Joe's Ramblings

It’s All Happening

2010-03-08T22:36:00.001+08:00

The weekend before last I was in Bali. On Sunday I participated in my first triathlon. I was just listening to AC/DC play live from my patio. As Bill Lawry would say – it’s all happening. Hope to post some pics soon.

Martin Bean

2010-02-14T21:47:00.001+08:00

I’m currently listening to Martin Bean on BBC World Service radio. Seeing and listening to Martin in person during AIESEC’s 2007 International Congress in Istanbul was one of my most inspiring experiences. Fellow Australian AIESEC alumnus Martin is now the United Kingdom’s Open University Vice-Chancellor after previously being Microsoft’s Managing Director of Education for Worldwide Public Sector.

Bali Time Is Coming

2010-02-14T10:49:00.001+08:00

In less than two weeks’ time I will be relaxing in Bali on a short holiday – my first visit to both Bali and greater Indonesia. At only five days in length, it will be my shortest time away from Australia. My previous trips abroad in order of duration are 18 days, 5 weeks, 10 months, 18 months, 20 months and 30 months.

A beauty of Perth is its short distance to Asia: Bali, at less than 4 hours’ flight away, is closer than Sydney. This closeness facilitates bargain airfares like $215 return, taxes and luggage allowance inclusive :-)

Upon landing in Bali, my visited countries map will look like this:

Coincidences

2010-02-07T08:53:00.001+08:00

2 random coincidences have occurred in the last few days:

Coincidence #1: a colleague working on the same project and on the same floor as me is my next door neighbour in Subiaco

Coincidence #2: the totals of my Woolworths Subiaco and TR & TR Grower Direct (Subiaco Markets) receipts yesterday were both $17.37, rounded down to $17.35

My New Home In Subiaco, Perth

2010-01-26T22:41:00.001+08:00

On Friday I finally completed the move from West Leederville to its neighbouring and more popular suburb of Subiaco. Subiaco is one of Perth’s main retail, entertainment and cultural precincts. It is also the home of Perth’s main footy stadium, Subiaco Oval, the light towers of which are visible from my new home’s fantastic patio.

Cleaning and leaving a 3 bedroom, 2 storey furnish home with front and back yards is not the easiest of things and I’m glad that it is over.

I am now house sharing with Oz, who, coincidentally, is of Turkish origin and manages a cafe only a few doors away from work.

The house was built in the days pre-electricity, with polished timber floorboards, high ceilings and fireplaces in each of the main rooms, including my bedroom. It is in the absolutely best location – a quiet street only 5 minutes walk from both the Perth central free transit zone and Kings Park. The semi-enclosed patio and small backyard are so quiet it is hard to believe they are located in the inner city. When I win the lotto I know which street I will buy in…

To furnish the bedroom I bought a wrought iron queen size bed and a solid timber desk. My wardrobe had to be dismantled before it could be removed from my previous room and taken down the stairs. As the wardrobe is not yet reassembled, my room is still a mess, although not as messy as in the following photo, taken shortly after my arrival:

Welcome Benjamin Liwanu!

2009-12-16T07:08:00.001+08:00

On the 14th of December Bjoern and Aleksandra welcomed their son and first child, Benjamin Liwanu, into the world. Ben weighed a very healthy 3.88 kg (8.5 lbs) and already has a full head of hair. Mother and baby are doing well.

Chevron Xmas Party

2009-12-11T06:32:00.001+08:00

Along with 1,000 others, I had a wonderful time last night at the Chevron Perth Xmas party in a fenced off area of the Supreme Court Gardens. The food, drink, acrobats, fire dancers, DJ and colleagues were all great. I met many new people from across Chevron’s organisations and functions and even had a brief conversation with Roy, the Managing Director.

