Treading Water

Some good news...

2010-05-12T14:06:00.000+10:00

Well it's been a long time since my contiki tour but I still have intentions of finishing up my tour blog! The good news is that googlepages has finally been shut down and all pages have been migrated to google sites as promised :-) Only taken a year or so :-P haha

I'm waiting on the delivery of a new laptop and then I will get to work on finishing my site. My current laptop is outdated and has run out of hard drive space to store my photos and music, I keep them all on an external hard drive but it makes dealing with them a pain. I've also done a lot of domestic travel since then and will ideally be able to create sites for those trips as well :-)

Frustration.

2008-11-13T09:30:00.003+10:00

I don't know that anyone cares anymore, but I've had more delays in getting my travelogue finished.

I use Google Page Creator for my work, and Google has decided to scrap the application and migrate everything over to Google Sites. It's something that could be done reasonably simply, but I put a lot of effort into sizing my photos and things in my code so they site nicely in the Google Pages format. I've done a test myself of what it will look like in the new format and I'm not happy with it.

An example, http://sites.google.com/site/ashcontiki/Home compared with the same pages in google pages http://my.contiki.googlepages.com/london1. Definitely Not Happy Jan.

I'll have to play with all the settings all over again, which means it's no longer a simple case of finishing up writing and selecting photos and inserting them into the template I made. So incredibly frustrating!!! I almost want to give up, but so much work went into it in the first place, and I have to many great photos I want to share that it just seems silly to stop now.

I'm also dedicating a lot of time to my post-grad research (even taking time off work) so that's still a major priority so I can get it done by Christmas (and I really, really have to!) But this migration has just peeved me off and I thought I would share.

One saving grace is that I created the code to reference my photos externally (contained within Picasa Web) so they'll still reference the same place. Google Page Creator has the ability to store your files, which would make migration a little more complicated.

Anyway, the change is supposed to happen officially before the end of the year, and I'm hoping I'll get to keep the same URL from google (as in the my.contiki part) it's currently not available, which could mean someone else already has it at google sites, or it's been reserved for the migration. Guess I'll find out soon enough. Until then, I'm only going to do offline work in writing everything up and working out all over again how to disply my photos the way I want. And hopefully I'll have the whole thing finished by the end of 2010....

Not impressed Google, but I guess 1 disappointment doesn't unbalance a lot of other great things you do. Let's hope you make the transition as easy as possible...

Oh dear...

2008-04-14T12:18:00.003+10:00

I've discovered recently that I don't have much motivation...or focus...

I started working on my travelogue, but recently all progress has stopped. I've been busy with my research (and a few brick walls I've hit along the way) so I haven't had a lot of time on my hands.

I apologise again. I honestly didn't think that it would take me as long as it is, however, I have FINALLY finished all my photos. So if you want to look at my pics without the story attached, they are all displayed in my Picasa Web Albums.

In other news, I should be done with my Masters very, very soon. If not I'm going to start work anyway. Just finishing up my analysis (while also starting again...but that's how it goes I guess...) so it won't be long now.

And I WILL get back to work on my travelogue, pretty soon I'll have been back for 3 months already...gulp...

Its still coming...

2008-03-06T16:51:00.002+10:00

I feel really bad that I haven't put anything substantial up on my Contiki website yet, its still coming, but I want to do it right and haven't had the time to sit down and spend a while on it.

I will try to get started on it very, very soon. Possibly before I finish organising my photos, since I've only done 3 days worth of them...Guess its my fault for taking so many :P But I've been putting Geotags on all my photos (via picasaweb) so following my path through Europe should be pretty easy.

Anyway, I have things to do but I'm making a promise to get to the website very soon :D

I'm Home...

2008-02-07T23:43:00.000+10:00

Just a quick post, I'm home now, I have been for a week...

I haven't put up any photos or updated my travelogue at all yet, but I intend to, its just going to be a slow (read: very very slow) process. I also have to move house this week so my priorities lie elsewhere.

BUT

I will say that the trip was incredible, I would do it again in a second (though I would like a little longer, I'm still recovering) and I'd recommend it to anyone. Winter was a much better time to travel than I thought, I adjusted to the cold (at least by the end of the trip - I went from wearing 6 layers in London at 10 degrees in the beginning, to wearing 2 layers in London at 8 degrees) and the weather was much better than I expected, we only had a few days of bad rain and a few more with drizzle. Besides, bad rain in Europe isn't like a summer storm in Australia, I've had worse rain in Brisbane since I've been home!!!

