tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2620205454698400682024-03-14T23:33:12.756+09:00Adventure, Travel and Pretty PicturesA blog following the life of budding photographer Tom BartlettUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-73158751264717886692012-09-05T23:51:00.002+09:002015-10-15T01:02:29.769+09:00Spoonfest, Scotland and more!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a while since I last posted, so here are pictures from my holidays up in the Peak District and around Scotland.</div>
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We spent a long weekend in Edale where the first international Spoonfest was held. Over a 150 turned up to attend workshops by an international cast of instructors from as far afield as the US. There was also ample wood of supply for people to just sit around and carve spoons with like-minded folk. It was a wonderful event and the three days went by far too quickly. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.spoonfest.co.uk/" target="_blank">Spoonfest</a> in Edale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfVRKmMSXhn17J7Qrh0Jpf4a_9CBS4N3F_vvxcNQHng6pxTShodsMTkk2YvXygWF4eg-ascRfCpZnpjOl44FiHxdIj0RfL7lFgXgyWXcPEoRwh4fD9FYGSMip9S9cNUrPJSoUt9y5bOjy/s1600/IMG_9706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfVRKmMSXhn17J7Qrh0Jpf4a_9CBS4N3F_vvxcNQHng6pxTShodsMTkk2YvXygWF4eg-ascRfCpZnpjOl44FiHxdIj0RfL7lFgXgyWXcPEoRwh4fD9FYGSMip9S9cNUrPJSoUt9y5bOjy/s320/IMG_9706.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selection of spoons on show in the Town hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://barnthespoon.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Barn 'the spoon'</a> running one of the many workshops that went on during the weekend.</td></tr>
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The next stop on our journey was Edinburgh, where we caught the tail end of the Fringe festival. We spent a full day wandering around the city and saw live music, stand-up, street performers all within the wonderful setting of Edinburgh.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edinburgh, after we'd eventually found somewhere to park. Pretty much our only time in Scotland without rain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old church that was now hosting free burlesque during the Fringe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juggling flaming torches whilst riding a giant unicycle in just your underwear? Fair enough.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the mad slalom of people handing out flyers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking Shark Week a little too seriously.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two very creepy toys from the Edinburgh childhood museum</td></tr>
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From Edinburgh we entered the Highlands and after driving through some very dramatic scenery, within which a lone doe bolted across the road in front of us, far enough ahead that it was a wonderful sight rather than almost having it come through the windshield, which would have altered the experience slightly.<br />
At our campsite, in an extremely picturesque spot, we were initially plagued by midges. This was the time to test the '<a href="http://www.woodland-ways.co.uk/buy-online-wilmas-nordic-summer-insect-repellent-113.html" target="_blank">Nordic Summer</a>' insect repellent I'd purchased. Whilst road tripping in the US we used DEET, but having seen first hand that it melts plastic I wanted to try something a little less toxic. The little tin of repellent I had was made up from mainly birch tar and left you smelling like a campfire. Most importantly however, it drove away the midges incredibly well. By the end of our trip I came to quite like the smell of the stuff. Plus we hardly made a dent in the small tin of the stuff we had, so plenty left for future adventures. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our awesome campsite in Fort William. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On approach to Ben Nevirist </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we were halfway up we were neither up nor down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain, the defining feature of our time in the Highland.</td></tr>
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We hiked partly up Ben Nevis. We never had plans to make the summit, but went only as far as we wanted. We got thoroughly soaked, but some hot chocolate on the way back perked us up. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP-cnOh_DULuEx5hV6LKUTpENkAo0YrD58dpBJkNnPVBtckwArgUBw2aPGOYMuwrwvmKsItE_gQ2Z7xp5ymHoMhu_vV9alQVRjJGZKRXznKsGk_KWoqTs-259LdGUzqwqJ8IOYhsrSJp4/s1600/IMG_9822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP-cnOh_DULuEx5hV6LKUTpENkAo0YrD58dpBJkNnPVBtckwArgUBw2aPGOYMuwrwvmKsItE_gQ2Z7xp5ymHoMhu_vV9alQVRjJGZKRXznKsGk_KWoqTs-259LdGUzqwqJ8IOYhsrSJp4/s320/IMG_9822.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our roadside tea stop by Loch Ness. Wrong time of year to spot Nessie though.</td></tr>
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In the Cairngorms we arrived in good weather, with some amazing views of the surrounding hills. We got a little excited about the sights we'd see on our walks the next day. Unfortunately the weather closed in and we were stuck with heavy rain and about 200m (650 ft) visibility. Rather than tromp around in the wet we decided to go on a distillery tour. We went round the Glen Ord distillery. It was interesting to see how whiskey was made and comforting to see an industrial process that isn't computer controlled and can't be rushed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Glen Ord distillery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malt barley. Along with water, yeast is all that goes into making whiskey. Plus a lot of time. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory shot of me jumping.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-48192469902555290782012-03-29T21:19:00.000+09:002012-03-29T21:19:06.998+09:00Bike Stolen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguttlrKbkOGnlyLPUOj1Ie0euQX0ljtARtDvPKmF2-ank34oHj2sZGbaWEeu_kDczGIKi7q6dfzbBYEFooorYDx_kRMwH5TJbtGWiPW9ViICHm0ghZDi9DWw4sgtV3i8noacmIkPc_iGxw/s1600/P5130626%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguttlrKbkOGnlyLPUOj1Ie0euQX0ljtARtDvPKmF2-ank34oHj2sZGbaWEeu_kDczGIKi7q6dfzbBYEFooorYDx_kRMwH5TJbtGWiPW9ViICHm0ghZDi9DWw4sgtV3i8noacmIkPc_iGxw/s320/P5130626%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Yesterday my bike was stolen from Prittlewell Rail Station in Southend. It put a bit of a dampener on my otherwise quite good day.<br />
Fortunately, I don't rely on my bike to get around. It was however, extremely handy. Plus with Spring here and Summer on its way, I was looking forward to getting out on some nice long Sunday rides. I'm keeping my eye on ebay and gumtree in case the villain that took it is foolish enough to list it. I'm also planning on scouring the local pawn shops too.<br />
I do have an old bike at my folks place. I'm thus thinking of turning it into a fixed gear and taking the brakes off. That way, if someone nicks that, hopefully they'll crash. <br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-82037248927801900382012-03-10T23:02:00.000+09:002012-03-10T23:02:51.865+09:00Amazing new children's book illustrator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Check out <a href="http://courtneydicmas.wordpress.com/">this website</a> for some cute and inspiring artwork by Wisconsin artist Courtney Dicmas. Well worth a few minutes of your time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://courtneydicmas.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/4.jpg?w=1000&h=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://courtneydicmas.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/4.jpg?w=1000&h=" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From 'Harold's Day Out' by Courtney Dicmas</td></tr>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-47773711056727600422012-01-13T23:32:00.000+09:002012-01-13T23:32:34.451+09:00Feeding the Birds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMk9RnPqLz-8IngR3iN1765dg_pLeawldKphuz0-zdMMh1j_XLFTqFU8oq22Bo86QSGrL1tfpCHZ8J2J0VBJZrv3JvNp5ue0JOAdxvpopSLD-9kGA66DctWNyTqBdLyXy-g_HKRV_tOa8/s1600/IMG_8424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMk9RnPqLz-8IngR3iN1765dg_pLeawldKphuz0-zdMMh1j_XLFTqFU8oq22Bo86QSGrL1tfpCHZ8J2J0VBJZrv3JvNp5ue0JOAdxvpopSLD-9kGA66DctWNyTqBdLyXy-g_HKRV_tOa8/s320/IMG_8424.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma4DzKO-58bipkhhA0HtB0ndifShXof97kwSJ4zOs8x68dpPv0eh0gkvZRaFcifhzuMfpOyPFeoWez5hhyeegNZOtoRSyiQAlze_CX6Pig0EWF7dk6-XOyVkvbBJj4V3_7PL4ak2-S6oD/s1600/IMG_8509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma4DzKO-58bipkhhA0HtB0ndifShXof97kwSJ4zOs8x68dpPv0eh0gkvZRaFcifhzuMfpOyPFeoWez5hhyeegNZOtoRSyiQAlze_CX6Pig0EWF7dk6-XOyVkvbBJj4V3_7PL4ak2-S6oD/s320/IMG_8509.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa6pLbsOJpLq6b2_hGvp77lHYlUO5LueHobmDcQogaGg7zXlE6REH8P0kTOIBEaTU2NWeT8DbdMm9cDrJAJmdR1rirQ-uyZmyiCuIeBLE8i82W8EQ2DW4ZNfVwr_v_mhopCald0G7jfd3/s1600/IMG_8511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa6pLbsOJpLq6b2_hGvp77lHYlUO5LueHobmDcQogaGg7zXlE6REH8P0kTOIBEaTU2NWeT8DbdMm9cDrJAJmdR1rirQ-uyZmyiCuIeBLE8i82W8EQ2DW4ZNfVwr_v_mhopCald0G7jfd3/s320/IMG_8511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Some pictures from a recent afternoon spent chucking pieces of bread at our feathered friends in Cambridge. On an interesting side note, I recently figured out why baby swans are called cygnets. The family name for swans is <i>cygnus</i>. Mystery solved. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-68107317920586524942012-01-13T23:29:00.001+09:002012-01-13T23:33:27.999+09:00London's Natural History Museum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicInHuNJKFn_myVcJtcKZnKWPwWyJtXJNbnhZ44aQPVEcDWyuuDVAQ69Wsn4-sm-gEsknFs4BAo3wXcsfHRtsHs-pGme_uzZ07wiQBDDGiq351x9GswCICYoPTFP5W7e1jqcuk-wASs7zm/s1600/IMG_8360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicInHuNJKFn_myVcJtcKZnKWPwWyJtXJNbnhZ44aQPVEcDWyuuDVAQ69Wsn4-sm-gEsknFs4BAo3wXcsfHRtsHs-pGme_uzZ07wiQBDDGiq351x9GswCICYoPTFP5W7e1jqcuk-wASs7zm/s400/IMG_8360.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammal Room</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>It's been a good few years since I last visited the Natural History Museum in London. It's definitely one of my favourite places to go in the city. For free you can easily spend the whole day wandering around, looking at perhaps one of the greatest collections of natural history artefacts in the world.<br />
As you enter the museum you're met by the bones of a long-necked Diplodocus that has stood in the central hall since May 12th 1905. <br />
