOdk9VXHVEqZsUQYjUOEDB7CPP7TotCvOV6IFeMWts64c_4IDnzT4Wcu2nL2lB9UCXv-juqnYk8CBjvozoP9n5X453NzukMki4MRS0Uk/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+353.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Life sized replica of the 8.7m crocodile.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMJS97bHnwqmkUHmBjLS-sc9Uk6tTLLo5g0Ya6EUGavSmwDh9xsnEOqcK09OnjugJkHmAC5MmvEgYYSjh0sD4WCVUnbzPKYjXZl1q2xDcKTusbx0M472cQdQZHjTZCXY3_zeiU3fZpDw/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMJS97bHnwqmkUHmBjLS-sc9Uk6tTLLo5g0Ya6EUGavSmwDh9xsnEOqcK09OnjugJkHmAC5MmvEgYYSjh0sD4WCVUnbzPKYjXZl1q2xDcKTusbx0M472cQdQZHjTZCXY3_zeiU3fZpDw/s1600/Alice+to+Darwin,+Lichfield+National+Park+354.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The guy in question.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After the crocodiles we return to Darwin and it is time to say goodbye to Laura. She is flying to New Zealand and I am flying to Indonesia. This is the saddest parting I have had in a long time, we have been travelling and living together for longer even than I was with Amy. But now I have another friend who I cannot wait to meet up with when we are both back in Scotland. Since leaving home I have never spent more than a day or two by myself and I suspect that that trend will continue. People who travel alone say that it is the best way to travel, for you gain complete freedom to do as you will and you hardly ever need to sacrifice company to do it. I home that continues to be true.<br />
<br />
My plane speeds along the runway and lightning flashes all around, lighting up the dark sky with thundering bursts of promise and excitement. Australia drops away beneath me, and I can't say I am sad to leave it behind. I do not know where this anti-Australian sentiment I am feeling has come from, and looking back through what I have written I see I have spent a lot of time complaining about Australia or Australians. Perhaps it's just that I'm in Asia now, and everything is better here.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-49400791273872903082014-04-26T22:30:00.000-07:002014-04-26T22:52:33.933-07:00The Red CentreJerilderie continues much as it began. We work by night and sleep by day and soon even the pub becomes, temporarily, a thing of the past. Despite my previous rather bold claims I do get bored at work. I even get bored, perhaps for the first time in my life, of my music. I solve this particular problem by listening instead to the Lord of the Rings audio book (what am I like?) which tides me through a good week of night-shifts.<br />
<div>
At one point we end up working twenty two nights in a row and then, just when all hope seems lost, we get St Patrick's day off! It is much the same as Australia Day, although sans fireworks, and as a result my memory grows hazy when I try to recall it. It does however provide us all with a much needed opportunity to get to know the rest of the factory crowd, most of whom we see every day at changeover and yet have never before spoken to. Friends are made. Fun, as ever, is had.<br />
<br />
And then the rain arrives. We are promised between ten days and four weeks more work but two days later the factory closes for an unknown period of time. We hang around and try not to spend money. Three weeks later we have had only one more day at work and I can feel my time in Australia tricking away, it is time to cut our losses. Me and Laura book a train to Melbourne with plans to fly to Alice Springs and Uluru before heading up to Darwin, and Lauren returns to Sydney. Due to the lack of work I haven't saved nearly as much money as I had wanted to so I suspect I'll have to scrap the West Coast plan. But perhaps I could fly from Darwin to Perth and get a job and still be able to see some more before I head home. We'll see.<br />
<br />
In our last few days I take a few walks around Jerilderie and discover that it can look quite nice. Nevertheless I have no desire at all to stay, I have already stayed too long, and the Outback calls. We get on the bus and leave the tomatoes behind us, the sky is adorned with great puffs of glistening candy-floss and the horizon vanishes in a shimmering haze of silver.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmqioZQzEQB0fMSIEFfi9t6A9IKrzyM1I9z_nedmcf8xsw8q6IBJDivQDy-zQdxdawBbDmnrqaMbWffRTf1GjtBUssD5-lRptr6ENBZ7SxdLvvLII5qHe5hfzYhd79tKli1lRgo8OaSk/s1600/Jerilderie2+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmqioZQzEQB0fMSIEFfi9t6A9IKrzyM1I9z_nedmcf8xsw8q6IBJDivQDy-zQdxdawBbDmnrqaMbWffRTf1GjtBUssD5-lRptr6ENBZ7SxdLvvLII5qHe5hfzYhd79tKli1lRgo8OaSk/s1600/Jerilderie2+066.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This delight appears in our room one day. And that is a pint glass I caught it in</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_DAQsyF_uKr3q05NwH5h7rCf3zMgnzDGIBRroI7yS4qDFDTLht_LXcAM9ZS3fau_eM0nZ7saLH5UOu0H8ho6-bD1dxKABQbWqcbshhOmXS3164cV0im8U3odlh8Zr5fx4IixLOmZakQ/s1600/Jerilderie2+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_DAQsyF_uKr3q05NwH5h7rCf3zMgnzDGIBRroI7yS4qDFDTLht_LXcAM9ZS3fau_eM0nZ7saLH5UOu0H8ho6-bD1dxKABQbWqcbshhOmXS3164cV0im8U3odlh8Zr5fx4IixLOmZakQ/s1600/Jerilderie2+075.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just another spill at the factory.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMUMUy6EkERFofusD_7WWp2AEgZSt2nkmjBKSz-OyxZgfkuqJyEPsFzyzcy-qV_M1AJAh0teBt-5FT93upnd9f9231AGDpUYYySVORAcvYEvs52julM4g9lwF_oMjHs5TFIKgSjbDit0/s1600/Jerilderie3+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMUMUy6EkERFofusD_7WWp2AEgZSt2nkmjBKSz-OyxZgfkuqJyEPsFzyzcy-qV_M1AJAh0teBt-5FT93upnd9f9231AGDpUYYySVORAcvYEvs52julM4g9lwF_oMjHs5TFIKgSjbDit0/s1600/Jerilderie3+006.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi4J_vYl6qxbFWNCCDVYw1_JxjEBd9OkQPmGFX41TfeS44FVY_HNQMekJ2ZuYFxnRmjJyZfHvBdW7z2hkpEScMQk7akWfsrGTBX7Zl-MTDIUMa1pH8wkASkuQa4HDiCERk47qjVpK8Uc/s1600/Jerilderie3+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi4J_vYl6qxbFWNCCDVYw1_JxjEBd9OkQPmGFX41TfeS44FVY_HNQMekJ2ZuYFxnRmjJyZfHvBdW7z2hkpEScMQk7akWfsrGTBX7Zl-MTDIUMa1pH8wkASkuQa4HDiCERk47qjVpK8Uc/s1600/Jerilderie3+015.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjPsJyb9l-Xkwu8ey31FfuCCO5cKaDKAe4ng_soTYnVij7JnR5gLZau3spOnsGT6dRka7N0fMkd9KWY_XGt2LU9U16yiBmzUsw6QAt1ou4jxKzR9ScImlKfsd5UYlzLA-Ieemuzt6pRw/s1600/Jerilderie3+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjPsJyb9l-Xkwu8ey31FfuCCO5cKaDKAe4ng_soTYnVij7JnR5gLZau3spOnsGT6dRka7N0fMkd9KWY_XGt2LU9U16yiBmzUsw6QAt1ou4jxKzR9ScImlKfsd5UYlzLA-Ieemuzt6pRw/s1600/Jerilderie3+030.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
New pals in the field next door.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei5Q-5t7qKAtkdJBCOuSIS0sYVS1IJEFbJRAIdlAW5jCY6kzWZCcabgTItOAmZkKVYwds8Jx9e3-CRORVBwSLjiY52Mz2HSNxeHJONuLdmlJkmRxJyaPZjFx_2_NHD2RpixHZh_2YkK4/s1600/Jerilderie3+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei5Q-5t7qKAtkdJBCOuSIS0sYVS1IJEFbJRAIdlAW5jCY6kzWZCcabgTItOAmZkKVYwds8Jx9e3-CRORVBwSLjiY52Mz2HSNxeHJONuLdmlJkmRxJyaPZjFx_2_NHD2RpixHZh_2YkK4/s1600/Jerilderie3+039.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Legitimately up in the pub, and has been for three months so I guess the poor sod is still toothless.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KqzPk9jFgoNDxwXA-WfE8U9MDmZCeK3dNb0P2h7xqhz5mqHlQ1t5spGcrRlc4Tu9goUYjrKucZHZqi80E_4MmzfK2kTDIZxnqEF9pyez-XiBVOx1YOzfNaNqjOlvEReNwnHHda6y6nk/s1600/Jerilderie3+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KqzPk9jFgoNDxwXA-WfE8U9MDmZCeK3dNb0P2h7xqhz5mqHlQ1t5spGcrRlc4Tu9goUYjrKucZHZqi80E_4MmzfK2kTDIZxnqEF9pyez-XiBVOx1YOzfNaNqjOlvEReNwnHHda6y6nk/s1600/Jerilderie3+081.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At one point there was some sort of biohazard in ourgarden.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooP3CMJCYF6kvwKdEdKq4-knQlSQINZv5isAW1ciRMfKziAS-WAd0GXUjQabl_YrMVoXxywE_Jxr-QkIRH2r8uPxNu_B09o5V64B2UlSKJL78H8PTMvxs_5WkIJf_jZOK9XJioe2U5X4/s1600/Jerilderie3+086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooP3CMJCYF6kvwKdEdKq4-knQlSQINZv5isAW1ciRMfKziAS-WAd0GXUjQabl_YrMVoXxywE_Jxr-QkIRH2r8uPxNu_B09o5V64B2UlSKJL78H8PTMvxs_5WkIJf_jZOK9XJioe2U5X4/s1600/Jerilderie3+086.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A stunning Southern Old Lady moth that I found in the bathroom.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrBt1dn1P7Y4Jip27VcmSvIoDqrj9X-gT9RdnRhjMBxWm-jBdjDKt8GQDvmsFMBg2X4SQxOAR8nN9zXgbzXcD6NUyMB3V-dWC2_tCSc237igeaW5eYCuFY9BYiC7WArSDd5FlwLs_r_0/s1600/Jerilderie3+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrBt1dn1P7Y4Jip27VcmSvIoDqrj9X-gT9RdnRhjMBxWm-jBdjDKt8GQDvmsFMBg2X4SQxOAR8nN9zXgbzXcD6NUyMB3V-dWC2_tCSc237igeaW5eYCuFY9BYiC7WArSDd5FlwLs_r_0/s1600/Jerilderie3+102.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholrhcwZuRzmlWa37xCtkzVD8r6yrAwZEH95JkK3weP1cfMc380A_oowJKoplOOf6_s8qmRXpsTz8pqQns1_cEIkGJr_WhUc5sWdJxjfQAR6ROWxNCCM84JOiRf8_3VKf-cQLzTDwDKAM/s1600/Jerilderie3+108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholrhcwZuRzmlWa37xCtkzVD8r6yrAwZEH95JkK3weP1cfMc380A_oowJKoplOOf6_s8qmRXpsTz8pqQns1_cEIkGJr_WhUc5sWdJxjfQAR6ROWxNCCM84JOiRf8_3VKf-cQLzTDwDKAM/s1600/Jerilderie3+108.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiAvFFeQiSHWPwQBSPXsYDSNmaQFIgy31f7YmOQ7O0h0Pehf6p0AE2nNBoeBbLswin0gNPwguV5qslaWZzzPHN5aW4uXX0gs9j1M8gXBHB5lDCvFdPmSR-MnsuESETu6rMxJpl7k3aRI/s1600/Jerilderie3+136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiAvFFeQiSHWPwQBSPXsYDSNmaQFIgy31f7YmOQ7O0h0Pehf6p0AE2nNBoeBbLswin0gNPwguV5qslaWZzzPHN5aW4uXX0gs9j1M8gXBHB5lDCvFdPmSR-MnsuESETu6rMxJpl7k3aRI/s1600/Jerilderie3+136.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Farewell Jerilderie.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As the train draws closer to Melbourne I realise how cut off from the world I have been. I find myself staring at people just because I don't know who they are. Or because they are wearing fashionable clothes or because they are teenagers, if there is anything about them that I haven't seen in three months. I feel almost instantly happier and more relaxed, more myself. I hadn't been aware that I had been feeing anything other than myself before hand. As fun as Jerilderie was it was never my home, my six weeks in Mebourne felt more like home than Jerilderie ever could, and the prospect of meeting new people buoys me.<br />
<br />
That night me and Laura take a walk around the well trodden streets. I have a glass of mulled wine on an island-bar in the Yarra river that cuts Mebourne in half. The lights of the city pave gleaming paths across the dark water and despite the chill I find myself warmed from the inside and out. The next day we simply enjoy our time in the city, we go shopping, get ice creams, sit on the steps in Federation Square, visit the Art Gallery and have dinner in the Asian Beer Cafe in the wonderful Melbourne Central, a shopping centre built around a vast red-brick tower that is lit with beams of dazzling light at night. I think I've mentioned it before.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhslJumTIOAffT7G8sPAxuJSjt4iDQjcJARFGuwaeXRP8QGGjMQ7HNesTfZ1k1o1q0XHZH7kHA2M0p-D_R4cMU7-bWpY76BD_Gt8wAE0Bk5ux6oiAgoxI1OqMecCn76jF5H0UrduPpvQ/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhslJumTIOAffT7G8sPAxuJSjt4iDQjcJARFGuwaeXRP8QGGjMQ7HNesTfZ1k1o1q0XHZH7kHA2M0p-D_R4cMU7-bWpY76BD_Gt8wAE0Bk5ux6oiAgoxI1OqMecCn76jF5H0UrduPpvQ/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+004.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjxxDqPEHVqhNCXuimvWwz7Ck_KOKHo7qMbak81zrlIyM60W4TZWqzAQSEZRtLfG7Oxm0HbB40h_RVoM6KWVURZTUUNA9HQF48dYCM1QcKWttgpLx5zVKLRXP3tYBRbfRsLOaYTgF2ys/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjxxDqPEHVqhNCXuimvWwz7Ck_KOKHo7qMbak81zrlIyM60W4TZWqzAQSEZRtLfG7Oxm0HbB40h_RVoM6KWVURZTUUNA9HQF48dYCM1QcKWttgpLx5zVKLRXP3tYBRbfRsLOaYTgF2ys/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+008.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The latest instillation in the NGV.</div>
<br />
In the morning the SkyBus takes us to the airport at almost the exact same time that it once took me in the other direction, when I had first touched down in this eternal country. I see the same golden sun rise over the same endless fields of green. The skyline is a silhouette, the sky behind bleeding from orange to blue. Dark baubles dot it; hot air balloons rise with the dawn.<br />
Our fight to Alice Springs takes us over initially familiar territory but soon the houses dwindle and the fields fade and we find ourselves flying over desert that stretches beyond sight. This, I assume, is the Outback. Why they don't just call 'outback' desert and 'bush' rain-forest I really don't know. Whatever you call it, outback or desert, there is a hell of a lot of it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXL9wgqCMK2OP7RxpUmBZY1BMGU6JtmV1D_IDruVZECnSri9r3cXyhjEpKljhgCZIJ_8vYeMedpCx-3xboYkjJBeAGmoTuTbJjKeDfXnnlQlNF_FwKm8tjmbDXj6oe9WiaX-YRyss146s/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXL9wgqCMK2OP7RxpUmBZY1BMGU6JtmV1D_IDruVZECnSri9r3cXyhjEpKljhgCZIJ_8vYeMedpCx-3xboYkjJBeAGmoTuTbJjKeDfXnnlQlNF_FwKm8tjmbDXj6oe9WiaX-YRyss146s/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+014.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Zcn6HVG1PuRe8PzTzDA-IiFcQWrGNU4omj8SzRWujjOJQqB42m23q0_n_W02XWmAjs1cB-2MLWCncrEYj4eOpJalGUs5Ob7QxR04qgz5zXIvG1VLsTvRZbIDCyAlO1Ipmwg6IE3xQu0/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Zcn6HVG1PuRe8PzTzDA-IiFcQWrGNU4omj8SzRWujjOJQqB42m23q0_n_W02XWmAjs1cB-2MLWCncrEYj4eOpJalGUs5Ob7QxR04qgz5zXIvG1VLsTvRZbIDCyAlO1Ipmwg6IE3xQu0/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+016.JPG" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Alice Springs, in and of itself, doesn't have much to offer. It is however the gateway to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and for that reason it is a place we have to visit. We spend a couple of days there before our trip to the red rock and meet some more people from Scotland (suddenly we are everywhere!), we climb 'Anzac Hill', a hill with a memorial to the Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in WWI. It gives us views across Alice Springs and there are two things that surprise me. The landscape is both rougher and more verdant than I had expected. I expected it to be totally, or almost totally, flat, with little to no scenery. Instead I find that trees surround us, albeit sparsely in places, and craggy hills cut across the land seeming to hem the town within their ochre walls.<br />
<br />
On a completely unrelated note, I'm pretty sure it's a law that any business here has to have the word 'Alice' in the title. Honestly. One of the more inspired ones being Al'ice' selling, of course, ice.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6S6GQBg9Tf0GjWT_Ke8jjUvKzwX8zdKRJ44T5E_jfVHRGruQIr8t2t2cVIoRMWsQyANebuuXC3H075h9La6mhcRAHD3QQJyeH7ydCFbv301Qz4Hzyk-KysYvhCXcSnN6sTcmXnjCUaI/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6S6GQBg9Tf0GjWT_Ke8jjUvKzwX8zdKRJ44T5E_jfVHRGruQIr8t2t2cVIoRMWsQyANebuuXC3H075h9La6mhcRAHD3QQJyeH7ydCFbv301Qz4Hzyk-KysYvhCXcSnN6sTcmXnjCUaI/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+033.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Alice</div>
<br />
Finally it is time to depart on a tour that will take is to Kings Canyon, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta. Kata Tjuta, which I had never heard of before coming here, is the other end of the same bit of rock as Uluru. The seam of sandstone passes under the ground and emerges about fifty kilometers away as a collection of red hills and domes. Many people say they even prefer Kata Tjuta to Uluru itself. Well we shall see.<br />
<br />
These three locations in question continue the long standing tradition in Australia of replacing perfectly good aboriginal names with English names ranging from the particularly uninspired (Mount Abrupt anyone?) to the flat out terrible. Uluru and Kata Tjuta have thankfully reclaimed their true names and the English names of Ayer's Rock and The Olgas are used less and less. The name King's Canyon however remains, named after, not a king, but Fieldon King, one of the financiers of an expedition into central Australia in 1872. Ernest Giles, the namer in question, also 'discovered' and named The Olgas. He intended on naming them after his benefactor Ferdinand Von Mueller but Ferdinand kindly declined and persuaded Giles to name them instead after Queen Olga of Wurttemberg as a thank you for making him a Baron. Unfortunately Giles was beaten to Uluru and just missed out on his hat trick. Instead a man named William Gosse found it and decided to forever memorialise Sir Henry Ayers, Chief Secretary of Southern Australia.<br />
<br />
We drive out of Alice when the sun is still crouched below the horizon. Kangaroos dash across the road through the pallid light of the false dawn and the the sun begins to rise. To one side of us the dark landscape stretches to a dash of bright azure blue, glowing on the horizon, above it the pink of dawn is followed by gradually darkening shades of blue that reach across the sky until the far horizon approaches through a pale grey veil. Pastel green, yellow, orange, then back to the awakening land.<br />
<br />
Then we come to our first stop: camels! When I arrived here I didn't even know there were any camels in Australia, but apparently there are. They were introduced between the years of 1860 and 1907 when ten thousand of them were imported from India to help with the colonisation of central and western Australia. They were used mainly for transport and for carrying items for construction. Now there are over three hundred thousand and, believe it or not, they are exported to countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia for racing, eating and even for tourism.<br />
<br />
Me and Laura take a ride on one; it is short, painful and not worth the money. But I had never been on a camel before so I felt I had to do it. My granny had often told me how uncomfortable they can be, little did I know.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLQ5ezNjp6J1FEs5u4NJppzs26HF0uBzlfHwq9pBxDtcd-5ftW_xOTx1DgEOE5XE6v-lBwbuReHZ3EoGYxhEgieYuTy5SNzhNpsk1bGwCDIOTp_mnql2fdGCg-QLC-EPSf7AskG7_pvQ/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLQ5ezNjp6J1FEs5u4NJppzs26HF0uBzlfHwq9pBxDtcd-5ftW_xOTx1DgEOE5XE6v-lBwbuReHZ3EoGYxhEgieYuTy5SNzhNpsk1bGwCDIOTp_mnql2fdGCg-QLC-EPSf7AskG7_pvQ/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+059.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vJJTgMrq3DFmP7Atk02nhoGoulXHFDMQ-XWr1NDJk-rDe5MDvnsS7V7ZD2uQwYoLTSwd3LLYG0Lxwb07ZQTewPtMGQtn9Ak6C0bbqHz73ctBW6H6f7A9gGK3kTthD8BJCvVLvbDFSZI/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vJJTgMrq3DFmP7Atk02nhoGoulXHFDMQ-XWr1NDJk-rDe5MDvnsS7V7ZD2uQwYoLTSwd3LLYG0Lxwb07ZQTewPtMGQtn9Ak6C0bbqHz73ctBW6H6f7A9gGK3kTthD8BJCvVLvbDFSZI/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+073.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Every town has a giant something, and they are all very proud of them. I've seen strawberries, kangaroos and echidnas to name a few. I've surprised Jerilderie didn't have a giant tomato.</div>
<br />
After a long drive we eventually arrive at King's Canyon. This land is amongst the oldest land on the planet, where New Zealand is a young country, tall and jagged, Australia is ancient and worn. The rocky hills around here are the remnants of mountain ranges that once would have towered above Mount Everest, and yet today not a single hill remains on this landmass that I would classify as a mountain. Wind, water and the wearing grind of time has scoured this whole continent. And here, a vast ancient slab of stone was long ago cracked both north-south and east-west by stress in the earth leaving a grid like structure of fissures leading deep into the stone. In the many years since then simple erosion has worn through these cracks creating a vast array of domes with the canyon itself, caused by similar underground movements, cutting through the centre. From afar they look like they are made of brick, and seem more reminiscent of Inca temples than natural rock formations.<br />
<br />
The rock is a bright orange and the sky is a clear and pale blue. Tufts of green cling to the steep sides of the cliffs and tops of the vast rounded rock. Within the largest fissures, and in the canyon itself, are oases blooming with life. Water pools and plants flourish, lizards, birds, snakes and spiders abound. I see no snakes, thankfully, but do see some Kites. I keep a look our for Peregrine Falcons which also inhabit the area, but unfortunately see none.<br />
<br />
We reach a ledge and see the canyon itself, it looks as if someone has cut through the rock and cleaved it away, as if some great artist took his pallet knife and sliced the unwanted clay from his masterpiece, leaving an edge smooth and unadorned. That particular cliff face was revealed as recently as 1991 when its own weight grew too much and it fell clean off, leaving clean, fresh rock behind. It is odd to think, when we all know how long it takes landscapes to change, that only twenty five years ago this would have been a very different place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXBfnnuW9lAWPtpWnsA6-OPsISjzdcpiACDB5E7FyoxM1dZbbpN7QXDj0gBzUI6b-s5aUUxNBYQP_yK6rm00EAyZFWA5IQDHAPHjkatxVBWufrHiAQpHk-lqZE3I95_GO0qxh2gRTNCQ/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXBfnnuW9lAWPtpWnsA6-OPsISjzdcpiACDB5E7FyoxM1dZbbpN7QXDj0gBzUI6b-s5aUUxNBYQP_yK6rm00EAyZFWA5IQDHAPHjkatxVBWufrHiAQpHk-lqZE3I95_GO0qxh2gRTNCQ/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+098.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvESl6P_Xa1RCM9Fe2OgCQq1FiPMcvFaMIPxsTziIPqqGsk1t8k_LjkjHFgwqZVE3rA3VBbjBFDq7GnjRUwa3LirZRWCDMQFEKHpZl6oZdZo8xnAUjCbMYZuwc_TkiTc1CfFtyrqKFM8/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvESl6P_Xa1RCM9Fe2OgCQq1FiPMcvFaMIPxsTziIPqqGsk1t8k_LjkjHFgwqZVE3rA3VBbjBFDq7GnjRUwa3LirZRWCDMQFEKHpZl6oZdZo8xnAUjCbMYZuwc_TkiTc1CfFtyrqKFM8/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+109.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2n-uFuv02ksn3kGZfZdF08nLJqG2aiHTZuJFh939emKWs_-GNhfs2SfWgJB_UYyaktr41wsA0d5leT0ZlMKtAgBmj8mALGxy9maPVwdlM9h85ZSt7_4yNcuGS3vv7-h-AXgRA4-3Ikk/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2n-uFuv02ksn3kGZfZdF08nLJqG2aiHTZuJFh939emKWs_-GNhfs2SfWgJB_UYyaktr41wsA0d5leT0ZlMKtAgBmj8mALGxy9maPVwdlM9h85ZSt7_4yNcuGS3vv7-h-AXgRA4-3Ikk/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+116.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7RvZKG6ZzY3T1xICuB2V2vigBl-pPqIOILYXoSdWMKdMSpUEOFiZLQdZA6N1hFxn4Ukc68h1WlEDcIPihmLRkONeguYEVIBN1yNwl1aMdLyWJqmONXVQgypR94X8vPQhPXtHTDGvlZg/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7RvZKG6ZzY3T1xICuB2V2vigBl-pPqIOILYXoSdWMKdMSpUEOFiZLQdZA6N1hFxn4Ukc68h1WlEDcIPihmLRkONeguYEVIBN1yNwl1aMdLyWJqmONXVQgypR94X8vPQhPXtHTDGvlZg/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+126.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XmkHmCecV613pqSjXhaYOOrwUnYjPz4EPVJe4p5N9Uroc4z7gY1sXUPmbPEfN_2y945iBvKmDxjVy_xAZBpyf40uS3CTEupiCC0kXnQSYjG1dT9I2TCOZvH8IKdW5_LtLORwdEcXELQ/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XmkHmCecV613pqSjXhaYOOrwUnYjPz4EPVJe4p5N9Uroc4z7gY1sXUPmbPEfN_2y945iBvKmDxjVy_xAZBpyf40uS3CTEupiCC0kXnQSYjG1dT9I2TCOZvH8IKdW5_LtLORwdEcXELQ/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+130.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHgLSWd3Z2muykQUwnITKS2Vl6fSy2qwhCl6WUdt1VvgPOgMHruHYEOYQ2FmVn3QbVlFa-_DL06ieMAsgHLUfbrSR6zSL90WOw9BK8ekVVuPAEk93qoVRIEgIcLucLWFWs8cm0-sApQY/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHgLSWd3Z2muykQUwnITKS2Vl6fSy2qwhCl6WUdt1VvgPOgMHruHYEOYQ2FmVn3QbVlFa-_DL06ieMAsgHLUfbrSR6zSL90WOw9BK8ekVVuPAEk93qoVRIEgIcLucLWFWs8cm0-sApQY/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+141.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPIOISw0CKje0Mz5NAZG81D_olzQg2GnS5ISxgRqYZuWmb_DM803bRbfEu9kCpMXmJK1Cm9xXpGvo4jvXynaklKlnJ3BfP1KUxUnbAlM3YViSLmdzbdO02BG_DT0o4XGbGlaTmJYmCQA/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPIOISw0CKje0Mz5NAZG81D_olzQg2GnS5ISxgRqYZuWmb_DM803bRbfEu9kCpMXmJK1Cm9xXpGvo4jvXynaklKlnJ3BfP1KUxUnbAlM3YViSLmdzbdO02BG_DT0o4XGbGlaTmJYmCQA/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+161.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Pride Rock anyone?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqaD740ts36_6QpaY1sUdJqKfpArimD4hYYKWcfme3ys7kpGLmq7U5Tvoef9fj8zj4nfxeYqObqOQOFd4fRfPgOboJZULepypQeaApnstlCeUVO35CQdGPhvariTnnFbuBuXdmHgnAT0/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqaD740ts36_6QpaY1sUdJqKfpArimD4hYYKWcfme3ys7kpGLmq7U5Tvoef9fj8zj4nfxeYqObqOQOFd4fRfPgOboJZULepypQeaApnstlCeUVO35CQdGPhvariTnnFbuBuXdmHgnAT0/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+167.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4ZPg9zZHhOynrzMU3X37jODfeSPbbOTCOI331dobJehSdpHctJIPWhuUG1n3M9xR2rUu2m3M-NtgMcIBmrzj-w98ib_Tv84wozp17A_CzxokoI7pj5bSXN4XYEFtTRehRHDtHWUbdbo/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4ZPg9zZHhOynrzMU3X37jODfeSPbbOTCOI331dobJehSdpHctJIPWhuUG1n3M9xR2rUu2m3M-NtgMcIBmrzj-w98ib_Tv84wozp17A_CzxokoI7pj5bSXN4XYEFtTRehRHDtHWUbdbo/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+174.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqSLWqgB35IarKSfjHjs-68EPgjs1MLQH6v1bfY1hj9Aj-FNMY6UF1LXx3pUMX64XqrDCZiCbab70x3kp8yhjqY5wUgERRVSNRo27iVIGMy1slA5Y1cnpDMQZPtKWsV8sDbuHRHux4Pw/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqSLWqgB35IarKSfjHjs-68EPgjs1MLQH6v1bfY1hj9Aj-FNMY6UF1LXx3pUMX64XqrDCZiCbab70x3kp8yhjqY5wUgERRVSNRo27iVIGMy1slA5Y1cnpDMQZPtKWsV8sDbuHRHux4Pw/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+189.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UFjgJm-Y88hn-mjkkmbakmkfgaqCJ-LNRMGe2HL7ThDP2tsnMw4cDGlER84s5Yp-fbZhXrQ-D_hrEtql9gsl2KdLtxJfLHREW-d3jFg57FRApBOSapqFYBX4U1Y9zKBwPwx6GFlvB68/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UFjgJm-Y88hn-mjkkmbakmkfgaqCJ-LNRMGe2HL7ThDP2tsnMw4cDGlER84s5Yp-fbZhXrQ-D_hrEtql9gsl2KdLtxJfLHREW-d3jFg57FRApBOSapqFYBX4U1Y9zKBwPwx6GFlvB68/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+131.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEStbwu5D7dVuFL9V9BEEisbUIIhsZcPbxNwqZ37zErEimpyEgoCnnxRjNBk0aGjN0zUDaH4pNyPlNuLhxyOW-4vcfV3JtnmI9iPcsOQlHtS4s_PhobmaCG3UN7TgH91qrrvOMKE8e1k/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEStbwu5D7dVuFL9V9BEEisbUIIhsZcPbxNwqZ37zErEimpyEgoCnnxRjNBk0aGjN0zUDaH4pNyPlNuLhxyOW-4vcfV3JtnmI9iPcsOQlHtS4s_PhobmaCG3UN7TgH91qrrvOMKE8e1k/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+192.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
We finish our walk around King's Canyon and head back to the bus. The plan is to stop and gather some firewood on the way home and be back in the camp-site before it gets dark. We drive along a road that stretches to the sky in both directions when our driver, seemingly spotting a good wood gathering area, suddenly turns and the bus careens off the road down a small slope and, inevitably, gets stuck. The back of the bus is propped on higher ground than the front and the back wheels are slightly lifted so can't get purchase on the ground, the trailer behind it is still half on the road.<br />
The driver is one of those people who refuses to accept any help from anyone. He runs around digging, getting rocks, attempting to detach the trailer, and refuses to listen to any of our suggestions. A bus containing another tour group comes along and we start to flag it down. Our driver tells us not to because he doesn't need their help. He does. So we do.<br />
<br />
After much work that involves sticking spades underneath wheels and driving over them, and almost taking out a posse of backpackers with an unleashed trailer, the bus comes free to tumultuous applause. We gather wood as the sun sets, then take the same disastrous route back, though this time successfully.<br />
And this is the worst part, when we flagged down the second bus driver and he got out to help he took one look at our driver and sighed then said, “Not again.”<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ0u_x6QsfIBKOrbXCSxkFQI3-Zlt0DC5rMHnOWzOrdfuCOt9KrP2jiyqhAekccXeSBNfo9hp9Vs8DrEeZ_qZkf347hY3fm59fm35aU9LAADs0d31CPiVTI3mq5qQJ2ifXmEqALDpZZM/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ0u_x6QsfIBKOrbXCSxkFQI3-Zlt0DC5rMHnOWzOrdfuCOt9KrP2jiyqhAekccXeSBNfo9hp9Vs8DrEeZ_qZkf347hY3fm59fm35aU9LAADs0d31CPiVTI3mq5qQJ2ifXmEqALDpZZM/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+217.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHRMcgvcuNiuY_wp1yvmRywH97JKrAteTg0-IdN5QY4j6ZUEI4cKbdPbCHnHMEwsL0aPdXMuJmoBFiF3ZjScBpR5CKXAj7vlYaqfaK75gFPx8KS2_qKddwtRXwcj5728ZSqM-ommDSJ0/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHRMcgvcuNiuY_wp1yvmRywH97JKrAteTg0-IdN5QY4j6ZUEI4cKbdPbCHnHMEwsL0aPdXMuJmoBFiF3ZjScBpR5CKXAj7vlYaqfaK75gFPx8KS2_qKddwtRXwcj5728ZSqM-ommDSJ0/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+219.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4zmj4nDQBFpMUUSN6x3JCQ_uDzpXsl6xFRdgQLi1R9zpx8RUUfUlU3rg0xBJ7qQsJhFtuAYfcjIiU2STS6MHXm24ljBHMndGG9-9Mu3JFdCE_JeWhhH-GnMQwnzTLlekMh3p06Zv0dU/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4zmj4nDQBFpMUUSN6x3JCQ_uDzpXsl6xFRdgQLi1R9zpx8RUUfUlU3rg0xBJ7qQsJhFtuAYfcjIiU2STS6MHXm24ljBHMndGG9-9Mu3JFdCE_JeWhhH-GnMQwnzTLlekMh3p06Zv0dU/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+235.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We have a barbecue back at the campsite and lay our swags out in a circle around the fire and under the stars. We have a pretty good group, about twenty, a quarter of whom are Italian, although they make about three quarters of the noise. They are fantastic. Rowdy, changeable, passionate, tactile; very, very Italian. We get on like a house on fire.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The rest of our group is mainly spread across Europe and China, with one wonderful Taiwanese girl (woman?) called Ting. She has been living on the roads of the world for, if I recall correctly, six years or so, and stops for work when she needs to. She is currently hitch-hiking her way up the centre of Australia and has a rather unfortunate story involving an old man exposing himself, but apart from that seems to be loving life.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sometimes she does or says things that other people might find offensive, but I genuinely think it is just a cultural thing and she has no idea that she could be causing offence. She decides that this poor French girl looked like Roger Federer and proceeds to spend the entire tour calling her Roger and asking her about tennis and life in Switzerland. At one point she even gets a picture of him out and started parading it around so we can all compare. I don't think the girl knows who Roger Federer is, which probably makes it worse.</div>
<br />
That night we sleep in our swags beside the dying embers of the fire. Swags are, if you don't know, glorified sleeping bags. Sort of a large waterproof sleeping bag and camping mat combined into one. Whatever they are, they are comfy. Sleeping outside in the open like this is simply amazing, I wake briefly in the night and find the Milky-Way plastered in a pale band above me. A three-quarter moon blazes with silver-white, beautiful, but too bright. I retreat into my swag and go back to sleep.<br />
The next morning we are up with the dawn and on the road to Uluru. We stop off within view of a different rock structure affectionately called 'Fooluru', as it similarly dominates the landscape around it. The sand here is a red that I have never experienced. It is terracotta, smooth and bright; rust, deep and textured. We ask our guide and he says that, while we are still outside of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, we are allowed to take some sand with us. I fill a litre water bottle to distribute amongst us sand-collecters at the end of the tour.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYmRlhq3Z250dCa5Y_FD-sF9aT4GGr4-xReJB2Kxv-4tqCXLhUXPS3es1kA6VySPJgOGRDGGcgB3w9E2W9e2e7VW9CPAqWw8cKAM9A5FeFeEG4dXg24xAAyKpw5aKnuDyDZKr5a3iIv8/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYmRlhq3Z250dCa5Y_FD-sF9aT4GGr4-xReJB2Kxv-4tqCXLhUXPS3es1kA6VySPJgOGRDGGcgB3w9E2W9e2e7VW9CPAqWw8cKAM9A5FeFeEG4dXg24xAAyKpw5aKnuDyDZKr5a3iIv8/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+245.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The remnants of our camp.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu63g79H6m_-GQhvSpDp4s8wqEEL6Mus7nOcO8kkdleDGuATN_Z7Dkmnf2HjulX7h7_i90A4LIopqCB4WKzdthD_fcofky4x3usKyZzHy0jDMyu99jbI3MMb2XL1SDfdYyWoOmvx_HvU/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu63g79H6m_-GQhvSpDp4s8wqEEL6Mus7nOcO8kkdleDGuATN_Z7Dkmnf2HjulX7h7_i90A4LIopqCB4WKzdthD_fcofky4x3usKyZzHy0jDMyu99jbI3MMb2XL1SDfdYyWoOmvx_HvU/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+249.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fooluru</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsuwOEZqkSHeYzUQnc5UnWIVBBLIFY7agaKoR5RHgv_5HEQupwk7Vy88Sfv7YDJ2BtnkTrFZXxOg7R4yEFCp_zA9JZQnoCuJFH8L8nldCMOQLoD9R4THFGLMpA2V2os0oqSMa04iOuGI/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsuwOEZqkSHeYzUQnc5UnWIVBBLIFY7agaKoR5RHgv_5HEQupwk7Vy88Sfv7YDJ2BtnkTrFZXxOg7R4yEFCp_zA9JZQnoCuJFH8L8nldCMOQLoD9R4THFGLMpA2V2os0oqSMa04iOuGI/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+252.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5vJtj84Jla8ev_vi1cdBVEHsueCEr4YnzMx_W-AddL5QPNhvUwOk2rpo9YTldue5I2YL3dhpZCGoBTckqU79CDNIicRPADCBlyZLZ1uHb8hyphenhyphenpy77TBI7bmNvuYTTDlvEb6zd9BnQcU8/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5vJtj84Jla8ev_vi1cdBVEHsueCEr4YnzMx_W-AddL5QPNhvUwOk2rpo9YTldue5I2YL3dhpZCGoBTckqU79CDNIicRPADCBlyZLZ1uHb8hyphenhyphenpy77TBI7bmNvuYTTDlvEb6zd9BnQcU8/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+254.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just look at that colour!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
We drive across the vast plains and between the rocky knolls that populate the outback. The landscape relentlessly slides past me and Elbow sing to me of the wonder of life. Of open doors, of love, of change, of the take off and landing of everything. The song builds and builds until the world seems to be speeding in a blur to either side. And then I see it, in a gap between two small crags, a vast monolith, red as the setting sun. Uluru.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kbLZKZILuTA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
“Over my shoulder and just as I leave,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I see you slipping the world up your sleeve,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We'll take it and run.”</div>
<br />
After that brief glimpse it is gone, and I see no more for the rest of our drive. Eventually we pull into our second camp-site, almost in time for lunch. There is a little hill behind up that offers views of the surrounding land, we eagerly climb and get our first proper view of what we are here to see. The sky is utterly blue and the land is green with patches of rust. The horizon is a perfect line all around, save for two points. To one side is the distant Kata Tjuta and to the other is Uluru. It looks much as it does in photos, and I'm sure mine will look just like the others. But they do not truly convey it at all. Even from this far off there is a weight to it, a feeling not just of size, and it is immense, but of time and age. It seems almost like a relic from an ancient world long ground to dust.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaIBgRIe7oPM4-KQf0pcOV4pKY4fxRYK5uIjrM3ZpQ0FpyBhE1PLoAqlP4JNRUvunoUJbRZlZd5g850O6lge_9Dy2__G43QqPHhzZU8b-IwuXsxO3G2kX9wkeElSjdzycxu1tCl7Ih7g/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaIBgRIe7oPM4-KQf0pcOV4pKY4fxRYK5uIjrM3ZpQ0FpyBhE1PLoAqlP4JNRUvunoUJbRZlZd5g850O6lge_9Dy2__G43QqPHhzZU8b-IwuXsxO3G2kX9wkeElSjdzycxu1tCl7Ih7g/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+257.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Four caterpillars masquerading as one.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh973lQR0yxVTnR30khnXBNDB9xiYOFluBjjP2WyFvrySWNxskKgiim5Gf8s_1QBp50NoudBJf5OldoIrfmuYGU8zfe1Io8BE8miuiqGUeeQGeVzvRBQYL0Wa3-s9lcCt_4nkRFTLVWCC0/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh973lQR0yxVTnR30khnXBNDB9xiYOFluBjjP2WyFvrySWNxskKgiim5Gf8s_1QBp50NoudBJf5OldoIrfmuYGU8zfe1Io8BE8miuiqGUeeQGeVzvRBQYL0Wa3-s9lcCt_4nkRFTLVWCC0/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+263.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlfbSPU0T2kCAjd1GYp0KCmoSHbxZFn5YgsBVRQ6t1HmmrRra4BjG5FP7upIYclscnpMlFXMWISYzbxc8e_HyC6qju1cN3eEFFoNMmKy3HsePCa7RKc6bFRtqNzyjoHz2SKEdYTg_p8w/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlfbSPU0T2kCAjd1GYp0KCmoSHbxZFn5YgsBVRQ6t1HmmrRra4BjG5FP7upIYclscnpMlFXMWISYzbxc8e_HyC6qju1cN3eEFFoNMmKy3HsePCa7RKc6bFRtqNzyjoHz2SKEdYTg_p8w/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+266.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxanqjni_fZhA9VkdVFvb73nbTk1Ad--ttjhx8Xzfe4rACpxIGj7CRbIlj2NxNyuKoN3Fojdt06Sn56RYQd-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
We take the required selfies then wolf down lunch. It is time to circumnavigate The Rock. The whole way around it is a ten and a half kilometre walk, it is a big rock. Our guide drives us around the whole thing then drops us off at various locations depending on how long a walk we each want to do. Four of us go the whole way including, of course, myself.<br />
Up close it is a completely different place. You don't truly realise its size until it is towering above you. I don't know what I was expecting but whatever it was is a pale reflection of reality. There are vales and glens twisting in from its edge, sheer vertical cliffs and gentle rocky slopes. Some parts of it are so smooth they could have been sanded, some could be made of huge sheets of iron long gone to rust. Holes pock-mark parts of its surface, caused by the spears of fearsome warriors in old aboriginal legend. Great steps wend their way up to the heights above; watercourses that spend the year dry only to turn to cascading waterfalls for a day or two after the rare rain.<br />
<br />
And the colours. Infinite azure blue creates exquisite contrast with the deep orange blood of the earth. And a sea of greens, browns and reds supports it all. When Uluru is in shade the bright of the orange fades until it appears almost grey, and indeed the rock itself is grey, but the earth here is saturated with iron causing anything that is exposed to the elements to literally rust, giving it the colour we know so well.<br />
<br />
We continue round and it seems almost unbelievable that we can still be circling the same structure. Caves like giant mouths yawn ominously over me. In some the rock seems to drip like melted wax that suddenly hardened. Some of the caves have aboriginal paintings in them, none particularly old and they normally paint over them every few years. They are used to teach children the stories of their ancestors, so when the time comes for the children to learn a certain story they return to the place where that story is told and tell it again, painting it as they do. Who is to know how old some of these stories are, and how much they have changed over the thousands of years since their creation, like Chinese whispers across the generations.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ID3TxYY-_4YTtrGYX4OpgK7yeOY7G9n1bWnticxSTrIxapLZU0_VIMTrC1RW0Gx3d-VpTBj5STv-aOkn_0dGfCdAag2pM6_l68VziC56LCJvj2FQSXp2ymzfH5wJStFYfc47ijb809E/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ID3TxYY-_4YTtrGYX4OpgK7yeOY7G9n1bWnticxSTrIxapLZU0_VIMTrC1RW0Gx3d-VpTBj5STv-aOkn_0dGfCdAag2pM6_l68VziC56LCJvj2FQSXp2ymzfH5wJStFYfc47ijb809E/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+296.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-7aJtL0yfM9SI7tLoO79zZcZyaqy9l5T2iiWSaRW4A8OTiNbE4w-sadfWZmahgQlZuP1yWyXKIyDVz7R0YzjjsOqdiR8Wjt9INoWU1p3vuCO9tjwXgeG9UHe2aijdLJraTAcdhfAU3Y/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-7aJtL0yfM9SI7tLoO79zZcZyaqy9l5T2iiWSaRW4A8OTiNbE4w-sadfWZmahgQlZuP1yWyXKIyDVz7R0YzjjsOqdiR8Wjt9INoWU1p3vuCO9tjwXgeG9UHe2aijdLJraTAcdhfAU3Y/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+301.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPEJzygKjLySi7lYCrlfouPGpDLTmaIp6GqMVi9AtbfNCm1VEPohK4kgvAvTzUBojDkKUl3_emVxSKgdP9iOHjLv62QEe2WDbfrZgj84eyGggapbJ-E532t55SL3WWsqOv_r9ygi_x10/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPEJzygKjLySi7lYCrlfouPGpDLTmaIp6GqMVi9AtbfNCm1VEPohK4kgvAvTzUBojDkKUl3_emVxSKgdP9iOHjLv62QEe2WDbfrZgj84eyGggapbJ-E532t55SL3WWsqOv_r9ygi_x10/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+309.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb1z4jhfMxxN4kIjQ5hJIDJ1POLei_vEv3RqK2w2sMjUIUCMR5Ovq1c_48LZ2kY2JVlwKE751tfK-olty7ioxq-6NYP6DxbhMi4mkPwX2GznotAfXVcERS78X7QgmbCQCxqSAMEmSrVs/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb1z4jhfMxxN4kIjQ5hJIDJ1POLei_vEv3RqK2w2sMjUIUCMR5Ovq1c_48LZ2kY2JVlwKE751tfK-olty7ioxq-6NYP6DxbhMi4mkPwX2GznotAfXVcERS78X7QgmbCQCxqSAMEmSrVs/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+312.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0q313NMUhyphenhyphen5dkbfEuamHU214XfFVatgvzs8eo6fje4Tnn_MDXEMwFqI8siGV7QrEmjQABVAgZeevkX3ZVa7d7_oU8hHFzr9dbEX1AQEN3aNbx9nlH5DmyR0PZ-qJ3E4EHwlagy6qe6s/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0q313NMUhyphenhyphen5dkbfEuamHU214XfFVatgvzs8eo6fje4Tnn_MDXEMwFqI8siGV7QrEmjQABVAgZeevkX3ZVa7d7_oU8hHFzr9dbEX1AQEN3aNbx9nlH5DmyR0PZ-qJ3E4EHwlagy6qe6s/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+322.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rock face. Get it?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2t7eISOYhkzez4QPQzrxVS_za-9LxYKTc-iHFIIzwMpNrcrxwaR_ZouCzdS17QoHNdXP-0E9hm3FNHSklj8W0t1iYvsSsmcwhlIJdg3NPYZl4ZsKCBu1LI3gsmpeESbaJ6xxglh3p2M/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2t7eISOYhkzez4QPQzrxVS_za-9LxYKTc-iHFIIzwMpNrcrxwaR_ZouCzdS17QoHNdXP-0E9hm3FNHSklj8W0t1iYvsSsmcwhlIJdg3NPYZl4ZsKCBu1LI3gsmpeESbaJ6xxglh3p2M/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+331.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1s5fZlB5xF6thsJ7f9SHju1Weit6Cz8dAgGd3JwG7eCR44jXM0cUeawQPKnZiYBrN_tCp9s110GvwlHTLMw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But the onion bush was VERY interesting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDldPViWAljWj-vB_Jq5-BpI6raRFvELIC7qFkS27QL3w-m37O1vHPsj8635JZfqMJtFiZllvdXl2_yIFKIsWS0ov7OUyQEBiAiyQfH1jNPHMEowWdOcVUkx2uwVdUOfP7rNaUEEOq1s/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDldPViWAljWj-vB_Jq5-BpI6raRFvELIC7qFkS27QL3w-m37O1vHPsj8635JZfqMJtFiZllvdXl2_yIFKIsWS0ov7OUyQEBiAiyQfH1jNPHMEowWdOcVUkx2uwVdUOfP7rNaUEEOq1s/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+332.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Trees appear like shrubs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-tF1ikpHkCzGEd6ut4rRSLopezsi_QHKNHrANnJajREgAcly0dbv90A_3LANiNSW2o6T5DQCBaqhOBGv6tzGzI8AUFQ-R5G0mnxcy6mPDDjgkMv-hSew70KIkGzRbfeeiJ9n5hzTkFo/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-tF1ikpHkCzGEd6ut4rRSLopezsi_QHKNHrANnJajREgAcly0dbv90A_3LANiNSW2o6T5DQCBaqhOBGv6tzGzI8AUFQ-R5G0mnxcy6mPDDjgkMv-hSew70KIkGzRbfeeiJ9n5hzTkFo/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+354.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUGqb-D83N21BP4CxHrjJkCfq6SMs0In5phQNze-kvkmAkaAkX0t8EwzwyN0gfF8exirzFe5ZmVA-hdDSntrB6DjmFcAFli4jhHYCLQOhyphenhyphenzOtr-VMZsEa8-fGvdE9LETHseOVJZgnGsk/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUGqb-D83N21BP4CxHrjJkCfq6SMs0In5phQNze-kvkmAkaAkX0t8EwzwyN0gfF8exirzFe5ZmVA-hdDSntrB6DjmFcAFli4jhHYCLQOhyphenhyphenzOtr-VMZsEa8-fGvdE9LETHseOVJZgnGsk/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+357.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC3xoSvnPYW8IBE9_Vv4xQwKd5pAR62ModceK59NjBXVdmH89A98UkoK5WTrJ4Sdwp9XZwpN53DasBSC6FTy5e823ulwwJ5RILpqweI8VPis0c6hyphenhyphenv55rgYQos-zuRAAkKIuH24VeF4c/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC3xoSvnPYW8IBE9_Vv4xQwKd5pAR62ModceK59NjBXVdmH89A98UkoK5WTrJ4Sdwp9XZwpN53DasBSC6FTy5e823ulwwJ5RILpqweI8VPis0c6hyphenhyphenv55rgYQos-zuRAAkKIuH24VeF4c/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+366.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More faces.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT28XvxFqo0TruVfacGaMQGceAL9xZ1KdZ24jX4inMCPX1Ei4x8JwgEr7m1H1Xjpd-fKPeAfFkr0umoGdbk19psu2FIdspwy66C8QgLW-ohyphenhyphenqCg9uMdh-ectZH-LdbmVxEjpn4eAdUOAc/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT28XvxFqo0TruVfacGaMQGceAL9xZ1KdZ24jX4inMCPX1Ei4x8JwgEr7m1H1Xjpd-fKPeAfFkr0umoGdbk19psu2FIdspwy66C8QgLW-ohyphenhyphenqCg9uMdh-ectZH-LdbmVxEjpn4eAdUOAc/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+374.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiP7qLzes1_O2JxmRrBBe7KY_Wrng2cB7gaVMSj4XLurmiFwXnYGIr0J0i-Lf9YbNxj_5oiycsVGEm3RKr6-tuk_besScWX5eu84Z_tgL140D4d6eIEIxbeoJxKc9Gj5rV-YCOanrqTU/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiP7qLzes1_O2JxmRrBBe7KY_Wrng2cB7gaVMSj4XLurmiFwXnYGIr0J0i-Lf9YbNxj_5oiycsVGEm3RKr6-tuk_besScWX5eu84Z_tgL140D4d6eIEIxbeoJxKc9Gj5rV-YCOanrqTU/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+393.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGrbVg3GEnGs_M-d5DSbO6UeC-mBSv9JRWX-fsaxff7Rq7hsR0DOpwGT9sOB3-gxAlplJxu_axlaEgIFY62-70R8uxu8GlI4SPPEuH0TWyu8jW9CZOFsI-0LPRG0Eb04kD1SCYMmtJpE/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGrbVg3GEnGs_M-d5DSbO6UeC-mBSv9JRWX-fsaxff7Rq7hsR0DOpwGT9sOB3-gxAlplJxu_axlaEgIFY62-70R8uxu8GlI4SPPEuH0TWyu8jW9CZOFsI-0LPRG0Eb04kD1SCYMmtJpE/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+399.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O62guaEDqDeJzNFgK3JffVyAtKg779z3spKIbFiNhrJOctoLHbcltuW6wIhqO6L7yd_oHRPlmCCFtRGeutWI63xF9KX9JSsCMvJCyvg0V8W5v7MtdFwlrV4vSwA62vdMahwM0jYuX_0/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O62guaEDqDeJzNFgK3JffVyAtKg779z3spKIbFiNhrJOctoLHbcltuW6wIhqO6L7yd_oHRPlmCCFtRGeutWI63xF9KX9JSsCMvJCyvg0V8W5v7MtdFwlrV4vSwA62vdMahwM0jYuX_0/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+402.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
None of us make the climb to the top, this place is sacred to the Aboriginals and even they would not climb it. It is like a stranger invading their most private place and defiling it. The climb should be closed, and it will be closed when less than twenty percent of tourists use it. The numbers these days are down to about twenty seven percent, so hopefully it won't be long. From afar a line of ants seem to be slowly crawling their way up a ridge wearing a pale grey path as they go, revealing the true colours of the rock and their own insensitivity.<br />
<br />
We make our way to where we will watch the sunset. Our whole day has been filled with dire warnings about missing the sunset. Ever since we woke, before dawn, up Ting has taken up the role of taskmaster and hurried us on our way with ralying calls of 'we don't want to miss the sunset'. Well we arrive on time and our guide quickly produces eight bottles of champagne. We instantly forgive him for any off-road transgression the day before. Sefies with Uluru abound. The daylight drops and the rock grows redder and redder as the sky darkens and blooms into colour. Someone wants a group photo so we all turn our backs on Uluru. We miss the sunset.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2WudrByqRWDxBn5sFqYWJz01mULBCGPvuD1oLxi6n1g-RIt8z8ypCKtcmCUNMp_jlCdSK_lIH9nuQEVtKD8q76B6rQqEO-sLmhugYJUbEWWXPGfmLeDDcBkW5LjvAGU1lFPcdi4i3fM/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2WudrByqRWDxBn5sFqYWJz01mULBCGPvuD1oLxi6n1g-RIt8z8ypCKtcmCUNMp_jlCdSK_lIH9nuQEVtKD8q76B6rQqEO-sLmhugYJUbEWWXPGfmLeDDcBkW5LjvAGU1lFPcdi4i3fM/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+409.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
By the time we have to drive back to camp some of us, mainly the Scottish and the Italians, have had too much champagne and not enough food. The back of the bus swiftly descends into a strobe-lit topless rave, presided over by DJ Laura. We return to camp and have to swiftly return to normality in order to cook dinner.<br />
We spend another night in our swags under the stars. Ting's delightful conversation makes her an excellent swag buddy and Laura and I quickly stake our claims to either side of her. We don't stay up too late. After all, we don't want to miss the sunrise.<br />
<br />
We arrive at our sunrise viewing spot, just to the side of Kata Tjuta, about half an hour before sunrise. Even as we drive along the road towards it the sky is changing behind us, colours seeping into the deep navy above, lightening it and blending with it like ink. I run up the walkway that winds round the back of the hill and crest it to one the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.<br />
The horizon could be cut with diamond, so precise does it look. The world is simply split in two, below there is but black while above there is a dazzling white glow, hovering just above the skyline, and it exudes colour into the world around it. Bright yellow and sandy orange, pastel pink and violet. And between the two worlds stands Uluru, magnificent and strong. It loses none of its potency across the distance that separates us and reduces it to but a bump that mars the perfect black line before us. If anything it seems even greater, for there is no greater setting for it. The whole world is obscured and yet it protrudes into vision, demanding attention, and above it the light is brightest, as if celebrating in its glory.<br />
I remember that is is Easter morning, there really is no more perfect way to celebrate than with the view before me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbpSyr7VWKLrY3OdIq5rainkbobVp6tkg_UHsQkSuNK2hhKBENifBZPvkgrAUe1BGLsVyxEDrdI0uB8emvP26c0VnvEmCxFxuLMwXkwR97qPFLpfU89kbbRMHQoZIGOoNQGcfMHDIqwI/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbpSyr7VWKLrY3OdIq5rainkbobVp6tkg_UHsQkSuNK2hhKBENifBZPvkgrAUe1BGLsVyxEDrdI0uB8emvP26c0VnvEmCxFxuLMwXkwR97qPFLpfU89kbbRMHQoZIGOoNQGcfMHDIqwI/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+425.JPG" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Slowly asthe time passes the colours change, the bright glow is diffused throughout the sky and the purples and violets retreat to shades of grey blue floating on a golden sea. Never have I been so aware of the immensity of the sky. The gilded orange on the horizon grows deeper and brighter, emanating from a single point, just to the side of Uluru. Then the sun sends its first golden rays across the land and the world brightens about me. The whole process is utterly beautiful, but I think none of it compares to that first moment when I crested the hill, I will remember it forever.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz3I5_q0jchPsmofHBPG99USFIpgpAfGRIfbj0PgzwjP1j2vp_KtynKGIsHR3hMYGKGwVDsvh4otsrqI17x3A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1822411407"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXNA9Ou5UtxQZjQ9We6fhYRRFIaxa6mWKA4i25euMYZLoSKGV1X0nuZ_JV6C71wQ5gKBBpwFu452wNEz566A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vain attempts to capture the glory.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEhV1jbaFbpca-EcrkBc1Bs4bNAMa2EW6BaFd0H-zkkc6aesXpBPb8Yt3ABwU6qXq1H1ARlRdd7AeAGPf10_dPfdRT1ezuVgFWgrs9Q4dCSgf5yxCyWoQrJ-1PIQ7H_v6mxLRHcmaW1o/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEhV1jbaFbpca-EcrkBc1Bs4bNAMa2EW6BaFd0H-zkkc6aesXpBPb8Yt3ABwU6qXq1H1ARlRdd7AeAGPf10_dPfdRT1ezuVgFWgrs9Q4dCSgf5yxCyWoQrJ-1PIQ7H_v6mxLRHcmaW1o/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+433.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezivRvRNylYu59XW4hbWdjR2LXGJU7bLj4_ct1S9U0xQiOlwS9yN9dVUGKyP2-3pToDsa5ubOcxqDiA75uS-58etY_KGUbyh9bs2tCc5f-MIcSP1AhnaAVzGZUgsstmFWMWwG8DsnaNU/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezivRvRNylYu59XW4hbWdjR2LXGJU7bLj4_ct1S9U0xQiOlwS9yN9dVUGKyP2-3pToDsa5ubOcxqDiA75uS-58etY_KGUbyh9bs2tCc5f-MIcSP1AhnaAVzGZUgsstmFWMWwG8DsnaNU/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+444.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOMqgHD6pwGUTaxhP9YFmenmuoWDoYdP-op68x9hREjPzWpqRJFDJh5LbuErbKsCUntCzj8dmhfGMEZDN8jF2sb9fQwpxpEeaMD9z-7SrtdlKQJhLJT6cufu2fWffZq1EP13tzhj_Sqs/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOMqgHD6pwGUTaxhP9YFmenmuoWDoYdP-op68x9hREjPzWpqRJFDJh5LbuErbKsCUntCzj8dmhfGMEZDN8jF2sb9fQwpxpEeaMD9z-7SrtdlKQJhLJT6cufu2fWffZq1EP13tzhj_Sqs/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+451.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The sun breaches.</div>
<br />
The rest of the day we spend in Kata Tjuta. From afar it certainly does not have the same spectacular immensity of Uluru, even though it takes up more space. But walking through it, between the towering domes of burning stone and through the verdant green valleys abundant with life, I can honestly say that I prefer it. It has more beauty, and the beauty is gradually revealed. Uluru is immediate and arresting, Kata Tjuta is mystical and forgotten. We walk through a valley of green that would have felt at home in the British Isles if it weren't for the lofty orange belfries that encircled it. Then we pass over a ridge that reveals a valley, or plain, I'm not sure, that I would happily spend the rest of my life in. I know I often claim to see things that are more beautiful than anything I've ever seen, but that is how it feels to me at the time. No doubt it is not true, if I had to compare this view to the one from the top of Ben Lomond in New Zealand which would I choose? I have no idea. But at this moment I cannot imagine anywhere more perfect.<br />
Here the saffron domes are transformed into golden green monuments, profuse with plants and birds. They rise from the plain triumphantly, and block out any trace of the world beyond. There might not be a world beyond. There need not be a world beyond, I could stay here forever.<br />
Of course, photos cannot begin to portray it, but I take them anyway in the vain hope that if my memory fades they will make a fit replacement.</div>
<div>
<br />
We walk through the valley and I never want it to end, but of course it must. We pass between two sheer cliff faces that can't be more than one or two hundred meters apart. They tower above us, one black one orange, and frame the interminable sapphire.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFem-VIRXsD6Q7SnzVoNZsZpuXAiTKC5P5ruJxNJaopk2NAJnmO-3I1kNkZfOLmPX6oHeKPjinnXTZzgIF262D2gmRXTbHwno4Jqgz8H0xX5Ow-w6_uNvzm6fTekrboFo_2kuoL3rvEns/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFem-VIRXsD6Q7SnzVoNZsZpuXAiTKC5P5ruJxNJaopk2NAJnmO-3I1kNkZfOLmPX6oHeKPjinnXTZzgIF262D2gmRXTbHwno4Jqgz8H0xX5Ow-w6_uNvzm6fTekrboFo_2kuoL3rvEns/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+488.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq-C6Hv5eL-8fynb6bOUbZaZZ2gfRsR80Klh8KYahObJpjMuHmFZ1or2A74vMTW_L5ES9vmYUs5h_hYgWiXWTu06nAkEakN5mqMO3lOxLGlr0NN2Qm-lf5dQXnddjsnpX7cz3-1OsmQs/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq-C6Hv5eL-8fynb6bOUbZaZZ2gfRsR80Klh8KYahObJpjMuHmFZ1or2A74vMTW_L5ES9vmYUs5h_hYgWiXWTu06nAkEakN5mqMO3lOxLGlr0NN2Qm-lf5dQXnddjsnpX7cz3-1OsmQs/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+499.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_ZmmmpwRIxozwyStBQHtiPc-nmW_w_xYNp6ENqeSlSPaSEX5OqZmbdTHPf7a-Sm7W2CyIYSu2WQZFYPBE1IQtzDohNWL0JdB_6san2lQj8sFk3Ei8U3t_mjFr8KOVmpJY68nkLNnuLs/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_ZmmmpwRIxozwyStBQHtiPc-nmW_w_xYNp6ENqeSlSPaSEX5OqZmbdTHPf7a-Sm7W2CyIYSu2WQZFYPBE1IQtzDohNWL0JdB_6san2lQj8sFk3Ei8U3t_mjFr8KOVmpJY68nkLNnuLs/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+503.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sn-fXQNYuCQJYw7Lg-g5BFehSqJ6t5B7cCpzR9dJxOuAh-i0iPQIX2uQONxBnzCEgisF5qtpFtcI54MxlBDdiF5ya0LYeU4AetsiVYUEtAhpe0Kyr2k8SOqnLumiAScyZONhE8cq5cQ/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sn-fXQNYuCQJYw7Lg-g5BFehSqJ6t5B7cCpzR9dJxOuAh-i0iPQIX2uQONxBnzCEgisF5qtpFtcI54MxlBDdiF5ya0LYeU4AetsiVYUEtAhpe0Kyr2k8SOqnLumiAScyZONhE8cq5cQ/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+515.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-fY0MQbtDx0LsWmSBpfFi8jD5fHKbi3kKnkBRPRnyNw7WdX7O2cJf3quqMmAJERHyqo7mr7FJEv05hbj5bFk2DeZvYVBC_qn04TebGGuu10SC6ZwE6sMhpqCMPoEI2-NgVdW-yf-V6o/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-fY0MQbtDx0LsWmSBpfFi8jD5fHKbi3kKnkBRPRnyNw7WdX7O2cJf3quqMmAJERHyqo7mr7FJEv05hbj5bFk2DeZvYVBC_qn04TebGGuu10SC6ZwE6sMhpqCMPoEI2-NgVdW-yf-V6o/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+518.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHkAeyvhfPc1hf-30aeO0S4sOlGZPNvLqUYhOAsQ1gwL_iX-8W6if0MYZm9jTCIZb3lq6f6Mi4kUpk8FUEpLpB84EX3Rn8LGDO5sY0SDLnt3E8u4oB6sncHC1mkKEh4KjEJWuURsdwXo/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHkAeyvhfPc1hf-30aeO0S4sOlGZPNvLqUYhOAsQ1gwL_iX-8W6if0MYZm9jTCIZb3lq6f6Mi4kUpk8FUEpLpB84EX3Rn8LGDO5sY0SDLnt3E8u4oB6sncHC1mkKEh4KjEJWuURsdwXo/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+522.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrihts98OC1mxPOCB5NONS4PZD8nVJ8O9hn2cImuIr-3nhDbDA6WnUV31DBZDyqLusddKsFqK-zGShc_FTaS2_mKaRiuScbdYHntQgS4GLwFBJApuMBSOZUrvsM2tmluidTpSloauox8/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrihts98OC1mxPOCB5NONS4PZD8nVJ8O9hn2cImuIr-3nhDbDA6WnUV31DBZDyqLusddKsFqK-zGShc_FTaS2_mKaRiuScbdYHntQgS4GLwFBJApuMBSOZUrvsM2tmluidTpSloauox8/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+533.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oEwtm1-5veBWHZ9bC1dqXiV_x-ZXazrkAGnnM3UQ3ePmMwimDB8v-J-RYynwzWuvfQxMGX9tYeqxWIbom2W-op3CjqcOLBjVpLlB-LZIEpHX7Fo_0hw0JSC1qCXUtDiWyhOkPL6bEKs/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oEwtm1-5veBWHZ9bC1dqXiV_x-ZXazrkAGnnM3UQ3ePmMwimDB8v-J-RYynwzWuvfQxMGX9tYeqxWIbom2W-op3CjqcOLBjVpLlB-LZIEpHX7Fo_0hw0JSC1qCXUtDiWyhOkPL6bEKs/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+538.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVajXt9lVqHVkDJZygvIqXc5gFhEnz64-nORhMT0hbUDB8193N9B3KEa6690gTiKzDGs_p4Ij4oRl4hedKdOrqLVmkX7IgESZCk3lyOrCRLLU8UAGWYZ5w2HaEmRqZ3n31JcXsyPrwZU/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVajXt9lVqHVkDJZygvIqXc5gFhEnz64-nORhMT0hbUDB8193N9B3KEa6690gTiKzDGs_p4Ij4oRl4hedKdOrqLVmkX7IgESZCk3lyOrCRLLU8UAGWYZ5w2HaEmRqZ3n31JcXsyPrwZU/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+559.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Elephant?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW78bvqv0qY3HAdjOnlxVumB0XaTVe4V2nxPn4zBn1LbHCiWRfPr9EaZzocBbT7WjA8XgwmT4_ooj9ge17COxIz6HyNJGRscuTZ9pfIaUbxo6rg7JoVJUtncxh_3rIHIGAhixarzK_EQQ/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW78bvqv0qY3HAdjOnlxVumB0XaTVe4V2nxPn4zBn1LbHCiWRfPr9EaZzocBbT7WjA8XgwmT4_ooj9ge17COxIz6HyNJGRscuTZ9pfIaUbxo6rg7JoVJUtncxh_3rIHIGAhixarzK_EQQ/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+575.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_E19azSkBpmNauaHlzrAItS46b8N5n5qf2LOBCd68LK45Hd7Xdnt0RVXacBZ_M2n2d2wG7Az5z38Kx4VbBEfdl8-QnLDNP1ZHnG15y8Q2dyWExDjwe6KA5ySCVj3ZueSbRZH_pfB3pc/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_E19azSkBpmNauaHlzrAItS46b8N5n5qf2LOBCd68LK45Hd7Xdnt0RVXacBZ_M2n2d2wG7Az5z38Kx4VbBEfdl8-QnLDNP1ZHnG15y8Q2dyWExDjwe6KA5ySCVj3ZueSbRZH_pfB3pc/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+582.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMo_AkfijeAu_XK-4Y8N8ysda1_8JcmAwPm9m-uBju_hOkkR82rNxiNGtGPxZ5Hj4VAmOM__Bh63XqBEclHlfXkpWTcm7UaNF5fNNYzxiE9HcHLoD5BivKDBRAUo3TLoHnRaGsTnZLsRo/s1600/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMo_AkfijeAu_XK-4Y8N8ysda1_8JcmAwPm9m-uBju_hOkkR82rNxiNGtGPxZ5Hj4VAmOM__Bh63XqBEclHlfXkpWTcm7UaNF5fNNYzxiE9HcHLoD5BivKDBRAUo3TLoHnRaGsTnZLsRo/s640/Alice+Springs,+Uluru,+Kata+Tjuta+583.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
And with that unmatchable highlight our tour comes to an end. We return to the bus and are driven the hours and hours back to Alice Springs, arriving just before tea. That night we all gather in the bar in the hostel and spend a wonderful evening in each others company, laughing, dancing and sharing sand. Ting tells Roger how happy she is to have met him (her).<br />
Once again I experience that oh so hard aspect of travelling where you have to part from people you are just getting to know. This time it is the Italians and a lovely guy from Austria that I am loath to part from. There is also a girl from London but her at least I know I will see again. It is not as acute as with the Germans on Fraser Island, but still, when I blearily stumble onto my bus at five am the next morning I can't help but feel I am going in the wrong direction.</div>
<div>
<br />
I gaze out the window and decide that next time I go travelling I will make no plans, book nothing, and simply go along with whoever I find that I want to go along with. I think over the tour to Uluru and all that I have now seen. I smile when I think of all the fun that I had last night. And then I remember, my bottle of sand the colour of sunrise is still sitting on the bench outside my room.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-75632276971535315182014-02-26T17:34:00.000-08:002014-02-27T13:13:12.052-08:00The perks of being a farmer.I realise it has been a long time since my last entry and for that I apologise. My life has been quite different in the last few weeks compared to when I last wrote. In a way I've done very little since my last entry and in a way I guess I've done a lot. A couple of major changes at least. At times I feel I don't have that much to write about just now, but I think I owe it to you, so here goes.<br />
<br />
Barely a week into 2014 we get a call from our contractor in the town of Jerilderie and he tells us he has some extra work so can we start the following week if we so desire. It's much earlier than planned but we take at the opportunity. The tomato factory we are going to doesn't open until February and we don't know what this extra job is, but it's only a few weeks and we need the money so we decide to give it a go.<br />
<br />
Suddenly we find in our possession a scant few days left to enjoy Sydney, and they are fast disappearing. I spend a lot of the time walking around the city, visiting places I have intended on visiting for a while. Wandering around Darling Harbour, visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, exploring parts of town that are hitherto unexplored. Darling Harbour is home to the National Maritime Museum and the waters around it are filled with boats from all eras of Australian history. Tall sailing ships, military vessels, even a submarine. And one boat that looked suspiciously like a Viking longship, what the Vikings were doing here I will never know. The walk home leads me through what must be one of the oldest residential areas I have seen here, it felt warm and familiar. Stone houses in tree lined streets. It could almost be London.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUnnbQJDZGJMuDCl3D8J6rJuZdF4yWqFhshA7PLAaTe7xBYaU8fHSrNx53WE7BxDafEKUDpOhr4lVI9WjS5Hj0cIRx6UvCxDivvvGxZl6HSX_D017bOV3b2lXnl4nKnTzbCVwpOfSOhY/s1600/Sydney+14+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUnnbQJDZGJMuDCl3D8J6rJuZdF4yWqFhshA7PLAaTe7xBYaU8fHSrNx53WE7BxDafEKUDpOhr4lVI9WjS5Hj0cIRx6UvCxDivvvGxZl6HSX_D017bOV3b2lXnl4nKnTzbCVwpOfSOhY/s1600/Sydney+14+004.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTVo82o9q1OQH7cqCWKdycZskBqDYaDtXVsJRvaNomw5LkUooIPLNiXQwQydDY9xbRXEsvHogQxTrxI1sQjIv0kfh0B5eK9UbwRFBgCiEOMMFancezy1b2Ogq3FAv-S5PG8F-V_VFqcw/s1600/Sydney+14+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTVo82o9q1OQH7cqCWKdycZskBqDYaDtXVsJRvaNomw5LkUooIPLNiXQwQydDY9xbRXEsvHogQxTrxI1sQjIv0kfh0B5eK9UbwRFBgCiEOMMFancezy1b2Ogq3FAv-S5PG8F-V_VFqcw/s1600/Sydney+14+091.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A sculpture I encountered on the way home one evening.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rZ9ZzRFZI-FFkLP9J0RPrk8d4YXsPtTb7vGAwmQaZ0Pn9cXs36NHj-OBQja129tYDVIkcCrLd4MDtxrcX1RCO20xel-LIkvejxlKkmu6dKNBQ0Os2Egza1kmzxYd72S1HEA-1F81bgo/s1600/Sydney+14+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rZ9ZzRFZI-FFkLP9J0RPrk8d4YXsPtTb7vGAwmQaZ0Pn9cXs36NHj-OBQja129tYDVIkcCrLd4MDtxrcX1RCO20xel-LIkvejxlKkmu6dKNBQ0Os2Egza1kmzxYd72S1HEA-1F81bgo/s1600/Sydney+14+007.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A painting that caught my eye.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QJksM-CkqyRXDs1aY1vxksPxOBYZtQObzqid5k42T1gkFHKpLTy9Dt5akGahFC2RmIMhzky-DNcMn6SAre00NJeyOalWV7SUsULhaWq5MbctJ9-a7-rmPVmdCwtMZsTkllUYvBLKbaw/s1600/Sydney+14+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QJksM-CkqyRXDs1aY1vxksPxOBYZtQObzqid5k42T1gkFHKpLTy9Dt5akGahFC2RmIMhzky-DNcMn6SAre00NJeyOalWV7SUsULhaWq5MbctJ9-a7-rmPVmdCwtMZsTkllUYvBLKbaw/s1600/Sydney+14+022.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWCgq4Qy7Qq13s4NPzD4NO-WFtmHewx-FGuPbraWzn8fXGVAWMWOP_f48u-ws4dH2SZDfzSbhrMSNeInbnIVyKanYf8_P8SXQ07buXUJ_lblQBZuDkpYFZ_HoQUx-UleeK54DwOZ6E-0/s1600/Sydney+14+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWCgq4Qy7Qq13s4NPzD4NO-WFtmHewx-FGuPbraWzn8fXGVAWMWOP_f48u-ws4dH2SZDfzSbhrMSNeInbnIVyKanYf8_P8SXQ07buXUJ_lblQBZuDkpYFZ_HoQUx-UleeK54DwOZ6E-0/s1600/Sydney+14+013.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zyDwcQ1JmY4B8ZRRAZ9pey7emmFsUrM3ano8kr8qZltHtUZbd_Jyu_UEpDE7HDS-1INH-b6s9V4UZEE_gmPE1cyPNNhMNDnFI82JhmbkPEl07F6a9bKOepuJoc8gKySkLjankbYW7N0/s1600/Sydney+14+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zyDwcQ1JmY4B8ZRRAZ9pey7emmFsUrM3ano8kr8qZltHtUZbd_Jyu_UEpDE7HDS-1INH-b6s9V4UZEE_gmPE1cyPNNhMNDnFI82JhmbkPEl07F6a9bKOepuJoc8gKySkLjankbYW7N0/s1600/Sydney+14+011.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj16ycVAHL4xrfAk31gVPanU7FXo_1TO4HjfvxUNrSIyLy4RmoIZLRIKgPZQfWO4fUbXpL9q04GkA6MxoLgxKVypN80EmvMYj7cBfvWQ_112hFNgbrsQPOyOHlehy6YpZ6AmfQp37ROw/s1600/Sydney+14+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj16ycVAHL4xrfAk31gVPanU7FXo_1TO4HjfvxUNrSIyLy4RmoIZLRIKgPZQfWO4fUbXpL9q04GkA6MxoLgxKVypN80EmvMYj7cBfvWQ_112hFNgbrsQPOyOHlehy6YpZ6AmfQp37ROw/s1600/Sydney+14+026.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Summer at the Opera House </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXvPRGRfv9D8VuoDN5VXtPXiiPh6PJ5Eao8ODbbIW7Hz55QwD9EHaZDa1SASSoLBFJtVDUojQP2hd5POV4k1oggCB5InFzi3DzVzHLr9h4fOwvZG02gGGm6XoJr6hGEwNoqL1Xm8ETms/s1600/Sydney+14+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXvPRGRfv9D8VuoDN5VXtPXiiPh6PJ5Eao8ODbbIW7Hz55QwD9EHaZDa1SASSoLBFJtVDUojQP2hd5POV4k1oggCB5InFzi3DzVzHLr9h4fOwvZG02gGGm6XoJr6hGEwNoqL1Xm8ETms/s1600/Sydney+14+027.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbe8QT7oZ_lnJek60Vo98TcX58rOPsYwaRog3ZUxAzuv16w-pIACFYLega7URyFQ3wh0-F3lxABMumcubLFRBGvK0OlrkyEFzic9FXPciFkf7QM57D1u_KFmQdRvGT0gNSDgln6le5Kw/s1600/Sydney+14+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbe8QT7oZ_lnJek60Vo98TcX58rOPsYwaRog3ZUxAzuv16w-pIACFYLega7URyFQ3wh0-F3lxABMumcubLFRBGvK0OlrkyEFzic9FXPciFkf7QM57D1u_KFmQdRvGT0gNSDgln6le5Kw/s1600/Sydney+14+045.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdyTba702UpnBfbwXxVjjQZF2pO1XWYf-VxBChnz-o5KJKDr5YCPselZH1zjj3M7fx4tQVhmUtK-vNJvxdiR6abQVPYMMzXZ-CE1GP6xgTjIHPcOejuyjRCY3lXBGf-x6g_Xu-EM4GYg/s1600/Sydney+14+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdyTba702UpnBfbwXxVjjQZF2pO1XWYf-VxBChnz-o5KJKDr5YCPselZH1zjj3M7fx4tQVhmUtK-vNJvxdiR6abQVPYMMzXZ-CE1GP6xgTjIHPcOejuyjRCY3lXBGf-x6g_Xu-EM4GYg/s1600/Sydney+14+058.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP397nLDZjsp_n3jfQyAdAgKQAwL1qZJqWiqpBDDhUOYgP15z3mzAHqPWSG3KXe9rOj20KkSXkcSiwjuhHiVYwBfvIG-cRxaHiGTb8opLqAFC6ZonD2Nf8Y5b5mYvOBs4d-rBJVhISZc/s1600/Sydney+14+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP397nLDZjsp_n3jfQyAdAgKQAwL1qZJqWiqpBDDhUOYgP15z3mzAHqPWSG3KXe9rOj20KkSXkcSiwjuhHiVYwBfvIG-cRxaHiGTb8opLqAFC6ZonD2Nf8Y5b5mYvOBs4d-rBJVhISZc/s1600/Sydney+14+056.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86Z7k5574FGOQK0YHIDArh0NwQRUL2T_MZzFTM1xjRsDjzzXgjZaSjcGQJqW1GnfrJUuXUL-W_jaji2XFgF2VYN168CjRL01IMUkf8OtPVbGRamGOPjRm_6L4XzXc6eLO0eDJ3ANGwBc/s1600/Sydney+14+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86Z7k5574FGOQK0YHIDArh0NwQRUL2T_MZzFTM1xjRsDjzzXgjZaSjcGQJqW1GnfrJUuXUL-W_jaji2XFgF2VYN168CjRL01IMUkf8OtPVbGRamGOPjRm_6L4XzXc6eLO0eDJ3ANGwBc/s1600/Sydney+14+053.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzagAyKU6khiPLjsaVO6vLVYmhwh5iCcsIhF04RPkq6NDnQKg7AI6-QAIFL_ObH1GP26zAPiQe7UKngBiUT3OS3F_qnKs79I3ZGg0YHg6F8S8hl7QqiUg8JOqnaVIQKbT8b_sxf33ppuI/s1600/Sydney+14+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzagAyKU6khiPLjsaVO6vLVYmhwh5iCcsIhF04RPkq6NDnQKg7AI6-QAIFL_ObH1GP26zAPiQe7UKngBiUT3OS3F_qnKs79I3ZGg0YHg6F8S8hl7QqiUg8JOqnaVIQKbT8b_sxf33ppuI/s1600/Sydney+14+049.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFxnS2Cqo9lgHSeKhwEl30C1wWcFLCabTau16jscE3WJjCkrGbv2vnEnuDOCPyCPYI9TCYh5RfIWKjrHZy-UOEOkqWKlAFuZ1AL7W5Qe9Yt04wzrOmWhrkZKAWJ-TtENLJ5FopG0T3ps/s1600/Sydney+14+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFxnS2Cqo9lgHSeKhwEl30C1wWcFLCabTau16jscE3WJjCkrGbv2vnEnuDOCPyCPYI9TCYh5RfIWKjrHZy-UOEOkqWKlAFuZ1AL7W5Qe9Yt04wzrOmWhrkZKAWJ-TtENLJ5FopG0T3ps/s1600/Sydney+14+065.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmWoH7-I-ViiHELKlnxIBhP-_H-3Z7d9Fv0pc_VTI6x0qtZjm7kTRLZ9uFa45RFyoFIIo8jyDWy_Oe6ILBo6E2laHvMlGW1tidO4L0J5xaBqHRilskDSEu7XXRKVQxk66rlCGPZ1JLFE/s1600/Sydney+14+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmWoH7-I-ViiHELKlnxIBhP-_H-3Z7d9Fv0pc_VTI6x0qtZjm7kTRLZ9uFa45RFyoFIIo8jyDWy_Oe6ILBo6E2laHvMlGW1tidO4L0J5xaBqHRilskDSEu7XXRKVQxk66rlCGPZ1JLFE/s1600/Sydney+14+066.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldEIQ5BGZObyfX9MGb8_Hk9EDmyU3CX62Y8Ji4LOyWQkls_lnZxv4tF_PCUCYdlFWB7cHeZJWpLIkpEe8ShPhvr6BCdzg-VMd_zL9wwpvv_D0jVWSIfSfdjZyB_28-Dzgx-gZrzJRoYI/s1600/Sydney+14+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldEIQ5BGZObyfX9MGb8_Hk9EDmyU3CX62Y8Ji4LOyWQkls_lnZxv4tF_PCUCYdlFWB7cHeZJWpLIkpEe8ShPhvr6BCdzg-VMd_zL9wwpvv_D0jVWSIfSfdjZyB_28-Dzgx-gZrzJRoYI/s1600/Sydney+14+083.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0Et5X6IZz_dQJrjgz7wH3a9nv14htTrfGaahLyO0PTEN22H7uzXEPENxxDu3-aI1mCl9j5zH-7nLQ2zPPPMBP41B1HkHAdYE_LJceWQJfZ6yW4Bb0iqkJtppXQ4HSlvJzL8L_YKa2aM/s1600/Sydney+14+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0Et5X6IZz_dQJrjgz7wH3a9nv14htTrfGaahLyO0PTEN22H7uzXEPENxxDu3-aI1mCl9j5zH-7nLQ2zPPPMBP41B1HkHAdYE_LJceWQJfZ6yW4Bb0iqkJtppXQ4HSlvJzL8L_YKa2aM/s1600/Sydney+14+120.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
A couple of days before we had to leave me and Laura take a trip into town to visit Stonehenge. Well, I say Stonehenge, really a life sized inflatable replica of Stonehenge titled 'Sacrilege'. It was created by an English artist called Jeremy Deller, winner of the Turner Prize in 2004, and is here for the Sydney festival. And unlike most pieces of art, you are allowed to jump on this one. I still would have enjoyed seeing it just for its own sake, but this is infinitely more fun. We spend a while bouncing in the sun and I manage to burn the soles of my feet on the inflatable grass. Its a hard life.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOedIgWlngqaeE97uosvXtkWrrzbbAHjh8Pg8Ldc3iIjqX3unnWzYBA5HdCCJC8VC1y6sF4zXAEBrUGbDWaFc0HqI0BOVOqRbdjyCOSCEUs65sBhy9QkSnuMg9TO-TLnQ8cmTbaIMQ-ZQ/s1600/Sydney+14+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOedIgWlngqaeE97uosvXtkWrrzbbAHjh8Pg8Ldc3iIjqX3unnWzYBA5HdCCJC8VC1y6sF4zXAEBrUGbDWaFc0HqI0BOVOqRbdjyCOSCEUs65sBhy9QkSnuMg9TO-TLnQ8cmTbaIMQ-ZQ/s1600/Sydney+14+099.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our final weekend arrives and we go to a free concert at the Domain in the Botanic Gardens, the same as the Danni Minogue Carol Conert before Chritmas. We arrive a few hours early with enough food to feed a small herd of buffalo and have a farewell picnic with the YHA crew. The main event tonight iis Shaka Khan, who had a couple of famous songs a long time ago that I can no longer recall. We're not that excited about it, but it is free. We don't know who the support act is, and I'm not expecting much, when lo and behold on comes Hot Dub Time Machine!<br />
<div>
For those of you who don't know, Hot Dub Time Machine is a DJ from the UK who has a show where he plays one song for every year from 1960 (I think) until the present day. And he is amazing. He sold out every night he played in the Edinburgh Festival last year, I went along with some of my friends and it was one of the best nights of my life. Unfortunately, because he is just the support act, he doesn't have time to play his whole set, but it is still superb, and the crowd loves it. Everyone is up on their feet dancing, it appeals to all ages.<br />
After Hot Dub we sit down and wonder how Shaka can ever hope to live up to that. As it turns out, she can't. To be honest, she barely even tries. The next couple of hours descend into a shambles. The music from the stage sounds like one never ending, relatively discordant, bad soul track, with various women ululating unintelligible syllables over the top. Any of these woman may or may not be Shaka Khan, they seem to come and go from the stage at some hidden musical cue indistinguishable to the crowd from the rest of the noise.<br />
Suffice to say, we, along with the vast majority of the crowd, do not make it to the end. In fact as I wasn't there I can't say if anyone made it that far. I'm not even sure if it had an end. For all I know Shaka Khan (all thirty seven of her) is still strutting back and forth singing an endless song to an empty field.<br />
<div>
<br />
After the concert (I say after, I mean during) we head out to our local Irish bar (where else?) and make up for all the fun that Shaka was not. On the way home we make friends with a hilarious group of Japanese guys in McDonalds, one of our number pretends to be Spanish to avoid talking to some guy, and have an impromptu street dance with three Greeks who pass us in the other direction. In the end the night more than surpasses my expectations.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7VYiVTI9sWIxTBVBC2_VXVQTqwRY3auUP7kmmHcwNbmHNqLzsQENxhNioPCIPiLpkBT2ogF1K72-zV4pSEdfoz0ls1gNCjmaJOBJT9wUSP2spceTcdrBpGV0ZvCAwXLnEWZSuxkZUis/s1600/Sydney+14+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7VYiVTI9sWIxTBVBC2_VXVQTqwRY3auUP7kmmHcwNbmHNqLzsQENxhNioPCIPiLpkBT2ogF1K72-zV4pSEdfoz0ls1gNCjmaJOBJT9wUSP2spceTcdrBpGV0ZvCAwXLnEWZSuxkZUis/s1600/Sydney+14+127.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">People are standing up, this must be Hot Dub.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Our last, very hungover, day dawns, and we are not to be beaten. We have plans. We are up early and on the train, with questionable supplies, for a trip to Bundeena and the Royal National Park, located about thirty kilometres out of Sydney. The train takes us to a ferry and we find ourselves gliding over expansive sapphire inlets rimmed by distant slopes of green. White houses nestle between the trees displaying flags from more nations than I care to name. The Japanese military flag stands out, a dramatic burst of red amongst the green and blue. The locals are out in their boats, swimming or surfing, or relaxing in glass-sided, ocean-view, rooftop swimming pools. It feels, and looks, like some sort of haven. A world of clear water and clear skies, where there is nothing to do but relax and enjoy. Personally, I would miss the rain.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
The Royal National Park itself is the second oldest in the world behind Yellowstone in the US, and the first to use the term 'National Park'. From what I saw the majority of it is much the same as a lot of the Australian countryside, or 'bush' that I have seen: sandy soil, eucalypts and tough shrubs. The coast on the other hand is a wonder.<br />
I walk through the woodland on my own and emerge at the top of a short drop. Before me I find a bright white beach descending into an ultramarine sea, backdropped by gleaming striated cliffs and a wide expanse of blue<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
I eagerly climb down and make my way along the sand, past the naked men, and across rocks the likes of which I have rarely seen. I guess its a nudist beach, who knew? But back to the rocks. They are sculpted into great grey waves that tower augustly over me and the sea to my side; they are pockmarked and twisted with the relentlessly wearing toll of time; they are a thousand shades of orange, ochre and opal; they are vast and pale; they are swathes of clear white rolling from beneath black stained cliffs. It is the sort of place I could stay for time beyond count. Just give me a good book and enough cheese to last. Eventually, as always, it is time to leave. And the journey home takes me only to a large pile of things that should have been packed a long time ago.<br />
Then are the inevitable goodbyes, a thing I am still not anaesthetised to. One of our replacements in the YHA comes to say her farewells (the faux Spanish girl I mentioned) and again I have that feeling that there is someone who I could be good friends with, if only I had the chance. But that is part and parcel of travelling, and I wouldn't change it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE7sbmcK3UeeyQEj45VIEzIHxm2odZdjAmnhSa6wJir5UaVJng5OhDgUu9apJMW3mA-eix7t1CBGigkoCfVEVS2b7LJbJMcT9ztTPg-aR445ctcfpsdXRWpBjmA567TxAfzAG2LTWlL8/s1600/Sydney+14+164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE7sbmcK3UeeyQEj45VIEzIHxm2odZdjAmnhSa6wJir5UaVJng5OhDgUu9apJMW3mA-eix7t1CBGigkoCfVEVS2b7LJbJMcT9ztTPg-aR445ctcfpsdXRWpBjmA567TxAfzAG2LTWlL8/s1600/Sydney+14+164.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAJUyho5HnlrOWWoaiXRb9GgJ-3E9BMr5FAGqHZTYNrekGyjKLd08Jf4e2FNd4yLy4HMDpj9B27oOvK1PDOpJPsQofxKDm1GSv-Ucx4FnqYH2O3ufhf2nH2GuwPnR8HYK1ftTwcsonL8/s1600/Sydney+14+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAJUyho5HnlrOWWoaiXRb9GgJ-3E9BMr5FAGqHZTYNrekGyjKLd08Jf4e2FNd4yLy4HMDpj9B27oOvK1PDOpJPsQofxKDm1GSv-Ucx4FnqYH2O3ufhf2nH2GuwPnR8HYK1ftTwcsonL8/s1600/Sydney+14+142.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G2K3mvJ4OXYyAs9Mv7fvZdA2olj0pImuwgJ6yon1ZbsDTy9Pvg1xGA_sSLOY6P63RlT5sgKDeQCQmOvkcvMYWFXrFwo73moLQDBROA3Ap4fyPXjD5zva_oREWGtmHcIFimwvddZsP3I/s1600/Sydney+14+146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G2K3mvJ4OXYyAs9Mv7fvZdA2olj0pImuwgJ6yon1ZbsDTy9Pvg1xGA_sSLOY6P63RlT5sgKDeQCQmOvkcvMYWFXrFwo73moLQDBROA3Ap4fyPXjD5zva_oREWGtmHcIFimwvddZsP3I/s1600/Sydney+14+146.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbYhNpsoyvo_UFzZMKCoKlic39n9MbdSMZCqFTlBZNVAgobVbNoDWueyLo82OJDjd33CQLuJwf4R4XHV-kB1psvNf9GO8GhNyYpy5a3zcCoa-btX3nHDjWdyk7UKdd-vRKnH_NnjdihU/s1600/Sydney+14+168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbYhNpsoyvo_UFzZMKCoKlic39n9MbdSMZCqFTlBZNVAgobVbNoDWueyLo82OJDjd33CQLuJwf4R4XHV-kB1psvNf9GO8GhNyYpy5a3zcCoa-btX3nHDjWdyk7UKdd-vRKnH_NnjdihU/s1600/Sydney+14+168.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy3JHItg279xI4XQHCDDJxVHPdo5ZjrSu1Y6m6TdpTlH49Cg6fOqp3Qef4DxTI-sWV-6EZpP8GnHseMtT5DyxQa2lXs4qJrQEW8OhraEDCollqGxanjrM56uRV0VuWH3aLkI4D62hD6s/s1600/Sydney+14+172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy3JHItg279xI4XQHCDDJxVHPdo5ZjrSu1Y6m6TdpTlH49Cg6fOqp3Qef4DxTI-sWV-6EZpP8GnHseMtT5DyxQa2lXs4qJrQEW8OhraEDCollqGxanjrM56uRV0VuWH3aLkI4D62hD6s/s1600/Sydney+14+172.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqInBOpg5CtyHVAOGzCZoYsx12xQ9XOoLXGVmuUMIdTW7nXmyax2Q3Gq0O0bFDgqqNqbClLNpu3ab_uL8Mn3PczjhMH57yygCaGr3oGnBTDKABJD6JSqZW5abvU7c9zUIdzAT81kaaeI/s1600/Sydney+14+159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqInBOpg5CtyHVAOGzCZoYsx12xQ9XOoLXGVmuUMIdTW7nXmyax2Q3Gq0O0bFDgqqNqbClLNpu3ab_uL8Mn3PczjhMH57yygCaGr3oGnBTDKABJD6JSqZW5abvU7c9zUIdzAT81kaaeI/s1600/Sydney+14+159.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsXsLOqf-n47LRIoOwCMZkOvwLHifgGZydq7BzixQYfEvk8cuKcFcFbfGZZr22Y3b6vSiJEfLBBvKkZr1npQvAQQwNve-lLDhm_ECJc3U3OvZRsvAKvrC5pVOUzsSY2__hZb1EnNu9yA/s1600/Sydney+14+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsXsLOqf-n47LRIoOwCMZkOvwLHifgGZydq7BzixQYfEvk8cuKcFcFbfGZZr22Y3b6vSiJEfLBBvKkZr1npQvAQQwNve-lLDhm_ECJc3U3OvZRsvAKvrC5pVOUzsSY2__hZb1EnNu9yA/s1600/Sydney+14+190.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux8H9SQUJ3hBJQTxw0A1-L1zCvYA240fDeudtTKkErBMO-8eALesNcxIj76WAUjJxsjuyAva7nP2VIPsJJ_NiRSCn6-lfo7Y6HD_ZszTiYVFBGpj-CW1_i3MUSQMwyheOUqD8R2_mhHo/s1600/Sydney+14+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux8H9SQUJ3hBJQTxw0A1-L1zCvYA240fDeudtTKkErBMO-8eALesNcxIj76WAUjJxsjuyAva7nP2VIPsJJ_NiRSCn6-lfo7Y6HD_ZszTiYVFBGpj-CW1_i3MUSQMwyheOUqD8R2_mhHo/s1600/Sydney+14+186.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToQQryYkeVto31N9oAJRK_uDt9sGu050CVO03-foMHlMW6ZWykPJfv56JxJwtN6H6MTAdEY8YAT-HvarGQiaMQFB30dhJtuRVO6l2SJi-WPx9MvtZGZKtHDQmbBX308mldUU1W8m-F78/s1600/Sydney+14+179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToQQryYkeVto31N9oAJRK_uDt9sGu050CVO03-foMHlMW6ZWykPJfv56JxJwtN6H6MTAdEY8YAT-HvarGQiaMQFB30dhJtuRVO6l2SJi-WPx9MvtZGZKtHDQmbBX308mldUU1W8m-F78/s1600/Sydney+14+179.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHoEIvVkbUmYzbxaRDu94_J8RfXHdDoOUHwflVmg1we3tMDfV-1s26yTvVZt5yk_6xs1ChbD85mlr-sGY4tlmBcEShZbmEV-3TEdLHe0JjaTe1RDZ2-ASYI9Jr5KR6iZd7sxqGFdNNL8/s1600/Sydney+14+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHoEIvVkbUmYzbxaRDu94_J8RfXHdDoOUHwflVmg1we3tMDfV-1s26yTvVZt5yk_6xs1ChbD85mlr-sGY4tlmBcEShZbmEV-3TEdLHe0JjaTe1RDZ2-ASYI9Jr5KR6iZd7sxqGFdNNL8/s1600/Sydney+14+191.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSWr1mrOLEZMXeCh0BpAiEpgoQqGrAmeUtCkmdSx4nap0pkRcK8OJxh-93cZx0fbLBJDvaJccnGrboCTwuHq8Rotocl3HtvLRNzky0OO1lu_9B3m9zBnYGI1t5gsl2VMAnHzysljsHKo/s1600/Sydney+14+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSWr1mrOLEZMXeCh0BpAiEpgoQqGrAmeUtCkmdSx4nap0pkRcK8OJxh-93cZx0fbLBJDvaJccnGrboCTwuHq8Rotocl3HtvLRNzky0OO1lu_9B3m9zBnYGI1t5gsl2VMAnHzysljsHKo/s1600/Sydney+14+192.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzng9z9ktcIE4EBNnJnQam4TtfWJ80s_Q6gXTrkkUpspbNSvGbgRop2gqCGco23xAM_DFTqJq-yHikCWX7XhmasbzEc6FYWdDvTOopbYrO02AwR5XkLjdrGJP7LLLXtrhSLXUWn27N-A/s1600/Sydney+14+206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzng9z9ktcIE4EBNnJnQam4TtfWJ80s_Q6gXTrkkUpspbNSvGbgRop2gqCGco23xAM_DFTqJq-yHikCWX7XhmasbzEc6FYWdDvTOopbYrO02AwR5XkLjdrGJP7LLLXtrhSLXUWn27N-A/s1600/Sydney+14+206.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ThR-1OYOCncjMXt1Ic8Zh5mEDBMTAT4y9hjyLuNWGf6m4ItTIyOxzf2Bbemhj3YQhyphenhyphenFEhGzrU4N3Mtu-W3-gO_N5uUn2IE4IBGVx3YKYYOsAedZuIVNDq_2craZCvMmNDtmVAdcdRzA/s1600/Sydney+14+209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ThR-1OYOCncjMXt1Ic8Zh5mEDBMTAT4y9hjyLuNWGf6m4ItTIyOxzf2Bbemhj3YQhyphenhyphenFEhGzrU4N3Mtu-W3-gO_N5uUn2IE4IBGVx3YKYYOsAedZuIVNDq_2craZCvMmNDtmVAdcdRzA/s1600/Sydney+14+209.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWY4XzR7Lp9Eeb-mVktA3TxzVDr7oxKyyr_UsCtfcGUGwx4gS5mRPnOQktelJWy3E1y-vXsMc9GlofI-AveWFyLgBF8RJe6wvdaAP6pYxTPxQx9tuS3ShCGORuqj9me0bmqLuys1SEqY/s1600/Sydney+14+208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWY4XzR7Lp9Eeb-mVktA3TxzVDr7oxKyyr_UsCtfcGUGwx4gS5mRPnOQktelJWy3E1y-vXsMc9GlofI-AveWFyLgBF8RJe6wvdaAP6pYxTPxQx9tuS3ShCGORuqj9me0bmqLuys1SEqY/s1600/Sydney+14+208.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The final sleep of Sydney starts too late and ends too soon and half past seven finds me on a train west with Laura, her friend, and her friend's friend. Here, bizarrely, when taking long distance train journeys the process is similar to boarding a plane. Your baggage is checked in and weighed and returned at journey's end. Laura and I, mainly Laura, were both overweight and had to unpack bundles of our possessions into hand luggage, which incidentally also has a weight limit, but one that they thankfully didn't enforce as we were far far over that too. The journey, six hours, passes quickly. For once the scenery changes little. The train takes us to the delightfully named Wagga Wagga, two hours by bus from Jerilderie.<br />
From the window of the bus the land becomes gradually more rural as we head away from civilisation. People trickle off until we find ourselves alone on a coach surrounded by nothing but sun baked fields that reach into the far off heat haze that obscures the horizon. We wonder what we've let ourselves in for.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwOywF5OcotXps0KhSiJLZMS0zxgfSDeSq_8tn3jUNTFCXRLmzChjQcD710iMB5LkjVvQSIrI27W2zLf3tiWdtMyoupWuaOj99e4WZfw-UP9nlh8bLGekAOUrUoEmxd0GXTTLHj0BCEU/s1600/Jerilderie+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwOywF5OcotXps0KhSiJLZMS0zxgfSDeSq_8tn3jUNTFCXRLmzChjQcD710iMB5LkjVvQSIrI27W2zLf3tiWdtMyoupWuaOj99e4WZfw-UP9nlh8bLGekAOUrUoEmxd0GXTTLHj0BCEU/s1600/Jerilderie+003.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Our first week in Jerilderie is spent out in borgum fields, 'chipping'. Borgum is used as a cattle feed but we are working with the seed crop, harvested and sold to farmers as seed who will then grow it to feed their livestock. 'Chipping' is the process of walking up and down the countless rows with a hoe and taking out any unwanted borgum. Unwanted borgum consists mainly of plants that are noticeable taller than their counterparts along with males in female rows, females in male rows, and plants with oddly shaped seed heads.</div>
<div>
<br />
I have many issues with this job.<br />
<br />
Firstly this whole process of removing tall and oddly shaped plants is for no reason other than that when the farmers come to grow the crops in their own fields they want them to look 'neat'. As if anybody cares. So essentially we are being employed to uproot perfectly good crops lest the cows get mad that all their borgum stalks aren't the same length. What a waste of resources.<br />
