tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73926726710883162012024-03-14T12:10:19.037+10:00Pat's WalkaboutPhotoblog of my time in AustraliaPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-78037435645992350222013-03-24T16:29:00.001+10:002013-03-24T16:31:47.529+10:00Aus Road Trip - Brisbane to SydneyAs many things do in the wet Brisbane summer, our road trip started with rain. Tropical Storm Oswald blew through Brisbane just a few nights before we left on our farewell to Australia road trip. The neighbours aluminium shed blew over the fence during the night of our going away party.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/0shed.jpg"><br><br>
A few days later we took off on <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203291102885121759451.0004d8a4df61aafecf5a3&msa=0&ll=-31.212801,152.970886&spn=1.872132,4.040222">this route, shown on google maps.</a><br><br>
We planned on stopping in Byron, but it was wet and rainy, so we pushed on, diverting inland through Lismore and Casino to avoid a flooded section of highway near Grafton.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/0cobbs.jpg"><br><br>
Coffs Harbor was our first stop, home of The Big Banana. Mary was unimpressed that we didn't stop.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/1pelis.jpg"><br><br>
Pelicans and humans co-existing in Port Macquarie.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/2walkway.jpg"><br><br>
This walkway along the breakwater of Port Macquarie was lined with several kilometers of painted stones.<br><br>
We stayed in Newcastle with a couple friends, and it was great to see them, but we're skipping ahead to Sydney.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/4ph.jpg"><br><br>
The Sydney Powerhouse Museum was great - a cool mix of engineering and art inside a converted power station. <br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/5ph.jpg"><br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/5ph-pano.jpg"><br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/3marybike.jpg"><br><br>
Also while in Sydney we were lucky enough to catch La Boheme at Opera in the Domain, a free outdoor opera concert. Great stuff - the rain scared a few people off and we got bumped up front.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/7lb.jpg"><br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/8lb.jpg"><br><br>
We also got fancy stick on bowties.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/9fb.jpg"><br><br>
Knowledge is power - France is Bacon.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/10stm.jpg"><br><br>
Saturday afternoon in town by St. Mary's Cathedral. This was one of 3 or 4 wedding parties we saw in the city.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/11pig.jpg"><br><br>
The pig statute who gives you good luck when you rub his nose.<br><br>
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<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/13us.jpg"><br><br>
A couple photos from the Domain gardens.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/14opera.jpg"><br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/16opera.jpg"><br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/16opera-pano.jpg"><br><br>
The opera house!<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/15luna.jpg"><br><br>
And Sydney's Luna park!
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130130/17ta.jpg"><br><br>
And the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art.<br><br>
This was about the first week. Next up - Canberra, the Big Merino, and the Snowy River.<br><br>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-77503082165433023602013-01-04T21:51:00.001+10:002013-01-04T21:52:14.233+10:00Lamington ParkToday Stu, James and I went for a hike through the Albert River circuit of Lamington National Park. It was a day of Australian wildlife. Wallabies in front of the car, leeches on my ankles, literally hundreds of face level spiderwebs, and then some more interesting stuff.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130104/crayfish.jpg"><br><br>
An adult <a href="http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Crustaceans/Common+freshwater+and+terrestrial+crustaceans/Lamington+Spiny+Crayfish">Lamington Spiny Crayfish</a>. We kept spooking him (her?) and he'd go into, 'What's up now, dog?' mode with his pincers up. This picture was after he calmed down and went back to fishing. <br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130104/snake.jpg"><br><br>
Later, we saw a few snakes. There were two or three like the one above, maybe a centimeter in diameter and 30-40cm long. I think this is a common tree snake but I'm not sure. They aren't dangerous. The other one we saw was considerably bigger - about the size of a toilet paper tube in diameter. It might have been a carpet snake (not dangerous), or it could have been a death adder (unsurprisingly, dangerous). Who knows?<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130104/nsw.jpg"><br><br>
Here's the start of New South Wales from Echo Lookout.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130104/me.jpg"><br><br>
Me at the same.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130104/james.jpg"><br><br>
James enjoying his nutritious breakfast.<br><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/130104/fungi.jpg">Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-51054411168966101582012-11-19T12:42:00.001+10:002012-11-19T12:43:29.558+10:00It Began in AfricaLast week was Nickel Processing 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa. I will skip the details of the conference and go right into pictures.
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/hotel.jpg">
<br>The entrance to the garden at the Vineyard Hotel.
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/tortoise.jpg">
<br>The hotel had 4 tortoises that wandered around the garden and sometimes into the ground floor of the hotel. They brazenly begged for scraps and were utterly unafraid of people. This one came right up to me when I sat down to take its picture.
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/sg2.jpg">
<br>Later we went for a hike up Table Mountain, taking the route through Skeleton Gorge. There were no Skeletons, but there was a barbed wire safety fence. South Africans love their barbed wire.
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/sg.jpg">
<br>It was hot - Skeleton Gorge is about 400m of elevation gain through stairs and scramble up a river bed.
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/sg-view.jpg">
<br>The view was worth it though.
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/lizard.jpg">
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/grasshopper.jpg">
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/flowers.jpg">
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<br>Lots of life to see, including this little critter, a rock dassie or hyrax. Mary tells me they are related to manatees and elephants.
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/capetown.jpg">
<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/metable.jpg">
<br>Spectacular views over the city proper.
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<br>The top of Table Mountain as we entered the cloud. The mountain is often wreathed in cloud from where the cold antarctic wind hits the warm air off the continent. The second half of the hike saw us in a cold, moisture laden wind over the plateau.
