tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918307526065829252024-03-13T03:09:50.867-07:00Mike's WalkaboutMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-15607997798919241882008-02-03T14:28:00.000-08:002008-02-03T14:38:51.716-08:00Back in CivilizationHi everyone. I'm back from the boonies. I spent the last three weeks on a farm in the middle of nowhere in northern New South Wales. The nearest town had a population of 1000. I had a great time but it's nice to be back in touch with the rest of the world. My current plan is to find work in either Sydney or Melbourne for the next couple of months before I continue around the world.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-79129632461585885532008-01-07T15:46:00.000-08:002008-01-07T15:49:15.822-08:00Off to Surf CampI'm heading up the coast of New South Wales to work at a surf camp for a few weeks. There isn't any Internet available at the camp so I'll be out of touch for a while.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-57065173086411567592008-01-05T15:41:00.000-08:002008-01-05T15:51:30.163-08:00Back in Sydney, AgainI got into Sydney yesterday hopping that I had avoided the New Years rush. I arrived just in time for Sydney Fest so I still had to do a bit of searching for a place to stay. As far as I could tell Sydney Fest is an after New Years, New Years party. There were free concerts all over the city, including a city square packed with about 100,000 people dancing. The highlight of the night for me was seeing an traditional Irish band accompanied by a didgeridoo.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-37212001907640827182007-12-26T23:02:00.001-08:002007-12-26T23:05:44.706-08:00Duck Island, off Anse Vata<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140648976/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/2140648976_6fea4e130c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140648976/">Duck Island</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-25135991228388160732007-12-26T23:01:00.001-08:002007-12-26T23:01:23.260-08:00Tough Tree<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2139860025/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2139860025_8373d5f4cf_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2139860025/">Tough Tree</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-43922498573579387872007-12-26T23:00:00.001-08:002007-12-26T23:00:27.630-08:00Tree at Anse Vata<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140636280/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2140636280_2486ef0366_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140636280/">There's a strong wind at the beach.</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>Anse Vata has a very consistent wind.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-13507493333100943442007-12-26T22:56:00.001-08:002007-12-26T22:56:21.632-08:00Anse Vata Beach<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140640716/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2170/2140640716_8d3deb04cc_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140640716/">Anse Vata Beach</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>This is the main windsurfing beach in Noumea.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-17866776251176677692007-12-26T22:51:00.001-08:002007-12-26T22:51:37.829-08:00WWII Memorial Plaque<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140632150/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2176/2140632150_20e9e82217_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140632150/">WWII Memorial Plaque</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-88770248394203220702007-12-26T22:50:00.001-08:002007-12-26T22:50:44.725-08:00World War Two Memorial<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140627720/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/2140627720_b19b14880c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/2140627720/">World War Two Memorial</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>I have vague memories of being at the dedication of this memorial back in 1992.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-26260378955275488272007-11-11T12:52:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:52:46.894-08:00Ils De Pin quiet lagoon<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961026023/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/1961026023_0ece6da697_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961026023/">Ils De Pin quiet lagoon</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-79925305785270227762007-11-11T12:50:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:50:55.618-08:00Ils De Pin 2<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961821512/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/1961821512_261e6b77b6_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961821512/">Ils De Pin 2</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-80425822127042389092007-11-11T12:49:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:49:53.353-08:00Ils de Pin<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961085923/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2234/1961085923_18739c9e7a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961085923/">Ils de Pin</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>Eleanor and I, along with some others, took a day trip down to Ils de Pin. We spent the entire day lounging around a beautiful lagoon just a short walk from the ferry.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-13415800919941095572007-11-11T12:46:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:46:18.763-08:00Noumea Sunset<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961116525/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/1961116525_de46158f8e_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961116525/">Noumea Sunset</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>This picture is from Eleanor's balcony.