Secondly its a part of one of the least sustainable, most land intensive and most destructive industries on the planet. Now this is nothing to do with me being a vegetarian. I have no problem with meat or the eating of it, just the way the 'western' world does it. I have encountered many people who eat meat a lot of meat every day argue that it is 'natural', and that it is what we evolved for. This is wrong. Only about a third of the planet eats a heavily meat based diet, being the supposedly developed world, and this diet is an extremely modern thing. If the western diet were to spread to the rest of the world there would not be enough farmable land on the globe to produce our food. To illustrate my point, in the US the livestock used to feed the human population consumes seven times as much plant based matter as the entire human population itself. Think of the vast amount of habitat destruction, deforestation and loss of biodiversity that this results in. In fact, to quote the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations “the livestock sector emerges as one of the most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global”. There is nothing 'natural' about it.<br />
There is plenty more I could say on this. And here I find I am helping them along. The things you have to do when your bank account looks like this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pdJ5hiI1JaqjeGSBYnwIdcquloH00FxrLEPYpIINs5tbLy7KHjA2OrSj1pHjR-TlS-qoCEAAaAymava9xiNWmlQGCMw93HntNQjLn8AoEdqFdR2xxDmTzER-TYOWq4VCORpWrVoN5As/s1600/Jerilderie+073.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pdJ5hiI1JaqjeGSBYnwIdcquloH00FxrLEPYpIINs5tbLy7KHjA2OrSj1pHjR-TlS-qoCEAAaAymava9xiNWmlQGCMw93HntNQjLn8AoEdqFdR2xxDmTzER-TYOWq4VCORpWrVoN5As/s1600/Jerilderie+073.PNG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Luckily it's only for a week and then I hurt my foot again and have to stop. But during that week I must admit I find some perks to the job. We get up at half past four each day and are all driven to work in what we dub the 'slave bus'. There is one great advantage to this.</div>
<div>
<br />
Sunrise.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml6I4T6nsI3ilVbKNiSysPm6D4N465m-ySUbJHsIPw6Hg6PgnT_T4ERbts5277FxDhNiQB2uOqnXSPMC-gqoBieuAGJRCfHwEy3cmqi3FoXdgilAzDHnNS-8p2uG7pjhTIvgNeM5S6tQ/s1600/Jerilderie+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml6I4T6nsI3ilVbKNiSysPm6D4N465m-ySUbJHsIPw6Hg6PgnT_T4ERbts5277FxDhNiQB2uOqnXSPMC-gqoBieuAGJRCfHwEy3cmqi3FoXdgilAzDHnNS-8p2uG7pjhTIvgNeM5S6tQ/s1600/Jerilderie+066.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Every morning I watch from the bus as the sun lights the sky with the deep blues and brightening saffrons of false dawn, then we get into the fields and witness the sky pale to rose and powder blue as a blazing red disk slips from below the horizon. For a moment I forget the sterile environment that these fields truly are, and take in the endless beauty of standing in a sea of green and seeing the sun slowly reveal the world around me.<br />
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4rzdjj3KkQuWfSUZcgJAH2WeeLLvXndNC3yQr0THTAWmHKwlVnykEHT3NoL9K6LwGnJTWtRh_OELq12e_s_zMbrMTPJJCvfzbXEB7xXpq9VAlLdwC_mBYdE41PTCh-QOTg754aeNEKA/s1600/Jerilderie+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4rzdjj3KkQuWfSUZcgJAH2WeeLLvXndNC3yQr0THTAWmHKwlVnykEHT3NoL9K6LwGnJTWtRh_OELq12e_s_zMbrMTPJJCvfzbXEB7xXpq9VAlLdwC_mBYdE41PTCh-QOTg754aeNEKA/s1600/Jerilderie+063.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The day before we started work we asked our contractor when on out first day we would finish, and he replied 'that depends on how long you last'. Well, he had a point. The fourth member of our little group (who I forgot to mention are all Scottish, how did that happen?) only made it to half way though day two. The work is hard, and all the harder for heat that reaches the mid forties. Luckily she had an offer of a real job in Perth so left to do that instead. The rest of us ploughed on, and at times it was really quite enjoyable. As I mentioned, I managed to damage the soft tissue on the soles of my feet, probably my own fault for working in bare footed most of the time, and I had to stop. It wasn't a big issue as the job was just to tide us over until the tomato factory.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzA3Ov2E3k8RS2BmIfCqB7aO-RqZAYM9ANn91zhzvN95LpZNa_Sz-ReaMkYr-jVBYQeYbyGSQ797VLTS3175LT-6MyQRV7_Ei6ldsiy40fX4cVZtFUUYLKstzNbpBle-SziItVbMsFDws/s1600/Jerilderie+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzA3Ov2E3k8RS2BmIfCqB7aO-RqZAYM9ANn91zhzvN95LpZNa_Sz-ReaMkYr-jVBYQeYbyGSQ797VLTS3175LT-6MyQRV7_Ei6ldsiy40fX4cVZtFUUYLKstzNbpBle-SziItVbMsFDws/s1600/Jerilderie+068.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LkTvbcF2OcFH9uKUcrlIlW4GMu9h4LOTzWJC9v7QkRrwLyVD9qOTPThTlbuWltfJW01F95-ZvDFV87yGs9ARw4hJ8CClJ9FcH4aolygXPLNENERrxtXVhRvx4pEQXhSS7iBXP5HrpNg/s1600/Jerilderie+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LkTvbcF2OcFH9uKUcrlIlW4GMu9h4LOTzWJC9v7QkRrwLyVD9qOTPThTlbuWltfJW01F95-ZvDFV87yGs9ARw4hJ8CClJ9FcH4aolygXPLNENERrxtXVhRvx4pEQXhSS7iBXP5HrpNg/s1600/Jerilderie+069.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsPzmkTDUP_l8FAQlf4cgByxKJqVR3a8gV74eR5Sb63kkKO2qjZmcR43hSyGvFOqFFXKLWAPVhMShhsD9aSLR2HlopyEAc6KXfrEUdBsqqxaDeRUj4FKR8VwmGsiE6322UyGIsWZsYHU/s1600/Jerilderie+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsPzmkTDUP_l8FAQlf4cgByxKJqVR3a8gV74eR5Sb63kkKO2qjZmcR43hSyGvFOqFFXKLWAPVhMShhsD9aSLR2HlopyEAc6KXfrEUdBsqqxaDeRUj4FKR8VwmGsiE6322UyGIsWZsYHU/s1600/Jerilderie+050.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh yes, one day we got visited by a helicopter. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UcA_ZCz1T6JkBg14ZUtEQcIi76HwRAhIE3oaI_aIzRnYL4HTBB4-UZPHAlk5U7rPeQ5zhG5Vmz3ljUxzk_8TXQtR-iZfvsf2PziGLUWF6N9jm-2dWAry__CZX84b-BFcRDgzVKunHE0/s1600/Jerilderie+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UcA_ZCz1T6JkBg14ZUtEQcIi76HwRAhIE3oaI_aIzRnYL4HTBB4-UZPHAlk5U7rPeQ5zhG5Vmz3ljUxzk_8TXQtR-iZfvsf2PziGLUWF6N9jm-2dWAry__CZX84b-BFcRDgzVKunHE0/s1600/Jerilderie+056.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Isn't this weird? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwcdklQF9xtYyykK8PkiFojAS5HnqQ1dKRtXJyuspf5j9_R4I_4Y5DPO4K1FTizroUAVslJ7mZQ8g0ajHZmUDgSXNE6th2N6CeL2wIkSL-z9TfjmK-Tw2Hh9sVGqoxJAQFNyQhyuyCI/s1600/Jerilderie+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwcdklQF9xtYyykK8PkiFojAS5HnqQ1dKRtXJyuspf5j9_R4I_4Y5DPO4K1FTizroUAVslJ7mZQ8g0ajHZmUDgSXNE6th2N6CeL2wIkSL-z9TfjmK-Tw2Hh9sVGqoxJAQFNyQhyuyCI/s1600/Jerilderie+061.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nGpHrbkNkfa2k1Nwxst9BxGWZufVLs0aba2JLSflCbPxh3f8x6gHSgWe_F5ko7STfzOSBqRP6aQPKjHfmSP_9wGF_BXWGHGJkCaIT8UaQXB_yoYBKaOBP15UOXa0v5xhC14QqBl83fA/s1600/Jerilderie+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nGpHrbkNkfa2k1Nwxst9BxGWZufVLs0aba2JLSflCbPxh3f8x6gHSgWe_F5ko7STfzOSBqRP6aQPKjHfmSP_9wGF_BXWGHGJkCaIT8UaQXB_yoYBKaOBP15UOXa0v5xhC14QqBl83fA/s1600/Jerilderie+023.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
For our first week in Jerilderie we stay in a caravan park on the edge of the village, which I should point out is about three minutes walk from the centre of the village. The couple that own it are very nice, but that sort of nice that can be interfering if not overbearing. And I don't think they knew how to walk either, a problem I encounter a lot in Australia. If they ever saw us leaving they would insist on driving us wherever we were going whether we wanted it or not, despite the fact that we never wanted to go anywhere more than four minutes walk away. Once the three girls were on their way to the gym, which is next door to the caravan park, and the guy insisted that they didn't need to go that so drove them into town and dropped them off at the shop instead. Even worse, once I had locked our key in the cabin so I went to reception to get the spare. Instead of either giving it to me so I could unlock my door then return it, or walking the twenty meters to my door and unlocking it herself, the lady phoned her husband who was out, made him drive back to the caravan park, pick me up at reception and drive me to my cabin door where I got out, unlocked it and threw the key back into the car from where I stood. Minimal movement. Maximal decadence.<br />
<br />
Jerilderie itself is, in a word, small. In a few words; small, remote, small. It was however held up by Ned Kelly on Sunday the 8th of February, 1879. They could not be more proud. You can't go anywhere without seeing some sort of reference to Ned Kelly Town. And they have all the related souvenirs. It's a but much.<br />
All this said, I am having a great time here. A week in we move into the centre of town to a group of 'units' located behind the 'supermarket'. These are single rooms containing a couple of bunkbeds and a rudimentary kitchen and with a communal toilet / shower area, and they are inhabited by us and all our fellow farm workers. With the departure of our fourth member we need someone to fill the final space so we recruit a guy who has been living in the aircondition-less hotel across the road. He is from, wait for it, Dundee. Scots only in this unit. The rest of the population appears to be Irish so we couldn't branch too far away from home even if we want to.<br />
The Irish, as could be expected, are mental. And fun. A couple of weekends in we get to celebrate Burn's Night, Laura's birthday and Australia day all at once. Rarely have I met a group of people so up for a party. The Australia Day fireworks of this tiny village impress me even more than the Sydney fireworks did at New Year. Expectation really does make such a huge difference. And being this close they truly fill the sky, which is a thing you will never get in Sydney, unless you watch from a boat before the bridge itself, but I'm not sure if that's allowed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0As9rn_1SUSrqAFVfcbEjsbJxFXVnRCPTjIQxUij7yQ2xBZgaADOlGCJdGTuEEaWFS77maPhxXQhFSxuEkMAd6asyTteE-lG10S9IA1FTGVdqMDHNHLJGZhD26mbojHrG5myn0y6NJrc/s1600/Jerilderie+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0As9rn_1SUSrqAFVfcbEjsbJxFXVnRCPTjIQxUij7yQ2xBZgaADOlGCJdGTuEEaWFS77maPhxXQhFSxuEkMAd6asyTteE-lG10S9IA1FTGVdqMDHNHLJGZhD26mbojHrG5myn0y6NJrc/s1600/Jerilderie+038.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The lake is mad made and contains nothing that is alive.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MU9QigsmCVZuXDxDrjKys7dqfC2Nv2XmcTDQzutdyxIuPltvLwKTnocG9jwBq1OnNSd-UkjrPJZSumh0Hy84X6NH3p4C7Q7Wm6QiIfRXy1zsd5GZvJNYG2COWl1NqghLZB59f2MFgo8/s1600/Jerilderie+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MU9QigsmCVZuXDxDrjKys7dqfC2Nv2XmcTDQzutdyxIuPltvLwKTnocG9jwBq1OnNSd-UkjrPJZSumh0Hy84X6NH3p4C7Q7Wm6QiIfRXy1zsd5GZvJNYG2COWl1NqghLZB59f2MFgo8/s1600/Jerilderie+037.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The B&B... </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW32-9ui2yCjAFWmucBXf45hW7lKeQcivVQcLzIAxp5vXTG59SIv6RWSP3b_D7vHHTVeXzoNu33VqAS-Zki8s3EJruZ3lKOZTRMMLE_SVu1oFGgStLfC6q-qg0MLPXg0guSgh0c6Kb24w/s1600/Jerilderie+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW32-9ui2yCjAFWmucBXf45hW7lKeQcivVQcLzIAxp5vXTG59SIv6RWSP3b_D7vHHTVeXzoNu33VqAS-Zki8s3EJruZ3lKOZTRMMLE_SVu1oFGgStLfC6q-qg0MLPXg0guSgh0c6Kb24w/s1600/Jerilderie+016.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aeGgp4Tt8cVPYV0bt-QkxSNwUeRqTygQC9OjUJhkKFz_Qhju9CaswD00yR5nbB38HR89kx6bR3InNJJd3_-sAzlhvTH3dgtBgKykSpgaYEmKS8WIwsBBzX_BJ-pKFy_8mng6fFIXDaw/s1600/Jerilderie+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aeGgp4Tt8cVPYV0bt-QkxSNwUeRqTygQC9OjUJhkKFz_Qhju9CaswD00yR5nbB38HR89kx6bR3InNJJd3_-sAzlhvTH3dgtBgKykSpgaYEmKS8WIwsBBzX_BJ-pKFy_8mng6fFIXDaw/s1600/Jerilderie+013.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Of course they have a tank.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AucDEfrWEjPh7p90WMOsPtjOfHzmWIxvVO4KCSY1bG_GNFGeayi0rxF-Y5vOpDPqAF9EfMsLVddYtVRy_tem0zbk7SZOOTx9SdWwoq2l3yqxbJOXGh-0fCTDBUqqrro4jxtizirZ3uQ/s1600/Jerilderie+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AucDEfrWEjPh7p90WMOsPtjOfHzmWIxvVO4KCSY1bG_GNFGeayi0rxF-Y5vOpDPqAF9EfMsLVddYtVRy_tem0zbk7SZOOTx9SdWwoq2l3yqxbJOXGh-0fCTDBUqqrro4jxtizirZ3uQ/s1600/Jerilderie+011.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just as many ways to die here as the rest of Australia.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJor4jwpN3A0YUZWoTrAFEU-tSidojofAXgGsnAnvWYDdsO5KZITECwpvTRZ9vHqwinmho5ZjQlFYyvjbO5-d_J35gGyqn8sNEr8pvm4c2DFZlvSFGBqijw39ybJW165-Qiv7Az3eEdJU/s1600/Jerilderie2+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJor4jwpN3A0YUZWoTrAFEU-tSidojofAXgGsnAnvWYDdsO5KZITECwpvTRZ9vHqwinmho5ZjQlFYyvjbO5-d_J35gGyqn8sNEr8pvm4c2DFZlvSFGBqijw39ybJW165-Qiv7Az3eEdJU/s1600/Jerilderie2+041.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
First large spider.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsKUyVpSZ495M38wECwOqlQYa0AYUE_9-zT9h5Y_5cwcE7eNPQM0OYdlpwwC2Uus0Au_JCI2cGrxBWgZIBR4MWnh1P3rrcijzQY3lU6NMSjhbUeaeh0oW_MA_5usBFWCh9cRhf1EM2io/s1600/Jerilderie2+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsKUyVpSZ495M38wECwOqlQYa0AYUE_9-zT9h5Y_5cwcE7eNPQM0OYdlpwwC2Uus0Au_JCI2cGrxBWgZIBR4MWnh1P3rrcijzQY3lU6NMSjhbUeaeh0oW_MA_5usBFWCh9cRhf1EM2io/s1600/Jerilderie2+065.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Second large spider. Pint glass!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qYsLq-w7wy_o2D8iwdRY3coubrDQFsdyBQmj4BXw5vvGjPgpr5heFdR9PsEmOGC0NzXTZ7dvZUSlEIQT4Br5IN7BqCTO_wIgOT7QbXZKmK16lnTVAEvBt7efNILmE1V6PVvTVBqjT1o/s1600/Jerilderie1+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qYsLq-w7wy_o2D8iwdRY3coubrDQFsdyBQmj4BXw5vvGjPgpr5heFdR9PsEmOGC0NzXTZ7dvZUSlEIQT4Br5IN7BqCTO_wIgOT7QbXZKmK16lnTVAEvBt7efNILmE1V6PVvTVBqjT1o/s1600/Jerilderie1+050.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The lake can at least look nice. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYKj7yEgydrrp-MVRYzjctNTVd2l6NHkZQivhvWikTfyyr9FHQ9Stw12EoFsUcWlzI8Q_rUZ0XEGonaK22Hg2BWi9WK1YRo3lYWaRnRV6NvgO6eT6m1g8bCmDbIQMXu1hvPKmhlEwjM4/s1600/Jerilderie1+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYKj7yEgydrrp-MVRYzjctNTVd2l6NHkZQivhvWikTfyyr9FHQ9Stw12EoFsUcWlzI8Q_rUZ0XEGonaK22Hg2BWi9WK1YRo3lYWaRnRV6NvgO6eT6m1g8bCmDbIQMXu1hvPKmhlEwjM4/s1600/Jerilderie1+099.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHB5PtYulPpf_67ZojrcISF2osmp5koOEPHJSDnUsDFU43D8lNSje5qnigP6jWTsX7os0ggncZqsKKztJmMJAkWetW2NK3RQkTY6g-tjPm4R-Zf91bDdoEYlvOMxXhAVDU315Hp3zwuU/s1600/Jerilderie1+123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHB5PtYulPpf_67ZojrcISF2osmp5koOEPHJSDnUsDFU43D8lNSje5qnigP6jWTsX7os0ggncZqsKKztJmMJAkWetW2NK3RQkTY6g-tjPm4R-Zf91bDdoEYlvOMxXhAVDU315Hp3zwuU/s1600/Jerilderie1+123.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6m-tD6NvSmHqLhJ3ZpZ_j066AQ4GRRb325nn1lT9Lvebt5Dw_pupeDi8fjxj4O4UYeX4Qds6iXz0IW4oUt81owtq2h6-iQSNepS1DNSph10iOUDEUmtkUPBV2XQ6Wr004b3j8e7FI1XU/s1600/Jerilderie2+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6m-tD6NvSmHqLhJ3ZpZ_j066AQ4GRRb325nn1lT9Lvebt5Dw_pupeDi8fjxj4O4UYeX4Qds6iXz0IW4oUt81owtq2h6-iQSNepS1DNSph10iOUDEUmtkUPBV2XQ6Wr004b3j8e7FI1XU/s1600/Jerilderie2+005.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
The roaring town centre.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One day we attempt to leave to pick up a friend, Lauren, from Wagga Wagga. Bad, bad, bad idea. We get about forty kilometers then the can breaks down and goes on fire. We have no reception and manage to borrow a local's phone to call in for help. We spend a very odd hour around a tiny village while awaiting our rescue. He arrives with a truck and a rather flimsy chain. I then have a rather terrifying tow journey home and we decide never to try and leave Jerilderie again. We send some other friends with a car to Wagga Wagga to collect our stranded Lauren. Their tyre melts on the road.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD5A5vwelWLj_8VsWosfwsdQH1x5lRFK2YLtvJ1OG_OL0e9vcU3uDVwllmh-gJ4p1pu_F36EAyCEyqYs7bWt6EsRLcAZilmVLjk23d0WJFOTt9QEHvr3CB7YBWrf5hJp794jHp2od12Q/s1600/Jerilderie2+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD5A5vwelWLj_8VsWosfwsdQH1x5lRFK2YLtvJ1OG_OL0e9vcU3uDVwllmh-gJ4p1pu_F36EAyCEyqYs7bWt6EsRLcAZilmVLjk23d0WJFOTt9QEHvr3CB7YBWrf5hJp794jHp2od12Q/s1600/Jerilderie2+021.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S8z8HiSVyWG7zf4bQDoDKcMQ81nkP3cQG2dFLRbvPPlxMJZzNyF0paj5SjybV1565uoP3WWjl8_pqXrCMM1ubt_iHZrjSE5sqIiwbJDSIPQe4bkquh7U_hJ_VpzPvTHKvO8I6hglisg/s1600/Jerilderie2+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S8z8HiSVyWG7zf4bQDoDKcMQ81nkP3cQG2dFLRbvPPlxMJZzNyF0paj5SjybV1565uoP3WWjl8_pqXrCMM1ubt_iHZrjSE5sqIiwbJDSIPQe4bkquh7U_hJ_VpzPvTHKvO8I6hglisg/s1600/Jerilderie2+019.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At least we found a pub.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Now I am in the tomato factory, working nights, and its really not that bad. Night shifts are perfect for saving money, not only do the pay the most but you least opportunity to spend it. And the pretty much the entire night shift team consists of my unit and the once next door, so I am in good company. The factory makes various things, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, pasta sauce, you get the idea. My role is to mix the non-tomato ingredients (powders) into the vats and oversee the bottling / canning machines that inevitably fail every few minutes. It's dull and repetitive but its the nightshift so none of the owners are in and the supervisor is one of us so we can chat and listen to music while we work. And when I'm allowed to listen to my music I will happily work away and never get bored, the nights pass quickly. It does mean that there will be no musical accompaniment to my writing today, I listen to too much for anything to stick out and have any meaning.<br />
We work seven days a week here and only get time off when it rains (they have to stop the harvesters as they get bogged down easily). Apparently we get St Patrick's Day off as well but I think that's just be a rumour created by the Irish in the hope that if enough people believe it it will become true. I thought that this endless working day would leave me exhausted and craving some time off, but it hasn't. I think I'm quite good at adapting to situations. That or I really want the money. From a weeks work here I can save almost a thousand dollars. It's not that hard when there's nothing to spend it on.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDnN97rRSoMyZyLhfwmS8A0qNH4-lvaYyOpMvi7RINvQ2UJZxLKqTFPPXjGX1kaQlW0_QHLYSjEPFgvTHuuPmPS0YmhBud7pcsTfbvqLJa2j5JgPKXmM_w_ReSGRGP98dNQjZA43HuYw/s1600/Jerilderie2+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDnN97rRSoMyZyLhfwmS8A0qNH4-lvaYyOpMvi7RINvQ2UJZxLKqTFPPXjGX1kaQlW0_QHLYSjEPFgvTHuuPmPS0YmhBud7pcsTfbvqLJa2j5JgPKXmM_w_ReSGRGP98dNQjZA43HuYw/s1600/Jerilderie2+072.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd6FJQmCsNATZ05iqjmOuzpyFK9L09nz1t7q-fz128r2xG9xhYMnAH3B9KaepxgLhY1A5d6lwR1BPSWyIOTCJaz6r3LQ3qG58CWX0kCmZCVlj89M0YEB6NqxyYKOpg0v19D8zfVJvN0g/s1600/Jerilderie2+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd6FJQmCsNATZ05iqjmOuzpyFK9L09nz1t7q-fz128r2xG9xhYMnAH3B9KaepxgLhY1A5d6lwR1BPSWyIOTCJaz6r3LQ3qG58CWX0kCmZCVlj89M0YEB6NqxyYKOpg0v19D8zfVJvN0g/s1600/Jerilderie2+031.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqEx47fXDNI79eDMSEjxDVfLyfRZH0mAhexECWdE_CfLs-dxiIPoTe6hASQpWDIPHFRUrGJUphmVnfoj-vU7aDaIngXFQ3hyqZ0I5IoDLWKXLVDW3u5xmRNN5gmoonHDrarX5SsEKlOI/s1600/Jerilderie2+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqEx47fXDNI79eDMSEjxDVfLyfRZH0mAhexECWdE_CfLs-dxiIPoTe6hASQpWDIPHFRUrGJUphmVnfoj-vU7aDaIngXFQ3hyqZ0I5IoDLWKXLVDW3u5xmRNN5gmoonHDrarX5SsEKlOI/s1600/Jerilderie2+043.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Considering we're in Australia, and all the employees are Irish or Scottish, I wonder at the necessity of this.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
So that is my life just now. Eat, sleep, work, repeat. The plan to is to save enough to fund my final month or two down the west coast (and hopefully to Uluru) and have some left for my return to the UK in July. There I will have a couple of months in Scotland before moving to London to undertake a PhD at Imperial College London. My subject is 'Large scale marine renewable systems; optimising the trade off between environmental impacts and power generation'. It's right up my street.<br />
I know I will be exceedingly sad to leave Australia, but I am more excited than I can express at not only seeing my friends and family again but also at this next stage of my life. It is a thing I have long wanted to do, and I would never have expected to get the opportunity to do it somewhere such as Imperial, let alone with full funding.<br />
<br />
Now I must head to work, and it is raining as I type this so perhaps tomorrow I'll get the day off. What an exciting prospect.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-63981480372311332522014-01-02T19:05:00.004-08:002014-01-02T19:32:08.892-08:00Singing, Sydney and a surprising amount of Scotland.On my first night back in Australia my new room-mates make me feel right at home. I get off the train from the airport and it is already dark. Catching glimpses of the Opera House as I go I make my way to the hostel and check in. Joy of joys, I arrive to discover that my bunk mate is from Aberdeen! Oh the pleasure of hearing a Scottish accent again, it is wonderful (upon re-reading I find this all sounds sarcastic, it it most certainly not). Instantly I find myself using words that I haven't been able to use in months because no-one understands them.<br />
I am presented with an empty box of chocolates that they all bought for my arrival then proceeded to eat before I turned up. We have a rendition of 'O Flower of Scotland' from our beds then it is time to catch up on some long overdue sleep. In the morning I am woken up to find a freshly made cup of coffee awaiting me. I feel at home already.<br />
The hostel is amazing. It floats over an archaeological dig, the rooms are arranged in strata around wide open atriums without ceiling or floor. Above the endless sky and below the excavated remains of 1820's cottages that used to reside here. A handful of thin metal pillars keeps the whole building raised above the crumbling remains below.<br />
There are four of us working here for accommodation. We help out in the cafe, in the kitchen and at the barbecue. The cafe is my favourite by a long way. As it turns out I just love making coffee, real coffee that is. And my mum always wanted me to be trained as a barista.<br />
My first week or so here pass in a blur. I spend a lot of time wandering around seeing the city, applying (unsuccessfully) for jobs and getting to know my room-mates. We take an evening walk down to the Opera House one day to find Jack Johnson is playing before its steps. We sit by the fence with all the fans that were too slow or too poor to get tickets. I'm not a fan of Jack Johnson but tonight his music fits the summer evening perfectly. White peaks soar above us and across the harbour the bridge hangs in the air over star studded waters.<br />
We stand on a bench to try and get a better view and within seconds a security guard arrives and orders us down lest we injure ourselves. If I wasn't able to stand on a bench without injuring myself I doubt I would have made it to Australia. I wouldn't be surprised if you need permit for that anyway. Australia, particularly New South Wales is ridiculous for that sort of thing. You can't do anything without having completed the appropriate course, which will inevitably cost you money.<br />
Overall I like Sydney, although it doesn't feel as big as I was expecting. I know it is huge but the centre doesn't feel to me like it belongs to a city of this size. Perhaps if I lived a bit further out of town I would feel differently. Anyway the area that I live in is the oldest, prettiest (and probably most expensive) part of town. Thankfully I'm not paying.<br />
I have found more old buildings around here than I did in Melbourne, and I haven't explored it nearly as much. But I think I prefer the general atmosphere when walking around the streets of Melbourne than to here. Here there are less people skateboarding to work or to the shops. People seem to care a bit more, but it could just be the part of town I'm in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNbmfltWSnudxonFNtfvZW15nuNvxo2eD5PHhELH-of8CHGuiHni15om58B4-RUFSUo944QkGb6NZZEQqkleUuNgNJnBLe7hEby3A6v-0Lt7N7RQXE9SZWDwdwLT24TCOSPyVIC2iZCs/s1600/Sydney+2013+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNbmfltWSnudxonFNtfvZW15nuNvxo2eD5PHhELH-of8CHGuiHni15om58B4-RUFSUo944QkGb6NZZEQqkleUuNgNJnBLe7hEby3A6v-0Lt7N7RQXE9SZWDwdwLT24TCOSPyVIC2iZCs/s640/Sydney+2013+009.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Farewell New Zealand</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiie9U0Bbc5MKEWQJHpIzshufiFu2dr2wdXw0e8XgQI6kiVRQCJenxIjWQ2NyeGAh63Upqa-Bwu4jTBmCCc9zvaZw1R-_TEgvncYspoOqyu1S09jcKeHplTdZj9XwCdkrn929_CnDK2J0A/s1600/Sydney+2013+223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiie9U0Bbc5MKEWQJHpIzshufiFu2dr2wdXw0e8XgQI6kiVRQCJenxIjWQ2NyeGAh63Upqa-Bwu4jTBmCCc9zvaZw1R-_TEgvncYspoOqyu1S09jcKeHplTdZj9XwCdkrn929_CnDK2J0A/s640/Sydney+2013+223.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello Sydney </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXouoJDrYVvtlZVaoc6Wx9MtJjBwPVR9L1AXbFmuzmn4PU1gd2WDoMdBARCAk-jiW5kgtGFI-cli0g1WXike9T-4WZPqXbglvlZAjxGI2916PB0Uwfve9wm64oS_WQLAGw8RrtlzEOfHk/s1600/Sydney+2013+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXouoJDrYVvtlZVaoc6Wx9MtJjBwPVR9L1AXbFmuzmn4PU1gd2WDoMdBARCAk-jiW5kgtGFI-cli0g1WXike9T-4WZPqXbglvlZAjxGI2916PB0Uwfve9wm64oS_WQLAGw8RrtlzEOfHk/s640/Sydney+2013+018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNpmBLIy_MQC132FHQ3Q1SG3i2BkVWdnGj1BonM7WVFgQLZLKaDRh0ZxNE57WgrUJ59UqCS-h34AZ9H-z9b2825uh8Ulo3K2nhTl567SGIz5BhASzhVWNMd2te_cpVMnOzKbdAzJSK8U/s1600/Sydney+2013+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNpmBLIy_MQC132FHQ3Q1SG3i2BkVWdnGj1BonM7WVFgQLZLKaDRh0ZxNE57WgrUJ59UqCS-h34AZ9H-z9b2825uh8Ulo3K2nhTl567SGIz5BhASzhVWNMd2te_cpVMnOzKbdAzJSK8U/s640/Sydney+2013+021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElPEezzYg8NcbBd6KROcc11PWoLR2SAMogmK2SYwWfrxHjyQ9__8WsXmQvgXQSnbpThFdC72RMOmhk0ItNKR0QuXn_el7Unke9aEU2-Oh5fEbEUQqzq4ECcpcXGQaLN9Z7Uy4veXfBhU/s1600/Sydney+2013+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElPEezzYg8NcbBd6KROcc11PWoLR2SAMogmK2SYwWfrxHjyQ9__8WsXmQvgXQSnbpThFdC72RMOmhk0ItNKR0QuXn_el7Unke9aEU2-Oh5fEbEUQqzq4ECcpcXGQaLN9Z7Uy4veXfBhU/s640/Sydney+2013+023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdCuHwkeOes1FU2PDiImqVXdw3KLcNFu2wkFmHb5iH0Ah596-Py3-T8lsYQFZytNc_oulWuskElxVbeLH-MyLLYIgEvTtcbIxrXcMxAcVTW6Lr0gLT0hG4ur6qEYOH44wCb8U98NgATs/s1600/Sydney+2013+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdCuHwkeOes1FU2PDiImqVXdw3KLcNFu2wkFmHb5iH0Ah596-Py3-T8lsYQFZytNc_oulWuskElxVbeLH-MyLLYIgEvTtcbIxrXcMxAcVTW6Lr0gLT0hG4ur6qEYOH44wCb8U98NgATs/s640/Sydney+2013+029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-bvQF45M3bueRoocsBCVcfw3TsbrwzEMVmB8QOVilzI3b8aFVzdEoXM-5AhwCcZVtIEzX8_xIb707v5Xc-cR-qbKtDlfPu1HcFkeif3S6IIz-D11t0t95_qwsg_JpVbi6IAHqOtIW8I/s1600/Sydney+2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-bvQF45M3bueRoocsBCVcfw3TsbrwzEMVmB8QOVilzI3b8aFVzdEoXM-5AhwCcZVtIEzX8_xIb707v5Xc-cR-qbKtDlfPu1HcFkeif3S6IIz-D11t0t95_qwsg_JpVbi6IAHqOtIW8I/s640/Sydney+2013+039.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsmpem_imAq81ZldVeC6hKW11Papsq-FS9LeZ77OO-Hni2LpZuLu1FXPPL9bE6LC-G26X1l3JQ3Tjq_K1ue7OsKlETpTvVd_qDXPQ2Kpq_eg31AtDzPcNhsGZAVPZIb4A7pZvbeb_I9o/s1600/Sydney+2013+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsmpem_imAq81ZldVeC6hKW11Papsq-FS9LeZ77OO-Hni2LpZuLu1FXPPL9bE6LC-G26X1l3JQ3Tjq_K1ue7OsKlETpTvVd_qDXPQ2Kpq_eg31AtDzPcNhsGZAVPZIb4A7pZvbeb_I9o/s640/Sydney+2013+055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Christmas time in Australia is, to say the least, odd. Firstly I don't think they go as crazy for is as we do at home. There aren't Christmas lights everywhere for a start. Walking along even some of the main streets you can hardly tell what time of yer it is. Even on Christmas day there are still some stores open in town. And don't get me started on the pathetic attempt at decoration made by our hostel.<br />We do manage to do a lot of appropriately Christmassy activities though. First we attend a carol concert under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, views across to the Opera House included. This particular event does not put me in the Christmas spirit. The carols have all been altered and modernised, they even make them feel summery. They change the words and they change the tunes. They switch tunes around and they invent their own songs specifically for this concert. Also, Australia seems to under the impression that Greensleeves is a Christmas song. At one point they turn it into some sort of rock power-ballad and sing to it about the baby Jesus.<br />We leave before the last song to avoid the rush. As we are leaving we hear them announcing the final song; “it's a tune you'll all know though the lyrics are new” they warn us before the electric guitars start blasting out Auld Lang Syne.<br />Our next Christmas excursion is much more of a success. A carol concert in the botanic gardens. This time it feels like Christmas. Rows of lights, thousands of people waving (fake) candles in the air, even traditional carols! We get Danni Minogue, we get Father Christmas, we get fake snow (foam) drifting through the air to the sound of “White Christmas”. We even get a live feed of Kelly Clarkson singing for us straight from Las Vegas. A bit of Michael Buble and it would have been the perfect Christmas evening.<br />Shortly before the end it starts to rain and everybody freaks out. The Australians panic, they're running around frantically shoving leftover food into hampers, blankets over their heads. In a matter of minutes it seems that about half of the crowd have fled. A few people are still left around us, they all appear to be British.<br />Our final Christmas trip is to a light show on the side of the Catherdal. It is started off with a Carol Concert (yet again) from the Cathedral's wonderful choir. Then the face of the building is lit in a myriad of colours. We get the Christmas Story and we get huge artworks of Mary and child. It's all quite beautiful and I am impressed by the quality.<br />In place of the traditional Christmas Market here they have what they call the 'Village Bizarre' which is a collection of stalls selling handmade jewelry or artisan cupcakes interspersed with mystics, pop-up theaters, barbers (??) and yes, a silent disco. It is different and exciting, and the silent disco is just too much fun. And besides that the whole thing is beautiful. <div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4IfUpZcGsAv_vGUcv39oigvvawvoNPX0E-hIzlR0SWSVbyyJhNIp0EmIu351mIqyk3WIc9e398_WB4yseS3X32LNgFcGT2klN0EUKKUXyqSweTfhyKWt7PZ2YuYnwG0L1M6HUtpbv78/s1600/Sydney+2013+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4IfUpZcGsAv_vGUcv39oigvvawvoNPX0E-hIzlR0SWSVbyyJhNIp0EmIu351mIqyk3WIc9e398_WB4yseS3X32LNgFcGT2klN0EUKKUXyqSweTfhyKWt7PZ2YuYnwG0L1M6HUtpbv78/s640/Sydney+2013+046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HXwA4CHWYlR_oV5pPvd8MH1DaXh0_xUKFwIHigyDC00LM-DCuJZk95r811UrrdDrOhntoNewv2A-rIU92FkMf2AGvfCqYFDa1oCbOuUMDdTr3g9eg1VFJ406s_leLCvtHs9M1UYA1WQ/s1600/Sydney+2013+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HXwA4CHWYlR_oV5pPvd8MH1DaXh0_xUKFwIHigyDC00LM-DCuJZk95r811UrrdDrOhntoNewv2A-rIU92FkMf2AGvfCqYFDa1oCbOuUMDdTr3g9eg1VFJ406s_leLCvtHs9M1UYA1WQ/s640/Sydney+2013+058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbdBP_cve2owtqcuFPzgoWqmVq3RDsV11J3JLaB8Ht9PKFnNbeU0Bdkv7D-xwyCCijQF2LUxzwa2gwqrGXOnQnBeKDmp8MRdy0Qir1DmC1bR9wgm5p9tXAGfju5cWxjfmDPYTaATN5tA/s1600/Sydney+2013+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbdBP_cve2owtqcuFPzgoWqmVq3RDsV11J3JLaB8Ht9PKFnNbeU0Bdkv7D-xwyCCijQF2LUxzwa2gwqrGXOnQnBeKDmp8MRdy0Qir1DmC1bR9wgm5p9tXAGfju5cWxjfmDPYTaATN5tA/s640/Sydney+2013+090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAQnVtE5FrpY0vizUlDUv0FhKcvACJXpAFw7juDSCrYEA1PtwPo8L2-NNH5uO6Myl3NVH8zq8r7nLSFYOxwcED2IP1wv13Etkp7XDZkkfpVt_EVyJoHYKadykNpbNuCaR7l9Zlc3apWw/s1600/Sydney+2013+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAQnVtE5FrpY0vizUlDUv0FhKcvACJXpAFw7juDSCrYEA1PtwPo8L2-NNH5uO6Myl3NVH8zq8r7nLSFYOxwcED2IP1wv13Etkp7XDZkkfpVt_EVyJoHYKadykNpbNuCaR7l9Zlc3apWw/s640/Sydney+2013+105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSlrbNUmia23sj-WnGVpKzt-cXjnPcHG4XJnC5RtLVlofhCWL47dr-jkak-pVJyPbDVWuWPxkNLqRfPSeuTrCEr5isDE-IaPTxAyAINYKCm6MHhw_qaqDfe2koMR553VcWcfmEdVkCiA/s1600/Sydney+2013+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSlrbNUmia23sj-WnGVpKzt-cXjnPcHG4XJnC5RtLVlofhCWL47dr-jkak-pVJyPbDVWuWPxkNLqRfPSeuTrCEr5isDE-IaPTxAyAINYKCm6MHhw_qaqDfe2koMR553VcWcfmEdVkCiA/s640/Sydney+2013+110.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU-Voqc11bnGo-oZ5HrfhfBDiXWCqyC5xQIF8DTQmpVOW6m_V5N3huUZCVyxyNk-MTeqXx-1q4Fck8fVdkw3K7FHKOJjU-VcArG6xyRdcK69_Efj6mOgGKD0QGu_tKtjOjiTks-xdLJI/s1600/Sydney+2013+143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU-Voqc11bnGo-oZ5HrfhfBDiXWCqyC5xQIF8DTQmpVOW6m_V5N3huUZCVyxyNk-MTeqXx-1q4Fck8fVdkw3K7FHKOJjU-VcArG6xyRdcK69_Efj6mOgGKD0QGu_tKtjOjiTks-xdLJI/s640/Sydney+2013+143.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxpVxTb6YB8Km4z1najzTOHAyG-aOJ4XacchSAD8_vG_mnA8UD1OLxZ6p2wiv7bOzhPGo2x4QziOmC9QzOAiKjdKLaolrxj-1VsZti-6KDiZuxQDMMntKCMMiOITyvPfSF15rkeNkcBo/s1600/Sydney+2013+171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxpVxTb6YB8Km4z1najzTOHAyG-aOJ4XacchSAD8_vG_mnA8UD1OLxZ6p2wiv7bOzhPGo2x4QziOmC9QzOAiKjdKLaolrxj-1VsZti-6KDiZuxQDMMntKCMMiOITyvPfSF15rkeNkcBo/s640/Sydney+2013+171.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWgCep2pZaf_xpUpgK_BfSM7bGr5vuudy5bW-VBO6oUFEDExILn_w5FeXcLRFsIKoq_HtCbrV6C_gyiJcsbaLkPbgCBryATiJPBfBfi-lJiWKp1XYH3Kpajaqed6n1tYO6FpPAqA_8dU/s1600/Sydney+2013+175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWgCep2pZaf_xpUpgK_BfSM7bGr5vuudy5bW-VBO6oUFEDExILn_w5FeXcLRFsIKoq_HtCbrV6C_gyiJcsbaLkPbgCBryATiJPBfBfi-lJiWKp1XYH3Kpajaqed6n1tYO6FpPAqA_8dU/s640/Sydney+2013+175.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /><br />On Christmas eve we inevitably end up in the pub. Or should I say in pubs. At one point we are in an Irish bar watching a man in drag coerce people into singing karaoke and two men in kilts approach me and burst into a rendition of 'O Flower of Scotland' (they had been informed of my nationality by a friend). I joyously join in and by the end of the first verse we have attracted all the Scottish people in the vicinity.<br /><br />Having suitably prepared ourselves, we end up having a wonderful Christmas. In the morning all four of us are running the hostel's Christmas brunch of ham, spinach and egg rolls (champagne included). One of the receptionists has some sort of extreme problem with Christmas music and refuses to play any, eventually though we get the Love Actually soundtrack so I guess that'll do. The guests are all in a great mood and we have a few too many mimosas. It turns out to be really good fun.<br />Afterwards we open out presents in our room. We have all bought each other gifts. It doesn't matter that they're small or cheap or that any other year would probably fade into insignificance beside everything else. This year they make me feel luckier than I could have possibly imagined. None of us were really expecting anything. I know I wasn't. I also received cards from my Mum and a couple of wonderful friends back home so now I have a little Christmas display by my bed. Sometimes less really is more.<br />It rains all day. The only complete day of rain I have had in Australia in four months and it's Christmas Day. I secretly don't mind at all. It feels like home. That afternoon I try read my book on a sofa in the social area and promptly fall asleep. I really couldn't have wished for anything more.<div>
<br />The period between Christmas and New Year vanishes as it always does and I have no idea what happens. What does happen to all that time? Every year it just disappears. I think this year it mainly went on The Hobbit.<br />For New Year we are helping out at our hostel's roof party. It costs one hundred and eighty dollars and has been sold out since April. We get it for the price of helping to set up and take down. During the party we get the hostel's iPad to take photo's of ourselves and the guests and ourselves some more. We get the perfect view of the Harbour, boats adorned with lights float over the dark water, their glistening masts stretching both up and down. Between the odd free drink offered at the bar and whatever I have stashed in my room it manages to be quite the evening.<br />Apparently this is the first time in ten years that Sydney has had a fireworks display from the Opera House as well as the bridge. This is great for us as as our view stretches perfectly between the two. We get fireworks at ten past eight, half past eight, nine, half past ten and midnight. It's all about the midnight ones. And they are of course amazing. Seeing the Opera House lit from above by the deepest red or the brightest blue and then seeing the same display repeated into the distance down the harbour is an amazing sight. And the golden finale is simply spectacular.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttSFyenR9EDjFOfDr91DDfsxGkTKakGOTcYMvoOEMu9ApO7qiiG3IucQeJCJQ2T4U5jYMjNPW_Dt_nzLTRMU4HouojG6JZqY-ApxwKBVKONgVEy48Z_aYsJPokZWDBQh5DGJlEDmtFsQ/s1600/Sydney+2013+239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttSFyenR9EDjFOfDr91DDfsxGkTKakGOTcYMvoOEMu9ApO7qiiG3IucQeJCJQ2T4U5jYMjNPW_Dt_nzLTRMU4HouojG6JZqY-ApxwKBVKONgVEy48Z_aYsJPokZWDBQh5DGJlEDmtFsQ/s640/Sydney+2013+239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG36pYU7BUHbDGv9McBXLFlzDkDRGtKky7vPpBBNQZqWAhJFEtL-OzGrGDwKViZApUmnBQ0QYQkniWYVoYYu_8i4xvE_zt2GwntE7l8UIW98__aQJacvFGDOdlyLfw_AWxtAif8M2zFQ/s1600/Sydney+2013+293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG36pYU7BUHbDGv9McBXLFlzDkDRGtKky7vPpBBNQZqWAhJFEtL-OzGrGDwKViZApUmnBQ0QYQkniWYVoYYu_8i4xvE_zt2GwntE7l8UIW98__aQJacvFGDOdlyLfw_AWxtAif8M2zFQ/s640/Sydney+2013+293.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMP2j5qzKSROeroYefmjMFz4fN7-Pf357JV47-YEhnnVMmFYJ0H2zaZhkLLEnqK2isGHGGEOVhiLFWHbmR83VjxYPL2rEvfFpVlOthaiWCYod2QeaHCKyR8H0NR1OPUS52o63J59VoDs/s1600/Sydney+2013+323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMP2j5qzKSROeroYefmjMFz4fN7-Pf357JV47-YEhnnVMmFYJ0H2zaZhkLLEnqK2isGHGGEOVhiLFWHbmR83VjxYPL2rEvfFpVlOthaiWCYod2QeaHCKyR8H0NR1OPUS52o63J59VoDs/s640/Sydney+2013+323.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1Eb7GppdCW7xCuQYtoxwYWqfz4KLSKBWEiptF6IqV3i2JfWzjKbNMShpgnvZWmTcCpBbzEXXJAIMIIArym2xQPhEG5ggDj43RYR-akuxK16Ucny3NcdQjFKs5X4r4sR35PZk3ISfq_Y/s1600/Sydney+2013+378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1Eb7GppdCW7xCuQYtoxwYWqfz4KLSKBWEiptF6IqV3i2JfWzjKbNMShpgnvZWmTcCpBbzEXXJAIMIIArym2xQPhEG5ggDj43RYR-akuxK16Ucny3NcdQjFKs5X4r4sR35PZk3ISfq_Y/s640/Sydney+2013+378.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<br /></div>
I am glad I have seen it. It is one of the main things I wanted to see in Australia, Though I will say that to me the display was made by the location. If you were to simply take the fireworks themselves I wouldn't say they were the best I've ever seen (apart from perhaps the final minute). I may be prejudiced but as an overall display I would choose Edinburgh's festival fireworks for beauty, variety and artistry though certainly not for volume. As I said, I think these are made by the location though I don't say that as a bad thing, I don't think it would be possible for any display to outshine this location. Apart from in this photo:<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqztHc-lf-eEWiExcRqRBXFooCutC6aByf05vD6pl_t4Ce25ZKLp9M3aFWqh8aaCckVwJY-HKOMhI3Zz4n9TYAx-Rzu7uf-mDT0ORELm6SPkWOSP2exh_FloqhZqeXfeJJwwxD7WFajZI/s1600/Sydney+2013+322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqztHc-lf-eEWiExcRqRBXFooCutC6aByf05vD6pl_t4Ce25ZKLp9M3aFWqh8aaCckVwJY-HKOMhI3Zz4n9TYAx-Rzu7uf-mDT0ORELm6SPkWOSP2exh_FloqhZqeXfeJJwwxD7WFajZI/s640/Sydney+2013+322.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Now it is 2014. A lot has happened to me in the last year, and I can only hope the same for the next one. The first day of the year bodes well. I have a picnic on a pier with good food and good friends then get an early night with more good Friends. The television show that is. Ross and Rachel kiss for the first time, it's all very nice.<br />In a couple of weeks me and Laura (the Aberdonian) are going to go farming for a few months. I'm quite excited about it although no doubt it will be hard work. But I am certainly looking forward to earning some money as currently I am beyond the end of mine.<br />It can be quite demoralising applying for jobs and not even hearing anything back for weeks on end. And it has made me miss home quite a lot, especially due to the time of year. Sometimes I just want to wake up and be in my bed in Linlithgow. But then I think about it and I know that that's not what I really want. There are still places that I want to see, that I have to see, before I could ever go home. I just need to wait till I can go farming and earn the money to do it. All in all I have had an amazing time over the last few weeks, and I know there are amazing times still to come.<br />I hope you all had as good a New Year as I did. To all my friends in Inversnaid, I know you will have. I cannot express how gutted I am to miss it, though obviously not gutted enough to miss the New Year that I did have. I will be there next year. And to everyone else, whatever you did, I hope you enjoyed it. I will no doubt see you at some point before the next one. In the meantime I will keep you updated. When you next hear from me I will probably be on a farm...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year!</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PK-E1f-YKBA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-4201817595016954092013-12-09T03:36:00.001-08:002013-12-20T21:57:51.355-08:00Into the West<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
final stretch of New Zealand looms on the horizon. It beckons
expectantly, promising to be quite the send off. Lets just hope it
follows through.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rotorua is our first stop and we are greeted by the sulphur that perfuses the air here. The town itself is nothing to
write home about, it is large and relatively characterless. And it smells. But
it is the gateway to geothermal parks and to Maori villages; to
geysers and mudpools; to kiwis, culture and the haka; to a small
green village where the houses have round doors...</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
arrive at our hostel which is altogether too far from the bus stop
and get chatting to the wonderful and hilarious woman behind at
reception. Within a few minutes of arrival she has arranged for us to
get picked up straight from the door for our Hobbiton trip and has
offered a lift back to the bus stop on the day we leave. She warns us
of impending rain but we assure her we've dealt with worse. We set up
our damp tent under the fringes of the storm and decide not to
explore Rotorua that evening.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the morning we
walk to a nearby geothermal park and Maori village called Te Puia the
next morning. We pass long stretches of wet cement, one of which
someone appears to have cycled through, and Amy tries to use some to
patch the holes in her ever disintegrating flip-flops. It doesn't
work. Oh and while I'm here I'd like to mention that the Kiwis call
flip-flops jandals. What's that all about? Apparently its a
shortening of 'Japanese Sandals' and refers to a traditional Japanese
footwear known as z<span style="color: black;">ōri
but they aren't really the same thing. Thong sandals themselves, like flip-flops, actually
date back to Ancient Egypt and at least 4,000 B.C. Perhaps they
should be calling them Egandals instead.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We
haven't been in the park for more than half a hour when the clouds
above decide to release their entire beings upon us. We are on a
guided tour from a guy with one of the best accents I've ever heard
when the deluge hits. It is the heaviest downpour I have seen in a
long time, the sort where even a five second sprint from one door to
another will leave you soaked to your skin. Luckily we have finished
most of the outside sections of the tour and are making our way
between various workshops and schools of traditional Maori arts and
crafts. At one point he has to ferry us across a courtyard in twos and
threes beneath his extensive umbrella. He could stand under my
umbrella.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Te
Piua is home to the National Wood Carving School, National Weaving
School and National Stone and Bone Carving School. The first two of
these have rooms where you can see people at work making traditional
Maori woodwork or weaving. The students of these schools have built
and carved over thirty traditional Maori meeting houses throughout
New Zealand since the school's opening forty years ago along with
countless pouwhenua (similar to totem poles), canoes, ornaments and
weapons.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">After
this we attend a 'Maori Cultural Experience'. We see traditional song
and dance, often accompanied by 'games' such as elaborate stick
throwing designed to increase the dexterity of the competitors. The
music is catchy and cheering. It is the sort of music I would happily
sit and listen to for hours. I would like to sing along but don't
know the words or the language so there's little hope of that. A couple of
the songs are accompanied by elaborate Poi dances. When I was younger
I used to play with Poi regularly but never realised that it originated
with the Maori. They are much better at it that I ever was. At once
point the four woman all had four Poi in each hand!</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Following
the Poi we got the haka, a traditional posture dance of the Maori,
made famous by the New Zealand rugby team. There are many forms of
haka, of which the All Blacks do one, some were used as challenges or
war cries, some were for funerals and some for celebrations. The haka
of the All Blacks perform is not a war haka as many think but a
ceremonial haka that tells the story of a cunning Chief outwitting
his enemies. It is very impressive and they put so much effort into
it that by the end a few are pouring with sweat. I can easily see how it
could inspire fear in the hearts of adversaries.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruhCQKhow1g2Wfhk0BbJlhvC1FNFl69RyUALKARPvLcP86kYxZlr_Kg6fu2se3sUOtiOq7q6M3-kB3NK75Yd2LueLnUhWMmDO1aAlXoYFUD5eEyZ13k8P5cCRchtOF033_3fpKv8X-Fw/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruhCQKhow1g2Wfhk0BbJlhvC1FNFl69RyUALKARPvLcP86kYxZlr_Kg6fu2se3sUOtiOq7q6M3-kB3NK75Yd2LueLnUhWMmDO1aAlXoYFUD5eEyZ13k8P5cCRchtOF033_3fpKv8X-Fw/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+003.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Representations of Maori Gods</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjmblciJnE65Nr6eig1QiqOtf2Z1XozdpB0Pg3zn-Ip4FLxdhfudn1kcBWUeJSNerXB1pJ60cXFz6mkDc4_O0kPQ2r2XUnDsOkE7A3t_eIlefB-Cnwjuhhlk8pzPIbUikt2FfOpjIv94/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjmblciJnE65Nr6eig1QiqOtf2Z1XozdpB0Pg3zn-Ip4FLxdhfudn1kcBWUeJSNerXB1pJ60cXFz6mkDc4_O0kPQ2r2XUnDsOkE7A3t_eIlefB-Cnwjuhhlk8pzPIbUikt2FfOpjIv94/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+011.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRIRiLc8kqdz0AUj09l7tReVXSMKqlHefBIa2PbKpfr4KC-0TNTDeSwOfN8Wd6ZvIfA1u29B_rngq82MzJ4MXh6ET0d4WKKOUxx0UVgs4U3xNOMc3Yqfu0HxYuaRNdFCBPk5GNL4wRS8/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRIRiLc8kqdz0AUj09l7tReVXSMKqlHefBIa2PbKpfr4KC-0TNTDeSwOfN8Wd6ZvIfA1u29B_rngq82MzJ4MXh6ET0d4WKKOUxx0UVgs4U3xNOMc3Yqfu0HxYuaRNdFCBPk5GNL4wRS8/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+014.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRsn1RRXDKOGQYi0kEWSie2AqdCEEk1-4R2QowlCgfTOmkas6H7vTsmieY6mjW0JnS-UwXcuziOCI280N9KjHAqG2gWCV0JtaKsldSb8ljdyclb3o71LL0NGmSDyWogD42AiXL7asoM8/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRsn1RRXDKOGQYi0kEWSie2AqdCEEk1-4R2QowlCgfTOmkas6H7vTsmieY6mjW0JnS-UwXcuziOCI280N9KjHAqG2gWCV0JtaKsldSb8ljdyclb3o71LL0NGmSDyWogD42AiXL7asoM8/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+032.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA64CaxbT_j5j2OgZgSBzm0wvl2-999oNn3rLt6UKWKjVkzOikVSnIQcKue-NpQckS_P5izL-DXbmEzmqSgXM42Zq1Ko6iWALVU9lSQzVttBifcBcZ-0eAwp2PAP67dwXicGJ0PCggJc/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA64CaxbT_j5j2OgZgSBzm0wvl2-999oNn3rLt6UKWKjVkzOikVSnIQcKue-NpQckS_P5izL-DXbmEzmqSgXM42Zq1Ko6iWALVU9lSQzVttBifcBcZ-0eAwp2PAP67dwXicGJ0PCggJc/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+034.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Poor Kiwi. Spot the Kiwi cloak beside it.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EkGRQhRIAiDkgXrPepQXsp2CAHzMTDAfd_nSq242zbY6qsCw0XVuXUfiGP9YgdhyphenhyphenH8jefYxyGAg60LMBN7vlWngAz7CL76gTW4x74SLvx6g-eaeloRAOQmrIARWlJuKps-PXsrQIdc0/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EkGRQhRIAiDkgXrPepQXsp2CAHzMTDAfd_nSq242zbY6qsCw0XVuXUfiGP9YgdhyphenhyphenH8jefYxyGAg60LMBN7vlWngAz7CL76gTW4x74SLvx6g-eaeloRAOQmrIARWlJuKps-PXsrQIdc0/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+044.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PQQQ6YHHk183g4X3jScNrtcUHDcMe8jnyNVbjwLFHdQBAe4Oy8RRqxSnFIl2lkkdnU17l0L2uK-FCIdHzDOHetLdMrJRPYpSiENUYqo8vejCxWnX9et2ixhA3j7ki0L-FElF6J-JGVg/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PQQQ6YHHk183g4X3jScNrtcUHDcMe8jnyNVbjwLFHdQBAe4Oy8RRqxSnFIl2lkkdnU17l0L2uK-FCIdHzDOHetLdMrJRPYpSiENUYqo8vejCxWnX9et2ixhA3j7ki0L-FElF6J-JGVg/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+045.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz9uZC4ADAobRa9NjiNtRZquWusfmGlTO1RcOAgfdSkUtqYsvFXDrXBSYwH1lsyg_Y4bYSsK1As3J1v3gBU6A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0ouk0kAigAbzM6eTq0raYOSlwYH4ODVpkAoUx2eebZ67z9Sh5nzU2-fmekBIr0zXf9m3GnEoshZi6Mm84Xg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They fairly go for it!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">There are over five hundred steaming pools and sixty five geyser vents in Te Puia. The main contender erupts almost constantly, the height of its expulsions reaching anything up to one hundred feet in the air, though when we are there is is much lower. It is so odd to see boiling water expelled from the ground like this, so regularly and so frequently for so long.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Wide plateaus of silica surround the geysers, streaked with the yellow of sulphur and the red of iron, that have taken hundreds if not thousands of years to form. At their bases, away from the virulent fumes and the heat, orange algae clings to the mineral rock; the only life audacious enough to survive here. We walk around the geysers through clouds of vapor. We look over stretches of bush and columns of smoke drift from between the manuka trees. Steam clings to the ground, creating a pall in the air not unlike the mist of dawn. It is beauteous and captivating yet at the same time has a vague feeling of impending doom, as if heralding an oncoming desolation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwfdP26ITaWfk5Wa1AmLuD2QF705QUqaF4zJp8T19rqKoJzD5FaeP3rm2UJEHKqBVt0zxGOcRd-vCJns-In' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oSeYfgaSpR9jmXOjQy6_4X3F8Ju7V1wf3Vy8dimRZXcSVnVjsqyG4Y9bYeUMqEyTptsABJjKZQQtY1M63oiY8n1AxJ9upPy7MfCKhVfz2S3ZM_CtcaQ_TiSHX-oepTVMYu1I7YGzqe0/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oSeYfgaSpR9jmXOjQy6_4X3F8Ju7V1wf3Vy8dimRZXcSVnVjsqyG4Y9bYeUMqEyTptsABJjKZQQtY1M63oiY8n1AxJ9upPy7MfCKhVfz2S3ZM_CtcaQ_TiSHX-oepTVMYu1I7YGzqe0/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+051.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfTUQ4zKvenEPGSOQtUuMRqxEs4jx0pjf5_zjIViIzMNcyVDtPP2nK-KldKoEKD-lW0_tjCs14dsSgDeySMAVue55vW2a0dVezAjGetCC_-_MyHE4tdWViGySxyhh7yD2YYVFuTshw1U/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfTUQ4zKvenEPGSOQtUuMRqxEs4jx0pjf5_zjIViIzMNcyVDtPP2nK-KldKoEKD-lW0_tjCs14dsSgDeySMAVue55vW2a0dVezAjGetCC_-_MyHE4tdWViGySxyhh7yD2YYVFuTshw1U/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+059.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE_Lbp-e4RTM77YeePmRwxKhcRWY-_770QzlrjIPRnm8EzMB5qymzhDm-drxXv13Bfgf9RtDoCkJfE6Io3d6fl5ZCut3_1V0CkxYsxyQ4F-PrWIIv25_grso1q-_NiZYT1wReK70jHuk/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE_Lbp-e4RTM77YeePmRwxKhcRWY-_770QzlrjIPRnm8EzMB5qymzhDm-drxXv13Bfgf9RtDoCkJfE6Io3d6fl5ZCut3_1V0CkxYsxyQ4F-PrWIIv25_grso1q-_NiZYT1wReK70jHuk/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+066.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVknohRVMwtFSAST3nZblypd3xorwcuhyJLv_h3K43OYe4dmgpo1SNyz3XsturRZjzKx1Cq5A-YxXMtPPM3nfnpWhyy3EbcX0n4zsWqTVW2Ma99lYaedKyArw6KWL1LU4p0gls2skgKS0/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVknohRVMwtFSAST3nZblypd3xorwcuhyJLv_h3K43OYe4dmgpo1SNyz3XsturRZjzKx1Cq5A-YxXMtPPM3nfnpWhyy3EbcX0n4zsWqTVW2Ma99lYaedKyArw6KWL1LU4p0gls2skgKS0/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+082.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The next day is Amy's birthday. And what a birthday it is. Who could wish for any greater experience than the one we go on? Our bus picks us up at half past eight and we drive out into the countryside. The rolling green countryside. Hills and trees amble into the distance and I am reminded of two places I know very well. Home is one of them. Parts of the countryside we pass through could be slotted into the train ride from Edinburgh to Linlithgow that I have embarked upon oh so many times and I wouldn't even notice the difference.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57Jzg7zAZFXE-nGqWUlv1_xxuHrIrqMXy_NR8fEyJXeEk7WUU1DBV3UZnhRbwvcamIWcAUQiIi6lqGBzEf4o_UqhGdbmn9ilKEitDWhKG5GLyBP1dRIjZwNKcMwFRNs0RM18MrkeKxRs/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57Jzg7zAZFXE-nGqWUlv1_xxuHrIrqMXy_NR8fEyJXeEk7WUU1DBV3UZnhRbwvcamIWcAUQiIi6lqGBzEf4o_UqhGdbmn9ilKEitDWhKG5GLyBP1dRIjZwNKcMwFRNs0RM18MrkeKxRs/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+099.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZkf0oW76ObrheEX-9qjPINIsDGl5NOBNlU-b41OTKDfkVaIoWwBuv7rZ9056F3DoEUgdERAEEPFP_2ehNZ3ZXI2m9GqdE2_sKuYLDLt7F1XBepH2GVrL6M1f6ivKlW7KezGoJaa34F4/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZkf0oW76ObrheEX-9qjPINIsDGl5NOBNlU-b41OTKDfkVaIoWwBuv7rZ9056F3DoEUgdERAEEPFP_2ehNZ3ZXI2m9GqdE2_sKuYLDLt7F1XBepH2GVrL6M1f6ivKlW7KezGoJaa34F4/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+101.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Then we see a road sign titled Buckland Road and I know we are here. 'Oh that's nice', you think, 'they named the road Buckland Road because of Hobbiton'. No. It's even better than that. Buckland Road has had that name for over sixty years. Peter Jackson only discovered the name after he had already chosen the spot as the location of Hobbiton. It was meant to be!</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Hobbiton is like nothing I could have ever dreamed of. It is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It is green and verdant, it feels as though it has always been there, but has only recently been discovered. I could spend my life wandering its narrow pathways and bursting gardens. Sitting in its wooded dells and by its frog filled ponds.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I am amazed, completely stunned by the effort and dedication that went into the creation, and re-creation, of this set. When it was first built for the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogies thirty nine hobbit holes were built, mainly out of plywood and polystyrene (it is unbelievable what they managed to build out of polystyrene and made look authentic, if not ancient). When it was rebuilt for The Hobbit it was made exactly the same as before, with the addition of an extra area with five new holes, but this time out of permanent materials. And both times it had to be perfect.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">One example of Peter Jackson's sheer dedication to this project, and to realising Tolkien's vision of this place, is the plum trees. There is a line in the Fellowship of the Rings that mentions Hobbit children building pyramids out of plum stones. Therefore it is only logical that plum trees must grow in Hobbiton. Unfortunately plum trees do not grow here so instead they turned apple trees into plum trees by removing all the leaves and fruit and individually wiring on plums and plum leaves prior to filming. The little grove of plum trees was only seen in the corner of one shot that lasted approximately five seconds. And the new area of Hobbiton built for the Hobbit didn't even make it into the film. But it's all there to see. And the gardens are real too and they are tended by five full time gardeners who produce fruit and veg for the Shire's Rest cafe.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We come to Bag End at the top of the hill, it is amazing amazing amazing. Thirteen different and exquisitely crafted windows peer out from the side of the hill and the Old Oak looms augustly over them all. It is an entirely fake tree with the two hundred thousand leaves individually wired on. A few days before filming it was decided that the colour of the leaves wasn't quite realistic enough so they had to all be removed, re-painted, and reattached. I open Bag End's delightful little post box and find one of the leaves inside. It hasn't left my side since.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We wind down the hill past lines of washing. During filming Peter Jackson had people go out every morning to hang up the washing and every evening to take it down. Why not just leave it up? Well because then there wouldn't be fresh tracks through the grass to the washing lines would there. Then we had the party tree and Sam's beautiful little home with the yellow door that makes the final shot of the trilogy. Then it was time for a pint. In the Green Dragon.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The Green Dragon is the most wonderful pub I have ever been in. It serves traditional ales, cider and ginger beer, all brewed in the pub itself and only available here. They are really good too. The interior feels like that of an old English countryside pub. It is cosy and warm and I could sit before of the fire with a book all the day long. Unfortunately we don't have all the day long. We barely seem to have time to dress up as Hobbits and take all the necessary photos with our drinks before we have to leave. We do however manage to get behind the beautifully carved bar and to take pictures with the kegs. Why does it have to be over??</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIe134YgsCr29HRq-Av-PgpGc8Xv65OyfkasUobD5uDRADfPLQLx_gZYh08ejkrAsnkOAe2VxBFn2q18-puGLbrw5qHM4nsDKqqHxHRTfhwJxrGYo8c7HE5O2d5gPyWtBhyphenhyphennRTDfKkC4/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIe134YgsCr29HRq-Av-PgpGc8Xv65OyfkasUobD5uDRADfPLQLx_gZYh08ejkrAsnkOAe2VxBFn2q18-puGLbrw5qHM4nsDKqqHxHRTfhwJxrGYo8c7HE5O2d5gPyWtBhyphenhyphennRTDfKkC4/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+104.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-d6JyvXRzEiFEInffZ_7cT-XnDa1GLNqkFQuyQP_UGn-VzQpAxepgFu4uZ6IqOYBySlfw9o3hWeOH_xKQt6j8n-vQJCJ7L3weLyjmDpSkPMVKOn0Ul86jMD3ue0hiMpUdebVStEHin6U/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-d6JyvXRzEiFEInffZ_7cT-XnDa1GLNqkFQuyQP_UGn-VzQpAxepgFu4uZ6IqOYBySlfw9o3hWeOH_xKQt6j8n-vQJCJ7L3weLyjmDpSkPMVKOn0Ul86jMD3ue0hiMpUdebVStEHin6U/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+145.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R7HNEboMy3pviYlURu5HOD2lylt9S27-xcrjz3P0y52QQIQmz0nNNwQYogjE9i2Y9fihcxvO8MhzKOmD_BlIUubP-A16jD0VHa2QXz3Qo4t3wUQBZBwVEXBWun_hNlmfqUXR4KiuoYA/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R7HNEboMy3pviYlURu5HOD2lylt9S27-xcrjz3P0y52QQIQmz0nNNwQYogjE9i2Y9fihcxvO8MhzKOmD_BlIUubP-A16jD0VHa2QXz3Qo4t3wUQBZBwVEXBWun_hNlmfqUXR4KiuoYA/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+117.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGXIq7TDdzMrPEpnDvOYY5Z4KmwRlrqtlKodZkVgHS2eX3WHYOEaANj4i3vLmOQW-AhEfB5h2vWTeaJVW2BHAZ-1ejHuGe2hZH-b9INVV1mh2VAvVOMvjLLsj2cGwKgKJQDaL9czdeu0/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGXIq7TDdzMrPEpnDvOYY5Z4KmwRlrqtlKodZkVgHS2eX3WHYOEaANj4i3vLmOQW-AhEfB5h2vWTeaJVW2BHAZ-1ejHuGe2hZH-b9INVV1mh2VAvVOMvjLLsj2cGwKgKJQDaL9czdeu0/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+105.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCaUBe61dOOnKOPHFfKsAPg1vMFUsIl83AePoQ2QbDE9ebHfdXyYXXebHSYM_IZzq6_s3V-XMzAxf_vesHPk3jlYdfMTjOiR6l7UqfOMjSFxS4aBYmm_jh2dMtIqBeP6WYegMS_8OkL4/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCaUBe61dOOnKOPHFfKsAPg1vMFUsIl83AePoQ2QbDE9ebHfdXyYXXebHSYM_IZzq6_s3V-XMzAxf_vesHPk3jlYdfMTjOiR6l7UqfOMjSFxS4aBYmm_jh2dMtIqBeP6WYegMS_8OkL4/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+116.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's that I see in the distance...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwaw67Qyqz3pINnlEY-RMypriPJHUSfgiKfI34ecM-Ayt6rwfzzUmbYGmFwBZyLgenkBHR5sOzb2GSqqYMH3MSUKxkJrh4VpugP0Ky59ok-DWewCMjuGkvfI3C0T3j-aMBgARDjAaYeE/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwaw67Qyqz3pINnlEY-RMypriPJHUSfgiKfI34ecM-Ayt6rwfzzUmbYGmFwBZyLgenkBHR5sOzb2GSqqYMH3MSUKxkJrh4VpugP0Ky59ok-DWewCMjuGkvfI3C0T3j-aMBgARDjAaYeE/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+115.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe-yy6pE5DNpfXypEhmqA-FwoKN02z7rIZZ3dEvl5gf4Xi8ZxsJPj0j4sWhj0-WATtmpztySg2isP9PZZtRKzQDWTI5zH1bQxH5VxgSpFfHZHt_feGbWdF0kAOrNmeuSniAGyqhvNyZM/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe-yy6pE5DNpfXypEhmqA-FwoKN02z7rIZZ3dEvl5gf4Xi8ZxsJPj0j4sWhj0-WATtmpztySg2isP9PZZtRKzQDWTI5zH1bQxH5VxgSpFfHZHt_feGbWdF0kAOrNmeuSniAGyqhvNyZM/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+139.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the new and so far unused section of Hobbiton.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeixQD0XMtw3TiM-dul-ft4onatirQbWYIvkcKRZAFLrVvfXX9bxCqHHLePKtiKm3jq9gcc0K0CNK-wEfakDG4_SPobc1GO_C2yDN3nXphxiabpcxSB4R413QzBysqByunUjs-lUAfsJU/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeixQD0XMtw3TiM-dul-ft4onatirQbWYIvkcKRZAFLrVvfXX9bxCqHHLePKtiKm3jq9gcc0K0CNK-wEfakDG4_SPobc1GO_C2yDN3nXphxiabpcxSB4R413QzBysqByunUjs-lUAfsJU/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+142.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6rOhIhDoIaxYlM1LvAMXrFTN3Ahuq0AyKcV6JXHpetzdSECwA6H_7KzP4wsPkPq0IF_hyftITfpt7t3phqiWQHn30vuKAco9ke4Za8JTidst6-ijJQS6hEb6hdRjXGj4nl7YXjFjRDY/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6rOhIhDoIaxYlM1LvAMXrFTN3Ahuq0AyKcV6JXHpetzdSECwA6H_7KzP4wsPkPq0IF_hyftITfpt7t3phqiWQHn30vuKAco9ke4Za8JTidst6-ijJQS6hEb6hdRjXGj4nl7YXjFjRDY/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+129.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oskku0TnzLjERB_F_hu6tkjPcxi-7u7BG_COoCn6-zNbqqGJOKBYINzFy8WbbHZpLylCcNg27EQvBvisecTSs-Hb0w4lP97IdC02lof5D-GPQzOhB1-oH9OwlEDTmQts_dL4c4EXZcY/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oskku0TnzLjERB_F_hu6tkjPcxi-7u7BG_COoCn6-zNbqqGJOKBYINzFy8WbbHZpLylCcNg27EQvBvisecTSs-Hb0w4lP97IdC02lof5D-GPQzOhB1-oH9OwlEDTmQts_dL4c4EXZcY/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+122.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAI6s2S9oE34PGicjlaz75E4q-3YEI2nOjbgcBmi-kNdgNVhFQ2gPydnveo8ROa9i0pw6yKb9GNIZU-2GMEsrEw5Ee9z5IHtQoeUNmPkwP9f35LASNWvyCESBylBPSuLa170mdeD71L0/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAI6s2S9oE34PGicjlaz75E4q-3YEI2nOjbgcBmi-kNdgNVhFQ2gPydnveo8ROa9i0pw6yKb9GNIZU-2GMEsrEw5Ee9z5IHtQoeUNmPkwP9f35LASNWvyCESBylBPSuLa170mdeD71L0/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+159.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid91mLJqTeHeX0EJNHeINr3kY5Mupabkn_BLBrvIk5djQ1Hm_SeabQkE30ZKuh1SM5oi4eq1jOURo36ptfdFFIpbvp7mWQuDCNLaEvJ_hC__6PIvWyX-Hz9WwADYDyNvouStgfm5hPp7Y/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid91mLJqTeHeX0EJNHeINr3kY5Mupabkn_BLBrvIk5djQ1Hm_SeabQkE30ZKuh1SM5oi4eq1jOURo36ptfdFFIpbvp7mWQuDCNLaEvJ_hC__6PIvWyX-Hz9WwADYDyNvouStgfm5hPp7Y/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+162.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fair.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7AbJb1GcOuOm24hg_THHkO8kSG1DgUJjnnrUjP_4N7qtXiHwp1LkP0MSS5Amiru1sas_ryRNkMPQbYbm_dpsQ6ZZBcVlCtF8sQUbUSxgKKbetywTKRmDuEj0nEm9qqc5Gja9dU7yFf8/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7AbJb1GcOuOm24hg_THHkO8kSG1DgUJjnnrUjP_4N7qtXiHwp1LkP0MSS5Amiru1sas_ryRNkMPQbYbm_dpsQ6ZZBcVlCtF8sQUbUSxgKKbetywTKRmDuEj0nEm9qqc5Gja9dU7yFf8/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+164.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj47y_0accc9qhEbQ4qoQbslGRtHRj-lJBo0Rh0KvNEZvzSAudXCT_-c8fsBBoZUFVNEHQcOLbwpp-t2HioLkUXryId5f595h3Z-sY9ixdGWxF_JafEiHPm0upJNNVKxeuzIk4GoS8Vo/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj47y_0accc9qhEbQ4qoQbslGRtHRj-lJBo0Rh0KvNEZvzSAudXCT_-c8fsBBoZUFVNEHQcOLbwpp-t2HioLkUXryId5f595h3Z-sY9ixdGWxF_JafEiHPm0upJNNVKxeuzIk4GoS8Vo/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+163.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the best things I've ever seen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh6T51UxpRkUBsYY_9XEDGFmNPD0Mah9dZBxPvkOhJ9PgGsn8oH74MdxSdfiTtKRNfOeHHLNotjep_4w4Fg394uVm5M1LiRgOadb4nlOIH5jT6vUp-R-a58Phbk64iuZGdQGSD2LscVU/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh6T51UxpRkUBsYY_9XEDGFmNPD0Mah9dZBxPvkOhJ9PgGsn8oH74MdxSdfiTtKRNfOeHHLNotjep_4w4Fg394uVm5M1LiRgOadb4nlOIH5jT6vUp-R-a58Phbk64iuZGdQGSD2LscVU/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+152.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7-SM0phx1UY-1KTGyxaBLpO1X6Ye69KldYM_bebLTjH8IZCx6rOBiQuQzlUOwo1hZ0Af1JKMiv596Jv_Mi8lkU17AXHbwMgSR3gnwrft6Ookk_uHhjBfLihZwzLEYslWz__fsfZDqKI/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7-SM0phx1UY-1KTGyxaBLpO1X6Ye69KldYM_bebLTjH8IZCx6rOBiQuQzlUOwo1hZ0Af1JKMiv596Jv_Mi8lkU17AXHbwMgSR3gnwrft6Ookk_uHhjBfLihZwzLEYslWz__fsfZDqKI/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+168.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqj8Kg61njI5f0n3MBo6_7tUw_WeBIEjbeWslyqvtfuLMMMmJ6-4WHFwk_sgoxnGj_CqF_rSu3hgpdKYh4GCxgFzNWaqAcHwqlg3kFnG-ot8Bw04ajKzLaqZlW9XR2TZk1-sSDzSCRtgQ/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqj8Kg61njI5f0n3MBo6_7tUw_WeBIEjbeWslyqvtfuLMMMmJ6-4WHFwk_sgoxnGj_CqF_rSu3hgpdKYh4GCxgFzNWaqAcHwqlg3kFnG-ot8Bw04ajKzLaqZlW9XR2TZk1-sSDzSCRtgQ/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+181.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt6H40kGteXsFDQWk99h7TTmYSFZP0edzzUUnRvXEpPdzrGQ5XYoudAPTXKav2PCIE8Z1tYlCtmuOPOR49zQJJ9gg9qdYmj5vlnB1Sn-NHwIteAQjKU8lMxKSNoc2Expzp2KHCOLoTAc/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt6H40kGteXsFDQWk99h7TTmYSFZP0edzzUUnRvXEpPdzrGQ5XYoudAPTXKav2PCIE8Z1tYlCtmuOPOR49zQJJ9gg9qdYmj5vlnB1Sn-NHwIteAQjKU8lMxKSNoc2Expzp2KHCOLoTAc/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+178.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPe5nC_WR3fpSFZE78Q26vqIVxYwU0FmhuTzcEM7wA_istVkIvVJNa-eFdlY5wmbT5zDxSnlaMfoBKY_r8dED97SXAGji4uk3Y4CUd23KLaQEd-79G-xAGSRrw-K6h096ePSQa3YqUu4/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPe5nC_WR3fpSFZE78Q26vqIVxYwU0FmhuTzcEM7wA_istVkIvVJNa-eFdlY5wmbT5zDxSnlaMfoBKY_r8dED97SXAGji4uk3Y4CUd23KLaQEd-79G-xAGSRrw-K6h096ePSQa3YqUu4/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+170.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGNdupAPdXvd_JXFToCoGgdIzFwTEfth_GELpPMMq6wXe76Yp2XXv9PbEOrk-eEh9UkR74n4w4_ii3iA4Kv4Op6bcXaf5OTKLogbis90_J303jGRbnkCh6jDd4ohqkQi0xTaoamD2Q0U/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGNdupAPdXvd_JXFToCoGgdIzFwTEfth_GELpPMMq6wXe76Yp2XXv9PbEOrk-eEh9UkR74n4w4_ii3iA4Kv4Op6bcXaf5OTKLogbis90_J303jGRbnkCh6jDd4ohqkQi0xTaoamD2Q0U/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+183.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am sorry. I couldn't decide between any of these photos, I wanted to put even more in.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCrTYSMmHIneVN8z3CFlF5HpTYgWyJlKPEpx7wjWVh6C1IjVU_PO096At-nrZVSIdJGgM7mPgRNLxKrDC_P8dQVAv5YQD0w7CB_q6HsSRy5QOPD45j_zkw2omwLfBHo_VS0Yj0OfnB-I/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCrTYSMmHIneVN8z3CFlF5HpTYgWyJlKPEpx7wjWVh6C1IjVU_PO096At-nrZVSIdJGgM7mPgRNLxKrDC_P8dQVAv5YQD0w7CB_q6HsSRy5QOPD45j_zkw2omwLfBHo_VS0Yj0OfnB-I/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+189.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQyXal5WdvCY40E11bNVDdOuGJW0jmw6V280J94J-1bdP8xlvT5dXUg2IPaxl5z9cL-VBZqiG4bSMJcSuFlTs322o0EBbs1pJ6EwHegD3-TFiNkL2Ggkf8GYEllnYjMhxWb3RNQeedRI/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQyXal5WdvCY40E11bNVDdOuGJW0jmw6V280J94J-1bdP8xlvT5dXUg2IPaxl5z9cL-VBZqiG4bSMJcSuFlTs322o0EBbs1pJ6EwHegD3-TFiNkL2Ggkf8GYEllnYjMhxWb3RNQeedRI/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+195.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh Sam!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGoB2Xr-VULXu_Sf4PhyW0qhwBTFOq2z_3VbYzfxchx24MMxnw6UqbvgIka-50v7hkPqQi8nZ2yFIj-1k2YonW7DohcLSSdyRwhw7DNlXPJ4WkJeyJcmNCfqyThZuNeOtvTk-5EuVoE4/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGoB2Xr-VULXu_Sf4PhyW0qhwBTFOq2z_3VbYzfxchx24MMxnw6UqbvgIka-50v7hkPqQi8nZ2yFIj-1k2YonW7DohcLSSdyRwhw7DNlXPJ4WkJeyJcmNCfqyThZuNeOtvTk-5EuVoE4/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+201.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4p0DrT3R59WfPMRXAuVX-xzEvTEwEgr0aj6R0CySZkYXp-G0ihyphenhyphendYXVqxU_xR_ECCvdaQH1_YTpHIl_m4EdLleyle_NNjwQg-ck0WzJFB2koO0Oye7bh9Qn80ydfeSMpgTf1nyBFjzI/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4p0DrT3R59WfPMRXAuVX-xzEvTEwEgr0aj6R0CySZkYXp-G0ihyphenhyphendYXVqxU_xR_ECCvdaQH1_YTpHIl_m4EdLleyle_NNjwQg-ck0WzJFB2koO0Oye7bh9Qn80ydfeSMpgTf1nyBFjzI/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+200.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J2xPpoqe1UlBAHTF-kQ5ATSd1CWYXhIpqCCJI6HtgVy54pT8VZBFUG0WtzC5ac0z2YS41CViLj-JnduFivLJOtuYKbR7zsHPnlQm4uvRd5Fflj3121gUArWhuZDSsYi-yCRqWhOGlZg/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J2xPpoqe1UlBAHTF-kQ5ATSd1CWYXhIpqCCJI6HtgVy54pT8VZBFUG0WtzC5ac0z2YS41CViLj-JnduFivLJOtuYKbR7zsHPnlQm4uvRd5Fflj3121gUArWhuZDSsYi-yCRqWhOGlZg/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+198.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUGfY722KEEsaZKFwIjzP7A-lgiBLr_bogDDXAeSGPcgZDDXG3Or_w6gc4ito4gUCD491rE1ovKA1ekQEP7r3n_vssyuRmpeoIv71xGbPF7xONl1kO8YFQLHL4e_XIfIj6-pTpyUZnrk/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUGfY722KEEsaZKFwIjzP7A-lgiBLr_bogDDXAeSGPcgZDDXG3Or_w6gc4ito4gUCD491rE1ovKA1ekQEP7r3n_vssyuRmpeoIv71xGbPF7xONl1kO8YFQLHL4e_XIfIj6-pTpyUZnrk/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+203.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh0DPPfLmRYHAr3amew-fvUuGJqqCqgTpLYesf0SeGks1Xdx5GkDbBxJNHcrBdd_1Eo8J1raq_c4gKdf5C36OVky7D-ShnVElNs5Fig9AXAsAsAwz5Rj0lbpV6EejOnS0ndSk4f4qaiI/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh0DPPfLmRYHAr3amew-fvUuGJqqCqgTpLYesf0SeGks1Xdx5GkDbBxJNHcrBdd_1Eo8J1raq_c4gKdf5C36OVky7D-ShnVElNs5Fig9AXAsAsAwz5Rj0lbpV6EejOnS0ndSk4f4qaiI/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+207.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBQerwTELEG0KesG7joA9_hX0DL6pi6ts5uEs9pyT1YwjIpP4xy76AYSbYqTx_wJDTmFubpElTKRM8WmyEjrrCJRnpUGApoyfHrVT1QuoyWm_NpseftmMBXwHOd8jI6_5rduGH1a-nDM/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBQerwTELEG0KesG7joA9_hX0DL6pi6ts5uEs9pyT1YwjIpP4xy76AYSbYqTx_wJDTmFubpElTKRM8WmyEjrrCJRnpUGApoyfHrVT1QuoyWm_NpseftmMBXwHOd8jI6_5rduGH1a-nDM/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+228.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Old Mill!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37-1pfDXbgsKpvCKCQciFC6kVaE8RsnWFhGsdGPeZXRFdADsrl2jFrFWI9XFInHAY40iyCVrT3SX0gseCcLKNj6a8tm57ZyprtVftKTtf-LVUfZkXxED41PuJcD1hRNCpIJALHguyACg/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37-1pfDXbgsKpvCKCQciFC6kVaE8RsnWFhGsdGPeZXRFdADsrl2jFrFWI9XFInHAY40iyCVrT3SX0gseCcLKNj6a8tm57ZyprtVftKTtf-LVUfZkXxED41PuJcD1hRNCpIJALHguyACg/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+215.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Green Dragon!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwXCIoUSS2RIePS2jDbBDqCrnevMQbnCqiG4qsHD99AwTdeYLYeb16jiG7OBF6Bjmr4ARwVaNISnAvIbtIa2-mmApYaZsBf0DFFycHPY6jbZmDOjhs7ORx9d1bd1aieF6m6BY52BAnXY/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwXCIoUSS2RIePS2jDbBDqCrnevMQbnCqiG4qsHD99AwTdeYLYeb16jiG7OBF6Bjmr4ARwVaNISnAvIbtIa2-mmApYaZsBf0DFFycHPY6jbZmDOjhs7ORx9d1bd1aieF6m6BY52BAnXY/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+213.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBVs_0RJboJe8o_tn8KfDc121JpYJW3AkK9NyMrxcKJYmpTclMlz8-_6hAj1Q4igwbIfH_hbURYf9Touezbb7CzVCuLb0rz4MdfsHYK_tnUwlQUTF33UDRP-rIJA1LAeuDkO9AkvnccU/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBVs_0RJboJe8o_tn8KfDc121JpYJW3AkK9NyMrxcKJYmpTclMlz8-_6hAj1Q4igwbIfH_hbURYf9Touezbb7CzVCuLb0rz4MdfsHYK_tnUwlQUTF33UDRP-rIJA1LAeuDkO9AkvnccU/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+236.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLTEsb6OGX5rE-tMiyBqVeMkRFqNyrIebBiuWijbx8p72x3yaSBJVVOFeTHJnZfGNWLmcIklFWmdyZMM5ubZ5g8-NFcT7KxRx4ek8HwMnlt_ebc1kL_IKRnN3wFu6r8JA_b7yteXem04/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLTEsb6OGX5rE-tMiyBqVeMkRFqNyrIebBiuWijbx8p72x3yaSBJVVOFeTHJnZfGNWLmcIklFWmdyZMM5ubZ5g8-NFcT7KxRx4ek8HwMnlt_ebc1kL_IKRnN3wFu6r8JA_b7yteXem04/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+233.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbJ3CuPl1xEFosO8BZCp3flzAMWPe8MX_A-u56ifaJMJke0aWgnBY-3vUotv7cwqKc8Mfyhm68pUaS8jlJQoeYzo6X6gR-oc5HMf9nuZmIpxfGtuM_OOOszKvqnMQYF9mcNoAiV6bY2Q/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbJ3CuPl1xEFosO8BZCp3flzAMWPe8MX_A-u56ifaJMJke0aWgnBY-3vUotv7cwqKc8Mfyhm68pUaS8jlJQoeYzo6X6gR-oc5HMf9nuZmIpxfGtuM_OOOszKvqnMQYF9mcNoAiV6bY2Q/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+229.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtG7tHQHySFc9yPrn01eTNliOnRakLgX2Iv5DP1oKvPeOL8QEJ67-b2ZPyCA2Dp9uFVym8aGZs1rE5tF9cOedX40XYLnNDwkc7VDL1e8N9waoG2-wo56Q8xncx_TVicmAcLQ0Xq_PWTc/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtG7tHQHySFc9yPrn01eTNliOnRakLgX2Iv5DP1oKvPeOL8QEJ67-b2ZPyCA2Dp9uFVym8aGZs1rE5tF9cOedX40XYLnNDwkc7VDL1e8N9waoG2-wo56Q8xncx_TVicmAcLQ0Xq_PWTc/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+237.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJrqBQ4rxDW_K22NwfjiCTYkIKyaJvMWU5CHhgch0Arp4KSFqvlvJ6OJwQtQshl7otzFka4I2Q1jNrRwaV1c7nKT_6DB-9TNKIlP4islsSwlEcV6kZblFrsyftTXb8ow5cgnO3tnURp4/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJrqBQ4rxDW_K22NwfjiCTYkIKyaJvMWU5CHhgch0Arp4KSFqvlvJ6OJwQtQshl7otzFka4I2Q1jNrRwaV1c7nKT_6DB-9TNKIlP4islsSwlEcV6kZblFrsyftTXb8ow5cgnO3tnURp4/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+244.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwx-PY7JPWz4D5xBHSTOWNV99k4Y3SO3LFT2qPY0dc4-ksSUKvK4pZpg3KK1pb_S2BW6kRTVWpnmJL65e36aowsIRo_HKdm9ChiPUpyIafNohYEXqf4mK-kSAroIxZDan5wAo2yILV1U/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwx-PY7JPWz4D5xBHSTOWNV99k4Y3SO3LFT2qPY0dc4-ksSUKvK4pZpg3KK1pb_S2BW6kRTVWpnmJL65e36aowsIRo_HKdm9ChiPUpyIafNohYEXqf4mK-kSAroIxZDan5wAo2yILV1U/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+248.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0lreZHTEbv6VVtU-uFnO2ITPTFZaVuM9Qawq2zjVlFe4kT_IQZ1S9dSaMz8KUffe2iKsQWPmwXgJYU24iZHwoiVMOaXizndShZbN5YbwS5pCJKcwkplkISfMN2xNqNf1z_zmcN-kyWQ/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0lreZHTEbv6VVtU-uFnO2ITPTFZaVuM9Qawq2zjVlFe4kT_IQZ1S9dSaMz8KUffe2iKsQWPmwXgJYU24iZHwoiVMOaXizndShZbN5YbwS5pCJKcwkplkISfMN2xNqNf1z_zmcN-kyWQ/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+259.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I get married...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifao6IeUQlRQ8ak6SXveH-2lU7ndxQIvrAyLe-4-94IMm4j2o-eiNdPFOM7caJNmwUwWd958mU3v9Bj_ieFL8RO5Q7dxZZdM27JFJo9XSXASZ86KiFfqrYOvRuEyFlpvQqcvR04s71XpU/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifao6IeUQlRQ8ak6SXveH-2lU7ndxQIvrAyLe-4-94IMm4j2o-eiNdPFOM7caJNmwUwWd958mU3v9Bj_ieFL8RO5Q7dxZZdM27JFJo9XSXASZ86KiFfqrYOvRuEyFlpvQqcvR04s71XpU/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+263.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43eBYFdqqHsW9nAI9mV4qN_nWmLD948SzKJ6hDlS6-MVIH1lcf3Omx6knC-Qd_iP8n7rbjfRDCe_g8YMZ8L5QBipR5hOBTnV88NuqoUxL9EGi-QItxIsxB0uKoyEJeBGYo9bMJC9-pVs/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43eBYFdqqHsW9nAI9mV4qN_nWmLD948SzKJ6hDlS6-MVIH1lcf3Omx6knC-Qd_iP8n7rbjfRDCe_g8YMZ8L5QBipR5hOBTnV88NuqoUxL9EGi-QItxIsxB0uKoyEJeBGYo9bMJC9-pVs/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+264.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_bnMB_n9Aruxe037S2FX3V5kZ4Yx8N4mViqyf7bG0Hl9M4MKSxvedOe206VxB4lH0chCqXCIJKOeRgqVvO_YgM-tEno0IEV_nadoH75_3d29O6SmZWEbIFGYqiaog7T3oG5r33uhRMA/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_bnMB_n9Aruxe037S2FX3V5kZ4Yx8N4mViqyf7bG0Hl9M4MKSxvedOe206VxB4lH0chCqXCIJKOeRgqVvO_YgM-tEno0IEV_nadoH75_3d29O6SmZWEbIFGYqiaog7T3oG5r33uhRMA/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia+265.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We leave Rotorua with its odious fumes and fond memories behind and travel east to Waitomo, the site of a network of famous caves and underground tunnels. On the first day we go for a walk from our tent along the river and into the mouths of some of the caves. We see some beautiful and impressive things, we crawl through tunnels and stand in the semi-dark, where we can just about see the great caverns opening out before, above and below us. It's a good day, especially the walk home through the rain. But it is our second day in Waitomo that is truly worth writing about.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We arrive at the centre and are kitted out with headtorches and the dampest, coldest and most flattering wetsuits I have seen yet. The group is very mixed, from a couple in their fifties (a guess) down to people of our own age we set out. Along the way we pick up our tubes (like the inner tube of a truck) and practise jumping backwards into the water, landing floating in our inflatable rings. Then we reach the entrance of the caves, high above the river.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The next three hours is spent navigating our way through the hallways and delves of these great underground cathedrals. We jump off crystal waterfalls and float down pitch avenues, lit from above as if by a thousand stars. For these caves are one of the foremost homes of glow-worms and they adorn the tunnels as countless burning sapphires.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Glow-worms are another misnomer. They are not worms but larvae and they cling to the walls and ceilings reeling in insects with long draping tendrils, waiting until they are large enough to form the chrysalis that will turn them into a fungus gnat; a small insect that helps spread the spores of various fungi. Whatever they are though, they produce a tiny violent blue light part way down their body, and that is the reason we are here.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">At one stage we are all in a line, floating down a long and deep passageway. Our lights are turned off and we are deadly silent. I lie back, letting the current lazily pull me along, and gaze upwards. I could be lying outside gazing up at the clearest sky, but the sky is too dark, the stars are too steady, the patterns are unfamiliar. I drift under this impossible sky and wish I could capture this moment in time, whole and unfettered. Not through the limits of a camera or a painting or this description. But wholly seize every sensation I feel in this instant to freeze it forever. As with everything else it is over the moment it has begun and we are trudging our way back to the van, cursing the face of the sun.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All these pictures are from our walk on the first day as we couldn't take cameras into the caves.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWJrzEfssSa_Pxml3267dqb4dfuNgPk3RzjKrbRedyKF1o7acCm4O82Bo06syJ0dYSdZh9lmlvPxe0HjYuetrcWT5pyXO0svYGWeks05dQwDkApzy3JpNaVSLYs9rTGyekvMH0SilQMc/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWJrzEfssSa_Pxml3267dqb4dfuNgPk3RzjKrbRedyKF1o7acCm4O82Bo06syJ0dYSdZh9lmlvPxe0HjYuetrcWT5pyXO0svYGWeks05dQwDkApzy3JpNaVSLYs9rTGyekvMH0SilQMc/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+278.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglaPNDWdJHBJrYCTesizGmWTKxrMKXe5-9GhgveFCAN4KLziKVgbbVG0yK_MgktIP4bHdqLD_MP5CaWIbbFHKdSw7aLeTtZ0gA1aWK0QWBnN229rT5AXc7SSffOfyK4PQSroEEAi3KUw/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglaPNDWdJHBJrYCTesizGmWTKxrMKXe5-9GhgveFCAN4KLziKVgbbVG0yK_MgktIP4bHdqLD_MP5CaWIbbFHKdSw7aLeTtZ0gA1aWK0QWBnN229rT5AXc7SSffOfyK4PQSroEEAi3KUw/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+279.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPb1kkMd-8CAQuj_Mh1bG2oSXH9siZwfmqDlhnnePal97tgygpQTHx7UVEU79OwDXmb1mRnSe86cR92Urw-esKjElfsEJ1_3Kuan8wbfg0LFOm-UFCqI1XetUdV3dapAV37HjqV_Yhks/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPb1kkMd-8CAQuj_Mh1bG2oSXH9siZwfmqDlhnnePal97tgygpQTHx7UVEU79OwDXmb1mRnSe86cR92Urw-esKjElfsEJ1_3Kuan8wbfg0LFOm-UFCqI1XetUdV3dapAV37HjqV_Yhks/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+286.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZe6CZNhDWkgfYvEGrrBTax0X9l5bLGuac4S6a7tfsE_WgmbjswUpRK8QS88n7RTwgwP9SrkKMrvuiN0erZ0eS0vy2g2tZVsBJc1DDuDGLbkWpQkJIgRLJLkSObJoRWwjPToLMcNbBcQ/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZe6CZNhDWkgfYvEGrrBTax0X9l5bLGuac4S6a7tfsE_WgmbjswUpRK8QS88n7RTwgwP9SrkKMrvuiN0erZ0eS0vy2g2tZVsBJc1DDuDGLbkWpQkJIgRLJLkSObJoRWwjPToLMcNbBcQ/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+288.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUoa3tw-QU_uBQ0lehg9_171v0jfKPghjN-0Vv8NOcxwkK42gom_Z3ahDKlA2v91QdLpBGfFjn2C7mjq9GukZjaEnpguRqTx5Z_xZWyzM7opnVrWylJod27CcEKUkKGrij5Kp0xHS-uM/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUoa3tw-QU_uBQ0lehg9_171v0jfKPghjN-0Vv8NOcxwkK42gom_Z3ahDKlA2v91QdLpBGfFjn2C7mjq9GukZjaEnpguRqTx5Z_xZWyzM7opnVrWylJod27CcEKUkKGrij5Kp0xHS-uM/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+289.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Waitomo Cave Visitor Centre</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJr5_0lJXt_yn3uKnRUjbEXaUeIYD0lZ6UxFJ6IPM-HnXl27xSwwKsFkIQP581Qmh636-AnDMBoEuIxUNZh3P3HmNfXCAJHEEay6d_gM1LarzZ35r4ToM8FzGVDmKQBHISMMxVjqdxC-A/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJr5_0lJXt_yn3uKnRUjbEXaUeIYD0lZ6UxFJ6IPM-HnXl27xSwwKsFkIQP581Qmh636-AnDMBoEuIxUNZh3P3HmNfXCAJHEEay6d_gM1LarzZ35r4ToM8FzGVDmKQBHISMMxVjqdxC-A/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+291.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I-q5a9M4mJfIKo8BNfaWppZL-JdFwaVp14SSUsCohgMVjpYhMH7rE8UPz4s_YqZvtkbZkhi-1g75H-qWMC62YPfSEIUwWJP1uLk0KP_q-I-ycOXWj7JiyOza6anhrZNGJDbaV7MzWK0/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I-q5a9M4mJfIKo8BNfaWppZL-JdFwaVp14SSUsCohgMVjpYhMH7rE8UPz4s_YqZvtkbZkhi-1g75H-qWMC62YPfSEIUwWJP1uLk0KP_q-I-ycOXWj7JiyOza6anhrZNGJDbaV7MzWK0/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+292.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKn5MYwNDGl2iMIQMV5JVf0_Js9DGjomGzu-reQ_t8C5i6J95fakHjgt7I-xUAUPu2IEEEWelQi2aanUsumFWUPvvLOmBVYsebtXNQwBo4KMbn3YaOqaWt8bjboVu1kUEQwcrwooAdsc/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKn5MYwNDGl2iMIQMV5JVf0_Js9DGjomGzu-reQ_t8C5i6J95fakHjgt7I-xUAUPu2IEEEWelQi2aanUsumFWUPvvLOmBVYsebtXNQwBo4KMbn3YaOqaWt8bjboVu1kUEQwcrwooAdsc/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+294.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpl_H7gCyDBxlm0D88F2Zj689405zpZynLUIkOBGd6QQKGplBKGnvJpVpcE7fF7GS9ZIuA_TbJ0n5O8d-QT8YzvwDPm-q17mocuXVtkcR6sTFXJxPci4k4cjS71usMF_u2GYK_7zS2zo/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpl_H7gCyDBxlm0D88F2Zj689405zpZynLUIkOBGd6QQKGplBKGnvJpVpcE7fF7GS9ZIuA_TbJ0n5O8d-QT8YzvwDPm-q17mocuXVtkcR6sTFXJxPci4k4cjS71usMF_u2GYK_7zS2zo/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+297.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUizqUQkM72xvXd0qGK_R3qAe6yFJulLBonrtOQ5AMay58lIOjTRqMeoG3XhTR1rD_JMDziCMSop4oLHnDpGwUqNaKr6nBWtxoKoD_KbY7MzoudcgjfXFT9z9ym1mo0S8yXER9NX8wEU/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUizqUQkM72xvXd0qGK_R3qAe6yFJulLBonrtOQ5AMay58lIOjTRqMeoG3XhTR1rD_JMDziCMSop4oLHnDpGwUqNaKr6nBWtxoKoD_KbY7MzoudcgjfXFT9z9ym1mo0S8yXER9NX8wEU/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+315.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPakhtIYIfr9ZwZMXZWAkVcZ9q6fozuBy-UMExfPV09lJXXCAl_tYY0UoV7VxWmCcMyb_7QIkhy5K9MCAfGZnUTl5BXIviB-3pNkmFM-WCjR5yXnOOADRm_IJph5OhMIh-asLIwZMUJQ/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPakhtIYIfr9ZwZMXZWAkVcZ9q6fozuBy-UMExfPV09lJXXCAl_tYY0UoV7VxWmCcMyb_7QIkhy5K9MCAfGZnUTl5BXIviB-3pNkmFM-WCjR5yXnOOADRm_IJph5OhMIh-asLIwZMUJQ/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+318.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVrfzUVUDJQakOk9kP2Gexkr_B-r6oTG_lJ597479GwUrX3ZQ_X2jP-Gb9sO_GOOqmN3dJ2kyT-68UIhmBZH8ZNGsJ6D1rq3sQxDj2GFbEVLy7WPBiZHP2m6_szVTxvUvc-_E2E97D-Y/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVrfzUVUDJQakOk9kP2Gexkr_B-r6oTG_lJ597479GwUrX3ZQ_X2jP-Gb9sO_GOOqmN3dJ2kyT-68UIhmBZH8ZNGsJ6D1rq3sQxDj2GFbEVLy7WPBiZHP2m6_szVTxvUvc-_E2E97D-Y/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+320.