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<br><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/121119/waterfront.jpg">
<br>Down at the waterfront where we had a well deserved beer. The red guy there is made entirely out of plastic coke crates. Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-73291611899308263762012-05-13T19:31:00.002+10:002012-05-13T19:33:29.716+10:00A Visitor from CanadaMary's mother June has been visiting us from Canada for the last few days, so we've been showing her around and doing the touristy stuff. Yesterday we were up at the Australia Zoo. We went up with a couple friends of ours and their kids. Everybody was getting close to the cute animals.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/redpanda.jpg" /><br>
As part of her birthday present from me, Mary first got to meet this charming fellow.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/marypanda.jpg" /><br>
It was pretty good for both her and Yoda, the fuzzy guy on her lap.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/gator.jpg" /><br>
Of course, no trip to the Australia Zoo is complete without large terrifying animals.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/henryizzy.jpg" /><br>
And some small ones with Brett's kids.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/izzyroo.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/oscaroo.jpg" /><br>
These roos could be pretty terrifying if they were in a bad mood, but lucky for us (especially lucky for Oscar), they were amazingly tolerant. Even when they were being used by Oscar as a drum.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/brettoscar.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/junedingo.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/junedingo2.jpg" /><br>
June got to meet the dingos - she's part of the pack now.<br>
Mary then got to meet the echidnas - Fatty, Tippy, Yellow (Yellah in Australian), Three Foot, Dame, and Prickle. <br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/maryechidna.jpg" /><br>
Note that my fully grown wife is far more excited by the wormy tongue than the 12 year old girl next to her.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/maryechidna2.jpg" /><br>
The pile of insect mash in front of the echidna had only recently been smeared on Mary's hand. How nice for the vegan.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/maryechidna3.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/maryechidnas.jpg" /><br>
Mary the echidna whisperer.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/maryelephant.jpg" /><br>
We all fed Suba the elephant. <br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/maryswommas.jpg" /><br>
Mary had the wombat encounter all to herself. I wanted to get her in a little wagon and have the 4 tow her like warhorses towing their fearless leader in a chariot, but the handlers said no.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/marywomma.jpg" /><br>
Here she is emulating her little friend Dozer (Dozah in Australian).<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/oscardrive.jpg" /><br>
We closed the day with Oscar going for a drive.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/wommawalk.jpg" /><br>
And Burrow the womma taking a trip around the shop, with Henry in tow.<br>
Today we headed out to the Botanical gardens.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/coottha.jpg" /><br>
At the top of "Mount" Coot-tha before we headed to the botanic gardens.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/marypeach.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/maryred.jpg" /><br>
Flower shots are obviously an important part of a visit to the gardens. <br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/beeflower.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/daisy.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/mynaflower.jpg" /><br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/stamen.jpg" /><br>
And a sunset from Mt. Tamborine.<br>
<img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/120513/tamborine.jpg" /><br>
It's been great having June here, but she's en route for the rest of the continent shortly.<br>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-13385234058430760422012-01-22T09:25:00.003+10:002012-01-23T08:35:57.836+10:00BaliOver the Christmas holidays Mary and I spent 3.5 weeks in Indonesia, mostly in Bali but also on the Gili Islands just to the east. Good times were had. I've got a load of pictures with only the most cursory organization, so here we go.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/maryblanco.jpg"><br /><br />Whenever we travel Mary and I always go to museums, and this trip was no different. This museum, the converted house/studio of Spanish turned Balinese Antonio Blanco, was one of the nicest galleries I've ever seen. Unfortunately no photos were allowed inside, but this is the front. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/birdcorn.jpg"><br /><br />Outside were a bunch of different tame birds.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/birdfriends.jpg"><br /><br />And some friends.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/orchid.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/marybridge.jpg"><br /><br />On one of the many bridges in Ubud.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/candles.jpg"><br /><br />We were here for Christmas dinner at the Jiwa Damai retreat in Mambal, just southwest of Ubud.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/familystore.jpg"><br /><br />On Christmas day we were walking around and I took this photo of a family at their store. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/familystuffies.jpg"><br /><br />I got the first photo printed out and returned with a few stuffies for the little girls. They were pretty excited. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/caterpillar.jpg"><br /><br />Just a caterpillar on a bowl of flowers.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/snail.jpg"><br /><br />He's coming right for us!<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/moth.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/spider.jpg"><br /><br />One of many big spiders. One of the Balinese guys saw me taking this picture and afterwards came up saying "No poison," as he petted it with his finger. Yikes.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/court.jpg"><br /><br />Gunung Kawi was an old Balinese royal court maybe 7 or 9 centuries ago. The way the whole structure was carved out of the rock combined with the surrounding jungle and torrential rain made the whole thing very Indiana Jones.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/marycourt.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/goagajah.jpg"><br /><br />Goa Gajah, the oddly named elephant temple. Odd because elephants are not native to Bali. Apparently the temple is named for the large river nearby, Elephant River (named because it's a really big river). <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/uludanu.jpg"><br /><br />This is on the edge of Lake Batur, at the scenic Pura Ulu Danu Batur temple. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/templemosque.jpg"><br /><br />Looking the other way from Pura Ulu Danu Batur, you can see another temple with a mosque in the background. You can tell both of these temples are serious business because they have 11 levels. I don't really understand the significance, but temples have 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 levels, roughly corresponding to the castes of Balinese society. <br /><br />I wish I understood enough to write a whole post about caste in Bali because it seemed very interesting and quite different from the caste system of India. I believe in Bali it is more of religious and spiritual significance than social or financial, but the main thing I picked up is that it's a complex and multifaceted subject.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/garuda.jpg"><br /><br />Garuda, the bird demigod mount that Vishnu rides to and from the heavens, is featured in the roof of many temples. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/maryibuwasu.jpg"><br /><br />Mary and Ibu Wasu (mother of Wasu) in the temple in Apuan we were able to visit with our host family. This family was amazing, really nice people. They really went out of their way to make us feel like part of the family, not just visitors. Their page is <a href="http://samadispringsbali.com/">here, Apuan Village Homestay</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/offerings.jpg"><br /><br />Some of the many offerings in the aforementioned temple. This was part of a several day long blessing/purification/reopening of the temple after renovations and maintenance.