leaving this blog. it has become too hard to maintain two and not sure why I waited so long. Can't tell on this blog either if anyone is reading or not. If you are, thank you very much.
go to www.travelpod.com and look for carpefeline. my blog is there now. thank you again
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Leaving this blog
I thank everyone who is following me and who is reading this blog but I am going to desert this one and go to www.travelpod.com where I am doing the same blog under Carpefeline's Great Adventure. It has become way too much trouble to keep both going even though it is a lot of just cutting and pasting. Just need to concentrate on the one and work on it. The travel pod one seems to have better stats and ways to track what I am doing so going there. Please follow me there. Thank you for reading and I hope I don't lose you.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Going to Prison
Just a short way out of Perth is Fremantle. It was one of the major ports at one time and also a major jail. In the early 1800's, this part of Australia was slowly dying for lack of labor. Officials managed to convince Britain to send over convicts so that they could have some cheap labor. While Britain wasn't thrilled about the idea because of the expense, they were less thrilled about the colony failing because France was almost sitting offshore just waiting to take over. So convicts came and the prison at Fremantle was built. It ran through 1991 before it was shut. Now it is about to receive UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is the only prison still standing from that era exactly as built and not a ruin.
The tour is a good one and really gives you pause to think about the punishment metted out to violent crimnals and what the life could be like inside a maximum security prison. We had a family on the tour with us of two young boys (7 and 9) and a girl of 10. Not sure the seriousness of the place impressed them but the punishments and the description of smells and sanitary facilities and solitary and executions had their little minds working overtime.
Tour takes about an hour but there are extensions you can do for more information and time in jail. We didn't take the time but it would have been quite interesting as well.
The rest of our day was spent looking around Fremantle and then a visit to a friend of ours whom we had not seen in a number of years. Since we had last seen him, he's gotten married to a wonderful Korean lady and is much happier now and relaxed and living a much better life. See how wonderful married life can be? A nice end to a day that started with so much horrific history.
The tour is a good one and really gives you pause to think about the punishment metted out to violent crimnals and what the life could be like inside a maximum security prison. We had a family on the tour with us of two young boys (7 and 9) and a girl of 10. Not sure the seriousness of the place impressed them but the punishments and the description of smells and sanitary facilities and solitary and executions had their little minds working overtime.
Tour takes about an hour but there are extensions you can do for more information and time in jail. We didn't take the time but it would have been quite interesting as well.
The rest of our day was spent looking around Fremantle and then a visit to a friend of ours whom we had not seen in a number of years. Since we had last seen him, he's gotten married to a wonderful Korean lady and is much happier now and relaxed and living a much better life. See how wonderful married life can be? A nice end to a day that started with so much horrific history.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Cape Leeuwin - End of a continent
Tour today out of Perth and going south. It was a long day but the tour company did try and pack in a lot to see even if that meant we had maybe 15 minutes at some places, 20 minutes at another with a maximum time at any one spot of 45 minutes. Still, we learned some things and got to see some cool stuff and got to stand at the end of the continent, right where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet.
Our first stop was the Xanadu Winery to taste wines. A very different experience from the wine tasting I had a Massandra Winery in Yalta. Today we stood at the bar and got just a splash in our glass before moving on to the next wine and all 8 wines were tasted and completed in 20 minutes. Whew. back on the bus - hurry, hurry.
A picnic lunch at the Heritage Eagle Center. The brochure did say a picnic lunch but I had no idea they meant it so literally The bus driver actually had the food with him and we just circled around it and grabbed a plate and sat in the center to eat. A quick run past 5 cages before lunch which held raptors who have been disabled so they cannot return to the wild. The cutest were the little boobook owls. Then down the path to the flying demonstration where those who wanted, could have a black kite sit on their hand. As I had a wonderful raptor on my hand last week, I just took photos today. Finally, the caretaker had 4 black kites flying in to grab food out of the air. quite magnificent birds.Quickly back on the bus and drive, drive, drive to Mammoth Cave.
