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Isabella goes to Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney

We took Isabella and her aunty to see Featherdale Wildlife park - neither had seen Australian animals before.

Supprisingly good park, many animals, and all of them seemed well cared for and content (unlike the WIldlife World at Darling Harbour).

A very windy storm swept over Bankstown and turned it freezing for a while, so most of the animals went to ground. We took there advice and sought Hot Chocolate and waited until the sun re-emerged...

Play ⇒

Isabella at the Zoo

Sun 10 Aug 2008 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

The Myall Lakes N.P., and the Grandis.

Isabella, Bud, her friend Gina and her husband Matthew and I when for a drive up the north coast. Without a plan really, I reverted to what is easily a fantastic day out daytrip from Sydney - the Grandis, Seal Rocks, and the Myall Lakes.

Unfortunately, the rain simply would not go away, so it was wet and miserable. Still, It was the first long driv for Isabella, and she handled it extremely well. We didn't need to stop any more often than we normally do, really.

Fri 25 Apr 2008 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Songi Kran Festival (Thai New Year)

For the couple of weeks around the 13th April, its Song Khan - Thai New Year. Water festival. Last Year we where in Thailand. Thai's chuck water all over the place, and have a national water fight. Splendid.

This year we visited the Buddhist temple in Leumeah which was holding a fete for SongKran. Lots of thai food, water fights, and buddha status.

Sun 13 Apr 2008 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Floriade - Canberra

We spent the weekend in Canberra, visited the National Museum, and saw Jupiter through the telscopes at the Canberra Observatory, but the highlight of the weekend was the Floriade Festival - Commonwealth Park on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin is planted with what must be nearly a million Tulips and Carnations and so on, all in Australiana colours and shapes. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Sun 16 Sep 2007 | /Trips/Australia/Australian_Capital_Territory | permalink

Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

We visited the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. Its something that I had been meaning to go and see for the entire time I was in Singapore in 2005 but just never got arround to it. Its getting advertised quite a bit in Singapore at the moment, so that probably got me thinking about it again.

Setup in a roughly similar style as the Singapore Zoo, the park features themed areas, such as African Wetlands and Bird of Prey, with generally comfortable enclosures for the animals.

The diversity on display was impressive, and as always with birds, the range of colours and calls was breathtaking.

Particularly fun has the Bird of Prey show, where some trained falcons, hawks and vultures are taken through some simulated hutning situations and aireal acrobatics. A vulture with a 10 foot wingspan gliding inches above the assembled crowdwas very exciting.

Mon 27 Aug 2007 | /Trips/Singapore | permalink

Elephants and Bats, Khao Yai N.P.

Our last day in Khao Yai, we stopped and feed the working elephants at one of the business in the Khao Yai area. We also heard tail of bat caves in the area, and tracked it down to a small side road. We assumed that the best thing would be to come back as dark was approaching - the bats would probably leave their caves for the night.

DId they ever. About 15 minutes after sunset, as th last of the light was dying from the sky, there was a roar, and a blurred streak in the darkening sky. The noise was from what must have been millions of bats leaving their caverns for the night. THe stream of bats waved across the sky like slow motion electricity, and the noise built to a peak and then quickly died down.

An awesome way to finish a holiday.

Thu 19 Apr 2007 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Khao Yai National Park, Narok Saew Falls

We did a lot of walking in Khao Yai today. We need the loop walk from the HQ which takes in some amazing jungle and rope bridge.

We did the walk and climb down to Narok Saew falls "Fall to Hell" - named because elephants playing in the water at the top often fall to their deaths down the 60 metre waterfall.

60 metres on near verticle steps is a long way to go down, and and even longer way to climb back up again, but this water fall is absolutely worth it, its breathtaking.

Wed 18 Apr 2007 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Nam Now National Park

We took a day trip over to Nam Now national park, which is about 200 kms west of Nong Khai. It took us and age to get there, stopping for the water fights that were still n full swing along all the main roads.

The park was very good, with a number of easy walks into the forest and back from the main headquarters. Unfortuantely, none of the waterfalls were running.

Sun 15 Apr 2007 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Song Kran Festival & Kae Koo Museum

Dressed up in bright colors probably wasn't the wisest of moves on Song Khan day, Thai new year and water fight festival. Being large and brightly adorned, and in particular a foreigner, made us somewhat of a target of prestiege on what is a national water fight in Thailand.

