phattrotters

Baklava is sooo good.

2005-10-04T10:31:00.000+10:00

Brisbane = Anouchka and Steve = lots of laughs, poetry, scrumptious food, VB, red wine (merlot), sunshine and an ever-so-slightly kitsch Turkish restaurant called Harem - we had a lovely evening being serenaded by waiters wearing Aladdin pants while sipping on traditional Turkish coffee full of bitter sediments – the Baklava was to die for.

The flight down to Melbourne was equally as pleasant. I was squished between two rather fat people. After finally managing to squeeze themselves into their seats they proceeded to draw out, of a Mary Poppins style bag, a packet of toffees which they proceeded to consume along with a Bourbon and coke, a set of chicken sandwiches and a couple of Mars bars – Oh, did I forget to mention that it was ONLY 7 IN THE FRIGGING MORNING.

After a series of disastrous events I finally managed to get my art work up at Volumes. It will be up for the entire month of October so if anyone has a free moment make sure you go in and take a look- mmmm…and buy something so I can cover my costsJ

Back in Oz

2005-09-27T13:42:00.000+10:00

I had thought of discontinuing phattrotters, but then I received a couple of emails from friends from India days who had randomly found this site, so I have decided to continue it for a little while longer.

It has been non stop since I arrived back in Australia earlier this month. Although I am no longer working up a sweat two-stepping with wannabe-cowboys in outback Kansas, nor am I laying on Thai beaches watching a weird-arsed-guy-with-a-massive-bum-crack kicking around a soccer ball in a retarded manner, I have been having other adventures. My life now involves scampering over rock faces, dealing with hormonal yr boys and broken limbs. Some things though have stayed the same, I am still living out of a backpack and am moving every 5-7 days.

I spent a sweet-as week at home basking in the spring sun, drinking lattes, just soaking up the atmosphere. Ididn't t realise how much I had missed meandering along Brunswick Street looking in all the shops, eating at the Veggie Bar, drinking beer and lapping up the laughs with friends.

I am currently working for a company that runs camps for school kids. I just finished a two week camp in which I was teaching English and History and was involved in a variety of outdoor activities. After it finished I hitched a ride up to Brisbane so that I could visit Anouchka and Steve. It was a very long 12 hour trip full with screaming kids and a Dutch grandfather, affectionately called Johnpa, who traumatised me with horrific stories from WWII. For the last two nights I have been dreaming of little other than Dutch girls being punished for their war crimes - having a German boyfriends. Their punishment included having their hair shaved off and they were often stoned by angry mobs of young Dutch men, which Johnpa took part in. There is something incredibly unsettling about hearing an old man telling stories from his youth which involve acts of violence towards other human beings.

I briefly caught up with Matty and Taylor ( two of the guys that I was teaching English with in China) in Sydney last weekend. It was kinda odd seeing them in a different context, you know outside of China - not in a school setting, but it was a good night. I have decided that the nightlifelife in Melb is far superioriour to that of Sydney's, far more classy and less seedy.

Two nights left

2005-09-01T15:23:00.000+10:00

Went to see a Thai doctor yesterday about the nasty itchy bites I have all up my left leg - and only on my left leg - really odd. Got given two types of antibiotics and some cream to put on them. Also have woken up every morning for the last week with a swollen right ankle that is beyond painful - cant put any pressure on it. Am falling apart.

Reading a book at the moment on Thai sex trade. Very disturbing.

BKK night out on the town

2005-08-30T23:48:00.000+10:00

Okay, so Dan, Ali and I hit the town last night. We started off with cocktails at the Bamboo Bar in the very swanky Oriental Hotel. I had a ginger cosmopolitan, which was divine, and a casablanca, which sounded fantastic but turned out to be fairly mediocre as far as cocktails go. The prices were exorbitant but lucky for us it was a two for the price of one night. We then made our way through the terrible terrible Bangkok traffic in the pouring rain to the Bed Supper Club. It was so retro. We ate dinner while reclining on soft white couches with huge spungy white cushions. They had hired two random people to entertain the guests. One guy, who looked like a business man, sat in the middle of the room at a desk with this big old spotlight on him, he didn't really do anything. The other guy was dressed in a scuba-diving costume and pretended to swim around the restaurant. The food was to die for....so so so good. From there was made our way to the Q Bar for a few more drinks and a bit of a boogy. The evening was finished off with a swim in the pool at Dan and Ali's hotel - we had to bribe a couple of old Thai ladies to allow us to as the pool had actually closed heaps earlier in the evening.

After a bit of a sleep in this morning I headed for MBK shopping center for a wee spot of - can you guess? - yep that's right - shopping ! Ended up going to the gold class cinemas and watched this terrible, awful, no brainier of a movie - can't even remember the title. Just stepped out for a Thai green curry and am about to head off to bed to nurse my itchy bites - they are seriously killing me.

Will be heading back to Janene's tomorrow. I will stay with her for the last couple of nights before heading home on Sat.

count down

2005-08-29T12:59:00.000+10:00

Ok i have only 8 minutes left so i this is gona be a really quick post. Went out for a spot of shopping last night. Was serenaded by three thai guys who played a smattering of contemporary songs with a dash of some golden oldies. Two of them sang really off key but the other one - man alive - what an amazing voice - really deep and husky - plus it helped that he sang in tune. Then went out for a Hot and Spicey Thai Style Chai in this seriously cute bookshop/ cafe thing. Made my way home fairly early. Did a whole bunch of girly things as was feeling disgusting after not showering properly for 4 days while at the beach. Tried to sleep but was very difficult coz of BKK traffic and either abusive german family or seriously kinky couple who would not let up all night.
About to go for some breaky.

Thailand in brief

2005-08-28T18:10:00.000+10:00

Sorry I haven't blogged in ages but I have been at the beach and it would have cost me a small fortune to use the internet there. Here is a quick and very brief summary of what I have been up to.

I left Hangzong on the 18th of August and flew to Xian then straight onto Shanghai. The school I was working with very kindly paid for me to stay in a fairly swanky hotel. I bummed around the city and did a bit of shopping, bought some amazing shoes - yes I still have my shoes fetish - a hang over from traveling through Europe. I flew to BKK on the 20th of August. I sat next to some random Pakistani man who kept pestering me with questions the whole flight. Just before we hopped off the plane he ask me if I had an email address and phone number. I told him that I didn't believe in the internet and that mobile phones gave you cancer. He was a nice guy, but I was just like way not interested.

Janene picked me up from the airport and took me back to her place, she lives right near all these universities. I was so wrecked from having worked for 15 days straight and flying so much that I slept heaps the next couple of days. I only ventured out for some really good Turkish food and to buy more sticky rice from the local store, oh and jess ( Janenes work mate from the USA - she is Mexican but looks like an Indian) took me out for a Thai massage. I also went to EBC (evangelical Bangkok church) on Sunday - I hated it.

