NNN Bulletin

Ayoba!

2010-06-29T20:15:00.001+10:00

I caught the fever. It’s the reason I haven’t been in touch for a few weeks. It happened on 11th of June, I’d been waiting for 2 weeks for it but even so I was unprepared. Sitting in a street bar in Umhlanga Rocks just north of Durban this young kid Tshabalala took on the Mexican defence down the left flank then let rip with a left foot rocket that I’m still recovering from.
From that moment I knew it would be big and I chased the Socceroos around the country to make sure I didn’t miss a minute. From the nightclubs of Durban to the lowveld of Mpumalanga, myself and about 15,000 other Aussies did our best to make some noise for the land downunder.

As you’ll know we didn’t quite get over the line, the lads none the less showed plenty of outback grit. That last up cracker against Serbia giving us some fond memories to take away - Bret Holman’s jaffa locking him a permanent place in the hearts of all Australian football fans.
Now the tents of Kingsmead are starting to vacate as the long term contenders of Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain prepare to blow their Vuvuzela at the pointy end of the tournament. I’m not sure who it will be, but who ever gets there, fair play.

The Safa’s have put on a great show here, I haven’t had a moment of insecurity for the duration of my stay. Now if the success of this WC could bring some change to the skewed view world media portrays of this continent, well that would be something to blow your horn about.
In twelve years time, the vuvuzela will be replaced with a pair of thongs and a stubby cooler, handed out to every foreign visitor during the month of June. At that WC I’m sure the Socceroos will go one step further and hopefully the Safa’s and Kiwi’s will again be along for the ride.

How not to cure a hangover

2010-06-05T18:17:00.006+10:00

I weigh 74kg's. How do I know this? Because it's written on the back of my hand - B5/74 it reads.
The B5 relates to the order you jump in. They use the weight to know what type of cord to use. When we got out to the jump point I found out B5 goes first. I had been trying to remind myself for the walk out there why I was actually there, but I was struggling to reconile a response. I was there because, well I was just there. The Bloukrans bridge jump is the highest bridge bungy in the world and if I didn't have a crack, well I'd be asking myself the 'what if' for the rest of my life.
My timing however could have been a little better, as the numerous shots of Nyati - Chilli Mampoer the night before were still thumping away at my forehead. The bottle is wrapped in barb wire, nasty stuff.

I sat down and let the guide wrap my ankles.
'A little tight thanks'. I didn't want my first bungy to be my last. He helped me to my feet. Cue the music, hip hop.... horribly loud hip hop, unfortunately they don't take requests.
He clipped me in and I hopped to the edge. It was a 216mtr drop to the river below, but there was no way I was taking a look.
'This cures a hangover right?'
'Best thing'. He laughed back.
I gazed out at the mountain skyline. Look after me, I said to myself.
'5 4 3 2........ jump'

Fish River Canyon - Day 5

2010-05-31T18:49:00.003+10:00

I made it :)
It's 11AM and I've just started on my 2nd beer. I got into Ai-Ais about 9:30AM. It's a nice spot with a big bar that conveniently opens at 10AM, though not many people are around to join me. I've definitely hit Namibia in the low season.

I didn't sleep so well last night, the sand felt as hard as concrete and I just lay right. I can't blame the evening though, another blissfully starry sky. I used the 'Southern Cross' to work out where I was heading today. It made me feel like a ship's navigator out at sea. The hike this morning was one of reflection. I didn't have a map to distract me so I let my mind continue to drift off in thought. The river crossings were also of a peaceful nature, gone the battles of the days prior. I decided to attempt this canyon on a bit of a whim and it's rewarded me greatly.

Some thing's in life you plan to enjoy.... other things you just enjoy, no plan.

Last morning in the canyon

Wild horse at dawn

A drink to success

18 notches cut - 1 for each river crossing.

Fish River Canyon - Day 4

2010-05-31T18:20:00.003+10:00

I went for a swim this afternoon. It is the first time on this whole hike I have voluntarily got into the water. While I lay there floating on my back starring up at the full moon rising over the canyon I realized something. I have the river all wrong. It isn't something I need to conquer, it's something I should embrace. Afterall without it's water I would probably be dying of thirst right now.

Today my arrogance and stubbornness cost me about 3 hours in wasted time, but it could have been a whole lot worse. I didn't read my map correctly after one of the short cuts across a ridge. As a result I tried scaling a 100mtr cliff face which was stupid. About a third way up my hand grip pulled out a huge chunk of rock which tumbled down to the river bank below. I got the signal.... wrong way! I turned back, but it took me 2 more wrong turns until I finally accepted my error and retraced my steps which got me got on track.

I also lost my map on one of the river crossings today. I even watched it float down the river. It was a little distance off when I spotted it and thought it to be a large insect enjoying a free ride. I only realized once I reached the other bank and felt for my map that it was no insect. I figure I'm around the 80km mark so I'm not stressed if anything it just sent me deeper into my thought.

With an early start tomorrow I should be in Ai-Ais before lunchtime.

Moon rising over the canyon

A marker I set up to assist hikers with a river crossing

Here I miss read my map and attempted to scale the cliff on the right of this picture

Disappointment upon realizing the error of my ways

Contrasting rock formations side by side

Upstream view

Fish River Canyon - Day 3

2010-05-31T17:57:00.005+10:00

Lunchtime
If yesterday was a challenge of the physical nature today is one of the mental thanks in main to having to cross this river. To help me I have a new friend, his name is 'River'. It's a stick, and no I haven't gone 'Wilson!' crazy from the solitude, he's just my lucky stick and with his assistance I've made 6 successful river crossings this morning. I see the river as the mountain on the this hike and a worthy adversary it is. On 2 occasions I have been forced to turn back from an attempt to cross. I'm adding another obstacle to yesterdays post. The water itself is brown like chocolate, so thick you can't see a thing. Every step has to be fully felt out, checking you have a firm base before you heave your weight from one leg to the other.

So far, so good. I'm at the 40km mark, hoping to reach 50km before dusk. Considering I only made 3km on the first day I'm happy where I'm at.

Evening
The afternoon proved a tougher slog. Managed only 1 more river crossing, should have done 3 but my feet are getting cut up by the rocks so went the long way round.

I was treated to a tribe of monkeys playing on the rocks earlier. I also saw a large Kudu. Being alone I am noticing a lot more around me. The sounds of the wild can sometimes feel like personal messages only for me. Especially the wind. I have been listening carefully when it speaks, taking me back to my time when I read 'The Alchemist'. I find it helps to guide my thoughts.

Tomorrow I'm aiming for the 70km marker which I am confident of achieving. Perhaps I'll meet some humans along the way.

My stick 'River' his friend 'Ski' and my 2 feet

Sun setting in the canyon

Campsite Day 3

Fish River Canyon - Day 2

2010-05-31T17:26:00.005+10:00

I can hear the water rushing over the rapids a few hundred meters downstream.... that's it. There is no other sound to be heard, unless I make it. I'm feeling quite tired and a little spaced out. This is the first time in my life where I am 100% in isolation. No people, no phone, I don't even have a watch... just me and the river. I think I have a mild case of heat exhaustion from the steady hiking through the afternoon heat.

I left my SA companions before sunrise and have yet to catch up with the hikers in front of me. This is despite covering what I estimate to be 23km today. I found the terrain to be challenging and at times very frustrating. On two occasional I attempted a river crossing only to have to turn back. The water is running too fast for me to keep balanced. My pack doesn't help that - 20kg's, add to it some poor flip flops and rocks covered in a film of slimy dirt and it looks like a long hike ahead. But I will have to work out something if I'm going to make the 90km's in 5 days. I just have to get across this river to make use of the short cuts.

Earlier today I almost bumped into a wild horse. It was quite surreal. I was scrambling over some rocks along the river bank then all of a sudden there was a horse standing straight in front of me. It was the afternoon and I'd been hiking solidly for some hours, wondering if the heat was playing tricks with my head I didn't think it was real. Then he flapped his tale as to say hello and we walked along the canyon together for a while, him leading the way.

A lonely wind just blew up, time for bed.

Morning sun not yet reaching inside the canyon

My hiking companion for the day

Campsite day 2

Fish River Canyon - Day 1

2010-05-28T21:25:00.005+10:00

Hard work on the descent but made easier thanks to a 'Bells on the rocks' at 'Sakkie's clip' - A full glass of straight whiskey that must be skulled before passing the huge boulder that sits on the left bank a few km's into the canyon. Who am I to question tradition thus I drunk it down, though I barely managed to keep it down.We didn't make it much further into the canyon then decided to set up camp amongst small rock laden beach. The moon was already high in the sky by dusk and in two days should be at full shine. Box taught me how to find South using the 'Southern Cross' and the two markers. Their experience as a whole has been most assuring for me and I feel much more confident for learning from their 20 odd hikes they have made through the canyon.

