Chiang Mai bound.

Gaining access to the departure shopping zone is like being let loose in Aladdin's cave. It doesn't matter which terminal you are in, shops stretch as far as the eye can see. It really is a little overwhelming, so we looked around for a while, made a mental note to return to one or two places en route for the departure gate, then with plenty of time to spare, went to have some lunch. Well the best laid plans go astray, and it was as we settled down to eat chatting as you do, we had a discussion about current time frames. Flight departure time, boarding time, allowance for the 8 minute walk the sign estimated for the trek to the departure gate, shopping stop off etc etc. problem was it turned out we had an hour less to play with than initially thought. Oops. So, our leisurely lunch became and eat on the run job, we flew past the shops, and ran for departure gate #58. As Murphy's Law would have it, we got to the gate, went through a security check, then sat in the waiting area prior to boarding for approximately 40 minutes. Never mind. They do shut the gates 10 minutes prior to departure so I would rather be on the right side of the glass wall, rather than leaning with my nose pressed up against it, sobbing because I had missed the flight. Enough excitement for one day, so we are now settled on our plane en route for Chiang Mai, Thailand. Elephants here we come. 27.1.2013.

It's not Venice.

We flew into Singapore under the guidance of our Captain, Manuel. Yes, I'm sorry but the inference to another more famous Manuel kept me smiling. With my imagination running wild, as to the outcome if Manuel from Fawlty Towers were ever to relocate for the kitchen to the skies, we landed late afternoon. Singapore seems from the sky to be an island made of a large number of smaller islands. Sea access is everything with imperious large tankers scattered like twigs on the ocean. Interspersed with tugs and smaller craft, I gave up counting at 180. As you approach the airport the city looms, with huge skycrapers announcing the CBD. We saw the triple towers of the Marina Bay Sands impressive sentinels on guard as you approach. This is our destination for our return visit in two weeks time. Designed by world renowned architect Moshie Safdie, the complex is only two years old. It is collocated with another of Safdie's projects, the Museum of Art and Science. Might have to convince Frank that this becomes a destination too, although I might not spring that idea on him just yet. I have never understood the allure of golf - until today. viewed from above we saw a large golf course of undulating green velvet. I looked for Alice lounging by the 9th hole, but had passed by before I spotted either her or the White Rabbit. Changi Airport is massive with three separate terminals and a Sky Train to provide access between each. Our luggage came in on belt 33. Given Brisbane airport has less than half a dozen luggage belts this will give you some indication as to the scale of the airport. With the plan being to overnight at the airport hotel we traversed Immigration, got our gear together were waved through Customs then walked the concourse to the Crowne Plaza. Passing a Chemist advertising "Hair Gorgeous" and "Bath Sensation" was only ever going to make me laugh as it brought back memories of my trip to Japan with signage reminiscent of "Wellness Drug" and the like. As a result we actually missed the Sky Train from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3. Luckily there was another scheduled in just two minutes. That's Singapore for you. 26.1.2013

Two more sleeps

When I was little my favourite toy was a monkey. Not just any monkey, but one with a cloth body, plastic moulded hands (one of which holds a banana) and face. What's more she is a talented monkey as she is able to insert her banana into her mouth any time she is in need of a snack. How do I know she is female you ask? Well, many years ago when she joined our family, my Nanna stitched a little red bow on forehead so I knew she was a girl. Mary Mick Monk she was, and Mary Mick Monk she remains. Yes, I still have her all these years later. Well loved, with a little less stuffing perhaps, but she is still smiling, still has her banana and is still good company on those occasions when a little TLC is needed. Jane Goodall with her long term study of the chimpanzees of Gombe, Gerald Durrell and his Jersey Zoo and the Phantom were my heroes and the studies of the former filled my head with learning, while the latter gave me something to read in my down time. What I would have given for a Phantom ring. That said, elephants have been my long term love. Something about these gentle giants and what they can teach us just can't be ignored. It is with honour and pride that I currently have a suitcase open on the floor. Items being added as things come to mind. All preparation for a trip I am about to undertake. Changmai here I come! With our flight booked, departure date is looming, and I am excited. More than I would have believed. So for me, a dream is coming true. A day spent with my own elephant! Mine for the day, to be with, feed and wash in the river. Better yet I get to do it for two whole. Elephant heaven for this girl. The only up close and personal experience I have had so far with elephants was feeding one some apple at Australia Zoo. If I run true to form I will cry - rest assured it will be happy tears from experiencing such an overwhelming event. As for the model in the attached photo - a visit to the new elephant enclosure at Taronga Zoo ensured lots of photo opportunities and smiles.

