I forgot to mention the Cricket in my last post.
I have never really followed sport in the past, the occasional world cup here match here and there. I tried very hard this year with the world cup but couldn't, but as I was in Australia and the Ashes were being played here I decided to follow the cricket, and I really got into it.
So we lost the first two tests, there was still hope (for those with blind faith and the overly optimistic.) So we were on the final day of the third test, 200-300 runs to go to win, or hold the day to draw, with only a couple or so wickets gone, yes there was still hope. This fifth day was being played whilst I was at the Blue Mountains and so every time we got back into the tour bus the radio was flicked one.
The first time the radio turned on it was Flintoff's first over. It was brilliant, and excellent score of (if i remember correctly) 14. It could be 15 or 17 though. Anyway it was good, relief swept over me, we may be able to actually get a win, forget about a measly draw.
The second time the radio turned on and Warne had just bowled Flintoff out. Disappointment swept over me, but still there was hope.
The third time the radio was turned on... it was all over. The *insert expletive here* convicts won. To say that ruined my day is not entirely true, but it was 50 minutes from hearing that until we arrived at the final stop, and I moped all the way there. It was the only real negative point on one of my best days here to date.
So it's Boxing Day in two days, the fourth test, The Barmy Army need to gain some dignity, and I need to be able to give some stick back, for yes I have receiving lots dammit. Anyway I have hope for 3-2 to the Aussies, come on England - Plus we will win the 20/20.
On a completely different note it is Christmas Eve, the weather is miserable, it is warm t-shirt weather but cloudy and rainy, and the forecast doesn't look for good for tomorrow. Whatever the weather though I am going to the beach and I am going for a swim, I came to Australia to spend Christmas on the beach, and lousy weather is not going to stop me.
Also to all my avid readers, family, friends, stalkers and lovers I wish you a Merry Christmas and all that jazz.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Travelling Post 14 - England have lost the Ashes, which is not fair, just as I was getting into the sport
This week I have mostly been... working. Yep I work a lot now, it pays the way though, and the job isn't difficult. I have also been enjoying the house and it's DVD player and television. Living in a house is rather more suited to my tastes than hosteling, (that is not to say I don't like hosteling, because I do like, which is good because if i didn't I'd be screwed for the next 17 months - and not in the good way) The only issue is cockroaches. I've lived in hostels with messy rooms for almost month and did not see a single cockroach. I am now living in a nice clean house and see loads (well 1 or 2 in a night) and walking around the streets at night I see even more. Apparently they are as common spiders in Britain, but I wish they weren't, spiders don't look so disgusting or freak me out so much.
On my Monday off I went on a tour of the Blue Mountains. On Monday 18th December in the freezing cold of winter I traipsed up some snow covered mountain wearing my fleece and waterproof... wait, I think I have got confused with a childhood memory. On Monday 18th December at 7am, I stood in Coogee, wearing a t-shirt and my shades, waiting to be picked up to go on a walk through the rain forests... now that sounds more like it.
Monday was one the best days I have had since I have been here. I booked a tour through IEP on a Wildframe Ecotour, going on my own as all my other friends had been before or couldn't go the same day I could. The tour involved a three hour hike down into the grand canyon, a trip to a viewpoint to look at the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the Jamison Valley and a short ride on the Scenic Railway which is the steepest railway in the world. As if that wasn't enough we went to a picnic site to 'hang around' with wild Kangaroos, Cockatoos and a Goanna lizard.
The walk through the canyon was really good and the tour guide gave us a fair few interesting anecdotes. The top layer of the canyon, and the majority of the Blue Mountains are all Eucalyptus Forests, but there are no Koala Bears. Scientists, and other clever folk, believe this is due to the 1984 bush fires which was so severe it wiped the local population out, and none have returned since. Although all other evidence of that bush fire had been gone, you could see the effects of the less severe bush fire of a few years ago with dead trees heavily scattered amongst those that had survived. Whilst I was out in the Blue Mountains there were bush fires occurring, and there were areas we couldn't walk around. Below is a map of the blue Mountains, and the short walk that we did.
I left the house at 7am and arrived back at 8pm, so it was a long day but well worth - and I ended it with a DVD and a pizza from Domino's. All in all a pretty darn good day.
On my Monday off I went on a tour of the Blue Mountains. On Monday 18th December in the freezing cold of winter I traipsed up some snow covered mountain wearing my fleece and waterproof... wait, I think I have got confused with a childhood memory. On Monday 18th December at 7am, I stood in Coogee, wearing a t-shirt and my shades, waiting to be picked up to go on a walk through the rain forests... now that sounds more like it.
Monday was one the best days I have had since I have been here. I booked a tour through IEP on a Wildframe Ecotour, going on my own as all my other friends had been before or couldn't go the same day I could. The tour involved a three hour hike down into the grand canyon, a trip to a viewpoint to look at the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the Jamison Valley and a short ride on the Scenic Railway which is the steepest railway in the world. As if that wasn't enough we went to a picnic site to 'hang around' with wild Kangaroos, Cockatoos and a Goanna lizard.
The walk through the canyon was really good and the tour guide gave us a fair few interesting anecdotes. The top layer of the canyon, and the majority of the Blue Mountains are all Eucalyptus Forests, but there are no Koala Bears. Scientists, and other clever folk, believe this is due to the 1984 bush fires which was so severe it wiped the local population out, and none have returned since. Although all other evidence of that bush fire had been gone, you could see the effects of the less severe bush fire of a few years ago with dead trees heavily scattered amongst those that had survived. Whilst I was out in the Blue Mountains there were bush fires occurring, and there were areas we couldn't walk around. Below is a map of the blue Mountains, and the short walk that we did.
Here you can see the dead trees, killed by bushfire, amongst those tress that have survived and grown since the fire.
Even though it took 3 hours, it was only a 4km or so walk. I think I could have done it in 1hr but then the tour guide emphasised that we should take in our surroundings and the history of how they were formed and that of the aboriginal people who lived there years before. The rain forests occur because the canyon is made up of sandstone, which works like a sponge to soak up the water, thus even though there has been a drought for 5 years, the rock still has water. The rain forest was mostly covered in ferns, they looked a little different to the ones I am used to seeing in Britain, as you can see below the Australian variety has trunks.
Despite the heat and humidity down in the canyon, and just plain heatabove the canyon the walk was exhilarating, I took many, many pictures, but I'm only gonna post a few as they are all very similar. The one thing I have noticed about walking in other countries compared to Britain, the walks only ever encapsulate one or two different views. Going walking in Britain, one can see a variety of different landscapes in a relatively small walking distance. That said the canyon was one of the most beautiful sites I have seen when I have been walking.
After the walk, it was time for lunch then off to view the three sisters (below.)
A long long time ago, there would have been seven sisters, you can see where they would have sat next to the remaining three above. Below is a further view of the Three Sisters, in the Grose Valley. You may be able to make out a blue haze in the picture, this is why the area is called the Blue Mountains. It is caused by the refraction of light through evaporated water coming off the Eucalyptus trees.
There is an aboriginal love story behind these rocks which goes something like this. There was the magic man of a tribe who had three daughters. These daughters fell in love with three men from a different tribe. As the three men were from a different tribe their father forbid them from marrying them, but daughters, being daughters, disobeyed him and ran off. There father, being the magic man cursed them and turned them into stone. Which I think sounds a little harsh. A the next stop, the steepest railway in the world, there was a visitors centre with bronze casting of the three sisters and their over protective father.
The steepest railway in the world was well, rather short, it cost $16 to go down on the cable car and then you took a 5 minute walk and came back up on the train. It was disappointing because I could have spent over an hour exploring the rain forest and the old coal mine that was down there, but we had to rush through. The Railway, though short, was still pretty good, it had seats on it that were at an angle so when you were riding the train you were at sat normally.
After that all-too-brief-stop it was time to spend time with the wild kangaroos, cockatoos and a single Goanna. It was great, we got a decent amount of time there and I took lots of photos. There wasn't too many Kangaroos about but that didn't stop my trigger happy finger. When someone spotted the Goanna the tour guide chased it up a tree so we could all take pictures of it, but it went up the wrong side so, as you can see below, I couldn't get a very good picture of it. When it came to taking pictures of the Cockatoos, I discovered my camera can take pretty good action shots, so spent 10 minutes trying to get the cockatoos to fly at me but it didn't work so all i got is what you see below. After all that it was time to go back to Sydney.
Above, the picture that started my 10minute campaign to get a really good action shot of a flying Cockatoo, below the picture I took when I gave up.
Above, the Goanna Lizard, it was about 1 to 1.5 metres long. Below pictures of wild Kangaroos.
I left the house at 7am and arrived back at 8pm, so it was a long day but well worth - and I ended it with a DVD and a pizza from Domino's. All in all a pretty darn good day.
Today I have bought tickets to see Michael Parkinson at the Sydney Opera House, where he will be talking about his career, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will be playing music from the golden era of movies. That is not until Sat 3rd February, now it is 3pm and I am at the IEP Christmas Social. We should be in the Botanical Garden's but the weather is a bit crap, it is raining, and so we are in their offices. And now for more drink...
Monday, December 11, 2006
Travelling Post 13 - My blog now up to date and I have put my Hong Kong Pictures on bebo http://rhino-rob.bebo.com
On the Monday of my third week I went to move into Coogee, however, after lugging my heavy bags to Sydney Central, I decided I was just gonna stay in a different hostel in Sydney Centre. I ended up staying in Railway Square YHA, it was pretty much similar to Central YHA , clean and tidy, but this had a little more atmosphere, probably because it was smaller.
On Tuesday I undertook a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Training course. It cost $70 and was 6 hours of sheer boredom. The RSA allows me to serve alcohol in Australia, however i now work in a place that has a Bring Your Own (BYO) license and does not serve alcohol. I am now determined to work in some bar throughout the year so I haven't wasted my time.
