tsujasi

Autumn Leaves

2011-05-17T08:33:00.003+01:00

Snowy Mtns weekend 27 March

2011-03-27T11:37:00.003+01:00

Manly Dam Mountain Bike Trail

2011-03-06T01:33:00.003Z

Kurnell Race 27 Feb

2011-02-27T11:31:00.006Z

Botany Bay National Park 20 Feb

2011-02-20T06:16:00.003Z

Kurnell PB3 Training 20 Feb

2011-02-20T04:59:00.008Z

North Narrabeen 19 Feb

2011-02-19T05:32:00.001Z

New Year, New Bike!

2011-01-24T13:10:00.004Z

City Tourist

2011-01-20T13:30:00.004Z

Penrith Tri, 8 Jan

2011-01-10T09:07:00.005Z

Nick and Jo at Penrith Triathlon

Palmy, 8 Jan

2011-01-09T11:45:00.004Z

4x4 and Camping in the Blue Mountains

2011-01-03T10:12:00.004Z

NYE

2011-01-03T10:08:00.003Z

Graze

2010-12-19T11:45:00.003Z

Bike shoot

2010-12-19T11:40:00.004Z

more of the same

2010-11-29T10:35:00.004Z

Avalon this morning

2010-11-20T23:59:00.003Z

Managed to miss the complete sunrise this morning, but very happy with my new lens and ND8 filter.

Another trip out to the northern beaches, well worth it. A great way to start the day.

City of Sydney

2010-11-18T11:58:00.002Z

The tunnel at Wynyard Train Station.

more baby pics

2010-11-13T12:33:00.003Z

Six Foot Track, Blue Mountains, Fly Fishing

2010-10-17T09:06:00.005+01:00

Commissioned Work, Mrs Mac's Chair

2010-10-14T12:27:00.006+01:00

On the way to a quick shoot at Mrs Mac's Chair, Asian Hipsters get in the way! Fixies rule!

Warriewood Beach

2010-10-14T00:40:00.002+01:00

Ye Olde Lens

2010-10-12T03:00:00.003+01:00

I was rummaging around the garage and found an old Nikon lens my father had bought back in the early 80s. It is an 80-210mm f4, manual focus.

Bolted it onto my D700 and tested it in the garden. Looks good! Only problem will be action shots, where one needs super quick auto focus. Have been spoilt by Auto focus, and most importantly image stabilisation.

More beaches

2010-10-07T03:31:00.003+01:00

So am continuing on the Beach sunrise thing for the moment and really loving just being there for the black to light sunrise, listen to the waves, capture some great scenes (well try)

It's fun and gets me out of bed early. I really want some filters now though!

Snow!

New Tent (shot on phone)

2010-10-05T07:42:00.003+01:00

With all this camping I have been doing this year - I have decided it is time I got a good tent for hot Australian conditions. The current tent is from UK made for Alpine conditions, so its really hot and uncomfortable for the heat of Australia.

I wanted something a little bigger too, so very comfortable for one, with lots of mesh and cross ventilation as it has 2 doors, and best of all, Australian designed.

It is a Wilderness Equipment Dart 2.

Nice and easy to set up, with lots of smart small details. I can't wait to use it this weekend.

Shooting from the car window, on Auto

2010-10-04T08:22:00.005+01:00

Taking a que from my Camera Course and shooting from the hip - I tried shooting from the car window on my drive from town to Hurstville the other day. So much traffic, I just needed something to cut the edge off the stress, and taking photos was great fun! Just see the scene ahead, hit Auto on the SLR and fire away without looking through the view finder.

Lots of dud photos but some really interesting ones, the kind of things I have always wanted to photo, but have chickened out whilst on foot. A car lets you get away quick! Also having an Auto car helps too.

These guys had a minor prang at the lights, I was just staring at it unfold, until I remembered I was holding my camera. Snap Snap.

Another Northern Beaches sunrise

2010-10-04T08:13:00.003+01:00

Another dawn on the Norther Beaches. This time, a new favourite, Avalon. There is Gil all set up for some rock pics as the tide is going out.

This was a total fluke and I love it - I was just taking a shot for reference of the location and the wave it while I pressed the shutter , sometimes you have gotta love dumb luck.

I really need some Cokin filters....These are all shot with 50mm f1.4 handheld and on tripod.

A reference shot and somewhere I want to come back on a different feeling sunrise. The surfers and the rocks and waves from ground height would make amazing compositions I think.