We went to Kae Koo museum, a statue park. I'd been before but its so stunning its worth a second look. Besides, I wanted to see how it would look while I was wet.

Its all good fun though. Don't think I've seen anything like it - the whole country stops, then half the country throws a bucket of water at the other half of the country - all in fun. Supurb.

Fri 13 Apr 2007 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Khao Yai (Big Mountains) national park, about 200 km north east of Bangkok was our 'half-way' rest stop on the drive to NongKhai. We stopped for lunch on the way just before reaching Khao Yai, had a spectacular meal, roast pork and chicken, and Pad Thai Khao Yai - a local speciallty and my new all time favourite dish.

Once we'd settled into the resort rooms, we hit the road into the park. Every few hundred meters after the checkpoint into the park, we had to stop for troupes of monkeys (gibbons) sitting about on the road, laying in ambush of tourists that might give them food.

The bush was very special, so rich and noisey with life, from chain-saw loud cicadas, to woop-woop-wooping gibbons and grasping leaches trying to latch onto your feet.

Tue 10 Apr 2007 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Bangkok, Thailand. Wat Pho and the Grand Palace

Our first day in Bangkok we did the tour of the Grand Palace and associated temples, in particular, Wat Pho. We saw the reclining buddha, the emerald Buddha and the gold Buddha - all equally amazing, and mind bogglingly beloved and popular. The detail and beauty of the statues at teh Grand Palace is a little hard to take in. Its very clear there are hundreds of thousands hours work in it over hundreds of years.

Sun 08 Apr 2007 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan

I spent an hour tramping about the outer grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, looking for the free tour of the inner grounds. Nevermind, I'll try harder when I have more time. Loved the Statue. No idea who its of yet.

Thu 22 Feb 2007 | /Trips/Japan | permalink

Moreton National Park, NSW South Coast

We took the day and drove down the South Coast road to Moreton National Park. We wanted to see either Pigeon House Mountain or the Tianjara Falls, and settled on the later as it wasn't quite to far. We did the usual, stopped at Berry for Famous (really) Doughnuts from the doughnut van. Damn their good. THe road though Moreton NP from Nowra to Braidwood is almost completely gravel at the moment - big roadworks, so it was slow going.

We made our way to the turnoff for the falls, though, and pulled up in a the carpark. There was a sign that pointed off intot he scrub with the 'lookout' symbol, so we donned hats, grabbed bags and water and generally got prepared to walk a ways, and low and behold we stepped into the bush and on the other side of the first layer of trees, there was the railing for the lookout!

Its been very dry, so the waterfall was only just running.

Some beautiful country through there. We continued on to Goldburn and came back by way of the Federal Highway out of Canberra. Overall a nice day out.

Bud is now 100% Australian, having eaten a Pie and a beer at an outback pub. Poor guy, we must have dragged him away from the cricket. He was not very happy.

Sun 14 Jan 2007 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

FastTrak Xmas Cruise, Sydney Harbour

After what can only be described as freakish weather - 36 degrees Max and 8 degrees Min, all in a week, this day was spectacular. Warm and sunny with a cool breeze, perfect for being out on the harbour.

Fri 17 Nov 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Wildlife World, Darling Harbour Sydney

Well... Don't bother. Clearly its open before its ready.

The first thing I thought when I heard there was an Australian fauna park in the heart of Sydney was "How are they going to pull that off without hurting animals?".. The easy answer is they're not. Never have I seen so many listless, bored and stressed criters.

Add to that that most of Australias beloved wildlife is nocturnal, or by nature very shy and retiring, and what you get is enclosure after enclosure of tree parts because the animals have all managed to fuck off out of sight to avoid the stress.

Shameful. Letter to the editor time.

The fee was a flat out insult to boot - $30 per adult.

Sun 08 Oct 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Hunter Valley by Helicopter

Fasttrack took a few of us for a heli flown pub crawl through the Hunter Valley, which was just fantastic.

We hit Bluetongue for lunch, and did their tasting menu with differnt wines. The highlight though was the Ginger Beer - Beer with Ginger added. Nery Nice.

The pilot was very happy to indulge our geeky questioning and we learned quite a bit. The aircraft, a $2.6 M Bell 407 with 4 rotor blades and seats for 7 was very smooth as far as helicopters are concerned.