I spotted a bunch of 'Fish River Canyon' badges on Sakkie's rucksack, I'm keen to earn one for myself. The stillness of the night was mesmerizing, gazing into the starry night as I drifted off into one of the most peaceful sleeps I can recall.

Bells on the Rocks at Sakkies Clip

Box, Sakkie, Piet, Cornelia & Tinnas

Fish River Canyon - Pre hike

2010-05-28T21:17:00.005+10:00

Are there lions in this park?
That was my parting question as I was dropped off into the starry night of the Ai-Ais - Richtersveld national park in southern Namibia. Depending on which opinion I used, I was still either 3km or 10km short of my destination - Hobas camp. It's the starting point for hiking the 'Fish River Canyon' trail, a 90km trek through 'reportedly' the 2nd largest canyon in the world.

Thanks to a half moon I made brisk progress and made it to camp in about 40mins, no lions to report of. There I met an experienced bunch of South African hikers preparing for bed. After some pleasant introductions they kindly welcomed me to join them in their hiking party which was to set off in the morning. I set up my sleeping mat and after a long days travel was soon asleep.

My food supplies for the hike

My drop off point

The Fish River Canyon

Hello... Anybody home?

2010-05-19T00:36:00.005+10:00

I just arrived in a town on the Namibian coast called Swakopmund. The place is deserted, it's like someone went with the old 'field of dreams' mentality of - 'if you build it they will come'.... but nobody showed up!

I have rocked up on a Tuesday arvo in the town that is dubbed the beachside adventure capital of Africa to find tumble weed rolling along the main street. The sun is shining, the ocean looks inviting, but where is everybody? A funeral has more atmosphere than this joint. I blame the Germans? Yeah, a little harsh... but hey, they built the place.

I don't only have my own room in an 8 bed dorm.... I've got my own floor! I checked into a local backpackers and they gave me the key to a building across the road. No probs, so I stroll over open the door.... it creaks a little.... 'Hello, anybody home?' My voice echo's down the hall. Nothing coming so I walk up the stairs to a landing and a hallway with doors adorning either side, but not a soul in sight. They've got room for about 50 people on that floor alone. It's like they've geared up for a world cup but forgot to put their bid in.

Anyway I'll stay here for 2 days to check out the crazy sand dunes I saw on the bus ride in... after that I'm outta here.

Victoria Falls

2010-05-15T20:01:00.008+10:00

Yesterday me and Axel discovered Victoria Falls...... sometimes it's better to let the pictures do the talking.

First Glimpse

The water hits you from every direction

On the edge

Glad I brought my coat

Took a Microflight to get a birds eye view

Some pics from Axel's flight

It would be tough to find a better sunset

Not my pic.. .. but gives you scale of what we saw.

The face is currently 1.7km across

At the moment 900mil litres are following over every minute

Lusaka Sausage

2010-05-14T18:12:00.003+10:00

Me and Axel have been on the road for 3 days now. We're currently sitting in a bus at Lusaka Inter-city bus terminal. I made a bad move before. I ate this sausage.
It was one of those 'the moment got the better of me' things. We'd taken an unwanted taxi ride tour of downtown Lusaka because our driver and his mate had no change. It's a recurring theme on this journey.... no change. Here in Zambia it is even more prevelant when you compare the reality of the divide.
You can have an egg and bread breakfast for K2,000 (Kwacha) and at the ATM you can withdraw K2,000,000 out of the machine.... yes 2 mil. Or to simplify, that is a 1,000 egg and bread withdrawl, and that comes with 4 slices of bread, with butter! Then consider that the smallest note that comes out of the ATM is a 25 egg and bread note and you can see the problem for the local merchant. Even if he has a busy morning it is still going to take many an omlette sale to build up the change I need to buy one helping and then what if Axel is his next customer... bad luck.

I'm no economist but when you can get $500AUD out of an ATM and then only pay 50 cents for your breakfast , well that's what I call the 'Lusaka Sausage'.

Volunteering in Malawi

2010-05-10T22:10:00.007+10:00

I have been a little poor with updates this last month for which I apologise, but I've been busy. Actually I've been damn busy, 7am starts for the last 6 weeks to help out down at the local nursery school. Man kids can be funny, we have this one kid MacMillian he's the resident bully but man he is amusing. If he doesn't get his way he starts this tantrum where he falls down on the floor flat then starts kicking his feet around in a frenzy to the point where he starts spinning around on the floor break dancing style, it's seriously entertaining, well except that he is also screaming at full pitch. It is my first experience working with kids and apart from having to bury the occasional misplaced garden side poo it's been great. Kids really don't care, they'll drop their dacks in the middle of the classroom if they need a wizz, some of the little ones don't even bother to that point, with many a wet pant being hung out to dry come snack time.

Then there's the football team, I've been helping out coach the under 14's Butterfly boys football team. We actually won yesterday too! It was our first goal for 3 weeks and then we scored another 5 on top of that. 6 – 4 the final score and boy did they play well. The kids over here can seriously play, with flying bicycle kicks and mid-air volleyed goals a regular occurrence. And you should see their playing conditions, the pitches are mostly just patches of dirt, littered with pot holes and rocks. Goal posts just a couple of logs dug into the ground. Some players have shoes, most just the hard soles of their well trodden feet. The kids are tough over here and they have taught me much.

I've also been lucky enough to help out on a creative front too. I met a local musician on my first night here and discovered he was desperate to get his music onto the big screen. The issue being here that bars don't play your music unless it's a music video as the people like to see who it is they are dancing too. Anyway after much a logistic effort and many a power cut I managed to shoot a music video for him, get it edited and even cut the disc's. So now Foster Banda's tune M'Mbali Mwanyanja (it will be a hit, well in Malawi at least) can be heard blearing out the windows of the local Nkhata Bay bars. But more importantly it gives him a chance to chase his dream and there in lies my reward.

I've discovered here in Nkhata Bay that volunteering is full of rewards. And similar to my view about marathons I think everyone should give it a crack at least once in their lifetime.

Video Shoot - Aqua Africa

Video shoot - Chikale Beach

Video shoot - outside my chalet at Butterfly Space

Gulugufe Nursery

My class of children. Aged 2 - 3. MacMillian is drinking from the red bottle

Team Butterfly

Off to a game at Vizara

Training Session

Serengeti Moments

2010-03-26T23:55:00.007+11:00

We'll the train was canceled so we're back in Dar.... AGAIN! But it means I can post some pics from our Safari in the Serengeti.

Jess and Shully

Zebra crossing

Look Mr Frodo... it's an Oliphant!

A whole herd of them Sam!

Say g'day to 3.5 million Wildebeast

Tricky to spot them leopards.... but we got him.

If you want to know more about Buffalo ask Pauly. One hit his tent!

Giraffe are cool

And fun to chase!

Lion cubs are cute

Yep still cute

Especially at dinner time

A view over the plains

A Serengeti Sunset

Zanzibar Nutshell

2010-03-26T19:07:00.004+11:00

I don't know what Muslims call it, but when they get up before sparrows fart and start chanting their prayers over the loud town speaker its time to move on. So we have... yep back to Dar... again. Not for long though as we'll be on a train back to Mbeya in a couple of hours.

As for Zanzibar, we'll other than the unrequested wake up calls I can't fault the joint. Seriously though why do they chant over the loud speaker? I respect their rights to worship their religion but not at the expense of some early morning shut eye for the rest of us. Ten past four they started this morning, that's not even a set time? But don't let my whinging deter you Stonetown in Zanzibar is a great spot to visit.
It's one of those medina set ups where you ain't got a hope in hell of finding your way around, but somehow you still do. Spice tour is good too, but I wasn't impressed with the chocolate plant. I'm not a fool I knew it wouldn't be wrapped in foil, but I hoped it would at least taste somewhere close to a Mars Bar. Nope its texture was closer to a soaked cotton ball and it's taste was well.... hello.... where are you? Later in the tour our guide took us to some old slave caves. The history seemed really interesting except for one thing. I couldn't understand a single word our guide was saying. He was so keen to tell us all about the Sultan and how he kept slaves in the cave that he forgot one little detail the English language. All I got was something about using rope, swimming hole, crocodiles in the dark and tip me more and I'll take you to show. Needless to saw all in our group passed on his generous offer.
The tour guides in general here in Africa have been a little sub par. They are just too eager to tell you everything and show you around, and it doesn't make sense as the rest of the country seems to have all the time in the world to do things... 'pole pole' (slowly slowly) being the motto of life over here. But the minute you pay them money to show you around they switch into overdrive. One time back in Mozambique at some botanical garden place in Penhalonga we had to ask our tour guide to leave us alone because he literally had a jogging to keep up with him. I guess they just need a little more training.

