Few More Words

I have a couple of minutes left on the internet so just a few more words -

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO tha West Tigers!!!! Never before have I ever been as proud to be from Scrambletown!!

Annie & Al - I am getting your texts randomly but I cant seem to message back.

Ma & Pa - Missing you loads too

Keri - Got your message - hahahah Flares, the nightclub Keri and I went to in Shrewsbury when I was there...hmmm... I wonder how the boys from Cound Criket Club are?!?! he he he

Nick and Dave - hope S&A is going well - please send me an update if you can on things to kateeighty@yahoo.com.au - Nick, thanks for the advice to head to Greve in Chianti - I can still taste the Chianti wine even though its been several days.

To the mosquito that bit me forty eight times in the space of 8 hours - thanks a lot MATE!

Interlaken, Switzerland - Heaven on Earth

If you ever come across a postcard of Switzerland, take it and stare at it. The postcards do not lie. Switzerland really is that beautiful. The mountains are taller than any other mountains I have ever seen before. The water of the lakes and rivers are a glacial blue. The valleys are a luscious green. Visually, there is no evidence that only two or three weeks ago, Interlaken suffered some severe flooding except for some fallen trees and some mud here and there. However, some activities have been cancelled earlier than usual, including canyoning and rafting, due to the excessive rainfall and the drop in temperature. This has left me a little disappointed, because I had planned on doing canyoning while here.

When I left Cinque Terre, I was covered in approximately 45 mosquito bites. The night before I had paid an excessive 80 euros for a tiny room in Vernazza, Cinque Terre and one mosquito came included in the tariff. During the night, the mosquito had a field day all over the top half of my body, munching its way from my right arm, up to my right shoulder, across my back and down my left arm. I wasnt feeling very well when it came time to leave the Cinque Terre and the train ride up to Switzerland via Milan was miserable. Given that I was less than well, and tired after a bad nights sleep, i wearily climbed onto the train and closed my eyes, desperately wanting to be back in Australia with a big bottle of calamine lotion - and forgot to fill out my eurail pass for the day. As a result, I had the pleasure of dealing with a train guard who fined me 30 euros for not filling the pass out properly. I wasnt a happy camper.

However, there is something special about backpacking. Even on your worst days, when you want to be home with family, life can take a turn for the better, with just a simple conversation with strangers. I was grumpy and annoyed when I climbed onto my second train for the day, in Milan, when I sat across from two American girls from Wisconsin. After talking to Ashley and Angie for a couple of hours, they convinced me to not go to Interlaken straight away, but to come along with them to a place on the Swiss/France border, called Gryon. Gryon ended up being the most beautiful mountain village, and with Angie and Ashley, I stayed up in amongst the Swiss Alps in the friendliest hostel (ie. Mountain Chalet) for two nights. My Mosquito Blues disappeared as I spent my days wandering around the Alpine villages and my nights sitting around a bonfire with twenty other backpackers, toasting marshmellows. In between that, we even visited thermal baths, where we all swam relaxed in heated pools and spas in the open air (3 degree temperatures outside the water) looking across the Swiss Alps. The fact that I was at my lowest, missing home, missing my family, and then meeting two strangers on a train, my journey took an extraordinary turn for the better. It was a fun three days all up, three days that may not have occured had I not met Ashley and Angie.

Angie and Ashley had to head off to Paris to catch their train back to London, but I moved on to Interlaken. Some of the girls from Gryon have come along to Interlaken so I am not alone here. Today I spent the day amongst the huge Swiss Alps that surround Interlaken.

I really wish I could write better entries. I feel as though these entries have been very rushed and poorly written (my sister is probably editing them as I go). However, with the pressure of trying to write everything in limited time (it costs about $5 for 15 minutes internet use here in Switzerland) and the noise of people in the backpacker hostel, my concentration isnt strong enough to construct proper sentences. I am keeping a pretty detailed journal, which I will hopefully transfer onto this blog, with the photos, once I return to Australia.

I hope everyone is well and I miss you all very much. I am thinking of staying another night here in Interlaken, and then heading across the French Alps into Lyon and Dijon, ready to arrive in Paris on 3rd October.

