About 6 hours still to go on this bus ride, so I've busied myself writing a song for Argentina. I call it "Song for Argentina":
Yo tengo una piedra
Es un hermoso de piedra
Pero porque te amo tambien
Puedes tener mi piedra si quieres
Pero por una hora nada mas.
(repeat first verse)
(repeat first verse)
I was planning on making it 4 verses, but I've noticed that most of the songs here are only three, and so have restricted it accordingly. But maybe I should have waited til I remembered more Spanish.
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Monday, 27 February 2012
Sunday, 26 February 2012
On the current Australian Parliament...
In a wide country of boundless resources, why is this thing? This question worried me. Our legislators are unable or unwilling to cope with it. They trouble not to be patriots or statesmen. Australia can bring forth writers, orators, financiers, singers, musicians, actors, and athletes which are second to none of any nation under the sun. Why can she not bear sons, men of soul, mind, truth, godliness, and patriotism sufficient to rise and cast off the grim shackles which widen round us day by day?
- Miles Franklin, "My Brilliant Career", 1901
Nothing has changed in over one hundred years....
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- Miles Franklin, "My Brilliant Career", 1901
Nothing has changed in over one hundred years....
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Karl Pilkington day...
Today we took a tour to Peninsular Valdes, a World Heritage listed sanctuary and pretty much to only reason people come to Puerto Madryn.
About 12 of us on the tour, with the tour guide fluent in both Spanish and English, and very knowledgeable and town proud to boot... The tour started with a quick drive around PM's highlights, including the fish factory and aluminum smelter - Ok, not off to a particularly brilliant beginning.
The drive to the peninsula is about an hour, and we learnt all about the regions history, why it looks so desolate (rarely rains here), and the problems they face with very little water.
Entering the park, we learn that despite being heritage listed the are 5 estancias on the peninsula and the main industry is wool from the "Australian Merino". Then came about half an hour on wool, and how many sheep the gauchos can shear a day. The guide knew I was Australian and was raised on a farm, so he asked me could i shear, and how long it took me to shear a sheep. Now Australian pride is on the line here, so I said lied about my shearing prowess and said just under two minutes. He seemed suitable impressed... Then of course we came upon a shearing shed and I had a god awful moment thinking I was about to have to prove it! Fortunately though we didn't stop as we had to go look at a windmill to see how the water is raised from the ground. Please not...
There was some interesting wildlife - guanaco's that will spit at you if you get too close, silver foxes, patagonian hares that apparently engage in golden showers (that was confirmed in English so it is not a mistranslation on my part), armadillos (actually cool), seals, sea lions (cool too), and magellanic penguins (again cool), but really this was getting to be a looooong tour. This is also a fantastic spot to view Right Whales, who breed in the bay. But of course it is not whale season now. Naturally.
But the reason this park is so popular, and why so many people visit is the Killer Whales. This is one of only two places in the world where the whales will beach themselves while hunting seal and sea lion pups. And it is Killer Whale hunting season, as the seal pups are just beginning to learn to swim.
It is truly spectacular. A pod of killer whales is swimming just meters from the shore, and they are actually listening to the pups and watching them to plan their attacks. When a pup or pups do enter the water (I don't know why either), all hell breaks loose as though young the pups are still fast and agile swimmers, and they try to avoid the attacking killer whales. All this happening just meters from the shore line. If a whale gets a pup, they play with the poor bugger much like a cat with a mouse, even letting it go and swim groggily yo shore before launching themselves fully onto the steep pebbly beach and dragging him back in - where the little tacker is just meters from his bellowing mum and aunts. Amazing and heartbreaking.
Of course, I know all this because I've seen the David Attenborough film about it which was filmed here. We of course did not see diddly of killer whales... I pretended that some lumps of floating kelp were a pod on the prowl, but alas this seaweed did not appear at all interested in launching an attack on the seal pups.
So this World Heritage reserve was something of a bust I'm afraid. Today it has rained all day (I thought this place was a desert?), so have been copped up at the hostel all day. Still, it has been relaxing after being on the go all the time, sometimes I forget I'm on holiday and I can choose to do nothing if I want.
Tomorrow evening is another 20 hour bus trip (awesome busses though with lie flat recliners) to El Calafate to see the mountains for the first time and the spectacular glaciers. At least the glaciers will definitely be there to see.
Hasta
(oh yeah, we also saw a lizard and a black widow spider (a red back). Ooooooh.......)