On the Wednesday I felt it was time to go to Coogee, [where I am now living], stay in a hostel until I moved into the house and find a job. Job hunting had to wait though. As I arrived in Coogee, on a very hot, very humid and cloudy day, I saw Sam W and Alison, who were off to Taronga Zoo because they couldn't sunbathe. After a 15minute check in I caught with them and off we went. During the bus journey I spoke to Ed, who was staying in Central Sydney, and he then joined us. At a cost of $29, the zoo wasn't badly priced. The cost included a ferry there, and as the Zoo is situated on a hill, it also included a cable car to the top, add to that the zoo is probably bigger than Chester Zoo, then, as I said, it was very reasonable indeed.
I couldn't begin to list all the animals I saw, I wouldn't even know half their names, we didn't see any Kangaroos though, they were hiding as the day was so hot, we did see Koalas, who look so much like their cuddly toy counterparts it's freakish, and we also saw a Chimpanzee stick it's finger up it's own bum and then lick it. Overall a really good day.
Me with a real Koala Bear
The Koala Bear's cuddly toy counterpart
My favourite animal of all
Thursday was job hunting day, of which after a demoralising hunt for about half an hour i wandered into Zach's Cafe and got a job. I had a trial on Friday and started on Tuesday. After only been promised around 15 hours a week I have now completed my second 40hr or so week, so the money situation is improving. The job isn't brilliant, I wait on people, how good can it be, but it's better than nothing and I have pretty much done it all before so it isn't very difficult.
In between getting , and the starting the job I went snorkeling, in the ocean, how cool is that. It was such a refreshing feeling, just to get into the ocean on what was, when I went, a hot sunny day.
So I started my fourth week with a job an and house, that week I pretty much just worked lots. Then on Friday things went a little awry.
To cut a long story short. I received a phone call from the Estate Agents saying the landlords now only wanted 8 people not 10 in the house, so we had to get rid of two people. This is 1 day before we were due to move in. Jamie, a 10th person whom we didn't know, found somewhere pretty quick, and so he choose to go and so did Emma, who now has a boyfriend. So it was all OK in the end. But I was supposed to be going on a relaxing Coogee-Bondi walk that day, and work in the evening. Instead it ended up being the most stressful and worst day that I had been hear. The Estate Agents were useless, they cocked up big style and didn't even properly apologise. At least our rent has not gone up.
So on Saturday 2nd December, 8 of us, moved into the house. It has 4 bedrooms, one triple, two twins and one single. I am in the single and I can tell you it is a relief getting my own room after a month of sharing, I like my space and for at least the next two months I have it. The house is big and fully furnished, we have a TV and a DVD Player so all is good.
On Friday, which i had the daytime off, and was in work at 5.30 I went and did the very touristy Opera House Tour. On first impression the main, largest hall, the Concert Hall wasn't as big as you would expect but after a few minutes it all sinks in and takes over you and it really is an emotionally invoking experience. I plan to go and see Michael Parkinson at the end of January; he is going to talk about his 35 yr career with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing music from the golden age of cinema. It is a high culture that is accessible to me, meaning i would enjoy it more than the ballet or the opera. It is going to cost $95 for the most expensive tickets, which I want to get, but it will be worth it.
Anyway this is me, now up to date with my blog. I have probably missed stuff out, I haven't talked about what I learnt at the opera house as you can look that up, and and also if i told you everything what would I talk about when I saw you all when I next see you. This afternoon I am off to do the Coogee-Bondi walk, hopefully, we will see if anything stops me this time.
TTFN
On Tuesday I undertook a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Training course. It cost $70 and was 6 hours of sheer boredom. The RSA allows me to serve alcohol in Australia, however i now work in a place that has a Bring Your Own (BYO) license and does not serve alcohol. I am now determined to work in some bar throughout the year so I haven't wasted my time.
On the Wednesday I felt it was time to go to Coogee, [where I am now living], stay in a hostel until I moved into the house and find a job. Job hunting had to wait though. As I arrived in Coogee, on a very hot, very humid and cloudy day, I saw Sam W and Alison, who were off to Taronga Zoo because they couldn't sunbathe. After a 15minute check in I caught with them and off we went. During the bus journey I spoke to Ed, who was staying in Central Sydney, and he then joined us. At a cost of $29, the zoo wasn't badly priced. The cost included a ferry there, and as the Zoo is situated on a hill, it also included a cable car to the top, add to that the zoo is probably bigger than Chester Zoo, then, as I said, it was very reasonable indeed.
I couldn't begin to list all the animals I saw, I wouldn't even know half their names, we didn't see any Kangaroos though, they were hiding as the day was so hot, we did see Koalas, who look so much like their cuddly toy counterparts it's freakish, and we also saw a Chimpanzee stick it's finger up it's own bum and then lick it. Overall a really good day.
Me with a real Koala Bear
The Koala Bear's cuddly toy counterpart
An Echidna, Australia's version of a hedgehog
My favourite animal of all
Thursday was job hunting day, of which after a demoralising hunt for about half an hour i wandered into Zach's Cafe and got a job. I had a trial on Friday and started on Tuesday. After only been promised around 15 hours a week I have now completed my second 40hr or so week, so the money situation is improving. The job isn't brilliant, I wait on people, how good can it be, but it's better than nothing and I have pretty much done it all before so it isn't very difficult.
In between getting , and the starting the job I went snorkeling, in the ocean, how cool is that. It was such a refreshing feeling, just to get into the ocean on what was, when I went, a hot sunny day.
So I started my fourth week with a job an and house, that week I pretty much just worked lots. Then on Friday things went a little awry.
To cut a long story short. I received a phone call from the Estate Agents saying the landlords now only wanted 8 people not 10 in the house, so we had to get rid of two people. This is 1 day before we were due to move in. Jamie, a 10th person whom we didn't know, found somewhere pretty quick, and so he choose to go and so did Emma, who now has a boyfriend. So it was all OK in the end. But I was supposed to be going on a relaxing Coogee-Bondi walk that day, and work in the evening. Instead it ended up being the most stressful and worst day that I had been hear. The Estate Agents were useless, they cocked up big style and didn't even properly apologise. At least our rent has not gone up.
So on Saturday 2nd December, 8 of us, moved into the house. It has 4 bedrooms, one triple, two twins and one single. I am in the single and I can tell you it is a relief getting my own room after a month of sharing, I like my space and for at least the next two months I have it. The house is big and fully furnished, we have a TV and a DVD Player so all is good.
On Friday, which i had the daytime off, and was in work at 5.30 I went and did the very touristy Opera House Tour. On first impression the main, largest hall, the Concert Hall wasn't as big as you would expect but after a few minutes it all sinks in and takes over you and it really is an emotionally invoking experience. I plan to go and see Michael Parkinson at the end of January; he is going to talk about his 35 yr career with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing music from the golden age of cinema. It is a high culture that is accessible to me, meaning i would enjoy it more than the ballet or the opera. It is going to cost $95 for the most expensive tickets, which I want to get, but it will be worth it.
Anyway this is me, now up to date with my blog. I have probably missed stuff out, I haven't talked about what I learnt at the opera house as you can look that up, and and also if i told you everything what would I talk about when I saw you all when I next see you. This afternoon I am off to do the Coogee-Bondi walk, hopefully, we will see if anything stops me this time.
TTFN
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Travelling Post 12 - It's all about the Surfcamp
With regards to my post about my first week in Australia, I forgot to say that I had a new mobile phone number, if anyone wishes to contact me my mobile, then email me and I'll email you back my Aussie number. It works out a lot cheaper to have an Aussie phone, and just to leave my other phone turned off until I need to phone home.
My second week started off with me getting up far too early to go to a four day Surfcamp. And after a 2hr drive we arrived, got settled in our cabins and it was off for my first ever surf. My first time into the water was pretty pitiful, they teach you the basics and even they aren't very easy to pick up. I have never been the best at any sport I have tried, ever, and this was no exception, and so frustration did start to set in. During the second session I fared much better and managed to lie on the board in the waves without falling off - well most of the time anyway. To cut a long, mostly boring, story short, by my final, third day of surfing, I could pretty much stand up and ride the smaller white-waves. We were taught the techniques of turning and riding green waves (the unbroken waves) but i didn't quite manage those.
'Hold up', the more observant of you say, 'by your final, third day, I thought you went for a four day Surfcamp.' Well, my response will seem a little wimpish, it was too bloody cold. The weather for the past three days was really cold, even by British standards, the Surfcamp owner said that it had been the coldest front in New South Wales since 1941 (i think I have brought the weather with me) and so getting into a wet suit was not appealing on any of those days either. Being in the water was fine it was the 30-45 minutes either side of the surf time that was bad. It was that cold on the third day we all needed to run around for 5-10minutes to warm up, exercises weren't enough. Also we were getting up for a 6.30am surf and when I woke up I felt too cold, it was like being back at Scouts, waking up at 8am, being too cold to get out of the sleeping bags, I didn't want to do that again, and so I didn't. The second surf of the day was at 12.00 and despite being up for a few hours, my body hadn't warmed up and so again I opted out, and I wasn't the only one, out of 25 or so people, only 5 or 6 decided to go to the second surf of the day.
Despite the weather, surfing was great fun, hard work and rewarding. For those climbers reading, standing up for the first time and riding a wave to it's completion is like when you get to the top of a really difficult climb, just better. Personally, I think surfing is better than climbing, possibly the best sport I have attempted, I would recommend anyone to try, just not in Britain as it'll be too cold haha. What was also really good about the camp, were the instructors, all twentysomething Aussies, on very little pay, doing something that they loved. They had all been surfing for at least 10 years, i think most had been surfing for around 15, and they were really good at explaining the techniques of surfing, right down to the basics when we had to draw a surfboard in the sand and practice 'climbing' on board, and later standing up.
Now I just need to find a cheap surfboard and I'll be a pro by the end of summer.
For those that haven't seen my photos, they are online at http://rhino-rob.bebo.com/
After Surfcamp I went to Manly for a couple of nights and met up with Brendan and Edward. I had a mostly relaxing weekend watching the Manly leg of a national beach volleyball tour. I also learnt beach volleyball is an Olympic Sport and people get paid to do it - I still can't figure out why - it's Volleyball!
So that was the end of my second week, I'm at the start of my fifth week now and living in a house. If you want my address for the next two months for Christmas cards, presents, random gifts, love letters - but only if you're attractive enough, and money - which doesn't matter how attractive you are; then just email me or ask on here.
