Borobudur

One I forgot to post from the Borobodur Temple in Java....

I will probably black and white it at some point in the future in an attempt to make it more 'arty'.

Random Stuff

I have had a couple of requests to do part 2 of 'When Sam Met Lucy', unfortunately I am finding it difficult to find the time. Blogging is very hard when you have to travel for half an hour to the nearest internet cafe.

Tomorrow I travel from Sydney to Montreal to complete a piece of work for my old company (for one week). When I was sent the work order, it gave my duties as: Day 1, handover and meetings; Days 2-5 observing the furnace.

Basically I will be spending 4 days peering into a furnace at 1500 degrees C. I have a strange job sometimes.

Heat is not my issue at the moment though. My issue is that it will be -15C this weekend in Canada. It is summer here in Sydney, and all I have is my backpacking stuff which I used to travel through Indonesia. This leaves me with a problem. Its mot very easy to buy clothes to withstand -15C when you are in a county at 30C.

As my Dad pointed out the other day, when I land in Montreal, I will have travelled all of the way round the world this year (given that I was in Montreal in June). Pretty cool. Its a shame I hate flying. I have the beauty of actually landing 2 hours before I set off.

Further news. I have somewhere to live. this is the view from my living room:

Unfortunately I now dont have any furniture and/or money. So if anyone wants to donate any of either - let me know.

Table for One Please

Whilst in my old job, I spent quite a lot of time travelling to different places (usually chicken factories in Northern Ireland, or steel foundries in Gateshead). during this time, I became very familiar with dining alone (you gotta eat!). I mention this, as since my arrival in Sydney I have had to do this a couple of times to escape the monotony of sitting in a room with my book, or watching the local, badly tuned in (why are they always like this in hostels/hotels?) television.

I have spoken about this to a few of my friends (and my girlfriend) who are horrified that I do this. They would never even consider going into a pub or a restaurant without someone with them. I even have frineds who won't enter a bar on their own when meeting people, in case they are first. they have to meet outside. 'I always feel sorry for the guys who are eating on their own', is the usual comment.

Dont, is my response. Take one look into the eyes of that guy sat in his suit on his fourth pint of local ale, digging into his Chicken Madras. What you will see is peace.

This is the only time he gets to truly empty his mind, and think about what he wants to think about, such as Steve McLarens tactical mistakes, or whether to get the new iPod touch or not, or whether 50 midgets really would be able to overcome a lion in hand-to-hand combat (a common discussion topic amongst my friends, and one which causes many arguments). Plus he gets to eat what he likes, and drink as much as he wants. The true beauty of it all is that it is usually on company money!

While eating out on my own, I have spent an entire evening in Amsterdam (the only person in the restaurant) talking to the waitress about her children and getting loads of free drinks, I have sampled some enormous steaks in Northern Ireland, and more recently I went on a full night out in Bali on my own (not company paid for might I add), rolling in at 5am, talking with an Australian entrepeneur and leaving after refusing to go on to an after club-club.

But mostly at the moment, I just sit and eat spicy pizza, drink beer and think about Lucy.

So here's to the single diners.

And Then There Was One

I stayed in the hostel last night to watch the Australian election results roll in. After 11 and a half years in power, Howard's coalition government has been dramatically displaced by the Rudd Labor party. I don't pretend to know anything about Australian domestic politics, but commentary suggests that it was Howard's lack of 'contemporary' policy which lost him the voters, and in particular a couple of larger issues including lack of action over climate change.

As a country so dramatically and obviously affected by climate change in areas such as water shortage and in effects on Australian national institutions such as eucalyptus survival, and damage to the Great Barrier Reef (advice is see it while you can), and for a country with such a reputation for environmental beliefs, I always found it strange that the Australian government had not ratified the Kyoto protocol. And it seems that Australian people (particularly the young)were somewhat confused by this also:

While setting up a new bank account with a local Sydney branch, the lady going through the application noticed my new job title "Climate Change Consultant". She enquired what it entailed, and I politely informed her that I went out to factories and large companies and provided advice to them in how to reduce their carbon emissions (mainly through energy efficiency and good management techniques). She asked me the very frank question "how do you think the Australians stack up against the rest of the world?" I gave her the honest answer of "I haven't got much experience of Australia yet, but I think they are around 5 years behind the Europeans". She went into a long monalogue about her frustration at the governments refusal to ratify Kyoto and take action on climate change - frankly surprising me with her understanding and concern for the issues.

Watching the elections and the commentary on the political mood of a nation, the Australian attitude reminded me of the British popular opinion of two years ago. For all of the faults of Blair's government (mainly with respect to foreign policy), Blair spotted this change of popular opinion some time ago, and begun to initiate change (though you might question how successful it has been). Howard did not, and he paid with his job (and his party paid).

Blair has managed to put in motion some political reforms and has presided over the implementation of a number of emissions 'cap and trade' schemes including the climate change levy and the EU emissions trading scheme. And he was there at the inception of the renewable transport obligation and climate reduction commitment (that the British people will hear much about over the next 5 years or so). Personally I think more investment should have been made into capital grants schemes, and into improvements in planning policy to favour renewable energy schemes. Professionally however, the inception of these trading schemes have meant massive workloads for consultancies such as the one I work for.