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFrAHGpreSt_1wluCsD2FaVi3m73MVmouwHvRCSPgFTdIo7fUbpqrJUZqPEpScnhHqk6Px3xmOESMNrczX5CpSiRw8ZqjQZzgq-57mi_Sizs0yX4xSrq44OKy3p8Z-ZQaeC6G_y6uI6s/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFrAHGpreSt_1wluCsD2FaVi3m73MVmouwHvRCSPgFTdIo7fUbpqrJUZqPEpScnhHqk6Px3xmOESMNrczX5CpSiRw8ZqjQZzgq-57mi_Sizs0yX4xSrq44OKy3p8Z-ZQaeC6G_y6uI6s/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+323.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We have a single day in Auckland before heading to our final destination together, Paihia and the Bay of Islands in the north. We spend the morning wandering around in the glorious sunshine (it's been a while) and then quickly realise we have exhausted all the things to do that don't cost money. So we spend the afternoon lying in the park under the sun. Auckland seems like a nice city, there seem to be quite a few side streets filled with nice cafés and pubs. Overall though I was much more won over by Wellington, Auckland just feels like other city. And it has a giant Santa on the main street that to me seems so out of place smiling away in the sun.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I visit the art gallery and am overwhelmingly underwhelmed (I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever be just whelmed?). I enjoy the building itself quite a lot, the contents on the other hand not so much. There are a couple of paintings that I am captured by, one by one of the Glasgow Boys though I forget which one, and I spend a while admiring brush strokes and textures. Most pieces here are either contemporary in a way that I do not enjoy, or simply bad. I am sorry New Zealand, but I not find much I liked in the 'Art of New Zealand' section.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">On the morning we leave Auckland we manage to sell the remainders of our bus passes to a couple of German girls for ninety five dollars each. It feels like winning the lottery. Ever since we booked the last of our 'expensive activites' (Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, Te Puia) we have been on such a tight budget. When still in Wellington we worked out how much we would have left after the necessary food and accommodation had been paid for and it came to about twenty dollars each. For the whole of North Island. And food by the way we have been managing on about six dollars (three pounds) a day each which I think is rather impressive. So suddenly we find ourselves with all this money and only a few days to spend it. We can drink again! We can buy sweets and chocolate! We can eat out one day! Oh the world of the rich.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa3hGdEK_KQOvhZM5Tk2onAb3c9tJfFWoXGhpLnrewDN2Mt19iAToqfcJxxPjaM0-A6LvgGmBX_L3-NVsjh1QbBpLX7tQKaNj9P6pP5fAkAW16O30Pb4VqGR7mRBTwKhM697T7CCnhZA/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa3hGdEK_KQOvhZM5Tk2onAb3c9tJfFWoXGhpLnrewDN2Mt19iAToqfcJxxPjaM0-A6LvgGmBX_L3-NVsjh1QbBpLX7tQKaNj9P6pP5fAkAW16O30Pb4VqGR7mRBTwKhM697T7CCnhZA/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+335.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the way to Auckland</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6d4S5UjEvd3GiFl3uuNFe0YQXfSOuvDcrw3brYQMo7KXIgcB_G73fy7z7u8HMVBkjq8tgDIOAAlHuHW-sO6RUIJOUL1jlfVYBV7UJXAaHy8C2bEJv1RqbtdokdPsBBiXaniM1a2WEIY/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6d4S5UjEvd3GiFl3uuNFe0YQXfSOuvDcrw3brYQMo7KXIgcB_G73fy7z7u8HMVBkjq8tgDIOAAlHuHW-sO6RUIJOUL1jlfVYBV7UJXAaHy8C2bEJv1RqbtdokdPsBBiXaniM1a2WEIY/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+340.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMR9rfmIMmClvCkFtywjx05gxlNe3HZR9MDVpowuh6vGUjkwsZlZdXMn01-jriin6qWRCrEPVH-SMVrnbVsheIv4qLsBp3iCYA2AZ_swvjm2Z1tbDDJdY0-8S-CT8qjfOhrUGcIfKRqI/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMR9rfmIMmClvCkFtywjx05gxlNe3HZR9MDVpowuh6vGUjkwsZlZdXMn01-jriin6qWRCrEPVH-SMVrnbVsheIv4qLsBp3iCYA2AZ_swvjm2Z1tbDDJdY0-8S-CT8qjfOhrUGcIfKRqI/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+341.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsCUA7h3FXaGRb_aWW90jx6n1qMsAuHkTM_0oRi0CGYsRNFgSH1KcuRZ6gquVfeinqNnIljeRrg-lCcYQoylfK_uK_GPxbi1nmF2yEwZ1g54pmptz5fvPm2ZDRjew_TW7QVIrmhjI-Jg/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsCUA7h3FXaGRb_aWW90jx6n1qMsAuHkTM_0oRi0CGYsRNFgSH1KcuRZ6gquVfeinqNnIljeRrg-lCcYQoylfK_uK_GPxbi1nmF2yEwZ1g54pmptz5fvPm2ZDRjew_TW7QVIrmhjI-Jg/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+342.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAh9QFZFc_3Am_WHcY6Go_enQYG-A7Ipoot3Igsa0Ft21W9QlEOjDzClsGnA5XRGXaWwLVaNkF18A8U7c85tDAVY-q7WFgNsGwkP75QyTZIb9MhFEykWxQyx_v5KSRylQAvyAIl4h_Yc8/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAh9QFZFc_3Am_WHcY6Go_enQYG-A7Ipoot3Igsa0Ft21W9QlEOjDzClsGnA5XRGXaWwLVaNkF18A8U7c85tDAVY-q7WFgNsGwkP75QyTZIb9MhFEykWxQyx_v5KSRylQAvyAIl4h_Yc8/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+344.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn_0bFE_HmNY44bbPSXOJDJg0RE_ZizvNlyojVxze1z6y9ef4BEXxH-kICsPAvcbkokgBlAau5T38po9au-K6jnlDY76_Uhn_C_tXrKIGklH_WgX3iGXnuytqo471kf-VmedOHoFmeU8/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn_0bFE_HmNY44bbPSXOJDJg0RE_ZizvNlyojVxze1z6y9ef4BEXxH-kICsPAvcbkokgBlAau5T38po9au-K6jnlDY76_Uhn_C_tXrKIGklH_WgX3iGXnuytqo471kf-VmedOHoFmeU8/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+348.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Bxroh-a2tw1u4sN9PRiBB34cZPQVcXLb-T7J4I7N-xYXq8ZWo4EeqssfPlSqBxb9nNq6BpA6HdQ70Vc7slNC6TiP3oy4d-_TvlfnOUldaC-qwD5fMJ3kkeWwMKX55tbCChSHKDqjQc/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Bxroh-a2tw1u4sN9PRiBB34cZPQVcXLb-T7J4I7N-xYXq8ZWo4EeqssfPlSqBxb9nNq6BpA6HdQ70Vc7slNC6TiP3oy4d-_TvlfnOUldaC-qwD5fMJ3kkeWwMKX55tbCChSHKDqjQc/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+349.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmncYDk44cILQHE1Ucfseto0da4abf-UXJRXRWCQN7CNgM24Caw-rx3as6y17cLFZqTmuFYCXKHJEw17qFj-pE9cZOdu0M56wySHKsSenNXwDPcoVJ12lGnQObVLF7wsm8xRbSfsiBZg/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmncYDk44cILQHE1Ucfseto0da4abf-UXJRXRWCQN7CNgM24Caw-rx3as6y17cLFZqTmuFYCXKHJEw17qFj-pE9cZOdu0M56wySHKsSenNXwDPcoVJ12lGnQObVLF7wsm8xRbSfsiBZg/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+350.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59zzRedbGUKSHv1_kAtueaaTtXZJ5biucDRnMVsl5YFeLk-5ZnV57taQUIrIyirfDdkoQhFnwHt718S-mWkkfrwPLXiERl8rKBFlipn3DP03jxILwLlVkUDeIucJAuOJ79lNaWAnTPqI/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59zzRedbGUKSHv1_kAtueaaTtXZJ5biucDRnMVsl5YFeLk-5ZnV57taQUIrIyirfDdkoQhFnwHt718S-mWkkfrwPLXiERl8rKBFlipn3DP03jxILwLlVkUDeIucJAuOJ79lNaWAnTPqI/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+353.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyxR3TeaJeaEMuvU1kWehw72oNxwQ9T_-BuMP7SVNpe3GdzXNAx7s3-OLymieOsCehd1BqUd94YUO2peKo4E7yv5H3etELxA6y9AyN-O3HlkPrckd6Gqe2hWKtE8aCWqkMcn6kJeES_k/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyxR3TeaJeaEMuvU1kWehw72oNxwQ9T_-BuMP7SVNpe3GdzXNAx7s3-OLymieOsCehd1BqUd94YUO2peKo4E7yv5H3etELxA6y9AyN-O3HlkPrckd6Gqe2hWKtE8aCWqkMcn6kJeES_k/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+355.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkx7HruajI5RSJcXBJ8_iWCpURO8C_gBDsBL0yKhjkx34k65oC3VbEQLrJAjj0xfkH4w3DiNzxwaIeSLwbot0xUZcmlg8RinbwenRBC4AHK1cV8HSPvDe0JXRONNjv4R7Xx07j4rHB84/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkx7HruajI5RSJcXBJ8_iWCpURO8C_gBDsBL0yKhjkx34k65oC3VbEQLrJAjj0xfkH4w3DiNzxwaIeSLwbot0xUZcmlg8RinbwenRBC4AHK1cV8HSPvDe0JXRONNjv4R7Xx07j4rHB84/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+363.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed this room. But again mainly the room itself.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf7U7OgXxhR6enYjnOWwhTkBIRW5taVz51r2XAq9Yihbfq_3nVLRyu8_AruWgA4cPNlhQPjroM2Bbi58_q_hs9xll7Q5XDi3aLz6G-GULjkbQQbIXabA-uZQuaAReqCnu012L0RfB9p4/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf7U7OgXxhR6enYjnOWwhTkBIRW5taVz51r2XAq9Yihbfq_3nVLRyu8_AruWgA4cPNlhQPjroM2Bbi58_q_hs9xll7Q5XDi3aLz6G-GULjkbQQbIXabA-uZQuaAReqCnu012L0RfB9p4/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+365.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can anyone tell me who painted this?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbkaiw4RkIGlNrLNYGfc31mexR5DN12UscJnpMJ5ToOAgVorWR0leOW8eg7XmZU6anNWu6EPbdBklviVY_Bcd5GF7ijn6B5xDxd9FHMXKO3Z0SwC7VYLl3koH4OD03Q9607WpGnVE4sQ/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbkaiw4RkIGlNrLNYGfc31mexR5DN12UscJnpMJ5ToOAgVorWR0leOW8eg7XmZU6anNWu6EPbdBklviVY_Bcd5GF7ijn6B5xDxd9FHMXKO3Z0SwC7VYLl3koH4OD03Q9607WpGnVE4sQ/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+368.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCrTG3fsfZyDgOscvFpCRN9HfryCCybDvqDdOCa5_AFdDkmyIkqShbFDF3fcj2gVT8ljdQLYQNE_4VVYDkaNp8_Pmc-XtlZNnsdcdwFJlA4psQ3vpZRNFLSnXEYGAKpadGxMhipzZmvY/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCrTG3fsfZyDgOscvFpCRN9HfryCCybDvqDdOCa5_AFdDkmyIkqShbFDF3fcj2gVT8ljdQLYQNE_4VVYDkaNp8_Pmc-XtlZNnsdcdwFJlA4psQ3vpZRNFLSnXEYGAKpadGxMhipzZmvY/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+374.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj403tuf11lDv8tvrays_ayAI6v56U2hgocj-lBqnkbjAtgjLW7gyrr1qizLcNfia9MH5Z-EjO1JaW0brPZrlnqm8ek06oHkJHDBOpbnMrFUeEn8UnzrAH51elChUUh0GubXm_QE5T7-ws/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj403tuf11lDv8tvrays_ayAI6v56U2hgocj-lBqnkbjAtgjLW7gyrr1qizLcNfia9MH5Z-EjO1JaW0brPZrlnqm8ek06oHkJHDBOpbnMrFUeEn8UnzrAH51elChUUh0GubXm_QE5T7-ws/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+380.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We arrive in the Bay of Islands, jewel of the North Island. We can't see it for all the rain. Although our hostel is very nice! There is a group of people who are two hundred and fifty kilometres into the three thousand kilometre walk from the north of the North Island to the south of the South Island. Doesn't that sound like quite the task. In some ways I would love to do it, for the challenge, for the things I would see and the people I would meet. It seems a long time to commit to one activity though, about three months they think, but it would undoubtedly be worth it. Though I think I would probably rather do the Camino trail through Europe as there are so many places there I still need to see.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We spend that evening drinking wine with our new friends, at some point along the way someone brings out a delicious bottle of port and the evening fades into a warm glow. I find a kindred spirit and ebulliently effuse on Robin Hobb, Tolkein and Robert Jordan. I confide my secret desire of possessing Narya, one of the three Elven Rings, bound to and wielded by Gandalf. He admits the same yearning. As soon as I have a few hundred pounds to spare it is mine.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We go for a cycle despite the howling wind or the driving rain. This place has a wild beauty to it under these conditions and we can still appreciate the splendour of the coastline even if it is somewhat veiled. We visit our final and possibly worst waterfall. It's okay really, but after such things as the Huka falls little can compare. This one is wide and murky. Beige foam glugs and churns at its base. Just as I am thinking that it's the last river in the world I would like to get into two people climb out of it. What clothing they have on is covered in a thick layer of brown froth. One of them does happen to be exceedingly attractive which makes the whole situation slightly more appealing I guess.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">That evening the hostel gathers again, lamenting the relentless rain, it has been almost two days so far and shows no sign of letting up. We have an evening of music and whisky (oh the things we can do with ninety five dollars!) and I awake to rain worse than ever. Our friends on the walk head out into the flood, two days rest would be two too many for some of them. The morning of our last full day together is spent on the sofa, under our duvets, with huge cups of tea, watching videos. Actual videos. Videos that need rewound and flicker and have lines across the screen. It is wonderful. We watch Shrek and Four Weddings and a Funeral then, suddenly and joyously, the sun emerges. Cheers resonate through the room. Me and Amy hurriedly get changed then dash down to the beach and take in the Bay of Islands as it is meant to be seen. We bask in what is most likely Amy's last sun for the foreseeable future and vow to tell no one about the rain. I guess I've broken that already.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4foHQ7oez4W0oXik4LZiaFTwQRyH6xautosH4zycKqqvBcdEG7GyuXDgssfWIYHLptVeUfj9T6j8RokmTjkAj_pv9dUY6Q8n3yii1pcxjrFjIOyAvRPG7gZyKoA2edbApEuCx-eZHis/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4foHQ7oez4W0oXik4LZiaFTwQRyH6xautosH4zycKqqvBcdEG7GyuXDgssfWIYHLptVeUfj9T6j8RokmTjkAj_pv9dUY6Q8n3yii1pcxjrFjIOyAvRPG7gZyKoA2edbApEuCx-eZHis/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+387.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU_052cfyM7lTxzCnV9fnmbT-XLhPFnbbh1EXRwriXxQAzX4lh5u3Y30-w1BTGEwJWR1tVZz2Jqpriu8XAdzvg3dGqFHEDcUF9jKqEZpvyjZQyjd-If2_twBE4bQOSWLVjoy3dgNBucs/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU_052cfyM7lTxzCnV9fnmbT-XLhPFnbbh1EXRwriXxQAzX4lh5u3Y30-w1BTGEwJWR1tVZz2Jqpriu8XAdzvg3dGqFHEDcUF9jKqEZpvyjZQyjd-If2_twBE4bQOSWLVjoy3dgNBucs/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+392.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDIybGeHQEm0ktHCxTaiyGmXzpWuRNlO8L9Ju-EC1EqQtDz74ZGAn85dwavz3N7LNqLauMn-dio43Qr-PF7gXprylGzKw6PESosoEeTck0qwJBp-YoCk0yZSCIjW_kizJOjOuWUcwM70/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDIybGeHQEm0ktHCxTaiyGmXzpWuRNlO8L9Ju-EC1EqQtDz74ZGAn85dwavz3N7LNqLauMn-dio43Qr-PF7gXprylGzKw6PESosoEeTck0qwJBp-YoCk0yZSCIjW_kizJOjOuWUcwM70/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+393.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ew.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoxsCQROVt3kP0yg6DN5orYOp3iACSjZ1XFG49yJQ5Sh22k63mwplye6spPDlsBlydyFwyuAIXud7mNZweACuCDdu0XBMFQKAqLK6yX8KZuBFBFmxCrpaTggRo1W7ngmfwdF21SkMnl0/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoxsCQROVt3kP0yg6DN5orYOp3iACSjZ1XFG49yJQ5Sh22k63mwplye6spPDlsBlydyFwyuAIXud7mNZweACuCDdu0XBMFQKAqLK6yX8KZuBFBFmxCrpaTggRo1W7ngmfwdF21SkMnl0/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+401.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZll1By_lCf751zDskP4v0szr8AEACH5xrMh3aXAeKJskI4gBBS80yc9HO1PZFVtfCknxCEjaG0tWMdn8BOzADw3Yk1rPHvvpkL4vrx31IVNB4mAX4G4X1z6WaWqbOKHtMCWPShLkBlQ/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZll1By_lCf751zDskP4v0szr8AEACH5xrMh3aXAeKJskI4gBBS80yc9HO1PZFVtfCknxCEjaG0tWMdn8BOzADw3Yk1rPHvvpkL4vrx31IVNB4mAX4G4X1z6WaWqbOKHtMCWPShLkBlQ/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+403.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENes11hDxkUEoESsZsMDaimmAVHB6QOJtaZh48QqqCoURBkS9hhyphenhyphenYormKbusE94ffguxYfRy5ypEhkYFZ6Flom2dNKXfYnq6ccVmDTOksnbDdkbsry_TaZq3wSlo3Q-ta30oYQQReTcI/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENes11hDxkUEoESsZsMDaimmAVHB6QOJtaZh48QqqCoURBkS9hhyphenhyphenYormKbusE94ffguxYfRy5ypEhkYFZ6Flom2dNKXfYnq6ccVmDTOksnbDdkbsry_TaZq3wSlo3Q-ta30oYQQReTcI/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+407.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2wTg5uNvGjLmKbOaGk6j2cRPCv6seP5ZZJhORh-CwxxrTv_BBtmBppNTx0bQxgKAHIFU50yCQOSm5fmYSfeSUMY3XU_YUpf6Yrkk5sYVrXgzs_RvrWNlWQxusSaT8ZOjQZz8SXFye2U/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2wTg5uNvGjLmKbOaGk6j2cRPCv6seP5ZZJhORh-CwxxrTv_BBtmBppNTx0bQxgKAHIFU50yCQOSm5fmYSfeSUMY3XU_YUpf6Yrkk5sYVrXgzs_RvrWNlWQxusSaT8ZOjQZz8SXFye2U/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia+410.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The worlds best fish and chip shop.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AppzAeOKB9t2NHT1OOfaPfwj6i0L1KsEwtri97mwrMFw2sL0rqy0DuhR8p025KVEgBmREz7A02WQ-w18zjJifpZSo0l2v8Z9lJ1Kzp6q5hMqDUCYWQXcTs7VCTgsTkanFv0vTtMBXH0/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia1+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AppzAeOKB9t2NHT1OOfaPfwj6i0L1KsEwtri97mwrMFw2sL0rqy0DuhR8p025KVEgBmREz7A02WQ-w18zjJifpZSo0l2v8Z9lJ1Kzp6q5hMqDUCYWQXcTs7VCTgsTkanFv0vTtMBXH0/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia1+001.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNab1e1v54Ggfb3oFUoipdAHIgA5i8WvdroAK-klLm2tqt8ygZs6jt9N59O-B6Bw9HCEov9xQYlXudcEoqIFaQjyIfwCrbJA2CbfcMCPIV8md_nHR_cKl_ih1uWw0XjGOWFc4nkn8HaL4/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia1+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNab1e1v54Ggfb3oFUoipdAHIgA5i8WvdroAK-klLm2tqt8ygZs6jt9N59O-B6Bw9HCEov9xQYlXudcEoqIFaQjyIfwCrbJA2CbfcMCPIV8md_nHR_cKl_ih1uWw0XjGOWFc4nkn8HaL4/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia1+009.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz4ZtNxSPQtDaHUSBw9zEDh1O4J1bKsGQ8AA1KkaW0D-6cledWx6NkpSNF2f_n5L7jpWd3NBnfHaOd0vtU89hIwhglnMeWXbmZQc1DSfjS2EZr_LbvTnDr2P61AG61kNPYJ3dOcaJBCo/s1600/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia1+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz4ZtNxSPQtDaHUSBw9zEDh1O4J1bKsGQ8AA1KkaW0D-6cledWx6NkpSNF2f_n5L7jpWd3NBnfHaOd0vtU89hIwhglnMeWXbmZQc1DSfjS2EZr_LbvTnDr2P61AG61kNPYJ3dOcaJBCo/s640/Rotorua%252C+Hobbiton%252C+Waitomo%252C+Auckland%252C+Paihia1+012.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j2qBl0ewk0nry2PbBaoek50lvGTPD17jRc0Qng2D4hJgplNXCZ-nZ6a0nxOegUad8vSu0iSnCcrABtV_jYiSCge02KnX8IhYABmctqiViQIEA-qttAHigBNsR153INA4LO86fMYaUHU/s1600/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia1+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j2qBl0ewk0nry2PbBaoek50lvGTPD17jRc0Qng2D4hJgplNXCZ-nZ6a0nxOegUad8vSu0iSnCcrABtV_jYiSCge02KnX8IhYABmctqiViQIEA-qttAHigBNsR153INA4LO86fMYaUHU/s640/Rotorua,+Hobbiton,+Waitomo,+Auckland,+Paihia1+015.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The return to Auckland.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Our final morning is mostly taken up with a bus journey back to Auckland. I am filled with apprehension. Soon I will be alone on the far side of the world. I will have to arrange everything, I will have to make new friends alone. The XX sing appropriate songs in my head.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">You leave with the tides. And I can't stop you leaving.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/q9Ts_-9ap50/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/q9Ts_-9ap50&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/q9Ts_-9ap50&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Would I want to though? If I could stop you leaving Amy, would I? I don't think so. You have been away for so long and I know you want to go home now, even if just to check in for Christmas. It makes me want to go home too at times. I on the other hand have only been away for three and a half months and still have so much to do.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Just two nights ago I got a confirmation from Sydney Harbour YHA saying that I can work there for accommodation upon my arrival in Sydney. This is the best news I could possibly have had. On my remaining funds I could afford to live in Sydney for about a week, possibly two. And besides that there isn't any space left the hostels now anyway, the entire Christmas period has been booked up for months. I was expecting to have to go woofing, or head out into the mountains, while I waited for a job in a hostel to come up. That or abandon Sydney altogether.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">This hostel, along with almost every other on Sydney, had told me that their work for accommodation positions were all full. I emailed again to check a few days ago and once again received a negative reply. I must have been somewhat convincing because almost instantly afterwards I received another email telling me that they were having some trouble with someone so I could take his position. So now I will be living in Sydney, and not not just in Sydney but in the oldest part of Syndey. The Rocks, Sydney Harbour, about five minutes down the bay from The Opera House. So we can safely say I am quite excited about the next stage of my life and the challenge of doing it alone only serves as a greater incentive.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We have one final meal together then head to the harbour where we wait for the bus. We find an outdoor area full of games and stalls. There is ping pong, giant scrabble, jenga and chess; huge comfy cushions cover the floor and a DJ fills the air with summer. We stay and play for about an hour then it is time to go. We hug and say farewell and wish each other all the fun in the world. Then she boards the bus and is gone. I can't believe it has been so long. I don't feel as if it's really over. But we'll see each other again, at some point in the future. How distant that point is, and where that point is, remain completely unknown, though I feel that it won't be in the U.K.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Tonight I am couchsurfing for the first time in my life. I am staying somewhat out of town with a forty year old woman and her twenty year old son. I arrive with trepidation, unsure whether or not this is a good idea. It turns out it is, Levi and his friend are the only ones there when I arrive. He is warm and friendly and interesting. We chat about the environment and music, we have more in common on the first subject than the second, not that that makes it any less enjoyable. Lauren arrives home and is just as welcoming. We have a lovely tea and I am shown to my couch which thankfully folds out into a double bed. I haven't had this much space in months. I spend a morning with Lauren exploring some interesting markets then I head back to the city centre for my final night.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I am exhausted now. It has been about two and a half months since I've spent more than three nights in one bed (and even that many was rare) and I can't wait to settle down somewhere for a while. I spend the evening writing, catching up on some TV and watching 'The Perks of Being a Wallfower'. Will someone please remind me not to watch emotional films in a dorm full of people, especially when I am feeling tired or fragile, let alone both! It is a brilliant film though. The next morning I blow my remaining New Zealand Dollars on a sublime Eggs Benedict from a rather upmarket cafe before I get the bus to the airport.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Right now I sitting waiting to board the plane back to Australia, still tired but glad to have some time away from my bag. Amy is home by now, twelve thousand miles west and north, and is no doubt having the best time catching up with her friends and family. Not to mention eating all the food that just isn't quite the same over here. I have my own journey to take, though not nearly so far. New Zealand has been amazing. It is more varied than I could have ever imagined; at the same time both more familiar and more exotic than my expectations. And even in five weeks I feel I have managed to see so little compared to what there is. There are so many more sights to see and things to do, and there are so many people from home I would like to see and do them with. I may just have to come back.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">So I bid farewell to Middle Earth to make my journey West, and leave you with a song designed for this very moment. A song that fits with where I am, with what I am doing, with how I am feeling and with where I am going all at once. I am lucky that Australia is not east, or this would not have been nearly as appropriate:</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/2ejQPRa_dHI/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/2ejQPRa_dHI&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/2ejQPRa_dHI&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-36338321050676637102013-12-01T17:35:00.001-08:002013-12-01T17:35:29.301-08:00Orodruin<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
You
may be surprised to hear that leaving South Island is one of the best
experiences I've had so far. It was sad of course, but visually I
couldn't have asked for more. After getting out our tent at the
terminal to help it dry we board the ferry and embark upon the three
hour journey between the North and South. The first hour of this
journey is taken up by a trip through the spectacular Queen Charlotte
Sound; actually a sound this time, not a fjord. Perhaps it is just
the good weather mixed with my rising sense of excitement but I swear
this place gets prettier and prettier every day. Once again I can be
found rushing from one side of the boat to the other, or even from
one end to the other (a journey involving a few flights of stairs, a
lounge and one too many low doors) trying to take all the photos I
possibly can.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
sound widens out around us in an ever expanding circle of emerald.
Above the sky melts from the icy blue of the horizon upwards to the
deepest azure. Below the water is the perfect shade, as if the wide
blues of the sky and the sweeps of green of the land have been mixed
in a great sea of colour. It is perfectly uniform save for tiny
flecks of white that adorn it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
turn and pass down a narrower channel. The sides of the sound close
in and we see the forests and fields that lend the hills their tones.
Small islands float by as patches of green on the blue. Eventually we
reach the oceans edge and rocky cliffs line the island's rim,
brazenly protruding out to sea. The land I have spent the last three
weeks on fades behind us. The place I did my first skydive (first of
many I'm hoping) and saw my first glacier. It retreats, a shrinking
strip of green giving itself up to the ever encroaching blue.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVVFnhR2EIMlDz722Qzj7-mQ73f8s2I406ehWXLoBBd1bstsm5THhCypR6fuO98w-kmUCxhHWZQGoBON51ktBKuJOaq_ae_iQX7pvOi1trHTuENzBa_7Z3o69b5iG024RfIZysLObQKk/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVVFnhR2EIMlDz722Qzj7-mQ73f8s2I406ehWXLoBBd1bstsm5THhCypR6fuO98w-kmUCxhHWZQGoBON51ktBKuJOaq_ae_iQX7pvOi1trHTuENzBa_7Z3o69b5iG024RfIZysLObQKk/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTXwaz7R-LYpGW3VpfVqsadZcT8WwGd2FQ9dIY_lk7OfOf7s7kKw1ias8iEdZOtCrNVCvqjX7au9W1nWZObWpAikCsufKzjOybEPJMeOtbEWZNOeDahSDEFrT30tONQcK9uBZAnz-80M/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTXwaz7R-LYpGW3VpfVqsadZcT8WwGd2FQ9dIY_lk7OfOf7s7kKw1ias8iEdZOtCrNVCvqjX7au9W1nWZObWpAikCsufKzjOybEPJMeOtbEWZNOeDahSDEFrT30tONQcK9uBZAnz-80M/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BFb9JaqeWigv3bGN9dTYjjZHd2yBd0iZ3fSzhNhKDdoqyFEH3Q3YRpP4bLFipai7uc-m2ddAVbvqhdbc59JBWxDWlngEsKUTUrilzn_5ALDZCWAU9M9G1nMWuT1ZmotO3RrKLdej0Co/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BFb9JaqeWigv3bGN9dTYjjZHd2yBd0iZ3fSzhNhKDdoqyFEH3Q3YRpP4bLFipai7uc-m2ddAVbvqhdbc59JBWxDWlngEsKUTUrilzn_5ALDZCWAU9M9G1nMWuT1ZmotO3RrKLdej0Co/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsYEnIJGXe1TbRnlq9Jw_mqOr7G9rCcJnomCJnsbmoSIjeN4OBjqtWELJpCmYckW1oM9e-egaDqgSWp-vjs2Qr4MhHeFsjY0-wQNWhDmT4ZkBoorg3gak4Knk8WHzD4wZC3AL5hT0-As/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsYEnIJGXe1TbRnlq9Jw_mqOr7G9rCcJnomCJnsbmoSIjeN4OBjqtWELJpCmYckW1oM9e-egaDqgSWp-vjs2Qr4MhHeFsjY0-wQNWhDmT4ZkBoorg3gak4Knk8WHzD4wZC3AL5hT0-As/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOuCHlZXBB8To7-x4oNO2WWMrMbNuFObDHQLdIQAluAXDKJPIT2j9Bkuy5vIZbyZzKTyDXr5yBoLskk5Jy187mOpxVMFZ_xYosFTXVxhLrZ2TFsZSLMP93qeGAaz8Au0Hfu66KR1oSQ8/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOuCHlZXBB8To7-x4oNO2WWMrMbNuFObDHQLdIQAluAXDKJPIT2j9Bkuy5vIZbyZzKTyDXr5yBoLskk5Jy187mOpxVMFZ_xYosFTXVxhLrZ2TFsZSLMP93qeGAaz8Au0Hfu66KR1oSQ8/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq8YOqjeVj52_c7vTtz8jr9hAvW2uqjam1-8M56OkbJ-f5mEpLNUGhObJI-Ns8mn_jg2TF_OPliWqAMynq5owfHzkgyowETQvyFtAhPncOIUfBOB0WReoqlFmQE3lU1nCAlXAn5azfnw/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq8YOqjeVj52_c7vTtz8jr9hAvW2uqjam1-8M56OkbJ-f5mEpLNUGhObJI-Ns8mn_jg2TF_OPliWqAMynq5owfHzkgyowETQvyFtAhPncOIUfBOB0WReoqlFmQE3lU1nCAlXAn5azfnw/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+057.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqjtCOnSLDBEyR6uG0iP3m-6cPrEl52cR1BuTjZOkjp-0pQ3p3xNy8uLpNXGnZWjY_eLNB1_3_5sl6HgS-LXqkBUaBeKmfVdq00V5QW3D_SBMtrdrP8ilfkwrNEwgqo9IdoUbuxh4_ag/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqjtCOnSLDBEyR6uG0iP3m-6cPrEl52cR1BuTjZOkjp-0pQ3p3xNy8uLpNXGnZWjY_eLNB1_3_5sl6HgS-LXqkBUaBeKmfVdq00V5QW3D_SBMtrdrP8ilfkwrNEwgqo9IdoUbuxh4_ag/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FBaEKZmBQZfNOeNRwBMLwK105Rfoj2RUZbPnfqVPgam-100fLJ4PL8-QCoVZ2U7UiiDFEwmFxnizwQW2u-E5SbpTsU7NHIBDHqvXZe1m1rLnS1-mq-14sXYGd8M_XK9vd-72zoDJZIY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FBaEKZmBQZfNOeNRwBMLwK105Rfoj2RUZbPnfqVPgam-100fLJ4PL8-QCoVZ2U7UiiDFEwmFxnizwQW2u-E5SbpTsU7NHIBDHqvXZe1m1rLnS1-mq-14sXYGd8M_XK9vd-72zoDJZIY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
prow of the boat tells a different story. North Island is already in
sight. It perches on the horizon, faint and distant but steadily
growing.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
wind here is relentless. I stand by a railing leaning into the gale.
It is hard to stay upright and with every photo I take I fear for my
phone's life. The deck at the front, once heavily populated, is now
bare save for the few willing to brave the winds. We enter a great
natural harbour and I decide North Island has serious potential. The
land flows by and I feel my excitement building as Wellington starts
to reveal itself from deep within an inlet.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
love new places, I love new cities. You never know what you will find
or what you will do. I can't wait to get off and explore.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
walk along the shore-front to our hostel is very promising. The city
seems diverse and interesting. We pass sculptures and art, old
buildings living in harmony with new and a group of teenagers
delightedly leaping from the pier into the sea. That evening we
wander through the streets and find a city alive. The population of
Wellington is not far over half that of Christchurch yet it fees ten
times the size. We walk down a street and pass takeaway after
takeaway, any one of which would have fulfilled the one desire we had
of Christchurch, the one thing we could not find.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2qdTcZINrHgiwE4ivV2MqWyT5y02DcUUXHyb24qk2IhQWUyHaHmi5eUif1cCVRPiWLafgVL6LVdEkMZuo8z_fWkc-yidWGPyFHs77kKvvq9gXZmTTTU-EDF0IK5yiCJAZosjC36O-eY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2qdTcZINrHgiwE4ivV2MqWyT5y02DcUUXHyb24qk2IhQWUyHaHmi5eUif1cCVRPiWLafgVL6LVdEkMZuo8z_fWkc-yidWGPyFHs77kKvvq9gXZmTTTU-EDF0IK5yiCJAZosjC36O-eY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
North Island emerges on the horizon.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OmfarGofHbSs8l4EIkn2uiAzdKlk7-wtZKRFRwkVWuTjrsdDhuY8lK5KMF081Akc6DoDNMzWFFatdlcOVAih_kB5nMPnBo7Ew5yA0HrljxEDLBOU7bPBu2UuVmGkUesyIzlioO9dn-Y/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OmfarGofHbSs8l4EIkn2uiAzdKlk7-wtZKRFRwkVWuTjrsdDhuY8lK5KMF081Akc6DoDNMzWFFatdlcOVAih_kB5nMPnBo7Ew5yA0HrljxEDLBOU7bPBu2UuVmGkUesyIzlioO9dn-Y/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+091.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCJ9xFGG1PkTCPunYNaXh5n8K6-XWoer8cXu53RQv0DYtbyO3jJ3qMeBlecZrN0LtOTOP16ZP0OAW8VB76CKactoi94oCc2yjsExwvtHRFw0Y4a7MFT6hRIy_vtZR1y4xcLGkq5Al2pA/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCJ9xFGG1PkTCPunYNaXh5n8K6-XWoer8cXu53RQv0DYtbyO3jJ3qMeBlecZrN0LtOTOP16ZP0OAW8VB76CKactoi94oCc2yjsExwvtHRFw0Y4a7MFT6hRIy_vtZR1y4xcLGkq5Al2pA/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygAguopD6Iz5LiMOygpWahPGX0w5WgquSa5HLYL73L87Ij17NcM717VF44ittvTbDAuUYAXUbnXebIhWcTJYp1_6bic6kn2_-gJXbXWo4aWleBMabtP_wjoP7DWctHorR4jutiB7O6EU/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygAguopD6Iz5LiMOygpWahPGX0w5WgquSa5HLYL73L87Ij17NcM717VF44ittvTbDAuUYAXUbnXebIhWcTJYp1_6bic6kn2_-gJXbXWo4aWleBMabtP_wjoP7DWctHorR4jutiB7O6EU/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+103.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rw8qqQMsDyMiul7vh-Kmhtl6sWHCKzQVaAXNR_84uOL1SmUcv3CPVO64lIeRZ6-Fn9NpkdoLiqw3_dHpeM_bXL4RaiOG9VdOV9HyOk0xq1BwRbVdV_ntyHqMcSzP2_FHA_dt4gMPYW4/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rw8qqQMsDyMiul7vh-Kmhtl6sWHCKzQVaAXNR_84uOL1SmUcv3CPVO64lIeRZ6-Fn9NpkdoLiqw3_dHpeM_bXL4RaiOG9VdOV9HyOk0xq1BwRbVdV_ntyHqMcSzP2_FHA_dt4gMPYW4/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO1KTNPqk4GMtUP5innVkXgjoDIuMRGZCB1eo5nGaKwEUubi4eDKoWEjPxD83bsjeUvquafvd37-XzjD9s4EkAvnCT6RrKDOpGMCsfL5VcDJaOvOZ0l9P0tqi4v91oZm20O87Qix3tnQ/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO1KTNPqk4GMtUP5innVkXgjoDIuMRGZCB1eo5nGaKwEUubi4eDKoWEjPxD83bsjeUvquafvd37-XzjD9s4EkAvnCT6RrKDOpGMCsfL5VcDJaOvOZ0l9P0tqi4v91oZm20O87Qix3tnQ/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+126.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Weta
Workshops, for those of you who don't know, is, along with it's
sister company Weta Digital, responsible for the conceptual design
and creation of (digitally or actually) the props, costumes, and sets
for films such as The Last Samurai, Master and Commander, King Kong,
Avatar and of course, what made them famous, The Lord of the Rings.
They are responsible for innovations such as Weta Tenzan Chain
Maille, a cheap and light hyper realistic chain mail and also
Bigatures, these are simply miniature versions of sets or locations
but recreated to such scale and detail that when on film they appear
to be the real thing. For example, one of the biggest bigatures
created for LotR was the tower of Barad Dur which, in the story,
comes in at over 1,400 meters, almost twice that of the Burj Khalifa.
Instead of creating this using digital effects they built a bigature.
The 'model' built by Weta was nine meters tall, or thirty feet, so
big in fact that they could not find a building large enough to stand
it up in so instead filmed it suspended on its side then rotated the
shots so it looked vertical.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Anyway,
this is the place Amy and I visit on our first full day in
Wellington, we are greeted outside the door by the three trolls made
famous by The Hobbit. What follows is nothing more than a tour
straight from my dreams. Props, costumes and models that I instantly
recognise, straight from the films. There are a few things not from
Lord of the Rings but no one pays them any attention, that's not why
we're here. They tell us about the design and production process and
I am amazed by how much time and money it can take. For example in
the film District 9, with the aliens trying to find a home in
Johannesburg, each individual alien gun (much lighter than they would
be in real life but heavy enough that the actors appear to be
carrying a bit of weight) cost at least two thousand dollars to make.
No wonder films are so expensive.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VHbNP9ovO14MLHjDfMlDlAMod5vaWnxUhALwC7l_w4Bbpi8aA1ze-qNrLg73LHDnjCtoPW-RUhgBUIbr0-2DELvdygQC_BAqOROpRRGHwm7SU1bEesxWpS2IVg_b3rrU3F3svyT7in0/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VHbNP9ovO14MLHjDfMlDlAMod5vaWnxUhALwC7l_w4Bbpi8aA1ze-qNrLg73LHDnjCtoPW-RUhgBUIbr0-2DELvdygQC_BAqOROpRRGHwm7SU1bEesxWpS2IVg_b3rrU3F3svyT7in0/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+128.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5fRhtozhCZp_-dQ1C8nUwDUNGkGsUfQSX7xpiLRyGszcyvLexVOYuvoywZGweaUEZaZh172FTT7FcOGhc0tcIV47jyXtJVx-FxKId3mvEN5joy1y7Qt95pn6hJsIwtsLtPHbXvSoT_w/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5fRhtozhCZp_-dQ1C8nUwDUNGkGsUfQSX7xpiLRyGszcyvLexVOYuvoywZGweaUEZaZh172FTT7FcOGhc0tcIV47jyXtJVx-FxKId3mvEN5joy1y7Qt95pn6hJsIwtsLtPHbXvSoT_w/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+150.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After
a thoroughly enjoyable time in Weta and a few selfies with the life
sized carving of Gandalf the Grey we head to the botanics. Every city
in Australia and New Zealand it seems has a botanical garden and
normally they are no more than what I would call parks back home.
This one is better, it has themed gardens, labelled trees and
information signs; a sculpture walk, a visitors centre and a
Victorian greenhouse. It also offers views over much of the city of
Wellington. At one point we get lost and end up in a beautiful, but
no doubt expensive, part of town where large coloured houses cling to
deeply forested hills. One day perhaps.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
return through the city and I like it even more. The sun is shining
and everybody seems to be outside having fun. If only we had the
money to join them. Perhaps a working holiday visa in New Zealand is
in order?</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHdDBbC0fHLtnX4PLj2A2fr0CSKClsCjpJDFlDlfj2gok2dD_D0LqhS-aOB7p85oat7WZraxzi_OoqbDyAB_wOleQ_88xspQCOMMh9nG1fTi1C5UExuLqofJstqOHGW2_YD9cL652hbE/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHdDBbC0fHLtnX4PLj2A2fr0CSKClsCjpJDFlDlfj2gok2dD_D0LqhS-aOB7p85oat7WZraxzi_OoqbDyAB_wOleQ_88xspQCOMMh9nG1fTi1C5UExuLqofJstqOHGW2_YD9cL652hbE/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+154.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGjwW-bB9shmL5g2yqMwrZAsjqsszoM5EMXbhAJdFMjxLf-ICQ5VSe7R5qoel00OjmqC0ZPRYYCWszj5BWg-lPMXacGpHfo0ijtFfxTj_WXSnycId1IeCtf0NJYBWSudjVT_UiwEbTxw/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGjwW-bB9shmL5g2yqMwrZAsjqsszoM5EMXbhAJdFMjxLf-ICQ5VSe7R5qoel00OjmqC0ZPRYYCWszj5BWg-lPMXacGpHfo0ijtFfxTj_WXSnycId1IeCtf0NJYBWSudjVT_UiwEbTxw/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GK-t7Hp-X8pG2Ax_Z0wUskGdOjpmKdvNTN20C5Cjl1I3FLFrO9DiZTKe-FPvE8J8feyY1PKMIRtzdOenxGF60dg7EULCFSSMXmcxac6wvcDCUU-mani4vd_GoeHgXgvCw1bpnRqbuxs/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GK-t7Hp-X8pG2Ax_Z0wUskGdOjpmKdvNTN20C5Cjl1I3FLFrO9DiZTKe-FPvE8J8feyY1PKMIRtzdOenxGF60dg7EULCFSSMXmcxac6wvcDCUU-mani4vd_GoeHgXgvCw1bpnRqbuxs/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+176.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnw8vgEOYC-XtKeMPAm8laWMB0E0c18uLTNsBvjSVxcKsMT0KFvLJYmYde4VBoAPg6dPr_sHMrFkmsGpy8j25_1e5VZ6LrPPo9WcGzIGtsevxt6P5Ok9UpoSzpswwRmJuBMnpQCyH2nY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnw8vgEOYC-XtKeMPAm8laWMB0E0c18uLTNsBvjSVxcKsMT0KFvLJYmYde4VBoAPg6dPr_sHMrFkmsGpy8j25_1e5VZ6LrPPo9WcGzIGtsevxt6P5Ok9UpoSzpswwRmJuBMnpQCyH2nY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFya5kx0fOf38GKJpJWRTAr9s8xCK9XwJepUewSIiGHTRnKuRW4eDeDtO_1t8-wAaXzfKAt0H7JBJDmJIHMUl-bqOLhyphenhyphenupVo_4URFJYD_fOjE_BySfiU8eervOfNeEYDBFCCa_629CNP0/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFya5kx0fOf38GKJpJWRTAr9s8xCK9XwJepUewSIiGHTRnKuRW4eDeDtO_1t8-wAaXzfKAt0H7JBJDmJIHMUl-bqOLhyphenhyphenupVo_4URFJYD_fOjE_BySfiU8eervOfNeEYDBFCCa_629CNP0/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+188.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMkHUKGwrac-A2AuBRHpktRiewydvR6tAaFCYmgEh_QAlHs6L9qfGlvAbNjzYz5D6sIjOhTIcVbJvCzdXETeLBDNXZP80w83qgAnkgh-bYdNPR2h2O3AAx88ydkDPaiJlt_tZUwrjIn0/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMkHUKGwrac-A2AuBRHpktRiewydvR6tAaFCYmgEh_QAlHs6L9qfGlvAbNjzYz5D6sIjOhTIcVbJvCzdXETeLBDNXZP80w83qgAnkgh-bYdNPR2h2O3AAx88ydkDPaiJlt_tZUwrjIn0/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+193.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc-gVZgdaYQW_AXv8QPTz1T0T6s2LLen6nlmuiXa-LkTSTT9m3b6SgTmKHYGAAVRWG-nJZ-dFAJlxl8bPtrG6n_FMHPnw2jfMLFrTwDtICWHBBUaU58a8vvsFIzby0cMkArvV_hKgf88/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc-gVZgdaYQW_AXv8QPTz1T0T6s2LLen6nlmuiXa-LkTSTT9m3b6SgTmKHYGAAVRWG-nJZ-dFAJlxl8bPtrG6n_FMHPnw2jfMLFrTwDtICWHBBUaU58a8vvsFIzby0cMkArvV_hKgf88/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg0x4fgjavJApQDUmlHiNlmbQVrz6mGjehtOW9n5CstRy5id9_0EIwFEReAhQA6DMD2RMS2mKxx5udQqHaEmVjhQRlGbYckFWPQ4L2DDaWnI3oinw1tnfcZjzx1w8Ztu03AeglG8s_yc/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg0x4fgjavJApQDUmlHiNlmbQVrz6mGjehtOW9n5CstRy5id9_0EIwFEReAhQA6DMD2RMS2mKxx5udQqHaEmVjhQRlGbYckFWPQ4L2DDaWnI3oinw1tnfcZjzx1w8Ztu03AeglG8s_yc/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8TulQaLBYtxt443mr4SrE18FeKjdiHRYfbNLLdhuvGOJApz1BVB3WZ5gyU1cfbloVOOFsH8xQr-6rrFtRvfiIK9JYoqSDH43HsdIeoVKJKl2KRWlXnv9uUlt2tWKPKd6Gxyzqhp7QyU/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8TulQaLBYtxt443mr4SrE18FeKjdiHRYfbNLLdhuvGOJApz1BVB3WZ5gyU1cfbloVOOFsH8xQr-6rrFtRvfiIK9JYoqSDH43HsdIeoVKJKl2KRWlXnv9uUlt2tWKPKd6Gxyzqhp7QyU/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXFH9LwK8pUGJOeuCX3mFQ1PvkEH4kRjNGqKyFZYc6H0Lamv9jDvj2F8TVhS4Iqrn-JUmRcLynT76ctJQQBPIQzkw-t-NgS1jZo9aRIloIRkd266-1pkEY4pIlvV9GU7VT-TvOhD8jao/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXFH9LwK8pUGJOeuCX3mFQ1PvkEH4kRjNGqKyFZYc6H0Lamv9jDvj2F8TVhS4Iqrn-JUmRcLynT76ctJQQBPIQzkw-t-NgS1jZo9aRIloIRkd266-1pkEY4pIlvV9GU7VT-TvOhD8jao/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJu0wDEDx5RYBkFTmhlHMfJ8famalXFJKBdKhRnQy9l1GhXfY4iVpHngmA_RA7JGA3yDnXz9gKba4HLFi3cXw12ND1ixVKZGLEW1VtrpZ82edjQIOrLtbTqQPa6N3Hg9dRQDSejcWG-E/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJu0wDEDx5RYBkFTmhlHMfJ8famalXFJKBdKhRnQy9l1GhXfY4iVpHngmA_RA7JGA3yDnXz9gKba4HLFi3cXw12ND1ixVKZGLEW1VtrpZ82edjQIOrLtbTqQPa6N3Hg9dRQDSejcWG-E/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+217.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Izsjsu9eSHTwtFy5xJRh7BVkiqFBIO8X41XGAI92GJIGRg2H68QnSbn61WoYNz7yyi-mrIeOBTZ_hfZvtAsKSnOcBNZfGGgzjNPdepJG7wcNsZpQSb1n9H7xxI2WGVCqpH-ZfOsrsFo/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Izsjsu9eSHTwtFy5xJRh7BVkiqFBIO8X41XGAI92GJIGRg2H68QnSbn61WoYNz7yyi-mrIeOBTZ_hfZvtAsKSnOcBNZfGGgzjNPdepJG7wcNsZpQSb1n9H7xxI2WGVCqpH-ZfOsrsFo/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+220.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PZbpAGDOe87f_uGIPYNMOtMdHNPKUveN8qGc0HWsk2ohagXmwVRmUHdvlQ0p1fagHrAP0HhlcbHoEHrGbdv9pPjRkI2hjolE-augJ5AwseNySHq395NsxU7vYndMDaIZyPWhUutIZUc/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PZbpAGDOe87f_uGIPYNMOtMdHNPKUveN8qGc0HWsk2ohagXmwVRmUHdvlQ0p1fagHrAP0HhlcbHoEHrGbdv9pPjRkI2hjolE-augJ5AwseNySHq395NsxU7vYndMDaIZyPWhUutIZUc/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+227.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIj0G7z8rMub7wMjG3Bg9z9P1UX8NIvmNByMkZwSYyzTCgStGGejsJFiFduK2hd29S7BRNnEQiDTT3ZVTOpjvtIHX-cqdKDz5-fneuEYK_0lgf-RimUQyewJiXFNkEUo3cjUZjuEH7ZA/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIj0G7z8rMub7wMjG3Bg9z9P1UX8NIvmNByMkZwSYyzTCgStGGejsJFiFduK2hd29S7BRNnEQiDTT3ZVTOpjvtIHX-cqdKDz5-fneuEYK_0lgf-RimUQyewJiXFNkEUo3cjUZjuEH7ZA/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+234.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-B8Mat4AIvQyMX05vxh7OAY9uL1tjJShHXy1-sOrFyvxXG28Jc-f2W1AnWLHYdLEhDkTuE2Tqz6M7SWuosU9eTF2ryZflp4oVwzoibNb1ItTNky70Dj7g5tyggmBN3PD8azDUqqISSCs/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-B8Mat4AIvQyMX05vxh7OAY9uL1tjJShHXy1-sOrFyvxXG28Jc-f2W1AnWLHYdLEhDkTuE2Tqz6M7SWuosU9eTF2ryZflp4oVwzoibNb1ItTNky70Dj7g5tyggmBN3PD8azDUqqISSCs/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVjKBcZmpbCvxbFjBom9PfKmo1dmClvRZnBZzWDXmXZpr-6mieyUwkso93HkxHUOLWeYTmDuPin6NKy3CG0HV_q1ut-VgODbeKSjv0DYSF_7zivENB-fHrrvuXqnVI_kdvtMaOQ6yjp4/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVjKBcZmpbCvxbFjBom9PfKmo1dmClvRZnBZzWDXmXZpr-6mieyUwkso93HkxHUOLWeYTmDuPin6NKy3CG0HV_q1ut-VgODbeKSjv0DYSF_7zivENB-fHrrvuXqnVI_kdvtMaOQ6yjp4/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+237.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuF2uiYMF5C1OJAeEule8A3eMZs2_yAqekv0SqbX5JtwY6W5wgknnsuPpDzYSstw5weM7f-wYEVY62igHSoE1Ma3enl9LyHdkjeKYQUp7IaPtepnDoKETzZ8v5ImLO78bprmCQe-gY6ns/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuF2uiYMF5C1OJAeEule8A3eMZs2_yAqekv0SqbX5JtwY6W5wgknnsuPpDzYSstw5weM7f-wYEVY62igHSoE1Ma3enl9LyHdkjeKYQUp7IaPtepnDoKETzZ8v5ImLO78bprmCQe-gY6ns/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And people complain about the Scottish Parliament </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GnHvuTPiU42Nq-obJS0LMutOiBTK4B51NAiTFHA12WqvqkvOs_W7SBBYziv72F-Ys_R7XNpzvWYyy0nNz1klTskON7AIsdUmrqUv4kkqXi1vYBhyI5QM8cPkZQ__y6Xz9CsVE80VMik/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GnHvuTPiU42Nq-obJS0LMutOiBTK4B51NAiTFHA12WqvqkvOs_W7SBBYziv72F-Ys_R7XNpzvWYyy0nNz1klTskON7AIsdUmrqUv4kkqXi1vYBhyI5QM8cPkZQ__y6Xz9CsVE80VMik/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvBkvsHIQjA3tQpHGEFB2ALSjFpx75d3T4SbJo7e65cg5JWNHVAEFo9M_HrXo2ODHL-iAc41bG1aqy62f92LwslU3VCXD_vrENBmUnjSve0_2r80zkGRYrfBA6wU2ALT41Ut1MUa7BaY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvBkvsHIQjA3tQpHGEFB2ALSjFpx75d3T4SbJo7e65cg5JWNHVAEFo9M_HrXo2ODHL-iAc41bG1aqy62f92LwslU3VCXD_vrENBmUnjSve0_2r80zkGRYrfBA6wU2ALT41Ut1MUa7BaY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+242.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IkArrbyKlVXdDkvZcB21qxGCQk_gweehCeMV2QgvqoYrSvA3l0Ggj3OuA3kLzZ0vuBDQz6nri0NudHJDSHFgcTxNqgNvvUnEzxWuP16W1LVn8MJIuRWLQvSkxEq3gCkdquJYVfFIc-s/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IkArrbyKlVXdDkvZcB21qxGCQk_gweehCeMV2QgvqoYrSvA3l0Ggj3OuA3kLzZ0vuBDQz6nri0NudHJDSHFgcTxNqgNvvUnEzxWuP16W1LVn8MJIuRWLQvSkxEq3gCkdquJYVfFIc-s/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcUGzXRDCPI7cTCTQekmLVjWo4o5gk0XY3UKiF9PXOWxvUfmXTpYDN2DTf9rWySB3dl-05eDF187afD9YHrG_OOLZD8YnruKn231G_pNLy3c4enyG41YB-RMyJpyTMLcQ2UFFlTZOw1k/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcUGzXRDCPI7cTCTQekmLVjWo4o5gk0XY3UKiF9PXOWxvUfmXTpYDN2DTf9rWySB3dl-05eDF187afD9YHrG_OOLZD8YnruKn231G_pNLy3c4enyG41YB-RMyJpyTMLcQ2UFFlTZOw1k/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+248.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
biggest and best museum here is, by far, Te Papa. It reminds me
slightly of 'Chamber Street Museum' in Edinburgh in content if not in
appearance. We spread our trips there out over three days because
there is so much to see, an hour or two each day so as not to lose
interest. It has all the usual: whale skeletons, volcanic rocks and
the history of man. There is, not surprisingly, a large section on
the population of New Zealand, from the Maori seven hundred years ago
to the Europeans three hundred years later.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
main thing that struck, and deeply saddened, me was the devastating
effects humans have had on this wonderful piece of land. When the
Maori first arrived on New Zealand the islands were green. Eighty
five percent of the land was covered in forest, most of the remainder
was mountain terrain or wetland with grassland taking up a mere five
percent of the total area. The forest, being the hub of biodiversity
that it is, formed the habitat for countless species of plants,
birds, amphibians and invertebrates. Mammals were surprisingly
absent; their only presence was in two species of bat. Perhaps the
greatest of all these inhabitants was the Moa, the dominant herbivore
of the land. It was a grand flightless bird that could reach up to
twelve feet in height and its only predator was the Hasst's Eagle,
the largest eagle ever to have lived.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
Moa had ruled this land for sixty million years and it only took the
Maori only one hundred to hunt all nine species to extinction. The
Hasst's Eagle, with no prey and a declining habitat quickly followed.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Along
with hunting came the inevitable forest clearance and the
introduction of mammals that the local fauna had not evolved to deal
with, primarily rats and dogs. All three of these things began the
dangerous decline of many of the islands native species. By the time
the Europeans arrived the forest cover had dropped from eighty five
percent to fifty five and it was just to get worse. We introduced
many more new species and continued the destruction of the forests.
Today only twenty five percent of the land remains forested and over
half of it now grows introduced grasses. I found a list of all the
species that have been driven to extinction through Human Kind's
propensity to destroy. There were plants, fish, amphibians and
invertebrates, one of the only two mammals and, the greatest list of
all, fifty different species of bird.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Setting
aside for a moment any issues about who 'owns' this land and the way
in which the Maori people were treated by European settlers. What I
wonder is whether we, as a race, truly have the right to 'own' land
such as this and treat it as we will. If land has been occupied for
millions of years by other species then should we possess the
authority to simply turn up and claim it as ours and only ours purely
because we are human. I think not.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It
seems our past as a race, from the moment we gained awareness of
ourselves and what we could do has been one of destruction and
carnage. We have been burning our way through history with no regard
for what we are leaving behind us. It seems that it is only now, when
it is almost too late, that we are beginning to realise what we have
done. That we are realising that we have to preserve those animals we
have nearly destroyed, that we have to rebuild habitats we have
eradicated, that we simply cannot continue to live as heedlessly as
we have been doing for millennia.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
do think that considering how long we have been on this path of
destruction (which many are still on!) the speed at which we are
starting to begin a turn around is heartening and I for one feel
hopeful. The question remains though, will it will be fast enough.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XnzT2UrNpg_3zt_Z4-_bBNgoCGysfoVPLmVlKQKxJMv4ruQfgKtXtlWij7e12XXVivBVCHRGY1l_S0Nbv4wQPezDsN5nFDNjN4PZaY4BG8A2n_g_UTthVAHG7-1_sgRHdueYzjIxNz8/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XnzT2UrNpg_3zt_Z4-_bBNgoCGysfoVPLmVlKQKxJMv4ruQfgKtXtlWij7e12XXVivBVCHRGY1l_S0Nbv4wQPezDsN5nFDNjN4PZaY4BG8A2n_g_UTthVAHG7-1_sgRHdueYzjIxNz8/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8kVdWKov5-BK0zLNWMZel_SarSbeJGvBCE3xGLi33mbTqkZ08JQttwQNo96hz7_-iz0waEdw0WRD_PtQ5qKcjuYiOCBjSqWw1_nVWOoMK6XtjcZsAs-F9UNda9rNS6t0gs7utxstikk/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8kVdWKov5-BK0zLNWMZel_SarSbeJGvBCE3xGLi33mbTqkZ08JQttwQNo96hz7_-iz0waEdw0WRD_PtQ5qKcjuYiOCBjSqWw1_nVWOoMK6XtjcZsAs-F9UNda9rNS6t0gs7utxstikk/s320/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+255.JPG" width="236" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYZdgTW9Cwow3Hq1UJV0PqrFXTPjraNbmTbgQRzHl03MNbgGPLSNwmjr95ucb6P2lv5LGruYNoTko93_5FJzr0sIYvGbDofMcEaGHKrEuNwWfD9O8Mhtx9thiOcUepwx23KxtpcG5tCw/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYZdgTW9Cwow3Hq1UJV0PqrFXTPjraNbmTbgQRzHl03MNbgGPLSNwmjr95ucb6P2lv5LGruYNoTko93_5FJzr0sIYvGbDofMcEaGHKrEuNwWfD9O8Mhtx9thiOcUepwx23KxtpcG5tCw/s320/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+256.JPG" width="236" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHlumBkQZY1UVH1Cgz1z0hv2MlWmtqeLFK5jMjZ7ABhGjq4ozFgTm-Sbz5Lx5l77ExwKItrODYFRm1fJrxQRE72FRNsVFIMXLSJIHonhj8VUCfyNm2LI1wE-YchH28DX2_RdkjrBKRLU/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHlumBkQZY1UVH1Cgz1z0hv2MlWmtqeLFK5jMjZ7ABhGjq4ozFgTm-Sbz5Lx5l77ExwKItrODYFRm1fJrxQRE72FRNsVFIMXLSJIHonhj8VUCfyNm2LI1wE-YchH28DX2_RdkjrBKRLU/s320/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+257.JPG" width="236" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
These
three pictures show the forest coverage of New Zealand before the
Maori arrived, at the time that the European settlers arrived and
finally today. One of the worst affected trees have been the
magnificent Kauri Pines. In the whole world these trees only grow
naturally in the northern peninsula of North Island New Zealand,
their forests once covered twelve thousand square kilometers. They
can live for over two thousand years and grow up to eight and a half
meters wide (that's twenty seven meters in circumference!), though
none of such grandeur remain today. Today it is estimated that only
four percent of Kauri forest remains and that small amount is spread
far and wide in tiny pockets of woodland.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Enough
on this. I could go on forever.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On
our last day in Wellington we meet up with a good friend of ours from
Melbourne who is touring the North Island with his parents. They,
much to our envy, have a camper van. We, due to money issues, had to
go for a bus pass instead. If you ever come here then a camper van is
they way to do it, or at least a car. You can go to so many places
that are otherwise inaccessible and you can do it whenever you want.
Often we find we waste whole days because there is only one bus and
we have to wait for up to two hours in small towns to make
connections.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With
Peter we spend a day in the glorious sunshine with some pitchers of
cider. Since coming to New Zealand this is I think only our third or
fourth (and I suspect last) time buying alcohol. We have discovered
that when you are on a budget out here there is always something
better to spend your money on. Today though, catching up with
friends, it seems like the best option. We meet a group of lovely
Wellingtonians that we spend most of the night with. At one point I
trade one of them my sunglasses for a pitcher of cider. Monetarily it
was a worthwhile trade although I instantly regret my loss. He kindly
lends me his Ray-Bans for the evening, a very bad move. Somewhere
along the way me, him and the Ray-Bans (purchased that very day) all
part company. No one knows where they are now. I hope whoever has
them appreciates them though, they were wonderful not to mention
expensive. Amy and I end that evening in a hotel room full of Maori
playing a guitar and drinking energy drinks. We make a dash for it
and lose each other in MacDonalds (large fries and a soft serve),
then make our ways, separately and circuitously, back to the hostel.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjSUE4N7Iwm-m0mSg7nas8Y9_hWtJNwRNxdmCLQlua1uNQ1tFr1JDadFlMKOsK9Gl59gde5SP0x6LVWJq5hKdbuTv5Rg0i1sbbcm-EyL-V6x6s9O-DBFSzXJp_x4oUOnJR2Mnji0xkto/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjSUE4N7Iwm-m0mSg7nas8Y9_hWtJNwRNxdmCLQlua1uNQ1tFr1JDadFlMKOsK9Gl59gde5SP0x6LVWJq5hKdbuTv5Rg0i1sbbcm-EyL-V6x6s9O-DBFSzXJp_x4oUOnJR2Mnji0xkto/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K07SVtP7e1RbYCCAoG4dq4hECTjOjCyRz8VOeI4Q3Yfaq9wlV1llNwTjs-gYqPJyws2H-ob0YLIVy6DfIWC4PUMwm1nlZpb31sCV1tQcoPRn21qQ0mbemXzQNTjeDVAkjR-Qpy4fUqM/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K07SVtP7e1RbYCCAoG4dq4hECTjOjCyRz8VOeI4Q3Yfaq9wlV1llNwTjs-gYqPJyws2H-ob0YLIVy6DfIWC4PUMwm1nlZpb31sCV1tQcoPRn21qQ0mbemXzQNTjeDVAkjR-Qpy4fUqM/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+273.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She can't stop. And she won't stop. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQCIjBq2rTXbOZtTw0TWMGAixpyJdW6VtQqhyHhx9Gujh8ZgvcFonKh5ETwg9OH6P39RFkaHFzwK0NpwG5W7pHXqAyu_lrblamF0ysGHuHKlxQ_F0sHD8jCcKFvT2QBlBDwLDlJ6DWQ4/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQCIjBq2rTXbOZtTw0TWMGAixpyJdW6VtQqhyHhx9Gujh8ZgvcFonKh5ETwg9OH6P39RFkaHFzwK0NpwG5W7pHXqAyu_lrblamF0ysGHuHKlxQ_F0sHD8jCcKFvT2QBlBDwLDlJ6DWQ4/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+281.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Made by Weta Workshop don't you know. </div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Early
the next morning we tenderly get on the bus north. To Mordor. We
drive for hours, the cloud grows thick and the sky grows dark, the
land dark below it. All around the world is flat then in the distance
I see what appears to be a small cluster of snow capped points. They
form a circle. It is the caldera of Mount Ruapehu; highest point of
the North Island, largest volcano in New Zealand and one of the most
active in the world (last erupting six years ago). Behind it I see a
dark foreboding peak appear. The tip wreathed in cloud. Mount Doom
beckons.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAxthoW-bPEGcn__TA0itab3fhFXGW1NG3GmDvvIBSDX6pLExl0a5qG0MZUh2xfGC5K54czwnPZ-6rqhiaGrkk-98xC7-FkEK_9uYKcX_y-gyovQ6G3zNh4oWonO4uh1kliIr_Yqq_Bo/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAxthoW-bPEGcn__TA0itab3fhFXGW1NG3GmDvvIBSDX6pLExl0a5qG0MZUh2xfGC5K54czwnPZ-6rqhiaGrkk-98xC7-FkEK_9uYKcX_y-gyovQ6G3zNh4oWonO4uh1kliIr_Yqq_Bo/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
drive past both of these magnificent structures and come to our next
stop. It is a small village in the Tongariro National Park,
imaginatively named National Park Village. Honestly. The Kiwis it
appears are almost as skilled at naming things as the Australians.
Either they use the Maori name, they use a name from Britain or, if
forced to come up with something themselves, end up with names such
as Summit Peak or The Big Lake (both genuine names).</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That's
all by the bye. We are here to walk the Tongariro crossing;
supposedly one of the best day walks in New Zealand it crosses
through the middle of the Tongariro National Park between Mount
Tongriro (another volcano) and Mount Doom (which by the way does have
a real name but no one seems to know it).</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It
turns out 'they' are right. The walk is stunning. It crosses land
like I have never seen apart from in films. We walk through great
fields of frozen lava, each rock is twisted and contorted into alien
shapes, the result of solidifying while being thrown thousands of
feet into the air. We pass through vast pale craters and by towering
black cliffs. We are in Mordor and we quote Return of the King
relentlessly.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It's
a strange feeling, walking through this fantastic world. Hills rise
on either side of you and you instinctively assume you're walking
through a valley, then you reach the centre and realise you're in a
huge crater. The rock is the most bizarre colours. We reach a crater
unsurprisingly named 'The Red Crater'. It is, well, red. But it is
also green and brown and purple and black. The surface we walk on is
volcanic sand and pyroclast. It crunches and slides beneath our feet
in a myriad of colour that blends to a dull grey from a distance.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
landscape is vast. Orodruin towers, patches of ash grey and mahogany
red streak down its steep pitch slopes. Endless flat plains extend,
paths wending their way over the dusty ghost-grey between great dark
boulders. We crest a ridge and emerald lakes reveal themselves. They
are actually called the Emerald Lakes, in the distance we see the
larger Blue Lake. They are pristine and crystal clear and steam
drifts from vents around them. It rises from the ground filling the
air with a noxious smell. 'Eggy cat food' Amy calls it, and she has
it spot on. In the distance smoke pours from behind a hill to
disperse on the wind.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As
we walk down from the National Park we pass through the hazard zone
of the Te Maari cone. It erupted August last year and the whole park
was closed for months. It is no longer throwing rocks, lava or lahar
(mud slides) throughout the surrounding land but it is still
releasing pressure, gas and steam ever day. It is quite exciting. We
hope for a further eruption.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
leave the hazard area and wind down towards a far and beautiful land
of lakes and fields. I wonder if I am facing the direction of the
Shire. We walk through a great beech woodland, cut with wide streams
that we must wade through and with long swathes of rocks and debris.
They are the remnants of the lahar from last year's eruption and they
appear to be rivers of stone through the forest, remnants of
shattered trees still decay over their stony faces.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I apologise for the sheer number of photo's you are about to be subjected to.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzN7tuCBR3erq28aJE-x5yo3nJqH_vVXGNCFSuLJKTafVQTNG0wi9EqaBxRUW7gM8njIg3rwhrjtqMxEi5Me8Y0_SndNJZZ54aVJvdI8z4NIs_MGvwetD3IB4BNRwOnh67TTc0H0m1R4/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzN7tuCBR3erq28aJE-x5yo3nJqH_vVXGNCFSuLJKTafVQTNG0wi9EqaBxRUW7gM8njIg3rwhrjtqMxEi5Me8Y0_SndNJZZ54aVJvdI8z4NIs_MGvwetD3IB4BNRwOnh67TTc0H0m1R4/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+298.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi0Kn2IdoOyaRCUkvR9m7XVOd2ARVxfOk5WWQVafC6kxrIn9DJ0ccp2bKgewafbxxzZD-JKeLmJj_0pUXzbka0sH2x_5xd-27x4YaEgojiMmddsmmy8mi47NajGzP9u9PhtXKeDjnJQY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi0Kn2IdoOyaRCUkvR9m7XVOd2ARVxfOk5WWQVafC6kxrIn9DJ0ccp2bKgewafbxxzZD-JKeLmJj_0pUXzbka0sH2x_5xd-27x4YaEgojiMmddsmmy8mi47NajGzP9u9PhtXKeDjnJQY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+301.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFK-ynAxJj8TNHmj8Qr43Xlus6AocUaz6taqaF3q7P-dWc1VuA8SABvot2wbU7mNwIjJx5IkEaAQ-nHGdcOK1NjhPy0NVeEvXMkCS-n76G7qPr6j8w71Qf8en2DTm2VH4LSAmgCUE5C0/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFK-ynAxJj8TNHmj8Qr43Xlus6AocUaz6taqaF3q7P-dWc1VuA8SABvot2wbU7mNwIjJx5IkEaAQ-nHGdcOK1NjhPy0NVeEvXMkCS-n76G7qPr6j8w71Qf8en2DTm2VH4LSAmgCUE5C0/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm74QIwd_UWQl4tczl6rPhHjdR-ghXDy0Ylllmltb3iPAOCec8RUs0EShzT0uvhcvWGF_iiVAxpM6uABwwC4NW5A-n8GS9cjgV85JkCrsVOukvMfURBu9d8hZCr459cuFrD7mkdhQNjY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm74QIwd_UWQl4tczl6rPhHjdR-ghXDy0Ylllmltb3iPAOCec8RUs0EShzT0uvhcvWGF_iiVAxpM6uABwwC4NW5A-n8GS9cjgV85JkCrsVOukvMfURBu9d8hZCr459cuFrD7mkdhQNjY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+319.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPgtfi7nlIZNgCHucvYZkKmZhFJKXZNQ-jAQ8nVqLLyrK_9J_vO3ob_iiOo7U97WCB2eIA9isaE2pw9x64M8dAJkZWxcXWQQZ3A2PMjLN29-uvFerO9xtV4KhJp_ZVg5qFQA-4U2WQG4/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPgtfi7nlIZNgCHucvYZkKmZhFJKXZNQ-jAQ8nVqLLyrK_9J_vO3ob_iiOo7U97WCB2eIA9isaE2pw9x64M8dAJkZWxcXWQQZ3A2PMjLN29-uvFerO9xtV4KhJp_ZVg5qFQA-4U2WQG4/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+326.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QdlwtTDjwWTT6Jtd8Y9xM-n8AV9k18OUvdtS0cn-J0sD0L5vL6M-NvflOcK2iWMAbgfmFlhdTD34Vkz9Y7uRvhZCpmker8b9IzQwIxpZzA35HvtpiAlqx1xzdoOlpY1R6zmgzhPiqGQ/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QdlwtTDjwWTT6Jtd8Y9xM-n8AV9k18OUvdtS0cn-J0sD0L5vL6M-NvflOcK2iWMAbgfmFlhdTD34Vkz9Y7uRvhZCpmker8b9IzQwIxpZzA35HvtpiAlqx1xzdoOlpY1R6zmgzhPiqGQ/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZvKkp13sdMx3bKf4nMdJplj47pos7wqUElxshJTrZX1CGUpekAAGQkNI415z5TC7sOGgt-tS38ieGStFV7ElhUoMKvkvQTCLmVxGHw1kjVfbg6opWliTe0KTuId5FO_1G8-DWmchlnM/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZvKkp13sdMx3bKf4nMdJplj47pos7wqUElxshJTrZX1CGUpekAAGQkNI415z5TC7sOGgt-tS38ieGStFV7ElhUoMKvkvQTCLmVxGHw1kjVfbg6opWliTe0KTuId5FO_1G8-DWmchlnM/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+356.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51qXvdBvgJtRa0QVFIcsUkQw4FjSI20mbD8I29NKZhEBfxyG_NTC180lTHyayqcjuXfrF7qUxet1FA5BTnToAXKPsajdWin8aKw-1wM3A3hoyOdb5nCGOPXbLyAFxyaHa3lMZE40wyKM/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51qXvdBvgJtRa0QVFIcsUkQw4FjSI20mbD8I29NKZhEBfxyG_NTC180lTHyayqcjuXfrF7qUxet1FA5BTnToAXKPsajdWin8aKw-1wM3A3hoyOdb5nCGOPXbLyAFxyaHa3lMZE40wyKM/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55iICD10g67L7VD9GSra1-CAKPkpQ-oLISjtVMAsBiAS5pvxAHNsZ_Of-HUs7u2zaHUNr0FGiAMwI2UGuIAdhCnPgn5jSDiNt7uVqio4OhMw9dgrtsmbUar3fvx_l90LXZET1aEC6k5k/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55iICD10g67L7VD9GSra1-CAKPkpQ-oLISjtVMAsBiAS5pvxAHNsZ_Of-HUs7u2zaHUNr0FGiAMwI2UGuIAdhCnPgn5jSDiNt7uVqio4OhMw9dgrtsmbUar3fvx_l90LXZET1aEC6k5k/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqOy79pGUi7fnM0E-J22FkMcdsCAN8id477k8BIIDcc_uGiVCnj68eLKsNqwwLUZdJ18z-nMHpf7t9Wmo4TwD5kAeLEHeaDhyphenhyphenPYX2fR-7G0Kc8bQ2hgFcCj-zSak2GVFryzVusSzJLuw/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqOy79pGUi7fnM0E-J22FkMcdsCAN8id477k8BIIDcc_uGiVCnj68eLKsNqwwLUZdJ18z-nMHpf7t9Wmo4TwD5kAeLEHeaDhyphenhyphenPYX2fR-7G0Kc8bQ2hgFcCj-zSak2GVFryzVusSzJLuw/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+382.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bhnA1LU7n5mHLaaW4OlRb0tT-zzNYVq_GyBUxeiiZWqizQmRzQqg_XDLaT3d5sEFuhQVQCYOJZdrqJ1Lm0wtA1jxhj-gz_RTNaw9U4Us_byF7_6sr-gWmfvhi1g4_EA0kD03y2ZaazQ/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bhnA1LU7n5mHLaaW4OlRb0tT-zzNYVq_GyBUxeiiZWqizQmRzQqg_XDLaT3d5sEFuhQVQCYOJZdrqJ1Lm0wtA1jxhj-gz_RTNaw9U4Us_byF7_6sr-gWmfvhi1g4_EA0kD03y2ZaazQ/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+387.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfXNhrXrovN_ULinuh4-_k4HrdwEvFP2haAMhONgB8GQnel099p0taHMjrgf1QMQLFJYBzIOVNdiYDsUStW9IFlSdNJo4ikA_3wfeKAv6_BaipehywNUjF2LzRbwscD-UzHN34gtRkBI/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfXNhrXrovN_ULinuh4-_k4HrdwEvFP2haAMhONgB8GQnel099p0taHMjrgf1QMQLFJYBzIOVNdiYDsUStW9IFlSdNJo4ikA_3wfeKAv6_BaipehywNUjF2LzRbwscD-UzHN34gtRkBI/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+390.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eruption in progress? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-J1aoHa8MTgX0RtNNcWIwXb6kdGhGSBfXVLyQuCqOuNRtY4eLzYvFDPB-c6RAKEOZ43FpedslG9J89ICrQNgOGgzu4L2GzhxFU1NDuJQ32AnplT0_x-IzmCpeSW-LmY71iZMD8PUCkw/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-J1aoHa8MTgX0RtNNcWIwXb6kdGhGSBfXVLyQuCqOuNRtY4eLzYvFDPB-c6RAKEOZ43FpedslG9J89ICrQNgOGgzu4L2GzhxFU1NDuJQ32AnplT0_x-IzmCpeSW-LmY71iZMD8PUCkw/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+396.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rosoies3WBBKTrt827VL3XP_sWsn9gXRUdN5ivAkN35QV6U2T871bh5Xn-VR_U-e2BYQtRs0PzWnzZnP7PyIYqD_Yl1jRY6y3XmkwJzmx2AAo9RuD_uPw3sz0Vn6ogpsvVL0CejLXPE/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rosoies3WBBKTrt827VL3XP_sWsn9gXRUdN5ivAkN35QV6U2T871bh5Xn-VR_U-e2BYQtRs0PzWnzZnP7PyIYqD_Yl1jRY6y3XmkwJzmx2AAo9RuD_uPw3sz0Vn6ogpsvVL0CejLXPE/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+400.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvbgvqnepxh2mdHwwvXgTNkAgvm5YOTPb2Z_odbvJlqO0_1_BstaZ3kDws4__u-3jTLYA_LDIiKyvPMXZ0TeuDchv6A8lc4hI7l-f-KNL2b1VVOt_LZrpxC1iYFKRXRt2zdCn_weqlCI/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvbgvqnepxh2mdHwwvXgTNkAgvm5YOTPb2Z_odbvJlqO0_1_BstaZ3kDws4__u-3jTLYA_LDIiKyvPMXZ0TeuDchv6A8lc4hI7l-f-KNL2b1VVOt_LZrpxC1iYFKRXRt2zdCn_weqlCI/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+412.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEa7uURVJOGNMx__r0nvPJYgFCl9MDkU-bfirbie_ZM4U3akTFz9Nl40HbVaABE3hCmovC1ANAFIQisNRmCEl-5X2BXXRp30dyugRjR5E8JAISbHW7OsmAWoqZ0o26P6V_w8n63olzPY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEa7uURVJOGNMx__r0nvPJYgFCl9MDkU-bfirbie_ZM4U3akTFz9Nl40HbVaABE3hCmovC1ANAFIQisNRmCEl-5X2BXXRp30dyugRjR5E8JAISbHW7OsmAWoqZ0o26P6V_w8n63olzPY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+413.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo57LoPIC-xvL9CMbWXZfR4hQBLiiA8S2JjZuLkom0nnUgf-1TWYSsJ1S3SGXtJBwh-IG7A7PP_xEj-jzkWC4Z3-RVMTpaLEM9FWSwOZr6WkkLvRLEdAxNZpR8lYzFIw5w_ilpqcE909U/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo57LoPIC-xvL9CMbWXZfR4hQBLiiA8S2JjZuLkom0nnUgf-1TWYSsJ1S3SGXtJBwh-IG7A7PP_xEj-jzkWC4Z3-RVMTpaLEM9FWSwOZr6WkkLvRLEdAxNZpR8lYzFIw5w_ilpqcE909U/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+414.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Yfab__TZyj_RlqTOBJprUkuAfZucCG-W8T_-9tIPk265bekAQCuP2xhMIEqCit2Ky0izjjr6Y_t6t6TRsVx0VOnLBYR_pZEwonMloWuXo9eW5d2Xl1LvtdRQy6ybWaeK8GGup0TNq4Y/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Yfab__TZyj_RlqTOBJprUkuAfZucCG-W8T_-9tIPk265bekAQCuP2xhMIEqCit2Ky0izjjr6Y_t6t6TRsVx0VOnLBYR_pZEwonMloWuXo9eW5d2Xl1LvtdRQy6ybWaeK8GGup0TNq4Y/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+415.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h_x32us9l0XyzcjcpL17mcM6oOrbs7HxTc4-zNgaDYtoeFAcZhLqXf6qMPv-7Fi0So3h4Ku0Z6L1wk-ifcbIDhO4Lx4eH1qxVo5lT4JviDl5KtDbtYi948MzXLBuk_FveocbGZFBN1k/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h_x32us9l0XyzcjcpL17mcM6oOrbs7HxTc4-zNgaDYtoeFAcZhLqXf6qMPv-7Fi0So3h4Ku0Z6L1wk-ifcbIDhO4Lx4eH1qxVo5lT4JviDl5KtDbtYi948MzXLBuk_FveocbGZFBN1k/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can anyone tell me what these are? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuSVhmW4248bXNPPZ_xynd2sKl9_hH2sVma-GeGxGyO35mcP96LB-fL5TGkNcw5E0N5oE2CAlO1tFVu7Y64wHw-UjeVQS6GwnqRistaxcFlquBoXCHD1GFruv0zAEdQlBYSsAEM5p5LM/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuSVhmW4248bXNPPZ_xynd2sKl9_hH2sVma-GeGxGyO35mcP96LB-fL5TGkNcw5E0N5oE2CAlO1tFVu7Y64wHw-UjeVQS6GwnqRistaxcFlquBoXCHD1GFruv0zAEdQlBYSsAEM5p5LM/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HwoeNXBVwjH-KwfUOGUAODUPoANUD1RFU_eqrujhMQJX-BLHrrXnAUS3H0ahzquWKaUW7vdSheSnKxbQXeWBad_ycv1Qpnr3FI5WI989WdwOfVbJP43eg_3ljrRBOIzTXVoQzO69U30/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HwoeNXBVwjH-KwfUOGUAODUPoANUD1RFU_eqrujhMQJX-BLHrrXnAUS3H0ahzquWKaUW7vdSheSnKxbQXeWBad_ycv1Qpnr3FI5WI989WdwOfVbJP43eg_3ljrRBOIzTXVoQzO69U30/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPpsOkwBpBOZ8r4l4BCFaWYojAMuIff4VUOM4ugTdaJQH9BKXeOPwRaFdDcNPVJALF4i4Lac-E9dwKEGd98XaexgDR58xVe-rCCBpcnCRMxB4z0j49NZre3E3P4PrFX6W51TIPDha2Fc/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPpsOkwBpBOZ8r4l4BCFaWYojAMuIff4VUOM4ugTdaJQH9BKXeOPwRaFdDcNPVJALF4i4Lac-E9dwKEGd98XaexgDR58xVe-rCCBpcnCRMxB4z0j49NZre3E3P4PrFX6W51TIPDha2Fc/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+434.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
"I've already seen this view!", I hear you cry. Well yes, but in this picture just look at that frozen lava flow!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0-4qW84tcXIFoWJbJVDk3OEWw705OKTrcSMr_UM40bzMFMA1cuO3i14pG0p-hsUD6t8-lDZADZem-rc1Cqc6TMHNUkcDzgScgHDDxeRQlSbANNphD0WvuFDMkNz-PY0S4CfaKt4zins/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0-4qW84tcXIFoWJbJVDk3OEWw705OKTrcSMr_UM40bzMFMA1cuO3i14pG0p-hsUD6t8-lDZADZem-rc1Cqc6TMHNUkcDzgScgHDDxeRQlSbANNphD0WvuFDMkNz-PY0S4CfaKt4zins/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIn_YUGhX933nOJ4q7YVDm-cf02QTy-MK3mFQ7knriU3UpLuIR06mGuGrIC-fxGRVL7MxFYxwrknbkjDQLBYrwHyZv8lGnKcNZwmabR8ZLbiNrCKqhnJEDkcbMMuWD-VknB7O9Ny2cyc/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIn_YUGhX933nOJ4q7YVDm-cf02QTy-MK3mFQ7knriU3UpLuIR06mGuGrIC-fxGRVL7MxFYxwrknbkjDQLBYrwHyZv8lGnKcNZwmabR8ZLbiNrCKqhnJEDkcbMMuWD-VknB7O9Ny2cyc/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+439.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRotWqTyRLaNZCi-OHh5LF2zOYvjaNixIaI_ecCTFQpfV8clzLtBcNh7LnDX45KsEiqZ-zSyUomT8g90TZEUEl_RV8pkHyOsJEAylGhXgi84j8a-msaDeLIA9w2Zy2RDS1P5d0gF0Oyts/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRotWqTyRLaNZCi-OHh5LF2zOYvjaNixIaI_ecCTFQpfV8clzLtBcNh7LnDX45KsEiqZ-zSyUomT8g90TZEUEl_RV8pkHyOsJEAylGhXgi84j8a-msaDeLIA9w2Zy2RDS1P5d0gF0Oyts/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+459.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92nmeyi18x0RnbSLPq-OL0p1qIVbDHD20nq66aRawVfASH2jmWVmK7p4xxfJjCfJ86UzS1vlWf5y1oU3Dm0ycdLGq0UgT0Y7GUGckIudxt5WBD_pf1nUyvZHJj6y9cIi-LyY-1rtYjmM/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92nmeyi18x0RnbSLPq-OL0p1qIVbDHD20nq66aRawVfASH2jmWVmK7p4xxfJjCfJ86UzS1vlWf5y1oU3Dm0ycdLGq0UgT0Y7GUGckIudxt5WBD_pf1nUyvZHJj6y9cIi-LyY-1rtYjmM/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+465.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bQWZbcJ4Oebm4Db7IX1pMBfSgNI7PySfVGJQdIHRt9bXqe-QC01ICNr8_DayovLzilkN2xF3hosJBanWST0ZRIUc-UOcAXtZfzS2NmsoQEzy9LCQzfa2Vq9klyGbr-X97tcOcXgS_w0/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bQWZbcJ4Oebm4Db7IX1pMBfSgNI7PySfVGJQdIHRt9bXqe-QC01ICNr8_DayovLzilkN2xF3hosJBanWST0ZRIUc-UOcAXtZfzS2NmsoQEzy9LCQzfa2Vq9klyGbr-X97tcOcXgS_w0/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_nq8jzPMVb00iD0H3-4cGd9yXfO25UQDJ3XGvdGW-TIv6PKabFarr0b-o7DswlYEwX7SNZHoSG5vjoiT6l6EXI444DN3Ktb_dQS7Qi_ZhREGl1x6g7Ptl-wn_A96fAzspe45dZVkjPk/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_nq8jzPMVb00iD0H3-4cGd9yXfO25UQDJ3XGvdGW-TIv6PKabFarr0b-o7DswlYEwX7SNZHoSG5vjoiT6l6EXI444DN3Ktb_dQS7Qi_ZhREGl1x6g7Ptl-wn_A96fAzspe45dZVkjPk/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+467.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJIrzwI9IBiceHJWscYtIvdwD3A3IYpi7hRMI_jofKO7ZNVbTenoUEKRXuTZA06dgWd6cfRNHB3K_GDOgT1hKDpmDrQ4jRIENte4Rz1E3yN5cKr5kAUE0Ar3S0rzcqochpJyriSavPhM/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJIrzwI9IBiceHJWscYtIvdwD3A3IYpi7hRMI_jofKO7ZNVbTenoUEKRXuTZA06dgWd6cfRNHB3K_GDOgT1hKDpmDrQ4jRIENte4Rz1E3yN5cKr5kAUE0Ar3S0rzcqochpJyriSavPhM/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+469.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VsWvlOJZHbE_lfSqMnd7JDEM32WtQu8w4Iq4ANu_AlWPPM0OVCHsyx1TtL2QRODvp6bMhmpMJE-SOaqFoMC9ELbJcylcy5ItyKxN234FxZ8C63sNgudMWCVGNeHgheb_rzdhvC7fZXg/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VsWvlOJZHbE_lfSqMnd7JDEM32WtQu8w4Iq4ANu_AlWPPM0OVCHsyx1TtL2QRODvp6bMhmpMJE-SOaqFoMC9ELbJcylcy5ItyKxN234FxZ8C63sNgudMWCVGNeHgheb_rzdhvC7fZXg/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+474.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This little crater was fenced off for scientific research. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjkSRI_N3ZkQukvcNQWX5Ynvk04MX0cgpkig3ZqN3ebvdFJ_JYYSyAQ_yWmzO3H39Slw4gGSiKyyYtG0e97LpFEIEbM7vR6llpUPpwWeY_CqiCL55h-B3JWyYmeKvFa_taY_YKX0F3WA/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjkSRI_N3ZkQukvcNQWX5Ynvk04MX0cgpkig3ZqN3ebvdFJ_JYYSyAQ_yWmzO3H39Slw4gGSiKyyYtG0e97LpFEIEbM7vR6llpUPpwWeY_CqiCL55h-B3JWyYmeKvFa_taY_YKX0F3WA/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+482.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLiWUSI-kSlJb2RVOfNq5vR8kUDoGvPcTpu_7jd34pYTKbQcnFeq_UeacvDihknxZKsYzLbMn305oaeZs3UJV_ff1X1VwpF-0ONgl0iIRsmOB3-1ue70hgRCrd-6IMbBgnPGnkLfHiYg/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLiWUSI-kSlJb2RVOfNq5vR8kUDoGvPcTpu_7jd34pYTKbQcnFeq_UeacvDihknxZKsYzLbMn305oaeZs3UJV_ff1X1VwpF-0ONgl0iIRsmOB3-1ue70hgRCrd-6IMbBgnPGnkLfHiYg/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+488.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb6YA4C0NVlnJw01nvfj_UjWpYGl0EqUnSTGqb8qRWhcmjUI7P-0bu55S84rTxZyadW165Ta5iEwCWNYBB20pt7AJte3v7-GgA8CvhtKu1_2bbAnpvzbiqJABrty1WOCraKK4cnP8S18/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb6YA4C0NVlnJw01nvfj_UjWpYGl0EqUnSTGqb8qRWhcmjUI7P-0bu55S84rTxZyadW165Ta5iEwCWNYBB20pt7AJte3v7-GgA8CvhtKu1_2bbAnpvzbiqJABrty1WOCraKK4cnP8S18/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+506.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzk0xuQ5b7CVYOw8bteE2kTmVXX6kgIBctB1-xJ9WN3EnGU_YMJOI21Iada7iRl8L4n5TrL4O1Atk4tY4JA3E3BwXXIDq30ioW5EolimC0nfrEeEN0U0X6TzyuGjpMcUUHXrZiUaUY1s/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzk0xuQ5b7CVYOw8bteE2kTmVXX6kgIBctB1-xJ9WN3EnGU_YMJOI21Iada7iRl8L4n5TrL4O1Atk4tY4JA3E3BwXXIDq30ioW5EolimC0nfrEeEN0U0X6TzyuGjpMcUUHXrZiUaUY1s/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+510.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqMFt5EDSHGbB1NRv1UT2LapTBp9rpqg4Ct4JQv3047KMLI0ZkuXo5Bvipkq-PszP3h3fPH0MY2yqftm_REhzObS2BZuuCigts6GNqwTaYdb1HUYuFbT4dtVGYkzUUhtEr7FrYCPjb5Y/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqMFt5EDSHGbB1NRv1UT2LapTBp9rpqg4Ct4JQv3047KMLI0ZkuXo5Bvipkq-PszP3h3fPH0MY2yqftm_REhzObS2BZuuCigts6GNqwTaYdb1HUYuFbT4dtVGYkzUUhtEr7FrYCPjb5Y/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+513.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYp84-07wJJY6czO2kLdTG2upMKs-i92arSvY0_8JQj1RMzqHt9SOjCHWVldMAFoJvwL5c4HvgTPUtIT5N-A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwuofyoITYenWRgmwCoprkrSLlolRCIvWtjS6mCOBFFPExmGJqPKUfKXVILEDdB6E7CD2yDxJvdg1J-R2At8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It is time to leave Tongariro and it is pouring. We run outside and hastily un-peg the tent before making the mad dash inside, fully constructed tent in tow. It gets packed away wet and we head towards Taupo, largest lake in New Zealand in terms of surface area; in terms of volume Lake Te Anau that we visited in South Island is the largest in the whole of Australasia.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My first view of the lake from the bus is of a vast expanse of blue that stretches to the horizon before vanishing in a pale grey veil of cloud. The far shore is out of sight. A small dark island hovers between me and the shreds of mist. It's a place that I recognise straight from Aara, the world of my own creation.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That night we frantically erect the tent as the beginnings of a thunder storm rages across the sky, lashing us with rain as it goes. It pours and pours all night long, I fear for Hobbiton a few days hence.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Morning comes the sun is up and the tent is mercifully dry. We go for a walk to the Huka Falls outside of Taupo. The river we walk along is like any other in New Zealand and I have described it a million times. Here though it is slightly greener and murkier that South Island where the water is frozen glass laced with a glacial blue. It is warmer too, hot streams pour into it releasing clouds of vapour into the damp air. We dip our feet in one and it is almost too hot to bear. A very strange feeling.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Before the falls themselves there is a thin canyon or gully. The river before is wide and languid. It gently rolls along, drifting silently and unaware. Then in the space of a few meters it is forced inwards. All of the water converges on a passage that cannot be more than ten meters wide. The water churns and roils through the gap. It hurls down the ravine with frightening ferocity, thrashing itself against the steep rocky sides as it goes. It fills with air and transcends to the freshest turquoise and the cleanest white constantly melding and flowing into one another. There is a bridge over the ravine, we try to play pooh sticks but they are instantly engulfed, they don't stand a chance.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At the end of the ravine the water pours out into the open once more, the Huka Falls. From where they touch the river a plume of vapour erupts into the air. Enough water to fill four Olympic swimming pools passes over them every minute, especially impressive considering how narrow they are. Beyond the falls gleaming white interplays with blue tourmaline, creating ever changing patterns on the waters surface. It drifts and fades and deepens, and the river returns once more.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We walk home past Lake Taupo but is is disappointing. It is grey and we are in an inlet; we cannot see its full scale or beauty from this vantage. I should have taken photo's from the bus.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIwqyTpIMDQyII6-U5bTEnC6VDUbcCELZDIlouujQxKs8oxcSpj1GAXrvvhYjNjzgeh9vUR-JprENmxYf2XmLpalih3T9qlv9LG5PeodT17N-C4VT2cgfBR1GuKQ2JCKEy0XKg7iQyxQ/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIwqyTpIMDQyII6-U5bTEnC6VDUbcCELZDIlouujQxKs8oxcSpj1GAXrvvhYjNjzgeh9vUR-JprENmxYf2XmLpalih3T9qlv9LG5PeodT17N-C4VT2cgfBR1GuKQ2JCKEy0XKg7iQyxQ/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+527.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2Q_2c0cngSFmqpnYM5hFw1d1_QPND90foA6JY2Fnpr8vtXI8ezcSvlCdHLMGk6trt6X8u557xOOEKBxFi5PENAZfJnGNamvrZ2BIQTIUY1-os973mAxr_iOz5WAw_YmZyEUI-LjLU2o/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2Q_2c0cngSFmqpnYM5hFw1d1_QPND90foA6JY2Fnpr8vtXI8ezcSvlCdHLMGk6trt6X8u557xOOEKBxFi5PENAZfJnGNamvrZ2BIQTIUY1-os973mAxr_iOz5WAw_YmZyEUI-LjLU2o/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+540.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0mqAvukQFnrOaoIEuuu9r5lhzJEy6WWGtg_0npabYn_5Ow95figOKB6CX2zAb8JUbgN_M7CdX7Dj1tawtY71PoqYfgFP5Pl5reJHgWY9LxANT_xAzw4yzLGaCcx7GABW2Spnzu8lpl8/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0mqAvukQFnrOaoIEuuu9r5lhzJEy6WWGtg_0npabYn_5Ow95figOKB6CX2zAb8JUbgN_M7CdX7Dj1tawtY71PoqYfgFP5Pl5reJHgWY9LxANT_xAzw4yzLGaCcx7GABW2Spnzu8lpl8/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+547.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZicQnZs-lBORu3dtB3daRJOz14wdYHUGfauoG7rd2iDfpK7smPsgAED-g1FzGvkV3RkZcPT9TJNx1aj8to4foiPWvW0Is_WD_zIPuij9bYlKZ_954G57aBJ0hyphenhyphenLuHFaVuzY2unucLKM/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZicQnZs-lBORu3dtB3daRJOz14wdYHUGfauoG7rd2iDfpK7smPsgAED-g1FzGvkV3RkZcPT9TJNx1aj8to4foiPWvW0Is_WD_zIPuij9bYlKZ_954G57aBJ0hyphenhyphenLuHFaVuzY2unucLKM/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+550.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5HMPCtHBrdsGUEL7fk2NWeCfTQ1on99B2do-iDn6Z5OnvOAEw0dP-JszgetoLf6-nTML95-8rwH-ZNTHwbagw3amsTfhNXnI8MJCdSpqeCisHEraEHGeKprcgCfIndlr4T4LkHnxfRw/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5HMPCtHBrdsGUEL7fk2NWeCfTQ1on99B2do-iDn6Z5OnvOAEw0dP-JszgetoLf6-nTML95-8rwH-ZNTHwbagw3amsTfhNXnI8MJCdSpqeCisHEraEHGeKprcgCfIndlr4T4LkHnxfRw/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+567.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaELR4Qk4AN4-82jtEkGSBxsT0AjV15RHzyPbpjNc7SqIHU744_a1ht8mB89Pk7OcqFd2qXz5QBWq34CTE87j7_FhTBO2uiYDybHpNxE5RqceI_wTvExrDLiE15NQynHLOfs0khCqhgEY/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaELR4Qk4AN4-82jtEkGSBxsT0AjV15RHzyPbpjNc7SqIHU744_a1ht8mB89Pk7OcqFd2qXz5QBWq34CTE87j7_FhTBO2uiYDybHpNxE5RqceI_wTvExrDLiE15NQynHLOfs0khCqhgEY/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+574.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8QMjaYJUHC84Kz2WtPjXfjeos7xQvMuJ-EMBtx5HTk4QEd1JqR6NbHCF9_uj_Et-F16wXgJpkmKy0efa7UYpvsenuSUvg1xIxhlUcOjiEfMiqMXoTkaGqfanV6jUSsqE7HIhdYfToPQ/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8QMjaYJUHC84Kz2WtPjXfjeos7xQvMuJ-EMBtx5HTk4QEd1JqR6NbHCF9_uj_Et-F16wXgJpkmKy0efa7UYpvsenuSUvg1xIxhlUcOjiEfMiqMXoTkaGqfanV6jUSsqE7HIhdYfToPQ/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+575.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktvgjrXsuDMJvGiFASQnA6MEjNdydocOOpNX5NrNvmti0sl7fWZllJs6qgJE3eXBQS9HcDqV5Pqt7tlV46DDNwgKg9rKfP-TLRglgrttlGR6BKbZPYMZuGbKI__7QyCh2_TzvE-hoR1A/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktvgjrXsuDMJvGiFASQnA6MEjNdydocOOpNX5NrNvmti0sl7fWZllJs6qgJE3eXBQS9HcDqV5Pqt7tlV46DDNwgKg9rKfP-TLRglgrttlGR6BKbZPYMZuGbKI__7QyCh2_TzvE-hoR1A/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+584.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2bXCdKrgxeKDJ2ZuvD2fiCXgyAo6n2p_90E0F4EsucBlXfW2V_ENOOjqTzoHwaas2N4sAVuCcCTTs9L4dRx0K9hh9w6VMvN6E-1QvqV2ugYvxAEuqKI7PatiYCpLAhPkR6iqGLpgWhc/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2bXCdKrgxeKDJ2ZuvD2fiCXgyAo6n2p_90E0F4EsucBlXfW2V_ENOOjqTzoHwaas2N4sAVuCcCTTs9L4dRx0K9hh9w6VMvN6E-1QvqV2ugYvxAEuqKI7PatiYCpLAhPkR6iqGLpgWhc/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+588.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesK3MMrKFjqQ5hQcW5mlBIPtQ9m127K7BUpfzOAoomxYFDF8g8O0zNHjSqT4iIXDrt3wEXBqF9qhWQDrLLj6oOEesR8WO12yOHFAhNdp2xSjb8yOeLXXiOQEnG-DX3JSFZmaCAUkQX7k/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesK3MMrKFjqQ5hQcW5mlBIPtQ9m127K7BUpfzOAoomxYFDF8g8O0zNHjSqT4iIXDrt3wEXBqF9qhWQDrLLj6oOEesR8WO12yOHFAhNdp2xSjb8yOeLXXiOQEnG-DX3JSFZmaCAUkQX7k/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yUunJQ8xQFpNd362F30e8kPuKzukWTsU6ypTCAdNAwbqKlDXIvwFC8wqwJtLdzP6E9cx66oaa_TgdEbAXRzIu0y41Yyuv2Ys5j9qE54q8ZozCxc8AYKE6kR-RLh2bNwUChblKui13j4/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yUunJQ8xQFpNd362F30e8kPuKzukWTsU6ypTCAdNAwbqKlDXIvwFC8wqwJtLdzP6E9cx66oaa_TgdEbAXRzIu0y41Yyuv2Ys5j9qE54q8ZozCxc8AYKE6kR-RLh2bNwUChblKui13j4/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+601.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-fr7HBcVV-c6bj4CwUc0K3s7RANRjET2zRsUAnazoY2SV4397LXg19PsyFMxdeJkBZ-NpKnSqQpOQEjetxbiVvyLIi4KEnkBoGebEEeaEFOs61yKWXz_Pj5IITiM3UIC0XH_7Dv_ENQ/s1600/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-fr7HBcVV-c6bj4CwUc0K3s7RANRjET2zRsUAnazoY2SV4397LXg19PsyFMxdeJkBZ-NpKnSqQpOQEjetxbiVvyLIi4KEnkBoGebEEeaEFOs61yKWXz_Pj5IITiM3UIC0XH_7Dv_ENQ/s640/Ferry,+Wellington,+Tongariro,+Taupo+603.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx6hfl-X6bg1sbwgLHnD4xC96gDBpz0XnLbUO6fjwUin7pmXko2LRkR2_Z0_I2nuqI-lrWPVkuxXRZR4GfmXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8IXeq3VkdXrY9Zc2VAMy8p6aCS2g3BM10ZLSEN-rnG8cr3caLVq7GPEcrIe6Nh0nXgJ1B078LrC2B9ZrztA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I have just over one week left in New Zealand. I cannot believe it is almost over, it has gone so quickly. But then again when I think of Janice she seems like so long ago. When Amy flies I will have a couple of days in Auckland alone before returning to Australia to who knows what. It will be odd to be by myself and so far away from home. I am slightly nervous but at the same time excited for the challenge and the opportunities it presents. But before all that there are more important things to attend to. We have the Bay of Islands to explore, the Gloworm Caves of Waitomo to discover and more importantly, most importantly of all, we have Hobbiton. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;">I think I might just die.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-68837682050894712742013-11-25T23:43:00.002-08:002013-11-26T02:06:25.591-08:00Far over the misty mountains cold.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
We
begin our third week with an uneventful bus journey up the west coast to Greymouth which
is as nice as it sounds. I say uneventful. We do visit the sock
museum on the way which is quite the treat. It's really just a sock
shop that has a couple of walls covered in sock knitting machines.