On this visit, we had a look round the large mammal room, easily my favourite. With a life-size model of a blue whale under it's ten tonne, 25 meter long skeleton, this dominates over all the other animals we would otherwise consider large. We also walked around the dinosaur exhibit, a firm favourite of many. While the exhibits are fascinating, it's laid out in a one-way system which, due to the crowds, often means you're pushed passed many of the info points.<br />
The museum has four colour coded zones, each one housing a variety of different galleries. We spent a full morning in pretty much just the blue zone, so there's definitely plenty to see and do there. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-91124777453323462362011-12-02T22:16:00.000+09:002011-12-02T22:16:52.667+09:00A day at my desk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVkhtcmVKeDV-YFmpLGFg2RCHY4ya8iNqqEq70lp-NCc1VjUw4qao49QFbR2bcSGulmoNQ-ZYE5BqSfalVb1vAPJmpYb7sOxC9fNDw4gA6vEtl7ofdBBIbUNZF95CvI3QDfGy2DfrQVpv/s1600/IMG_8065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVkhtcmVKeDV-YFmpLGFg2RCHY4ya8iNqqEq70lp-NCc1VjUw4qao49QFbR2bcSGulmoNQ-ZYE5BqSfalVb1vAPJmpYb7sOxC9fNDw4gA6vEtl7ofdBBIbUNZF95CvI3QDfGy2DfrQVpv/s640/IMG_8065.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>With the window shut my room smells strangely of cat. With the window open, sitting next to it at my desk, the cold breeze sneaking in makes me gaze out on the wider world. In the house Classic FM is playing, but outside is the gentle but constant rustle of the wind combing through the leaves still hanging on. A hidden crow coughs out it's croaking call. Seeing as it's only 1 o'clock maybe calling this a day at my desk is a bit much. However when the morning has been spent trying to fill out job application forms, I feel ready to call it a day. I might go for a wander and sit under the tree I've been looking out on every few minutes. Seeing as I want to work for an NGO geared towards saving the environment, it would be good practice to go out and appreciate the environment, wouldn't it?<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-90512411465409355652011-12-02T04:29:00.000+09:002011-12-02T04:29:06.867+09:00Ah, the job hunt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">After graduating I spent three years travelling and teaching English. I even have a Cambridge qualification to help me along with it. Unfortunately, I'm a little tired of living abroad, not knowing the language or understanding the culture. So it's been back to the UK for me. However it kind of means back to square 1 for me, like being a recent graduate all over again, except now I'm 24. During an era of record high unemployment I decided it would be a good idea to start looking for jobs in a sector I have no direct experience in. Ha ha, I'm a friggin' genius.<br />
However, I'm still hopeful that I'll find someone in the environmental sector willing to pay me to help save the planet. <style>
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</style><span lang="EN-US">My time spent travelling opened my eyes to a variety of environmental issues. Living in Iraq helped to internalise the externalities of using cheap fossil fuels to provide the energy we use. Our street was provided power by a generator that stepped in during the frequent power cuts. The generator was constantly surrounded by oil drums and emitted a thick oily smoke. Having such a clear demonstration of the costs of my energy usage certainly encouraged me to try and limit my electricity needs. Even though I am no longer living in the exhaust of my power source I clearly understand the needs to cut unnecessary energy use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While volunteering in Costa Rica I was made aware of the need to conserve water. Despite the deluges of the rainy season, the dry season was beset with water shortages. Not knowing whether or not water will emerge when you turned on the tap made me acutely aware of the uses I was putting the available water to. At Lower Upcott Farm in Devon I am learnt the techniques of farming using traditional, sustainable methods. Understanding first hand the effort required to produce our food in a sustainable and responsible manner has opened my eyes to the benefits of sourcing ones food from local and dependable sources. These experience have shaped my values, creating within me a desire to live lightly and to limit the impact I have on the planet. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">I'll let you know how it goes. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-42525215701274004872011-12-02T04:13:00.001+09:002011-12-02T22:36:20.061+09:00Overdue Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So I arrived back in the UK in July after 6 months in Iraq. Safe to say I don't think I'll be returning there in a hurry. Lovely people, the Kurds, but the school I taught in was a little rubbish. Anywho, after returning to the UK I've spent most of my time down in Devon, volunteering at <a href="http://www.forestcrafts.co.uk/">Lower Upcott Farm</a>. I had a great time there; building, farming, cutting down oak, corralling pigs, getting stepped on by shire horses, picking apples and generally having a good time. Here are a few pics from my time there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shire horses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtG16F2KIk0aVhin11U0Vhz45QxiOfeBZv6smCrID7waFGW54FxNXI8GwQHiyrcBhH8ziOgCI2NyFh3MrtXK-iueiWWc-0r9yMFT82MFETjkyXtPHrR4IX4E22R6r7-g-RNoXsd0VqiEJ/s1600/IMG_5651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtG16F2KIk0aVhin11U0Vhz45QxiOfeBZv6smCrID7waFGW54FxNXI8GwQHiyrcBhH8ziOgCI2NyFh3MrtXK-iueiWWc-0r9yMFT82MFETjkyXtPHrR4IX4E22R6r7-g-RNoXsd0VqiEJ/s320/IMG_5651.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben using the shires to turn hay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack the Russell</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More hay turning</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfvBerUz9UPBEWHd0wd3NBWdWdUVsSIErZ7dkrzfnvq0aAsilh1ucqNG0s0eIGfSwQGGWlgOo6B9mdiwF9m-xF48k_wXRJm8mb1flQJqWYl1LeLi8dfXpu-RheFraTcVUOja5KBzVNUeZ/s1600/IMG_5755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfvBerUz9UPBEWHd0wd3NBWdWdUVsSIErZ7dkrzfnvq0aAsilh1ucqNG0s0eIGfSwQGGWlgOo6B9mdiwF9m-xF48k_wXRJm8mb1flQJqWYl1LeLi8dfXpu-RheFraTcVUOja5KBzVNUeZ/s320/IMG_5755.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbR__h5tkgEbJx7pdNUGq0GIRCdUYl9Na11PW136iMaFB6xKCFSt7jsybWmGLw4U4FoBtE90yKc0HOjPl-Ul69WOMMg3CA-iQMArr2kgHrD5qnWuSlDuJ-gkquhg4w0kESfutbfl3oZnG/s1600/IMG_5811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbR__h5tkgEbJx7pdNUGq0GIRCdUYl9Na11PW136iMaFB6xKCFSt7jsybWmGLw4U4FoBtE90yKc0HOjPl-Ul69WOMMg3CA-iQMArr2kgHrD5qnWuSlDuJ-gkquhg4w0kESfutbfl3oZnG/s320/IMG_5811.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzKd6r8QN54Z-LhyW-hVC4GjvdUpoGZjBw5FyOHiXCCkGB1tT23uQDqCLSnLYKkDejTdP97E85br9sw4O4-mjW-K3l7g1Pv5MYH4FMv3W-HMujxQ0fg8UbnocgYNwTvbc49voduZ39e8I/s1600/IMG_7599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzKd6r8QN54Z-LhyW-hVC4GjvdUpoGZjBw5FyOHiXCCkGB1tT23uQDqCLSnLYKkDejTdP97E85br9sw4O4-mjW-K3l7g1Pv5MYH4FMv3W-HMujxQ0fg8UbnocgYNwTvbc49voduZ39e8I/s320/IMG_7599.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taja, the peahen.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6boSBuNDc6F6-9WcRbQAomQ5Umu-ZiDW3ycTc3BtkGv7igxGo20bjKp_Hk_SdM_C2neAevlis1twbDw-8OhhQy_R8dOBOZ93CCe0VgDHZWSG_8ODUSJ_5FFCl0XsKIQSCRWXNV9yJIccM/s1600/IMG_7606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6boSBuNDc6F6-9WcRbQAomQ5Umu-ZiDW3ycTc3BtkGv7igxGo20bjKp_Hk_SdM_C2neAevlis1twbDw-8OhhQy_R8dOBOZ93CCe0VgDHZWSG_8ODUSJ_5FFCl0XsKIQSCRWXNV9yJIccM/s320/IMG_7606.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chickens running for breakfast.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnpHO5fXZ5A0T3iD6kAJeQZac1tjQtN8pn3drCBDzAKdyBlAcan4lDzPY8lTpuYXzK2meWg8qt90ddWO1-gZrD0bGx_E6aoRy7iivpVgsaaBrM-v6mqsarwvdcOaaPMygc7zYu9xKcsSv/s1600/IMG_7636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnpHO5fXZ5A0T3iD6kAJeQZac1tjQtN8pn3drCBDzAKdyBlAcan4lDzPY8lTpuYXzK2meWg8qt90ddWO1-gZrD0bGx_E6aoRy7iivpVgsaaBrM-v6mqsarwvdcOaaPMygc7zYu9xKcsSv/s320/IMG_7636.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducks also believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivasx6QQv54t4KQy0uQJwJ3CoWwZHYKitV7qis7LmmjNsy3ojKhQZbj2tbvFvAB22L1bMJNiqu9V0AFN9_tbC_T0yhYzx7sAIXPD3TqwpQjFi6W5PhlmnZlU8v_CVxwRzYroyxpZImJtM2/s1600/IMG_7674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivasx6QQv54t4KQy0uQJwJ3CoWwZHYKitV7qis7LmmjNsy3ojKhQZbj2tbvFvAB22L1bMJNiqu9V0AFN9_tbC_T0yhYzx7sAIXPD3TqwpQjFi6W5PhlmnZlU8v_CVxwRzYroyxpZImJtM2/s320/IMG_7674.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost corny this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCiz4J75GAfjOuh8xu3n2g-0SUgP4IrFwfNoxUWJOtocxX8liGTcmWcdYobkxr8NCeGDc8jMKU19phe-_lhLL5c1Tv8mOiE_I49lmSFnkvsfrFnjSgL1NZq-rojM2NFodKo_UPJIvE25K/s1600/IMG_7694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCiz4J75GAfjOuh8xu3n2g-0SUgP4IrFwfNoxUWJOtocxX8liGTcmWcdYobkxr8NCeGDc8jMKU19phe-_lhLL5c1Tv8mOiE_I49lmSFnkvsfrFnjSgL1NZq-rojM2NFodKo_UPJIvE25K/s320/IMG_7694.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shire mare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5c8DWGe3Z0tcHorsoEwzmfuGwmaDmmQw8zFStVcorCAi84uP4SyQE55IooDhKvYoUpIcn2XWhd3CSsBsVBP35MfPvzf3Kl3N6IkGj3_2tdmlbzbD6Ly5_BIzvm8o0NBL8acQbMjgwr04/s1600/IMG_7722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5c8DWGe3Z0tcHorsoEwzmfuGwmaDmmQw8zFStVcorCAi84uP4SyQE55IooDhKvYoUpIcn2XWhd3CSsBsVBP35MfPvzf3Kl3N6IkGj3_2tdmlbzbD6Ly5_BIzvm8o0NBL8acQbMjgwr04/s320/IMG_7722.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doogle, the water spaniel. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQf3Kh0FR2gIHBiYN4vnAOCGU91_doqnWdl7Gi4u4kDzigR0idQxXolzX48Gvsc3oxZa4XK8mq2Bkj9CZaTN1ig-2w4kTG_oXzGCtWNHbZ2xntH1UH_pAbO_yWuly74USH4lnBFSKN6sw/s1600/IMG_7763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQf3Kh0FR2gIHBiYN4vnAOCGU91_doqnWdl7Gi4u4kDzigR0idQxXolzX48Gvsc3oxZa4XK8mq2Bkj9CZaTN1ig-2w4kTG_oXzGCtWNHbZ2xntH1UH_pAbO_yWuly74USH4lnBFSKN6sw/s320/IMG_7763.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taja with Dill, an Oxford and Sandy pig.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwd9C5DHfpbvb_Nhx3OuvRmcWMU7aZfIjmJBbCJ0hIlGjAiu03zMrM7johuQlHO4Rut-ukQRZPNwMipVwQinb2IZsAVfxNhfpNc6YbyTOiwrux-ZS8bOCfrtNqh-6omRTEYyCCGKk83h_/s1600/IMG_7775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwd9C5DHfpbvb_Nhx3OuvRmcWMU7aZfIjmJBbCJ0hIlGjAiu03zMrM7johuQlHO4Rut-ukQRZPNwMipVwQinb2IZsAVfxNhfpNc6YbyTOiwrux-ZS8bOCfrtNqh-6omRTEYyCCGKk83h_/s320/IMG_7775.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Oxford and Sandy piglets.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHotysEoagPELBjEZckp0R2VOfXeC2td9-nC4EvhzIvJTR5eyOPrjqdOPdAzDTrFkL5NBSkNInFczZU0azFuedG0NQqOjCCpFaahIAn9kqz561-p-5TiDobT9qRk5HZu5J01ssUt0kXsl/s1600/IMG_7785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHotysEoagPELBjEZckp0R2VOfXeC2td9-nC4EvhzIvJTR5eyOPrjqdOPdAzDTrFkL5NBSkNInFczZU0azFuedG0NQqOjCCpFaahIAn9kqz561-p-5TiDobT9qRk5HZu5J01ssUt0kXsl/s320/IMG_7785.