So now it's back to Malawi for us and some volunteering in Nkhata Bay.

PS Zanzibar banana chocolate pizza things rock!

Mount Kilimanjaro - Summit Day

2010-03-23T00:45:00.008+11:00

I'm in a bus we've just finished safari in the Serengetti and we're heading back to Dar.

I never wrote another entry on Mt Kilimanjaro. It was attempted many times but this is the first time in 10 days since the mountain I've had some thought space to write. The short of it is we made the summit (yay!), but not as planned. On day 5 after reaching Barafu hut at lunchtime Hashim decided we'd make an afternoon attempt on the summit. It was weather related. There had been a big storm overnight and the climbers who summited had a horrible time of it. We saw them scattered around Barafu. Bloated, sun burnt and totally dishevvelled, as though they had just come off the frontline of a ferocious battle. The weather was clear that afternoon and Hashim wanted us to make an attempt before the storm returned and we'd had time to let the magnitude of the task sink in. His words 'Lets go to the top now. Don't talk to the other hikers'. So we ate lunch and left. His decision was well judged, for even though it was very difficult (Chris suffered badly from altitude sickness and was carried by Jamal & Roman for the last section) the weather stayed clear and we were treated to a glorious sunset.

At the summit (5895mtr) I got down on one knee and asked Jess to marry me, she said yes which sent my head spinning, then about 15mins later we descended in the twighlight as the storm rolled in. We got back to Barafu camp quite exhausted at around 8pm.

I can still see the summit out the bus window. From here it looks like someone has poured a small helping of white topping on some chocolate ice cream. From a distance that is all they look like, nothing much really. But they are the last glaciers in Africa and up close their beauty is unparalleled, as were my feelings as I gazed across a silk blue skyline a top the highest peak on the continent.

Jess and Jamal enroute to the summit

Jess at Stella point

Our team at the summit (left to right - Roman, Paul, Me, Jess, Hashim & Chris)

Paul & Jess (Mt Mwansi in background)

Me & Jess

Taking a break at the summit

Northern Icefield

Rebmann Glacier

Rebmann Glacier (close up)

Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 5

2010-03-23T00:26:00.003+11:00

Was awoken by rain and wind, thankfully it has now subsided and the clouds have cleared a little. The summit is right above us covered in a fresh layer of overnight snow. I figure the snowline comes down to about 4800mtrs so tonights ascent will at least have no rain involved.

Yesterdays hike was short and not too difficult although crossing the 'kissing stone' on Barranco wall took a little bit of agility, in the wet it would be quite hazardous. So far no one has suffered altitude sickness other than a little light headedness on the aclimitisation walks. Yesterdays was a quiet affair, no one spoke for the whole ascent. It allowed us to hold great rhythm though and I could tell Hashim was pleased with it. He is a very quiet person and very in tune with his mountain, niether hold any secrets from the other. He'll look at the sun filled sky and say 'rain in 2 hours'. Then right on cue the clouds will build and yep it will start raining two hours later.

Today we're off to Barafu hut (4600mtrs) then at midnight we start our attempt on the summit, I just hope the wind holds off.

The summit peaks through the clouds at Karanga camp

Climbing the Barranco wall - near the 'kissing stone'

Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 4

2010-03-22T20:12:00.006+11:00

Back in the meal tent, I'm the first up today after my best sleep to date. The face of Barranco wall is towering above our camp. Fresh overnight snow sits a few hundred meters above us along the ridge. I hope we get to walk through some snow today.

As the days pass I'm feeling more confident about our group. Yesterdday was a good test. We reached lava tower after 3hrs 20mins, passing most other groups along the way. We all felt a little light headed at the top but nothing to worry about.

I have begun chosing my words more carefully before speaking, its the altitude. When you're sitting still its fine, but on the uphills the deep breaths just aren't there, you suck it in but you can't get your fill. The experience is great though, I'm paying more attention to our surroundings as a result.

This morning we scale Barranco wall, soon after if the weather allows we'll be able to see our route to the summit. After my first decent sleep the task doesn't seem so daunting.... I'm starting to get excited!

Jess and Paul at Lava Tower (4600mtr)

Flora from a different world

Barranco Wall

Jess at Barranco campsite

Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 3

2010-03-22T19:54:00.004+11:00

Another restless night. I don't think its the altitude as much a rambling mind in the dark. I'm sitting in our meal tent looking out at the summit. The sun hasn't risen yet over it's peak and most of the Shira plateau is still in shadow. On yesterdays walk Hashim told of the Elephant and Buffalo herds that live up on the plateau, there is just so much beauty in this region. Today we set off for the lava tower. It's at 4600mtrs and will be our first major test of altitude. I'll listen to our guides today 'pole pole' all the way.

Paul's shirt froze over night

We're getting closer..... slowly

Mealtimes are always a reason to smile

These birds are as big a pelican

Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 2

2010-03-22T19:41:00.005+11:00

Slept poorly, but the blue sky morning brought a smile. After a hearty breakfast and birthday greetings to Jess we set off. The terrain was steeper than yesterday but our pace was slower and no one struggled. We reached camp at midday just before the rain started. After some poopcorn and a nap we set off for an aclimitisation walk to to 4050mtrs. Jess got a nice surprise after dinner from the crew. Cake, Champange and then they started singing some special Swahili songs for her, the whole campsite was awash with their voices. Afterwards Jess had to feed cake to everybody, as per tradition apparently. The evenings events were very memorable experience for all of us.

Blue sky morning

Shira campsite (3800mtrs)

Jess and her birthday cake

Jess feeding our head guide Hashim

Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 1

2010-03-22T17:42:00.006+11:00

I have attached an extract of the diary entries (with some photos) I wrote while climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. Our trek began on the the 4th of March 2010. We started on the Machame route with a view to complete the full ascent and descent in 7 days.

Day 1

We started off at 11:30AM from Machame gate, altitude 1800mtrs and spirits high. Our guide Hashim set a delibrately slow pace along a well treaded path through the thick rainforest. After a generous lunch of burger, chicken and bananas we continued. Hashim kept a closer eye on us after lunch but didn't enforce a slower pace until just before camp.

'Tomorrow more slowly', he said as we reached the Machame hut campsite (3000mtr).

As soon as camp was set up rain set in and the four of us (Jess, Paul, Chris & I) sat in the eating tent sharing our stories. Chris is a student from Sweden. He is young and enthusiatic about the climb, I think he will do well. Paul is my best mate from Australia, we don't get to catch up much and its great that he has come out to join Jess and I for Kili.

Dinner was generous - fish, patatoes, stew and vegetables. The rain stopped before sunset and the clouds cleared to reveal the summit, It looks so close, but it's still 5 days away.

Our porters helping with our bags. We had 9 porters in total

At the Machame entry gate

Jess and Chris into their tucker box

Day 1 destination

Mt Kili summit in the background

Mbeya Cafe

2010-02-26T23:36:00.005+11:00

I'm sitting at a table in a cafe. It's mid afternoon on a cloudy day. There is a nice green lawn in front of me and over a small fence to my left there are views across the Southern Tanzanian highlands. I can see some rainclouds forming around Mt Loleza.

Yesterday we farewelled Malawi. At the border we didn't have any US currency for the Tanzanian Visa ($50USD). Despite our best efforts in Karonga (the last bank town in northern Malawi) we couldn't get hold of any and we told this to the immigration officer. He was sympathetic to our plight and quickly onto his phone to his dealer. Ten minutes later we were in his back office changing Kwacha for Greenbacks. I couldn't help musing at the official sign above the guys desk - Black market money changing strictly illegal. Overall it was a much smoother border crossing than our last.