Bike Riding And Pain

2009-11-23T21:45:00.001+08:00

I did a crazy thing on the weekend. In the space of 24 hours I cycled 90 km after having not ridden a bike for several years. Conclusions:

- The Swan River is beautiful, flat and quiet between East Perth and Ascot
- Even in the morning the sun is strong

- The 53 km Great Perth Bike Ride from Langley Park in the CBD to Fremantle and back is a quite arduous 2 hour 33 minute and 51 second long journey

- Work colleague Dave is quite a rider, finishing the 106 km faster than anybody else in 2:40:34
- My leg muscles still ache intensely almost 30 hours later!

Still Alive

2009-10-30T07:24:00.001+08:00

Yes, I’m still alive and will be flying to Adelaide this evening to for a short visit to catch up with family and friends. The India trip and wildflower camping photos are still in the pipeline and will be uploaded one day…

AAGC 2009 Photos

2009-09-20T17:55:00.001+08:00

The 2009 AIESEC Alumni Global Conference (AAGC) in Kuala Lumpur was a wonderfully organised networking event.

Every delegate was asked to bring a bottle of hard liquor from their country

Traditional Malaysian dancing opened the conference

A panel discussion featuring the former Malaysian Government Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (centre)

Prior to the Hall of Fame awards ceremony at the International Congress (IC) where friend David Bacon won a Young Alumni Contribution Award for his Carpets for Communities venture

Lauren (second from left) accepted the award on behalf of Dave

The fabulous Beach Party

Painting Shelter Home One, a refuge for abused and abandoned children

The Australian AAGC and IC contingents

Farewell To A Special Companion

2009-09-20T12:39:00.001+08:00

I arrived back to a quiet and clean Perth on Monday evening.

Sadly, I will soon farewell a companion, one who has been literally very close to me for most of the past 10 years. From departing Australia for Turkey in June 2001 to arriving back to Perth Monday we have shared many experiences together including line-ups, waits, pat downs and interrogations. Frankly, without her I would have been stuck, not able to move around or see the world.

Yes, after 20+ countries, 20+ visas and 100+ stamps it is almost time to replace my second Australian passport.

“Delhi Belly” Finally Arrived

2009-09-14T15:13:00.001+08:00

Last night, as I waited in Bangalore Airport for my 3-hour-delayed flight to Singapore to depart, Delhi Belly finally hit after almost 2 weeks of good health in India. Luckily, the condition wasn’t too bad and since taking two Gastro-Stop tablets I’ve been fine, albeit, very tired.

Singapore has been a literal breath of fresh air and I’m now about to board a flight to even fresher Perth.

Indian Adventure Coming To An End

2009-09-13T20:56:00.002+08:00

I’m now in Bangalore Airport, 5 hours before my overnight Tiger Airways flight to Singapore departs. My trip to India has been a wonderful experience and I am sure to visit this fascinating country multiple times again.

Last night we said goodbye to Dragos after a beer at a local pub. Today, Natraj, Sounalya, his delightful wife and I ate a traditional South Indian breakfast of idli and dosa. For lunch, along with delicious Hyderabad Biryani and fish curry, I finally ate lip-tingling and nose-dripping spicy food – a chicken curry. I was waiting all trip for a scorcher and I finally got one!

I didn’t get around to playing a game of street cricket but that will have to wait for my next trip to India…

Bangalore/Bengalaru International Airport Also Has Free Wireless Internet Access

2009-09-13T20:19:00.001+08:00

Like Singapore’s Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT Airport, Bangalore Airport has free (albeit slow) wireless internet access. Perth Airport Terminals, lift your game and set the internet free.

Jaipur to Bangalore

2009-09-12T19:05:00.001+08:00

Dragos and I are back in Bangalore after a 6 am flight from Jaipur via Hyderabad. Dragos and I were privileged enough for fellow Mersin-Adana traineeship survivor Honey to take a day off work and take us around town.

The day included a visit to Honey's brother's garment making factory where custom-designed clothes are made for the Japanese market. In the evening we went past Jal Mahal ("Water Palace") on the way to a hilltop lookout over the city.

I have one more day in Bangalore before catching an overnight Tiger Airways flight to Singapore tomorrow night. On Sunday I hope to have a game of cricket with some random local lads in the city backstreets.

Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

2009-09-10T17:23:00.002+08:00

I arrived to Jodhpur at 6am this morning on an overnight train from Jaipur. Jaipur train station was alive with people at midnight with dozens sleeping on the ground both inside and outside the station. Men pushed freight around on single axle trolleys and an adjacent train continuously made ear-piercing noises letting off its pressure.

The 2nd class sleeper was comfortable although I was woken up several times by fellow travellers' alarms. The same alarm repeatedly rang. I'm guessing that the only way to get off at the correct station is to be awake AND alert when the train stops. There is no visual or audible station alert and the outside was not visible from my compartment. I'm glad the other couple in my compartment were also getting off at Jodhpur, otherwise I could have missed the station.

As Dragos didn't want an overnight train journey I came to Jodhpur myself. Upon arrival I wandered the streets for more than an hour. Stallholders and shopkeepers were setting up market, students going to school and people cleaning their street frontage. The usual cows and dogs provided further company.

Many of old Jodhpur's buildings are coloured blue from which the place gets its "Blue City" nickname. From the old town I walked up to Merangarh Fort. The foreigner entry price of 300 rupees included a self-guided audio tour. The spoken word descriptions gave life to this large and historic complex and the exhibitions it contained within. The miniature paintings, elephant seats, weaponry, lavish rooms and elaborate courtyards wonderfully illustrated how wealthy the Maharajahs were.

I'm about to go to Umaid Bhawan Palace before catching the train back to Jaipur this evening.

Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

2009-09-08T22:09:00.002+08:00

Jaipur is the main city in India's desert state of Rajasthan. Along with the usual Indian sights and sounds there are also camels, dust and amazingly vibrant ladies' saris. I swear some of the saris are so bright they seem fluorescent.

From Agra, Dragos and I took a 99th class bus that required push-starting and was structurally severely unsound. Honey, a former AIESEC trainee from Adana met us in Jaipur and lined up a hotel near his place. Last night we drank and ate in the train restaurant of a 5* hotel.

Today I had a shave and haircut at the local barber (Rs. 250 or about AU$6 for 2x haircuts, 2x washes and 1x shave). We spent this afternoon at Bapu Bazaar, haggling with the stall keepers in order to buy clothes and souvenirs.

Jaipur is more conservative and poorer than Bangalore with less signs in English and more in Hindi.

In the next few days I hope to take a train to Jodhpur, Rajasthan's second city. I'm not too fussed about the destination but look forward to seeing the countryside on my first Indian train journey.

Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

2009-09-06T22:10:00.002+08:00

I've just come from the Taj Mahal. Natraj, Dragos, Sankid and myself made the chaotic journey by road from New Delhi in Sankid's car. The Taj Mahal was good but the personal highlight of the trip so far was staying at the coffee plantation in Chikmagalur.

Dragos and I flew IndiGo Airlines from Bangalore to Delhi on Friday whilst Natraj took Kingfisher. On Saturday Sankid very kindly drove us around the city, showing us the Red Fort, mosque, tombs, Indian Parliament, etc, before we went for a much needed massage.

The touts, the noise and pollution haven't been too bad and nobody has got 'Delhi Belly' yet. India's colour and vibrancy are legendary and have kept their status up.

Tomorrow Dragos and I plan to hit Rajasthan. I have shot hundreds of photos and look forward to posting the best ones upon return to Australia.

Hi From Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India

2009-09-03T21:56:00.003+08:00

UPDATE (2009/12/27): Photos added

With Natraj, Sunalia and Dragos in a Bangalore Bar

I have just had an amazing 24 hours staying with Dragos and Natraj at Natraj's cousin's mystical, mountainous, monsoonal and completely fantastic coffee and pepper plantation. 30 minutes drive along a rough and windy road from the nearest town, the quiet and cleanliness of this place was a great contrast to Bangalore's madness.

