tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360497332024-02-07T11:15:28.634-06:00Pieces of me...Kulfi and Travel and Cricket - Oh My!Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-59641822616490636872009-07-12T23:55:00.001-05:002009-07-12T23:57:40.286-05:00!!!Parents!!!<span style="font-family:verdana;">Over the past few weeks or so i've been discussing this blanket with mama. Aveera knitted one for herself so i thought i'd give mama the idea... give her something to do with her time as well as have a nice remembrance for myself at the end of it all. i gave her the dimensions and your pattern and so on. She asked me what colour and i said "maybe black and blue".. "no wait - black, grey and blue.. can you do three colours?".."no, then maybe just black and grey will be nice"... today i got an email reply from her: 'I've started work on the blanket... Dada bought 2 colours - beige & maroon" </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was quite funny... i had a chuckle about it...</span>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-41267786027700345772009-05-31T04:32:00.004-05:002009-06-02T01:49:32.524-05:00No, I'm not being lynched, thanks.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:13;"><div>The past few days have seen a number of concerned inquiries about my wellbeing in Sydney, courtesy big news in the Indian media about attacks on Indians ("curry bashings" being the preferred phrase)</div><div><br /></div>My opinion: there is, maybe, a small element of truth to the racist angle of these stories. But for the most part the attacks are "regular" muggings... robbery is the main objective and Indians in general (students in particular, perhaps) are considered soft targets. Which is not to say it isn't a problem; particularly in certain notorious neighbourhoods in Melbourne and Sydney. The Indian media has gone overboard (it's barely made the news here), as they do, but there's no reason for us to believe that anything's changed dramatically really... I have heard stories of Indians being mugged every now and then since I got here... there's not enough evidence to declare it a trend, let alone a worrying one. Australia in general continues to have relatively low rates of crime and violence. Having said that, it seems like the state machinery is taking it pretty seriously what with Dr. Singh having put a phone call through and all. Hmmm.. maybe some good will come out of the media's antics after all. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:13;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:13;"><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/indian-student-bashings-on-the-rise-in-sydney-community-leader-20090529-bpxy.html">http://www.smh.com.au/national/indian-student-bashings-on-the-rise-in-sydney-community-leader-20090529-bpxy.html</a> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:13;"></span><br /><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:13;"></span> </p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:13;">This morning's Herald had a pretty good article on another facet of the issue... the reaction to the reaction as it were. It made a lot of sense and is a view I'm more likely to subscribe to.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:13;"><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/coverage-of-indian-student-assaults-irresponsible-20090602-btxb.html">http://www.smh.com.au/national/coverage-of-indian-student-assaults-irresponsible-20090602-btxb.html</a></p><br /><br /></span>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-34316453013518381272009-05-26T07:47:00.003-05:002009-05-26T08:06:23.696-05:00There's life after travel...... trouble is: it sucks. We haven't posted here since returning from South America. We got back with a spring in our stride, a twinkle in our eye, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><---insert cliche here---> </span><span style="font-style:italic;"><insert cliche="" here=""></insert></span>. Since then the dreariness of the rat race has returned to shroud life. We've been meaning to write about the trip - and we will - but for the moment we shall blame our silence on a combination of a borrowed PS2 and live cricket on free-to-air TV. And LOST. And a little Scrabulous. Anyways, having acknowledged the error of our ways it is time to move on... watch this space...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Currently reading</span>: Emma, Jane Austen. Quite clever; it must have been years ahead of its time because the style still works; but the subject's very chick-flicky which can be a bit of a drag.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Near-term goal in life</span>: To get a full driver's license... course study is on.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Other activities</span>: The grappling with Spanish is, also, still on.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Travel on the horizon</span>: going back to Bombay for Christmas; Melbourne in early August.Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-85283304326124303922009-01-24T06:50:00.010-06:002009-01-24T08:04:31.728-06:00Dawn ChorusOur setting is Clifton Gardens, a tiny and very picturesque non-beach on Sydney's North Shore. We are here at the odd hour of 5 AM. And there are at least 5 or 6 hundred others. Everyone's here for a Sydney Festival event. The Dawn Chorus is a series of performances by the Sydney Philharmonic Choir at four of Sydney's beaches at dawn. The scene is strikingly beautiful: the crowd sits facing the water, spread out on the sand in silence; there's a hint of colour on the horizon; the harmonies drift over - they're Latin-ish and compliment the view, the sound of lapping water, barely-awake gulls etc perfectly. All is at peace. And then the dawn breaks... and it's magic... the sky is nothing if not glorious. Everyone's locked into the experience... with the possible exception of the 13 yr old in the superman tee and red pants who preferred to curl up with eyes closed and ipod fixedly excluding him from the goings-on.<br /><br />Admittedly things could have been better. Not realising how popular the event was, we landed up "only" 20 mins prior to commencement. Which means we couldn't quite latch onto the subtler pieces. We could've taken a creative leaf out of some of the others' books and got into the water to gently backstroke up to where the choir was bunched up. Or row (row, row?) our boat closer to the action. But given that I own neither a boat nor any ability to swim, maybe I'll just show up earlier next year.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQMJIrybgNrQ4H4kHJkUYFaEZSYb4oWWvIxVUH57KEsyo7I4jaGqSZTVJOUcVaWqmHEweJKFG0-V5NvUoadTJkoAYq07uRnXAr6ebH_fH-5piQoDh-JPTER_gKoyUiEP9MdGc/s1600-h/24012009201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQMJIrybgNrQ4H4kHJkUYFaEZSYb4oWWvIxVUH57KEsyo7I4jaGqSZTVJOUcVaWqmHEweJKFG0-V5NvUoadTJkoAYq07uRnXAr6ebH_fH-5piQoDh-JPTER_gKoyUiEP9MdGc/s400/24012009201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294858848731829074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xuwZOggglkJ_GN9xGET36FfLS85apTfhLjOy0ALl6WBPtV5BV_tGNTQUsHihWMcssJsPZgQGBFNVqDEpm8L50He_dhJlh9B7aUXsSht3UXGpx0zu210wfEAJMIbd1bskIWZh/s1600-h/24012009204.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xuwZOggglkJ_GN9xGET36FfLS85apTfhLjOy0ALl6WBPtV5BV_tGNTQUsHihWMcssJsPZgQGBFNVqDEpm8L50He_dhJlh9B7aUXsSht3UXGpx0zu210wfEAJMIbd1bskIWZh/s400/24012009204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294859195998773490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmCssfKoFcY_07DVrqm0RbwRkTLX5JRO7Vgrst5VHCkjuF-qwHkRFZ0cvEXKVsORShGbdwrtk6RzxbU3WhW6pqy0sTSUewzRSNfVmQ5SkKBbY3AWp3f5aTbNjCl53GDJUD7Iy/s1600-h/24012009205.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmCssfKoFcY_07DVrqm0RbwRkTLX5JRO7Vgrst5VHCkjuF-qwHkRFZ0cvEXKVsORShGbdwrtk6RzxbU3WhW6pqy0sTSUewzRSNfVmQ5SkKBbY3AWp3f5aTbNjCl53GDJUD7Iy/s400/24012009205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294859673474068114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeymrWL83YdQPM1-Ywtk1HawV-o4Hri-ub_-Jbrm3P9Rc2hpJsSTD1X7bBqdDA0zNdjbG8h_vRRc8TwzpZw-QIPmPT5ZqS7Y4B2h0_IU1JzUgyztpnJL_CTTMFyIgBDc6WFzlp/s1600-h/24012009208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeymrWL83YdQPM1-Ywtk1HawV-o4Hri-ub_-Jbrm3P9Rc2hpJsSTD1X7bBqdDA0zNdjbG8h_vRRc8TwzpZw-QIPmPT5ZqS7Y4B2h0_IU1JzUgyztpnJL_CTTMFyIgBDc6WFzlp/s400/24012009208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294860426743740706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdQLjuLf47ApSOYU3Jd9F51ZXMkFCQySLGAiX23LHUw0arF95ZG8cFcvimINH4c9gd9-q8WfMwsfkrx6pNfAb5ZuRz6ZR_mJdzlSOGvADjcPo89YXPsT93OiW2J5zUBkQPwvv/s1600-h/24012009206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdQLjuLf47ApSOYU3Jd9F51ZXMkFCQySLGAiX23LHUw0arF95ZG8cFcvimINH4c9gd9-q8WfMwsfkrx6pNfAb5ZuRz6ZR_mJdzlSOGvADjcPo89YXPsT93OiW2J5zUBkQPwvv/s400/24012009206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294860708522985986" border="0" /></a></div>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-37882741217123489002009-01-11T04:29:00.002-06:002009-01-11T06:06:25.332-06:00All my bags are bought, I'm ready to go.A lot of water's flown under the proverbial bridge since the 28th of July when I first announced my intentions to join my cousin Macneil on a trip fashioned around the carnival in Brazil. Things have fallen into place and out of many painstaking hours of instant messaging, travel site trolling and brochure scanning was borne... an itinerary! Which takes us through Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. In that order.<br /><br />Details later. For now I'm in the middle of a bubble of excitement... one of those that periodically pop up through the quagmire that is 'the daily routine'... I bought my backpack for the trip! I dug up this deal on <a href="http://www.gumtree.com.au">gumtree</a> and am now the proud owner of a Black Wolf 75l backpack (with attachable daypack). It's not new, but Andrew (of FiveDock, NSW) was true to his ad and had taken great care of it. Or as much care as you can take of a backpack (with attachable daypack). For someone who's never seen - let alone owned - one of these at close quarters, I was appropriately blown away. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a work of art and a feat of engineering all rolled (often literally) into one. Note the efficient manner in which pockets miraculously appear for the storage of buckles and "stuff" that are not presesntly required. See the wonder of the roll-away waterproof covering. Marvel at the comfort provided by the cushy straps and the support by the dual spine-things. And don't even get me started on the attachable daypack!