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-54629779618155339132007-11-11T12:35:00.000-08:002007-11-11T12:44:55.121-08:00Nouvelle CaledonieAfter spending only four days in Sydney (I'll be going back) I flew into New Caledonia. My sister Eleanor is currently living in Noumea, working for the South Pacific Commission, the same organization our Dad worked for when we lived here as toddlers. I've been having a great time here and my french is improving by leaps and bounds. My sister and I were invited to spend the weekend with some of her friends outside of Noumea and I got the chance to surf for the first time in months. It's a new experience to be in a line-up where everyone is speaking french surf jargon.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-8293195551444870222007-11-11T12:32:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:32:16.420-08:00Fruit Bats<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1962052196/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/1962052196_c6dc8cdd30_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1962052196/">Fruit Bats</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>Or maybe Bat Fruit?<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-82857681932776865122007-11-11T12:28:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:28:03.636-08:00Downtown Sydney<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961883198/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/1961883198_e309d84a37_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1961883198/">Downtown Sydney</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-75675684130860589582007-11-11T12:25:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:25:30.151-08:00Sydney Harbor<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1962016844/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/1962016844_59e52fae99_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1962016844/">Sydney Harbor</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-21144268539683776172007-11-11T12:23:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:23:30.969-08:00Sydney's Circular Quay<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1960963929/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/1960963929_93dfbc2d27_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1960963929/">Sydney's Circular Quay</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-69750324165035332292007-11-11T12:16:00.001-08:002007-11-11T12:16:11.644-08:00Sydney Harbor Bridge<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1960935615/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/1960935615_05bdff76e6_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1960935615/">Sydney Harbor Bridge</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>I spent my first day in Sydney walking around downtown and through the Botanical Gardens. Most of the following pictures are of the postcard variety. The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House are so photogenic that it is hard to take a bad looking picture of either icon.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-22414098447759181312007-11-11T11:49:00.000-08:002007-11-11T12:15:48.578-08:00Crossing the Equator and the MeridianMy arrival in Sydney was fairly non-eventful. Customs in the airport was much smoother, and the people more pleasant, than my experience crossing into the US from Canada. The only thing they wanted to look at was the bag of candy I was carrying to Noumea for Halloween. After breezing through customs I made my way to Cronulla to stay with some family friends I had not seen for fifteen years. The next day I went into the city and took the following pictures.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-14786992142251025492007-10-22T04:25:00.001-07:002007-10-22T04:25:52.205-07:00Mike and Tom<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1689400058/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/1689400058_c2b24a155a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1689400058/">Photo 2</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>Us messing about with Tom's new computer.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-18399786025344312332007-10-20T00:03:00.000-07:002007-10-20T00:14:17.994-07:00Sydney BoundTomorrow afternoon I'm off to Sydney. I'll be staying with one of my oldest friends (we met before either of us had turned one) and his fiance. It seems that one of us might be growing up a little faster than the other. After a few days in Sydney I'll be jetting off to Noumea to stay with my little sister Eleanor. I'm bringing a care package for her consisting entirely of candy only available in the US. My backpack now holds jolly ranchers, jelly beans, various gummy fruits and watermelon bubble gum. I feel like I'm going into sugar-shock just thinking about it.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-25341819120409472282007-10-13T13:16:00.001-07:002007-10-13T13:16:43.859-07:00Yoga Space<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1561205963/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/1561205963_a68b406894_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1561205963/">Yoga Space</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div>I have tried to keep exercising during this trip by going swimming, going on hikes and keeping up with my yoga. It helps when this is my yoga space.<br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-15427289886262904182007-10-13T13:14:00.003-07:002007-10-13T13:14:20.457-07:00Pig Lair<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1561205975/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/1561205975_ba63d53942_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1561205975/">Pig Lair</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291830752606582925.post-25745737148729714842007-10-13T13:14:00.001-07:002007-10-13T13:14:00.909-07:00Waikiki from Altitude<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1561205885/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/1561205885_4270fd572c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936929@N02/1561205885/">Waikiki from Altitude</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/11936929@N02/">mikekleiber</a> </span></div><br clear="all" />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804547747438293401noreply@blogger.com0