As per usual I'm gonna finish a post with stuff still to write about, but you can read about The Exciting Adventures of Rob next time at... well until the BBC pick up my story to make into a serial you're just gonna have to come back here!
My second week started off with me getting up far too early to go to a four day Surfcamp. And after a 2hr drive we arrived, got settled in our cabins and it was off for my first ever surf. My first time into the water was pretty pitiful, they teach you the basics and even they aren't very easy to pick up. I have never been the best at any sport I have tried, ever, and this was no exception, and so frustration did start to set in. During the second session I fared much better and managed to lie on the board in the waves without falling off - well most of the time anyway. To cut a long, mostly boring, story short, by my final, third day of surfing, I could pretty much stand up and ride the smaller white-waves. We were taught the techniques of turning and riding green waves (the unbroken waves) but i didn't quite manage those.
'Hold up', the more observant of you say, 'by your final, third day, I thought you went for a four day Surfcamp.' Well, my response will seem a little wimpish, it was too bloody cold. The weather for the past three days was really cold, even by British standards, the Surfcamp owner said that it had been the coldest front in New South Wales since 1941 (i think I have brought the weather with me) and so getting into a wet suit was not appealing on any of those days either. Being in the water was fine it was the 30-45 minutes either side of the surf time that was bad. It was that cold on the third day we all needed to run around for 5-10minutes to warm up, exercises weren't enough. Also we were getting up for a 6.30am surf and when I woke up I felt too cold, it was like being back at Scouts, waking up at 8am, being too cold to get out of the sleeping bags, I didn't want to do that again, and so I didn't. The second surf of the day was at 12.00 and despite being up for a few hours, my body hadn't warmed up and so again I opted out, and I wasn't the only one, out of 25 or so people, only 5 or 6 decided to go to the second surf of the day.
Despite the weather, surfing was great fun, hard work and rewarding. For those climbers reading, standing up for the first time and riding a wave to it's completion is like when you get to the top of a really difficult climb, just better. Personally, I think surfing is better than climbing, possibly the best sport I have attempted, I would recommend anyone to try, just not in Britain as it'll be too cold haha. What was also really good about the camp, were the instructors, all twentysomething Aussies, on very little pay, doing something that they loved. They had all been surfing for at least 10 years, i think most had been surfing for around 15, and they were really good at explaining the techniques of surfing, right down to the basics when we had to draw a surfboard in the sand and practice 'climbing' on board, and later standing up.
Now I just need to find a cheap surfboard and I'll be a pro by the end of summer.
For those that haven't seen my photos, they are online at http://rhino-rob.bebo.com/
After Surfcamp I went to Manly for a couple of nights and met up with Brendan and Edward. I had a mostly relaxing weekend watching the Manly leg of a national beach volleyball tour. I also learnt beach volleyball is an Olympic Sport and people get paid to do it - I still can't figure out why - it's Volleyball!
So that was the end of my second week, I'm at the start of my fifth week now and living in a house. If you want my address for the next two months for Christmas cards, presents, random gifts, love letters - but only if you're attractive enough, and money - which doesn't matter how attractive you are; then just email me or ask on here.
As per usual I'm gonna finish a post with stuff still to write about, but you can read about The Exciting Adventures of Rob next time at... well until the BBC pick up my story to make into a serial you're just gonna have to come back here!
Travelling Post No. 11 - Me, bloody, me
I'm gonna post later about other stuff, I don't have my camera to add photos for a big post, so all you're gonna get is me ranting, but not for long, about how pissed off with myself I am.
On Monday we went to view the house again, and show around our 10th housemate. Whilst there we discovered one of the current occupants was selling a surfboard for $100 (about 42 pounds.) The surfboard was almost perfect for me as a learner, tall at 7'6", but not too tall that it would be hard to develop my skills, and also in OK condition that i could sell it on in 2 months time if i wanted. Should I choose to buy a new surfboard i would pay $510 (212pounds) at the cheapest and if i wanted to buy a second hand one from a shop it'd be around $200+ (84 pounds+).
All good you think, why is Rob saying he will rant, well i decided, as i didn't have the money on me at the time, and couldn't guarantee getting hours at work to pay for the board, that I would ring today if I discovered I could afford it. Today I was offered more work, and so I went around to the house to but the board but someone has already put a $20 deposit on the board. It's not totally bad, this guy who put down the deposit could not meet the surfboard owner tomorrow, and then it's mine - but how likely is that?
Why am I not impulsive enough or a big enough risk taker, it's such a frikkin pain, I should have said yes, I'll have it, there and then, but no I had to play it safe. Hopefully something else is gonna turn up but that is also not very likely, but I pretty much know for sure I can't afford $510 even if i can off load it at the end of the season, i can't guarantee I won't break the board and i can't guarantee how much I'll get for it at the end. Oh wait there I again....
On Monday we went to view the house again, and show around our 10th housemate. Whilst there we discovered one of the current occupants was selling a surfboard for $100 (about 42 pounds.) The surfboard was almost perfect for me as a learner, tall at 7'6", but not too tall that it would be hard to develop my skills, and also in OK condition that i could sell it on in 2 months time if i wanted. Should I choose to buy a new surfboard i would pay $510 (212pounds) at the cheapest and if i wanted to buy a second hand one from a shop it'd be around $200+ (84 pounds+).
All good you think, why is Rob saying he will rant, well i decided, as i didn't have the money on me at the time, and couldn't guarantee getting hours at work to pay for the board, that I would ring today if I discovered I could afford it. Today I was offered more work, and so I went around to the house to but the board but someone has already put a $20 deposit on the board. It's not totally bad, this guy who put down the deposit could not meet the surfboard owner tomorrow, and then it's mine - but how likely is that?
Why am I not impulsive enough or a big enough risk taker, it's such a frikkin pain, I should have said yes, I'll have it, there and then, but no I had to play it safe. Hopefully something else is gonna turn up but that is also not very likely, but I pretty much know for sure I can't afford $510 even if i can off load it at the end of the season, i can't guarantee I won't break the board and i can't guarantee how much I'll get for it at the end. Oh wait there I again....
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Travelling Post No. 10 - A post which has now ended up just being about the first week but started of as Australia so far.
Tomorrow it will be 3 weeks since I landed in Australia, and after a conversation with Dad, I realised I hadn't posted very much on what I had been doing here so this may be a long post, but I'll try not waffle (no promises though.)
So we arrived at the airport on the morning of Monday 6th November, after a baggage handler's strike in the morning, which meant there was a huge backlog of planes in the to off load their cargo. 45 minutes after sitting in the already landed plane we were off, a further 30minutes later we were through customs on the bus to our first hostel, Sydney Central YHA, (clean but not the best atmosphere, as all YHA's are.) Our first night in Australia started at the YHA's roof top BBQ where I tried Kangaroo, surprise surprise here, but i didn't like it. From there we moved downstairs to the YHA's very own nightclub Scubar. It was crab racing night (the crab I sponsored didn't win) and the place was packed. It had a student vibe and with $7.50 jugs it wasn't too expensive; a jug is 2 pints.
Despite a late night and a somewhat large intake of alcohol I awoke early for the IEP introduction (IEP is BUNAC's sister company in Australia) without a sore head. After the 2-3hr introduction many of my anxieties were reduced. IEP offer lots of support and help with finding accommodation, advice on where to travel, help with jobs etc. etc. and they also offer free Internet (although I'm paying for it at this very moment, free Internet is fine but when you have to pay to get the bus to just to use the Internet - it's pointless, plus it's Sunday and they aren't open.) Since I have arrived I have been in IEP for one thing or another once every two or three days. The introduction also has gotten rid, mostly, of my fears about spiders and snakes. We also got a talk on beach safety from a Surfcamp Australia rep, which wasn't as pointless as I expected, the guy also gave a pitch on the Surfcamp Australia, which I bought into and went surfing a week later.
Wednesday was job hunting day, demoralising at first, as expected, but we did view the two houses I have previously posted. We decided upon the cheaper option of $160 a week, its still only 5 minutes away from the beach though :-). All we have to do now is decide upon a housemate, we have 1 bed to fill, in this 10 bed house, and after hearing nothing for ages I have had three emails today from 2 girls and a bloke. I don't think I can make this decision on my own, picking the prettiest, single girl may not make others happy.
So anyway, that's a decision i have to make after writing this post, back to what I have been up to. On my birthday, Friday 10th (cheers for the happy birthday's for those who sent them) I paid for Surfcamp and then all 10 of us went to the Aquarium at Darling Harbour. It was a great Aquarium, you can see some of the creatures we saw below, but the damn fish wouldn't pose for pictures so it wasn't easy to take them. The Aquarium was made all the better by the fact we had free passes from IEP.
A Saltwater Croc
Jellyfish
Shark, don't know what type though
All the sharks would lie on top of the ceiling at the tunnels entrance as it was at that point where warm water was pushed into their tank. I am amazed that in this tank there were all sorts of fish and the sharks weren't eating them. Which would have been great to see.
Dory, she kept on swimming so I couldn't get a very good picture.
Some Coral
After the Aquarium we wandered to The Rocks, an area near Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House to get some fish and chips and we sat at Circular Quay Harbour with one the best views for fish and chips ever. The Fish and Chips were really nice, although they weren't greasy enough and the chips were really fries, but that is just me nit-picking. This was also, possibly, the last time all 10 of us would be together, we haven't been since and Brendan is leaving for Melbourne soon, in the house it will just be the 9 of us, and barring Christmas day can't see us doing much if anything all together. That isn't a bad thing, it is actually pretty amazing that 9 of us manage to stay together in a house and after a week all 10 of us were still doing things together.
The view from Sydney Opera House on my birthday. During the day it looks like it needs cleaning but at night it looks pretty darn spectacular.
I realise at this point I haven't mentioned the weather, which is very un-English of me. It has been pretty dismal, no real hot weather for the first week up until the first Saturday, which was when I went to Bondi Beach. It's a good beach but overrated, it is just a beach after all. Manly is much nicer which I visited a few days early when on the hunt for a house.