Boobook Owl
It was a nice cave and quite active but it was a quick walk in, a quick walk out, then back on the bus and drive, drive, drive through the Karri Forest. These trees are only 150 years old but look to be maybe 100 feet tall. This is not virgin forest because the virgin forest had trees of 400 and 500 years old before the forest was leveled for settlers and for the lumber. Now they are protected and have been growing just 150 years. I'm going to have to go back and see them when they are 500 years old. haha
Back on the bus to reach our furthest destination which was Cape Leeuwin, the southwesternly most point of Australia. This is where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet. It is a beautifully isolated spot of land surrounded by bush and rocks and ocean. sometimes you can see whales migrating past but we were not so lucky today. Sometimes you can also find tiger snakes in the tall grass too and nobody put that to a test. A lovely lonely spot of world where you can see the blue sky and blue ocean and imagine sailing away to Antartica.
One more run to Busselton where we had preordered our dinners and ran into the restaurant for a quick eat then out to gaze at the 2 kilimeter pier which is being repaired so we couldn't go on it, not that we would have had the time anyway. We did get some sunset photos though. Then finally back on the bus for the run back to Perth. Whew. A very long day but good to see.
More Pictures
Black Kites flying
Karri forest
Leeuwin Lighthouse
sunset over Indian Ocean
Our first stop was the Xanadu Winery to taste wines. A very different experience from the wine tasting I had a Massandra Winery in Yalta. Today we stood at the bar and got just a splash in our glass before moving on to the next wine and all 8 wines were tasted and completed in 20 minutes. Whew. back on the bus - hurry, hurry.
A picnic lunch at the Heritage Eagle Center. The brochure did say a picnic lunch but I had no idea they meant it so literally The bus driver actually had the food with him and we just circled around it and grabbed a plate and sat in the center to eat. A quick run past 5 cages before lunch which held raptors who have been disabled so they cannot return to the wild. The cutest were the little boobook owls. Then down the path to the flying demonstration where those who wanted, could have a black kite sit on their hand. As I had a wonderful raptor on my hand last week, I just took photos today. Finally, the caretaker had 4 black kites flying in to grab food out of the air. quite magnificent birds.Quickly back on the bus and drive, drive, drive to Mammoth Cave.
Boobook Owl
It was a nice cave and quite active but it was a quick walk in, a quick walk out, then back on the bus and drive, drive, drive through the Karri Forest. These trees are only 150 years old but look to be maybe 100 feet tall. This is not virgin forest because the virgin forest had trees of 400 and 500 years old before the forest was leveled for settlers and for the lumber. Now they are protected and have been growing just 150 years. I'm going to have to go back and see them when they are 500 years old. haha
Back on the bus to reach our furthest destination which was Cape Leeuwin, the southwesternly most point of Australia. This is where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet. It is a beautifully isolated spot of land surrounded by bush and rocks and ocean. sometimes you can see whales migrating past but we were not so lucky today. Sometimes you can also find tiger snakes in the tall grass too and nobody put that to a test. A lovely lonely spot of world where you can see the blue sky and blue ocean and imagine sailing away to Antartica.
One more run to Busselton where we had preordered our dinners and ran into the restaurant for a quick eat then out to gaze at the 2 kilimeter pier which is being repaired so we couldn't go on it, not that we would have had the time anyway. We did get some sunset photos though. Then finally back on the bus for the run back to Perth. Whew. A very long day but good to see.
More Pictures
Black Kites flying
Karri forest
Leeuwin Lighthouse
sunset over Indian Ocean
Saturday, November 7, 2009
a Walk through the Park
Got a late start today since we didn't get to bed until after 3:30 a.m. Tried to figure out the bus system but ended up just hoping on a bus and as soon as it got close to something, we hoped off. It dropped us at the entrance to King's Park which is a large park overlooking the Swan River and the different sections of Perth, the major part and South Perth on the opposite bank. Right now the buses are free. Pretty nice to just hop on and go. So into the park and we walked past some of the great huge trees and past some restaurants and a wedding in one of the pavillions and found the WWIi memorial overlooking the river. This also have a 'whisper wall" where if you sit at one end and whisper, the curvature of the wall will carry your voice to someone sitting on the other side. We did not test this as we've been at whisper walls before and they work. There were plenty of people sitting there who weren't sure or just happy to whisper at each other from such a distance.