Hugs n Kisses

K

The Cinque Terre

What a beautiful place!

Having escaped the nightmare that was florence, I have settled down in amongst the Cinque Terre on the west cost of Italy, for some well deserved R&R.

i am still not having much lunch downloading photos!!! its such a shame because this place is a photographers dream.

Will write more soon.

Ciao Ciao!

k

Dreaming of Tuscany - Greve in Chianti

Ciao All,

Today I left behind the smog and claustrophobia of Firenza and took a bus to Greve in Chianti. Greve in Chianti fulfilled expectations in many ways, and did not in others.

Tuscany is a beautiful place, but in a different way to what I expected. Many people all over the world describe the Tuscan countryside as being the heart of beauty and the place of romance. Authors write of picnics on the Tuscan hillside, and the warmth of the Tuscan sun. And it is for this reason that I do believe that they are right in saying that the place is beautiful. There are rolling hills as far as the eye can see, vineyards that cover the countryside. There are colours of various sorts, but mostly shades of greens, burnt oranges and yellows. While there are tourists, many are slowly walking around, looking from shop to shop, rather than racing from one tourist attraction to another.

While Greve in Chianti is an amazing place, I think it is a lot like the Australian countryside. Because of this, I cannot say I was completely "awestruck" when I drove into the region. I was expecting to be hit by the "famous Tuscan views", views unlike any other. Instead, I saw similar beauty to that of my own country.

After driving through Chianti and into the town of Greve, I worked out that Tuscany is so much more than just the "views" of the countryside that they promote for tourists. And the town grew on me with every step I took. Greve in Chianti is about the lifestyle, the wine, the food and the people.

I started off the day with wine tasting and I have to admit, I could have enjoyed the wine tasting til all hours. However, as I am travelling on my own, I had to behave myself. The thought of navagating Florence upon my return to the hostel was too frightening to contemplate so I took it easy with the alcohol.

In Greve in Chianti, they have this anmazing place where you buy a "winecard" in the value of 10 euros, 15 euros, 20 euros and so on. You then walk around this massive cellar where you go to "wine machines", insert your card, press the button that corresponds with the type of wine that you want, and out comes the wine into your glass. Its almost like a coke machine... only better!

That said, the entire set up was done very tastefully (pun not intended!) Chianti is synonymous with its wide, as much as Australia is with the Crocodile Hunter. They called Chianti "a land to drink in, to inhale, to saivour with all the senses." The region is solitary and unsuitable for agriculture, but due to the hard work of the Tuscan community, for many centuries they have managed to produce some of the best red wine in the world... even surpassing that of the regions of France. Chianti wine is said to be free of impurities, clear and full bodied. The wine is made from different types of "traditional" Chianti vine plants ' Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Malvasia and Trebbiano. The Chianti area is divided up into seven subzones, being Classico, Montalbano, Rufino, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Aretini and Colline Pisane e Senesi. There are strict laws which govern the use of any of these words, as well as claiming your wine is made in Chianti. If the wine is not made up to scratch (even if it is actually made in the region), it still isnt allowed to have the name "Chianti" on the bottle. It isnt allowed to claim that it is from the subzones, nor is it allowed to be labelled as being made from the traditional Chianti vine plants. The "Gallo Nero" is the body which governs this. And if their rules arent strict enough, you cant even use the name "Gallo Nero" on the bottle, even if it is approved. After learning this, I began to realise just how serious they are about their wine here.

Given that i am only a week into a four week trip, I realised that I could not take any of the wine back with me. I enquired at the desk to see how much it would cost to have some sent to Australia and they quoted me a lazy 150 euro... about $300 australian to get it back there. I decided at that point that the wine was just going to have to stay there, and be bought next time I come.

Tomorrow I am beginning my trip to Cinque Terre. I may *cringe* stop off at the Leaning Tower of Pisa (as if i wasnt sick of tourist traps already) but if I dont, I will carry on to Cinque Terre a day early and spend the night in the first of the five fishing villages, and then the following night in Vernazza, the third.