<br /><br />As I serve this post up, there are 26 days, 13 hours and 5 minutes keeping me from my flight Buenos Aires... and I can't wait! If only just so I can swagger around with my Black Wolf.Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-16917790783006760962008-09-30T06:31:00.014-05:002008-09-30T08:01:44.827-05:00Spring's here...... which means I...<br /><br />put away the heater, take out the garbage more frequently, wear fewer layers, struggle to walk to work in a suit, eat more salad (or at least give it the old college try), flip the clocks forward, stop wearing my beloved scarves, have to deal with cockroaches (bastards, they are!), drink more beer, wear my Redsox cap all the time (note to self: must wash before season gets underway), drink less red, have to pack up my sweaters, look forward to another birthday (or do I?), need to buy a fan, go to the beach more often, now hate dissipated laptop heat, leave a can of deo at work, throw open the windows at home (bring down the blinds at work), break out the shorts, can sit out on the balcony for a reasonable amount of time, anticipate a drop in my electric bills (why haven't I received one in 4 months, incidentally?), indulge in more afternoon drinking, consume more ice cream, roll out of bed less grudgingly, happily wear my thongs<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">***</span>, should buy more sunscreen (yes, brown folk need it too).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">I *heart* spring!!!<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyg_uyUoGREXsJ3OTQQF2sMG_MKgJY9S38HjEWFEqHQMETlo65fM9wg3ytXuGPa6tP7ektmSZbAUCo2ylZUAsxqCzI-NdPiTHaIm0wSRIi9B61rWXBf4nsw09fiJkMuAyqbOM/s1600-h/hyde+park+chess.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyg_uyUoGREXsJ3OTQQF2sMG_MKgJY9S38HjEWFEqHQMETlo65fM9wg3ytXuGPa6tP7ektmSZbAUCo2ylZUAsxqCzI-NdPiTHaIm0wSRIi9B61rWXBf4nsw09fiJkMuAyqbOM/s400/hyde+park+chess.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251795423998690674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >*** Crucial, crucial note: Thongs in Australia refer to </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.snokie.com/images/uploads/Softball_Flip_Flops.jpg">this</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >, not </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogs.kansascity.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/27/thong.jpg">this</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >.</span></span>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-27136764456674847972008-09-08T02:39:00.011-05:002008-09-08T03:02:00.135-05:00How cool is my phone? - ANSWEREDApparently, not very. Well my phone is, but not Nokia’s SportsTracker. I took it out for a follow-up run two days after the first and was appalled at the results:<br /><br />On Thursday, I took exactly the same route as I took on Tuesday except – for reasons I don’t want to get into (<strong>I WUSSED OUT, OK!</strong>) – I didn’t do the two laps around the football field that I did on the first run. So in effect, I ran about 700m less than earlier. SportsTracker though, begs to differ, insisting that I’ve run an additional 300m over my Tuesday run. Flattering as that is, it’s a ridiculous error of 1.0km (or 25%) over the initial 4.1km run! Holy Unacceptability, Batman!!!<br /><br />My theory is the GPS system loses the satellite every once in a while and, in trying to get back on track, makes a series of dodgy assumptions. Or the app is just shit. Now there may be updates out there waiting to be downloaded or Nokia coder monkeys may be in their cellars hacking away at the problem as we type, but in present form… I’m putting SportsTracker to sleep.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#006600;"><strong><u>Thursday's run of glory:</u></strong></span></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243555025220902834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufBMMWlhJfLflal3RmEeG-idXrsT5b5Ii3bauxFq6toSgt8Btj4pKSuIvQA83N8eUPI3-gD317kveWcHiKp8UaOwT_EAIZY35NWa2-Huk2FTyuLGcQ6v8aW4ycdL6jqRrdWqj/s400/Thursday+run.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#006600;"><u>Sunday's piece of crap:</u></span></strong><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243557306810972498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J34h-qo4Ua2RfQHhb3W-dQZHZrWfUxIXzjtO48nxp2h6XoJz2QLcWMq0IAsdkx-ptuns_VVxH_jVw0HUWvv833PrY_2gK88JNhIZzgiRi1oRt3mAvSgWpq60sytlemlcsdrV/s400/Sunday+run.jpg" border="0" />Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-10471675016635748532008-09-04T06:12:00.008-05:002008-09-04T06:53:53.810-05:00How cool is my phone?It may be a bit dated by now, but I'll still insist my Nokia N95 kicks ass! I got it in April and it's nearly half a year old now.. but to all those who thought they'd heard the end of my bragging, I have one syllable- "HA!".<br /><br />I've taken up running. Those familiar with my ways will know that this means I've entwined 5 minutes of running with 20 minutes of walking. They will know that I have done this exactly twice and consider that justification enough to declare that... I've taken up running.<br /><br />But that's irrelevant. The N95 has an application called the <a href="http://research.nokia.com/research/projects/SportsTracker/index.html">Nokia Sports Tracker</a>. I've tried it in the past and thought it was awesome, but not for me... given that my trainers haven't ever seen more than a briskish walk, downhill. So I took it on my "run" today and am totally in awe of it all over again. Using the N95's GPS system, Sports Tracker can:<br /><ul><li>tell me how much distance I covered, in how much time</li><li>record my pace (avg, fastest, slowest) through the workout </li><li>plot a graph of pace to distance / time</li><li>point out altitude high and low points<br /></li><li>MAP out the route I took (even automatically recognise a repeated route if I were doing laps)</li><li>record the number of steps taken through a built in pedometer (though I couldn't get this working on the current run)</li></ul>LOVE IT!!!<br /><br />Best of all, at the end of the workout I can push a button (or 4) and flick it over to a friend as an MMS.. or have it upload the workout to my Sports Tracker profile!!! And share it: <a href="http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=404027">http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=404027</a><br /><br />In conclusion, dear reader... I know this piece is about Sports Tracker and all... but being impressed the 4.1 kms covered wouldn't be completely inappropriate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgg1_jyvPcoJ4Ge7iqPjXoH2qd5VMiX9KEt7B40axuArAatjs4h1Rd10bPCcalXPkpmp7jYiycZ9XVzg7JmWJWyPx_Z-DC7qzQe3Ius47ofxK8X39SSX945GfCph6m0hL50Ls/s1600-h/4+Sept+workout.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgg1_jyvPcoJ4Ge7iqPjXoH2qd5VMiX9KEt7B40axuArAatjs4h1Rd10bPCcalXPkpmp7jYiycZ9XVzg7JmWJWyPx_Z-DC7qzQe3Ius47ofxK8X39SSX945GfCph6m0hL50Ls/s400/4+Sept+workout.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242128652449647074" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/DYLANM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.jpg" alt="" />Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-51225099182964481382008-08-05T01:41:00.010-05:002008-12-08T19:06:14.639-06:00Streetview Rocks!<p>I happened upon a little news (on google news, where else) item proclaiming that Google's Streetview had come to Australia. Curious, I checked it out and was blown away! This thing is f'ing awesome!!! You go to your regular google maps and streets that have been charted for Streetview show up with a blue highlight. click on any point on a charted street for a - you guessed it - street view of that point. But wait, there's more... you can then "navigate" the image forwards or back on a street, turn in either direction, pan the image, ZOOM(!) and so long as you're still in a charted area, you'll get a perfectly fine image.</p><p>Check it out:Go to maps.google.com and type in "2 Sutherland Street, Cremorne, NSW 2090, Australia". And my house stares you in the gob!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230921334334055026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6eneDulBuZD8U_XSZRkUz5HJXHw41gIn68bOnGfR4HT-qQYnDZKTEaq97rVYGc1LpsGtk4XhZ-n1qZ799l_BlYHYnVvoAyJLQe0NQMJUXiCLPmUJfBgcdlfBwCjAwnBoEPXM/s400/Street+View.jpg" border="0" /> <p>Apparently, google's cameras, mounted atop cars, have been patrolling Sydney's streets on a data-capture spree for the past 7-8 months. All of this may be old hat in other parts of the world, of course. Because I see that the usual furore around privacy and so on has been duly created, forums to report inappropriate images have been set up and the token lawsuit has been filed against Google in (you guessed it) ... America. My mind's made up, though - I love it! </p><br /><br /><br /><strong>UPDATE</strong>: Check out these <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/2008/08/06/1217702097295.html">Australian Street View discoveries</a>.Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-75068428245580650642008-07-28T07:49:00.003-05:002008-07-28T08:02:52.488-05:00The road goes ever on and on...I'm writing this in a burst of excitement!<br /><br />My cousin Macneil and I have been talking about this trip for a long time now. Well, he's actually done something about it while I'm still just talking about it. We're going on a 5 week trip to... South America!!! <<insert>><br /><br />Mac's booked his tickets. I'm about 3 or 4 days away from doing so. He's been doing most of the planning and research thus far but I'm quickly getting into my own. You know you're bitten by the travel when you've spent three hours going through websites in foreign languages, you've (finally) created your google calendar and you've sent out an email to the usual suspects to see if they're keen on jumping onto the bandwagon.<br /><br />A very rough itinerary to follow but for the moment... can you say... <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">CARNIVALE</span></span>???Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-79164766297240466512008-07-22T23:10:00.003-05:002008-12-08T19:06:14.745-06:00Gone in 60 seconds.