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/paddietemple.jpg"><br /><br />One of many little shrines overlooking the paddies.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/komangtemple.jpg"><br /><br />The family altar/meditation room at the home of our host family.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/maryfamily.jpg"><br /><br />Mary with some children of our host family - from left to right, baby Dia, Dede, Sam, and Nara. I taught Sam and Nara a bit of english by reading the english descriptions on the back of their Pokemon cards.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/uskomang.jpg"><br /><br />Us ready to visit the family temple in Apuan.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/maryfalls.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/marymundukfalls.jpg"><br /><br />Mary at Munduk water fall.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/kids.jpg"><br /><br />I was walking around one of the villages and saw these kids sitting outside a house. The shyest looking little girl walked after me as I walked away, so I asked her if I could take a picture. As I got my camera out, the other 4 came running up too. You can see the 4th girl still running in the back right of this photo.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/kids2.jpg"><br /><br />All of them together, all thanks to learning how to say good afternoon in Indonesian (selamat siang!).<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/petuluherons.jpg"><br /><br />In Petulu, a small village that's part of Ubud, every evening about 15,000 white herons show up to roost. We showed up just as they started arriving and had a beer with one of the locals while we watched from across his rice field. Every one of the white dots in the trees is a heron.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/herons.jpg"><br /><br />With a couple chicks.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/heronrock.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/sunrise.jpg"><br /><br />The sunrise from our place in Ubud, <a href="http://rumahroda.com/index.html">Rumah Roda</a>. This was another great homestay with a local family.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/usvolcano.jpg"><br /><br />Us in front of Mount Batur. The lava flow in the background is from the eruption in 1965.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/villas.jpg"><br /><br />We had lunch at a restaurant (Indus, in Ubud) overlooking the Wos River Valley, in one of the fancier parts of Ubud. It was raining though, so unfortunately we didn't get to see anyone using their private walled gardens below. Fantastic spot though - $30 for lunch with drinks, mains, coffee, and a wonderful view. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/woodshop.jpg"><br /><br />Outside a wood carving gallery in Mas, near Ubud, was this finishing area. People were doing things like final sanding, polishing, and the odd inscription. Unfortunately I couldn't take any pictures of the inside of the gallery, but it was like an art museum. There are some very talented wood workers over there.<br /><br />After a couple weeks in Bali we went over to the Gili Islands, a set of 3 tiny desert island type places that are considerd part of Lombok, the next major island to the east in Indonesia's archipelago. We spent our first few days on Gili Trawangan, the busiest of the three doing a SCUBA course, then the next few on the much more laid back Gili Meno, the middle of the 3.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/marylibrary.jpg"><br /><br />Mary at the library.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/maryrelax.jpg"><br /><br />We spent the better part of three days like this - a nice change from the busier pace earlier in the holiday.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/maryturtles.jpg"><br /><br />One of several turtle sanctuaries in the Gilis, where locals have set up a series of tanks for raising turtles from hatchlings until they're big enough to a better shot at surviving. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/maryvh.jpg"><br /><br />On the Gili islands they've outlawed dogs entirely, so you don't see any stray dogs whatsoever (unlike Bali, where they're everywhere). Instead, you see stray cats. They're just as dirty, but they're not rabid, and the ones that live around the tourist spots know how to cozy up to you so you'll share a meal. We dubbed this one Footpet, because she was so grubby you should just pet her with your feet. Of course, after a week in tropical heat without a fresh water shower, we weren't much better.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/emptyhotel.jpg"><br /><br />This was the once bustling Bounty Hotel, now abandoned. This was a weird and creepy place, with many roofs collapsing and decks caved in. It even extended into the water, where about 10 years ago the locals decided to sink the Bounty dive platform to make an artificial reef. The platform wasn't being used enough to warrant the cost, so now the remnants of a jetty and a few piles point out off shore where a big platform rests about 15 meters underwater. We got to see the wreck up close during our SCUBA course.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/111215/sunset.jpg"><br /><br />The last sunset of 2011.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-1992472807861482472011-10-17T18:27:00.002+10:002011-10-17T18:33:10.466+10:00Meet the LittlejohnsSo we got married a little while ago. It went pretty well.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/bridge.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/us.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/patheld.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/patrick.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/maryguns.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/ring.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/tree.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/usdance.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/usdance2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/uspon.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110724/arch.jpg">Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-3863597238578182612011-05-03T20:48:00.003+10:002011-05-05T10:02:13.098+10:00FamilyFor a little while in April, we were practically running a hotel in our 1 bedroom apartment. Katie was down in Brisbane for almost a week before she headed to Darwin, and part of that time overlapped with Jim and Aidan, who were on a world tour.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/us.jpg"><br /><br />Through an incredible coincidence, the 5 of us met up on the beach at Surfer's Paradise. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/aidanandi.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/goobers.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/maryferry.jpg"><br /><br />On our second day together, we all went over to North Stradbroke island to check out some quieter beaches. This is Mary on the Big Red Cat (the car ferry across).<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/aidan.jpg"><br /><br />Aidan blowing off some steam after listening to a boring scientist in the Moreton Bay Research Station. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/handstands.jpg"><br /><br />This picture took a few tries.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/katchyandpatchy.jpg"><br /><br />Katie and I on the top of Mt Cootha.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/squinters.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/katieballoons.jpg"><br /><br />Katie and I hit up the modern art gallery. I never thought I'd get so much culture out of a bit room full of balloons.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/megalego.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/megalego2.jpg"><br /><br />Also in the museum was this massive table full of white lego and the things people had built.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/katieriver.jpg"><br /><br />Katie on one of the bridges over the Brisbane River. It was nice to see the City Cat ferries running again - they'd been offline for the past 3 months because of the floods.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110410/dinos.jpg"><br /><br />Katie and I in the natural history museum. I love these cutout photos.