Tonight I am having to throw out some clothes that I packed. I know, I know, I can hear you all saying "i told you so". But the backpack is getting far too heavy and as I plan to walk the trail of the Cinque Terre (which is 4 hours in total), I am going to have to make the backpack lighter. I will just throw out some of the less valuable items. It will also make room for any shopping I may choose to do in Paris!!!

I hope you are all well. I am doing fantastic, and admittedly, a little rosy from the Tuscan sun.

To all back in Sydney, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO the Sydney Swannies!!!!

To all back in Scrambletown and also Drummoyne/Balmain - Goooooooooooooooo the TIGERS!!!!

Good to hear the local teams are going well - just as I leave the country.

Talk to you later!

Love
Kate

Am I in America?

Hello all from Firenze (Florence),

After spending three hours on the train from Venice to Florence, I was excited to finally experience Renaissance at its finest. The Lonely Planet describes Florence as "a beautiful city with an artistic heritage unrivalled anywhere else in the world." It carries on to say "it can also be disheartening. For more of the year, you're more likely to overhear conversations in English than in Italian, and especially in summer, the heat, car fumes and crowds can be stifling."

Lonely Planet was spot on. Falling short of saying I'm deeply disappointed (because I dont think that complaining that I am in Italy is very fair!). However, it is a little disheartening to be shuffled along in between American (and australian!) tour groups to see the sights. Where in Venice and Verona I could more or less escape the hustle and bustle of tourism, I havent been able to do so in Florence. This could be partly because my feet are sore after three straight days of walking, as I am less eager to walk long distances to get away. Surprisingly, having come from Venice, the "most expensive city in Italy", I was lucky enough to buy the Italy's most expensive Gelato at the budget price of 4 euros. To convert that into Australian dollars, that is about $8.00 per gelato. In US dollars, that is about $5 and in UK pounds that is.... i have no idea. But it was a darn expensive gelato. Lucky that it was the greatest gelato i have ever tasted, or otherwise I would have been pretty unhappy. I try not to complain about the price of things in Europe - everyone knows it is a pricey continent, so there really is no room to complain.

Having disliked Florence today, the idea of spending another day dodging made italians on scooters, american 70 year olds with white sneakers and hordes of tourists following a leader holding up a bright yellow umbrella, I am getting out of the city and into the Tuscan region - Chianti and Greve. I have it on good authority (Ciao Nick!) that they are pretty impressive so I will hold him personally responsible if I dont enjoy the day (kidding). I am going to do some wine testing so even if the day doesnt end up enjoyable, atleast I will be drunk.

Anyhooo, thought I would pop in given that the last week has been one big disaster with emailing. I am heading back to the hostel but on the way, stopping for another daily plate of carbohydrates (ie, bread, pasta etc). I am trying to make sure I go enough walking to match the amount of junk I am eating but Id have to be doing an awful lot of walking.

Hope all are well. Missing you loads, but not ready to come home just yet.

k

Finally - A Proper Blog Entry!

Ciao!

I have finally found a "normal" email centre and I am determined to write what has been going on for the past couple of days. Here I was, advertising this fantastic web blog to every single person I know and meet, and Iàve not been able to do a thing with it since i entered Europe.

Unforunately, I am not being able to download any photos at the moment - I am taking some awesome pics, but I just cant download them. Well I can do it, however, it zaps my camera of all of its batteries. Being in a hostel, there are only limited power plugs to recharge any of my electronic items and they are usually being used. When one does become free to use, I am too afraid to leave anything lying around in case it gets stolen (common concern for any backpacker). So at the moment, I am sneaking out to the bathroom plug at about 11pm when its quiet, plugging my camera batteries and/or phone in, sitting down beside it (trying to keep my eyes open while guarding the electronic good carefully) and waiting until whatever I am recharging has been given sufficient power.

So, I am two days behind in telling everyone what I have been doing. Where to start!!

After my first afternoon in Venice, I was exhausted, yet determined to get out amongst it yesterday, which was my first full day. I must say, the minute the train rolled into Stazione San Lucia the day before, my heart felt overwhelmed and I was nearly in tears. I was back in Venice and I could hardly believe it. This place (for those who have not been) is too amazing to describe. The eyes alone do not do this place justice. Venice is not just about its Grand Canal. It is a combination of sights, sounds and smells. There is a buzz about the place that is indescribable.

