It is 1/1/11.
A brand new year. And like most people at this time of year, I have become somewhat reflective. It has been a while since I have had a pretty good year, but 2010 was a pretty good year. I got to travel overseas for the first time in my life and MP and I made the long awaited international move. All in all, pretty exciting stuff!
And now the new year has begun and with all things new, I have decided to do some new things too. So, instead of just writing my resolutions for 2011, I decided to write them for the next 10 years. It is a big decade for me, I've just started my 30's and when all is said and done, this is the decade to achieve things; oh and don't I have some plans (so not sharing by the way)!
Unfortunately we won't be doing any travelling any time soon because MP is saving his holidays for a trip home later in the year. We are also not expecting any public/national holidays for at least 6 months now - maybe the odd day here and there, but none like we just had and we have had an absolute stack! Actually we've been somewhat spoilt by it, but we think that there were so many because it was the 40 year anniversary of Sultane Qaboos' reign. Probably not a bad thing now though, after our last trip I didn't really appreciate it as much and I was very glad to return to our temporary home for a while.
But I digress...
I am actually going home in a few weeks for an undetermined amount of time. Homesickness has gotten the better of me - I miss my family and friends so much - but I am a little apprehensive about going home. I know that it won't have changed all that much, I haven't been away long enough, but I have a few 'what ifs'. Something I am quite nervous about is going through customs! After being to several different airports around the world now, you'd think I'd be over that, but there is still just a little bit of nervousness that I get around airport security... Ridiculous I know, but hey!
So I guess this little post is just a rambling about it being a brand, spanking new year - anticipation about what is to come, stars in your eyes about the imagined successes to be achieved and the excitement about the adventures to come... That's right folks, this is going to be another good year! Well, here's hoping...
We shall see what 2011 brings!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Different Perspecitves
I am currently lucky enough to be temporary possession of a sattelite box (on loan from GM whilst he is in South Africa for Christmas) and I'm watching my most favourite channel ever - Animal Planet! There is a marathon on of a show called Wildlife SOS International, in which a vet from Surrey, UK has travelled to Australia and Thailand to check out the 'plight' of some species. This show has elicited some discussion between myself and MP.
It appears that the tourist trade in Thailand has resulted in a black market trade in wild animals such as tigers, elephants and some primate species for both use in the tourist and pet trade. There were images of elephants being restrained in a crush, unable to move, beaten by their 'trainers' and sleep deprived. The aim of which was to produce a very subdued, docile animal that could be taking into the heart of Bangkok (sold for up to $10,000 US mind you), so that these animals could be fed and ridden by tourists. And another of a zoo on the 6th or 7th floor of a high rise building that housed gorillas and such, in cement pens, fed on sweets and junk food by the tourists. Not to mention the Buddhist sanctuary where you are able to have your photo taken with one of the tame tigers - what they don't show is how these tigers are treated; tiger urine squirted in their faces, beaten, constantly chained... I frankly, was horrified and wanted to change the channel.
MP and I started discussing this and really, both us would love the chance to pat an elephant and ride on its back - who wouldn't! What an experience that would be (I know couple of people who have actually done this). But I am now more wary of anything touristy involving animals and not because of this show. After our trip to Jordan, and Petra in particular, I saw first hand the treatment of the horses and donkeys used, not to mention the council worker who picked up a pup by its hind leg... MP brought up the point however, that tourists often go to these places to experience the animals and what is that old saying 'supply and demand'... I don't think there will ever be a point in time when humans will completely cease all 'use' of animals. So, with this thought in mind, what I would like to see if a change in animal welfare - if the animal is treated well behind the scenes, well fed, good living conditions, no abuse and maybe even some love - then swallowing the pill of animals in the tourist industry will be much easier to swallow.
When the show moved to Australia however, I believe the story portrayed was extremely narrow. The host focused on the dingoes of Fraser Island and the culling of kangaroos near Broken Hill.
As Australian's we all know the difficulties that have sprung up between humans and dingoes and the attempts to reduce interactions between the two. I personally don't agree with the fence that has been erected, to me that is more about protecting the tourist industry from themselves then for consideration of the welfare of the animals. Seriously, when are people (aka tourists) going to take responsibility for themselves? Don't feed the animals, you have been warned, but you go and feed them anyway, you get bitten, blame the animal for doing what a wild animal does and now because of that, they are fenced in!! Hmmm.... There is something just not quite right about this.