Sunday I didn't really do anything and that is the end of my first week. I will post on the other two weeks another day, I wanted to do them now but this has taken me too long to write.
So we arrived at the airport on the morning of Monday 6th November, after a baggage handler's strike in the morning, which meant there was a huge backlog of planes in the to off load their cargo. 45 minutes after sitting in the already landed plane we were off, a further 30minutes later we were through customs on the bus to our first hostel, Sydney Central YHA, (clean but not the best atmosphere, as all YHA's are.) Our first night in Australia started at the YHA's roof top BBQ where I tried Kangaroo, surprise surprise here, but i didn't like it. From there we moved downstairs to the YHA's very own nightclub Scubar. It was crab racing night (the crab I sponsored didn't win) and the place was packed. It had a student vibe and with $7.50 jugs it wasn't too expensive; a jug is 2 pints.
Despite a late night and a somewhat large intake of alcohol I awoke early for the IEP introduction (IEP is BUNAC's sister company in Australia) without a sore head. After the 2-3hr introduction many of my anxieties were reduced. IEP offer lots of support and help with finding accommodation, advice on where to travel, help with jobs etc. etc. and they also offer free Internet (although I'm paying for it at this very moment, free Internet is fine but when you have to pay to get the bus to just to use the Internet - it's pointless, plus it's Sunday and they aren't open.) Since I have arrived I have been in IEP for one thing or another once every two or three days. The introduction also has gotten rid, mostly, of my fears about spiders and snakes. We also got a talk on beach safety from a Surfcamp Australia rep, which wasn't as pointless as I expected, the guy also gave a pitch on the Surfcamp Australia, which I bought into and went surfing a week later.
Wednesday was job hunting day, demoralising at first, as expected, but we did view the two houses I have previously posted. We decided upon the cheaper option of $160 a week, its still only 5 minutes away from the beach though :-). All we have to do now is decide upon a housemate, we have 1 bed to fill, in this 10 bed house, and after hearing nothing for ages I have had three emails today from 2 girls and a bloke. I don't think I can make this decision on my own, picking the prettiest, single girl may not make others happy.
So anyway, that's a decision i have to make after writing this post, back to what I have been up to. On my birthday, Friday 10th (cheers for the happy birthday's for those who sent them) I paid for Surfcamp and then all 10 of us went to the Aquarium at Darling Harbour. It was a great Aquarium, you can see some of the creatures we saw below, but the damn fish wouldn't pose for pictures so it wasn't easy to take them. The Aquarium was made all the better by the fact we had free passes from IEP.
A Saltwater Croc
Jellyfish
Shark, don't know what type though
All the sharks would lie on top of the ceiling at the tunnels entrance as it was at that point where warm water was pushed into their tank. I am amazed that in this tank there were all sorts of fish and the sharks weren't eating them. Which would have been great to see.
Dory, she kept on swimming so I couldn't get a very good picture.
Some Coral
After the Aquarium we wandered to The Rocks, an area near Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House to get some fish and chips and we sat at Circular Quay Harbour with one the best views for fish and chips ever. The Fish and Chips were really nice, although they weren't greasy enough and the chips were really fries, but that is just me nit-picking. This was also, possibly, the last time all 10 of us would be together, we haven't been since and Brendan is leaving for Melbourne soon, in the house it will just be the 9 of us, and barring Christmas day can't see us doing much if anything all together. That isn't a bad thing, it is actually pretty amazing that 9 of us manage to stay together in a house and after a week all 10 of us were still doing things together.
The view from Sydney Opera House on my birthday. During the day it looks like it needs cleaning but at night it looks pretty darn spectacular.
I realise at this point I haven't mentioned the weather, which is very un-English of me. It has been pretty dismal, no real hot weather for the first week up until the first Saturday, which was when I went to Bondi Beach. It's a good beach but overrated, it is just a beach after all. Manly is much nicer which I visited a few days early when on the hunt for a house.
Sunday I didn't really do anything and that is the end of my first week. I will post on the other two weeks another day, I wanted to do them now but this has taken me too long to write.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Travelling Post No. 9 - The rest of Hong Kong
Day 2 of Hong Kong started and i felt really rough (not because of too much drinking,) I could barely speak and swallowing food was difficult, so morning was a further tour around the area near the hotel in search of a chemist.
The chemist was great, i told him my symptoms and he gave me three lots of pills, one of them was Amoxycillin, which I am sure you can only get on prescription in Britain. Anyway, it is such a better system than at home, one it is quicker, and two no Doctor to sit their and judge you for being ill or for waiting to long to come and see them.
A further search around what i think was the North East of HK island still did not reveal my imagined image of HK, I saw glimpses of it but still I wanted my metropolis.
The afternoon was time spent on a tour, with Lyona, the eccentric tour guide from yesterday. We visited, Victoria Peak, Aberdeen Fishing Port, Repulse Bay, Stanley Market and ended up at one of the buildings with a rotating restaurants for tea. Although we didn't go in the rotating restaurant, which was disappointing. In fact so was the meal, but I am getting ahead of myself, back to the start of the tour.
A final view of Hong Kong, all 10 of us eating tea at Spaghetti House in HK Airport.
To add, nothing to do with HK, but pictures of my Surf Camp experience are now up on my bebo site. http://rhino-rob.bebo.com
The chemist was great, i told him my symptoms and he gave me three lots of pills, one of them was Amoxycillin, which I am sure you can only get on prescription in Britain. Anyway, it is such a better system than at home, one it is quicker, and two no Doctor to sit their and judge you for being ill or for waiting to long to come and see them.
A further search around what i think was the North East of HK island still did not reveal my imagined image of HK, I saw glimpses of it but still I wanted my metropolis.
The afternoon was time spent on a tour, with Lyona, the eccentric tour guide from yesterday. We visited, Victoria Peak, Aberdeen Fishing Port, Repulse Bay, Stanley Market and ended up at one of the buildings with a rotating restaurants for tea. Although we didn't go in the rotating restaurant, which was disappointing. In fact so was the meal, but I am getting ahead of myself, back to the start of the tour.
Repetitive anecdotes abound came from Lyona, much to everyone's dismay. Some of it was quite interesting information, she explained on why Cantonese is the first language of HK and not Mandarin, which is the first language of the rest of China, how Maggie Thatcher had an important role in shaping the HK of today, why HK has it's own currency. All interesting enough but coming from Lyona, repeating herself over and over again, it was almost too much to bare.
Our first stop on this whirlwind tour of the South of HK island was Victoria Peak. Although we got about 10-15 minutes to look around and didn't go to the very peak. Some nice views of HK were to be had but it was all too brief a view.
Our first stop on this whirlwind tour of the South of HK island was Victoria Peak. Although we got about 10-15 minutes to look around and didn't go to the very peak. Some nice views of HK were to be had but it was all too brief a view.
There looked to be a visitor centre but we did not have time to explore. After photo time there was a stop on the path down to buy a keyring and postcards (I have written only two a week later and i have decided i don't like writing postcards) and then onto stop 2 Aberdeen Fishing Port.
At the port we got on a boat and had a relaxing 30 minute tour and took a few photos. Below is just one, this is of a floating restaurant.
At the port we got on a boat and had a relaxing 30 minute tour and took a few photos. Below is just one, this is of a floating restaurant.
Many thought this to be the best stop of the day, mostly because it got us away from Lyona for half an hour. I enjoyed the relaxing time but I think I preferred the hustle and bustle of our last stop Stanley Market. In between Aberdeen and Stanley though we visited Repulse Bay Beach, apparently the best beach in HK, it was nice but a rather pointless visit as we got off the coach, took some photos and then got back on. I did find out that it wasn't always called Repulse bay, but was renamed in honour of HMS Repulse, the British ship which defended the bay from the Japanese.
From left to right, Eleanor, Alison, Sam W, Sam K, Ed, Brendan and Paul, some of those on the Work Australia trip with me. Missing from the photo are Stacey and Emma.
And then (a favourite phrase of the dear tour guide) it was off to our final stop before tea, Stanley Market. Here i bought a stamp with my name in Chinese engraved on so now if you get stamps on your postcards you'll know why. Stanley Market was very busy with people offering deals and 'Rolexes' to you as you watched buy. Part of the market was like any other market in Britain, offering clothes etc. but much of it was geared up for the tourists. We had an all too brief half an hour to look in and around the market before it was tea time. Given longer time there, i think i may have enjoyed it so much more, just to relax and take it all in, much like the boat trip at Aberdeen Fishing Village.
Oh the tea, it was, well.. an experience. Lets just say i am recovering from trying new Chinese foods, and may be recovering for a long time to come. I don't think a person enjoyed it and then the desert turned up - Sweet Green Bean/Pea Soup.
And then (a favourite phrase of the dear tour guide) it was off to our final stop before tea, Stanley Market. Here i bought a stamp with my name in Chinese engraved on so now if you get stamps on your postcards you'll know why. Stanley Market was very busy with people offering deals and 'Rolexes' to you as you watched buy. Part of the market was like any other market in Britain, offering clothes etc. but much of it was geared up for the tourists. We had an all too brief half an hour to look in and around the market before it was tea time. Given longer time there, i think i may have enjoyed it so much more, just to relax and take it all in, much like the boat trip at Aberdeen Fishing Village.
Oh the tea, it was, well.. an experience. Lets just say i am recovering from trying new Chinese foods, and may be recovering for a long time to come. I don't think a person enjoyed it and then the desert turned up - Sweet Green Bean/Pea Soup.
Doesn't it look delicious
I was told it was good for your throat and so i tried my hardest but I couldn't finish it even after holding my nose to numb the taste buds. You can see what i got at the bottom.
At this point I couldn't continue
If you thought that was some sort of icing on the cake you were wrong, after eating half of it Lyona said 'Well aren't you brave.' and the point of coming here and eating it was...
And so it was the end of day 2 after having an enjoyable day ending with an awful meal i had two drinks in the hotel bar and was in bed by 8.30pm, suffering with a cold or man-flu as those females like to call it.
And so it was the end of day 2 after having an enjoyable day ending with an awful meal i had two drinks in the hotel bar and was in bed by 8.30pm, suffering with a cold or man-flu as those females like to call it.