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjL5dA6Pr1h5B62s4gMMYmphghhH9lr8RfctoSPdvmo9qZTGo0qXaVACjBOLlygYcyIRjHagaXtPua8vgfVwHhSVANj1m56P9qlbAG8xhw0g0LmLzmIT_ahyphenhyphenBqEyFOKL-3Z4wegbsWeHe1/s1600/IMG_7835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjL5dA6Pr1h5B62s4gMMYmphghhH9lr8RfctoSPdvmo9qZTGo0qXaVACjBOLlygYcyIRjHagaXtPua8vgfVwHhSVANj1m56P9qlbAG8xhw0g0LmLzmIT_ahyphenhyphenBqEyFOKL-3Z4wegbsWeHe1/s320/IMG_7835.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMVSi5sSJIlIoG1zl-Afqn9Yf_j6kQd4VFEgXoy-XrTziuU_Lvs2CwoWk3pizGl-7tE1dZ7wiJnAB1ZjZ9adkOzhJ7Sp84E9H1jiD2v9FE9AGKj4iGzSA02cRyFI1p4e4jDxlDNeHrVZT/s1600/IMG_7959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMVSi5sSJIlIoG1zl-Afqn9Yf_j6kQd4VFEgXoy-XrTziuU_Lvs2CwoWk3pizGl-7tE1dZ7wiJnAB1ZjZ9adkOzhJ7Sp84E9H1jiD2v9FE9AGKj4iGzSA02cRyFI1p4e4jDxlDNeHrVZT/s320/IMG_7959.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVuluFU6GscY5fLUaLmWYLylRhGZD9b0A_ZCaLXELW-5rx_VPGCqMJFr5f-xkjcI59S4QxJtQUMYycj30CyD-iJ80VIxp02nDqcZBvY5gwCqnWEhwKiv-GyePbyv-wtPh9SKFhXbt95qI/s1600/IMG_8002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVuluFU6GscY5fLUaLmWYLylRhGZD9b0A_ZCaLXELW-5rx_VPGCqMJFr5f-xkjcI59S4QxJtQUMYycj30CyD-iJ80VIxp02nDqcZBvY5gwCqnWEhwKiv-GyePbyv-wtPh9SKFhXbt95qI/s320/IMG_8002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Ruby Devon cow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyDO3Ixg156xH9Kl5vfDcGKiB4-ZFmHNmXZNGm4Bsqbo312lSJSsIrvKlkfXnuKDX-GmHnrF2n_oa-oWH1zgL8wRREnT-oCD4YCQ1kVrtImu32vC66-Xqn1qtFKDhxrtl9DhwF1lJVwd0/s1600/IMG_8039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyDO3Ixg156xH9Kl5vfDcGKiB4-ZFmHNmXZNGm4Bsqbo312lSJSsIrvKlkfXnuKDX-GmHnrF2n_oa-oWH1zgL8wRREnT-oCD4YCQ1kVrtImu32vC66-Xqn1qtFKDhxrtl9DhwF1lJVwd0/s320/IMG_8039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young male Red deer </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLQZJBen4d20q_EZMei9fcScc4leiBytua3W7Cyoq7NHP8xnUet6girKyJd6Mdsxfgaw20Prko8ErhfCNZrbPiTStoJe469wVSfge0N7EhtzVZ_fy2efhbh9hrSH1WItRu7AV8krQhCDC/s1600/IMG_8058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLQZJBen4d20q_EZMei9fcScc4leiBytua3W7Cyoq7NHP8xnUet6girKyJd6Mdsxfgaw20Prko8ErhfCNZrbPiTStoJe469wVSfge0N7EhtzVZ_fy2efhbh9hrSH1WItRu7AV8krQhCDC/s320/IMG_8058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe some sort of milk cap, not sure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-77328030562797592512011-06-16T23:17:00.000+09:002011-06-16T23:17:18.967+09:00Lunar Eclipse over Iraq<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last night I got to see a total lunar eclipse. It was fun to watch, in a slow kind of way. When the eclipse was 'total', the moon wasn't completed blotted out as I was expecting. Instead it turned a reddish colour. A little creepy, but the sun rose the next day, so no harm done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click on the photos for a larger view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MRTX-pa_ANNm92pI2AUGp1z8kmKFUSunKaPBcrfFp2l-InxYiXqz-lhE9okpBLpS_fnUyDaBmZ_HWTGchtf60uYTsjNW_yTgWx_xDwSgSCgaBjzGlOpaccHR52Hhz_b0CDGZiGPZlj3B/s1600/IMG_5540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MRTX-pa_ANNm92pI2AUGp1z8kmKFUSunKaPBcrfFp2l-InxYiXqz-lhE9okpBLpS_fnUyDaBmZ_HWTGchtf60uYTsjNW_yTgWx_xDwSgSCgaBjzGlOpaccHR52Hhz_b0CDGZiGPZlj3B/s320/IMG_5540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo9u07QRzVrVeQTHsJ15w6U7p1x71agGh5QG17z3uDSzwUSPj_UVpdXlpPO_wY4FOUNSa6yYH4TGhIe2a8vhr9w_jOyvNwNeYsbPfw2cNN0F248TojEq7gkjLbTnuHwu4KwbkVL7IrhJa/s1600/IMG_5544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo9u07QRzVrVeQTHsJ15w6U7p1x71agGh5QG17z3uDSzwUSPj_UVpdXlpPO_wY4FOUNSa6yYH4TGhIe2a8vhr9w_jOyvNwNeYsbPfw2cNN0F248TojEq7gkjLbTnuHwu4KwbkVL7IrhJa/s320/IMG_5544.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFTQUE17bYEtWliGUUvrUGRSs746FCBKF_kCEMPSQdymNiVzfnyhWMSMtz2Y_1FH6BSh7RzoWmOHHbOmI1xb9P44AbMuUqA1zYNCVl39h89ayJTQZ0UWENNtGorH1ynj-JPtOETtpjpeI/s1600/IMG_5564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFTQUE17bYEtWliGUUvrUGRSs746FCBKF_kCEMPSQdymNiVzfnyhWMSMtz2Y_1FH6BSh7RzoWmOHHbOmI1xb9P44AbMuUqA1zYNCVl39h89ayJTQZ0UWENNtGorH1ynj-JPtOETtpjpeI/s320/IMG_5564.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
All taken on a Canon 30D, 300mm f2.8 with a tripod.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-53261093647650676232011-03-25T00:22:00.001+09:002011-03-25T00:30:51.199+09:00Sweden!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjikBJYdtKBoL3egUACS_LgMXt224O1mAI4XsvPGeWYNs47iyjEPxezThyphenhyphenz-3RCWXScxIbepSio7sdbmhdIklVKybsGZVK_GNodZEFPUWn19u_Vl6v-MPD2Ags1s25TGpWKz9x7xaH87o/s1600/IMG_4730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjikBJYdtKBoL3egUACS_LgMXt224O1mAI4XsvPGeWYNs47iyjEPxezThyphenhyphenz-3RCWXScxIbepSio7sdbmhdIklVKybsGZVK_GNodZEFPUWn19u_Vl6v-MPD2Ags1s25TGpWKz9x7xaH87o/s320/IMG_4730.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Stockholm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIce0XdymbL6WbdoVtHGn8ugMcxOqCmS0pEB3uURbiWWHOyj-be7gCouPdxnBNluiJBBVDE4qLC8e0TlTLWi_qLQB9psQiwIJtu3lTK52w2zEmjFIaQYqCcyq6h8FIQZFHtXCrORT8YIU/s1600/IMG_4735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIce0XdymbL6WbdoVtHGn8ugMcxOqCmS0pEB3uURbiWWHOyj-be7gCouPdxnBNluiJBBVDE4qLC8e0TlTLWi_qLQB9psQiwIJtu3lTK52w2zEmjFIaQYqCcyq6h8FIQZFHtXCrORT8YIU/s320/IMG_4735.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Old Town</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9ru6LEQuKPLNogvopERmCfxUQqf2ITvDyt7ALmmLI7A6sOh_NDv-_-U79fH6JC_bZy2guedBAYr62ECJ6VQd6Lo7h_B-YF1A1RYrsa3tiKrRSlHLEYzNm7Yl-hBMZ4yF5tiNtMDCwzV5/s1600/IMG_4741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j8LU-xT2-kQpOChRWNGyMajgz6ujcBFx4jx5OUXczrvkj3vwNZogH0FyA17CcE4tAKK1kg7Rg4iK8YHEmsucMCjB8OM0wlkcI4cZILBqzKiNz4TpK2Acslkj6Do54oLh-ynjEKqOWN_n/s1600/IMG_4743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j8LU-xT2-kQpOChRWNGyMajgz6ujcBFx4jx5OUXczrvkj3vwNZogH0FyA17CcE4tAKK1kg7Rg4iK8YHEmsucMCjB8OM0wlkcI4cZILBqzKiNz4TpK2Acslkj6Do54oLh-ynjEKqOWN_n/s320/IMG_4743.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5XFVuSf3DYDAhKuvMJouqbJ0GVPfpPvIwDIB1-jS9dEpF03mJR3v0tjo_I2nF7hJiLFCTsnnYQYSR9Rxyxj611KoPRHanR0K5Eo5I2JR3Lmd4fnSi_Dj5OemiPs-inH0Jt4sZu7gGHU8/s1600/IMG_4745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5XFVuSf3DYDAhKuvMJouqbJ0GVPfpPvIwDIB1-jS9dEpF03mJR3v0tjo_I2nF7hJiLFCTsnnYQYSR9Rxyxj611KoPRHanR0K5Eo5I2JR3Lmd4fnSi_Dj5OemiPs-inH0Jt4sZu7gGHU8/s320/IMG_4745.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpCldpzLf0HKkKhnKUfyJHP4UNs9CT5t75w8RJ-JCYTIykvcZ2OMI_3M3o_zvPW9MQ9iBViqG-gL2_vEqn3s-gJr1qD81PsXSdYDmpwdBOXmAU-75GYdu1ySyHK1PP1XJrMlp3RGqvWBA/s1600/IMG_4755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpCldpzLf0HKkKhnKUfyJHP4UNs9CT5t75w8RJ-JCYTIykvcZ2OMI_3M3o_zvPW9MQ9iBViqG-gL2_vEqn3s-gJr1qD81PsXSdYDmpwdBOXmAU-75GYdu1ySyHK1PP1XJrMlp3RGqvWBA/s320/IMG_4755.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqjItWzyYbL5sZV0qyGwfJT0xil_6vCAURDTYb36p9EpzyRTOap76xXM0oGMGEDnioe4SLmE3ndpjP6p-LdGjbokQRC-1-5cNuA8MZQHKL6rHzxK_9dyU3QfR0VTwfC_uzssopTNaVp3K/s1600/IMG_4765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqjItWzyYbL5sZV0qyGwfJT0xil_6vCAURDTYb36p9EpzyRTOap76xXM0oGMGEDnioe4SLmE3ndpjP6p-LdGjbokQRC-1-5cNuA8MZQHKL6rHzxK_9dyU3QfR0VTwfC_uzssopTNaVp3K/s320/IMG_4765.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Strange creepy statue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6BtLRrMm_Zpf3FfsF-97MAb9i4hJ0jQOvweI-_c5ssbQy0ZXMu6xfLUiC1XxGvDxf2U8hvsWUDvf4fDPAHFgz5filxGrzklRxtboumMKXfTZJVYydCQqwqCkCIdFTiOE5PXjrkKemHN3/s1600/IMG_4799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJf3CKmHLduQ7s8U4RuxATLEh17L3i103VZEJe6IB67pNzMGyIk_ytb_Wi37P8ItzNNW_4z2IXSkoOLV62KTMqhwQqwSQ91PC_cBeHO90i1aL7Wx0xReDxGfpaFzgCZEm5L-udn4Kg707/s1600/IMG_4818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJf3CKmHLduQ7s8U4RuxATLEh17L3i103VZEJe6IB67pNzMGyIk_ytb_Wi37P8ItzNNW_4z2IXSkoOLV62KTMqhwQqwSQ91PC_cBeHO90i1aL7Wx0xReDxGfpaFzgCZEm5L-udn4Kg707/s320/IMG_4818.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> 218 year old book</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQC5whwOmy-VGTN4MIuwBjXKvGr1jF5WMqXYNTktifYDwrTvJZ-2vSdPzbzQvE6vfRH7VqLhcg2CDaC3mdmj_7EWAoG2BIy0VPj_DmQzezeGgXX3ndCf8XKUyr02oXAMhYRc184Y4S5kg/s1600/IMG_4941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQC5whwOmy-VGTN4MIuwBjXKvGr1jF5WMqXYNTktifYDwrTvJZ-2vSdPzbzQvE6vfRH7VqLhcg2CDaC3mdmj_7EWAoG2BIy0VPj_DmQzezeGgXX3ndCf8XKUyr02oXAMhYRc184Y4S5kg/s320/IMG_4941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Dammstugan, the cabin we stayed in at Gransfors</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIRFkBJLtcaS4c7xFKXQrblS8xb7sCNBAR736TRtoRvB3866RSA14fqKVp8aFsSIoqS92wyzYD-u9kwD0Rw3ZcDptmR2vJpek4MUI73_mmLq_ZDqFx_Lz3MJhY8J7gW__EQGzNdp_9DFx/s1600/IMG_4961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIRFkBJLtcaS4c7xFKXQrblS8xb7sCNBAR736TRtoRvB3866RSA14fqKVp8aFsSIoqS92wyzYD-u9kwD0Rw3ZcDptmR2vJpek4MUI73_mmLq_ZDqFx_Lz3MJhY8J7gW__EQGzNdp_9DFx/s320/IMG_4961.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtB31u9MT4rD-e72DvzuhAkP3XbZxI7X1Bo5j1uTLMjWOlywTkoiJN3czAMgqwMqcbQ0JaX9DsAFOQOSlQSnb6IsvKImIou7Va_U8ktTB9W1XV74ZZovFYCXJSO7fkO7_JclGLfgbCEjz/s1600/IMG_4969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtB31u9MT4rD-e72DvzuhAkP3XbZxI7X1Bo5j1uTLMjWOlywTkoiJN3czAMgqwMqcbQ0JaX9DsAFOQOSlQSnb6IsvKImIou7Va_U8ktTB9W1XV74ZZovFYCXJSO7fkO7_JclGLfgbCEjz/s320/IMG_4969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwORCtousYyMUmS6gCvMSjH8glBqpUY0WDXRu0z6-JfXsz3pVUh3H9U7GYAxZu_4rdLH9CEwugt_0usRWJzY1rkA9w7eQ_miLubx0JAL9reBMioi_fFLu9tdnhiV6lagTo1od9imaV8kOP/s1600/IMG_5015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwORCtousYyMUmS6gCvMSjH8glBqpUY0WDXRu0z6-JfXsz3pVUh3H9U7GYAxZu_4rdLH9CEwugt_0usRWJzY1rkA9w7eQ_miLubx0JAL9reBMioi_fFLu9tdnhiV6lagTo1od9imaV8kOP/s320/IMG_5015.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Gransfors forge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjmL5_zHLEwJsq69IxKgHM0HNG_speyc8nupEv1bCpkytNbUuH8o_xGuUkZkNiMHIL-ElMVLwYOW6CXqTPaVypZF21X1MxKVF-Bt8OS-HtRR9CplEiKa-bmEe_a1j8CS1PWJNqQUhlfHK/s1600/IMG_5020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjmL5_zHLEwJsq69IxKgHM0HNG_speyc8nupEv1bCpkytNbUuH8o_xGuUkZkNiMHIL-ElMVLwYOW6CXqTPaVypZF21X1MxKVF-Bt8OS-HtRR9CplEiKa-bmEe_a1j8CS1PWJNqQUhlfHK/s320/IMG_5020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpSpF8GEhOyPYhe75hGWVlivE6qnHPnbaOYIOrx3xvYBUBQ_uGYsjwG7Abb9mlsR7JhMht9mujixMiqfiPmZc5HtVov98s9-XnSI5-efy7sG_95jTUBorCL5lYE-HtL6CY08B-RwEC_vP/s1600/IMG_5021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpSpF8GEhOyPYhe75hGWVlivE6qnHPnbaOYIOrx3xvYBUBQ_uGYsjwG7Abb9mlsR7JhMht9mujixMiqfiPmZc5HtVov98s9-XnSI5-efy7sG_95jTUBorCL5lYE-HtL6CY08B-RwEC_vP/s320/IMG_5021.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Very hot axe head</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPutPirjjjDCm_eiTLSFsQu9eo-Az9ToiBlQEeRTsEi4qSAZ1Hfd1NtzOE9mKzPz_aaFYtBIC3MS3-smGLUw2GmvXFJfUlwc9O8x3lgHiYiL88PnqwQOwXr_ABfuc1-IunevF4iIL2gNq3/s1600/IMG_5024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPutPirjjjDCm_eiTLSFsQu9eo-Az9ToiBlQEeRTsEi4qSAZ1Hfd1NtzOE9mKzPz_aaFYtBIC3MS3-smGLUw2GmvXFJfUlwc9O8x3lgHiYiL88PnqwQOwXr_ABfuc1-IunevF4iIL2gNq3/s320/IMG_5024.