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-69618650463297126262011-04-16T20:38:00.003+10:002011-04-16T20:49:57.711+10:00SeoulOn our way back from Europe we spent a couple days in Seoul as we came through Korea. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/restaurant.jpg"><br /><br />We spent our first night having dinner at a very cool buddhist temple where they brought us a whole galaxy of vegetarian dishes, followed by traditional song and dance from several Korea women.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/downtown.jpg"><br /><br />The neon downtown.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/cornwater.jpg"><br /><br />I got corn juice out of one of the vending machines in the airport. So exciting to finally find a beverage that tastes like popped corn.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/locks.jpg"><br /><br />A fence on the top of the hill in the center of the city is home to a similar tradition as that of the Rhine bridge I posted pictures of earlier. We didn't have a lock on hand to give out this time. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/marycharacter.jpg"><br /><br />This character is some sort of Seoul icon; we saw him all over the city in various forms. This was on top of the mountain, which we were able to drive right up because Francis, the friend of mine stationed there with the US Army, had diplomatic plates.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/starcraft.jpg"><br /><br />After the mountain, Francis and I hit up some live professional Starcraft. We saw two of my favourite players duke it out in an epic battle royale. Seeing the studio where these guys play was like visiting my Mecca.<br /><br />From there, we headed to Gyeongbok Palace, one of the palaces right in the heart of the city.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/usgate.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/waterhouse.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/waterhouse2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/throne.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/roof.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/uskoreans.jpg"><br /><br />The koreans thought this was just <i>hilarious</i>.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/island.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110322/maryandi.jpg"><br /><br />And so concludes our round the world adventure.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-81585454252142562422011-04-16T18:02:00.002+10:002011-04-16T18:18:38.052+10:00Aye LassAfter a few days in Amsterdam we flew across the way to Edinburgh, where a lot of Mary's family is. It was nice to be staying in someone's house with family instead of in relatively anonymous hotels.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/auntiemary.jpg"><br /><br />We spent a lot of time walking around the city with Auntie Mary. This was taken at the top of Edinburgh castle.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/mestreet.jpg"><br /><br />Me on one of the hillside streets. There is a lot of elevation change in this city. The central area just below the castle is very steep, with terraces of old stone buildings on the way up.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/greyfriars.jpg"><br /><br />Mary withe the memorial for Greyfriar's Bobby, the little dog who went to his masters grave for years on end.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/sacred.jpg"><br /><br />This is one of the gravestones in the valley below the castle.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/statue.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/stainedglass.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/flags.jpg"><br /><br />These photos were from inside St Giles cathedral in the city. Even though there was scaffolding up so that workmen could clean the interior, it was still a beautiful church.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/churches.jpg"><br /><br />Three of the churches in the city, with St Giles cathedral being the hollow spire on the right.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/bridge.jpg"><br /><br />We went out to the Firth of Forth to see the Forth Rail Bridge. Pretty epic stuff, but the weather was miserable and rainy.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/garden.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/marygarden.jpg"><br /><br />From the Princess Street gardens below the castle.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/marybonnet.jpg"><br /><br />We went to a number of museums in the downtown area, one of which had some dressup clothes. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/theclan.jpg"><br /><br />The whole gang. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/theclan2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110317/hillside.jpg"><br /><br />The morning we left it was wondeful weather. It's too bad we couldn't have spent a few more days.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-67378199929909930892011-04-14T07:47:00.002+10:002011-04-14T08:00:22.316+10:00A'dam WestBeen a few days. It's been a circus around here.<br /><br />Amsterdam was very fun. It was nice to be finished my actual work, and better still, we met up with Kerrie.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/trio.jpg"><br /><br />Amsterdam is a beautiful city, full of canals and rickety, crooked buildings.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/canal.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/canal2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/ftp.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/marycanal.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/night.jpg"><br /><br />This place was built for nighttime.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/maryswans.jpg"><br /><br />Swans and other waterfowl cruise around in the canals. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/poezenboot.jpg"><br /><br />Amsterdam has a zillion cats in it. They have a real problem with mice and rats. In the spirit of all our time with VOKRA, we went to De Poezenboot. It's a canal boat that has been converted into a cat shelter. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/oldman.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/kerriepb.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/darkypb.jpg"><br /><br />This one reminded us of Malcs and Jas back home. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/cheese.jpg"><br /><br />In addition to cats, Amsterdam is full of one of my other favourite things - cheese.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/adamwest.jpg"><br /><br />And my favourite actor who played Batman.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/aha.jpg"><br /><br />We stayed in a bizarre hotel in the bottom of the WTC called Qbic. It had more style than execution, but this lamp was still pretty cool. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/combine.jpg"><br /><br />Outside of the main city center with all the centuries old buildings are modern steel and glass towers, like these two that look like something out of Halflife 2.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/lego.jpg"><br /><br />Random graffiti. I've no idea what this says.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/redlight.jpg"><br /><br />The start of the red light district by the grasshopper, which is a combination coffee shop, bar, restaurant. It's a modern day gomorra.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/shoes.jpg"><br /><br />Shoes in the flower market.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/stores.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/street.jpg"><br /><br />One of the many narrow streets. This was actually an exception - most narrow streets had pedestrians crammed on the sidewalks while aggressive cyclists went buzzing by.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110316/whipped.jpg"><br /><br />Hurray!<br /><br />Edinburgh & Seoul to come.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-22069238238049642402011-03-26T18:53:00.002+10:002011-03-26T18:58:00.740+10:00More CologneJust a few others from Cologne. Two during Carnival parades:<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110315/street.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110315/kolsch.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110315/crocus.jpg"><br /><br />There were fields of crocuses blooming while we were there.