Fri 22 Sep 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Woollongong and the South Coast

An otherwise boring sunday spruced up with a bit of a drive down the south coast arround Woollongong and Bulli. The sweeping freeway along the coast - the tourist drive, is somewhat remeniscent of the Great Ocean Road, but on a smaller scale.

We also stopped at the Chinese Buddhist Temple.

Sun 13 Aug 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Molonglo Gorge, Canberra

I checked out the Molongo Gorge very early this morning before my session at the SAGE-AU conferrence. Cold and damp, clambering over slippery rocks - I clearly still have issues.

Still, it was worth the effort to get out and commune with Nature for a little. Molongo Gorge is part of the river that is dammed to make Lake Burley Griffin, the water feature that gives Canberra some of its charm.

Wed 26 Jul 2006 | /Trips/Australia/Australian_Capital_Territory | permalink

Canberra at Night

Andrew, Simon, Phil and I checked out the National Carillion and Telstra Tower on Black Mountain.

Tue 25 Jul 2006 | /Trips/Australia/Australian_Capital_Territory | permalink

Manly Ferry, Sydney

We took the Manly Ferry, actually, the jetcat, on a splendidly glorious Sydney Saturday. We went for fish and chips and for the trip itself, looked at the markets so on.

Sat 13 May 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Botanical Gardens and greenhouse, Sydney

Andrew, Bud and I checked out the 'Sex and Death' theme exhibit at the tropical greenhouse in the Royal Botanical Gardnes, Sydney. Lots of Orchids and Pitcher Plants, and other carnivorous plants to be seen.

Sun 07 May 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Chinese Gardens of Friendship

It had been quite some time since I'd been to the Chinese Gardens in Darling Harbour Sydney. Looking out the window first thing this morning, it was a beautiful day, wall to wall blue sky and crisp and cool. After I dropped Bud to work, and before I met the guys for Sunday Yum Cha, I took about 2 hours to have a wander around and try out a few photo's I've been meaning to take at the gardens for some time.

I guess my favourite part of the gardens is the stone bench just beside the top of the main waterfall. The crashing water drowns out all of the city noise and just seems to instantly relax me. Was a welcome way to unwind after a busy week in Singapore.

Sun 30 Apr 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Easter 2006 Long weekend

Bud and I drove up to Mum and Dads for the Easter Long weekend. We didn't really do all that much, just relaxed.

Below are some of the photo's of the birds that come in each night as it gets dark. The next door neighbour feeds them, and they come in plentitude.

Sat 15 Apr 2006 | /Trips/Australia/Queensland/Hervey_Bay | permalink

Some Views of Sydney

Some photo's of Sydney taken from MLC center. I was up on top of the MLC center checking it out as a possible office building for my company. Quite spectacular views of all of Sydney.

Wed 22 Mar 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Subaru Rally of Canberra, Day 2

Today was a much better day, the competition was very tight, and most of the leaders had upped the pace just a notch after having successfully made it through the first day.

I started out with watching the jump, which is essentially a lump about a foot high in the road about 40 metres after a tricky doulbe left turn. Even with that corner right in front of it, the cars still had enough speed to be getting anywhere upto a foot into the air off it. Truly awesome.

I had been following Dean Herridge and Bill Hayes fairly carefully yesterday, and did the same today, with the difference that I skipped hte mineshaft stage way over the other side of Canberra and went straight to Kowen Central to catch them starting stages there. Much easier than the day before, and I was able to follow the stages around and catch the top 7 or 8 cars on each section, much more satisfying.

The water splash, though, would have to have been the pick of the spots, nice and shady for most of the day, and unquestionably spectacular as the cars hit the water. What I couldn't get over was the sound as they hit the water and the cars aqua-planed over the top - like a high pitched screem.

I was thouroughly exhausted when the podium presentations were being done, and I only watched the thing - all those guys that drove all day must be made of steel...

Sun 12 Mar 2006 | /Trips/Australia/Australian_Capital_Territory | permalink

Subaru Rally of Canberra, Day 1.

Ahhh, the Mineshaft again. What an awesome place to do silly shit in a car? :) Cody Crocker absolutely flew over the top in his new Subaru WRX STi. Other drivers seemed to be a little scared of it. After the first 5 cars or so, not to many were getting air over the top.