The staff are mulling around chatting. I'm the only customer and I've only troubled them with a bottle of coke. I can hear the faint whistle blast from a distant train. We'll be on one tomorrow heading for Dar Es Salam on route to Kilimanjaro. We attempt the mountain in a week or so. I'm a little anxious. Travellers we've met have said that it's the last day that is the tough part. It starts at about 11PM and finished about 4PM the next day. Climbing through the night is what gets you, it's freezing cold they say. A successful ascent should see you summit between 6AM and 8:30AM no later. My uncertainty is mostly around altitude sickness. The mountain peaks at 5900mtrs. None of us have ever been that high, I have no idea how we'll react.

The rainclouds around the mountain are clearing now, some blue sky is peaking through. I'll take it as a good sign.

Nkhata Bay - Lake Malawi

2010-02-23T23:09:00.007+11:00

It's just after 8, I'm sitting in a local restaurant waiting for my banana pancake. Restaurants give you time over here, or should that read 'be patient'. Generally the wait is around an hour after ordering. I don't mind so much as it's not like I'm in rush to do things. Today I have made the time allowance deliberately as I'm diving in the lake at 9:30. Not sure what to expect as it's my first fresh water dive since Wraysbury (Heathrow, UK) a muddy dam of about 12 degrees.

I went for a run yesterday. It gave the locals a bit of a shock, voluntary exercise isn't really grasped over here, they thought I was late for something. We're staying at a place called 'Big Blue Star' right on the cliff shore, the views are impressive. When we arrived off the ferry there was a local guy in reception holding a tortoise. He was there for a job interview. One of the guests was quite horrified and negotiated it off him for a dollar, promptly releasing it into the wild. We all watched it waddle back up the hill, no doubt it will be back again soon for another sale.

There is thunder rumbling across the lake and the clouds are rolling in. Hopefully it doesn't mess too much with the visibility on the dive. At least the water is warm, 28 degrees we were told yesterday, very generous. My pancake just arrived, smells delicious. By the way tortoise man got the job.

Views across Lake Malawi

Farewell Mozambique

2010-02-09T00:22:00.008+11:00

It was our last day in Mozambique, it started in the granite hills of Cuamba in the same way many others had, a 4AM chapa, mind you this one didn't even leave town until 7AM. The road was particularly bad, dirt, mud and potholes for the duration of the 200 clicks. At around midday we hit the border town of Mandimba.

The doors of the van opened and we were free game, about 20 people on us instantly. Money changers, refresco sellers, food vendors, taxi riders all shouting at us louder than the guy next to them so that we could hear about their superior product or service. After 8 hours in the cramped minivan apparently a minute to stretch your legs isn't part of the package and Jess and I just had to make do.

As the tax riders fought over our packs we tried to get our head around changing Meticash into Kwacha. I had a vague knowledge from an outdated Lonely Planet that a USD is worth around 140K and I knew it was also worth about 30Mets but with the locals yapping at us bugger me if I could work out the X factor of Met to Kwacha. They insisted it was 195 so we went with it and despite some attempts from them to confuse us with bad English we only got slighted a couple of dollars. We then looked around and saw our packs were being guarded by two guys sitting on their bicycles gesturing us to get on. I glanced at Jess, we both shrugged - when in Rome.

It was the first time in 3 days we could take in some scenery without the murmur of engine noise and we we're lapping it up. Balanced precariously on the pack rack of some old Amsterdam style bikes we were making the 7km final push for the Malawi border with the lush undulating hills of Mandimba as a backdrop. As our riders sweated the pedals Jess and I happily greeted the smiling locals as we passed. Almost at the border and Jess passed the comment 'Have you got your hiking boots?' The question blasted me back to reality. Shit! No I didn't. Just as we hit the border post we worked out they were still in the min van. In all the commotion I'd forgotten rule no.1 - Get your stuff! It had been 30mins and the rider reckoned 'maybe' the van would still be in town, as for my boots? Well with Mt Kilimanjaro only 25days away I had to try.

I left Jess with our packs borrowed the guys bike and sped back into town. I soon had more praise for my driver as I discovered the pedals were loose and the brakes didn't work. After replacing the chain twice in a sweaty, greasy mess I arrived back at town and again I was descended upon, but this time with curious looks. I looked around but our van was no where in sight. With broken Spanish/Portuguese and hand gestures I was able to explain my dilemma. In minutes the whole street was in discussion. Then a bloke with a motor bike appeared out of no where and another bloke jumped on the back. Seconds later they were speeding off into the dust shouting 'Boots, boots!' as they went. I only assumed they planned to chase down the van.

I hunched down on the curb, holding out little hope for their success. Not long had the dust settled had the vendors gone back to their routines, reshuffling soft drinks in their warm coolers, rotating corn cobs on the open fires. At other times I have considered these lives of basic activity and how seeing a white guy ride in on a bicycle would be something of an event, but now I was just lamenting my own stupidity of being the main act. Suddenly I heard a bike down the road. In a plume of dust and exhaust smoke it zoomed around the bend. As it came into focus I saw the guy on the back holding something. It came closer and I saw a pair of black sandals held in his hand. The idiot has taken someone else's shoes! As the bike pulled up I notice the huge grin on their faces and I look down. The driver is wearing my boots! To raucous applause he took off my boots and held them aloft. He then handed them to me and I gave him 1000k's for the trouble. I think it was about $8AUD but it may as well been $8Mil as the crowd went wild. Amongst the applause I put on my boots and rode back to the border to met Jess. Exhausted but richer for the experience.

Jess and our taxi rider

Heading back to the Border

No one goes hungry

2010-02-08T23:15:00.007+11:00

'Hey give me a break, I haven't sold a single toothbursh!' I couldn't hear the exact conversion but body language speaks volumes over here.

We're sitting at a train stop in the village of Ribaue and the market is alive. It actually arrived with our train and will probably depart with it too. The guy selling the pens did very well, even though none of the blue ones actually worked, not a problem the green and red work fine - for those who actually chose those colours. The kid selling the donut looking things did great too. I think thats why toothbursh kid was a little unhappy when donut boy got cheeky with him. Sales had been great, his whole bucket was empty saving some scraps at the bottom and Donuts was counting his tidy wad of Meticash when toothbrush boy picked up some of the last morsels out of his bucket for a feed. Donuts knew Macleans was having a tough day but still gave him the look and asked the question of payment. When none was offered (well Macleans hadn't made a single sale) Donuts then started perusing Macleans merchandise, finely imported chinese 'Cool Jet' toothburshes offered at 5Mets a piece (20cents). Thats when Macleans snapped, for there was no way he'd give up one of his toothbrushes for the few crumbs he'd just eated. Thankfully Donuts was only joking and it went no further. The market has just disbanded, hopefully our train will do likewise.....

Train ride from Nampula to Cuamba

Pop up - rail side market at 'Ribaue'

Try and spot Donuts & Macleans... there in there!

Ilha de Moçambique

2010-02-03T02:33:00.002+11:00

The fan is making a flickering strobe effect on the light, the room needs a sign 'Epileptics be warned'. I switch off the light. I'm feeling stronger now, at least enough to eat. A bread roll with peanut butter smeared on it. I bought the rolls from a local market this morning. The vendor had stood there looking at me as though I should know what to do. Thankfully my prolonged blank response was enough to kick him into gear. How was I to know you select the rolls yourself, it would have felt rude. Anyway they taste good, still soft on the inside.

Last night was rough, I lost count after my tenth trip to the loo. I factored a few bouts of diarrhea into the itinerary but even so it's not fun. I thought I had a fever too so Malaria was on my mind, thankfully it was just from sun exposure - our stocks of sunscreen are very depleted and they don´t sell it here, our current supplies are borrowed from our last hostel owners.

Uve just switched on some tunes, soft Caribbean reggae beats. It suits. The passerbys by like it too, humming along as they pass the window. Ruby's has only been open two months yet most of the islanders can assist you with directions, it will prove a good business. Ihla de Mozambique itself is a very special place, easy to see why it´s World Heritage listed. The street scape has changed little over the last 100 years, apart from a little wear and tear, which only adds to it´s charm. Would be good though if ´M-Cel´ hadn´t gotten it´s hands on this place, they´re doing the 'Coca-Cola' thing with mobile phones here in Mozambique. It´s good to see some investment, but when see their bright yellow and green logo is painted all over every hut in a remote village in the middle of nowhere, well it can get a bit much. This island has an impressive fort, I think tomorrow I will have the strength to visit.

Potholes and Sweat

2010-01-27T23:53:00.003+11:00

Today for the first time I have braved the front seat. I was apprehensive at first but it ain´t so bad up here, much more leg room. I´ve got a little african kid sitting next to me. He likes my biscuits, but not my bananas, some things are the same everywhere.