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv9YjtN9cLf2IUTtXHod0pfxzSta2w36PFY8c7eCRWEZOnMCJR02Ki8oUZr5Nq3nybcgUVvoDg__x_OVZCJgzd4Me-NDxnzsQg3cGo3-nalHDE8s2PF_n_Zlh1d56WbTAyikL/s1600-h/excellence_orange_intense_prod.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226057619779974642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv9YjtN9cLf2IUTtXHod0pfxzSta2w36PFY8c7eCRWEZOnMCJR02Ki8oUZr5Nq3nybcgUVvoDg__x_OVZCJgzd4Me-NDxnzsQg3cGo3-nalHDE8s2PF_n_Zlh1d56WbTAyikL/s400/excellence_orange_intense_prod.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>More like 600 seconds. My boss gave each of us a bar of Lindt's Orange Intense (Dark)... and I ran right through it. :(</div><div></div><br /><div><div></div>Sounds like a post-secret. I'm going to be sick.<br /></div><div></div>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-8632544524075964232008-07-17T00:50:00.003-05:002008-12-08T19:06:14.860-06:00The pope wears red shoes...... BXVI - who knew!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWPY8HfgN_ZCoX1pFiWK5QtaGwP5NSwoQNA6OZTkMNxDC3ckHio7BuZhqIwl2WeY8dGRkVXUykr6QgIlcAea3OC0h95D2sMxEfM76WtMydRUlaRmdK7L6e-at2p1jgD-h9wRn/s1600-h/prada.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223856640139872050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWPY8HfgN_ZCoX1pFiWK5QtaGwP5NSwoQNA6OZTkMNxDC3ckHio7BuZhqIwl2WeY8dGRkVXUykr6QgIlcAea3OC0h95D2sMxEfM76WtMydRUlaRmdK7L6e-at2p1jgD-h9wRn/s400/prada.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div><br /><div></div>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-84890175648476790692008-07-16T22:35:00.002-05:002008-07-17T00:56:02.087-05:00Flat White with two, pleaseI've never been a coffee drinker. (Or a tea drinker for that matter, but that's a different story… featuring the monsoons, masala chai and hot kandha bhajiyas). Growing up, tea was a part of breakfast and was defined – in my mind at least – as the default beverage to dunk your bread-and-butter/jam/roastbeef<span style="color:#003300;"><strong>*</strong></span> in. Coffee replaced tea once a month or so, just to break the monotony for a day. Now, this coffee was always instant - Nescafe types, au lait and with sugar. Studying for standard X and XII exams, while others used coffee to stay up late, I actually opted for a Thums Up. I don’t think anyone really believed it was helping… but I had a right to be pampered… and I liked <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thums_up">Thums Up</a>. Working in India and the US, I never cared for coffee. Except on my first job, where tea/coffee coupons were slimily baked into my salary package and I felt obliged to drink up. The bloody coupons were probably half my salary anyways.<br /><br />So it’s been established that I’ve neither felt the need nor understood the fascination for the drink. Cut to Sydney, winter of 2007, and perceptions start to change. Nothing dramatic. I still don’t need one, but the social aspect of meeting over a cuppa is pretty neat. I’m quite taken up with the idea of enjoying a leisurely conversation in a tiny café, outdoors preferred, banana muffin optional. Or a short walk, in the middle of the ‘slothy’ part of the afternoon, to grab one with a colleague – no better way to keep your pulse on who’s banging whom in the office. Well, maybe a drink at the pub after work might beat a coffee. But not by much.<br /><br />Coffee’s also taken more seriously in Sydney than in other places I’ve lived in. Which isn’t saying much considering I’ve only lived in Bombay and a couple of cities in the US. Still. Here, a coffee machine in the office is a gleaming, complex piece of machinery that I couldn’t hope to master. Nor do I want to. It takes you, like, two hours to make yourself a cup; it’s easier to befriend the two or three baristas on the floor that can brew the perfect cup. In the US office, the coffee machine is a percolator that spits out mud-water. The Indian office has a machine with buttons labelled “Cappucino”, “Mochachino”, “Strawberry Milk”, and “Tomato Soup”. It uses powdered milk – ‘nuf said. In the US, coffee’s a toss-up between Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s. Blah! In Sydney, there are loads of coffee franchises, most folks have their favourite café and Starbucks is the pariah of the coffee-drinking world. What’s more: a coffee’s reasonably priced (compared to the … ummm… rest of the commodity spectrum).<br /><br />I wrote all of this up after a flat-white with my cubicle-mate. And as I near the end, I’m reminded that coffee also totally kills my appetite, leaving me with the suspicion that it’s burning holes in my stomach. But boy was the office gossip worth it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#003300;">*Yes, I have been known to dunk my bread-and-roastbeef sandwiches in tea. It’s delicious. Get over it!</span> </em>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-91928784106195767242008-06-15T06:58:00.003-05:002008-07-13T06:07:35.305-05:00Last train to Bombay<o:p></o:p>I love showing people around the cities I’ve lived in… so when a friend of mine told me he was stopping in Bombay for 3 days, en route to Finland (via London (passing through Hong Kong (with a short break in…))), I jumped at the opportunity to blog. So here goes, Neil... <p class="MsoNormal">August in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:city> is going to be wet. Very wet. If you’re spending time just walking around and getting the feel of the city, my advice is: don’t wear your good shoes / clothes, take extra care of your expensive cameras/cell phones, know that you’re going to get drenched and, enjoy yourself!<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on">South Bombay</st1:place> is the commercial and cultural heart of the city. You could easily spend at least a couple of days here, depending on what you like to do. I’d start off at Victoria Terminus, one of the cities biggest and busies train terminuses. The fascinating bit is that VT - besides being a crazy jostling, throbbing, cursing hub of human activity – is also a <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">World</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Heritage</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Building</st1:placetype></st1:place>. It’s not surprising to see why. It’s my favourite building in the city for the simple reason that every time I stop to look, I see something I haven’t seen before (the last time a friend pointed out peacock motifs I’d never noticed). They also have guided walks or tours through the building but they’re few and far between. I haven’t been on one, but you could ask around if your agent’s connected. Across the road from VT is the BMC (Bombay Municipal Corporation) building, which is also pretty neat. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Warning: As with the city’s name itself, most of these buildings/places have been renamed. For instance, VT is now called CST (named after Chhatrapati Shivaji, a local historical figure) and the BMC is still the BMC but now stands for the Brihan Mumbai (Greater Mumbai) Municipal Corporation.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One thing you must do is take a ride on the local trains!!! It’s usually good if you have a local with you… depends on how adventurous you’re feeling! Buy a ticket at VT and travel for a couple of stations against the crowd (which would be away from VT in the morning) and then come back. If you time it right, you might also see <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bombay</st1:city></st1:place>’s famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabbawala">dabbawallahs</a>! {Also, you must ride an autorickshaw!!! You’re not going to find these in the city but if you happen to be in the suburbs and see one, flag him down.}</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Moving along… A 5 minute cab ride away is Flora Fountain. From here, I’d recommend walking along <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">D.N. Road</st1:address></st1:street> to the Kala Ghoda area. D.N. Road’s always entertaining cause it’s choc-a-bloc with street-side vendors selling everything from clothes and souvenir-type trinkets, to pirated copies of books that have barely been released to dildos (yes, your eyes deceive you not – dildos). NOT that I believe you need any of these items. I just write it like it is, man. Most of <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">D.N. Road</st1:address></st1:street>’s sheltered, so that should make matters a little easier. Along the way, keep an eye out for some pretty neat architecture in the Standard Chartered Bank, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Elphinstone</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>, etc.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(A short, but necessary, detour away, is the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Bombay</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> building near Oval Maidan. If there’s the smallest of breaks in the weather, you’ll find a minimum of 10 simultaneous games of cricket on at the Oval)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kala Ghoda is <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bombay</st1:city></st1:place>’s art district. Stop by at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Jehangir</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Art</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Gallery</st1:placename></st1:place>; the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Max Meuller Gallery are in the vicinity. If you’re so inclined you could get your name carved on a grain of rice by the side of the road. Or do something more normal and pick up some art on a leaf or something. This is a decent spot for a good lunch break: eat at the ever-reliable Khyber or, Trishna (for seafood, but if you’re up for a great fish meal I’d recommend Mahesh Lunch Home or Bharat / Excellensea… they’re not too far away).<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After, walk down to the Prince of Wales Museum (now called the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Chhatrapati</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Shivaji</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>). Spend as much time as you like before walking towards Regal at Colaba Causeway. Regal’s one of the city’s oldest cinemas; it’s not a modern-day multiplex but a theatre-style, old-fashioned arena. I recommend getting balcony tickets to watch a Bollywood flick (you’ve gotta, surely!). It won’t be subtitled, but I reckon you’ll get the hang of things. You may not want to watch the whole 3-hour extravaganza… at worst, you’ll get yourselves 30 minutes of air-conditioned comfort, out of the rain, with popcorn. The Causeway strip’s a fun place to shop around for “Indian” stuff. Know that you have to bargain with great flair and drama! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Still in Causeway, <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/india/bombay-mumbai/review-35812.html">Café Mondegar</a> is a <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bombay</st1:city></st1:place> institution. You MUST have a beer on me, over there. And it must be a Kingfisher. The jukebox, constant chatter and the zany cartoons… *sigh*, I miss Mondy’s. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">L</span></span><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">5 minutes away from Causeway is the Gateway of India. It’s a great place for people watching. Saunter over to the Taj Mahal Hotel and walk into the old section of the hotel. It’s gorgeous and offers a glimpse of why the top-notch Indian 5-star hotels rate amongst the best hotels in the world. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From here, take a short ride to marine drive and sit on the promenade to feel the full force of the monsoons… always a fantastic experience. Marine drive… all the way up to Nariman Point… is what predominantly makes up the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:city> skyline. Don’t miss out on the roasted corn on the cob while you’re at it. The dome bar at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">hotel</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Marine</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Plaza</st1:placetype></st1:place> is one of the best spots in the city to catch the sunset… though I think they shut this outdoor restaurant down for the rainy season. Chowpatty beach is a must-visit as well… on a good day it should be a riot of colour and activity. There’s a great fine dining restaurant here called the Salt Water Grill. It overlooks the sea and is a bit of a pricy thing; I haven’t been here myself though.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Drive up to Walkeshwar for a photo-op: you can see <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:city>’s famous Queen’s necklace (the marine drive belt, “studded” with lights) before returning back to the city. You can drive back by the Parsi <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towers_of_Silence">tower of silence</a>.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Other places to eat at while in the city</b>: Koyla is a cool restaurant for Indian cuisine, it’s atop a terrace and has views of the harbour. Café Leopold offers European type fare and is generally full of tourists. Theobrama is across the road and has fabulous (non-Indian) desserts. Bade Miya is another <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bombay</st1:city></st1:place> institution: hidden away behind the Taj Mahal Hotel, this little streetside eatery has some pretty decent kebabs, rolls etc.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You could also do a short boat ride to the Elephanta caves… but remember that the caves close by 5, so leave plenty of time to get there, look around for an hour and then get back. I might recommend it if you had more time in the city and if it was in better weather. In your circumstances, it’s likely to be more trouble than it’s worth.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are other things to see around the city, depending on what you like and how much time you have. Though I haven’t been there ever, Gandhi’s Bombay abode - Mani Bhavan sounds interesting according to Lonely Planet, <i style=""><a href="http://www.mumbainet.com/travel/dhobighat.htm">dhobhi ghaat</a></i> – the municipal washing place is quite a sight to behold, there’s the National Center for the Performing Arts where you might catch a good play or a concert, visit the Bombay Store for good-quality souvenirs, take a ride on a Victoria (carriage-drawn horse) along Marine Drive, drop in at the Afghan church, check out the revolving restaurant atop the hotel Ambassador and so on.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most of the above should more than fill up one day. For the remainder of your stay in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bombay</st1:place></st1:city>, you have two options:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">a)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span><!--[endif]-->if you want to experience more of the city – venture to some of the suburbs. Bandra and Juhu are two that have quite a buzz about them. If you’ve missed Chowpatti, you could go to the beach at Juhu, which has more of the same kind of activity around it. Linking Road in Bandra is a great place to shop. See if someone can drive you to the Fab India store (it’s one of my favourites; great cotton <i style="">kurtas</i>). If you’re going to try Bhel Puri, you’d have to try it near Elco Arcade in Bandra. Walk over to <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Carter Road</st1:address></st1:street> and take a stroll along the promenade. During the day, you could conceivably go to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Film</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> and see if you can get one of those guided tours on a Bollywood set, though it seems a bit pricey for my liking.<o:p> </o:p><br /><span style=""></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="">b)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span><!--[endif]-->if you’re looking for a break, drive up to one of the hillstations about 2 or 3 hours outside the city. Matheran is my personal favourite but Mahableshwar / Panchgani / Lonavala are all fine. This is a great time to go up there, cause it’s up the mountains which will be splendid in the monsoons. Be sure to get yourselves a comfortable hotel and see if there’s someone that can show you around to the different “points”. Preferably pick a week day to do this as the crowds can get maddening on weekends. Beware of monkeys.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">What to eat:<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u>Must</u>: Kulfi (Indian icecream), mangoes (though they will probably be out of season by August), a biryani (it’s not very <st1:city st="on">Bombay</st1:city>, but I haven’t been able to find a good biryani outside of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u>Feeling bold</u>: Bhel Puri (a street side snack), Vada Pav (a <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bombay</st1:city></st1:place> special; again a streetside snack), Bombay Duck (a boneless fish, crisply fried), a “Frankie” – a spicy wrap.</p>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-84127713872178206362008-05-11T05:04:00.003-05:002008-05-11T05:23:14.841-05:00The perfect Sunday... starts with brunch with a friend. The weather is <span>nice and </span><span style="font-style: italic;">autumny</span>, jackets are not required. You sit outdoors at one of Pyrmont's cafes, there's spent leaves swirling around. The food is great and coffee (flat white, two sugars) is perfect. You walk through Darling Harbour and into the city, catch a bus (with no more than a one minute wait!) to Coogee beach. You're meeting a friend you may not see again for years. You're early but have a book. The people-watching is of the highest quality and there's the open sea for a vista. Your friend arrives and you walk along the cliffs... the pace is leisurely (the walk which has been done in under an hour takes three) as you talk about random things. The view is as breath-taking as ever. It ends with a hazelnut and chocolate <span style="font-style: italic;">strudel</span> at a cafe in Bondi. It's nothing short of sensational!<br /><br />You get home, draw up a list of chores to be finished and do them in good time. You blog.<br /><br />I had the perfect Sunday.Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-13319165899110718432008-02-25T02:17:00.030-06:002008-12-08T19:06:17.482-06:00"The Queen is dead, long live The Queen"Ok, NO - this is not an Elton John tribute! The queen we're discussing today is the Queen Victoria, Cunard Line's latest offering in luxury cruise liners. With the old QE2 being gradually put to pasture, the QV has set sail on it's maiden world tour... and pulled into Sydney's harbour this weekend...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbOmJ_77LwilNYxG4zWGvHFgR1W70jx3tPegR9MCwUIvvxVU4qSqjr3fT59kxbMf6Yzg9E4LW75vxJVSCKwILjFejvBFrWG3meL1tyJtggMx4Z3ino3l3ae672qXEcIarKIGh/s1600-h/DSC00912.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbOmJ_77LwilNYxG4zWGvHFgR1W70jx3tPegR9MCwUIvvxVU4qSqjr3fT59kxbMf6Yzg9E4LW75vxJVSCKwILjFejvBFrWG3meL1tyJtggMx4Z3ino3l3ae672qXEcIarKIGh/s400/DSC00912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170833376763138370" border="0" /></a><br />I was a little luckier than the thousands of others that flocked to check her out. My cousin, Edson (seen first from left in pic below), is a chef on board! He'd set it all up so that I could get on, gape at the opulence and even have a nice lunch (yes, he made it himself too)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN3rbRy8tJUGA4PM2fG1_vlY82EgYrssqTamuRtHbfKfp27flvnZxIWPmVdn5hc2Q7vB1dGTcXYJO1PXNyMVTmdPZvv57SI8JvnJoTtm-wp5KNcwMGntWgZ-v-b8MrchrFG9P/s1600-h/IMG_0258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN3rbRy8tJUGA4PM2fG1_vlY82EgYrssqTamuRtHbfKfp27flvnZxIWPmVdn5hc2Q7vB1dGTcXYJO1PXNyMVTmdPZvv57SI8JvnJoTtm-wp5KNcwMGntWgZ-v-b8MrchrFG9P/s400/IMG_0258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170835919383777618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My first reaction to seeing the thing was "it's not *that* huge"... 18+ floors (12 passenger decks, plus cabins for the crew below, engine rooms etc) of ship aren't a big deal for me, apparently...