For those who do not know much about Venice, the Lonely Planet says that °Venice is built on 117 small islands, has some 150 canals and 400 bridges. Only three bridges cross the Canal Grande (the Grand Canale) - the Rialto, the Accademi and at the train station, the Scalzi. There are six °sestieri" (Quarters) (not sure how they can have six quarters??... nevermind) - they are named Cannaregio, Castello, San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo and Santa Croce. In amongst all quarters, there are canals, some small, some wide. The water is a chalky aqua colour, which contrasts magnificently against the coroding siena and terracotta buildings.

There is simply no way of learning your way around Venice without a map. Even with a map, you dont appreciate Venice unless you get completely lost amongst it. The Venetians have tried to assist tourists by placing signs pointing to the way to the "Rialto" and "San Marco" but it was a pointless exercise. There have been a number of times in the past few days where I have followed the sign for "Rialto", only to end up standing in the middle of Piazzza San Marco. The two locations are at opposite ends of Venice.

I was initially frightened about being on my own, but Venice has welcomed me with its cultural delights. Italian people are beautiful and proud, their language is like music as it rolls off their tongues and embraces you with its warmth.

On my first full day in Venice, I jumped on the "Vaporretto" to Murano and Burano, two islands where the "locals" of Venice live (as opposed to the tourists!). As I walked around them, particularly Burano (the quieter of the two islands), I could hear laughter, strains of italian music and the clattering of crockery as food was being prepared inside. Its these occasions where you wish that photograpsh could capture sounds. Burano and Murano still have the chalky-aqua blue canals and the cast iron bridge railings, but the "moments" you have as you walk around arent interrupted by some loud tourist group.

Today, I spent the day in Verona, approximately an hour and a half from Venice by train. For those that do not know, they say that the story of Romeo and Juliet took place here. Accordingly, the square where the balcony of the famous scene of the story occurs is packed full of tourists taking happy snaps next to a statue of Juliet. After I took the wrong bus which went the wrong way into the wrong area of Verona, I was seriously questioning why I had bothered leaving Venice. I could only think to myself "this place is a dump - no wonder Romeo and Juliet killed themselves!". Once I got on the right bus that took me back to the right place, I realised that Verona really is the truly magical, beautiful place where Romeo and Juliet lived and loved. I took numerous photos, ate Gelati (again) and happily took in the sights and sounds of Verona.

Tomorrow, I leave Venice for Florence. I am looking forward to a change of scenery, even though Venice is by far my favourite place on earth. I know I will come back to Venice time and time again, so for now, its goodnight to Venice but certainly not goodbye.

I hope you are all well and I will write when I get to Florence.

Ciao!

K

now in espanol

sorry all the entry is going to have to wit this pc is now in spanish

having awesome time

venice is majic

maybe verona tomorrow

weather perfect

eating too much gelati

photos very good

disappointed that i told everyone about a blog i cannot use

hi mum

ciao

kate

Bother

I had dreams of posting my fantastic photos on this blog but for some reason I cant download the photos on here, and I cant understand what the italian computer is trying to tell me.

Stay tuned.

k

On My Way to Venezia

Hello all from (finally) Sunny England.

Just as the sun comes out, I am having to leave for Italy.

Yet again, this is a very quick email just to let you all know that I am safe and well and having the time of my life.

I had big dreams of emailing long emails telling you all of my adventures however time has seemed to slip by in the previous few days. I was struck down by awful jet lag for much of the time, wanting to fall asleep in the middle of the day, and wanting to roam England in the wee hours of the morning. That is jet lag for you. Hopefully I am at the tail end of that for at least a few more weeks.

I am currently sitting at Liverpool Airport, and the sign saying 'Flight to Venezia - Go to Gate' is flashing at me. Finally I am off to Venezia, the place I have dreamed about since last being there in February 2001. It seems so very surreal and I dont think it will hit home that I will be back there until my eyes believe it.