Last night was another typical Mozambique evening, humidity levels off the chart. The sweat dripped down my back as I picked off my prey from under my mozquito net. I´ve got my bedtime mozzie technique down now. First I set up the net, stretch it out, tuck it under the mattress at each corner. Then I put my supplies in, head lamp, silk sheet (sleeping bag a waste of time so far), bottle of water and maybe a book. When all is ready I quickly duck under the net and reseal it. Then I put on the headlamp turn it on full and hone in on my targets. You´d think when you first get under the net there wouldn´t be any mozzies... but they are always there... I think they camp out there during the day. The other night I woke up and killed 10 of the barstards. I had left the smallest of gaps.... I won´t make that mistake again.

Our driver just drove through a roadblock rope by accident, it was a withering old piece of twine setup before a bridge, it snapped like a twig. He wasn´t paying attention. The police on patrol are lightening his wallet right now, a few hundred Mets should do it, about $10AUD. On a whole the driver has done well today, it ain´t easy driving in Mozambique. The roads are potholed like Swiss cheese, even those not long laid are crumbling along the edges, as if wild animals come out of the bush at night and nibble on them. We´re on our way to Chomio, I think we´ll get there by lunch.

No Mans Land

2010-01-14T16:29:00.001+11:00

Yesterday we were in no man’s land for about 15mins. Distance wise I would estimate it to be around 300mtrs between the border of South Africa and Mozambique. In this place businesses of every nature go on. Hawkers flogging goods at ‘special just for you…. Zulu prices’, money changers offering crazy exchange rates that would send the world back into a GFC, I even saw a bloke get handcuffed by an army dude because he was holding onto his bag too tightly.

I asked Jess if we could get a slice of the incredible exchange rate action going on, she declined. I asked again, she declined. Instead we went into one of the more esteemed establishments set up along ‘No Mans land’. It said “Insurance” out the front, but our bus conductor gave us good instruction… ‘Yes, money, change’ pointing at the hut. It had more resemblance to a temporary tuck shop back at Hampton Primary School, than a place of currency exchange, but we decided to try our luck.

We stepped inside to four Africans sitting around a table laidened with notes stacked inches high… all we needed was a black briefcase with ‘the goods’ and it had Hollywood drug deal scene take 1 written all over it. I decided against asking the question whether they change money figuring that would put us on the back foot for the negotiation, instead I just took out all our money and started counting. At this stage one of the money exchange street hawkers started banging on the window ‘4.2… 4.2’ I heard through the glass. It was a good rate so I repeated it to drug lord sitting behind the desk. His reply was a deep laugh that only a Nigerian could pull off.....‘4’ he replied. I looked at Jess and briefly considered arguing the point. I placed the Rand on the counter and we watched as he counted out his notes, all the while his three cronies stood there not letting their eyes off us.

‘4400’ he said through his cigar as he placed the last note in front of me. I knew it was a little short, but it was clear the negotiation phase had passed. We took the money and stepped out of the shop and back into the peaceful mayhem of ‘No Man’s Land’, feeling somewhat inducted into it’s chaotic realm.

Sun City

2010-01-08T18:01:00.006+11:00

‘Let go…. come on, you can do it’ I shouted from below.
‘I don’t want too…… aarrgggggh’
In the end it took a little bit of an assisting shove from the lifeguard, but that’s how they roll in SA. Having screamed all the way Jess stood up and pulled her wedgie out, she was grinning from ear to ear…. and why not, she had just conquered the city of Sin’s most daunting….. ‘Slide of Courage’.

None of my mates are quite sure when Sun City was built, they just say sometime in the 80’s.... and it makes sense to leave it that way. As that decade seems like a fitting birth time for a city that is destined to always stand out in the crowd. Wedged between the spectacular rolling hills of the Pilanesberg National Park and the flat industrialised platinum planes of the Northern Province, Sun City is simply a place one must see.

And yes it has a monorail!

The Slide of Courage

Darryl Jane & Paige

Jess and me

The Valley of Waves

Inside the Casino

A scenic shot

Target Practice

2010-01-08T17:16:00.004+11:00

'Choooooof’ as the bullet thudded into the wooden retainer wall.

‘You see, with this silencer it doesn’t even make a noise.’ We’d been in South Africa about 45mins and Eddie (our host) was already giving us a lesson in armed self defence. Suffice to say a week later Jess and I were out in the veld (paddock to us) getting our first lesson in clay pigeon shooting. Having never even held a gun, at first I was a bit apprehensive but being a sucker for the ‘Marty McFly - Chicken’ syndrome I was not going to shirk my turn.

It took me four shots to hit my first clay, then I got my eye in. In the last round I hit 5 of 6 and reckon I can challenge for Russell Marks’ spot in the next Olympics. Warning to other first timers though, expect some muscle soreness afterwards…. my cheek copped a battering, felt like I’d taken a hit from Cassius Clay himself.

Getting my eye in

A shoot off

Jess shooting and Darryl on the sling

Africa

2009-12-17T12:26:00.005+11:00

In 9 days Jess and I will be embarking on a 6 month adventure in Africa. The itinerary is still a little vague, but there are a couple of carrots to keep us going:

2 friends weddings
Scuba diving
Taking in a breath of air from the highest point on the continent
Watching Australia play in the World Cup!

Below is a rough map of our planned route.

I'll keep updating this site throughout the journey so pop by sometime to see how it's going.

Cone of Silence

2009-11-15T20:13:00.003+11:00

After a long absence on all creative internety things today I logged back into the mother board. Yes it was a case of... now what are those passwords again?

After trawling through some of my old content I discovered one of my old you tube clips had no sound? I was pretty sure this wasn't my own doing so I hunted around on the net and discovered that I should be more in tune with the happenings in multi-conglomerate cyber land.

Back in January, Google got into some dispute with WMG and other music labels about copyright which resulted in You Tube muting the sound on all uploaded content that featured any of their music artists. I joined the dots to work out Google must own You Tube, what don't they own these days! Now I'm a bit peeved about this whole thing. Whenever I edit a video I spend a good deal of time searching through my back catalogue of tunes to find the perfect fit to capture the story I'm trying to tell and WMG or whoever is to blame have now gone and turned it into a Charlie Chaplin film! No, even he has music.

I know that I didn't write the music so I don't own it, but I don't use it to make money, only to tell my story... and now the story is dead.

I'm glad people have taken up the fight with this one.... stick it to em!

A climate of Change

2007-12-05T21:54:00.000+11:00

It was almost 6pm and the sun hadn't let up all day.... I was burnt and exhausted, my sandwiches still lay in my backpack, unwrapped. I shuffled over to the curbside, I must have looked like some kind of retarded suburban cowboy the way I was walking, but I had no choice, the chaffing on my inner thighs was now at 'Wasabi' levels and I'd do anything to alleviate the pain. I'd just pulled out our sign from the nature strip when our Booth Captain made the call.

"We start the count in 2 minutes and the doors will lock. So if you want in... get in now!"

It was election day 2007.

It had all begun about 5 weeks earlier, the election campaign was into it's second week and John Howard had just lost the last chance of my vote with his pathetic pledge to finally recognise 'the stolen generation'.... like seriously Johnny, 11 years in power and you wait until the eve of your fourth term to make the announcement... wheres your integrity man! Anyway that sent my vote sailing.... but where would it land, Rudd hadn't offered enough alternative from Howard to win my tick, and I still hadn't got around to obtaining my gun license so the "Australian Shooters Party" didn't seem the logical choice.

I spent the next few days analysing my life on the basis of - politically speaking, what really matters to me? It felt kind of strange as I've never seen myself as political, yeah I've always had views, but I've never tried to box them into which political party those views most agree with. Anyway box them in I had too and after a week of researching the various party's policies 'The Greens' got me with their cool triangle logo.... and got me good too. As after doing all that thinking I felt I owed it to my new party of choice to help them out..... this started innocently enough - handing out "Green Times" newspapers (recycled of course) to strangers in the city, that then became convincing my girlfriend Jess to join me in a 'Refugee rally' down Swanston St... which then became mail dropping the local neighbourhood (recycled again of course), the whole thing culminating into my 14hr 'Greens' dedication (of course not that I realised I would spend 99% of that on my feet) to the booth of 'Camden' in the electorate of 'Melbourne Ports' on the 24th of November 2007 - the day Australia decided.

The whole thing was quite an empowering experience, I even scrutinised the count which was pretty cool.... but in the end it didn't really matter.... cause we lost! Damn those two major parties!

Well until next time..... think Green.