Early morning Centennial Park

2010-09-30T09:10:00.005+01:00

Just a few pics from a morning recce of Centennial Park from 5am-8am ish. Gil and I met up to just check out the place, with the view of taking some pics of Horse Riders, but we got way laid with other areas of the park, and wet feet from wet grass. Will definitely return and try a few other things, including some tripod work.

I'm feeling like I need some long telephoto lenses...$$$

Freshwater morning

2010-09-23T23:37:00.002+01:00

Got up at 4.30am for some sunrise pics with Gil.

Photo Course (Week4)

2010-09-12T13:16:00.009+01:00

"Shooting from the hip, into the sun, lens flare and all"

"Shooting from the hip"

"when the subject is out of focus, and you meant to do that!, Shooting from the hip"

"Macro Jemma, eating Apple"

"Capturing the moment, right on Jemma! That's some tasty apple"

Nightspring Bloom, nothing really in focus. "Breaking the Rules"

"Capturing the Moment"

"Diagonals"

Photography Course (3rd Week)

2010-09-08T09:25:00.004+01:00

Simple lines, curves and composition exercise.

Photography Course (1)

2010-09-02T13:11:00.009+01:00

Have had to take pics for a photography SLR course I am taking at ACP Australian Centre for Photography. Excellent and enjoyable course, so far.

There are themes and assignments that these pics relate too, so they may seem somewhat random. Enjoy!

end of Winter in Sydney

2010-08-14T09:36:00.003+01:00

Clover Brunch, Annandale

Jem and Sis

Quay

Rocks markets kitsch

Henley - Heathrow - Singapore - Sydney

2010-07-31T12:42:00.003+01:00

Best Meze in UK, Henley on Thames. Very pretty town too, only 30min drive from Heathrow.

Transit in Singapore, iPhone out of juice? No problem, free charging stands in the Terminal, put your phone inside, plug in and take the key. Come back later.

Back in Sydney and its Spice Temple in town for dinner with family. (NB arty pic)

The hand of Jemma.

Tasty dessert, complete with caramel popcorn.

West Country and Cornwall

2010-07-30T00:48:00.007+01:00

Last week in UK and John and I planned to do a big drive from Manchester down out to the West Country, Cornwall, then Eastbourne to pick up my bag and then finally onto Heathrow.

We'd given ourselves 3 days and booked in our favourite Premier Inn hotels. Basically Ibis type hotels, car parking, and a standard clean room.

Recommend the Eyewitness and AA British Backroads Driving tour guidebooks. Excellent drives with lots of great info.

Chipping Campden

Cheddar Gorge, first glimpse of "wildlife" in the UK.

Cheddar Gorge, dramatic scenery, you can just see the car infront of us at the bottom of pic.

Devon & Dorset coasts

Biggest beach I have seen in UK, and busy too!

Polperro, highly recommended fishing village. Very pretty.

Typical backroads in Devon & Dorset. Danger!

Yorkshire Dales (iPhone)

2010-07-23T22:13:00.007+01:00

Left the SLR at home today...so iPhone it is.

the Pre-Yorkshire Dales, the Pennines

2010-07-16T22:59:00.012+01:00

Lunch at home, Foie Gras Pasta.

Rain in Manchester, unrelenting grimness. Have not seen a day of sun since I got here, 2 weeks now.

Reebok stadium, Bolton Wanderers Football Club. I fit into a youths XL shirt, bargain.

Malham, Pennines.

New Porsche Cayman S. Oh look, a ray of sunshine.

Skipton

Health Food.

Cheap fruit!

Manchester

2010-07-11T17:12:00.005+01:00

Oi Polloi, great store for clothing.

Hope, is on the menu.

3min, 4min and 5min sand hour glasses, genius. Teacup in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Tea is Earl Grey, of course.

Wales

2010-07-11T14:04:00.009+01:00

Peaks District, England

2010-07-08T20:38:00.004+01:00

Cotswolds, UK

2010-07-08T20:29:00.004+01:00

Cotswolds, England.

Cream Tea, favourite!

Chartres

2010-07-06T20:42:00.004+01:00

Drive to Bordeaux (abit out of chrono order.)