I promise (this time I mean it) to take a decent amount of time out to write a proper entry and feed through some photos of Venice. I am sure you are all eagerly awaiting them.

The photos I posted yesterday were ones of Shropshire, England, where I have spent the last couple of days. I was lucky enough to be looked after like a 5 Star Hotel Guest (yet again) by the amazing Williams family and extended family. Their English hospitality is still second-to-none and I already miss them dearly. Especially Keri! I miss her already and I only said good bye to her a couple of hours ago.

I should realluy go and get the flight now. These budget airlines tend to forget stragglers.

TALK LATER!

K

On My Way To Venezia

Some Photos

Just letting you know that I am okay and have been up in Dawley, England having a great time. So sorry for the lack of communication over the past couple of days - am still very jet lagged. I have had much worse jet lag than what I had last time I was over, but i think its had something to do with going out two nights in a row, first with Adam in Wimbledon and then Keri in Dawley!

Tomorrow I fly to Venice. Promise to write tomorrow when I there.

X

Keri's Cat, Munchie

Shrewsbury Bridge

Streets of Shrewsbury



The Severn River, Telford

Atcham

Keri being cranky on the phone!

So Where Am I Headed First?

In just over 48 hours, I will be boarding an Emirates flight to London, via Dubai. Upon arriving at Heathrow Airport, I am being "collected" by Adam, my old flatmate and still one of my very best friends. Adam left behind Australia (and his career as an actuary) and moved to London where he is now a personal trainer at Holmes Place. There, I will sadly spend only 24 hours with Adam but will be meeting back up with him in October.

This is an old photo of Adam when he was an actuary who drank and smoked cigars. He's now turned over a new leaf and has become one of London's best personal trainers!

Last Day Of Work - One Month of Freedom

Also, for those that arent familiar with "Blogspot", please check right down the bottom and click on "July" and "August" for all entries that were posted in those months.

As the page fills, a lot will get filed away in there.

K

Playtime

Heading Towards the Finish Line

Human behaviour is like mathematics to me - I'm simply never going to understand it. Today's example of this was trying to understand why an estimated 10,000 Sydneysiders woke up at dawn this morning to run the Sydney Marathon, Half Marathon or BridgeRun. It simply doesnt make sense to me. ITS SUNDAY, PEOPLE! Notwithstanding this, never the one to discourage, I stood on the sidewalk, drank my cappuccino and took photos *grin*

Yesterday, I sadly packed away all of my personal belongings in my beautiful apartment in Drummoyne. While I dont leave for my long-term travel until March 2006, it was time to give up my gorgeous place in order to save money. City lifestyle is not conducive to saving money, let me tell you! So, I sadly shipped off my furniture (what little of it i have!) to my parents place, which is where I will call home once again for five months. Upon returning from holidays in Europe, I will have to endure one and a half hours of travel to and from my parents place for work each day
but I will just have to keep reminding myself of the great adventures that will follow.

As I was packing away by life into various cardboard boxes, I decided to "get organised" for my four-week holiday to Europe, which begins in four days. For those that know me - "Organised Kate" is an oxymoron. Let me be blunt. I'm not the brightest spark when it comes to getting myself organised. In fact, you know the saying "i'd lose my head if it wasnt screwed on?" Yes, well they invented that saying with me in mind. I'm notorious for losing things or "misplacing" them. This characteristic of mine is of course compounded during travel. I have a load of stories about losing valuables whilst travelling (the losing-the-passport-in-england-on-a-public-holiday-just-before-finding-out-my-father-was-in-intensive-care-back-home-after-a-massive-heart-attack is a personal favourite of mine). Well, this time I've vowed to be much more orgnanised. I'm determined not to lose a thing. No lost phones, no lost cameras, not lost personal documents. So I've found a perfect way to ensure that I look after all of my belongings. I've put everything in little bags, and have labelled them accordingly. It makes perfect sense, really.