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS6UfKkffnoYHB6RI9BU2tfIYUlJfueL95Fi4YMLYCJe2DsACSXBmcpSzgMIH8ITarMpa3TFpqO5iQ-GJaaHd7CrGugNozzeqVO1W2Q6Gk1gzc-y2oa1g2QqHXuqOrxgnkgLX4wAidfN9/s1600/IMG_5025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS6UfKkffnoYHB6RI9BU2tfIYUlJfueL95Fi4YMLYCJe2DsACSXBmcpSzgMIH8ITarMpa3TFpqO5iQ-GJaaHd7CrGugNozzeqVO1W2Q6Gk1gzc-y2oa1g2QqHXuqOrxgnkgLX4wAidfN9/s320/IMG_5025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Lots and lots of axe heads</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DhT4gcStLSWFZQjiNbc5OANnUxHNojGXRTXJ4TDKAW-5U5xt7SZ9E7c9S-CuGb70SJ5Hm0u6Pux73aZo8y0Xp3Gfu6nvdp-DhQQ2zOTn3N812VEQJGc_Bp0WbuV5HXdrfS_XYqqZ9lmF/s1600/IMG_5033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DhT4gcStLSWFZQjiNbc5OANnUxHNojGXRTXJ4TDKAW-5U5xt7SZ9E7c9S-CuGb70SJ5Hm0u6Pux73aZo8y0Xp3Gfu6nvdp-DhQQ2zOTn3N812VEQJGc_Bp0WbuV5HXdrfS_XYqqZ9lmF/s320/IMG_5033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A fika (Swedish coffee and sweet stuff)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdPjdTaZ7_-Dy8BGYG1AgDW_cybzse1zvRq8khF7McMv7K_LNTrovLo1ethenJoRvyakcVPZ6pGVTL-hAZyU53dyNB28eN4uFexAHOmRE3SNPCDF00E7LV9VcJ2HjlVoXvIGkuGrGU0uV/s1600/snow-jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdPjdTaZ7_-Dy8BGYG1AgDW_cybzse1zvRq8khF7McMv7K_LNTrovLo1ethenJoRvyakcVPZ6pGVTL-hAZyU53dyNB28eN4uFexAHOmRE3SNPCDF00E7LV9VcJ2HjlVoXvIGkuGrGU0uV/s320/snow-jump.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Testing out the snow banks!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Just spent a fantastic week in Sweden. One of the few direct flights out of Erbil! We spent a day in Stockholm before heading north to Gransfors to see a bit more of the Swedish countryside, including where they hand forge axes.We spent a few days there before heading back to Stockholm for a final day. All in all, it was a fantastic vacation. </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-50886491396484006712011-03-12T00:23:00.000+09:002011-03-12T00:23:15.938+09:00Iraqi Kurdistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I know, I know, long time and nothing written. Since I last posted here I have taken up a new teaching job in Kurdistan. It's been a pretty weird experience so far. I will take today as an example.<br />
<br />
It's Friday, the Islamic day of rest, so no school, which means our weekend is Friday - Saturday and our week is thus Sunday to Thursday. A little temporally discombobulating. Nevertheless, we're adapting to it. We got up, had some breakfast and went for a little walk. There's an access road behind our neighbourhood which skirts the fields that lie between us and the airport. As we turned onto the access road we were met by quite a strange site; a flock of sheep (and a few goats) being herded along the mounds of earth that line one side of the road. Three young Kurdish shepherds were tending to the flock and paid less attention to us than the sheep did, who eyed us suspiciously while they chewed whatever greenery they came across.<br />
We continued on our way, only to have a small car filled with soldiers stop behind us. The driver, quite excited it seemed, jumped out without applying the hand brake so, halfway out the car, had to fumble to stop it rolling away. He jogged up to us, smiling broadly, always a good sign. He asked if we spoke Arabic, we indicated that we didn't. That however did not discourage him from blurting out a stream of information, something about the direction we were heading in. A lot of thumbs up and smiles indicated that nothing was (hopefully) amiss. I nodded and tried to repeat whichever words sounded important in an understanding tone. Seemly satisfied with his work, he jumped back into the car and drove off again.<br />
We wondered on a little further. I got distracted by some small bird of prey hovering over a grassy enclosure. Possibly a kite, but I'm not entirely sure what stalks the skies here in Kurdistan. By now the flock had caught up with us, we let them pass then headed home.<br />
I feel the morning today neatly sums up most of my time here so far: lots of lamb and friendly people!<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-66466427143420962522010-12-29T05:04:00.000+09:002010-12-29T05:04:59.774+09:0025 Things I Learned in Costa Rica1) Even though it happens everyday, it's still nice to watch the sun rise.<br />
2) How to milk goats (pinch the top of the teat shut and squeeze harder than you think you should).<br />
3) How to make lemonade (squeeze lemons, add water and sugar).<br />
4) What it takes to clean out a pig pen.<br />
5) The amount of poo a single horse can produce (a lot).<br />
6) That plantains are ready to pick when the flower at the end of their stalk has fallen away.<br />
7) Putting your hand somewhere you can't see isn't a good idea.<br />
8) That cooking for large groups of people isn't as scary as it may seem.<br />
9) The basics of horse riding are pretty simple to pick up.<br />
10) Billy goats pee on their faces to make themselves more attractive to the ladies.<br />
11) Cockerels will crow before sunrise.<br />
12) If water stops coming out of the tap, you gotta be ready to be thirsty for a while.<br />
13) Some lizards can walk on water.<br />
14) What it's like to be bitten by a dog.<br />
15) How to make a hot compost pile.<br />
16) How to sterilise potting soil.<br />
17) That loofahs grow on vines.<br />
18) Cat skin is really tough, enough to bend a syringe needle.<br />
19) Bot fly larvae do not want to be squeezed out of goats.<br />
20) Germans can have a sense of humour.<br />
21) Power tools have not ceased to be fun.<br />
22) You can embarrass a goose by picking it up.<br />
23) Guava wood is really bendy.<br />
24) Baby goats have legs that look about one joint too long.<br />
25) Toucan beaks feel like plastic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-15587376692233035152010-12-20T09:20:00.000+09:002010-12-20T09:20:56.994+09:00Costa Rica animals!<div style="text-align: left;">A long time since I've written anything but long lines for the internet, a slow connection and lots of other things occupying my time has meant that this is the first I've been able to throw online. Hopefully more to follow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTOvV01HFs-VV90J0Te2gFjahxw0YKc0BcBz4CoLd_GCipcvZCEnvGMHxkq7bgVeT-O-vnFNzEx5xEgRGQsWBTBRg6io1u1q0Pfj0JDFEuoKMcgJpbh6FY1RvnebdwJnMRAixGq0086G-/s1600/IMG_2411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTOvV01HFs-VV90J0Te2gFjahxw0YKc0BcBz4CoLd_GCipcvZCEnvGMHxkq7bgVeT-O-vnFNzEx5xEgRGQsWBTBRg6io1u1q0Pfj0JDFEuoKMcgJpbh6FY1RvnebdwJnMRAixGq0086G-/s320/IMG_2411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Scorpion discovered while taking apart the old goat house to build the new one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwDAY01dcZGUVOMRbGoHb7m0ZIRMJJaXxsQkDwjM5VoV-8LKVXmcgsoN3I5ZdRMBBby2HGUgMCX74aQpACmyVtgKcZm2AIes4kJjllTFxtArhAThExzizAYHWB0TSuNOB6Od1vm4LahPx/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwDAY01dcZGUVOMRbGoHb7m0ZIRMJJaXxsQkDwjM5VoV-8LKVXmcgsoN3I5ZdRMBBby2HGUgMCX74aQpACmyVtgKcZm2AIes4kJjllTFxtArhAThExzizAYHWB0TSuNOB6Od1vm4LahPx/s320/IMG_2429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Speedy, the one-eyed pirate kitty. We're not sure how he lost his eye, but we're glad he survived the ordeal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4MXrJJ6mZs50LEGUWkhIc8dOPwNJTdLO5yOuAaz99NQJhSfxiv845KqsFlV-aEoFVXTzskX3yb9VAZIQFt-9fFyurmO-iTYXi4AGypz2BtieaLoSO0OJzQG5XQDoR5Np9jCWqOuJg9pX/s1600/IMG_2464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4MXrJJ6mZs50LEGUWkhIc8dOPwNJTdLO5yOuAaz99NQJhSfxiv845KqsFlV-aEoFVXTzskX3yb9VAZIQFt-9fFyurmO-iTYXi4AGypz2BtieaLoSO0OJzQG5XQDoR5Np9jCWqOuJg9pX/s320/IMG_2464.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A duck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9UeOTNA5UwMsuvyZXdTOmNRNDPbRJPwZHs7d0_fs1gDlhDNbzF4SA1C_9fEQHMAXc039sfwRWDvy47RvKlE7zXIgicLN2MvzE49LBfsjJ9I22gexOxg0uKWfszFfofSLzS_OIJk6cue9/s1600/IMG_2504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9UeOTNA5UwMsuvyZXdTOmNRNDPbRJPwZHs7d0_fs1gDlhDNbzF4SA1C_9fEQHMAXc039sfwRWDvy47RvKlE7zXIgicLN2MvzE49LBfsjJ9I22gexOxg0uKWfszFfofSLzS_OIJk6cue9/s320/IMG_2504.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A troupe of toucans, eating the papayas. That one got a little too stuck in and soon dropped it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXjv4xtIfVnFQa78FCAmQ3auJRco_uZ848FW9xy8whKHMQkz8C7rB94OOerzANTLXoUwFXZGKNig0nZ3RhC-YSh_8sW3uGq96hZYhs_sSSHYK-EVeW7XTw1sZ7Gfh_ZZUE1XcBBgP9hZq/s1600/IMG_2631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXjv4xtIfVnFQa78FCAmQ3auJRco_uZ848FW9xy8whKHMQkz8C7rB94OOerzANTLXoUwFXZGKNig0nZ3RhC-YSh_8sW3uGq96hZYhs_sSSHYK-EVeW7XTw1sZ7Gfh_ZZUE1XcBBgP9hZq/s320/IMG_2631.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A chick, hatched by a duck, that was laying in a toilet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_K3xz70Uy-NB6cc22YA8Ytq3rPca16hp9Y0lVmCeDmX8-cs2Bt1Zsnvsn7J9ibUCpScb3BUog6a9VIt5QbmrD5t_USDMPrIHgr1Wv6e6K-fPiJ00unM2d4sAJ225VcRTHvFKTCsorgRs/s1600/IMG_2642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_K3xz70Uy-NB6cc22YA8Ytq3rPca16hp9Y0lVmCeDmX8-cs2Bt1Zsnvsn7J9ibUCpScb3BUog6a9VIt5QbmrD5t_USDMPrIHgr1Wv6e6K-fPiJ00unM2d4sAJ225VcRTHvFKTCsorgRs/s320/IMG_2642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The only duckling to survive from a pretty bad duck mum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKoHqTW4x00Mrs5W7uysqAz4C8AoAt3USO7lfV-zHHK8mdam8aJ7kYKlqzUhUWrKlOQjZl_BICcqm0Vq-1JiKqncy8kGrpza6bX8PzL_Du7EqHI6H6yCR-xXuqtweMkGXG41FK7HImi9V/s1600/IMG_2817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKoHqTW4x00Mrs5W7uysqAz4C8AoAt3USO7lfV-zHHK8mdam8aJ7kYKlqzUhUWrKlOQjZl_BICcqm0Vq-1JiKqncy8kGrpza6bX8PzL_Du7EqHI6H6yCR-xXuqtweMkGXG41FK7HImi9V/s320/IMG_2817.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Toulouse, the toucan rescued as a chick who likes to play with anyone in pecking distance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q6MKOW7IoEUDi5kpEQ5mw9Y1tngmoXKkOykWJY_TS2ZaYXbZqgWrj8LVV_geF9LSGGafFtoibnGcYo7GNv9z3_cnh7Y6zbjZDYJnqG58pjCgUjn40_Mvn7Ioqvyy1IRKaUGyHdVDRxrK/s1600/IMG_3169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q6MKOW7IoEUDi5kpEQ5mw9Y1tngmoXKkOykWJY_TS2ZaYXbZqgWrj8LVV_geF9LSGGafFtoibnGcYo7GNv9z3_cnh7Y6zbjZDYJnqG58pjCgUjn40_Mvn7Ioqvyy1IRKaUGyHdVDRxrK/s320/IMG_3169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A small Tico horse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccgkHW3abhD-e96t-L-JX4PotD0gZkDEfppPluZVo0KcdqK7y0YeyM65Aiw626RuNgCQE0nMvoTPStwqn4uGE5cz28rLMdGhrA0MNXe4ZcU-JgKQETE6x3OVSLRDrUpE4r77wQ7zZDzdV/s1600/IMG_3224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccgkHW3abhD-e96t-L-JX4PotD0gZkDEfppPluZVo0KcdqK7y0YeyM65Aiw626RuNgCQE0nMvoTPStwqn4uGE5cz28rLMdGhrA0MNXe4ZcU-JgKQETE6x3OVSLRDrUpE4r77wQ7zZDzdV/s320/IMG_3224.