Penguins (obviously)
Golden shore loving Patagonian Hares
About 12 of us on the tour, with the tour guide fluent in both Spanish and English, and very knowledgeable and town proud to boot... The tour started with a quick drive around PM's highlights, including the fish factory and aluminum smelter - Ok, not off to a particularly brilliant beginning.
The drive to the peninsula is about an hour, and we learnt all about the regions history, why it looks so desolate (rarely rains here), and the problems they face with very little water.
Entering the park, we learn that despite being heritage listed the are 5 estancias on the peninsula and the main industry is wool from the "Australian Merino". Then came about half an hour on wool, and how many sheep the gauchos can shear a day. The guide knew I was Australian and was raised on a farm, so he asked me could i shear, and how long it took me to shear a sheep. Now Australian pride is on the line here, so I said lied about my shearing prowess and said just under two minutes. He seemed suitable impressed... Then of course we came upon a shearing shed and I had a god awful moment thinking I was about to have to prove it! Fortunately though we didn't stop as we had to go look at a windmill to see how the water is raised from the ground. Please not...
There was some interesting wildlife - guanaco's that will spit at you if you get too close, silver foxes, patagonian hares that apparently engage in golden showers (that was confirmed in English so it is not a mistranslation on my part), armadillos (actually cool), seals, sea lions (cool too), and magellanic penguins (again cool), but really this was getting to be a looooong tour. This is also a fantastic spot to view Right Whales, who breed in the bay. But of course it is not whale season now. Naturally.
But the reason this park is so popular, and why so many people visit is the Killer Whales. This is one of only two places in the world where the whales will beach themselves while hunting seal and sea lion pups. And it is Killer Whale hunting season, as the seal pups are just beginning to learn to swim.
It is truly spectacular. A pod of killer whales is swimming just meters from the shore, and they are actually listening to the pups and watching them to plan their attacks. When a pup or pups do enter the water (I don't know why either), all hell breaks loose as though young the pups are still fast and agile swimmers, and they try to avoid the attacking killer whales. All this happening just meters from the shore line. If a whale gets a pup, they play with the poor bugger much like a cat with a mouse, even letting it go and swim groggily yo shore before launching themselves fully onto the steep pebbly beach and dragging him back in - where the little tacker is just meters from his bellowing mum and aunts. Amazing and heartbreaking.
Of course, I know all this because I've seen the David Attenborough film about it which was filmed here. We of course did not see diddly of killer whales... I pretended that some lumps of floating kelp were a pod on the prowl, but alas this seaweed did not appear at all interested in launching an attack on the seal pups.
So this World Heritage reserve was something of a bust I'm afraid. Today it has rained all day (I thought this place was a desert?), so have been copped up at the hostel all day. Still, it has been relaxing after being on the go all the time, sometimes I forget I'm on holiday and I can choose to do nothing if I want.
Tomorrow evening is another 20 hour bus trip (awesome busses though with lie flat recliners) to El Calafate to see the mountains for the first time and the spectacular glaciers. At least the glaciers will definitely be there to see.
Hasta
(oh yeah, we also saw a lizard and a black widow spider (a red back). Ooooooh.......)
Penguins (obviously)
Golden shore loving Patagonian Hares
Location:Puerto Madryn
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Heading south
Backpacking around ain't all beer and skittles (well not skittles anyway). 20 hour bus rides aren't fun, and could probably have handled a couple of more days in BA - and a chance to see Boca Juniors play which would be awesome on their home ground. Will possibly be back there at some stage though. The BA hostel (Milhouse) is an awesome place - they run all sorts of tours and parties, plus priority entry to BA's biggest nightclubs. Highly recommend it to anyone heading over here.
Tomorrow I hope to see killer whales, but am not optimistic. May have to settle for just penguins and seals...
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Tomorrow I hope to see killer whales, but am not optimistic. May have to settle for just penguins and seals...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Puerto Madryn
Friday, 17 February 2012
In South America
Finally made it some 38 hours after leaving St Kilda! Actually not as bad as I thought it would be, but still slept for 13 hours when I finally got to the hostel.
Sleep deprivation does strange things. VERY rough landing into BA - people screaming and some praying (and others laughing, possibly hysterically), but we obviously did land safely. I was so tired I didn't care if we crashed, at least the flying would be over. I've see enough movies and TV shows to last me a while now. I would recommend Moneyball and Margin Call though if you get a chance. Red Dog made me cry, and The Toy Story movies were also entertaining to see again; that Jesse the cowgirl is really quite hot! (maybe that thought is just an effect of no sleep though...).