Contiki was great, and I'm really glad that I chose to travel in a group (and on a bus where it was dry) I met so many great ppl (most of whom were Aussies) and have so many memories that were improved by their company. Definitely something I'd consider again, though I don't know if I'd get a group that good again :P

Travel bug is still biting away at me, I'm already starting to think about a trip to Italy-Greece-Egypt, Greece/Egypt cause they have always been on my main list thanks to my interest in Mythology...And Italy cause I saw no where near enough of it and I love the food and I'm IN love with Rome.

Anyway, thats it for me for the moment, but stay tuned, there will be photos, there will be stories...just give me time :)

Not Long Now :)

2007-12-16T09:31:00.000+10:00

My tour is so close now, I can't believe its actually happening.

In 10 days I leave Brisbane and fly to London, I'm so excited it will sound lame if I try to describe how I feel...

My bag is pretty much packed (I had started earlier but changed from a hard suitcase to a soft duffle bag with wheels, but last night I changed to another bigger hard suitcase...). I've charged my electronics (though I'll use my camera at Christmas and have to do it again), washed my clothes, organised toiletries and first aid stuff, put heaps of books and maps on my Nintendo DS (I don't really play games on it :P), picked up all my Contiki and travel documents...

I have a very small list of things still to be done, I need to make photocopies of my important stuff, namely my passport, and make a list of 'special numbers' for my parents, in case I need them to do any banking etc for me while I'm away. Other than that, I'm ready to go :)

The next 10 days will be busy enough for me, that I think they are going to go really fast, I have to make sure I'm at an appropriate stage in my analysis that I can leave it for 5 weeks and not be confused when I get back, Christmas is only 9 days away and though I've done all my Christmas shopping (I hate Christmas crowds) I have to help out big time with the food this year (my mum had surgery 2 days ago and isn't supposed to be on her feet much).

On another note, one of my sisters got into the Royal Military College (pending a final physical) and she'll leave on January 20 while I'm away. A bit sad for me, because I'll miss her, but I'm sure she'll enjoy it. She's not allowed out for the first 3 months so it will be a while before I see her, meaning I need to spend time with her before I leave.

This will be my last post before I head away (unless I get bored and decide to ramble during the week, but it won't be Contiki related) and I'll wait and see how I feel about posting while overseas, my net time might be needed for emails etc. When I get back I will make a few minor posts, but my travelogue is going to be a seperate website...the site is already up and running at http://my.contiki.googlepages.com/home. There isn't much on the site yet, just a plan of what I'm doing and my thoughts before my travel (which is similar to this blog) but that's where my Contiki trip stuff will eventually go, and I'll post here when I'm done :)

Anyway, I'd better go accomplish something for the day....and soon, I'll be in EUROPE!

Silence is Golden

2007-11-23T15:26:00.000+10:00

Speech is silver, Silence is golden...I first heard of that quote at age 6 when my Grade 1 teacher signed my 'autographs' page of my diary with it...Proof I've always been a chatterbox :)

I apologise to anyone who has check this blog more than once in the last months, only to find I haven't written posts. As always, I had the best intentions, but never got around to it. The longer I left it, the harder it seemed.

Luckily, I have some spare time today, I met a deadline yesterday which by anyone's rules means I can relax a little today :)

My research is coming along reasonably, for anyone who cares, but definitely not worth going into details.

Onto more interesting things...Europe. The trip is so incredibly close now, just 33 days until I leave. I visited the doctor today and got a few pescriptions I might need (just in case I get sick) and my 2nd cervical cancer jab. Then I visited the travel agent and paid for my carbon offsets for my flights, I don't really need to see him again until our Contiki documents come (around 12th of December).

So I don't have anything too interesting to post. I have almost everything I need for my trip, and most of it is collected together in a pile ready to be packed. I would pack it, but the suitcase is needed by a family member between now and then :P

I feel really bad about the way I treated this blog, I intended to use it a lot more than I have. Thinking back to my first post, I had a lot of great intentions for this year, I was going to go more places and see more things in my everyday life...that hasn't happened. I did fly to Sydney for the NRL Grand Final, I visited family and the zoo, nothing particularly adventurous though. That can be a New Year's Resolution for next year :)

I'm also going to aim at a post every few days until I leave...though they might not say much.