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A big Tico horse. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIG5nLT5Bf1Ch_d-TmJ9JEf1EbQPC652GpWKillRnW-HPqXi9l_HorSwnYW4sJUklGQHKhXq1rW2HTALi86vG8o3XkgEbznba78tgdvor3YnVazlI22UcNrWhXNPxqQmCDVaoAyYQqTRT/s1600/IMG_3534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIG5nLT5Bf1Ch_d-TmJ9JEf1EbQPC652GpWKillRnW-HPqXi9l_HorSwnYW4sJUklGQHKhXq1rW2HTALi86vG8o3XkgEbznba78tgdvor3YnVazlI22UcNrWhXNPxqQmCDVaoAyYQqTRT/s320/IMG_3534.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rhombus, the lovable boxer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xlsFGyNX7YTUIX2OjfDU4jSbgOu89zqbprHgpGyd05bP88baVkK_U9O1TfasDX6o_yLJ0WGInMmXDYNGrRSEWhOe6HAx9-flyJZPtISft7XoAr-lZ4VbiBcVtJZKG2moLAk42vVJM_LA/s1600/IMG_3913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xlsFGyNX7YTUIX2OjfDU4jSbgOu89zqbprHgpGyd05bP88baVkK_U9O1TfasDX6o_yLJ0WGInMmXDYNGrRSEWhOe6HAx9-flyJZPtISft7XoAr-lZ4VbiBcVtJZKG2moLAk42vVJM_LA/s320/IMG_3913.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Three week old Giant Schnauzer puppy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hwyO8s7wtnE7ZxcIlhBUhzd8z8VOfZ0TbHxHKeKelQwJDZjfTIP1wTFFwWMtmy3Y8Bo_TYpVuo0FCNNcVkqlhxjt85lKmPrl3gDhwuL7dhug2jMCdCkR4QOye3elbKvs4xu1PXWk6TKM/s1600/IMG_3952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hwyO8s7wtnE7ZxcIlhBUhzd8z8VOfZ0TbHxHKeKelQwJDZjfTIP1wTFFwWMtmy3Y8Bo_TYpVuo0FCNNcVkqlhxjt85lKmPrl3gDhwuL7dhug2jMCdCkR4QOye3elbKvs4xu1PXWk6TKM/s320/IMG_3952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Lucy, the very anxious Weimarianar (sp?). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTIzavI0OrAwJEofbYOX5xrPruhZUrZsIZ4eMoLvxVX93hcLTT8v5kQLTm83NUuEdq7zO49Q4P7LTiADrlOxiv5Xd_pDuqQWlVmjLE44GTs-8-I-g4q45G3Gspt714a-HZSxlYKJ_oPQp/s1600/IMG_4045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTIzavI0OrAwJEofbYOX5xrPruhZUrZsIZ4eMoLvxVX93hcLTT8v5kQLTm83NUuEdq7zO49Q4P7LTiADrlOxiv5Xd_pDuqQWlVmjLE44GTs-8-I-g4q45G3Gspt714a-HZSxlYKJ_oPQp/s320/IMG_4045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Minutes old billy kid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyV-YRfSvXphTk-1zml91XYP_zpFFaEavLS-zmIYmC9zyBFFJo1LYRRjjYFssrI1R9EElZ4NDMPqHxmMNDiQySFsyONjeqmkcHmBpIW9R4k_uUflF9rWmfRl2EI7oLzCGAXinUeltwk07/s1600/IMG_4157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyV-YRfSvXphTk-1zml91XYP_zpFFaEavLS-zmIYmC9zyBFFJo1LYRRjjYFssrI1R9EElZ4NDMPqHxmMNDiQySFsyONjeqmkcHmBpIW9R4k_uUflF9rWmfRl2EI7oLzCGAXinUeltwk07/s320/IMG_4157.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Younger brother to above goat. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-81569276494386216922010-10-15T01:35:00.000+09:002010-10-15T01:35:56.450+09:00On the way backHere are a few of the sights on the way to Wisconsin from California:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LtFyNA-3cTiU0Nh2ETTlKr3PGPJXvb5gT9ia8Pg-B4v0EtvMXoOGFOdkM4tjdtX4mlazQVNJnnVJYDYpDsm2WqdzwA420aFJbrIZ7l4QujAWK7mI8AFlLbnlwBkR_xuhJTU6tL6MM0Vt/s1600/IMG_1435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LtFyNA-3cTiU0Nh2ETTlKr3PGPJXvb5gT9ia8Pg-B4v0EtvMXoOGFOdkM4tjdtX4mlazQVNJnnVJYDYpDsm2WqdzwA420aFJbrIZ7l4QujAWK7mI8AFlLbnlwBkR_xuhJTU6tL6MM0Vt/s320/IMG_1435.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A palm tree somewhere in Nevada.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYrUJm6FrTAFfb4-cvGuBUBq_zS2BTnDMdn0Ggadx-6QD84m88QmqQmu0IlPAjsugJW6_sz63IaJWX8JXUdmj9poXuZBCjEv34LOtZGEG9P0DGkblMQT6qD63Hf00GJqIpsmJ23bv5zbX/s1600/IMG_1482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYrUJm6FrTAFfb4-cvGuBUBq_zS2BTnDMdn0Ggadx-6QD84m88QmqQmu0IlPAjsugJW6_sz63IaJWX8JXUdmj9poXuZBCjEv34LOtZGEG9P0DGkblMQT6qD63Hf00GJqIpsmJ23bv5zbX/s320/IMG_1482.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Hoover Dam. Also somewhere in Nevada.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96Z8lBH7ToZqp7VO05jpAedRbrsNEMBWqp6rwz81hnxdK9gDz6yqLHxoRTTncKpmB2VHPUIIy_MPcqKn7siEciAzl-ZTR57uwLpPLAMueRfGHpNhkOxZq6DYTht6wPfdtV3BT8ZuMgFL-/s1600/IMG_1627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96Z8lBH7ToZqp7VO05jpAedRbrsNEMBWqp6rwz81hnxdK9gDz6yqLHxoRTTncKpmB2VHPUIIy_MPcqKn7siEciAzl-ZTR57uwLpPLAMueRfGHpNhkOxZq6DYTht6wPfdtV3BT8ZuMgFL-/s320/IMG_1627.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Arches National Park, Utah.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY4jJELSqQhB2HUz0hMUvGju3Le-NdiLbqwBMURBVtpxDYa7MS5w1A1ISw_tkAIzzFz19VOhKfTuA8U_EKN618CwEngRufSnTufZgmzA72MCGhcQRv1XffTOsXCTB1fIO5gvRPXAvkLwc/s1600/IMG_1783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY4jJELSqQhB2HUz0hMUvGju3Le-NdiLbqwBMURBVtpxDYa7MS5w1A1ISw_tkAIzzFz19VOhKfTuA8U_EKN618CwEngRufSnTufZgmzA72MCGhcQRv1XffTOsXCTB1fIO5gvRPXAvkLwc/s320/IMG_1783.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Delicate Arch. It's the arch on Utah license plates. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpYDTEnRreh96ul-CMnEd5gf1HSCKJTQmr7YmWayIz8zWOh6MEHFsgQn9tTiBVEJSAEspcuGWKf9nj8SCM2byNum2wtUquIa8VPLnyNfGQ-b8AijSnEBNWmgLrQH-FsTLREmuVF_ZQ-ew/s1600/IMG_1898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpYDTEnRreh96ul-CMnEd5gf1HSCKJTQmr7YmWayIz8zWOh6MEHFsgQn9tTiBVEJSAEspcuGWKf9nj8SCM2byNum2wtUquIa8VPLnyNfGQ-b8AijSnEBNWmgLrQH-FsTLREmuVF_ZQ-ew/s320/IMG_1898.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Driving through the Rocky Mountains, Colorado. For a while we weren't sure if our little Honda Civic was going to make it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyW9LR-XiqYjlY36xa0x9SEHjLVrc1zBm-dO8fbYuP1sM67x9cL1N7MWmPjQD8UNUjlUCEjyk_VwdT5nRkK4-svzMHCD0TlMf1x0L-lm4xtLveAYtXWVCM_Lrvh_XAMcd0YJSG7PzviyI/s1600/IMG_1991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyW9LR-XiqYjlY36xa0x9SEHjLVrc1zBm-dO8fbYuP1sM67x9cL1N7MWmPjQD8UNUjlUCEjyk_VwdT5nRkK4-svzMHCD0TlMf1x0L-lm4xtLveAYtXWVCM_Lrvh_XAMcd0YJSG7PzviyI/s320/IMG_1991.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Lake Manawa, Iowa, just over from Nebraska. A fantastic little camping site.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NXDYKviSROHUNHyZPpao6hd_y4Ws7P_sLPXTD7oJJUW1TBKgQgFqHDsFkcnnsQWSMhL4CtdNJN3tunvYQM0IGNSQUArebu6Bjv0kkzZ7Lxk9F-rVSxS09Ly0j2mpEN7PlzeH7LMrN6zq/s1600/IMG_2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NXDYKviSROHUNHyZPpao6hd_y4Ws7P_sLPXTD7oJJUW1TBKgQgFqHDsFkcnnsQWSMhL4CtdNJN3tunvYQM0IGNSQUArebu6Bjv0kkzZ7Lxk9F-rVSxS09Ly0j2mpEN7PlzeH7LMrN6zq/s320/IMG_2001.jpg" width="213" /></a></div> Wild Cat State Park, Illinois. There were only three other people at this camp site. It was great to see our little fires dotted around the camp site. This was our last night on the road and we were a little surprised that it had all ended so soon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqGyuDuXa_2O60M3eqIkPIbQwj0zohoJsljB2Bj9dZkQtngg7KkMHEXZxRkUOH6i2fwbIN4NbTfPh6PGHlHd9f9i61_gyQ1gZPKktNFlEg80yA8WVjiz7YDe3SRhReJVmwM7Gaen7fSM7/s1600/IMG_2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqGyuDuXa_2O60M3eqIkPIbQwj0zohoJsljB2Bj9dZkQtngg7KkMHEXZxRkUOH6i2fwbIN4NbTfPh6PGHlHd9f9i61_gyQ1gZPKktNFlEg80yA8WVjiz7YDe3SRhReJVmwM7Gaen7fSM7/s320/IMG_2002.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sausage, egg, rice and beans for breakfast. A great way to start the day.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-29264004236083841182010-10-01T05:04:00.000+09:002010-10-01T05:04:34.119+09:0010 Tips for Roadtrip BlissTaking a road trip is a great way to see a country in your own terms. Driving the Historic Route 66 taught me a few things about how to get the most out of the experience: <br />
<br />
<b>1) Get a GPS</b><br />
With a GPS, you can easily navigate the twists and turns of a new city on your own. If travelling with others, it gives you a third party to shout out when you get lost.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcr8-XQw6Dhg2dmNeLzMkGMpOdIAsD7lF8ckcumhA0BAEvXnlzD47rqdU9eIBLqHdhE7PpfekASeuAxFAsnhflxTEbEtAjHyeeTVM2Nflpx2sffEUl7e0rsrtDs4OfPusXYUl_WS_GXlJ/s320/IMG_0640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Widescreen-Satellite-Navigation-Mapping/dp/B001XQIPU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1285876603&sr=8-1">Garmin Nuvi 255</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcr8-XQw6Dhg2dmNeLzMkGMpOdIAsD7lF8ckcumhA0BAEvXnlzD47rqdU9eIBLqHdhE7PpfekASeuAxFAsnhflxTEbEtAjHyeeTVM2Nflpx2sffEUl7e0rsrtDs4OfPusXYUl_WS_GXlJ/s1600/IMG_0640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<b>2) Use boxes to organize your stuff</b><br />
Clearly labelled boxes in the boot of your car make sure that everything is where it should be when you need it. We had four boxes. One for food, one for cooking equipment and two for clothing. Plus rooting through a box is often easier than shuffling through a bag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYi0nn-Wx5TW8uSzIQ8daPizgRHuzPhokiF_uhyphenhyphen1EfSYIslc8uRaj7jXBdHYkPh52DlwX4waRa4qbKVElrb8RKo5TozJ9w0bew50Jr04wMo8wfYUiJvcqupz_uFOO01g05-z6Eixhs8Cs/s320/IMG_0637.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully packed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYi0nn-Wx5TW8uSzIQ8daPizgRHuzPhokiF_uhyphenhyphen1EfSYIslc8uRaj7jXBdHYkPh52DlwX4waRa4qbKVElrb8RKo5TozJ9w0bew50Jr04wMo8wfYUiJvcqupz_uFOO01g05-z6Eixhs8Cs/s1600/IMG_0637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<b>3) Check the car, but don't obsess over it</b><br />
The car we were in had a recent check-up and we had the oil changed and the tires rotated just before we left. Along the way we periodically checked the oil, coolant, and tire pressure.<br />
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<b>4) Pack a tent</b><br />
We had a lot of fun camping along the way. While sleeping in roadside motels is a part of the classic road trip, a tent increases our options. Plus looking out at the stars in the middle of the Mojave desert as you drift off to sleep is a priceless experience.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4cfc00mSe9Fm7PJp_LE3Hq9TMlESG0En8UDIqI8HoEvtjUZduJqTkYNhOCgQxDCtglb6FNiJy53c_A1phfjWELlIga2QX4vucKICNQVmE53nVmdT-hD_LU8GmWEPDGbrYILJPgEH1_d3/s1600/IMG_0856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4cfc00mSe9Fm7PJp_LE3Hq9TMlESG0En8UDIqI8HoEvtjUZduJqTkYNhOCgQxDCtglb6FNiJy53c_A1phfjWELlIga2QX4vucKICNQVmE53nVmdT-hD_LU8GmWEPDGbrYILJPgEH1_d3/s320/IMG_0856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<b> 5) Stay Hydrated</b><br />
Staying in a climate controlled, air conditioned car, concentrating on driving and singing along to the radio, it's easy to forgot that you need to keep drinking. Always have water handy, plus keep plenty spare if you're driving through dry regions. If your car breaks down, you'll be glad to have the water there. <br />
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<b>6) Eat at least one healthy meal a day</b><br />