These are odd contraptions that I am pretty sure only make knitting
socks more awkward. We watch a video of a woman using one and it
takes her about ten minutes to do one line of stitches.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicchIoHR9ufQQMoBECCcrjoDCO332e4pNzb0573U7o6CDmzqUi4siVtV6acIVbRm5LoMm27-WvjPxf2C0UYTfVxT4wd-lV3oaeb7lxpB5Yl4zm3eAO5PRT8BVlHNUexXr66JlmLN2jsD8/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicchIoHR9ufQQMoBECCcrjoDCO332e4pNzb0573U7o6CDmzqUi4siVtV6acIVbRm5LoMm27-WvjPxf2C0UYTfVxT4wd-lV3oaeb7lxpB5Yl4zm3eAO5PRT8BVlHNUexXr66JlmLN2jsD8/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eventually
we reach the station only to find that there has been a cave in in a
tunnel somewhere along the line so the first hour or so of our
trans-alpine journey will be by coach. This is a journey that will take us over the middle of the great Southern Alps, home to oh so many mountains from my favorite film franchise. This far up the South Island they are not as grand as they are at the south, but it is still meant to be the most beautiful train ride in New Zealand. Luckily the closed section isn't
through anything particularly exciting so we don't miss out on much.
We stop at Arthur's Pass, the highest settlement in New Zealand, and
switch to the train. It has huge windows the entire length of the
coaches and an outdoor viewing carriage at the back. We travel east
through the mountains.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
landscape around the line is dark. Out one side of the carriage Mount
Misery and Mount Horrible are black against the sky. They have broken
rocky tops and landslides carve paths of destruction down their faces
through a dense gloomy forest.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As
we progress the world grows lighter. The land is a palette of greys,
browns and purples. Large worn hills roll by, small cottages
occasionally secreted amidst patches of woodland at their feet. We
see dusty grey mountains, sometimes more scree than anything else.
Tiny craggy peaks roped with snow poke into view above and behind.
Brown grasses which, apparently, covered sixty percent of New Zealand
when the European settlers first arrived provide the main vegetation.
Aberdeen Angus cattle fill the fields; they are steadily replacing
the sheep that are so ubiquitous in New Zealand. It looks like home.
It feels like home.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
driver announces that we're going to be going through a section
involving a lot (a can't recall the exact number) of tunnels and
viaducts. I rush to the outdoor coach. We cling to the edge of steep
valleys and pass over icy blue streams (I will forgo describing the
water yet again). Deep, pale green ravines stretch back from the
line. We pass through rolling green hills with the occasional pointed
peak, covered in a smattering of heavy mossy trees. Behind them the
horizon is a series of points. Suddenly the hills turn the brightest
of yellow. The native Broom thrives here and the land is lit with
golden flowers.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
viewing coach is a warzone. Everyone wants the best photo. People run
from one side to the other, frantically shoving others out of the way
to get the prime spots. It is chaos and panic. In the midst of the
fury I manage to capture some pretty decent views of this wonderful
place.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p9ZGTKKpIWDg26dGfbufmIKvqT4hCvrCPVAVet0fQFg1m26-iezzZ3-4eOtCaHPktJt0Svctro3KE5pnNqWV5BXMQz52wxcK_el3qUEagUbPs0rT5Ludd7gxpuWpEVbGwnkieeP1jLM/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p9ZGTKKpIWDg26dGfbufmIKvqT4hCvrCPVAVet0fQFg1m26-iezzZ3-4eOtCaHPktJt0Svctro3KE5pnNqWV5BXMQz52wxcK_el3qUEagUbPs0rT5Ludd7gxpuWpEVbGwnkieeP1jLM/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtCC2QmTZS4VQtRFSEXE2Wwuue9RE3e4KyhScnK-3QXia0qbwuGMdtR5AcY0UHx5n1kX7Jbupfv8997hz3gNEwp8EYgNUeFLb-2PKk0N7ls5JjQFOokxSswDBPRwWw9rHJn-itkM1Keg/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtCC2QmTZS4VQtRFSEXE2Wwuue9RE3e4KyhScnK-3QXia0qbwuGMdtR5AcY0UHx5n1kX7Jbupfv8997hz3gNEwp8EYgNUeFLb-2PKk0N7ls5JjQFOokxSswDBPRwWw9rHJn-itkM1Keg/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Seriously
though. The thick blanket of cloud makes it hard to take good photos
but I manage a few. I battle my way to my seat through a carriage of
warring Asians and realise I had it lucky in the viewing coach. We
pass down from the hills and the endless green plains of the east
coast stretch before us. Grey mountains are silhouetted behind on the
pale golden field of the sky. A sea of white cloud clings to the base
and tiny dark patches dot the yellow above.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Olu0aomZ1rGP0f733IVWWyIsKuQNsf15rPJyRur3whO6kkSYBwg-7l-5zbpLSZPTFY7dvFc_FMtSOCLo-beEdGFmd2TVFzMGJBrA3-YeFi-OZ_qj2e0WPrfhvTjNUmjoM54t9x5Zh1E/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Olu0aomZ1rGP0f733IVWWyIsKuQNsf15rPJyRur3whO6kkSYBwg-7l-5zbpLSZPTFY7dvFc_FMtSOCLo-beEdGFmd2TVFzMGJBrA3-YeFi-OZ_qj2e0WPrfhvTjNUmjoM54t9x5Zh1E/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksOAZUwYR21I6wAjWwcqRC8JZbkAmeC0lyMAB2Qwa9-lz4a9fhyz0qUR2SeXvPzk-pjLJEDB6YHxFoijAxnpD5US5xTTeMPL7lB6DGBOsyvQAnbWiqMTbJHcH5Rcu4iVZoDqETqVA7TA/s1600/Trans-Alpine%252C+East+Coast.+North+Coast+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksOAZUwYR21I6wAjWwcqRC8JZbkAmeC0lyMAB2Qwa9-lz4a9fhyz0qUR2SeXvPzk-pjLJEDB6YHxFoijAxnpD5US5xTTeMPL7lB6DGBOsyvQAnbWiqMTbJHcH5Rcu4iVZoDqETqVA7TA/s640/Trans-Alpine%252C+East+Coast.+North+Coast+053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjZGFS5uYktX77nrNJ2IlBRyYLH0yNGFwooyLSZZ75H8XssJGiUNiJRgCIFhuDJSqYzQ-QGTFIgWlrp5uI-Z-N_UiZIKplA9J2GowO9soCpbAPUi6-LOAzlGY4_qWRMhA9bdhB2g7Dws/s1600/Trans-Alpine%252C+East+Coast.+North+Coast+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjZGFS5uYktX77nrNJ2IlBRyYLH0yNGFwooyLSZZ75H8XssJGiUNiJRgCIFhuDJSqYzQ-QGTFIgWlrp5uI-Z-N_UiZIKplA9J2GowO9soCpbAPUi6-LOAzlGY4_qWRMhA9bdhB2g7Dws/s640/Trans-Alpine%252C+East+Coast.+North+Coast+058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpRBbAu-Mb-F3Ix0xvyjYj2pWcStkAj5uIOyebnFVT2m1hjjfNof70VYGndWioiQ4zCuFMFfRvNjNWO5hAbycpXN-OewaL__bc-Iyn8nlFYsIbo0sd67igpHO_gZVd3uz9OKkMdUgM3A/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpRBbAu-Mb-F3Ix0xvyjYj2pWcStkAj5uIOyebnFVT2m1hjjfNof70VYGndWioiQ4zCuFMFfRvNjNWO5hAbycpXN-OewaL__bc-Iyn8nlFYsIbo0sd67igpHO_gZVd3uz9OKkMdUgM3A/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+066.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3W1gN0fx-Y6iPV32IqbeqNV7Mq2Vhimxfa-KuTrnAibSgc-gKvGG2wI49NeLJVhrXgACcQeRau5E0AORovBG5DrhvBCYLR5feF5SKZtu1kmRdzPS9jNmCbZx1MiHLccuoad_rrzCkN8/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3W1gN0fx-Y6iPV32IqbeqNV7Mq2Vhimxfa-KuTrnAibSgc-gKvGG2wI49NeLJVhrXgACcQeRau5E0AORovBG5DrhvBCYLR5feF5SKZtu1kmRdzPS9jNmCbZx1MiHLccuoad_rrzCkN8/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUuuWaLWcapE-hJpQqdm5yWXJUTUFaeB9qO6d0URK_ebfuFrfQvs7WA2Nvq6GJbxv2QiX__GtNVOaMYhI2UUmDH9jnti1QD-c_jMdNOlF-t2EgFxTL5oBnAYh2S_VC0NP-KTyK3sSUnE/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUuuWaLWcapE-hJpQqdm5yWXJUTUFaeB9qO6d0URK_ebfuFrfQvs7WA2Nvq6GJbxv2QiX__GtNVOaMYhI2UUmDH9jnti1QD-c_jMdNOlF-t2EgFxTL5oBnAYh2S_VC0NP-KTyK3sSUnE/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KXEnIW6y-16Z9TbNVSipV_g648EsGZHh5nbx7h7YC0BtPnfehqx93mbEKqq5-7gqNMkqBup3zXv4LgYGYWaRayXq247_Xva5BLhXFa0zwNgSGySvI9GKRaRBHvRUqf2ZLlC68-5BKfU/s1600/Trans-Alpine%252C+East+Coast.+North+Coast+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KXEnIW6y-16Z9TbNVSipV_g648EsGZHh5nbx7h7YC0BtPnfehqx93mbEKqq5-7gqNMkqBup3zXv4LgYGYWaRayXq247_Xva5BLhXFa0zwNgSGySvI9GKRaRBHvRUqf2ZLlC68-5BKfU/s640/Trans-Alpine%252C+East+Coast.+North+Coast+071.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx74u998jkxB9AzTq3Wptt4sqAo12f1R3nMh8HM4M5iRbgmZA90K3pydB_Rn0Rhy4Tx-b6j0RkBoRfhncLDaQNknkphifmqSdTgKOWQ1jaDTPpChW2fsqzVheDH8I2qMD8AzPPl3PPaV8/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx74u998jkxB9AzTq3Wptt4sqAo12f1R3nMh8HM4M5iRbgmZA90K3pydB_Rn0Rhy4Tx-b6j0RkBoRfhncLDaQNknkphifmqSdTgKOWQ1jaDTPpChW2fsqzVheDH8I2qMD8AzPPl3PPaV8/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxcz6EKfkU2JNr0hCRWAGOvHQnieTjCBqH7QG93Zei8A5vDCd76mF3SGL2w3-F1zPHLF9f57Fs6zujdqep3VhhSevHatCLr4mSSfvw1yd8qQY-0xL7YJjyq2yhsqxnz77jnghDYYMlXc/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxcz6EKfkU2JNr0hCRWAGOvHQnieTjCBqH7QG93Zei8A5vDCd76mF3SGL2w3-F1zPHLF9f57Fs6zujdqep3VhhSevHatCLr4mSSfvw1yd8qQY-0xL7YJjyq2yhsqxnz77jnghDYYMlXc/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our
first evening in Christchurch is eye opening to say the least. I'm
not sure what I had expected but it wasn't what I found. When
disasters happen, the hurricane in New Orleans, the boxing day
tsunami, the earthquake in Christchurch, it is all we hear about for
a few weeks. The news is saturated, we talk about it every day, we
give money to help those in need. Then a while later it is But really
it is not over at all. It is so easy to forget that the affected
places cannot do the same, they cannot just go back to their lives.
Their lives have changed forever. When a city like Christhurch is
devastated as it was, it takes years and years before it can return
to functioning in the way it used to. I had assumed that in the two
years that have passed it would be relatively back to normal. It is
not.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
heart of Christchurch is desolate. It is a collection of building
sites. Patches of rubble, scaffolding and crumbling buildings abound.
That night we walk around and barely see another person. It feels as
though it has been abandoned long ago, half built, and time has taken
its heavy toll. It is depressing to say the least and there is a
feeling of intrusion, as if we are not meant to be there. We ask some
locals in a supermarket where we can get a pizza nearby and we are
assured that there isn't anywhere in town. This is the second biggest
city in New Zealand, almost the size of Edinburgh and there are no
takeaways in town. Eventually we find a bar and restaurant,
thankfully full of people, that serves our needs. The pizza is
delicious.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On
our way back to the hostel we come across a haunting collection of
white chairs glowing in the night. It is a memorial to the dead. Each
chair is different and represents a specific person killed by the
quake. I see a dentist's chair, a director's chair, office chairs and
kitchen chairs. A stool. A cot.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
next day we walk into the city centre again and it seems a different
place. Yes you can still see earthquake damage wherever you look, and
yes it is still plain that it will be many years before the
restoration is anywhere near done. But the sun is out, there are
people walking around, and I notice everything that is being done to
make the city liveable once more. The railings are decorated with
floral designs and patterns that last night looked almost mocking but
in the sun are bright and cheering. Spaces where buildings used to be
are put to other uses. We see street art and we see huge oversized
furniture. Mini golf courses and musical instruments made out of the
wreckage. A shopping mall made from the shipping containers that line
the streets and protect pedestrians from unstable buildings. It is a
place of regeneration and rebirth, where creativity is the force
driving the people.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
visit the museum, complete with a recreated street from the mid to
late 1800's that reminds me of Beamish back home, and the botanic
gardens where I get slightly too excited by a particularly large
Gingko tree. It feels like summer has arrived. The bumblebees I see
buzz past me are small now, no longer the new Queens of spring,
freshly emerged, but the beginnings of their brood, exploring the
world for the first time.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unlike
everywhere else I have been the buildings here remind me of home.
Many of the remaining structures are the old buildings and they have
a very English feel to them. Some could be straight from Oxford or
Cambridge. Seeing tourists punting down the river (aptly named the
Avon) only adds to the effect. Even these older buildings that stood
successfully against the wrath of the earthquake did not escape it
entirely unscathed. Stones are cracked and windows broken. The spire
of the Cathedral is completely destroyed and the end of it is wide
open. A yawning abyss of what used to be.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
get the impression that Christchurch would have been a place I would
have loved. Picturesque and relaxed. I wish I had seen it before.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D9OsmkWcnGgHa7Ecq6K5Y7lkICQN6RoFT5z3kLeE3sEfSRFAmb6vdW7BTsr70J9qX7kWEu2fLE5R_Njk0FhcTLff6NC84cBr_MoN6g_bt1zq5h1JsPqTw-211kR0ZVYQ9wkIwlfBlvQ/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D9OsmkWcnGgHa7Ecq6K5Y7lkICQN6RoFT5z3kLeE3sEfSRFAmb6vdW7BTsr70J9qX7kWEu2fLE5R_Njk0FhcTLff6NC84cBr_MoN6g_bt1zq5h1JsPqTw-211kR0ZVYQ9wkIwlfBlvQ/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+077.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQq2G9OxVaZXhZbA7oYktHLmu1g4lzBAo95fNuW_Pio-zF6LeQMZuwyXWHHYj1UxFk6OAypnjzGyBDbxv-mAbZO09WU66FX5YgA21FHWe0422mvGQC5ZsKPfQ_wTGk89ZubgXYWCF9RI/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQq2G9OxVaZXhZbA7oYktHLmu1g4lzBAo95fNuW_Pio-zF6LeQMZuwyXWHHYj1UxFk6OAypnjzGyBDbxv-mAbZO09WU66FX5YgA21FHWe0422mvGQC5ZsKPfQ_wTGk89ZubgXYWCF9RI/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx6gDclS4oZEkdTgH6Mh62rohMXOTHTkOasMsUvbEAxJpuo_rrCzeP82pqAPtgTog3cZYNa9sXwv004E1iN5tjSAr2yoeZiRtxh8v1Tj8Lr91MTdvCYpDunQsaudBYMwIPW6rWRwyH18/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx6gDclS4oZEkdTgH6Mh62rohMXOTHTkOasMsUvbEAxJpuo_rrCzeP82pqAPtgTog3cZYNa9sXwv004E1iN5tjSAr2yoeZiRtxh8v1Tj8Lr91MTdvCYpDunQsaudBYMwIPW6rWRwyH18/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBm3MHaTJBIp_tiIBAdT8d1h9y4rpHObMojmooRhTRkwdDpgBX4q8boUgdMKlspjF1dwLsSTPEFd2RSJcceE-8HyYLtHER8vVmqC5ysu5WQN-YT26cIVXCEkaMltHuoiw5vzTdgwyCaY/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBm3MHaTJBIp_tiIBAdT8d1h9y4rpHObMojmooRhTRkwdDpgBX4q8boUgdMKlspjF1dwLsSTPEFd2RSJcceE-8HyYLtHER8vVmqC5ysu5WQN-YT26cIVXCEkaMltHuoiw5vzTdgwyCaY/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+100.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaY4-ZVxpLfQHKDU_ruppoemPM2jvpYbXbVka2y1KWHr9o6SbspZOpClxpcCcdDAlCxlPVxRMneOLIK82X4DrUagie5tlJTcRKHQFjxj0gkYte_tShMXn2_jkt7bpdY1U-gFktx05Kk4/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaY4-ZVxpLfQHKDU_ruppoemPM2jvpYbXbVka2y1KWHr9o6SbspZOpClxpcCcdDAlCxlPVxRMneOLIK82X4DrUagie5tlJTcRKHQFjxj0gkYte_tShMXn2_jkt7bpdY1U-gFktx05Kk4/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiwYhuKmzq4uOR6rZj_Hp0K5YN0U2rc69w2fCny2pyY2NxG9TRA0iYROXrtt3z6pNvDXC20xAWCTzfLiU_U_7PrGqm31Si4M5c20ajwdpziM8cdYHwZQwUDD2IwfmAQklqcLPm0aI7RM/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiwYhuKmzq4uOR6rZj_Hp0K5YN0U2rc69w2fCny2pyY2NxG9TRA0iYROXrtt3z6pNvDXC20xAWCTzfLiU_U_7PrGqm31Si4M5c20ajwdpziM8cdYHwZQwUDD2IwfmAQklqcLPm0aI7RM/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBwsaAaJitC2yNweUVOuTuxmCx_P8VjXEygMG2QR0V9Duznhk6utmgozx0DZihqf6n3DqfEiwG5Jvrr86AN9V60EI38OVM1H8S8SHY6xCIQRZx1ClnQzgspErH2mGg-DeLw6gK5c-jbU/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBwsaAaJitC2yNweUVOuTuxmCx_P8VjXEygMG2QR0V9Duznhk6utmgozx0DZihqf6n3DqfEiwG5Jvrr86AN9V60EI38OVM1H8S8SHY6xCIQRZx1ClnQzgspErH2mGg-DeLw6gK5c-jbU/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+128.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLVQmqfbwUPV1wmOaIo-LxQXuzttcApzfYzgrfPkmR5dodSUfrfUXPVX_ATjb7XbLSzoz-5tXoLa-Yp_sYFSBPwsXlMN45RVdJ_OnpYAIQucPZT0nn90iAXi53OTD4Lf8dH5StV_22YE/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLVQmqfbwUPV1wmOaIo-LxQXuzttcApzfYzgrfPkmR5dodSUfrfUXPVX_ATjb7XbLSzoz-5tXoLa-Yp_sYFSBPwsXlMN45RVdJ_OnpYAIQucPZT0nn90iAXi53OTD4Lf8dH5StV_22YE/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VsXoN3OxMRnsCNTfqxMaCYLym-MyWXqzht1gY206UnEHvwrbcABzGgQInScYrPXqnfdmM2aTPe6nuashnB-uH8JAFyC1TAoe3ixkmyBvubLHbtwcMB1UFV6g91RA_QsBcv4LNv033IY/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VsXoN3OxMRnsCNTfqxMaCYLym-MyWXqzht1gY206UnEHvwrbcABzGgQInScYrPXqnfdmM2aTPe6nuashnB-uH8JAFyC1TAoe3ixkmyBvubLHbtwcMB1UFV6g91RA_QsBcv4LNv033IY/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpCpMsy9k6YCj4S4bHeNZYMkgQba2fDriBef93XlOQcGXXhXwoeLyTa26lAqssNCrfcUrZGiTG-XhPj4B0pivzgRjjMLSdsSkpH1NNlze47w6de7sn0lyoi5yLDzhdQnsMYDFJzWyR18/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpCpMsy9k6YCj4S4bHeNZYMkgQba2fDriBef93XlOQcGXXhXwoeLyTa26lAqssNCrfcUrZGiTG-XhPj4B0pivzgRjjMLSdsSkpH1NNlze47w6de7sn0lyoi5yLDzhdQnsMYDFJzWyR18/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+144.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0fqepfJmbhVUou_IW7QJjuTzjlzPhZZ9jqq7-kWChjP_PEgyBKcCRXD50CKUisgk-9cUib8hBjMmNV282gFApF5Zh1XJQKYwvhTn_CyezGJ4CCv03tlZF6rd8NA5tEcKyWZkLvEQ8a8/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0fqepfJmbhVUou_IW7QJjuTzjlzPhZZ9jqq7-kWChjP_PEgyBKcCRXD50CKUisgk-9cUib8hBjMmNV282gFApF5Zh1XJQKYwvhTn_CyezGJ4CCv03tlZF6rd8NA5tEcKyWZkLvEQ8a8/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+153.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVfRhscEdBH7y13hnoPW88JQre0AVl8mSHhpK0OHIdEI84RFWysGXKRLQfNlxYkiMvCcSydyscZ1flgnCNmZu4vJIPA5-HhGZpIs6EW5Z71u1gFp9SKVVNKCFV-is3xEIUulAEgZQaEA/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVfRhscEdBH7y13hnoPW88JQre0AVl8mSHhpK0OHIdEI84RFWysGXKRLQfNlxYkiMvCcSydyscZ1flgnCNmZu4vJIPA5-HhGZpIs6EW5Z71u1gFp9SKVVNKCFV-is3xEIUulAEgZQaEA/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdbbM9SoxwSi_tX4zbBHOX3PrsBIU-j5Jvty1KmhEv14ATFz2bDl-sT_kRAo8jpIAbKAXC9leB7GAJuZR1Xx5h4ctpCU2-Uw4qnpjUBFwroSQ5q0u7aGJiCDaKCpHO2jCNsOtAzmC2gs/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdbbM9SoxwSi_tX4zbBHOX3PrsBIU-j5Jvty1KmhEv14ATFz2bDl-sT_kRAo8jpIAbKAXC9leB7GAJuZR1Xx5h4ctpCU2-Uw4qnpjUBFwroSQ5q0u7aGJiCDaKCpHO2jCNsOtAzmC2gs/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ8ZZfWzgbnvuDMwXjkEkyO7-Bc1ZPTRQrLpQM2c7TkOtVZWgQ4CgFnmmHkMoyCcvfZSK9g2tASeoFm68pjdsC66u61WOE7GK-iMGhMvfZXR7d79dNUFjVIgEg4JJozEn0RJxnfxXOa4/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ8ZZfWzgbnvuDMwXjkEkyO7-Bc1ZPTRQrLpQM2c7TkOtVZWgQ4CgFnmmHkMoyCcvfZSK9g2tASeoFm68pjdsC66u61WOE7GK-iMGhMvfZXR7d79dNUFjVIgEg4JJozEn0RJxnfxXOa4/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+174.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fba3LkfCcoP3onn5waO6zwWXOtlgye7UYPYRXUvNbl-sB1yItJpG0N7dQA-tLhX-v8ENmH_O-lZM4hYEwhhVOamN-wo_y-MhEAsw3njx4Nk3ClB9-NQcCfN2Pwb_JlJWCmdxGiZ2eg8/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fba3LkfCcoP3onn5waO6zwWXOtlgye7UYPYRXUvNbl-sB1yItJpG0N7dQA-tLhX-v8ENmH_O-lZM4hYEwhhVOamN-wo_y-MhEAsw3njx4Nk3ClB9-NQcCfN2Pwb_JlJWCmdxGiZ2eg8/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+176.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8Zz1_ObhyphenhyphenQkOZCw_wjEw0nKYDL5UxLu1E9WiczSM5IUTLAvJxYl3o7R73UsxDNyvoJ_K6tNWI0irSlStE3K_ETrfbL_9pSgLdcj53zhLjbe3ZYhLffF6N4fSotUi5wcnunq7SBiIrwk/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8Zz1_ObhyphenhyphenQkOZCw_wjEw0nKYDL5UxLu1E9WiczSM5IUTLAvJxYl3o7R73UsxDNyvoJ_K6tNWI0irSlStE3K_ETrfbL_9pSgLdcj53zhLjbe3ZYhLffF6N4fSotUi5wcnunq7SBiIrwk/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiEFgcC45-9xgqBdMoCKvzE-2Wd1ab_8UI9NDkmIH6B2vrCj0mVaqXMnIhySnLGMfj0O3N5XIkQvDubv1PEm_HMPioFdhjFzqSGxa2YplW-eq8Bc0pIHv5OYT_ws-qu2AiDYYLidCJnc/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiEFgcC45-9xgqBdMoCKvzE-2Wd1ab_8UI9NDkmIH6B2vrCj0mVaqXMnIhySnLGMfj0O3N5XIkQvDubv1PEm_HMPioFdhjFzqSGxa2YplW-eq8Bc0pIHv5OYT_ws-qu2AiDYYLidCJnc/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+183.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgrPLtBZG-rIjVbYZiygKUn-IlCQZInn7gdQ2EdU4VmEF6PtdcYt98YglvjyuruRw8MEVPdmU_uCqXmlAz_5Xy4sftSiGhfxadlM3XEPIiOO30fW6br1sGv1gKri3C-PcZCPgZmUpPJ4/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgrPLtBZG-rIjVbYZiygKUn-IlCQZInn7gdQ2EdU4VmEF6PtdcYt98YglvjyuruRw8MEVPdmU_uCqXmlAz_5Xy4sftSiGhfxadlM3XEPIiOO30fW6br1sGv1gKri3C-PcZCPgZmUpPJ4/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR2mAVo3zWXShylz1yRIVc2puxRC9ZpNwlziSOsaArIb7x5fDfgJqEsCq2V2cvgdC7mTIQJIINUrPzcK44_6OdO5dEcG5GUS4pKXlvSt5k9VqpF29nFAM7DHfeGvhanPXeQIh_G-nK5Q/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR2mAVo3zWXShylz1yRIVc2puxRC9ZpNwlziSOsaArIb7x5fDfgJqEsCq2V2cvgdC7mTIQJIINUrPzcK44_6OdO5dEcG5GUS4pKXlvSt5k9VqpF29nFAM7DHfeGvhanPXeQIh_G-nK5Q/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGupFsr4e9NGRuy9FaCwjtLQFEwqmlz7D8FI-oURukd-yLvPcRB9S0YfMm28zPne1O2r_1WVuz-aU8OWKICQBA3pXOVByRqyfZWgJTER8KbsHKTIjgL_-zsiUENGAAYIudIXZiY0Qsq18/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGupFsr4e9NGRuy9FaCwjtLQFEwqmlz7D8FI-oURukd-yLvPcRB9S0YfMm28zPne1O2r_1WVuz-aU8OWKICQBA3pXOVByRqyfZWgJTER8KbsHKTIjgL_-zsiUENGAAYIudIXZiY0Qsq18/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JpRSULVhB-l5AU67-d3bFAfV-OgzR574qd9VjioJZAKv-Q-EcnbdZR4KkhBF1j2Z697kfuO6p_ZJxfLcUoQ26UAgpFiAcYCW-b7MeNH1rPV8_bR7Y8O17-I4WPKATkO1wUfwPi9Ih0c/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JpRSULVhB-l5AU67-d3bFAfV-OgzR574qd9VjioJZAKv-Q-EcnbdZR4KkhBF1j2Z697kfuO6p_ZJxfLcUoQ26UAgpFiAcYCW-b7MeNH1rPV8_bR7Y8O17-I4WPKATkO1wUfwPi9Ih0c/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
travel north to Kaikora. None of the hostels have camp sites but we
find one that is offering doubles for less than dorms so we jump at
the chance for our own room. We walk around the headland and pass
rock formations that are at once bizarre and amazing. They are jagged
shards of glass entombed in stone. They form patterns and landscapes;
peaks and hills, valleys and vales. Some appear almost to be great
grey waves, frozen in time or somehow fossilised, destined never to
crash to the sand. That afternoon it rains and we take a well
deserved rest in our huge bed in front of The Two Towers. We nap
through most of the Frodo and Sam sections. I can probably quote them
all word for word anyway.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OdOeV3sqzu6i6R5WqrJG6bnad7HheU3LR41g4C0RYcipHW62HsOC8IG6bm8ecXjNOcuc0GnteqROjTP5kc5pprGI8an5jUy9eHcxQHepHVMBX1AIMi4ikFzGERFzO6p6odgZn4SyUmY/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OdOeV3sqzu6i6R5WqrJG6bnad7HheU3LR41g4C0RYcipHW62HsOC8IG6bm8ecXjNOcuc0GnteqROjTP5kc5pprGI8an5jUy9eHcxQHepHVMBX1AIMi4ikFzGERFzO6p6odgZn4SyUmY/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+225.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8JW2YklPfQmUYge2qwlLw4bY0ckXQ6MTzRaIEAtmdAO16jmUjC0K3s2ZVN92OAjDpPzfK2cpxJKtbd8Y9xEon279IR8EtY0mEzeUyqnM3h7UGitv2vN7h8RU-TqWRbksQRbemSjZeJM/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8JW2YklPfQmUYge2qwlLw4bY0ckXQ6MTzRaIEAtmdAO16jmUjC0K3s2ZVN92OAjDpPzfK2cpxJKtbd8Y9xEon279IR8EtY0mEzeUyqnM3h7UGitv2vN7h8RU-TqWRbksQRbemSjZeJM/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRQOlGSbkqUjRZ8Q39TI1UaOCMb_DN80322r0K2E22qAEpeB7xvjHXN_Uf0FOyZeAdgNoeU8gv_fDHpB0Hs_BalQSQMvPsLHhK3RbFyPMrYHROIhU_MlPqypk2aP5uyMyDIyCgeorZEg/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRQOlGSbkqUjRZ8Q39TI1UaOCMb_DN80322r0K2E22qAEpeB7xvjHXN_Uf0FOyZeAdgNoeU8gv_fDHpB0Hs_BalQSQMvPsLHhK3RbFyPMrYHROIhU_MlPqypk2aP5uyMyDIyCgeorZEg/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQaPZWecSIVB4WhA2S7ijaJKTZu8kx1pF8CaEQTqsgu9fAMWt60OWSRkGjGeOQjzlUzK1ZZfj07hLwpPFKbFsH-U-3TAfLY7ZgsrWkNGW12d901fnYXv9mJWz5KVb3piuqqkoxxGl8_M/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQaPZWecSIVB4WhA2S7ijaJKTZu8kx1pF8CaEQTqsgu9fAMWt60OWSRkGjGeOQjzlUzK1ZZfj07hLwpPFKbFsH-U-3TAfLY7ZgsrWkNGW12d901fnYXv9mJWz5KVb3piuqqkoxxGl8_M/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+241.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ueq012QGxiP44WTN1dGswctgwrnCMJflkVWOphuzkPaAwDIOj-86hGgMu5JdP83yOWUQwp0ElXZ16VBeaF_Z9tPjOqkrL-aNeyujyRwwjeWsisfXrO6E7h7T7m-52MVH513wCfGAXg/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ueq012QGxiP44WTN1dGswctgwrnCMJflkVWOphuzkPaAwDIOj-86hGgMu5JdP83yOWUQwp0ElXZ16VBeaF_Z9tPjOqkrL-aNeyujyRwwjeWsisfXrO6E7h7T7m-52MVH513wCfGAXg/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT-omPFgW-07d3Kx89sQWjni1up7bioIv4D6hISpsJhNFHIEk5Tws9BUZ5u73mKaSkgxdC32CdFDZqcEnjeKwDMsSGaLir_eUfXWtnO39qShBQPs0vY1To4QS8IVatjMc-_YtLCN_HoM/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT-omPFgW-07d3Kx89sQWjni1up7bioIv4D6hISpsJhNFHIEk5Tws9BUZ5u73mKaSkgxdC32CdFDZqcEnjeKwDMsSGaLir_eUfXWtnO39qShBQPs0vY1To4QS8IVatjMc-_YtLCN_HoM/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS45hl-YWR9ZEGPSArSbcQqM0QqsxZ9sVl0X9TAfuVUNFRCOhByyA8IVDCGkaRC9P4BbuyEthyphenhyphenx03LBogQxRjFgEaC40Fjc4heY55dilB2SA1yfI6vgKBYpPSVAC_Mb1MryEnkFIdq0Q/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS45hl-YWR9ZEGPSArSbcQqM0QqsxZ9sVl0X9TAfuVUNFRCOhByyA8IVDCGkaRC9P4BbuyEthyphenhyphenx03LBogQxRjFgEaC40Fjc4heY55dilB2SA1yfI6vgKBYpPSVAC_Mb1MryEnkFIdq0Q/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+249.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv7eO86udZvX68Y3tTDlay6THhJzpL8FaO5sO87gmUjes3kC5cxezfiVMpL6Jp5QgSp4NSwz2QjBbFqoKa7EBlr0jFzqGE1Nv0hRI39frXWRnPyARXAqI2h47yF7Qzvx3MsdtFrW38oc/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv7eO86udZvX68Y3tTDlay6THhJzpL8FaO5sO87gmUjes3kC5cxezfiVMpL6Jp5QgSp4NSwz2QjBbFqoKa7EBlr0jFzqGE1Nv0hRI39frXWRnPyARXAqI2h47yF7Qzvx3MsdtFrW38oc/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+252.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d9HGEAIrfHEkFQLZYGWYPyQJuISHuWblWk2_4APKO4I0Gk7WD7GWZjl1lNaT5cDa2U5XDSewK4dz5pstCR_jVqrsMR7kSqcSZhyphenhyphen4L7r5Gb7VKe1Se4NsOTALzs5p0mHOC9zR6dKECB4/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d9HGEAIrfHEkFQLZYGWYPyQJuISHuWblWk2_4APKO4I0Gk7WD7GWZjl1lNaT5cDa2U5XDSewK4dz5pstCR_jVqrsMR7kSqcSZhyphenhyphen4L7r5Gb7VKe1Se4NsOTALzs5p0mHOC9zR6dKECB4/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLhrZAcuBYHNpSd3KbRIPzba0QUN-8J-Y7OVgpzpJ8xxZxT1HzUijnup_estPYPimJO60psiOCvhyWqOLaQTXp_43_31x1EyU0bUUmPgZLWvlun0DKZc58wXDyMj491MiFBXPNC_GJLw/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLhrZAcuBYHNpSd3KbRIPzba0QUN-8J-Y7OVgpzpJ8xxZxT1HzUijnup_estPYPimJO60psiOCvhyWqOLaQTXp_43_31x1EyU0bUUmPgZLWvlun0DKZc58wXDyMj491MiFBXPNC_GJLw/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
travel through the rain and clouds to our final destination in the
South Island; Abel-Tasmen National Park in the far north west. We set
up our damp tent in the rain and pray for good weather. And good
weather we get. In the morning we get a shuttle bus to the edge of
the park then the water taxi takes us to its depths. A pod of
bottlenose dolphins, at least fifty, swims alongside us. They leap
and jump into the air, the young ones competing to see who can get
the highest. The crew lie at the front of the catamaran, heads over
the water and the braver of the dolphins swim directly beneath them,
covering them in spray.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtDTbbq95VbSI5ZvTmCTuHRMVaO3TydNz6w0MHJ_FccuRKGvJ2yn_kP3ai9B8I9n1j-0S_mCjLawt9l4ecsA6pic2jByP_rfr8Bri9IGTJ4pNcsS9gHhiitqN5bIX4q3TwSrsiq_Qdxc/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtDTbbq95VbSI5ZvTmCTuHRMVaO3TydNz6w0MHJ_FccuRKGvJ2yn_kP3ai9B8I9n1j-0S_mCjLawt9l4ecsA6pic2jByP_rfr8Bri9IGTJ4pNcsS9gHhiitqN5bIX4q3TwSrsiq_Qdxc/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+304.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti2yjFnAGlQBxMgR4yT8gQy72KmqNK4oMrCwnM3xX-FUyDw0pGACb379EzOyPjaa1WozxMkSf219s0hiD4Sz_qr8s7w2vkiakwqqGWH7tJ8r-1378YNfFEGY_RDETesrJnIY3MZsgIgY/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti2yjFnAGlQBxMgR4yT8gQy72KmqNK4oMrCwnM3xX-FUyDw0pGACb379EzOyPjaa1WozxMkSf219s0hiD4Sz_qr8s7w2vkiakwqqGWH7tJ8r-1378YNfFEGY_RDETesrJnIY3MZsgIgY/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+318.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikepyzlO7izGODLAt8j0K1W9NzgWpX2i4N-aCTCJg8s3kBIYVcaV5G7rriog78YO3HMDCkMOiJw-WdPi5mgWj1M6IjvkR7CoJPyhTNtZaUqLk2CZzHeBoShEnBNQfWnzFDKrvd9qWKvg/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikepyzlO7izGODLAt8j0K1W9NzgWpX2i4N-aCTCJg8s3kBIYVcaV5G7rriog78YO3HMDCkMOiJw-WdPi5mgWj1M6IjvkR7CoJPyhTNtZaUqLk2CZzHeBoShEnBNQfWnzFDKrvd9qWKvg/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+325.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR3-BR_FDXNpfECXCc-ep17By9F5JYado61xfEj0e89TuVa3boJUdWo7dNbuVlYyB8Ief4JSnqY8mS6rbUYSbyBVg8xie7HE9XJktJKG73BaxM102AtOEJsbCN6f0cPpTmUYnsJPzh38/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR3-BR_FDXNpfECXCc-ep17By9F5JYado61xfEj0e89TuVa3boJUdWo7dNbuVlYyB8Ief4JSnqY8mS6rbUYSbyBVg8xie7HE9XJktJKG73BaxM102AtOEJsbCN6f0cPpTmUYnsJPzh38/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Abel-Tasmen
is beautiful. It reminds me a lot of places I saw in Australia. It
harks back to the Daintree Rainforest at the beginning of our
travels. Verdant rainforest tumbling into crystal waters of green and
blue, lines of dazzling golden sand forming the only boundary between
the two.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amy
manages to stub her toe five minutes into the walk and pulls half the
skin off the end. We wash all the blood off in the salt water and
carry on our way. Our walk takes us along the edge of the sea for a
few hours to a bay further down the coast where we will be picked up
by the boat in the evening. It is a beautiful day and the
electro-birds of New Zealand are out in force. We walk through
turquoise lagoons and along steep emerald vales. Rivers of the purest
gold flow beside us, as on Fraser Island stained with oils from the
trees. Amy bravely limps along.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz33Gps6rA_oFCOTmsN8lTKA3HSsrLuNCFr0BgffKioLHJXmCLeLsEpi4CsdPyqRlMRxCxGH_3NYxMUHzEf5Pays06exEs4vsdwR83SF3fA6ZewoykE9pvPfqRxG7agAltxeO0lMulAo/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz33Gps6rA_oFCOTmsN8lTKA3HSsrLuNCFr0BgffKioLHJXmCLeLsEpi4CsdPyqRlMRxCxGH_3NYxMUHzEf5Pays06exEs4vsdwR83SF3fA6ZewoykE9pvPfqRxG7agAltxeO0lMulAo/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+365.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8pBbvg0in0C4x79nwzBzWm6nlMhJDocsgUdW_SHhXbOp4t0qAmcpsHgUOeMg1-lLJApQigCYpm4s88qxW8PWwEe9628F9NJjpgqkk5we8OgnBQKJ_VxPGy8zEmqyJ_8gnVNgXPk66L4/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8pBbvg0in0C4x79nwzBzWm6nlMhJDocsgUdW_SHhXbOp4t0qAmcpsHgUOeMg1-lLJApQigCYpm4s88qxW8PWwEe9628F9NJjpgqkk5we8OgnBQKJ_VxPGy8zEmqyJ_8gnVNgXPk66L4/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMbba7Iz6zSNI3SVer5jiFLF6cf85mil6oAVH0cgmiDfPTWroonOYXOls9aqr98D60vZ4rCO01jif4QlMRDMp04XyJOw3weX3SK7rYgFbnqEEYOZfUJqTm1HDsx3R45cJYK4ASF1eTKo/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMbba7Iz6zSNI3SVer5jiFLF6cf85mil6oAVH0cgmiDfPTWroonOYXOls9aqr98D60vZ4rCO01jif4QlMRDMp04XyJOw3weX3SK7rYgFbnqEEYOZfUJqTm1HDsx3R45cJYK4ASF1eTKo/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+391.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmtwMkampq3ZeDKu455jWdV5LbK6gE2dRWrf_5xCW61EhPtQl1X0CHSI5sDxNl4C2nf3jIqyC8g1mibURq19CUKz7IWHPO7WLz4FcZlihHS_afz4T7KT5DMDqkYP_uB1zIZwHzmUc67E/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmtwMkampq3ZeDKu455jWdV5LbK6gE2dRWrf_5xCW61EhPtQl1X0CHSI5sDxNl4C2nf3jIqyC8g1mibURq19CUKz7IWHPO7WLz4FcZlihHS_afz4T7KT5DMDqkYP_uB1zIZwHzmUc67E/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+405.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH_L7Z6bBaXX7fw2kcTw5X3EDTKNCoysO23pCcyhg6wAPirKgDqJS5qLakNMhHIU-IdS2QNJ9VbqR5Doz05KY8r49Ug1ggL6guyUjSVCu5UFEu1FDCkPy4mg04aN3dvxPuU3QM4niCsY/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH_L7Z6bBaXX7fw2kcTw5X3EDTKNCoysO23pCcyhg6wAPirKgDqJS5qLakNMhHIU-IdS2QNJ9VbqR5Doz05KY8r49Ug1ggL6guyUjSVCu5UFEu1FDCkPy4mg04aN3dvxPuU3QM4niCsY/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+409.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-I1PathyphenhyphenmgwmzkqNW4vpbYybx76sJUIpbGSs4qcSWB94F5jjkhn6OeeEC_fnxxwBCuIXGt8IS0jCmlaAvtLbLPX9TRcDt1b6mJ5CEE3aE226eFlCiTYqxTy7GwDzteeEgNlICv2O7e4/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-I1PathyphenhyphenmgwmzkqNW4vpbYybx76sJUIpbGSs4qcSWB94F5jjkhn6OeeEC_fnxxwBCuIXGt8IS0jCmlaAvtLbLPX9TRcDt1b6mJ5CEE3aE226eFlCiTYqxTy7GwDzteeEgNlICv2O7e4/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+416.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RleFLE69w7sziNBLJQhemGfqbJstKFeAB7IBJcnP_1TtZZDIXZljmLgsaMWLn8xtH4-jYEtuFHoR9tNQvhvaNS3eTbNz4MM1pxCAZyWREloJFc-PIL_OiehHOXs1bgEUAFkLMoEldPw/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RleFLE69w7sziNBLJQhemGfqbJstKFeAB7IBJcnP_1TtZZDIXZljmLgsaMWLn8xtH4-jYEtuFHoR9tNQvhvaNS3eTbNz4MM1pxCAZyWREloJFc-PIL_OiehHOXs1bgEUAFkLMoEldPw/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp-RhE5gpBjqfX3VmH4Wp1sXQzRgNwBQOecVgxwD1fAuj0rEuDh6h-b7q2dAGsB1ton56hmPn8bpUleLP6CU2SR8_w7L2rJipg_GgLwDilE25fzhvZIKjXPCzRj0fT7AomBiDEnEFapU/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp-RhE5gpBjqfX3VmH4Wp1sXQzRgNwBQOecVgxwD1fAuj0rEuDh6h-b7q2dAGsB1ton56hmPn8bpUleLP6CU2SR8_w7L2rJipg_GgLwDilE25fzhvZIKjXPCzRj0fT7AomBiDEnEFapU/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+456.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoQuAC-NMaQ1T_sXiiXJ0DdVl8ckQ3ZanftoNCPH5Vo5UyBafZ0km-9TY40_q7kHz8GXmA0A1DlN3kZi8QYkdWgn3zHlU3vh60Qi2KFwyHFPokgV47nF7fxltdPN-9LgeM05Txa2ayag/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoQuAC-NMaQ1T_sXiiXJ0DdVl8ckQ3ZanftoNCPH5Vo5UyBafZ0km-9TY40_q7kHz8GXmA0A1DlN3kZi8QYkdWgn3zHlU3vh60Qi2KFwyHFPokgV47nF7fxltdPN-9LgeM05Txa2ayag/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+477.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgRwLQNtabqiHqbYovJyzpCXC0TCPDIbbwP1P8U8-g58uVPM0IHXUUvwQWdZfJ4sPJfqiwsVfwOMbQsyapgBFgsPdjfayQV9qyaU_7MqDK7RlaPO1dBIxw70fEJjPh1EJFAqfo8jtp3A/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgRwLQNtabqiHqbYovJyzpCXC0TCPDIbbwP1P8U8-g58uVPM0IHXUUvwQWdZfJ4sPJfqiwsVfwOMbQsyapgBFgsPdjfayQV9qyaU_7MqDK7RlaPO1dBIxw70fEJjPh1EJFAqfo8jtp3A/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+479.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u73X9v5CC2COe2U3LK_o4ys8p51fttN4BjKlyYs52zHXwwBi1yeujU5ELLuNVTuvlWKZc89VM8W7KniVMi1K9kslK9FQrrmegI_dtXq4VppxnH4n6Ayx3pphSArhgheOgL5DGCKBo6k/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u73X9v5CC2COe2U3LK_o4ys8p51fttN4BjKlyYs52zHXwwBi1yeujU5ELLuNVTuvlWKZc89VM8W7KniVMi1K9kslK9FQrrmegI_dtXq4VppxnH4n6Ayx3pphSArhgheOgL5DGCKBo6k/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our
return trip sees us spend more time with the pod of dolphins. This
time they are even more energetic, leaping what I would guess to be
at least eight feet into the air. Some of them even show off with
flips and spins. One passenger asks aloud whether we are watching
them or they are watching us. I know what he means. India has named
dolphins non-human persons, and made their capture is against the
law, and for good reason too. Dolphins are known to have a complex
social structure and communication skills. Each dolphin has a
signature call (name?) and they have demonstrated the ability to
recall calls of others last heard over twenty years ago. Their brains
posses an enlarged neocortex, the brains area responsible for
self-awareness and problem-solving. In the natural world there is a
correlation between body size and bran size. Some animals of course
do not fit and have larger brains, like the great apes, demonstrating
their higher intelligence. Human brains are seven times larger than
this ratio would predict, the reason we are as intelligent as we are.
Dolphin brains are five times larger than it would predict, and are
more complex and intricate than even our own. There is no reason that
they couldn't bear almost as much intelligence as we do, perhaps that
of a child. Unfortunately they lack useful things such as opposable
thumbs that let us rule the world as we do</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eLG0UZZm_Z1gpNvsFLfLOkSHaUXL5vIgT84Nh7h2DfbYcAv1pQIz4Wo2aqS_pDdHNnKo276Z8J3kBo2Pa15rgBxCz1kHV5b_kld4W83mZHbjis4IR0t3SvLN2wKj67lbv5z8b3vaTUY/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eLG0UZZm_Z1gpNvsFLfLOkSHaUXL5vIgT84Nh7h2DfbYcAv1pQIz4Wo2aqS_pDdHNnKo276Z8J3kBo2Pa15rgBxCz1kHV5b_kld4W83mZHbjis4IR0t3SvLN2wKj67lbv5z8b3vaTUY/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiLFR39zYqJ9L7ohQciO_U-rhAIXYBUFLHWaIh1ogxN62PvNUMTHnhwkJmH9w7hrLnlFdeAFKSgqNQSlEuX1XnsBOhh0lyGuU0LJmYihM9dUe0OJFQJLPeVzV7J4PxO1pzCZwctJHYuI/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiLFR39zYqJ9L7ohQciO_U-rhAIXYBUFLHWaIh1ogxN62PvNUMTHnhwkJmH9w7hrLnlFdeAFKSgqNQSlEuX1XnsBOhh0lyGuU0LJmYihM9dUe0OJFQJLPeVzV7J4PxO1pzCZwctJHYuI/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+503.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx4D8uFj0wEaRlib6fVWNWrokV4fk9Ybqb0IeLJrko4HtKjKfxMKhzQVJpDfiGy6cnhimSvClAhB-1fdSQtiA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our second day in Abel-Tasmen sees us on the beach. We start with a round of mini-golf, admirably demonstrating our lack of skill, and a few goes on the flying fox. Then we hire some stand up paddle boards. These are ALL the fun. It is essentially a surfboard that you stand on with a long oar that lets you propel yourself around. It sounds ridiculous. It looks ridiculous. We traverse the bay and brave the swells. Luckily it is calm day so it isn't too hard. I only fall in the water once but unfortunately I can't say the same for Amy. At one point she tries to ram into me and knock me over (revenge for me doing the same to her). She succeeds to ram into me but in doing so loses balance and once again I laugh as she is the one that ends up in the water.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd2Hu5_jqtX6D-MjNw8MTfwQCTuYKB1zscsgD8cx_8waw-7v9wZ1yVEuMeL4Y4mALRi5_PEUMWD5u_q0lzJXe5_GGMsZbhY2k-AiuiyEy9Zsq6YOr7NBfEBO6_A8lDol5mhf_zrPPV7I/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd2Hu5_jqtX6D-MjNw8MTfwQCTuYKB1zscsgD8cx_8waw-7v9wZ1yVEuMeL4Y4mALRi5_PEUMWD5u_q0lzJXe5_GGMsZbhY2k-AiuiyEy9Zsq6YOr7NBfEBO6_A8lDol5mhf_zrPPV7I/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+512.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufZTfq5l17kqm8szEL4RiDVzPk0CDt4c-VrbgzcSZqKnM-A5cqxePpLUhM7C_pu15q1ndqr_kt1l56Mnf4ScQrtlT3FOLhfwje8IeUtMfrAzoPXQC_heX7Hq_OxsITTC8RoEBPyAVgLk/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufZTfq5l17kqm8szEL4RiDVzPk0CDt4c-VrbgzcSZqKnM-A5cqxePpLUhM7C_pu15q1ndqr_kt1l56Mnf4ScQrtlT3FOLhfwje8IeUtMfrAzoPXQC_heX7Hq_OxsITTC8RoEBPyAVgLk/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+523.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigqVQ1YvDQ1UczNNqzwlLx5srTttlYbh5xDjjxiSyUN51JLkXHaIjutvwxOI_P-lPRy1W59k8kDl_OmaRTDw0D4EYWGQThLiYXOb29wbbhj2BuU2Pr3l3EX89xCY061QkfMwez8k2R0U/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigqVQ1YvDQ1UczNNqzwlLx5srTttlYbh5xDjjxiSyUN51JLkXHaIjutvwxOI_P-lPRy1W59k8kDl_OmaRTDw0D4EYWGQThLiYXOb29wbbhj2BuU2Pr3l3EX89xCY061QkfMwez8k2R0U/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+525.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That evening is our last on the South Island and we have very special guests. Henrik and Klara from Special K just arrived in South Island this morning and we have managed to arrange spending tonight together. We cook dinner in their camper van and trade stories of our travels over a crate (or two) of beer. They have managed to purchase a couple of guitars and sing us some of their songs. I am very impressed. We even write and record one of our own. The tune is beautiful, one of Henrik's that he doesn't yet have lyrics for. Unfortunately the song we write is about needing to pee and not making it to the toilet on time. We successfully ruined his nice melody for all of time. Once more we have to part, with further promises of visits to each others countries, and I again wish that we had more time.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The bus to the ferry takes us to a town called Nelson, we stop for a couple of hours so I take a walk along the river to the local botanic gardens. Then we return to the bus and are taken back through land we traversed but a few days ago. When we passed last it was raining and thick with cloud. I barely noticed the landscape. Today the sun is out and the air in clear. We pass through mountains whose sides are packed with trees. A vast forest the like of which I have rarely seen surround us. It looks bright and airy and it sweeps to the horizon over hill and vale.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKTHPFSbHG_BqIljL6CUdTvv400bE6AXD7HmUIEiEzJYABCA-YQXMX1JrcCz6d1YCMuWSTPtPfvaAS71mb3lpgizzkMhW2tDTzzDP9cIWl0ZkfzGM2-K0BsGeh5hecu9fIy8W1bSyWA0/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKTHPFSbHG_BqIljL6CUdTvv400bE6AXD7HmUIEiEzJYABCA-YQXMX1JrcCz6d1YCMuWSTPtPfvaAS71mb3lpgizzkMhW2tDTzzDP9cIWl0ZkfzGM2-K0BsGeh5hecu9fIy8W1bSyWA0/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31iaP70EOc3GQQWFB2meQ8IagvFopJP8S6GDl5cPz4sGtM-1E_4o7SBqqKBbroSq3jsStrFTHMNr0P-PnxZcPw-HM0VaMIAqY0qQ1y-bxoAXrd2Sqy6fVTItMBg_2SMfGjI4Ux5Sdh5M/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31iaP70EOc3GQQWFB2meQ8IagvFopJP8S6GDl5cPz4sGtM-1E_4o7SBqqKBbroSq3jsStrFTHMNr0P-PnxZcPw-HM0VaMIAqY0qQ1y-bxoAXrd2Sqy6fVTItMBg_2SMfGjI4Ux5Sdh5M/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+561.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaW1g1v2rupDZMkPFkPNGB3pVt3BV_RWWr-vSBfEiBrpO7Xrx_2OovfVliW5ICdwqy97iRdySRNeIgQZ260O2xQm4Tmqv2621jBx6X9umQzTaObgZhbWqEYQnWmbgsAWbXjlb06xICvc/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaW1g1v2rupDZMkPFkPNGB3pVt3BV_RWWr-vSBfEiBrpO7Xrx_2OovfVliW5ICdwqy97iRdySRNeIgQZ260O2xQm4Tmqv2621jBx6X9umQzTaObgZhbWqEYQnWmbgsAWbXjlb06xICvc/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+565.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRX1EP-Pyk6xXc5BITWN01NV130wXOJgIQqaH2QDqC7qSnloSYJ_qYvYvqghNIWdtXKEccd6NiCN_N_SLFqFa42ooQJucfQEqZP24DPYgsCp_OnO6VeJ9CAnH7tzh_ocPEx_6tFE-dq8/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRX1EP-Pyk6xXc5BITWN01NV130wXOJgIQqaH2QDqC7qSnloSYJ_qYvYvqghNIWdtXKEccd6NiCN_N_SLFqFa42ooQJucfQEqZP24DPYgsCp_OnO6VeJ9CAnH7tzh_ocPEx_6tFE-dq8/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpu-bjHsLc4d8EXjQkszCZTtV0-DNbP7yQC1bOm1AsCi4_wB2me6s6u8d6UYtaFa5beLm3EmRFoD-pB97Ak4Saqyy_C127c6HxsteCI733vVabZ360praCpcu8Y711Du5l-K3YSyZuNY/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpu-bjHsLc4d8EXjQkszCZTtV0-DNbP7yQC1bOm1AsCi4_wB2me6s6u8d6UYtaFa5beLm3EmRFoD-pB97Ak4Saqyy_C127c6HxsteCI733vVabZ360praCpcu8Y711Du5l-K3YSyZuNY/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+571.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUJNzsvCzWEIxGAXXPHkF1iZd6nLEZYSnv_4xOlEmp95cC8vLsfxcRW6vNmfRzzOVi4wB4mgkekBphU1yfzAI1RbfbujxyPy7TWLL2c6WQn_bHNnpkq7m6MSAdVvrkUs6_1Yj_B27G0A/s1600/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUJNzsvCzWEIxGAXXPHkF1iZd6nLEZYSnv_4xOlEmp95cC8vLsfxcRW6vNmfRzzOVi4wB4mgkekBphU1yfzAI1RbfbujxyPy7TWLL2c6WQn_bHNnpkq7m6MSAdVvrkUs6_1Yj_B27G0A/s640/Trans-Alpine,+East+Coast.+North+Coast+574.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh7-D2L4W9a1Sc5A0U8Hz3BDSn0ZKtTRfhWLGLMlzLirZdxHMSvNwEFz22zqidmDfSetK9DBsN4_nyLq6PsUSZl_mrNs_QWBcvLjgQrmtSYXK0WkhsTDN6s2CkvFi1zilKZcxLu3dmK0/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh7-D2L4W9a1Sc5A0U8Hz3BDSn0ZKtTRfhWLGLMlzLirZdxHMSvNwEFz22zqidmDfSetK9DBsN4_nyLq6PsUSZl_mrNs_QWBcvLjgQrmtSYXK0WkhsTDN6s2CkvFi1zilKZcxLu3dmK0/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFGex7o_R8LYkc8AbOE7-bGX4GrG1QYiPoB9bnyBGLKx9VvRUwyWBNabK0P1lDI0j3_fGRZ5HMBSICPB1T4rrW7sqRCerHvZmf_dLRBI_qWhLiVZ2ZDxSvym4FVoGmHVUPIR3C5XLFkk/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFGex7o_R8LYkc8AbOE7-bGX4GrG1QYiPoB9bnyBGLKx9VvRUwyWBNabK0P1lDI0j3_fGRZ5HMBSICPB1T4rrW7sqRCerHvZmf_dLRBI_qWhLiVZ2ZDxSvym4FVoGmHVUPIR3C5XLFkk/s640/011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I am in a bad mood. Three hours of not very good sleep has made me grumpy. Also I am aware of Christmas approaching and that I won't be at home for it. Or for New Year. These are things that I really wish I did not have to miss. I try not to think about it too much but sometimes it can't be helped. I use a combination of Laura Marling and then Chvrches to help out my mood. Good music helps so much, and I can't retain negative emotions for any length of time anyway, expecially not when surrounded by trees! Before long I am fine and filled with excitement for the North Island. For WETA Workshop, for Hobbiton, for Mordor.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The South Island has been like nothing I have ever experienced. It is a clear land of ice and water. Of mountains and valleys that dwarf their counterparts back home. Of dense jungle and wide plains. It holds beauty like nowhere else I know. It is wild and raw and new.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I cannot wait to see what the North holds, how it differs to this. It is a land of fire. Of volcanoes and geysers and scalding pools and streams. I am sure I will be just as wowed, I will be just as amazed and I will no doubt not want to leave. But every time I do not want to leave a place I of course do, and the next stop is just as amazing. There is always more beauty, or more adventure, just around the corner. It doesn't matter where you are. You just need to go and find it.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-39810741809886798862013-11-19T20:36:00.001-08:002013-11-19T20:36:24.141-08:00What do they eat, when they can't get hobbit?<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Those
sixty seconds falling through the air I can safely say were the best
sixty seconds of my life. I had expected to be scared. I had had
expected to be terrified. At the least I had expected a hint of
apprehension. It never came.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amy
and I are in the first group to go up, since we are jumping the
highest. Waiting to board I am somewhere between disbelief and
unbelievable excitement. My tandem master (the man I will be strapped
to) is friendly and funny and keeps joking about death. “If we part
mid-air I'll meet you back here,” he tells me. I think they know
whether you're nervous or excited and act accordingly. We board the
plane and once we're in the air the scenery is just too beautiful to
leave time for any feeling but wonder.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
circle upwards from the ground and mountains unfurl around us. It is
the most beautiful day we've had so far. The sky is the purest blue,
reflected perfectly in Lake Wakatipu below, and the grey sands of the
River Isen trace a familiar pattern through the end of the valley. Of
course it is not really the river Isen, it's the Dart River. I can
but dream.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Enough
of MiddleEarth. As we draw higher we can see further and further.
Mount Aspiring shows itself, the tallest and grandest in this part of
New Zealand, then Mitre Peak and Milford sound where we were the day
before. Beyond them the Tasman sea paints a strip of darker blue
below the endless sky. As we approach the fifteen thousand feet we
will jump from my tandem master points to the North. There, beyond
the countless snowy heights that form the bottom of the Southern
Alps, protrudes a great flat peak. Even from this distance, one
hundred and twenty three miles away, is it august and imposing.
Aoraki, or Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. There
could never be enough time to take in the beauty I am surrounded by.
However much time there is, it is soon over, it is time to jump.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Crammed
into the tiny plane there is barely room to move. There is only just
enough room for the six of us; three tandem masters with three
expectant travellers strapped to their chests. We are in a line,
sitting on each others laps, and I am at the front. He slides open
the huge clear door and swings one leg over. I swing mine over to
join his. There is not even time to think. We tip forwards.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This
is a moment I will savour for a very long time. I cannot describe the
feeling of leaving the plane. It is simply amazing. There is no
feeling of peril or impending death. Apart from the fact that you are
strapped to someone who does this up to ten times a day, who just to
get the job had to have done it a thousand times already. Apart from
the fact that you are more likely to die driving to work. Apart from
the fact that you are more likely to drown when going fishing. Apart
from all that, you are just too far away from the ground to feel any
danger. You may as well not be moving, nothing looks like it's
getting closer to you. You are suspended in a bright world of light
and air.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That
makes it sound calm and quiet. It is neither. If I wasn't so excited
I could see that it could possibly be quite calm. Quiet? Never. The
wind rushes and howls past me in an endless roar, but I barely notice
it. There is too much to see, too many places to look. Every
direction holds a wonder the like of which I have never seen. It is
simply unlike anything I have ever experienced. Yes, you see similar
views from planes, but that is like comparing stepping in a puddle to
diving into an icy lake. True you get wet in both scenarios, but only
one is immediate and arresting, in only one are you completely
submerged and surrounded, only one do you experience with ever sense
you possess.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It
is over before I have time to take it in. The wind stops and the
noise cuts away. The parachute opens and everything becomes still. At
five thousand feet I am still too far away from the ground to notice
its approach. We glide over the lake, still high from the free-fall,
and do some spins and loops before soaring over the heads of those
waiting on the ground and coming to a land directly in the middle of
the landing zone.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
second I touch the ground I want to be up there again. I want to
relive the moment of tipping over the edge and being transported into
a clear realm of infinite marvel . I would do it every day if I had
the money.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On
the journey back, as on the journey there, I gaze out the window at
this paradise I have landed in. New Zealand has never looked more
beautiful than it does today. Lake Wakatipu is crystal clear. The
mountains are reflected in the perfect glass below them and they rise
up and down into oceans of eternal cerulean. White caps blaze like
beacons in the afternoon sunlight. We arrive back into Queenstown and
lie in the baking sun with some friends we made in our hostel. It is
one of those moments you wish could last forever. Sun, friends,
conversation and, of course, beer.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Missing
the thrill of skydiving we take a plunge in the glacial waters of
Wakatipu. The water steals our breath and numbs our limbs. It is a
case of jumping off the pier and swimming back to shore as fast as
possible to warm up once more in the fading sun.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uMDYBa7nRe4PbN3MOQY1RNK29gYY5tVCAReXQan4r1ULS14vddJ6JOaLxw2SdNNUAHzxbkDEkngSQL4zCE_piJuGi0qXD7tTB7V8rpqI-OhYDPHW_GzhdQnpP3xEykUrWYd7mEMMQ3Y/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uMDYBa7nRe4PbN3MOQY1RNK29gYY5tVCAReXQan4r1ULS14vddJ6JOaLxw2SdNNUAHzxbkDEkngSQL4zCE_piJuGi0qXD7tTB7V8rpqI-OhYDPHW_GzhdQnpP3xEykUrWYd7mEMMQ3Y/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuYBRYZPM4svtQtL35H5oSHUrWb4oU27tiELBzXuKi_9nEYQxhBv0JzVqUVcTw0xcEogsbdkU-5hF_1dTSwRivkhxJ1cD4DMNG7ACsv9YClzkFhWmbxiWU3mlLCgvCCHh9-cYg3HDhYQ/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuYBRYZPM4svtQtL35H5oSHUrWb4oU27tiELBzXuKi_9nEYQxhBv0JzVqUVcTw0xcEogsbdkU-5hF_1dTSwRivkhxJ1cD4DMNG7ACsv9YClzkFhWmbxiWU3mlLCgvCCHh9-cYg3HDhYQ/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHZ_U6AkHp-bFa0neFgUyWm3iLQ8avjd-wi7wdhvl8ijtH8Bb2UDlHnEvcscgGlW9RqTc8Usv5Gz5kGcnZSmfJWk1-iJtpFhH8dFNc69PpdhR3JFdY9p2qGWFSt4HmEr7DF1X9QP-Sbg/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHZ_U6AkHp-bFa0neFgUyWm3iLQ8avjd-wi7wdhvl8ijtH8Bb2UDlHnEvcscgGlW9RqTc8Usv5Gz5kGcnZSmfJWk1-iJtpFhH8dFNc69PpdhR3JFdY9p2qGWFSt4HmEr7DF1X9QP-Sbg/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3kmRGLwMaZtLr1RCNly3QHxN0UJAAzbZL4deT8BQozp5B0rwx8Ql08Qixtocgomoxv3yWeKqLH-OXqWbHJlJlrqk0DrrWoyHD0SrN7__M34WJPLRZfSnk2XCAsfebmMxM0yPcAK8nSc/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3kmRGLwMaZtLr1RCNly3QHxN0UJAAzbZL4deT8BQozp5B0rwx8Ql08Qixtocgomoxv3yWeKqLH-OXqWbHJlJlrqk0DrrWoyHD0SrN7__M34WJPLRZfSnk2XCAsfebmMxM0yPcAK8nSc/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eeWFDcSAI-SpH7G03aUKXXgBjjpA86BUbCvPBf_0n8LE59ubiXzvfPuZHf__MKFmK8Mv_B1WWhq6CtcrWB9MOhgXAkVryyyBdHUHal9W_6bE3cEXhtU4DSU9uOqISjEpNqmVX1aP2uM/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eeWFDcSAI-SpH7G03aUKXXgBjjpA86BUbCvPBf_0n8LE59ubiXzvfPuZHf__MKFmK8Mv_B1WWhq6CtcrWB9MOhgXAkVryyyBdHUHal9W_6bE3cEXhtU4DSU9uOqISjEpNqmVX1aP2uM/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYWe5P0lW6M4tu7madKW_zexfgll1MZJanqu3-XCUKZKsWLHb5iAUdgNene03yzJ9CGysRG1w3FZTLn3a1QGQOGRDQpjX0h7WU18V51zkcLQX1C7TleP4DBEEx5LudFzpAjLxj8IKZgw/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYWe5P0lW6M4tu7madKW_zexfgll1MZJanqu3-XCUKZKsWLHb5iAUdgNene03yzJ9CGysRG1w3FZTLn3a1QGQOGRDQpjX0h7WU18V51zkcLQX1C7TleP4DBEEx5LudFzpAjLxj8IKZgw/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+052.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmjN6gT8uOA3m2Rq5HDMqVNavO8cUiIsedWLZpnWXp2wXtCq6lVM06OPQCenD9iBklGuJ0k9H7XngDhsYh_SS4stnFa_FX8Td53sTeb-e3hmJAEBcpvnCZHOX8RAyXERbutjbe4H19XY/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmjN6gT8uOA3m2Rq5HDMqVNavO8cUiIsedWLZpnWXp2wXtCq6lVM06OPQCenD9iBklGuJ0k9H7XngDhsYh_SS4stnFa_FX8Td53sTeb-e3hmJAEBcpvnCZHOX8RAyXERbutjbe4H19XY/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+061.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVhjiYzLfmqY1WoKC7flhrIkyJfvKDcq1ejWSiY8SjlWMREsDLN6aZuxqoS_R8Qcu7EIupa8wm1_ffmHRZsXx1uX38H55ZYqNYcmpm_h9en_D9Ufr_hf7AWlhk7M49NbPHZ8Gku812V4/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVhjiYzLfmqY1WoKC7flhrIkyJfvKDcq1ejWSiY8SjlWMREsDLN6aZuxqoS_R8Qcu7EIupa8wm1_ffmHRZsXx1uX38H55ZYqNYcmpm_h9en_D9Ufr_hf7AWlhk7M49NbPHZ8Gku812V4/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHAV29vwXO62hzu56cslYafCKhSSmuF4PE3RX9ZXMXDgP4uXCinRbkrhpsCTwWvx6bEjahQUd_SOXofmj15g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The next day we get the bus to Wanaka. Or we try to. Amy and I, along with six other people, are all told the wrong bus stop to go to from our bus service. The bus driver, upon arriving at the only other bus stop in Queenstown and finding eight booked passengers missing doesn't think to check our stop (which is about thirty seconds around a corner) in case there had been a mix up, he just leaves. We go to check the other stop but it is too late and he has already gone. We have to spend an extra thirty five dollars on a local bus ticket instead. This bus had also just left but the man at the office phones the driver and she kindly turns around to come back and pick us up.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Half way over the highest pass in New Zealand our bus brakes down and we have to wait for a recovery vehicle. Unfortunately we are in the clouds so don't get the magnificent views I'm sure surround us.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZgxfK7mGXyNsV36XHfoK0H3O9Vt1QEEajWgmnUZJ8Donqmtb6egq6MQ-Zwy0nhFy8wtbYv3_7Jf09jDpBIJLEtr_x6-_xS0uXT_pyt2N_nmrDCvuSvw6AZhWguoK7mcwjBVtIqdJyQ4/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZgxfK7mGXyNsV36XHfoK0H3O9Vt1QEEajWgmnUZJ8Donqmtb6egq6MQ-Zwy0nhFy8wtbYv3_7Jf09jDpBIJLEtr_x6-_xS0uXT_pyt2N_nmrDCvuSvw6AZhWguoK7mcwjBVtIqdJyQ4/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The highlight of Wanaka is undoubtedly Puzzling World. It starts with a not hugely inspiring collection of optical illusions and an admittedly very fun slanted house. After this though is The Great Maze!! We have all of the fun trying to reach the four coloured towers in the order specified. It takes us almost an hour and we end up visiting certain parts of the maze altogether too many times. Don't even mention the yellow tower to me.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_QFH4TvCD1oN-7PEDW2nFlPmU0B8iu6cprPn4oQ4gOAZ6aiULCp6GCh5iNaKa1vHn05e4PbpN46BMPYiSx_HEit91I0XS7IgoU6rChwRA27KQOBHokye_yHUUdh6cBdWO-f74Ko2OMA/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_QFH4TvCD1oN-7PEDW2nFlPmU0B8iu6cprPn4oQ4gOAZ6aiULCp6GCh5iNaKa1vHn05e4PbpN46BMPYiSx_HEit91I0XS7IgoU6rChwRA27KQOBHokye_yHUUdh6cBdWO-f74Ko2OMA/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+100.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On our second day we go for a walk along the edge of Lake Wanaka and up a hill beside the town. Although probably the smallest lake we've encountered so far it is still larger, by quite a long way, than anything in the U.K.; almost three times the size of Loch Lomond and deeper than Loch Ness. Across its waters we can just see Mount Aspiring behind a row of imposing peaks. Nestled between the two is the Rob Roy glacier, one of hundreds on the island.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_If6r5T7aDQP3Hn0BhVFPs4lHu6eHyTpeaiuz72XPTv78nzyG3Mse5SfK0-MaxHnLtxPjYmTCymDkga1j0BYUDrYOmrRTwnt-NoH3nWOuDLocRFeyC95tGjWJIPKmrB43DoTbadgf2pA/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_If6r5T7aDQP3Hn0BhVFPs4lHu6eHyTpeaiuz72XPTv78nzyG3Mse5SfK0-MaxHnLtxPjYmTCymDkga1j0BYUDrYOmrRTwnt-NoH3nWOuDLocRFeyC95tGjWJIPKmrB43DoTbadgf2pA/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+142.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ44ZeEivc7kZmh-VjeSoDfHmyFEPhJWRFByKj5yhhirYRI1IVdDz7_ffpEI2i4yhPsGpI9r9Dz91fKxs-QO6lWGgQI_XC2gY3I86S8REcI58pnudP_bCTsIg7HC2j1fK-XITnLDRhzd4/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ44ZeEivc7kZmh-VjeSoDfHmyFEPhJWRFByKj5yhhirYRI1IVdDz7_ffpEI2i4yhPsGpI9r9Dz91fKxs-QO6lWGgQI_XC2gY3I86S8REcI58pnudP_bCTsIg7HC2j1fK-XITnLDRhzd4/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtzLglPo-7ls_gxJSj5xcRQqN75TpMqu3PZmH5HFUtncGy0GBbeEdst_gGZ3W7Q96pMdabu8OtVjDvhVxB79U2l4jFfdau5EDyyDR0X3EwlEErHmsbd4uIMDT8LxZPO1ugOw9ivPSpjY/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtzLglPo-7ls_gxJSj5xcRQqN75TpMqu3PZmH5HFUtncGy0GBbeEdst_gGZ3W7Q96pMdabu8OtVjDvhVxB79U2l4jFfdau5EDyyDR0X3EwlEErHmsbd4uIMDT8LxZPO1ugOw9ivPSpjY/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaerTqhgkCjIJ63hGET5kz0Mo7STMdSIVObiGpesC9Il_ORjDElxmx7PC-iBTwgRly_ANpzz6ueH5Zw0ZX5HP0Tne32DrvkkSAQgt5owjp57PKyDI9w24teG5L_RgFcivdy52KqSTbEU/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaerTqhgkCjIJ63hGET5kz0Mo7STMdSIVObiGpesC9Il_ORjDElxmx7PC-iBTwgRly_ANpzz6ueH5Zw0ZX5HP0Tne32DrvkkSAQgt5owjp57PKyDI9w24teG5L_RgFcivdy52KqSTbEU/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9365O9ErdasW205FjHZogA8lkpskyc-d8flqC_fuOa0OhHgXDoRVtBqKlKF9vRRP01qObz5HlwMhBcxhTThxgEl4i0LB97Rd9X2hAVBi3s-agpUtHxCimbyUVtVVLRPRx8qBPv7dWJCo/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9365O9ErdasW205FjHZogA8lkpskyc-d8flqC_fuOa0OhHgXDoRVtBqKlKF9vRRP01qObz5HlwMhBcxhTThxgEl4i0LB97Rd9X2hAVBi3s-agpUtHxCimbyUVtVVLRPRx8qBPv7dWJCo/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+129.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYQ9f-OHtWXJBCzyZUtq0zmVfBpkk0gzRGkshztLBsnNyUcDEMF4foQJtoSkEAT8zdTY0-NmQC3MGTSX4Y20DBQqxOy27IIVE4HY4wKNeJ6bf4SyWmKMUFnks37FHHbLVBLtfzr8HCmE/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYQ9f-OHtWXJBCzyZUtq0zmVfBpkk0gzRGkshztLBsnNyUcDEMF4foQJtoSkEAT8zdTY0-NmQC3MGTSX4Y20DBQqxOy27IIVE4HY4wKNeJ6bf4SyWmKMUFnks37FHHbLVBLtfzr8HCmE/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxndkBGlww6cmGkxDRDtPafXvhu-tCn9jzFlsIkbvmj75KXDW5JuacNLVjVrZTwM_mK0tVYXtgtZs-bTTxLBk0w1pygx_BOyjA_e3R5otEZMgnsprHwpH_OV5SFakN9HhxmdR5ySNXe9o/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxndkBGlww6cmGkxDRDtPafXvhu-tCn9jzFlsIkbvmj75KXDW5JuacNLVjVrZTwM_mK0tVYXtgtZs-bTTxLBk0w1pygx_BOyjA_e3R5otEZMgnsprHwpH_OV5SFakN9HhxmdR5ySNXe9o/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+134.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Glaciers are our next port of call. We will be visiting the townships of the Fox and Fraz Josef glaciers on the West coast. Fox, at over eight miles long, is one of the larger glaciers in New Zealand and is the location of my first ever glacier trek.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The town itself is tiny. It consists of hostels, hotels and motels along with a petrol station, a couple of pubs and the Foz Glacier centre. We arrive at the centre in the morning and are quickly fitted with boots and crampons and warned about rock falls, avalanches, floods and tidal surges before we are on our way. The sides of the Fox Glacier valley are sheer, I can see where the glacier has carved them away. The floor of the valley is a great layer of rubble and dust, grey water wends its way through to the sea. The tops of the hills to either side are covered in the verdant green of rainforest that crawls its way downwards and tails off into steep rocky faces or the great swathes of debris that mark a rock fall.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Rock falls and land slips are extremely common in this kind of landscape. These hills and cliffs, gouged into shapes they would never have otherwise taken, have been supported by ice for thousands of years. When that ice is removed they become unstable and crumble away day by day. The valley we walk down not so long ago was full to the brim with gleaming blue ice.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A few hundred years ago the glacier came down almost to the town itself, and our entire path would have been under hundreds of meters of ice. During this time the glacier underwent a huge retreat, year by year it melted until one hundred years ago when it was even smaller than today. From then if had a brief growth spurt and ploughed its way down the valley once more. We see a photo from 2009 and it is a completely different place, the glacier extends down into the valley where now we cannot even see it. In the last five years though it has been melting at a viscous rate and soon it will be the smallest it has been since humans settled here.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
None of this, although achingly sad, changes the fact that it is still a wonderful sight. We reach the point were we will descend onto the glacier itself and it stretches through the valley before us. It is hulking and huge. The front of it looks relatively smooth (appearances can be deceiving), but further up it becomes cragged and pitted. Great crevasses show themselves as distant cracks. In the summer, as now, when the glacier is melting quicker it is covered in rocks and dust (or rock flour) that gathers on the top as it melts. During the winter it is clean and white and after rainfall is said to gleam blue in the morning light, the compressed ice reflecting the suns light with a wintry glow.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5BBkLK9amkzolP8otyJBISoKBGWBDzRjTR8uRamPNCltOdF2oamEjsOsJZwy1Uj2FJljNgAoSgaZpb-uA-MFT90ztGOKJQEPrBSKSHyH1tqcl7U1h7vWNwJAgjM2P_2PSKEQiSY1Zks/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5BBkLK9amkzolP8otyJBISoKBGWBDzRjTR8uRamPNCltOdF2oamEjsOsJZwy1Uj2FJljNgAoSgaZpb-uA-MFT90ztGOKJQEPrBSKSHyH1tqcl7U1h7vWNwJAgjM2P_2PSKEQiSY1Zks/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAIMZl9IiQx5J64LdyfM4wxTO1ZPk8IWSeKR0oH8KNiUenallOT1a_i0xRdRjAjAdiQyW7mjo-krfezDyTZIF-wUoNf1_CUlC_7idrTfZzGHa_XjCwFsHp_gViEZGMAJoMHI2ucGqThM/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAIMZl9IiQx5J64LdyfM4wxTO1ZPk8IWSeKR0oH8KNiUenallOT1a_i0xRdRjAjAdiQyW7mjo-krfezDyTZIF-wUoNf1_CUlC_7idrTfZzGHa_XjCwFsHp_gViEZGMAJoMHI2ucGqThM/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+171.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We enter a world of ice and what appeared small from the viewpoint above reveals itself to be vast from up close. Our guide carves steps into the ice before us and we visit caves and moulins in the ice. A moulin is a hole where a stream on the surface finds a weak point in the ice and drops into its glacial depths. These start as narrow tunnels winding through the blue and can grow to great caves or caverns, eventually revealing themselves to the world above. The glacier changes every day. We visit a small cave, just big enough to stand in hunched over. There a small tunnel stretching out the far side, no more than a foot wide. Our guide takes note of it, soon he says he will be able to take groups walking right the way through.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Whenever we descend from the surface we see the beauty that is frozen within this ice. It is as the guides say, blue. It is the blue of Lake Wakatipu, the blue of the frigid streams we have seen pouring from the mountainsides. It is a colour we do not get at home. In this country I can be presented with a landscape and everything I see has been lifted straight from Great Britain. Then with one glance at a river I see that I am nowhere I know. For the water is infused with the clear frozen blue of a glacier.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zAp9QxPLwF_OhoUQqYk-QMllYd0STuPiI6sxSaSvxiEXc5GO2LDroSkTJ88Hz1Jj-CBf9Rdd1atkGcAaMjj8J7QeWIvHFc4dc3B34PrhERn0XJkf1j-EP3BZaJPu-__Ulr9h-cLfHUA/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zAp9QxPLwF_OhoUQqYk-QMllYd0STuPiI6sxSaSvxiEXc5GO2LDroSkTJ88Hz1Jj-CBf9Rdd1atkGcAaMjj8J7QeWIvHFc4dc3B34PrhERn0XJkf1j-EP3BZaJPu-__Ulr9h-cLfHUA/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+183.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptH75kkYu_a-z6EDjpcuJzIWCXtmL0yykXIZtYfW_5ZGBhi2W9sNPnG3ZGKSORGwINaIiXD4qw_0XYOn1QFpHQmv7v6Q_rSk_D1gIVvQk4AHyvaaHbJbXbZaNddpXBQ9LsjHMC-XwU9U/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptH75kkYu_a-z6EDjpcuJzIWCXtmL0yykXIZtYfW_5ZGBhi2W9sNPnG3ZGKSORGwINaIiXD4qw_0XYOn1QFpHQmv7v6Q_rSk_D1gIVvQk4AHyvaaHbJbXbZaNddpXBQ9LsjHMC-XwU9U/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tAmrRkPvgLUg_PR5KCCt5NJRD7TRgmR8dnjcu6vZf431MnL4p0YINbYFw194QoiBHUv1lRgLOzK-btFa7Nd55Aptq6HbXNJM2gjzFbFiT3HPv0jwKeldRw1xNwZC10nJrq4yjz3SDcg/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tAmrRkPvgLUg_PR5KCCt5NJRD7TRgmR8dnjcu6vZf431MnL4p0YINbYFw194QoiBHUv1lRgLOzK-btFa7Nd55Aptq6HbXNJM2gjzFbFiT3HPv0jwKeldRw1xNwZC10nJrq4yjz3SDcg/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+196.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNdI56cr62a3_nBsDDG6iD605FK6_DzSbSBB9KAxOvRQLge6qNoUjuhM1miyl5AKI-WYSMpFYXrGOyASoHexFrO7vzeW_UF98bJnYkaut-RbTNNTBkHfFGtdjA0TN2Ye5D56xJY6JwRQ/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNdI56cr62a3_nBsDDG6iD605FK6_DzSbSBB9KAxOvRQLge6qNoUjuhM1miyl5AKI-WYSMpFYXrGOyASoHexFrO7vzeW_UF98bJnYkaut-RbTNNTBkHfFGtdjA0TN2Ye5D56xJY6JwRQ/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKHEVt0UW7K2POEWmhw0bWujjPN10EfxliFcc_wEBTWVkV8fJYQH2tbFyxrnSEqOxS77oiW7ctaJx0L3-hw8rrmIxbFeCs7I00XVlSNa2oxXZrGRvLsURDRCuOl6-qAPgSahYATzEBFA/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKHEVt0UW7K2POEWmhw0bWujjPN10EfxliFcc_wEBTWVkV8fJYQH2tbFyxrnSEqOxS77oiW7ctaJx0L3-hw8rrmIxbFeCs7I00XVlSNa2oxXZrGRvLsURDRCuOl6-qAPgSahYATzEBFA/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+218.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJO5JCLQWmIpbue-yqoVMc9iz8U6NrQdT29Gdm9m43ovnc9BU9GY30ictDJG8GGiOCC31B4aCQ6_z386UYQsF69zQq67G34X3EpfTD64c4nhTAHELQQ0t7NvefyzokGakIJ6Fy0VYtHg/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJO5JCLQWmIpbue-yqoVMc9iz8U6NrQdT29Gdm9m43ovnc9BU9GY30ictDJG8GGiOCC31B4aCQ6_z386UYQsF69zQq67G34X3EpfTD64c4nhTAHELQQ0t7NvefyzokGakIJ6Fy0VYtHg/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+222.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3H2KF0MCfpm7ZmyuthIiKCUaUhv_VXV-_w_l8GlkWS_kuGgfyPV1RHQvCHzAp4fPIOOxFH1ubeoY0ov77Q0Xx9G3wxNEoyObs3IDKqfbdfGkqPdS31PjFKnxiwAsH9gmKWR7YBSEXACs/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3H2KF0MCfpm7ZmyuthIiKCUaUhv_VXV-_w_l8GlkWS_kuGgfyPV1RHQvCHzAp4fPIOOxFH1ubeoY0ov77Q0Xx9G3wxNEoyObs3IDKqfbdfGkqPdS31PjFKnxiwAsH9gmKWR7YBSEXACs/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+225.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf5fVcNY19MkRBJ4w6-NvdL7nboUAAu2Wa4A4-mxQ_X4Thq3BjGdHx2dlZ7DI4FOUGTnOPUlxMnOf9eJpEJ0L-__l_pTIWnD6vklEl6-Qk9iGhZeN42g51oPUqM6SmWQup_q-p11JpU8/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf5fVcNY19MkRBJ4w6-NvdL7nboUAAu2Wa4A4-mxQ_X4Thq3BjGdHx2dlZ7DI4FOUGTnOPUlxMnOf9eJpEJ0L-__l_pTIWnD6vklEl6-Qk9iGhZeN42g51oPUqM6SmWQup_q-p11JpU8/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+226.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbBLGuyMNupXYCweRbGvbpR9Zr45NYMIAYBPzfY6SnKOn3yYJ0sa-_6iZSwzX-v1rfj7OK8mQ3GRxBwxxF-zWv8aH3YCQnU1gzdA9RYsLqylJEqLkq7l1jQvwv57Dn1Ru9sx0bK5PiUo/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbBLGuyMNupXYCweRbGvbpR9Zr45NYMIAYBPzfY6SnKOn3yYJ0sa-_6iZSwzX-v1rfj7OK8mQ3GRxBwxxF-zWv8aH3YCQnU1gzdA9RYsLqylJEqLkq7l1jQvwv57Dn1Ru9sx0bK5PiUo/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+232.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYNtQK3MxZzWijZbt7UQGacvzMCm8DGeAASBkl8cZwcvYFe-j7BDup72Q8S80j-jW3vXxfkQsac6Mju7FtBg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We stop for lunch. Amy and I have prepared ourselves some couscous, of course. What would you think to eat on a glacier other than couscous? We continue up the glacier until we come to a great broken wall of ice. The glacier here is flowing down a steep hill while turning a tight corner. This breaks and tears it apart and reveals huge crevasses and fissures in its surface. We unfortunately can go no further without the use of more equipment so we must turn around, I am surprised by how high we have climbed. We make our way back past crystal falls that seems to freeze and meld into the ice as they flow over, under and through it. All too soon it is over and we must return through the valley of dust, through the rainforest, to our hostel. The next day we go for a walk around yet another lake, thought this one is more of a large pond, before catching the bus to Franz Josef. We attempt to hitchhike while waiting for the bus but no one is biting. We tried this once (successfully) in Australia to get to a supermarket. It's always worth a shot.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf77ChOialf8HNrciUpD2QW6Fo0p7oqA_d33Pd5g6r4EKzm_pE8I8wyO7s8G-fDzjiBhfleb5MW6Q6IXWVFPB4QlP_u5REBqbzxYiOLDX-2GtDGxDjJ6DkGretFnfgMVFiOBRFyIcwr_Y/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf77ChOialf8HNrciUpD2QW6Fo0p7oqA_d33Pd5g6r4EKzm_pE8I8wyO7s8G-fDzjiBhfleb5MW6Q6IXWVFPB4QlP_u5REBqbzxYiOLDX-2GtDGxDjJ6DkGretFnfgMVFiOBRFyIcwr_Y/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ez6jyQYFiwmE2aoPcpskWDi3C71-EwSyVndUi7p2jmrd3btXTmBqQdWZDxpAz5lFve9iKLLGvT4UeJTgqS1l2u0M-nIQiOpZOMX1Y6j2n06WJq5QLZDlMctYE3poUZQaqP4NuuXKFPQ/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ez6jyQYFiwmE2aoPcpskWDi3C71-EwSyVndUi7p2jmrd3btXTmBqQdWZDxpAz5lFve9iKLLGvT4UeJTgqS1l2u0M-nIQiOpZOMX1Y6j2n06WJq5QLZDlMctYE3poUZQaqP4NuuXKFPQ/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+262.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4h3ZkK-Q0dJKklYIWxHe0ddK4-lJlHCm_NhYmV-xopGMSwAbWfqAv4_I4iG0707_ny10lgUcuMvV_fT46k5IuYg2gQ3uxcQd0AHMfHYrC9XxyHo2Dp-qJkgm9zIJl18u73BRLIhCStU/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4h3ZkK-Q0dJKklYIWxHe0ddK4-lJlHCm_NhYmV-xopGMSwAbWfqAv4_I4iG0707_ny10lgUcuMvV_fT46k5IuYg2gQ3uxcQd0AHMfHYrC9XxyHo2Dp-qJkgm9zIJl18u73BRLIhCStU/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+268.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnRPJgzJ8lyrxLx9-0ZPaPmCY5PKAhfr0kT4TvNhklr8d0SE02ziVLg8bpOgVo8KqI0ArpjKzVDl7pKhKCaZ9tSh3S8pwNDgT1EetB0cy8Ldd6zH_ryQng553mICCLHKq0fEu2JRvwn0/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnRPJgzJ8lyrxLx9-0ZPaPmCY5PKAhfr0kT4TvNhklr8d0SE02ziVLg8bpOgVo8KqI0ArpjKzVDl7pKhKCaZ9tSh3S8pwNDgT1EetB0cy8Ldd6zH_ryQng553mICCLHKq0fEu2JRvwn0/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+283.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEFW4uEvEzsfBNwzNG1IjzAXqHxiEphZW6fBOeDw8EbGgBfRhtCoiQA0xwkWeVHkQANlUU28B6sakSJfhQ1MeiwWvbTBLloKJTRWH8_T7V4gUM-aiKYhFwYhUMfNC8lc7XtojijbjsjM/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEFW4uEvEzsfBNwzNG1IjzAXqHxiEphZW6fBOeDw8EbGgBfRhtCoiQA0xwkWeVHkQANlUU28B6sakSJfhQ1MeiwWvbTBLloKJTRWH8_T7V4gUM-aiKYhFwYhUMfNC8lc7XtojijbjsjM/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+305.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnmxhoyDIJXbATjEx3oSBKfMbvdjI5wt_Zr1GiK-EGIMCOoxTdffBmY-EqTSBaB3PEuFSGpQPJx1HY8uuEVW3KKUudLWM8jLSoqcrgbiKNke9r9-TVT3T9HFclY5ICeC9paQ7lTiWSeU/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnmxhoyDIJXbATjEx3oSBKfMbvdjI5wt_Zr1GiK-EGIMCOoxTdffBmY-EqTSBaB3PEuFSGpQPJx1HY8uuEVW3KKUudLWM8jLSoqcrgbiKNke9r9-TVT3T9HFclY5ICeC9paQ7lTiWSeU/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+320.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk9raOl-gZmU4ulLH2N85i8vE79sD_wdPHbTCahfYQkW26NQB0km7lioP6H6z9sByHUAAb_Kxh3yNCCMPFMsA5KcjjjfBnwDu1wuJdUhYTIn6HO9Szsu3wAOYSLt4r2dCZmRHzao7_Nk/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk9raOl-gZmU4ulLH2N85i8vE79sD_wdPHbTCahfYQkW26NQB0km7lioP6H6z9sByHUAAb_Kxh3yNCCMPFMsA5KcjjjfBnwDu1wuJdUhYTIn6HO9Szsu3wAOYSLt4r2dCZmRHzao7_Nk/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+332.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWPNlix8YL9woHRFVPpxPr32_h_MYnP_DIG4XifKqxhRC1YvVKYQKuh5VKi49yVKzbi6vXCtdnCTCrU_MvBDvb76hSpVzZ2xTlhdiR-c3alIjO4NiIEzcVPdm_nASQPE26bCZt79qjlI/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWPNlix8YL9woHRFVPpxPr32_h_MYnP_DIG4XifKqxhRC1YvVKYQKuh5VKi49yVKzbi6vXCtdnCTCrU_MvBDvb76hSpVzZ2xTlhdiR-c3alIjO4NiIEzcVPdm_nASQPE26bCZt79qjlI/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+339.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSp6LbGN_-ozPnYSbvO-Sp4HLMwJtAi2_SetJeNxlxAX-0OAnA_O2miEFUpVwXZJPbN8ZXd-i2nDaO_wsnkCQ9sMqXjYB-DoAgw4z4dKWmh2LjDFmXb3q3y1teej4qjcuDfcQNBb837Y/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSp6LbGN_-ozPnYSbvO-Sp4HLMwJtAi2_SetJeNxlxAX-0OAnA_O2miEFUpVwXZJPbN8ZXd-i2nDaO_wsnkCQ9sMqXjYB-DoAgw4z4dKWmh2LjDFmXb3q3y1teej4qjcuDfcQNBb837Y/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd3uNPPveXSyvVIwlAZmC-HagqKPi0GKr0v3ulaXjfA67OIVmuP6IwoEJ1tcmF3u7YHwAddadVB_Am7mH7JrEeh61pvYXzPvY0vhhe21aan9TJZIH5I24AVlDV8bnc6S7DFvZoJCrmd8/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd3uNPPveXSyvVIwlAZmC-HagqKPi0GKr0v3ulaXjfA67OIVmuP6IwoEJ1tcmF3u7YHwAddadVB_Am7mH7JrEeh61pvYXzPvY0vhhe21aan9TJZIH5I24AVlDV8bnc6S7DFvZoJCrmd8/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+346.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amy and I are camping now. Many hostels let you camp in their gardens and still use all the facilities, for a discounted rate of course. Anything to save money. Our hostel in Franz Josef finds us camping two feet from the edge of the rainforest. We are reminded just how close we are at five a.m. every morning when whatever ridiculous bird life lives nearby decides it is time to wake up. Whatever they are they make the strangest noises I have ever heard from a bird (apart from the Kukooburra's in Australia; they sound like howler monkeys on a particularly bad day). These ones sound like an experiment in electro-pop. They are mechanical and computerised. They start at five a.m. and continue until about twenty past six when the normal birds start to sing. For three days I do not get an ounce of sleep between these times. The calls penetrate earplugs. They even penetrate my noise-cancelling in-ear headphones while playing my music with the volume turned up. I recorded them but the phone unfortunately can't pick up the most electronic sounding ones of the bunch.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We visit the Franz-Joseph glacier and are presented with the same scenes as at Fox. A wide grey valley, rainforest peering over the edge, snowy mountains looming in the distance. Walking through what could be an endless grey wasteland is slightly disconcerting. It feels like the desolation of some great beast, a dragon perhaps? Something so terrible that no life will dare approach. Of course it is just that life has not had the time to establish itself. You can see it begin though, it starts with a red algae that grows over the rocks. Then comes pale green lichens and rich dark moss before the broom and other shrubs and finally the trees and endless variety of life of the forest.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVeDzp9wXzSaHozyxcY_990pL_dAO7GS82F_kEYjZlvg-LJDNdvaGdfyRpwBCr1dJefOouKsNlafDLfl2s6BVe9uJMPn3pbn_wNIxjpaKe3bi8TtLFzprruOfGp7B0xpGHpfCXxK6yQ4/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVeDzp9wXzSaHozyxcY_990pL_dAO7GS82F_kEYjZlvg-LJDNdvaGdfyRpwBCr1dJefOouKsNlafDLfl2s6BVe9uJMPn3pbn_wNIxjpaKe3bi8TtLFzprruOfGp7B0xpGHpfCXxK6yQ4/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+383.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7e5JURoRx2EXXl2iAysB43h3G99mQHxOYRhd_OoAGuUbHl2aGNbbfBhmBIeNz-tYbutOKaMDFgzGMEfNNd1FCIf7jeLYgN0k2jaF_02jo6sIIbdx_OoVxKgYaNj26FW8H3SpvDCBi_Q/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7e5JURoRx2EXXl2iAysB43h3G99mQHxOYRhd_OoAGuUbHl2aGNbbfBhmBIeNz-tYbutOKaMDFgzGMEfNNd1FCIf7jeLYgN0k2jaF_02jo6sIIbdx_OoVxKgYaNj26FW8H3SpvDCBi_Q/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+402.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ87UDO5iFzCKlymHWCh7t1pU0iFWGD8_5RDSevY2UaZjz_pqbCaI9Dc5Rp-Yr8E1GNLWhDkZe1R_eZPEsxaO2JKHEe6UqY2N3kWoAnfl0HlWTn99J3fDZYbGNsuSPHelh0nnslbxkBY/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ87UDO5iFzCKlymHWCh7t1pU0iFWGD8_5RDSevY2UaZjz_pqbCaI9Dc5Rp-Yr8E1GNLWhDkZe1R_eZPEsxaO2JKHEe6UqY2N3kWoAnfl0HlWTn99J3fDZYbGNsuSPHelh0nnslbxkBY/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjajdwiOVUgjp-utdZQVrw5YkeIr5f48MiezhxZKjQkyOwJbIoKBmSi1ipb7l8cRspKwMSgvjzohUdkCLmmMpXF9nuV5qxHrotIy4WWQZxKe1SgIhSGjyPrlSD9sa0nF98YpAa9KOZ1o/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjajdwiOVUgjp-utdZQVrw5YkeIr5f48MiezhxZKjQkyOwJbIoKBmSi1ipb7l8cRspKwMSgvjzohUdkCLmmMpXF9nuV5qxHrotIy4WWQZxKe1SgIhSGjyPrlSD9sa0nF98YpAa9KOZ1o/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-tsp_Qusl5So92hsaVYqAk7P_vV60F_67ZxRKkTV-NqMp2pBSfoIMVbFl3_8Qiyu3OsP76BkS_0Azg3r9OzgsDysxgpZNVVEK5xfTTSVuktl9aALQ8CQtbRwkgT09Z1uu4a2xptXhr4/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-tsp_Qusl5So92hsaVYqAk7P_vV60F_67ZxRKkTV-NqMp2pBSfoIMVbFl3_8Qiyu3OsP76BkS_0Azg3r9OzgsDysxgpZNVVEK5xfTTSVuktl9aALQ8CQtbRwkgT09Z1uu4a2xptXhr4/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+424.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREckCKLtygKodzSv_-4TFFYa1q4JBb-w6OdZ5ky_0f93eeDuomZfrS2c5whj7NQ1VCkuaKnuW_ztnm6-B-SOf5S1e1i0eJPBoUpkJCdUmcJv191kdqqJ22o1aH9gYrvoRdBzPqm5l1ho/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREckCKLtygKodzSv_-4TFFYa1q4JBb-w6OdZ5ky_0f93eeDuomZfrS2c5whj7NQ1VCkuaKnuW_ztnm6-B-SOf5S1e1i0eJPBoUpkJCdUmcJv191kdqqJ22o1aH9gYrvoRdBzPqm5l1ho/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+437.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On our second day in Franz we go for a walk into the hills, it takes us to a tunnel carved through the mountainside, built to pump water through the tunnel to supply gold mining operations. It is just big enough to stand in and runs for about five hundred meters through the earth. Icy water flows through it at ankle depth and we wade through the darkness with our fading torches providing a scant light. Amy turns back but I want to make it to the end. I continue on alone and glowworms dot the ceiling. I turn off my light and am plunged into utter darkness, tiny blue lights burn unwavering all around me. They could almost be far off stars, blazing with the fierce blue of the newly born, if it weren't for their steady light, devoid of the flicker that identifies a star.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Out the far side of the tunnel is a small wooden walkway clinging to the side of the hill. Slightly ahead it returns into the earth but I am blocked by a wooden barrier. I head back, feeling my way though the dark and the water, with no company but the glowing points of light above me.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We make our way though ancient mossy woodland and come to a gorge where steel grey water carves its way through the pale rock. We decide to return along the river instead of going back the way we came, The edge of the water is littered with pieces of dead tree, fallen from the cliff-tops as their bases crumble under them. They are strewn across the rocks like a scene of destruction, providing the only colour in a world of broken grey. You do not need colour for beauty.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulnLE2d02QU9c2r0aJH3jwzmbTZ868WW9c7B0DbsvV2G1TvNSIJwFivuMvQuzAL6MU-RPaydJ6ulw-Selnqlnw5RK-pMav25CIBQjoQ_bUQsV58nL-xGH-NwbOuuNLhirZ4Zar18723U/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulnLE2d02QU9c2r0aJH3jwzmbTZ868WW9c7B0DbsvV2G1TvNSIJwFivuMvQuzAL6MU-RPaydJ6ulw-Selnqlnw5RK-pMav25CIBQjoQ_bUQsV58nL-xGH-NwbOuuNLhirZ4Zar18723U/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+459.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uAi93UQ4zYp8XSNIhtVY2ADbPQ-RyMVLu5y3q8_EZUzbxp66MzB0mES5cPNJLTzPT01cXGeLkqddCVftY0b3ndTpHut1GBXGcUVCKlYzMKfQN1T8PpK5W-4-JGWX4RQcoTYPcquSkIM/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uAi93UQ4zYp8XSNIhtVY2ADbPQ-RyMVLu5y3q8_EZUzbxp66MzB0mES5cPNJLTzPT01cXGeLkqddCVftY0b3ndTpHut1GBXGcUVCKlYzMKfQN1T8PpK5W-4-JGWX4RQcoTYPcquSkIM/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+496.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TDgxsbRojpgO2dA1eHeNJMlLuYP7om3WIwMis9rcV22QTXdALzqoHYfdcy52v1yULh5wHudnqgFGA9KHOLVeGXiBWCsyqI6bOK9e49fYic0TmyjJkLvqHc2O64Fx5DJXme9DsyFVxNA/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TDgxsbRojpgO2dA1eHeNJMlLuYP7om3WIwMis9rcV22QTXdALzqoHYfdcy52v1yULh5wHudnqgFGA9KHOLVeGXiBWCsyqI6bOK9e49fYic0TmyjJkLvqHc2O64Fx5DJXme9DsyFVxNA/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+503.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXhJ7HOLmWJX0ReTO_Y96i_U-uwPqjFakL7EqRL8qPlZ2tKlSfW7RAjGOqTX3IL3TtMhjWdvUxV3bYPXlQsVtM9SZEd4L0uozLK4vz2Qrxp1tlW3bWpklAnFHezESz2lC_6AiSzgzHLs/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXhJ7HOLmWJX0ReTO_Y96i_U-uwPqjFakL7EqRL8qPlZ2tKlSfW7RAjGOqTX3IL3TtMhjWdvUxV3bYPXlQsVtM9SZEd4L0uozLK4vz2Qrxp1tlW3bWpklAnFHezESz2lC_6AiSzgzHLs/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+513.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEunVggvBgGdJtJaHZh1IY5Kv54QtjhxFfdSDBqrt8xD8YRcmkf_QXlw_wcmBky4idXh5ktMW8Wr9YHd7UwzoCwp6o7oiU65ERd7X4b33zKKfx5ZmAA9Qh0d6OQnj7tgIhHkD14Cbhob0/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEunVggvBgGdJtJaHZh1IY5Kv54QtjhxFfdSDBqrt8xD8YRcmkf_QXlw_wcmBky4idXh5ktMW8Wr9YHd7UwzoCwp6o7oiU65ERd7X4b33zKKfx5ZmAA9Qh0d6OQnj7tgIhHkD14Cbhob0/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWccbXi7MGhtKlTDjkdvsvZ1Y9oswu6QtxP-uGqqFRIatoubZ2AV54J56bE1h4uEY4yeagMKo2ovwcdtN1j6NOjnE2-OgkDbq9ZZ3GMFqW17Ynu3GMGG-ybpWD2AXsa9G7NMdBdfPZLcU/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWccbXi7MGhtKlTDjkdvsvZ1Y9oswu6QtxP-uGqqFRIatoubZ2AV54J56bE1h4uEY4yeagMKo2ovwcdtN1j6NOjnE2-OgkDbq9ZZ3GMFqW17Ynu3GMGG-ybpWD2AXsa9G7NMdBdfPZLcU/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+539.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3B1EBxuci7obdgJm5X8RB_EsShMAHt2DGUeWCweX39RMSbEkAu_17FzW-1qgcX7jyl4ycBb5ES2JZodXqbcPxTS6qQg_bVdwgxi8uFLo_DN2v0JbE9zlMTzNleLE-vH13unNSu4D1m0/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3B1EBxuci7obdgJm5X8RB_EsShMAHt2DGUeWCweX39RMSbEkAu_17FzW-1qgcX7jyl4ycBb5ES2JZodXqbcPxTS6qQg_bVdwgxi8uFLo_DN2v0JbE9zlMTzNleLE-vH13unNSu4D1m0/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_Jpnn8BX_99n1U9KvYa8IgNPBNYV7w7cUpn0ebwLyZEEJDDAG65kaiLNtDFD-DYuGbO4F_8qf8T498d6XdYTFRBuxBOaEQe9ymjo93SyHQ1LNQNmxc_AEfv9p5lH2lI6jxzRXiiNdJ4/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_Jpnn8BX_99n1U9KvYa8IgNPBNYV7w7cUpn0ebwLyZEEJDDAG65kaiLNtDFD-DYuGbO4F_8qf8T498d6XdYTFRBuxBOaEQe9ymjo93SyHQ1LNQNmxc_AEfv9p5lH2lI6jxzRXiiNdJ4/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+546.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9fvBmXjReGO8vnfdcXNxQmeHdZvNTU_Q2m-X85_yAOO8Z150O_u7V8ykiYHJt6yKbIN4h-oLi5cluWbtfjK3ccNMg5MT-6C5VyL-HyySzAxfjp5M65FWisXJX2Kj8cUT42lKMw2nru0/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9fvBmXjReGO8vnfdcXNxQmeHdZvNTU_Q2m-X85_yAOO8Z150O_u7V8ykiYHJt6yKbIN4h-oLi5cluWbtfjK3ccNMg5MT-6C5VyL-HyySzAxfjp5M65FWisXJX2Kj8cUT42lKMw2nru0/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+549.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NpQ_ygy19S1qtITDZf0Q37G76Fhz2DXJusZqlV3MmIcrtNVcYxgy7JLB0xOEKZlK-XFAoAaUG35dFH2zRrsFzLT5G13TqmfLHheBW6UF-lp-pUbpGzOV9Rrcr-ZJbgpTzXvB7xuKSbE/s1600/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NpQ_ygy19S1qtITDZf0Q37G76Fhz2DXJusZqlV3MmIcrtNVcYxgy7JLB0xOEKZlK-XFAoAaUG35dFH2zRrsFzLT5G13TqmfLHheBW6UF-lp-pUbpGzOV9Rrcr-ZJbgpTzXvB7xuKSbE/s640/Skydiving,+Wanaks,+West+Coast+558.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In total we spend five nights between the towns of Fox and Franz, much more than we had originally planned. We probably would have only spent two or three days here if the buses had not forced us otherwise. It turned out to be a welcome break. In Australia, especially near the end we were in such a rush. Every day we were in a different place and every morning we had to rise in time for our next bus. New Zealand so far has been much more relaxed, we have been spending more time in each place and, best of all, getting to lie in! I am sure it won't last. In a weeks time you'll find me once more getting up at six each morning to catch the next bus.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It is always a shame to leave a nice hostel, and this one was no exception. Free soup, free breakfast, free wifi, run by a lovely couple with a new baby girl, and with a wonderful wood burning stove ideal for passing hours in front of with a book (or patching ALL your clothes with your new sowing kit). Not to mention it was the cheapest accommodation we've come across so far. But leave we must and leave we do. We have tickets booked for the trans-alpine railway crossing to Christchurch, supposedly one of the best railway journeys in the world.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The
one thing I will not miss will be the sand flies. They are tiny and
awful and painful. The West Coast has been full of them, I sat down
to start writing this outside my hostel and within two minutes had to
make a mad dash inside because I was covered. Funnily enough we are
close to scenes where Aragorn and the hobbits were filmed being eaten
alive by midgies. Oh what I would give for mere midgies! Where
midgies pierce your skin these knobheads stretch it apart then cut in
with their mandibles, covering the whole area in their saliva, is
packed full of anti-coagulant. Anyway Merry, in answer to you question, they eat me and Amy. Especially Amy.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With only one week left in South Island and then what will no doubt be an extremely hectic two weeks in North Island I am starting to feel the end approaching and it is coming all to soon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I have nothing bold or dramatic to end with today. No jumping out of a plane, no new countries, no insights or personal revelations, not even any songs that have struck me recently. All I know is that Amy and I our treating ourselves to a pizza in Christchurh tonight and it's all I've been thinking about all week. It will be the first time I've eaten outside a hostel since Sydney. I can't wait.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-84361914925986564372013-11-12T20:01:00.001-08:002013-11-12T20:01:26.904-08:00The deep breath before the plunge.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
almost don't get let into New Zealand. The man behind the desk has a
serious issue deciding whether or not I am the person in my passport
photo. It's only about four years old but I have changed a lot in
that time. Amy makes jokes that he doesn't seem to appreciate and then a
dried leaf decides to fall from my passport. Bringing any sort of
foreign plant life into this country is extremely regulated, there is
no way my leaf would make the cut. The offending item is put in
quarantine and I, thankfully and eventually, get let in.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
leave the airport and I am instantly struck by how much it feels like
home. We are a million miles away from Australia. It is Scotland in
late Spring. The air is cool and crisp, warmth only found in the sun.
