Barcelona is a beautiful city of many contrasts. I'm sorry to have left it behind and especially the unique and colourful buildings designed and built by a true master - Antonio Gaudi. The only two disappointments I had whilst in Barcelona were the loss of all my photos - the beautiful wetlands and mangroves of Singapore and my carfully chosen photos around Barcelona, including all Gaudi's wonderful constructions! My generous daughter and son-in-law had gifted me with a digital camera and converter/charger. They felt that I needed to move into 21st century technology. I have found that new technology and I seldom agree on anything. I had barely mastered the art of 'ditching' the photos which weren't worth keeping, when I accidentally 'ditched' the whole lot! And accomplished it with so much ease! A real disappointment, ... read more

The weather in Barcelona is incredible - even the locals are stunned. The week before I arrived, it was between 11 and 20 degrees because it is going into winter here. Now there are daily reports in the papers about snow falling in places where it hasn´t snowed in decades (if ever.)And it´s bloody cold!! It´s funny though - the sun is so bright that even with sunnies on I have to shade my eyes when heading towards it, yet the wind just drives the cold right through you. The hostel staff said that the snow was mainly up in the North and wouldn´t be a problem where I´m heading for (the South). Then the next day, the papers said that light snow had fallen in some places in the South where it never snows. The ... read more

Singapore is just like it used to be - only more so! More people, more cars, longer trains, more buildings, more reclaimed land for more buildings ...... However, the Singaporeans do still take advantage of every little space to grow something green. From the train the other day, I saw a small tree growing out of a crack in a tall building and it looked perfectly healthy. Everything is still well sign-posted, only just not the same system as we use at home. Therefore, I am still getting lost on a regular basis - nothing changes! It seems like every time I venture out to explore, it becomes a Burke and Will's affair. I spend time beforehand using a map and writing down directions so I won't get lost - and then Murphy's Law intrudes yet ... read more

Finally - I'm on my way! No problems going through check-in at the Airport, however there was sneaky secod weigh-in just around the Departure Entrance door. I had already put the books, etc that I carried, back into my carry-on bag, so it weighed in at 7.5 kg. The person in charge let me through, but while we were standing in the Customs line, I saw three other people told to take their bags back down to be checked in because they were too heavy. And despite what I was told about the new one-bag policy, all the women had a handbag as well as their carry-on! 'Bugger!' Had a smooth flight over, arriving at 4.30pm. We came down through black clouds, into misty rain, 24deg. and the soft humidity that is Singapore. Changi Airport is ... read more

Part of my aforementioned change of itinerary involves Paraguay. There I have relatives whom I have only read and heard about since I was a little girl. In the 1890's, in Sydney, many shearers and their families were caught up in a struggle for survival. The 'landed gentry' (wealthy farmers) were forcing the shearers to accept lesser and lesser wages until they couldn't survive on what they were being paid. So they went on strike in order to try to secure at least a liveable wage. In those days of no unions, this action was considered akin to an insurrection. So the police force was called in and the strike was brutally put down. As a result of this, under the leadership of a well-to-do idealist William Lane, a new home in some more welcoming part ... read more