So one of Rudd's election promises here in Australia has been the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. Which means that if my experience in climate change and energy consultancy over the last four years are anything to go by - the company I am about to go and work for will experience a massive rise in workload over coming months and years. Which is pretty significant, as it appears to me that it is the only reputable large company in Australia to be undertaking these types of projects.

In order to see the other concequence of the Australian government change on climate change politics cast your eyes on the linked map.

So I wonder. Will Bush heed the story of Howard and pay more attention to 'contemporary' politics? I wonder if Howard's story will be repeated on a larger scale.

Though of course Afghanistan hasn't ratified yet, so why should America.

Beginners Guide to Moving Country

Ok, so here I am in Sydney. I have learnt a large number of lessons in the last three or four days, largely through doing some extremely stupid things. So here is my guide to moving country (to Australia) based largely upon the things that I DIDN'T do:

1. Firstly, remember to call your bank to tell them that you are leaving. This way they wont cancle your cash card upon your arrival in Asia (en route), thus landing you in all kinds of crap!
2. Secondly, dont put your cash card in any Asian ATMs not attached to banks (discovered by my friend Pete), as if the machine swallows your card and then switches itself off, you will NEVER get it back. You will have to get a taxi to the nearest major city (using money you don't have - which why you were at the ATM at the first place), and then they will charge you to come out and fetch your card from THEIR faulty machine. Best just to cancel the card.
3. While on the subject of banks, make sure you set up a foreign account (in this case Australian) before you leave. Its not too easy to set up an account in a country where you have no address.
4. Always make sure you have accomodation booked if you are going to Sydney. This will save wandering around for six hours in 30 degree heat with a 20kg backpack on.
5. Never arrive in a new country during tourist high season - THERE IS NOWHERE TO STAY.
6. Never arrive in a city with a housing crisis on - THERE IS NOWHERE TO LIVE.
7. Investigate where you want to live before you land. This will save around 4 days of wandering from street to street.
8. Save up approximately $8 billion before arrival. (Deposit - $2,000, two months rent $2,500, Hotels $500, New Mac - $1600, Travel - $200, Intenet Cafes for blogging -$50, setting up a new bank account - $2,000 required, new furniture at least $1,000 as every property is unfurnished. That makes $8 billion right?
9. On the subject of banks, be aware that Oz banks charge you for EVERYTHING. To get money out of your account, to pay a cheque in. Even to get money over the counter from you own branch is $5. And dont expect any interest unless you have Bill Gates bank balance.
10. dont expect any help from Real Estate Agents. They are even bigger sh*ts that they are in the UK. Basically then can rent out any property at any price they want and still fill it. therefore they dont have to (and refuse to) work very hard. Expect them to take around 3 days before rejecting you application for a property (yes - you have to apply).

Well thats that off my chest. I am off on another wander to try to find somewhere to live. will keep you posted.

A Sign from Above

I am as a general rule, easily amused. I was browsing through my camera and found that I had quite a few which had amused me:

London: For my friend Hardy.

Singapore: Only so funny because the punishment is so out of keeping with the crime!

Singapore: "Please touch the animals, kindly do not lift them out of the water", the only fish petting zoo that I have ever been to!

Jakarta: An Old Favourite

Yogyakarta: where is the temple again?

Yokyakarta: How about a refreshing bottle of sweat?

I also saw an amusing one with "Please do not enter the temple if you are menstruating", (with all due respect to religious traditions) it made me chuckle a little...

I am laying out a challenge to see if anyone can top these (internet downloads not allowed)?

Also I have managed to upload a limited amount of new photos. I will post these soon...

Hiking in Flipflops

Last week we undertook the three day ascent of the second highest peak in Indonesia (Grunung Rinjani) which is essentially a massive dormant volcano with a large 5km crater lake at the top, and a smaller (active) volcano within the lake. The summit of Rinjani reaches up to 3,726m with the last 1,000m be largely volcanic ash, rocks and other crap which you have to scramble over in a two steps forward 1 step back fashion.

The second day was an eleven hour slog beginning at 3am with the final ascent, our guide was a 28 year old who said he had climbed the mountain at least 350 time over the past 10 years. His calves which were the size of a small country served to emphasise the point.

Phot form in the crater:

Setting off half an hour after a Kiwi couple, and 10 minutes after two French guys we joked with the guide that we had to beat the French to the top. A joke which the guide took all too seriously! The 3 and a half hour final slog to the top was absolute hell, with the last 300m taking over an hour due to the nature of the volcanic ash we were walking on, the freezing cold (very bizarre when in a tropical country), and the wind that seemend hell bend on blowing us from the precarious ridge that we were trudging up. But we did our bit for national pride and beat them all to the summit by 20 mins. The Kiwis blamed their slow guide but I am not so sure.

As I have already done all the hard work, I will give you the benefit of the view for free:

In addition to ourselves and a guide, we were (unknowingly) supplied with three porters by our travel agent! We felt like colonial English explorers on a full expedition. This is a photo of our porters taken at approximately 2600m. These guys carry loads of up to 40kg tied to bamboo poles. They are wearing flip flops!!