There were heaps more people this time around, its been two years since I last came down and the number of people had doubled.

The old spectator points out of Paddy's River Rd have been replaced with a new section of tracks at Kowen to the east of Canberra. The tracks are awesome with a lot more visible sections and corners, and a large arena like flyover and tunnel portion of some stages for easy access.

But, this and poplarity of the event this year meant that its not as easy and fun, bit of a shame. You had to go from the parking to the arena by bus, and walk from spot to spot. That means that I often missed the leader cars at each point, which sort of defeats the purpose of spectating...

Otherwise though, and excellent day, lots of crazy driving and dust and sunshine. The water splash was pretty great, a concrete culvit filled with water tha the cars had a straight run at. Often, the cars would aquaplane straight over the top, and the sound was astonishing - a high pitched scream.

Sat 11 Mar 2006 | /Trips/Australia/Australian_Capital_Territory | permalink

Subaru Rally of Canberra - Official Start.

Drove down to Canbeerra early on Friday to catch the official start of the Canberra Subaru Rally, held in Garema Place in Civic, the centre of Canberra.

All of the drivers and cars were presented in the mall for the public to take a closer look and chat to the drivers and get autographs etc.

Dean Herrige, still driving for Subaru, was kind enough to sign a print of a photo I took in 2004 for me.

Very good to get a closer look at the cars. Lots of expensive cars with women drapped over them.

This is the first leg of the ARC and the APRC, and there were entries from a couple of Indonesian teams. The even was opened by the Ambassador of Indonesia.

Fri 10 Mar 2006 | /Trips/Australia/Australian_Capital_Territory | permalink

Watagan Mountains and Yengo National Park

I took a drive north up the F3 until I got to Wyong and headed west looking for the trail going into Yengo National Park, and the raod that goes via Wisemans Ferry through St Albans. I did two complete loops, one through the Wtagan State Forest, and the second through Yengo NP via Wollombi and Wyong.

It started out as a lovely day around lunchtime, but as teh afternoon wore on, storm clouds began to build. I got absolutely bucketted on while driving on gravel roads in Yengo NP, so it made for some interesting driving.

Typical lack of decent signs meant that I had to backtrack a couple of time - roads going through National Parks and State Forests frequently just come to a dead end, or more usually, stop at the boundary of private property and a locked gate - but you aren't told that at the start. Oh well.

It was a very pleasant day out amoungst the trees. Lots of Red Gums and Flood Gums to keep my company, and more than enough dirt roads for the day. Finished off with a rip accross Wisemans Ferry over the Hawkesberry River.

Sat 18 Feb 2006 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales/National_Parks | permalink

Royal National Park, Sydney

Bud, Mum and Dad and I all trooped off to the Royal National Park on Boxing Day, apparently where everyone else in Sydney was, the traffic into the park was horrible!

We had lunch at one of the more remote spots, made quieter by the fact that you had to drive a 4 km dirt road to get there - at least it kept the BMW's out.

We then drove around to the walk to Marley's Head, and walked out to the cliff top. Nice day for a walk, about 26, dry and a gentle breeze.

There were a lot of people out for the day at the head, watching the yatchs from the Sydney to Hobart go by.

Mon 26 Dec 2005 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales/National_Parks | permalink

Sydney Harbour Bridge

We took a drive over to Kirribilli in the hope that the lights for the bridge would be lit, but alas not yet. It was a beautiful night though, no moon, no clouds, no wind and a nice cool 25 degrees.

I tried out taking time lapse photos of people with the city in the background, and a flash fire during the long exposure. Some of the results are good, they look kind of fake even.

Check out the Southern Cross over the Sydney Opera House. Sauce.

Sun 25 Dec 2005 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Neutral Bay, Sydney

Dad and I visited a small park near where my work collegue Gerhard used to live. Bit to much wind to get any nice steady shots, may have to try again sometime.

Sun 18 Dec 2005 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Barrington Tops, NSW North Coast

We took a drive up to Barrington Tops, about 3 hours north of Sydney. You take the Bucketts Way just before the first Myall Lakes turnoff, and follow it up into the mountains around Gloucester.

There has obviously been a lot of recent rain, all of the normaly dry fords were running well, some with a good 6 inchs of water over them - made for some interesting driving and a few nice and cool feet splashing moments.