On the 23rd I headed for Koh Samet island. I met Dan and Ali at the bus station at 11 am, four hours later we arrived at the ferry place, 20 mins later we arrived on the island. Yeah!! Actually, the island is probably the worst that I have been to in Thailand - very touristy, a bit kitsch, and so many sand flies ( I have heaps of itchy bites and am a wee bit burnt). I have basically spent the last couple of days eating, drinking, sleeping, swimming, devouring trashbag novels and playing five hundred. Dan and Ali left on the 26th so that meant that I had a few days to kill by myself. I found if a bit boring suddenly being by myself..But what can you do.

Anyway I caught the ferry ( some chick was puking up the whole way - it was green - so foul) and the bus back to Bangkok today. After a rather arduous taxi ride I finally made it to Tanano Phrah Ahtit and checked into my guesthouse. I am gona meet up with Dan and Ali tomorrow do a bit of shopping, we are going also going to go check out the night-life tomorrow night. Should be fun.

I will be heading back to stay with Janene on the 30th. That leaves me with the 31st, 1st and 2nd to do a bit more shopping and some more resting, maybe get another Thai massage...Before I fly out on the 3rd.

Am still having a blast but have decided that I am a bit over traveling...Particularly when I am by myself. Looking forward to getting back to Aust., but have also started planning my next trip overseas:) Oh yeah, and it looks like I might be moving to Sydney for a bit when I get back.

Bangkok

2005-08-20T17:38:00.000+10:00

Am in Bangkok. Had a few random days Shanghai. Went walkabout. Interesting city.

Happy Birthday Myles

2005-08-15T21:53:00.000+10:00

A big hello to all Volumes people, I have loved receiving your updates. A big fat HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Myles. Will be in Shanghai/Thailand so wont be able to make it but hope you have a sensational birthday bash. I'll be there is spirit. You wont be able to miss me i am coming as an AmishbootscootingdumplingeatingIndian.

emptiness

2005-08-15T21:10:00.000+10:00

I recently read a really interesting essay called 'Masao Abe: A Spiritual Frienship' ( i cant remember who it was written by). It is about the frienship between this one Christian man and a Zen Buddhist. The Christian guy outlined the importance of having spiritual frienships with those who follow other religious paths. He listed a couple of his reasons, namely that 'inter-religious frienships' help contribute to human flourishing, that they build up new forms of solidarity between religious communities, and that they challenge us to resist vices, paricularly the propensity to fear others who are different. He asserts that in welcoming 'a stranger' we make room for another way of imagining the world.

After establishing the nature of his relationship with the Zen Buddhist the writer goes on the expound the Buddhist teaching/understanding on/of 'emptiness.' He critiques the saying "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form." From a Buddhist standpoint the objects we fashion out of our passions and obsessions, our 'reality' is in fact an illusion, it is empty. Since, non of these things ( our constucts of racial and national identity, status and autonomy) endure, we need to renounce, to cease to cling to these fleeting illusions. As the wrier understands it emptiness means that there is no existence, that there is no transcendent realm beyond this world.

What struck me was that the Zen Buddhist had no notion or understanding of the heavens which declear the glory of God, nor that there is something beyond the intimacy of the ordinary, nor had he seemed to experience what is was like to be pursued by 'the hound of heaven.'

What came out most strongly and what touched me the most about the essay was deep founded respect and love that the Christian man and his Buddhist friend had for each other. They listened to one another, they each allowed the other to appear as a 'face' and resisted the desire to 'de-face' the other.

The essay goes on to expound Phillipians 2:6-11 in which Chirst 'emptied himself' as he did not find 'equality with God something to be grasped at.' This understanding is reflected in the central Buddhist teaching of Bodhisattva. One in the quest of enlightenment comes to the threshold of nirvana itself, s/he then renounces nirvana and turns back to Samara ( a vow to work skillfully for the benefit of every sentient being). Chirst renounded his divinity and took the form of a slave inorder to benifit sentient beings. Hence, Christ was raised up and exhalted. The writer stipulates that Christ is only truely divine by renouncing his divinity and entering into the world of form.

How do you guys feel about this? any thought or comments?

done with teaching english

2005-08-15T20:51:00.000+10:00

Today was our last day of teaching. Its been really exciting to see how much progress each of the students in my class has made. Its been a lot of fun, but I am ready to move on.
Tomorrow we will have our closing ceremony. Some of the students have already shed some tears (the love me:)) and I have been given many gifts (I don't know what I am going to do with them all coz I have no room in my backpack).

I am heading up to the mountains on the 17th with frank, dan and ali. On the 18th I am going to be flying to Shanghai. I will spend the 19th shopping and having a look around the city...prob. by myself...freak me out. I fly to Bangkok on the 20th. I will be meeting up with dan and ali on about the 22/23rd and will head off to the beach with them for a couple of days. After that I am not to sure what I am going to do except a bit of shopping and checking out the night life in Bangkok.

I have been steering clear of bbq mushrooms after eating some and then seeing them come out whole the other end in quite a fantastic way.

The mosquitoes have been slowly eating me alive...prob. a good thing that I am taking my trust malaria tablets.

Love the street culture particularly in the early morning and in the evening when its a bit cooler.

Been drinking way to much nasty local beer with the rest of the foreign teachers...helps us relax after a long, hard days work. Tried this terrible pineapple flavoured local beer...which was just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Hanzhong Cambridge English School

2005-08-04T14:48:00.000+10:00

Okay sorry sorry sorry i know that i havent written in a while. i am over my jet-lag but am still struggling with a cough and a runny nose.

Right now i am working at Hanzhong Cambridge English School in the city of Hanzhong. There are 60 students who are praticipating in this two week intensive. The aim of the Summer School is to improve the students abilities to speak English by providing them with maximum contact with a native speaker of English. There are 5 teachers 4 of us are from Australia ( liesel, Dan, Alice and Matt) and one American (Taylor). I am sharing an appartment with Alice and Dan which is situated on the third floor of a building right near the school.

Jing Jing (the Chinese teachers that i am working with) and I have 12 students in our class. They are the weakest English speakers in the school. Although their written expression is excellent they struggle to express themselves orally.

Each morning Jing Jing takes me down the street at 7.30am for a traditional chinese breakfast. So far i have tried rice starch noodles, egg pancake, dumplings and bean curd. they are all delicious dishes however, I am not used to eating so much or such spicy food so early in the morning particularly when it is sooo hot. Classes start at 8 am and finish at 11.30 when the students go home for lunch and a siesta. We start again at 2.30pm, the foreign teachers finish at 4 pm but the students and the chinese teachers keep going till 5pm. We eat our lunch and dinner at the school. At 7/7.30ish pm all the teachers meet to discuss the days events, if there are any problems etc.