Kangaroo's are another controversial issue. One the one hand they are iconic to Australia, on the other, they can be quite a pest. It is the lack of information, or maybe the better word is 'misinformation', that floats around regarding population numbers and numbers culled. Having actually lived in a couple of roo shooter towns, I have had a little experience with these people and really, they are just like the rest of us trying to make a living, although their industry is heavily regulated (as it should be, we are talking about native wildlife) and there are many ups and downs, closing of meatworks, loosing of major contracts by the Australian Government...
From the opposite end of the scale, one conservationist felt that a more wise use of these animals would be to create an tourist industry centred around them. One major flaw with this argument however - Australia is a very long way from most other countries, costing several thousand to fly here and then to travel into these outback places, a lot of tourists don't actually realise the vast distances they would have to travel.
So I realise this is a slightly different post to what I usually write, but since living overseas and experiencing different views on places in the world, including my home country. I think that it has opened my eyes somewhat, especially to the huge variations in some many areas - animal welfare and the value of humans, for example - and I hope that it makes me a more open minded person.
It appears that the tourist trade in Thailand has resulted in a black market trade in wild animals such as tigers, elephants and some primate species for both use in the tourist and pet trade. There were images of elephants being restrained in a crush, unable to move, beaten by their 'trainers' and sleep deprived. The aim of which was to produce a very subdued, docile animal that could be taking into the heart of Bangkok (sold for up to $10,000 US mind you), so that these animals could be fed and ridden by tourists. And another of a zoo on the 6th or 7th floor of a high rise building that housed gorillas and such, in cement pens, fed on sweets and junk food by the tourists. Not to mention the Buddhist sanctuary where you are able to have your photo taken with one of the tame tigers - what they don't show is how these tigers are treated; tiger urine squirted in their faces, beaten, constantly chained... I frankly, was horrified and wanted to change the channel.
MP and I started discussing this and really, both us would love the chance to pat an elephant and ride on its back - who wouldn't! What an experience that would be (I know couple of people who have actually done this). But I am now more wary of anything touristy involving animals and not because of this show. After our trip to Jordan, and Petra in particular, I saw first hand the treatment of the horses and donkeys used, not to mention the council worker who picked up a pup by its hind leg... MP brought up the point however, that tourists often go to these places to experience the animals and what is that old saying 'supply and demand'... I don't think there will ever be a point in time when humans will completely cease all 'use' of animals. So, with this thought in mind, what I would like to see if a change in animal welfare - if the animal is treated well behind the scenes, well fed, good living conditions, no abuse and maybe even some love - then swallowing the pill of animals in the tourist industry will be much easier to swallow.
When the show moved to Australia however, I believe the story portrayed was extremely narrow. The host focused on the dingoes of Fraser Island and the culling of kangaroos near Broken Hill.
As Australian's we all know the difficulties that have sprung up between humans and dingoes and the attempts to reduce interactions between the two. I personally don't agree with the fence that has been erected, to me that is more about protecting the tourist industry from themselves then for consideration of the welfare of the animals. Seriously, when are people (aka tourists) going to take responsibility for themselves? Don't feed the animals, you have been warned, but you go and feed them anyway, you get bitten, blame the animal for doing what a wild animal does and now because of that, they are fenced in!! Hmmm.... There is something just not quite right about this.
Kangaroo's are another controversial issue. One the one hand they are iconic to Australia, on the other, they can be quite a pest. It is the lack of information, or maybe the better word is 'misinformation', that floats around regarding population numbers and numbers culled. Having actually lived in a couple of roo shooter towns, I have had a little experience with these people and really, they are just like the rest of us trying to make a living, although their industry is heavily regulated (as it should be, we are talking about native wildlife) and there are many ups and downs, closing of meatworks, loosing of major contracts by the Australian Government...
From the opposite end of the scale, one conservationist felt that a more wise use of these animals would be to create an tourist industry centred around them. One major flaw with this argument however - Australia is a very long way from most other countries, costing several thousand to fly here and then to travel into these outback places, a lot of tourists don't actually realise the vast distances they would have to travel.
So I realise this is a slightly different post to what I usually write, but since living overseas and experiencing different views on places in the world, including my home country. I think that it has opened my eyes somewhat, especially to the huge variations in some many areas - animal welfare and the value of humans, for example - and I hope that it makes me a more open minded person.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Bonjour!
There is something sublimely adorable about a 3 year old child sitting in a shopping trolley, speaking French to their imaginary friend… That was my first real impression of Paris and probably one of my favourite moments.
MP and I had five days to spend in Paris and in retrospect, that is probably too long for one city, but because of the flight times, etc., we really had no choice. I had expectations for Paris, like most people I had heard the stories of how romantic this city is and how fabulous the sights and sounds are… I think it is unwise to go to any place with any preconceptions! This is not to say that you shouldn’t research the place you are going, but just be wary that there are many different views in the world.