2010-07-05T23:00:00.017+01:00

St Emillion

Sarlat

2010-07-05T22:31:00.010+01:00

Rocamadour

2010-07-05T21:45:00.004+01:00

70-80s France

2010-07-05T17:44:00.006+01:00

Margaux & Cognac

2010-07-05T13:32:00.003+01:00

Bordeaux, Tours & Loire Chateaux

2010-07-05T10:59:00.011+01:00

Soupe de Poisson
Doc and I in Bordeaux.

Tours, half timbered houses

Salade Landaise, duck duck and duck.

Carcassone

2010-07-05T10:46:00.008+01:00

Monpazier, Montpellier, Dordogne.

2010-07-05T10:39:00.005+01:00

Our hotel in Monpazier.

Bernay et Cazenac
The Bastide Restaurant, Monpazier

A Peugeot Ute!!

Main Square, Montpellier

Monpazier, Dordogne.

Pretty Villages of France, Provence and Nimes

2010-07-02T19:47:00.012+01:00

Roman Ampitheatre in Nimes.

GR walking track signs.

hmmm, bacon

Truffle oil and salt.

Uzes, Saturday morning market

2010-07-01T21:55:00.003+01:00

Le Mont Ventoux, The Giant of Provence

2010-07-01T21:27:00.004+01:00

Uzes, France

2010-06-24T21:30:00.003+01:00

Citroen H Van. I want.

Church Bells of Uzes at Night.

The main square, just outside the door

Terrace at the flat in Uzes

The neighbouring terrace.

Favourite Pizzeria

Rustic shower, stinky though...

Place aux Herbes, Uzes (just outside the door of the unit)

Pont du Gard, Roman period.

Grasse et Cannes

2010-06-16T18:47:00.002+01:00

Chanel at Monaco, Sonia couldn't resist.

Grasse, home of perfume

Perfume garden, lovely scents.

Cannes, very touristy, lots of Americains and Aussies.

Very windy day on the Cote d'Azur. 60 Euro beds there.

Dessert....lunchtime type.

Monaco

2010-06-14T16:10:00.005+01:00

Early morning to Monaco. A fine sunny day, a perfect day for Sonia to start to do some of the driving!

1 hour drive later, and with some nervous moments, we arrive safely in the carpark under the Palace. The sun and sky collaborate to form a beautiful day and we set to stroll around the Principality, which in contrast to France is super clean, though the odd dog mess is still seen and smelt on the streets.

We finally get to a Chanel and they have sis's wallet, at a great price. After drinking in the views and walking the GP circuit, I attempt a drive around the circuit. The pace is slow....perhaps a 10minute lap, but its invigorating to drive it, next time = in something more potent?

On the way home, we stop at a local pebble beach for a snooze and quick wade into the water. I am fascinated by the pebbles, bigger farther up and then tiny in the water, no sign of sand.

Home for a well deserved grasse matinee.

Antibes & Nice

2010-06-13T18:06:00.008+01:00

The house to which our cottage belongs in Cap d'Antibes, lots of palm trees and a really lovely relaxed leafy area.

The local "beach" pay to use everywhere. The public beach is below, big pebbles everywhere, no sand to be seen.

Nice, same here for this public beach. Stones everywhere. However, really nice sound the waves make when they recede from the pebbles stones, like liquid and ice clinking in a cold glass. Stones are about infant fist big.

Downtown Nice looks abit, communist...

Tripped upon a Church event of some sort, the band played, "It's a long way to Tipparary"

cute dogs with mo owners.
Picked up some vintage travel cards for home.

Musee Matisse

Roman Gaul

Oh la la

Antibes, Cote d'Azur

2010-06-12T15:34:00.002+01:00

Ginger bread bread loaf and Nougat

This little piggy went to Marche....

The cute cottage in Cap d'Antibes we are renting for the week - so GOOD

Salad and the inside of the cottage.

Lyon 10 june

2010-06-10T17:22:00.008+01:00

Lyon from the new side of town, looking back to the old town.

Our 1 hour search for Chanel, in vain, cos it doesn't exist! Love the tram lines though.

The big stair climb up to the Cathedral.

Nearly there.
The view was worth the walk!

Possibly the most ornate church yet.

Yes, that is a Zara bag. We got a French phone too, the language lessons are coming in very handy.

Lyon has much ancient Roman remains. I adore mosaics and these are some of the most well preserved and finest I have seen.

Roman Amphitheaters have glorious views of the city and are used even today for festivals.

The Beginning of June and the start of my Petite Tour

2010-06-09T21:35:00.006+01:00

Gardening in St Christophe, Normandy

Lettuce!