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRTYBu3W61FMc4H0WEXcfjqQeWP0QXe2IEWsBv8xxG_NyW0ILFSuHbFDgxQG42_Ff3u6YrmMFu3Lnk47gaFwi85NlukcWJfMJIThfTCODXT57aLXycBmh5b-0kCvR4BUdTWnE/s1600-h/DSC00915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRTYBu3W61FMc4H0WEXcfjqQeWP0QXe2IEWsBv8xxG_NyW0ILFSuHbFDgxQG42_Ff3u6YrmMFu3Lnk47gaFwi85NlukcWJfMJIThfTCODXT57aLXycBmh5b-0kCvR4BUdTWnE/s320/DSC00915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170837766219714914" border="0" /></a><br />... but it's only when you're inside (as some of us privileged few happen to us), that the size overwhelms you! I guess it <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">has</span></span> to be that big to house and adequately entertain 2000 filthy rich guests looking forward a good pampering. Edson's tour lasted a good hour and a half... and we were hardly lingering too long in any one area...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_erFPfeDaxeXNeXMJMb8Jzz1T-4Ntj3UgXk-wMtTITkoRinR3rQNSOGUNrARhtFQsumt3SGhSssUBlD6eFw3g60BDpac2ymmkH8z6ww00TWIvDAWszuKKcpZorJP7yheuEXaZ/s1600-h/DSC00922.JPG"><span><span></span></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPKdUB_UrP6v0YAfzAUa4lcTs31EIgLU2KPEHvTsxLjpa5C1LU4pExlKKFo67oU-L0Dmpv13b5PD_74kvYhfGENg54XQO_A_mAiFvafjHJdeKG7tQijv4BA4ZXBB2toOKcF0y/s1600-h/DSC00926.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPKdUB_UrP6v0YAfzAUa4lcTs31EIgLU2KPEHvTsxLjpa5C1LU4pExlKKFo67oU-L0Dmpv13b5PD_74kvYhfGENg54XQO_A_mAiFvafjHJdeKG7tQijv4BA4ZXBB2toOKcF0y/s320/DSC00926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170841300977799554" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU0aoBUoBmIu7j4OJ4JTp-K5m9EHXanDtuv70qylOOik6mrPvpFCOZRxR30mQkOaP4b6RvQZsRzESXhF4MSqgoDlg-CvkgYRdpnrBv4EZ4oH0TAuMQa67_zpCYhmvV-h5yehr/s1600-h/DSC00934.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU0aoBUoBmIu7j4OJ4JTp-K5m9EHXanDtuv70qylOOik6mrPvpFCOZRxR30mQkOaP4b6RvQZsRzESXhF4MSqgoDlg-CvkgYRdpnrBv4EZ4oH0TAuMQa67_zpCYhmvV-h5yehr/s320/DSC00934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170843658914845106" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D3uFteUzdcRFJoEj1U8p84F-wYVuihsZaiDBCL8mNtAyzG6CcWQ_hRT4IXDu7tlR8foW1aUqhDhtJiRTxYdZWOLvZUYabymKuApdAWF-M-Unk_CAFaIIe1v28rniDgunfbM_/s1600-h/DSC00922.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D3uFteUzdcRFJoEj1U8p84F-wYVuihsZaiDBCL8mNtAyzG6CcWQ_hRT4IXDu7tlR8foW1aUqhDhtJiRTxYdZWOLvZUYabymKuApdAWF-M-Unk_CAFaIIe1v28rniDgunfbM_/s320/DSC00922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170884319370236354" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnIpRVieMWjfB2TIzi2AFSnNhG7s9hHG3jcND21oCobSdZ_d0UTZXEzOF0dmvFj2ORCDELmfB2-yxnoNJct4QK8w7BxCvRhZcpIJJfDRCAT7jZAGoND6Iu3uUq9EYrZvMj0y1/s1600-h/IMG_0264.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnIpRVieMWjfB2TIzi2AFSnNhG7s9hHG3jcND21oCobSdZ_d0UTZXEzOF0dmvFj2ORCDELmfB2-yxnoNJct4QK8w7BxCvRhZcpIJJfDRCAT7jZAGoND6Iu3uUq9EYrZvMj0y1/s320/IMG_0264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172639637032974610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXxNQFp6dwm8oA8_6WEQcgwUcPKh4Ic2lWlLPNdO2pOe9SipBgUhKBczOgc2EwHfQ17rUu8TIN9bU7dm-QOl0xxnMg0ns2l0Pw8JYov791R5XRVcwttjc_ue5zk92Pj_EGgdl/s1600-h/DSC00925.JPG"><br /></a><br />The QV has 8 restaurants (one of them with a capacity of up to 1000 people) ranging from a black-tie, fine dining to a regular pub...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZx1ibk8SVpyDC_pEbcV1EZCiN1Bv8tRbD7Jxp52iD8VGoRCJaCKpmZXE3d9qGYstMCbgqlpPeA_Mw4xcph0ThyphenhyphenL_Ht4SWIz5ta0SsdC-k7OS8kAL-Ifa-0qaR7mbCWpZPYd3/s1600-h/DSC00932.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZx1ibk8SVpyDC_pEbcV1EZCiN1Bv8tRbD7Jxp52iD8VGoRCJaCKpmZXE3d9qGYstMCbgqlpPeA_Mw4xcph0ThyphenhyphenL_Ht4SWIz5ta0SsdC-k7OS8kAL-Ifa-0qaR7mbCWpZPYd3/s320/DSC00932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170889400316547570" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAs0BGXoNuCf3swnWMNS5nRw9p2nHeXh_QuSzpHiHx2tgUJauPSkZ761gXLaIvCzvABTLZCQ2VkppPaHKMGM_mqlccVKs3hJD536BmgWYg9GcaetoRJdv9A-aEaM0yvGmXSeZ/s1600-h/DSC00927.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAs0BGXoNuCf3swnWMNS5nRw9p2nHeXh_QuSzpHiHx2tgUJauPSkZ761gXLaIvCzvABTLZCQ2VkppPaHKMGM_mqlccVKs3hJD536BmgWYg9GcaetoRJdv9A-aEaM0yvGmXSeZ/s320/DSC00927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170890370979156482" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3GTc16JT65fBDxs59dyrcjBYaMMFyoLCkvpfgYbJis3wrTcPK6vrtPrlU5-TmB0wLPNpF_4aJLmH8YrIUuC_PF79aWDXPo7rissEPZHueY1jKKCsUlkPPwmlxGr8w1jJm-NR/s1600-h/DSC00931.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3GTc16JT65fBDxs59dyrcjBYaMMFyoLCkvpfgYbJis3wrTcPK6vrtPrlU5-TmB0wLPNpF_4aJLmH8YrIUuC_PF79aWDXPo7rissEPZHueY1jKKCsUlkPPwmlxGr8w1jJm-NR/s320/DSC00931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170890916440003090" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXaukxmiZG90dCR30Heby0DzLl3vw-Zt39tn9_DxNUVNi8ilBZjh-9l1-OYQw1J3tdH2MTiPdHGqRHMEC3e_TZmsNXbwtjzaFoK4C956hE16JdePQUwPy_w4_Wc7TVYkiAKPI/s1600-h/DSC00933.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXaukxmiZG90dCR30Heby0DzLl3vw-Zt39tn9_DxNUVNi8ilBZjh-9l1-OYQw1J3tdH2MTiPdHGqRHMEC3e_TZmsNXbwtjzaFoK4C956hE16JdePQUwPy_w4_Wc7TVYkiAKPI/s320/DSC00933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170891483375686178" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />...and 13 bars!!! Mmmmm...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Kz613PvWBMVT4dztbchlaI1OJrF5lBnpxApufF3RtKLbGXygAzkBT1g5uttTfVMhwYotDZVtVU5D3kC099eHp3MZk-cayJrKK5Dqqvlb8lYemhnQXoXXd5dlLOUpmGamnNRf/s1600-h/DSC00923.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Kz613PvWBMVT4dztbchlaI1OJrF5lBnpxApufF3RtKLbGXygAzkBT1g5uttTfVMhwYotDZVtVU5D3kC099eHp3MZk-cayJrKK5Dqqvlb8lYemhnQXoXXd5dlLOUpmGamnNRf/s320/DSC00923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170892406793654834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jNpmVv9BhlpUXZPaKhA0xky__J2vqSlEZ3zF0MMCodmqd5h9pLWZQejqeKFVm1XxNIOhrrU9qax52-oCLRyRV8dEFnJTR2BCdQxWW_pCIMxhYDlW0fnAUchiPJD4Yhwfvox2/s1600-h/DSC00941.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jNpmVv9BhlpUXZPaKhA0xky__J2vqSlEZ3zF0MMCodmqd5h9pLWZQejqeKFVm1XxNIOhrrU9qax52-oCLRyRV8dEFnJTR2BCdQxWW_pCIMxhYDlW0fnAUchiPJD4Yhwfvox2/s320/DSC00941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172641522523617570" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />On the high seas, you have to grip more than the obvious...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOokBa2XPnTmOAk0SMJSRvowDyFP5mzD3qm2fUTT9pere1pXEuRWzyKa__z0Tro5U0GjN0Oa3qbTRxTusp5FC6MP3yYRsFd5vJlGPy8YvXMbGqrik5b1jfX32InvzOqkD-ut9/s1600-h/DSC00935.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOokBa2XPnTmOAk0SMJSRvowDyFP5mzD3qm2fUTT9pere1pXEuRWzyKa__z0Tro5U0GjN0Oa3qbTRxTusp5FC6MP3yYRsFd5vJlGPy8YvXMbGqrik5b1jfX32InvzOqkD-ut9/s320/DSC00935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170894322349068866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Chart Room was one of my favourites. There's also a small museum, art gallery, internet center and a huge library with two full-time librarians... and a breath-taking, full-blown 800-seater theatre complete with boxes, red velvet and gilt galore!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr5HL41s5Z70fE8wVeg84F4pSpge3jZNUKjs4PkBGYyIXNf6uGdy8Q8E8tsF7w3SGVVmmy_V2JVM9iOEtU69FIL0LyvVVg5P89WoBLLRykomwiSJDwRBYUnZ7LRK8LrYMHpNQ/s1600-h/DSC00916.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr5HL41s5Z70fE8wVeg84F4pSpge3jZNUKjs4PkBGYyIXNf6uGdy8Q8E8tsF7w3SGVVmmy_V2JVM9iOEtU69FIL0LyvVVg5P89WoBLLRykomwiSJDwRBYUnZ7LRK8LrYMHpNQ/s320/DSC00916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170899149892309634" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCQbiiKRavZM1_aMTa3Fy2qn6IwvF4YAvKIxxzr5LgYKfx0wj9PlhagXhqsfhXjjL95QkI71tGrGXaApn9JcsEH6oaBSDqLNe57oCk-X188UFYEyondb3kSEQxVQyDLlq0VhN/s1600-h/DSC00930.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCQbiiKRavZM1_aMTa3Fy2qn6IwvF4YAvKIxxzr5LgYKfx0wj9PlhagXhqsfhXjjL95QkI71tGrGXaApn9JcsEH6oaBSDqLNe57oCk-X188UFYEyondb3kSEQxVQyDLlq0VhN/s320/DSC00930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170898406862967410" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybB_sjC_-y_hfggRYbUBKs06FsSPfu368WCzc_lL0-I_0__pyy3u2BydPPkpyLtfgaQfD9d3M_M-zl15OHjaspxjh-hsmUB_kHsOSxn3OlsFjtC8XPPIz9g3ty7133sCSyUh1/s1600-h/DSC00929.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybB_sjC_-y_hfggRYbUBKs06FsSPfu368WCzc_lL0-I_0__pyy3u2BydPPkpyLtfgaQfD9d3M_M-zl15OHjaspxjh-hsmUB_kHsOSxn3OlsFjtC8XPPIz9g3ty7133sCSyUh1/s320/DSC00929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170896860674740834" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrVSHsiwb3dVQD3LjIVyuOtyS2YQV6375F2uTrKZJK1U-QIW6mZWFRMwT3OeRo7JiFlw84NQzZ7ScoQ6b_P2JOeDzz3DFkEZbwdEgOS1iXEgTlhd0ulIxygESbNmcVlxSVrVu/s1600-h/DSC00928.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrVSHsiwb3dVQD3LjIVyuOtyS2YQV6375F2uTrKZJK1U-QIW6mZWFRMwT3OeRo7JiFlw84NQzZ7ScoQ6b_P2JOeDzz3DFkEZbwdEgOS1iXEgTlhd0ulIxygESbNmcVlxSVrVu/s320/DSC00928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170896551437095506" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Somehow, I don't <span style="font-style: italic;">get </span>the concept of a world cruise. The idea of spending 2 days without land in sight and then spending a few hours trying to take in an entire culture doesn't appeal to me. However,the average of a passenger aboard the QV is 60... which leaves me plenty of time to change my mind. So someday, who knows...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a6Sxn77HrbbbS9Ms5k7xdQssPsYpNH3vDStVosNtPTnNmwONQi3a1eNJQXVUSdwBTW1LFGgCFba0OWykpTtjMrbSx-xlY5aAQjjlKry1kjhsPxXtib2n9attMEgb2xSP4n3S/s1600-h/DSC00936.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a6Sxn77HrbbbS9Ms5k7xdQssPsYpNH3vDStVosNtPTnNmwONQi3a1eNJQXVUSdwBTW1LFGgCFba0OWykpTtjMrbSx-xlY5aAQjjlKry1kjhsPxXtib2n9attMEgb2xSP4n3S/s320/DSC00936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172641917660608818" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-20249615388745789252008-02-10T01:37:00.001-06:002008-12-08T19:06:17.886-06:00All aboard the Brindabella!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A few days ago I found myself in a little speck of an airport near Newcastle, NSW. I was to catch a flight to Canberra. "Why?!?!", I hear you incredulously ask. "Work" is my answer... and probably the only plausible one in the circumstances.<br /><br />I was booked a seat aboard some random 'Brindabella' airlines. If having to travel from Newcastle to Canberra wasn't enough of a joke already, this arrangement certainly sealed the deal.