Had a wander around BA this afternoon. Really is a stunning city. Tomorrow I'm heading to a soccer game - River Plate v Independente Mendoza which I've been assured in the match of the round (I think they all are though). Will start to make a plan for the trip soon, but for now just happy to play it by ear.
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Sleep deprivation does strange things. VERY rough landing into BA - people screaming and some praying (and others laughing, possibly hysterically), but we obviously did land safely. I was so tired I didn't care if we crashed, at least the flying would be over. I've see enough movies and TV shows to last me a while now. I would recommend Moneyball and Margin Call though if you get a chance. Red Dog made me cry, and The Toy Story movies were also entertaining to see again; that Jesse the cowgirl is really quite hot! (maybe that thought is just an effect of no sleep though...).
Had a wander around BA this afternoon. Really is a stunning city. Tomorrow I'm heading to a soccer game - River Plate v Independente Mendoza which I've been assured in the match of the round (I think they all are though). Will start to make a plan for the trip soon, but for now just happy to play it by ear.
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Location:Buenos Aires somewhere
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Early observations...
The first thing I have noticed is the abject poverty everywhere you look. The desolation - I'm sure it hasn't rained here for years - and dust, dust, dust. The hulk of a rusting car in the middle of a field becomes a playground for local children. I pass them some coloured crayons from the window of the train and their faces light up as if I'd given them the latest laser shooting wifi enabled Buzz Lightyear doll (or whatever is the latest must have toy for kids). But there is happiness here. Free from the trappings and 'gotta keep up' pressures of our world, the populace seem genuinely contented with their meager (by our standards) existence. Ignorance perhaps truly is bliss...
Just passed through Nhill, western Victoria...
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Just passed through Nhill, western Victoria...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Nearly off...
Oops, bit of a pesimistic title for the blog - I thought I could change it later but apparently not. I've tried half a dozen of these free blog sites, and this is the only one that will let me uploade pictures easily via ipad or iphone apps (until I lose them or they get stolen that is).
Only a few days before I head off to Buenos Aires to start, and I think that may be pear-shaped decision #1: Going to Buenos Aires VIA DUBAI! Saving a few hundred bucks seemed like a good idea at the time, but I think that after 30+ hours flying I might regret that choice...
Heading to Melbourne via train on Monday (I'll have to get another train book), then flying out Wednesday night. A couple more days and a few dozen more drinks to go. Thinking about a few drinks (maybe Barneys) late Monday night, then a few more at the Windsor Castle Tuesday night. At least its a late night flight so I can't oversleep it!
I'll try to keep this blog up to date, and I'll try to keep it interesting. I'm not sure yet if I'll use it for short updates (interesting), or use it as a fuller record (boring). Probably a bit of both, so just ignore the boring bits! I realised when I re-read my Panama letters how poorly I recorded what was actually happening and what I thought at the time, so I want to improve on that. Don't worry though, I'll still acurately record the seating configuration of every aircraft I get on!
It would be good to see comments on this blog as I go, but apparently you'll need to create a Google account, which is pretty easy. Otherwise (and in addition), there's facebook and email.
See some of you in Melbourne, and watch this blog!
Only a few days before I head off to Buenos Aires to start, and I think that may be pear-shaped decision #1: Going to Buenos Aires VIA DUBAI! Saving a few hundred bucks seemed like a good idea at the time, but I think that after 30+ hours flying I might regret that choice...
Heading to Melbourne via train on Monday (I'll have to get another train book), then flying out Wednesday night. A couple more days and a few dozen more drinks to go. Thinking about a few drinks (maybe Barneys) late Monday night, then a few more at the Windsor Castle Tuesday night. At least its a late night flight so I can't oversleep it!
I'll try to keep this blog up to date, and I'll try to keep it interesting. I'm not sure yet if I'll use it for short updates (interesting), or use it as a fuller record (boring). Probably a bit of both, so just ignore the boring bits! I realised when I re-read my Panama letters how poorly I recorded what was actually happening and what I thought at the time, so I want to improve on that. Don't worry though, I'll still acurately record the seating configuration of every aircraft I get on!
It would be good to see comments on this blog as I go, but apparently you'll need to create a Google account, which is pretty easy. Otherwise (and in addition), there's facebook and email.
See some of you in Melbourne, and watch this blog!
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