Hahahahaha, surprising, eh? There was probably some snow at some point last night, but all traces were gone when the sun came up this morning in my new home town of Kingston. Walking from the Post Office to the library, I was caught in a sudden fall of hail, or as I euphemistically term it small round hard SNOW! Hahahahaha, geez I'm so Australian, just the thought of snow is so novel to me that I get excited, whilst all of the locals are just bitching about the cold autumn weather. Thanksgiving was as to be expected - a public holiday [View Full Entry]

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I made it, despite the dire premonitions of death due to the somewhat dubious safety record of China Airlines. The overnight stop in Tai Pei was great - the "accommodation" was actually a golf course country club up a hill outside town, so it was very quiet, with a double room and bathroom (complete with actual bath - not like a hostel) all to myself! I made the most of the sleeping facilities after 10 hours in a plane, and the prospect of another 10 the following day. The flight from Taiwan to Canada was longer (or was it just because [View Full Entry]

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So, now I'm off on another voyage in three weeks and a day - off to the absolute freezing bloody cold of Canada (like the blog title didn't give it away). The visa is sorted, I bought the plane ticket yesterday, and now it's just down to the minutiae of planning... do I take the tent and camping gear? do I buy work clothes her or there? Do they have Tim Tams in Canada? This time I get a stopover on Tai Pei, making the unfortunate timing of landing in Vancouver at 9am on the third of October. I really wanted [View Full Entry]

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This is where I'll call home for the next two months, until I have enough money (and a valid visa and passport) to get into Canada. But before that, I have to update my Travelblog, and fill in some of the blanks since Wales... Places visited: Aberglasney Estate - an old mansion and gardens surently being rewstored after being 'rediscovered' in the seventies. A beautiful place with nice lawns, it's quite interesting to see part of the process of restoration of some of these old places, rather than just (a) ruins, or (b) fully restored gardens and buildings. Wales National Botanic [View Full Entry]

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Thought I might make an attempt to put on some pics before I get home, a bit of a mix of some of the latest ones from London.... Next stop, Singapore, then on to Darwin for a little R&R. Ciao! [View Full Entry]

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Welcome to Wales, the land of tongue-twister words (i.e Milford Haven in Welsh is Aberdaugleddau, and Wales in Welsh is Cymru), hedgerows and castles... Later note (17/07/06): I'll publish what I've got now, rather than waiting until I can upload everything, as I have no idea when I'll be able to. Ciao for now from hot and sunny London! [View Full Entry]

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Here's the rest - I fly out in approximately 7 hours for London, heading over to Wales tomorrow morning (?) depending on if I can sort out the bus system. Have yet to do any research (hence the last minute internet session) on England, which makes for exciting times on landing at the airport. Enough talk, more photos! See you in Ingerland! [View Full Entry]

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So the tickets are booked and everything ... I'll be back in Melbourne on Sunday the 30th of July at 11:55 am. Hope to see some of you then. The rest/last of the Norway photos may go on the blog tomorrow after I visit the International Museum of Childrens Art - one of the few sights I did actually want to see before I left Oslo (which will happen on Wednesday evening). If not, then they'll go on sometime in the next week, once I find a cheap internet place in London. Am busy researching and prioritising the gardens, parks and [View Full Entry]

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Well, I've finally got some photos that are not (all) of plants - hooray for europe! Spent today enjoying the Norwegian summer (yes, this time I'm not being sarcastic), and visited the National Gallery and Centre for Contemporary Art. Yesterday was also quite touristy, with a maritime theme. Caught the ferry from the city to visit the Viking ship museum and the Fram museum (named after the focal point, the ship 'Fram', which has been the furthest north and furthest south in the world). The viking boats are amazing - they're beautifully shaped and built, managed to sail from Norway to [View Full Entry]

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Yes, even more. I spent the day wandering around in the rain and freezing cold of a Norwegian summer. Ended up at the botanical gardens (big surprise) and took lots more planty pics. Now I need to thaw out at the internet cafe, then head back to the hostel to wring out my socks (my hiking boots have officially lost their waterproofness). [View Full Entry]

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