Damn, I had something else to say but I don't remember...don't you hate it when that happens?

Another Book on Europe...

2007-08-30T17:12:00.000+10:00

This will only be another short post. I just thought I would share the book I have just finished, Rick Steve's Europe 101 - History and Art for the Traveller.

I read a few good reviews about the book and decided it was probably worth a read, I didn't think it would be my sort of thing...I'm not really into art.

After the first chapter I had no regrets. The book is well written and is the easiest history I've ever read. Starting with Ancient Greece and working right through history to the current day, the book covers art styles and influences. Art isn't defined just as paintings and sculptures, architecture is covered as well with descriptions of the history and design.

I think this book will mean I appreciate Europe so much more, I'm making my travelling partners read it, before passing it on to my mum before she travels in 18 months time.

Before I go on my trip, I'm going to go back through the book and work out what artwork are on my 'must-see' list. I think knowing what I want (and don't want) to see will both save time, and make my sightseeing more enjoyable.

I've also just started reading Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door. Its got a lot of tips for European travel and places people often don't know about.

Though I haven't finished it, I would recommened Europe 101 first.

Happy reading :)

The countdown is ON

2007-08-04T21:44:00.000+10:00

In a sense I've been counting down for the last six months...but now the number is below 150 :-)

So...143 days until I leave! And 150 days until the Contiki tour.

Again, not a lot has happened since I last posted, I'm starting to feel like I lead a boring life :( Most of my time (obviously) is taken up with my research stuff, and now the semester has started back I'm tutoring as well.

Still been reading a lot about Europe though :-) and the only real point of this post was to express my excitement that there is less than 150 days to go. And I'll be even more excited when there are less than 100...

Falling behind...

2007-07-03T11:50:00.001+10:00

I'm having one of those weeks, where you need time to stop for everyone else so you can catch up.

It's been a while since my last post, I went to Canberra for a 4 day forum and had an unbelievable time. The forum was based on the concept of servant leadership and there was a lot of indepth small group discussion about some very personal things. I made some great friends in those few days and felt like I'd been gone for weeks when I got back home. It was very full on 7am-11pm every day, plus late night chats. So much talking that I lost my voice :P

Then I came home, and started catching up on what I'd missed and what I'd put on hold, only to get sick a few days later. I had a virus for about a week and wasn't getting better, turns out then I had a chest infection...so I've been okay for a week now, but have had so much to do both at uni and at home.

I'm posting today cause I'm almost bored, despite having lots and lots to do.

Update on my Contiki tour - we have a lot of people who've booked and are talking the forum online, our total count now is up to 13 (though one might pull out) so it looks like the tour won't be cancelled :). Which is good cause I booked my flights last week :D I've bought a lot of winter clothes in the recent sales too, I think I have everything I need. If not, I'm hoping I'll be able to find anything else in the heat of summer...

So the rest of this week I really have to get stuck into my work, should be easier since its holidays and the usual uni 'kids' aren't here. I also need to get into a fitness regime now its getting warmer, I'm so lazy. A new netball season started last night (I play with my 3 sisters and some friends) so that has be kick started.

On a final note, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night's State of Origin final. It's nice to know we've [QLD] already won the series :D

does it count as research?

2007-05-30T14:49:00.000+10:00

I'm doing a research degree, so does 'researching' Europe on the net count as research?

Didn't think so...

Regardless, I have done a lot of Europe research. I read a lot and I print out things to read on the train home. Eventually I'm going to have to make my own little booklet with everything I want to remember in it. There is so much :-) and its just as well I'm doing a tour and don't have to worry about research accomodation and transport as well.

I wrote a previous blog about the travellogues and books I've been reading, I haven't got a hold of any more books but I have been reading any travellogue I find as I'm trying to find more from winter. Eventually, I'll attempt to put together a list with my own review :-)

This post is about the resources I've been using in my quest.
First of all, GoogleEarth gives a great overview of a city and includes Wikipedia and Panoramio so you can find out about places and see pictures people have taken.