The first day each student and each foreign teacher gave a self intorduction. Yesterday we walked all around Hanzhong. We visited Lian Hua Park (the remnant of King Rui's former palace and garden which survied from the Ming Dynasty), The Catholic and the Protestant Churches and Frank's (the resident English teacher - he is from Australia), Jian Gua Road - 'Hardware alley' and Wen Hua Lu - 'culture Lance,' a surviving 'hutong' of small street cafes.
Today we had a welcoming ceremony. All the student and teachers paraded down the main street in Hanzhong to center square behind a big brass band that played western show tunes.

Its a bit of hard work but good fun. I am enjoying getting to know the students, chinese and other foreign teachers. Everyone had this preconcieved idea that i was really shy. Prob. because when willow lived with us i hardly spoke to her. But then i wasnt really ever home as i was always running between uni, work and friends, plus i have three very vocal and talkative brothers who i cant always compete with.

I knows this is scanty and terribly written but it's hot and i am suppose to be having a siesta.

china

2005-08-02T15:07:00.000+10:00

Arrived safe in China. Started teaching. Still sick and very jet lagged.

Flying to San Fran

2005-07-28T03:58:00.000+10:00

I still feel like crap and I have to fly today. Not fun.

A bit of boot-scooting action

2005-07-27T01:44:00.000+10:00

My nose is swollen, I have bruises everywhere, my knees, joints and muscles are aching, my nose is fully clogged up with snot, I have had a fever for the last two days and I am not getting any sleep. I have been pumping myself with Benadryl and lavishly applying Vicks all over my chest and up my nose, but with little improvement. How did I get this way you might be asking...well...let me tell you.

I arrived in Wichita on Friday evening, Sara (who was my best friend when I was in primary school in India) met me and picked me up from the airport. Saturday was spent driving around Newton taking in the cites while we where looking for an new place for Sara to rent. That afternoon we made our way to her Uncle’s farm to watch the cows get milked before heading over to Marc’s place for some Kebabs and Oreo slice. Afterwards we went for a boogie at BJ’s, the quintessential American bar, full with tacky decor, two–stepping wannabe cowboys (boots, hats and all) and white trash. I got down and jiggy with a bit of shoe scooting action and was whizzed around the dance floor by this - well...an American equivalent of a bogan, who had a pretty damn good sense of rhythm.

We made our way to Meryon lake on Sunday afternoon. I went Jet Skiing for the first time in my life. It was an absolute blast zooming around the lake. However, choppy waters coupled with a bit of reckless behaviour and there you have it - Liesel with a bruised and swollen nose and sore muscles. I must have swallowed at least a gallon or two of dirty water which explains the fever. I spent the larger part of yesterday laying on the couch in Sara’s livingroom with a wet washer over my forehead trying to cool myself down.

I could not tell you exactly how many American flags I have seen stuck in peoples yards or the amount of times I have seen the words ‘God Bless America’ splashed all over the place. All this patriotism, I just don’t get it. Its such a contrast to Europe where everyone flew the PEACE flag.

Kansas

2005-07-23T14:59:00.000+10:00

I made it to Kansas, but i havent got as far as the Emerald City yet. I am so excited, Sara assures me that i am going to get to see some real cowboys, white trash and heaps of scarecrows. Yay!!!:)

The Amish

2005-07-22T21:12:00.000+10:00

Its bizzar ...'we were driving down the road' ('singing our song'...you know the song Im talking about my Phillip Island girls) and all of a sudden we passed a horse and buggy. WHAT THE! I'll explain. I, my friends, am staying in Lancaster in and amongst the Old Order Amish, liberal Amish and the Mennonites. The more conservatives wear plan coloured home made clothes (no buttons or sippers allowed - too flashy), the men wear straw hats and the women little white bonnets. Some of the more progressive Amish wear brighter or flower patterned clothes. By-enlarge they live simply off the land in simple houses with no electricity. The children attend their own special schools and hold firm to the core values of community, simplicity, and unity. They value wisdom over organised learning (most Amish are not educated beyond the age of 14 - they are taught basic arithmetic, reading and writing. Bible teaching is considered to sacred to be taught in school which, is taught in home and at church instead). They only allow certain modern or technological advances, such as the use of a tractor, when it wont affect their core values.

Actually a lot of their values and practices appear very eastern to me. Ron was saying that he had some friends from Afghanistan who were completely blown away by the fact that in the heart of the secular/western world you could find a community of people that lived in such a radically different way, a way so similar to their own (head coverings for the women, value of community over the individual, even the preaching in the churches reminded me of the chanting found in Muslim mosques). What really blew me away was that the Amish dont live on their own commune but live in and amongst the throngs of regular Americans. I really admire their evident love for the land, their seasonal attitude to farming, learning etc. A lot of the way they live has a kind of alternative, hippie feel to me which really appeals. Living simply, reconciliation, expression of faith - I think about these a lot. The Taize experience and know the brief Amish encounter has both challenged me and shed new light on these values/principles.

While staying with the Flamings I have also played a round of golf with Ron (it was so humid I felt like I was swimming in my own sweat. I really sucked at it but I had to try), went for a swim at Mount Gretna ( a lake with a beach), and watched a local production of Oklahoma which was so much fun.

Perky America

2005-07-20T23:35:00.000+10:00

My alarm went off at 6am. I was on the bus to Gatwick by 7.15am. Two hours later I was at the airport. Despite arriving 3 hours early for my flight I still got a really shitty seat between some British guy who all the airhost people thought was my husband (when they bought around the customs card they only handed us one, 'one per family,' until I yelled out after them that I needed one as well!) and some American chick who kept looking at me out of the corner of her eye (I have a feeling she fancied me). 8 hours later I landed in Philly. I had to wait about 45mins just to get through customs. After all my papers had been checked and stamped, prints had been taken of both my index fingers, as well as a mug shot, they let me go through. I had to catch two trains to get to Lancaster, which took about 2/3 hours. By this time I hadn't slept in over 20 hours. Everywhere, in the airport and the train station I had random men come up and chat to me and offer to 'help me with my bags.' Most were nice, this one dodgy man however was quite persistent because he wanted to 'share a cab'...I declined. I meet some other random obese man called Terry who was doing a post graduate in therapeutic therapy.
The Flamings picked me up from the train station, it was so lovely to see them again. It doesnt feel like 7 years have passed. They took me to one of their fav places to eat. We had an incredibly 'perky' waitress serve us...I know she was only working us for a tip but I all I felt like giving her was one tight slap. I wanted to wipe that ever so 'perky' smile off her face!