Psychogeography

There is something that I do that comes naturally, that I have done for as long as I remember, and it is this.....when I am visiting somewhere that is not my home town, I wander. Preferably with a camera, but I take the time to walk the streets, breath the scents and at times, secure in the thought that no one is watching - I touch things. Mostly the texture of the buildings, the smooth marble, the sandstone, the bumps where corners meet. Engaged in this way I can wander happily for hours. Imagine my surprise upon reading my favourite quirky read, Frankie magazine, to find that this activity has a name. Unbeknownst to me I have been participating in psychogeography all this time. Who knew? What's more, it has been referred to as such since 1955 when the social theorist Guy Debord thought to add a moniker to this activity. It is quaintly reassuring to know that the meandering I so readily get distracted by has a name. Not just any name, but one that sounds sort of important, or even scientific. Not just killing time, this activity has a name which gives the activity itself considerable street cred. Frankie defined it as "bushwalking in cities", and yes, you do still come across occasional wildlife. But more, it provides justification to the journey rather than just being a means of traversing point A to point B. For me though it represents even more. There is the emotive undertone that is associated with wandering through the back streets and canals of somewhere like Venice that just doesn't come through in the term psychogeography. It doesn't quite capture the architecture, the textures, the shadows of light, the glimpses into people's lives, all there for the taking. It also misses the add on value of stopping for a drink or meal in some little out of the way cafe, where the workers of the city gather, where you produce a map, seek assistance, find out just where it is you are at, then work your way back to where you should be. A whole new level of seeing is there for those prepared to take the time. Perhaps this concept goes further. How about gaining your Masters in Psychogeography? How about psychgeolocating? Being the ability to locate a suitable cafe or pub whilst on your wandering ramble. Or even the act of psychgeophotography? Visually documenting the sights and scenes encountered as you partake of another psychogeographical adventure....and my favourite? Psychogeobuddy - that special someone, who holds your hand, so you don't become lost as you wander and leads you safely home. Check it out at Frankie issue 51 Jan/Feb 2013, p132. http://www.frankie.com.au/ Sent from my iPad