It's easy to get lazy and live out of diners and drive-thru restaurants. Make the effort to have at a healthy meal a day. Your energy levels will be better, as will your health. Also try to have healthy snacks in the car. Snacking is a great way to keep your blood sugar levels constant so long as you're not chowing down on chocolate and twinkies (not tried one of these yet). But by all means, if you want the challenge of eating a <a href="http://www.bigtexan.com/">72 oz steak</a> in under an hour, by all means, go for it. <br />
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<b>7) Take regular breaks</b><br />
If you're drinking regularly, you'll have to stop. Plus a short break every two hours makes sure you don't make any silly mistakes and keeps the driving interesting. Plus, there's always some <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14232">roadside attraction</a> that's sure to grab your interest. <br />
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<b>8) Bring music</b><br />
While the radio offers some fantastic listening (thank you <a href="http://www.971bobfm.com/">Bob FM</a>) there will be points of the journey when all you get is static. Time to plug in your ipod, insert a CD or roll out a cassette. A variety of tunes is a must. Your 1996 classic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_That%27s_What_I_Call_Music%21_34_%28UK_series%29">Now 34</a> CD will get old pretty quick.<br />
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<b>9) Budget</b><br />
With regular breaks at expensive petrol stations, curio shops and various unforeseen road tolls (I'm looking at you, Oklahoma) it is easy to let your spending get away from you. I find that it helps to write down exactly how much you spend on what. It's pretty easy to see that if things are getting tight, then spending $5 a day on beef jerky might not be such a good idea.<br />
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<b>10) Save fuel</b><br />
Here's a little sub-list of fuel saving tips:<br />
<ul><li>Don't speed: driving slower speeds can increase fuel efficiency by up to 5%.</li>
<li>Keep rolling: pulling away from a dead stop uses more fuel, so try to predict when those red lights will turn green.</li>
<li> Pack light: a little obvious this one, plus keep it in the car. Roof boxes greatly increase your car's drag.</li>
<li>Coast: on empty hills, slip the car into neutral and let gravity do the work, just remember to put it back into gear at the bottom.</li>
</ul><b>If you have any tips of your own, please share!</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-31383023184313685532010-09-30T08:34:00.000+09:002010-09-30T08:34:28.544+09:00The Route BackSo we've been in LA for a few days now and we've sorted out a way back to Wisconsin. We were considering taking driving Route 66, but then we'd be passing up the opportunity to see more of the country. So here's the way we're going back:<br />
<br />
Day 1: LA to Boulder City, Nevada (262 miles)<br />
Day 2: Boulder City to Cedar City, Utah (197 miles)<br />
Day 3: Cedar City to Arches National Park (297 miles)<br />
Day 4: Arches National Park to Denver (354 miles)<br />
Day 5: Denver to Gothenburg (300 miles)<br />
Day 6: Gothenburg to Omaha (241 miles)<br />
Day 7: Omaha to Rock Island (308 miles)<br />
Day 8: Rock Island to Lake Geneva (170 miles)<br />
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We'll be camping all the way, seeing the Las Vegas Strip, Zion National Park and the Rocky Mountains, among other things. Looking forward to it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-81752959520225289232010-09-29T02:56:00.000+09:002010-09-29T02:56:28.521+09:00Me, Jumping in a Variety of Places.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXXBjWMGGG3x-HizXfK2DaJxGV03qZ6U3NhxtWMyl5fuFDf21aFII_A6jD48nPSBrX3RkQvTm_EZgbnSsSfGJ9Z1W3LcULsKwO3qdzSAdFLdlIpctnNbIOwwrnBFlHG8aHHT0s7d1pfiB/s320/IMG_0844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gateway Arch, Saint Louis, Missouri</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXXBjWMGGG3x-HizXfK2DaJxGV03qZ6U3NhxtWMyl5fuFDf21aFII_A6jD48nPSBrX3RkQvTm_EZgbnSsSfGJ9Z1W3LcULsKwO3qdzSAdFLdlIpctnNbIOwwrnBFlHG8aHHT0s7d1pfiB/s1600/IMG_0844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhJUNWizdq1N-twe_kLT7r_ICEZf1GqSX_ESpKSKlECz5wwLb5Z-V9C7bSf1g6BL4kRyfjdZtHh2JNUolcWhkDQSAJ1SiMDImKeI7BpigPYjuhsb-Uh41YZDFuC1ga6Hk-fWoMgPMSOPE/s320/IMG_1260.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Canyon, Arizona</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhJUNWizdq1N-twe_kLT7r_ICEZf1GqSX_ESpKSKlECz5wwLb5Z-V9C7bSf1g6BL4kRyfjdZtHh2JNUolcWhkDQSAJ1SiMDImKeI7BpigPYjuhsb-Uh41YZDFuC1ga6Hk-fWoMgPMSOPE/s1600/IMG_1260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t4mqCe-jXN4ztn5jMlwuuE_uH1WwP2vQYvsBZdB9cuV_kgRxnQgggM_huWMk1g_x0CKvDMmYoTy3G-KNHAVIoaQWthVHIrpebCLI5WtGOkZa48WzwwdqnRB2DB3AtqZZV1ySWGakHMoW/s320/IMG_9280.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honolulu Airport, Hawaii</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1t4mqCe-jXN4ztn5jMlwuuE_uH1WwP2vQYvsBZdB9cuV_kgRxnQgggM_huWMk1g_x0CKvDMmYoTy3G-KNHAVIoaQWthVHIrpebCLI5WtGOkZa48WzwwdqnRB2DB3AtqZZV1ySWGakHMoW/s1600/IMG_9280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyxwYxyUn-L2A3gcIV9jxeOhYn9is5jXUTJyGR5J5G0Ps19XXQq3XvI3B4X7UsWM77govAJE2mcywrJNfSIycewqIfVIPShuQdY9Bi9yeM5dPFdhIH4e0b6JRKJCk22P7sW_rz9Got9G_/s320/IMG_9343.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venice Beach, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ever since seeing a group of Chinese students jump for a photo in Tienanmen Square, I've thought it was a great way to improve on the standard 'Here I am in front of x' tourist photo. If your camera has a 'rapid fire' mode have someone give you a countdown and fire off a bunch of shots while you spring into the air. Not only does the sequence look cool, it's easier than trying to get the one shot at the height of the leap.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-66851113408206804252010-09-28T05:24:00.000+09:002010-09-28T05:24:33.739+09:00Long Photos from a Long DriveHere are three panoramas of my three favourite places that we stopped at during our week-long drive along Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssaUk7Pq7vYQbRWAFbt1z1lOS9jd0RBJ4ZgocU6aWk7airqvqTPQ8maF5aLR7TVv7YJQ6onq7MH9EVan32m10xcImwKSf-We-0DPuxJTcFdCRidbSdT8e-kokYAXNTnOiehy_zJGa_WHh/s1600/IMG_0750-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssaUk7Pq7vYQbRWAFbt1z1lOS9jd0RBJ4ZgocU6aWk7airqvqTPQ8maF5aLR7TVv7YJQ6onq7MH9EVan32m10xcImwKSf-We-0DPuxJTcFdCRidbSdT8e-kokYAXNTnOiehy_zJGa_WHh/s400/IMG_0750-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Here is Buckingham Fountain in front of the Chicago skyline. It was a bit of chilly day, but not as bad as it can get. In the winter there's a wind the locals call 'the Hawk'. Apparently it can be quite biting. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNmRXyemSedqT6Ovj6dUJ4NzTIbIj_qM88RPkM9tFnuMFCAtrMDO5M_hl3z055R1jAG_okTYi3Ds8rTS4OhAaCziPXFsqMksFjewcWcVGAmcQ5K03_WtlY48jXnHcDeVJXyg5BTo0QYJp/s1600/IMG_1097-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNmRXyemSedqT6Ovj6dUJ4NzTIbIj_qM88RPkM9tFnuMFCAtrMDO5M_hl3z055R1jAG_okTYi3Ds8rTS4OhAaCziPXFsqMksFjewcWcVGAmcQ5K03_WtlY48jXnHcDeVJXyg5BTo0QYJp/s400/IMG_1097-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a small part of the Painted Desert in Arizona. Nothing quite like it in Europe. For a while I just sat up on a cliff overlooking the hills, listening to the wind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZHGn__nIJg_jQYlq7yIB2SlfvmQmq1qOS8LH-x1LiEyaSvvSlcUxmv5U8fc2ZDBnKPanqalF0FV4a_rc2YJ7bg_wn95DvJXZ7f9DwUsfowuUKZ3CAVmWOa8cnhJrkO61AADi2gjRoRwy/s1600/IMG_1289-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZHGn__nIJg_jQYlq7yIB2SlfvmQmq1qOS8LH-x1LiEyaSvvSlcUxmv5U8fc2ZDBnKPanqalF0FV4a_rc2YJ7bg_wn95DvJXZ7f9DwUsfowuUKZ3CAVmWOa8cnhJrkO61AADi2gjRoRwy/s400/IMG_1289-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Grand Canyon. 277 miles long, 18 miles wide in places and over a mile deep. Go there, stand as close to the edge you dare to and stare out in wonder at this 17 million year old marvel. Just don't feed the wildlife.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOl3efhXVg0zIv3SR_4ZPMkGOfau1utjYdcjBZtJAw5BGnBfaFthR05n0gl9s17XIvCqY0Uudn31UlrqMNaz95wpT5dlRvL2ovnikOsWJcyYPu_av-BiI_pTJn77HOXEfMn4ijt-ItCQr/s1600/IMG_1231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOl3efhXVg0zIv3SR_4ZPMkGOfau1utjYdcjBZtJAw5BGnBfaFthR05n0gl9s17XIvCqY0Uudn31UlrqMNaz95wpT5dlRvL2ovnikOsWJcyYPu_av-BiI_pTJn77HOXEfMn4ijt-ItCQr/s200/IMG_1231.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span id="goog_407105934"></span><span id="goog_407105935"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-39689381272245336732010-09-16T09:15:00.000+09:002010-09-16T09:15:38.037+09:00Lake Geneva, WIWe flew out of LA last Saturday and into Wisconsin. I had another 'Wow, America is HUGE!' moment flying in over Lake Michigan. Even from 30,000 feet I couldn't see all the way across it. On a good day, you can stand on the white cliffs of Dover and see France. I don't think this would be the case for standing in Chicago and trying to spot whatever lies beyond that expanse of water.<br />
Courtney's mum picked us up at the airport and had with her The Cooler. Courtney told me about The Cooler. A great Dicmas tradition, The Cooler is always filled with yummy snacks to welcome home the weary traveller. In this case, it was us. We were treated to prawn cocktail, cheese and crackers, tiny grapes and pineapple juice. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsvSVuN9YmLaHDrggQ7SvoocfhpF3w0j2opuNT6pkYzx-7JohgqA78cZO3JgYiIWLXsO4-X_8RrIHwGsVEgEuawjzyzkGufYumWekpOMwG6cDuUYG0HDIDbdAQswHfK3dkbON7vA0fMiu/s1600/IMG_9791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsvSVuN9YmLaHDrggQ7SvoocfhpF3w0j2opuNT6pkYzx-7JohgqA78cZO3JgYiIWLXsO4-X_8RrIHwGsVEgEuawjzyzkGufYumWekpOMwG6cDuUYG0HDIDbdAQswHfK3dkbON7vA0fMiu/s320/IMG_9791.jpg" width="214" /></a></div> On Sunday I was taken to the Walworth County Show. It's an agricultural show that I'm assured is a <i>very</i> Wisconsin experience. We watched the Draft horse competition, ate some very greasy food, petted some fuzzy farmyard animals and admired the huge pumpkins.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLAAuEPI6txNObiCXfNPUykFJzklpopAv81dixJRvbnv_0OkYTrba8C-NoF2JWn2f_Xod7ry7n1feMBwlUrM2JjJnIpextZZxvUqs_juOoTHk1Pe_wcXeuMAZiI3_j8G6_fBZ25_vlngj/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLAAuEPI6txNObiCXfNPUykFJzklpopAv81dixJRvbnv_0OkYTrba8C-NoF2JWn2f_Xod7ry7n1feMBwlUrM2JjJnIpextZZxvUqs_juOoTHk1Pe_wcXeuMAZiI3_j8G6_fBZ25_vlngj/s320/IMG_0012.jpg" width="320" /><span style="font-size: x-small;">t</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">'Unicorn' formation of three horses</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAg-tsVPl84oPtZOmKxtVJ3EkQOi793cSC4xhiqA-TgXei8-vAHWihxp_hZLhGwwE9P6u1Mz_BxQaB-_tKvWbW97lj6lrZZMXMpygOAXnks3FX0DAZrAYiaHb7HJxHr0FQeb6aAs-nAwW7/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAg-tsVPl84oPtZOmKxtVJ3EkQOi793cSC4xhiqA-TgXei8-vAHWihxp_hZLhGwwE9P6u1Mz_BxQaB-_tKvWbW97lj6lrZZMXMpygOAXnks3FX0DAZrAYiaHb7HJxHr0FQeb6aAs-nAwW7/s320/IMG_0153.