GAME: The Final Countdown – 83 days of 88…

…remote corners where farmers and small local families huddle.

I’m just a few days away from completing the 88 days of regional work and it feels so good! But some how a little bitter-sweet. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this farm lark but I’ve got more from it than I first imagined. I now know what it means when a moo-moo starts mooing! (They’re calling their calves) and I’m very aware of the scope of insects and wild animals Australia has to offer, yesterday a guana casually strolled past the house, but it ran up the tree because it was scared– despite its sharp claws and ability to bite through bone…

 Here’s Zeus:

3 months has whizzed banged by and I’m glad Australia has this system to get you out of the coastal path into the remote corners where farmers and small local families huddle. Places I would otherwise have skipped merrily past and as my Grandpa wistfully pointed out “the cities are all by the coast because there’s nothing in the middle” too true Grandpa, but it turns out there is something on the fringe of the middle, crazy nuggets of people and ways of life.

I now know what it means when a moo-moo starts mooing!

The plan now is to party a little in Byron Bay before scooting South to Sydney to put some dollar in the bank and hopefully find a Spanish intercambio class – si, si! My first impressions of Byron were that it’s a bit of a generic beach side town, overcrowded with no actual Australians. Hmmf! But in saying that, everyone I’ve spoken to LOVES Byron and I feel there is more to discover (and more rum to drink), so I shall get on my bike and explore the place a little more before making such hasty assumptions.

To the notorious Byron Bay, see you soon!

Related articles

• Byron Bay Bridal Showcase (stylemepretty.com)
• Sleeping and that – Byron Bay, Australia (travelpod.com)
• Bucko in Byron Bay – Byron Bay, Australia (travelpod.com)

GAME: Natalie Vs. Australian Bugs!

The tally sits at about 15 to the insect’s – 155 to me. Unfortunately my game is superior because I own a water gun and ants don’t do so well in puddles.

Unfortunately for me, the insects leave more of a mark: my skin is a little pinker where tick and mosquito bastards have had a snack. Hopefully the marks will disappear before summer really gets here and beach body conformities arise.

Just yesterday I was drinking some wine, merrily watching the red sun-sky-disappear behind the dark mountains when Dee started talking: “Christ, can you hear that?” Once I’d started listening I noticed the distinct sound of an alarm, “is that an alarm?” I asked, to which Dee replied, “No… it’s the bugs. You can’t turn that off!” Naturally we swiftly made it back into the warmth of home and relaxed a little more as the bugs seemed further away. They come alive at night, you see. Possibly the most haunting of Australia’s outback is when you move away from daylight and everything becomes spookier and very much alive – I have a head torch by my bed which comes on almost every night to scan the room from nightmares of suicide spiders or slithery snakes or even those persistent buggers, mosquitoes, who seem more relentless than ever.

I was recently awoken by a scratchy sound and this is why night-time makes me more jumpy, because in daylight sound is more likely than not to be someone in the house, but at night when everyone’s asleep a scratchy sound can mean only two things: it’s not human and you should turn on your head torch immediately. My first thought was that it was eating my book, laid on the floor beside my bed. Torch light confirmed (with a little relief that I could read the rest of my book) that it was actually coming from inside the wardrobe. I managed to get to Dee’s side of the room where we watched the little creature run under my bed, along the side board and attempt evacuation by squeezing its fuzzy body under the door and away. I suppose a mouse isn’t anything to get too freaked about, but if that thing can push its way into this room with almost no notice, what else is moving around in here?

Sometimes the light outside flashes on, it’s one of those that come on when you move in front of it, not with a switch. We have discovered that there are two creatures that motion around on the veranda; the first is the goanna – a very, very big lizard to you and me – fully grown they reach 6 foot. Apparently if it bites you the wound never heals. How nice is that? The other creature is something that my friend describes as a cross between a rabbit, an ant-eater and a rat: the bandicoot. Actually pronounced how its spelt, which I think sounds a little stupid. The bandicoot likes our rubbish bins and the guano likes the chickens.

On a final note, I leave you with the Huntsman spider, this one is crawling around the kitchen:

 

GAME: #1 LEARNING CHESS

It was Friday night that I found myself sitting in a pub opposite an 8-year-old smart arse and a chess board.

I don’t recall being this confident, this well-mannered, or this wily at any point in my dear 24 years. I wish it was just the remote setting that has allowed this little genius to think further than the computer box set, but it’s more than that, how did he learn chess? His Mum, as it happens. I asked if someone could teach me chess and here he is: the pieces, the rules and now the game. It’s a game that makes you think strategically and right now I’m embarrassingly slow, but someone’s in the room that can teach me a signature trick: 4 moves and a win (his Mum). Given that I have 3 months in the remote ranking of Australia and time is clocked with increasing heat – this is how and where I’ll be practising this tricky game. I actually tried playing against myself the other day and the black team won both times, how odd is that?