There were some other strange sights on the mountain including thieving monkeys who have a liking for cameras and anything shiny, and perhaps even stranger - stray dogs at least a days walk from the nearest house. They exist entirely off scraps provided by the porters on the mountain and are inexplicably well trained!

Its ok, the Rangers are Armed with Sticks!

Was what our guide said at the moment we were about to disembark for Komodo Island. "Surely he means stakes right? Like a harpoon or something?" was my response as we had just watched a documentary on the Komodo dragon (in which it shown to be able to bring down a buffalo!)

No joke - these Komodo dragons can get absolutely huge at way over 6ft long and with shoulders larger than a mans (the scale is hard to get accross in the photos). They secreet deadly bacteria in their saliva and the guide at Rinca island informed us that a dragon had recently killed and 8 year old local.

This explains why Pete was somewhat aprehensive as this dragon made a bee-line for him (of course the ranger was there with his stick). the rest of us saw it as a perfect photo opportunity however.
Komodo Island rounded off a pretty cool 5 day boat trip in which we finally managed to get away from busy towns and cities and hawkers and see some countryside, stopping at desert islands, small villages and some spectacular reefs (although one of the coral reefs on the return journey escaped with half the skin from the top of my foot) around the islands of Lombok, Sumbawa, Rinca, Flores, and of course Komodo.

As you can see the scenery was rubbish:
We made some good friends on the trip (who hopefully we will keep in touch with). And got some pretty good sunburn.

Cheers Bigears

Wow, so its been a while since the last post they will be coming thick and fast from now on...

Next stop Gilli Islands (off the coast of Lombok) for 5 days. As far as I can tell, in between hawking magic mushrooms to local tourists and playing the guitar - the sole occupation of the 700 people on this island is sleeping.

This is also the only place in indonesia where if you say "cheers" to your waiter, you will find yourself recieving the reply "cheers bigears" or "cheers moite" in a London stylee, for somehow, all the inhabitants seem to have learned cockney! They seem also to be very fond of "chicken curry don't worry", which I am not sure I have heard before!

The Gilli islands are one of the few islands who have no police, and you can tell pretty much straight away. I wasn't quite sure if the inhabitants were eating the mushrooms they were trying to sell, but there is definately something in the water!

Anyhow, we did some snorkelling, saw some giant clams and turtles, met some cool people, but most of all - did a lot of this:

When Sam met Lucy (Part 1)

An story for our anniversary - 3 years ago today:

It was a Wednesday night, one of the first of the student year. My housemate (an off duty marine) and I - a guy who still referred to myself as a 'young professional' (in an attempt to demonstrate my non-student status whilst still clinging on to my student lifestyle with my fingertips) were on our way into the club.

The club was known at the time (and perhaps it still is) as 'Halo', a former church near the university whose owners had somehow sidestepped planning policy (and common decency) to rennovate the place in the style of a 90's nightclub hole akin to ones I used to frequent in my youth. We were half-cut and quite obviously (at the age of 23) the only non-students in the entire queue.

We were dressed in tight shirts and baggy jeans as was the style of our generation. We had though we looked pretty cool as we had set out - completely unaware that the students of the age were for ripped skinny jeans, scruffy t-shirts and ridiculous (what we had termed 'Headingly wanker') mohecan haircuts.

Mark was the original wild child and a guy who has lived life to the full more than anyone else I know. A more unpredictable guy you could never meet. But he was a good guy all the same.

Mark had a ponchant for what he termed himself 'shit' tattoos, and was openly proud of the 'shit' Royal Marrines Commando Dagger scrawled down his upper arm (he was planning another at the time). He also had a liking for seedy internet 'dating' which I wouldnt like to comment on. All I will say is that I wouldn't let any daughter of mine 'date' a marine.

We had made a pact for that night Mark and I. We were determined to re-live (my) student days and with both of us having some time off that week, we had decided to head off on a Wednesday night to find studentdom. Upon talking to the natives in the local bars, we determined that Halo was the place to be on a Wednesday.

So there we were shuffling forwards in the queue trying to look inconspicuous when the bouncer at the front gave us a knowing frown as if to say 'I know your game' and promptly asked for our student ID. We exchanged panicked glances but just as we were about to offer our unrehearsed excuses someone from behind us broke for the doorway. A stroke of luck, our doorman was distracted and needing no further encouragement we made our own breakthrough.

Inside the club was already sweaty with heaving bodies. The multi-mezzanine floors throbbed with the bass of the awful 90's dance cheese that only student nightclubs could get away with playing. I looked around and could have sworn that most of the kids in there weren't even 16 let alopne 18 year old university students - the creme de la creme of the british education system.

.............

Unfortunately the conclusion of the story will have to wait 6 or 7 days as I am shortly going on my 'Hunting Kommodo Dragons by Camera' trip (although this apparently doesnt involve throwing my brand new compact digital at lizards as I first thought).

Also yes lucy this is a day late (sorry) we have been pitched into a two day blackout as the Gili Trawangon generator packed in and I was unable to post.

Sorry I cant be with you today (yesterday).