Milan et Candice

Beaune, Burgundy. Beautiful pretty town, a must. Very clean and tidy too, its a centre of Burgundy wine.

Sonia showing her thoughts on Beaune.

Hotel Dieu, Beaune. A hospice from the 1400s.

Dreamy village alleyway.

Sylt, Northernmost Germany

2010-06-06T22:24:00.010+01:00

Hire car rented from Avis Rouen for a cool 900 Euros. 30 days and 4000kms to go!

First Stop Amsterdam, some 500kms away. Then to pick up Maria for the 700km trek to Sylt, Northernmost Germany...Its gonna be a long weekend in the car!

PS It's a Blue Ford Fiesta Turbo Diesel.

The tranquil view twilight at Maria's in Amsterdam.

Night-time, on the Canals

Finally, after 10hrs of driving...there was alot of traffic in Bremen, and roadworks. So much for the all powerful Autobahns. We get to the train ferry to take us to the Island of Sylt.

View from the drive on carriage, this is the way to travel! Tomtom stuck to the windscreen.

Eco Eco Eco

Seriously, the view from the bathroom - throne

Our thatched cottage. Real thatching, honest!

Gorgeous BMW 300

Beach Baskets, excellent for the cold wind, but keeps the sun warming, and naked sunbathers discreet.

Thatching gone a little too far.

Fanciest Cafe we could find. Truly peaceful, posh and the best toilets on the Island.

The mini blue dream car.

Sylt is the land of the holidaying rich set of germany. Every other car is a Porsche, turbo of course.

We were there the weekend of the Harley convention, hundreds of Harleys and bikers all over the place. Well behaved too...like all good Germans.

The Country Life

2010-05-25T13:37:00.005+01:00

Pilot dog sitting in the warm sunshine, and the beginning of Summer on the terrace.

Tom & Eleri enjoying G&Ts on the Terrace after a day of entertaining guests.

France, Paris, Rouen and Bernay

2010-05-25T13:01:00.010+01:00

Live Bunnies for sale in Bernay, right next to the veggies you will cook them up with.

Chit chat about choy.

Rich and juicy "Heart of Cow" tomatoes.

The interest in this photo is the young mother who is openly breast feeding her child whilst walking down the road.

Selling fleurs to the Parisiens, or are they the English? Very touristy in Bernay nowadays.

Eleri buying cheese from her favorite cheese stall.

Tom contemplates Olives, whilst being surrounded by Parisiens.

Rotisserie yumminess.

a "tete a tete" side by side chair, Eleri wants.

Man smokes a pipe, who does that these days? Pretty blue building too.

Wooden shingles.

London - Paris

2010-05-25T12:38:00.005+01:00

Last of the box packing with Sunny and Cora, then it is off to France for me, via the Eurostar.

St Johns Wood is interesting for its subtle changes to other places I have been in London, mainly more rich Jewish people, Japanese and more poshness...from what I can see! Otherwise a superb location.

Daily activity includes going to Tescos for snacks, like Mr Porky, oink oink, Tescos finest yogurts and enjoying BBC 24 and the papers. So in love with the papers, I better enjoy them before they disappear. Word is they lose about 100 thousand dollars a day each...no wonder they want to make some money from online.

Our last meal is at Canteen for dinner, which is quite traditional Pommy nosh, but served up in a modern setting with organic produce fit for the yuppy. Tasty too! Lashings of Gravy.

London

2010-05-17T09:17:00.003+01:00

London has been all about moving boxes and changing flat for Sunny & Cora. It's been a good workout, and their temporary flat for a week (as old tenant didn't move out on time....grr) was amazing. Right opposite St John's Wood tube and a 1920s type Mansion Block. Its a luxuriously large (by London standards) 2 bedder, with great views, you can see Wembly - and is bright and airy. We all loved it so much we tried to stay as many nights as we could. We have taken to calling it the "nice place". Their new flat they are moving into, is around the corner, so the location is just as good, but its much smaller.

St John's Wood itself is lovely, and would be a great place to call home. Lots of interesting cafes, I counted 10...and lots of choice for eating out or grocery market stores.

Otherwise, for me its been lots of time just spent resting after box moving and lounging on the sofa. Lots of eating out or delivery too. Tried my first Chicken Tikka Masala, had pizza from Papa Johns, and went out for Malaysian and Bodean's American BBQ!

1 day to go and then its the Long trip to Rouen via the Tube, Eurostar, Metro and SNCF...