We stopped and had lunch at the Gloucester Tops camp ground, and then drove up most of the way to Barrington Tops walk before turning back.

A great day.

Sun 04 Dec 2005 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales/National_Parks | permalink

Blue Mountains, Sydney

Took Bud to the Blue Moutains for a drive today, she's been talking about going there ever since the subject of Sydney came up, so it was a spectacularly easy no-brainer after one quick look at the blue sky this morning.

Quite a pleasent drive up, even for a Saturday. Looks like all the roadworks they've been doing has paid off.

We stopped at Echo Point for the Three Sisters, and then I took Bud on the old coal Railway to the valley floor, we walked to Katoomba Falls, which were magnificent after the recent rain - the rainforest close and cool and fresh.

We walked along the forest boardwalk, and took the cablecar back up.

Sat 26 Nov 2005 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales/National_Parks | permalink

Intramuros Golf Course, Manila, The Phillipines

I spend the day following Lyle and the lads around the Intramuros golf course. The course is 18 holes arranged around the historic Intramuros cultural park, basically a stone fort surrounding what was once a community of churches, schools and government buildings from the Spanish regime - so some of the buildings are few hundred years old.

It was a nice day out in the sun actually. While I didn't play, I did enjoy the walk and watching, taking the odd photo, and chatting with the caddies and umbrella girls.

Sat 12 Nov 2005 | /Trips/The_Phillipines | permalink

Kaew Koo Museum, Nong Khai

Bud and I visited a temple / museum near her family home in Nong Khai, a largish town about 50 kms north of Udon Thani. Nong Khai is on the Meekhong River, a big wide brown rushing afair of a river, the kind that you don't want to be dipping your toe into to check for temperature. Across the river is the outskirts of Vietien, the capitol of Laos. Bud speaks two languages - Bangkok Thai, or official Thai, and the language of this region, Isaan, which is very similar to the language spoken in Laos.

The museum is a collection of statues, sculptures and monuments depicting images of Buddha and various events of His life. Gigantic 7 headed hydras and big elephants and many many pointy headed Buddha's, surrounded by lovely gardens and trees.

Bud's family joined us, her mum and dad, her sister Tuk, her neice Por and Nephew Chogun. It was a good day out in the sun.

Sun 23 Oct 2005 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Wat Chalong, Phuket

Wat Chalong is the largest and most ornate Buddhist temple in Phuket, and this is the second time I've been here. This time, with Luke and Kyrya on what had to be the hottest and most humid day I've ever felt.

The temple and the main hall are such beautiful buildings, you never get tired of looking at them. The stillness of the air and the quiet inside them belies the presence of lots of marble and stone.

The temple provides visitors and worshipers the opportunity to set off firecrackers and ask for lucky lottery numbers, and have their fortune told. You pick up a bamboo can of what look likes chopsticks and shake it rhythmically until a single chopstick falls out, it has a number. You take the number to a wooden cabinet and open the drawer with your number, and your fortune is inscribed on a little piece of paper inside (in Thai).

You can also obtain a good luck charm in the form of a string of jasmine flowers and tie it arround your wrist to protect you from injury and illness. Bud got one of these for Kyrya.

Finally, you can ask Buddha a question - you do this by gathering two red wooden blocks from the floor that are shapped like a mango. You pose your question, toss the blocks in the air, and if they land with the same side showing, the answer is yes, if they land with one side up, the other down, the answer is no. I asked if it was time for lunch... the answer? A resounding yes...

Sun 02 Oct 2005 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast

On the way south again to Brisbane, we stopped at the Australia Zoo (yes, the one owned by Steve Erwin). I must have driven past it 20 times now and never stopped, mainly from the "Crikey!" overload thing.

This time was different however. All attempts to spot a Kangaroo for Bud had failed misserably. While a Zoo is a poor comparison to actually seeing one in the wild, it was a sure thing.

The Zoo actually turned out to be supprisingly good. The infrastructure and staff were well built and friendly ;). THe animals seemed extremely happy, and vertainly in the case of the Kangaroos, very well fed. I suppose they might get sick of the 100th child of the day coming up to them with a handfull of Roo pellets, but they never showed it.

Thu 22 Sep 2005 | /Trips/Australia/Queensland | permalink

Whale Watching, Hervey Bay

Whale Watching on Hervey Bay, my third attempt, the previous two being seasickness, bad weather and no whales... I was apprehensive.