GAME: THE LIST

To put yourself in the most remote of situations can lead you to a different kind of people. Surroundings certainly shape your character and outback Australia is the type of place where having a car to drive to the nearest town is vital for your mental stability as well as your superstore convenience. As a result I’ve weaned myself from the online world and this has offered a fresh insight into learning new things that have been long forgotten or  hobbies that help pass the quiet time. This is how the list was formed.

This is the list of things I shall be learning over the next 3 months, my personal challenges are…

1. Learn how to play chess
2. Plant a tree
3. Learn how to milk a cow
4. Learn how to bake
5. Ride a tractor
6. Get over your fear of animals – stop being so jumpy around them!
7. Get good at making cocktails
8. Get creative with cooking
9. Read more
10. Get a photo of a real, live kangaroo

*please note this list may well change or grow in 3 months time!

LIVE: Falling in love with a traveller

Spending some time browsing this headline, most of the articles I came across were more like self-help-advice columns, offering that sincere cliché: “if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be” – cringe! For someone who is usually inclined to use ‘fate’ as a conclusive ending to things that have no real explanation, even this comment made me grimace; as though someone seeking an ever-more romanticised version of the future could rely on this unanswered quote.

I realise now what I was looking for: epic tales of falling in love and frolics on the road.  Instead I stumbled across a somewhat more serious approach to what could have been a brilliant collection of personal memoirs gone public.

Clearly I wasn’t looking in the right place and so to Amazon I browsed. It was here that I gladly bought Brief Encounters: Sex, Love and Travel, a collection of short stories put together by Lonely Planet. May I recommend this read to anyone who is seeking a read on a subject that seems too emotional to discuss publicly, yet familiar enough to smile at in recognition. 

I’m glad I get to feel like this  – said she

The search engine wasn’t a total miss; a beautiful story from author Nancy writes “A bicycling kind of love story” that gives a gutsy glimpse at what life can be like even when you don’t follow society’s ideals. Nomadic Matt, a booming travel writer, has published a great read by Anygelina “The challenges of love on the road”  offering a realistic approach to advice and experiences of falling in love and falling in lust on your adventures. Something most of us can relate to even on our 2 week holidays.

On a personal note, the last year has shown a mixture of personalities and bodies that I have fleetingly enjoyed or willingly stayed in touch with.  Nomadic Matt writes quiet accurately when he says:

Destination relationships give travelers a chance at human contact – but without all the messy emotions that so often get involved. There’s no baggage. There’s a clear start and end date

I suppose the quote “if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be” is trying to get back to simplicity, trying almost desperately to find a way of explaining that there is no answer but a rough shrug of letting go. Let it be and allow yourself to fall whenever you can…. What do you think?

Some mixed reads on the topic…

Bohemian Trail

Travellers Point

Family On Bikes

Love and romance on the road

GAME: What kind of games do you play at the airport?

One which has become a favourite of mine is scanning the board of places and gate numbers: the rule is I have to choose a place that instinctively stands out, if I had to go there right that second, for some reason a lot of the European cities sounded quiet tempting: Athens, Greece, was my choice this time round.

Then there are the others, the ones I have no idea about: take Entebbe, where the hell is that? It turns out it’s a central town in Uganda. There was also Riyadh, the Capital of Saudi Arabia (shame on me) and Abuja, Capital city of Nigeria (did you know that?).

Out of the three unknown destinations I actually chose Riyadh, perhaps one day I’ll have a bit more cash in my pocket and trial this game fully – book a flight to one of these desirable known or unknown spots.

Anyone fancy joining me?

The Brazilian Butt Lift –Get toned before and during travel

From Google Images

In between returning home and booking my next, swift exit out of Hampshire I made a point of setting myself the following goal: to get stronger!

This goal has been influenced by travelling solo, meaning that you have to rely on your own physical strength. From a pidderly girl in the country:  thank-you for wheels on suitcases and that extra backpack strap – oh, and that lovely man who helped a struggling weakling. 

Counterparts will agree that my physical strength has upped dramatically in the last few months…OK, so I’ve only really put this idea into motion ever so recently, with departure getting closer jogging is becoming an everyday event and every-other- day I try this new fitness programme, BBL – the Brazil Butt Lift.

BRAZIL BUTT LIFT DVD

There are various programmes to choose from, depending on the area you’d like to shape up: lose weight, gain stamina, tone up a few squeegee bits or regain upper physical strength. I have personally been using the ‘sculpt’ session, which focusses on upper arm strength. It’s taken a few weeks to learn the routine but it’s slowly coming together, the biggest challenge not being the programme itself but starting it. Motivation? Please.