Tired

2005-07-19T06:47:00.000+10:00

I had a lovely time with Tolla in Bradford. Am really tired, huge day today and even bigger one tomorrow. A bit surreal to think that i will be with the Flamings soon.

My train back from Bradford was delayed for 45 mins because of a fire in a factory near the train line. It was so interesting listening to everyones calls to family/friends/work while we waited.

Nearly every Brit i meet has relatives in Aust.

Many stories...too exhausted to tell them.

London

2005-07-16T19:12:00.000+10:00

I cant believe that it is already the 16th of July and that in 3 days I will be in the USA with the Flamings. I feel like I have hardly stopped to catch my breath this whole trip, it has just flown by. Constantly being on the move is becoming a bit of a drag as is living out of a backpack, but I am loving it.

Kaye, Ella and I had a great day yesterday walking along the Thames and taking in some of the sites of London...Westminster, the Big Ben, London Bridge, the Globe Theatre etc. Despite the recent bombing there are heaps of tourists around.

I went and checked out a really cool art gallery. The building itself is a renovated warehouse. Three pieces of work stood out to me. The first was a pillow which had a shattered glass covering - started an interesting thought process to do with dreams, the inner psyche etc. The second was of a half filled glass of water on a glass shelf which was called 'An oak tree.' Next to the shelf was a dialogue between an interviewer and the artist about how/why the glass of water is an oak tree...connected with the use of language, understanding, perception etc. The third piece of work was the mask of Napoleons taken after his death which was painted sky blue with clouds...notions of immortality, mortality and dreams etc.

the bomb

2005-07-15T03:56:00.000+10:00

I was in Taize when i first heard the news of the bombing. All the Brits rang home straight away to see if their familys were alright. Today as i was travelling on the Oxford tube from Oxford to Victoria station the bus driver pulled over onto the side of the road during the national moment of silence. What happened really was dreadful and people have been very shocked/rocked by it. It is on the news every night. The government has been encouraging people not to point the finger at any racial/religous groups. In some areas of London you can really feel that the events have put a strain on people. In some areas people have been evacuated from their houses.

I am at Kaye Goodess' house in South Croydon at the moment. She got married a couple of years ago to a guy called Tim and now has a 5 month old daughter called Ella who is very cute. The play last night was wonderful. The atmosphere, the acting, etc was fantastic. Went out for a drink with Solv after to this cute bohemian style pub.

Oxford

2005-07-13T20:15:00.000+10:00

The Taylors took me out for a tour of Oxford yesturday. I ate lunch in the pub that CS Lewis and JRR Tolkin used to frequent and strolled along the Thames. Last night Solv and i went over to her next door neighbours (they are from Pakistan) and watched a bollywood film. Today i am going to go for a bit of a wander around the streets and later in the evening Solv and i are going to the playhouse to watch the Merry Wives of Windsor. Tomorrow i head off to see Kaye Goodess, after that i am going to head north towards Leeds and will visit Hannah. Much fun, many interesting talks...all the Taylors are bloody smart and very kind.

Experiences in Taize

2005-07-13T01:31:00.000+10:00

Here is a bit of a quick summary of my experiences in Taize. Taize is a community in southern France which is run by 80-100 or so brothers with the help of short-term volunteers. It is situated in the country near the villages of Taize and Ameugny. The brothers like the volunteers and the pilgrims who come are from all around the world, there are Australians (I was the only one this week and was put in with the Irish when we had country/regional meetings), Americans, Asians (mainly Koreans and Indians), Africans, plus a whole smattering of people from across Europe. I was in a room with 7 other girls’ all from Germany, however most of the friends I made where from Poland, Holland and France.

Community prayer is at the centre of life at Taize. Our days where structured around the prayers (x3 8.15am, 12.20pm and 8.30pm), and meals (x3 after morning prayers at about 9.00am, after lunch prayers at 1.00pm and at 7.00pm). The prayers where held in a massive rectangular building with high ceilings and low lighting, in the centre of the room surrounded by low hedges sat the brothers who led the chanting, read the readings and said short prayers in a variety of languages. At the front of the hall was an abstract artistic display of orange cloth hangings and candlelights. Scattered around the room in various places where a number of icons of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, various Saints and other religious scenes. Below them was a candle, which illuminated the painting, and dried lavender branches, which gave off a pleasant aroma.

I worked at the Source, which is a garden with a beautiful lake and waterfall were people could go to get away and have a bit of silence. I worked with a 21 year-old French guy called Julien and a 24 year-old Dutch girl called Jose. We had many an interesting discussions about religion (mainly about the differences between the Catholic and Protestant traditions), films, and cultural differences amongst much laughter. Our job was to walk around and make sure that everyone was being quite so as not to disturb those that were seeking solitude.

In the afternoon I was part of a discussion group, which looked at a letter written by Brother Roger, the founder of Taize, which was made public during the young adult European meeting in Lisbon. There were Dutch, French and English people in my group. Although we spoke in English, language and communicating was a problem. The letter was used as the basis for our reflection each day. We covered such topics as, peace (as not just the absence of conflict), the challenge to be bearers of peace, peace within the construction of Europe - understood as a stage serving the cause of peace in the whole human family, faith and doubt and prayer (that we have a responsibility to pray which leads to love and the challenge of expressing it with our lives).

Later in the afternoon around 5.45pm I attended workshops, which I found the most interesting. The first workshop I attended was on discovering icons. We looked at what makes an icon different from a normal painting of a religious scene and its purpose, which is to help people to pray, to sustain and deepened a relationship with God. The second workshop I attended was on the use of colour. We looked at the use, or lack there of, of art and colour in the bible. We looked at the Jewish people and their laws, the messages/promises God sent in the form of colour (the rainbow), Blue being the colour of God for the Jewish people (Exodus 24.10 – although Moses and Aaron see God they do not tell us what he looks like rather they point us to the colour blue). The last workshop I went to was on ‘what allows me to discover how God is calling me? How can I find my way?’ in which a brother shared from his life and experience.

I was entertained for a couple of days, until they left, by two crazy French fellas, Gregoire and Jean-Michel, who kind off adopted me. They drove me around, took me out for lunch, sang songs and danced in the street, serenaded me with their guitar and bought me beer. Although communication was a bit difficult as their English was a bit rusty and I spoke no French we managed to get along well. I had many an interesting discussion over a meal or a walk with my two Polish friends Marta and Anna about culture, religion, and psychology.
I have really gotten interested in learning more about the place of the Virgin Mary in different church traditions and the concept of reconciliation amongst different people groups, to do with both racial and religious conflict. I was re-challenged about living simply. Although there is a heck of a lot more I could say I think this is all I can manage for today and I am sure half of you probably didn’t even finish reading this post.