The mountains are familiar, barren and wild. Everything speaks of home, from the
smell in the air to the taste in the water (Fraser Island can jog on,
this real water). Even the animals. I find myself recognising birds,
trees and bees where in Australia I knew none.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Even
here though there are always reminders to pull you back. To make you
realise you are nowhere near home. Whether it's the accents or the
plugs or crossing the road. I find myself almost constantly disturbed
by the fact the the sun moves left across the sky and not right. And
that at midday it's in the North. I never thought I paid that much
attention to it back home.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEsJm49uJXYKShhEGOkyZDdy5q-fXDQjcPj0dmTi-hq-V3zKT02ggwGoFmCvnvKBUlAXbsciEH7PWm33eyu4ASvfa-axpywieGESMVrFTB6ThZ4Vc_o_w0kwA7fpJAHhlN6kmMhKzACc/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEsJm49uJXYKShhEGOkyZDdy5q-fXDQjcPj0dmTi-hq-V3zKT02ggwGoFmCvnvKBUlAXbsciEH7PWm33eyu4ASvfa-axpywieGESMVrFTB6ThZ4Vc_o_w0kwA7fpJAHhlN6kmMhKzACc/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+239.JPG" title="We step off the plane to this." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBA-VlxvM41DzTJBwjLx7_AzkZGbnWyW2WSH9SqsPf5UYftsBs7wFKOVbnsIyxflAvUOdzXwsOnJBguXkLvf-adp-0H7VTPobEgoMz-gGfU4QN_6O-DWHoNMYLe6QQS86i9YSLpNUeyc/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBA-VlxvM41DzTJBwjLx7_AzkZGbnWyW2WSH9SqsPf5UYftsBs7wFKOVbnsIyxflAvUOdzXwsOnJBguXkLvf-adp-0H7VTPobEgoMz-gGfU4QN_6O-DWHoNMYLe6QQS86i9YSLpNUeyc/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+243.JPG" title="Welcome." width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Queenstown
itself is small, much smaller than I had expected. Its resident
population, at sixteen thousand, is only a few of thousand bigger
than my hometown of Linlithgow. The tourists can double or triple this number, depending on the time of year.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
town itself is nice, it feels friendly and welcoming, but that is not
the reason people come here. Queenstown is nestled between the shores
of Lake Wakatipu and the mountains. Every direction you look jagged
hills tower above you. They are beauteous and imposing, I can see
instantly why this is claimed as the highlight of New Zealand.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9YjPI89Uw8RpTciJboSDbTsB51TrqEx7l0-BpUlJac0T7vcn7ETkRyfRmEKzVKf3lVtcm8Dkwn75V7Dppf8rmJEgKefIj8k0JepXM_ICCqlXENT91nD2FscWwnzzdLW-bh3FyWQ1O5Q/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9YjPI89Uw8RpTciJboSDbTsB51TrqEx7l0-BpUlJac0T7vcn7ETkRyfRmEKzVKf3lVtcm8Dkwn75V7Dppf8rmJEgKefIj8k0JepXM_ICCqlXENT91nD2FscWwnzzdLW-bh3FyWQ1O5Q/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+001.JPG" title="The view from my hostel." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It
is our first night and a friend of Amy's who she hasn't seen in over a
year is in town. We meet up and drink too much Gin (I blame duty
free) then wake up back in the hostel. No one knows any more than
that.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
spend the day wandering around the town and the shores of Lake
Wakatipu. It is huge, shaped like a lightning bolt with three parts
of which we only ever see two. Each arm individually is at least the
size of Loch Lomond. The water is the clear icy blue of glacial melt.
It looks, feels and tastes achingly fresh. It is saturated with mica from the hills around and seems to fluoresce with the colours of the
surrounding landscape.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Almost
wherever we go in Queenstown we get a view of The Remarkables. These
form one of only two mountain ranges in the world that run directly
from North to South. And are so named not only for this but because
they are different from all the hills around. Where most have smooth
edges and jagged tops, as I am used to, having been worn away by the
ice ages, these mountains are strong and new. They are cragged and
pointed from peak to root. The ridge is like a blade, with blades
below it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Walking
back into town the vibe could not be more relaxed. The sun is out and
people sit in groups on the grass enjoying an afternoon beer or
bottle of wine. We pass a man playing his piano by the wharf. He is
entirely self taught, he doesn't read music, he doesn't know how to
play any known pieces. All he plays is music he creates, and it is
beautiful. It drifts through the air, relaxing and inspiring. I could
sit on the grass and listen all day. He used to travel the world with
his piano in the back of his van (it is on wheels courtesy of one of
his friends) but now he has settled in Queenstown. We go to the
supermarket to buy our food for the week and I find something that
shocks me to my core.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFEmcoHI6pnLIorTep1rBFh-uokcbs0zH00w9QhuF6XgGGSpqbFYiwEdyUTpzSDtJJUQxAkEAYaIj8D1BkXiaJ-KLVeIM8lZNs-QylvT9o29Dy61hojZK012etOMY1WWsDErIdze_l9c/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFEmcoHI6pnLIorTep1rBFh-uokcbs0zH00w9QhuF6XgGGSpqbFYiwEdyUTpzSDtJJUQxAkEAYaIj8D1BkXiaJ-KLVeIM8lZNs-QylvT9o29Dy61hojZK012etOMY1WWsDErIdze_l9c/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+007.JPG" title="Ridiculous." width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuEbAFOAr6ZhZGRerT1jiCELqKOU1SZZ2XBWtizWJb2JshfHFMuidcSLjjvrrkgAtmPCmM7OooTiUBwGVvcvuEVB-53HDZhcGW8AjXdj-6Mg8XtEGarjr-WmrEgFxAc5_0OpmjFsJ0WY/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuEbAFOAr6ZhZGRerT1jiCELqKOU1SZZ2XBWtizWJb2JshfHFMuidcSLjjvrrkgAtmPCmM7OooTiUBwGVvcvuEVB-53HDZhcGW8AjXdj-6Mg8XtEGarjr-WmrEgFxAc5_0OpmjFsJ0WY/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+022.JPG" title="This guy was awesome." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
wonder if I can sue them for false advertising. Christmas is
approaching and the shops are starting to fill with decorations,
gifts, and crackers. You will never guess what they call crackers out
here. Amy points out the packet and I crack up. I mean really,
Bon-Bon's??</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCHjo5OZuFPlFFWvZbAHjviLSf4LhtShAC2dEJSpdp3aGqavO6VU_GMU30febeCqSRE5OS_yRknyV074Nrnao9UbrVgE0Ecr3bKGBFKGiNrvEwtwDFjuifpZSKt1UPVn-Gpn87Zwv35c/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCHjo5OZuFPlFFWvZbAHjviLSf4LhtShAC2dEJSpdp3aGqavO6VU_GMU30febeCqSRE5OS_yRknyV074Nrnao9UbrVgE0Ecr3bKGBFKGiNrvEwtwDFjuifpZSKt1UPVn-Gpn87Zwv35c/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+008.JPG" title="Ridiculous." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
spend a while chatting to the girls in the information centre (one of
whom is from Montrose!) about things to do around the town. We want
to skydive at some point but are unsure where we want to do it. In
the end we book a boat trip around the Milford Sound and, of course,
a Lord of the Rings tour of the surrounding area.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
next morning we are up early for a walk up the nearby hill of Ben
Lomond. It is a snow capped mountain behind Queenstown that we are
told offers wonderful views in all directions. It comes in at 1700m
(Queesntown itself can be found at 308m) so it is quite a decent
climb. I later discover it is infact 400m higher than Ben Nevis! And it's smaller than most of the other mountains around; it is easy to forget how much bigger everything is than back home.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The first part of the day is spent making our way through what
feels like Forestry Commission woodland. In the woods it is dark and
dank. Queen Buff-Tailed Bumblebees clumsily buzz through the air, looking for a
place to set up a nest for the summer. Again I could be at home in
Scotland. Amy feels the same, it could be the Lake District. This
part of New Zealand is even called The Lakes District and you can
find it written across the buildings. We pass a signpost and are
reminded just how far away home is.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsPP1IfbEPVLYiRvAnhF0-2JjIKveGsbjr9wl678V2ksFKNNHLO7yeDV8krYbCu1v7fXQhLHwHgMCz8DKe8cJ58lClW2i7vfR-URIcf7_5khlPouTRnhw467Zoq5dYNYaeYWvUyOPAvs/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsPP1IfbEPVLYiRvAnhF0-2JjIKveGsbjr9wl678V2ksFKNNHLO7yeDV8krYbCu1v7fXQhLHwHgMCz8DKe8cJ58lClW2i7vfR-URIcf7_5khlPouTRnhw467Zoq5dYNYaeYWvUyOPAvs/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+032.JPG" title="Right direction too." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYwbSfmWjVfgglyo8HFKO_gejBRHL4ZDUl9-IP38UcCd5rK75Vw9h_03M52ZMYoP05b-h-H_dKE8V9OhYOR9QKSmgId33ZCxIXOcK_ytkMCfO9D_GhL2yYDWqbp11-0b2zo5wsG8b0lc/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYwbSfmWjVfgglyo8HFKO_gejBRHL4ZDUl9-IP38UcCd5rK75Vw9h_03M52ZMYoP05b-h-H_dKE8V9OhYOR9QKSmgId33ZCxIXOcK_ytkMCfO9D_GhL2yYDWqbp11-0b2zo5wsG8b0lc/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+026.JPG" title="Seats carved from trees!" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
break the treeline and New Zealand reveals itself. We get our first
proper view of Ben Lomond, having already climbed a good seven
hundred meters, a forest nestled between two of its mighty arms.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqfwYuIBK1nfkFMZq_3DLqHIi-lhOLliPzZUxRYO65F3h5YgTtpRLVg6yH3il5KGR7xFeIWpqhxyPsw1G8KybCulvYTcfeXKtFJN5wUlubVCQMGeeR-lWlZx_I-RvWZBd80Tc-SdbGPM/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqfwYuIBK1nfkFMZq_3DLqHIi-lhOLliPzZUxRYO65F3h5YgTtpRLVg6yH3il5KGR7xFeIWpqhxyPsw1G8KybCulvYTcfeXKtFJN5wUlubVCQMGeeR-lWlZx_I-RvWZBd80Tc-SdbGPM/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+036.JPG" title="Ben Lomond, significantly bigger than back home." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
reach a saddle, about an hours steep climb from the summit, and are
rewarded with a new landscape before us. We look behind and see the
mountains that dominate Queenstown, they are vast and swarthy.
Squatting over the side of the lake, snowy caps blending into wisps
of cloud. Beside them are the Remarkables, ever present. Before us is
a fresh view, row upon row of mountains, blending through green to
brown to dazzling white. Their roots twist and spread across the
valley before me. They could be one great creature, slumbering coiled
since time long spent, waiting to spread its godly limbs across the
world.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP8j3NmYzx5-KC5_0DSAbr0G3fxz5yd3oDV8hkMNBfSAEpe18YHiz1rKjnG3lLZbnyv-jHp_T3IgMgD26_j7Zz9d-qcTaKI-sqHgZrh0s5svX7SJ_FoSki2GGKwzt9BlZu1DC1BQUTZE/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP8j3NmYzx5-KC5_0DSAbr0G3fxz5yd3oDV8hkMNBfSAEpe18YHiz1rKjnG3lLZbnyv-jHp_T3IgMgD26_j7Zz9d-qcTaKI-sqHgZrh0s5svX7SJ_FoSki2GGKwzt9BlZu1DC1BQUTZE/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+051.JPG" title="Views across Wakatipu" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLRxjt_jyA72EEidwM4TfrD0-nJVOt6RQpuvCpRGKfxaxvKQBPDKJ6AgNo4EtXXwjJc2M4jn1F9JPmUAIBjbelJEzptxC6C7fYyULdHBcPq6sU8wzsXe6tBSccxu_9txvza8uWXJqe68/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLRxjt_jyA72EEidwM4TfrD0-nJVOt6RQpuvCpRGKfxaxvKQBPDKJ6AgNo4EtXXwjJc2M4jn1F9JPmUAIBjbelJEzptxC6C7fYyULdHBcPq6sU8wzsXe6tBSccxu_9txvza8uWXJqe68/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+052.JPG" title="Well that's remarkable." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyiMU69tOOCbbd8V1-foi3NZ6O5ULmim-u5qaoPEGamveEkVZlHUOY8-ib_srOw1zlYjA9JiHmvxjr201ZEg9euxDwGqYM7QAqNDfTSyqPVikB_aWMNg60jT5lGjobmrtzHQs_cvo3ow/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyiMU69tOOCbbd8V1-foi3NZ6O5ULmim-u5qaoPEGamveEkVZlHUOY8-ib_srOw1zlYjA9JiHmvxjr201ZEg9euxDwGqYM7QAqNDfTSyqPVikB_aWMNg60jT5lGjobmrtzHQs_cvo3ow/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+063.JPG" title="North reveals itself." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just
before the summit I abandon Amy and speed my way up across snow
fields and jagged rocks. I reach the top and rarely have I seen a
view like it. It is what I have just described and more. It is
everywhere, you cannot get away, you don't know where to look. Every
direction offers something new and something stunning. There is a
pillar at the top with arrows pointing to the mountains around. Ben
Nevis pokes up from behind the Remarkables. A German arrives to meet
his friends who are already there. He has no shoes on. Amy arrives
and we take all the photos. I stand on the pillar and try to capture
the scale.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
descent is long and arduous. I find going uphill so much easier. My
knee starts to pain me so I end up with a walking stick walking
backwards down hills. Amy tackles the paths at a zig-zag to reduce
the slope. I am reminded of family holidays where both these
techniques are readily employed.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51Hw1a8cdaCJKdOcOrHAiD737Vm9RiVDpv7GPlKLm5GSKl4bO5ECbJ0TpvxPSB-L4mt091eIto81U6TCun40V-NSMWwRKhB-uYStCnxBU3r1giE69AZZLqv06KFqO7FUgkv9AfDiWO-Q/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51Hw1a8cdaCJKdOcOrHAiD737Vm9RiVDpv7GPlKLm5GSKl4bO5ECbJ0TpvxPSB-L4mt091eIto81U6TCun40V-NSMWwRKhB-uYStCnxBU3r1giE69AZZLqv06KFqO7FUgkv9AfDiWO-Q/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+070.JPG" title="From the summit." width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ43sSvjQ6XAeotahSAyTaoHd0qxdq94CSNd5iThqbnWQ8cG0SvtKI1NUY8ffzTLiDBcjm-MCVXbrWrKho3Sfxs4yUDJwgdZd35RVuLTxLbpU7ApcCrYjNNcIWIik18oSKmq6JmwdOS1A/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+075.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ43sSvjQ6XAeotahSAyTaoHd0qxdq94CSNd5iThqbnWQ8cG0SvtKI1NUY8ffzTLiDBcjm-MCVXbrWrKho3Sfxs4yUDJwgdZd35RVuLTxLbpU7ApcCrYjNNcIWIik18oSKmq6JmwdOS1A/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+075.JPG" title="Again" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Gul2ouO4VkYIb_5EWrxhf67Vz1cTRh064ExdoobO2a9KQRBmP0gIQwQLXzMB7X1q8ueiGhh01p4flLt7Kxbrd5bpEFWvdRqZ6Xr47vnyZNWvVaFandVwFPT1_iPEtpWMBq2i6A0Tsaw/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Gul2ouO4VkYIb_5EWrxhf67Vz1cTRh064ExdoobO2a9KQRBmP0gIQwQLXzMB7X1q8ueiGhh01p4flLt7Kxbrd5bpEFWvdRqZ6Xr47vnyZNWvVaFandVwFPT1_iPEtpWMBq2i6A0Tsaw/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+091.JPG" title="Snow!" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-k-xgjPk-vt-HxtnZSTwj-6oDFzkxagp1MMjSW-KjiKcIlRLvoIimhkoQyv_zezhARLiqzHA_kc7Ppp0oe7coB8xpTQXIuCr2hSgGF0mCJsl63u5rD9DkYlQNIKcvaTswy3GpcMXv9s/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-k-xgjPk-vt-HxtnZSTwj-6oDFzkxagp1MMjSW-KjiKcIlRLvoIimhkoQyv_zezhARLiqzHA_kc7Ppp0oe7coB8xpTQXIuCr2hSgGF0mCJsl63u5rD9DkYlQNIKcvaTswy3GpcMXv9s/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+109.JPG" title="The fringes of Fangorn?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMRgTfTaTDiYyU1-Dz8T_woBv6d_GtkFgHE3SNXApUHo7kvX6Jc_3HIXzyXOQYEtANCPaDIL9rwNVROBvq3BXLx_WyInnSf5JatR8HafxrrevzxrKTSQ01Fugx1pGKhBz4uytKZaFgkE/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMRgTfTaTDiYyU1-Dz8T_woBv6d_GtkFgHE3SNXApUHo7kvX6Jc_3HIXzyXOQYEtANCPaDIL9rwNVROBvq3BXLx_WyInnSf5JatR8HafxrrevzxrKTSQ01Fugx1pGKhBz4uytKZaFgkE/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+116.JPG" title="You may have seen this before." width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZ6_FulxGft3RwPD8tJOuDL3qKqSXBgQypmOwOCNFnDFelt8tNVnH-g0ar-XKu4Bjqw9xwGbdAT1dlLj4VrA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That night we are exhausted, we chill out in the common room watching a film. An Irish guy asks me if I enjoyed my cheese the other night. I have no idea who he is. He explains how on my first night I went out and bought myself some pasta and cheese. He says I was munching on the block (nothing new there) and offering it around. I find his story hard to believe. As if I would just hand out my cheese.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We are picked up for our Lord of the Rings tour by a very Kiwi guy in a four by four. The weather is cloudy but it does not matter. He used to be a world class mountain biker and is very involved in local outdoor activities. He turned down a part in the films to be paid to bike across South America for a documentary. His wife was locations manager on the Lord of the Rings films and he now does these tours in his spare time. He knows a lot about Queenstown, its history and its geography. He talks about glaciers and plants and gold. And of course about Peter Jackson and LotR. A couple of times I have to stop myself correcting him when he gets a fact about the films wrong.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Between Queenstown and the Remarkables is a hill called Deer Park Heights which was used quite extensively in The Two Towers. Warg battles and treks across Rohan. I had been wanting to visit it but unfortunately the owner closed it to the public a couple of years ago. We are taken to the River Anduin where the Argonath were placed. I am amazed by Peter Jackson's ability to play with size. In reality the river is small, but well placed cameras and appropriate zooming along with huge digital statues make it appear vast on screen.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Remarkables it seems were used many times in each film, depicting many different mountain ranges. They were filmed with snow, with cloud and bare. From far off and from close up, each time appearing different. He shows us clips from the film and points out the locations we are at. If you ever see a dramatic mountain range in a distant shot, it is probably the Remarks. The vast close up shots of mountains, such as are seen at the opening of the Two Towers and during the lighting of the beacons are further west in the great Southern Alps, home of the largest mountains in New Zealand.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqJvZ0V0SlgXdPG-EX9BTSbWFAC5JwBsEQlXH9TPu2oSONrOHJLqs8LMiV5gwy2eYK5X1fQXZJ6hkMJHdUXO5Z4UAMQnGzYsHiCsTMjlehgs-JL0jaWGYhO0pezJmksvilnzv3YQm8IA/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqJvZ0V0SlgXdPG-EX9BTSbWFAC5JwBsEQlXH9TPu2oSONrOHJLqs8LMiV5gwy2eYK5X1fQXZJ6hkMJHdUXO5Z4UAMQnGzYsHiCsTMjlehgs-JL0jaWGYhO0pezJmksvilnzv3YQm8IA/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+124.JPG" title="Anduin!" width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We are taken to the Ford of Brunien, where Arwyn defied the Nazgul, for lunch. It is hard to recognise it because filming took place about fifteen years ago and rivers like this change so much. Besides that in the film the background is a different river altogether. This happens a lot, there will be a single image on screen but parts of it will be from near Queenstown, parts from up in the North Island and parts entirely created, either through use of models or a computer. Despite this it is still beautiful and ridiculously exciting. Amy and I recreate scenes as we go.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We are not meant to be able to visit the ford because the river is too high right now. Our guide seems adventurous and fun so drives straight into the water anyway. We criss cross our way up the river, occasionally just driving directly up or down it. Water flows over the car bonnet and splashes up the windows.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOUAtCKQnC-U38ruS9vTpTZyeRZ-0mCqH4uDSq3pI-rfkaCkRwUi5q-1vt21iMI8haKvG8eIEILnZOf4P0yzd0iL89zXo3LkI2ILX-BpqSPilEvue9Hfov_lnueBWlBhtRrFxtcBNnBY/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOUAtCKQnC-U38ruS9vTpTZyeRZ-0mCqH4uDSq3pI-rfkaCkRwUi5q-1vt21iMI8haKvG8eIEILnZOf4P0yzd0iL89zXo3LkI2ILX-BpqSPilEvue9Hfov_lnueBWlBhtRrFxtcBNnBY/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+138.JPG" title="If you want him, come and claim him!" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi108J1WVMV7u3A6gya_2sr8sEpnFQ2n8Yjs7Lzkci3CQL6iW8wXxs0PyrqPPXxLr89pdr6Sdy23jKwWxpMtyOTsA1rPGhsnzw_GkR2pCuTM1hOFcWxJiaZUbFgRQCwGz1uYODapz_Oci8/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi108J1WVMV7u3A6gya_2sr8sEpnFQ2n8Yjs7Lzkci3CQL6iW8wXxs0PyrqPPXxLr89pdr6Sdy23jKwWxpMtyOTsA1rPGhsnzw_GkR2pCuTM1hOFcWxJiaZUbFgRQCwGz1uYODapz_Oci8/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+142.JPG" title="Why not?" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We are taken down Skippers Canyon, an impressive rocky valley with mountains looming in the distance. The road carved into the side of the hill here was built in the 1880's entirely by hand. The Shotover River here still holds the record as one of the greatest gold bearing rivers in the world, it is the reason New Zealand flourished from a failing colony into its own country. This road was built to access the higher reaches of the river flowing straight from the hills.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our final stop gives us a view across the basin behind Queenstown that we have spent the day traversing. We hear of how the land was formed and why it is so different from the rest of the world. New Zealand is the last significant landmass to emerge from the sea. The mountains here are still young and strong. They proudly display their youth in jagged peaks and boldly sharp edges. They have not been worn down by time and ice as much as any that we see in Europe. This was also the last landmass on Earth to be inhabited. I was amazed to find out that the Maori only arrived here seven hundred years ago (the Aboriginal peoples have inhabited Australia for about fifty thousand years), only four hundred years before the Europeans wantonly staked their own claim.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioG1keo3RPTdAlw_OwTLVtsi0CulZCwDgYe89UZYfVuAuaDGOMWIeZ75DOICqg1aNwHumxFqEcHzFHRIyuVJo4A6gQYIEive28yAwa_Q2DC2wNsun_saSBkixQuQbYoV7NDyD1ckaIRTI/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioG1keo3RPTdAlw_OwTLVtsi0CulZCwDgYe89UZYfVuAuaDGOMWIeZ75DOICqg1aNwHumxFqEcHzFHRIyuVJo4A6gQYIEive28yAwa_Q2DC2wNsun_saSBkixQuQbYoV7NDyD1ckaIRTI/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+176.JPG" title="Behind Queenstown." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZbxMZILVcXSMvEM_Ek68J4o7-ybFIKirhTY13cpsAu3b9IMTpbv-_JhKhrsr-VlmzW9YQ1v56QikfUmqYybzQTmVhB99sSSdngAyNetZLpx97WpxOwGSA6N8KxcjK8Yp1RhoF8QKN9c/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZbxMZILVcXSMvEM_Ek68J4o7-ybFIKirhTY13cpsAu3b9IMTpbv-_JhKhrsr-VlmzW9YQ1v56QikfUmqYybzQTmVhB99sSSdngAyNetZLpx97WpxOwGSA6N8KxcjK8Yp1RhoF8QKN9c/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+160.JPG" title="Skipper's canyon." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb03ztK-yNN6L7OKU1Hc5us7faCXc4ZAqjAsW7DUz8Ix6yhU7hPNuTlWhSk8cC-krD0TofBoW8JOP4MMloJDBUZNExsuCqmbSeCFHcQ84hU4fmshBv4hEA6v-NL6rx-Hm9z-cNpm2Z90E/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb03ztK-yNN6L7OKU1Hc5us7faCXc4ZAqjAsW7DUz8Ix6yhU7hPNuTlWhSk8cC-krD0TofBoW8JOP4MMloJDBUZNExsuCqmbSeCFHcQ84hU4fmshBv4hEA6v-NL6rx-Hm9z-cNpm2Z90E/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+171.JPG" title="Best Gorilla I've ever seen." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We catch the bus at ten to seven to Te Anu, on the edge of Fiordland National Park (no I haven't spent it wrong, here they spell Fjord with an i). Our first day is grey grey grey. We go for a walk around the edge of Lake Te Anu. This is the largest lake in Australasia although we can only see one small arm of it from were we are. We walk through forests that shift from the familiar to the unknown in minutes. We eat lunch on the move to avoid the flies and eventually find ourselves back at the hostel, exhausted but ready for tomorrow and Milford Sound.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKammTJlm13xKJhubSEupoBdtu4LRyMkF7CattquDn0_TWxLIkSKTPNKhAzIeRrCchgxuN31uJGSIzEejT3GjvhHRc42sAx36Wub6QKkerx38VQ-e2SoyXqGNFTgSjfZkJn5GQjCF4iRo/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+432.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKammTJlm13xKJhubSEupoBdtu4LRyMkF7CattquDn0_TWxLIkSKTPNKhAzIeRrCchgxuN31uJGSIzEejT3GjvhHRc42sAx36Wub6QKkerx38VQ-e2SoyXqGNFTgSjfZkJn5GQjCF4iRo/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+432.PNG" title="Sunrise in Queenstown." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYdP0liIOFPpeuFarGchrcUAT06wSrgxUZM7HGdCKWQL9gJwQklLPGIk4UgTmSV8Cqr6NLHK0tAeIZ3SDTNuSvBNFxRIoIggt-ZNjGa0DLgBPBCjLYZLTEbFaKVW0vKjEvyt6VyYqi_o/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYdP0liIOFPpeuFarGchrcUAT06wSrgxUZM7HGdCKWQL9gJwQklLPGIk4UgTmSV8Cqr6NLHK0tAeIZ3SDTNuSvBNFxRIoIggt-ZNjGa0DLgBPBCjLYZLTEbFaKVW0vKjEvyt6VyYqi_o/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+200.JPG" title="Greeeeeeeeeey" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The bus to Milford takes us along the edge of the lake and then through the Milford valley. It is the most picturesque drive I have been on in my life. If we had had to do it ourselves we probably would never have made it all the way. Prepare yourself for a slew of photographs. The lake itself is beautiful and mirrored. Fjords extend away from us on the far side and mountains stretch up and down. A thin line of cloud clasps the edge on the hills dividing lush forested slopes from craggy snow topped peaks.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We head into the National Park itself and the mountains soar above us. They are vast. Simply vast. I find it hard to describe the beauty that I witness, having seen so much already. We catch glimpses down hidden valleys that rise to great white peaks. Glacial streams tinged with the purest teal cut through a grey blue stone. The water cold as a clear winters night and fresh as the following dawn. It glides down your throat like glass, filling you with an icy vigour.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I am amazed by the ability of the plant life to cling to the sides of these mountains. High above us, on slopes that are almost vertical, tendrils and patches of green work their way up from the valley floor. They stem from a great Beech forest through which we pass. White, Brown, Red and Black. They are unlike the Common Beech we see back home, grand and tall with limbs spread wide. To me this feels like an Oak forest. The trees are gnarled and twisted, moss clings to every branch. It feels ancient and magical, you could step off the road and be lost in an instant. A waterfall surges through it, the deep earthy green contrasting with the bright sapphire blue. Both colours that scream of life.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonRPi0m1rNukiJxlFHwuEidzbgr3AwnCCe_mxM4eOIsUPbz0D8fyderfHXfEZzJJjoiRauLwbLcfU9_KQvDMcs-VBN_2Jz1zd1EeX-7h8Km71wtFy5yuKBTW6Lc2VmgE2XbjqfLciJww/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonRPi0m1rNukiJxlFHwuEidzbgr3AwnCCe_mxM4eOIsUPbz0D8fyderfHXfEZzJJjoiRauLwbLcfU9_KQvDMcs-VBN_2Jz1zd1EeX-7h8Km71wtFy5yuKBTW6Lc2VmgE2XbjqfLciJww/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+210.JPG" title="Cloud clings to the hills." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8msSyGg5CNv9bfJDj_vBlNY5y9dJ93N4g3x_j_viw120u-9QBKmLQfpZjnPUkk_Eti4J2ty33p9qhaK64-3r0-BEYqzARPlMym6kDehMYedeuGicYTVNdvrbHzEGrT9853hlUgfwsXIQ/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+221.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8msSyGg5CNv9bfJDj_vBlNY5y9dJ93N4g3x_j_viw120u-9QBKmLQfpZjnPUkk_Eti4J2ty33p9qhaK64-3r0-BEYqzARPlMym6kDehMYedeuGicYTVNdvrbHzEGrT9853hlUgfwsXIQ/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+221.JPG" title="From green to blue." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lucStEB6eDuNNudWHCoBkB5XR_bZSlR_RcZKrsPsa6NrtRGeUElAmrmQbLhCdln7vgbNkWOcwpILO_KLHFwBux7S0RfYbomSHIBbFYqF1H47tN83HQKQZNdHlNg9C-UkCpxbCDzcDzI/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lucStEB6eDuNNudWHCoBkB5XR_bZSlR_RcZKrsPsa6NrtRGeUElAmrmQbLhCdln7vgbNkWOcwpILO_KLHFwBux7S0RfYbomSHIBbFYqF1H47tN83HQKQZNdHlNg9C-UkCpxbCDzcDzI/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+224.JPG" title="I took way too my too many photo's on this trip." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjLrnxIdmQZgxFCHGeXOYtFuRQ3xfGmWqDddQvJGWJHxuUXkYPuWG16po4aQeCpPYqru__7xihVbjExhc0RaNkSp2uZS1-8p1ttJ6UCTaQCQyCQYCgOGAUIamdSpx3Ee0V64wLI-Jxm8/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjLrnxIdmQZgxFCHGeXOYtFuRQ3xfGmWqDddQvJGWJHxuUXkYPuWG16po4aQeCpPYqru__7xihVbjExhc0RaNkSp2uZS1-8p1ttJ6UCTaQCQyCQYCgOGAUIamdSpx3Ee0V64wLI-Jxm8/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+234.JPG" title="As you will see." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXr5pN6dpnpautfYoQDXK3wBwte8ukSyS-klwsjDiZ4Jx2-EMQN4y_CNscxWGdj1d8_lOugd0Wo0xdI7GafYl2DGcPS0j_IDhzhqshzF1eDLSVRcGJdOg0N6cZUWhrGxnWzGKk36SV34Q/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXr5pN6dpnpautfYoQDXK3wBwte8ukSyS-klwsjDiZ4Jx2-EMQN4y_CNscxWGdj1d8_lOugd0Wo0xdI7GafYl2DGcPS0j_IDhzhqshzF1eDLSVRcGJdOg0N6cZUWhrGxnWzGKk36SV34Q/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+241.JPG" title="These mountains were insane!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf3Hdv5O6LVE3jQiWxg_XJrGUXaZrHG-X_VG4lJcl_eUz1asv1T2MfK4sPX63g4LJyYCkMCMbI0Ak864wxKGNxtwJJrKwhyRbQaDMNCF6DcMaxZNsdN-wq8bYUdv4kR_rhQbEWVDO2sY/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf3Hdv5O6LVE3jQiWxg_XJrGUXaZrHG-X_VG4lJcl_eUz1asv1T2MfK4sPX63g4LJyYCkMCMbI0Ak864wxKGNxtwJJrKwhyRbQaDMNCF6DcMaxZNsdN-wq8bYUdv4kR_rhQbEWVDO2sY/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+245.JPG" title="And kept getting better." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGqAXT53OfGUaGW8McYP1DHDwWbXMCRr1YL-_Yxm3T4_q5ZFXEkKrWt1YuQEuK_NZss2pddLN0nBhWIFNVezGiuR_lSJuyAMqLuWR6E5ttgqIOzkWRSvKeGQ0N85xedkT2rKvtWV_V3c/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGqAXT53OfGUaGW8McYP1DHDwWbXMCRr1YL-_Yxm3T4_q5ZFXEkKrWt1YuQEuK_NZss2pddLN0nBhWIFNVezGiuR_lSJuyAMqLuWR6E5ttgqIOzkWRSvKeGQ0N85xedkT2rKvtWV_V3c/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+263.JPG" title="Oh the waterfalls." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWCfhPm6R7mxZBygE8boOHzZJLz979gFVJ3UdWMf8SdG1lv9Q39OM09dufDg3qfnAPELekbWxewTgWtjbAya2B0z3xH3Tlpq4IrnD1RFmCjNFmGpjjX2FfJU_oDA0c2axirmfMchiimc/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWCfhPm6R7mxZBygE8boOHzZJLz979gFVJ3UdWMf8SdG1lv9Q39OM09dufDg3qfnAPELekbWxewTgWtjbAya2B0z3xH3Tlpq4IrnD1RFmCjNFmGpjjX2FfJU_oDA0c2axirmfMchiimc/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+267.JPG" title="And the rivers!" width="478" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Milford Sound was originally named Milford Haven. Captain Cook, on his many journeys around New Zealand, failed to discover this natural wonder. On his maps it is marked as a small bay, for the entrance is hidden from the sea. Captain John Grono was washed up here in a storm in 1812 and I can only imagine the awe he must have felt. To discover this place of beauty. To be the first eyes to gaze upon these lofty heights. Of course it was previously known by the Maori, but to him it would have felt new.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He named it Milford Haven and it was later, incorrectly, changed to Milford Sound. It is not a sound but a fjord. A sound is a river valley that has flooded with water whereas a fjord is an inlet created by glacial erosion. This gives it steep sides and deep waters. Our boat departs from the innermost point and takes us past the wonders of Mitre Peak, shaped like a bishops hat from the right angle.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We drive along the edge of the sound and pass penguins, dolphins and seals. Waterfalls cascade like thousands of tiny sprites, each one shedding droplets of water in fireworks as it falls. They are all around, they pour from the hilltops into the depths below. We are but fifty meters from the edge and yet the water extends for almost two hundred underneath us. In the centre of the fjord it can reach three hundred meters deep.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We make a brief trip out to the Tasmen sea to see the coast stretching on either side then we return down the other side of the fjord. The water here is a bright turquoise, almost green, and cliffs drop dramatically into its depths. We approach a waterfall. It strikes the sea with a fury and waves of mist expand outwards in ever expanding circles. We get closer and have to hold on for the force of the wind it is expelling in all directions. It feels like some primeval force, we face it and are found wanting. The air is a blanket of raging water, inhibiting breathing and blocking sight. We retreat, soaked and thrilled.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvVWH6lnOVzOW3-jNukh7oaGmuubXeR_dPIgnL2Ik4EdoLr4_05J7s8vyOXoJbiqhWpKYxfxdjBVPEXypwgcJuIpgLMBjys6ldpkNqTuE_Q4nQHRB3bje-3kfEiAL6r_GW6mKaqb_1ro/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvVWH6lnOVzOW3-jNukh7oaGmuubXeR_dPIgnL2Ik4EdoLr4_05J7s8vyOXoJbiqhWpKYxfxdjBVPEXypwgcJuIpgLMBjys6ldpkNqTuE_Q4nQHRB3bje-3kfEiAL6r_GW6mKaqb_1ro/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+273.JPG" title="Milford appears around the corner." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J0AYqRxLEvyCbv4RqfA3lBzSkzT87oQMiPm309cJlkB1Yr8aNdU3OwOzasjfXqeOTxmJdrbj49iPna-xEo1wqK5XVZvJu6BLTeLc3bv6y_YXQ0xLy0XWYY07skRfosljbXO2I9dStUQ/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J0AYqRxLEvyCbv4RqfA3lBzSkzT87oQMiPm309cJlkB1Yr8aNdU3OwOzasjfXqeOTxmJdrbj49iPna-xEo1wqK5XVZvJu6BLTeLc3bv6y_YXQ0xLy0XWYY07skRfosljbXO2I9dStUQ/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+282.JPG" title="What is there to say." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHx5QyJBmyQw8eBsSA-H9T1wOlq_rYyt2UKtm69UGWtH28zSAKqPy0DWByjdorVs3Ykrp_OXorV0IfefJ6lDLCzdrQyik6SCbnXuoxDlWnlpnTrSpPetDIwM1-DPKXVyNSppDCWj3RP4/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHx5QyJBmyQw8eBsSA-H9T1wOlq_rYyt2UKtm69UGWtH28zSAKqPy0DWByjdorVs3Ykrp_OXorV0IfefJ6lDLCzdrQyik6SCbnXuoxDlWnlpnTrSpPetDIwM1-DPKXVyNSppDCWj3RP4/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+287.JPG" title="Dolphins!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCbyebnPCnmxIgd55EuUVvYUh7VVnAnKf4-hyUtera9ukFssPeSuv1E3dGNopwjv_ngK9qpSciJCzRg7PkHcTqxTV6qQPAjmeXKOaIh3ff3BBSjRFjruBVbyfXTGV6LxDyyE3MHFWv6A/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCbyebnPCnmxIgd55EuUVvYUh7VVnAnKf4-hyUtera9ukFssPeSuv1E3dGNopwjv_ngK9qpSciJCzRg7PkHcTqxTV6qQPAjmeXKOaIh3ff3BBSjRFjruBVbyfXTGV6LxDyyE3MHFWv6A/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+290.JPG" title="Knitting. Again." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CInu026ptkkOyaaq63O0Si6Hn2SmPFgIOUnYlGIXeTzBOd2vmXtTnsrZepm-WjPOSOf5H9bW3F-u1xCZbFmi6ZsWZ9o7MeLKa_s4JMZhQvmTZTvy4wgFCfc4tW2LWAk-33jnuu9fw4c/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CInu026ptkkOyaaq63O0Si6Hn2SmPFgIOUnYlGIXeTzBOd2vmXtTnsrZepm-WjPOSOf5H9bW3F-u1xCZbFmi6ZsWZ9o7MeLKa_s4JMZhQvmTZTvy4wgFCfc4tW2LWAk-33jnuu9fw4c/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+303.JPG" title="These were my favorite waterfalls of the trip." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYzlI9rfAvTfvS5WT1ubUIvzWCw2G1FEVny5lrfSBoLjW0E9uKRfSqMvsZl9dQWwQNn9ECch1n3zWodo90izNwJDHUKwm4fAekm0Up7PpYB81WvES7ORPmtN3bsz_q2Qu4XmQ8LSw9wI/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYzlI9rfAvTfvS5WT1ubUIvzWCw2G1FEVny5lrfSBoLjW0E9uKRfSqMvsZl9dQWwQNn9ECch1n3zWodo90izNwJDHUKwm4fAekm0Up7PpYB81WvES7ORPmtN3bsz_q2Qu4XmQ8LSw9wI/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+307.JPG" title="Hence the multiple photos." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Xp6Emu7FYuo-zGGO6XJged3G0vPSMjTHwGN1np7lZHOvbtDBL3kcWEUJmMS8bZqFIdgspeypxFDVG9giJ6tPqAnx7kYi_vAr7Btc8hCu6Pxuu3k399yvICltSk3HeR4-Cb7mzTu2FsY/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Xp6Emu7FYuo-zGGO6XJged3G0vPSMjTHwGN1np7lZHOvbtDBL3kcWEUJmMS8bZqFIdgspeypxFDVG9giJ6tPqAnx7kYi_vAr7Btc8hCu6Pxuu3k399yvICltSk3HeR4-Cb7mzTu2FsY/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+309.JPG" title="Different angle. Different photo." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUjQOcnFtp6dpZFhBvVFbT4aVsXVBNBjhvU8G-7nFoaWYd7J8rWSZuunHZjitAClP4_ZP-SPpE6kYNA6FZxDxpOAr2LcdGOXaStWy3uthyphenhyphenxYuGYjHt8ebzRYTUtBSCmIGOA2LnTMZCls/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUjQOcnFtp6dpZFhBvVFbT4aVsXVBNBjhvU8G-7nFoaWYd7J8rWSZuunHZjitAClP4_ZP-SPpE6kYNA6FZxDxpOAr2LcdGOXaStWy3uthyphenhyphenxYuGYjHt8ebzRYTUtBSCmIGOA2LnTMZCls/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+317.JPG" title="Tumbling down from the hills." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG00KkfWfAqhqQk2u7zEFZNQ9uYPjRsV8xVZwrJg4nuVv4HLtcvJPryfk3RZS_u0hM3c1iBwAoYs9tv_wCHrCXrxNA0Ee32p2fSinewKQJF8zWhlUvU-B0UvFBFRjudYVEXNRDc6h2bJs/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG00KkfWfAqhqQk2u7zEFZNQ9uYPjRsV8xVZwrJg4nuVv4HLtcvJPryfk3RZS_u0hM3c1iBwAoYs9tv_wCHrCXrxNA0Ee32p2fSinewKQJF8zWhlUvU-B0UvFBFRjudYVEXNRDc6h2bJs/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+318.JPG" title="I couldn't pick between this one and the last." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BCtr66KdQfwEvdy1zz7tDzPngjSg-UivEizv4Nobd2hINTUXKgd_KZjf30dOERyR0BpMcjc_k4Q4_jhhmkHei8Dr7O3wQLdLBRSsgDq7j6l_WoIbLFsEzQgCXCU0qVRYLUWOkudkmDI/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BCtr66KdQfwEvdy1zz7tDzPngjSg-UivEizv4Nobd2hINTUXKgd_KZjf30dOERyR0BpMcjc_k4Q4_jhhmkHei8Dr7O3wQLdLBRSsgDq7j6l_WoIbLFsEzQgCXCU0qVRYLUWOkudkmDI/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+322.JPG" title="Looking back into the sound." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIa7OCdrlKjjnhn4Jr_hvVrTSE9FliSxVPgr4FdsvPEG_QDN8afgvtHBuA2kFBexgicv1QTSN-kgwZPROdaAk8PcozjpJKvCGPTHknK47ZjqgkKGGIWyFLnCYEVQYA3BLFLJet2bm6Lc/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIa7OCdrlKjjnhn4Jr_hvVrTSE9FliSxVPgr4FdsvPEG_QDN8afgvtHBuA2kFBexgicv1QTSN-kgwZPROdaAk8PcozjpJKvCGPTHknK47ZjqgkKGGIWyFLnCYEVQYA3BLFLJet2bm6Lc/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+326.JPG" title="The Tasmen Sea." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp3tOoEyufffC0r7f3lKzOIshoZwrZrIYPuLu1PBkxKjJALt-l8e0ovVfAH2-S9guDblvAKwviq65sQGCHdX3DByonZFsAlJzj-jiW74_kla-V-Bj4CEJbaRS4AVA96VzUsUtii7uhLI/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp3tOoEyufffC0r7f3lKzOIshoZwrZrIYPuLu1PBkxKjJALt-l8e0ovVfAH2-S9guDblvAKwviq65sQGCHdX3DByonZFsAlJzj-jiW74_kla-V-Bj4CEJbaRS4AVA96VzUsUtii7uhLI/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+347.JPG" title="Green green waters." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IDRYWjtkZWo52Or6GdPV0uOJi-RhZVSpt3e34GLhGXGYIhm_XuvAjY4UeoKXoYpq3LPeSDOQkGnrhluUIaW2aKJ4nxAmd-vwh-mNW7GaTSPAOlihPk788c9n4V8jgYRIINFLRvSV_X4/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IDRYWjtkZWo52Or6GdPV0uOJi-RhZVSpt3e34GLhGXGYIhm_XuvAjY4UeoKXoYpq3LPeSDOQkGnrhluUIaW2aKJ4nxAmd-vwh-mNW7GaTSPAOlihPk788c9n4V8jgYRIINFLRvSV_X4/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+352.JPG" title="Dipped in sunlight." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGpG-LnXMQlcu1a3afq7t5NLTlgt0MDg0n0EpwrS2lQk2NrYC1ZIdPNgeL12CdS9xEhpNTgsc5fTJMqm1Gb-Hs3wUrZcysNFsdv4teTzWFXJ-LsNW8v-vd7AhGkijIaSy-ERXUJtkwTc/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGpG-LnXMQlcu1a3afq7t5NLTlgt0MDg0n0EpwrS2lQk2NrYC1ZIdPNgeL12CdS9xEhpNTgsc5fTJMqm1Gb-Hs3wUrZcysNFsdv4teTzWFXJ-LsNW8v-vd7AhGkijIaSy-ERXUJtkwTc/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+356.JPG" title="This guy got me pretty wet." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiDFaZ1X4i7l-gtNg8RqFv4s4li-8Nmj_ibMmvbcw9llTPMSvykqOu-OxeG_VmRi8MSUspwwqltCPwd8hZhyphenhyphenQMZU-m-V-IvLJPiC94GD4RUVfBW8nxh6qBBCZzeCpPoLDD7_iUj5QyuQ/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiDFaZ1X4i7l-gtNg8RqFv4s4li-8Nmj_ibMmvbcw9llTPMSvykqOu-OxeG_VmRi8MSUspwwqltCPwd8hZhyphenhyphenQMZU-m-V-IvLJPiC94GD4RUVfBW8nxh6qBBCZzeCpPoLDD7_iUj5QyuQ/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+360.JPG" title="And my phone." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9c4r6LZ7EQUbb9rqaNzZB7jDntKZt9O2XBHBwZmrp4UfNRwwxPhsxXSA6QTryAiI4vb9ARcfqOWmz2wF1lQ1KNoeXM5hlQaVKCMEyk0ayHcfTtbUJyB0G5vo77i4ApOgD4nyryNnN-Q/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9c4r6LZ7EQUbb9rqaNzZB7jDntKZt9O2XBHBwZmrp4UfNRwwxPhsxXSA6QTryAiI4vb9ARcfqOWmz2wF1lQ1KNoeXM5hlQaVKCMEyk0ayHcfTtbUJyB0G5vo77i4ApOgD4nyryNnN-Q/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+365.JPG" title="Cliffs drop straight to the sea." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh147InPv5OWFXy18wzcY8g7_UYbUqLhqMDZXjr_xcxBG_Apu_ao0lNhmyRuLq_yzdwn8hSECA9uT8481vsO6HZ10vW92eYg2aBJmsjj9wJakByRFNuAzH7cg66M_mUgtviE20-r8zYof0/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh147InPv5OWFXy18wzcY8g7_UYbUqLhqMDZXjr_xcxBG_Apu_ao0lNhmyRuLq_yzdwn8hSECA9uT8481vsO6HZ10vW92eYg2aBJmsjj9wJakByRFNuAzH7cg66M_mUgtviE20-r8zYof0/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+368.JPG" title="And rise to the heavens." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgq5r2CUVmAcvEbACBiwSksWbUTePF3t2yDh9nnN3utZuifbO4cUYx16nQs_KtuzCWOyDIehuiBsSmj8cItTNS6NnandQI9Zou0ymq4B43DlJkRWo0Vf8p7-vGEfdaGruW6_OpcFB-ac/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgq5r2CUVmAcvEbACBiwSksWbUTePF3t2yDh9nnN3utZuifbO4cUYx16nQs_KtuzCWOyDIehuiBsSmj8cItTNS6NnandQI9Zou0ymq4B43DlJkRWo0Vf8p7-vGEfdaGruW6_OpcFB-ac/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+371.JPG" title="One of many bays off the sound." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQUd-jolsi7rJeIp5LSfKigdCEq7uLkcoylosSxpvA7YRA3TmxQZThakgsLqt4eyHxTHElZ4Juh99Xb9d-NCaD9A3udiaZRQRogiEFY84jWGGXPZLpbMzgxUZQqtAvzmjEdZVBvWR7rw/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQUd-jolsi7rJeIp5LSfKigdCEq7uLkcoylosSxpvA7YRA3TmxQZThakgsLqt4eyHxTHElZ4Juh99Xb9d-NCaD9A3udiaZRQRogiEFY84jWGGXPZLpbMzgxUZQqtAvzmjEdZVBvWR7rw/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+373.JPG" title="Sorry." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLug2CHmP0pWSmOFkaU4refdZXaU4ZP3Nj_qzWUaXF96_-GOGdUlamroErvg8lXTgaydDl4WiREctNb8HKQyD5tOyBIgp1_9Uy7PdtHi8iJG8ktyJsBLNMFeEAdhzqNxA3hX1oULVqN4/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLug2CHmP0pWSmOFkaU4refdZXaU4ZP3Nj_qzWUaXF96_-GOGdUlamroErvg8lXTgaydDl4WiREctNb8HKQyD5tOyBIgp1_9Uy7PdtHi8iJG8ktyJsBLNMFeEAdhzqNxA3hX1oULVqN4/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+374.JPG" title="It's never over." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eokLYgtn020vxwUce27gGPNj2zXH3KPUyE_h7scgSewqmchPn9y-s_hrhnZ_VRxHuHEB6px6MRJXp8e40ir0ItW-3rF_oek8ZtcAAajBldZfG1slT74LG8SUMq6tRZS5HCmExRWsMJU/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eokLYgtn020vxwUce27gGPNj2zXH3KPUyE_h7scgSewqmchPn9y-s_hrhnZ_VRxHuHEB6px6MRJXp8e40ir0ItW-3rF_oek8ZtcAAajBldZfG1slT74LG8SUMq6tRZS5HCmExRWsMJU/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+378.JPG" title="See." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIlOIvze3yDXmrqwue7_cUAqDbiykf8l0RhOP7A6u9LhqqV5B_vQBiipg16T8322UZKQFXsQcdc2n7lPvo2jNe_WrKKQc71j29oB-LDAJ4XD2upEfwEjyz4LoXP3Ne4dVhENin4nEohI/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIlOIvze3yDXmrqwue7_cUAqDbiykf8l0RhOP7A6u9LhqqV5B_vQBiipg16T8322UZKQFXsQcdc2n7lPvo2jNe_WrKKQc71j29oB-LDAJ4XD2upEfwEjyz4LoXP3Ne4dVhENin4nEohI/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+381.JPG" title="I just can't stop." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4p2MP-4USXsgFNdVB-5f_1J2TJDafiR40AQVWO-GBZR-ncWM42jtGKVfkQTnXODA9akAtcmti5dMaDiL0SUfUCme-qHDUyR149lMyDD32i15A3EjGWWNNpfMdrXRzFyoAvYPwGzn12uM/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4p2MP-4USXsgFNdVB-5f_1J2TJDafiR40AQVWO-GBZR-ncWM42jtGKVfkQTnXODA9akAtcmti5dMaDiL0SUfUCme-qHDUyR149lMyDD32i15A3EjGWWNNpfMdrXRzFyoAvYPwGzn12uM/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+388.JPG" title="Does anyone even read these?" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzmLwFamjtwjJo8Q83cSfI5daWCwx6tvhPoRaoFJHViVutYwFxd9dLACPvGt4Fcm-n8y47iSS7litxQ2AEp5Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRlpiPDgiLBWwyWbnpqcdA7cBPxr81dCt1kAAfNRWT4Qq1LTYgeF-mCH2U2D72vBuS4DeKOEH2cXL-IObgew' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The journey home is the same as the journey out yet I find it even more stunning. I do not know if it is because I am on a different side of the bus or if it is the different light but again I cannot keep my finger off my camera. Rivulets of crystal pour from mountain tops and glaciers, streaming down cliffs and over ledges where they disperse on the wind into countless shards, not one reaching the valley floor. Strands of hair floating on a breeze.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZpaU0tg6WkYgK11XKhk1WZ6_h6W93m3FGDfItxN83vmhzK3L9C0aE_GpQ57x_VEVv7IolbkJ_aFdnxrfrSEo6UGgZV2R_wDJBl-iBGVHQNi0VhcS54XYOZ9bKwgBAoJvkE0P5GARYVQ/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZpaU0tg6WkYgK11XKhk1WZ6_h6W93m3FGDfItxN83vmhzK3L9C0aE_GpQ57x_VEVv7IolbkJ_aFdnxrfrSEo6UGgZV2R_wDJBl-iBGVHQNi0VhcS54XYOZ9bKwgBAoJvkE0P5GARYVQ/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+398.JPG" title="The way home. Finally." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJsC6nC8qfBaPYWqYvhOeSx-bP1thnE5_BlgSq8TR7OWFUu3NX6QDlPlc18r_uwodvxb8PqgKQF98M4FD0JlYMe4SQxuioTYl68w-XOV81gDqb2YTilY2pArGJMfRTKnRPw1MoVerqJE/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJsC6nC8qfBaPYWqYvhOeSx-bP1thnE5_BlgSq8TR7OWFUu3NX6QDlPlc18r_uwodvxb8PqgKQF98M4FD0JlYMe4SQxuioTYl68w-XOV81gDqb2YTilY2pArGJMfRTKnRPw1MoVerqJE/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+402.JPG" title="So many waterfalls." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDaIDphVESavJTIrTt2cpwpiIpzMpkMpYYlXUy4cYzcIbEqTDDSahZsSJXmxdReSrUlO0Sgt_Hmgcw2xYQGF9PfzeG-4iUGRH4TgRPK5qMqxhyphenhyphene2Xe97JOZ0P_w_6ULBVjpitKGfOnhw/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDaIDphVESavJTIrTt2cpwpiIpzMpkMpYYlXUy4cYzcIbEqTDDSahZsSJXmxdReSrUlO0Sgt_Hmgcw2xYQGF9PfzeG-4iUGRH4TgRPK5qMqxhyphenhyphene2Xe97JOZ0P_w_6ULBVjpitKGfOnhw/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+403.JPG" title="We passed through a tunnel and this view revealed itself." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyozkx8jMysdvV_UzPobH9xiMrO6f8UUwy_YTaxAPYPt7xgyKESKJkjdOx0me0qQwXWTNBzsKrmsF08EguMYvePw1kxgonrLxPkxm0SYnjEajQ3NJNnVk-7MG83OFoatT6vSCHbM2eZw/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyozkx8jMysdvV_UzPobH9xiMrO6f8UUwy_YTaxAPYPt7xgyKESKJkjdOx0me0qQwXWTNBzsKrmsF08EguMYvePw1kxgonrLxPkxm0SYnjEajQ3NJNnVk-7MG83OFoatT6vSCHbM2eZw/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+406.JPG" title="As above." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjh3JEaW7uUBr6437JzhSLIGsiyCPgv4S0Pys7UHvT0GwZ5_5XnCMGdAP6OP-_CyEeo90XkWDGZlYEPBRgXJwnJgk4Ffy_TPupHys-9dNdRgdcNXt5tyyLAF1fVrEZKn6B1gFntpwIFc/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjh3JEaW7uUBr6437JzhSLIGsiyCPgv4S0Pys7UHvT0GwZ5_5XnCMGdAP6OP-_CyEeo90XkWDGZlYEPBRgXJwnJgk4Ffy_TPupHys-9dNdRgdcNXt5tyyLAF1fVrEZKn6B1gFntpwIFc/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+411.JPG" title="Where does all this water come from?" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSHNhf7mPTwYC6c0JKLLNKyBqDy4ecuinxyHNJwDv6Enle1QjvzRKePr2zvcyUYliVOorExVuP0pBnYBGWlIY9PMEmohtWEEkFI-NynBaXhOtSfp7sSaGo4f-J3jVJTitmDCHicg2QNM/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSHNhf7mPTwYC6c0JKLLNKyBqDy4ecuinxyHNJwDv6Enle1QjvzRKePr2zvcyUYliVOorExVuP0pBnYBGWlIY9PMEmohtWEEkFI-NynBaXhOtSfp7sSaGo4f-J3jVJTitmDCHicg2QNM/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+422.JPG" title="I just deleted another two pictures of this mountain." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhympFT7zWlcuVbV4cA3VULRYqL7ivEK4cqZEIFP_t-KpFVdjdRSrycfk7H2DTW4_tO6YAlLZBxVLTImXmsHBUm7opTtBvOf1Ltrxv6I82scB9K7y3fl1MvdcMoOqc3e1RbmJmW_cXnMEY/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhympFT7zWlcuVbV4cA3VULRYqL7ivEK4cqZEIFP_t-KpFVdjdRSrycfk7H2DTW4_tO6YAlLZBxVLTImXmsHBUm7opTtBvOf1Ltrxv6I82scB9K7y3fl1MvdcMoOqc3e1RbmJmW_cXnMEY/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+424.JPG" title="Rainforest carpets the hills." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoKZ2C4J-qBXGaKdoC8e0Uzwx1O2wwk7jVvcCbK7zhaPu1PvZYXiLYbCTpjKlc0cC3RKQD3WIlUULE70sN7wkNbdJZ4enrp-7tatxbj-BvSwqkUGzbX4iZVzqcVwF2tUeaL8SANMX9Ig/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoKZ2C4J-qBXGaKdoC8e0Uzwx1O2wwk7jVvcCbK7zhaPu1PvZYXiLYbCTpjKlc0cC3RKQD3WIlUULE70sN7wkNbdJZ4enrp-7tatxbj-BvSwqkUGzbX4iZVzqcVwF2tUeaL8SANMX9Ig/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+426.JPG" title="And stretches into the snow." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEruAMDy5RzJH6ZN98Ze_DH0B_E5du9AsrCWKM23ec3knqDCtULBLPWRsnBaj93rTNw-pc4rPR1mJU5Yx7F2ymfqbVcLmqMzMFobna2uw5NHA1Y6DbjQ0lT97TkKk3jsHSNdtByg4ZKFI/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+428.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEruAMDy5RzJH6ZN98Ze_DH0B_E5du9AsrCWKM23ec3knqDCtULBLPWRsnBaj93rTNw-pc4rPR1mJU5Yx7F2ymfqbVcLmqMzMFobna2uw5NHA1Y6DbjQ0lT97TkKk3jsHSNdtByg4ZKFI/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+428.PNG" title="You get the idea." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR7fRGmoZljYOArTDa5jf10gu0u2viW7IjnsUvxaJ-Lm2u4NiFrfzUKIih-xhw16NXRBJeGy5t_9pJK7pH5gBa3mhV3BFBeADiazvUXpjF3-TBMDBL8IRT74pmuloHoDdSPoOuxjMRQ4/s1600/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR7fRGmoZljYOArTDa5jf10gu0u2viW7IjnsUvxaJ-Lm2u4NiFrfzUKIih-xhw16NXRBJeGy5t_9pJK7pH5gBa3mhV3BFBeADiazvUXpjF3-TBMDBL8IRT74pmuloHoDdSPoOuxjMRQ4/s640/Queenstown,+Fjiordland+435.JPG" title="Lake Te Anau shows us it doesn't have to be grey." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The next morning we return to Queenstown. We have one day before we head north and it is the nicest day yet. The temperature is up and the sky is perfectly clear. The Remarkables are radiant and Lake Wakatipu is at its bluest yet. We cannot decide what to do. We think about a game of frisbee golf or a few beers in the sun. And then we have an idea. We think why not, there couldn't be a better day for it. So we do it. An hour later we do it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We fall from the sky.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dhh6_Atjgo4?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-16596948790369781592013-11-03T01:16:00.002-07:002013-11-03T01:16:51.261-07:00Avoiding the bush fires.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Byron
Bay is a bit of a blur. We arrive at midnight, exhausted, prepared to
leave at midnight the next day. Another overnight bus awaits. We have recently set about planning our remaining time in Australia and found
ourselves extremely short. The result is quick stops and overnight
buses.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Byron
has as alternative, nay hippie, feel to it. A short drive away is
Nimbin, the cannabis capital of Australia. We do not
have the time to make a trip. We get up in the morning and I feel as
tired as I did when I went to bed. The hostel seems chilled out and
relaxed, an old man with a long white beard wanders around aimlessly
in his pajamas. He looks like he has been here for a long time.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
head into town, first stop the farmers market. This place is right up
my street. People wander around in harem pants and I can only see one place that sells any sort of meat. We stop at a delightful little
stall and the woman convinces me to buy a goats cheese and aubergine
tart, some frittata, a pear and raspberry muffin and a passion-fruit
slice. I should never buy food when I'm hungry. It is all divine
though and well worth the price.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNWp40G8zExLuug1ByGmje_zCxIit7iqgX7QaO9BjhuHkhzFEKS0cReWB9h5Mao6xL2pp1ShgTeVU4F_2p0vnses29d_R7xuSkcU26JinGN3hzaJRiF9X6-UgSRaPOOU4eILvcy0tizs/s1600/Sydney+and+around+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNWp40G8zExLuug1ByGmje_zCxIit7iqgX7QaO9BjhuHkhzFEKS0cReWB9h5Mao6xL2pp1ShgTeVU4F_2p0vnses29d_R7xuSkcU26JinGN3hzaJRiF9X6-UgSRaPOOU4eILvcy0tizs/s640/Sydney+and+around+007.JPG" title="All of the vegetarian food :)" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
wander around Byron Head along sands of black and white that meld and
merge into each other with every step. The waves roll in high and
strong and two small children yell in delight as they are engulfed by
water far above their head. An Australian family happily let their
young girl get taken out by one particularly large wave in the aid of a
good photo.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ifK6wombibY46ZeL1udyb_5OyQZFEB0LD6yfBNBgWc8pszztn5IloR5UZvZ0hcQ8jACCr8KRFsassLmZxIcgsOT3HMu3-7VZgT4mcp3CczkxIRawAj0pUkvz-sHYUv22B3ZnsjuLj8I/s1600/Sydney+and+around+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ifK6wombibY46ZeL1udyb_5OyQZFEB0LD6yfBNBgWc8pszztn5IloR5UZvZ0hcQ8jACCr8KRFsassLmZxIcgsOT3HMu3-7VZgT4mcp3CczkxIRawAj0pUkvz-sHYUv22B3ZnsjuLj8I/s640/Sydney+and+around+011.JPG" title="I was perfectly happy staying out of the sea." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKtnLhZFjXjKoc6nl8cplwY9QcuRA3qg_7MpBbWjG7-yHp0IG4KhksA7DOXFURPT_WEH6yZASr8LbWiWjuIdYzT_DJ_81_tedtXrBP6fTPH27U4WgEYanzbvRwRamcqUe3wLi0X5gZzk/s1600/Sydney+and+around+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKtnLhZFjXjKoc6nl8cplwY9QcuRA3qg_7MpBbWjG7-yHp0IG4KhksA7DOXFURPT_WEH6yZASr8LbWiWjuIdYzT_DJ_81_tedtXrBP6fTPH27U4WgEYanzbvRwRamcqUe3wLi0X5gZzk/s640/Sydney+and+around+014.JPG" title="The wonderful sand." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosJ16w_POZppPbrCmubQwHNbyUY2stJm6Y2i1C0c4KlgUKGuNBcDWux2R_4UhLwDKlxsfFWK3rT2JbCIoY9HLrQGzp9H-7fgZefMgPfvi5DXpOyjNQ2AuS2DgXrVDEugyfNxEjkw5dqA/s1600/Sydney+and+around+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosJ16w_POZppPbrCmubQwHNbyUY2stJm6Y2i1C0c4KlgUKGuNBcDWux2R_4UhLwDKlxsfFWK3rT2JbCIoY9HLrQGzp9H-7fgZefMgPfvi5DXpOyjNQ2AuS2DgXrVDEugyfNxEjkw5dqA/s640/Sydney+and+around+040.JPG" title="Australia's most easterly point." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ywSwuzFUzfTbxU7DwET_pOd_Nsi1EcZHUm80zvSzbnml7sccEBeZuHt2GRH4E40COpFbdSNZoFmtkeCLwuyVDj0zKT_ZtcgMlcU18Vq-0Ugp35RjhjfpJ1yf5I4GwZq1fJi0xVBgd_Y/s1600/Sydney+and+around+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ywSwuzFUzfTbxU7DwET_pOd_Nsi1EcZHUm80zvSzbnml7sccEBeZuHt2GRH4E40COpFbdSNZoFmtkeCLwuyVDj0zKT_ZtcgMlcU18Vq-0Ugp35RjhjfpJ1yf5I4GwZq1fJi0xVBgd_Y/s640/Sydney+and+around+048.JPG" title="Even more dramatic in the rain." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwS-phrl_8YkfhYVJrv-_rNY-2ugEkEWf4AaXJlKpqGE9nn6ECLZC7auuNehnZsUZo4qMo5TiMkxZUHMRThSQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Surfers abound!</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Byron
Head is bold and dramatic. It protrudes from the mainland, the most
easterly point in Australia, and houses Byron Head lighthouse. No
mention of dinosaurs in this one. We approach the lighthouse and see
a young couple getting their wedding photos taken. The heavens open
and the photographer takes one last picture before we all dash madly
indoors, the bride failing to cover her hair with a bouquet of
flowers. We shelter in the lighthouse for a while but eventually grow
bored. We decide to brave the rain, turning beach-ware to rain-ware
with a casual ease that astounds the dripping masses...</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-1H87j5deBGyjf0bLrC2UTROLVyBBn3Q9vC9jfdlsRxpD9ljoKMDggdZdmb3d6TE8cR6mj2u5YUayAMd0lJQfbvVpb-CGd8n1G5sV7rj0WzBVPwroumSgHUtExIsCd1oLoyNy4pjhxI/s1600/Sydney+and+around+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-1H87j5deBGyjf0bLrC2UTROLVyBBn3Q9vC9jfdlsRxpD9ljoKMDggdZdmb3d6TE8cR6mj2u5YUayAMd0lJQfbvVpb-CGd8n1G5sV7rj0WzBVPwroumSgHUtExIsCd1oLoyNy4pjhxI/s640/Sydney+and+around+046.JPG" title="What can I say." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
spend the evening in the hostel trying not to fall asleep (when we
arrived in Byron we fell asleep and almost missed our stop - I awoke
to the noise of the driver closing the luggage compartment). Amy
makes a new best friend and learns of break-up's and miscarriages.
The manager locks our bags in the luggage room then leaves the
hostel. The resident old man sits on the sofa, stoned, a wondrous
look in his eyes as the Animatrix blows his mind.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
make it to the bus stop, bags reclaimed, and watch the wonder that is
Byron at night. Every type of person you could imagine walks past us.
Surfer dudes and guys in trackies, hipsters and most of all hippies.