The weather was perfect, the sea calm and flat, the sun warm, but not hot, and the whales plentiful and playful. Well, NOW I know why they call it the whale watching capitol of the world :)

The boat had barely made it to Platypus Bay when a couple of whales were spotted. They were a pair of teenage (sub-adult) whales about 5 metres long. Very curious, they circled the boat, spy-hopped, flipped and rolled near us for about an hour.

Another tour boat drew nearer, and the whales headed off to see that boat, but came back pretty much immediately - we had the better groupies - a bunch of teenage girls screaming and yelling. Even when a shouting match between boats started up, we still won.

I suppose the whales must think we're all nuts.

Mon 19 Sep 2005 | /Trips/Australia/Queensland/Hervey_Bay | permalink

Sydney Aquarium

A day of sharks and underwater things today. We went to the IMAX theatre in Darling harbour and saw "Sharks 3D", a rather stunning hour long 3D IMAX experience, Sharks, Mantas, Fish, Rays. After catching up with the guys for a traditional Sunday Yum Cha, we wandered back for to Darling Harbour and visited the Sydney Aquarium. I'm sure Bud will dream of sharks tonight. At least I've convinced her about sharks fin soup :)

An absolutely gorgeous day in Sydney today, warm in the sun, blue blue skies and a light breeze. Perfect eat your lunch in the sun with a jacket weather.

Sun 11 Sep 2005 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

Erawan Museum and Thai Village, Bangkok, Thailand

Bud and I booked a cab for the day and headed off to do some sight-seeing. First stop was the Erawan Museum, which is both a museum and a budhist temple, housed in what has to be the largest statue of an elephant I've ever seen - with three heads no less. The building underneath the elephant housed various Thai pottery and antiquties that were informatively displayed. Gradually making your way up through the structure it slowly changes from Museum to Temple, ending right at the top with a 'Room amongst the Stars' prayer room in the head of the elephant.

The stair cases and stained-glass windows were intricately decorated, some of the structures built entirely from plates and spoons and other common objects, themselves intricately detailed and inlayed with gold or painted with bright decorations.

Next stop was a theme park of sorts. Essentially the Thai government has collected period buildings from all over Thailand and relocated them to this one place in order to preserve the unique architecture of Thailand. Pergodas and Temples, Statues and Bridges all make an appearance. Some made of wood, some of stone. The park is about 350 acres and its only possible to see it all by car or a bike.

There was a riverside village re-created, complete with its own floating markets, food vendors, crafts and so on. Just walking around and smelling the waft of delightful things being cooked just out of sight was enough to make you dribble.

Sun 07 Aug 2005 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

National Day Parade (Preview) 2005

My collegue Julie had a spare ticket to the preview session for the Singapore National Day Parade, so despite the short notice I jumped at the chance. I'd being trying to work out what the program for next weekend was, now I didn't need to. A bit of a mix up about Julie telling me wear a red shirt (you can see why in the photos) but nevermind, it was a good show.

The padang, normally a completely empty patch of grass, had been transformed into a huge stadium. When filled to capacity with red shirt wearing Singaporeans, set against the backdrop of the cityscape, it was quite a sight.

THe displays included various songs, bands, school children marching and dancing in formation, miltary flyovers, drive bys, skydiving, even multimedia and lights. The overwhelming theme being a unified Singapore, the message was well presented and well received as far as I could tell. The sense of civic pride that shone through the proceedings was very strong.

The military part of the evening had a Edinborough Tattoo feel to it, and the 'mobile column' was somewhat Orwellian, a veritable catalogue of US military exports. The Apache gunship that took up a hovering posiion a not so discrete distance from the event after the Speaker of Parliment made his entrance was also a little overt for me.

The colouried lights, floats and dancers afterwards was much more fun, litterally thousands of schoolkids taking part in the fun.

Sun 31 Jul 2005 | /Trips/Singapore | permalink

Hong Kong for work

I spent 8 days in Hong Kong helping out with the move of the office there from Shan Wan to Wan Chai. I spent most of the weekend and the days working, but there was still a little time to get out and about.

The weather was much nicer in HK this time arround, so the pictures from the peak are a lot nicer.

As a treat after the move on Monday night, Nico took us out on the company Junk (!!!) and we sailed out of the harbour as the sun set and the lights were coming on. We headed around to Lama Is and had amazing seafood at a restaurant there.