I am alive

2005-07-12T07:43:00.000+10:00

Hi all. Just a quick note coz i am very tired.I had a wonderful time in Taize which i will write and tell you about tomorrow. I have had a huge day today. i got up at 5.30am to catch the 6.20am bus which i had to walk 2km to get to, but i missed it by 3 mins, therefore i missed my connecting train to Paris. All was not lost tho. i caught a later bus, and a later train and just managed to catch all my connecting trains (x2) and bus (x1) to the airport. when i arrived in London i had to catch two buses to get to oxford....so huge day. I arrived at about 7/8ish pm. The Taylors have made me feel so welcome. its wonderful to be with friends and oxford is beautiful.

Leaving Paris

2005-07-02T16:38:00.000+10:00

Check out the Taizè web site.
http://www.taize.fr

I catch the train in two hours. I am beginning to get excited.

Frances

2005-07-02T00:54:00.000+10:00

Today is my 23rd birthday. Frances left to fly to the USA, I droped her at the airport at 12 noon. I got really emotional watching her walk away from me towards the Gate. We have had such a wonderful, colourful, adventure together and I am feeling so low now that it has come to an end. Right now I am sitting in Graces, sipping red wine by my lonesome listening to Patrice - Sunshine...you know the song Fran. Oh, Frances my dear friend, it has been such a joy and a pleasure. So many laughs, so many silly things, such a trip! Today I had to catch the metro in Paris by my self. And I managed to do it Fran, no hitches, are you proud of me:)

What a night we had last night. Our last night in Paris together, Frances and I decided to go and check out the night life. At 10.30 last night with dangly earings and wrapped in shawls of green and blue we braved the rain and the metro and made it to Le Caveau la Huchette. The jazz, ahhh the jazz. The atmosphere. Underground, dark and dingy and a far bit hazy because of the smokers, and then came the music and the dancing. The feet tapping, the fingers a drumming.

I made it to Anvers to see Funiculaire de Montmartre. Its this massive church on a hill with a fantastic panoramic view of Paris. It was spectacular. I got my face drawn by some half Spanish half Moroccan artist for 15 euros. After being told that i made a good artists model this other random old artist asked me if he could draw my body in his studio! With no clothes!

I went back to Abbesses Fran. I had a cappa in the little cafe where we ate pear pie yesturday, but it just wasnt the same without you. I went and checked out that opp shop we found when it started raining but couldnt go in because so many people had decided to shelter in it. I bought a summer dress for 5 euros and a pair of shoes for 15 euros, you would like them. Happy birthday to me!

Its 5.30pm and I need to pack. I am catching the train to Lyon tomorrow at 10.30am to go to Taizè community for a week of meditation. It is much needed after the recent events and a hecktic four weeks zipping through India and Europe. I hope I make some friends:)

Events

2005-06-30T17:39:00.000+10:00

We are still in Paris. We have had a wonderful but very busy few days touring the city. The city is huge, almost too big and bustly for me. We have been travelling on the metro heaps. They have a crazy system but it somehow it seems to work. Some parts of the city are beautiful and other sections are filthy. There are people everywhere and i swear the traffic is nearly as bad as India's. The Eiffel Tower was not so impressive during the day when we climbed it in 35°C heat admidst the throngs of tourists, but at night when it was all lit up, it looked spectacular. The Louvre was very impressive but huge. We kept getting lost and by the end of the afternoon our feet were throbbing. We did manage to see the Mona Lisa and we also looked around for some of the images, symbols etc that Dan Brown mentioned in the Da Vinci Code but couldnt really find any. Today we are going to Versaillies (where Louis XIV and Mary Antionette used to live - we also went to Conciergrie where they kept all the prisoners before they were guillotined, prisoners like Mary Antionette and Danton) and Montmartre (the Bohemian joint).

For those of you who dont know my Grandpa passed away on Wednesday. I said goodbye before i left knowing that i would probably not see him again. He has been very frail for some time, i know that he is at peace but it has still been hard to accept. I wont be able to make it back for the funeral and celebration service which is going to be held on monday. Over ( my grandpa used to be in the airforce and when he would leave a message on our answering machine he used to say Over instead of goodbye or see you later etc) :)

On another note Frances is leaving me tomorrow, the first of July, which also happens to be my 23rd birthday. So write and wish me a happy birthday!!!!!

Oh yeah, i had some random French man told me that i looked like Kylie Manogue!!!! What the!!!!

Cheers

Arriving in Paris

2005-06-28T05:31:00.000+10:00

We had a wonderful time in Brussels touring around. Yesturday we went to Waterloo which we both found interesting. Baloo we kept thinking of you and how much you would have loved being there....you are in our thoughts often.

Today we arrived in Paris. The Train trip took 1 hr and 20 mins... can you believe it. It was a fairly uneventful trip except for this random older man in the hotel business who kept trying to engage us in conversation. He was reading the Da Vinic Code a book which both Frances and I just finished reading and both thought was a load of crap...terribly written. We sat for ages on platform 10 because we had a bit of miscommunication with the lady we are staying with here concerning our time of arrival but it all worked out alright in the end. We saw the eiffel tower and sat on some boat in the stinking hot sun and looked at some interesting monuments. We watched all these bizzar people bath in this disgusting fountain just near the eiffel tower. Just eat some lovely chinese food. Am really sleepy.

Driving thru Switzerland

2005-06-27T03:19:00.000+10:00

Top of Europe with strange man

2005-06-27T03:18:00.000+10:00

The Alps - Switzerland

2005-06-27T03:17:00.000+10:00

St Steven's Cathedral - Vienna

2005-06-27T03:16:00.002+10:00

walking thru Verona

2005-06-27T03:16:00.001+10:00

walking thru Verona

2005-06-27T03:16:00.000+10:00

Hot Chocolate - Verona

2005-06-27T03:14:00.001+10:00

Drinks @ Johnnie's (Venice)

2005-06-27T03:14:00.000+10:00

Venice street

2005-06-27T03:13:00.000+10:00

Taj Mahal

2005-06-27T03:12:00.001+10:00

Mussoorie (& Liesel's head)

2005-06-27T03:12:00.000+10:00

2005-06-25T20:59:00.000+10:00

Vous parlez bien le francais (u speak french well)