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Big pumpkin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Later in the week we were taken on a boat ride on Lake Geneva itself. Courtney's dad works on the boats that do the cruises. We took the tour on an old steamboat called 'The Louise':</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xJht7JRmBik6rLZ1RjhRt-qC7aMt_PZjnbSQBhy_kZaW7xQtsb6NQmvPP5tBfwFYeFRAZwvQSe-c7qRpQKAFOnKs8NrIi7FhV-hpFz1dbFcMKa2RhLctokW4K3Phx_eFmS29BnFqMwlN/s1600/IMG_0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xJht7JRmBik6rLZ1RjhRt-qC7aMt_PZjnbSQBhy_kZaW7xQtsb6NQmvPP5tBfwFYeFRAZwvQSe-c7qRpQKAFOnKs8NrIi7FhV-hpFz1dbFcMKa2RhLctokW4K3Phx_eFmS29BnFqMwlN/s320/IMG_0286.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tour took us around the lake, close to the shore. The main attraction is the plethora of mansions that line the lake shore. The Wrigley family (Wrigley Gum) have several summer homes there on Lake Geneva, some of which are very impressive indeed. Later in the week Courtney and I walked the 20.6 miles across the lake. The shore side path actually cuts across the property of all the shore side houses, so we got a pretty good view of the houses, despite our main interest being the lake itself. After the 20.6 miles we were hobbling along, our hips hurting more than anything else, but after a good nights sleep we felt fine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This weekend we went off the the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota. It was a six hour drive there ad served as a test run for the route 66 road trip. The main aim of the trip was for Courtney to renew her drivers licence. We got that done within 20 minutes of the DMV opening. The rest of the day was spent wandering around Courtney's old haunts as her university is in St. Paul. We walked down to the Mississippi, which divides the twin cities, had some great coffee, some not so great coffee and wandered around a sculpture park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP_jrzGwfL6SnkVA9aY37SYUQaFYa_4G8Cd-6jD4kRB4W3JJF0bfV19KfJjDfivPovbOQW7oss7dU1xXgRonnFn5XT1d67V1vZxtXKrPUWsz7lTe_1PwMY1ukt82tz076w9wLTc9LnzQQ/s1600/IMG_0454-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP_jrzGwfL6SnkVA9aY37SYUQaFYa_4G8Cd-6jD4kRB4W3JJF0bfV19KfJjDfivPovbOQW7oss7dU1xXgRonnFn5XT1d67V1vZxtXKrPUWsz7lTe_1PwMY1ukt82tz076w9wLTc9LnzQQ/s320/IMG_0454-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> Us feeling adventurous by the Mississippi</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP_jrzGwfL6SnkVA9aY37SYUQaFYa_4G8Cd-6jD4kRB4W3JJF0bfV19KfJjDfivPovbOQW7oss7dU1xXgRonnFn5XT1d67V1vZxtXKrPUWsz7lTe_1PwMY1ukt82tz076w9wLTc9LnzQQ/s1600/IMG_0454-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_IWvObtFOCGdTK7-9W7owkUpU0mzGlB0IEce26E79baEfd8hDEwjfcr76CID712-ZFZ60s2pREXsMDCyUSYhtcfHPPI_0d3VUAvnNJwMMFgd8jaB06Rz1_Ybe6SOmIcOx2WoRHlmlKIs/s1600/IMG_0558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_IWvObtFOCGdTK7-9W7owkUpU0mzGlB0IEce26E79baEfd8hDEwjfcr76CID712-ZFZ60s2pREXsMDCyUSYhtcfHPPI_0d3VUAvnNJwMMFgd8jaB06Rz1_Ybe6SOmIcOx2WoRHlmlKIs/s320/IMG_0558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Claus Oldenberg in the Walker Sculpture Gardens</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now we're back in Lake Geneva and we're putting together the final pieces for the road trip. We've got a GPS, a tent, some sleeping bags and an air mattress. We have places to stay along the way; a mix of camp sites and couches. We still need to sort out food for the trip, but that's about it. More about it later.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-39685092376427891452010-09-03T03:17:00.000+09:002010-09-03T03:17:51.577+09:00A Short Hike in the San Gabriels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXoZPK4YhpQe78zgiBfrdKaPDFnWPKSvBgIxIuWj_E6C5-BnU_hZEqDrjJqNwYUGCjEhyDPGNVc2CTxNoMHv59R91w3tXoRAdS5Ep_63adVaek4-WLmixtL7W0T8bx-lkH_RbyGPzXhK9/s1600/IMG_9455edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXoZPK4YhpQe78zgiBfrdKaPDFnWPKSvBgIxIuWj_E6C5-BnU_hZEqDrjJqNwYUGCjEhyDPGNVc2CTxNoMHv59R91w3tXoRAdS5Ep_63adVaek4-WLmixtL7W0T8bx-lkH_RbyGPzXhK9/s320/IMG_9455edit.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Courtney and I went for a hike up in the San Gabriel mountains near her sister's home in Arcadia. We packed some snacks, plenty of water and lathered ourselves in sun block. It was a short drive to the start of the mountain road, which is itself a fantastically winding and scenic route. We parked the car near the pack station and headed off uphill.<br />
We didn't know any of the trails but figured that they would be clearly marked so not having a map wouldn't be an issue. At the start of our ascent we passed a small gaggle of Koreans. Easily identified by their twin carbon-fibre hiking poles, belt bags, rucksacks and clothing made from ultra modern materials. Courtney seemed quite thrilled to see them. I however was happy to be away from the winy vowel sounds of Hangul. Still, Courtney shouted out a cheery 'Anyeonghaseyo' (Be at peace) which was warmly received. We sped past them and entered the quiet shade of the mountain side. The trail itself was an evenly tarmacked path, smelling of sweet vanilla thanks to the abundance of Ponderosa pines. As we headed up trail, we sent sleepy lizards sunning themselves scuttling off into the leafy verges.<br />
We came to a fork in the road just as the Koreans behind us caught up. I decided that whichever route they weren't taking looked the best. As it happens the Koreans took the steeper, rockier route, leaving us with the gently sloping paved road on which to explore the mountain.<br />
The warm, still air was perfect for the swarms of insects that were adamant on seeking refuge up our nostrils or in our ears. We quickly learnt that stopping to admire the view gave them ample time to get to know us a little better than we liked. Still, the sights and smells of the mountain made the bugs a tolerable nuisance.<br />
A little further up the path we came across some mountain lion scat. Fortunately, it was very old and dry, filled with the fur of whatever it had eaten last (good to see that it was eating well). Mountain lions tend to poop in open areas like the middle of paths as a way of marking their territory. The reminder that their was a large predator in the area put us a little on edge. I know that mountain lions are nocturnal and avoid human contact, but being from a country whose largest predator is the almost blind badger, it was a potent reminder of my potential position in the food chain.<br />
The rest of our walk was uneventful with regards to large predatory mammals. What did drive us off the mountain happened to be the swarms of insects. On our descent we passed a couple of people who were obviously regular visitors to the range. The clue; overhead mosquito nets. Smart move.<br />
We drove down the mountain road listening to Jack Johnson telling us to slow down. Not bad advise for such a high and winding road. Just as we exited the park we had our closest encounter with a large native mammal: a trio of mule deer. We spied them happily hopping across the road, munching on the cultivated roadside plant life. From our seats in the car, one passed within three meters of us. I managed to snap away oblivious to them until a car came around the bend behind us and we had to move on.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-82444412967614927042010-09-01T07:27:00.000+09:002010-09-01T07:27:38.165+09:00In Bed With a MantisOur apartment in Korea had no air conditioning and the nights would get pretty warm. We could get a breeze moving through the apartment, but the air in the bedroom always remained quite still. Even with the fan running, the bedroom felt warmer than the rest of the apartment. So in an attempt to get a better night's sleep, we dragged our mattress out into the living room. We'd spent a couple of nights with our little living room 'fort' when one night, we had an unexpected visitor.<br />
Courtney was, as usual, getting chewed on by the local mosquito population (my monkey-like hair protecting me from the worst of it). To quell the itching she rose from the bed during the night to apply some anti-itch cream. On her return, she was flattening out the the sheets in the dark when her hand ran over something unfamiliar. She picked in up, running her fingers over it in the darkness, unable to figure out what it was. It felt like a straw, but spongy to the touch. Then it moved.<br />
Putting it down, Courtney turned on the light. This is what she saw:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://schoolnet.gov.mt/tanti/pictures/PrayingMantis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://schoolnet.gov.mt/tanti/pictures/PrayingMantis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://schoolnet.gov.mt/tanti/Creatures.html">source</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A praying mantis. Courtney had a minor freak-out. It had nipped her a couple of times during the night, giving her a large welt on her forearm. I reassured her that the praying mantis is essentially harmless to us. No poisonous stinger, no venomous bite. After some research of her own, Courtney felt bad for manhandling what is a symbol of courage and fearlessness in China, a totem for stillness and contemplation and is said to visit those who need peace, quiet and stillness in their life.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are some quick facts about praying mantises:</span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"> They've been around since the Cretaceous period (145 - 65 million years ago).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Despite their looks, they are more closely related to termites and cockroaches than stick insects or grasshoppers. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> They are exclusively predatory, using their spiked forelegs to grasp and hold prey, eating mainly insects but also anything small enough for them to catch.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The female is known to devour the male during mating. The reasons are unclear but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_mantis">Wikipedia</a> suggests that cannibalized males enjoy a longer copulation, increasing the chance of fertilization. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;">For those of you that are wondering, the praying mantis that visited us survived the encounter. It was removed unceremoniously out the window in a small Tupperware container. </span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-58902396722567461872010-08-23T10:52:00.000+09:002010-08-23T10:52:05.437+09:00Traveling LightHow much do you weigh? A question that isn't often asked, but you don't actually need to tell me. How much luggage do you take when you travel? If you take one carry on and one piece of checked luggage, you're probably carrying about 30 kg. I weigh around 70kg, so 30 kg is about 20% of my body weight. Trust me when I say it's a lot to lug about. Foreign correspondents have an informal rule for how much to bring: nothing you couldn't carry at a dead run for half a mile. I can shuffle along with 30kg hanging off my body, but anything quicker than a stumbling jog is out of the question. So the thought of traveling with nothing more than what's in my pockets is quite appealing to me. This is exactly what <a href="http://www.rtwblog.com/">Rolf Potts</a>, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vagabonding-Uncommon-Guide-Long-Term-Travel/dp/0812992180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282525189&sr=8-1">Vagabonding</a> (a great book on travel philosophy and tips on long term travel), is doing.<br />
