Mick's World Tour

Balance of reading

I'm travelling (in case you haven't noticed) and I'm reading a very good, but very serious book on Philosophy. It is also quite large. Along with my standarrd Lonely Planet (s (plural) when I pick up my (2) African ones) it is quite a bit to carry.

But....

I really want something light and fictional for those times when you don't want or have time to solve the worlds problems. I've taken to reading about countries I am not visiting, and now I want to visit them.

I'm thinking maybe some Terry Prachet? Or something more classical, like Karate Kid (joking see Something about Mary) - I mean like Hemmingway, or Dickens or ???

Any ideas for good travel reading??

3 Phings make a Photo

I have this theory that you need three things to make a good photo. I don't mean a masterpiece, I just mean something that people aren't just going to flick past but have a look at, maybe nod, maybe even say "nice". And I'm not saying that it has to be three amazing things, or even really 3 'things'. Just three factors maybe.

e.g.

If you take a picture of a fountain, regardless of how nice, then it's a fountain and pretty boring. Then you add a person sitting on the side of the fountain and you have something else to sort or bounce off the fountain. If you have the sun throwing golden light onto the fountain then you have a third thing which makes the photo "just lovely".

Do you get me?

Some others;
1. A father holding a baby, the baby smiling, the father poking his tongue out.
2. A mountain, a church on the side of the mountain, some cool looking clouds hanging around.
3. A sunset, birds flying across and a boat on the horizon.
4. A family photo, nan holding with her cake, everyone blowing out the candles.

OK, so I'm no great photographer, but I have been taking 100's of pics travelling and it is something you have to think about. Even with a digital camera, you don't want to take so many photos that you spend all day vetting them to clear your memory card. So that is what I do, sometimes. I think "is there three things in this photo that make it special". Sometimes you don't find it and you take the photo anyway.

Yesterday I took one of a big plane, flying over this Italian flag and I thought it was a great pic and no third thing, but they I realised that the background was a brilliant blue which made the plane and the flag really vibrant. Ahhhh, you see!!!

Please feel free to take photos of three things providing that you reference me in all instances....

CLICK.

P.S. Anyone who has a digital camera where it makes a sound everytime you take a photo - please, for the sake of humanity, turn it off. I know it can be useful, but really.... OK, at least take it off when you are at a wedding or in a church LIKE THE ONE IN THE VATICAN!!!!!! Normally it is as easy as going to the setup screen and finding the Audio or Tone option. Please. Thank you!

Maggiore Magic

I'm on Tom's parents computer at a blistering 28.8ks so I'm going to keep this short. I just did some minor fixes to their computer. Some registry entry changes, some file association tweaks - so it should ruin the computer just after I leave...

But let me tell you about this place.

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After the cold stone (but also wonderful) town of Siena, this place is gorgeous. I spent the day on train, boat and bus to get to Isola Bella (beautiful island) and it was very relaxing and pleasant.

Tom, you are one lucky guy and I understand why you miss this place. And I promise not to mention to anyone about this pictures of you in the nude on the grass or the collection of dolls that you have on your bed.

Off to Milan 2moro and then Ireland on Friday. Kathryn and June - I'm going to hitchhike on your advice, so if I end up mugged and held for ransom it is your fault.

For Rani and Michelle who love books like I do, the library at this place is fu-nominal. They have a 1903 copy of Dante and a 1840 map of the world. Once again - Amazing!!! You guys could spend years here...

Anyway, off I go to happy slumber land, which is a bit better after the creaky blow up mattress in Siena - no offence Numer and Will, but it wasn't as comfy. I hope you all enjoyed my biscuits. And I'm still looking for some dice. Let me know if you find some first.

Cheers

Siena

More joy in Siena. Yesterday I posed as a student and got a meal of lasagne and roasted vegies plus a plum for 1.30 euros - bargain. Last night we saw the start of one of the constrada festas which was amazing. Everyone from a suburb dresses up - well, all the guys, and they wave flags, throw them in the air and beat drums. Cool. After that we went in search of a great view to eat drink some wine but ended up circling back to a bridge. Nice. Will tried to get into a secluded area but a red bereted guy came from no where and Willd decided to relent.