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110315/frites.jpg"><br /><br />Mary enjoying one of her many meals of pommes frites. It's not easy being vegan in Germany.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110315/marystatue.jpg"><br /><br />But getting hit on by living statues makes it worth it.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-44744309913399540292011-03-26T09:09:00.003+10:002011-03-26T09:22:51.983+10:00DusseldorfOn our last day in Germany, my primary contact at Lanxess took us out on the town in Dusseldorf with his wife. Dusseldorf is the capital city of North-Rhine Westphalia, and as a government city it has a very different character than Bonn and Cologne. In Cologne and Bonn you can instantly feel the connection to centuries ago with narrow lanes and cobbled streets. In Dusseldorf there is an old part of the city, but the next neighbourhood over is ultramodern glass and steel. It makes for a stunning skyline.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110314/spidermen.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110314/pano-dusseldorf.jpg"><br /><br />Several buildings by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gehry">Frank Gehry</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110314/cops.jpg"><br /><br />We were walking through a strip of bars and came across some German cops. Being drunk, my colleague insisted we have a picture taken. It's a good thing we're so charming.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-45292438615191385992011-03-26T09:03:00.002+10:002011-03-26T09:09:43.245+10:00Chocolate and RomeOne afternoon in Cologne we went to both the Roman-Germanic history museum as well as the chocolate museum. The former was full of stonework, pottery and glassware, and jewelry from centuries ago, and the latter was full of chocolate. I can't decide which I liked more.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110313/bust.jpg"><br /><br />One of the many busts in the Roman museum. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110313/maryoutside.jpg"><br /><br />Mary out front of the chocolate museum under the massive inflatable bunny.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110313/insidefactory.jpg"><br /><br />Inside the museum on the factory floor. They've got a small setup where they make, shape and wrap chocolate candies here. Assembly lines and chocolate are two of my favourite things.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110313/chocolatmexicain.jpg"><br /><br />Obligatory racially insensitive chocolate advertisement.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110313/mustardmuseum.jpg"><br /><br />Right across the way from the chocolate museum was the mustard museum. We didn't go in, but only because it was closed.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-88736438204704919532011-03-25T22:14:00.006+10:002011-03-26T09:03:44.407+10:00Dom CathedralThe Dom cathedral towers over Cologne like a mountain. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/dom2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/marydom.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/statue.jpg"><br /><br />Demons beware.<br /><br />During carnival the Dom broods over a bizarre scene. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/dom.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/caterpillars.jpg"><br /><br />Here it is with 5 segments of a Japanese caterpillar.<br /><br />Inside, it is shockingly big. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/space.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/organ.jpg"><br /><br />This organ is the size of a bus.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/glass.jpg"><br /><br />One of the many beautiful stained glass windows.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/light.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/stainedglass.jpg"><br /><br />One of the windows was of a more modern style.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/modernin.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/modernout.jpg"><br /><br />From the outside.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/sacrophagus.jpg"><br /><br />There were a number of crypts and sarcophagi. There has been a church or cathedral on this site for around 900 years, so there are no shortage of important figures buried here.<br /><br />We also climbed the 522 steps to get to the top of one of the bell towers. It was a long climb, but worth it for the view. On the right hand of the bridge in this photo is where we put our lock. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110312/top.jpg">Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-34655156107301951132011-03-25T22:09:00.003+10:002011-03-25T22:13:58.779+10:00BonnOne day we headed down to Bonn, birthplace of Beethoven. It was pretty koo.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110311/koo.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110311/mary.jpg"><br /><br />On the promenade looking east across the Rhine.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110311/museum.jpg"><br /><br />A museum filled with stuffed animals. Not teddy bears.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110311/piratebeethoven.jpg"><br /><br />Beethoven would've used Limewire.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110311/uni.jpg"><br /><br />I would enjoy going to school in a building that looks like this.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-23376796180682856122011-03-24T18:52:00.002+10:002011-03-24T19:02:23.572+10:00Vater RhineThe big bridge over the Rhine that we crossed every time we went to Cologne is home to a curious tradition. For decades, couples have written their names on locks and attached them to the fence and tossed the key in the river. We did our part one evening.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110310/uberschloss.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110310/maryschloss.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110310/ours.jpg"><br /><br />If you're ever crossing the Rhine on the big rail bridge, you can find our lock in the middle nearby some lovely anti fascism graffiti.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110310/usrhine.jpg"> <br /><br />From the east side of the Rhine looking towards the Dom cathedral.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110310/ritter.jpg">Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-71328050348144931732011-03-24T18:32:00.004+10:002011-03-24T18:52:01.360+10:00Carnival!This past few weeks we've been trotting around the globe. I won a scholarship to do some research in Germany with one of the industrial supporters of my research, and Mary tagged along. We spent the first two weeks of our trip in Germany along the Rhine in Leverkusen, a smallish industrial town nearby Cologne, Bonn, and Dusseldorf. We didn't know it when we booked our trip, but we were going to be in Cologne over Carnival, the heart of the pre-lent celebrations in the more Catholic part of Germany. In Cologne this takes the form of massive street parades and public shenanigans. It's like 6 full days of Halloween, except more exciting because EVERYONE takes part. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown1.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown3.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown4.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown5.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown6.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown7.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown8.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/clown9.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/patandmarycostume.jpg"><br /><br />Our costumes, picked up at the last minute.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/fancylad.jpg"><br /><br />Cologne has the reputation of being Germany's San Francisco. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/hippies.jpg"><br /><br />Aging hippies on a float.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/horseandcow.jpg"><br /><br />The police on their horses were standing here for a little while waiting to clear a path for the parade. This horse and cow played out a little drama while the horse tried to get into the cow's feed bag.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/warhol.jpg"><br /><br />The museum with all the Warhol art had a section of the School Parade on Sunday.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/nikeandus.jpg"><br /><br />Nike and her husband Timo came down from Hamburg to party with us for a night. Hurray for public drunkenness!