Why did I pack so much?

London again

2010-05-14T16:09:00.005+01:00

Different papers, same photo!
Reading for 4 hrs on the Train from Edinburgh to London. Something calming and thought inducing of train travel. The rattle and hum is so different from the noise and whirl of jet travel and the air pressure.

More Nuke reactors are on the drawing board in UK

Penny penny Elephant. Lots of these are popping up everywhere with different decoration and themes.

Retro chic. Keep Calm and Carry On poster is an impostor, apparently it was never used back in the day! So said some documentary on BBC the other night. Doesn't harm sales though.

Sunny Edinbugh

2010-05-14T14:57:00.020+01:00

Wildlife pics in open air gallery in Edinburgh, St Andrews Square, next to my old offices on George St.

Same place but from behind

The walk up with Crags, fantastic views of Edinburgh, luckily a clear day

Holyrood Palace and Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament

Kilt Mugs!

Royal Mile buildings in glorious sunshine

The Castle

Andy & Hugh, like father like son.

Jo & Hugh

Rory, Sarah and Cameron, ice cream time!

Pinarello, commuting bike for our freezing cold ride through the suburbs to Forth Road Bridge, Edinburgh

Rory's go kart!

Crammond, Edinburgh, the causeway leads all the way to the island.

Jo & Hugh at Gullane Beach.

Scotland more iPhone

2010-05-14T14:52:00.006+01:00

Hugh Brydie all rugged up for a walk on the beach.

Jo and Hugh at Gullane, note the Ugg boots Hugh has on! Cute

Sunny on our side - raining on Fife side (still wintery cold though)

Scotland by iPhone

2010-05-14T14:27:00.012+01:00

New Trams are coming to Edinburgh, the only major change in town since I was last here in 2008.

Empty Northern Rock shopfront.

Sunny day brings out all the locals for a picnic lunch in the park.

The Crags at Hollyrood, just on the edge of town.

Berwick upon Tweed, taken from the train.

Scotland

2010-05-10T10:04:00.004+01:00

Early morning, up and packed for the off to Scotland.

Luckily its only 4 quick tube stops to Kings Cross for the East Coast train to Edinburgh.

I had been convinced (easily) to try 1st Class travel for the first time. It was grand! Complimentary tea and coffees, biscuits and newspapers. Travelling with the businessman crowd is much better too, sensible use of phones, low volume talking on them and lack of annoying ringtones. Silence most of the trip, as they mostly tapped away at Blackberries and Laptops....while I battled with Jet lag.

The train journey North is very scenic, moving through the lush Green fields of England, punctuated with small towns and villages. Its not until you pass near the Borders that it really gets stunning, with green rolling fields covered in gorse and dotted with sheep and newly born lambs.

The train line also kisses the coast and with the sun shining, it really is glorious, sand coloured cliffs and the blue of the ocean, reminiscent of Sydney really!

Arrival into Edinburgh, and Rory greets me at the station. First stop, bacon sandwich and coffee!

Its great to see Rory, Sarah and Cameron again. Cameron is now 4 and is a confident young boy with an inquisitive nature and well mannered disposition. It's good to be back.

Catching up and enjoying quiet time in the suburbs. I play my first Scaletrix and enjoy a freezing cold but scenically spectacular bike ride on Tony's Pina around the base of the Forth Road Bridge and the suburbs surrounding, including some hills, of course.

Tube, Walking and New Places, London

2010-05-06T08:28:00.012+01:00

A long day in London, 5 May.

Started off with my first Tube journey this trip, was great to be back on the swing of things. Took the overland to Battersea Park to visit Fiona and her new born son Teddy. Great to catch up.

Battersea Park itself is stunning, and the new development opposite at Chelsea Wharf looks very trendy chic. The 452 Bus is scenic and recommended for those wanting to see some great tourist sights of London.

Stopped off at Ladbroke Grove to meet up with Joe, who is back teaching in London. His school is situated under a motorway overpass, literally built into the concrete and overlooks a pretty park. He takes me to Little Morrocco for a good Coffee and a delicious Nata, he has a tea, 2.20 quid!!!!

We take the walk down the canalways towards MaidaVale, then into Regents Park. It goes from grim dodgy to posh along the way - the way London is. Would make an excellent riding commute. Walking through Regents Park, past Lords, then up over Primrose Hill. It really is the tourist way. Am always amazed by how the stupidly wealthy in London rub shoulders with the very poor.

