Travelling Post 25 - "I got a tat down under"

Now there are only a few people that will get the joke of that title, should their memories be good enough and should they still be reading, but it is self explanatory in it's meaning. So what do you think? - and look at that tan line!




















now for a closer look




















Actually it's only a transfer I just couldn't keep up the ruse, but I had you all fooled into believing that I really got a tattoo, not yet maybe in NZ rather than Oz. I got the transfer at Mildura Mardi Gras, which was held a week last Saturday, on the the same day that Sydney held their more impressive Mardi Gras. Mildura's Mardi Gras wasn't in any way what many people associate with a Mardi Gras as there wasn't any representation for Gays and Lesbians in the 60+strong parade of floats and displays, neither was it held on Pancake Tuesday, or as a further meaning described on Wikipedia it wasn't even the end of a Carnival but the start of a month long Arts Festival. However miss-named the festival was it, was still a enjoyable to watch all the floats go by from the hostel, and it ended with a grape crushing contest. The Riviera Backpackers entered two teams, I wasn't in any, which is probably why none of them won, probably















There were a number of floats with a fruit theme.















The local Library sent representation in the form of the story 'The Hungry Caterpillar,' I think that was the books title it has been a long time since I read it.















Many local businesses were represented, from pubs and restaurants to this gentlemen who sells manure at a bargain price.















The two Riviera teams in the grape crushing contest.

and on the poker front
On Monday 5th, I came in the top 18 and on the final three tables. Then on Friday 9th I came second in the losers game. Being on the losers this may not seem like much but there were 16-18 people in the losers game and I purposefully put myself on it by betting on cards that I didn't even look at, all because I'd had a bit too much to drink. On Monday 12th I came in second again on the losers table, which is the closest I've come to winning a cash prize, if I'd have won I'd have won $130, so close yet so far.

Whilst at the poker i saw poker kits for sale, a 500 piece set costs $122, so I have decided that before I leave Mildura I will treat myself (as if 18 months abroad is not treat enough) and buy myself one and post it home. Those thrifty ones amongst you would point out that I could save on the $30+ postage and purchase one at home upon my return, but I want a keepsake of my time in Mildura, and there pretty much is nothing else to buy.

Travelling Post 24 - 6 countries, a stapler and a thumb

Rob and staplers do not got together, especially not the awesome strength of a three foot high, foot pedal powered, monolith used for stapling cardboard boxes and... my thumb. Only me!

I had been using this giant stapler for a while, already having 'built' 150+ boxes when, as my leg was in the air about to press the pedal down, a pesky fly buzzed in my face, with my left hand i tried to swat it away. As I did this my foot went to the floor and my right hand moved slightly to the left, this was followed by a flow of obscenities from my mouth and I think a disapproving scowl from one woman until she saw the staple, stuck in my thumb. I tried to remove it, but couldn't bring myself to do it, too painful. One bloke suggested pliers or the outpatients care. I was up for the pliers but luckily the boss said hospital and his father dropped me off.

At hospital the service was great, I was seen immediately, and was out in 2 hours after a tetanus shot, x-ray and after being given prescription for anti biotics and painkillers.

Today, after the painkillers, I'm doing OK I can type and open doors with my thumb, tomorrow I'm back to work, maybe I'll see if I can avoid the stapler...

So the 6 countries reference in the blog title refers to where next. I'm staying in Mildura for a couple of months, as I have a well paid job where I drive a quad bike and staple thumbs, and that, I can tell you, is not something to give up lightly. In May I'll move on to probably Melbourne first, the Adelaide, Uluru and Perth before finding another job. After visiting the rest of Australia I'll move onto New Zealand either in December or September. I need to work until the last possible moment as I'll have 4-5months of earning no money, this means that I have to extend my visa in Australia and stay for an extra month, or leave Australia a couple of months earlier so I can find work in New Zealand. My plan is to spend Christmas and New Years '07 at Sean and Nicki's in The Bay of Plenty, but I have yet to ask them about that one. Then after New Years I'll move on to Fiji for 2 weeks then spend the next 3 1/2 months in America, Mexico and Canada. I plan to be home for May the 2nd 2008, which gives me a nice round figure of 18months travelling.

I was planning to go to Malaysia and Singapore for a couple of weeks around August time but I can't afford that so I'm gonna take my Lonely Planet guide into the book exhcange and get rid of it, this means my around the world trip is limited to just 6 countries. I perhaps shouldn't use the word 'limited' as three of those countries and in the top 6 largest countries in the world. How this plan will work out I don't know but it's gonna be fun finding out.