<br /><br />The lady that validated our boarding passes asked us to gather outside on the tarmac but not walk to the plane just yet. My first look at the "plane" had me worried. It was only about 20 feet from where we'd gathered and looked... inadequate. A nervous glance around confirmed what I logically knew must be true: not more than 20 people could fit into this thing. The lady soon came out to lead our little family to the Brindabella. She doubled as the flight attendant and handed over our snack packs (sized in proportion to the aircraft itself), before letting us hop on. It was like walking inside a pencil! I had to bend over double to get to my seat and once there, I had to take a minute to figure out a manoeuvre to squeeze into my seat.<br /><br />Among its advantages was the fact that everyone's seat was <span style="font-weight: bold;">both - </span>an aisle and a window. Unnecessary frills were done away with. Like, oh, the minor matter of a door between the main cabin and the cockpit! But our biggest surprise was when our gate-attendant-cum-stewardess took off the fluorescent vest she was wearing... and calmly slid into the co-pilot's seat!!! Quite impressive, this omnipresent WonderWoman. (Later, stepping aboard the airport bus, I would peer hesitantly at the driver... astonishingly, it wasn't her.)<br /><br />The flight itself was smooth by small aircraft standards but I was still glad to be on terra firma.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Metro III aircraft that plies Newcastle-Canberra...</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNMtIsS44ymO84bt3kOgq-J4_OoRjcksz4HRTtpA0mc1BJ8Muj8o9ID4WG4K5M6xEvzGjkqc_6OhxI9zCZ8nTk_01aRZIe8fL-wB5vDC5BktdYAuV6Cw8dojByBYOGD2DW_mB/s1600-h/PlanespottersNet_044508.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNMtIsS44ymO84bt3kOgq-J4_OoRjcksz4HRTtpA0mc1BJ8Muj8o9ID4WG4K5M6xEvzGjkqc_6OhxI9zCZ8nTk_01aRZIe8fL-wB5vDC5BktdYAuV6Cw8dojByBYOGD2DW_mB/s320/PlanespottersNet_044508.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165275431384076594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Inside the Brindabella... a backseat driver's delight...</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3z8Md-pLjr6DhAXW1cQOUWM17Vy3D5CGO8Bdy0Jvd4KEeqbH1KGPm_2i2JmK19NoVNIOw2lyVzULJysa11EP6KdHx-CRnRovg6islnRP3xbJb_e4fV7rivnpMUMhWi7QxsMF/s1600-h/DSC00775.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3z8Md-pLjr6DhAXW1cQOUWM17Vy3D5CGO8Bdy0Jvd4KEeqbH1KGPm_2i2JmK19NoVNIOw2lyVzULJysa11EP6KdHx-CRnRovg6islnRP3xbJb_e4fV7rivnpMUMhWi7QxsMF/s320/DSC00775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165272386252263714" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-66557343902451630532008-01-05T19:25:00.000-06:002008-12-08T19:06:19.136-06:00A day at the SCG.<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ah, that beautiful green grandstand...</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRNU9tyZjvLqNXD8X8FhFqCf5ROwyUUQKTnLh8tzPTuwbXNHzVzMVgPt3zT3vOD4a_nX-d3gmrJCdCnWwankZQ6_tBfw5GFFS-29yk_cDRtmuAZpabJG6fO3DRKs61TOxZFUe/s1600-h/DSC00841.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRNU9tyZjvLqNXD8X8FhFqCf5ROwyUUQKTnLh8tzPTuwbXNHzVzMVgPt3zT3vOD4a_nX-d3gmrJCdCnWwankZQ6_tBfw5GFFS-29yk_cDRtmuAZpabJG6fO3DRKs61TOxZFUe/s320/DSC00841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152171950710762146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" >and those unmistakable light towers...</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mvJvSWjTogHHGCp02OvKNW5jwhS8s0FpcKCPIiB41cM6DvjHqdftKfFIRmzd6XT-K1X5sHCCOjjO2WV29APGHjcRAPXTiGjsAZL_-Dx0cesVmoVdWKwmm18KxT2OjCxLUSXv/s1600-h/DSC00839.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mvJvSWjTogHHGCp02OvKNW5jwhS8s0FpcKCPIiB41cM6DvjHqdftKfFIRmzd6XT-K1X5sHCCOjjO2WV29APGHjcRAPXTiGjsAZL_-Dx0cesVmoVdWKwmm18KxT2OjCxLUSXv/s320/DSC00839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152171628588214930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >the crowd sang "One Little Master... there's only One Little Master" to the tune of Guantanamera!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4LJg6L-fJDOg4h8dGtpaIDq-GrPktmrMgS2TwLe8mFgqeMl3xiWaj3fubR4Evgpl0zhN7BM1b9xPDmOfDTx2QCNkZqthluB8qLwQa3C5Zu1nF3S9nNKQX4g1EbusCRODHZ3d/s1600-h/at+the+crease.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4LJg6L-fJDOg4h8dGtpaIDq-GrPktmrMgS2TwLe8mFgqeMl3xiWaj3fubR4Evgpl0zhN7BM1b9xPDmOfDTx2QCNkZqthluB8qLwQa3C5Zu1nF3S9nNKQX4g1EbusCRODHZ3d/s320/at+the+crease.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152214432232287026" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br />the TV screen replays every ball...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLwqxFurZvxinuRMBuchElTYtwPBOVYB96o1tvYxElub37-XYHmACPBLgQKJ-ABBQ49_0SqXUzhkCtu49x8FYImwYWRaprOMjx3Ey_JIh7vTzJzuxrfTse5kk2d4E5C-x9bN5/s1600-h/DSC00864.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLwqxFurZvxinuRMBuchElTYtwPBOVYB96o1tvYxElub37-XYHmACPBLgQKJ-ABBQ49_0SqXUzhkCtu49x8FYImwYWRaprOMjx3Ey_JIh7vTzJzuxrfTse5kk2d4E5C-x9bN5/s320/DSC00864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152178552075496226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >security keeping an eye open for hooligans, drunks and racists alike...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrGFpMj5byrdyGmqG2pe3Rnd-rV3we2aKhYxY64zoLonOOBy9ODuphOW8FPrl343yVaTcsBCX2xZc8euwt-aKYLrh7MCEqk_5N_FEX12ULUH5a94asrbbWtzrXLZkl1-nUCSi/s1600-h/DSC00848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrGFpMj5byrdyGmqG2pe3Rnd-rV3we2aKhYxY64zoLonOOBy9ODuphOW8FPrl343yVaTcsBCX2xZc8euwt-aKYLrh7MCEqk_5N_FEX12ULUH5a94asrbbWtzrXLZkl1-nUCSi/s320/DSC00848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152172380207491762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >the crowd in Bay 5 enjoying a Tendulkar masterpiece...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp3e7lNGFBNWqElyYwb3nmVyg43WCId_-g7nTsHADX83fQ0ql0gknsaJJVDw1uJ56uAHcgNgT7R7yb6m2Fypq5Ugcgyq5TVCD1cqi8cwh4N0IFb4i6nDNv40SS9d3HguYpGok/s1600-h/DSC00853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp3e7lNGFBNWqElyYwb3nmVyg43WCId_-g7nTsHADX83fQ0ql0gknsaJJVDw1uJ56uAHcgNgT7R7yb6m2Fypq5Ugcgyq5TVCD1cqi8cwh4N0IFb4i6nDNv40SS9d3HguYpGok/s320/DSC00853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152173320805329602" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Binga on the backward square fence, being taunted on account of being slower than Tait!</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SjIXG7uT6msW3VRTpRUkm6NaToFctiKegUwnMfrBtzoY0LiJTzaM5gjkXayb16fguLvH-N_cCkyeflfUDeVJnNlr5kiL1O49Xek6n73P10RQOzAvfg3K4dvHfqMYTivv2TID/s1600-h/DSC00860.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SjIXG7uT6msW3VRTpRUkm6NaToFctiKegUwnMfrBtzoY0LiJTzaM5gjkXayb16fguLvH-N_cCkyeflfUDeVJnNlr5kiL1O49Xek6n73P10RQOzAvfg3K4dvHfqMYTivv2TID/s320/DSC00860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152175781821590274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">You little beauty!!! Paisa vasool...</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKIR6TSQtABvzAzFHWhmESk_etu7oNNIf8uN2pZq5uV6bFYz6oPDVNCUn03uyjbZw4by9A4rECqIqPWvKDXL-c9FH1pElZFzcH8DGNq3qEJkF54Tsx6lPjrkQa1xLcsYMNE27/s1600-h/DSC00863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKIR6TSQtABvzAzFHWhmESk_etu7oNNIf8uN2pZq5uV6bFYz6oPDVNCUn03uyjbZw4by9A4rECqIqPWvKDXL-c9FH1pElZFzcH8DGNq3qEJkF54Tsx6lPjrkQa1xLcsYMNE27/s320/DSC00863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152178199888177938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >And finally, a video of the teams getting back on the ground after tea. Phenomenal atmosphere!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpbgZ9DCTlICRT5TXPpcBlHFZCP6QpTMyui4z05vYVtbstXevFe2lAo6YXZzj6ZWvwuIf6XEOCx_s' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-77964800833439936762008-01-05T18:38:00.000-06:002008-12-08T19:06:20.207-06:00The Giant Wheel - an update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtnBslqKxQGcy_RbNMjRJDT-VZntIPE81YvZxhar0BDjl5hMyB_ook6OymOpYDwRni3R5fxLjlknvKkFyHuvH6vAoa8C18D0K8ZP7dphNt1V2d62QN2KMe9yWmZJxfIToxnhR/s1600-h/DSC00431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtnBslqKxQGcy_RbNMjRJDT-VZntIPE81YvZxhar0BDjl5hMyB_ook6OymOpYDwRni3R5fxLjlknvKkFyHuvH6vAoa8C18D0K8ZP7dphNt1V2d62QN2KMe9yWmZJxfIToxnhR/s200/DSC00431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152163339301333618" border="0" /></a>'scuse-please the chronological mish-mash of posts. The return to Sydney has been every bit as hectic as the India trip itself. More on the trip later... I hope.<br /><br />On our first day in Delhi (26th Dec '07), we ended up an hour and a half early for the Red Fort Sound and Light (or <span style="font-style: italic;">son et lumiere</span>, as the locals insisted on calling it!) show. Not granted entry into the fort, we decided to walk around the market area to see what we could see. And what we saw made me - I'm not afraid to admit it - squeal like a girl! Lo and behold... in our face, jazzy coloured tube lights and all, stood a Giant Wheel! In fact, it was a full blown fair with all the usual suspects (rides) - and then some. I was so excited, I couldn't finish my boti kebab. Errrmm, wait. That's coz it was about as raw as a shoe.<br /><br />15 bucks for a good swing back through the years. Wheeeeee!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT6gLYQ3mLpSrxRShqmIVAWBF-Ap2C5f9KaP6u_mmL1qiX3zUzM_kQpApAoFABxjcNp4mV_7nZMIlFfWvcMCEMAA-3eDwL5izY0DQDVmvx-anAb30Q5ANqcVH3YP2bzTFzghy/s1600-h/DSC00410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT6gLYQ3mLpSrxRShqmIVAWBF-Ap2C5f9KaP6u_mmL1qiX3zUzM_kQpApAoFABxjcNp4mV_7nZMIlFfWvcMCEMAA-3eDwL5izY0DQDVmvx-anAb30Q5ANqcVH3YP2bzTFzghy/s200/DSC00410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152160826745465394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWD-7slZ439-CvoqNY-MnwXWLc63JpWTnuTsPJ-BJuegfwEA8h1uSVqbbzY1Z0JXagOQKfMyjseHqKf2YcvoEtZ5gSu6C5nAiQCL7kXuzLM4XNcCHCof5bt8T5jkgeM4mY50Ld/s1600-h/DSC00429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWD-7slZ439-CvoqNY-MnwXWLc63JpWTnuTsPJ-BJuegfwEA8h1uSVqbbzY1Z0JXagOQKfMyjseHqKf2YcvoEtZ5gSu6C5nAiQCL7kXuzLM4XNcCHCof5bt8T5jkgeM4mY50Ld/s200/DSC00429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152162076580948578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8byP23rVzwuAs6bxBVfnY8g5MbTD8pEJbZ46vXKhyphenhyphenrLy-dNhX9hJ9fj-GjFKDDsJA-QSNfNAe5Fh-m_4oMWkUoX0kPIxvdLI_5qqfg1Gb0LbSGU7taq8FMev3B6TS5wRLeC1/s1600-h/DSC00425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8byP23rVzwuAs6bxBVfnY8g5MbTD8pEJbZ46vXKhyphenhyphenrLy-dNhX9hJ9fj-GjFKDDsJA-QSNfNAe5Fh-m_4oMWkUoX0kPIxvdLI_5qqfg1Gb0LbSGU7taq8FMev3B6TS5wRLeC1/s200/DSC00425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152161346436508226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKqbTAfFdlpJoD1Uk2SZoSfH1EF6Pn8QeRY0PkDEyA11kjtBBNFh0xkFR4QfOrS1Y3LWebQfjxANJhyiCe_8m0RjG3o-n1ttxHmSrO7V2bvbgzwUl0aGYcdLm9L4Ky-ntjBuE/s1600-h/DSC00428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKqbTAfFdlpJoD1Uk2SZoSfH1EF6Pn8QeRY0PkDEyA11kjtBBNFh0xkFR4QfOrS1Y3LWebQfjxANJhyiCe_8m0RjG3o-n1ttxHmSrO7V2bvbgzwUl0aGYcdLm9L4Ky-ntjBuE/s200/DSC00428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152161677148990034" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-8917314891589219282007-11-29T01:34:00.000-06:002008-12-08T19:06:20.367-06:00The Giant WheelI was walking to work a couple of days ago and took a detour - two decades back in time. Staring right back at me as I walked through Darling Harbour (no less), was a "Giant Wheel"!!! OK, so it wasn't anything like the rickety, diesel-fuming, gaudy-fluorescent-lit deathtraps of my childhood. The carriages were completely enclosed in glass, there weren't any non-queues and they probably call it a "ferris wheel" or something as boring. But still! I felt the unmistakable yank of nostalgia and spent the next 15 minutes miles away from Sydney.