Some sit in a tree just down the road. Every now and then someone
cycles past in a rickshaw, lugging drunken tourists around the town. They
blare music out into the night. One floats past, 'Barbie Girl'
drifting through the air. I wonder whether Byron is real. Perhaps I
went to Nimbin and ate something I probably should not have.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxDvRtI7ix1JBhgUXcQP9LaeXaxEMQVz-3oiHtW4CKQ2TTOKdYAgT9j94laF2zoxnrjSGBMnvVZ_p5sYQ8gqg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Everyone's favorite song.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The next morning I awake on the bus just outside of Newcastle. Despite my somewhat sporadic sleep I am feeling surprisingly rejuvenated. We leap off the bus, the sun is shining and the air is clear. The day seems full of promise. Byron feels a dreamy haze behind me.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Parts of Newcastle remind me a lot of parts of England. The brick buildings are older than much of what you see here. It has the feel of an industrial town that is trying to find a new purpose. I like it. We have a relaxed day around the city, wandering the streets and the foreshore. We visit the old jail, currently home to an art exhibition. The man behind the counter clearly doesn't get out much and insists on taking us around the whole place despite the fact he doesn't seem to know anything about it. He points at a picture and tells us it's a picture, he points at a tape measure fashioned into a sculpture and tells us it's a tape measure, he points where a piece of film is projected onto the wall and tells us it's a piece of film. He follows us outside and insists we go with him to the carpark. He proceeds to point at a blank bit of wall and tell us there used to be horses there. We tell him we leave Newcastle the next day and have a lot to see so must get going. He ushers us back inside and hands us each a leaflet of an evening ghost tour of the town. We tell him we'll think about it (we won't) and he looks at us confused then says that it's not on tonight. It's only on one Saturday a month. Today is Friday.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErIWT1N4FHJw1aOlel9zsHBg-NnzVxRywhkoSRB_XR7YBo0aCL2lDDHycn0uiRpmN_LjhMGf7EA8Wk_w7XvfgeFXD-zqyL_A6iriIBgXmqDYHbxnHB4OacJiYlDq9VdKScR-NYDjuTMU/s1600/Sydney+and+around+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErIWT1N4FHJw1aOlel9zsHBg-NnzVxRywhkoSRB_XR7YBo0aCL2lDDHycn0uiRpmN_LjhMGf7EA8Wk_w7XvfgeFXD-zqyL_A6iriIBgXmqDYHbxnHB4OacJiYlDq9VdKScR-NYDjuTMU/s640/Sydney+and+around+057.JPG" title="Which Newcastle is this in?" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_avuCzrs1_JWgLRE_4-Sx1zQPAnq1bffCu-oN9p0RDf5T8GoeBUjK1nsQvaDcjx231lRvWsQn7E7NlExoEiCyc-gOA33IRWzeJc61yS7cpCm0uDKTtHHOxsNFIMOnMaTpK_pdUFiNJU/s1600/Sydney+and+around+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_avuCzrs1_JWgLRE_4-Sx1zQPAnq1bffCu-oN9p0RDf5T8GoeBUjK1nsQvaDcjx231lRvWsQn7E7NlExoEiCyc-gOA33IRWzeJc61yS7cpCm0uDKTtHHOxsNFIMOnMaTpK_pdUFiNJU/s640/Sydney+and+around+069.JPG" title="An old engine shed." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-7lqj5ddH4gCm2sVvby96_-LEGBvhI4RvRirHgAdz6am8Bql8I8GrSyuBdvZJbAMMJ2JuAvfrqkqgry8_D3uZApcAj8NmxI_M74DPwEP9xsCJZCqjpb79UP3KDutmwfkJImjCyxFqiY/s1600/Sydney+and+around+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-7lqj5ddH4gCm2sVvby96_-LEGBvhI4RvRirHgAdz6am8Bql8I8GrSyuBdvZJbAMMJ2JuAvfrqkqgry8_D3uZApcAj8NmxI_M74DPwEP9xsCJZCqjpb79UP3KDutmwfkJImjCyxFqiY/s640/Sydney+and+around+073.JPG" title="This was to warn you of the dangers of the park..." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYE8_o2F1S2PueD6kYWK0Ctn7GLy-5AeILFRr3XRbkjaZ1llYrTOYv9l0Vq-qjoWmc9QB5ynHIBAOdAh0VFe6aCoGQLlGSS3-CbNXwKqjdLpaIp25s8IFmQLzb2w93DDcABPS4Kw7L4s/s1600/Sydney+and+around+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYE8_o2F1S2PueD6kYWK0Ctn7GLy-5AeILFRr3XRbkjaZ1llYrTOYv9l0Vq-qjoWmc9QB5ynHIBAOdAh0VFe6aCoGQLlGSS3-CbNXwKqjdLpaIp25s8IFmQLzb2w93DDcABPS4Kw7L4s/s640/Sydney+and+around+102.JPG" title="Newcastle Catherdral" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyh5qetJOY80g5DRdAX4jyraeTnbj32NcbqRTmY5YaRKUsfDiEdppI5Owl2ZUfEIIQmgpzEKIXwgNv-NFOZNHWJUysO6R4ijZK9gPL9NITB1FmHEMEu377ZfclL8SgNv4aZYkFkxZqro/s1600/Sydney+and+around+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyh5qetJOY80g5DRdAX4jyraeTnbj32NcbqRTmY5YaRKUsfDiEdppI5Owl2ZUfEIIQmgpzEKIXwgNv-NFOZNHWJUysO6R4ijZK9gPL9NITB1FmHEMEu377ZfclL8SgNv4aZYkFkxZqro/s640/Sydney+and+around+103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeykeq-9IpwK0tHZqF4xWpGFLwvHdllii29G6rJvMTa9NUdvh033GZ4XJDv_Of2XtOKWNzGlDC1C-_dJE8r1WIJw9ebpi6MwBCSpa1NfEuEaMdRLZabK_SDQSrQuF6mSKrwURhs7rG9jc/s1600/Sydney+and+around+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeykeq-9IpwK0tHZqF4xWpGFLwvHdllii29G6rJvMTa9NUdvh033GZ4XJDv_Of2XtOKWNzGlDC1C-_dJE8r1WIJw9ebpi6MwBCSpa1NfEuEaMdRLZabK_SDQSrQuF6mSKrwURhs7rG9jc/s640/Sydney+and+around+126.JPG" title="Contrasting buildings, one of my favorite things." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B4uVPQtwFq_tChk2ZaId-CLPLA_NJXkd-e7DihUifd3B0JHr8nHDuGw6xIBjJNe7DxCdNSqv2NUocUlJgo1ctDPt2uhuRlv-B-hDLGrjMUEkYJiuCxEvOstowFNo1HnPh0QD7FojW8E/s1600/Sydney+and+around+132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B4uVPQtwFq_tChk2ZaId-CLPLA_NJXkd-e7DihUifd3B0JHr8nHDuGw6xIBjJNe7DxCdNSqv2NUocUlJgo1ctDPt2uhuRlv-B-hDLGrjMUEkYJiuCxEvOstowFNo1HnPh0QD7FojW8E/s640/Sydney+and+around+132.JPG" title="The old prison yard." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv6WAMPgDdCbWGsJ24Xu1h1QFQXW0tTBKKI2ZIaNWQ_john4hyphenhypheniFQnYY7gtMxbGuRQsmnJM4nDM9EdxsWXLbxDM2V8Zkv-qETHYHgn1nqiHcD-Qof5u7Kq_BnUImixfCvO_KR4zrtVV8/s1600/Sydney+and+around+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv6WAMPgDdCbWGsJ24Xu1h1QFQXW0tTBKKI2ZIaNWQ_john4hyphenhypheniFQnYY7gtMxbGuRQsmnJM4nDM9EdxsWXLbxDM2V8Zkv-qETHYHgn1nqiHcD-Qof5u7Kq_BnUImixfCvO_KR4zrtVV8/s640/Sydney+and+around+145.JPG" title="Huge projections cover the buildings at night." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnghtzTeMHY_3SqJRKOCQlCkUTXQm7thbcBaOA-qyZaUMgyoFWFeVEHfziSCdSigzOonomk1tMNHkLTERsPaL7VRKR__9x6pbzz_WjW5A7Quh_L1hhwVVBG9iKxfIbT5Yi5OSCJN_hoCY/s1600/Sydney+and+around+157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnghtzTeMHY_3SqJRKOCQlCkUTXQm7thbcBaOA-qyZaUMgyoFWFeVEHfziSCdSigzOonomk1tMNHkLTERsPaL7VRKR__9x6pbzz_WjW5A7Quh_L1hhwVVBG9iKxfIbT5Yi5OSCJN_hoCY/s640/Sydney+and+around+157.JPG" title="Some creepier than other." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The next morning finds us on the bus to Sydney. Shortly outside of Newcastle we see a landscape that looks burned out and hollow. Soon a verdant green returns, cut by wide blue rivers and long clear lakes. We see no more evidence of the bush fires. Chvrches, a band from Glasgow, sing Scottish tones into my ear. Buildings multiply and we enter Sydney. I can't contain my excitement. I see the Harbour Bridge before me and leap across the bus to try and get a view of the Opera House. The song explodes into joy and promise. I catch sight of white crests and know I am here. The view from the bus is awful and obscured but it does not matter, I will see it properly soon.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qFbxM8mitdk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our first two days in Sydney are to be out at Bondi Beach. Then we are to have two days in the Blue Mountains, currently on fire, and finally two days in the central Sydney before we leave for New Zealand. When we are in Bondi the weather is beautiful. The sand shines and the sky glows. Surfers glide back and forth across the waves.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We walk along the coastal path, currently cluttered by a huge exhibition called 'Sculpture by the Sea'. There must have been hundreds of sculptures, some interesting, some inspiring, some amazing. Inevitably though, some awful.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPcqoeR43XB_n00ESqYUlNwvCppLlW77DrQmmQ5bIUc9pUX3VA62UZFXLw94IRYm3M5yRVGuPSlySwOkY21AOIKwwhgRo2VoEUcVZVMLFyKx-gEQXBnKgZNmyUuLNhS9RyHpLK7fML3Q/s1600/Sydney+and+around+167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPcqoeR43XB_n00ESqYUlNwvCppLlW77DrQmmQ5bIUc9pUX3VA62UZFXLw94IRYm3M5yRVGuPSlySwOkY21AOIKwwhgRo2VoEUcVZVMLFyKx-gEQXBnKgZNmyUuLNhS9RyHpLK7fML3Q/s640/Sydney+and+around+167.JPG" title="A classic Bondi scene." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdyecvweaEBnPKEOiTFrZR7v2JsdsKS6-cc5NxtL90UDPCh5Js7ev0l-M1Amz1WKoHSAxcBrkx0O99K___Z_79uGbJyo5tdurVn9SfBnDouHN7kaQvalvc1gHGFTdfJfPxUvV99AAFpU/s1600/Sydney+and+around+178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdyecvweaEBnPKEOiTFrZR7v2JsdsKS6-cc5NxtL90UDPCh5Js7ev0l-M1Amz1WKoHSAxcBrkx0O99K___Z_79uGbJyo5tdurVn9SfBnDouHN7kaQvalvc1gHGFTdfJfPxUvV99AAFpU/s640/Sydney+and+around+178.JPG" title="A sculpture or a wreck..?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOqzf32WPttYJxyMqD1i_52xNCYtVIFf0VC-PVIGpkXLqmf5P3mhyphenhyphenRktSi3IhXZn4VU6gOQzLi_Z-O-DANwJr4ncC_2Kao2tiw7OPg3jgQb8CF_3ZhzEBGyjV_j5C4D3qTdaucJp-tck/s1600/Sydney+and+around+183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOqzf32WPttYJxyMqD1i_52xNCYtVIFf0VC-PVIGpkXLqmf5P3mhyphenhyphenRktSi3IhXZn4VU6gOQzLi_Z-O-DANwJr4ncC_2Kao2tiw7OPg3jgQb8CF_3ZhzEBGyjV_j5C4D3qTdaucJp-tck/s640/Sydney+and+around+183.JPG" title="One of my favorites." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsC_HQ8LHPuD_0-64RVKaqaqozcQh1xokbJ_2yAz-8UwkmnPQbcqxX88S_ngii0DdMgbt1d9rVsnTfaJ1n5be33AcZjBEQ-wceCYN8ZxMXfCrukuxY81HY0bcsZQQA9E-DpQD48sBYkk/s1600/Sydney+and+around+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsC_HQ8LHPuD_0-64RVKaqaqozcQh1xokbJ_2yAz-8UwkmnPQbcqxX88S_ngii0DdMgbt1d9rVsnTfaJ1n5be33AcZjBEQ-wceCYN8ZxMXfCrukuxY81HY0bcsZQQA9E-DpQD48sBYkk/s640/Sydney+and+around+186.JPG" title="Interesting palm tree." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBluRHEg2dkIJ-QMUkUUSZDo0mADktstDp-XuCB1zvpbluYg02eAROvv061JaMBAMsb2Y24-4E4PLRs5w_gMw4f9yLWXBpH4jpo3zcF7fsZ7D0-N0Ax8qffM16_chGxVRt9vjromToUQE/s1600/Sydney+and+around+187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBluRHEg2dkIJ-QMUkUUSZDo0mADktstDp-XuCB1zvpbluYg02eAROvv061JaMBAMsb2Y24-4E4PLRs5w_gMw4f9yLWXBpH4jpo3zcF7fsZ7D0-N0Ax8qffM16_chGxVRt9vjromToUQE/s640/Sydney+and+around+187.JPG" title="Who knew icebergs could stand this heat." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOQ2J7kXFC6t-vWSgAT7hOn7XhoIdKSlaOZWzn4XSihOATbVAvVQjnXvcCtD4-wI2Neoh41Vzen6nByvGnXp4T6j_W9T3u5mdCRJuLByTjoNDP7sRj4-OtWTFyX2edVELp0k216Eubt4/s1600/Sydney+and+around+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOQ2J7kXFC6t-vWSgAT7hOn7XhoIdKSlaOZWzn4XSihOATbVAvVQjnXvcCtD4-wI2Neoh41Vzen6nByvGnXp4T6j_W9T3u5mdCRJuLByTjoNDP7sRj4-OtWTFyX2edVELp0k216Eubt4/s640/Sydney+and+around+192.JPG" title="A doorway to another world." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgft-nYXQoHMmV3busLVmZreBB6EGjxqlHOhGUZMwN4gLryzoXqtDQkVFRjjy3mmUc8_M6xmXw7jOF6ddPoiI9sgdOEsmeZiki2W74ESXN0_90MR_Y5keDOTjr5o58UoweIbGXjkGE0mPI/s1600/Sydney+and+around+205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgft-nYXQoHMmV3busLVmZreBB6EGjxqlHOhGUZMwN4gLryzoXqtDQkVFRjjy3mmUc8_M6xmXw7jOF6ddPoiI9sgdOEsmeZiki2W74ESXN0_90MR_Y5keDOTjr5o58UoweIbGXjkGE0mPI/s640/Sydney+and+around+205.JPG" title="This had fire warnings all around it." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglMupOWQKTvC7md9yJNdS9GlUp_vs8NUbJLd8vD9jq1JwWQb2dU5wSXvTHFuDlwnDmGt_CPWCOXnBJWPZdQWanQg1Bt0FoxsUcqQ8yiYWX57MjLTJBvSyFiqNfCYPl9vW43dgsKW2N-I/s1600/Sydney+and+around+209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglMupOWQKTvC7md9yJNdS9GlUp_vs8NUbJLd8vD9jq1JwWQb2dU5wSXvTHFuDlwnDmGt_CPWCOXnBJWPZdQWanQg1Bt0FoxsUcqQ8yiYWX57MjLTJBvSyFiqNfCYPl9vW43dgsKW2N-I/s640/Sydney+and+around+209.JPG" title="Echoing the sea." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m68GIYaqgYgib-VYWgZ-uP_-gJ7LOFeAHhS9Py19FK8jWuLFp9TiXWB-nzl2Nvp4vZt9Hi59utNmg55u05XCSHuN5vMDZvEoyOMqL5HGkp85djRvJ1GFsVosoJlhsttdq_V_3Cqh9R0/s1600/Sydney+and+around+217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m68GIYaqgYgib-VYWgZ-uP_-gJ7LOFeAHhS9Py19FK8jWuLFp9TiXWB-nzl2Nvp4vZt9Hi59utNmg55u05XCSHuN5vMDZvEoyOMqL5HGkp85djRvJ1GFsVosoJlhsttdq_V_3Cqh9R0/s640/Sydney+and+around+217.JPG" title="Oh hey Scotland!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4UnOzFrO0rBHF03pRSdAtFAqHINbFuv8hyphenhyphenSYo8y8qo-wsSJrG3HtxBNhK-miTNe7Zb6ER9eGcWPUQuvo-zDt8cSdMddwR-WqSHsLC5E9wUX4kpw7MMpZBxT6-0C7NgSThguDw7hn3PI/s1600/Sydney+and+around+223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4UnOzFrO0rBHF03pRSdAtFAqHINbFuv8hyphenhyphenSYo8y8qo-wsSJrG3HtxBNhK-miTNe7Zb6ER9eGcWPUQuvo-zDt8cSdMddwR-WqSHsLC5E9wUX4kpw7MMpZBxT6-0C7NgSThguDw7hn3PI/s640/Sydney+and+around+223.JPG" title="Hobbit tents?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW7sspvUNHp43gfbXLU3rNdcg_VwaKq55BuwE3HnEEs4HXO_oZPwNLAd6pXMSFmHr_l1c_mNFgyNpeFsLZsoVscnLY4iOZng8XWjuhEDkDV0frAvWnzWGveYwTOCjt_F7q7YGoqoZif8/s1600/Sydney+and+around+227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW7sspvUNHp43gfbXLU3rNdcg_VwaKq55BuwE3HnEEs4HXO_oZPwNLAd6pXMSFmHr_l1c_mNFgyNpeFsLZsoVscnLY4iOZng8XWjuhEDkDV0frAvWnzWGveYwTOCjt_F7q7YGoqoZif8/s640/Sydney+and+around+227.JPG" title="A skeleton on a bike. What's to say." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLfbhisPUu2OAYcNaEYV2Fpq1BVOaBzkOqntnyYZonb5APFZPVat1jwcz-xPNJrRZfZZ-hnnL82_vBJZfvuIEuJk6GZrpn65-azZOpdpNLKmhkXa_IgXGMqQyfb4vGab9-2Tf3kFtXCk/s1600/Sydney+and+around+239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLfbhisPUu2OAYcNaEYV2Fpq1BVOaBzkOqntnyYZonb5APFZPVat1jwcz-xPNJrRZfZZ-hnnL82_vBJZfvuIEuJk6GZrpn65-azZOpdpNLKmhkXa_IgXGMqQyfb4vGab9-2Tf3kFtXCk/s640/Sydney+and+around+239.JPG" title="Never-ending staircase." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK8Z0Uc3f_j9dXmakx8l2Xj_evayZpSkapr7YTWfZSy4IA1CfbKJE7vnbz4-LTvtfBthg_HqboyHduzOsK_9uBneQbv-1_gmPE4FnG6K78e85QRdR36PWqoOEGc6tEQPKKhUFeRNL-Og/s1600/Sydney+and+around+246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK8Z0Uc3f_j9dXmakx8l2Xj_evayZpSkapr7YTWfZSy4IA1CfbKJE7vnbz4-LTvtfBthg_HqboyHduzOsK_9uBneQbv-1_gmPE4FnG6K78e85QRdR36PWqoOEGc6tEQPKKhUFeRNL-Og/s640/Sydney+and+around+246.JPG" title="This was atop a huge pile of chairs. Go figure." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDQUxal1PGzaTTw2RGGHSLiBU1upplAj_HUMeKODsVZ3oBQceC-POj6jYC0BJHtPJePj0V0du2TSrNNBziyKntN11cjV6fmvFSg2l0_jGpc3GI84uoK0YQHqFcjSWGTbVe28aMamRH9g/s1600/Sydney+and+around+250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDQUxal1PGzaTTw2RGGHSLiBU1upplAj_HUMeKODsVZ3oBQceC-POj6jYC0BJHtPJePj0V0du2TSrNNBziyKntN11cjV6fmvFSg2l0_jGpc3GI84uoK0YQHqFcjSWGTbVe28aMamRH9g/s640/Sydney+and+around+250.JPG" title="I love the reversal of colours." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRukOfsU7fMxjeNqa4Pt0y-FsURKlxYeYZbZJfxxEHpYUJHDRo5wD_YCx_F67XdUL1xwoSUpDj8SQr5z8UbnN-nrSF_cRRguIDOslBV3g3KmvjbkTPCuAHX9CS1Mjg73MSGLoFNsFXhW4/s1600/Sydney+and+around+264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRukOfsU7fMxjeNqa4Pt0y-FsURKlxYeYZbZJfxxEHpYUJHDRo5wD_YCx_F67XdUL1xwoSUpDj8SQr5z8UbnN-nrSF_cRRguIDOslBV3g3KmvjbkTPCuAHX9CS1Mjg73MSGLoFNsFXhW4/s640/Sydney+and+around+264.JPG" title="Love this wee guy." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our friend Mark visits us from Melbourne and that night we go out in Sydney. I say we. Amy and Mark fall asleep (pass out?) at ten and I end up going out by myself. Five a.m. finds me walking back through the city, taking in the night-time sights. I walk through one of the posher parts of town and find large tree lined streets and grand houses. At one point I see two people jump over the fence of a house on the other side of the road. One appears to have a baseball bat. The sun rises and I make it to bed.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RPHK-vXfk_0jETiJJMXcbHu-qlOfcKcFy6cZKfEju4y6QbtZmzBEeGDOMW0LGtGM1yip1DuhfIX0qASk06YfkkYJk3RxBa4egar258uvmnx2LFVtm1uhqsy6PFD2nRZwgCZebgwo5n4/s1600/Sydney+and+around+271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RPHK-vXfk_0jETiJJMXcbHu-qlOfcKcFy6cZKfEju4y6QbtZmzBEeGDOMW0LGtGM1yip1DuhfIX0qASk06YfkkYJk3RxBa4egar258uvmnx2LFVtm1uhqsy6PFD2nRZwgCZebgwo5n4/s640/Sydney+and+around+271.JPG" title="Night time wandering." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We have a relatively inactive day around Bondi. It seems fun. There are lots of small cafe's and unique clothes shops, none of which we can afford to make use of. We are now on a strict budget. We head to the Blue Mountains having been assured that only one part of them was affected. We see no evidence of any fires.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I instantly fall in love with the hostel here. We arrive and are offered a fresh cup of coffee. We are led through a common room that oozes cosy. There is a wood burning stove and a large red sofa; rag rugs and carpets line the walls and floor. The corner of the room brims with guitars, hand drums and didgeridoos. This seems to be a place where people stay for a long time, changing free meals and accommodation for a few hours helping out the couple in charge. I can picture myself doing this, writing in my spare time. I mentally note it down for my return to Australia.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Blue Mountains are named for the mist that hangs in the air, exuded from the local flora, hiding the distant mountains in a blue cloud. We approach the edge of town and the land drops away before us. Infront of me is a vista the like of which I have never seen. We stand upon the brink of another world. Cliffs plummet from our feet and an endless green valley stretches to forever, lined by distant blue mountains. The haze in the air both obscured and enhances the view. It lends the place an air of mystery and of age. It feels a timeless place, completely separate from the modern world but ten minutes behind me. I imagine great stepped pyramids and marauding dinosaurs. Ancient powers and old gods, long forgotten to the world. Anything could be down there.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The rainforest climbs and clambers up the sandstone cliffs as if trying to escape from containment. A vast swarm waiting to cover the world in endless green. We are not allowed down into the valley due to the fires so instead walk along the edge of the precipice. The noise of Cicadas in the air is almost deafening. At the end of the day my ears are ringing. I feel like I've been at a concert, right next to the speakers, and I find myself talking louder than normal.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkpKITybvVdw6waqj762hLzfctvVpwOiVYZFC8IjPR8JG8K4pumrznN6coBNJitZOSWFgB8_48mBg0lpQGeaayUUT9ZGLez3PxOAF66qb46Vc8u3R6018fBF5Q91LXiUHYqvdAWR2kKA/s1600/Sydney+and+around+282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkpKITybvVdw6waqj762hLzfctvVpwOiVYZFC8IjPR8JG8K4pumrznN6coBNJitZOSWFgB8_48mBg0lpQGeaayUUT9ZGLez3PxOAF66qb46Vc8u3R6018fBF5Q91LXiUHYqvdAWR2kKA/s640/Sydney+and+around+282.JPG" title="Cicadas are EVERYWHERE" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E6FTuewVj8L0k2a_9tIbTEAnvM2PLGIgbkwag0vrTmQ4CpSTbyjQN2Dg6KhyphenhyphencCpfve4GGX2zkkFP2qyrvplV98pe1vT2s_ywueWndQFCvkzxxDBwG6LWFvnb6J5KXpt893Iy8iT4_XA/s1600/Sydney+and+around+295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E6FTuewVj8L0k2a_9tIbTEAnvM2PLGIgbkwag0vrTmQ4CpSTbyjQN2Dg6KhyphenhyphencCpfve4GGX2zkkFP2qyrvplV98pe1vT2s_ywueWndQFCvkzxxDBwG6LWFvnb6J5KXpt893Iy8iT4_XA/s640/Sydney+and+around+295.JPG" title="Funnel web spider?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbm-68qr0lvCo8MseSZcllyQ2xsH0eVzOZ4IAIL3-1O44t8WSQLKldefD00fRC98_oXdGQHoWL3TF9pcR5qQFT0xbwQSGhq9NgVAXPax7HtEUYdGZYLzVgBTXscYqUdqT-nop0U2zKv8/s1600/Sydney+and+around+308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbm-68qr0lvCo8MseSZcllyQ2xsH0eVzOZ4IAIL3-1O44t8WSQLKldefD00fRC98_oXdGQHoWL3TF9pcR5qQFT0xbwQSGhq9NgVAXPax7HtEUYdGZYLzVgBTXscYqUdqT-nop0U2zKv8/s640/Sydney+and+around+308.JPG" title="Again, photos do not really work." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklok7R6k6phiCWQPS7f9dQKkr9C5LD5myGbKpM9ASOGkrwoU7D_APBRb6c5jQDkCfA4vnJZrn0N4jpOtBBDOUGclIlfnehDF0GMU8RIQC_EATajuSWtjf6gIPok6q-e_NPWtK5jorF7c/s1600/Sydney+and+around+319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklok7R6k6phiCWQPS7f9dQKkr9C5LD5myGbKpM9ASOGkrwoU7D_APBRb6c5jQDkCfA4vnJZrn0N4jpOtBBDOUGclIlfnehDF0GMU8RIQC_EATajuSWtjf6gIPok6q-e_NPWtK5jorF7c/s640/Sydney+and+around+319.JPG" title="Distant blue turns to lavender." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsP9o3zk9t1d0NhxlBV71Y05xdzfUyiAH7X0Z8w5xsebD0tMbzhVkssuStiZjnXyElIpQ91pHXpfX7EanJIDlFDSzmbifnDnjmn23fQwYuvCL3HrfV7pcnpDJLrbx5PaNYRGADx3fvqw/s1600/Sydney+and+around+333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsP9o3zk9t1d0NhxlBV71Y05xdzfUyiAH7X0Z8w5xsebD0tMbzhVkssuStiZjnXyElIpQ91pHXpfX7EanJIDlFDSzmbifnDnjmn23fQwYuvCL3HrfV7pcnpDJLrbx5PaNYRGADx3fvqw/s640/Sydney+and+around+333.JPG" title="The three sisters." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ka4YVqochI2llPQlt8ObhrXj6xHqFhNCFRk6_MCbgNjiDR4Pek6aTuLutptothT8-YCBcesb3nbCNpDoif6uh8d0JjG2pZnJJIBpi0EEqZi6IGBQjFajyQ3gutXdsCBNxHrmfXpUsBA/s1600/Sydney+and+around+355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ka4YVqochI2llPQlt8ObhrXj6xHqFhNCFRk6_MCbgNjiDR4Pek6aTuLutptothT8-YCBcesb3nbCNpDoif6uh8d0JjG2pZnJJIBpi0EEqZi6IGBQjFajyQ3gutXdsCBNxHrmfXpUsBA/s640/Sydney+and+around+355.JPG" title="From a bridge over the void." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1Of7oPWIrnaEPlGoYV7ogPSKIjtdSytWFbKQhncjYB0oCwww9MRw1BBK9TUELatZhhBLiR7P1Uc2Zt5lGBj-v_G6bvxPU5O_5ovKKj2O37hBtRJzA7qJEkoBujylaTkL85AdPQN-Ixc/s1600/Sydney+and+around+358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1Of7oPWIrnaEPlGoYV7ogPSKIjtdSytWFbKQhncjYB0oCwww9MRw1BBK9TUELatZhhBLiR7P1Uc2Zt5lGBj-v_G6bvxPU5O_5ovKKj2O37hBtRJzA7qJEkoBujylaTkL85AdPQN-Ixc/s640/Sydney+and+around+358.JPG" title="Green trees against red rocks." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyV3DXIvKVGB4JNtdS9MQ30b27LQGDRgY3vTOe9IpSxu3znVIDZw1oNrWDOvBOrSYv3Hm0ERqFQIId2nhNQKQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Listen to the Cicadas!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzTVAPCwioYfenPbnW2nhkK9w-Sx7bf2MzxtbZL0FZ3hpxKlCZSvSfFF7k4ARTP6-mEqS0X1oreXS-kNF2x7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This place is huge.</div>
<br />
That evening everyone in the hostel sits outside, around a camp-fire and under the stars. The owner makes salad for all and barbecues any meat people bring along. It is relaxed and peaceful and for the first time in a while we get a truly good nights sleep.<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The next day sees us in a different section of the Blue Mountains National Park where we take a route named the National Pass. This is a path that has been amazingly and daringly carved half way up the cliff face, and runs along it for a few miles between the Wentworth Falls and the Empress Falls. We descend down to it just before the Wentworth Falls and the sheer scale of this mountainous plateau is revealed. Half way down the cliffs we feel closer to the landscape than yesterday; we still have the drop to rain-forest below but now we are also dwarfed by towering cliffs above. The only place I have encountered that rivals this in terms of scale is the Grand Canyon. This feels more feral though, wild and untamed. We pass the Wentworth falls between the first tier and the second. They tower for three hundred feet above us and drop for almost another three hundred below.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BvU6FYoQzT9Fu4NgxxErqpfsyGjGmSLr2z_LXPW0g_Z90TdE0tpKSgghCmcGt85l4qFY72cx7vNDRUdqiQyJ7-5dKW1vHuCg502ERDBX89B0BqrxpjYxSP-NZhEfq2t4eQ8g0XSmlcI/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BvU6FYoQzT9Fu4NgxxErqpfsyGjGmSLr2z_LXPW0g_Z90TdE0tpKSgghCmcGt85l4qFY72cx7vNDRUdqiQyJ7-5dKW1vHuCg502ERDBX89B0BqrxpjYxSP-NZhEfq2t4eQ8g0XSmlcI/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+018.JPG" title="An interesting tree. Burned out? I'm not sure." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJoNSxBiwbasiWAtwwYoADuzp0njMSV5Mzr5L1maZ8-Ee5hCHtbkGeV3jZSCPLVD9GsDZfBbL29LFk-hMQkEcgLfOzfiyrgTXLcnvAXi-J-d98z6nwnNI1u8wRmambbCyccVXP5j3GH0/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJoNSxBiwbasiWAtwwYoADuzp0njMSV5Mzr5L1maZ8-Ee5hCHtbkGeV3jZSCPLVD9GsDZfBbL29LFk-hMQkEcgLfOzfiyrgTXLcnvAXi-J-d98z6nwnNI1u8wRmambbCyccVXP5j3GH0/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+032.JPG" title="Look at our path!" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M2R6osWOzAj1r05SD9yCX-Rv-0ItOX7Ys_3kZV6fgjIvY9L2w3J3mtMU8Wms43sp5qmCYbqMkL6r6JJlbXn4aEwLk308EDd32_6hVZFWEFC1hH8Ml_HO0UE2IKLokqXmSrRn74ZT58k/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M2R6osWOzAj1r05SD9yCX-Rv-0ItOX7Ys_3kZV6fgjIvY9L2w3J3mtMU8Wms43sp5qmCYbqMkL6r6JJlbXn4aEwLk308EDd32_6hVZFWEFC1hH8Ml_HO0UE2IKLokqXmSrRn74ZT58k/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+049.JPG" title="Water floats down from the cliffs above." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLAsvkAFYxFPubWPlx_CldsktTiRVP2qJNfltjDqo41L_FY9AqwpiY60J7i0gvYz3H2oxqVrAaNHHAZaoT3i661prC9dtDBIy9GXz5wU9wphAk3JPvl0SrdpmVx3TsepVhJu5QMOXzLA/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLAsvkAFYxFPubWPlx_CldsktTiRVP2qJNfltjDqo41L_FY9AqwpiY60J7i0gvYz3H2oxqVrAaNHHAZaoT3i661prC9dtDBIy9GXz5wU9wphAk3JPvl0SrdpmVx3TsepVhJu5QMOXzLA/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+068.JPG" title="Cliffs hundreds of feet high." width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1Izr72dEMlxmLFdhoqeW3CB8Z20Xec-SUUBqdBapfabqGRhu5nFFynOMDN71pAV7nhtK5wN35VVVX6DmNlb8Lz-AEWwB8smaDUwdcp12uJ50TU-Mbpt2JR7ec9SJEpVUJQPV7JSMa-E/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1Izr72dEMlxmLFdhoqeW3CB8Z20Xec-SUUBqdBapfabqGRhu5nFFynOMDN71pAV7nhtK5wN35VVVX6DmNlb8Lz-AEWwB8smaDUwdcp12uJ50TU-Mbpt2JR7ec9SJEpVUJQPV7JSMa-E/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+084.JPG" title="Nice bark." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMLpGDvolRbBOozt7wYojS345FrIOOCISixJx8cjkk7OXcYtbujXAc6NJ4Hd0BZUhWAr8lPDfuLgPxYW9YTcyZXPSE2cmuE7OFxybLY4Eo5FrqRuQdjbOyUtW2W6gizwZt5YHvt1YoMQ/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMLpGDvolRbBOozt7wYojS345FrIOOCISixJx8cjkk7OXcYtbujXAc6NJ4Hd0BZUhWAr8lPDfuLgPxYW9YTcyZXPSE2cmuE7OFxybLY4Eo5FrqRuQdjbOyUtW2W6gizwZt5YHvt1YoMQ/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+094.JPG" title="We ended in a valley." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgX9nycn3IdSLltJyQzMneiJOQWsqFQIDTrniL_eLJWAEVi2oSX7MNj2vLE2L_sP3DkEfeLk7YTJM5_EPKrKm_48vsBapYVyz-XBvYcb1Mmrwmkbtl440MOAFyxisHxvFtEcSEtJ5dSi4/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgX9nycn3IdSLltJyQzMneiJOQWsqFQIDTrniL_eLJWAEVi2oSX7MNj2vLE2L_sP3DkEfeLk7YTJM5_EPKrKm_48vsBapYVyz-XBvYcb1Mmrwmkbtl440MOAFyxisHxvFtEcSEtJ5dSi4/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+104.JPG" title="The Blue Mountains." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Having been suitably blown away by the beauty that is the Blue Mountains we return to Sydney the next morning. We spend a day wandering the city centre. The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge feature prominently. Sydney, upon first impression, seems a city that would be slightly harder to get to know than Melbourne, if only for its size, though I have no doubt that if I did I would love it just as much, if not more. The harbour is beautiful, and the novelty of having such an iconic building proudly astride the spit of land protruding into it did not wear thin the entire time I was there. The Opera House's white peaks shine beneath the sun during the day and glow softly but boldly at night. It is ever present and you cannot help but stare. It is smaller than I would have expected, as I find many famous buildings are, but in its size it does not seem to lose an ounce of its prominence. It is the jewel of the Sydney Harbour and nothing can take that away.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAknvg418n18aj7OQ3u4G6dsvoJlo9FMNAiPs02iwU0IeU4_Gdp9vmcDYuf3V0Nf4Pa6bMswNsGEbdXGJuWOGHO7Ec34hOB5okFeLoHLkFI5k3kAK5l2OqzX2T3m-9QTANY64RpqYRmNw/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAknvg418n18aj7OQ3u4G6dsvoJlo9FMNAiPs02iwU0IeU4_Gdp9vmcDYuf3V0Nf4Pa6bMswNsGEbdXGJuWOGHO7Ec34hOB5okFeLoHLkFI5k3kAK5l2OqzX2T3m-9QTANY64RpqYRmNw/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+110.JPG" title="Queen Victoria building." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcdjJPfSeHTz3n9K8E_cBaQ9lYrOCDQn4bGJDQvhaic-Z62_uIKP8ItynFVvRKxnhzbDBbo5gOe2Of9yYiHzcWciHkRUhPDxNa-XTb_SKHUVibyP0ohZnqVSCrpL9cfT7IJ6qjgmcRME/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcdjJPfSeHTz3n9K8E_cBaQ9lYrOCDQn4bGJDQvhaic-Z62_uIKP8ItynFVvRKxnhzbDBbo5gOe2Of9yYiHzcWciHkRUhPDxNa-XTb_SKHUVibyP0ohZnqVSCrpL9cfT7IJ6qjgmcRME/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+111.JPG" title="I still can't get over that Christmas is approaching." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK_vr4iDKyCMsWGHAacq64SKP1b4U7ZvVByfd_EZsrGWx8Imm12Nd1qGqieeQ9kpiqduv_oe6tD2kZOi8gFVo9TFz42mKRppyfsz1fC7vHPdO_rojjebZWuymFT3HwJyBF_50uq5qMlg/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK_vr4iDKyCMsWGHAacq64SKP1b4U7ZvVByfd_EZsrGWx8Imm12Nd1qGqieeQ9kpiqduv_oe6tD2kZOi8gFVo9TFz42mKRppyfsz1fC7vHPdO_rojjebZWuymFT3HwJyBF_50uq5qMlg/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+129.JPG" title="What's that?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxusJHm-zlY5KlgCZcorja2UsxM-9cp6sdDwMs3S6Oq8v6umdZN-EMatAcFvYgFxfdDhYXt-frlwop4cS1IepBLvWePyON5C4rrR3-Xm6GDu92JLN8oh4UpJg9sd37lthOCjE49VZHAVQ/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxusJHm-zlY5KlgCZcorja2UsxM-9cp6sdDwMs3S6Oq8v6umdZN-EMatAcFvYgFxfdDhYXt-frlwop4cS1IepBLvWePyON5C4rrR3-Xm6GDu92JLN8oh4UpJg9sd37lthOCjE49VZHAVQ/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+137.JPG" title="The other famous building." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sGWzzl0kIqfUE91X0TdBilwX6wWFAtgh0ceuDMWcwwDLWluF8u8EMbg5KIKSsKrqz4cOYIxodO2jXQ_R3oxjlqMe9iAtnEJ6OTMrGdkC9x2p-06-dHZmu7Ohc3fiZRHGMBEOxnPldd8/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+147+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sGWzzl0kIqfUE91X0TdBilwX6wWFAtgh0ceuDMWcwwDLWluF8u8EMbg5KIKSsKrqz4cOYIxodO2jXQ_R3oxjlqMe9iAtnEJ6OTMrGdkC9x2p-06-dHZmu7Ohc3fiZRHGMBEOxnPldd8/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+147+-+Copy.JPG" title="Getting arty." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6Hl4XmrjrpVYaaSbVWVTuIkRxrrPfNGpksUecveeJDtb1OLoJrhlCNSQFnHaq1TfYmPONLRFwbQ9ZxnGmluxrDO3D0iHb6AkvbEUBVyCZyQS7Pz2ZNSR8hQkRFWabXc_p7DwBsGXO1k/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6Hl4XmrjrpVYaaSbVWVTuIkRxrrPfNGpksUecveeJDtb1OLoJrhlCNSQFnHaq1TfYmPONLRFwbQ9ZxnGmluxrDO3D0iHb6AkvbEUBVyCZyQS7Pz2ZNSR8hQkRFWabXc_p7DwBsGXO1k/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+155.JPG" title="In the botanics." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0b8bKlQTQQ0Gk6zIvKATgO7fEttYbqhLWj5dBdXn43_mC2K2rjp1YPELtAYfx6S5RCDsrfGn7MzQdWnAsppbh92sDyvrz-1_krY5zjx48xRqoV7nO2f8wCTpejXU82_W3R3JgZwUEB8/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0b8bKlQTQQ0Gk6zIvKATgO7fEttYbqhLWj5dBdXn43_mC2K2rjp1YPELtAYfx6S5RCDsrfGn7MzQdWnAsppbh92sDyvrz-1_krY5zjx48xRqoV7nO2f8wCTpejXU82_W3R3JgZwUEB8/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+156.JPG" title="Skyline from the Botanic Gardens." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk1oIxWuOv6jWKGDnIru17NJqCtKu9MYdoYR7TqWpKe1A1fW4OCgGbGtRjNgHjd3KTtbxkTyv6Q7nQD1csI3SkeJSsoQyZb5ZrPZhqjbebad6CGVvMTg5dDh2bwftCDqyHpQxY3fXvTU/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk1oIxWuOv6jWKGDnIru17NJqCtKu9MYdoYR7TqWpKe1A1fW4OCgGbGtRjNgHjd3KTtbxkTyv6Q7nQD1csI3SkeJSsoQyZb5ZrPZhqjbebad6CGVvMTg5dDh2bwftCDqyHpQxY3fXvTU/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+164.JPG" title="The Louvre?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP-AGhI8dhDI5uTXEQAavzGj3XmK0txPQzYiI9_2UL1H_G1M9ZosfKTVZgQ1NTZJc8f-gTKDn2hEsns5CN1wyEjF8Yvx_LCDlmLnJyfc9nqOwZJdjJOb-95va5zAl0YLk6gckjjWnG9g/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP-AGhI8dhDI5uTXEQAavzGj3XmK0txPQzYiI9_2UL1H_G1M9ZosfKTVZgQ1NTZJc8f-gTKDn2hEsns5CN1wyEjF8Yvx_LCDlmLnJyfc9nqOwZJdjJOb-95va5zAl0YLk6gckjjWnG9g/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+173.JPG" title="It's wonderful at night :)" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our final day in Australia dawns and we cross the Harbour Bridge. The North shore is beautiful and expensive. Boats fill harbours surrounded by forested hills while colourful houses cling between the trees. It could as easily be Italy as Australia. We visit an area called Manly, almost an hour on buses north of the centre. We had been told not to bother with Manly if we had been to Bondi but I am almost instantly glad we did. The journey there takes us through stunning bays brimming with a clear water. We both think we prefer Manly to Bondi; the streets are wide and lined with fountains and the beach feels more relaxed (if such a thing is possible).</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwij54EWUlAkK2OGoWydpUK0m8V1f3nFgpU2dAhAgtL_Of2vRRtO-or9ZhvYmKnjPEd_NvhFDluXuLopr3Y06_UUBiL_Y1BNldeKQtd6vqBy8s3RMzWtBRjaaq_i1mt5_Q6Fd-C_Y7Jd0/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwij54EWUlAkK2OGoWydpUK0m8V1f3nFgpU2dAhAgtL_Of2vRRtO-or9ZhvYmKnjPEd_NvhFDluXuLopr3Y06_UUBiL_Y1BNldeKQtd6vqBy8s3RMzWtBRjaaq_i1mt5_Q6Fd-C_Y7Jd0/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+200.JPG" title="From the North Shore." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlf0AylVcBnW-knj6w4PStovJeEmdl40XbnMdBWvI0jlL3HWWgqG29ELLW8zAhe2uujKPTfgNeFNQH7y_RJRVl2tPiWwIIj2vQvJjeoE6PwMt8PCCG9EIliA62nmu87gN2X1HrED9PeY/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlf0AylVcBnW-knj6w4PStovJeEmdl40XbnMdBWvI0jlL3HWWgqG29ELLW8zAhe2uujKPTfgNeFNQH7y_RJRVl2tPiWwIIj2vQvJjeoE6PwMt8PCCG9EIliA62nmu87gN2X1HrED9PeY/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+205.JPG" title="A penguin! Of course." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sAseHU6MQQECD7wf8-fMhtVKMaUinDcHPOOBxY3OuivnzpYm2BIFQEOJ7UGPiWGSEBir7BBTUTTtQhViL-OAULAaCaRFPrRFg1B2HFw7TkJXPXFOwtsS34Hw5S7ilahxyjCuDHR59A8/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sAseHU6MQQECD7wf8-fMhtVKMaUinDcHPOOBxY3OuivnzpYm2BIFQEOJ7UGPiWGSEBir7BBTUTTtQhViL-OAULAaCaRFPrRFg1B2HFw7TkJXPXFOwtsS34Hw5S7ilahxyjCuDHR59A8/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+215.JPG" title="A delightful garden we encounter." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiH4dOrVA6P1MmcmtsnARCMvXdvzvb50xaFeDzvBtJ6mCBFcz-R9kanmr2lcVRjrkf_idofFsM8Ow1Zl0tzQyQWK2WR9DA0A9XUJQOgwrn7bdJQOBc3ZvlAKzk_73CB2fJOasiQ-NnSM/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiH4dOrVA6P1MmcmtsnARCMvXdvzvb50xaFeDzvBtJ6mCBFcz-R9kanmr2lcVRjrkf_idofFsM8Ow1Zl0tzQyQWK2WR9DA0A9XUJQOgwrn7bdJQOBc3ZvlAKzk_73CB2fJOasiQ-NnSM/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+218.JPG" title="Manly." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq0C5XwY3sXJX6CUVv2LdSyi5y_wdUIbIXXy6XKOjX9PWF2hZ_gpd5eJcG8RWWJBzTlq_fbave1kiv_ZQh9OAfW7aQb-Iwqb79MoSOC_3qzSjg_Kh49VNMiuj-yws3MG3hqqlRhwyrXo/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq0C5XwY3sXJX6CUVv2LdSyi5y_wdUIbIXXy6XKOjX9PWF2hZ_gpd5eJcG8RWWJBzTlq_fbave1kiv_ZQh9OAfW7aQb-Iwqb79MoSOC_3qzSjg_Kh49VNMiuj-yws3MG3hqqlRhwyrXo/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+221.JPG" title="She loves Manly too." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZM5aHJu7BSJy1LWuVNcKMEl1uN_vsHWWqGRbL0uQa3hX_t-VncibY5riUuuiWh_13HFzNiSJzCpKFJep23Y90RTUNt19_jcnAnz22JiNbsby8JtvJT_j9PUks7nIaG5DfOyc3gD8RWw/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZM5aHJu7BSJy1LWuVNcKMEl1uN_vsHWWqGRbL0uQa3hX_t-VncibY5riUuuiWh_13HFzNiSJzCpKFJep23Y90RTUNt19_jcnAnz22JiNbsby8JtvJT_j9PUks7nIaG5DfOyc3gD8RWw/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+224.JPG" title="A man glides amongst the gulls." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That night we go for a final drink in Australia at the bar of the Sydney Opera House. We sit by the shore, white domes gleam above. Across the water the Harbour Bridge looms dramatically, challenging the Opera House for supremacy. A live band plays nearby. What I would give to live here for a while, on a decent wage, and be able to enjoy this every day.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our plane takes off and we leave Australia behind us. For me I know it is only for a few weeks but for Amy it could be forever. Amy and I are only half way through our travels together, a thought that encourages me, Melbourne feels so long ago. I consider all the places I have been and the distance I have travelled and I am still amazed by how far away I am. New Zealand appears through the clouds below, endless mountains capped with white. Already I can believe that this will be the most beautiful place I will ever see. We touch down. I cannot begin to describe my excitement. Linlithgow and my home are eleven thousand six hundred and two miles away. I stand at the door of the plane, New Zealand stretches before me. All I can think is one thing.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.”</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-p0QHcvA3t5e19tZ2JMQREWbXD5Xt9mHki20gnzRgF67qk83QJHZMSJBcxzLEGI-QA0f2Fzlsmebw_3wAwrV6GCUlFfI3T58sOTmd_UhvF8-GEfNDLtdB__z-pwvpu3IGEI6TSssQS0s/s1600/Sydney+and+around+2+237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-p0QHcvA3t5e19tZ2JMQREWbXD5Xt9mHki20gnzRgF67qk83QJHZMSJBcxzLEGI-QA0f2Fzlsmebw_3wAwrV6GCUlFfI3T58sOTmd_UhvF8-GEfNDLtdB__z-pwvpu3IGEI6TSssQS0s/s640/Sydney+and+around+2+237.JPG" title="Our plane sweeps over New Zealand's Southern Alps." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-20895564858799657322013-10-24T23:57:00.002-07:002013-10-24T23:57:16.763-07:00Special K<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
have recently had to deal with an aspect of travelling that is both
one of the best and one of the worst things about it. You meet people
that you feel close to, that you feel you could be friends with. You
spend a few wonderful days together then you have to part. You talk
of meeting in the future and all the fun you could have. And you
truly mean it. The plans are always vague and distant; visiting each
others countries in a year or two's time. Who's to know if they will
ever be realised. Who's to know if you will ever see each other
again. You move onto the next place and wonder who you'll meet next
and whether they too will have the potential to make a difference to
your life. Can you truly base lasting friendships on a few days spent
together on an island? I dearly hope so.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXKPOrB8ecMvd0_7PEycH2ZyJZNrxOjedjLJYAmGvoq5oCzIqa9z0108xADGhRobULXPtLIUrQbQzLgNnvYjc4Sxkz1yQKzEYm4ED16m7YJVuhkxSUmyyTBDTPJQX93Ky1ZBrv84Nq5I/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXKPOrB8ecMvd0_7PEycH2ZyJZNrxOjedjLJYAmGvoq5oCzIqa9z0108xADGhRobULXPtLIUrQbQzLgNnvYjc4Sxkz1yQKzEYm4ED16m7YJVuhkxSUmyyTBDTPJQX93Ky1ZBrv84Nq5I/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+401.JPG" title="Leaving Cairns" width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
wake up with the dawn and pack our bags. The bus stop is about twenty
minutes away and we are exhausted; I was up till about half one
writing the night before. We find a shopping trolley by the road
which kindly helps us with our bags. The bus takes us to a place
hilariously named Townsville. It is the gateway to Magnetic Island.
As we approach the driver tunes into a local radio station playing
'Townsville's greatest hits'. We listen to the most bizarre
collection of tunes ranging from Guns'n'Roses and the Red Hot Chilli
Peppers, all from at least ten years ago, to Kesha's latest and best.
We had heard good things about Magnetic Island and Libby was planning
on going there next anyway so we decided to all carry on together.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
book into a hostel in a koala sanctuary for a couple of nights. After
our hectic last few days we feel in need of some relaxation. We head
to the nearest beach and take in the topical paradise we have washed
up on.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9TQJHH-5sHDVera2DRJXW6ks-JGGW7qG7rMFGBJZ4v9KohtqBB6DRqZDMY00U6V3ZQZTnA0Pb6y9re7-TNkOll5mr5wx0As4xxrYZHC4dKWmhzQUe26x2KyyyC-XlgMRJnDQqRX6CIw/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9TQJHH-5sHDVera2DRJXW6ks-JGGW7qG7rMFGBJZ4v9KohtqBB6DRqZDMY00U6V3ZQZTnA0Pb6y9re7-TNkOll5mr5wx0As4xxrYZHC4dKWmhzQUe26x2KyyyC-XlgMRJnDQqRX6CIw/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+423.JPG" title="She just can't stop knitting." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHRKPPYP7moHGlUtTLVVlOv1AqtrcBfxMrGFCQ6cBdR-gqendLpqWz4rrieUBYwzTW8wlZ_w37HabYakmqrhjmqfpAXGl8nsrjiX0OItlvLsa0KNpG1YekT8aE1Mns3za-MpvoQS8Ydg/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHRKPPYP7moHGlUtTLVVlOv1AqtrcBfxMrGFCQ6cBdR-gqendLpqWz4rrieUBYwzTW8wlZ_w37HabYakmqrhjmqfpAXGl8nsrjiX0OItlvLsa0KNpG1YekT8aE1Mns3za-MpvoQS8Ydg/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+427.JPG" title="These were all over the hostel. They make a hissing noise if you get too close." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L3OdVCthkpe7SjrB9Z-tL-JB_wnrAvkf7mgqUX4rz_0_4oZPoxLyEuIWyPbLyAc_P14zCfDoQA7MLxXID5pKsaNYFRPHC9QGIsWzByGbJdopKbkE0TObUD6XUmoa51bBYA5e9orqAs4/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L3OdVCthkpe7SjrB9Z-tL-JB_wnrAvkf7mgqUX4rz_0_4oZPoxLyEuIWyPbLyAc_P14zCfDoQA7MLxXID5pKsaNYFRPHC9QGIsWzByGbJdopKbkE0TObUD6XUmoa51bBYA5e9orqAs4/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+432.JPG" title="Living in the jungle." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxCNcxRjNWWR1pV2MBUYFtiXaB3Y8HKH6nu7yAeBr4vlas194bKF38V2KcjF_u0mHPFjbe4khBGw3d-6tI_BWY0UxfcvKi4oLIXwh3iktkq7fHk4hE0rZSGyPaEzgnD8sBOfCD43-1Mg/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+541.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxCNcxRjNWWR1pV2MBUYFtiXaB3Y8HKH6nu7yAeBr4vlas194bKF38V2KcjF_u0mHPFjbe4khBGw3d-6tI_BWY0UxfcvKi4oLIXwh3iktkq7fHk4hE0rZSGyPaEzgnD8sBOfCD43-1Mg/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+541.JPG" title="Hostel of dreams." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu0klj6XhCGfFZFaaLp3qd-NEz3Z_ZsTe2ZlQUUDjSgvbco5rdHObBkOLxqDbbCPF9V7a-5fhl20YK0YkAd9xuYDMb3O0ZKo8HVFdZpJIIWN2XwPpzOsmGk7T5dRDoUiXeS1-FGXDvQw/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+543.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu0klj6XhCGfFZFaaLp3qd-NEz3Z_ZsTe2ZlQUUDjSgvbco5rdHObBkOLxqDbbCPF9V7a-5fhl20YK0YkAd9xuYDMb3O0ZKo8HVFdZpJIIWN2XwPpzOsmGk7T5dRDoUiXeS1-FGXDvQw/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+543.JPG" title="View from the hammock." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In
the evening we play coconut bowling and make good use of the bar's
happy hour with a group of English guys. I win a t-shirt from behind
the bar, they only have size XXL but I wear it for the night anyway.
It's currently crushed into my bag somewhere, I'm still planning on
turning it into a baggy tank top ideal for days on the beach.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Magnetic
island is pretty. It doesn't feel as special as some of the other
places I've been but it's a nice break. I embark on a walk by myself
the next day while Amy and Libby spend a day by the sea. Amy has some
serious work to do in catching up with my tan. We are meeting a
friend from home in a few days who is over who is here for a holiday
and we need to look the part. I was planning on doing the beach thing
too but awoke with the need to explore.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
enjoy walking through the hills by myself. It gives me a chance to
concentrate on my surroundings. I can listen to nature at work.
Lizards rustle in the leaves as I pass and occasionally one will make
a mad dash across the path before me. I visit some old WWII forts
built to help repel the Japanese. One gun emplacement reminds me of a
Mayan place of power, hidden high in the mountains where only the
gods can find it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkH7b4_hr8f7Ip4pcPqaRs8pr_54NUPXxdFoQem9q8KGwMrWJystX-aM3QfTCcIrDKQEsZ-ZBg4FMKetyrhbenSrVOMZSI7HebvbL2WVGc_emmMXNwJ-qdVhB_ZqXfEQsJ-64piY-Q4Y/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkH7b4_hr8f7Ip4pcPqaRs8pr_54NUPXxdFoQem9q8KGwMrWJystX-aM3QfTCcIrDKQEsZ-ZBg4FMKetyrhbenSrVOMZSI7HebvbL2WVGc_emmMXNwJ-qdVhB_ZqXfEQsJ-64piY-Q4Y/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+450.JPG" title="From the Forts." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy9VNZ8vJrX8UvArP5kmUN1EfC2_S2rjLczE4d-2UIlaglcmY__BCedq7k_iEVJqYsvgF61WZIBqvs6thREPtI-F8lJnrzYqY0zW44gRkHql3kF-dOcZv6OnS1IgsLuEgTAW9UPPajRA/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy9VNZ8vJrX8UvArP5kmUN1EfC2_S2rjLczE4d-2UIlaglcmY__BCedq7k_iEVJqYsvgF61WZIBqvs6thREPtI-F8lJnrzYqY0zW44gRkHql3kF-dOcZv6OnS1IgsLuEgTAW9UPPajRA/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+465.JPG" title="All of the blue." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVCjVcrbgnX_H_XMikccrhL7ot-kJPWN_5p1eVewS2ROucGfyJIUwe9fdoYxL7mIv3sNbxl1JxxmJz4DvVhmSQnarrmmW7q9JHZylStCNgxLln-v4zh3TgsmyzItsy2qNbTW7N_PTPcg/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVCjVcrbgnX_H_XMikccrhL7ot-kJPWN_5p1eVewS2ROucGfyJIUwe9fdoYxL7mIv3sNbxl1JxxmJz4DvVhmSQnarrmmW7q9JHZylStCNgxLln-v4zh3TgsmyzItsy2qNbTW7N_PTPcg/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+467.JPG" title="An ancient temple." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetqWOzWzURNL8NtvC_beBNvSD-n0Zzh832Fn7-BKC6PAzf7Q5YwOzoxeGgBmX1nNhDPhSxcFhNULpdh9GmzX_0qv71peAgZNDmuFuPRTavHaGjKeV7FNGNMSiwD6EqmVm_SQyWWOI0t8/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetqWOzWzURNL8NtvC_beBNvSD-n0Zzh832Fn7-BKC6PAzf7Q5YwOzoxeGgBmX1nNhDPhSxcFhNULpdh9GmzX_0qv71peAgZNDmuFuPRTavHaGjKeV7FNGNMSiwD6EqmVm_SQyWWOI0t8/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+476.JPG" title="Again with the blue." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vOFv-9FGN-YQOa2c7bqbkBDLrhQcIPECJd8d2ROM5m9p0iafOBpWiI63I3ywEKgkFgnD6djk5VWQPymw3e-jDVXENLJ2oz37pSUYCwwF2WEev-SktPFsT5KpG7tSlXbrmBl5-iHv40I/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vOFv-9FGN-YQOa2c7bqbkBDLrhQcIPECJd8d2ROM5m9p0iafOBpWiI63I3ywEKgkFgnD6djk5VWQPymw3e-jDVXENLJ2oz37pSUYCwwF2WEev-SktPFsT5KpG7tSlXbrmBl5-iHv40I/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+477.JPG" title="Inside the Fort looking out." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyTeDC_55mBVSTi2W3z0y_QaTWyZO4clQ2IKAJTKw2yXa7mhDSgMyMRUYiMVrpae2Qk-RXn_FSL2IncV2_9ZVdFUqNyZELqbLIGaUExQOQ1N8n_J822cXk_NY2LmU_wCJSngz3Xm9jUk/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyTeDC_55mBVSTi2W3z0y_QaTWyZO4clQ2IKAJTKw2yXa7mhDSgMyMRUYiMVrpae2Qk-RXn_FSL2IncV2_9ZVdFUqNyZELqbLIGaUExQOQ1N8n_J822cXk_NY2LmU_wCJSngz3Xm9jUk/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+490.JPG" title="Through the hills." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8HK4yMPzBfBiCqErslJDTvfxiQYLAwAn68IziOk4uwB2hoTBP85M-QOT_41a97hhu_xaPvyAe1pWgrId7QLFmyHKIVnLDLNe21_uuAuJ9cPvtcrsC31y_Q21Ou6qKk-vheo5y9rwLpE/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8HK4yMPzBfBiCqErslJDTvfxiQYLAwAn68IziOk4uwB2hoTBP85M-QOT_41a97hhu_xaPvyAe1pWgrId7QLFmyHKIVnLDLNe21_uuAuJ9cPvtcrsC31y_Q21Ou6qKk-vheo5y9rwLpE/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+515.JPG" title="Fig tree again. I can't get enough." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxKjt7amGfsjsykkepvq3tVR599UKzriFzUvb9TOqZanoelL0trHifuUdgnz5IcmVOy_gvWOVT3k0yXoVWhiDVk0Hwc5Pd0jQ_iEJEaamCY6dfM6eXG1V-mnQI-05VSBheqZBNl_z3Fg/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxKjt7amGfsjsykkepvq3tVR599UKzriFzUvb9TOqZanoelL0trHifuUdgnz5IcmVOy_gvWOVT3k0yXoVWhiDVk0Hwc5Pd0jQ_iEJEaamCY6dfM6eXG1V-mnQI-05VSBheqZBNl_z3Fg/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+523.JPG" title="I love these pine trees." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5YvqLsFXnNqGMcW2Ak21oYuv9AZ29tuR_sG8Y5mDdcQH5yDWxRoryMO11BLsqxHrYt6F9Dv2EDetpKmBJKbb4KcBK8qquIdcSwAF6CzqMidinTi_FZGWuxvhTrBRzhLuupe_qIRcyww/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5YvqLsFXnNqGMcW2Ak21oYuv9AZ29tuR_sG8Y5mDdcQH5yDWxRoryMO11BLsqxHrYt6F9Dv2EDetpKmBJKbb4KcBK8qquIdcSwAF6CzqMidinTi_FZGWuxvhTrBRzhLuupe_qIRcyww/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+538.JPG" title="They call these kangaroo tails." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
take a thirty metre track through a forest to a fresh water lagoon,
dried out at this time of year, and am confronted by the most
ridiculous sign I have seen yet. It warns of the need for walking
boots (the path is totally flat); hats and sun cream (you are shaded
the entire time); water (as stated, the path is thirty metres long)
and warns of the dangers of snakes (fair), cliffs (the path is
totally flat! And the edge of the lagoon is such a gradual slope it
looks flat) and finally jellyfish. Jellyfish. In a freshwater lagoon
you could barely cover your feet in.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
also think the fire warning signs are a bit over the top. I know fire
here is an extremely serious business and any sort of early warning
can save lives. But I still think a risk scale ranging from low to
high or very high would have sufficed.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-nV9hEilJuELWM8nmiwSzKJh1RRN_XyRBf6T4Da-Nc4F1vx3FrRU4T5RigX8VKal6TOXAirUF8YVVNLFYGEy4g734lGBHDwAxq0V0EiNuVgbCqDTKrQQplKOCBDRwP8xDPiMDFUKMKg/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+519.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-nV9hEilJuELWM8nmiwSzKJh1RRN_XyRBf6T4Da-Nc4F1vx3FrRU4T5RigX8VKal6TOXAirUF8YVVNLFYGEy4g734lGBHDwAxq0V0EiNuVgbCqDTKrQQplKOCBDRwP8xDPiMDFUKMKg/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+519.JPG" title="Half of these don't even make sense." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-5omEgCLzf95CewgHThKoH9IrNgyFNEmU46SW1CHgppciSQhwy9d63rVeLCrNrKqW431f4FzB5d1LbCY-VJHxMe5cGD75AD-cEk_8Jgps0EmDX6pr2MHqKJkBhnQh8GqjZ-sbLd1CRc/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-5omEgCLzf95CewgHThKoH9IrNgyFNEmU46SW1CHgppciSQhwy9d63rVeLCrNrKqW431f4FzB5d1LbCY-VJHxMe5cGD75AD-cEk_8Jgps0EmDX6pr2MHqKJkBhnQh8GqjZ-sbLd1CRc/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+438.JPG" title="Watch out for jellyfish!" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
get the bus to Airlie Beach. It feels to me a bit like those resort
towns in Spain so frequented by the British. It however is the olny
way to get to the Whitsunday islands in the Great Barrier Reef. Our
friend Lucy from home was organising a conference in Sydney so has
taken a week holiday in Australia after. She meets us in Airlie Beach
and there is much to catch up on. We head straight to the bar and get
to it. That night we go out in Airlie with some people from the
hostel. I remember a late night pie and lying on the pavement
chatting to Andy back home, inducing laughs and a few hi fives from
passers by.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our
boat is called Wings 2. She is a catamaran. Sleek, sharp and
gorgeous. Amy, Lucy and I await to board, lamenting the lack of men
on our tour. She takes us out to sea, the sails are up and the waves
speed past us. We sit out at the front on a couple of sturdy nets
over the water. The sea glows green and the sky burns blue. The
occasional swell of a wave hits against the fore of our boat sending
water surging up to soak us from below.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3NS3jU24klDbkQjBdqEAs7XYWVO2TWebVXrvw631zkcqRcAsKJ5JLVCkr8s8gm-MeGaqbtZ8nq3kcwLgIrWizMVnKmdKrAKhu-OBe9c5mL87a6s_E2-sqUuwwQFhzEkGLUySdL-50EM/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+553.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3NS3jU24klDbkQjBdqEAs7XYWVO2TWebVXrvw631zkcqRcAsKJ5JLVCkr8s8gm-MeGaqbtZ8nq3kcwLgIrWizMVnKmdKrAKhu-OBe9c5mL87a6s_E2-sqUuwwQFhzEkGLUySdL-50EM/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+553.JPG" title="Sunset from the bus." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5cVSqV4LAWDJyzLJZy94A1tRNDngKLmz8uUl4s6jO2EHSwtlIfODbGoPAVBTZpAxp9LKYp3UcOg3FkrrqSUFIcf-wlph6IQyGem6nAF2v9UrjMcUXzBzo18gOrak_RwaaxHjQ0ik6Ng/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5cVSqV4LAWDJyzLJZy94A1tRNDngKLmz8uUl4s6jO2EHSwtlIfODbGoPAVBTZpAxp9LKYp3UcOg3FkrrqSUFIcf-wlph6IQyGem6nAF2v9UrjMcUXzBzo18gOrak_RwaaxHjQ0ik6Ng/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+586.JPG" title="My favorite place to lie on the boat." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
make our first stop and I go scuba diving for the first time in my
life. There are only four of us that do it, the rest opting for
snorkelling instead. It is the most bizarre experience. Breathing
underwater feels so unnatural, and being unable to use your nose at
all is frustrating. We were taken to the bottom one by one by our
wonderful diving instructor. As Lucy and I were sitting on the
sea-bed waiting for Libby to arrive Lucy taps me on the shoulder and
I see that the strap on her mask has come undone and she is holding
it on with her hand. I feel a moment of intense panic then remember
that her mask has nothing to do with breathing, it is only there so
you can see without getting salt water in your eyes and to stop you
trying to breath through your nose. In times like this I wish you
could talk under water.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My
first time under the waves is a blur and passes quickly. I am too
busy concentrating on breathing and moving to see as much as I'm sure
I could. I am aware that it is amazing though and vow to go again
tomorrow.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
drop anchor between two islands and have a night of Goon on the boat.
Goon I discovered, and now recall being told by my step-sister when
she lived out here, is the Aboriginal word for pillow. When you are
done with your box you blow up the bag and can have a sleep wherever
you are. I am the last one to go to bed, no surprises there, and go
for a short midnight swim in the sea alone beneath the stars. There
are no sharks in sight.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Whitehaven
beach is one of the most famous beaches in Australia. The sand is one
of the purest in the world and is near blinding under the sunlight.
We spend the next morning there taking photo's and building
sculptures from the sand. I am amazed by how soft it is and how fine.
The dry sand is like walking on foam and the wet is almost a white
mud. When you look down it is easy to convince yourself it is snow.
Then you feel the heat and your brain tells you something is wrong.
The clear cerulean water shines and glitters over the dazzling
grains. From above it forms patterns as if painted with a brush. Blue
and white gently fade in and out of each other.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthJ3awhCZT6xeHKpqcy21S0mMrcdgYkNYhWYRIjZoID92_2t2Unc9bMJySu4eAha2XuzcjNpXKKWICuTVgzsd-CvxpG2V2FITzdYECnRj-C_rPwMtX2AHgH2jmKooU9FWXHiq7bFkQk4/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthJ3awhCZT6xeHKpqcy21S0mMrcdgYkNYhWYRIjZoID92_2t2Unc9bMJySu4eAha2XuzcjNpXKKWICuTVgzsd-CvxpG2V2FITzdYECnRj-C_rPwMtX2AHgH2jmKooU9FWXHiq7bFkQk4/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+609.JPG" title="Our anchorage for the night." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqhRp30D0AZI3w_VItPqzCapHNsC7nJFjF4cbWpXZiiex7F8Z8dDknqSxwuHksnEXmjuzaKukuwKxjy1lTIjj9kBxlAK-j6niD-E3W95_cJGShZl8mog8gTeSerYf2yP7j3_RUWyPUPc/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+641.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqhRp30D0AZI3w_VItPqzCapHNsC7nJFjF4cbWpXZiiex7F8Z8dDknqSxwuHksnEXmjuzaKukuwKxjy1lTIjj9kBxlAK-j6niD-E3W95_cJGShZl8mog8gTeSerYf2yP7j3_RUWyPUPc/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+641.JPG" title="In the morning.." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPzbO0Lq78_iZC3XtJsLyEvRx_bzpcBWCdo4sZ1mhiy-J1jeUWR5gVdaGfc46_iBrsvVrhqOUrFsOihw2zXf1QfsRkB9i5LLXggQUhCepevcYbx86jbk0GVl0qcriAjflGnM2BVpQvuc/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPzbO0Lq78_iZC3XtJsLyEvRx_bzpcBWCdo4sZ1mhiy-J1jeUWR5gVdaGfc46_iBrsvVrhqOUrFsOihw2zXf1QfsRkB9i5LLXggQUhCepevcYbx86jbk0GVl0qcriAjflGnM2BVpQvuc/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+642.JPG" title="Views like this in every direction." width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9JzhttNRKDRUDVTDg1RHghdXtHRlXkDzDGzcAdfIGgIeBoN838T-t-n-OQPvJs9DeRJtIAYyO6DJckY6hbO5Gbcox3rnPOqmkgj8gv_tw3I3NpGEF0OdmLEGEnRyHDuhaiombTu0hD0/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+681.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9JzhttNRKDRUDVTDg1RHghdXtHRlXkDzDGzcAdfIGgIeBoN838T-t-n-OQPvJs9DeRJtIAYyO6DJckY6hbO5Gbcox3rnPOqmkgj8gv_tw3I3NpGEF0OdmLEGEnRyHDuhaiombTu0hD0/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+681.JPG" title="Pure white sands." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGsDvtULUA6NJO31o3G4h6U2qmnSUkAfq5RlIlrUWzniElTeQzneBeotGAib0JWdvS_bx4RzFxAdFYQi3PlVhE0ZgjkFquz9MFnj6iZcXgEE5yW6Pk7LUsZD3BunhyCMnwnAs-n5oKuU/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGsDvtULUA6NJO31o3G4h6U2qmnSUkAfq5RlIlrUWzniElTeQzneBeotGAib0JWdvS_bx4RzFxAdFYQi3PlVhE0ZgjkFquz9MFnj6iZcXgEE5yW6Pk7LUsZD3BunhyCMnwnAs-n5oKuU/s320/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+690.JPG" title="And again." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvM6b0Nd_4jnV_h70BPwTjRaUImmA4dRWAmrAo9DSGVo2qdnYzAc1LzJJp0Qs0GxV0B6_Ht-597aKjZOcnNWsn3whyOICmkl1Pa-E6f3UCd_E6P6euHa7lWJydIaVhmeqV_VYJVU4G0o/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvM6b0Nd_4jnV_h70BPwTjRaUImmA4dRWAmrAo9DSGVo2qdnYzAc1LzJJp0Qs0GxV0B6_Ht-597aKjZOcnNWsn3whyOICmkl1Pa-E6f3UCd_E6P6euHa7lWJydIaVhmeqV_VYJVU4G0o/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+705.JPG" title="All of the fun!" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJfflTd8lWGeMtESv-RjradUlFTdBcl2GocxH0AQ8j5_L2uw_xdH2aYmnyI5fztgkKNEKkYbGd4GjjriLj4qu1KXMK-zv4mmok30JpBZ9nDlWGtRPnOW7hx75gxCspB9LJOgYAhtEvI8/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJfflTd8lWGeMtESv-RjradUlFTdBcl2GocxH0AQ8j5_L2uw_xdH2aYmnyI5fztgkKNEKkYbGd4GjjriLj4qu1KXMK-zv4mmok30JpBZ9nDlWGtRPnOW7hx75gxCspB9LJOgYAhtEvI8/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+725.JPG" title="Whitehaven from above." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKPvUk4vlSKWuskQjpXao-NwCCBdPdihVczY6gDC781KgmQxpXY7HV45qLt-p4hDNMOW8blAY2uQ7stz-YTAutsdixLPJModc1RRe8spc0V-wYapLKX2xS26Jod8yxreS2qOAXr-funM/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKPvUk4vlSKWuskQjpXao-NwCCBdPdihVczY6gDC781KgmQxpXY7HV45qLt-p4hDNMOW8blAY2uQ7stz-YTAutsdixLPJModc1RRe8spc0V-wYapLKX2xS26Jod8yxreS2qOAXr-funM/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+726.JPG" title="White and blue." width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz8SjxVpwExnuDwGS0ke-SIzZJ9PcznbkrPJi6e-SdbefoIjnbc67m7hqEg0BgHCQGO1SF8jieaNtYuDpga' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After
Whitehaven I go on my second dive. There are a few more taking part
this time, Amy is certified so unfortunately has to go in a different
group to me. Right from the start it eclipses yesterdays. From the
moment I enter the water there are fish circling around me like
satellites. Some dart in and out and brush past me. The coral is
indigo and violet, it looms through the sea in great boulders. We
traverse valleys and hills. Coral crevasses drop downward, fish
swimming in and out, each displaying more colour that the last. I can
hear nothing yet there is noise. A gentle and persistent roar. And
other sounds that I cannot distinguish. I presume they are some
product of the pressure on my ears. Squeaking and bleeping. At one
point I swear I can ear bagpipes. Again the half hour passes in a
matter of moments. I feel I could stay down forever. The first breath
of real air when you break the surface feels almost as unnatural as
the first breath underwater.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Afterwards
we go snorkelling. I revel in the ability to talk to people about
what I can see and I think I see even more that when diving. We see a
Giant Wrasse aptly named Priscilla, a known resident of this section
of reef. Giant Wrasse's can change sex and Priscilla is currently
male. They are amazing creatures. Honestly, google them right now.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
think we were expecting a bit more of a party atmosphere on board in
the evenings, having previously done boat tours in Ha Long bay in
Vietnam which are anything but sedate. By the second night though we
were as tired as everyone else and are happy to just chill out on
deck with drinks and conversation. A pod of dolphins leaps from the
sea nearby. We watch the sun set across the ocean and the beauty
leaves us silent. The sky burns before us.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On
the last day we get up at six for an early morning snorkel before
returning home. I am definitely still a bit drunk. Priscilla hangs in
the water below me. He glides with ease and grace, every now and then
his great mouth extending out to feed.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfSshBzPFzTnZ_B0OFulxetdhl_OZpwdRGA9V9s6AH_hZLNzOQeZzdJ4Kw2eKFrgeudO01gQ8dHUW3Q8Gz6fqR2I4dhFSd0-NVfmJ6HVtr-F_T_wGM9x4uNJ1iZ49qGQQrSaRYGLF0r0/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfSshBzPFzTnZ_B0OFulxetdhl_OZpwdRGA9V9s6AH_hZLNzOQeZzdJ4Kw2eKFrgeudO01gQ8dHUW3Q8Gz6fqR2I4dhFSd0-NVfmJ6HVtr-F_T_wGM9x4uNJ1iZ49qGQQrSaRYGLF0r0/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+743.JPG" title="The sea stretches forever." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPhFXi6_9H-KWZM-2KFZS2j2nqg70TyRv1K_SGKDw3e9K3UGfVzqKJx6l83s-1XXLuPByVO5rjHnoLqrqbrSAVB2lWhmFz1wF4f2V0hTwy5S6aKchiKP03un51kTDC8Gq98Fp9O0ESCk/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPhFXi6_9H-KWZM-2KFZS2j2nqg70TyRv1K_SGKDw3e9K3UGfVzqKJx6l83s-1XXLuPByVO5rjHnoLqrqbrSAVB2lWhmFz1wF4f2V0hTwy5S6aKchiKP03un51kTDC8Gq98Fp9O0ESCk/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+755.JPG" title="She can't get enough." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSG5T7zBCj9tocaw1H8Mj0fRzrRkglvfNR_mbpHjAfV3geLDd3rwGujpFt4cbwKcG9dEoY7Ol9tdg0vMc052tXyEiOuKGZ61s7WNKFALxCUvcbNfKf_LVrQlwRkM8i6_kP6fYAJ1lH7g/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSG5T7zBCj9tocaw1H8Mj0fRzrRkglvfNR_mbpHjAfV3geLDd3rwGujpFt4cbwKcG9dEoY7Ol9tdg0vMc052tXyEiOuKGZ61s7WNKFALxCUvcbNfKf_LVrQlwRkM8i6_kP6fYAJ1lH7g/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+759.JPG" title="The sun begins to set." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMxHCCAZc8KYTowB-hH15grOrwR5nvnxVQtC2DjK2FzpAXkOVFgU1aRmStMG9XcCSfSlrrkPQ6huaEjDWZFxOU8CSwX-UGF3WaJnXlp00sZivB_QBi9OjDFse_wl0xuYUAV7yfAKaVLo/s1600/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMxHCCAZc8KYTowB-hH15grOrwR5nvnxVQtC2DjK2FzpAXkOVFgU1aRmStMG9XcCSfSlrrkPQ6huaEjDWZFxOU8CSwX-UGF3WaJnXlp00sZivB_QBi9OjDFse_wl0xuYUAV7yfAKaVLo/s640/Magnetic+-+Whitsundays+764.JPG" title="More of the same really." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
make some good friends on the boat along with a couple of people to
visit while we are in New Zealand. We meet a Dutch girl called Daphne
who we love, we discuss how the Dutch are probably our favourite
nation, and are very sad to have to leave her. And a couple of great
Canadians who we arrange to meet in a different town in a few days
time. We lament our tight schedule and wish we could travel with
Daphne for a while, making our way down the coast at a more leisurely
pace. It is not to be, Amy and I have an overnight bus to catch. We
leave Lucy, Libby, Daphne and the Canadians at the bar in our hostel
and continue on our way. Sad, but excited for the next stage. I think
that will be all the goodbyes for a while.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
arrive in Hervey Bay the next morning and hire some bikes to explore
the town. There is a wonderful beachfront with piers that stretch far
out to sea and some botanic gardens that we successfully get lost in.
Beyond that there does not seem to be much to the town. Again though
it is the means to an end. This time we are trying to get to Fraser
Island, the worlds largest sand island, called Paradise by the
Aboriginals.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
meet the group we will be travelling with the evening before we set
off. It is a three day two night tour in four wheel drives. There
are thirteen of us including Amy and myself. Eleven of them turn out
to be German. The remaining two are Swiss. Swiss-German. We sit down
on the sofa waiting for the briefing and don't understand a word
around us. They appear to be in two large groups that are each
travelling together. I wonder whether we'll have to amuse ourselves
for the next few days. One girl kicks up a fuss. She says she will
refuse to pay anything if anyone damages the car. Eventually she
relents and signs; she has no choice if she wants to come. She adopts
a sour expression that she retains for the next three days. We watch
a ridiculous safety video then everyone leaves to go to bed. I
foolishly think I won't be making any fast friendships on this trip.
I could not be more wrong.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9qy6x8Ug8EhzpagWCC-CZD8p-3pTWmDVvfQlcRhxRo0Dgb_sLn7hmIt7y2JYjWLFZKSC5ZR2XU_RSuJUXMRwZV43EFFomDdbgoxeYHROVA1h_p7jNO2AiJPfYQ7Rs7XQnIqSKUebSM4/s1600/Fraser+Island+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9qy6x8Ug8EhzpagWCC-CZD8p-3pTWmDVvfQlcRhxRo0Dgb_sLn7hmIt7y2JYjWLFZKSC5ZR2XU_RSuJUXMRwZV43EFFomDdbgoxeYHROVA1h_p7jNO2AiJPfYQ7Rs7XQnIqSKUebSM4/s640/Fraser+Island+014.JPG" title="We see these bizarre birds everywhere." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqI2euC1jdnpTocPZogo2ltvNLJtUSjgXoVtJLejBKi4XU38wtn34GUVs8K5o0k0Ept0TIR8AdJm4NrWV79sYHFCsQvfuI5O34vuE9CBzyPEcfGgvOIDks6RkacsK-VTltM5RhqRQmMM/s1600/Fraser+Island+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqI2euC1jdnpTocPZogo2ltvNLJtUSjgXoVtJLejBKi4XU38wtn34GUVs8K5o0k0Ept0TIR8AdJm4NrWV79sYHFCsQvfuI5O34vuE9CBzyPEcfGgvOIDks6RkacsK-VTltM5RhqRQmMM/s640/Fraser+Island+018.JPG" title="A shark museum. Home to a giant frozen shark..." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IbpcWE7qDutLfbIPGRgQ0rsTNx6_8vVUKlWRzkNIX7BylmqJafSaDW5WFlqdcV2zOkYz2tCM7ZoHO5dSzNkL66dZvzVqU1XiPPQvhrK71TIPu3avcqA-uwZdkZ97gbld6x_oezmd4ZU/s1600/Fraser+Island+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IbpcWE7qDutLfbIPGRgQ0rsTNx6_8vVUKlWRzkNIX7BylmqJafSaDW5WFlqdcV2zOkYz2tCM7ZoHO5dSzNkL66dZvzVqU1XiPPQvhrK71TIPu3avcqA-uwZdkZ97gbld6x_oezmd4ZU/s640/Fraser+Island+025.JPG" title="Pelicans everywhere!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI43CeX8quN_1a2nQrMm5WX-Z1IOpUCpvhYCaIOZMg25DP3480KqPCPMYd0tLNROny1kdl-mcybObvgm3Pp0qr_H3VfsmwfwQ2zidkct9eYfy3-Nglt4oqnZ4NNb7YXW7oy70OEeKTao/s1600/Fraser+Island+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI43CeX8quN_1a2nQrMm5WX-Z1IOpUCpvhYCaIOZMg25DP3480KqPCPMYd0tLNROny1kdl-mcybObvgm3Pp0qr_H3VfsmwfwQ2zidkct9eYfy3-Nglt4oqnZ4NNb7YXW7oy70OEeKTao/s640/Fraser+Island+042.JPG" title="Amy failing to play the hostel's didgeridoo." width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Early
the next morning we haul ourselves from bed and stumble through to
reception. Five of the Germans are waiting there already. Someone
makes a joke about the safety video from the night before and before
we know it we are all laughing and joking together. I realise almost
instantly that I can get on with these people. They suggest that we
should all be in a car together (there are two cars, up to eight in
each one). We readily agree.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They
turn out not to be one group but three. Two pairs of friends from
home who have been travelling as a four for just under a week and a
guy on his own who they met two days ago. Me and Amy fit in well
despite language differences, we become the 'Special K's', or the 'K
Family', a name accorded us by the lady behind reception.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
spend the trip together. We dance together in the car and we pose for
photo's together in front of everything we come across. We play games
and discuss the future. We spell out words on the beach under the
light of a full moon. I feel our short time together dropping away
like an hourglass in my head.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiThr4hWpgi0H3eDxyS9YhydE8M9Ls2lyHVPJu3Ilkk8lula8JNQ0DM6AvUwP09Hvoh7XfiGygz-oW1SjMYTGYNGr2XNzGbn7zvPDhPfbeUG1zhYd6ZQnz1D6p5qNBc7PeT7bjVTzbSrA/s640/Fraser+Island+109.JPG" style="color: #0000ee; text-align: center;" title="Special K. Bathroom party." width="640" /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
first thing we do on Fraser is swim in a perched lake. These are
lakes with no rivers flowing in or out, there only about sixty in the
world and forty of them are on Fraser island. The sand here is so
fine and pure, like that of Whitehaven, that it filters the water
more efficiently than anything used in the cities. I walk by a stream
and gaze at it for a while confused. I think the surface is covered
in a pale algae. I realise what I am seeing is the sand of the river
bed, the water is so clear you can barely see it. It flows over the
sand without a sound, there are no rocks to cause ripples and
gurgles. The taps on the island feed directly from these streams and
the cool crystal that pours out reminds me of water from back home.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
water in the perched lakes is just as clean but it is dyed a deep
red. The trees that wrap the island are the source of tee tree oil
and the lakes are stained with it. You can wash in them using only
the pure white sand, the grains absorbing all grease and dirt. We do
so and I must admit my skin and hair both felt exceedingly soft
afterwards.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
was expecting Fraser to be somewhat bare. Apart from a small
promontory the island is made entirely of sand and I would have
presumed that would have resulted in very little plant life. Instead
I found a rainforest. Yes, the paths through the trees are nothing
but strips of sand and occasionally you will stumble upon a huge dune
but apart from that it amazingly seems as full of life as anywhere
else I have been. Endless green cut by silent white streams.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLnCaqDfkFSX-ml0EUwcNQw27vyf3DmNKPQaV3RHLXD0Yk0yMWr5_5T22YbBbZb-aUV7s_D7yE-wdH4YGFggK5GkMZfxnCm2Dd0x5YcbDRdy8lyLIbUTzSGPFv9Pa2WBk3zDbp5lrV28/s1600/Fraser+Island+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLnCaqDfkFSX-ml0EUwcNQw27vyf3DmNKPQaV3RHLXD0Yk0yMWr5_5T22YbBbZb-aUV7s_D7yE-wdH4YGFggK5GkMZfxnCm2Dd0x5YcbDRdy8lyLIbUTzSGPFv9Pa2WBk3zDbp5lrV28/s640/Fraser+Island+053.JPG" title="Roads made of sand." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaiBJln6_Tm7nlK0Pd9Df0VLrbxCz7kHz7GUwrTzXMcGL-sm2akpd0IYLJolxZmHNdA-OLIAVlDAihwdHUnNJYSqa8s2HvUNC5Tc2IgY-17xYlWUe-3bajqYHe8qBitCHqPu4DsnTd1M/s1600/Fraser+Island+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaiBJln6_Tm7nlK0Pd9Df0VLrbxCz7kHz7GUwrTzXMcGL-sm2akpd0IYLJolxZmHNdA-OLIAVlDAihwdHUnNJYSqa8s2HvUNC5Tc2IgY-17xYlWUe-3bajqYHe8qBitCHqPu4DsnTd1M/s640/Fraser+Island+057.JPG" title="Dog or Dingo?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54AJzbVTWekJ_Ah5sb6EPSLf0ZESVptguPbOQNuD_onXHIuMh-RHl_V6_BvzvfmrroI7kjXj5Rre6RzMSLqKYmZk8TmwXqiaWktvCMYLiKz3rqzoOjY15WCIHX8DI8s0YTHu9SluqNRg/s1600/Fraser+Island+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54AJzbVTWekJ_Ah5sb6EPSLf0ZESVptguPbOQNuD_onXHIuMh-RHl_V6_BvzvfmrroI7kjXj5Rre6RzMSLqKYmZk8TmwXqiaWktvCMYLiKz3rqzoOjY15WCIHX8DI8s0YTHu9SluqNRg/s640/Fraser+Island+060.JPG" title="Apparently these plants are worth thousands of dollars." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRicUYDLpjdpD8UHREvjtjdLhenXCcqhV0a_54YCt8BlYcmJjtQ_RScxdFsV6xnSQbTg17zVqBWzaZuwBWgXgYd9hC0PFTaJuKo982dXzOgVXHGvN_5XBJhQjHJXE7Gjc8GqdmHHuppw/s1600/Fraser+Island+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRicUYDLpjdpD8UHREvjtjdLhenXCcqhV0a_54YCt8BlYcmJjtQ_RScxdFsV6xnSQbTg17zVqBWzaZuwBWgXgYd9hC0PFTaJuKo982dXzOgVXHGvN_5XBJhQjHJXE7Gjc8GqdmHHuppw/s640/Fraser+Island+094.JPG" title="Contrasting colours." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp6pdwOBNAso0aH2aOopZlp9ID3bPydm0G_oQv16kWyFLLzsgWDj0Jt-S2arOnOVZhc7MeE3grxNnygASRjGnkbd0KvrxChKw4ggJ7nCldfMWQzyYD9VTKF6OX0aizT7mb8PKetDYBrk/s1600/Fraser+Island+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp6pdwOBNAso0aH2aOopZlp9ID3bPydm0G_oQv16kWyFLLzsgWDj0Jt-S2arOnOVZhc7MeE3grxNnygASRjGnkbd0KvrxChKw4ggJ7nCldfMWQzyYD9VTKF6OX0aizT7mb8PKetDYBrk/s640/Fraser+Island+101.JPG" title="The beach stretches like this for miles." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
first night we camp in a campsite fenced off from the dingoes.
Dingoes abound on Fraser Island and we all see a few. They look like
dogs and act like wolves. We are warned many times of the appropriate
procedure should a dingo show signs of aggression. Fold your arms
over your chest and walk back slowly. This is a technique we go on to
adopt for many things. Cars, for example. We are also warned of the
dangers of going in the sea, this being prime shark area. We
unfortunately did not see any sharks but did spend a long time
searching for the elusive Dingo-Shark which can only be found on the
full moon.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
visit the wreck the Maheno, a ship built in Dumbarton, Scotland, in
1905. It had quite the life, starting out as a luxury liner and
surviving the first world war as a hospital ship before being sold to
the Japanese and grounded a few days later during a freak winter
cyclone. It was never recovered but was again put to use as a target
for bombing practise during the second world war.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
drives around the island are one of two things, relatively slow and
so bumpy you can barely stay in your seat (these are the most fun) or
fast and sweeping down the endless beach that stretches for the
entire eastern side of the island. The sea flows by on one side and
the dunes on the other. I see a white breasted sea-eagle carrying a
sea snake in its talons. It is a magnificent beast and I am wowed by
its size. Our tour guide, Syd, pulls up next to a green plastic chair
encrusted in barnacles. It is sitting on the sand facing directly out
to see like an empty throne. There is nothing for miles around, it
must have washed up in this position but I can hardly believe it.
Perhaps it was placed there by an Undine, or by Poseidon himself,
upon their last trip through these waters.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Syd
excitedly leaps out of the car exclaiming 'This is exactly what we
need!' before grabbing the chair and shoving it in the back of our
car. There isn't really enough room and it stinks, but Syd seems
happy. He tells us that once he found a flat-screen TV in the exact
same position. Upright and facing out to sea, covered in barnacles. I
wonder what Poseidon would choose to watch. Project Runway if he had
any sense.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibqSUM8fU017K2bwrN8LlNgy8m0Hd3_cotdfRv4Obc0hgu-SKCxweHe7Bkoy1vmyTCCefcVSmjZL3gzGpB2YZf0mvUviJnrUr6wi2_1R5ee2U5vSegxhdOh-j_SDK5Fk7xzmRKlK3WKY/s1600/Fraser+Island+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibqSUM8fU017K2bwrN8LlNgy8m0Hd3_cotdfRv4Obc0hgu-SKCxweHe7Bkoy1vmyTCCefcVSmjZL3gzGpB2YZf0mvUviJnrUr6wi2_1R5ee2U5vSegxhdOh-j_SDK5Fk7xzmRKlK3WKY/s640/Fraser+Island+111.JPG" title="First time camping." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ji_kB1cZMQqxY_M7Mu2w3gOS7rfiYxV72Mz76gtg_jWZ9utyQHdMhumMR34KRBASMO5FmHbXJet8domYUMyQhHdIFaBLzdOika9YeRGxZdmCD1Wg8XiQJH4tFLgQ9ntQ4548ptG1gfE/s1600/Fraser+Island+113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ji_kB1cZMQqxY_M7Mu2w3gOS7rfiYxV72Mz76gtg_jWZ9utyQHdMhumMR34KRBASMO5FmHbXJet8domYUMyQhHdIFaBLzdOika9YeRGxZdmCD1Wg8XiQJH4tFLgQ9ntQ4548ptG1gfE/s640/Fraser+Island+113.JPG" title="Spot the giant lizard on the tree." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghifrozHfWqpKl6KEHNzXkyko6b0P_xLKsv4gMzX8TuRoNR6Q8ETMnpuRASYQt0qusFbmjzwpW4boBWDVjKJELjcu7_bOyf6YUmLNIRZF0sGRUMID_RIoY7NvSRBc3TPx8IQ9zEA-hRtM/s1600/Fraser+Island+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghifrozHfWqpKl6KEHNzXkyko6b0P_xLKsv4gMzX8TuRoNR6Q8ETMnpuRASYQt0qusFbmjzwpW4boBWDVjKJELjcu7_bOyf6YUmLNIRZF0sGRUMID_RIoY7NvSRBc3TPx8IQ9zEA-hRtM/s640/Fraser+Island+126.JPG" title="Endless sand." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j2y2Id4DNqD1z9Atu09nqOZ6jcGWHD8Oku4a-Ipe-BXSj64sPE8fSX5FjBhwe3tO_PDGzgZwcfripUVNdeQyms_oAqdlgaIfm5X3W1Ktr5ZZGiHXYkq1AVq-25_TEWJ8VCnz7tStRqE/s1600/Fraser+Island+160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j2y2Id4DNqD1z9Atu09nqOZ6jcGWHD8Oku4a-Ipe-BXSj64sPE8fSX5FjBhwe3tO_PDGzgZwcfripUVNdeQyms_oAqdlgaIfm5X3W1Ktr5ZZGiHXYkq1AVq-25_TEWJ8VCnz7tStRqE/s640/Fraser+Island+160.JPG" title="The only part not made of sand." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV23LvXVvKc0LfoqahPrmnOYgeftxtlWhwtMUhlbA5guhtgCbKR2nm2_0W3c2LQl2RJ5rf3fxisEWkXPd34pAGWKVZ59ZK7-H0kUGkcycjHJurj0decrv3pCK9CgPW9jykDCbjv4AtWHs/s1600/Fraser+Island+175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV23LvXVvKc0LfoqahPrmnOYgeftxtlWhwtMUhlbA5guhtgCbKR2nm2_0W3c2LQl2RJ5rf3fxisEWkXPd34pAGWKVZ59ZK7-H0kUGkcycjHJurj0decrv3pCK9CgPW9jykDCbjv4AtWHs/s640/Fraser+Island+175.JPG" title="All colours of sand make up the island." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqLoJiiwKwy27-mZdQv2__8CRM5XyvzQV_6D3S5U6zWOzLXca7oUS7egpHi7slsyW4s_wAwnC47uHEpYahDbofr0kuF2GmTptxu2xuszL063ecl6oYmW8R-L8xMzqqCSkvWcGX0Snv1I/s1600/Fraser+Island+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqLoJiiwKwy27-mZdQv2__8CRM5XyvzQV_6D3S5U6zWOzLXca7oUS7egpHi7slsyW4s_wAwnC47uHEpYahDbofr0kuF2GmTptxu2xuszL063ecl6oYmW8R-L8xMzqqCSkvWcGX0Snv1I/s640/Fraser+Island+186.JPG" title="Fresh water tutrles! Terrapins?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnqpwxU7rWeCUXxiKMC0buTBpbpEZY8JJcWrJaLZVQI-QsY-dIxyKy6siT-2zOp-BaQStUImuvHUx4nnYj2igSlw6dxhBY4aw-41BMtM845M_Mjwrz0C_e3K5tR-Yv0KqU88exx1Ijto/s1600/Fraser+Island+203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnqpwxU7rWeCUXxiKMC0buTBpbpEZY8JJcWrJaLZVQI-QsY-dIxyKy6siT-2zOp-BaQStUImuvHUx4nnYj2igSlw6dxhBY4aw-41BMtM845M_Mjwrz0C_e3K5tR-Yv0KqU88exx1Ijto/s640/Fraser+Island+203.JPG" title="The Maheno." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjml6i1bRmKZlGxy-C_ErsapKlpK-j_IFC5rqyI8dqHvgMgjskVy-Fj6RR0Hza1ESjOkMiuarNbfuJMsCHlwqriDbp5zzY0MSW1maNJTgixJse36OqtDEP81Ky6DPoAJC2ZU6I_Bg__46I/s1600/Fraser+Island+210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjml6i1bRmKZlGxy-C_ErsapKlpK-j_IFC5rqyI8dqHvgMgjskVy-Fj6RR0Hza1ESjOkMiuarNbfuJMsCHlwqriDbp5zzY0MSW1maNJTgixJse36OqtDEP81Ky6DPoAJC2ZU6I_Bg__46I/s640/Fraser+Island+210.JPG" title="Inside the Maheno." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPbDJYW3XqGCTapbsiWfhVBgiJ37HJ7seRyEqK9ISW1amDolxhBjB5VRF8RDJrXzCz9QrWAtwjdnO3rxOJ23_8UH6-cvpN3HJh9PevA5f0jcjgjK3rzORYFyIDfoGDNgfboDZziF60z0/s1600/Fraser+Island+212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPbDJYW3XqGCTapbsiWfhVBgiJ37HJ7seRyEqK9ISW1amDolxhBjB5VRF8RDJrXzCz9QrWAtwjdnO3rxOJ23_8UH6-cvpN3HJh9PevA5f0jcjgjK3rzORYFyIDfoGDNgfboDZziF60z0/s640/Fraser+Island+212.JPG" title="Encrusted in barnacles." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUOMgPbeg-JH7rfX68BRRCjznzLk4ax2q74y0UbH4ewsU7Kt8FG88Jo-Axj_sw6Hf1gxL_QY1sKs4QH9AReobsF5XLhmGUZ78rf_jVYJvtNjqbJb2XSidEGGOxAIm7r-pXb5NJEB9zLY/s1600/Fraser+Island+222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUOMgPbeg-JH7rfX68BRRCjznzLk4ax2q74y0UbH4ewsU7Kt8FG88Jo-Axj_sw6Hf1gxL_QY1sKs4QH9AReobsF5XLhmGUZ78rf_jVYJvtNjqbJb2XSidEGGOxAIm7r-pXb5NJEB9zLY/s640/Fraser+Island+222.JPG" title="Half of the wreck is buried under the sand." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNCCq_2RgLx_YUUqd3Ke2pT1PveacoxGsrgyIW2kW1ztuRdn1-ps2rYyPKvNvqRQT_BrHfulDOkZl4URvAt50RJfwkLl_OztGEQRAy92kQxEC7E9R-4VI5h7FopnfWlrSMF5rH3yFSWU/s1600/Fraser+Island+237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNCCq_2RgLx_YUUqd3Ke2pT1PveacoxGsrgyIW2kW1ztuRdn1-ps2rYyPKvNvqRQT_BrHfulDOkZl4URvAt50RJfwkLl_OztGEQRAy92kQxEC7E9R-4VI5h7FopnfWlrSMF5rH3yFSWU/s640/Fraser+Island+237.JPG" title="Syd in 'The Chair'" width="478" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our
second camp-site is the beach with the dingoes. We build benches out
of some wood Syd has stashed in the trees nearby. He triumphantly
produces another plastic chair that he found over a year ago.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At
times the language barrier does get to me. Occasionally I find myself
surrounded by various in depth German conversations that I don't want
to interrupt. Worse than this though is knowing that I cannot have
these same in depth conversations with these people in English. Some
things are too hard to articulate in a foreign language.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
cook dinner and head to the beach to play games that involve spinning
very fast in a small circle. One of the K's can't quite handle it and
ends up in a wave. We watch the full moon rise over the sea, a
voluminous disk that starts the colour of pale gold, and Venus
streams an icy light behind us. People trickle off to bed and the K's
are left with the Swiss. The moon is high in the sky and it blazes
with a light that could almost be day. The air is perfectly clear and
the sea glistens under the power of the stars and the moon. Cut glass
and silver. Moon shadows stand bold against the pale sand.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Time
stands still and the world seems to shrink. Nothing matters. Is
there anything better than good company under the stars? I don't
think there is. And if you add in some beer well...</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
spell out words using out bodies silhouetted. Dingo, Shark, Fraser,
Island, 2013. And 'cookie' (some of the K's have a serous problem).
Me and Henrik manage to perfect the 'S'. The Swiss go to bed and we
are left dancing in the moonlight. We take a photo mooning under the
moon, confident that nothing can be seen in this light. As it turns
out I manage to position myself at the perfect angle to light up much
more than I would want lit up. Everyone else is fine.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7ceb5D9i8KDpFuVEILTMrRjQYvj1gF64jYzKjI3zfMQ5DLEri8FhterpdYSZjN9KMFpFZPIRSiHGgqtj1OVVcMTW7ozaqB6exuV07WbziX1zcwHJvY8csAsUN0u3Xur_XuOOQivI_W0/s1600/DSCN7082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7ceb5D9i8KDpFuVEILTMrRjQYvj1gF64jYzKjI3zfMQ5DLEri8FhterpdYSZjN9KMFpFZPIRSiHGgqtj1OVVcMTW7ozaqB6exuV07WbziX1zcwHJvY8csAsUN0u3Xur_XuOOQivI_W0/s640/DSCN7082.JPG" title="Which one am I?" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSM1igHJJWk9dpAlNZzkK00CcLAChZTPnBjUTQxh3hWxZKmibtD0QpsqZyBDYHpxCbuCNO_xggRRcNIJzZPrnc-BIWPMc2nTWjfE1y85VmN8Qpp2hGUdOOcvJ_Wg0ZOJaU-Tii5OyTgko/s1600/Fraser+Island+241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSM1igHJJWk9dpAlNZzkK00CcLAChZTPnBjUTQxh3hWxZKmibtD0QpsqZyBDYHpxCbuCNO_xggRRcNIJzZPrnc-BIWPMc2nTWjfE1y85VmN8Qpp2hGUdOOcvJ_Wg0ZOJaU-Tii5OyTgko/s640/Fraser+Island+241.JPG" title="Moonrise." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj-Ibm2LwHokrOl0kNOebaUQJSfXKB63ASS1EvDa50pRAfVa0CgtNlqpK8OlkreIpZN7b4Jl9c63aZkWfSEXfalVEGu8mthimClaGllGQeY3BflKrlVOibWlLwoaHxnmPtv1dRrRXo5o/s1600/Fraser+Island+265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj-Ibm2LwHokrOl0kNOebaUQJSfXKB63ASS1EvDa50pRAfVa0CgtNlqpK8OlkreIpZN7b4Jl9c63aZkWfSEXfalVEGu8mthimClaGllGQeY3BflKrlVOibWlLwoaHxnmPtv1dRrRXo5o/s640/Fraser+Island+265.JPG" title="Red waters of Lake McKenzie." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
wake up in the morning with a feeling of sadness. It is the last day
of the tour and our time is almost over. I wish we could all stay
here forever. We spend the day swimming in lakes and digging our cars
out of sand. As we drive along 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay'
drifts over the radio. We fall silent, some sing along, and I think
on how false the lyrics feel to me right now and how I wish they were
true.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rd3rA89VhtA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Looks
like nothin's gonna change</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Everything
still remains the same</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
return to the hostel for a final night together. Amy and I are
happily catching the same bus as Henrik and Klara the next morning so
we at least have more time. We draw K's on each other and search the
town for somewhere open past eleven. We fail so walk home along the
beach and take more photo's on the pier. Jupiter breaks the horizon,
burning a vengeful red and exuding power. We woefully say goodbye to
one of us who is staying at a different hostel then head back. There
is enough time for a final group teeth clean (this is what happens
when you hang out with dentists) then I crawl to bed.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
are up early the next day for the bus and more goodbyes. Two of my
new friends are in a band called Stereo, I have heard one songs
online which I thoroughly enjoyed. We spend the journey going over
pages of lyrics with me correcting any major mistakes, of which there
are few.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
next stop is Noosa. It is a nice enough beach I suppose, and the
headland is a small national park which has a good coastal walk but
again there is very little in the town to inspire. We leave the next
day for Brisbane and our two remaining K's thankfully decide to leave
Noosa with us and come too. I am so glad they are able to change
their plans because we no longer are. We need to reach Sydney for a
flight to New Zealand.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
arrive in Brisbane and find ourselves surprised at how happy we are
to be in a city once more. I walk down a street and find myself
enjoying the noise and the feel. Cities speak of activity and
opportunity. Of people.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
like Brisbane. I think I would never like it as much as Melbourne but
it still appeals. There is a lot of contrast in architecture with new
buildings built by old (as old as they get here). There is a park on
the south bank of the Brisbane River containing the Brisbane Wheel
(Australians seem to be incapable of naming things) along with a
small rainforest and a pagoda. Spread through out it we find people
practising several different brass instruments. Alone but held
together by common purpose. They seem to communicate through the
trees and vines, speaking to each other in a language only they
understand. Unfortunately Amy and I only have under two days here, I
could do with far more.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
meet the two Canadians from the Whitsundays in our hostel and the six
of us have a night out in Brisbane. It is amazing. We arrive at the
club at about half ten and dance solidly through till half past four
when we can be found slowly marching out in time to 'New York, New
York', herded off the dance floor by the bouncer. They play songs
stolen from school discos and they play songs straight from the
charts. We only pause to go to the bar or the toilet, and never for
long. When it is done we are exhausted but thrilled.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It
takes almost an hour to walk home. We attempt to hail a taxi to New
York, play on bike parking and consider going to the casino. It gets
light and we find some reporters on the street waiting to present the
six o' clock news. They have been up since three. We try get a place
in the news but they don't seem too keen on the idea. We find a man
on a skateboard clutching a blood soaked rag. He tells us he's been
up for seventy two hours and should probably go to hospital. He
skateboards off into the sunrise.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMk0q8tWEyRQpuoVfBhT95OXAJzrtW9iDyI_ctvBSgklKB4af5RT4hW1mZO8ss189BGKf4UvuzSPp25WPmPGAsXc9JH44XfWMQv_134LPgtZC02_pOgN1VIPY4y5HxL23AOl8D27Qe3Q/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMk0q8tWEyRQpuoVfBhT95OXAJzrtW9iDyI_ctvBSgklKB4af5RT4hW1mZO8ss189BGKf4UvuzSPp25WPmPGAsXc9JH44XfWMQv_134LPgtZC02_pOgN1VIPY4y5HxL23AOl8D27Qe3Q/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+025.JPG" title="Amy, Henrik, Klara and Matilda." width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCB1mv5DGYDjQc90qzv-IM1bM0xHZ5xaGyF1_qSCZvDj5qHu9jbJnEAvIUmpn5TywHen94L4iUrrOCAL6K3Me0iLMDKjVrSwc2Lbow0oaxhfGGpXXFfWCvtTA0p6gutlXfGMPgGnuZ_I/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCB1mv5DGYDjQc90qzv-IM1bM0xHZ5xaGyF1_qSCZvDj5qHu9jbJnEAvIUmpn5TywHen94L4iUrrOCAL6K3Me0iLMDKjVrSwc2Lbow0oaxhfGGpXXFfWCvtTA0p6gutlXfGMPgGnuZ_I/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+054.JPG" title="Arriving in Brisbane." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxUcn7tDyp-tC9eYibfy4zqvWPbE8MrPpgrknt4NQ3dP4gZE_wlEzq0Do5wvMTexIk21GnK5kA1_FDsAkfg__1DbEFGMyfDaAypxhoQbzMhLmF0aMolrS9A7lJN8J_KrLi7itnRxvav4/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxUcn7tDyp-tC9eYibfy4zqvWPbE8MrPpgrknt4NQ3dP4gZE_wlEzq0Do5wvMTexIk21GnK5kA1_FDsAkfg__1DbEFGMyfDaAypxhoQbzMhLmF0aMolrS9A7lJN8J_KrLi7itnRxvav4/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+081.JPG" title="Beautiful walkway through Brisbane." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3lP2vxtablCRhY2RHGyu6V4yUjqsZELIRlEVPPp87G0g8yye4S8nwUFJShj8mLKX8L984ul9uKMkhKkz0YbJMDL7dReFwRbhtfZ4R76blM-cNBms-ui-a4HRHT4o3WxzwR1eC16-jX4/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3lP2vxtablCRhY2RHGyu6V4yUjqsZELIRlEVPPp87G0g8yye4S8nwUFJShj8mLKX8L984ul9uKMkhKkz0YbJMDL7dReFwRbhtfZ4R76blM-cNBms-ui-a4HRHT4o3WxzwR1eC16-jX4/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+087.JPG" title="The Brisbane Wheel looms over the Pagoda." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ONmCB7Qfalm3avQ-d2khHTHPFPYqCnvETXRZbBip4uPNvAXLbzcyPpl2SvW87WPyFx07ONBO5f1DZ00iXF2owLRxiTba4ewPaSiAjRtHMJopd9j4k2-dOjf6pf2aRYYI22YfZZxekoM/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ONmCB7Qfalm3avQ-d2khHTHPFPYqCnvETXRZbBip4uPNvAXLbzcyPpl2SvW87WPyFx07ONBO5f1DZ00iXF2owLRxiTba4ewPaSiAjRtHMJopd9j4k2-dOjf6pf2aRYYI22YfZZxekoM/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+105.JPG" title="Views across the city." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidV7PMutVqX_EZHOU2CLbomR32dW9rh7cClnTlmjsDHae3FFGdYt1Wb4pLoWAseEwTX3hQwbbdL-5amOP66CIyQ3zAhtC-OQ-T6KkAsesTtAsUREGxhqlO9jbGpShGr4jVwM5U562RCo/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidV7PMutVqX_EZHOU2CLbomR32dW9rh7cClnTlmjsDHae3FFGdYt1Wb4pLoWAseEwTX3hQwbbdL-5amOP66CIyQ3zAhtC-OQ-T6KkAsesTtAsUREGxhqlO9jbGpShGr4jVwM5U562RCo/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+107.JPG" title="Views around the city." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyySdVAoemHCi1JmiAq2eBLQaqRguc_I1SqN5pKOlR0FfQ5yOyugJOR0uKQWasb56dXc5uVsWsVOuDqUl2o_SVStxNkddVSHTFuW2-unCqSXLvGK6mW23B4wybs3Z9w5u6YEW8JbXaGk/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyySdVAoemHCi1JmiAq2eBLQaqRguc_I1SqN5pKOlR0FfQ5yOyugJOR0uKQWasb56dXc5uVsWsVOuDqUl2o_SVStxNkddVSHTFuW2-unCqSXLvGK6mW23B4wybs3Z9w5u6YEW8JbXaGk/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+109.JPG" title="Trees!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQD5v6Z802IZ38GIXkaJx2NDCUPL11RHJvK2Y8OopkN9NgNP7FWd-N5hlW7Hcj1h-j60Mu5e4_UhCVcR6nWMqlftuOM_j7z_FiXe7cIkLNsHMnkRxTyVt0lWj__9zc2RmDAVLIOHyWEJk/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQD5v6Z802IZ38GIXkaJx2NDCUPL11RHJvK2Y8OopkN9NgNP7FWd-N5hlW7Hcj1h-j60Mu5e4_UhCVcR6nWMqlftuOM_j7z_FiXe7cIkLNsHMnkRxTyVt0lWj__9zc2RmDAVLIOHyWEJk/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+116.JPG" title="On one of the main shopping streets." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyASejrEC8D5q9bBSBJd9pS3bf7KIePdL1sXwgwYnYi8tob1HpXefwG2IjoQQT3S1HjTtVzP7n8tp6DpRVnxI1tER1Y9ZIfyVj69J8Z5OuzA6_q9f_88ia0riERxrQ3TYdUyg47BMy9vs/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyASejrEC8D5q9bBSBJd9pS3bf7KIePdL1sXwgwYnYi8tob1HpXefwG2IjoQQT3S1HjTtVzP7n8tp6DpRVnxI1tER1Y9ZIfyVj69J8Z5OuzA6_q9f_88ia0riERxrQ3TYdUyg47BMy9vs/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+121.JPG" title="Tiny church nestled between towering buildings." width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf6QWdiDSpo8KJoZQXb1J6gY1VFMCyw933_x6zQ2474_2X8tLOwi6dfrtIQCFV4uOlJgtRhFAdHXAmSsFrT-31_zDZFGqnEmTc3X48dTowOz1G9zwFJuMtU-2D6m_zF1ylC1_0PpGM58/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf6QWdiDSpo8KJoZQXb1J6gY1VFMCyw933_x6zQ2474_2X8tLOwi6dfrtIQCFV4uOlJgtRhFAdHXAmSsFrT-31_zDZFGqnEmTc3X48dTowOz1G9zwFJuMtU-2D6m_zF1ylC1_0PpGM58/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+166.JPG" title="In the botanical gardens." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENt9LcarkAnFB2acG4xSAd9_LXLr2bhhq9JCTLMgJK_Plx-yhqPFCqEbfV9QBcQV6Z2CgcapRNUsiVfxCZeUYXEAUtO6N4XRNvUouwVwh1aFS3z8Oap2-kZYMogIxNnLCCvqkZ1JeKiM/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENt9LcarkAnFB2acG4xSAd9_LXLr2bhhq9JCTLMgJK_Plx-yhqPFCqEbfV9QBcQV6Z2CgcapRNUsiVfxCZeUYXEAUtO6N4XRNvUouwVwh1aFS3z8Oap2-kZYMogIxNnLCCvqkZ1JeKiM/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+171.JPG" title="Trees again. Who's surprised?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnz75xg5wJd7PVy9WJZ40x4uUCj5Y04-oixDxc0UJkiOTcn02rPWfp1lYU0YnzFgmFT_q7pRI_IPoRABDMETvVdSo-3jjTT3Hr2pP1EU290oSSIHeRQDxYDTDZFh-D3sqNgOK6PUiWFQ/s1600/Noosa-Brisbane+172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnz75xg5wJd7PVy9WJZ40x4uUCj5Y04-oixDxc0UJkiOTcn02rPWfp1lYU0YnzFgmFT_q7pRI_IPoRABDMETvVdSo-3jjTT3Hr2pP1EU290oSSIHeRQDxYDTDZFh-D3sqNgOK6PUiWFQ/s640/Noosa-Brisbane+172.JPG" title="Lovely city :)" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Three
hours later I am up and it is time for me and Amy to check out. We go
to the lagoon and play in the fountains, they clean the hangover off
us in a burst of clean water and activity. Before we have to leave we
have a final dinner with Henrik and Klara then leave for our bus.