The Night of Nights.....

2007-05-17T23:15:00.000+10:00

On an evening in early March, while wearing suits and sitting at a sports bar at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. Pauly and I found ourselves discussing a recent lack of player enthusiasm towards the PCG. Both in full agreement on our problem, we brainstormed some ideas that could rejuvenate it’s spirit. It took no more than a few more drinks and some very ambitious, not to mention successful bets on the roulette table to make our idle bar chat PCG gospel.

Our concept was simple, the PCG needed something to rekindle it’s spirit, so we’d put the PCG’s spirit itself up for grabs, by holding a full-house season long PCG event.

The next night we ran our ideas past the committee, and after some debate a basic structure was nutted out:
Upon conclusion of every 4 way Quadrangular series held whereby the 4 full voting PCG members all participated in. Each member would sit down post series, and by private scripture record their 3, 2 & 1 votes with written justification. Votes are to be awarded on how each member performed in that series based against the ‘unwritten’ PCG code of ethics. All the votes would then be folded and sealed not to be seen again until the night of the vote.

After precise wording this concept was then put to vote, the PCG’s first ever full member vote (Pauly’s ‘Hall of Fame’ induction was never voted upon). The result was 4 to 0 in favour and thus the PCG “Night of Nights” was born!

As the season ending night approached, series were played with increasing intensity, no man wanting to drop a potential vote. Speculation began spreading too, vote tampering, ballot stacking, general integrity…. everything and one was being brought into question.

When the night finally arrived, 8 fully voted series had been held making up a total of 192 votes. Simon Beasly was paying me and Cashman as equal favourites for the title at odds of 2/1, and by the midway mark of the voting we were 2 and 1 respectively. But as the rounds wore on, our form faded and by the last round we were both out of the running. In the end it came down to the last vote of the evening with Pauly getting the 3 and taking it over Coyley 51 to 48.

With no speech prepared Pauly was in shock, compounded further when celebrity guest Russell Gilbert showed up for the presentation. But none the less he was a fitting winner, grasping the PCG Ashes with pride as he posed for post ceremony fan photos.

Upon review all committee members proclaimed the Dalton Bar “Night of Nights” a huge success, with Russ’ entertaining finale the cherry on top. If by chance the PCG lasts another year consideration has already raised to invite him back.

Regards,

Tim B.
PCG Committee Member

Presentation
(It is a bit out of sync, due to Pauly's instantanya running low on juice)

Night of Night's Tally Sheet

2007-05-17T23:07:00.000+10:00

Cashman's votes.....

2007-05-17T22:22:00.000+10:00

For every vote cast the player had to justify the vote with a comment, and early on one trend became clear, Cashman nearly always managed to squeeze himself into his own votes.

Round 1
P. Cashman - 3 votes
Won the final what more can you say.

Round 2
P. Cashman - 2 votes
Unlucky, bowled the best spell of bowling ever

Round 3
P. Cashman - 1 vote
There abouts but not good enough.

Round 4
P. Cashman - 2 votes
What lost it for me was the 2 chicken pies at 5AM

Round 7
P. Cashman - 2 votes
Unlucky not to score one of the best hundreds ever seen at the PCG

I would have put up some of the comments from Pauly and Coyley, except they didn't vote for themselves as much, plus they can't spell or punctuate. Though things of note were that Pauly loved to sign off everything as "The PCG Hall of famer", an accreditation he just decided to assume one night. And Coyley loved stating bookie Simon Beasly's odds whenever an outsider got up for the win.

It was also great to see Boonie getting some votes, all in attendance toasting with skol whenever he got one.

Offical PCG Statistics (9/05/07)

2007-05-17T21:37:00.000+10:00

Batting

Bowling

Performance

Series Winners

World's Greatest Shave

2007-03-30T11:45:00.000+10:00

Here is the video of the head shaving event which took place at a friends house on the 17th of March.

Thanks again for all your donations.

Official PCG Statistics (24/3/07)

2007-03-30T11:16:00.000+10:00

Batting

Bowling

Performance

New statistic feature:

Ducks now split between normal and Golden

The Great World Shave-off!

2007-03-01T22:15:00.000+11:00

There comes a time in a man's life when he decides he has too much hair.

Winston Churchill decided it

Sinead O'Connor decided it

This Handsome guy decided it

Even Britney has jumped on the bandwagon

And yes for the purposes of this post Sinead and Britney are considered male, even though by their photos they look more alien than male.

Anyway my point is, yes for a change I actually have a point. On the 17th of March I will be joining the ranks of these questionably handsome men and say......... "No to hair".

I will be doing so in the name of raising money for kids with Luekaemia.

You can sponser me online at this site:

Worlds Greatest Shave

If you help me reach my target of $500 I'll record the shaving on camera and post a video to this site.

So go on............

The PCG Ashes

2007-02-09T14:34:00.000+11:00

On the 29th of December 2006, Cashman and Coyley headed over to the PCG to join Pauly for an afternoon triangular; the new year was just around the corner and the mood was upbeat.

Coyley set the early running with a 50 against Cashy in the first game. He then knocked him over for 16 taking the easy win. In the next game Coyley was pitted against Pauly, again he had the measure of his opponent, notching up his first ever PCG ton (103*) and then conceding only a miserly 4 runs before claiming the wicket. With that win he assured his place in the final, it was now just a matter of who would join him.

It turned out to be Pauly, who managed to defend his total of 4 by tempting Cashy into an errant drive with one of his floating offies, Pauly took the catch and set himself to take revenge against Coyley in the final.

In the final after making 18 runs, Pauly got Coyley with one that jagged off the pitch and squeezed through his defences, taking out his middle stump in the process. Well Pauly was pumped and very confident he could turn his batting slump around to nut out a 19 and take the series win. But Coyley was in form with bat and ball and with his second delivery he ricod one in off the off-side wall that went straight through the gate, the death rattle following instantly. Pauly was fuming, not only had Coyley taken him for a 100, but to rub the salt in he’d just bowled him for a 2nd ball duck. With his anger at critical mass he exploded, thrusting the “Killcunda Super Palmer scoop” towards the PCG pitch with all his power. As it connected with the ground an earth shattering “CRAAAAAACK” sounded out that I almost heard over in Guatemala. The aftermath was a 6 inch split down the splice of the bat, and although the Killy lasted another 20days, (Simmo finished it off via a wayward cut shot) Pauly’s act of petulance marked the beginning of the end for our beloved Scoop.

On the 3rd of the February 2007 prior to “The test of new Beginnings”, Pauly cut up the remaining pieces of the Kilcunda Super Palmer scoop and with seven PCG members watching on we burned it in the PCG backyard. Afterwards I carefully collected up the ashes, and placed them into a specially designed container.

There will never be another bat like the original Killy scoop (The Palmer II twin scoop broke after 2 days!), thus all PCG Ashes tournaments will be conducted in a manner that mirrors the esteem in which that bat held with all of us.

Official PCG Statistics (6/2/07)

2007-02-09T14:09:00.000+11:00

Batting

Bowling

Performance

To Enlarge Stats:

Click on image. It will load a little blurred, but wait a few seconds then select the 'Expand to regular size' icon box that will pop up ini the bottom right hand corner of the image.

Un dia mas....

2007-01-20T01:45:00.000+11:00

Hutchy is snorring, my head is aching..... I stir a little, scratching the bites on my skin. I slowly open my eyes and make out the time on my watch... 7:14AM. Whoa, that's a little early. I close my eyes.

Hutchy is snorring, my head is aching.... I stir a little, scratching the bites on my skin. I slowly open my eyes and make out the date on my watch, 19/1/07 ..... it's over.

Tomorrow Hutch and I will board a plane in Cancun and head back to OZ, marking the end of our Central American adventure. It has been an amazing two months for me, with many new faces, places and incredible experiences. But I'll preach not about the trip, all I will say is this:

If you give in every moment of your life..... your life's moments will only become richer for it.

My last two months have reinforced this personal philosophy for me.

Well hope you've enjoyed following our travels.

Hasta luego amigos!

Tim B.

PS We kept up our "Trotters" for about 2 weeks then they got lost in a blur of Cuba Libre's...

PPS Tikal is worth the hype.

One night in Puerto Barrios....

2007-01-12T13:16:00.000+11:00

Don't you just love seedy port towns. You know, the ones that have a hooker on every corner and hotels that rent by the hour. Anyway that's Puerto Barrios (Guatemala) and me and my new Japanese mate Makoto just spent 13 hours to get here.