<br /><div><br />I actually remember my very first Giant Wheel ride. Which is surprising cause I must have been like 4. I went with two of my mum's students - Debbie and Fleur, I think - and was definitely not enjoying it. I remember being bundled up in my red winter jacket feeling sick. And the girls trying to distract me by telling me to look at the moon and different distant buildings that were all "Uncle Manuel's house".<br /><br />Within a year or two though, I couldn't be dragged away from the monstrous wheel. Au contraire, I'd be right there yelling at the "giant wheel wallahs" to step on it! Folks figured out ingenious ways to entertain themselves on the wheel - throwing shredded pieces of newspaper when the wheel was in full flight, for instance. The wheel wasn't devoid of controversy either. Every once in a while you'd hear of some random couple copping a feel, sampling some tongue at the zenith of the ride the previous night. The best days were when you'd get ready to disembark at the end of the ride... and one "uncle" (usually someone in the fete organising committee) would have a word with the giant wheel wallahs and get us a second spin.<br /><br />Ah, cheap thrills. The fete's no more, the giant wheels are rare... all that's left are the memories.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDTjAXTPtNeeficTLYwGo0ySxtCfo6E3XCB4AkWkWLFwjbo2DNHseGLQk3993Va9ulP62Y67YtGCsyTSlrtFB7Sea5RYUbD8i-L3vHE8zDFUIqnTxVCTsgasJW81EyF5nzGA/s1600-r/giant+wheel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBZFxFXklyBpLW27IPzkfrIMeZOivNg0-FmHPkHWSQ27jfWtZI8w1-RtzvVXZM-8lcjF6PdzevuBYOKKZrQMCwssvq1Iv73F3HoS8m8GBRn06GHTSZW_FC8hujw7ORr88us79/s400/giant+wheel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139332079011593362" border="0" /></a></div>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-4725702565063672892007-11-17T20:20:00.000-06:002008-12-08T19:06:20.606-06:00The Legend of the Taj Mahal Palace HotelOver a lazy Sunday breakfast, Ramesh and I got around to talking about our Bombay lives. He mentioned that he used to work at the Taj (Apollo Bunder, Bombay) in their Sales Dept. My interest perked and I brought up one of my favourite Bombay stories - the one about the construction of the Taj hotel. I only heard it for the first time about a couple of years ago and remember putting out an email asking a few friends if they knew if it was real or not. Thanks to gmail, I actually managed to dig that email up. I now present (complete with original bad English & punctuation that would make my Ms. Annie Tixeira - my fourth std teacher - screech!)... the Legend of the Taj:<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br /><div><em><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The architect of the old Taj hotel (Gateway) was all set to make his mark with this, his first, major construction. He was based in London and drew up the beautiful plan for the building. For some reason he had to direct operations from London and couldn't oversee construction in Bombay. He kept getting the bestest feedback from the constructors and others who were keeping tabs on things. When the hotel was finished, he came down to check his creation out - and to his horror, learned that it had been built backside-front! The lobby and main reception, which he'd designed to face the sea, faced inward! Distraught, he jumped from one of the balconies of the hotel into the courtyard and killed himself.<br /><br /></span></em></div> <div> </div> I've never heard this story before - one of my friends (who isn't even from Bombay) just narrated it to me and i'm looking for confirmation!!! How much of this is fact and how much<br />urban legend?<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br /><br />Vikram and Salil, two of my Bombay-learned friends were split on whether it was true or not. They'd both separately checked with the Taj and had gotten different answers. Ramesh said they actually had an induction session when he joined the Taj and the story was part of the induction. They insisted it was true and part of the hotel's history. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Palace_&_Tower">Wikipedia</a> categorically tags it as an old yarn. And then goes on to suggest that 't<span style="font-style: italic;">his was probably a deliberate snub to the English king by Jameshedji Tata due to nationalist feelings</span>'.<br /><br />What do I think? True or not, it's one helluva story!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4lV1RN-SbXCxi6S4GyNoYiLt4FJINmJd9xfvUS1BTESxcs7lnm5i23WRyk0d_Q-26hHmk9pXHYfyaBglmC7GotBJT8X07ovL5BfYKle4WHjVrVV7ybfGFTbRhIbGMeDy326h/s1600-h/300px-Mumbai_TajMahalHotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4lV1RN-SbXCxi6S4GyNoYiLt4FJINmJd9xfvUS1BTESxcs7lnm5i23WRyk0d_Q-26hHmk9pXHYfyaBglmC7GotBJT8X07ovL5BfYKle4WHjVrVV7ybfGFTbRhIbGMeDy326h/s400/300px-Mumbai_TajMahalHotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134125363350236946" border="0" /></a>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-12078416501041255202007-10-31T06:07:00.000-05:002007-11-17T20:20:39.307-06:00How to speak 'strian....Apparently 3 months in a new country is not enough to wrap one's head around the slang, figures of speech and outrageously silly terms/phrases used there. Or maybe it's just me. At any rate, I find that I still can't <span style="font-style: italic;">think </span>in Australian. A classic example is the term the locals use to refer to McDonald's... it's plainly "maccas" (pronounced <span style="font-style: italic;">mackers</span>). Now I *know* this, but it still takes me about 3 seconds for my brain to associate"maccas" with the golden arches, Happy Meals, Ronald McDonald etc.<br /><br />And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Women are referred to as "sheilas" (or just "chooks"), Indians are called "curries" and for some bizarre reason "arvo" is the substitute for afternoon! If you heard that a coworker has "chucked a sickie", stay calm. She hasn't retched all over the fax machine - she's just called in unwell. The first week in my new house, my flatmate (a 25 yr old guy, I might add) asked me if I'd seen his white thongs; I was nearing the point of freaking out when I recalled that in this country thongs are casual slippers or flip-flops! There's a few cool phrases I've actually come to like and use regularly: I "flick Brian an email" these days instead of simply sending it to him, I smoothly assure my team members that there are "no dramas" with the "doco" (document) I just finished reviewing, and I've taken to answering the phone with "G'day". Hell, I'm not even averse to sprinkling my sentences with "mayte" - something I swore I would not get around to!<br /><br />And then there's the names. The Australians love their nicknames, that's for sure. Names must be shortened and funked up. Typically, there's a "z" thrown on the end. So Darren is "Daz", Barry is "Baz", Warren is "Waz" or "Wazza", Jeremie is "Jez". If the name's already short, is it beyond tampering? Ummm... not really. Just ask Dick-o, Jack-o and Dan-o. If the first name is too common or dull, there's always the surname.<br /><br />Some of the Aussie terms have a very effeminate ring, which makes it funny when you have the big macho types using them. A lot of these terms end in "ie". For instance, breakfast is "brekkie", a biscuit is "bikkie", presents = "pressies", tantrum = tantie, slot machines are called "pokies" (from video poker, I guess), sun glasses are "sunnies". Even Christmas isn't spared... down under, it's "Chrissie"! It can all get a bit much at times. Imagine hearing <span style="font-style: italic;">"She didn't get a pressie for Chrissie so she threw a tantie after brekkie... <span style="font-weight: bold;">mayte</span>"<br /><br /></span>*cringe*Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-82124365608671442582007-10-28T06:31:00.000-05:002007-10-28T06:39:28.323-05:00At the Matchmaker'sGot yer interest, didn't I? It's not that kinda matchmaker. I came across this meme on <a href="http://oook.freeshell.org/">Oook's blog</a>. I've been toying with the thought of alternative careers... so what if I don't have the balls to actually make the change... so the timing couldn't have been 'perfecter'. Off I went to http://careercruising.com and did the test. Here's what came of it:<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="23" width="100%"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#333333"><td><p class="ver11999"><b>Interest Rank</b></p></td> <td align="right"> <p class="ver11999"><b> </b></p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">1.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=352&MM=1">Professor</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">2.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=520&MM=1">Foreign Language Instructor</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">3.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=170&MM=1">ESL Teacher</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">4.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=256&MM=1">Lobbyist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">5.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=110&MM=1">Computer Trainer</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">6.