Once again it is just us. I feel slightly hollow and am glad Amy is
here.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
have made plans to meet up in the future. I want to visit Germany and
they want to visit Scotland. The festival and my birthday next year
is a possibility discussed. I truly hope I make it to Germany to
visit them before too long has passed. Thankfully we have more
imminent plans aswell. Henrick and Klara are heading home in a couple
of months but not until they have travelled New Zealand. They are
travelling south while Amy and I are travelling North. We would like
to meet up half way and I am sure that it will happen. I have an idea
that before we meet we should each take photos of ourselves pulling
poses in specific places and then when the other pair visit that
place they have to recreate the same photograph.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With
the rest of the K's I have possible plans after New Zealand. New Year
has been discussed and possibly Christmas. These are things that I
would love to do but currently have no idea where I will be. I can
but hope it will be possible. As I hope it will be possible for all
seven of us to meet again one day, but that would not be for a long
time.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As
I said before. The worst thing about travelling is having to say
goodbye to people that you feel connected to. When you can feel
friendships forming then they are pulled away and you don't know if
the opportunity will ever arise again. The best thing about
travelling is getting to make these friendships, and getting to meet
these people. It is other people that make my life. People are
interesting and intriguing and infinitely varied. It makes me wonder
who I will meet next. And where I will have to visit next, once I've
done a tour of Germany. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-85782357361033657222013-10-16T18:38:00.000-07:002013-10-17T02:32:07.558-07:00Forest, fires, falls. And a platypus.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amy
and I seem to have developed our own distinct travel style. It
involves minimal periods of intense planning (and spending) followed
by days where the future is but a distant thought. Then we repeat.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
fly into Cairns at four in the morning knowing nothing at all. We
have nowhere to stay and not the first clue of where to go. We find a
shuttle service, not meant to start for over an hour, that will take us into town right away. The driver leaves us on the esplanade in the dark with a girl
called Libby, she has a hostel but the reception doesn't open till 8am so she has to wait for three ours anyway.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
walk down to the seafront and sit on a bench by some trees. Huge bats
swoop above; piercing shrieks and clicks permeate the
air. As the first tendrils of light creep through the sky they all
take wing. A great host bursts from the trees and heads
inland, filling the air. As soon as they leave parrots fly in to take
their place. They raucously herald the dawn, acting as if the tree
was theirs all along.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cairns itself seems quite uninspiring. Whether it is down to the lack of
sleep, the inability to do anything at this time in the morning or the
semi naked drunks stumbling through the street, we swiftly decide we
don't really want to stay. By 9am we have hired a car, done our food
shop for the week and are heading north. A cabin in the
rainforest awaits us. Libby sits in the passenger seat, hostel
booking forgotten.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotVlWVnsuGDvw_mjdGERHuKtQ5Ee4Vbzpl3AR1msaWfQV3SGUbXXj5Lf-XBJRcZrT5Sp1ZgbIGofAZuxQt3OLqtZoMlxOPVvIisxSYPaQMdk-RprOQSs1u8CIEtvQjjyx8G1zxtV7VJI/s1600/Not+Cairns+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotVlWVnsuGDvw_mjdGERHuKtQ5Ee4Vbzpl3AR1msaWfQV3SGUbXXj5Lf-XBJRcZrT5Sp1ZgbIGofAZuxQt3OLqtZoMlxOPVvIisxSYPaQMdk-RprOQSs1u8CIEtvQjjyx8G1zxtV7VJI/s640/Not+Cairns+002.JPG" title="Airport life returns." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGfH0MN2-ATVXVhCDHvmBjeiX3QgQP7x1L0SUy1xw4BVqPZ-jwlYEcjipaP46wBJ5F-L2jUqoczjBxjrvTd-llwIST6yAnYaecrXsCpsNwxxyDzABV7IZ0yb1ljBdDue13Tseohgpmjo/s1600/Not+Cairns+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGfH0MN2-ATVXVhCDHvmBjeiX3QgQP7x1L0SUy1xw4BVqPZ-jwlYEcjipaP46wBJ5F-L2jUqoczjBxjrvTd-llwIST6yAnYaecrXsCpsNwxxyDzABV7IZ0yb1ljBdDue13Tseohgpmjo/s640/Not+Cairns+003.JPG" title="My only photo of Cairns. There isn't a beach so instead they have a salt water swimming pool." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
are going to Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest. This
rainforest covers 0.1% of Australia's surface but contains 30% of Austrralia's reptile, amphibian and marsupial species, 34% of the mammals, 40% of the birds and 65% of the bats and butterflies. It
is prime location for Cassowary spotting. These majestic birds and
huge and colourful and sadly endangered, only about two thousand are left in Australia. At one point we are lucky
enough to see one with a chick.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
take the ferry in our car across the river to Cape Trib, desperately,
and unfruitfully, looking for crocodiles as we do. We enter a world
of vines and lizards. Rainforest clad hills etch ridges against the
sky before tumbling into crystal waters. Thin white ribbons of sand
form a fringing in places, dividing the worlds of emerald and
sapphire.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On
the first night Libby gets offered a job. It sounds nice on paper,
working in a rainforest abutted by a tropical beach. It is eventually
decided that the reality would not quite be the same and the job is
rejected. We celebrate by lying on the beach some more.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Once
again we encounter the Australians propensity to exaggerate. We
undertake what is claimed to be a seven hour walk complete with death
warnings and signs that tell us to carry four litres of water per
person. Five minutes in we see Boyd's Forest Dragon clinging to a
tree. I try to take a photo but it's having none of it. We have a
nice long picnic at the top, butterflies float and spin while and
Pacific Swallows (I think) speed between them. We walk at a
reasonable pace but I certainly wouldn't call it fast. Four hours and
three litres of water later we return, invigorated.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eqQtxSRmhR_-NVHhLCamjnwHZwsRyyB5lvAPoH3xK0anMVl118OIQipMC4rxh-Ld0SsCs-DZ5TS5hZ_J6R-LeJ7-HVp91t8JSXf9SzmgQggH6IwKS4CmxlOPzukAibo4qY77WU-QN7Y/s1600/Not+Cairns+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eqQtxSRmhR_-NVHhLCamjnwHZwsRyyB5lvAPoH3xK0anMVl118OIQipMC4rxh-Ld0SsCs-DZ5TS5hZ_J6R-LeJ7-HVp91t8JSXf9SzmgQggH6IwKS4CmxlOPzukAibo4qY77WU-QN7Y/s640/Not+Cairns+031.JPG" title="Our new home." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicG7RE46D0Ow6aNXBVvfMuAbUvM19KGkIhljq6yq0-2vrDfRzegXRYlGEuu39i7fmseLnychoPHCfHwLimW2ctW_RLHFzUzY3AzMGRlLYjSQTwU7mCCzA89hoxQdqLeUYd48fa2sXRaBI/s1600/Not+Cairns+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicG7RE46D0Ow6aNXBVvfMuAbUvM19KGkIhljq6yq0-2vrDfRzegXRYlGEuu39i7fmseLnychoPHCfHwLimW2ctW_RLHFzUzY3AzMGRlLYjSQTwU7mCCzA89hoxQdqLeUYd48fa2sXRaBI/s640/Not+Cairns+036.JPG" title="Rainforest highways." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljqD6y0Fwa9pIYGgcIOoeVhHlA89Qf4rGVTysLiOKpPc28D7R5OJbgAfBhEOjjAMD_pHFULdZCTgJGjXj2-lXEMHLT3XAIhHYarXrnt4OjLfksFtTSykkSk1nYw5fUH69Zez8KrZXsXo/s1600/Not+Cairns+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljqD6y0Fwa9pIYGgcIOoeVhHlA89Qf4rGVTysLiOKpPc28D7R5OJbgAfBhEOjjAMD_pHFULdZCTgJGjXj2-lXEMHLT3XAIhHYarXrnt4OjLfksFtTSykkSk1nYw5fUH69Zez8KrZXsXo/s640/Not+Cairns+039.JPG" title="Strangling Fig - more on this later." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbHLP0mMrQYnkia_kdTQL4S8E_D9fADJwCEIuxTJLSA_iXAarQRimdqVDLkbxDjWjrHwKh52vu1C4Po4mlGo7cUKBiMlt6hO683Xh44rsmvkNi5BRtIz7BrpyQq2wwXeO1DQzTSP-zws/s1600/Not+Cairns+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbHLP0mMrQYnkia_kdTQL4S8E_D9fADJwCEIuxTJLSA_iXAarQRimdqVDLkbxDjWjrHwKh52vu1C4Po4mlGo7cUKBiMlt6hO683Xh44rsmvkNi5BRtIz7BrpyQq2wwXeO1DQzTSP-zws/s640/Not+Cairns+063.JPG" title="I believe this is one of those games where you're not allowed to touch the rope." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUmCwXIFcLG3ft-kuD7kQD00dHs0nbDPZOCGubc3A81tP6WfcHnXgaccnlVfBlRRciSHSIgHhTinarODDl64BvDKBh8nhF6LbWtFYQ4-ORl56w_Wfh3e1ESg_d8ljmqgSY0B5PZX13fc/s1600/Not+Cairns+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUmCwXIFcLG3ft-kuD7kQD00dHs0nbDPZOCGubc3A81tP6WfcHnXgaccnlVfBlRRciSHSIgHhTinarODDl64BvDKBh8nhF6LbWtFYQ4-ORl56w_Wfh3e1ESg_d8ljmqgSY0B5PZX13fc/s640/Not+Cairns+078.JPG" title="A moth sleeps." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QfzFeyq7iSlOSWwiiPZ8BNKnWnGyiwnEEy3u707dwMCkuoqQz11NWu1i4HPOzxX3PKj6vPowmLXVAFAPqjW3qt8_FG41xDflPsBVqR0riAfKlE-mWw-W4qq80DAlFgQubcDNg7oGumE/s1600/Not+Cairns+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QfzFeyq7iSlOSWwiiPZ8BNKnWnGyiwnEEy3u707dwMCkuoqQz11NWu1i4HPOzxX3PKj6vPowmLXVAFAPqjW3qt8_FG41xDflPsBVqR0riAfKlE-mWw-W4qq80DAlFgQubcDNg7oGumE/s640/Not+Cairns+079.JPG" title="We walk on paths twisted of roots." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGZyRlWN2vvO9dUJf9ZESHaLh_5kD0aMX2k5pPS-x6mW4-enZ1Ux1v-8pkHVAgBkwJlyN78rS0yknwyrggiSY0yVPJILkD-5osLLfsMOhSPfBRfzo1cdZTA6Wqu6ol23oSkKZdYMXzP4/s1600/Not+Cairns+082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGZyRlWN2vvO9dUJf9ZESHaLh_5kD0aMX2k5pPS-x6mW4-enZ1Ux1v-8pkHVAgBkwJlyN78rS0yknwyrggiSY0yVPJILkD-5osLLfsMOhSPfBRfzo1cdZTA6Wqu6ol23oSkKZdYMXzP4/s640/Not+Cairns+082.JPG" title="The Daintree falls to the sea." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyNkm5y-uLxSH6wNjDmM1To0eLjl0UB7Fz8hLmInhoyXgHmD2xxQxd9UYlU3pWZnwQle2wshcdP0Vlg5nPkTZ059jiIvdnFSTF7VihVYekD6AwJYS0M2UUuB-4bZO2sNXoIWZor-0m_k/s1600/Not+Cairns+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyNkm5y-uLxSH6wNjDmM1To0eLjl0UB7Fz8hLmInhoyXgHmD2xxQxd9UYlU3pWZnwQle2wshcdP0Vlg5nPkTZ059jiIvdnFSTF7VihVYekD6AwJYS0M2UUuB-4bZO2sNXoIWZor-0m_k/s640/Not+Cairns+090.JPG" title="Mount Sorrow in the distance." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Being
in the rainforest I am struck most by the vines that hang between the
trees. They form aerial walkways that connect the upper world. The
vines often seem to start on the ground and corkscrew directly up, not
reaching a tree till the upper reaches of their lofty world. ???
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Another thing I note is the great buttress roots that many of the trees
develop. Some of these can be much larger than a person. They splay
out from the tree in twists and turns, separating and rejoining.
These are grown in response to the sandy soil. Such large trees
require a lot of moisture and there is not enough in the ground s. The result is they they grow these huge tall roots above ground to absorb moisture from
the air. The same tree in a different location would not grow any. Another
trick they use to the same end is that when roots encounter another
tree they will grow up the outside of its trunk to absorb the
moisture that gathers on the bark. </div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_YoD9ZYQ-UXjLc7SxQrLdmjNDBAWI4_nnHFaTXQmHjjHJoKOPDLxVTmrUNyM_u07xgbLh6H8rdPx8PfYVkTWgBx2It6-8UYaX-oDw8ntQm7Bzsx_0TYbCVjnn1jWLO5kJ1VZa6ItK60/s1600/Not+Cairns+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_YoD9ZYQ-UXjLc7SxQrLdmjNDBAWI4_nnHFaTXQmHjjHJoKOPDLxVTmrUNyM_u07xgbLh6H8rdPx8PfYVkTWgBx2It6-8UYaX-oDw8ntQm7Bzsx_0TYbCVjnn1jWLO5kJ1VZa6ItK60/s640/Not+Cairns+102.JPG" title="Unfortunately blurry, but you get the idea." width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The sounds of the rainforest..</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dySaLAhdE0J2FgYtrb7Uphmuc5QiAgciAen-8dRJPN6yu88KjmecowTsqXaBjUDkbOAYvG8_yXs56EvDLSpaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50s78n_9o5PAu_F-vwO5YQUd6bsxi9Wsb6tAvYHHcgxN11_rfP2wiQuc9_DUPOaQUUgyQzOkboY_KizkSw4yEm3V0nrcm7CkqxYz3aeAT71dculZj-U6InsL8UZ_fki8vkYin_MS6rSo/s1600/Not+Cairns+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50s78n_9o5PAu_F-vwO5YQUd6bsxi9Wsb6tAvYHHcgxN11_rfP2wiQuc9_DUPOaQUUgyQzOkboY_KizkSw4yEm3V0nrcm7CkqxYz3aeAT71dculZj-U6InsL8UZ_fki8vkYin_MS6rSo/s640/Not+Cairns+111.JPG" title="One vine twists to the canopy around another." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfld5LEMHER_QMhTJupqBjptWL6TGW318ZbFRafxGqYkrzVolsUQ2YO7GHYuC3AFjHSxXsJI2bTysHwV820m4TS4diVOvcGl7JDDFF0z1VQkXPNbwA_Vbay7hpksq4HAdJdye4N9hXxM/s1600/Not+Cairns+119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfld5LEMHER_QMhTJupqBjptWL6TGW318ZbFRafxGqYkrzVolsUQ2YO7GHYuC3AFjHSxXsJI2bTysHwV820m4TS4diVOvcGl7JDDFF0z1VQkXPNbwA_Vbay7hpksq4HAdJdye4N9hXxM/s640/Not+Cairns+119.JPG" title="These views are everywhere." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOpVnKfj5FtLRWPXW0QCPlU0Fo2dOWnoEzhmfnTVgVvzZa3ebj7IBVP0I4l6nAcbP4UVikDEUUsjlJcxpBu3AHYZlP2op3Du8nyDUb5Lqym-zJb-IQrqeZzVjkjdPKNuM6Z6z1P06NHU/s1600/Not+Cairns+126.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOpVnKfj5FtLRWPXW0QCPlU0Fo2dOWnoEzhmfnTVgVvzZa3ebj7IBVP0I4l6nAcbP4UVikDEUUsjlJcxpBu3AHYZlP2op3Du8nyDUb5Lqym-zJb-IQrqeZzVjkjdPKNuM6Z6z1P06NHU/s320/Not+Cairns+126.JPG" title="Some are thicker than your leg." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0_yyPH2MyxBZSYnxYAN8BG-6xeFhDqrDNNBlNM1Z4mnu0W6Hv5vpxLDUbcepoANfBkJRXgwZgGp1R8y9EeKL3ZnC6lXnFt9OG59klJsetfv50bno2eSVfQ7A_bwwcVMeg9hG6j9ipt4/s1600/Not+Cairns+133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0_yyPH2MyxBZSYnxYAN8BG-6xeFhDqrDNNBlNM1Z4mnu0W6Hv5vpxLDUbcepoANfBkJRXgwZgGp1R8y9EeKL3ZnC6lXnFt9OG59klJsetfv50bno2eSVfQ7A_bwwcVMeg9hG6j9ipt4/s640/Not+Cairns+133.JPG" title="Walking trees. Where are the ents?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKzvgUKYtdPlkp-9thGFnXIcZKu_xxp9_AkyA_3tN4djl5wBjArFT1UMpo6Y5PowcHcthTeih3mzXtwBZYJ6tuUTUqy6dLzR_Ajn7PoELu6SbGQtwN26XsxpJzOe9FyP4rVf-UdZGbQI/s1600/Not+Cairns+134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKzvgUKYtdPlkp-9thGFnXIcZKu_xxp9_AkyA_3tN4djl5wBjArFT1UMpo6Y5PowcHcthTeih3mzXtwBZYJ6tuUTUqy6dLzR_Ajn7PoELu6SbGQtwN26XsxpJzOe9FyP4rVf-UdZGbQI/s640/Not+Cairns+134.JPG" title="It's all a bit dreamy." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WYg0UreuAQn3I3Yy3XZJMIh_u40hOCDVGfTcuHv41VYxSBSw3pvZ6867wZxcATl8JCTYna1YT8DDu-OEXXq_Lwx83iH3DQIWQs8pNY05KCL2cS4mddVWMWRjSFuvVNcRgmyoZzec_uU/s1600/Not+Cairns+139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WYg0UreuAQn3I3Yy3XZJMIh_u40hOCDVGfTcuHv41VYxSBSw3pvZ6867wZxcATl8JCTYna1YT8DDu-OEXXq_Lwx83iH3DQIWQs8pNY05KCL2cS4mddVWMWRjSFuvVNcRgmyoZzec_uU/s640/Not+Cairns+139.JPG" title="A tree clings to a windy rock." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowreXV8paAXK7CH7BcUF7DMJZDgPrzJZ7MW2f60wEW5Qn03EEPzvIpJ0UMSReMeEM9YzAR99-J4wMbA8ui3fdUEtWaYKDMtjaXOc2rII1ebc-FNqvLpe9Y60nH_oRecAEbNqpOXvuNus/s1600/Not+Cairns+147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowreXV8paAXK7CH7BcUF7DMJZDgPrzJZ7MW2f60wEW5Qn03EEPzvIpJ0UMSReMeEM9YzAR99-J4wMbA8ui3fdUEtWaYKDMtjaXOc2rII1ebc-FNqvLpe9Y60nH_oRecAEbNqpOXvuNus/s640/Not+Cairns+147.JPG" title="Mangroves spread their roots out over swathes of sand." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQQxTUpO9kK6_hiPGbRSQqC2sSlDUsApJunO_kJ92zwBP-YqGjeesTRdo3JYEPNqJd-0LFQyMbAa4TByNBIk2JD6Qed9tR7Q7OFGqnmidR1tJYVrTPk8Syu6d-aFTg3nJapt_DlbXcP4/s1600/Not+Cairns+154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQQxTUpO9kK6_hiPGbRSQqC2sSlDUsApJunO_kJ92zwBP-YqGjeesTRdo3JYEPNqJd-0LFQyMbAa4TByNBIk2JD6Qed9tR7Q7OFGqnmidR1tJYVrTPk8Syu6d-aFTg3nJapt_DlbXcP4/s640/Not+Cairns+154.JPG" title="There was a lot of beach to photograph." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4lYHrA4lTAfS1AYnI4UQwGbILdWEEFCm1UbgxcwfphVMIf4deyYI2QxaVokRNx8dWioyDHXTQ-l3Bi5kUQZQF8rDE3cPvRoKK2Xj0KiRaCe5wQGWzgmEDP42-uCjQMkV30kwInIvw-c/s1600/Not+Cairns+172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4lYHrA4lTAfS1AYnI4UQwGbILdWEEFCm1UbgxcwfphVMIf4deyYI2QxaVokRNx8dWioyDHXTQ-l3Bi5kUQZQF8rDE3cPvRoKK2Xj0KiRaCe5wQGWzgmEDP42-uCjQMkV30kwInIvw-c/s640/Not+Cairns+172.JPG" title="Red, yellow and green." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9NMTq2Xpc3Thx3HaKILx2WyVsc-g1045BL4AHBSFZtkKqa5wGjW-8kl1V6xIVKxudD0amcHz2N200OGW2qG57A2V4dJlUSrfIwuW034viL7tznu5L2LkTAuQ2uxri5GcRyvDepuSdk/s1600/Not+Cairns+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9NMTq2Xpc3Thx3HaKILx2WyVsc-g1045BL4AHBSFZtkKqa5wGjW-8kl1V6xIVKxudD0amcHz2N200OGW2qG57A2V4dJlUSrfIwuW034viL7tznu5L2LkTAuQ2uxri5GcRyvDepuSdk/s640/Not+Cairns+174.JPG" title="Classic palm. Some were even taller and thinner then this." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-HplxfHsr0fVU5zWi82Jw_wRb8lLp6ZXDm7kj36l0Y1s_5jJBNIyDoinFz3FBHpUCf8BPtvOoTqvinkgymvvocsBfJCClzzwta9s76yVdw7BILVW9wIY9l5aBcbjpqL_tfM2jzfRuA4/s1600/Not+Cairns+177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-HplxfHsr0fVU5zWi82Jw_wRb8lLp6ZXDm7kj36l0Y1s_5jJBNIyDoinFz3FBHpUCf8BPtvOoTqvinkgymvvocsBfJCClzzwta9s76yVdw7BILVW9wIY9l5aBcbjpqL_tfM2jzfRuA4/s640/Not+Cairns+177.JPG" title="It's a mangrove seed pod. Honest..." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchSoU6gYa5ezyGwY1W0evQbZJBahTlr7CR6Y1BrOsC0EYxeHOG0_6MUWLHFTDYfBy90tc-R3Q9BgUh47_XJONg-S1QNJUjwVy7l22FT4B08MtF7lnZap-ISanapCSic31YUR2lAfWrXU/s1600/Not+Cairns+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchSoU6gYa5ezyGwY1W0evQbZJBahTlr7CR6Y1BrOsC0EYxeHOG0_6MUWLHFTDYfBy90tc-R3Q9BgUh47_XJONg-S1QNJUjwVy7l22FT4B08MtF7lnZap-ISanapCSic31YUR2lAfWrXU/s640/Not+Cairns+190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
leave Daintree a few days later via the ice cream shop. This
plantation creates ice cream from almost fifty different plants
native to the area. The flavours you get are dependent on what is in
season. I can't remember what we have but one tastes like coffee and another tastes like chocolate pudding. It is delicious.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBQRtgtYWJEd0SeXfAqw3DeJUjptuE5Ljr8WVApmtWBtXwH4atRAgeQbzfuZ-VHlx9a0puh_R3kN91KFNMVXowXO0dXxTa9hdNrF9EnDWeZKZ4SI287kCn48gcPcVqUfsMbkdWPS3iqk/s1600/Not+Cairns+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBQRtgtYWJEd0SeXfAqw3DeJUjptuE5Ljr8WVApmtWBtXwH4atRAgeQbzfuZ-VHlx9a0puh_R3kN91KFNMVXowXO0dXxTa9hdNrF9EnDWeZKZ4SI287kCn48gcPcVqUfsMbkdWPS3iqk/s640/Not+Cairns+191.JPG" title="So this is why we were told not to drive on unsealed roads." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATnO1hC48Yx_vcjHHYUgHqqPSvBvxpN2V-wgy-u5n49666ygopbA_hgAqC_bqSWZGRGVIx0zV2IzyUPJziggJC0GotpS8aViYo73s8Vgv3_7f9pK7vpXij7w7QEBaIe2i9iFmXn3PDBA/s1600/Not+Cairns+193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATnO1hC48Yx_vcjHHYUgHqqPSvBvxpN2V-wgy-u5n49666ygopbA_hgAqC_bqSWZGRGVIx0zV2IzyUPJziggJC0GotpS8aViYo73s8Vgv3_7f9pK7vpXij7w7QEBaIe2i9iFmXn3PDBA/s640/Not+Cairns+193.JPG" title="The ice cream plantation." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDDgT0XPgh9_gbI0-2wuZ1TosRkE8JlSZD8E_7_LUf2g8vSWo32XC42EWuLwo7E31xpcxftqyH2RVM59uHsGgAu36XzQwv0E-pKMGY9y-jG9jjM-4MWZqE9rlK6-SLsVWgScz-tUUFuo/s1600/Not+Cairns+215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDDgT0XPgh9_gbI0-2wuZ1TosRkE8JlSZD8E_7_LUf2g8vSWo32XC42EWuLwo7E31xpcxftqyH2RVM59uHsGgAu36XzQwv0E-pKMGY9y-jG9jjM-4MWZqE9rlK6-SLsVWgScz-tUUFuo/s640/Not+Cairns+215.JPG" title="Final views of the rainforest." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFdBMhsl7yaw07IRaAdLdqEpKIDiz2xW7tSyijDIHE7BSSEYbPPJRaeZNJcEnWrU986ZgqPw-S7n2chsgtzH2paDvLnYnCkKJp9bVtAUJL29jDgUZZA7rWt2PKsU8uAjEa5bymtiwypc/s1600/Not+Cairns+242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFdBMhsl7yaw07IRaAdLdqEpKIDiz2xW7tSyijDIHE7BSSEYbPPJRaeZNJcEnWrU986ZgqPw-S7n2chsgtzH2paDvLnYnCkKJp9bVtAUJL29jDgUZZA7rWt2PKsU8uAjEa5bymtiwypc/s640/Not+Cairns+242.JPG" title="One last vine.." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Next
stop is the Atherton Tablelands. A volcanic landscape where a few
pockets of rainforest remain between bright green cultivated hills.
Streams and waterfalls cascade down from the mountains. As we drive
towards evening we notice a haze growing in the air and the sky
before us looks odd. We realise it is smoke, a lot of smoke. Cars are
still using the road and no one seems too concerned to we carry on
into the smog.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
sides of the road crawl with men in boiler suits and their backdrop
is fire. The scrub is being burned away. It is done now in a
controlled environment to stop unexpected fires in the future. The
trees are left, blackened but alive. The ground smokes and the air is
thick, the sun looks pale and weak.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqR0oNx5wIAdGzrrstDuTAyugzFreAN0wPuWgRYmnPnUhGttfvnFXZ4sQsfh83_Ot9hdPswTAU-04DWMLppOBMCQ5MBXG-WQXrqji4w8LOpZOZZSCQvxKa7vI_YXoI2d0WQCfwB9CxGc/s1600/Not+Cairns+247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqR0oNx5wIAdGzrrstDuTAyugzFreAN0wPuWgRYmnPnUhGttfvnFXZ4sQsfh83_Ot9hdPswTAU-04DWMLppOBMCQ5MBXG-WQXrqji4w8LOpZOZZSCQvxKa7vI_YXoI2d0WQCfwB9CxGc/s640/Not+Cairns+247.JPG" title="Atherton Tablelands." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJCamJdCptsie3K9RKZgIizIS_mSE3WqYj0sKJDiD9bvBq6a9KAde86_wxivQE42nmu1CwM3veqYACdIKxKwwlWXiFI2oQgaXDy4uWIZp9Pa_nYIe5mlj1G8XP1yIdCYxD4Pd3P_BkAU/s1600/Not+Cairns+250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJCamJdCptsie3K9RKZgIizIS_mSE3WqYj0sKJDiD9bvBq6a9KAde86_wxivQE42nmu1CwM3veqYACdIKxKwwlWXiFI2oQgaXDy4uWIZp9Pa_nYIe5mlj1G8XP1yIdCYxD4Pd3P_BkAU/s640/Not+Cairns+250.JPG" title="We drive through fire." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVi0GXdlobXyxS2Q8vl-8TO1ZE9I2WStfpRyonhHLnsVGiH5P8Jr04HABU9x9i1RMq5CGty_-3aPcVjz2EVh1ldYM0F0UFd6R1tjvopm9wtROqxak0LmItbVsIfrocCM8JtjFbBPOi9Hk/s1600/Not+Cairns+252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVi0GXdlobXyxS2Q8vl-8TO1ZE9I2WStfpRyonhHLnsVGiH5P8Jr04HABU9x9i1RMq5CGty_-3aPcVjz2EVh1ldYM0F0UFd6R1tjvopm9wtROqxak0LmItbVsIfrocCM8JtjFbBPOi9Hk/s640/Not+Cairns+252.JPG" title="A haze fills the air." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We pass the worst of it and drive past Lake Mitchell. The sun is now setting, the smoke in the sky turning it purple. We stop and get out, insects fill the air with sound. We stand and watch in perfect silence, taking in the beauty before us. Green moorland stretching to a distant fuchsia sheen, dark hills then the endless sky. A woman drives up in her car she tells us we can take a track through a wooden gate that leads right out to the middle of the lake, we just need to avoid the bay horse.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We take the track through a gate held shut with a thick metal chain. A thin spit of land, just wide enough for a single car and some trees, has been built connecting the mainland to an island in the lake. We drive out, almost to the island, a man is fishing but apart from that we are alone. A line of swans creates a procession through the marshland on one side. They cut a path through reeds thick enough to be walked on by smaller birds. The red sun sets through the haze.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We sit or stand and watch. On the other side the Lake seems eternal. Lilly pads line it and a fish jumps periodically. There is no noise but the birds and the frogs and the insects. I feel like I could stay here forever. It is beautiful in a way that is both familiar and mystical, it is probably my favourite view so far. The sun grown brighter and redder as it escapes below the smoke and it burns a pathway across the water. Where to I do not know.</div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eventually we must leave. I gaze longingly out the window. White birds perch in distant trees standing in the still waters.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwjMuuchP1IEZuuPaeK_qxWVe90EsJ3P34-z7pySYnYgtQB19AhvUCmqHDGNAgSxCmGyGfbgw36EubwLpQdyA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0Y4KAYyYN9qlz2M7JgL-pfWG9Vur8qr-JHwxmoM9gtaq4m5TjIZT00bviaYidTNo0g0kbKX9wijHDtkbjvEDAfATDUn4_ImY5BniGGSV-DTtL7mhsJvD6LGyx9OxcN4B8Ppa8XEoq70/s1600/Not+Cairns+258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0Y4KAYyYN9qlz2M7JgL-pfWG9Vur8qr-JHwxmoM9gtaq4m5TjIZT00bviaYidTNo0g0kbKX9wijHDtkbjvEDAfATDUn4_ImY5BniGGSV-DTtL7mhsJvD6LGyx9OxcN4B8Ppa8XEoq70/s640/Not+Cairns+258.JPG" title="We wonder if we'll ever come out." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnxcn076-gUk30F7Kl8y_wPlNopJkPP-QJUCirWee5JqazC64-SL8Il_xMcivtnnhiyS1-fI5mIaNeJfnFTAwK8fmsHpUY3kodUD6zZ8OG5dSl1Jm6PLy5HtDV9195r4vOWdU5Nu2Nps/s1600/Not+Cairns+264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnxcn076-gUk30F7Kl8y_wPlNopJkPP-QJUCirWee5JqazC64-SL8Il_xMcivtnnhiyS1-fI5mIaNeJfnFTAwK8fmsHpUY3kodUD6zZ8OG5dSl1Jm6PLy5HtDV9195r4vOWdU5Nu2Nps/s640/Not+Cairns+264.JPG" title="Lake Mitchell. Perfectly still." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcglFhDMkgAOS_a9HqCu9OV9gXOqlq8QOw8apecbKPsLQf6rJH091hbxnf_DOpttV6RxOYWRIQ5xW47ENjXxhK3XqM_xIbyi3fQuw3E6zO-glcDfZfMS-I1W3oakP4hNjJgErLMMuiLAI/s1600/Not+Cairns+269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcglFhDMkgAOS_a9HqCu9OV9gXOqlq8QOw8apecbKPsLQf6rJH091hbxnf_DOpttV6RxOYWRIQ5xW47ENjXxhK3XqM_xIbyi3fQuw3E6zO-glcDfZfMS-I1W3oakP4hNjJgErLMMuiLAI/s640/Not+Cairns+269.JPG" title="The land drops below the sun, waiting to catch it." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjLmK228iZwTtOtnVWXOYQWioPMg6hVkKWVSW_GmIvYs7ZUJx_x_k4GZE_rIIxJgm55B-WzaKjh3xRFX8fJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Incessantly trying to capture the scene.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKSI2fXfJfTLlfynnH3-m2I95tNv7tZDPZGIhpTbSuVvvFivYNCzTEwjLdttcKtWHzGaesai-eVFI8BwlTZGBDdji-zDKcqN9446T1oj2STawJn8KQMoW-7Qam4KZXN3dlLorGqcVyHc/s1600/Not+Cairns+282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKSI2fXfJfTLlfynnH3-m2I95tNv7tZDPZGIhpTbSuVvvFivYNCzTEwjLdttcKtWHzGaesai-eVFI8BwlTZGBDdji-zDKcqN9446T1oj2STawJn8KQMoW-7Qam4KZXN3dlLorGqcVyHc/s640/Not+Cairns+282.JPG" title="Barbara seems happy to be here." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQColWAVCI9oOFzyxwJmuzGgJEK3Upy3ZWXkdIzZGMgyYy-j_klsQOhmi4Q4jfCUVfWlteMOEvf-6D5G-Gw_Ux8pC1nVsbRfm2vhxHZLcTZ9rtjoCcXC1YAi0A0wT64gpVPeOF4K9ZUE/s1600/Not+Cairns+285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQColWAVCI9oOFzyxwJmuzGgJEK3Upy3ZWXkdIzZGMgyYy-j_klsQOhmi4Q4jfCUVfWlteMOEvf-6D5G-Gw_Ux8pC1nVsbRfm2vhxHZLcTZ9rtjoCcXC1YAi0A0wT64gpVPeOF4K9ZUE/s640/Not+Cairns+285.JPG" title="Back swans form a distant line." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mB5YsYhBiFcfSBA0y_rIQ8aJUFNZgA4LlFqTDUZdL3GJScdGhsees3kFBSRxWYB1eEk6Ot5sVL6pUNossjzYp_Lr9bItqaykWJh2-jZFUvvTcjJgGIDn93seWcG0my7JN9UJlM1EDzE/s1600/Not+Cairns+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mB5YsYhBiFcfSBA0y_rIQ8aJUFNZgA4LlFqTDUZdL3GJScdGhsees3kFBSRxWYB1eEk6Ot5sVL6pUNossjzYp_Lr9bItqaykWJh2-jZFUvvTcjJgGIDn93seWcG0my7JN9UJlM1EDzE/s640/Not+Cairns+288.JPG" title="I take photos in every direction I can." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfZAdeWFtByL8mbsgJMww8L_74EZtw7bsg0ULmMTFd_64YQzIe863BOdzNfxUaKSoyz316congmTw9zB_ha5V74DzCiHmConAei9Dm4PuBwDQAOPGcwFAU0XuqU6_vVjqlAcffmW5eFI/s1600/Not+Cairns+290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfZAdeWFtByL8mbsgJMww8L_74EZtw7bsg0ULmMTFd_64YQzIe863BOdzNfxUaKSoyz316congmTw9zB_ha5V74DzCiHmConAei9Dm4PuBwDQAOPGcwFAU0XuqU6_vVjqlAcffmW5eFI/s640/Not+Cairns+290.JPG" title="Our road." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVw8GUhwrkLPvqtsTaGlL1utaVzjfj4T7aon1gPYVf31iMCJ_lyue7EOLaKLN062yVhUvH8ym2kkDxv-ETpAs8qgLzTOJTKJiiyPau3RO8-_dNeIaIAzPjMSxJgijNHVw299SLjexy38/s1600/Not+Cairns+292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVw8GUhwrkLPvqtsTaGlL1utaVzjfj4T7aon1gPYVf31iMCJ_lyue7EOLaKLN062yVhUvH8ym2kkDxv-ETpAs8qgLzTOJTKJiiyPau3RO8-_dNeIaIAzPjMSxJgijNHVw299SLjexy38/s640/Not+Cairns+292.JPG" title="The sun descends." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlcqkzEKIokcV0-iKR3tWG3mUG-GP7Ddj2luQYXx6oZPTL7ev-TH3p20mrh_MRRX1FOBKKnUeQOQ9IXlzX3UodwNVx5-H2Fhb-u74-gaPaMFxtXju07FvzhC2IWTAr9aNs1nvdRkmyUU/s1600/Not+Cairns+161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlcqkzEKIokcV0-iKR3tWG3mUG-GP7Ddj2luQYXx6oZPTL7ev-TH3p20mrh_MRRX1FOBKKnUeQOQ9IXlzX3UodwNVx5-H2Fhb-u74-gaPaMFxtXju07FvzhC2IWTAr9aNs1nvdRkmyUU/s640/Not+Cairns+161.JPG" title="Love a panorama." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
next day is a day of trees and waterfalls. Fig trees, to those of you
who have not seen them, can be almost unbelievable. They start their
lives as a seed blown on the wind. They land high in the branches of
other trees and from the moment of their germination their host is
all but doomed. Roots burst outward and branches extend up like a
crown. The roots start as tendrils hanging in the air, gently waving
in the breeze. Once they reach the ground they quickly take hold and
thicken until they are almost trunks. More and more are produced until they envelop and strangle the host tree altogether. The tree rots and
dies within and they are left, great cathedrals in the forest.
Natural pillars supporting the majesty above.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sometimes
the host tree will die before they are established enough to stand
on their own. When this happens the tree will topple, if it lands
against another then that too will also fall prey and the area
between the two will become a curtain of roots that can extend up to
fifty feet into the air (that we saw).</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
visit one such tree that is over five hundred years old,
imaginatively named the Curtain Fig Tree, and once again I am awed.
It trails to the ground and towers to the sky. It has carved out its
own domain in the forest and stands alone, an ancient sentinel
keeping a forgotten vigil. Again photo's cannot do it justice. It
will not fit in any of them for a start.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
turn up at a platypus viewing platform at nine am, far too late as
they should be in bed. Almost instantly it appears, drifting on the
surface of the stream. It is completely still, head down and intent
on what is below it. Suddenly it dives and descends into murk. A
trail of bubbles tracks its progress before it returns. I am reminded
of the way some birds of prey hover in the one spot before swooping
to the ground. It is smaller then I'd have thought and ridiculously
cute. I could not be more excited.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkKjXipfbvwCUzt39ZELkluOL4J1R8Yjj6gpKpTPvuRvmmNlOPVZCAjrg7mB40vIN4xRQYVHtYmflnMiosy5BOJ0xJLhVD8hxGw-Xy6haqSbNyW5d_jg62n_w_55ZYyNUXHFnWWk8Om8/s1600/Not+Cairns+310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkKjXipfbvwCUzt39ZELkluOL4J1R8Yjj6gpKpTPvuRvmmNlOPVZCAjrg7mB40vIN4xRQYVHtYmflnMiosy5BOJ0xJLhVD8hxGw-Xy6haqSbNyW5d_jg62n_w_55ZYyNUXHFnWWk8Om8/s640/Not+Cairns+310.JPG" title="Curtain pal." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4gjG_MT56Np9q98JrR8mo-Hq404hRMmc0YH5GVfRx0nG9sdLg0itSnqV71KqNDr5fOUrb5TGMNuL0LxDw1elYbxXyszWMFJHRKPa3IgC20lqRj-XvHtcfJkKzRdCbfX_3L-85dadE3Q/s1600/Not+Cairns+314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4gjG_MT56Np9q98JrR8mo-Hq404hRMmc0YH5GVfRx0nG9sdLg0itSnqV71KqNDr5fOUrb5TGMNuL0LxDw1elYbxXyszWMFJHRKPa3IgC20lqRj-XvHtcfJkKzRdCbfX_3L-85dadE3Q/s640/Not+Cairns+314.JPG" title="Trying to show the scale." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3TmQcifmuxSVF0LNz2UXHBudXxsA5AvJZwYqYybkIUPVS4fnKucrEBbgV4J8eOZ_cduVM2iOx-ROUVuFEegGGr2ASII2p3ZrRDiBsywWR4Da5a6tv7lNrCo5CtM9f97lkg0AsapvMnE/s1600/Not+Cairns+317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3TmQcifmuxSVF0LNz2UXHBudXxsA5AvJZwYqYybkIUPVS4fnKucrEBbgV4J8eOZ_cduVM2iOx-ROUVuFEegGGr2ASII2p3ZrRDiBsywWR4Da5a6tv7lNrCo5CtM9f97lkg0AsapvMnE/s640/Not+Cairns+317.JPG" title="You can see the original tree that fell against the new. Both are not long gone and all is fig." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5J9TK_IyP0hgbdHI5BQMZz4AiOqsW46Iw3kk1S80Brk-bHPMx7uwY35ZbnSToz8e2VncDMW-NhyphenhyphenpETzsqZDCo5K5ibpYJeHsf1k1gi5zlbdNDyNmEHm15ITijZjbhYwDNSjXM1GwR24/s1600/Not+Cairns+323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5J9TK_IyP0hgbdHI5BQMZz4AiOqsW46Iw3kk1S80Brk-bHPMx7uwY35ZbnSToz8e2VncDMW-NhyphenhyphenpETzsqZDCo5K5ibpYJeHsf1k1gi5zlbdNDyNmEHm15ITijZjbhYwDNSjXM1GwR24/s640/Not+Cairns+323.JPG" title="The platypus!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBz7HYxrMi6lf5CUpzmI6AyJPghGcE0wXAXeHjL7aNczFfoforBQmjrKa5CPJNGPx1PiqPcGYLjLrNd3d56L2KK9JjuiF5nFZCoy5I73ohD9f0-CO-29D69z3HTjMbT-1lH50OxaaIEY/s1600/Not+Cairns+333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBz7HYxrMi6lf5CUpzmI6AyJPghGcE0wXAXeHjL7aNczFfoforBQmjrKa5CPJNGPx1PiqPcGYLjLrNd3d56L2KK9JjuiF5nFZCoy5I73ohD9f0-CO-29D69z3HTjMbT-1lH50OxaaIEY/s640/Not+Cairns+333.JPG" title="Inside the Cathedral Fig." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDTZkCJqVO2YzEh-K-YOCqulu-iWC8ghQedEJMs9J6LA63UNe1LR0Jn1BffLSYA7eCYHgF5OLVMa4fl0OGAEybdhP-ww_vHSa-b8IoGam5VvZSknqDUJ7fRA0W0vDIVXKdeWIDjcmV1I/s1600/Not+Cairns+336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDTZkCJqVO2YzEh-K-YOCqulu-iWC8ghQedEJMs9J6LA63UNe1LR0Jn1BffLSYA7eCYHgF5OLVMa4fl0OGAEybdhP-ww_vHSa-b8IoGam5VvZSknqDUJ7fRA0W0vDIVXKdeWIDjcmV1I/s640/Not+Cairns+336.JPG" title="The Cathedral Fig." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p0MGnbmexKXv7Ug2oz-z3xkq2r7hZzHvNiM439XHKy3RFgdf7y-mRcZ-5uJxfuLzZM5XZhZbS440HHfrPMzv38H0X_G99wXi57BTnvOmNxcmYH5rCQNUiAnfhH-IvfJRlR462uYE-WE/s1600/Not+Cairns+340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p0MGnbmexKXv7Ug2oz-z3xkq2r7hZzHvNiM439XHKy3RFgdf7y-mRcZ-5uJxfuLzZM5XZhZbS440HHfrPMzv38H0X_G99wXi57BTnvOmNxcmYH5rCQNUiAnfhH-IvfJRlR462uYE-WE/s640/Not+Cairns+340.JPG" title="Crown of the Cathedral." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Finally
we have lakes, lagoons and waterfalls. And a volcanic crater too
bold, dramatic and large to capture. We swim in turquoise waters beneath
an azure sky. For once I find a warning sign I wholeheartedly agree
with. I also find a large group of British travelers wantonly
ignoring it. They do not seem like my sort of people, I am reminded
slightly of the film The Beach. They are messing around by a small waterfall. Small but fast flowing, with rocks at the
bottom.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One
girl crosses the river right by the edge of the falls and, not unsurprisingly, slips. She
is swept downwards and thrown against a rock then passes out of
sight. Everyone stands and stares apart from one boy who was already
at the bottom. He, admittedly very bravely, jumps in and for a long
time we cannot see anything but her friends staring in horror. We are
watching from a viewpoint above and to the side. Eventually they
appear from around a boulder, alive. It seems she is okay, though she
could easily not have been. I feel that we were left more concerned
than they were.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmXK_QOPu19tD2oiEnywr4NlqaVk76iayjf-KQB3stEBPwKpAbjCbKSZKAUodTHuXvj0-bhPgbc8Uoot1znjJyAbhyphenhyphenRP8ljXjcs6PDotQrVSJVMjTxz6-TS50jv_Y_13EKbhd6pinZwQ/s1600/Not+Cairns+345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmXK_QOPu19tD2oiEnywr4NlqaVk76iayjf-KQB3stEBPwKpAbjCbKSZKAUodTHuXvj0-bhPgbc8Uoot1znjJyAbhyphenhyphenRP8ljXjcs6PDotQrVSJVMjTxz6-TS50jv_Y_13EKbhd6pinZwQ/s640/Not+Cairns+345.JPG" title="Ancient Kauri pines, bizarrely broad leaved, over 100 years old." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTi9-uX-2PBUwQieoU4ebUCNey4dtAhuA248Q69VzLRcDL5A6StfypP_GSddmPvL4No_BHXBVxhv1E9JB2a1qtShhjePdqmuGBml9DvLUH5gBSq4nZexw2sr7ipJucupgjzEdehj9v4Y/s1600/Not+Cairns+348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTi9-uX-2PBUwQieoU4ebUCNey4dtAhuA248Q69VzLRcDL5A6StfypP_GSddmPvL4No_BHXBVxhv1E9JB2a1qtShhjePdqmuGBml9DvLUH5gBSq4nZexw2sr7ipJucupgjzEdehj9v4Y/s640/Not+Cairns+348.JPG" title="Lakes in ancient volcanic craters." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh059Guj9aDxFcOe6knM6wK6wFYncy8dUJPHvsKC6GEkbgUKsJrrrhI46R21MuBecCSLC1_qNoo3fPQrb3QczNQaP_We9DZiFrmi1kp_PMckXTju2smy2mke2ctUL4hTx8N1SzZoe85cy4/s1600/Not+Cairns+361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh059Guj9aDxFcOe6knM6wK6wFYncy8dUJPHvsKC6GEkbgUKsJrrrhI46R21MuBecCSLC1_qNoo3fPQrb3QczNQaP_We9DZiFrmi1kp_PMckXTju2smy2mke2ctUL4hTx8N1SzZoe85cy4/s640/Not+Cairns+361.JPG" title="Dragonfly." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQ5M9vgOtpf-jJx6Hlx3GL5qiJdbiBX8y266lg1hYeN8oFVQvMiLzUy2faXQ0Jr-DoalFmUUL93E4OeH8FVccWEcUTamOIeJMZFSqRF-cHIm7oxrLRqIj3wFNbi-dLNT9uDiMWbPxeoU/s1600/Not+Cairns+368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQ5M9vgOtpf-jJx6Hlx3GL5qiJdbiBX8y266lg1hYeN8oFVQvMiLzUy2faXQ0Jr-DoalFmUUL93E4OeH8FVccWEcUTamOIeJMZFSqRF-cHIm7oxrLRqIj3wFNbi-dLNT9uDiMWbPxeoU/s640/Not+Cairns+368.JPG" title="One of many." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o4aWzFJPsbh15MvkpAOgjaVG_gKMaQr_hH1cn5txw2204dvV684WA7vfEZ429aiiPBg-jCLEha3U3bVDAt8mEMUvaOjaTxBBfETgoWG_lpB-tR5kqh1ZHJwdWh5NV4wFI4KRlfcyM5I/s1600/Not+Cairns+370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o4aWzFJPsbh15MvkpAOgjaVG_gKMaQr_hH1cn5txw2204dvV684WA7vfEZ429aiiPBg-jCLEha3U3bVDAt8mEMUvaOjaTxBBfETgoWG_lpB-tR5kqh1ZHJwdWh5NV4wFI4KRlfcyM5I/s640/Not+Cairns+370.JPG" title="Waterfall rainbow." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B8235F6ExoQflMAzjZ2jkyKKPaMyHhueg29jF-PLILPDTPOiy-XB_Pv8vu8J6yynZE6T16wCvardg45baX-IJuWKuHl7klXJ4n_2UwT-CxVP_jjpV7IQfWz2lVcniHoXzrfnoEiCSTM/s1600/Not+Cairns+376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B8235F6ExoQflMAzjZ2jkyKKPaMyHhueg29jF-PLILPDTPOiy-XB_Pv8vu8J6yynZE6T16wCvardg45baX-IJuWKuHl7klXJ4n_2UwT-CxVP_jjpV7IQfWz2lVcniHoXzrfnoEiCSTM/s640/Not+Cairns+376.JPG" title="Oh look a waterfall." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGRalSdLBoGYwVKRWzWa7bwsoGbxGgCj_eI87b3VAvvE3Kj_AxcO-Mg0yn8LrfVp3ZU8U8N8ppVgNjmQKXCA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The crater.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0mlB92yH_XXTUDbYqg2qF-PhJfZ9t9bUKZAbOD8yL-fszNz-byN2h1m0uXDHYRlNcZrkntnjWn9uq-I0su9kdibpTLTYkTue10TCRbmwqkBlY2-W2A8wevXLyzKrQfS4zP9yr10huMU/s1600/Not+Cairns+383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0mlB92yH_XXTUDbYqg2qF-PhJfZ9t9bUKZAbOD8yL-fszNz-byN2h1m0uXDHYRlNcZrkntnjWn9uq-I0su9kdibpTLTYkTue10TCRbmwqkBlY2-W2A8wevXLyzKrQfS4zP9yr10huMU/s640/Not+Cairns+383.JPG" title="Leaving the tablelands." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vsWDAId1FgUn6YQnbLhBMvJGxFSwbefUXkonY9tJAauZ6-LuY_LdJa9mTspJJ4ASbzDiwKzkHLLpIR3Fue9tvli7-497VN4D7lQku62bDpextJdrQ5MtUuC4NftlMdk7pQUrQKRdyi4/s1600/Not+Cairns+395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vsWDAId1FgUn6YQnbLhBMvJGxFSwbefUXkonY9tJAauZ6-LuY_LdJa9mTspJJ4ASbzDiwKzkHLLpIR3Fue9tvli7-497VN4D7lQku62bDpextJdrQ5MtUuC4NftlMdk7pQUrQKRdyi4/s640/Not+Cairns+395.JPG" title="They were playing around at the top. The bottom pool on the other hand was thoroughly enjoyable!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
return to Cairns and drop the car off. We never gave her an official
name though to me she was Molly, Mols when I was feeling
affectionate. It is dark and once again we have nowhere to stay, no
idea what we are going to do next or how we are going to get there. All
we know is we want to leave. We research trains, buses, cars and
camper vans. An hour later we are in our hostel sorting through
photos, the next leg of our journey planned. We leave Cairns at half
past seven the next morning. It wasn't for us.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-13116265140083713872013-10-09T08:32:00.001-07:002013-10-09T08:32:21.027-07:00Janice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; page-break-before: always;">
We
pick up Janice at about eleven on Sunday morning. Initially we think
she's called Lucy but soon see the error of our ways. And that's
Janice with the 'i' pronounced 'ee'. She's quite the looker, we soon
grow attached.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She
comes equipped with a surprisingly spacious fold-out bed that, two
chairs for sitting in the sun and a deluge of unbridled freedom. We
get on the road; music blaring and windows down.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qPQghesAXz4sqZyIFcBXMjV-KWalJlPDtC_z957Vc8NO8wCfEntwR95nFlRDz_km8xXGLwZMY-M-hmwDuN2EMuYmV9Ij91-b6k511HhSovmZcL7ZAjSc2gadfROfib0xT_QBDkhdHDs/s1600/Janice+002.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qPQghesAXz4sqZyIFcBXMjV-KWalJlPDtC_z957Vc8NO8wCfEntwR95nFlRDz_km8xXGLwZMY-M-hmwDuN2EMuYmV9Ij91-b6k511HhSovmZcL7ZAjSc2gadfROfib0xT_QBDkhdHDs/s640/Janice+002.JPG" title="Shit Janice!!" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Heading
out of Melbourne we are filled with the excitement and possibility of
a new journey. We have only very vague plans of route, we don't know
where we're going to sleep tonight or how far we're going to get. I
guess we'll find out.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Our
first stop is a small seaside town called Torquay. Place names here
are one of two things. Either they are interesting and exotic, with
aboriginal roots, or they are the names of places you know well back
home. We pass through Peterborough then right next to it we find
Warrnambool.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
first thing that strikes me about the coastline is the colour. The
rocks here are an orange that we just would not get at home. The
water is quite cold (it is only spring) yet the sea is still full of
surfers. From children that can't be more than five to ageing
veterans the waves are full. We vow to give it a go. When we reach a
warmer climate that is.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZre8gumSvgZZ0IjVCDeCoRZ-QhPxMiStrjTTTvUSaF0xTJHG4DUF_CnLmQtOK_s3CUMl41PkYXcP-trsAyL-lTtKtMNLhNviQZ8TEJCXcqyED5aZxIkGK3x5rFU8t9Fc4gBd-RQ4yGo/s1600/Janice+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZre8gumSvgZZ0IjVCDeCoRZ-QhPxMiStrjTTTvUSaF0xTJHG4DUF_CnLmQtOK_s3CUMl41PkYXcP-trsAyL-lTtKtMNLhNviQZ8TEJCXcqyED5aZxIkGK3x5rFU8t9Fc4gBd-RQ4yGo/s640/Janice+014.JPG" title="Yes of course I went under the arch." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
drive slightly inland and the landscape shifts. Gone are the craggy
red rocks and the bent and twisted trees. We enter rainforest and the
trees soar above us. Tall and straight, reaching for the sun. We
visit a waterfall that cascades gently through a gully I could have
easily found in Vietnam. I notice the smell in the air, the perfect
blend of damp forest and fresh water, and am struck by that a mere
ten minutes drive south reveals instead the salty sea breeze we all
know so well.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLdA0q8mY4-Hiyj-MjjnY0jJdMSaIp9dfJ4W7ZjnhJPnWUwYPRrFVJDeDPSPac4VkqWraD727CavKv4FUor_a01azO7hMtcyN0kU6WLTLfNf_J3RwJ5LyPxZSARwDrVuqZ9bS6LA3CmU/s1600/Janice+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLdA0q8mY4-Hiyj-MjjnY0jJdMSaIp9dfJ4W7ZjnhJPnWUwYPRrFVJDeDPSPac4VkqWraD727CavKv4FUor_a01azO7hMtcyN0kU6WLTLfNf_J3RwJ5LyPxZSARwDrVuqZ9bS6LA3CmU/s640/Janice+026.JPG" title="Gay street. Nothing else to say really." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeoGfpEns2RZFDvhJXk-9mNArwOFsnuWFXTMHeD3ub3d3uZwmNjhzCZaMuzOM0hkBaRaF7On0kRZLJ8cv3vZo3aqVMSr1ONery1Vzc584bKn-T5GpKXwYH94ijRccv_M1CxfobBRFyMg/s1600/Janice+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeoGfpEns2RZFDvhJXk-9mNArwOFsnuWFXTMHeD3ub3d3uZwmNjhzCZaMuzOM0hkBaRaF7On0kRZLJ8cv3vZo3aqVMSr1ONery1Vzc584bKn-T5GpKXwYH94ijRccv_M1CxfobBRFyMg/s640/Janice+034.JPG" title="My first taste of rainforest." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ThyaMXjSNAmbXFI1fnFH4d9aDJ4u3U1fgfbvoVtbb2zt4jzUK2FHoFRGx9CnFi8D-pRYdO38478qfnaeCXNWLoZ4BX_EJxIqbATb5MM5PW8Iaz6A881GmOd6s0xT3WYRBUO7SKHtXNU/s1600/Janice+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ThyaMXjSNAmbXFI1fnFH4d9aDJ4u3U1fgfbvoVtbb2zt4jzUK2FHoFRGx9CnFi8D-pRYdO38478qfnaeCXNWLoZ4BX_EJxIqbATb5MM5PW8Iaz6A881GmOd6s0xT3WYRBUO7SKHtXNU/s640/Janice+036.JPG" title="Love a tree silhouette. " width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
make another quick stop by the sea as the sun is setting. The noise
of the ocean abounds and everything is peaceful. Then
we hear from the nice Italian man whose room we stayed in and the
stresses of real life return. There is a crack in the chest of
drawers in his room that wasn't there when we move in. We feel bad
about that, we hadn't noticed it in our time there. He still has six
hundred dollars of ours as a bond. We tell him to fix it with our
money, suspecting it to be a wood glue job. He wants one hundred
dollars and we want it dealt with so we agree.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Next he finds a stain on the mattress, underneath the mattress protector,
and some hand marks on the wall (possibly from all the stretches I
had to do when I couldn't walk). He is not happy. I hadn't noticed
them because they blended into the marks that were already there when
we moved in. Marks that I had actually tried to clean off. And as for
the marks on the mattress protector. Well who checks underneath a
mattress protector? We suggest he cleans it, and offer some of our
money for stain remover. He takes another hundred dollars for the
hassle. We get four hundred back and then try to forget about it and
enjoy ourselves.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5u6GwdD91xNZLUaCJC_wA-g2sV0mv85EmgcIy1j5pP4Cpk8uMJR8ZOnhcfBq1xbMF94oOmd4ajl9lo7dRynAoV-jOmdi9rE9c8BdlDYSxfNuLTmicy_WM0jktUgEwgR_CTRqmBJRUvY/s1600/Janice+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5u6GwdD91xNZLUaCJC_wA-g2sV0mv85EmgcIy1j5pP4Cpk8uMJR8ZOnhcfBq1xbMF94oOmd4ajl9lo7dRynAoV-jOmdi9rE9c8BdlDYSxfNuLTmicy_WM0jktUgEwgR_CTRqmBJRUvY/s640/Janice+048.JPG" title="Evening by the Southern Ocean." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
spend a while driving around towns looking for a campsite in the
dark. We drive into a site with no power and no water. It's a place
to park and we are hungry so we gladly accept. We cook our dinner
outside beneath the stars. Venus blazes majestically through a thin
veil of cloud before us and the Milky Way paints a fragile trail
across the sky.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
don't remember seeing the Milky Way like this before. I find it is
amazing to be so aware of my position within our galaxy. The stars
form a lattice of light above and each dazzling pinprick seems to
burn with import. I am awed, as I so often am, by the scale of the
universe and by all its unending beauty that we will never get the
chance to see.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
next morning we return to the rainforest. We walk through trees that
seem built of twisted rope standing next to those that seem pillars
stretching for the sky. The air is filled with the lilting sound of
tropical birds, the occasional stream gurgles between them. There are
trees here like I have never truly seen before. Some of them sprout
from multiple spots in the ground only to converge mid air into one
great trunk before branching out again. As ever my photo's do not do
any of it justice.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYrWWpLt7Bxp54i0R6_90xFk1BNuGTFpH0kLDskClG2JLSMbUQvZFr3OvLmnboIFnX8sDpfQcBR71adcV29e-Its6iT1uJFJbsf59KlrToKthK4hq593XnwwVtvpWK7PyqCZCTeY7LjA/s1600/Janice+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYrWWpLt7Bxp54i0R6_90xFk1BNuGTFpH0kLDskClG2JLSMbUQvZFr3OvLmnboIFnX8sDpfQcBR71adcV29e-Its6iT1uJFJbsf59KlrToKthK4hq593XnwwVtvpWK7PyqCZCTeY7LjA/s640/Janice+059.JPG" title="Holes in trees. Big fan." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRjQoLR6lLcVrph8IwrvM_4onRHHQpzfQ5wWpPKnO6gwF-TGvGZa5mecdr9Jg-mVmoR_3JdqTZv147SGXW0pM0e-WPpO1oMbCa6MghyphenhyphenMTN2LMQyviPQMCsyVglQaPgVg5Y2QnDomH1WE/s1600/Janice+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRjQoLR6lLcVrph8IwrvM_4onRHHQpzfQ5wWpPKnO6gwF-TGvGZa5mecdr9Jg-mVmoR_3JdqTZv147SGXW0pM0e-WPpO1oMbCa6MghyphenhyphenMTN2LMQyviPQMCsyVglQaPgVg5Y2QnDomH1WE/s640/Janice+067.JPG" title="Also love a good root..." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvY9rMo5J5GPjk6PVrwwTavjjeBPMo3sG_67eH_OyYMbkGKZi_DPErz-_j2MGmi9EXo5KFLnd4XlkoA54OgYftT1HD9YoL8lf1DDFFnnAa71-uq3rrOoD-DA2-PU1PadhyphenhyphenBeVzRW5yTMA/s1600/Janice+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvY9rMo5J5GPjk6PVrwwTavjjeBPMo3sG_67eH_OyYMbkGKZi_DPErz-_j2MGmi9EXo5KFLnd4XlkoA54OgYftT1HD9YoL8lf1DDFFnnAa71-uq3rrOoD-DA2-PU1PadhyphenhyphenBeVzRW5yTMA/s640/Janice+075.JPG" title="This tree extended downwards in about four separate trunks but I couldn't fit them in." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeApBlK4AAUn_E7AQkOHqyFGzDszkS3Q0Vl-MV1C3NE9I9eHrtgdOxBQay6r0angydGCkLekq9QHVK-YB8q1VFMs5uY0ogXMhKUyWBrhj2ynJD_ftHqA2obs-LvD4IXuAKGmUUO6MV6gU/s1600/Janice+082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeApBlK4AAUn_E7AQkOHqyFGzDszkS3Q0Vl-MV1C3NE9I9eHrtgdOxBQay6r0angydGCkLekq9QHVK-YB8q1VFMs5uY0ogXMhKUyWBrhj2ynJD_ftHqA2obs-LvD4IXuAKGmUUO6MV6gU/s640/Janice+082.JPG" title="See." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_Q8wVQ-WDyFcsR1HWt8FPmz1ct4QjL1CR3ydVtvFYSdvO-WfxqeEL934gfcqyRYd8Mv-ZR_M4W8a-4D0lSTCsC88RM36KRrTpts3LzB5a-w9ETK7yWUWlexhqZB16glBA6YQmv-_OZs/s1600/Janice+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_Q8wVQ-WDyFcsR1HWt8FPmz1ct4QjL1CR3ydVtvFYSdvO-WfxqeEL934gfcqyRYd8Mv-ZR_M4W8a-4D0lSTCsC88RM36KRrTpts3LzB5a-w9ETK7yWUWlexhqZB16glBA6YQmv-_OZs/s640/Janice+083.JPG" title="Fungi!" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApidpecIKWCuu7Syl1RJ_WBXhlNkcN1_NpHalQsPJ0SGjwIakm7AL_RuxRRqWXJtoFX45cgncsMNe_fbmRHBa5ajYg2R-y-dYEN5dthVtM4q01z3XAhdfnRDpYaTyrLlotmvqgLNfGtI/s1600/Janice+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApidpecIKWCuu7Syl1RJ_WBXhlNkcN1_NpHalQsPJ0SGjwIakm7AL_RuxRRqWXJtoFX45cgncsMNe_fbmRHBa5ajYg2R-y-dYEN5dthVtM4q01z3XAhdfnRDpYaTyrLlotmvqgLNfGtI/s640/Janice+089.JPG" title="Love it." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
head back to the coast and to the second most southerly point in
Australia, Cape Otway Lightstation. It is the oldest lighthouse in
the country; built in the 1848 without using any mortar or cement. In
1859 a telegraph station was added to the site to connect mainland
Australia to Tasmania via one hundred and seventy miles of submarine
telegraph cable. This was an extension of a cable that reached all
the way back to the United Kingdom. It amazes me that we can built
such things now, that we could build them one hundred and fifty years
ago is astounding.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
lighthouse keepers cottage is full of interesting facts on the life
and times of the lighthouse, the telegraph station and their
occupants. In the middle of all this, completely unexplained, there
is a room dedicated to the history of dinosaurs in Australia. It was
complete with lots of plastic models that I suspect were straight out
of the nearest toy shop. Nope, no idea either.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FDLXXDN4L6Wumn0jbeYUBoodLePyfBCfYZapxTik5FR-ZAK5jUb3zMCIdiNp36c2k2yHQAwBEkindaniTLTm711VuStksLAbCgG-eN0rceeWoUVCXDsvJLGkBaKEgFMf06hkpClk6H0/s1600/Janice+094.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FDLXXDN4L6Wumn0jbeYUBoodLePyfBCfYZapxTik5FR-ZAK5jUb3zMCIdiNp36c2k2yHQAwBEkindaniTLTm711VuStksLAbCgG-eN0rceeWoUVCXDsvJLGkBaKEgFMf06hkpClk6H0/s640/Janice+094.JPG" title="Also found in the U.K." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
g<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkx1GcQKB-hplZ36Qbt1iUZ8tQtRQO8sJMIE9NkoXmdGHUFdSc2RgNs8djA1XsQJP71kfE_nJiYpuy8Mfx8ggexBslFD_C4XSHDz2zh2ObLbynd5ZSKfMXWYppO0AOLw0L8GLGDgP4aI/s1600/Janice+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkx1GcQKB-hplZ36Qbt1iUZ8tQtRQO8sJMIE9NkoXmdGHUFdSc2RgNs8djA1XsQJP71kfE_nJiYpuy8Mfx8ggexBslFD_C4XSHDz2zh2ObLbynd5ZSKfMXWYppO0AOLw0L8GLGDgP4aI/s640/Janice+105.JPG" title="The glass itself." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrpZT1RmhWebmbs_nrU6xzz9sqXKd5wugYbvq-cFCh_qRiwMS5XNEfchtmPZENdh4GMNDzgh2oOugsuVRD5ETPsw5l6rQCi0-V5u0UHYmOg0P_jMM8v9PXLc7PTN4mjMQh2xHVXRHLLs/s1600/Janice+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrpZT1RmhWebmbs_nrU6xzz9sqXKd5wugYbvq-cFCh_qRiwMS5XNEfchtmPZENdh4GMNDzgh2oOugsuVRD5ETPsw5l6rQCi0-V5u0UHYmOg0P_jMM8v9PXLc7PTN4mjMQh2xHVXRHLLs/s640/Janice+106.JPG" title="Whale spotting." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjoKvwh2Ws7eEOs8JHas3ccyy9c3p9B9yPRVTqqx2PbzSTRy2kTAX5cDDrbnNucXcOGlytMGsBp0vDZ5rMXpvXjLULUaT7ms5rQo_-_N4rptm3BgHQupYF4jiz8Eba8uCLsh19Se3S9g/s1600/Janice+117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjoKvwh2Ws7eEOs8JHas3ccyy9c3p9B9yPRVTqqx2PbzSTRy2kTAX5cDDrbnNucXcOGlytMGsBp0vDZ5rMXpvXjLULUaT7ms5rQo_-_N4rptm3BgHQupYF4jiz8Eba8uCLsh19Se3S9g/s640/Janice+117.JPG" title="Aboriginal hut." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCbNuziXtb0kUYLXwhSkBz5pq3LsL-h1tWUMa3nxXuAjrUkZ1b-5LuvAN9v6-oOvvOvi2i5EZXII7E2ptA8JEsnOdPUvtz4x048DSLypdZ5mC5NsVV9aPps5p4z97Ptq8sCBIYFPutBE/s1600/Janice+123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCbNuziXtb0kUYLXwhSkBz5pq3LsL-h1tWUMa3nxXuAjrUkZ1b-5LuvAN9v6-oOvvOvi2i5EZXII7E2ptA8JEsnOdPUvtz4x048DSLypdZ5mC5NsVV9aPps5p4z97Ptq8sCBIYFPutBE/s640/Janice+123.JPG" title="Inside a small aboriginal shelter." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEEB91M0a0UVSkHP0gZJIy7ECLjGb2bZauEfmOSVHDj2gw3YJu1iOfAQv5tq_pd00btwRMQB4nMr4YHVVWwwSn23BHQBev-0OXweNOLskW045MwHMOwL-nbjxP6IofrJGeu7SEE7qSmw/s1600/Janice+125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEEB91M0a0UVSkHP0gZJIy7ECLjGb2bZauEfmOSVHDj2gw3YJu1iOfAQv5tq_pd00btwRMQB4nMr4YHVVWwwSn23BHQBev-0OXweNOLskW045MwHMOwL-nbjxP6IofrJGeu7SEE7qSmw/s640/Janice+125.JPG" title="Apparently this is a museum." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After
a brief encounter with a koala (baby in tow!) we head onto the Great
Ocean Road proper. Scenes of drama and power abound and I am amazed
by the relentless ferocity of the ocean. The wind is up and waves
pound against towering red sea stacks with reckless abandon. We sit
and stare for hours, bound by the forces of nature around us. Each
swell seems greater than the last, sending towers of misty white
cascading heavenwards against the sheer sandstone cliffs. We descend
to a beach down a set of steps carved a hundred years ago. The waves
sweep in and rush back, seemingly a safe distance away.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
walk further up the beach and all of a sudden the sea seems to rise
around us and water engulfs us to our knees. The wave rebounds off a
cliff and comes at us again from the side, deeper than before. It is
sucked back into the sea as if it had never been. We walk back along
the sand, sodden, when we see another such wave approaching. They
come from nowhere and cover the whole beach, ignoring the gradual
inwards movement dictated by the tide.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This
wave we are braced for and it comes up to our thighs. In front of us
a couple are unprepared and are swept ofs their feet. Just beyond
them a young boy is being dragged into the water as his dad fights
against the sea to reach him. Amy throws me her phone and wades
towards them. The father manages to grab his son's hand and they are
both pulled further down a sand bank. The man is trying desperately
to find purchase while the boy is horizontal in the water. I am
temporarily convinced all four of them are done for. The wave
retreats and we are all left high, if not dry. The boy seems
surprisingly blasé about the whole experience and even his parents
don't seem too shaken. Out of everyone Amy seems the one most likely
to relive it in her dreams.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
come to a sea arch called London Bridge. It used to be a double arch
attached to the mainland but in 1990 the first arch collapsed leaving
a group of tourists stranded on the world's newest island. From our
current viewpoint we fully understand how the sea can undo stone. We
watch from what we hope is a safe distance. The Great Ocean Road is done.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LV8mVMdwsdkRLJV8aGpwaO4ZIEQg-BbSjyWkmtBlm5zxkN-HbNKQ5VgJGL9slucs4CtWtXOQrHZoWZc3_WtIsR8KbsaPjstzL54vHoLUw45M3mOH4k6R_YbvlzG1lm2NetyIk1PIccA/s1600/Janice+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LV8mVMdwsdkRLJV8aGpwaO4ZIEQg-BbSjyWkmtBlm5zxkN-HbNKQ5VgJGL9slucs4CtWtXOQrHZoWZc3_WtIsR8KbsaPjstzL54vHoLUw45M3mOH4k6R_YbvlzG1lm2NetyIk1PIccA/s640/Janice+127.JPG" title="To think I used to hate them." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrki3Ec-_UOGbk9n44-VnkirCljOSA6uDk5KKtOwzqNTmJrYlDszqOtFfmJ-SxpAlMthPzgb00MybPuDNurANeu_vPUuAAENXYn4xR8XNf7LGGGXWx2HEkbzHU7B81fHdmZW5q2oOtIqI/s1600/Janice+139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrki3Ec-_UOGbk9n44-VnkirCljOSA6uDk5KKtOwzqNTmJrYlDszqOtFfmJ-SxpAlMthPzgb00MybPuDNurANeu_vPUuAAENXYn4xR8XNf7LGGGXWx2HEkbzHU7B81fHdmZW5q2oOtIqI/s640/Janice+139.JPG" title="The spray from the sea filled the air like a cloud." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLqXsNeXA0IYfBZn0aWwvizrb982jNMdUocX9KC1R3NNLpbtoNdvYdDhLvZHwOVWiF9NA_u4aKVOEbEgA3W0o5YPDmtmUiUsTEomKNilb1AvhBE56X1RuaIyxC9pMnev4Wqb5LkbZKPI/s1600/Janice+140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLqXsNeXA0IYfBZn0aWwvizrb982jNMdUocX9KC1R3NNLpbtoNdvYdDhLvZHwOVWiF9NA_u4aKVOEbEgA3W0o5YPDmtmUiUsTEomKNilb1AvhBE56X1RuaIyxC9pMnev4Wqb5LkbZKPI/s640/Janice+140.JPG" title="The sea stacks begin." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzcvRQhFnUnvNmlHke0jiDfrHqv5PeGVYXFU9QojoqHWVDlOz-Y2-LgHSI1JTK4wWt9p_NEQimY0AyERD6BcAeLDCMqW7Z7LQS2lkhSc8l2nKE_qlFJMT6q20Y2DlKf6PMjxYjNEA6ss/s1600/Janice+154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzcvRQhFnUnvNmlHke0jiDfrHqv5PeGVYXFU9QojoqHWVDlOz-Y2-LgHSI1JTK4wWt9p_NEQimY0AyERD6BcAeLDCMqW7Z7LQS2lkhSc8l2nKE_qlFJMT6q20Y2DlKf6PMjxYjNEA6ss/s640/Janice+154.JPG" title="There will be a lot of this." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLEb7lR39Uv2I6UVFaxz2Vk-tLhUcn2qUpIEcqM_2Ze_f4IZYje-CaGIcrUHMpYT3H3HV3SIu6l5DS6Tj3mRk2BGblT9tt5Cv-pr_VYyK0OcECSvNI2bdnMkoUeVt5nONl5QXNaUJ5P8/s1600/Janice+156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLEb7lR39Uv2I6UVFaxz2Vk-tLhUcn2qUpIEcqM_2Ze_f4IZYje-CaGIcrUHMpYT3H3HV3SIu6l5DS6Tj3mRk2BGblT9tt5Cv-pr_VYyK0OcECSvNI2bdnMkoUeVt5nONl5QXNaUJ5P8/s640/Janice+156.JPG" title="The Twelve Apostles. There aren't twelve of them and they aren't apostles." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQH4BF_2wja6vDO635zgxuAP-RBpPR4lWtUMlFm_2teEGj7HYKLyg5cO8gCyqHPV7wH78b0ocdGNpmrSQ_j8lqDyQ0_pKPjaDGcOycWw0MrL5o3HeyZDAR9cWu7KCZZG4nvZ8WfLZIkA/s1600/Janice+162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQH4BF_2wja6vDO635zgxuAP-RBpPR4lWtUMlFm_2teEGj7HYKLyg5cO8gCyqHPV7wH78b0ocdGNpmrSQ_j8lqDyQ0_pKPjaDGcOycWw0MrL5o3HeyZDAR9cWu7KCZZG4nvZ8WfLZIkA/s640/Janice+162.JPG" title="First sea arch." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmxKTrV6b3Ibkuv3VKRISNM_V08pA89u8w0TnDkMxMq84Fj1LQpqk2LzU2D_mnYoM0nyYgiC87Fxe6Q0ayg7S9Svyr-uVEKUaRLrPZLnxe170jXF0wrsoBaxi0RLSb5vcS95vWgzpVf4/s1600/Janice+167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmxKTrV6b3Ibkuv3VKRISNM_V08pA89u8w0TnDkMxMq84Fj1LQpqk2LzU2D_mnYoM0nyYgiC87Fxe6Q0ayg7S9Svyr-uVEKUaRLrPZLnxe170jXF0wrsoBaxi0RLSb5vcS95vWgzpVf4/s640/Janice+167.JPG" title="I took far too many photos of this." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYb4Jmu2JYmCvtUR-vJBA1247-HBptKdl8ukCBQpQ6dvsgWNhyhBQHz58Tb-A-Vb6hhjyiN3n4h1B-FoPS0fSQ1Wg6IKTUM9bHVMdv680iGQ67-wY5Sn2srKunynCCQsXzKvJFTq0-uY/s1600/Janice+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYb4Jmu2JYmCvtUR-vJBA1247-HBptKdl8ukCBQpQ6dvsgWNhyhBQHz58Tb-A-Vb6hhjyiN3n4h1B-FoPS0fSQ1Wg6IKTUM9bHVMdv680iGQ67-wY5Sn2srKunynCCQsXzKvJFTq0-uY/s640/Janice+173.JPG" title="One of my favorite sections." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzFeOMwoHb8brCh4AdFQ0cmGw4lrhTbDvjmsbjgNg2NzEWtzcKk5YNssLT6dUZaIQBvzoP9wL8eRElCgiIYE0pBM05rgz34ci0I-3hii5-m4VHkEHZT3uWn5JfEbkaKWSc6AdKj0BXk8/s1600/Janice+177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzFeOMwoHb8brCh4AdFQ0cmGw4lrhTbDvjmsbjgNg2NzEWtzcKk5YNssLT6dUZaIQBvzoP9wL8eRElCgiIYE0pBM05rgz34ci0I-3hii5-m4VHkEHZT3uWn5JfEbkaKWSc6AdKj0BXk8/s640/Janice+177.JPG" title="The razorback." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZMYvGnxWPs5UsowhLcVrDDO0BAmuC7OjWoi7rELE0vxOG90RlUXj7RTtRGcUV_QHtsnnJOf1Esf0jKnnWb9a_0YX8yubbsAMD8yICaAXjqmFpMQNG1y1WWv_af2_u1ecKGp4HT5aBV0/s1600/Janice+178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZMYvGnxWPs5UsowhLcVrDDO0BAmuC7OjWoi7rELE0vxOG90RlUXj7RTtRGcUV_QHtsnnJOf1Esf0jKnnWb9a_0YX8yubbsAMD8yICaAXjqmFpMQNG1y1WWv_af2_u1ecKGp4HT5aBV0/s640/Janice+178.JPG" title="The razorback. Again." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAM1kVnT-RoJbKXRH9NEippToA2Cs2saQIUOlQnaCKPbK4wktGeRv2RX9JiakTU8mssvVnD3nJGvWnxl3gr9EO_u5efrBTdKzX_vtv__nNu-wbCBlqlLL4HaqfYkQkbrXSOzD5n-VMhcY/s1600/Janice+183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAM1kVnT-RoJbKXRH9NEippToA2Cs2saQIUOlQnaCKPbK4wktGeRv2RX9JiakTU8mssvVnD3nJGvWnxl3gr9EO_u5efrBTdKzX_vtv__nNu-wbCBlqlLL4HaqfYkQkbrXSOzD5n-VMhcY/s640/Janice+183.JPG" title="A limestone cavern." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37Hkef5ymwQKea5zqqQXsBhZgPnkgKoC2gqb5xBMZkRq2Hj4gWUBTE2i6LZoQXxw-gdRLjxe0gnQk40JEANIu0rhO2VVAqbBSRmOgASFAyCVRVxXMeCRzytN5LsZC6lFYNoLA0PJUNTw/s1600/Janice+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37Hkef5ymwQKea5zqqQXsBhZgPnkgKoC2gqb5xBMZkRq2Hj4gWUBTE2i6LZoQXxw-gdRLjxe0gnQk40JEANIu0rhO2VVAqbBSRmOgASFAyCVRVxXMeCRzytN5LsZC6lFYNoLA0PJUNTw/s640/Janice+190.JPG" title="A wave charges forward." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRZKHHrhll3FkWxNO2jzNXY4cz6f2lF-DI1nTpGRj9561M7LFXTIruFo0V-5tgISZV_w8qGEWFd4WYZGOgZoyc89NVr2LKPxpGA5chHtimhArJ8RMNmG4rNs688fo6amovTYeIZypTLE/s1600/Janice+197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRZKHHrhll3FkWxNO2jzNXY4cz6f2lF-DI1nTpGRj9561M7LFXTIruFo0V-5tgISZV_w8qGEWFd4WYZGOgZoyc89NVr2LKPxpGA5chHtimhArJ8RMNmG4rNs688fo6amovTYeIZypTLE/s640/Janice+197.JPG" title="London Bridge (is falling down)" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjTUzSJfA_Alg3uW1ctCqLFwgMT7bTWIP-G_rdBbHUud6q9SfszwV9vzTiYwdDcAVjPVIXCLxO5F6ffVQcbCbKngAgJueW46gUoub3myaPnilCcYfnXfMz40o4uiR8FBwVCTZ4XjCvAs/s1600/Janice+207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjTUzSJfA_Alg3uW1ctCqLFwgMT7bTWIP-G_rdBbHUud6q9SfszwV9vzTiYwdDcAVjPVIXCLxO5F6ffVQcbCbKngAgJueW46gUoub3myaPnilCcYfnXfMz40o4uiR8FBwVCTZ4XjCvAs/s640/Janice+207.JPG" title="The Grotto." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguGM7BrMzr19w0pYMDVtlRR91CW1PCB1_zmP-f1EkP-qLsXi02mLlT_aDeCF6I3G7HtXjoZ0ldjZRbWZD9g_YvZXmUbUDGRvsFEPXJytQoiagzp1kyK5taRK4arVyfT313WkNgx1581g/s1600/Janice+216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguGM7BrMzr19w0pYMDVtlRR91CW1PCB1_zmP-f1EkP-qLsXi02mLlT_aDeCF6I3G7HtXjoZ0ldjZRbWZD9g_YvZXmUbUDGRvsFEPXJytQoiagzp1kyK5taRK4arVyfT313WkNgx1581g/s640/Janice+216.JPG" title="The Bay of Islands. Wind increasing." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjJt0ufzKrLDHl1SSoJOcNCPo0Z8MNNwdinYBXCBNOmGSc6uNZwHpW20x-ObdoVigLcQgHMIGWsJishrDd6T6SZrwemidp_oeFAiOHnOy2RKCloEdlz6E1BPKUaOao5Vqccbz6ZBUvQ0/s1600/Janice+223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjJt0ufzKrLDHl1SSoJOcNCPo0Z8MNNwdinYBXCBNOmGSc6uNZwHpW20x-ObdoVigLcQgHMIGWsJishrDd6T6SZrwemidp_oeFAiOHnOy2RKCloEdlz6E1BPKUaOao5Vqccbz6ZBUvQ0/s640/Janice+223.JPG" title="Last one. Honestly." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwE2U1Vhxo-KLeiwocsqS7Mjhypqrh5A3nd10qzNZr3T-b2u7PWzdki7Vc1Llqx1AVmZcTCLpysdjyuSsek' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That
night we sit in our camper van while the sky bursts around us. Lit
from horizon to horizon with streaks of lightning, pouring an oceans
worth of water on our roof. The next day all is calm and we head into
the Grampian Mountains. They are not really what I would call
mountains. The land here is flat then suddenly they protrude
outwards, almost like a growth on the land. And despite all being
prefixed 'Mount' most really are hills.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEecebh68yQjnUVWcgJulHIz_I2qCC3O1hNQSOQvfv1L_ZZ6XF9_B3fD6_RRpi4Z7BXnvrJ5S1Zb22Lwz51rmPYOtkA2iKoa5c78Cbrhqiefo7jf2LUT6aPe0JfnYmMkZoAD7fPk4Kh-s/s1600/Janice+228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEecebh68yQjnUVWcgJulHIz_I2qCC3O1hNQSOQvfv1L_ZZ6XF9_B3fD6_RRpi4Z7BXnvrJ5S1Zb22Lwz51rmPYOtkA2iKoa5c78Cbrhqiefo7jf2LUT6aPe0JfnYmMkZoAD7fPk4Kh-s/s640/Janice+228.JPG" title="I don't know why I bother describing tings when I put up so many photos." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
landscape we walk through is beautiful. Rocks, now more grey than
red, form alien shapes around us and trees cling between them
wherever they can take hold. We scramble up a gully grandiosely named
the Grand Canyon. It looks significantly smaller than last time I saw
it. We wander through a forest and past a waterfall and reach 'The
Pinnacle', a wooden platform built on an outcrop of rock at the top
of the hill. Sorry, mountain.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Here,
every path you can tread has been carefully mapped out and its safety
has been guaranteed. Signs, bridges and board walks cover the
hillsides you are allowed to climb. There is no right to roam. Also
they take great care to inform you of all the possible ways you can
die on the simplest of paths. Falling trees, slippery rocks,
collapsing cliffs. One sign emphasised profusely, in capital letters,
how strenuous a descent to a waterfall was, that it was exhausting
and you had to take your time. It turned out to be a flight of
stairs, albeit quite a long one. You wouldn't find this sort of thing
back home. I would like to let these people loose in the highlands
and see how long they lasted.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0Db5CtaWZZcuO82yERrs3aYft9xXXEMcb5nnjxaYiUXXfilZRDevNvx7vdr4khHLjeQXIkojSNh608bvrqH-mDWpZ4UfHV1eU6r_G0-DKPMOEo57OLKF6Cw5qmAZtcjE8ELDfMm1K1k/s1600/Janice+236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0Db5CtaWZZcuO82yERrs3aYft9xXXEMcb5nnjxaYiUXXfilZRDevNvx7vdr4khHLjeQXIkojSNh608bvrqH-mDWpZ4UfHV1eU6r_G0-DKPMOEo57OLKF6Cw5qmAZtcjE8ELDfMm1K1k/s640/Janice+236.JPG" title="Rocks" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtuH_W59MfBEQx5o32N0Pn6UXYM-JZd5VW-_YfOp8YYMhE31bNlk-6LsPJRsagMc4WbEgar0Em_9MYUezz86wK-WN7T0a5nhWAQV3oqYegFI0ogIZxCxFtx3Txemv9kGHkKf04m6D1fM/s1600/Janice+290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtuH_W59MfBEQx5o32N0Pn6UXYM-JZd5VW-_YfOp8YYMhE31bNlk-6LsPJRsagMc4WbEgar0Em_9MYUezz86wK-WN7T0a5nhWAQV3oqYegFI0ogIZxCxFtx3Txemv9kGHkKf04m6D1fM/s640/Janice+290.JPG" title="More rocks." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPWecFsdcYBDYNMtFvyinOJYUXSK4N9xQ71U6kpIesmrYnZ5dBPICahyphenhyphenbv2eMWOrd0OTFjbZl_fx61Iyus4XHWR4cdGTCUg6AWVrI9xcIiDWJD-egHxQz2dAccqHW8dU3537CorGemvA/s1600/Janice+292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPWecFsdcYBDYNMtFvyinOJYUXSK4N9xQ71U6kpIesmrYnZ5dBPICahyphenhyphenbv2eMWOrd0OTFjbZl_fx61Iyus4XHWR4cdGTCUg6AWVrI9xcIiDWJD-egHxQz2dAccqHW8dU3537CorGemvA/s640/Janice+292.JPG" title="At least this has rainforest in the background." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VWzgWLNcUrWH34XP6pBW0BPGT9HwKp6fE2bEzSjmAmknITNPI4geY0027MN5zNQ-896n14-oam81RC1oFbekQ35-6QVFKGtAnVeo6biBVY6KQto7tsu8KRmdxv94eUvtfvTZKKxEkDw/s1600/Janice+293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VWzgWLNcUrWH34XP6pBW0BPGT9HwKp6fE2bEzSjmAmknITNPI4geY0027MN5zNQ-896n14-oam81RC1oFbekQ35-6QVFKGtAnVeo6biBVY6KQto7tsu8KRmdxv94eUvtfvTZKKxEkDw/s640/Janice+293.JPG" title="You get the jist." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7gt51sjZ81TYIN9CiL4GoM3kBE2ngV9YDVdS0rRJLgsMZogBPGFaq5aWWx048DvwLN_YLXOXSSP_5NuJDIcqSfWRJHOu4tFv3cE4m9WKptbnsG57EJZm5xvJFQcLa208ZHJOzJ84CcM/s1600/Janice+298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7gt51sjZ81TYIN9CiL4GoM3kBE2ngV9YDVdS0rRJLgsMZogBPGFaq5aWWx048DvwLN_YLXOXSSP_5NuJDIcqSfWRJHOu4tFv3cE4m9WKptbnsG57EJZm5xvJFQcLa208ZHJOzJ84CcM/s640/Janice+298.JPG" title="From the Pinnacle" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_rYCvWRF_KFQ_Bv1oikAHH0jCAi7nPOm53o8Qc8JuYk5jF0Jpx1TY0XCyWJIywUdYBYHSrFKqYoi7zhyBX9L5jg6RmU67cwYPXAz88kERnfpkmOcirU6apiurySIOf2G8oeRrhO0mGg/s1600/Janice+301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_rYCvWRF_KFQ_Bv1oikAHH0jCAi7nPOm53o8Qc8JuYk5jF0Jpx1TY0XCyWJIywUdYBYHSrFKqYoi7zhyBX9L5jg6RmU67cwYPXAz88kERnfpkmOcirU6apiurySIOf2G8oeRrhO0mGg/s640/Janice+301.JPG" title="Again." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf5vmwYgqDHiLHXp2cDq0sqvZfZjNlKYZ8qwHPp4FuJycvTo4gcj7JQaMvMuUKjaPC9IfUWgBCRe4360IV18r3ti8KJI4thAvuCYMAws2570QJIyqPZsYtbQEPIzppbWdNDaMFM3ZG4g/s1600/Janice+316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf5vmwYgqDHiLHXp2cDq0sqvZfZjNlKYZ8qwHPp4FuJycvTo4gcj7JQaMvMuUKjaPC9IfUWgBCRe4360IV18r3ti8KJI4thAvuCYMAws2570QJIyqPZsYtbQEPIzppbWdNDaMFM3ZG4g/s640/Janice+316.JPG" title="Through the gully." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaQMhPd_sYLfMY9H66m8zC_snMjEOyK8aAcpruF_Bk8ZDyoGs70j6Jpgb8uuuri2ApgdTqxDZ3gGhKsTrirlVvf8wIzW-TwC5NoV5cinzbeK_IHQ-A-l5KZxZcTHzXUWv0gy4fafOx5M/s1600/Janice+327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaQMhPd_sYLfMY9H66m8zC_snMjEOyK8aAcpruF_Bk8ZDyoGs70j6Jpgb8uuuri2ApgdTqxDZ3gGhKsTrirlVvf8wIzW-TwC5NoV5cinzbeK_IHQ-A-l5KZxZcTHzXUWv0gy4fafOx5M/s640/Janice+327.JPG" title="Rocks. It's very hard to cut down from 600 photos you know." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjVRXRg7JMZYYnJn1jX6sHCccSP_Bn0A0yZ__MUqcoSWD-an9SsCFdPt1GMdAraU8pdLuj5Y8AgHz0ukuq_XCLCFCI5n8s0FGBSMOQ-G6ZUA1UI4vzWuFjbLea8jGG13__kWVvhTz3mU/s1600/Janice+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjVRXRg7JMZYYnJn1jX6sHCccSP_Bn0A0yZ__MUqcoSWD-an9SsCFdPt1GMdAraU8pdLuj5Y8AgHz0ukuq_XCLCFCI5n8s0FGBSMOQ-G6ZUA1UI4vzWuFjbLea8jGG13__kWVvhTz3mU/s640/Janice+254.JPG" title="Yes well what more can I say." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
drive past the Pyrenees, which are shprtly followed by Ben Nevis.
Someone's having a laugh. A rainbow tides us from evening into night.
Two perfect arcs frame the road before us, blazing with possibility.
We stop in a lay-by and consider spending the night. A dilapidated
hut freaks Amy out so we go into the nearest pub and ask for
directions to a campsite.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINDPxJswzYcCIhqgrkPJ23tkiY3OYGfpwaZNLmnGJpLk0UNXE4zJn1AKYufuKr_kcIpZYcqLeoYXrUOY8ubVURf-bptsS8C-i0tQyeDhrm1bCndEfjPXzPm4G3LFwHyE5iY1zpk6neoE/s1600/Janice+356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINDPxJswzYcCIhqgrkPJ23tkiY3OYGfpwaZNLmnGJpLk0UNXE4zJn1AKYufuKr_kcIpZYcqLeoYXrUOY8ubVURf-bptsS8C-i0tQyeDhrm1bCndEfjPXzPm4G3LFwHyE5iY1zpk6neoE/s640/Janice+356.JPG" title="Pyrenees or England. I'm not sure." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlH8lduryUu0C0JdT6TDfZRhKwhSGm-ZVqcDk0XZfHacrz8A83DG87sQyQSauJW0lAN4GQqCXZ-BwecBpU77uX6DqkDZpX5JxNYr5C3gRiOLR8O8O_v3OYPAjfp4e09R1Rq5CEEopifo/s1600/Janice+358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlH8lduryUu0C0JdT6TDfZRhKwhSGm-ZVqcDk0XZfHacrz8A83DG87sQyQSauJW0lAN4GQqCXZ-BwecBpU77uX6DqkDZpX5JxNYr5C3gRiOLR8O8O_v3OYPAjfp4e09R1Rq5CEEopifo/s640/Janice+358.JPG" title="Wait for it." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnFgg8j5ZRfih3pATlTXasOHMiwTPcKB1JfuXrmrhNxQmBfHOEZfOl8SIFTH7g1B3vP3bK3K126djTlYn9VSSovTBf3hLUH34lEXeSnqbVr78-kb-Yxh0aekIaUVmoWOR9N1l_kMGXuM/s1600/Janice+359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnFgg8j5ZRfih3pATlTXasOHMiwTPcKB1JfuXrmrhNxQmBfHOEZfOl8SIFTH7g1B3vP3bK3K126djTlYn9VSSovTBf3hLUH34lEXeSnqbVr78-kb-Yxh0aekIaUVmoWOR9N1l_kMGXuM/s640/Janice+359.JPG" title="Yup. It's one of them." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0bFpcsOhpc7jbHWO3GtoEsFjIWkgeSbntlHO6_ho8j5tq3epa0T_pd7VUXAx-NYmmWn80QObQYLpKlMXhOVqgYLU3wKiLPWGtgosN5QXpnfYuNcO90y3aTcpemRXxWaath8y8uL3ijM/s1600/Janice+365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0bFpcsOhpc7jbHWO3GtoEsFjIWkgeSbntlHO6_ho8j5tq3epa0T_pd7VUXAx-NYmmWn80QObQYLpKlMXhOVqgYLU3wKiLPWGtgosN5QXpnfYuNcO90y3aTcpemRXxWaath8y8uL3ijM/s640/Janice+365.JPG" title="Double rainbow and all." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In
the morning I visit a giant cross atop a mountain. It is cold wet and
stormy so Amy stays in the car. I run through the fog and it looms
before me exuding portent. I take the necessary selfies then run back
to the car invigorated.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZxWopva3p1SnOy7EsCmIqndW0qihgmdcYUPAinZB9vRGt3t1ePvyVYg4Wi0-s4xOb_BL-ZVy1VeO3beyMKriMSAxIkchPc8yhKvPxjeiWvEVEaF-98723RDw9ZpUSAS6jzzOWaww5NM/s1600/Janice+371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZxWopva3p1SnOy7EsCmIqndW0qihgmdcYUPAinZB9vRGt3t1ePvyVYg4Wi0-s4xOb_BL-ZVy1VeO3beyMKriMSAxIkchPc8yhKvPxjeiWvEVEaF-98723RDw9ZpUSAS6jzzOWaww5NM/s640/Janice+371.JPG" title="Oozing atmosphere." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mid
afternoon sees us pull into Wilson's Promontory, a national park that
marks Australia's most southerly point. It is a stunning place. Bare
rocks poke from the top of tree covered hills. Green shrubland gives
way to the Eucalypt forests that seem ubiquitous in Australia and
these then meld into rainforest. Wildlife surrounds.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
visit white beaches cut with deep brown streams stained with
tee-tree. The contrast is striking. We witness the tide washing up
the river and I am reminded of two meter tidal bores in the river
Severn.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
find a group of gulls pecking at something on the sand. Curious as to
what treats they've found we approach. We find them eating a penguin.