One of the things I love about Australia is the abundance of flora and fauna that you can't find anywhere else in the world. While they have removed most of the fauna from this area, the park has gardens representing many of the area of Australia. We wandered down the paths taking photos of banksia, kangaroo's paws, and boab trees. Walked through the water garden where I spied a lizard and it took me 5 minutes to figure out it was just a sculpture. Finally over the walkway in the trees and then caught a tram into the city.
As we attemted to get down to the waterfront, we ended up in an outlet mall. All the way to Australia and spend our first day at an outlet mall. Ah well, it was easy to find some lunch there and then work out way down to the river. Our experience in Australia has always been that places close rather early to our way of thinking. So while we finally hit the river around 4 p.m., it was too late for any river cruises. When we finally got across the river, it was too late to go to the zoo. When we finally started working our way back to our hotel, it was too late for the circle buses to be running.
All and all, it was quite a nice day. it was a lot cooler than we expected so we carried our coats with us and needed them after about 5 p.m. Tomorrow we are better organized and have a tour scheduled to get out of town and see some of the sights to the south of Perth
Pictures
boab tree
scarlet banksia
kangaroo paw
crow
One of the things I love about Australia is the abundance of flora and fauna that you can't find anywhere else in the world. While they have removed most of the fauna from this area, the park has gardens representing many of the area of Australia. We wandered down the paths taking photos of banksia, kangaroo's paws, and boab trees. Walked through the water garden where I spied a lizard and it took me 5 minutes to figure out it was just a sculpture. Finally over the walkway in the trees and then caught a tram into the city.
As we attemted to get down to the waterfront, we ended up in an outlet mall. All the way to Australia and spend our first day at an outlet mall. Ah well, it was easy to find some lunch there and then work out way down to the river. Our experience in Australia has always been that places close rather early to our way of thinking. So while we finally hit the river around 4 p.m., it was too late for any river cruises. When we finally got across the river, it was too late to go to the zoo. When we finally started working our way back to our hotel, it was too late for the circle buses to be running.
All and all, it was quite a nice day. it was a lot cooler than we expected so we carried our coats with us and needed them after about 5 p.m. Tomorrow we are better organized and have a tour scheduled to get out of town and see some of the sights to the south of Perth
Pictures
boab tree
scarlet banksia
kangaroo paw
crow
Friday, November 6, 2009
Foreign Worker Zero.
All the movies, books and TV shows that involve some kind of disasterous disease all look for "Patient Zero". It makes sense that they must find this person to see where they went to spread the disease, treat them, find others, yada, yada, yada. Not being in the real medical world, I have no idea if it is true but the premise seems good and sensible. I talked to a good many people in Doha that were foreign workers. My 4 drivers were all from the same state in India. My housekeeper and hotel staff were all from the same state in the Philippines. Shopkeepers ranged from Ethiopia, Thailand, and other small impoverished African nations and other small impoverished Southeast Asian countries. If I met someone from the same country as someone else I had met, chances are, they would be from the same area.
I have experienced the "Foreign Worker Full Contact" in other countries besides Qatar: Singapore, Dubai, Oman, and some European countries and to a small extent in the United States. In the United States, I worked with some LVN's (just under a RN in the nursing world) and they had been recruited. But in all cases, and I can't think of a single different answer, all other foreign workers, in whatever job, in whatever country, all came to that country to work because of: "my cousin was here", "my uncle was here", "my sister came back to get me.", my auntie works here", and to a lesser extent: "my dad was here", "my friend came here."
Never have I been lucky enough to meet "Foreign Worker Zero". Some one at some distant time in the distant past must have come over first to that foreign country and started working and then started sending signals and money back home. Come, Come, Come. So they come, they live together and support each other and send money home, move from country to country sometimes, and maybe eventually go back to the Philippines, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, wherever. Who was the first? Who is Foreign Worker Zero? There must be one from each country of origin and in each country of destination. So technically there could be dozens. I'd like to meet one once, somewhere, just to ask how it all got started and how they made the decision to go where they did, do what they do and take that leap that the life would be better for them. It was better and they started calling in the troops. Way to go Foreign Worker Zero. Step forward and make yourself known. Your very huge, gigantic extended family thanks you.