The second resource, which I couldn't live without, is Wikitravel. Just like Wikipedia (public contribution) but locations. Some locations have better detail then others but there is so much information there, you don't need to buy a LonelyPlanet.

So I guess the third resource should be Lonely Planet guides. I have one myself, but they aren't as up-to-date as Wikitravel is usually kept, and they include a lot of information about transport and accomodation that you don't need when on a tour. In addition, they are expensive :-). Basic guides are available online at Lonely Planet, and they have a really good forum. I haven't had to post anything on the forum, the answers I'm looking for are generally already there.

Speaking of forums, I guess it goes without saying that the contiki community is great, but its often more full of future contiki-ites then past ones. Good for posting questions and meeting people though. The regulars of the unofficial contiki message board are more likely to have been on a tour, the disadvantage of this board is it doesn't get too many users so posts aren't as frequent.

Next resource on the list is Word Travels. This site contains similar info to Wikitravel, but also includes recent traveller reviews. What I love about this site are the 'printable guides' - in the left column of the page there is the option to print, saves putting it into a word document (and having to muck around with formatting).

The next resource I used more for packing then travel info, Rick Steve is apparently famous in the US and has a TV show, he's also the author of a lot of books on Europe. I haven't yet bought any of his books, but I'm possibly looking into one on artwork in Europe, I've heard its a good guide...

Finally, the first resource I used was Go Europe, part of the about.com websites. This is a great resource for everything you might want to know about travelling to Europe. From packing to travel books to photography to things to see, this site has it all. The only downside to it, is that its easy to get lost and there's no comprehensive list of atractions etc. so I'd still recommend wikitravel for that.

Guess that's it for me today :-) It had been a while so i thought I should post. I'm flying to Canberra (from Brisbane) tomorrow for a few days for a forum so I knew if I didn't post now I wouldn't get around to it. I still haven't uploaded any test photos from my new camera, but I will when I get back - with a 2x2GB memory cards I don't need to upload often :-P

still stationary

2007-05-11T10:39:00.000+10:00

Just a quick post.

I'm still not really getting anywhere with my research, but I have a series of water samples that I have to test. That's not much fun and takes ages...

On a happier note, the Contiki Forums are finally back online. I was having difficulties logging in, but I think they are fixed now. In the end I made good use of my time by transferring my NZ holiday blog onto my google pages and finally added photos. I considered it practise for my Contiki trip...

My only other news is that I finally bought a new digital camera :D. I have had my eye on one for months now. Its an Olympus Mju 770 and I'm in love with it. I also bought a Gorilapod and I've already been having fun with it. I haven't tried my camera out under water yet, but I will this weekend. I might even get around to posting some photos...

Guess I'd better get back to work. Its a Friday and it feels like it, but I'm so ready for the weekend I almost didn't get up this morning...

realising how sad my life is...

2007-05-02T11:05:00.000+10:00

I have realised lately that I really don't do much with my time. That and I'm really good at procrastinating :)

My average day involves getting up at 7, getting ready and travelling via train into the city where I arrive around 9:30. It then takes at least half an hour to read emails etc. so it's normally ten o'clock before I"m actually doing anything. If I do anything.

I waste time frequently, I am in love with all things Google (on a side note, I love my Google homepage which is now called iGoogle and has themes which I am absolutely loving) and spend all day on Google Talk. Though admittedly, the people I'm talking to are also at work and uni so the conversations aren't continuous.

I also manage to waste a small amount of time each day on the Contiki Forums. This is why I have realised my life is sad. Since the weekend the Contiki Forums have all been closed for maintainence...and I feel lost. Very sad I know, it shocked me when I realised, but I guess thats just the way it is. I'm hoping they will be back soon, I miss them.

The rest of my day (that I'm doing being good and doing work) gets taken up with running tutorials, marking papers (so boring), having 'lunch' and googling all things europe/travel. I have done a fair amount of research for my europe trip, to the point that there is almost nothing left that I can do :-S.

So, since I am writing this at uni, I guess this is another way of wasting time, though I don't post that often. Mainly because I'm pretty sure no one is reading...