I recommend getting yourself a cornet from the ticket person (basically a book of 10 tickets) and a map of the metro and RER system – it really is a cheap way of travelling around Paris (about 1.70 Euros per trip) and the outlying suburbs. The metro gets you to all the sights you want to see (and some you didn’t know you wanted too) within the city limits and the RER takes you to the outlying suburbs. But do be warned that all the tunnels that you walk along, have a distinct smell of urine…
Picking up French phrases is really easy and fun too! You get very good at saying the basics like ‘merci’, ‘pardon’ and ‘bonjour!’. It feels a bit like you are playing at being French at first but it soon become second nature – I had to stop myself from saying ‘pardon’ to an Omani just the other day!
I have to admit the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower, I did a little girly squeal. MP and I were standing at the Louvre, just after some snowfall actually, I turned around and there it was! Well, half of it anyway…
MP and I had five days to spend in Paris and in retrospect, that is probably too long for one city, but because of the flight times, etc., we really had no choice. I had expectations for Paris, like most people I had heard the stories of how romantic this city is and how fabulous the sights and sounds are… I think it is unwise to go to any place with any preconceptions! This is not to say that you shouldn’t research the place you are going, but just be wary that there are many different views in the world.
I recommend getting yourself a cornet from the ticket person (basically a book of 10 tickets) and a map of the metro and RER system – it really is a cheap way of travelling around Paris (about 1.70 Euros per trip) and the outlying suburbs. The metro gets you to all the sights you want to see (and some you didn’t know you wanted too) within the city limits and the RER takes you to the outlying suburbs. But do be warned that all the tunnels that you walk along, have a distinct smell of urine…
Picking up French phrases is really easy and fun too! You get very good at saying the basics like ‘merci’, ‘pardon’ and ‘bonjour!’. It feels a bit like you are playing at being French at first but it soon become second nature – I had to stop myself from saying ‘pardon’ to an Omani just the other day!
I have to admit the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower, I did a little girly squeal. MP and I were standing at the Louvre, just after some snowfall actually, I turned around and there it was! Well, half of it anyway…
(Photo: Just a glimpse...)
No matter what you are told, to see the iconic and sometimes cliché sights of Paris is pretty amazing and quite surreal at times. Do go and see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Versaille (as long as it hasn’t snowed, or they close it…), Notre Dame, etc., etc., etc…. Amazing!
(Photo: The watchers on top of Notre Dame)
One place I highly recommend that isn’t in all the guide books is the Catacombs. This creepy place under the city is really interesting and somewhat eerie! Walls made from the skulls and long bones on thousands of Parisians’. I really wanted to see some ghosts or catch it on camera, unfortunately we didn’t…
(Photo: A wall of bones...)
But my most favourite moment for the entire trip was the snow! Yes it snowed and snowed and snowed. This was my first experience with the ‘white stuff’ and I couldn’t get enough of it! I missed the snow storm that Paris had, we were on a day tour to the D-Day Beaches (also something everyone should do) but the day after was just magical. I even enjoyed the cold and those of you who know me, know that I am a Queensland who loves her sunshine! MP did not enjoy the snow, he didn’t seem to appreciate the romance of it and when it turned out that half of Versaille was closed when we went there, he really didn’t like it. But crunching through the snow, wearing big coats, gloves, scarves and a beanie, sliding on the ice, seeing your breath in the air and the quiet of the white sent my little heart a fluttering!
(Photo: The romance of snow)
Word to the wise in Paris however, there are a lot, and I mean whole lot, of dodgy people. There are beggers every where, pickpockets, conmen, dodgy trinket salesmen (5 for 1 Euro…), oh and watch out for the ‘bead men’ or ‘string men’ depending on what they are trying to sell you. Basically a random man will grab you and start either winding some beads or tying string around your wrist and then they charge something like 8 euros for it. Your best bet is to ignore them completely because they will hound you. We told one to ‘go away’ and he called MP a ‘bullsh!tter’ for the effort. You have been warned… It definitely put a big downer on the whole trip for me. Being constantly on your guard does not make for an enjoyable trip.
I have realised after this trip that cities are pretty much all the same – full of people (tourists and the locals who are annoyed with the tourists), sights to see and places to eat, sleep and spend your money. I’m feeling somewhat cynical about it all. If I ever went back to France, I would love to go to the South of France, rural areas. Yes I know that most of what I said will also occupy these places, but maybe there’ll a few less tourists, a few less dodgy people and a few less tourist-hating locals!
(Photo: Finally!)
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