Tim Ferris has <a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2010/08/20/travel-with-no-baggage/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+timferriss+%28The+Blog+of+Author+Tim+Ferriss%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">the story</a> over on his blog, as well as some tips of his own on <a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/07/11/how-to-travel-the-world-with-10-pounds-or-less-plus-how-to-negotiate-convertibles-and-luxury-treehouses/">how to travel light</a>. Needless to say I was very much inspired by this article and it put me into a bit of self reflection on how to trim the fat from my own luggage. However the kind of travel I'm engaging in hampers my ability to really cut down on my luggage. Unlike Rolf Potts and Tim Ferris, I'm not traveling for just 6 weeks, nor do I have an apartment from which to return from my travels. Each time I move to a new country I am uprooting my entire existence and trying to make a new life for myself there. I have almost 7 kg of camera equipment that I carry (including a beast of lens, the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-300mm-2-8-USM-Lens/dp/B00007EE8O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282526169&sr=8-4">Canon 300mm f2.8</a>). I've also got a recent addition of about a kilo of wood carving tools. So that's my hobbies, plus I have the consideration of finding work while abroad. This means I need several smart outfits, plus a couple of books, a folder of teaching materials and my laptop. I'm pretty much at the max for what I can carry around. I do however have the advantage that I don't often have to lug all 30 kg with me on my travels (except for <a href="http://thomasbartlett.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html">2 months in Thailand</a>). <br />
One piece of advice on packing that crops up from time to time is to take half the luggage and twice the cash. Again, this is something I can't apply quite so easily. I'm already taking all my cash as well as all my luggage. While the idea of traveling with just one bag sounds great, I'd rather carry it with me than re-buy things when I arrive in a new place. There are things that I tend to ditch when leaving a place. One is a fluffy bathroom towel. I travel with a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifeventure-Soft-Fibre-Advance-Towel-Large/dp/B000R2GF1E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=sports&qid=1282527041&sr=8-4">Lifeventure travel towel</a> that folds to about the size of a t-shirt, but I find that it doesn't do the job quite as well as a good fluffy cotton towel. These I buy once I'm more settled in. I traveled to Thailand without an umbrella and bought one once I was there. I brought it with me to Korea, but it has since fallen apart. Given the small size and the incredible difficulty in finding an umbrella when you really need one, I'll continue to pack one.<br />
There is something that I want to take away from Tim's advice on packing light, and that is to allocate a certain amount of cash to be used as a settling fund, to buy the things you need once you're sure you'll need them. I think this is a great piece of advice as I'm guilty of buying things in the build-up to a trip that I think I'll need but end up never using. Most things you think you'll need (mosquito netting, <a href="http://planesheets.com/plane_sheets">personal airline seat cover</a>, hiking boots) either don't see any action or are cheap and readily available at your destination. You might want to do a little research before hand about the availability of certain items in the country you're going to just so you don't get caught out. A surprise for me was despite the massive number of hikers in Korea, decent camping equipment is expensive and not too readily available.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-87699098127053713282010-08-03T10:18:00.000+09:002010-08-03T10:18:34.982+09:00Two Years, Six Countries<u><b>South Korea (August)</b></u><br />
Getting ready to leave. I've got flights booked to the US. I'm waiting to sort out a few details for where 'll be in the States in late October before buying tickets to Costa Rica (I need a flight out of the States to be let in). I also need to apply for a 3 month position in Japan sometime this month.<br />
<u><b>USA (Septembe</b></u><u><b>r and October)</b></u><br />
Spending a week in L.A., then a week in Lake Geneva, WI before setting out on a road trip across Route 66. We might spend two weeks in the Mojave desert if Courtney gets accepted into an art residency program there.<br />
<u><b>Costa Rica (November to April)</b></u><br />
I'm going to be <a href="http://www.wwoofcostarica.org/">wwoofing </a>for at least November, maybe December too. In December, the application period for teaching in Spain opens. As it works on a first-come-first-served basis, I want to get my application in as soon as I can. Back in Costa Rica, the main hiring period for teachers is in January, so banking on finding work then. Hopefully I'll be spending my time teaching English, learning Spanish and chasing sloths. <br />
<u><b>Japan (May to July)</b></u><br />
If we get <a href="http://www.westgate.co.jp/application/young-learners.php">the gig</a>, then it'll be three months pretty hard graft somewhere around Mt. Fuji. Three months is long enough to get a feel for a country but still short enough to feel like a vacation. We hope to be able to put away most of our earnings to help with setting ourselves up in Spain.<br />
<u><b>UK (August and September)</b></u><br />
What will probably be a very welcome visit home, I'll hopefully have the time to meet up with friends I wouldn't have seen for a criminally long time. I also hope to do my parents the favour of moving out and selling as much of my junk as I can that's currently taking up about half their loft.<br />
<u><b>Spain (October to May)</b></u><br />
It'll be nice to be living and working somewhere closer to home. Hopefully six months in Costa Rica will have given me enough basic Spanish to make the transition there a little easier. I'm not 100% confident on getting <a href="http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-spain.htm">the job</a>, but apparently most people who apply get an offer. Just have to wait and see on this one. Of course, this isn't the only option for me, but 700 euros a month for a 14 hour week does sound rather appealing. <br />
<u><b> </b></u>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-40333366660448062062010-08-01T10:49:00.000+09:002010-08-01T10:49:16.899+09:00Cicadas, Mosquitoes and Heat, Oh My.Had a rough night last night. Very little sleep. It was darn hot, so I tried sleeping above the covers, but then I was at the mercy of mosquitoes. <br />
Despite my ludicrously hairy body, I was being feasted upon. So I spent most of the night hiding under the covers until I was uncomfortably hot, then lying on top of them until I was frustrated with having to slap myself wherever I thought I was being bitten.<br />
In the end I went and got my silk sleeping bag liner and climbed into that. Around 3 a.m. I managed to drift off. Until dawn came around 5:30 and the cicadas started up.<br />
<br />
Mosquito facts <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/mosquito/">source</a>)</span>:<br />
<ul><li>Only the females bite, and they use the blood not as food for themselves, but as protein for their eggs. Mosquitoes actually feed on nectar.</li>
<li>Of the 3,000 species of mosquito, only three spread most human diseases.</li>
<li>The itchiness is an allergic reaction to the mosquito's saliva.</li>
<li>Rosemary (herb) will deter mosquitoes, as will eating plenty of garlic.</li>
</ul>Cicadas facts <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/cicada/">source</a>)</span>:<br />
<ul><li>They can be heard up to 1 mile away.</li>
<li>They have a lifespan of up to 17 years (mostly as larvae).</li>
<li>They are a powerful symbol of rebirth in ancient Chinese culture.</li>
</ul>Tips for sleeping in the heat <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://www.poststat.net/rightathome/pub.59/issue.528/article.2237/">source</a>)</span>:<br />
<ul><li>Wear light clothing. This can be better than wearing less clothing.</li>
<li>Take a cool bath or shower before bed. It won't lower your core temperature, but it'll make you feel better.</li>
<li>Don't engage in physical activity or exercise too soon to going to bed. This will give your body a chance to lower it's core temperature.</li>
<li>Avoid hot and heavy meals near bedtime. Try to eat cool and refreshing foods instead.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262020545469840068.post-48710170495601718342010-07-27T09:10:00.000+09:002010-07-27T09:10:15.289+09:00Ah, GlobalisationOver 18 months in Korea and 30 days before I leave, I find muesli. That's just not right. That's about 540 days without the breakfast cereal I pretty much lived off during uni. However,to say that I just found muesli would only be telling half the story. I found a Tesco (cue lights and choir of angels). A huge Tesco Homeplus, comparable in size to the local monstermart: E-Mart, but lacking it's crazy atmosphere. It might have been my Anglo-centric conditioning that stirs in me great pride in seeing a British institution so far from home, but it seemed so much nicer than the E-Marts and Lotte Marts of Korea. <br />
It did let me down however. I was really hoping for some good cheap tea. Tesco own-brand, Tetley or PG Tips (the pyramid bags, of course). There was Tesco value green tea in abundance, but the only black tea on offer was the Twinings range. Fancy tea, by appointment of the Queen no less. Slightly crestfallen I picked up a pack of English Breakfast Tea. 25 bags for about four quid. Still, the three kilos of Swiss Style Muesli I had newly acquired was more than enough to put me in a great mood. Coupled with an evening of David Attenborough wildlife documentaries I was definitely indulging in my cultural heritage.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0