Guess I had better get back to work. Though I'm waiting for data to be sent to me, so there isn't much I can do...

just a little bit closer

2007-03-27T10:36:00.000+10:00

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been....Diane Arbus

I am still more excited about this Europe trip then I think I should be...current countdown is 274 days until I leave (don't worry I have an automatic counter set up).

I booked my tour last week, so unless something comes up it's definitely going ahead :D. I still can't seem to really focus on much else. I ended up getting an extra $300 off the tour price thanks to a promotion from my travel agent. It worked, I went with them over others...

I just finished reading a book recommended for anyone who is doing a Europe coach tour, Rule No. 5: No Sex on the Bus (Confessions of a Tour Leader) by Brian Thacker. Thacker is an ex-tour manager for an 18-30s company (no names mentioned) who has some very funny stories from the places he has taken tours. Varying between describing (in graphic detail) the 'culture' of Amsterdam, the antics of the tour mates while under the influence and some of the serious culture of Europe, I laughed my way through it and if I can bring back one story as funny (as one of Thacker's) from my trip I'll be happy.

Another book I read recommendations about on the net is Neither Here Nor There - Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson. I'm still working my way through that one, it has a more serious nature then Thacker's (though still funny at times). Bryson is middle aged (40-50 at the time of writing in 1991) and writes about his recent European travels while remembering his travels as a student in the 70's. The book is a good indication of what to expect as a backpacker with no definite plans, and interestingly Bryson doesn't speak any European language except English.

I've also been reading travelogues from previous Contikites and unsurpringly found most of their experiences to be very similar. Everyone is taken to the same places to see the same things with the same 'special shops'. But I expected that. What is good to read in these travelogues is the experiences the authors had with their tourmates and what they enjoyed about each place.

Anyone interested can check out:

http://www.davechallenger.com/ - Dave is a Canadian who ventured on the Ultimate European trip in May 2006. The travelogue is an awesome read. Its very detailed and took me a while to get through (days actually) but it is definitely worth it. It has made me decide to do this trip in the distant future :)

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/europewebsite/index.html - Jacob is from New York and in May 2001, went on the European Adventurer. Again, his travelogue is very long, but I've come to the decision that all the good ones are. Jacob includes a lot of personal information in his travelogue and includes his 'almost' romance with a fellow tour mate (and his thoughts on his stupidity that it didn't happen).

In addition to those two, I have read a lot of smaller travelogues but they aren't as detailed and ultimately say the same thing.

So I think that's it for me today, I have research I should be doing...whether its on Europe or my literature review is the question...

books books books

2007-03-03T17:14:00.000+10:00

I was thinking about some of the good books I have read and decided to write a little post.

I love to read. Literally. As a child when (and if :P) I did something wrong I was punished by 'taking away my book'. And when I was sent to bed I would sneak out to the bookshelf and get a book - that was me being bad. And of course, reading when I should have been studying, but I eventually go the study done too. And on my first day home from grade one...my mother asks 'how was you first day at school Ashleigh?', my response - 'well, I haven't learned to read yet!!'...

I have to admit that university did change my habits a little, having more to do and being 'forced' to read non-fun stuff often means can't read what you want. Plus my budget didn't allow for new books too often and I've read most of the decent stuff the local library has to offer. Every now and then I'd treat myself to a new book though, sometimes good award winning reads, others just chic-lit stuff that's light and funny and takes your mind away from stuff. Chic-lit books are all the same though so I don't feel a huge need to write about them in my blog. They all end up making you feel warm and fuzzy or empowered or whatever, but they never make you think too hard (part of the appeal). Briefly though, the short stories series Girl's Night In is a good start, kind of like a chocolate sampler box where you can find authors you like then buy books. There are four in the series now and a percent of the sale goes to charity. Anything published by the Red Dress Inc company is usually pretty good and I own a number of books by Meg Cabot and the pair Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees. Failing that, anything with pretty colours (fuchsia, yellow, turquoise, purple, pink etc.) and more than one is generally a light read.

Non-chic lit books I have purchased generally belong to the top 100 list from angus and robertson http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/products/top100.asp because I impulsively buy books and I feel I can trust their list.

I bought the Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown when it first appeared on this list (just before the hype) and really enjoyed it. I'm kind of over it now though everyone is interested in it :) I also ended up with Angels and Demons but haven't felt the need for his other books.