2005-06-25T03:17:00.000+10:00

I thought it was about time I blogged again. It was so wierd going back to my school the other day... even wierder to find some of my teachers still there, although they didn't remember me (forgettable Fran). I don't know how they could given that at the time so many people confused me for being a boy when I first arrived. I remember the kids would come up and ask me whether I was a boy or girl to decide whether to play with me or not. Aaah, the dissappointment on the boys' faces when I told them. I should have just lied...
Anyway, Liesel & I walked around the school which hasn't changed at all, just a little bit more run down. All these memories & feelings started to come back. But the place is so small, I couldn't get over it. When I was younger I thought everthing took ages to get to but it was like five minutes. We also walked to the apartments where I used to live...still the same. And Liz, the fish & chip shop is still there but with different people.
One thing about being here though is that there are so many of my kinsmen (as Liesel & I like to call them) around. Given the shortage in Australia, it feels bizarre...but it's great.
(Micah, I'm not a racist....can hear you saying it).
Yesterday, we did some shopping and brief sight seeing and in the evening we attempted to go to this jazz bar (Liesel will blog details later). Today, we're going to this African festival and then to dinner with a family friend.
This key board is so mongulated cause the letters are in different spots, I've had enough. Liesel and I are going to attempt putting up some of my photos.
Salut (bye)
Fran

Heat

2005-06-24T18:06:00.000+10:00

Nothing much to report, it is still morning and we havent done anything yet. It is so hot here and there is hardly any air movement because of all the buildings. I couldnt sleep last night so i went and had a cold shower at 2am...10 mins later i was lying in a pool of my own sweat again. There are three languages spoken at Florida's - English, French and i dont know what it is called but it is an African language. Florida speaks all three and Frances speaks French and English and the rest of us in the house, who only speak one language, just smile and nod alot.

No fans, but great food

2005-06-24T04:04:00.000+10:00

We got up late and had a lazy morning. I hadnt slept to well because it had been boiling hot night, so hot that my hands and feet started swelling really bad. Actually i dont know if that is from the weather or from drinking too much wine and not enough water.

We are staying with a lovely lady called Florida who is a good friend of Frances' mum. We are staying in the upper rooms of a flashy appartment 10 minutes via the metro from the city.

Today we strolled around Frances' old primary and high school as well as the appartment she used to live in with her family 10 years ago before she came to Melbourne. The memories started flooding as she walked around her old neighbourhood and as she chatted with her old teachers.

This afternoon we wandered around the city center looking at all the shops. There are so many shoe shops its insane. The only criticism i have of Belgium is that they have no airconditioning or fans in the trains, trams, houses, or shops.

Right, well its tea time now so i have to run.

Belgium

2005-06-23T03:27:00.000+10:00

I am in Belgium. Zurich and the Kleiners were awesome. Will write more later.

2005-06-22T16:41:00.000+10:00

Ok so today i leave Zurich. Yesturday Vreni and i went for a hike in Hoher Kasten near the border of Austria and Germany. i got to see the snow capped mountains of the Alps, walk through meadows, eat lunch by a large blue lake etc. I also got to see how cheese is made and walked around a traditional village. Last night Manuel took me out for a drink and showed me the happening night life of Winterthur.
The previous day, monday, domi showed me the sites of Winterthur and the Rheinfall. I was paranoid that i was going to get a tick which you can get from walking through the forest. If you get bitten it can make you really sick. Domi is hilarious he kept making friends with all these random strangers, he would either tell them his whole life story or would stand there and fire questions at them. Despite hardly speaking a word of Swiss German and Domi struggling with his English we managed somehow managed to communicate relatively well. Benji has been a champion he helped me put the pictures on the blog and put music on my MP3. Sweet.

Photos

2005-06-21T07:15:00.000+10:00

These photos are all over the place, but who cares at least i put some on the site.

Palace and gardens in Verona, Italy

2005-06-21T07:12:00.000+10:00

In the Colloseum in Verona, Italy

2005-06-21T07:11:00.001+10:00

Juliets Window in Veron, Italy

2005-06-21T07:11:00.000+10:00

A common site in Venice, Italy

2005-06-21T07:09:00.001+10:00

Venice, Italy

2005-06-21T07:09:00.000+10:00

Liesel the tired and bored traveller

2005-06-21T07:08:00.000+10:00

Red Fort in Agra, India

2005-06-21T07:07:00.001+10:00

Frances at the Red Fort in Agra, India

2005-06-21T07:07:00.000+10:00

Swiss

2005-06-20T06:37:00.000+10:00

Went to a Swiss church, watched Manuel play beach volloyball (on imported sand), swam in a pool, rode a bike (or a "bick" as i like to call them), went to the village that Vreni gre up in and had a BBQ with her sisters family. i felt like i was sitting in a postcard, so idealic, these rolling hills, woodlands, lakes and houses with green shutters and brightly coloured window flower pots. I have been eating my self silly here. This is the most relaxed i have felt on our trip so far, its been wonderful. I finally feel like i am beginning to think and breath properly again. it was such a silly season getting ready for this trip and the first few weeks have flown by in a bit of a blur. i am finally getting into the rhythm of travelling.

Zurich

2005-06-19T07:09:00.000+10:00

We were sitting on a park bench in Vienna minding our own business eating our lunch. Out of the blue this crazy old man with a grizzly beard, yellow teeth, foul smelling breath and blood dripping from the corners of his mouth approached us. I was so pissed off because he made my stomach turn and i couldnt finish my sandwich.

So far i have had no such experiences in Zurich. Fran and I arrived yesturday, She has gone to stay with her relatives for a few days and i am with friends from India. Switzerland is beautiful. So far i have walked and rode ( everyone rides bicks) around Winterthur, been to some fair where i got to see traditional costumes, hear yodeling (there was even an Australian Swiss Yodeling group), drank Swiss bear and ate some great Swiss food ( i love cheese) and have been for a swim in a lake surrounded by mountains - so picturesque.

All the Kleiner boys are sooo tall and look sooo old its crazy. I nearly didnt recognise Manuel when he picked me up from the train station or Benji when he met me at the bus stop. Ist really good to be here, i am finally beginning to feel more rested.

The Last of Vienna. Thank heavens!!

2005-06-17T07:13:00.000+10:00

We are catching the train tomorrow to Zurich. We are leaving at 9.30am and will not be arriving till 6.30pm. Today we hung out in the city and checked out some gothic churches.

Frances has had a snotty nose for two weeks. Its driving both of us insane. Any helpful suggestions? Medical remedies?

2005-06-16T02:12:00.000+10:00

We had planned to go to Salzburg today but the ticket was going to cost us a small fortune so we opted to wander around Vienna. We ended up sitting in a park, Frances read and I drew scary pictures of drug addicts. We tried to get tickets to see the The Sound of Music which was showing at the opera house but all the tickets were sold out. I think we are going to go on a cruise around Vienna tomorrow. The city hasn't grown on me. I am glad I came if only to say that I have been but I don't think I will ever come again. I am looking forward to Zurich.