It was quite an effort too:

1 dawn ferry fride from Utila to La Ceiba (Honduras)
2 taxi rides
1 first class autobus ride
1 Chicken bus ride (Bus de Pollo)
2 Collectivo bus ride's (One included a free prayer session on route, well almost free I bought a specially blessed pen off the dude for 20 Quetzales afterwards.... couldn't help myself, he said it was blessed!)

Anyway so I'm back in Guatemala now. Yeah I know, I never even said I'd left, well I did... about a week ago. Actually it was just a couple of days after me and Hutch had a news years on Lake Atitlan that neither of us can remember, but neither of us will forget. But blah blah blah.... and I'm back now, with an Advanced Open Water PADI Scuba certificate and one rare close encounter with a Whale Shark under my belt. And now it's time to track down Hutchy who is about one country ahead of me at the mo swimming in Stingray infested waters, yeah he went North when I went East.

Anyway Hutch if you read this, watch ya back as I'm on the Belize border right now and I'ma hot on ya heels!

Posada San Andrés (Xela - Guatemala)

2006-12-30T03:27:00.000+11:00

Creation

It's beauty lies in the courage behind it.....

So Fear Not...

And let your dreams evolve.......

Mexico/Guatemala photos 2006

2006-12-29T07:48:00.000+11:00

Follow this link:

Mexico Photos

Then select:

Mexico 2006 album

Then slideshow

(Be patient, it may take a couple of minutes to load)

Back to Shhhhkoooool....

2006-12-21T08:35:00.000+11:00

I just tried to start this with some philsophical spanish phrase, but it's a waste of time.... as my grammar stucks!

On Saturday Hutch and I left the crazy cliff divers of Acapulco and headed East. Our 8 hour bus ride brought us here, to Puerto Escondido. The town is famous for its surfing but we were here in search of knowledge; in the form of the Spanish Language to be more precise.

Armed only with our Trotter diary, on Monday we both took a deep breath then pushed on the wooden gate at institutio de Puerto Escondido. It flung open without resistance and soon after we were both sitting down at a desk like a pair of pre-schoolers waiting for their morning milk. Within minutos we had added "¿De Donde Eres?" (where are you from?) & "Necisito los baños" (I need the toilet) to our repitoir and all was looking up. But as Hutchy put it to me before school:
"Timmy, my brain can only hold so much information. When something new goes in, something old drops out."
And how right he was, for both of us! As after absorbing a day of well taught spanish we down right plain forgot to even take our brains with us on the way out! Getting "muy borrachard" (very drunk) that night as a result. This was followed by a day of truency for Hutch and two very draining solo lessons for me.

But with our plumas in hand, (pen I think?) today we continued the fight, soaking up every little bit of Español that our dried up sponges would allow us. Will we ever gain that cherished pen license? Well based on my poor gramatical skills and Hutchy's ever rumbling stomach (he's had the sh*ts for a week) no es probable, but we're still enjoying the dip regardless!

Viva La Trotter!

2006-12-10T11:13:00.000+11:00

On the back of a great day exploring a couple of Mexico city's many tourist sites Hutchy and I settled down (grande "Sol" cereza in hand) into one of the comfortable couches at our hostel. After a few decent mouthfuls (we had earned it after walking a solid 15 clicks today) and chatting with a couple of fellow travellers our minds drifted back, reflecting over the past two days of travelling we have had together. A few more minutes later and we had decided our trip needed more than just simple chit chat accepting the good and bad..... thus with Phillip from Belgium guiding our judgement we devised the "Viva La Trotter" (named after our enjoyable experience visitng the Leon Trotsky museum today) Daily scoring diary.

The way it works is simple, there is a differential of 5 points:

2 points for a big win
1 point for a win
0 points for a draw
-1 for a loss
-2 for a bad loss

And we have agreed on 7 catergories (each to be rated as per the above "Trotter" system):

Ripped Off (Can work in positive if we get a good deal with anything involvling cash)
Expectation (of an event.... does it fulfill, or do better?)
Random Luck (good or bad)
Food (is it tasty or foul)
Social Interaction
Local Interaction
Language (Como mucho Espanol did we prender?)

Each day we are both to "individualy" write up our scores (with a short comment) for the previous day, then we tally it up to get our score for that day....

Every couple of weeks I'll post up the running scoreboard to this blog.

Luego amigos...

PS After day one I'm winning with a -1, Hutchy had a -2 (he didn't learn enough Spanish)

When everything just clicks.....

2006-12-07T06:07:00.000+11:00

The other day I got on a train in the town of Los Mochis. It was to take me on a journey through Mexico´s famous Copper Canyon to the small mountain village of Creel. For the journey I hoped nothing more than some good views and to find a nice relaxed hostel..... oh how wrong I was.

For starters the Copper Canyon train ride isn´t just "a" train ride, with no less than 86 tunnels and 36 bridges it is one of the most impressive train rides on the continent. As for the town of Creel where I hopped off, well it´s definately a travellers Mecca. From worldly French vagabonds, to inspirational Japanese cyclists, to brainstorming American inventors, Creel had them all...

I´ll let these photos do the rest of the talking.....

Hot Springs

Some of the Creel gang in one the hot springs pools

Road trip from Creel to Batopilas

Taka taking in the view of the Canyon

The Canyon is 1000 mtrs deep in some parts

Salud to Batopilas

An interesting game of cards

Ryoko tries on the PCG Members Hat

View along the River at Batopilas (base of the Canyon)

The Batopilas team!

Tijuana to Los Moschis with plenty in between....

2006-12-02T11:40:00.000+11:00

¿Que Tal?

Hey you know these Mexican guys are a really expressive bunch, really in touch with their infeminin side, as just 20 minutes ago I was sitting in a park here in Los Mochis when two local guys came up to me and started complementing me on my lovely legs. One even carressed my knee? But I figure it´s all normal as last week when I was in Tijuana a pair of cops did pretty much the same thing only they also got me to put my hands on their car bonnett beforehand, but I figure that´s the Baja style.... yes no?

Well it has been an eventful week and just for the record Tijuana isn´t a place I recommend to any solo traveller. It´s a circus act, with Zebra´s and everything... well donkey´s painted as zebras but hey, stupid gringos like me can´t tell the difference right? Actually their main street (Ave Revolución) has still got me puzzled. It lies in that grey area that´s between, "La Rambla" Barcelona (for crowds), the Red light district Amsterdam for sex shows and Kuta beach Bali for street hasslers... truly unique, but also nothing to hang your hat on either.

After Tijuana I took myself to the more "tranquilo locación" of Mulegé. This small quiet town is situated just in from the coast about halfway down the Baja pennisula, thankfully a long way from Tijuana. I spent four days there and loved every one of them, even managed a night scuba dive in the Sea of Cortez; the local plankton living up to their reputation too, lighting up like fire flys when we turned our torches off.... truely incredible.

Amongst all this I´ve also had time to meet the Mexican secretary of Tourism (a very handy business card when dealing with Tijuanian Police), comprender en poco mas español (understand a little more spanish) and lose my camera on the ferry ride from hell.

Hasta pronto amigos....

Who is John Scott?

2006-11-25T15:31:00.000+11:00

When I boarded a bus on Hollywood blvd earlier this evening I didn't expect too much from the journey.

But thanks to my larger than life "Franz Ferndinand" T-shirt the bus driver (a now known avid military historian) and I struck up a conversation about the original Archduke himself. A couple of stops later the conversation has transgressed to current world politics soon after moving onto the war in Iraq. At which point an elderly man sitting across from me joins into the conversation and everything progresses along just fine. As we chat I am drawn to a bright Orange Sticker stuck to his breifcase. At the next stop a lady boards the bus, immediately striking up a friendly side conversation with him, it's at that point I know there is something more about him, and there was, he was "John Scott".

Who is that you ask? Well John Scott is no different from you or me, except for one thing perhaps. As John is chasing his dream, and to me that in itself says more about LA than anything. Cause if I've learnt one thing from my short time here its that this truly is...... the city of dreams.

But in saying that... they won't catch me napping as tomorrow I'm off to Tijuana!!!!

Oh I also saw Paris Hilton drive passed in a black Porsche today but I think that John's story was much more "Hollywood".

The PCG Memoirs...

2006-11-18T03:21:00.000+11:00

I moved into 168 Page Street about 6 months ago, it’s a pretty run down old place, paint peeling of the walls, palings falling off the fence, vines creeping into the outdoor dunny, to the naked eye not much to look at; except for one feature..... it’s hallway.