---
Day 3 begins, feeling a little better after a good nights sleep, but still not being able to speak properly (already people were happy about this and I've only know them for three days... worrying isn't it!) After breakfast I looked on the map and decided to get the tram to a green part on the other side of HK and this was it, I found my Hong Kong, the Hong Kong on postcards and television the Hong Kong which is a powerhouse in world economics, the Hong Kong Kong where nearly every building is a wonderfully designed glass skyscraper.
Just one of the many skyscrapers we saw.
After walking around and looking for the green part that was on the map (HK Park) we came across St. John's Cathedral - I've seen more impressing churches and then it was onto HK Park - in a word or three, pretty damn amazing. The park was more impressive than anything i had seen in HK to date, and possibly the most impressive park I have ever been in. Why we didn't get told about this I don't know.
A view from the park.
Ed, Sam K, Sam W and Paul looking at fish in one of the ponds in the park.
We didn't really get much chance to look all around the park as we had to get back to the hotel for the final tour which, like yesterday was disappointing. I shan't go into as much detail as nothing really stands out from that tour, we visited a park that used to be a built up slum estate, interesting but not really spectacular, we went to a small Buddhist temple and then onto a jade market. Of the brief afternoon tour, the Jade Market was the most interesting, it was like a smaller version of Stanley Market and you could tell those who knew English got the tourism trade. We spent a whopping 40 minutes there , 15 would have sufficed, then it was off to the airport for a bang up tea at Spaghetti house then a long flight to Sydney, Australia on which I didn't sleep a wink oh well.
A final view of Hong Kong, all 10 of us eating tea at Spaghetti House in HK Airport.
To add, nothing to do with HK, but pictures of my Surf Camp experience are now up on my bebo site. http://rhino-rob.bebo.com
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Travelling Post No. 8 - Where do I live?
So today was flat hunting day (i'll fill in the rest of HK and getting to OZ in another soon.) And it was very demoralising to start with, as flat hunting always is, getting a place so that most of the group can stay together in either lots of 3 or 4 isn't that easy. 3 of the girls don't want to stay as a 10 (that many people all under one roof doesn't appeal to them so they are sorting themselves out) and Brendan wants to live under a pub for a month as he is off to Melbourne to visit family for Christmas. That still leaves 6 of us to find a place together and it doesn't look like it is going to be cheap. We thought it'd be about $150 (62.5pounds) as that is what we were informed is average but the realtor we saw today said it'd be $160 minimum as we are getting to the Summer and this leads me to the dilemma we nowface.
We visited Coogee (i love the names of these places) which is 20-25minutes away from Syndey centre by Bus, and had a look at a couple of houses one costing $167 per week (70 pounds) incl. bills. this house had 5 really large twin rooms and is in a great location. The disadvanatage being it is a little more money than we thought, we'd will have to find 4 people to live with us and we'd have to be qiuet after 10pm (cos I can see that happening)
The second place we saw would cost $207 (86pounds) per week which is not cheap but it has 2 jacuzzi's, a small swimming pool, 3 large twin, 1 single and 1 triple room plus a living room and a massive kitchen. This place is great and has everything we need. I would need to get a full time job to cover the cost of living and having fun or just work about 25hours to cover costs. This is a 10 week contract starting from 1st December and so would cost me around 860pounds in total and if i don't get a job will annialate my savings and leave me with v. little to travel Australia with, let alone the world. With a job i should be fine and have the best house i will probably ever live in. I can imagine spending Christmas afternoon having a bang up BBQ on the balcony by the pool and then heading to the beach, which is a stones throw away from the beach - and what a beach it is : -
Told you.
I am going to still look around for other places tommorrow but if i don't see anything do i go for the cheap option or do i splash out and take a risk, would it be worth it?
We visited Coogee (i love the names of these places) which is 20-25minutes away from Syndey centre by Bus, and had a look at a couple of houses one costing $167 per week (70 pounds) incl. bills. this house had 5 really large twin rooms and is in a great location. The disadvanatage being it is a little more money than we thought, we'd will have to find 4 people to live with us and we'd have to be qiuet after 10pm (cos I can see that happening)
The second place we saw would cost $207 (86pounds) per week which is not cheap but it has 2 jacuzzi's, a small swimming pool, 3 large twin, 1 single and 1 triple room plus a living room and a massive kitchen. This place is great and has everything we need. I would need to get a full time job to cover the cost of living and having fun or just work about 25hours to cover costs. This is a 10 week contract starting from 1st December and so would cost me around 860pounds in total and if i don't get a job will annialate my savings and leave me with v. little to travel Australia with, let alone the world. With a job i should be fine and have the best house i will probably ever live in. I can imagine spending Christmas afternoon having a bang up BBQ on the balcony by the pool and then heading to the beach, which is a stones throw away from the beach - and what a beach it is : -
Told you.
I am going to still look around for other places tommorrow but if i don't see anything do i go for the cheap option or do i splash out and take a risk, would it be worth it?
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Travelling Post No. 7 - I went to Hong Kong... Hi-Five! (now reading a bit better)
After leaving home at around 3.10am I arrived at Hong Kong at midnight our time, 8 am there time. The flight was awful and dragged, i got very little sleep as the bloke in front decided to recline his seat, which was nice of him, and this gave me even less leg room than the ridiculous amount they give you normally. When we arrived in Hong Kong, all 27 of us (9 were continuing with me to Australia and the other 17 were heading out to New Zealand). It was a big relief, although the tour operator was late and we had to wait around 20 minutes until she arrived. Then we had a further 45min-1hr coach trip to the hotel.
The coach trip to the hotel was made worse by the tour operator, Lyona. She was quite informative (well about some things but not others, which i'll explain in a later post) but she repeated her self over and over again, but without explaining anything in a different way, she was annoying and her repetition made her boring and hard to listen to. The coach passed by the third largest cargo container storgage port in the world, that's right the third, not in Hong Kong, not in Asia but the world after Rotterdam, the first; San Fransico the second and Hong Kong, the third largest cargo container storage port in the world. Although it was very big i wouldn't be quite so proud of it as Lyona seemed to be. We also drove across the only bridge in Hong Kong, then passed by a couple more bridges, and two trees that were being preserved because they were so old -100years?!?! She was an interesting person just in the wrong way.
My first impression of Hong Kong was that it was different to what I was expecting, there seemed fewer modern Skyscrapers and the landscape was mostly filled with high rise flights, we weren't shown the rich city that is as strong a force in the world's economy as many countries.
The South Pacific Hotel, where we stayed was really nice, I was expecting something a little less modern and a little less.. well classier, but this was a decent 28 storey building with a really fast lift. I was sharing a room with Paul and so after being delayed until 11 before we got into the room (after arriving shortly after 10am) it was bed time. I orginally wanted to stay up and tour the city as we were only there for three days but i was too tired, ill and jet lagged, so much so that I had to be woken up around 3 or 4 times by Paul at 2pm when we getting up to go out.
And so now I eventually start writing about things I got up to, about 3 of the New Zealand group joined, I think, 8 of us Australian lot, and we wandered for about HK island for around three hours. The first thing we came to was a fish and vegatable market (below) just by the hotel, this was more bustling and a little more like what I thought areas of Hong Kong would be like. There were also live fish and fish heads that had been chopped off so recently that they still moved. A few people, but not I, were rather fascinated by this.
We then wandered to one of the many harbours which stunk so much that I was almost physically sick, admittedly I was already ill and my man-cold was only getting worse, but it felt as though you could catch an infection from breathing, it was putrid and i could taste the air. We wandered along the side of the port for a while before coming to Victoria Park. This was a really surprisng find as I didn't expect to find a park so big in amongst Hong Kong. It was well kept and very busy, there was an path solely for runners and a number of courts for football, tennis and other such sports of which most were being used. We then headed back to the hotel with me still wondering where i had got this idea that Hong Kong was a modern metropolis of glass skyscrapers.
After making plans to meet at 6 - myself, Paul, the two Sams (Aus lot) and Mark (NZ) went to the top floor bar to look at the view (i still didn't see my metropolis) and ended up staying for a drink. Safe to say we were still there at 6.30 and after having missed the meet with the others we decided to go to tea. The restaurant we went to was incredibly cheap, for five of us, a dish each and a drink it only cost around 28pound between us. Being in a different part of the world I decided to experiment upon my choice of food and went for the battered crab option. Although a bit salty it was very nice. After the restaurant it was off to the european thremed bar. Although it was themed like a British pub but there were some very subtle differences such as waiter service, no queueing at the bar and efficient staff. Next it was back to the hotel bar for a quick one before going back to sleep - which ended up being a few drinks and off to bed at half midnight after having a fun, long day and taking the below view of Hong Kong from the bar.
Gotta run now, times up, I will finish this post tommorow (after note - in a few days) and ensure it reads correctly - which i know it doesn't now (after note - it should now) but I wanted to give you all something for now. Safe to say I'm having fun though.
The coach trip to the hotel was made worse by the tour operator, Lyona. She was quite informative (well about some things but not others, which i'll explain in a later post) but she repeated her self over and over again, but without explaining anything in a different way, she was annoying and her repetition made her boring and hard to listen to. The coach passed by the third largest cargo container storgage port in the world, that's right the third, not in Hong Kong, not in Asia but the world after Rotterdam, the first; San Fransico the second and Hong Kong, the third largest cargo container storage port in the world. Although it was very big i wouldn't be quite so proud of it as Lyona seemed to be. We also drove across the only bridge in Hong Kong, then passed by a couple more bridges, and two trees that were being preserved because they were so old -100years?!?! She was an interesting person just in the wrong way.
My first impression of Hong Kong was that it was different to what I was expecting, there seemed fewer modern Skyscrapers and the landscape was mostly filled with high rise flights, we weren't shown the rich city that is as strong a force in the world's economy as many countries.