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=125&MM=1">Criminologist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">7.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=78&MM=1">Cartographer</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">8.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=22&MM=1">Anthropologist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">9.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=631&MM=1">Sociologist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">10.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=117&MM=1">Corporate Trainer</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">11.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=513&MM=1">Communications Specialist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">12.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=2&MM=1">Activist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">13.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=359&MM=1">Public Policy Analyst </a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">14.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=453&MM=1">GIS Specialist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">15.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=341&MM=1">Political Aide</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">16.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=565&MM=1">Critic</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">17.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=448&MM=1">Writer</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">18.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=345&MM=1">Print Journalist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">19.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=427&MM=1">Translator</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">20.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=267&MM=1">Market Research Analyst</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">21.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=417&MM=1">Technical Writer</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">22.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=360&MM=1">Public Relations Specialist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">23.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=14&MM=1">Air Traffic Controller</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">24.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=280&MM=1">Meteorologist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">25.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=98&MM=1">Clergy</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">26.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=191&MM=1">Foreign Service Officer</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">27.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=353&MM=1">Project Manager</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">28.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=217&MM=1">Home Economist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">29.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=548&MM=1">Sport Psychology Consultant</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">30.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=215&MM=1">Historian</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">31.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=230&MM=1">Industrial Engineering Tech</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">32.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=4&MM=1">Actuary</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">33.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=444&MM=1">Website Designer</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">34.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=526&MM=1">Industrial-Organizational Psychologist</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">35.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=126&MM=1">Curator</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">36.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=342&MM=1">Politician</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">37.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=572&MM=1">Humanitarian Aid Worker</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">38.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=372&MM=1">Rehabilitation Counsellor</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">39.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=504&MM=1">Association Manager</a></p> </td> <td align="center" width="36"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" height="25" width="20"> <p class="ver11">40.</p> </td> <td> <p class="ver13"><a href="http://www.careercruising.com/Careers/Suitable4U.aspx?LoginID=B0919F3D-7CE0-4F5A-A2A7-4851601246CE-&OccNumber=312&MM=1">Operations Research Analyst</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-84820048901255884462007-10-01T04:02:00.000-05:002008-12-08T19:06:20.738-06:00Kindly do the needfulIn a rare passage of time a few days, when I actually lapsed into doing some work, I sent an email to a colleague that ended with my asking him to "kindly do the needful". Now, while it's not my most favourite phrase in the world... I have used it on occasion to ask someone to do something politely. I've never thought twice about it either. It came as a surprise, therefore, when I got a reply mocking 'needful' and asking if that was even a word. Now, this was from Neil - whose grammar and general command of the English language I have a lot of time for. I replied back saying that it was probably something the silly poms (Neil is one as well) passed on to us.<br /><br />I was eventually bored & jobless enough at work to hit up google and was surprised to find that "kindly do the needful" was a very typically Indian phrase (<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=needful">Urban Dictionary</a> calls it 'an indian term usually used in place of necessary'). What's more, it's predominantly an Indian bureaucratic term (the 7th search result was actually a good ol' Govt. of India tender notice!!!) that's been taken to heart by the Indian IT industry (first page of google results had 3/4 IT references).<br /><br />For the purists, you can actually find two entries for 'needful' in dictionary.com...<br />- an adjective replacement for necessary<br />- slang; usage: <span class="ital-inline">They haven't the needful for a car right now</span><br /><br />...but it doesn't seem like it's all that popular outside of India:<br /><ul style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><li><span style="font-size:85%;">'You must be from India<a id="KonaLink4" target="_top" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;" href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/RequiredModernSentence/lppn/Post.htm#"><span style="font-weight: 400; position: static; color: rgb(176, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12;" ><span class="kLink" style="font-weight: 400; position: static; color: rgb(176, 0, 0);font-size:12;" ></span></span></a>. All the Indian people I know write that phrase in e-mails. No offense, but we Americans do have a good chuckle over it.'</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">As a speaker of English, it sounds to me as if you are asking me to use the toilet.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Americans find "</span><span style="font-size:85%;">Kindly do the needful." to be insulting. We read it as "Hey Dumb *** you should have already done this, so do it now". To us it assigns blame, or makes it seem as if we have overlooked/avoided something. Just ask for what you would like done and say thank you after the request. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">'Asking me to "kindly do the needful" could<br />1) get you reported to HR<br />2) get me fired or arrested if i really did that in public/at my desk.'</span></li></ul>So yeah, I'm not using it ever again. Must end with this little gem: an anti-Indian-outsourcing T-shirt...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp76T9trlCIi0cWkRXlkRB5-JrdkebzpWqXR_WaxVQcjacAwof3fBMyZ8bAZzyJACKaN0eyHg7LxtP13aBpR6bEUG2ZXGNM-TJHL5PKsPyf1JZuvL0cYEdtXfrg0rOjw235bDK/s1600-h/Kindly+do+the+needful.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp76T9trlCIi0cWkRXlkRB5-JrdkebzpWqXR_WaxVQcjacAwof3fBMyZ8bAZzyJACKaN0eyHg7LxtP13aBpR6bEUG2ZXGNM-TJHL5PKsPyf1JZuvL0cYEdtXfrg0rOjw235bDK/s400/Kindly+do+the+needful.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116299908197140306" border="0" /></a>Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36049733.post-2739636151772147742007-08-27T20:23:00.000-05:002007-08-28T08:47:35.371-05:00I still haven't found what I'm looking for...... which is access to live cricket on the tube!<br /><br />My first week in Sydney I was all excited cause India, with some help from the rain and the toss gods, appeared to hold the upper hand in their away series in England. So I headed off after work to catch the first hour or two at the local pub in Milson's Point. I got there and politely informed the waitress that I'd like to watch Fox 2... the channel that was broadcasting the game live. Now, it was very apparent to me that there was also a big footy game on. The waitress of course, chose to close her eyes to this and went ahead and changed the channel on the big TV. And then, she slid away. Leaving me shuffling about, facing up to these 6-8 aussies. Now these guys were BIG friggin' blokes, alright? So when they turned around growling something about "fucking cricket", I pretty much peed my pants right then and there. Thankfully, she came back in, argued with them for the sake of arguing and turned it to whatever channel the footy was on. Oh, I wasn't completely ignored. She turned the small TV to Fox 2. But really, after coming within 2 minutes of being beaten to death, a cricket victory (even an Indian overseas one) loses its significance.<br /><br />So the point is... I need to find a way to watch the cricket from the safety of my own (or someone's else's) home! Cricinfo won't see internet coverage in australia, so if you know of any dubious sites or generous friends in Sydney... for my life's sake - HEYELP!!!Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04856021607662714972noreply@blogger.com4