Backpackers Bible

My Packed Goodies






Self Portrait - The Sadness of Leaving Drummoyne

Some Katrina Insights

Hi there,

Check this out:

Watch Celine Dion get angry on Larry King - http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/08/benefit.performances/index.html

Or if that doesnt hit you where it hurts, take a look at the following gallery - www.poynterextra.org/Katrina/gallery/index.htm

Or you can take the whole situation and view it from a different perspective:

[NOTE: DISCLAIMER - I did not write this - some very clever person Richard A Galen wrote it, and his publication can be found at http://www.mullings.com/currentissue.htm - this piece is copyrighted and should you use it after reading it here, please ensure you make reference to Mr. R.A Galen and his website]

"Let me make this clear: Everything which has happened as the result of Hurricane Katrina is my fault. Mine. Alone. No one else’s. Stop wasting energy pointing fingers and put your hands to work helping out. It was me. Got it?

I was a United States Senator from Louisiana in 2001 when the levee at Lake Pontchartrain was declared unsafe and I didn’t have enough clout with my Senatorial brethren to get sufficient money appropriated to fix it. It was my fault.

Notwithstanding my failure on that front, according to wire services:“In a telephone interview with reporters, corps officials said that … the levees near Lake Pontchartrain that gave way … were completed and in good condition before the hurricane.

“However, they noted that the levees were designed for a Category 3 hurricane and couldn’t handle the ferocious winds and raging waters from Hurricane Katrina, a Category 4 storm when it hit the coastline. The decision to build levees for a Category 3 hurricane was made based on a cost-benefit analysis in the 1960s. ”

Oh. I almost forgot. I was the Commander-in-Chief of all United States Armed Forces in the 1960s which includes the Corps of Engineers. The cost-benefit analysis? My fault.

It is my fault that, as the Governor of Louisiana, I didn’t foresee the need to have enough Louisiana National Guard troops - the vast majority of whom are NOT currently in Iraq, or Afghanistan or, for that matter, Indiana - pre-positioned and ready to preserve order.

I, frankly, forgot that there is a portion of the population which will steal anything from anyone given any opportunity and then will blame it on me because I didn’t - in spite of ample warnings by sociologists from large Eastern Universities - foresee the need to have 27″ flat-screen television sets available to every family in the New Orleans city limits as soon as the electricity went out. That one WAS my bad.

It is my fault that, as Mayor of New Orleans, I was boogying down Bourbon Street the night before the hurricane hit rather than being where I should have been - on the roof of the Superdome pounding in extra nails to hold the roof on.

As the architect of the Superdome, it was my fault for claiming that the Dome could survive 200 mile-per-hour winds. It couldn’t even handle a relatively gentle160 mile-per-hour zephyr. Strap me to my drafting table and set me adrift.

Global warming? My fault. Despite the fact that nearly every serious climatologist in America has stated over and over again that there is no clear evidence tying human-generated greenhouse gasses to global warming, and even if there were, there is no evidence tying global warming to hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, I was opposed to the Kyoto treaty and so it is my fault.

It is also my fault that during the administration of Bill Clinton the US Senate rejected the terms of the Kyoto protocols by a vote of 95-0. That would be zero, zilch, nada, nil, bupkis.
As the Grand Poohbah in Charge of all TV Coverage, it is my fault that there is constant video of looters and almost none of humanitarian activities. I am the person who issued the statement: “No more rescue footage UNLESS the person rescued complains about how long they had to wait or, if he shoots at the rescuers.”

And, finally, as Chairman of the National Association of Gasoline Producers it is my fault that I had the bad judgment to put so much of my drilling, refining and transportation assets in a hurricane-prone area like the Caribbean basin. What…was…I…thinking?

If I could re-do that whole thing, I would have put all that equipment in Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. There may not be any oil there, but hurricanes are very rare.

So. There you have it. Everything that has happened is my fault.

Now. Shut up and help.


Loved it.

Expressions of Interest

I have been meaning to place this information on this website for sometime, but given that time is running out for when I leave the country, I should really get it done.

I am announcing that any expressions of interest for Enduring Guardianship of little Georgie while I am away, should be sent to me as soon as possible. As I am away for approximately four (4) weeks, I must find someone who is willing to look after Georgie for such time. Of course, this decision wont be taken lightly. The successful applicant must:

• Be good with animals, in particular, of the fish kind;
• Be able to spend productive time with Georgie, whilst I am absent;
• Be willing to feed him on regular intervals (morning, and afternoon - two pellets at a time); and
• Have some previous experience in minding fish (references will be checked).