The South Pacific Hotel, where we stayed was really nice, I was expecting something a little less modern and a little less.. well classier, but this was a decent 28 storey building with a really fast lift. I was sharing a room with Paul and so after being delayed until 11 before we got into the room (after arriving shortly after 10am) it was bed time. I orginally wanted to stay up and tour the city as we were only there for three days but i was too tired, ill and jet lagged, so much so that I had to be woken up around 3 or 4 times by Paul at 2pm when we getting up to go out.
And so now I eventually start writing about things I got up to, about 3 of the New Zealand group joined, I think, 8 of us Australian lot, and we wandered for about HK island for around three hours. The first thing we came to was a fish and vegatable market (below) just by the hotel, this was more bustling and a little more like what I thought areas of Hong Kong would be like. There were also live fish and fish heads that had been chopped off so recently that they still moved. A few people, but not I, were rather fascinated by this.
We then wandered to one of the many harbours which stunk so much that I was almost physically sick, admittedly I was already ill and my man-cold was only getting worse, but it felt as though you could catch an infection from breathing, it was putrid and i could taste the air. We wandered along the side of the port for a while before coming to Victoria Park. This was a really surprisng find as I didn't expect to find a park so big in amongst Hong Kong. It was well kept and very busy, there was an path solely for runners and a number of courts for football, tennis and other such sports of which most were being used. We then headed back to the hotel with me still wondering where i had got this idea that Hong Kong was a modern metropolis of glass skyscrapers.
After making plans to meet at 6 - myself, Paul, the two Sams (Aus lot) and Mark (NZ) went to the top floor bar to look at the view (i still didn't see my metropolis) and ended up staying for a drink. Safe to say we were still there at 6.30 and after having missed the meet with the others we decided to go to tea. The restaurant we went to was incredibly cheap, for five of us, a dish each and a drink it only cost around 28pound between us. Being in a different part of the world I decided to experiment upon my choice of food and went for the battered crab option. Although a bit salty it was very nice. After the restaurant it was off to the european thremed bar. Although it was themed like a British pub but there were some very subtle differences such as waiter service, no queueing at the bar and efficient staff. Next it was back to the hotel bar for a quick one before going back to sleep - which ended up being a few drinks and off to bed at half midnight after having a fun, long day and taking the below view of Hong Kong from the bar.
Gotta run now, times up, I will finish this post tommorow (after note - in a few days) and ensure it reads correctly - which i know it doesn't now (after note - it should now) but I wanted to give you all something for now. Safe to say I'm having fun though.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Travelling Post No. 6 - 12 days to go
If this post seems forced, it is I am only responding to requests to posts from the plethora of fans I have - or rather the one person who said I needed to post more.
I have 12 days until I leave for the rest of the world, it’s all really exciting. I have met a couple of the people going and have been emailing some of the others, a couple even have bebo sites. I’m still nervous but meeting up with some and conversing with others has made me a little less apprehensive.
I don’t have much to do now, just spoke to Vodaphone and I will still have my old mobile number in OZ (country code is 0061) but it’ll cost me 35p to send/receive a text message and cost me 75p to receive a phone call. The main reason I am keeping is I can ring home for a 75p connection charge and use all my free minutes for only £8per month. I am going to get another phone out in Oz but that will be for a contact number for people in Australia. Those in the UK who wish to stay in touch it’ll be best sticking to email, bebo and here. I will also be sending postcards and if I haven’t asked for your contact details and you want postcards then email me your address.
Think I am pretty much organised now. I still need to pack although I think I might leave that until next weekend or the day before. Went shopping with my sister the other week so I have all the clothes I wanted to take, I’m going to have to buy shorts and swimming shorts out there but they will be cheaper in Oz than here in the UK so that isn’t a problem.
All that is left to do is wait, and of course have a going away party. So anyone who happens to be in the vicinity of Atherton wants to come to a Halloween fancy dress party (I am going as a dead gangster) I am having one on Saturday 28th at the Masons Arms, where I work.
Think the next post will be when I am out there.... which is scary.
I have 12 days until I leave for the rest of the world, it’s all really exciting. I have met a couple of the people going and have been emailing some of the others, a couple even have bebo sites. I’m still nervous but meeting up with some and conversing with others has made me a little less apprehensive.
I don’t have much to do now, just spoke to Vodaphone and I will still have my old mobile number in OZ (country code is 0061) but it’ll cost me 35p to send/receive a text message and cost me 75p to receive a phone call. The main reason I am keeping is I can ring home for a 75p connection charge and use all my free minutes for only £8per month. I am going to get another phone out in Oz but that will be for a contact number for people in Australia. Those in the UK who wish to stay in touch it’ll be best sticking to email, bebo and here. I will also be sending postcards and if I haven’t asked for your contact details and you want postcards then email me your address.
Think I am pretty much organised now. I still need to pack although I think I might leave that until next weekend or the day before. Went shopping with my sister the other week so I have all the clothes I wanted to take, I’m going to have to buy shorts and swimming shorts out there but they will be cheaper in Oz than here in the UK so that isn’t a problem.
All that is left to do is wait, and of course have a going away party. So anyone who happens to be in the vicinity of Atherton wants to come to a Halloween fancy dress party (I am going as a dead gangster) I am having one on Saturday 28th at the Masons Arms, where I work.
Think the next post will be when I am out there.... which is scary.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Travelling Post No. 4 - Six weeks to go
Six weeks today, at roundabout this time I'll be 8 ½ hours into a 12 hour flight to Hong Kong (woohoo.) And so I feel this "6-week to go" milestone deserved a post, and I am also bored so wanted something to do to pass the time.
I will start by apologising as this is not an exiting post - There is stuff on credit cards and gyms and inoculations, so not that exciting, but I need to make note of things for my book-that-will-make-me-rich-and-get-me-into-journalism. I also ramble a bit, arguably more than usual.
And so, since my last post I have been preparing, cos there is nothing much else to do other than work - which is technically preparing anyway as all I am working for is to earn money for travelling.
I have been to the opticians and the doctors where I had the two inoculations I need. Not for Australia but for Mexico and Malaysia, should I go. I have had one for hepatitis and one for Typhoid, I didn't need anything else as I am all up to date with my inoculations which cover me until I am 24 or so. The Hepatitis one hurt as well and I need a booster in six months time.
I have also been looking at getting a credit card for emergency use. I will have my Australian bank account but when I leave Australia I need something else and my current HSBC one is CRAP. I get charged around 2.75% for any transaction (not just cash withdrawals) abroad. So the plan is for my mum to apply for a new credit card, as I don't earn enough to get one, and add me as a card holder and then give her access to my account (hmmm) so if I use the card (which I plan to - will say why in a second or two) she can get money out of my account in England and pay the card off. I do plan to use the card cos I think I may travel around the Americas until my money runs out, then I’ll just need to pay for transport to the airport and possibly a flight change if I didn't get the dates and timing all right.
Apart from sorting out a new credit card I need to sort out an International Driving Permit (IDP). Although not needed in Australia it is recommended and it is only £5.50. I have been told not to bother but I am paranoid and would rather be safe than sorry.
Also, in preparation, I have joined a gym so that I will be all fit and healthy for the Australian er… heat - yes I shall stick with heat as my reason. I joined my local 'Profiles' gym that the local Culture and Health Trust run. For a government thing it's actually quite good, no joining fee, just £7.50 for the induction and I pay £33 per month which includes my gym entry at my local gym (Howe Bridge) and I can go whenever I want and I also can go to any Trust ran gym or swimming pool in the Wigan area. . I plan to go 4 times a week and so far I have kept this up and if I didn't pay £33 its £4.30 a session and I have already been 8 times so it’s easily worth its money.
And the most exciting thing I have done is gone and bought an MP3 player. Well I say me, my parents, brother and sisters bought it for me as a birthday and Christmas present as I won't be here for them. I bought a Creative Zen Media 30GB rather than an Ipod (cheers Tom for the recommendation.) It’s really easy to use, the sound quality and picture quality is ace and it has a radio - although it didn't come with a plug which I have had to purchase separately. I have added all my music from my computer onto it (and still have lots of space) I just need to go through my CD collection now. I think I can add photos onto it abroad, I just need to see if I need to use the creative software or not. I decided to take photos so show people, and also show the size of it, and the size of it compared to the box it came in. Packaging gets ridiculous at times. I also wanted to see what it was like to upload pictures on here before I go away - bebo.com isn’t very good as it doesn’t allow me to upload large enough files, nether does facebook.com and no one uses ringo.com - so hopefully my blogspot will come through with the goods.
Don't think I have done much else I am just waiting, will get lots through the post in around two weeks with all the flight details and a list of everyone going on the same trip. And so all I really have left to do is
- Sort out the above credit card
- Sort out my Australian Back Account (need to wait for them to contact me though)
- Shop for clothes then....
- decide what to take
- Buy a funky padlock for my bag that only customs can get into and no one else
- Get an IDP
- Got to the dentist (this is what I am most looking forward to - honest)
- Wait,
- Also probably something else I have forgot
End of post, told you it wasn't exciting, but at least you got photos.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Travelling Post No. 3 - iPods, Mp3s and other stuff
For Australia and the rest of my travels I want to buy an Mp3 player to take with me, particularly a 30GB iPod http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/591/799/-/815353/Apple_iPod_30GB_White/Product.html?searchtype=genre, however I have some questions that I if anyone could answer.
I was told that if I add music to an iPod in another country will wipe its memory clean and I would have to start from afresh. That does not bother me. What does concern me is I want to be able to store all my photos taken on my digital camera on it, I'm just wondering will putting pictures on it in Australia or America etc. etc. wipe the iPod clean. If not then I can show people I meet on my way where I have been and what I have doing, without carrying a photo album about.
If this is going to wipe the date I would rather spend £30 less and get this Sony Mp3 20 GB player http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/595/803/-/732042/Sony_NWA3000_Walkman_20GB_MP3_Player/Product.html?searchtype=genre I have no wish to use the video function of the iPod and so I wouldn’t need to buy the 30GB iPod, but the 4GB iPod which is the same price as the 30GB Sony. For me there is no comparison between a Sony 20GB Mp3 player and a 4GB iPod that are the same price. It’s the Sony every time.