Ripe Chikmagalur coffee beans from Natraj's cousin's coffee plantation

Looking across the valley from the coffee plantation in the mountains outside Chikmagalur, Karnataka State. Rice paddies are visible at the valley base.

Along with coffee and pepper, rice, ginger, betel nut, guava, banana and chico grow in this tropical and lush paradise. Natraj assures me his plantation 3 hours drive away is even better. I would so love to spend a week there relaxing, swimming in the pool, tasting the local produce and hiking through the forests and mountains, trying to catch a glimpse of the glorious peacock.

Some locals near a hut producing jaggery (out of shot) in the Karnataka countryside. The man in the check shirt is eating sugarcane and sugarcane fibres cover the ground.

Everything about India so far has been very special and memorable. Yesterday we attended the engagement of another of Natraj's cousins. The relationship was arranged and the fiancée and fiancé had only met each other twice prior to this day. The ladies wore beautiful saris and the Hindu priest performed traditional rituals.

Bangalore engagement: Natraj's cousin seated and wearing a garland with the presiding Hindu priest to his left surrounded by offerings to the deities.

Bangalore engagement: The elaborately presented fiancée with henna tattoos on her arms, a garland, gold jewellery and many bracelets

During the exhaustive drive between Bangalore and Chikmagalur we visited Gomateshwara, an ancient statue created by the Jains and India's largest monolith.

Gomateshwara, on top of a hill in the town of Shravanabelagola

Tonight we're travelling to Bangalore on an overnight bus before flying north to Delhi tomorrow morning.

I have taken many photos and will upload the best ones although this may not occur until after I return home to Perth.

Even Singapore Airport’s Budget Terminal Has Free Wireless Internet

2009-08-31T19:11:00.001+08:00

Like LCCT in Kuala Lumpur, all of Changi Airport Singapore’s terminals, including the Budget Terminal (where I’m typing this), have free wireless internet access. Why doesn’t Perth’s full-service airport have free non-Singapore Airlines access?

Hi From LCCT Airport, Kuala Lumpur

2009-08-31T14:17:00.001+08:00

I’ve just had a fabulous 3 days at the AIESEC Alumni Global Conference 2009.

I’m now using Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal’s excellent free wifi access (although it won’t let me upload files!) prior to boarding my plane to Singapore and then onto Bangalore tonight. In due course I plan to write and post more photos about my time in KL.

Perth International Airport

2009-08-28T06:06:00.001+08:00

Thanks to Singapore Air’s free Silver Kris wireless internet I can write this blog post.

This morning, after 2 hours sleep I caught a taxi to Perth International Airport. I’ve checked in, passed through customs, bought my Bundy (the KL conference requested a bottle of local spirits for their international night) and a 2GB SD card at duty free, paid $12.45 for a lukewarm single size pizza and bottle of “vitamin water” and am about to board my Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

After almost 2 years I will finally be abroad again!

Kuala Lumpur And India - Here I Come!

2009-08-23T10:05:00.001+08:00

I'll be in Kuala Lumpur for the 2009 AIESEC Alumni Global Congress and then onto India to reunite with these characters:

Natraj and Dragos, 2005-2006 Mersin, Turkey flatmates

Mum And Dad Have Been In Perth Town

2009-08-22T17:59:00.001+08:00

Dad, Mum, Ola and Bjoern at Rembrandt Polish Restaurant, Inglewood. My meal (foreground) was served in hollowed out bread.

The scampi, prawns, baby squid, scallops, fish, mussels, salad and chips of the grilled seafood platter from 2 from Ruocco's, South Fremantle was plenty for the 3 of us.

Luscious tiramisu, coffee and limoncello followed the seafood.

I had to get this photo taken on the train from Fremantle to West Leederville.

The smiles tell it all - the end of a fabulous evening at Bjoern and Ola's.

Redback The House Sitter

2009-07-29T20:42:00.001+08:00

Upon returning from Port Hedland I found the following Redback spider relaxing in its web and guarding its new home, my Fila running shoes. Needless to write, this poisonous spider did not live much longer.