Hello all,

Currently residing in Quilon, on the West Coast of India. Been having a great time so far and seen some interesting stuff - temples etc, as well as trains, my great grandfathers house and some interesting countryside.

Going to cruise on the Kerala back wates tomorrow for 8 hrs - hard life isn't it! before arriving in Cochin.

Hope you're all having fun whilst I'm sweating here in 28 degrees.

Take easy y'all.

Hello, brief update. Have spent the last 3 weeks on organic farm in Tasmania. In Hobart for the weekend and then back to farm for another week. Been doing all sorts of stuff incuding chopping wood, thinning apple blossoms etc. Top event so far was seeing the aurora astralis last night - for those not in the know they are the same as the northern lights but it is rare to see them in this part of the world. Take it easy all.

Hey Glyn, bronzed definitely but adonis - still got some work to do (though not that much anymore).

Currently about 45 mins outside of Hobart on Tasmania. Have just about been on the farm for a week and so far jobs have included apple blossom thinning, wood chopping, strimming, seaweed collecting, farm maintenance etc. have ing a great time though I did get snowed on for 6 hrs last Thurs which was not fun and quite unexpected.

Going to be here for a bit, will possibly do a bit of touring around tassie but depends whether i can be bothered, getting sick of getting onto tour buses etc.

Anyway thats about it for now - going to spend the rest of the day wandering around Hobart to see whats going on. Take it easy.

Hi Matt, it looks as though you are still having a great time down under. The weather sounds really good compared to ours, although it must be extremely tiring when you are inland and walking a lot during the day. It must have its benefits however, as I can imagine you will now look like a "Bronzed Adonis". Those little mozzies must like your aftershave or something if they keep coming after you in the night as much as you say, have you not got a mozzie net to sleep in? I have not seen much of the little fellow the 'Microbe' lately, he hasn't gone overboard has he? Hope you enjoy Tasmania and the rest of the trip, cheers Glyn.

Hellooo! I came, I saw, I looked! Lovely lovely pictures. *Especially* the ones from Vancouver...but I would say that, wouldn't I?! You are apparently having wayyy too much fun, and I believe this should not be allowed!! I may just have to come join you for a bit of world trekking... which may just be possible as I've had my application for VR accepted and finish on 26 November. Hurrah!
Anyway, you keep on enjoying yourself! Catch you later, eh?!

Hi mate, good to see that you are still alive and kicking. Some great pic's, surprised you haven't included any trains yet - maybe the stories of you being the proverbal train spotter aren't true afterall. Life in Hilton v.good and vik doing well. Was out for a run last sunday (7 mile sutton-on hill loop) and brought back memories of you plodding round - look forward to resuming the training regime when you get back.

Not much changed in Hilton apart from the additional of yet another pub, the Hilton Brook, who now sponsor the football team I am playing for each sunday. Happy days as it means a corporate rate at the bar!

Take care mate

Dan

Hi Matt
Was dreaming about you and wondering how you were! Great to hear from you and your life seems just a tiny bit better than we are experiencing!
Have just read Glyn's message re your wrist - he always did have a filthy mind.
Take care and keep the messages flowing.
Dana x

30/9/04 day 8 last day. Today we hike into Windjana gorge- only a couple of km but I really cant be bothered. Its hot and I want a shower. Theres no shade and the temperature is rising even at 7.30 am. We see some fresh water crocodiles and some bats hanging in the trees. We hike on some more taking a rest further up in the riverbed where the river has dried out. We walk back down the gorge to the bus, and have a well-earned shower out of the tap. Next we head down to Derby (thats right Im not kidding). Spend some time there having lunch before heading to the Boab prison tree. Time for a history lesson this tree was used as a prison in the days when Aborigines were being hunted down for resisting the white mans invasion of their land. In order to make it easier to control them overnight they were forced to climb into the tree and spend the night in there. Remember of course that there were a few of them all chained together. This meant that only one guard was needed to ensure none of them escaped.

After visiting the Boab tree we resumed our journey to Broome where the trip ended. Most of us were staying at a place called the Last resort which the guide told us was rubbish I was hoping that the hostels name was not going to be that ironic but unfortunately it proved to be so. Bit of a dive as most of the hostels have been so far. The only decent hostels I have stayed in so far have been in New Zealand and Canada. Decided not to do any washing because there was a queue for the one washing machine. Had a shower and met everyone for dinner. Had an early night as was flying down to Perth the next day.
newline

25/9/04 Day 3 - up again at 5am phone alarm works even when turned off damn. Uncomfortable night in swag been bitten by god knows what about 30 times on each arm. Went for walk into cathedral gorge very nice all had to sing national anthem or a song before left except the English boy hiding at the back (called Stuart). I did a wonderful rendition of the chorus to Wonderwall. Back to truck and then to airstrip for those doing the helicopter ride over the bungles. Temp in shade 37 degrees, temp in sun 48 degrees WTF! walking around in bare feet nutter. Back to camp and dinner. Another night in the swag.

26/9/04 day 4 Again spent most of the day driving down towards a place called parry farm, stopping in swimming holes along the way oh its such a hard life. Arrived at parrys farm (for you twitchers out there a bird spotters paradise). Cracking campsite with showers, toilets and swimming pool nice. Watch out when you go to the toilet though theres frogs in them thar bogs.
newline

23/9/04 Another early start to the day got up at 4.30am and banged around a bit I wasnt trying to wake anybody up honest. Picked up at 5.30 by Chris who is going to be my guide on a trip through the Kimberleys. Yippee second person on bus can choose which seat I want. Gradually go round picking everybody else up and finally leave Darwin at about 6.30am. Today involves a lot of driving. We are heading to Katherine where first stop is for a swim well thats what the brochure says. Arrive Katherine have a swim excellent. Lunch good and back on the bus for another drive all way to lake Argyll biggest unnatural lake in Oz I think. All held back by a little dam, populated by plenty of barramundi farms. Saw a kapok plant and interesting fact when the seed pods open they contain a fibrous material which was used for stuffing mattresses in our house it was used for incubating chickens and ducks. Arrived at camp has showers luxury youll understand why later. Somebody had to light the fire ME I am the fire starter thank you Ray Mears. Temperature recorded today 38 degrees.

23/9/04 Question Why is it a creek and not a stream??
newline

19/9/04 day 2 today we leave Uluru and head towards kings canyon where we are going to have a walk etc. Ayers rock closed because of high winds so cant walk up it. So went to the cultural center instead. Eventually found it was impossible to go for walk up Ayer's rock so we had to settle for the walk around the base only 8 kms in the searing heat and swarming flies. Not bad walk though quite interesting seeing the places, which have special significance for the aborigines but cant take any photos though. After lunch headed to kings canyon another long drive. Arrived at camp after bumpy ride to find that theres not enough tents and one of the SIS (safari in style) customers wants a tent to themselves (well they did pay for it). Here comes the best bit, hostess quote to me and Ricky are you two in a tent, well you cant have it. The SIS needs a tent so you two can sleep in swags and then walked off. Theres customer service for you. Anyway after a load of b****in SIS gets tent me a Ricky not bothered either way, and two other people end up sleeping in swags. Life is definitely too short.

16/9/04 Arrived in Uluru gosh a bit warm here what. Temperature pretty high around 30 degrees again. Checked into my dorm if you can call it that more like a cell. Sharing with 3 other people 2 Japanese girls and an English bloke. I think Fletcher had more room in his cell in Porridge. Had a burger for dinner that was absolutely gross considering the price I paid for it. Spent the rest of the day reading until later in the evening when went out for a few drinks with the bloke I shared a room with.