Inspiring Birdy! Hi Joel!
Thanks for putting your blogspot up on FB - I've just been spending the last few minutes/hours (I can't tell!) reading everything you've written. It's really good! And really inspiring. What you write resonates with what I've been contemplating writing about for, well, almost 2 years now. I just haven't sat down and done it. I haven't felt the confidence in my own work to actually put it up, to lower my socially built guard against criticism and say, 'fuckit, I hope you like it but it doesn't matter if you don't'.
And I definitely know where you're coming from when you talk about writing a page on the description of the sunlight on a wave, the warmth of a red Australian rock, or perhaps the tirelessness and breathtaking ability of the little ant scurrying on the pavement where you're sat.
It makes me smile knowing that you're out travelling with somebody you love. What else is life for but the experience, and the sharing of those experiences with people who are just as fascinated by the world around us as we are.
All the best Joel! I'd love to catch up sometime, share some stories and perhaps create some new ones.
I'm currently in Berlin with my girlfriend Mathilde after leaving NZ (almost) two years ago. There is a two person couch to crash on if you want to explore Berlin once you're back to this part of the world.
Have an amazing time!!
Simon.
Hi! Hello both and I hope that you manage to update the blog soon! Am loving it!. It was fantastic to meet you both in Aqaba. We're in Cairo having applied for Ethipoian visas today and Sudanese (not looking forward!) tomorrow. Where are you guys staying? We're in Salma Camping in Giza. A bit of a shit hole but seemingly the only place to camp. Although they fumigate every day, the mosquitoes are organised into squadrons and attack on command (I think!). The tubes of Anthisan are working overtime as are the tins of industrial strength Deet.
delusions of importance Read1ng the boards put up for 1nformat1on purposes, all you read of are the var1ous restorat1ons made to the bu1ld1ngs. There 1s noth1ng on a s1ngle board about the h1story or the purposes of each temple.
I saw similar attitudes elsewhere in Greece, though not just Greece (exception: Amfipolis). I concluded that the restorers had an exaggerated sense of their own importance. Are they aware of their delusions I wonder? Do they really believe their work is more important than that done 2000 years ago? Do they imagine that we the uneducated public go away impressed with their work?
I see similar delusion from news reporters, whether TV or newspaper. No sooner has the original headline been broken than the story subtly shifts to be that of how the media responded to the news - the difficulties we had getting into the country, the danger our brave reporters encountered on the war-torn streets - "Look mum! Here is a picture of me wearing body armour".
The sole exception I'd allow to my dislike of such self-obsession would be in the case of wildlife photographers and cameramen: It's often as interesting to see how they got the shots as it is to see the shots themselves.
Keep the observations and insights coming Birdy. May I make one observation myself though. Perhaps inevitably, now that you are one half of a self-contained couple, you seem to be having fewer interactions with local people. Please try to push past your couple comfort zone.
Simon Russell
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Inspiring Birdy!
Hi Joel! Thanks for putting your blogspot up on FB - I've just been spending the last few minutes/hours (I can't tell!) reading everything you've written. It's really good! And really inspiring. What you write resonates with what I've been contemplating writing about for, well, almost 2 years now. I just haven't sat down and done it. I haven't felt the confidence in my own work to actually put it up, to lower my socially built guard against criticism and say, 'fuckit, I hope you like it but it doesn't matter if you don't'. And I definitely know where you're coming from when you talk about writing a page on the description of the sunlight on a wave, the warmth of a red Australian rock, or perhaps the tirelessness and breathtaking ability of the little ant scurrying on the pavement where you're sat. It makes me smile knowing that you're out travelling with somebody you love. What else is life for but the experience, and the sharing of those experiences with people who are just as fascinated by the world around us as we are. All the best Joel! I'd love to catch up sometime, share some stories and perhaps create some new ones. I'm currently in Berlin with my girlfriend Mathilde after leaving NZ (almost) two years ago. There is a two person couch to crash on if you want to explore Berlin once you're back to this part of the world. Have an amazing time!! Simon.