I have experienced the "Foreign Worker Full Contact" in other countries besides Qatar: Singapore, Dubai, Oman, and some European countries and to a small extent in the United States. In the United States, I worked with some LVN's (just under a RN in the nursing world) and they had been recruited. But in all cases, and I can't think of a single different answer, all other foreign workers, in whatever job, in whatever country, all came to that country to work because of: "my cousin was here", "my uncle was here", "my sister came back to get me.", my auntie works here", and to a lesser extent: "my dad was here", "my friend came here."
Never have I been lucky enough to meet "Foreign Worker Zero". Some one at some distant time in the distant past must have come over first to that foreign country and started working and then started sending signals and money back home. Come, Come, Come. So they come, they live together and support each other and send money home, move from country to country sometimes, and maybe eventually go back to the Philippines, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, wherever. Who was the first? Who is Foreign Worker Zero? There must be one from each country of origin and in each country of destination. So technically there could be dozens. I'd like to meet one once, somewhere, just to ask how it all got started and how they made the decision to go where they did, do what they do and take that leap that the life would be better for them. It was better and they started calling in the troops. Way to go Foreign Worker Zero. Step forward and make yourself known. Your very huge, gigantic extended family thanks you.
Foreign Worker Zero.
All the movies, books and TV shows that involve some kind of disasterous disease all look for "Patient Zero". It makes sense that they must find this person to see where they went to spread the disease, treat them, find others, yada, yada, yada. Not being in the real medical world, I have no idea if it is true but the premise seems good and sensible. I talked to a good many people in Doha that were foreign workers. My 4 drivers were all from the same state in India. My housekeeper and hotel staff were all from the same state in the Philippines. Shopkeepers ranged from Ethiopia, Thailand, and other small impoverished African nations and other small impoverished Southeast Asian countries. If I met someone from the same country as someone else I had met, chances are, they would be from the same area.
I have experienced the "Foreign Worker Full Contact" in other countries besides Qatar: Singapore, Dubai, Oman, and some European countries and to a small extent in the United States. In the United States, I worked with some LVN's (just under a RN in the nursing world) and they had been recruited. But in all cases, and I can't think of a single different answer, all other foreign workers, in whatever job, in whatever country, all came to that country to work because of: "my cousin was here", "my uncle was here", "my sister came back to get me.", my auntie works here", and to a lesser extent: "my dad was here", "my friend came here."
Never have I been lucky enough to meet "Foreign Worker Zero". Some one at some distant time in the distant past must have come over first to that foreign country and started working and then started sending signals and money back home. Come, Come, Come. So they come, they live together and support each other and send money home, move from country to country sometimes, and maybe eventually go back to the Philippines, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, wherever. Who was the first? Who is Foreign Worker Zero? There must be one from each country of origin and in each country of destination. So technically there could be dozens. I'd like to meet one once, somewhere, just to ask how it all got started and how they made the decision to go where they did, do what they do and take that leap that the life would be better for them. It was better and they started calling in the troops. Way to go Foreign Worker Zero. Step forward and make yourself known. Your very huge, gigantic extended family thanks you.
I have experienced the "Foreign Worker Full Contact" in other countries besides Qatar: Singapore, Dubai, Oman, and some European countries and to a small extent in the United States. In the United States, I worked with some LVN's (just under a RN in the nursing world) and they had been recruited. But in all cases, and I can't think of a single different answer, all other foreign workers, in whatever job, in whatever country, all came to that country to work because of: "my cousin was here", "my uncle was here", "my sister came back to get me.", my auntie works here", and to a lesser extent: "my dad was here", "my friend came here."
Never have I been lucky enough to meet "Foreign Worker Zero". Some one at some distant time in the distant past must have come over first to that foreign country and started working and then started sending signals and money back home. Come, Come, Come. So they come, they live together and support each other and send money home, move from country to country sometimes, and maybe eventually go back to the Philippines, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, wherever. Who was the first? Who is Foreign Worker Zero? There must be one from each country of origin and in each country of destination. So technically there could be dozens. I'd like to meet one once, somewhere, just to ask how it all got started and how they made the decision to go where they did, do what they do and take that leap that the life would be better for them. It was better and they started calling in the troops. Way to go Foreign Worker Zero. Step forward and make yourself known. Your very huge, gigantic extended family thanks you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