Like most good seafood places in Asia you can pick your fish. Spying a Barramundi Cod in the tank I promptly pointed him out... Typically for me, I suppose, but I'd just picked the most expensive fish in the tank - some 1800 HKD worth! Needless to say we downgraded a bit. Ah well, at least we're in agreement about what a great fish is.

The ride back was nothing short of splendid. Full from good food, sitting on the quarter deck enjoying the lights of the city, a clear cool starry night, the rocking of the boat and conversation with friends. Life doesn't get too much better than that...

Mon 04 Jul 2005 | /Trips/Hong_Kong | permalink

Elephant Trekking in Phuket

After diving yesterday and a huge night out (Arrrgh!) I could barely move. Damn those diving muscle groups.

I got up late, had breakfast from the most delightful little street side Pad Thai outfit and went and found a cab driver whose cab had actaul doors, with the plan of have a bit of a look around the island, perhaps a view from one of the higher points.

The gentleman I eventually hired was quite the tour guide actually, and a bit of a salesman to boot. Sensing my undecidedness (if thats even a word) he rattled off about 40 possible activities I might like to try. I assumed at first that he might have a vested interest in having me see a Cobra show or go shooting, but after about 10 I realised that he just knows his island and is doing his very best to get buisness going - good on him, this country is having a tough time and everyone is trying so hard. We could do with more of that spirit in the world.

I settled for Elephant Trekking. Actually, I settled for Elephant. I couldn't quite make out what my friend was saying after the word elephant, but, the animal alone was enough to sell me. We could have been going to elephant group therapy for all I knew.

Once there though, it was fairly obvious. You, a mighty Indian elephant, and a nice chap with a sharp stick and nack for driving an elephant by the ears with his feet set off for an hour or so through the jungle. Not having a hat or sun-screen I thought I'd made a terrible, terrible mistake... However Fortune smiled and after a couple of minutes and a knowing grin, my guide offered me the use of an umbrella. Fat white guy sitting 10 feet off the ground in a kings litter on an elephant, holding an enormous umbrella... Yes, the locals were staring...

Of all the methods of transport devised by human kind, Elephant Trekking has to be the most unusual way to generate sea-sickness on dry land :)

Once we'd completed our circuit, I had to refuel my transport. I fed about 3 roughly chunked pinapples to my amiable steed who made very short work of them, spines, leaves and all. He then blew Elephant Snot all over me...

Sun 26 Jun 2005 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

Ria Bintan Club Med (Fortis)

Took the ferry over to Ria Bintan, in Indonesia, with the whole office from Singapore.

A groovy weekend of avoiding monkeys, sitting by the pool, SCUBA diving, turning up early for lunch, getting to know work collegues and generally doing very little.

A clockwork schedule kept the rain exclusively to during lunchtime (time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so -- Douglas Adams) and generally provided awesome weather other times.

The happy clappy Club Med experience tested my patience at times, but being in a large group, we were spared the worst of it.

The main objective, to get to know my work collegues better, was definately a success.

Sat 21 May 2005 | /Trips/Indonesia | permalink

Out and About in Hong Kong

Got up early and jumped on the Queensway tram going east, and kept going till it stopped, in this case out near the cricket ground.

Walked back to the central part of the city, winding my way through the buildings, shops and back allys. I eventually found my was to Hong Kong park and took in the bird aviary which was delightful.

A short walk from the park to one of the Peak Tram stations, I took to the tram to the very top. The view of Hong Kong is truly impressive, if a little hazy due to the low cloud.

Not wanting to join the 100 odd 'random european tourists' that they manage to squeeze onto the peak tram, I decided to walk down from the peak. Lots of paved walkways have been provided, they wind their way through the rainforest preserves and the mansions on the mid-levels of the peak. I was struck by the contract of being in a rainforest where you can't see any buildings at all but you can hear the roar of the city.

In the afternoon after a bit of a break and hopped on the Star Ferry over to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) to take in the sunset over the harbour, and to take some photo's of the city skyline. I stayed on till 8pm and enjoyed the lightshow which was quite spectular - syncronised lasers, spotlights, colourful sequences covering entire buildings.

Finished the night with Chili-salt prawn, and a couple of beers at 'Bulldogs' in Lan Kwai Fong. An amzing day.