From there I took the back streets through St Johns wood (posh) all the way through some Estates on Abbey Road (grim) to West Hampstead to meet with Jean for dinner in her large studio.

Excellent book store on the High St. I stock up on The Rider by Tim Crabbe and purchase The Week (for 2.50 quid!).

The Week is my new newspaper in Aus and it originated here in the UK, so looking forward to read it and catch up on what they see is going on.

Great chats all day and the ride home on the bus is reminicient of my sleepy commutes home back in the day. Collapse into bed for the most solid 8hrs I've had in a long time!

Elections tomorrow - excitement!

First Day in London

2010-05-05T08:23:00.004+01:00

Marylebone High Street, Daunt Books

Fortnum & Mason Tea

Waitrose, new look, still so good

UK, the land of the newspaper

It is a sign, my two favourite cars, LandRover 90 and Mini Cooper S

Cutest traffic car

It's great to catch up with Sunny & Cora, their exciting news is a move to St John's Wood next week to larger premises. I'm abit sad, cos I really love the Baker Street area, as do they. But it is time for a bigger place, and extra bedroom and a bigger kitchen.

No jet lag as yet. No sleep on the flight over, so I was quite spent. 7hrs sleep was all I could manage though.

Early morning is made up of left over pizza for breakfast (Strada, so yummy), Peppermint and Chai from Twopigs tea bags and figuring out what to do for the day and arranging meet ups.

Out the door by 10am and its a glorious if brisk morning. The sun is up and its great feeling to walk past my old corner store and barber, then down to Marylebone High Street to enjoy the shopping on offer. An hour spent in Daunt's Books, but remembering I have no space in my bags...

Then over to Vodafone to sort out my laptop and mobile.

It's all so familiar.

Over to the Scandinavia furniture shops Vitsoe being a new one for me on Dank Street and the new Monocle tiny shop on George Street. Then a wander down any and every street around W1. Soaking up the sights, it is really a stupidly wealth driven location. Bentley GTs on every corner, and beautifully kept houses and flats, complete with box flowers and the streets are immaculately posh London.

Lunch is a splurge at Fortnum & Mason, with Lady Grey Tea and a steaming hot Fish Pie. Yummy. The other people around me have annoyingly posh accents, and annoyingly arrogant comments but are overly tight on their purses. Familiar. I do up my cuffs and try best to be proper with my cutlery and sipping my tea. Then I go downstairs to stare at the premium gourmet food on offer, and wonder that there are people who actually eat like this all the time.

I'm tiring and decide to get home by 4pm to do some work and rest.

More Volcanic eruptions in Iceland.....ah dammit. The train north will be heaving.

iPhone camera is getting a thorough work out and seems the most useful for capturing those interesting sights especially in the shops and where lots of people are about.

First Night in London

2010-05-05T07:59:00.003+01:00

Travelling treats time so much differently than settled day to day life.

Transits are wished away, hours in an airplane ignored and suffered. Initial glimpses are savoured and treasured, eyes wide open and senses thrilled. Maybe an example of our accelerated lifestyle these days...

Revisiting places maybe even more special, the combination of memories and feelings of the past mixed with today's reality. The fit or otherwise of what used to be with what now is.

As its only been 2 yrs since I have been in London, the recency of it all still hangs in my head, but I am reminded also to the first days I arrived and how things have changed since.

That first gasp of new air, the crispness of the London night in this instance, exhilarating. Is this part of Wanderlust? Arriving at Paddington station, jumping into that familiar Black Cab, chatting merrily with the Chealsea flag waving cabbie, and smiling at the beauty of the NW London and its differences.

The first use of English Pounds, the stepping out of the cab and the silence of the midnight street, punctuated by a diesel engine, the otherwise stillness and the excitement of being back. 3 hoodies stood on the corner break the silence and I remember, it is London afterall.

Its cold tonight, winter is still here. But its great to be back all of a sudden.

The flat is just how I remember it. Time for Sleep, finally.

Singapore 1-3 May (pt2)

2010-05-04T09:11:00.007+01:00

Sunday morning and Boon Wee takes me to Little India for Curry. Delicious and filling meal of North Indian food, finished with the Best Teh Tarik I have ever tasted.

Walking the streets of Little India is really interested, lots of Indian stalls and Indian people, a big change from the Chinese dominant Singapore I have seen before.