Applications are to be forwarded to me before close of business, Friday, 10 September 2005.

Previous applicants need not apply.

K

Weather Update

This weather update is proudly brought to you by the following website:
http://weather.edition.cnn.com/weather/intl/forecast.jsp?locCode=EGLL


DUBAI - 32°C(90°F) , Clear DAy, Rel. Humidity: 74%, Wind: NNE at 5 km/h (3 mph) Sunrise: 6:02 AM Sunset: 6:33 PM Barometric Pressure: 29.62"Hg (F)

LONDON - 18°C(64°F) , Clear Day, Rel. Humidity: 77%, Wind: WSW at 5 km/h (3 mph)Sunrise: 6:22 AM, Sunset: 7:37 PM, Barometric Pressure: 29.83"Hg (F)

PARIS - 19°C(66°F), Clear Day, Rel. Humidity: 77%, Wind: N at 2 km/h (1 mph), Sunrise: 7:14 AM, Sunset: 8:22 PM, Barometric Pressure: 29.83"Hg (F)

CINQUE TERRE - 22°C(72°F), Clear, Rel. Humidity: 77%Wind: ENE at 2 km/h (1 mph)Sunrise: 6:50 AMSunset: 7:48 PMBarometric Pressure: 29.95"Hg (F)

FIRENZE - 22°C, Clear, Rel. Humidity: 64%Wind: N at 3 mph (5 km/h)Sunrise: 6:44 AMSunset: 7:41 PMBarometric Pressure: 29.95"Hg (F)

VENEZIA - 68°F(20°C) Clear Rel. Humidity: 88%Wind: N at 3 mph (5 km/h)Sunrise: 6:38 AMSunset: 7:39 PMBarometric Pressure: 30.01"Hg (F)

Pictures to Remind Me of Home

Outside my work, Martin Place, Sydney


















A little Cafe on Oxford Street, Paddington.

















The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, of course.

Happy Homecoming

Tigger is beginning to dislike me coming home..... he sees it as a disturbance, whereas I see it as a perfect opportunity to practice with the camera! (Not the best quality, but so darn cute)

Missing Home

Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia - Very much a Sydney icon, Bondi Beach is the epitome of Australian beach culture. It comes alive in summer, its sprawling golden sand full of carefree tanned visitors, its bars and pubs buzzing with travellers, its crystal clear waters just kilometres away from the bustling metropolis. Bondi Beach is the destination for all backpackers far and wide. On a cold, chilly day, Bondi Beach takes on a new persona. Only the brave venture into the waters. The rest are left to contemplate just how far from home they really are.

The World We Live In

Again, I strongly urge people to visit the following websites. Their contents will no doubt speak for themselves -

http://dancingwithkatrina.blogspot.com/

http://thepokerreport.blogspot.com/

K

Muddled Media and Anger

Well, this is the second "political" blog I have posted since my site opened only a week ago. Determined not to make this site a forum for my local and world political views, I promise that i will try and keep them to a bare minimum. I figure that while I am here in my comfortable home, with my comfortable job and sense of family, I should avoid throwing criticism at anyone's direction, unless I am prepared to go directly to the source and attempt to change it. To do otherwise would be a form of procrastination - by sitting here, wanting to do something, but not making the effort to change it. Given that it seems to be a common characteristic of the average human being, I too suffer from a degree of procrastination, hence the reason why I try to keep my political views to myself. I will continue to do so until I am prepared to do something about it.

Notwithstanding this, I feel like I have to blog today about the subject that is consuming the television, radio, and internet forums - Hurricane Katrina. I write this knowing full well that I cant go to the direct source and do something about it. So I approach the topic very carefully. I cant go to New Orleans and assist. Why? I am in Australia. I can't approach the US Government and ask them all of the questions that I want to ask. Why? The information that i have about what is going on is only what I have gained through the media - a source of information that I am wary to trust at the best of times.

