We missed the afternoon ferry to Sibu yesterday because it doesn’t run any more. Serves us right for relying on a guidebook – especially one other than the LP. That gave us the afternoon free to wander the riverside and get more involved in daily life. I spent a couple of hours talking to a… Continue reading Riverboat
Category: Countries
Humidity wins
You can only get to the Bako National Park by boat and it was a rough ride. The rain and sea spray got under my gortex to mingle with the sweat from the warm breeze. Even with my sunglasses on, the rain stung my eyes so much I could barely see. I missed all the… Continue reading Humidity wins
Sweltering in the Jungle
We’re staying on the top story of a ‘long house style’ (not yet sure what this means) hostel. Last night we listened to the pattering of rain on the roof all night, punctuated by long loud rumbles of thunder. Apparently it’s the beginning of the rainy season in Borneo. Strange, since the rainy season is… Continue reading Sweltering in the Jungle
Off to Borneo
I arrived in KL last night with my mother. We’ll meet up with my brother this morning and head off to Kuching today. Stupidly, I forgot my camera after buying a spare memory card and battery, but I’ll borrow the others’ and hope to get some good shots of Christmas and New Year Borneo Style… Continue reading Off to Borneo
Track Work
On my way up the bush track from home to the station yesterday, I found a man with a clipboard prodding at the stone steps. With long hair tied back, khaki clothes and trekking boots, he might have been a ranger, but he didn’t have the badges. I struck up a conversation and learnt that… Continue reading Track Work
Rail Rage
I’m often frustrated by the selfish actions of Sydney commuters, but this morning I saw my first case of rail rage. My own gripes are to do with the way people will turn the seat in front of them around so that they don’t have to sit facing anyone, even when that means someone who… Continue reading Rail Rage
Sculptures by the Sea
Sculptures by the Sea is run every year about this time as a little bit of Sydney culture. I went today with the AFS gang and took my camera. I started out trying to take photos of the sculptures I liked best, but there were always people in the way. Soon I realised that it… Continue reading Sculptures by the Sea
Aboriginal Elders Leave Community
Aboriginal elders walked off the community land in July to protest against the Northern Territory Intervention, which it says is “widening the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.” This mirrors the first move to reclaim their traditional lands in 1966, when Aboriginal stockmen and their families walked off the Wave Hill Pastoral lands. Then, the action made… Continue reading Aboriginal Elders Leave Community
UN Slams NT Intervention
I’m again slow on the uptake here as uni has been keeping me very busy, but I want to highlight the recent visit of a UN expert on human rights to Australia after complaints about NT Intervention violating the rights of Aborigines. As I’ve said before, I’m not a fan of the idea of global… Continue reading UN Slams NT Intervention
School Zones
Returning to Australia from Bhutan, I’m often frustrated by the way we seem to replace responsibility for control. I’m not sure whether it’s enforcing rules to compensate for a lack of responsibility or if responsibility is lost because we have laws to compensate. Either way, I think it’s sad. People are no longer as free… Continue reading School Zones