To most a hallway is what? A simple indoor stretch of corridor which you use to get from one room to another. But make this stretch a full 25 meters long then ad a 12 foot high ceiling and what do you have? Yes I know, a very long and tall hallway. But to those few dreamers of you out there I know you can see more..... and so did we.

Creating the PCG (Page Cricket Ground) was a team effort, visualised during the consumption of many a twilight beer out in the Page Street backyard. But as Kevin Costner knows they don’t come unless you build it. Thus on the 3rd of October myself and Pauly hand crafted the “Killcunda Super Palmer Scoop” from an off cut of Radiata pine. Aptly named after a Super Chicken Parmigiana that I’d consumed earlier that day down at the Kilcunda Pub, it’s creation marked the dawn of a new era at 168 Page St.

After some basic rules and a quick seam of red electrical tape being laid around 'The PCG pill', the Inaugural Page St Cricket test kicked off between me and Pauly. We both started tentatively not quite at home to the Rico deliveries bouncing in off the walls; but on the back of a nutty 38 in my 2nd dig I clenched the win, my final delivery getting Pauly a beautiful Bowled Rico off the legside wall.

Just like World Series Cricket back in the 70’s, the word spread fast, “What is this new game? What’s this Bowled Rico all about? How does this Caught Boonie work?
Less than 3 weeks after the 'Inaurgural Test' the First Triangular series was held, the results clearly illustrating - the PCG favoured aggressive batting and savy bowling. The next week ‘Triangular’ became Quadrangular, two days after it evolved to Pentagluar there was clearly no stopping this new form of the game.

To date the PCG has hosted no less than 18 series and had a total of 6008 “official” runs scored on it’s hallowed carpet. It’s had no shortage of controversy either with the infamous Lost Series still discussed with much passion.

With myself heading off to Mexico in a couple of days I can only hope that my fellow PCG Players continue diving for catches and striving to win matches on our hallowed PCG hallway.

Tim B.

The PCG Memoirs

2006-11-18T03:18:00.000+11:00

A short video of the early memories of our time at the PCG.

The Lost Series

2006-11-18T03:12:00.000+11:00

On the 29th of October, the 4th Quadrangular and 1st Pentangular series were played, won by Cashy and Pauly respectively. The following day I entered the Stats into my laptop only to discover the next day that the file was gone, I spent an hour trying to recover it, but to no avail. With myself having a dogged series and Cashy and Pauly posting some very solid numbers speculation spread that it was deliberate, but it is mere speculation, and to this day I still proclaim my innocence.

The only official evidence that the series ever took place were these 2 photos. The series were soon after renamed “The lost Quadrangular and Lost Pentangular”.

PCG Player Profiles (as at 17th Nov)

2006-11-18T03:10:00.000+11:00

To Read:

The image will load a little blurred, wait a few seconds then select the 'Expand to regular size' icon box that will pop up in bottom right hand corner of the image.

Boonie

2006-11-18T02:53:00.000+11:00

Boonie is a brown cardboard box that sits to one side of the PCG hallway just passed Pauly's bedroom. He has always been a member of the PCG, but he was upgraded to official "PCG fielder" status on the 31st of October after a brief committee meeting between Pauly and I.

He is handy for stopping 4’s & 10’s down the ground and his official status also allows him to take catches.

On the odd occasion that he does hold onto one (he's claimed only 6 catches to date so far) celebration always rings out from any crowd members in the backroom pavilion.

Official PCG Statistics (21/11/06)

2006-11-18T02:48:00.000+11:00

To Read:

The image will load a little blurred, wait a few seconds then select the 'Expand to regular size' icon box that will pop up in bottom right hand corner of the image.

Killcunda Super Palmer Scoop

2006-11-18T02:38:00.000+11:00

The video footage of the birth of the 'Killcunda Super Palmer Scoop'

The PCG Rules

2006-11-18T02:06:00.000+11:00

Scoring:

It’s simple – the further you hit the ball down the PCG hallway (which is about 25mtrs long) the more runs you get, with extra runs on offer for getting it in one of the 4 adjoining rooms and a whopping 14 runs on offer for getting it in the back bathroom. A clear stance was agreed from the outset, no runs are awarded for shots square of the wicket.

Runs are awarded as listed below:

2 runs into front TV room
2 runs passed Pauly’s bedroom door
3 runs passed Timmy’s bedroom door
4 runs into Pauly’s bedroom
4 runs passed Ryan’s office door
6 runs into Timmy’s bedroom
8 runs into Ryan’s office
10 runs into back room
14 runs into the back bathroom

Getting Out:

The rules for getting out are standard to anyone familiar with FYC or BYC, all bar one that is. It's the rule of 'Rico' and its what separates PCG cricket from all other forms of the game. It is inspired by the tight environment offered only by hallway cricket, and at the PCG the savy bowler is allowed to use these unique conditions to ‘rico’ (‘ricochet’ if you are French) the ball off the wall in an attempt to catch his man off guard.

Methods of going out are listed below:

Bowled
Bowled Rico
Bowled Double Rico (aka "Cashy Rico")
Caught
Caught Auto (Wicket keeper)
Caught Rico
Caught Boonie
Hit Wicket

Special Rules:

The game can only commence after the toss of one of the two official PCG coin’s.
In One Day games the bowlers run up is limited to starting from Ryan’s Office doorway.
If a bowler misfires a delivery into a room, the batsmen is awarded the value of runs allotted to that room.
If a batsmen is out for a Golden Duck he must draw a duck on the score sheet and colour it in with the Yellow marker provided.
In any match during a ‘series’ the batsmen must retire at 100 runs.

Grand Final Eve Pub Crawl

2006-10-19T14:36:00.000+10:00

To those who aren't familiar the Grand Final Eve Pub crawl is a tradition that has been going on for 9 years. I will let the pictures and video tell the story of this years crawl which took place on the 29th of Sept.

And it begins.....

Early days....

Cheers to the two young tag alongs!

Mary and Tegan shining for the camera

Stebbo makes an early move

A moment of reflection outside the 'Wick'

Binny stands strong....

Benny accepts the trolley challenge at Balaclava station

Pub Crawl part 2

2006-10-19T12:30:00.000+10:00

Pauly tells Benny he shoulda known better...

Lach beats Stebbo to the digits....

Binny and Benny celebrate Jess' late arrival.

Matty..... never one to 'ponder'

All comments welcome, and if anybody has some more good photos of the pub crawl.
Email them to me and I can post them up with these.

Stagger staggerrr.... crawl crawl....

2006-09-19T13:44:00.000+10:00

Ahoy!

And blow me down if it ain’t dat time of year again!

Cause yes me heartys…. today is… International talk like a pirate day!

If ye need more elp on how ta go about celebrat’n this day….. then follow da link above.

udderwise I be expect’n da bunch of ya ta be talk’n pirate till da day is thru…..

Cause if ya don’t! Well…… I’ll keel haul da lot of ya’s!!!!

Reegarrrrrrrds,

Poopdeck Mahoy!

The Frank Whaley Game

2006-07-09T13:53:00.000+10:00

If you are bored in the office give this game a go......

Find a really 'cheesey' portrait photograph of some semi famous person on the net, B-Grade 80's actors are my favourite choices.

Then you need to drag that photograph into an email, and write some corny text, like this:

Hi (mate's name),

I'm not Matthew Brodrick even though I do look like him, I'm actually a legitimite B-Grade actor in my own right, but who am I?

Then which ever mate guesses first gets to fire off the next image.
Of course for this to work, I'm assuming two things... you are bored, and you have mates.

Also one thing to take note of, is that for maximum effect you really need to be using outlook for your email, as with that program you can drag images into the actual email so the reader will view it at the same time as reading the txt.... when it comes to humour, it's those little things that make all the difference.

Mind the Gap

2006-02-10T13:35:00.000+11:00

I based myself in London from May 2003 till Dec 2005.

"Mind The Gap" is collection of some of the fond memories of my time there.

Mind the Gap (Part A)

Mind the Gap (Part B)

Morocco 2005

2005-12-01T15:36:00.000+11:00

While backpacking around Europe in the Summer of 2005, I took an unplanned side trip by boat over to Morocco.

This video documents my amazing experience there.

Vancouver 2005

2005-11-30T15:47:00.000+11:00

In May of 2005 I embarked on my first ever backpacking adventure, spending a month on the West Coast of Canada. Most of that time I just spent bumming around with a bunch of cool English lads on Vancouver Island.

This is a short video of my time with them.