<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/obama.jpg"><br /><br />Many of the parade floats were politically themed. Who says the Germans don't have a sense of humour?<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/burns.jpg"><br /><br />There were several with an anti-nuclear bent, but this was my favourite.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/usanddom.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/meanddom.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/greenandgold.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/elpresidente.jpg"><br /><br />It was great seeing all this ridiculous hooliganism right out front of the massive cathedral that dominates the city. I'm sure that the church authorities here have a long history of being just thrilled about the situation.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/schwein.jpg"><br /><br />During the parades the guys throw out tons of candy when children yell "CARMELA!!" This guy behind Mary was right next to the kids yelling CARMELA with all his might. He was literally stealing candy from children. It was great.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110309/carmela.jpg"><br /><br />This is our haul.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-78435465565854524722011-02-20T21:19:00.003+10:002011-02-20T21:35:37.060+10:00Country Living in NanangoThis weekend Mary and I headed up to <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&q=nanango&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Nanango+Queensland&ll=-26.672005,152.001343&spn=0.884781,1.674042&t=h&z=10">Nanango</a> with our friends Jimmy and Liz to Liz's parents' place for the weekend. It was pretty great - horseback riding, barbecue, and lots of quality animal time.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/maryrocket.jpg"><br />Mary on Rocket, Liz's dumb but good hearted horse.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/patlizhorses.jpg"><br />Liz and I. Liz is on Bill, her much smarter and more talented horse. This was the first time Mary and I had ever actually ridden horses except for pony rides when we were little. I couldn't help but think of all the knight video games I've played, except I was not spearing peasants.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/patlily.jpg"><br />Lily, the very good natured cat.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/marypup.jpg"><br />Mary and Milly, the very good natured little pup.<br /><br />On Sunday we took a drive out to <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bunya+Mountains,+Queensland&aq=0&sll=-26.672005,152.001343&sspn=0.884781,1.674042&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bunya+Mountains+Queensland&ll=-26.952677,151.526184&spn=0.882593,1.674042&t=h&z=10">the Bunya Mountains National Park</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/gorgelookout.jpg"><br />The lookout over the Bunya Gorge.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/patfalls.jpg"><br />Festoon Falls.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/groupbridge.jpg"><br />Us right above Festoon Falls.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/grouplookout.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/ridgepano.jpg"><br />Pano from one of the Bunya mountains.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/flowers.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110220/pathand.jpg"><br />This is a very weird statue.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-72813131017440043902011-01-16T19:17:00.002+10:002011-01-16T19:42:53.846+10:00The Austral-Canada Branch of the United NationsThis weekend Mary, Brett, Meredith and I had a food factory going, taking stuff down into the Fairfield flood zones. By my reckoning we passed out 250 sandwiches, 80 cookies, 60 apples, 75 cans of lemonade, and 30 beer over the course of 4 or 5 trips into the swamp. A few people asked Brett and I who we were with. We eventually decided we were a branch of the United Nations, but I don't think people believed us. We saw a bunch of the same people as yesterday, and lots of people remembered the sandwiches. We got a lot of compliments.<br /><br />Today we went further along than yesterday and made it up to the Brisbane Corso. This is a decidedly higher class area than the surrounding blocks. We gave out some food and drink to some people working in one of the riverside joints, and the woman apologized because she "didn't have any money to pay us." She then corrected herself, explaining that they had money, just that they didn't have any on them. Some people aren't used to accepting charity. To paraphrase Matthew 5:45, this flood has fucked pretty much everyone, rich and poor alike.<br /><br />There has been some pretty superhuman efforts down there in the cleanup. On one little street we saw about 100 people lining the sides of a road hucking trash and muck into big dump trucks. The trucks were huge, but they got filled in minutes, before another would take its place. A few houses are scrubbed down pretty well, at least from the outside. Everyone's lawns are just ruined, but it is impressive how far things have come in just a day or two.<br /><br />Towards the end of our run a couple older women asked us to help move some stuff around for them inside the house. They had been cleaning all day and so they didn't want us to track our filthy boots around the house, so they asked us to take them off. Both Brett and I complied without any fuss. I didn't think there was a force on this earth that could convince me to lose my footwear in the middle of a 30 block sewer. Grandmothers have strange powers. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110116/junk.jpg"><br />A typical street.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110116/junkmountain.jpg"><br />Army reserve guy guarding shit mountain. We met the girl who lived at 73 Victoria Street. Her place was totally trashed, but somehow the toilet survived intact, so she opened it up to anyone who needed it. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110116/piano.jpg"><br />Terrible. This wasn't the only ruined piano we saw.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-37064077330330260282011-01-15T20:55:00.006+10:002011-01-15T21:08:58.374+10:00The View from Ground LevelNo pictures today, instead an email I sent back to friends and family back home about the situation in the flooded suburb nearest our house.<br /><br /><HR><br />It's a nightmare in the flood zones. Today we spent all day making food & taking it down to people in Fairfield. Mary worked the bakery and made a whole bunch of cookies & treats, while Brett and Meredith and I had a sandwich factory line going. I think we made about 80 sandwiches. Whatever 6 big loaves of bread works out to. Brett brought over a cooler and we filled it up with food twice, then hauled it around and gave them out. We also passed out a whole pile of apples, and later on we did the same with a carton of beer. The beer was cheap swill - 4x - but to say it went over well would be an understatement. The running joke is that it's no big deal if the 4X warehouses get flooded because a bit of flood water would improve the taste. Still, not as low on the totem pole as Fosters. Everybody was really appreciative. There were a number of other people passing out food like us. One guy working in his driveway turned down a sandwich, saying he'd be gaining weight if he accepted all the handouts. We saw two other big BBQ tables set up grilling sausages and the like for the masses. One guy had a meals on wheels set up with a BBQ in the back of a ute.<br /><br />Fairfield is way worse than Taringa where I was helping James and Jacky yesterday. Not because they got hit harder (although they did), but just because of the scale of the affected area there. J&J's place was one of maybe 40 or 50 dwellings in the area affected. I posted a picture of the junk on the street yesterday. Multiply that by 4 or 5 on every street, then imagine the same thing on 30 or 40 blocks in Fairfield alone, then imagine that in every one of the dozens of other flooded suburbs. So many ruined houses. All along the streets there are mountains of flood affected crap that had been hauled out of houses and piled by the roadside. One such mountain was about 12 feet high and 80 long. Just endless amounts of garbage. Brett and I only covered about 6 blocks of it too, so we saw maybe a half percent of the affected part of the city. I don't know where they're going to put everything. It will take hundreds of dump trucks to clean out even one suburb. God help you if you live anywhere near the place they'll put it all. Hopefully they can dump it in a big quarry and just set it all on fire. Maybe that'd be worse.