The Brazilian Butt Lift programme surveys a group that pop their hips like Shakira and manage to hold the plank ten minutes too long – while the trainer constantly shouts:

“Love your moves!”

I can’t wait until the sweat crystallises into a breezey-easy-peasey-work out.

The sessions last about 40 minutes and can be downloaded onto your computer/hard drive for portable use, so that when you travel you can keep tip-toned-up! That is of course if you have decided to indulge in the luxurious item of a laptop whilst  travelling, something people only seem to consider if they’re going for long periods of time, although the I-pad is rapidly replacing the lightweight laptop.

If carrying around your treasured technical goods isn’t an option then an alternative could be to memorise the routine for the road. I often find that swimming is a more tempting option when abroad anyhow and this tends to keep me fit when my diet will fluctuate with food and drink consumption rising and falling with budget and effort.

I’ll let you know how I get on maintaining this programme…

What fitness tips do you have before/during travel?

Take me there: Volcano Villarrica, Chile

We eventually transferred from a vertical snowy drop to a flat earthy top

It began at 7 in the morning with a transfer to climb the volcano that currently sat in the corner of Pucon, Chile, puffing white clouds into the air and covered in snow.

For this expedition I would be required to wear a 30 litre backpack – neck warmer – gloves - snow boots – waterproof jacket – trousers –  ankle holders - mini-bum sledge (which I fondly referred to as the potty).

This was my first experience of really trekking and pushing myself to accomplish something far from home and what I thought was beyond my physical ability.

After a mere 30 minutes I became very hot in the layering of fleece, leggins and cargo-pants. So myself and another dear trooper decided to cut the first hour and take the ski-lift (family members will be pleased to know this was all OK, no accidents this time!). We then spent the next 4 hours zigzagging with Alberto, our guide, up to Villarrica as she breathed heavily. It’s surprising how quickly  time can pass up there.

…This was my first experience of really trekking and pushing myself to accomplish something far from home…

Breaks were frequent and we eventually transferred from a vertical snowy drop to a flat earthy top. We had reached the crater - a spectacular and numbing experience. The chemical smoke could be tasted at the back of the throat, but it was very minor.

Dave and I conquering Villarrica!

We then sledged down, taking half the time – just 2 hours – which was utterly brilliant! My shoulders ached from the backpack; face sun burnt and my knees were completely buggered. I went to sleep with constant throbs of pain in my legs. Maybe doing an intense hike as a newbie isn’t the best idea…but now I’ve climbed a volcano. Good feeling.

Related articles

• Bike Tour Exploring Chile’s Lakes and Volcanoes (duvine.com)

Take me there: Sex and the City Tour, New York City

While in New York the Sex & the City Tour was top of our list and you should ensure it’s on yours, too! Please don’t let this ridiculously fun trip pass you by when you’re in the city, think dildos and cupcakes – it’s a sure recipe for smiles.

Screen Tours offer this trip at $46 (£29) and from past experience they’re reliable to be on time and guide you through each stop of New York with the excitement and profanity this tour requires.

 

Highlights include:  A cocktail at Steve and Aidan’s bar “Scout” 
and a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery aka. Heaven.

We actually ended up booking an evening meal at Buddakan, the restaurant where Big and Carrie have their rehearsal dinner. They serve Asian cuisine on 9^th Avenue and it’s a real treat, meaning rather expensive, with an atmosphere for dimly lit romance and seriously delicious dishes. Just by the bar they have square tables and long bench-like seating which makes for a sociable evening.

*If you’re tempted make a reservation while you’re on tour 
or pick up a business card from the bar and call later.

Further Information

Buddakan Restaurant

Magnolia Bakery, NYC

“Scout’s Bar”, O’Neil’s Hoboken Bar

Screen Tours

Getting involved with the Olympics – for free?

High socks? Walking stick? Tipsy? You’ve got to be British.

Where?

Victoria Park: BT LONDON LIVE

Get me there!

The underground Mile End is a good one to catch. It’s a 15 minute walk to the park.

Free, really?

Free entry. Yes.

What’s involved?

Big screens showing the games

Beautiful jazz bands all day

Pink plastic jigsaw stuff: please see photo for more details

Fun games, although a lot of kid stuff, there’s also a ferris wheel, zip-line and basketball hoops which were very cool.

Eateries: noodles, fish & chips, pizza. We recommend the hog roast, yum!

I only spied two bars: The Sun and The Heineken tent(s).

What to be aware of!

They’re really strict on what you take in, which is obvious I suppose for Olympic security, but it’s a park. So it was a little weird going through body scanners that are usually saved for airport control.

You also have to chuck all your food and water – although you can just drink the water and re-fill the bottle inside. Lots of water fountains you see. We also managed to sneak in banana cake –fluttering eyes work.

Sanitary stuff…

Lots and lots of porter loos that are cleaned every half hour. Not amazing, but not awful.