SBS does Venice

SBS is screening a great series on Venice. Venice 24/7. Wednesday night at 8.30pm it covers the daily workings of the Fire, Police and Medical crews who provide support to the inhabitants of this unique city. The episode I watched last night had a focus on the recent visit of Pope Benedict XVI. With 100 churches in a three mile radius, this was always going to be a major logistical challenge. 2000 security personnel have been appointed to deal with the planning and implementation of the visit, in addition to the Vaticans own securi forces who travel with the Pope. Large crowds are expected within Piazza San Marco, the main destination point for the Pontif and his entourage. Not unexpectedly the key risk for events of this scale is " people falling into the water". It is the Fire Crews who respond to these emergencies and rescue people from the canals and waterways. They even undertake rigorous training to learn how to deal with exactly these situations. Giancarlo, Franco and Bruno are three of the four gondoliers selected to transport the Pontiff by boat. The selection process is extreme with a panel appointed to determine which of the hundreds of applicants will be selected for such an honour. The guys get together to discuss whether it is an option to "go slower so that they get to spend more time with the Pope". The men raise their oars in the traditional salute, and then receive a blessing from the Pope by way of thanks. It is evident this is a big moment for each of the men. Resplendent in specially designed new uniforms they are beaming with pleasure. Having now had the pleasure of zipping around in a golf buggy at Hamilton Island, I was amused to see that Pope Benedict's special transport for his visit was a custom made six seat buggy (officially known as a Pope mobile) with special police driver. This driver too practice travelling the route across Piazza San Marco to check for time frames and stability of the vehicle on the paving stones. God forbid we're the Pontiff to be shaken around at all. Funnily enough the Doges Palace was converted to a modern medical facility to act as a mobile field hospital to deal with medical emergencies within the crowds but simultaneously acted as the overnight accommodation for Pope Benedict. Hopefully not in triage, but in a separate palatial wing. Next focus was planning for the Venice Biennale with pop up art galleries in houses, churches and moorings. A six month celebration of modern art that takes over Venice every two years. Again, the logistics are incredible and interesting to follow as they show the installation of Jan Favre's Pietas's at Scuola de Misercordia in Cannareggio. The same area that Orsoni is situated and whose streets we walked so recently. Then similar coverage of the installation of Anish Kapoor's Ascension in San Giorgio Maggiore, a Palladian designed church where I first experienced Gregorian chanting.

By the time they showed a gas leak in Calle del Fumo I was literally bouncing off the couch. This is the street that the incredible glass master Vittorio Costantini has his workshop in! Having just been to see him, exploring Venice, breathing her scents and absorbing all this incredible city has to offer it was inspiring to see it all again so soon. Right in front of me, but just out of reach. As for next weeks episode? It looks at how the city deals with continually rising waters as the city itself sinks. Aqua alto here I come!

Farm girls

Couldn't resist sharing these photos of some happy farm girls I spent time with on my recent visit to Tasmania. Sweetpea, a Black faced Suffolk

Lily, a Merino cross

and while Jessie (another of the Black Faced Suffolks was being camera shy on this particular occasion, for me the smile says it all.

Water, water everywhere

Forgot to mention the other fix-it job for the week. Water is an essential commodity on the farm, and for some time the supply here has been impacted. For starters, the bore is out of action. Something to do with electrics and with no power, the pump won't work. Or so we thought, but more on that later. In the interim, we have had to get inventive with moving cows and sheep so that everyone has access to water. So, cows in one paddock with access to a dam. Sheep in another paddock with access to troughs. Problem is that the trough levels kept falling inexplicably. Initial thoughts that the sheep and rams were ultra thirsty proved incorrect. No way, could the animals drink this much without turning into little water filled balloons with toothpick legs. So, much head scratching was taking place. Then we twigged. While checking the paddocks I was asked to jump off the four wheeler to open a gate - pretty standard request. This time however I balked. Wearing new Blundstones I didn't want to get mud on my boots so I declined on account of the huge puddle. Puddle? Where did the puddle come from? Well, that was the challenge for the next hour or so. Back to the house we go for tools and other essentials, then back to start digging. Well, to confess, I didn't dig. My job was to make appropriate noises and provide moral support. Long story short, we found the cause of the problem. A well meaning neighbour who had put in a new fence post (embedded in concrete) had cut through the water pipe assuming it was an obsolete water pipe. Result? Pipe cut on each side of the concrete slab and water flooding out into the paddock - hence the troughs bleeding out and what we thought were thirsty sheep. So, one hole later, various pipe connectors(some very kindly supplied by the previously mentioned neighbour), new lengths of pipe, trips back up to the water tank and lots of tools and hard graft and we had reconnected things. It was only a matter of testing things and checking water levels and hey presto, all sorted. That too explains why the electrics on the bore pump failed. Working overtime to pump a never ending supply of water was too much for it so the fuse blew. Bingo! So, last job before we fly out today is to turn the tank tap on to ensure continued water supply in our absence. Fingers crossed.