Liesel

Vienna

2005-06-15T04:37:00.000+10:00

Vienna - what a contrast to Venice and Verona. Vienna is dirty, the dogs pee everywhere, the people all look like they take way to many drugs and they dress really badly. Mate that sounds snobby, but oh well it’s true. Our last night in Venice was wonderful apart from having to run away from this really scarry man in a red cap who kept following Frances. After fleeing we wandered around for awhile so that we could stair at all the other tourists before heading back to Johnny and Angelos cafe for drinks. We awoke at 4.40 am feeling very unrefreshed after a restless nights sleep. We were sleeping in a dormitory with two other women, one of them snored really badly. I felt like chucking my pillow at her. A few times i got up and stomped around the room until she semi awoke out of her snoring stupor. This morning we walked for 20 minutes with our heavey heavey backpacks until we reached the bus station. The flight was short and uneventful.

We are staying with friends of Frances. They have been incredibly hospitible to us. We have already eatten a traditional Viennaise meal (fran had a snitzel and i had fish), gone to a musuem were we saw art work by Klimt and Monet and wondered around the city.

It’s nice to see another European country but i will miss hearing people call out ‘ciao bella.’

shoes

2005-06-14T04:05:00.000+10:00

Oh and by-the-way i have started looking at everyones feet. its hard not to after a while. There are soooo many shoe shops here its crazy.

2005-06-14T03:58:00.000+10:00

Well we have had a lovely day at a terrible Italian beach, no serf, hard sand, cold wind and heaps of nuddy ruddy people. We are about to head off to have our last pizza. Feel sorry for us we have to be up at 4.20 am tomorrow morning to walk to the bus station to get to the airport to catch our flight to Vienna. I have know idea what i would have done without frances in Venice and Verona. These two cities are like a maze, all concrete tiny paths that look exactly the same. I have no sence of direction, but fortunatly frances does. I have know idea what i will do when we split up, no doubt i will get hoplessly lost.

Ciao Bella

2005-06-13T00:02:00.000+10:00

We're in Verona at the moment, filled with gorgeous, manicured men and women. And then there's us frumpy Aussies. But despite this, we still managed to get hit on.
Two nights ago Frances and i decided to go out for a lovely Italiano meal. Our meals which we picked at random ended up being a plate of somillena and a lettuce and carrot salad...not very appetising. As we were sitting there minding our own business admiring the view these two Italiano stallions attempted to engage us in conversation. Before making a quick exit, we indulged them with polite chit chat.
Yesterday, whilst sitting in the park facing the Colossium (stuffing our faces with pizza), these three well chisselled "army men" came up to Liesel. You have beautiful eyes, they said, where are you from?
Australia.
Oh, I'm in love with Australia. Maybe you can give me your telephone number.
To which Liesel proceeded to say, "we don't have phones in Australia."
Anyway, after turning him down several times, he finally walked away saying, "You make my heart go like this (he made a Bollywood hand pumping gesture against his chest). Then he kissed us both on the cheek, not once but twice. He left and we thought we had got rid of him. But alas, five minutes later, he came running back and from behind, kissed Liesel again on the cheek.
True love, eh?

2005-06-09T23:16:00.000+10:00

Well we made it to Venice. I am sooo very tired having only slept 2 out of the last 36 hours. We cant check into our accommodation until 5pm so we have been wandering the streets for the whole afternoon. Venice is beautiful but is over run with tourists. My tolerance levels are really low today so i am finding it hard to put up with random smack people who have know idea where they are going.

Tell me if you know why this happens. We had an hour long layover in Frankfurt i noticed that everyone looked at everyone elses feet/shoes. Why is this? I started getting really annoyed by it...shows you how tired i am.

liesel

The last of India

2005-06-09T01:21:00.000+10:00

Sorry no pictures yet. I suck at computer things. You will get a whole heap when I get to Zurich.

We are flying out of Delhi tomorrow morning at 02.00am. We are all set to head off to the airport. We have packed our bags, eaten our last Indian meal and freshened up by quickly sponging our faces and feet in the lobby toilet (they wouldn’t let us use a proper bathroom because we checked out at noon). Although we are both tired from a full day of shopping, dusty and sticky from the heat and a bit irritable after bargaining non stop for 4 hours, we can still say that we have had a wonderful time in India.

We went to Agra yesterday. The Taj was beautiful but I have always preferred the Red Fort. Although I have heard the stories of Moghal Kings and Queens a thousand times I still find them fascinating. This time they were told to us by our guide who wore his pants so far up his arse I am afraid he will never be able to father children. Everything was ‘optical illusion’ this and ‘madam’ that as well as look at this ‘different different’ pattern. It was a comprehensive tour, well worth the 15 hours it took to complete. What topped it off for me however was sitting in a bus with two old Flemish ladies. Not only did they flash a lot of skin, white thighs and sagging breasts, but they kept freaking out about the smallest things. I love other tourists.

Liesel

Madame, you speak very good Hindi

2005-06-08T21:36:00.000+10:00

We’re in Delhi at the moment. Today is our last day in India so Liesel and I decided to tackle the market for some last minute shopping. First of all we couldn’t find the place so we decided to hop into a ‘tuk tuk’ (which by the way are awesome! I felt like I was driving in Crash Bandicoot or something…so cool). We told the guy we wanted to go to ‘Connaught Circurt.’ After driving through some random backstreets, he drove us to this Emporium and tried to get us to hop out and buy something. After some arguing, we got him to drive us back to where we started from.
You know, I have never seen so many men out and about and so few women on the streets. There are guys EVERYWHERE. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t mind so much but the majority are the leering, greasy, dodgy “hello baby’ kind. And looking, looking, looking. Sometimes, I feel like break-dancing just to see what would happen.
Eventually we found our way to Janpath market. By the way, we had lunch in Subway (I know, so Western…but my stomach is still playing up).
Liesel is such a good bargainer. I was so impressed and so were the guys selling the stuff It would go something like this:
“How much?”
“125 rupees” at which point, Liesel would scoff and start walking away, saying “That is too much. You’re giving me tourist price”
“Why? How much do you think it is madam?”
“40 rupees. I know, I have lived in India for seven years and besides this is not good quality.”
“No, no. 125 is good price. This is hand made. But ok, 100 rupees.
“No, 40 rupees.”
The guy would then shake his head as Liesel would put back the item. As she starts walking away he would say,
“OK, Madame, give me another price.”
“I have already given you a price. 40 rupees….bass (the hand would go up, like in the song, “stop in the name of love”).”
The guy would then shake his head again and as Liesel turns around to walk away, he shouts in a resigned voice, “OK, Madam. 40 rupees.”
Liesel was so good, she did my bargaining too
It was fascinating to watch. What’s even funnier is Liesel’s look of triumph at the end.