<br /><br />It's astonishing to see at the street level. There have been lots of pictures of the damage from the sky but when you're at ground level moving around on foot you appreciate the damage much differently. Every scrap of vegetation is a dirty grey-brown. Every house is just destroyed. Every driveway is full of inches of mud. Streams of water and crap from people spraying out houses, every lawn turned into bogs. And everywhere the smell. A fetid, cloying odor that coats everything and everyone and hangs over the whole area. You can practically taste the tetanus. Storm drains block up unless people get down and push the muck into the sewers. One guy in a bobcat had the right idea. He grabbed a mattress in the front claw and used it like a great big mop, pushing a wall of muck down the street. Most places we saw haven't even begun to rip out the gyp rock walls yet, and when they do that will flood the streets with another massive load of muck soaked trash. The gyp rock will be even less recognizable as having once belonged to a house than the endless fridges, chairs, sofas, books, and fabrics that litter the place now. We also passed a warehouse that got hit. A house has a lot of stuff in it, but the amount of junk people were pulling out of this warehouse was unreal.<br /><br />A scene - one block had a communal fire hose that was being passed from house to house. There was still a bit of traffic on the road, so to keep people from driving across it and crimping the hose, somebody made a little ramp on either side using about 16 volumes of a soaked through set of the Encyclopedia Britannica.<br /><br />Luckily it's nice out. Sun with a bit of clouds, and only 28 or 29 or so. It would be worse if it was 30+ or if it was pouring rain like in '74. All the same, some places are starting to dry out, and as that happens there will be a lot more silty dust. Masks will be more important for everyone in the upcoming days. There are still a lot of cavalier attitudes towards safety. More people are wearing proper boots and shoes than I saw yesterday, but I still saw a few people in just singlets, shorts and thongs, with no gloves. Hell, I saw one guy walking barefoot out of the area. He'd better hope he doesn't have any cuts. I grabbed a big box of gloves from the lab yesterday and was handing them out along with the sandwiches. I found humour worked - "Kevin Rudd got dropped by an infection already, and if it can bring down an ox like him it'll do the same to you." That worked better than the blatant appeals to self interest I tried previously.<br /><br />The army and cops are around here and there, but the vast majority of the people are residents and whoever they can convince to help. We saw a few volunteer groups. The boy scouts had a BBQ table set up. There has been a massive outpouring of good will from people just showing up though. We saw lots of people that had no connection to the place they were scrubbing down. It's kind of a tale of two cities. If you're outside the flood zones life is pretty normal. I think everyone who is up above it all feels the need to pitch in. Right now every pair of hands helps, but it within a week or two most of the gruntiest of the grunt work will be done. After that, the city is going to be chronically short of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, tilers, and skilled tradespeople of all kinds. If you know any skilled construction people who are looking for work, send them down.<br /><br />I'll be going back to school next week sometime. Summer classes reconvene on Thursday, but campus will be easily accessible earlier than that. I got across it with a bit of difficulty yesterday on my bike, so by Monday or Tuesday I'm sure most of the walkways and roads will be cleared off.<br /><br />For now, I'm just thankful that I can come home to a shower and my own clean bed.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-39431798347989207332011-01-14T19:13:00.003+10:002011-01-14T19:31:20.646+10:00CleanupToday I went to James & Jacky's place to help them clean up. The flood waters have started receding in a big way, so there were loads of people out doing the same.<br /><br />The street they're on, Westerham, is just brutal. All the greenery that went under the flood waters is now an awful muddy grey-brown. There's debris all over the place, and the whole neighbourhood smells like a sewer. All things considered, the mood was pretty good. It seemed like there was lots of help to go around, which was lucky since there's so much work to do. Throughout the day strangers kept coming by to offer another set of hands, and a few people brought food & drinks. Two girls on a scooter randomly dropped off an esky full of ice & drinks, some chips, and a big tray of donuts. They were heroes, second only to a neighbourhood woman who brought us cupcakes.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/jandj.jpg"><br />James and Jacky are healthy and remarkably happy despite this. You can see the floodline behind them on the brick wall.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/floodline.jpg"><br />Better shot of the floodline here.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/streetjunk.jpg"><br />Everyone is dumping their ruined stuff by the curb. It's nuts to see how much stuff is really ruined. It gets worse when you put this in perspective. A relatively small portion of Westerham Street was underwater. There are whole suburbs that were hit even harder.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/photoalbums.jpg"><br />This photo breaks my heart. Luckily, they've got digital backups of these.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/guitar.jpg"><br />This photo also breaks my heart, but for different reasons.<br /><br />To get to the north side of the river I had to go through St Lucia campus. It too smells like a sewer right now.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/stluciabank.jpg"><br />The St Lucia riverbank from the Eleanor Schonell bridge.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/uqlakes.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110114/uqlakes2.jpg"><br />A couple of the UQ lakes. You can see the floodlines here. All the walkways in this area are covered in 6 or 8 cm of thick brown ooze. This place was so beautiful.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-79710825909054522772011-01-14T18:53:00.005+10:002011-01-14T19:37:31.357+10:00Thursday floodsOn Thursday Mary and I headed out to Kangaroo point and around South Bank. By this time, the flood waters had receded from their peak, but they were still very high.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/kangaroocliffs.jpg"><br />Kangaroo Point Cliffs. I climb here regularly.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/gawkers.jpg"><br />Loads of people were watching from the cliffs.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/newsies.jpg"><br />Newsies with a good view.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/eaglest.jpg"><br />What's left of the Eagle Street Pier.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/docks.jpg"><br />Some flooded docks around Kangaroo Point.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/bridge.jpg"><br />I don't know the name of this bridge, but it's the Pacific Motorway between the botanical gardens and the start of Kangaroo Point.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/barge.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/barge2.jpg"><br />This barge or boat or whatever was wrapped around one of the piles of the Goodwill Bridge.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/metalbirds.jpg"><br />This pelican statue was almost submerged. <a href="http://27degreessouth.blogspot.com/2011/01/before-and-after.html">Mary has a photo of these birds from a year ago.</a><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/southbank3.jpg"><br />One of the South Bank City Cat stations.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/rivercatdock.jpg"><br />Another river ferry dock.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110113/diamantina.jpg"><br />The Diamantina in the maritime museum. You can normally see the entire hull of this boat. It is no longer dry docked, it is just docked.