I read the five people you meet in heaven - Mitch Albom and loved it. Its one of those books that shows you something new everytime you read it. And makes you think while also making you laugh and cry. Definitely a book that will never leave my bookshelf (unless I'm reading it or lending it to someone else of course).

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell is another one of those books. 6 different stories about 6 different people based in different periods of time but are all linked somehow. The book gives you only half of a story before moving on to the next one, which can get rather frustrating but pretty soon you are so into the next story you have forgotten about the previous one. The first story does take some time getting into it though, its a diary from somewhere in the 1800s and the language is a little tedious. Once you get through that though its definitely worth it :)

A few sad books the virgin suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides there was a movie made about this book that had some female actress but I've never seen it. Was a good book, a little twisted though. In the same category is The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold sad and twisted but generally a good read. Its the thoughts of a young girl AFTER she was murdered as she looks down from almost-heaven. Apparently this book will soon be made into a movie.

A book that was a little twisted but not really sad was The Bride Stripped Bare - Anonymous. Definitely a strange read. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but its basically the story of a wife's 'sexual awakening' with someone other than her husband.

Then there are the classics which take some getting used to. Jane Austen is an obvious favourite (Emma in particular so it makes sense one of my second favourite movie is Clueless :P - number one is Love Actually if anyone cares). I love the whole 'Anne' series by Lucy M Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables etc. for those of you who don't know) and have read it quite a number of times. Sadly, I've never come across the full series in book form but have ebooks of the whole collection (which are free on the net) just means your eyes go funny after you read for a while. I also read the all the 'Flowers in the Attic' series by Virginia Andrews thats another truly twisted set of books (I won't spoil it but the start - ignoring the prequel - is about 4 kids who get locked in an attic because their grandfather doesn't know about them and their lives end up pretty messed up for the remaining books) this is another book that was a movie, again, one I haven't seen.

Other than that, I've read a lot of 'pointless' children's/teenage books as I've grown up and then continued to reread them because they are around. I was always a fan of the Emily Rodda series growing up (preffering Rowan of Rin over Teen Power Inc. but reading them all) and of course John Marsden's Tomorrow Series but I got over that cause I didn't like the way the final book ended (and refuse to read the Ellie Chronicles). My youngest sister also has a series of books from the Angels Unlimited series (by Annie Dalton) which I'll admit I have read and enjoyed. The beauty of kids books is they are short enough for you to read in the time it takes to eat breakfast and brush your teeth (times I'm often found reading :D)

I also have quite a few random books I've picked up for a few dollars second hand and from random places when I've just wanted a book to read. Some of them are good, some of them I should dispose of...

So thats it for me on books for the moment. I will definitely be adding any good reads I find to this blog. Even if no one is reading it, at least I'll have a record for my own future refernence...

I love books :)

dreaming of europe

2007-02-27T12:14:00.000+10:00

302 days = 43 weeks = 10 months

Thats how long is left until I leave for Europe. It almost seems ridiculous to be counting down this early but I really can't help it. Every other minute I'm thinking about places or weather or packing, I naturally love to plan stuff and this is a pretty big thing to plan :)

So...

I will be travelling with 4 male friends from uni (James, Paul and Brad who will graduate at the end of 2007 and Simon who graduated with me at the end of 2006) so there will be at least 5 Civil Engineers on our Contiki tour :P

We plan to leave Brisbane on Boxing Day, obviously don't know flights etc. yet but we're hoping to fly with Emirates because I've heard a lot of good reviews about them. They have great in-flight entertainment and food and it will enable us to stop at Dubai for a few days on the way home (Dubai is a big deal in the engineering world atm).

Then we have 5 1/2 days in London to see the sights and take one or two day trips away from the city. Stonehenge is a definite on all our lists and possibly Cambridge, Oxford or Brighton. We should be staying at the Royal National Hotel (which features the Contiki Basement downstairs) to make thing easier on our morning of departure. We'll be having New Years in London which will be exciting, though we'll have to remember to celebrate our 'real' New Year at 2pm London time :)

The tour we've chosen to do (well the boys chose and I decided to tag along for...) is the Contiki Winter Wanderer departing from London on January 2nd. The tour runs for 24 days, so it goes for most of the month of January, and includes overnight stays in Paris (France), Lucerne (Switzerland), Lyon (France), Barcelona (Spain), Nice (France), Florence (Italy), Rome (Italy), Venice (Italy), Vienna (Austria), Munich (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic), Berlin (Germany) and Amsterdam (Netherlands).