Whilst I have mentioned Mp3s I thought I would start a discussion on whether or not I should take one with me. Whilst I was reading through my BUNAC advice booklet I came across advice telling travellers not taking an IPod/Mp3 player or expensive electronic items with them. I am not yet a seasoned traveller, although I want to become one obviously, but it strikes me that I am no more at risk in Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns or any other big city in Australia or the rest of the world than I am in Manchester or London where, if I had an Mp3 player now I would take it. And also, surely for someone who is travelling long distances for a long amount of time, a good book and a music player would seem to me to be vital components of travelling to alleviate the boredom? But maybe that is just my inexperience showing through, or it could be the advisors just covering themselves in case someone complains they weren't warned. Oh well, I think I'm going to take one anyway, despite 'advice' to the contrary, unless someone with unbiased, not covering themselves, advice wants to chip in.
Only 10 weeks and 6days left to go. It's all rather exciting but still lots to do, I have to go to the docs, dentists and opticians, set up a bank account, buy clothes, decide what I am going to take with me, buy a plug converter thingy, inform everyone I know the address of this blog, write more in my personal journal, of course buy an iPod, save up more money, try not to panic, resend application for VIP Backpackers card and IYTC Card, I’m not sure if I have forgotten anything but do those things I have forgotten.
So back to the question, simply put does anyone know if using the picture saving facility on a 30GB iPod in Australia, America or anywhere else in the world will wipe the iPod clean of any info already saved on it? Also does using it in any other country’s computer wipe the date or can I just recharge my iPod via a USB in another country without wiping the date on it? The info anyone provides is vital to my travelling plans.
I was told that if I add music to an iPod in another country will wipe its memory clean and I would have to start from afresh. That does not bother me. What does concern me is I want to be able to store all my photos taken on my digital camera on it, I'm just wondering will putting pictures on it in Australia or America etc. etc. wipe the iPod clean. If not then I can show people I meet on my way where I have been and what I have doing, without carrying a photo album about.
If this is going to wipe the date I would rather spend £30 less and get this Sony Mp3 20 GB player http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/595/803/-/732042/Sony_NWA3000_Walkman_20GB_MP3_Player/Product.html?searchtype=genre I have no wish to use the video function of the iPod and so I wouldn’t need to buy the 30GB iPod, but the 4GB iPod which is the same price as the 30GB Sony. For me there is no comparison between a Sony 20GB Mp3 player and a 4GB iPod that are the same price. It’s the Sony every time.
Whilst I have mentioned Mp3s I thought I would start a discussion on whether or not I should take one with me. Whilst I was reading through my BUNAC advice booklet I came across advice telling travellers not taking an IPod/Mp3 player or expensive electronic items with them. I am not yet a seasoned traveller, although I want to become one obviously, but it strikes me that I am no more at risk in Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns or any other big city in Australia or the rest of the world than I am in Manchester or London where, if I had an Mp3 player now I would take it. And also, surely for someone who is travelling long distances for a long amount of time, a good book and a music player would seem to me to be vital components of travelling to alleviate the boredom? But maybe that is just my inexperience showing through, or it could be the advisors just covering themselves in case someone complains they weren't warned. Oh well, I think I'm going to take one anyway, despite 'advice' to the contrary, unless someone with unbiased, not covering themselves, advice wants to chip in.
Only 10 weeks and 6days left to go. It's all rather exciting but still lots to do, I have to go to the docs, dentists and opticians, set up a bank account, buy clothes, decide what I am going to take with me, buy a plug converter thingy, inform everyone I know the address of this blog, write more in my personal journal, of course buy an iPod, save up more money, try not to panic, resend application for VIP Backpackers card and IYTC Card, I’m not sure if I have forgotten anything but do those things I have forgotten.
So back to the question, simply put does anyone know if using the picture saving facility on a 30GB iPod in Australia, America or anywhere else in the world will wipe the iPod clean of any info already saved on it? Also does using it in any other country’s computer wipe the date or can I just recharge my iPod via a USB in another country without wiping the date on it? The info anyone provides is vital to my travelling plans.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Film Review - Roger Dodger (2002)
Roger Dodger (2002)
Vital Statistics
Director(s)
Dylan Kidd
Writer(s)
Dylan Kidd
Starring:
Campbell Scott
Jesse Eisenberg
Isabella Rossellini
Elizabeth Berkeley
Jennifer Beals
Review
These days, many films are predictable, you can tell what will happen, or thereabouts, with relative ease; characters will develop in roughly the manner expected and, save twists, so does the story. What is often more important in films that have a predictable tale, is the way the story is spun, its not what happens so much as how it happens. Roger Dodger is one of these ‘many films.’
The story is about how both a womanising uncle and his naïve, 16 year old, nephew grow and develop when the latter visits the former in the big city in order to get help in loosing his virginity. So far this does not sound the most original of films, and that assumption would be correct. So we come back to the discussion, that it is not what happens but how it all happens and from that angle Roger Dodger does have the edge over its competition.
Campbell Scott stars as Roger, uncle to Jesse Eisenberg’s Nick; a big city high flier who avoids speaking to his family and is thus surprised when Nick turns up unexpected. Scott is near perfect as the arrogant, bastard that is Roger, he is not a likeable character, and for a film to put its lead character as a really, truly, un-likeable is a rarity. You don’t even root for him to change and become ‘a better person,’ you don’t pity him, even when he gets to his lowest ebb, urging his nephew to take advantage of a drunken woman.
Eisenberg is the polar opposite of Scott, excellent, as his is young, inexperienced and desperate nephew who matures on one night out with his uncle. He epitomises every awkward 16 year old boy and their wishes, the film‘s title and lead may be Roger but the film is as much about Nick and his journey and development.
The script is witty and clever and the direction helped by some excellent hand held camera work. First time writer-director Dylan Kidd wrote some excellent dialogue, [Roger to his nephew who doesn’t want to drink alcohol - ‘You drink that drink! Alcohol has been a social lubricant for thousands of years. What do you think, you're going to sit here tonight and reinvent the wheel?] but dialogue is also the film’s letdown. The dialogue continues, long after it should have stopped and Kidd hammers home various points - womanising is wrong, Roger is a bastard. This hammering hampers the subtlety towards the end of the film, the subtlety of change and character development that you can see Kidd was aiming to achieve.
With excellent performances, and a script that often makes you think, Roger Dodger is a flawed but enjoyable film, a film that is predictable in its outcome but getting there is done in in great style and sometimes unsual fashion.
Star Rating
3½ stars
Vital Statistics
Director(s)
Dylan Kidd
Writer(s)
Dylan Kidd
Starring:
Campbell Scott
Jesse Eisenberg
Isabella Rossellini
Elizabeth Berkeley
Jennifer Beals
Review
These days, many films are predictable, you can tell what will happen, or thereabouts, with relative ease; characters will develop in roughly the manner expected and, save twists, so does the story. What is often more important in films that have a predictable tale, is the way the story is spun, its not what happens so much as how it happens. Roger Dodger is one of these ‘many films.’
The story is about how both a womanising uncle and his naïve, 16 year old, nephew grow and develop when the latter visits the former in the big city in order to get help in loosing his virginity. So far this does not sound the most original of films, and that assumption would be correct. So we come back to the discussion, that it is not what happens but how it all happens and from that angle Roger Dodger does have the edge over its competition.
Campbell Scott stars as Roger, uncle to Jesse Eisenberg’s Nick; a big city high flier who avoids speaking to his family and is thus surprised when Nick turns up unexpected. Scott is near perfect as the arrogant, bastard that is Roger, he is not a likeable character, and for a film to put its lead character as a really, truly, un-likeable is a rarity. You don’t even root for him to change and become ‘a better person,’ you don’t pity him, even when he gets to his lowest ebb, urging his nephew to take advantage of a drunken woman.
Eisenberg is the polar opposite of Scott, excellent, as his is young, inexperienced and desperate nephew who matures on one night out with his uncle. He epitomises every awkward 16 year old boy and their wishes, the film‘s title and lead may be Roger but the film is as much about Nick and his journey and development.
The script is witty and clever and the direction helped by some excellent hand held camera work. First time writer-director Dylan Kidd wrote some excellent dialogue, [Roger to his nephew who doesn’t want to drink alcohol - ‘You drink that drink! Alcohol has been a social lubricant for thousands of years. What do you think, you're going to sit here tonight and reinvent the wheel?] but dialogue is also the film’s letdown. The dialogue continues, long after it should have stopped and Kidd hammers home various points - womanising is wrong, Roger is a bastard. This hammering hampers the subtlety towards the end of the film, the subtlety of change and character development that you can see Kidd was aiming to achieve.
With excellent performances, and a script that often makes you think, Roger Dodger is a flawed but enjoyable film, a film that is predictable in its outcome but getting there is done in in great style and sometimes unsual fashion.
Star Rating
3½ stars
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Film Reviews - Teen Movies - Date Movie, Just Friends, Man of the House
Teen movies
Date Movie (2006)
Vital Statistics
Dir(s) Aaron Seltzer
Writer(s) Aaron Seltzer, Jason Friedberg
Starring: Alyson Hannigan, Eddie Griffin, Adam Campbell
Just Friends (2005)
Vital Statistics
Dir(s) Roger Kumble
Writer(s) Adam Davies
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris
Man of the House (2005)
Vital Statistics
Dir(s) Stephen Herek
Writer(s) Matthew Stone, John J. McLaughlin, Robert Ramsey
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Christina Milian, Cedric the Entertainer
Review
Without wanting to state the obvious - but going to do so anyway - teen comedies are not, on the whole, aimed at movie critics and reviewers. The acting in them is rarely above average, the comedy can be crude, vulgar and offensive. They are not all bad, some can surprise you, and they are, after all, movies and they must be reviewed (ignoring them is not an option) every job has its downsides - of which Date Movie is most certainly one.
Date Movie is written by 2 of the six writers of Scary Movie. If that brief introduction did not warn you off the film, here is a less subtle approach. This film is awful, so awful that this reviewer could not even brave the last 20 minutes. Occasionally you may smirk or even smile but it isn’t worth it for the sheer boredom and disgust that the rest of the film offers. There is no point even entering into the plot which spoofs the likes of reality to shows to Kill Bill and Meet the Fockers. The only thing left to comment upon is Alyson Hannigan, who showed such promise and ability in Buffy the Vampire Slayer - may her career rest in peace.