Not as in a chocolate biscuit. As is a penguin. Its head is missing
and they are pulling entrails out through its neck. Unfortunately a
wave takes the whole lot away before I can photograph it for you.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1qsBuoz6zK-I472iy-MP1tHhGl_g1pPIeT7A373SlIT9JhvfGWlqAdyLGchMtViYhlFtiBkkAyFnH-mp7IBFeBDKvG9NSLEJnLf45VJmq1FLWC4QuRpRWaKg75XiBtb7RubVBb46Feo/s1600/Janice+398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1qsBuoz6zK-I472iy-MP1tHhGl_g1pPIeT7A373SlIT9JhvfGWlqAdyLGchMtViYhlFtiBkkAyFnH-mp7IBFeBDKvG9NSLEJnLf45VJmq1FLWC4QuRpRWaKg75XiBtb7RubVBb46Feo/s640/Janice+398.JPG" title="Of course I had to climb up the rocks across the river." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z5hKbgi0fwtQJdkKNFyppn59YxSnxXEcLW5RwfKI4dG15xUsOHdRm6IbW7AWr8EWwGRep46H4XJdstAxLC1MN4dkjScRddzJ5g0HMh_aOh2HQinImFO58254LWBqsRsk5Z00Qs6f3zY/s1600/Janice+401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z5hKbgi0fwtQJdkKNFyppn59YxSnxXEcLW5RwfKI4dG15xUsOHdRm6IbW7AWr8EWwGRep46H4XJdstAxLC1MN4dkjScRddzJ5g0HMh_aOh2HQinImFO58254LWBqsRsk5Z00Qs6f3zY/s640/Janice+401.JPG" title="Contrast." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJbdomLnLB536w1HDJ-XCxlmRbQwFbBjhvjapMW6sfsJIuEAt1q3aaAbhz2dJmyVz7SlMdnu8h4DO8fho8eio5p7KAWgympDDrYCxDEG7LVYzGArrzMZwWxi-jEuZ29a3SYBLpmKSyYk/s1600/Janice+404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJbdomLnLB536w1HDJ-XCxlmRbQwFbBjhvjapMW6sfsJIuEAt1q3aaAbhz2dJmyVz7SlMdnu8h4DO8fho8eio5p7KAWgympDDrYCxDEG7LVYzGArrzMZwWxi-jEuZ29a3SYBLpmKSyYk/s640/Janice+404.JPG" title="Twisted like rope." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGLWeT323GLSsWNXMNqOUzaatsF79L0FTeY4Ql4C-8UUc4Ouxv4O-VEPxYmVQkFsWgSQs0kgBBIf8RhokGuCGv5Hz11qM61cpPzy-RWvqzf0C0C59EPvgGwbWOIW3NGpVMYJzvEieftc/s1600/Janice+423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGLWeT323GLSsWNXMNqOUzaatsF79L0FTeY4Ql4C-8UUc4Ouxv4O-VEPxYmVQkFsWgSQs0kgBBIf8RhokGuCGv5Hz11qM61cpPzy-RWvqzf0C0C59EPvgGwbWOIW3NGpVMYJzvEieftc/s640/Janice+423.JPG" title="Wilson's Prom" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHUUGTEclQyA3a_rk5p8vbfcp4sbxPGbK9MjJDOITs1DkjnJ1ou9ByVyvTE4bqbmCHE2KVb1BP-aTyXDW-EAOZ1fZAbY5LqyjIdqla6D8PtSYlb5D0qhFqV6UR1a0V8eRi5ERxbyrxjc/s1600/Janice+425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHUUGTEclQyA3a_rk5p8vbfcp4sbxPGbK9MjJDOITs1DkjnJ1ou9ByVyvTE4bqbmCHE2KVb1BP-aTyXDW-EAOZ1fZAbY5LqyjIdqla6D8PtSYlb5D0qhFqV6UR1a0V8eRi5ERxbyrxjc/s640/Janice+425.JPG" title="Regeneration. Four years after a bushfire." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjFvWVcbTjGxOjd29fs76y9_xeV8QOIndsXff5crA3mUT_z6mdnxM49L14BjdqoxSM-h3XtHRtGM4P3zgAjEQjSvu0OPd-xX7OxwPuYVJRrTNIvx5UJR7ehcax8eScDicQcXVtcQbtQM/s1600/Janice+446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjFvWVcbTjGxOjd29fs76y9_xeV8QOIndsXff5crA3mUT_z6mdnxM49L14BjdqoxSM-h3XtHRtGM4P3zgAjEQjSvu0OPd-xX7OxwPuYVJRrTNIvx5UJR7ehcax8eScDicQcXVtcQbtQM/s640/Janice+446.JPG" title="Kangaroo tails." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mRJVFg4cosNXXI9LrxnNCJHmgEe6xOgSyQK4uGCEGttr6odohfo_Ef8-qzam1QJ7HxL9fSFlgRJd4p3LQOjPQreezblbhD2012na5lB5mvf2mwMavC1bZ3VXGQAa0oxcLnAJ1sAD0Ho/s1600/Janice+451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mRJVFg4cosNXXI9LrxnNCJHmgEe6xOgSyQK4uGCEGttr6odohfo_Ef8-qzam1QJ7HxL9fSFlgRJd4p3LQOjPQreezblbhD2012na5lB5mvf2mwMavC1bZ3VXGQAa0oxcLnAJ1sAD0Ho/s640/Janice+451.JPG" title="Weeping rock." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR9bdprHLbIgHJad5m_tXGu6PK2lfoztDvZ2KTZn29JiVKYstJoV3hT65p9Xrz4H-NnYn57Lfg-NSS6ggiN1upFG028g0v8mxI8UHRGXZ4woRuIjoUnPAepvkUvnrIO_V4Q38Dpu2qdQ/s1600/Janice+462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR9bdprHLbIgHJad5m_tXGu6PK2lfoztDvZ2KTZn29JiVKYstJoV3hT65p9Xrz4H-NnYn57Lfg-NSS6ggiN1upFG028g0v8mxI8UHRGXZ4woRuIjoUnPAepvkUvnrIO_V4Q38Dpu2qdQ/s640/Janice+462.JPG" title="I love the light and dark." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXNh3e7_pJDxHWq6Oh6322c6ohyphenhyphen5LbaMN8edyHeSBo6iAHGT4ZOx7dXjTyh5IUjJ6NIUTI2u-e2L_0k-DVFDN1osMOiXo7HI-G_ivvVhzC8Tlfif-5u9BczfF34Mif3NUYR9acJB-Y9Y/s1600/Janice+463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXNh3e7_pJDxHWq6Oh6322c6ohyphenhyphen5LbaMN8edyHeSBo6iAHGT4ZOx7dXjTyh5IUjJ6NIUTI2u-e2L_0k-DVFDN1osMOiXo7HI-G_ivvVhzC8Tlfif-5u9BczfF34Mif3NUYR9acJB-Y9Y/s640/Janice+463.JPG" title="Waves. They get everywhere." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24ZsaS5_q-QtqqdRnK2wLVdXMTMt-HgC-kUWLr_QnNQxB1zTu0ldtiUSa1b380RELffjNgngnKkDmz4OydA0DQ1oYzHkcX7nhD7Kgmd-IcGWSHt92kcsyO_qma8WsiX_vns-AT0TBrMk/s1600/Janice+464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24ZsaS5_q-QtqqdRnK2wLVdXMTMt-HgC-kUWLr_QnNQxB1zTu0ldtiUSa1b380RELffjNgngnKkDmz4OydA0DQ1oYzHkcX7nhD7Kgmd-IcGWSHt92kcsyO_qma8WsiX_vns-AT0TBrMk/s640/Janice+464.JPG" title="The colours in the rock were beautiful." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxUTGXAOuw0kPK7rSKwXWYQL1eIVF9Dd731M5_wvFKXmRYPw8aYtuqgaYHTND6Lah7EFwVP_mFzXdHAXVxV95mpMmAJRB7ba9pyceegwme4lp5DLHwCcvk5dZNDfbbAKTcIr9jO_H_UQ/s1600/Janice+466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxUTGXAOuw0kPK7rSKwXWYQL1eIVF9Dd731M5_wvFKXmRYPw8aYtuqgaYHTND6Lah7EFwVP_mFzXdHAXVxV95mpMmAJRB7ba9pyceegwme4lp5DLHwCcvk5dZNDfbbAKTcIr9jO_H_UQ/s640/Janice+466.JPG" title="Classic high tide mark." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQphp_39rpFiFloXFx7mSzvcL_WBjykvHO4RBmf8DkMX9heIadrnJQBP_6eOeG4ktAPv4T1mNNyTHWa3o1Q119MWuuL9bDvGBgkxsF0Jv-bLywmfgPZfMp_maHJlTXE6nqXIPGiA9ykJ4/s1600/Janice+474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQphp_39rpFiFloXFx7mSzvcL_WBjykvHO4RBmf8DkMX9heIadrnJQBP_6eOeG4ktAPv4T1mNNyTHWa3o1Q119MWuuL9bDvGBgkxsF0Jv-bLywmfgPZfMp_maHJlTXE6nqXIPGiA9ykJ4/s640/Janice+474.JPG" title="A particularly large ant." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm-VrnyL4b9bj54_WpCgokBrL6gh5uB9gM00aYsfhvS0Ubnq8rGItenqZvMPqNggV7sHp75ai_bBz_Jy5u9BH2wjTSaXPoqGPvUZ8O52DxB6lgnTT26PQdDMFX3J596TjinGwGqG77qg/s1600/Janice+481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm-VrnyL4b9bj54_WpCgokBrL6gh5uB9gM00aYsfhvS0Ubnq8rGItenqZvMPqNggV7sHp75ai_bBz_Jy5u9BH2wjTSaXPoqGPvUZ8O52DxB6lgnTT26PQdDMFX3J596TjinGwGqG77qg/s640/Janice+481.JPG" title="Red through white." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqr4L914-q0SIVhxstq8CRyGZANTdTOX7dioAtvC0jk2B7SmxEVZVOSFARMOFF5BgGQrHOWZV11-TcqnpN0jXgAbiCUjtlcRUHPMRzTR82Vto-9cZSDiHMfbeQ-cNNz7wtOXkdUdTylL0/s1600/Janice+485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqr4L914-q0SIVhxstq8CRyGZANTdTOX7dioAtvC0jk2B7SmxEVZVOSFARMOFF5BgGQrHOWZV11-TcqnpN0jXgAbiCUjtlcRUHPMRzTR82Vto-9cZSDiHMfbeQ-cNNz7wtOXkdUdTylL0/s640/Janice+485.JPG" title="Rock pal." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i5yAccwp3XbqoCDgrxgvTAMLl4J2XoqQVt1-NBc-bK26MDbi4hii5_jcUBZ7thtI6kcFVMG4_H1eNvywDM17-onYQr_Ojin3StVVm8o__yJCsh9eC-1m13QuuQ_InG7U8B-CE08BAtw/s1600/Janice+491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i5yAccwp3XbqoCDgrxgvTAMLl4J2XoqQVt1-NBc-bK26MDbi4hii5_jcUBZ7thtI6kcFVMG4_H1eNvywDM17-onYQr_Ojin3StVVm8o__yJCsh9eC-1m13QuuQ_InG7U8B-CE08BAtw/s640/Janice+491.JPG" title="I LOVE the bark of these trees." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL5fz2PW-hMo19DhRlX4HtgDW0ZZROZEjELAaPJdeOHf9go67auARiraXFu_5hz71gQy3cBRXM6NwJHFnmhCi1L2bgs4t40tEDdyDXE2yO-_ELJOmNoYk95PAiuYzRdMWrq-s0wpm8PM/s1600/Janice+520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL5fz2PW-hMo19DhRlX4HtgDW0ZZROZEjELAaPJdeOHf9go67auARiraXFu_5hz71gQy3cBRXM6NwJHFnmhCi1L2bgs4t40tEDdyDXE2yO-_ELJOmNoYk95PAiuYzRdMWrq-s0wpm8PM/s640/Janice+520.JPG" title="Much as above." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZWzMzrkmpN7z0IqCEmzr_hhApwrKqwzf6k41k1UxxlqOXq_FqDEXm8nADow85kEQUgzHTP9dlUgbwDuhbS6kb_Zx-PEyxhMg44C-Z8LOgj1bfDdtu_MTBA3dyZ3-utK0BnaE3g99A9k/s1600/Janice+521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZWzMzrkmpN7z0IqCEmzr_hhApwrKqwzf6k41k1UxxlqOXq_FqDEXm8nADow85kEQUgzHTP9dlUgbwDuhbS6kb_Zx-PEyxhMg44C-Z8LOgj1bfDdtu_MTBA3dyZ3-utK0BnaE3g99A9k/s640/Janice+521.JPG" title="Trunks a charred black - natural or from the fire?" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ga7igZoPQIBFaFvHSAQXnjgstysALG_mgdis1gGsDE1wwmkFUHH9Jsx4M8hNKdoubF_ld_5NO69t7uC3WmCq4QORIXKO7ftG2261qPJxQT29rKht_MLuxEkHWbJnTOMbo233TvRpTy8/s1600/Janice+523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ga7igZoPQIBFaFvHSAQXnjgstysALG_mgdis1gGsDE1wwmkFUHH9Jsx4M8hNKdoubF_ld_5NO69t7uC3WmCq4QORIXKO7ftG2261qPJxQT29rKht_MLuxEkHWbJnTOMbo233TvRpTy8/s640/Janice+523.JPG" title="Here the trees bleed." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89Xmycn0WB30q32cPRELBA8xLvYkk558jKg3ytOnsPEGPFRXWuzXYYTGodk-ii33TCXKySpHsRXDxPFtAeaWdqvbl2GbZPjqf9vrWYcYS96PUv2Z6SwvXlAipjHRHzNFP60hhby3g1vQ/s1600/Janice+532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89Xmycn0WB30q32cPRELBA8xLvYkk558jKg3ytOnsPEGPFRXWuzXYYTGodk-ii33TCXKySpHsRXDxPFtAeaWdqvbl2GbZPjqf9vrWYcYS96PUv2Z6SwvXlAipjHRHzNFP60hhby3g1vQ/s640/Janice+532.JPG" title="I didn't try eating it." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Goon,
to those of you who don't know, is the drink of choice for
backpackers in Australia. Boxes of wine for ten dollars. Who could
say no? Especially when everything else is twice the price is it at
home. One late afternoon we are walking along by the river with some
Goon we decanted into a plastic bottle. We are practising our accents
when a sudden storm hits. The rain is unrelenting and dense, our tree
seems scant shelter.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
hear voices from behind calling us. There are two well-to-do middle
aged Australian ladies beckoning us into their delightful woodland
cabin. We frantically hide the Goon and make a run for the door.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
have half an hour of polite conversation over a bowl of dates. We see
a deer stalk past the ceiling to floor windows. I teach the room
about antlers. The storm passes so we bid them farewell and return to
our Goon.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Wilson's
Prom turns out to be prime territory for animal spotting. Wombats
wander through the campsite unconcerned, intent only on the grass
between their paws. Koala's hang from the trees. We spot a Wallaby
hiding in the bushes from our car and just farther down the road we
find a couple of Kangaroos. As we are excitedly trying to get as
close as we can an Emu wanders out of the bushes and off up the road.
The only thing missing is an Echidna.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL6qw4of9Nb8LbpISKIjgPyyr3BMiX_SgCs3MjEugiRwTbxh7xErl6PQ95Qz946uZrKvfNFxzblZ_9a8omsN77fADIqERvTqMn-GP5tEI7DiBkaO4YoH1Di9iaXgZmN1IafRhTyeIFE8/s1600/Janice+432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL6qw4of9Nb8LbpISKIjgPyyr3BMiX_SgCs3MjEugiRwTbxh7xErl6PQ95Qz946uZrKvfNFxzblZ_9a8omsN77fADIqERvTqMn-GP5tEI7DiBkaO4YoH1Di9iaXgZmN1IafRhTyeIFE8/s640/Janice+432.JPG" title="Wombat pal." width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Zm-Ny6d3sXC-4cH1rReT2Gu4X2T_XawhzILb2v9Y_CHaI_PeYvfm6WozCLmiJdJ_fYXfIIvoguKbPThWWmx2_DyvVL7wrGBTSzcin3ZUIw8dCYa0VMxDTj9XCUoTzPjhZ2b-gleYkjQ/s1600/Janice+545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Zm-Ny6d3sXC-4cH1rReT2Gu4X2T_XawhzILb2v9Y_CHaI_PeYvfm6WozCLmiJdJ_fYXfIIvoguKbPThWWmx2_DyvVL7wrGBTSzcin3ZUIw8dCYa0VMxDTj9XCUoTzPjhZ2b-gleYkjQ/s640/Janice+545.JPG" title="Wallaby." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvxDA_U_ZMOWZrM_Fq82HQqVMkKlIenCC_V0QfcRignngdA-n3vAxWIsodZWLOn7Fo-3Nlv2lNVTXErTsdNX7vrOxP453yPF2AZjh2k9hn2VpmW8xmWtwgOeBVhYhP67QGZkqWGjRGNo/s1600/Janice+548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvxDA_U_ZMOWZrM_Fq82HQqVMkKlIenCC_V0QfcRignngdA-n3vAxWIsodZWLOn7Fo-3Nlv2lNVTXErTsdNX7vrOxP453yPF2AZjh2k9hn2VpmW8xmWtwgOeBVhYhP67QGZkqWGjRGNo/s640/Janice+548.JPG" title="Emu pal." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1eV1paSTXvkjwXknJsZvv7KLV5X03Vgj5JLi9q0tMin9LRulq8EVn0gEiuBplSjsty7wK9XRgfhzVuqI5WSWG85REhaIzpYYXui3K1CYfl3xA8jicCqTERAE8htMkxA3qp2rsOZHbTk/s1600/Janice+551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1eV1paSTXvkjwXknJsZvv7KLV5X03Vgj5JLi9q0tMin9LRulq8EVn0gEiuBplSjsty7wK9XRgfhzVuqI5WSWG85REhaIzpYYXui3K1CYfl3xA8jicCqTERAE8htMkxA3qp2rsOZHbTk/s640/Janice+551.JPG" title="Kangaroos. And an Emu!" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx6omMjIIhLxOxo7EYtVgETBQ9lj_w8zk6zPCQ-uuElmFzD-1J3idDnLXjT7-UNPhyucMoOhk-7n5tAvPeKkg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
leave Wilsons Prom and return through rolling hills lifted from
England (or perhaps the Shire!). The landscape here changes in a
heartbeat. We sing at the top of our voices and rediscover Avril
Lavigne. A quick stop off in Brighton to admire the beach huts then
we are done.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBoAs66OT4LzO2CZffqflSckVsKlfbqcrnWCsSOR3UtXkKyRC5e3naSCg26LdX1Z86IMfeMr8LmlmT8LPGLeASrJ_AxS4prg6KdjuEfNvGOJErxd7SYiXkCl7Q8RyGx0EoPuWS8jmCFM/s1600/Janice+555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBoAs66OT4LzO2CZffqflSckVsKlfbqcrnWCsSOR3UtXkKyRC5e3naSCg26LdX1Z86IMfeMr8LmlmT8LPGLeASrJ_AxS4prg6KdjuEfNvGOJErxd7SYiXkCl7Q8RyGx0EoPuWS8jmCFM/s640/Janice+555.JPG" title="Clearly the best hut." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
bid farewell to Janice. She was a trusty companion and worked with us
well. I find it a pity we cannot just stay with her and continue into
the wild. As I write this we receive a mildly abusive message from
the Italian. He has found a mark near the sofa and tells us it is
luck we have our deposit back. I couldn't tell you what the mark was
though I very much doubt it was us as we only used the sofa about
four times. I suspect it would have cost us at least another hundred
dollars.</div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
None
of it matters. We have a plane to catch and the north beckons.
Tropics, crocodiles and endless sun. Bring me that horizon.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-64734829830143010262013-09-25T23:19:00.001-07:002013-09-26T05:21:10.847-07:00Letterboxes, a didgeridoo and some sound advice.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
am awoken in the middle of the night by a flash of light and a rumble
that seems to shake the room. I turn over and find it hard to tell
whether it or not it is raining outside. There seems to be a thin
veil of water in the air. I wait, lying still, staring out the
window. Just as I decide to go back to sleep it happens again, and once more nature awes me more that anything made by man.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sky is filled with searching tendrils that spread and split and reach downwards. One touches ground and a tunnel is created between the sky and the top of a
building not a kilometer away. The huge discharge that follows turns
the channel to electric blue plasma and the surrounded air is
instantly heated and it explodes. A beam of light that stretches beyond the peak of my vision lights up the world. Thunder cracks through the sky,
harsh and deafening. Followed by a rumble that slowly tails off to
nothing.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Of
course it all happens too fast for me to see in such detail. I just see a column of bright white,
jagged streamers extending out of it across the night. I am reminded
of a video I showed Amy a few days ago, lightning in slow motion.
Wait for the return stroke from ground to sky.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dukkO7c2eUE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
see a lot from my window. Hot air balloons, helicopters. The setting
sun, locked between two buildings. A fireworks display reflected in
the façade of the Eureka tower. It shimmers with gold and blue, the
fireworks rippling across the panes like water. The effect is that of
phosphorescence, of running your hands over the surface of a night
time sea, leaving a trail of bioluminescent plankton sparking in your
wake.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
reason for all this, and the reason I have not written in a while, is
that I spent over a week pretty much confined to my flat. I have
not had the chance to do much of import.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
got a temporary job delivering leaflets on waste disposal from the
council. It was to last two to three weeks, which was perfect for me
as that would take me to the end of my time in Melbourne. I
thoroughly enjoyed the work. It was well paid (over $20 an hour!) and
I got to spend my days wandering through affluent tree-lined suburbs listening to my music. The weather was nice and I like to be outside and moving.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
developed an interesting relationship with Australian letter-boxes and now consider myself somewhat of an expert on the topic. To start with
each house has either two or three. One with a thin rectangular slit for
letters, one circular one for newspapers and sometimes one large one
for parcels. Handily for me here they are not on the front door of a
house but on the fence or wall abutting the pavement. And many of
them do not even have flaps that you need to lift, all in all this
results in very quick and efficient leaflet delivery, you barely need
to slow down.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And where in all this did you utilise your Masters in Mathematics I hear you cry? Well you should have seen the paths I took. Every morning before work was spent calculating the shortest path I could take that day. Rarely was a pavement trodden twice. I could almost feel my Game Theory lecturer smiling down at me.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Back to the letter boxes, they can very odd here. If the house is fenced
the most common type is a wooden box nailed to the back of
the fence, a slit between two of the slats for you to put letters in.
With walls it is a different story. Some have letter boxes built into
their gate posts, which seems like a good idea to me, but some seem to
simply have holes somewhere in the wall. A brick has been removed and the postman just pushes the letters through to lie in the
garden. If it rains or it's windy well that's just your bad luck.
I know this is Australia but even that seems like a step too far.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8tOq4Msun_XwAFI0vRE0dGK9MFSn6BhCOc4htKYw6Tboozj7-gPSMeAABVqn-4YRB_dFVLZrxLm9KRWIMkbLzAyk399gIoujUSpDNlmbczum_VFsXXO0Fm38mghqMmKNEPNn_5uBtBs/s1600/September+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8tOq4Msun_XwAFI0vRE0dGK9MFSn6BhCOc4htKYw6Tboozj7-gPSMeAABVqn-4YRB_dFVLZrxLm9KRWIMkbLzAyk399gIoujUSpDNlmbczum_VFsXXO0Fm38mghqMmKNEPNn_5uBtBs/s640/September+041.JPG" title="The best letter box I came across." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
other thing is the junk mail stickers. About 90% of the letter boxes
have dire warnings that they do not accept junk mail. It seems the
council issues every house a sticker. I know what I was doing didn't
count as it was the council that asked me to deliver the leaflets but
that didn't stop me acting shifty whenever a resident saw me shoving
a leaflet into their wall. Some people seemed to take the junk mail
thing a lot more seriously than others. Most just had the stickers.
Some had little handwritten signs or plastic or enamel plaques. I
even saw one house with a large brass sign nailed over the front of
its letter box. True they won't get any junk mail, but I feel like
the plan may backfire.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One
handy thing about the signs is often the letter boxes can be hard to
find, especially when they are just a small white wooden box attached
half way down the back of a white wooden fence. When this is the case
the residents kindly but a 'no leafleting' sign in front of the box
so all us leafleters know where to go. I also had to deliver to all
the shops I passed, which was a much slower process because all the
shopkeepers would talk to me. They were all very friendly though and
most of them were very pleased to get the information I was giving
them. I did feel a bit awkward giving a waste disposal service
leaflet to the funeral directors though. And I avoided the colonic
irrigation centre altogether.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Anyway
enough on letter boxes. After a few days of this I managed to damage
the peroneal tendon in my left foot. I am unsure how it happened, I
am not exactly unused to walking all day for days (weeks) at a time,
but I went to the trauma centre in the local hospital and they told
me I had to rest until it was better. At three days they said. I
couldn't walk in anything that put pressure on the outside of my
foot. So shoes were out.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
spent about a week inside, venturing out very occasionally and
cautiously in flip flops, the only thing that seemed to work at all.
I had to give up the job and was pretty worried about not being able
to go travelling, the date was fast approaching. In the last few days
though there has been a great improvement and I am now back in shoes
and able to see the city.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
visit the shrine of rememberence by the botanic gardens. Inside it
feels like an ancient pyramid, tomb like. The walls are lined with
books listing the names of all 89,100 Australians who served in WW1.
From the roof of the shrine views to the centre of Melbourne unfold
before me and I can see my building, hunched squat near the soaring
golden topped Eureka Tower.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As
I return through the centre of the shrine I encounter a tour group.
They are gathered in a circle and a lone bugle echoes hauntingly
through the stone corridors. I pause and join them for a moment,
thinking on the horrors of war, and how lucky my generation is to
have avoided them thus far.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9sxGCabK2NqgBTTjVUJjJEDEXEITfLjL0FlZZbp7jxGbpNN_vdAHumBaod3QRAlJeFnCCU_T4vA5eAy_4xA4gR2VWsJRVzUl8yklIoZ6KMrSsM61JmIW0cydMdpVuls7k4525P8NWuM/s1600/August+124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9sxGCabK2NqgBTTjVUJjJEDEXEITfLjL0FlZZbp7jxGbpNN_vdAHumBaod3QRAlJeFnCCU_T4vA5eAy_4xA4gR2VWsJRVzUl8yklIoZ6KMrSsM61JmIW0cydMdpVuls7k4525P8NWuM/s640/August+124.JPG" title="The Shrine of Remembrance. Oh wait you can see it on the sign." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUdz2cFyHpvU8tt8HdNRb4MSBVohKYRrZNC9zH47xqYQdNsMLbErBkTdYq5sFI2DbbYFk_lkVgo2-Ew6B7OfHwXnT4JZMAggzSEL_SPVErES1zyek24_4v1RXH3e3dIclzqytdcAjtw0/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUdz2cFyHpvU8tt8HdNRb4MSBVohKYRrZNC9zH47xqYQdNsMLbErBkTdYq5sFI2DbbYFk_lkVgo2-Ew6B7OfHwXnT4JZMAggzSEL_SPVErES1zyek24_4v1RXH3e3dIclzqytdcAjtw0/s640/224.JPG" title="The Inner Sanctum, bugle reverberating in the air." width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhYgyPHSQhTxueK9ihcbmyrMlG6o4_zMx7vnHCLIUDXK8zBeGTomDtJWmgStexUhNd0B9zHTXgBZ8noSx4dY780zAh4Wvv7mNHweA_Gn2L_gn1oT_3SQ5q_A17-MqnW_PAlxy06nqgyw/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhYgyPHSQhTxueK9ihcbmyrMlG6o4_zMx7vnHCLIUDXK8zBeGTomDtJWmgStexUhNd0B9zHTXgBZ8noSx4dY780zAh4Wvv7mNHweA_Gn2L_gn1oT_3SQ5q_A17-MqnW_PAlxy06nqgyw/s640/230.JPG" title="I live in the ugly one." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
visit a few art galleries. The wonderful National Gallery of Victoria
contains not only centuries of both European and Asian art but also
some marvellous installations and sculptures. In the entrance hall of
the gallery I find a taxidermied deer. I think it is a sculpture
made entirely of glass and only realise it is real upon reading the information sign. The artist has covered the deer in crystal
spheres of varying sizes until not a piece of fur is left exposed.
Behind it is situated a glass wall with water cascading down it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At
first I think the deer looks a bit tacky but it does not take me long to
change my mind. When examined closely I can see see the fur, or
antlers, or hooves, magnified in the glass balls. I can see every
hair, the variety of colour and the texture of the skin. The
waterfall ripples and reflects throughout it. It really is quite
beautiful, although I doubt my photos will do it any justice.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXId5lWxKmdGEZfBChDRbpuHSW_-IvnoH8JaD7m200W2fs_6V_wdDLgl7gTlLbyIhuLFrsOVNRdvm3YCWoN4uSFvl355UNg2xHh_ksZxX2XO0LKmbKwkwUsAzRPAP5uMyTS799BiuWMA/s1600/September+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXId5lWxKmdGEZfBChDRbpuHSW_-IvnoH8JaD7m200W2fs_6V_wdDLgl7gTlLbyIhuLFrsOVNRdvm3YCWoN4uSFvl355UNg2xHh_ksZxX2XO0LKmbKwkwUsAzRPAP5uMyTS799BiuWMA/s640/September+090.JPG" title="Who let the child blowing bubbles into the art gallery?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjwrzI3tae9koELKyVheVtgbBboDk6ZbFQiStdjJdBpKD1HK6egYB6J7vQdV5Mb6E6p0EUreM4XFV5NyIXk9bMX0NKBk8j3QK03lqgm2vBRlMn_jM441zS58MRvebQvJyPMeQwQuclKw/s1600/September+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjwrzI3tae9koELKyVheVtgbBboDk6ZbFQiStdjJdBpKD1HK6egYB6J7vQdV5Mb6E6p0EUreM4XFV5NyIXk9bMX0NKBk8j3QK03lqgm2vBRlMn_jM441zS58MRvebQvJyPMeQwQuclKw/s640/September+100.JPG" title="Majestic and proud." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbAr23iaUdoSVCE_JN2zP0z7V3pgGqctyhD8WWudfBcadc1EPpEJJLy3yC0tRehFsQ1NZnFgGPLkSYwSbtJQhEnbcucjmLDSL5mVVps3Ey4xWy8fLV_CSKD9SNBEVLr3CXCWttlA47d8/s1600/September+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbAr23iaUdoSVCE_JN2zP0z7V3pgGqctyhD8WWudfBcadc1EPpEJJLy3yC0tRehFsQ1NZnFgGPLkSYwSbtJQhEnbcucjmLDSL5mVVps3Ey4xWy8fLV_CSKD9SNBEVLr3CXCWttlA47d8/s640/September+120.JPG" title="You get the idea." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiboMTH9z_Cj2Df-_2nLJi9J8To8bvdzj9kCjnlW5k5Me7XrpBiIozRWu0Pi3lD2MsoUd4HfcyshdJ5y5HggXw_o7BCWr0VxEg6fCOrxUeKbwl4OaTkQAwLCmhD7ruT6TXXTJKJ-fqXG0/s1600/September+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiboMTH9z_Cj2Df-_2nLJi9J8To8bvdzj9kCjnlW5k5Me7XrpBiIozRWu0Pi3lD2MsoUd4HfcyshdJ5y5HggXw_o7BCWr0VxEg6fCOrxUeKbwl4OaTkQAwLCmhD7ruT6TXXTJKJ-fqXG0/s640/September+126.JPG" title="Through the waterfall..." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In
the next room there is a great open space and in the centre a wide
shallow pool. A hundred white porcelain bowls float on a sea of
tourmaline blue. They languidly drifted back and forth, gently
bumping off each other as they do. A chiming fills the air, as
of bells. At times it seems slightly discordant and yet at times in
perfect harmony. People sit around it in silence, pondering as the
echoes reverberate to the ceiling and back.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmOxzYxh64AKHasMK6Bvj4cbtgdknjHM6CnrHihywIEtqUUF5Gr-Hr6X0RWdg5gI48FTErqMnxJ90OKazUix48y72498GrjyxR8BCjbEnbb18jZEJkUdC7vrx2-HK2DW-Lis2zb2buX8/s1600/September+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmOxzYxh64AKHasMK6Bvj4cbtgdknjHM6CnrHihywIEtqUUF5Gr-Hr6X0RWdg5gI48FTErqMnxJ90OKazUix48y72498GrjyxR8BCjbEnbb18jZEJkUdC7vrx2-HK2DW-Lis2zb2buX8/s640/September+093.JPG" title="A lone student. Probably humanities." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyzLIrMvMRpaJGWgtnMnaN2mAiRT5iMC2NkF5gVH8dBpgvQozWm6MZKRRoIgWkzAkgcY8oxUzxqd9pboMxv8A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
go to an art exhibition on people recovering from severe road trauma.
Many of the artists have experienced things I cannot begin to
comprehend, art is but one of the paths to recovery. People left
unable to talk or unable to move. People alone, the one they truly
loved gone forever. A lot of the art I do not really like but it does
not seem to matter, the stories behind the pieces are no less poignant. Some I think are truly great. One is accompanied my a heart-rending
poem and I find myself wiping my eyes.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOF3HHFCsQj-A5pAloC8Ja2div2X7FntpjommxCffvLj2aC9ocXcTE9pQGsGBMpczd5Kgms3YGdjCvuEx6W9KzwONfpz5Weaz4AZg46Is_bkauYfiU0ibiHpEkF6cmoL3bzBli4BDe2M/s1600/September+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOF3HHFCsQj-A5pAloC8Ja2div2X7FntpjommxCffvLj2aC9ocXcTE9pQGsGBMpczd5Kgms3YGdjCvuEx6W9KzwONfpz5Weaz4AZg46Is_bkauYfiU0ibiHpEkF6cmoL3bzBli4BDe2M/s640/September+138.JPG" title="Gasworks Arts Park" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
discover a shopping centre built around a 50 meter high shot tower.
It was built in 1881 and was used to produce lead shot by dropping
molten lead down its centre. In here I find a hairdresser from
Bonnybridge, Scotland to cut my hair. Afterwards she directs me to a
place where I can find Irn Bru. I have never been happier. I swag
around town, can in hand, feeling like a king.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaHzhTsW5BOveeR41BxunhO0XQM_u-uhF7JG_9oFY056mx1oG6yTVnkCsqd4jrdADbpv50RPU4uUAE2aN98QbnM3Utw5l08VDT4S-s3Ay5NOR3hm4lESzu_fYR6byJxyRJhL5AI0rC6Y/s1600/September+135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaHzhTsW5BOveeR41BxunhO0XQM_u-uhF7JG_9oFY056mx1oG6yTVnkCsqd4jrdADbpv50RPU4uUAE2aN98QbnM3Utw5l08VDT4S-s3Ay5NOR3hm4lESzu_fYR6byJxyRJhL5AI0rC6Y/s640/September+135.JPG" title="Nighttime..." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX8Kw4eBl_7f6zj8HQnxmjC3VkCn8tQ5tpUt-5tF5cYiRpWEFRIvMHijP6zSzF64A38JzIkpI7Ppqr3Qe0viWGgaILXiUoP7Xxqv1pY_lx15Optpj-WlFCU8tTBYgb5YMoMQ4sI5h2I0/s1600/September+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX8Kw4eBl_7f6zj8HQnxmjC3VkCn8tQ5tpUt-5tF5cYiRpWEFRIvMHijP6zSzF64A38JzIkpI7Ppqr3Qe0viWGgaILXiUoP7Xxqv1pY_lx15Optpj-WlFCU8tTBYgb5YMoMQ4sI5h2I0/s640/September+070.JPG" title="Daytime!" width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On
Sunday me and Amy leave Melbourne. Her for good, me for a while. We
have a camper van and are going on a roadtrip west. Then we are
flying to Cairns in the north east and working or way south to
Sydney. After Sydney we have five weeks in New Zealand, we already
have various Lord of the Rings themed Facebook statuses planned so
get ready.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
cannot wait to get on the road, to meet new people and to see new
places. Melbourne has been great, and I am sure I will be back. This
would be a great place to live. But I came to Australia to travel and
to see the world. And now I can walk again there's nothing to stop
me.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As
I write this Laura Marling sings at me. 'Where can I go?' she says.
Well Laura, anywhere. You can go anywhere you want.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F82199133"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
I
will leave you with a few final photos and comments on life around
Melbourne that I haven't managed to fit into any of my previous posts.
They really are quite odd here.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYjgpjuItZMxo7Bi7oWlrRHmttyAWcqfa-D9cP7UxY9YgO_K871FuJlTnM2DEo1zVvMkaFM8DfG-tC9R55uxfUl0q6_9xzUjCtN2QgPdQn7W_BuwxM6BnetKlK1JZWAlC6WUDvx_OcCU/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYjgpjuItZMxo7Bi7oWlrRHmttyAWcqfa-D9cP7UxY9YgO_K871FuJlTnM2DEo1zVvMkaFM8DfG-tC9R55uxfUl0q6_9xzUjCtN2QgPdQn7W_BuwxM6BnetKlK1JZWAlC6WUDvx_OcCU/s640/202.JPG" title="Only in Australia" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Yes,
that is indeed a man playing an electric didgeridoo on the street
while his friend sways and dances nearby. There was definitely acid
involved.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID6L9a2ScrQnVKzIdB6yaVN2ln_rp4cz1jWjcApYCn8nNZ5F6xsNxCZ59UWcSCD2Y7Ds9o7xtnz3ryN6HBmja7KjaNLmv8XVaL1USvQFH7JPqwEVoSfloCzhTlTOQTnjMKpNbaHlUAvU/s1600/September+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID6L9a2ScrQnVKzIdB6yaVN2ln_rp4cz1jWjcApYCn8nNZ5F6xsNxCZ59UWcSCD2Y7Ds9o7xtnz3ryN6HBmja7KjaNLmv8XVaL1USvQFH7JPqwEVoSfloCzhTlTOQTnjMKpNbaHlUAvU/s640/September+018.JPG" title="Ice cream parlour or science lab? You decide." width="478" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A
late night ice cream parlour that looked more like some sort of
experimental lab. Tubes poured out liquid nitrogen and fog floated
through the air. I had leek and honey ice cream. It was the most
bizarre thing I had ever tasted. It was amazing.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YcWz3i4Uv1kqv0ROGdWsgF_9Z1pQhkJcy5jVRIhlyBrD5WnfP-Hy_iu_Au1NTTsXmQ8n3UiI0d5X8SF5AowhXRJ-X8P_h75tTqQfj6QG-JKmdvCI80aMW9k7Ss-G3h_Xhunjuvvllvo/s1600/September+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YcWz3i4Uv1kqv0ROGdWsgF_9Z1pQhkJcy5jVRIhlyBrD5WnfP-Hy_iu_Au1NTTsXmQ8n3UiI0d5X8SF5AowhXRJ-X8P_h75tTqQfj6QG-JKmdvCI80aMW9k7Ss-G3h_Xhunjuvvllvo/s640/September+016.JPG" title="All the prints." width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Me
and Aine had dinner sharing a table with two delightful Malaysian
girls, one of them produces a Hello Kitty polaroid camera (classic
Asians) and kindly used her last piece of film on this photo for us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZzncomikK8QhWVpop-Lii9Y1QPCSWvdIxPfIR92rehpbO5ZnXFxQHFi2sJR5jag4N5KLSmROtNe9yoOdud2PyObDo4CdEF3ppUV7PjWncyu-_UJ2GeNO3zdbiV4Bv98ETr0EgRdYkPU/s1600/September+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZzncomikK8QhWVpop-Lii9Y1QPCSWvdIxPfIR92rehpbO5ZnXFxQHFi2sJR5jag4N5KLSmROtNe9yoOdud2PyObDo4CdEF3ppUV7PjWncyu-_UJ2GeNO3zdbiV4Bv98ETr0EgRdYkPU/s640/September+051.JPG" title="Although look how cheap it is!" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
Don't even get me started on this. They seem to think that Cheddar cheese is called Tasty cheese.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqFb6XMTlWa5uFHrW6SksLFODTgfq05ZaaWVygoXL9LStZn39RkMV59XX14dGp-6lsGko3lIzSm070r05qkhPVRwXjOGsSVAY9O4l2qFPi79LMDbDMX8RGejrxtO2m6rjI_JyH3_NlAY/s1600/310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqFb6XMTlWa5uFHrW6SksLFODTgfq05ZaaWVygoXL9LStZn39RkMV59XX14dGp-6lsGko3lIzSm070r05qkhPVRwXjOGsSVAY9O4l2qFPi79LMDbDMX8RGejrxtO2m6rjI_JyH3_NlAY/s640/310.JPG" title="Just like home...." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
My hometown on a street sign! There's also a statue of the Marquis of Linlithgow nearby. I think that was who it was...</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93cCfUEQnVVrcmYLDTpKE7_UA3V1NPSqtGSlVBZKqygYMQJKcVfdUXZKZtCDPNd-_xQ4XKClMJMQn4Ka3RLCgldDHsB03xo7GOMUv-_ZhZQKiUAk4K7Cc2mU3jdhPN-8k0IidqEC_2oQ/s1600/206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93cCfUEQnVVrcmYLDTpKE7_UA3V1NPSqtGSlVBZKqygYMQJKcVfdUXZKZtCDPNd-_xQ4XKClMJMQn4Ka3RLCgldDHsB03xo7GOMUv-_ZhZQKiUAk4K7Cc2mU3jdhPN-8k0IidqEC_2oQ/s640/206.jpg" title="Bunjil, Aboriginal creator deity." width="456" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPGo9NTZBtnORqaT-byJJJev61FwnOPrPnlak9EfLm4n5P5SbocETsBzE_tZnsEN31pVCM9NKU40qujyKjphg3Z-7h3YE2e59Xc7yO5rBi3Wmrw4zDaDUodrRb7LXcJq9aFkTAd3nlsg/s1600/208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPGo9NTZBtnORqaT-byJJJev61FwnOPrPnlak9EfLm4n5P5SbocETsBzE_tZnsEN31pVCM9NKU40qujyKjphg3Z-7h3YE2e59Xc7yO5rBi3Wmrw4zDaDUodrRb7LXcJq9aFkTAd3nlsg/s640/208.JPG" title="There was something about this building I really enjoyed." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezoTP8D9gOEuz8o283uqjQNwJUb3k0EvPv6DPdNv6hIlhmFK7J8Xzv5pqUBg12vpwcnWfWuJ5ysn1yFbdHDl1CN-FCXYpJjcyzZqOI5xpN1wleU57LrlcmF70pw890M8_7RJakySI9ro/s1600/August+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezoTP8D9gOEuz8o283uqjQNwJUb3k0EvPv6DPdNv6hIlhmFK7J8Xzv5pqUBg12vpwcnWfWuJ5ysn1yFbdHDl1CN-FCXYpJjcyzZqOI5xpN1wleU57LrlcmF70pw890M8_7RJakySI9ro/s640/August+089.JPG" title="Again with the building." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh030wzeJM45aG9uGXkY8ydW15nbD8NCAtby1PyrRHOwPt22z-wnmSxbr3G8uSrGKzBk_IobJdl18rOrNVNnoG45ZY7OqIfUI56_VP68qOLXsfAna87hd7zPBp9IJJoSR-aHL5Cl7b2Npw/s1600/September+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh030wzeJM45aG9uGXkY8ydW15nbD8NCAtby1PyrRHOwPt22z-wnmSxbr3G8uSrGKzBk_IobJdl18rOrNVNnoG45ZY7OqIfUI56_VP68qOLXsfAna87hd7zPBp9IJJoSR-aHL5Cl7b2Npw/s640/September+005.JPG" title="A beautiful redwood." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIhRBrXrjH9PZDHlJg9GbnTcdPINygA2hG5W0z4Yk-JpTuakQnz4hxTqn9G0IYDO99Mh4EldMmMPLqEfGlpa6Fy9Famp2L7gMmHoJKJFaDcNx-Uzgvt32BPPOi7N3ziQHAHAPLkPZazM/s1600/September+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIhRBrXrjH9PZDHlJg9GbnTcdPINygA2hG5W0z4Yk-JpTuakQnz4hxTqn9G0IYDO99Mh4EldMmMPLqEfGlpa6Fy9Famp2L7gMmHoJKJFaDcNx-Uzgvt32BPPOi7N3ziQHAHAPLkPZazM/s640/September+008.JPG" title="Oak tree with a bandage." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy7uEulNFhyphenhyphenjW2JLCyhhXegRnoW4h_oJqTpFYXztzYpH6E9ayO_S2CUojQTiznVJasa87nDB9xIDXEaOCXbG1p403uURcsXOQ-1f9seGGZgxHLvL_bi5TD4UX-S2u18F4jlDUsClCYRA/s1600/September+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy7uEulNFhyphenhyphenjW2JLCyhhXegRnoW4h_oJqTpFYXztzYpH6E9ayO_S2CUojQTiznVJasa87nDB9xIDXEaOCXbG1p403uURcsXOQ-1f9seGGZgxHLvL_bi5TD4UX-S2u18F4jlDUsClCYRA/s640/September+012.JPG" title="Homewards view from the botanics." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeEZv5uUuKq2dlKc6a3CxjH26fsJ9rmDsVkdhQtsw1jsspuu4K_U1s68RB8p4b7QSW1P3CUAMTmKWDRUDnNBOtu8Vax6ujLYk2dZrTQbxq-fY5Za6qrsXpAXY6gwL6qghVJIrW5V9Ttw/s1600/September+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeEZv5uUuKq2dlKc6a3CxjH26fsJ9rmDsVkdhQtsw1jsspuu4K_U1s68RB8p4b7QSW1P3CUAMTmKWDRUDnNBOtu8Vax6ujLYk2dZrTQbxq-fY5Za6qrsXpAXY6gwL6qghVJIrW5V9Ttw/s640/September+022.JPG" title="Federation square in the night." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllqqsI3_8NBENVr8uEJ71S36rtDFWEKCAElZM4Lu5aaDH93ezQrcQ6DypwH-cU3mXDG_tBHrqaoybatNe6mDOR-VpNG5hI40ACcfMTBBkuBZ4Zzm0CGjv-iL3pwZ6_L87z12B8D25GYs/s1600/September+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllqqsI3_8NBENVr8uEJ71S36rtDFWEKCAElZM4Lu5aaDH93ezQrcQ6DypwH-cU3mXDG_tBHrqaoybatNe6mDOR-VpNG5hI40ACcfMTBBkuBZ4Zzm0CGjv-iL3pwZ6_L87z12B8D25GYs/s640/September+030.JPG" title="The shining beacon of the National Gallery of Victoria" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwaC_bHS_Vk_ffwLwZmVMpDzXOy_uFJ4aQTRTPfjOubiKPAbooxIu-m9dVSoZygTwnSu236UXKQPJtvMt0hXJ8RVjkJqDaWMqFluUt0U0P8hkcjctOhZNh7tpDSu2bO5xpxPaRmgumuU/s1600/September+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwaC_bHS_Vk_ffwLwZmVMpDzXOy_uFJ4aQTRTPfjOubiKPAbooxIu-m9dVSoZygTwnSu236UXKQPJtvMt0hXJ8RVjkJqDaWMqFluUt0U0P8hkcjctOhZNh7tpDSu2bO5xpxPaRmgumuU/s640/September+067.JPG" title="An old wooden rollercoaster, still in use, surrounded by palm trees." width="478" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Walking
around Melbourne I see so much that appeals to me. There is so much
variety here in both architecture and people. I get a feeling similar
to that of Edinburgh in the festival. Where people can walk about
wearing whatever they want, doing whatever they want, and no one
seems to care. A business man in a suit skateboards past me on his
way to work. A well dressed man does the same, shopping bags in each
hand, followed by his four children all atop mini scooters.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There
is such a relaxed vibe here, perhaps too relaxed to be maintained for
long. But for now it feels just right. On election day as we walked
the streets, telling people to vote green, we saw large sign urging
people into action. Encouraging them to exercise the power of
democracy while still holding true to the most basic of Australian
values.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“DON'T
VOTE SOBER”</div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-5104875914944859712013-09-03T07:36:00.001-07:002013-09-03T07:36:30.058-07:00Nighttime... Daytime!<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
love walking through cities when it's dark. They take on a whole new
aspect, a new personality, and often you are the only one there to
enjoy it. Edinburgh I always found to be particularly beautiful on
clear nights. Melbourne is no different.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
buildings shine through the dark like beacons, sending streams of
white or green into the sky, a welcome to any who might be watching.
The spire of the National Gallery of Victoria glows. A silver spear
crested with an azure blaze. And nearby the trees are lit with a
haunting blue. Bare winter branches silhouetted through the park, a
view into the fey. We walk home from the pub one night and look up to
see something wonderful and bizarre taking place in the skies above
us.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
metal and glass tower block beside us is topped by a deep blue
lights. The lamps themselves are out of our view yet the sky is
filled with glowing streaks that dart around the building. They look
like spaceships coming and going from a great dock, suspended in the
void. I realise they are gulls. Hundreds upon hundreds of gulls far
above, flying to and from the rooftop. Their white underbellies and
wings shine bright blue in the power of the light beneath them.
Around the periphery the tower seems to be encrusted with searing
gems. Burning sapphires that dislodge and arc out into the pitch like
shooting stars. The gulls are too far away to see clearly but I can't
think what else it could be. A vision through to the future? Or to a
long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A
car stops beside us and the occupants all excitedly stretch out the
windows to try and capture the scene in a photograph. Their attempts
seem as fruitless as my own. We move on and see in the distance the
same sight repeated. This time it is fine white dots arcing and
wheeling around a thin glistening spire that rises into the skies
above a soaring building. The spire is lit from below with a beam of
white. As high as it reaches, far beyond the tip of the spire, we can
see movement. They look like moths. Thousands of moths jealously
guarding their precious light source. What appeals about these two
buildings in particular I have no idea. There are many others nearby
but all are bare save for these. Perhaps it is two opposing tribes in
a vehement war and these are their strongholds. Or perhaps not.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l0ysNibPT8UL12S7s2XdqoDE2pZu8bpS_c7Xav2Fo-4HjCO5qCRJn62ahRFu954gh91fjfhWU3tY-aM3R-ei3CFjZkor19R4a_ha2hGUv4J5GaHwh8Qe4xEzShg2igLXY3v7s-U5Mf0/s1600/275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram restaurant outside the National Gallery of Victoria" border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l0ysNibPT8UL12S7s2XdqoDE2pZu8bpS_c7Xav2Fo-4HjCO5qCRJn62ahRFu954gh91fjfhWU3tY-aM3R-ei3CFjZkor19R4a_ha2hGUv4J5GaHwh8Qe4xEzShg2igLXY3v7s-U5Mf0/s640/275.JPG" title="Restaurant in a tram. Seems legit." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYYMO6A139SYBQUk5wY2o83DgeLdfpzYTQPTNh3zYAUZTpgN7_N2Qd8HMC-grCIcMbi23Ow3iCrLw_OvG_Uxodk460Ys1uxy8TL-u4k7QsMDlbM03ZX4p4hbpaqaIwtUJsyIgUnlnSAI/s1600/277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spire of the National Gallery of Victoria" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYYMO6A139SYBQUk5wY2o83DgeLdfpzYTQPTNh3zYAUZTpgN7_N2Qd8HMC-grCIcMbi23Ow3iCrLw_OvG_Uxodk460Ys1uxy8TL-u4k7QsMDlbM03ZX4p4hbpaqaIwtUJsyIgUnlnSAI/s640/277.JPG" title="Art galleries what are they like?" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOcHD5bWwk6gdzVuuNCqH57MAHMcqA5XpoUiwewubYPzw6bAIoRQD8Gru70-3tV_EuCTSEuhR4JTmjhv_0Eq5-MHGUn7Pk1yKdkmjvwFi7KdykPrPsN4ZR3zrcEddcx3cTr01M8QSwL8/s1600/August+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Melbourne Recital Centre at night" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOcHD5bWwk6gdzVuuNCqH57MAHMcqA5XpoUiwewubYPzw6bAIoRQD8Gru70-3tV_EuCTSEuhR4JTmjhv_0Eq5-MHGUn7Pk1yKdkmjvwFi7KdykPrPsN4ZR3zrcEddcx3cTr01M8QSwL8/s640/August+109.JPG" title="Melbourne is FULL of interesting buildings. This is the Recital Centre." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
am also introduced to Melbourne night life (this only took about
fifteen hours to happen). The gay scene as it turns out is pretty
active. This makes a change from Edinburgh with one gay club that is
'straight' on a Wednesday. Here we have performers! There are people
doing acrobatics in rings in the air. Troupes of dancers who are
definitely not women. And better, troupes of dancers who definitely
are men. On later nights we explore the bars and pubs (more bars than
pubs here) and I find there is a wide variety. Most with broad vistas
across the city from rooftops or from by the river. On Friday night
we are having a pint by the water when they set off fireworks from
the far shore, a weekly occurrence apparently. The sun sets behind
the bridge, lighting the entire sky with a creamy orange. Then a few
hours later the sky is lit again with bursts of colours, ending in a
resplendent display of gold that seems to fill the night.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwDRHQh9weVcPK4hYWWUikd4h6YWngZ75Vq9Tc5kTraIFlFR5pRHh_I_sgEUZVnsGkvY7Dol7NB3YU6Tdz_x9OMd5CazWeEOqdaFXrUcU9nx0RfUA9nLCFhYCydU5W76HfmdztCV5CAk/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Drag queens performing." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwDRHQh9weVcPK4hYWWUikd4h6YWngZ75Vq9Tc5kTraIFlFR5pRHh_I_sgEUZVnsGkvY7Dol7NB3YU6Tdz_x9OMd5CazWeEOqdaFXrUcU9nx0RfUA9nLCFhYCydU5W76HfmdztCV5CAk/s640/164.JPG" title="They were actually pretty good." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAJjZrG5rdTRNO6zJaoSjoC0_mEIzqi_FHCTq-4iTHWJOCMDxveVH95CSmYtIzrKZUPv6Jl3niMcvk2Aw5q0y-pvtdU4J_s9kD0YNstjXz_TtffKGs6pa0sezvCv5FACdvPY-QK0oT3c/s1600/August+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sunset over the docklands" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAJjZrG5rdTRNO6zJaoSjoC0_mEIzqi_FHCTq-4iTHWJOCMDxveVH95CSmYtIzrKZUPv6Jl3niMcvk2Aw5q0y-pvtdU4J_s9kD0YNstjXz_TtffKGs6pa0sezvCv5FACdvPY-QK0oT3c/s640/August+063.JPG" title="I was walking through the rain and all was grey. Then I turned the corner to this. Just wish I'd arrived earlier." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Amy and I no longer close our blinds when we go to sleep. We would
rather watch the city. We lie in bed and stare out the window at the
sky-scrapers stretching above us, among them the Eureka Tower,
highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere. In the morning
Amy goes to work and I do the same thing again with the sunrise.
After she comes back we go for a swim in the pool and wonder what we
did to deserve all this. So much for backpacking.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFD_iRzCoocshgGYKC1lyTmLl2TxaJWNMgPjjntWV6TXYQSyKUNICGUMH2vAmgKX6SW-12ek9arB3E6DO-ask_He6Kd0YRzB1O9jInxG3EPExKmEwBH5w7xDkXRRMFkThf7htUu_E5Kc/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="View of Melbourne - night" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFD_iRzCoocshgGYKC1lyTmLl2TxaJWNMgPjjntWV6TXYQSyKUNICGUMH2vAmgKX6SW-12ek9arB3E6DO-ask_He6Kd0YRzB1O9jInxG3EPExKmEwBH5w7xDkXRRMFkThf7htUu_E5Kc/s640/261.JPG" title="Nighttime...." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-eTqZ0zU-lp_h9v8GHjLer3d5eqvkOt3cY9shRn4XtG5abun1zp3F41nrpZt1edfy_Gma77_uhxiulvRf9WESojEgVkBW-s-zCyjo0RyB-SsLvzVimeLjHW_Usvbnlz_c1THTE188pc/s1600/August+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="View of Melbourne - day" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-eTqZ0zU-lp_h9v8GHjLer3d5eqvkOt3cY9shRn4XtG5abun1zp3F41nrpZt1edfy_Gma77_uhxiulvRf9WESojEgVkBW-s-zCyjo0RyB-SsLvzVimeLjHW_Usvbnlz_c1THTE188pc/s640/August+070.JPG" title="Daytime!" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
rent a room from a very nice Italian guy while he is back home for a
couple of months. The flat is immaculate and ideally located with two
great flatmates. We manage to bargain him down so we are paying no
more than if we were in a hostel. We view the flat the day I arrive
(Amy is far too organised for her own good) and get a pretty
extensive talk on the house rules, essentially they boil down to 'be
tidy'. Then he proceeds to embark upon explanations of various
hypothetical situations and how he would act in each case. This ends with the crumble story.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He
explains to us that if we make any crumbles we should tidy them away.
Or indeed if we find any crumbles we should tidy them away. He goes
on to say that it doesn't matter who makes the crumbles, we should
put them away if we find them. He would put away our crumbles if we'd
left them out so likewise we should put away our flatmates' crumbles
if they accidentally leave them. Now the whole way through I am
completely convinced think that he is indeed talking about crumbles,
as in the pudding. I assume he is using a crumble as an example of
any foodstuff that we may have made and left out. I consider it
exceedingly odd but go along with it anyway. Thankfully I managed to
avoid any eye-contact with him (or Amy) and therefore withhold my
laughter. We leave and Amy explains the situation. It turns out he
was talking about crumbs. We decide to make him a crumble for his
return. And put it away.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasoKG4AFKc60QcgpDxKKtaaWPAd_2Rpj5DMp7JWP0NIa4EeMr5ZxrX1FY4R18JemzWZObzWR97agedjvBcefbpMdeptKj2a2YBTEomxhA4oy_Ycaj9TEL200zXEU8d1eAXagjBI8kuwk/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me using the rubbish chute" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasoKG4AFKc60QcgpDxKKtaaWPAd_2Rpj5DMp7JWP0NIa4EeMr5ZxrX1FY4R18JemzWZObzWR97agedjvBcefbpMdeptKj2a2YBTEomxhA4oy_Ycaj9TEL200zXEU8d1eAXagjBI8kuwk/s640/301.JPG" title="WE HAVE A RUBBISH CHUTE" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvegRrmIRBVg_ARD9cuYp5SoL8FBBg2RglzJzmaEcMl7-x580ToX_rWqC1P3bUkkHuJL_7fxQUyu2GH1xFQC1vTEEcZ05t4ttZZTVEzHtcRLgoFXM9vQIzM4zhz5d5bCvfmY_aVQZnAg/s1600/295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Amy using the rubbish chute" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvegRrmIRBVg_ARD9cuYp5SoL8FBBg2RglzJzmaEcMl7-x580ToX_rWqC1P3bUkkHuJL_7fxQUyu2GH1xFQC1vTEEcZ05t4ttZZTVEzHtcRLgoFXM9vQIzM4zhz5d5bCvfmY_aVQZnAg/s640/295.JPG" title="Too much fun." width="476" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So
what am I doing with my day times? Apart from applying for jobs. I
explore, I wander, I take part in a clinical trial. We have a couple
of friends that have done them in the past. They are testing how a
new malaria drug interacts with a pre-existing malaria drug, I only
have to take the pre-existing one then let them monitor how quickly
my body processes it, couldn't be easier. I have a highly productive
day in the hospital. I spend the entire time writing and get paid for
the whole thing (a lifetime goal achieved and I don't want to hear anyone say different). Plus I get to wear this awesome thing in my arm.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJTmYESz52KWxnuzenjwGRyKFhTWKziAGb4mcnkJmL2c7yS6bZAKzcmOVwVS5RMfDdNS49pJe0sgx-95tZzgdj-ymMiu1aaMTbXXQly7Tqvoei9HisyUouop1uJ9k25bKsjCmaZwTdkk/s1600/August+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJTmYESz52KWxnuzenjwGRyKFhTWKziAGb4mcnkJmL2c7yS6bZAKzcmOVwVS5RMfDdNS49pJe0sgx-95tZzgdj-ymMiu1aaMTbXXQly7Tqvoei9HisyUouop1uJ9k25bKsjCmaZwTdkk/s640/August+003.JPG" title="Even more fun than the ECG dots." width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Me
and a friend look around the State Library of Victoria. It is a
beautifully grand building with a huge terraced reading dome that can
hold a million books. We get chatting to a woman who is setting up a
tour and let her use us to practise on. She takes us around their
various exhibitions, the first being on Ned Kelly and Sir Redmond
Barry. Redmond Barry is famous for being the man who sentenced Kelly
to death although this was by no means his only notable act. He did a
great deal for the city of Melbourne in his life, including setting
up the library we are in (and donating his own vast collection of
books to it), the University of Melbourne and the Sunbury Industrial
School. I get the impression that the Library is trying to paint Sir
Barry in as good a light as possible. It is as if they are trying to
make up for his part in Ned Kelly's death who is viewed here in a
similar way to Robin Hood back home. She even tells us, very
reticently might I add, that there are some less positive aspects to
Redmund's story but she is not allowed to tell them to the public. We
get out of her that he had known affairs but she will say no more.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She
tells us an interesting story regarding the man's death. When he
sentenced Kelly Sir Barry said the customary 'May God have mercy on
your soul'. Ned responded to this with 'I will go a little further
than that, and say I will see you there when I go'. Twelve days later
Barry died of congestion in the lungs.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6sYcqbgylKIFo9-xfvN2LPGDRtdTu6ux-fCKBlRFnxKd1PgJEb6_QAi7X5j3BBl7474zZG8m8j3reF0Ra4t9gtmHZ_fkEzWg1Yv04AS9BeeMFRMf-suRc3e71sHmjey8EXvwL1MNgwA/s1600/August+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6sYcqbgylKIFo9-xfvN2LPGDRtdTu6ux-fCKBlRFnxKd1PgJEb6_QAi7X5j3BBl7474zZG8m8j3reF0Ra4t9gtmHZ_fkEzWg1Yv04AS9BeeMFRMf-suRc3e71sHmjey8EXvwL1MNgwA/s640/August+017.JPG" title="I knew something exciting about this barrel but have since forgotten it. It's very old." width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxi0xPfIDE1_5QpzCOVz-JI5bWbNEEdqU8sJjwY8lwEwEzeD1HOT6n8qvZ2hp5AvPhAaAtpiNcx3GLYqwD_BBGmQo7mgXs_8hwDOJCmbqpvQkuIYyGR-5uILPUydIqU-xVDFen175H58/s1600/August+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxi0xPfIDE1_5QpzCOVz-JI5bWbNEEdqU8sJjwY8lwEwEzeD1HOT6n8qvZ2hp5AvPhAaAtpiNcx3GLYqwD_BBGmQo7mgXs_8hwDOJCmbqpvQkuIYyGR-5uILPUydIqU-xVDFen175H58/s640/August+019.JPG" title="Ned Kelly's original armour. The most valuable thing in the library." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD8Z0VR1eU8Vaj_S8nE-sbHcZlzD__Ki8OaJO5069xRQSh8J4TOVOQNuHP9Nc-UWmhShvCvU6JTsOLHvn0rANMAjNAvlDe0Kqu-uc2UZSOXEQvrvqC_Rxlkpia65B0xO-ru27XAfkTz8/s1600/August+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD8Z0VR1eU8Vaj_S8nE-sbHcZlzD__Ki8OaJO5069xRQSh8J4TOVOQNuHP9Nc-UWmhShvCvU6JTsOLHvn0rANMAjNAvlDe0Kqu-uc2UZSOXEQvrvqC_Rxlkpia65B0xO-ru27XAfkTz8/s640/August+020.JPG" title="Ned Kelly's death mask. Apparently he's smiling." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
are taken to a wonderful collection about the development of books.
Our guide shows us both the largest and smallest books in the
library. I get particularly diverted by the display on Tolkien.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsDH0_j2btI8hGHmlDbbQ7fNbOSZz6kihF5g9i7yDW2lFfKbphJRfQpQC4TJ850UExt3OdtrUzr7M5aBw3o-nCkg8wPPlikpZSKsnv_gbRE1j6nupR2YNzKFSgFkQkPL_TnnSlCQotd0/s1600/August+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsDH0_j2btI8hGHmlDbbQ7fNbOSZz6kihF5g9i7yDW2lFfKbphJRfQpQC4TJ850UExt3OdtrUzr7M5aBw3o-nCkg8wPPlikpZSKsnv_gbRE1j6nupR2YNzKFSgFkQkPL_TnnSlCQotd0/s640/August+025.JPG" title="Birds of North America -entirely hand painted." width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBPLkf2yf8E85lWgIn1xYvgmVztJV-jqEhDOae8tKu919c-cd5XgkPh2ajSxGfwTOQ8wZv-sBRj7-DjdsFRA1rsgMkFXYSw_eJaY5TTu19QHRPpXumg0S8ZupW7oiDpBOmcQf_yXOSiw/s1600/August+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBPLkf2yf8E85lWgIn1xYvgmVztJV-jqEhDOae8tKu919c-cd5XgkPh2ajSxGfwTOQ8wZv-sBRj7-DjdsFRA1rsgMkFXYSw_eJaY5TTu19QHRPpXumg0S8ZupW7oiDpBOmcQf_yXOSiw/s640/August+026.JPG" title="A (tiny) clay tablet." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnbH20i1I3o0VAvpKD_kX7S4r9r8WrDiN1oKn7Xl8GPZ7P2wZNkrH7ZmF7rZlHUVD9L-Ow5khcLeUOE7nh4Kll_z1F03Dt6s_e_japho9EJ5D8Hqddy6TvBQP1Bcd54fMx2SkowuVGTo/s1600/August+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnbH20i1I3o0VAvpKD_kX7S4r9r8WrDiN1oKn7Xl8GPZ7P2wZNkrH7ZmF7rZlHUVD9L-Ow5khcLeUOE7nh4Kll_z1F03Dt6s_e_japho9EJ5D8Hqddy6TvBQP1Bcd54fMx2SkowuVGTo/s640/August+033.JPG" title="Smallest book I've ever seen. And genuinely readable. With a magnifying glass." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9WKatrGUtM1EPRsBFL3u1hHiLTkZFZRlLNuW4XKx4M74e-Bnc8bqjRqnclf3gifKfRXllZnPxOzHpq5l8cIUGpa_HMaq2OvruyR3VTnhSTWgINZR0GDnG1uZus076YMaCAEbVpQv-0I/s1600/August+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9WKatrGUtM1EPRsBFL3u1hHiLTkZFZRlLNuW4XKx4M74e-Bnc8bqjRqnclf3gifKfRXllZnPxOzHpq5l8cIUGpa_HMaq2OvruyR3VTnhSTWgINZR0GDnG1uZus076YMaCAEbVpQv-0I/s640/August+037.JPG" title="Had to be done." width="478" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
leave the library and explore some of the more famous graffiti alleys
in Melbourne. Recently one of them was painted entirely blue by one
of the artists. There was a public outcry to this as he had painted
over many existing works. He pointed out at by the next day the alley
would be filled again, and he was right. Personally I enjoy the
bright blue. It shines out from between the new graffiti, helping it
stand out, and paves the ground under my feet.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi6cO4cqft3Z-h71q1efMXA8RP1t9iTBp_QTMRxbQJU2gMCbTtffdAZqvmAD49hFXE_1GiIsGagThPVIxerTQsEddmfA-vQv0bklcZjQQdyFePm5RFJEbXmg1s2IRHgaIqq-wBDiYezM/s1600/August+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi6cO4cqft3Z-h71q1efMXA8RP1t9iTBp_QTMRxbQJU2gMCbTtffdAZqvmAD49hFXE_1GiIsGagThPVIxerTQsEddmfA-vQv0bklcZjQQdyFePm5RFJEbXmg1s2IRHgaIqq-wBDiYezM/s640/August+043.JPG" title="Let's not pretend." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eVdIZa2Cnr7OksguKiF4NyhQfuY7HcNg2MQYVp9CUyWJMtdXY_DCZkttXXwoGmgwR5UBdTIU_yTGzmgVK6FA7nvDhsKYlfSkuILdXmOvjnH1njkDguK_e24D3B-DP6wRsNwuZbXDOKY/s1600/August+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eVdIZa2Cnr7OksguKiF4NyhQfuY7HcNg2MQYVp9CUyWJMtdXY_DCZkttXXwoGmgwR5UBdTIU_yTGzmgVK6FA7nvDhsKYlfSkuILdXmOvjnH1njkDguK_e24D3B-DP6wRsNwuZbXDOKY/s640/August+047.JPG" title="Artist at work." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq21y9YXjvsQWfmqIHUxUJGT15LXJQAm3rCylez0IbDpZhyphenhyphenGsODLiqhuSF93K6r_Bp0rJpIPesDdqStnkUr4U-d9UYc1Vpr2cv8Y26nnhe528UEllbBJlkTId3TPhPfT3ytUo_0tQfAc/s1600/August+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq21y9YXjvsQWfmqIHUxUJGT15LXJQAm3rCylez0IbDpZhyphenhyphenGsODLiqhuSF93K6r_Bp0rJpIPesDdqStnkUr4U-d9UYc1Vpr2cv8Y26nnhe528UEllbBJlkTId3TPhPfT3ytUo_0tQfAc/s640/August+048.JPG" title="I like the one in the middle." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdATXQ-1jIdOOpR0OFzz6Y2yCEspFI1e30n2hKYLwMiJRHeGxHx7o6VHZ_kCSBr-23FKMx4RjVGOiexbEClXqkPlgwv1JaDz9uvtex3T6dVEsIIA4HRrpB_Sl8jkpgj7rtnsqFvSPG78/s1600/August+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdATXQ-1jIdOOpR0OFzz6Y2yCEspFI1e30n2hKYLwMiJRHeGxHx7o6VHZ_kCSBr-23FKMx4RjVGOiexbEClXqkPlgwv1JaDz9uvtex3T6dVEsIIA4HRrpB_Sl8jkpgj7rtnsqFvSPG78/s640/August+051.JPG" title="I love the clear cut line marking the edge of the alley." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70FDd6z2y8bQWaVywnzkw01g1hMsQzKTcB6ekixdxXU3pmHqzsBVySC6UVKnvNOD8ynwc63YlOZ8KntIjXy7uKF-DMHX4DNLvNa9nkn9ITyIk5O6NDrPLMkMM2ZOjldCX6zmP_HpGIWk/s1600/August+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70FDd6z2y8bQWaVywnzkw01g1hMsQzKTcB6ekixdxXU3pmHqzsBVySC6UVKnvNOD8ynwc63YlOZ8KntIjXy7uKF-DMHX4DNLvNa9nkn9ITyIk5O6NDrPLMkMM2ZOjldCX6zmP_HpGIWk/s640/August+053.JPG" title="My favorite piece so far. Is that brick missing?" width="476" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now
I am alone in the botanic gardens. It is the afternoon and they are
gorgeous. The sun is shining and Goldfrapp sings me songs of summer.
'July-ly-ly'. I guess here it would be a song of winter. I discovered
the Oak Collection and almost die. It is too exciting. There are so
many Oak trees here that I had never seen before, Daimyo Oak, Swamp
White Oak, Algerian Oak and amongst them some I hadn't even heard. I
can't wait for late spring and see them in all their leaved glory.
The song builds to a psychedelic crescendo reminiscent of some of
Beatles later work and I take a seat in the sun.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4l4PkcX8UEM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A
dragonfly sails past me. Black swans, Australian ravens and moorhens
are all I can identify from here as far as bird life is concerned. I
need the help of my brother (or a bird book, ideally both) to
continue much further, all the animals are different here! The
moorhen's haunting call echoes across the water. The gardens are
beautiful, lush and full of life. The Eureka tower can be seen far in
the distance stretching above the trees towards the sun. I am take
all this time I have to work as much as I can. For those of you who
don't know I am in the process of writing a book, and sitting here
surrounded by nature seems the perfect place to do it. Although this
blog is getting in the way.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPQTgHlYOe9OrHOIIC-6qMlPAF5l8rgV0KpjaPmehKtMcXVetXoDaTLUtfnqmEA3yg2E_iud0o-t4Hnc1Tbn0Zhl5L_Q_5navJqQhnri_I9bz7DspPrYj74-XNfR0wTDANjMTbLNuMpA/s1600/August+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPQTgHlYOe9OrHOIIC-6qMlPAF5l8rgV0KpjaPmehKtMcXVetXoDaTLUtfnqmEA3yg2E_iud0o-t4Hnc1Tbn0Zhl5L_Q_5navJqQhnri_I9bz7DspPrYj74-XNfR0wTDANjMTbLNuMpA/s640/August+126.JPG" title="Standard view." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlWqXrGooa-ibwyEt5t208rc5rSNovpOmbqCev8z7V22eKMgq3Ohhqs8kGQLhKbSiAqVoermYCn8kht8niurVMLG0xVCD1Lt_NibIGVje8Xij3qZtVg07UTUmBA970W4LbBo2jJZwRzk/s1600/August+143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlWqXrGooa-ibwyEt5t208rc5rSNovpOmbqCev8z7V22eKMgq3Ohhqs8kGQLhKbSiAqVoermYCn8kht8niurVMLG0xVCD1Lt_NibIGVje8Xij3qZtVg07UTUmBA970W4LbBo2jJZwRzk/s640/August+143.JPG" title="New pal" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nwRtyQL3yUSBwrB5_vtqwyWKXELMJUVbW_v3gBieJbZwU5t2ceujdvHWVXEKX0Zy-AY6oCildx2_4IfXhCJh-gNjtQNciDg5FRxUuIWv7mfnRe5vyMuPnTO7qSjgj9DP2JZwtv_5SRk/s1600/August+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nwRtyQL3yUSBwrB5_vtqwyWKXELMJUVbW_v3gBieJbZwU5t2ceujdvHWVXEKX0Zy-AY6oCildx2_4IfXhCJh-gNjtQNciDg5FRxUuIWv7mfnRe5vyMuPnTO7qSjgj9DP2JZwtv_5SRk/s640/August+155.JPG" title="A majestic gum tree. My new faves." width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgrfztECJLveoJsOjfOUBMBt6xuczVV8Lg05cOkeWosWvzQQVtgVAkmJX0jcJD0E9qjOozPSz7rgR286uzNHSc5MNbVgrqFPQ1xPeHgdtfy_bWtzkS0XbZKPVNqhoELLOMiUmkMqC_E/s1600/August+158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgrfztECJLveoJsOjfOUBMBt6xuczVV8Lg05cOkeWosWvzQQVtgVAkmJX0jcJD0E9qjOozPSz7rgR286uzNHSc5MNbVgrqFPQ1xPeHgdtfy_bWtzkS0XbZKPVNqhoELLOMiUmkMqC_E/s640/August+158.JPG" title="Eureka in the distance." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OUjPHns-OGBaH8uurWKtl4eO75h9AKAD0__nXqAA9_Q38q6ijzvhy9GwiTmItYmY5l8N7BtknXo11etskaXz_7m8WHELBnAhJf0PF6FfKM_gxKC1E-L9vPnUwz1xSgbRI2RuKiSQn-I/s1600/August+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OUjPHns-OGBaH8uurWKtl4eO75h9AKAD0__nXqAA9_Q38q6ijzvhy9GwiTmItYmY5l8N7BtknXo11etskaXz_7m8WHELBnAhJf0PF6FfKM_gxKC1E-L9vPnUwz1xSgbRI2RuKiSQn-I/s640/August+186.JPG" title="It's either Illuin or Ormal" width="640" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'Spring'
is officially here now. I put that in quotation marks because anyone
with any sense would call this summer. It is twenty-six degrees and
the trousers are well and truly packed away. I am even wearing a tank
top. Sun's out guns out.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'Sonnentanz'
or 'Sun don't shine' is the song of the moment, it is by an Austrian
electro duo called Klangkarussell. To me it sums up that feeling of
basking under a hazy summer sun and the long warm night that follows. Plus who doesn't love a bit of house... Amy and I listen to it this every day, we even dance through the entire
thing over Skype to a friend back home.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/79YDgv_zWA4/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/79YDgv_zWA4&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/79YDgv_zWA4&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Your
love is mine, but the sun don't shine,</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
the
sun don't shine, without you,</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
without
you.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Well that's definitely
not true. But it's a nice sentiment. I wonder whether I will make it
through the summer alive if it is this temperature already.
Thankfully I arrived here already prepared with a tan (from Scotland,
who knew) or else I probably could have burned today. I will miss
Autumn I suppose, for its beauty. But instead I will get spring again
and that has always been my favourite. And I've never been one to
complain over too much sun. Not enough sun, now there's a problem.
Enjoy the winter.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-85781528462872387122013-08-21T01:23:00.001-07:002013-08-26T00:40:32.298-07:00Crossing the road.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
arrive in Melbourne to the best coffee of my life. It's 6:30am and
it's still dark, I withdraw some money from the cash machine and make
my first Australian purchase: a flat white. Don't say a white coffee
here or they'll get mad, it's a flat white. It was gloriously smooth.
I thought it was a product of my two days of travelling that made me
enjoy it so much. As it turns out that's just coffee in Melbourne.
Back home I hardly ever drink it, today I'm on my second and it's
only half eleven.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
get the skybus into town as the sun was rising over fields of green
and gold. A verdant landscape stretches into forever from either side
of the bus. Trees line the road, interlocking branches forming a
tunnel that we speed through. They are, I later discover, Red River
Gums, a form of Eucalyptus and the most common tree in Australia. We
pass over a railway and a streak of silver flashes in the sun,
straight as an arrow, heading for the horizon. We pass through an
industrial suburb. Lines of small coloured boxes form buildings and
offices along the edges of roads. I start to see trams criss-crossing
the streets.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
am so excited at this point that I can barely sit still. There is a
huge grin on my face, anyone on the tram must think I'm some sort of
crazy. I can't even listen to my music. I don't want to be
distracted. I don't want to miss out on anything around me. Instead I listen to the bad electro-pop playing in the background of
the welcome to Australia video. I love it.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Around
the land is green and the sky is clear and blue. Then we turn a
corner and I see the city, silver towers shining in the distance, and
I know Amy is waiting for me. My friend on the other side of the
world. We pass under a bridge and huge blocks of red and yellow form
a sculpture over the road. I love the architecture here, there is so
much variety. Patches of colour abound. On one side there are trees;
Eucalyptus and pine and London plane, interspersed between churches
and rows of houses. On the other there are huge cranes and a power
converter for the national grid. What looks like a huge incomplete
Ferris wheel looms over Costco.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP4lDZD533xi6-78wuht3Vg9uk7Ns04frw_CvdQ3MKPbnoncLAG203TfHTqDwsRZRQvmpTEhCal1rDH2ua8YeAmhppUYuJy5TGzGow3JVRDjpaVrsMda_jAmIh-2Z79bjsTmCnYI_ERg/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Uncompleted ferris wheel looms over Costco" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP4lDZD533xi6-78wuht3Vg9uk7Ns04frw_CvdQ3MKPbnoncLAG203TfHTqDwsRZRQvmpTEhCal1rDH2ua8YeAmhppUYuJy5TGzGow3JVRDjpaVrsMda_jAmIh-2Z79bjsTmCnYI_ERg/s640/010.JPG" title="Costco and a Ferris Wheel. Classic" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Apparently it's Melbourne's response
to the London Eye but it was never completed. I see a stretch hummer
pass us at half past seven. Who needs a stretch hummer at half past
seven? I look out the other window and there is another one, but even bigger. And bright pink. I see trains and
realise we are approaching Southern Cross station, our destination.
And Amy. We pull in and I get out of the bus and who do I find
waiting to meet me?<br />
<br />
The Queen.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwIACo615r30voPd4UMAyq9sDMdWgRcFbqNhkOjH18Yy7j88fZ3osub1qM2b4fJYCseTjRz-7JJwnZ9Ygh9EXj_WV0PPPmkyRIlmO7akMGFwjLnTSFApjHTGhQYkhAY2WgKrXsfiF9fE/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The queen waiting to greet me." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwIACo615r30voPd4UMAyq9sDMdWgRcFbqNhkOjH18Yy7j88fZ3osub1qM2b4fJYCseTjRz-7JJwnZ9Ygh9EXj_WV0PPPmkyRIlmO7akMGFwjLnTSFApjHTGhQYkhAY2WgKrXsfiF9fE/s640/011.JPG" title="The queen. As if you didn't know." width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She
is everywhere, all over the money. Now the money is extremely
odd. It's as if someone has tried to re-create British money without
ever actually seeing it, only hearing descriptions. The 50 cent coin
has far too many sides, the 10 cent is a bit too small and I'm pretty
sure they've forgotten about the 20 altogether. And bizarrely $2
coins are like $1 coins but slightly smaller. I think the dollar
feels less weighty too, but that's probably just me. Give me a pound
any day.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
song 'Oh my god I can't believe it, I've never been this far away
from home' rattles round my head while I frantically look from side
to side like some sort of meerkat, trying to find the face
I'm looking for. Eventually she arrives and we do the classic run and
hug.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAyHhHTpP45YfWz2ypjasendqiCQDaTfKkakmIil7t5t5ROmX5yPaa3dyKtJK6U6PUDJkzHiHabtn9m50vesBQLcLmpzxpzv-9Hd3I2EFOEVN21CBCWO9QTRlQcyvGrYMBcJ1V-SUlaw/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me and Amy just having met." border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAyHhHTpP45YfWz2ypjasendqiCQDaTfKkakmIil7t5t5ROmX5yPaa3dyKtJK6U6PUDJkzHiHabtn9m50vesBQLcLmpzxpzv-9Hd3I2EFOEVN21CBCWO9QTRlQcyvGrYMBcJ1V-SUlaw/s640/013.JPG" title="Pals" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
spend the day around Melbourne, me taking in the sights like the
tourist I am. I decide that I love the city. There are interesting
buildings everywhere and (for now) it is sunny and warm. It feels like early
June back home which considering we're in the final vestiges of
winter is pretty good going.<br />
Within four hours of being in Australia
I get roped into a street performers show. I am made to wear an afro
wig and do silly dances. I left Edinburgh fringe festival and flew to
the far side of the world only to get instantly caught up in street
comedy. What is the point.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCadS0KrSCvviH0wo_2CZjQk9gaWTJrhLgfNsne47vpbRG2Ghh5lKNeIhFiTGPlSx4HfY2fGiXdNrxMitEpZT8N2XEc_AntG-k5Tz1WqPr3vmUNDUe-zFWwSwEh3VuicTExTF9i5AXAU/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A morning view across Melbourne." border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCadS0KrSCvviH0wo_2CZjQk9gaWTJrhLgfNsne47vpbRG2Ghh5lKNeIhFiTGPlSx4HfY2fGiXdNrxMitEpZT8N2XEc_AntG-k5Tz1WqPr3vmUNDUe-zFWwSwEh3VuicTExTF9i5AXAU/s640/020.JPG" title="Highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. Nobody's impressed." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcznwzRocPY0BEwAFxNx8vrUpSqrZdviAk7bqUqin-hpmi-g84hmF8V9A7DoJUK1dzg_rd2fge_2AbQKT5NeLRCw_G2wxg1hzLaA3AkWuUC0Jfg4wGGEhf3j6bwN26KnSAdu0ksBGWSw/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Amy with the National Art Gallery touching the sky in the distance." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcznwzRocPY0BEwAFxNx8vrUpSqrZdviAk7bqUqin-hpmi-g84hmF8V9A7DoJUK1dzg_rd2fge_2AbQKT5NeLRCw_G2wxg1hzLaA3AkWuUC0Jfg4wGGEhf3j6bwN26KnSAdu0ksBGWSw/s640/021.JPG" title="Classic winter scene." width="476" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Melbourne
is a city of wide tree-lined streets with trams gliding through the
middle and of tall narrow alleys covered head to toe in graffiti.
Apparently these are set aside specifically for that purpose. And the
trees are almost all London plane which greatly excites me. These
trees are much planted in cities due to their high tolerance of
atmospheric pollution and are so named because they abound in our
capital. In some aspects Melbourne feels surprisingly similar to back
home. The wind for example reminds me of Edinburgh. Biting and cold.
And when the sun goes behind a cloud (yes it does happen here) it is
freezing. It's cloudy today and I'm wearing three whole layers!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPxmfIDLZOO8QeKtfp3f8vb0MuFju5BZG8it5n-m8M8KA70zbXUsZgvk6Vi6JXXSSH-WCeh3HBuNHxJ9CEmmqmzc99IBmdXVKBKBRlMRWFPADEZIdhuCNDpQqzf_TXf_ahyW9SI9dngc/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wide Melbourne street, tram lines abound." border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPxmfIDLZOO8QeKtfp3f8vb0MuFju5BZG8it5n-m8M8KA70zbXUsZgvk6Vi6JXXSSH-WCeh3HBuNHxJ9CEmmqmzc99IBmdXVKBKBRlMRWFPADEZIdhuCNDpQqzf_TXf_ahyW9SI9dngc/s640/032.JPG" title="Wide streets." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SSoqUh9hmA_bMPVRyjzIzRp17LOTye4CjTu2OOFRrjrK_Vfuf-YQJ60yjUGIzcWk2YzeDvClfEjhEKQtNe7Q2tDGzCzZ7HAs6s_omE3VaI6-E0USQd2I57XfYBYyfa0zJ1PgQZrValY/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Narrow Melbourne alley, graffiti covers the walls." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SSoqUh9hmA_bMPVRyjzIzRp17LOTye4CjTu2OOFRrjrK_Vfuf-YQJ60yjUGIzcWk2YzeDvClfEjhEKQtNe7Q2tDGzCzZ7HAs6s_omE3VaI6-E0USQd2I57XfYBYyfa0zJ1PgQZrValY/s640/034.JPG" title="Narrow alleys." width="478" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
have lunch squeezed onto a tiny table in a small café up an
alleyway. It's lovely. The food is amazing. The tea is amazing. I
discover that the Australians call peppers capsicums and nearly have
a fit. Amy tells me they also call pepper spray capsicum spray which
I guess follows but I still find it hilarious. As it turns out
Capsicum is the name of the genus to which both sweet and chilli
peppers belong. I guess it makes sense.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
The
strangest thing I have found so far though is crossing the road.
There are a surprising number of differences involved in this
seemingly simple task. Firstly I am told that jay-walking is a crime,
I'd like to see them try and introduce that one in Edinburgh.
Secondly here the red man flashes not the green. Thirdly is crossing
the road in the rain (yes that happens too). All the Australians
freak out. There is often a covering over part of the
pavement so you only need to get wet when crossing from one pavement
to another. When this happens they all wait under the edge of the
cover in a huge mass a good three meters back from the edge of the
road. Meanwhile I stand like a true Scotsman on the kerb getting soaked.
Then as soon as the green man turns on there is a mad dash where they
all run at top speed across the road until they are under the cover
at the other side.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But the
strangest thing of all is the noise the crossings make. There
are two options here. The first one I call the Star Wars Droid. The
crossing makes a sudden shooting noise, reminiscent of a laser beam,
followed by what I can only describe as the noise of a small droid
walking quickly. A sort of buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-buh. The second
one is much more stressful. You can hear the crossings building up to
it. There is a sort of ticking as if someone is winding a crank up to
breaking point. Then it is released and suddenly there are clappers
going off all around. It is almost like the sound the old departure
boards used to make in railway stations. When each letter was on a
different tile and they would spin round and clatter whenever the
information changed. Only that sound is gentle and nostalgic. This is
not. They might as well have someone screaming 'Cross the road!'
right in your ear.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We
have a drink in a bar on the top of a building. Ten dollars for a
pint. Classic. Some things are so expensive over here and alcohol is
one of them. Some are surprisingly cheap, the trams for
example. At the weekend it's impossible to spend more than £2
travelling around the city, and that covers trams trains and buses.
Also eating out really isn't that pricey either, especially considering
how nice all the food seems to be.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UP6OgH6QyeT4EkMX_QxEjlzWhdLac64_GGIDanMSlqp_EavNdCMbcENTZ1oNROtyYmhOxkzoJrQyOWMRX6LkijWHhSK1hEZQTZp6GROMevjf7MjrNRg7v6nDY07xFPyA82JJiT-aJVU/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me and Amy enjoying my first drink in Melbourne" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UP6OgH6QyeT4EkMX_QxEjlzWhdLac64_GGIDanMSlqp_EavNdCMbcENTZ1oNROtyYmhOxkzoJrQyOWMRX6LkijWHhSK1hEZQTZp6GROMevjf7MjrNRg7v6nDY07xFPyA82JJiT-aJVU/s640/042.JPG" title="Winter pints of cider. On the roof." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ga2x8R_lQM3ZsHBQSra8PVRhTs5Kvsmg5M210HZFK5KIhGyLzzdI9yhcc0FXGSMpFSkbZaXLN9XNQcizlUAPCqx49oLBghb4OLBcrnTRRWU94rJA_tb9kLRcXuseg2_BJZVgxcdvoYg/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Street art of a woman looming over an alley." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ga2x8R_lQM3ZsHBQSra8PVRhTs5Kvsmg5M210HZFK5KIhGyLzzdI9yhcc0FXGSMpFSkbZaXLN9XNQcizlUAPCqx49oLBghb4OLBcrnTRRWU94rJA_tb9kLRcXuseg2_BJZVgxcdvoYg/s640/047.JPG" title="Nice street art. Nice pub." width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganXyURIWjI9gZx2oueZhJob4DWe1FPeLwoVld4i5btvw3snOK-Ou5JczzHZXvISosybFVQAHnmEg7LSA9Fhrqj1ZJ-DSfuS9DCEeCzh4oloYLkUqJBS07YL7Owfs0bQpJBZoBISsrNGo/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flinders Street station from a modern shopping center." border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganXyURIWjI9gZx2oueZhJob4DWe1FPeLwoVld4i5btvw3snOK-Ou5JczzHZXvISosybFVQAHnmEg7LSA9Fhrqj1ZJ-DSfuS9DCEeCzh4oloYLkUqJBS07YL7Owfs0bQpJBZoBISsrNGo/s640/051.JPG" title="Old and new. Well, as old as it gets over here." width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkDUe8UMGl0zmHlDp1-jML27oC2g38WIGMQFgE6JRlcEOGhMrGuzru-IrwBR-cCgWOuMNgIPjrTXujP22IuJdRjoyxH9KSW2CK10ZTwJ4toOycjzEznxPEs_Atoo5tl1qwz6SJQOeShE/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="View across the river. Old station and new skyscrapers on the far side." border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkDUe8UMGl0zmHlDp1-jML27oC2g38WIGMQFgE6JRlcEOGhMrGuzru-IrwBR-cCgWOuMNgIPjrTXujP22IuJdRjoyxH9KSW2CK10ZTwJ4toOycjzEznxPEs_Atoo5tl1qwz6SJQOeShE/s640/053.JPG" title="Bikes, boats and buildings." width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It's
hard to believe that I truly am this far away from home. I wander
around town by myself listening to 'Sailor Song' (First Aid Kit
again, what am I like) and decide that it seems a pretty good place
to live. I have an Australian SIM card now and a bank account and a
flat. Just a job to go then I guess I'll be officially settled in.
Whether I'll feel settled or not remains to be seen, but I reckon I
will. Despite all these things it is still hard to comprehend that I
will be away for so long. And that I am actually in Australia. It almost feels like I'm just visiting Amy
for a weekend in England somewhere. Until I have to cross the road.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/skIJkwH-P90?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
And the afternoon embraces you like a million worried hands,<br />
And I want to look forward go discover foreign land<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118967817155726820.post-12097210218386597042013-08-16T05:00:00.001-07:002013-08-26T00:41:08.321-07:00Mainly clouds, and some Japanese.<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I sit in the airport
lounge in Edinburgh in the middle of a sprawling Japanese family.
Children are climbing over seats and running along the edges of the
windows. One particularly boisterous child has plasters covering all of
his chin and a significant proportion of his face. A father and son
are wearing matching, tartan and yet surprisingly fashionable, hats.
I sit in silence observing and enjoying, occasionally sharing
sympathetic looks with a parent. At some point those overseeing the children grow
tired, iPad's emerge and eventually there is silence. But as we
all know nothing lasts forever.
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One minute two young boys are avidly watching Mickey Mouse then without a word of warning or
any sort of provocation a full blown fight explodes into being. They each grab one end of the iPad. Screaming and crying they desperately try to rip it out of the other's grasp. An angry parent shouts to no apparent effect. She can barely be heard over the
hysterical shrieks of the children. Then a gaggle of adults swoop in, pull them
apart and as quickly as it began it is over. The smaller boy is
sobbing into his mothers arms, inconsolable at the injustice of the
world. The older, the one with the plasters, is once more engrossed
in his show. He sits there in silence, content, as if nothing had
happened. The younger pushes over a suitcase. I promptly set it to
rights to a grateful thank you and a kindly smile from the boy's
mother. I am reminded how much I would like to visit Japan.<br />
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I find myself on my plane
which is a mere two hours late, enough to miss my flight to Singapore
but not enough that my new plane will miss my proceeding flight to
Melbourne. As the plane heads down the runway The Staves are playing
in my ear and I hear them sing the words 'set in stone' and consider how my
future is anything but. Then the plane takes off and the song 'Winter
Trees' kicks in providing the perfect level of excitement and
importance to the journey I am undertaking.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0PCQVharr8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Out my window I see
patchwork fields, beautiful and sprawling. There are earthy browns,
vibrant greens and soft yellows, the colours of the earth. Then the
world turns grey. I turn and look out the opposite window, there is a
flash of brown then grey also and we are in the clouds. The grey
turns to white, a bright, shining white and I feel as if we are
floating through the ether. Bursts of cloud appear on the wings then
vanish in an instant. I see a patch of brown appear from the top of
my vision, where I thought to find sky, and realise that I am looking
at the ground. I have no idea what direction is up, the plane could
do anything in this fog and I would not know. I see the shadow of the
fuselage on the wing and we move out of the clouds.<br />
We graze over an
endless plain of snowy mounds; that powdery snow that isn't good for
anything but looking pretty. I see that we are sandwiched between two
layers of cloud. In the far distance I can see a line of blue that is
the sky. Below white hobbit mounds abound while above is a flat sheet.
No, more like a thick duvet without its cover. We are trapped between
the two in an endless icy cavern far above the ground. The world
around is blue and white. It is clear and clean, vast and unknown.
Paraphrasing the words of Kate Bush it is Ice and Dust and Light and
Sky. And I am Here. Then we enter the second layer of cloud and
there is grey once more. The view retreats from my sight and I think
of the family and friends I am leaving back home. I know that some of
them will be worrying about me right now and I appreciate it. I wish
I could tell them they did not need to. The Staves sing my own thoughts back at me:</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'Call me in the morning
I'll be alright, call me in the morning I'll be alright. Call me
little honey and I'll be fine. Call me in the morning I'll be okay,
call me in the morning I'm far away.'</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The steward from BA
convinces me to have a beer. I put on Amanda Palmer and she sings of
Astronauts. Not yet Amanda. But maybe one day. We sail below a thin
veil of cloud. It seems so close I could touch it. An intricate
silver lattice beyond which the world is blue. I wonder why we do not
break into the freedom beyond. Is the pilot afraid to break through
the shield above for fear of damaging its beauty, or for fear of what
it is shielding us from? We glide languidly in this position for a
while then descend once more to grey. We drop until barely ten
minutes from London Heathrow and still all I see is grey. I assume
the show is over.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV-9K3wBoPdc1VPmPv0mCzrysEWHDqM2y1pDCzytMa10IbA9N_WLytCbCWn_W6zShHxt5aKFojHYTxuZzHBo0NQqa6LiMeSQAqMwPTa4m-Q2WCej0VOX-rV1DZSJt_r-rdxWo1EBaHV8/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me, Roan, holding a can of Tiger Beer" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV-9K3wBoPdc1VPmPv0mCzrysEWHDqM2y1pDCzytMa10IbA9N_WLytCbCWn_W6zShHxt5aKFojHYTxuZzHBo0NQqa6LiMeSQAqMwPTa4m-Q2WCej0VOX-rV1DZSJt_r-rdxWo1EBaHV8/s640/008.JPG" title="Me and my beer" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then I start to hear a
roar in my ears, through my music. There is a faint vibration through
the plane, growing steadily stronger. Outside the day grows dimmer.
The clouds press in and suddenly I cannot see the wing before me.
Without pushes against the window as if to break in and the plane
shakes in protest. Then colours. The thick cloud changes with each
passing second. A bright white that is almost blinding then a dark
grey pregnant with omen. It turns purple then brown then black and
Amanda screams in my ear. Then suddenly it is done. We break through
and the world opens before us, trails of cloud streaming from our
wing-tips.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbg_xyYfvBzRpLcjja_lX2EcUHJv2LTPvCiH8M-pt8Gw3Iyd35x_jARHIRwGD3Mz5eseaIb8HN1pxVMc8ISni0QzOrHvi7hvex99ef8AzJg2V2kOmErubv7rmopJSW5NJgtFi-tyjtAQ/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Aeroplane wing breaking through with clouds stretching behind," border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbg_xyYfvBzRpLcjja_lX2EcUHJv2LTPvCiH8M-pt8Gw3Iyd35x_jARHIRwGD3Mz5eseaIb8HN1pxVMc8ISni0QzOrHvi7hvex99ef8AzJg2V2kOmErubv7rmopJSW5NJgtFi-tyjtAQ/s640/014.JPG" title="Emerging from the tempest" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I turn and behind us
there is a great wall. It stretches far into the distance, from the
ground up into the heights. A storm or a front I do not know. It is
black and white, stretching its tendrils greedily across the land
before it. Behind it the sun is setting, as if a fuel to its might.
In the distance it curves forwards and all around there are great
boulders and long rolling serpents, all glowing in the light of the
evening. Left behind in its wake or boldly scouting before. I see tiny
planes drifting through the sky, each heading in a different
direction. They cross above and below and through the columns of
cloud leaving their own little trails behind them. The colours of
fire are in the sky. I am reminded of Star Wars. Of turmoil and
battle in the air. More planes appear. They circle around the
approaching airport like bees. Jealously guarding their precious
treasures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZaajV1QDqH2lSajs_TUUWcFUAtFJ979QVgoCwZ5UeKiNwabHRrN16Pgl3yE8AQZRkrLfaL8n-9jtokRHNXDO5x8JPV9_hQyo9mJbkX4OGVEgkrJPB5hDu_z3HVHufteUXvjbLLdpXuw/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sun setting over the stormclouds behind" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZaajV1QDqH2lSajs_TUUWcFUAtFJ979QVgoCwZ5UeKiNwabHRrN16Pgl3yE8AQZRkrLfaL8n-9jtokRHNXDO5x8JPV9_hQyo9mJbkX4OGVEgkrJPB5hDu_z3HVHufteUXvjbLLdpXuw/s640/019.JPG" title="Looking back" width="478" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We become one of the
bees; the plane turns and my view changes. All I see is the wing of
the plane and a clear blue sky beyond. A single aeroplane trail
languidly working its way across. Amanda now whispers along to a
gentle piano and the world seems at peace. Drums kick in and the
plane descends. As we land I think of all the friends I have in
London. So many people that are so close that I won't see for so
long. I feel sad, but it is a sweet sadness and I am glad for it.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I sit on my second plane,
<u>the</u> plane, writing this. I
realise that most of what I have written is inspired by music,
perhaps I shall make that a theme. But perhaps not, I am not sure
what I plan for this other than writing what I feel like writing when I am inspired to do so. I may not post again! Or there may be hundreds. Each post may be completely different from the last. Or I
may continue on this vein. It might sit on the internet unread for
all I know, perhaps I would even prefer that. I am listening to a
Swedish band called First Aid Kit and they are swiftly becoming the
soundtrack of my journey. They have a particularly uplifting song
about travelling that seems to have provided me with a title (The Queen / King title one that is, not the Japanese, that would be freakishly appropriate). There will be more photo's later that is for sure. So far though I haven't exactly done anything to take photo's of. And I am trying to avoid my usual slew of selfies. At least for now.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
am not sure what to think or what to feel right now. Tired mainly,
and as a result I am feeling unusually candid. Also happy, and
without a doubt excited. But most of all I would say content, though
that is a feeling I often get when writing. I will leave you with the
song I am currently listening to, 'Wills Of The River'. It is four minutes and nineteen seconds of pure beauty. Although if you're feeling sad
about my departure then this song is not likely to help. And if you
are not feeling sad then you probably will be soon. But right now, as
keeps happening today, it could not feel more relevant. It echoes
what I feel right now. The sound is melancholy, but it is a song full
of promise and full of hope. Of new beginnings and of uncertain
futures.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/vOoXXWSS_pQ/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/vOoXXWSS_pQ&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/vOoXXWSS_pQ&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
And the wills of the river, leads you here.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Where the wind it is yielding, and the light it is clear.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To rest upon forever, or to live for one more day.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
No I won't restrain the morning, I'll get ready for this spring.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oh see them planets shining, to the south to the north.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Headed out the west wind, going to find myself a home.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Where the night it is guarded, by the shores of the sea.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And the moon it is resting, while the sun it breaks free.</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332284019072189438noreply@blogger.com0