If I was able to go to the United States, approach the US Government, with the information that I have gained, knowing that the information I have is accurate, then I would ask the following:

1. Why, after five days, are there continued reports of people not being assisted?
2. Why, when a disaster has occured in the richest country, hasnt appropriate assistance been given to ALL residents of the southern states affected by the disaster?
3. Why, after only five days, are the media and even the government officials of these very states already pointing the finger at who is to blame for the lack of assistance, or the speed at which it is coming?
4. Why arent these government officials spending their time co-ordinating a rescue effort that one would expect from a country who can co-ordinate the invasion of a country in the Middle East, in their own country?
5. Why are we spending time even contemplating who is to blame, before we are assured that every displaced person is out of an area which is at risk of descending into further chaos, and further destruction?

What frightens me the most is that i have no idea what the United States needs to do in order to ensure that everyone is safe and properly looked after. I do not have any ideas. But the questions I ask are not that of a person criticising a government of which I have no involvement. These questions are asked by just a twenty five year old girl that worries about her fellow human beings.

*kate hops down off her soap box*

No more grips.

I promise.

K

Today's Edition - "Where's Georgie?"

La Tomatina Georgie!

Appreciate How Lucky We Are

I generally leave my political or world views away from my blogs but today is an exception;

When bad things happen, I undoubtedly feel saddened. It occupies my mind and I do think "what if that happened to me?" Like the generation before us, we have unfortunately been part of a generation which has seen some "catastrophic" events occur - September 11, the Bali Bombings, the Tsunami, the London Bombings, the refugees in Sudan, the stampede in Iraq, and most recently, Hurricane Katrina. As these events have passed, while I feel saddened, I've found that I no longer feel the heartwrenching pain that I felt earlier on in these times - whether it was caused by an act of terrorism, mother nature or some other cause.

Is it that I have become desensitised to catastrophe?

Has the word "disaster" been used too many times lately, that as each event occurs, it is just a number of human beings being counted as dead?

The reports over "over $200 billion dollars in damage" doesnt raise an eyebrow anymore. I do not even know how much that is. Does anybody really know how much $200 billion worth of damage really is?

The real damage from Hurricane Katrina was initially underestimated. Now, as the floods as slowly subsiding, areas are becoming more accesible, and more information is coming to hand, the world has begun to see just how much damage has really occured as a result of the "catastrophe". We have now seen entire towns levelled, concrete highways shattered like glass, oil rigs pulled from their hinges and dragged downstream. Basic santitary needs for refugees are non-existant, millions have become homeless, and lawlessness is ruling most areas. While the exact figure is unknown, the Mayor of New Orleans has stated that the death toll "may run into the thousands." The one thing they do know in America, is that this has been one hell of a storm to hit the deep south of their country.

What kind of a person am I to say "wow, that is really horrible, but Hurricane Katrina is not as bad as the tsunami that occured in South East Asia earlier in the year." Why am I thinking "Here, only thousands of people have died, thank god only thousands of people died this time." More than one thousand people died as a result of mother nature this week. When I count just how many people that is, it truly is a staggering amount.

But isnt the unfair and unneccessary loss of one life a tragedy?

It used to be.

Now I believe that I am part of a generation that has become so desensitised to loss of life in tragic or catastrophic circumstances, that it is even times like these that I am unable to truly appreciate how lucky I am to be alive.

K

P.S For anyone that would like a great big dose of reality - check out two reporters out of New Orleans who rode out the storm and their reports from their "bunker", where they are still more or less trapped. I wish them all the luck and hope they are recognised for their courage and support.

http://dancingwithkatrina.blogspot.com/

Where's Georgie?

Because George W. Bush (my Siamese Fighting Fish) was a big favourite for regular readers of "Random Ramblings", I thought I would give him a "guernsey" here at "Kateonthego". This time, however, I've given him a bit of international flavour (pardon the pun - Georgie isnt on tonight's menu).

In the same "vein" as Where's Wally, I've created an international style "Where's Georgie".


Have fun finding him!



















Georgie in "Gay Paree"























Georgie in German Beer






















Renaissance Georgie