So as far as planning goes, I have started saving for the trip and working out what I want to wear, because all girls know that clothes are important :). I've decided to limit my research and reading up on towns and countries so that I don't lose excitement too quickly. First, I'm reading up on London and working out what places I'd like to see while I'm there and marking them all in Google Earth. Then once I'm done with that (and only then) I'll move onto Paris. I'll get to see the most of London because I'll have more than one full day there, my itinerary for all the other cities will have to be prioritised because there is no way I will be able to see everything.

So thats it so far. I'll write about London soon :)

Oh, and my master literature review is still coming along...nowhere near as interesting as planning a european holiday...

a follow up to the two beginnings

2007-02-22T15:11:00.000+10:00

Just thought I would add a quick comment...I have had a look at a few other blogs and it appears the titles I used for my first two entries are extremely common. Everyone seems to use them. I will attempt to be more creative in future...

...and getting started is the hardest part

2007-02-22T14:20:00.000+10:00

Well this is entry number two. I told myself I would write at least once a week, but its harder than it seems. I have so much I want to get down that it seems like too much of an effort and I just don't do it all. A bit like writing a journal, I have a collection of them that have regular entries for the beginning of the year and the the entries are months apart. Except this year...there is only one entry on Jan 3...

So I guess I should attempt to start. My aim this year (other than doing my Masters of course) is to do more with my life. Step One is already in place, I have been saving since the beginning of January for a holiday at the end of the year. My current plans involve flying to London for a few nights followed by a 24 day Contiki tour called the Winter Wanderer (departing Jan 2). So I feel like I have a goal and a reason to save. And of course, something massive and exciting to look forward to :)

The second thing I'd like to do this year is broaden my horizons. Even if I only make a small attempt from my desk, I feel that could be enough. I want to learn about all sorts of things, places, cultures, religions, history...the list is really quite long. To begin with I'm reading up on Mythology, its something I have always had an interest in and I was given a very large, very thick book for christmas. I have started reading but I haven't yet made it past Greek Mythology yet (though that is the biggest section).

Other things I'd like to learn include a new language, though with budgeting and time limits I may also be restricted to free sites on the net :). My europe trip will be covering a few countries and I'd like to learn a little from each. Also, at some point in my life I'd like to learn sign language but I don't think I can do that over the net...

My third goal for the year is to visit some local places. Throughout my schooling and undergrad degree I never felt like I really went anywhere (though in saying that I have seen a few places...more on that later) and I don't want to spend this year glued to a computer. Hopefully I can find the time to take day trips around the area I live in (South East Queensland).

Okay, so I guess thats it for me for this entry. Next time I'll make a list of the things I have achieved to make myself feel better...especially since the literature review I'm supposed to be working on hasn't progressed much in the last week...

Everything must have a beginning...

2007-02-14T15:31:00.000+10:00

Writing a blog is something I have considered doing for a long time, I've just never got around to it. And then I wonder, what will I write about? The truth is, I'm still not sure, but I figure that actually starting is the hardest bit, so...

Welcome to my blog :-)

I am from Brisbane in Australia and I am currently studying my Master of Engineering. Some days I'm bored (and I'm afraid today is one of them) so I will use my time productively and update my blog.

I guess my main idea at the moment is to document all the things I want to do in my life and then find a way to do these things. I feel like I'm still waiting for my life to start and I don't think that's a good thing. My bachelor degree graduation ceremony was yesterday and I can now officially place BEng(Hons)(Civil) after my name. I enjoyed the 'experience' more than I thought I would. It was sad though because most of my friends are already out in the real world earning money and I'm still here at uni.

I still don't regret my decision to do post-grad research though. In a sense, I'm not ready to join the real world just yet and I have no idea where or for who I want to work.

In the meantime, to beat my boredom, I'm going to try and learn 'stuff' about things that interest me and work at creating some experiences for myself. Though I have to admit, I haven't done too badly so far :-) but more about that later.

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day to anyone who happens to read this today...

And Hi to anyone (if there is anyone) else reading this...