Other stuff: people have found my hair interesting. A couple of ladies have asked to touch it. Some kids in Missouri were horrified cause they thought it was like snakes. I guess I look a bit like Medusa.
We’ve also received a lot of comments, the most common:
“Eh, eh, look…black and white…he he he…”

Chai and a yarn

2005-06-06T17:14:00.000+10:00

Everywhere we go we have a cup of chai and a yarn. Whether we are walking around the Chakkar, sitting in the Kashmiri shop or at Inams (the local tailor who is such a rip off) it is always the same. Chai and a yarn. Bunty picked us up from picture palace and drove us up to sisters buzz. The whole way he has telling us about his new trekking business. He wants to take people to this lake, which has 700 people buried in it. Whether they were Nepali soldiers who had come to attack the hill station or a royal entourage hit by an avalanche nobody knows.

Om Kar and family are well as are Ali and Jeff. We (Frances, Sam Braid, the Datts and myself) went to the Tavern for dinner last night and got caught in a torrent of rain. We had to weave our way through the traffic to the taxi stand were we stood shivering in the doorway of a rickety old Kodak shop listening to Bollywood hits booming forth from innumerable Maruti vans. There are bodies and vehicles everywhere at the moment because of the bloody Delhi tourists who have come up the mountain to escape the heat.

We are heading down to Delhi this afternoon. I am not looking forward to the humidity. The power has been playing up a fair bit so I haven’t been able to post any pictures. I will try when we get down to Delhi otherwise it will have to wait till we get to Venice.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

2005-06-03T15:21:00.000+10:00

‘Tree times I have been attacked by big cats’ leopards, tigers, and panthers. The first time one attacked me and I soiled my pants. I told the tiger he was the king of the jungle and then he let me go.’ Mr. Singh entertained us for 5 long long hours in our trip from the Delhi Airport to Mussoorie. Yes mum we got up the mountain in 5 hours not 8. He literally flew up the road. We arrived at 4.30 am had a chai and went to bed.

Its been really good catching up with people from Woodstock. I can’t believe how many people I still know. The buildings are gorgeous, and Mr. Jefferies was soooo nice and pleasant to us – NOT!! He is socially inept.

We’ve walked around sisters buzz, the school and the dorms. We are going down to library buzz today for some Momos and Greens Vegetarian.

Liesel

The traffic in Delhi is something else. Liesel said it’s like a dance but I think chaotic is a better word. At intersections, cars just go whatever which way they want. If you want to make yourself known, you beep. When we stopped at lights, Mr Singh would squeeze into whatever gaps he could fine and he has an amazing ability to weave in and out of ONCOMING TRAFFIC! Amazingly, with all this beeping and pushing, no one gets offended or road rage. If there’s an accident, we just go around it. There’s usually a crowd at the scene. No Vic Roads to assist. It’s great.

Mussoorie is beautiful and amazing. Woodstock is an eclectic mishmash. But you can really feel the sense of community. The school and dorms are really nice. Liesel said that it’s changed a lot.

Yesterday, when we took a walk around the area, we were suddenly approached by this car. A guy jumped out with his family and eagerly requested that we take a photo with him. So we did. My very first photo shoot and Liesel assures me it won’t be the last.
Anyway, I’m really enjoying myself.

Frances

S'pore

2005-06-01T13:18:00.000+10:00

We've arrived at S'pore with hardly any sleep. Fran says she is tired. We've been sitting in a massage chair for the last hour. We are now heading off to tour the city.

2005-05-31T22:47:00.000+10:00

I am at Melbourne Airport passing time thought i would drop a line.
My bags are all checked in and I am ready to go.
Thank you to all the beautiful people who came to see Fran and I off at the airport
cheers

Liesel, Fleur and Frances

2005-05-31T17:48:00.000+10:00

This is Fran and I at Fleur and Clints engagement on Saturday night.

Volumes Crew

2005-05-30T20:06:00.000+10:00

Volumes crew at The Lane

I am so excited its not funny!

2005-05-23T12:49:00.000+10:00

Nine days till i go (that is if you include today). Time has passed by so quickly. I still have to finish writing my essay, and get all my bits and pieces together before i leave. Hectic. I only have 6 more shifts left at work, only eight more sleeps and 24 meals. I am so excited its not funny!

Travel Itineray

2005-05-04T16:54:00.000+10:00

Below is an outline of my travel plans:

Wednesday 01 June
Depart Melbourne at 0050
Arrive Singapore at 0645
Depart Singapore at 1855
Arrive Delhi at 2155

In India Frances and I will be traveling up to Mussoorie where I grew up, Agra to see the Taj Mahal and we will be spending a day in Delhi shopping.

Thursday 09 June
Depart Delhi at 0225
Arrive Venice at 1005

In Venice Fran and I will be doing the touristy thing, seeing the sites etc. We also hope to travel down the coast a bit to hang out at the beach.

Tuesday 14 June
Depart Venice at 0740
Arrive Vienna at 0910

Once again we will be doing the touristy thing in Vienna. From here we will be making out way by train to Zurich where Fran will be staying with family and I will be catching up with some friends.

Wednesday 22 June
Depart Zurich at 1455
Arrive Brussels at 1750

Frances spent three years of her childhood in Brussels, so we are going to check out where she used to live, go to school as well as catch up with some of her old friends. We will be making our own way to Paris where we will be staying in one of Frances' friend’s house. Frances and I will be parting ways on the 1st of July (also my 23rd birthday). She will be heading off to America to visit her family for a couple of weeks before flying back to Australia where see will resume working. I will be staying in Taize monastery from the 2nd-11th of July.

Monday 11 July
Depart Paris at 1620
Arrive London at 1635

I will be staying with some family friends who live in Oxford. I hope to spend time catching up with them and seeing the sites.

Tuesday 19th July
Depart London at 1230
Arrive Philadelphia at 1535

I will be staying with some family friends from our India days. They live near an Amish community.

Friday 22 July
Depart Philadelphia at 1445
Arrive Wichita at 2152

I will be catching up with my best friend from India Sarah who I haven’t seen in 6 years!

Wednesday 27 July
Depart Wichita at 1535
Arrive Sacramento at 1844

I will be staying with some family friends from out Bangladesh days.

Saturday 30 July
Depart San Francisco at 1410
Arrive Shanghai at 1755

I will be making my way to Xian where I will meet up with a group of other young people. We will be taking in the sites before heading off to Hanzhong where we will be teaching English to High School students for two weeks.

Saturday 20 August
Depart Shanghai at 0840
Arrive Bangkok at 1215

I am going to be catching up with my friend Janene whom I meet whilst studying in Townsville 2001.

Saturday 03 September
Depart Bangkok at 0810
Arrive Melbourne at 2255

Then back to reality!