I have a free day today so I'm booking travel and doing some reading. But time for a siesta....

Ciao.

p.s. John, yes, you'll never make it as a secretary, but I'll never make it as a travel agent. I have some tight squeezes coming up.

p.s 2 - Dad - thanks for trying to sell my car. I hope they paid extra for the surf wax stuck in the back.

p.s.3 - George - where is george????

p.2. 4- LEF - what the hell is going on - crazy????

p.s. 5 - caino - what are you doing? Getting ready for Ireland - yeah!!!

My Name is Jeff

I'm in Siena with Will. It has rained and it is welcome give the blisteringly hot conditions of late. I need a big siesta this afternoon. Up till 2am (yeah, yeah) sitting on a rooftop talking about the world to global travellers.

I also have to confess that I have gone soft.... I have just done some laundry with Will and have taken a big plunge. I have bought a second t'shirt. Yep, I survived for 2 weeks with one shirt and as I peeled it off me, I realised that travelling light is great, but two shirts is probably not too much of a stretch. Perhaps 2moro I will buy a second pair of underpants.

The shirt is a winner though. It is bright orange (for now) and says "Hi, I'm Jeff" on the front. And on the back it says "Kauhuama Bay Tour Guide". Pefectly wierd.

After Rome blew me away, Tuscany was a welcome slower pace. Amazingly beautiful. Siena is fun with the college crowd and I head to Milan on Tuesday. (Thanks Tom).

Anyway, off to eat some pizza and have a Siesta.

Wedding

After driving all over England (west to east) and getting a lift from Stu and Catherine, I finally arrived at Mike and Jet's wedding. It was a great day in an amazing location. A lot of fun people and I just wish that I had the energy to drive gallons and dance to groove is in the heart like I used to.... Anyway, thanks Jet and Mike = awesome.

now I'm in rome and it is taking my breath away. So amazing. you don't have to do anything to run into amazing locations. in fact you probably couldn't walk 500 metres without finding something 1000 years old. Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vatican - and great pizza! Makes me wonder about the fall of the roman empire - again. At least they kept the pizza recipe.

Off to Siena soon to see Will, which will be great.

Happy Birthday to Natho ' make sure everyone buys him a beer for me. all of you.

Tor, Stones and Sheep Poo

Today Michelle and I drove round in circles - famous ones - including the Glastonbury Tor (big rock castle on a hill), Stonehenge (big rocks in a sort of a circle to worship the sun) and Avebury (big rocks in a curve in a field of sheeps poo - watch your step).

Here is Stonehenge from a distance since us backpackers didn't pay the large entry fee;

Here is me and my boots after the field of sheep poo at Avebury;

Oxford and Bath

Hey everyone, Michelle and I are in Bath (not in the Bath) and having a ball. The place is beautiful and the hostel nice - other than the 4 very drunk welsh boys who came in at 3am, swore loudly and walked around naked.

Today we go to Glastonbury and Stonehenge.

Oxford was great, not as big or as lovely as my uni, but still pretty nice. I did think that the hostel was stinky, but it didn't stop me walking into the girls bathroom. I thought it was unisex, but a very attractive Scandanavian girl told me that it wasn't.... anyway....

Take it easy....

First Stop: Singapore

Yep, I'm very excited, despite some tears at the airport (but I understand, I was Russells best net cafe client...).

It is 4.30am and I'm walking in circles. I bought a trashy boys magazine named Ralph, but since it looks too much like an adult mag I'm not game to read it on the plane. There is a lovely lady next to me reading Maeve Binchy and I don't want to put her off her warm chicken and rice.

The flight was rough - take off and landing. Plus, the steward took my breakfast away before I finished - sheesh. Am I that slow an eater? Really??? Lucky I'd finished my cereal and that it wasn't apple pie.

Off to London.....

My New Camera

Just a quick note to say that I love my new Sony Cybershot T1 and that my decision to buy it was in no way influenced by Rowan in the slightest. :~)