<br /><br /><img src="http://cache.virtualtourist.com/4448611-Maritime_Museum-Brisbane.jpg"><br />The Diamantina as it normally looks. Not my photo - from <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Australia_and_Oceania/Australia/State_of_Queensland/Brisbane-1878979/Things_To_Do-Brisbane-Maritime_Museum-BR-1.html">here</a>.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-15190103894647436782011-01-12T22:56:00.003+10:002011-01-12T23:05:43.631+10:00Aquapocalypse 2I took a number of panorama photos today. These are all enormous, but they give a bit more of a sense of the situation. Click on the picture to see bigger versions of them.<br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-cemetary.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-cemetary.jpg" width="1024"><br />The South Brisbane Cemetery.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-crossstreet.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-crossstreet.jpg" width="1024"><br />The lower part of Fairfield Gardens.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-downstream.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-downstream.jpg" width="1024"><br />Downstream of the Brisbane River from the Eleanor Schonell Bridge.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-upstream.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-upstream.jpg" width="1024"><br />Upstream of the Brisbane River from the Eleanor Schonell Bridge.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-riverbank.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-riverbank.jpg" width="1024"><br />Along Sir William MacGregor Drive.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-swmdrive.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-swmdrive.jpg" width="1024"><br />The other way along SWM Drive.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-underthebridge.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-underthebridge.jpg" width="1024"><br />This is supposed to be a road.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-uqlakesbusstop.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-uqlakesbusstop.jpg" width="1024"><br />The UQ Lakes Bus Stop & some of the pathways.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-uqlakesbusstop2.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-uqlakesbusstop2.jpg" width="1024"><br />Same as above but from the other side. On the right of this photo is one of UQ's playing fields.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-uqlakesinalake.jpg"><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110112/pano-uqlakesinalake.jpg" width="1024"><br />Somewhere under all this water are the UQ Lakes.</a>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-59148584592163952302011-01-12T22:10:00.002+10:002011-01-12T22:45:31.350+10:00AquapocalypseBrisbane has been making the news lately. The current bout of flooding has beat out even the 1974 floods. Luckily this time we have the Wivenhoe dam on our side, but things are still pretty crazy here. Luckily, Mary and I are in a safe place on top of a hill. We're a solid 30 or 40 meters out of reach of the river. However, a good 50 or 60 thousand people are not so lucky. We know a few people whose houses have gone under. On the plus side, it's supposed to be pretty nice this week. I went for a walk out towards campus to take some pictures. It's unreal.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/duttonpark.jpg"><br />The Eleanor Schonell bridge, looking towards St Lucia campus. I ride across this every day to work.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/giveway.jpg"><br />I ride down this path to get to work.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/uqlakes.jpg"><br />The UQ Lakes bus stop.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/jetskis.jpg"><br />Cops on rescue patrol with jetskis. They pulled into the bus loop and looked around, but I guess no one needed rescuing so they didn't launch the jetskis.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/floatingdock.jpg"><br />Someone's dock floating by, complete with deck chairs. The broken shit in the foreground is the old dock for the ferry that linked St Lucia with Dutton Park before the bridge was put in. It's just been hammered.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/stluciaferry.jpg"><br />A better view of the old ferry dock.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/streetsahead.jpg"><br />This is Sir William Macgregor Drive, under about 2 or 3 meters of water. This is like the St Lucia equivalent of Marine Drive around UBC. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/streetsahead2.jpg"><br />SWM Drive looking the other way, underneath the Schonell Bridge.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/trollin.jpg"><br />Looking out at the river from under the Schonell Bridge.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/uq.jpg"><br />Looking from the top of a parkcade on campus across the lakes.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/ducks.jpg"><br />The ducks are loving it. Their swimmable range expanded about a hundred fold.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/bike.jpg"><br />Somebody's bike locked below a parkcade. The bottom floor of this parkcade has been flooded since Monday.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/truck.jpg"><br />These guys had tried to drive their truck out of a car park into water that was too deep for their vehicle to handle. They got it out, but the electronics/battery got fried. At this point they weren't trying to start it, just secure it to a tree so that it wouldn't get pushed away by the flood and cause damage.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/cemetery.jpg"><br />Chunks of the South Brisbane Cemetery are underwater. I was the only person walking through here at the time and I have to admit, it was a bit spooky. If swamp zombies exist, they are here.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/cemetery2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/brisbanecorso.jpg"><br />This is just outside the cemetery. I had been talking to a couple who had just agreed to buy a house down this street but hadn't settled, and the 3 of us were just being flood tourists when the two people in this photo walked up. Most of their house was underwater. They had kayaks, but they were trapped at least 2 meters under brown opaque sludge. I felt kinda guilty about just being there taking pictures, but what can you do.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/dog.jpg"><br />This Lab just didn't give a shit. He was pretty cute, but I was not about to pet it after it had been flopping around in this muck.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/fairfieldcanoe.jpg"><br />This is Fairfield Gardens, a mall nearby our house. You can't normally canoe up to the front door.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/110111/soggynoodle.jpg"><br />The backside of Fairfield Gardens. The intersection that is to the left of the big sign is probably about 4 meters under water.<br /><br />More to come.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392672671088316201.post-14643143039250958792010-12-31T18:41:00.002+10:002010-12-31T18:55:57.143+10:00Merry StephmasWhen Mary came back from Melbourne on Christmas Eve, she had a stowaway in her bag - our friend Steph. She stayed with us from Christmas Eve until yesterday. Here are some photos.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/101226/christmas.jpg"><br /><br />Christmas morning.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/101226/professor.jpg"><br /><br />My new shirt, a gift from Mary. I can't wait to wear it when I TA.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/101226/gecko.jpg"><br /><br />One night we caught a gecko in a tupperware.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/101226/coottha.jpg"><br /><br />We took a trip up to Mt Coot-tha, here are the girls at the top.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/101226/spider.jpg"><br /><br />Part way along the trail we came across this butterfly floating in mid air above the trail. When we got close, we could see that it was a battle to the death between it and a spider. For scale, the butterfly was about 7 or 8 cm across, about the size of a tiger swallowtail.<br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/101226/cockatoo.jpg"><br /><br />This guy and a bunch of his friends were hanging out on the overpass. <br /><br /><img src="http://pichost.mikedll.com/101226/pagoda.jpg"><br /><br />That night we went along South Bank and stopped near the Nepalese Pagoda.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394105634621197758noreply@blogger.com2