The humour of Just Friends and Man of the House are two teen movies very different from both each other and Date Movie. Just Friends is aimed at the mid to older teen market (more sex jokes) whilst Man of the House is aimed at the younger teens (less sex jokes.)
The star of Just Friends is not the two leads (Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart) but Anna Faris as the self proclaimed lover of Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds stars as Chris Brander, a formerly fat, unlucky in love, who becomes a smooth operating player after the love-of-his-life Amy (I’m boring but pretty) Smart does not reciprocate his love at the high school prom. Years later, after the transformation from fat-to-fit, Reynolds is trapped in his home town, with Smart still there, having gone no where with her life.
The humour of Just Friends is halfway between Date Movie and Man of the House, it isn’t a spoof (so no worries there) but it is a little crude and the humour can be in your face. Reynolds is OK but Smart is boring and that is where the problem lies. Reynolds character is supposed to love Smart’s, but she is boring, one could go into the psychological aspects of Brander not being able to let go of his past - but it isn’t that type of film it is a film where her being attractive is reason enough. The films saving grace is Anna Faris, who is highly amusing as the hyperactive, self-obsessed, celebrity sending up all those wannabe divas out there. Just Friends is an amusing date movie but like the majority of teen movies it feels like it has been churned out of a factory, that said it does have its moments, just not often enough.
In Man of the House Tommy Lee Jones stars as Roland Sharp, a Texas Ranger who has to protect five cheerleaders who witnessed a murder. Jones does his trade mark gruff, hard-exterior, soft-interior performance; and the idea of putting this into a film with five very attractive cheerleaders’ works surprisingly well. Jones looks, unsurprisingly, like he is enjoying every moment as he becomes a surrogate dad to the cheerleaders whilst learning how to become a real dad to his 17 year old daughter. The five cheerleaders, led by singer-turned-actress, Christina Milian are not as forgettable as on might expect; there are no performances that are of particular note but likewise there are none which are below average. Where Man of the House excels over Date Movie and Just Friends is in its accessibility, this is a teen movie with a heart and it also benefits from lacking the crudeness, vulgarity and obscenities that feature in the other two films. Nothing new, nothing special but nothing bad either.
Star Rating
Date Movie - does not even deserve a star, it is below stardom, minus stars, it gives stars to films who don’t normally deserve stars because it is that bad.
Just Friends - 2 stars
Man of the House - 2½ stars
Trivia
It took 4 hours just to make the 12 pound face on Ryan Reynolds. (source imdb.com)
Date Movie (2006)
Vital Statistics
Dir(s) Aaron Seltzer
Writer(s) Aaron Seltzer, Jason Friedberg
Starring: Alyson Hannigan, Eddie Griffin, Adam Campbell
Just Friends (2005)
Vital Statistics
Dir(s) Roger Kumble
Writer(s) Adam Davies
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris
Man of the House (2005)
Vital Statistics
Dir(s) Stephen Herek
Writer(s) Matthew Stone, John J. McLaughlin, Robert Ramsey
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Christina Milian, Cedric the Entertainer
Review
Without wanting to state the obvious - but going to do so anyway - teen comedies are not, on the whole, aimed at movie critics and reviewers. The acting in them is rarely above average, the comedy can be crude, vulgar and offensive. They are not all bad, some can surprise you, and they are, after all, movies and they must be reviewed (ignoring them is not an option) every job has its downsides - of which Date Movie is most certainly one.
Date Movie is written by 2 of the six writers of Scary Movie. If that brief introduction did not warn you off the film, here is a less subtle approach. This film is awful, so awful that this reviewer could not even brave the last 20 minutes. Occasionally you may smirk or even smile but it isn’t worth it for the sheer boredom and disgust that the rest of the film offers. There is no point even entering into the plot which spoofs the likes of reality to shows to Kill Bill and Meet the Fockers. The only thing left to comment upon is Alyson Hannigan, who showed such promise and ability in Buffy the Vampire Slayer - may her career rest in peace.
The humour of Just Friends and Man of the House are two teen movies very different from both each other and Date Movie. Just Friends is aimed at the mid to older teen market (more sex jokes) whilst Man of the House is aimed at the younger teens (less sex jokes.)
The star of Just Friends is not the two leads (Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart) but Anna Faris as the self proclaimed lover of Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds stars as Chris Brander, a formerly fat, unlucky in love, who becomes a smooth operating player after the love-of-his-life Amy (I’m boring but pretty) Smart does not reciprocate his love at the high school prom. Years later, after the transformation from fat-to-fit, Reynolds is trapped in his home town, with Smart still there, having gone no where with her life.
The humour of Just Friends is halfway between Date Movie and Man of the House, it isn’t a spoof (so no worries there) but it is a little crude and the humour can be in your face. Reynolds is OK but Smart is boring and that is where the problem lies. Reynolds character is supposed to love Smart’s, but she is boring, one could go into the psychological aspects of Brander not being able to let go of his past - but it isn’t that type of film it is a film where her being attractive is reason enough. The films saving grace is Anna Faris, who is highly amusing as the hyperactive, self-obsessed, celebrity sending up all those wannabe divas out there. Just Friends is an amusing date movie but like the majority of teen movies it feels like it has been churned out of a factory, that said it does have its moments, just not often enough.
In Man of the House Tommy Lee Jones stars as Roland Sharp, a Texas Ranger who has to protect five cheerleaders who witnessed a murder. Jones does his trade mark gruff, hard-exterior, soft-interior performance; and the idea of putting this into a film with five very attractive cheerleaders’ works surprisingly well. Jones looks, unsurprisingly, like he is enjoying every moment as he becomes a surrogate dad to the cheerleaders whilst learning how to become a real dad to his 17 year old daughter. The five cheerleaders, led by singer-turned-actress, Christina Milian are not as forgettable as on might expect; there are no performances that are of particular note but likewise there are none which are below average. Where Man of the House excels over Date Movie and Just Friends is in its accessibility, this is a teen movie with a heart and it also benefits from lacking the crudeness, vulgarity and obscenities that feature in the other two films. Nothing new, nothing special but nothing bad either.
Star Rating
Date Movie - does not even deserve a star, it is below stardom, minus stars, it gives stars to films who don’t normally deserve stars because it is that bad.
Just Friends - 2 stars
Man of the House - 2½ stars
Trivia
It took 4 hours just to make the 12 pound face on Ryan Reynolds. (source imdb.com)
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Travelling Post No.2: I'm getting lots of things through snail mail - this may be real.
BUNAC keep sending me information through the post, which kinda makes me think this is all real. Because of my oh so negative personality though i'm not counting my chickens until 24th August - that's 10 weeks before I leave and the latest they could cancel this all on me. Althougth when that day comes I think it will all hit me. At the moment i'm not quite sure that I fully realise what i have taken on, should be fun when I do. Also when the 24th August comes along and i don't recieve any cancellation notices i think I might be going around in a hyperactive manner comparable to someone with ADHD.
I've paid my travel insurance today £637 for 16months - which sounds really expensive but if you go away for 90 days to Australia you'll pay around £294.00 with the Post Office and I can't find anywhere else that offers the cover they do and for that length of time. After that dent in the funds i now need £1,600 over the next 12 weeks and 2 days. I am luck as my boss has said she'll give me all hours god sends in the pub so I can earn as much as possible. She has offered me a job on my return - the advantages of working for someone who's almost family. I am also gonna set up an ebay account and sell some DVDs to free up some cash, that is if i can bring my self to part with any.
I am also starting a list of things i think i will miss (feel free to add to this) - I'm gonna compare this to what i did miss when I get back in 16 months. I'm also doing this cos I like lists, it's in no order either.
1) Warbuton's sliced bread
2) Cadbury's Chocolate
3) Fish 'n' Chips
5) Family and Friends (maybe...)
6) British weather (honest)
7) Regular TV
8) Films and the cinema
9) A regular bed
10) A comfy bed
11) People who can understand my accent and dialect.. even if they can only just understand it
12) Routine
13) A comfort zone
14) Regular internet access
Today I also went clothes shopping for my travels - i need another jumper, a couple of T-shirts and a couple of pairs of shorts. I can't take too much as i have a 20Kg limit (and i think my bag weighs in at around three quarters of that), plus it's cheaper for shorts and stuff out there - but i still need some, i can't go naked and i only have one pair of shorts and a handful of T-shirts I actually like. However i am useless at shopping and bought zilch, I cannot tell what suits me, and so i need my personal shoppers to help...
I've paid my travel insurance today £637 for 16months - which sounds really expensive but if you go away for 90 days to Australia you'll pay around £294.00 with the Post Office and I can't find anywhere else that offers the cover they do and for that length of time. After that dent in the funds i now need £1,600 over the next 12 weeks and 2 days. I am luck as my boss has said she'll give me all hours god sends in the pub so I can earn as much as possible. She has offered me a job on my return - the advantages of working for someone who's almost family. I am also gonna set up an ebay account and sell some DVDs to free up some cash, that is if i can bring my self to part with any.
I am also starting a list of things i think i will miss (feel free to add to this) - I'm gonna compare this to what i did miss when I get back in 16 months. I'm also doing this cos I like lists, it's in no order either.
1) Warbuton's sliced bread
2) Cadbury's Chocolate
3) Fish 'n' Chips
5) Family and Friends (maybe...)
6) British weather (honest)
7) Regular TV
8) Films and the cinema
9) A regular bed
10) A comfy bed
11) People who can understand my accent and dialect.. even if they can only just understand it
12) Routine
13) A comfort zone
14) Regular internet access
Today I also went clothes shopping for my travels - i need another jumper, a couple of T-shirts and a couple of pairs of shorts. I can't take too much as i have a 20Kg limit (and i think my bag weighs in at around three quarters of that), plus it's cheaper for shorts and stuff out there - but i still need some, i can't go naked and i only have one pair of shorts and a handful of T-shirts I actually like. However i am useless at shopping and bought zilch, I cannot tell what suits me, and so i need my personal shoppers to help...
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