Into town and the hardworked Singaporeans insist we stay indoors in the massive MALL labyrinth in City. It's great to catch up with Jo.

I wander the streets a bit after she drops me off at the hotel, lovely balmy night, new buildings mixed with ex-colonial buildings and the "city in a garden" feel of Singapore is a testament to great planning.

Singapore 1-3 May

2010-05-04T08:59:00.002+01:00

Yummy Yum cha with family at Marigold, followed by a rush to Mascot. I had checked in with SingAir online, and to my surprise, was able to walk past all 100 people queuing in the normal check in and straight to the desk. Prior preparation is king!

Swiftly through customs and into the lounge. An attractive Chinese girl asks me if I would like to do a survey for Tourism Australia. I said yes, then she looked disappointed "you are Australian?"

Landing in Singapore at T3 has got to be the least stressful travel destination to arrive to. Big space for a small place, and no queuing at all. Bag ready to pick up about 10mins after the plane lands, and directly into a super clean Taxi and a talkative driver.

The Casinos are the big new thing, though locals have to pay $100 SGD to walk in and they are separated to their own tables, and foreigners go in for free....crazy place.

Hotel Bencoolen has a reputation for being seedy...I find out now. With lots of street walkers outside. Room is tiny, but the bed is good and everything is adequate, finally - SLEEEEEEP

Itinerary Euro 2010

2010-04-30T02:26:00.002+01:00

1 May, Sydney - Singapore
3 May, Singapore - London
7 May, London - Edinburgh
13 May Edinburgh - London
17 May London - Rouen
(FRANCE Road trip - All June)
1 June - Manchester
(Scandinavia Road Trip somewhere in July)
otherwise unplanned til
1 Sept London - Sydney

Rogaining Course-setting, Hurstville

2010-04-26T08:57:00.006+01:00

new lens, same subject

2010-04-26T01:08:00.004+01:00

Camera ready

2010-04-21T07:39:00.001+01:00

Picked up the 35-70mm lens from the repairers today, and it's pretty impressive so far! While I was there I compared it to the state of art lens they have. New lens is slightly sharper, and the colours and contrast a tad better. But not by too much.

For a 20yr old lens, she works brilliantly. Can't wait to shoot some outdoor frames to make sure all is well.

Also saved myself $2000, so that is welcome. It is also half the size and weight of the new lens.

Jemma 7months

2010-04-19T13:44:00.005+01:00

Happy Happy Jemma 11 April 2010

2010-04-11T12:09:00.005+01:00

More prep...

2010-04-07T03:53:00.002+01:00

New gingham long sleeve Rapha travel shirts to be altered at the sleeves today...one black/white one blue/white.

Nikon Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8 old school 90s lens dropped off to L&P in Artarmon to be serviced and hopefully all the fungus inside the elements removed. Apparently this is a great lens... The lens was given to me by brother in law from a 90s Nikon Film SLR and lived in HK for a while, hence the fungus. Hoping it saves me from buying a coveted but bank breaking $2,100 Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8

Also switched over an old (but also dirty looking) Hoya 52mm UV filter from my old SLR lens to new 50mm f1.4D, better late than never to protect the front element...

Old blue WE backpack needs some stitch work, to repair the hood - will be taken to the cobblers, and must find the outside pouches for it too.

Countdown to Europe T -25days

2010-04-06T02:20:00.002+01:00

Suddenly the big trip seems very close at hand.

Have started fretting about packing and what I should or shouldn't take. I even made a list over the Easter weekend.

Last time it was the big Loadout bag and Crumpler Backpack....This time I think the trusty WE 90L Blue Backpack and Macpac 50L Red Backpack for carry on for the full stinky backpacker look. The WE pack I took on the first mission in 2003....is it really 7yrs ago already?!

My Flight was booked 3 months ago, at a bargain price of $1,996 AUD, via Singapore for 2 nights, but express on the way back. A380s booked with SingAir.

Accommodation just booked now in Singapore thanks to Mel F. at Hotel Bencoolen, which is apparently quite central. Am tasting the satay already! Now to make sure I book in with Jo and Tan Boon to meet up and Singapore leg is set.

JemJem 20 Mar 2010

2010-03-20T12:10:00.004Z

Taste of Sydney

2010-03-12T07:46:00.011Z

Nick's new Tri bike

2010-03-11T12:30:00.012Z

3 Mile Dam Camping with the boys

2010-03-08T08:49:00.010Z