The Great OE

Top 5 things to look for when booking a hostel

2008-10-07T00:48:00.000-07:00

5 The hostel welcomes its guests.
We walked into the front door and booked in, once they had taken our money and seen our passports they directed us back out the front door and around to another ‘hole in the wall’. That’s all it was, the door opened (there was only enough room for the door to swing open) before the narrow steps began, three flights of stairs that where so steep they made walking up the decks of the Titanic as it was sinking seem easy. This hostel is not ashamed of their client’s not at all!

4. A nice clean bathroom.
It’s always nice to get into the shower after a long trip what’s even better is when you see water running down the walls of the bathroom (before you have turned the shower on).
The bathroom consisted of four walls that where just jib board with paint slapped over the top, and a free standing shower in the corner with tiles up to waste height. New Zealand has nothing - this is a leaky home waiting to happen. Don’t forget we are three stories up, when the floor collapses its going to be impressive. In the hostels defence it did have an extractor fan for the bathroom, however the fact that this is where the water was coming from only concerned me more! Everyone knows water and electricity are a great combination, great to think about when your having a shower directly below.

3. A structurally sound room.
It’s always a concern when you wake up and you see the ceiling boards are held in place with plasters. The first question you have to ask is ‘Are they used plasters?’ The second is ‘Will I be more upset about having a ceiling fall on me or a plaster?’ I’m not actually sure which one I would prefer. Travelling has a certain element of danger to it; however I never imagined ‘death by hostel ceiling’ or ‘he suffocated on a used plaster’ to be on my obituary.

2. Working amenities.
The first time I flushed the toilet it sprayed the water back at me thought the basin. I initially thought this was quite funny. However when I realised that every time you flush the toilet the water from the toilet comes out the drain of the sink I suddenly didn’t feel like brushing my teeth anymore. I’m not talking a little bit or regurgitation either this water is shot 30-40cm straight up in the air.

1. Safety cautions and enforces rules.
Our room was on the third floor of an old building, at the front desk the clerk asked us not to smoke inside. As we climbed to our room every door had a no smoking sticker on it and there where big posters up and down the stairs. Only problem was you couldn’t see the signs because of the smoke from all the weed being consumed! We walked into our room (past the no smoking sign) and saw an ash tray on the table and there was a luggage ticket taped over the fire alarm. A fire marshal would be having a field day with this one - seriously though the amount of people who must fall asleep while smoking a joint must be worrying.

Just to make things even worse, this has been one of the most expensive hostels we have stayed in – It cost about 35.00 euro each (yes euro, we are still in western Europe – not Asia or India). In their defence the orange juice in the morning was good.

Beginners guide to rock climbing

2008-09-30T02:58:00.000-07:00

Intrepid Magazine have come to the party and are providing TheGreatOE with some great article and information about extreeme sports. Its a fantastic magazine . . . before you even think it, I am not being paid to endorse it, but do recommend you take the time to have a look at their site, its full of facinating articles and stories by some very respected and world renound adventurers.

Getting Started:
Climbing is one of the simplest sports to get started in. There are plenty of indoor facilities dedicated to climbing throughout New Zealand. Their staff are trained to introduce you into the sport of climbing, ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable experience. Your first movement in your upwards quest should most likely start with a visit to one of these climbing facilities.
When you turn up to a climbing centre the staff will start by fitting you with a harness. The harness is one of the most important parts of your climbing equipment; it connects your body with the rope that protects you in case of a fall. Most climbing centres will have a very basic model of harness, but when you advance a little in the sport you can head to a local climbing shop where you can purchase one of the many different types. Choose a fully-padded harness that has lots of adjustment options (important for children) so that it is comfortable to hang around in. Most good climbing shops will have somewhere that you can put the harness on and literally hang around on a rope to try it out. Make sure you find it comfortable as during the early stages of your climbing career you may find yourself hanging around a fair bit!

Once you have purchased or hired a harness, it is recommended you get some climbing shoes. Climbing centres will have some basic models available for hire in your size. Your first pair should be comfortable and staff will help you choose the correct size. As your technique and skill level advance you may choose to wear a shoe size slightly smaller than your normal size, this restricts the amount of movement within the shoe, thus helping you to stand on small edges and smooth terrain on the wall or rock.

When you purchase your first pair of shoes make sure you put on both shoes and try them out as people often find one foot is a different size to the other – particularly noticeable as you start to wear smaller shoes. Climbing shops often have a small climbing board that you can try the shoes out on, and climbing centres will often have a selection of shoes for purchase and sometimes a second-hand bargain can be found for beginners. Top quality brand-names include La Sportiva, Five Ten, Boreal and Scarpa.

Following the purchase of these two essential pieces of climbing gear the rest can take some time to acquire. As always, seek professional advice from a climbing facility or climbing shop before you part with your money. Ropes, carabineers, quick-draws, and belay devices are all but some of the ‘bling’ that you may require in the future.

Perhaps the indoor version of climbing is not quite what you are after, and the great outdoors has a bit more appeal? The first thing to realise is that while going for a climb indoors gives you some of the basic skills, outdoor climbing needs more advanced techniques, more gear and a good understanding of risk management and the potential hazards of climbing outdoors. It is essential that you get some training and assistance from a qualified climbing guide, instructor or an experienced climber. Guides are available throughout the country, and can be found though your local indoor climbing facility.

Climbing is an exhilarating, safe sport that develops all-over physical fitness and mental skills, a sport than can challenge you from your youthful days through until your retirement, with challenges at every level along the way. Get out there and give it a go – you will not be disappointed.

Climbing areas:
New Zealand is blessed with well developed climbing areas spread the length and breadth of the country. Getting started in the outdoors can be a challenge in itself, but nothing that cannot be surmounted. Climbing in wild places clearly involves elements of risk, so contact an experienced climber or a guide to take you on your first trip. A good place to find someone is at your local climbing gym or outdoors shop. Here are some climbing areas from around New Zealand that are best suited to introductory outdoor climbing:

Greater Auckland:
“The Quarry” (Located in the fields of Auckland Grammar School.) Believe it or not this is one of the birthplaces of New Zealand climbing and where some of the original heroes of the New Zealand climbing world were groomed. Pick up a climbing guide from local climbing centre Extreme Edge or visit their website at http://www.extremeedge.co.nz/

The Waikato:
“Wharepapa” The Spectacular ignimbrite rock formations have been scaled for years and with thousands of climbing routes in the general area it is one of the easiest places in New Zealand to get started. You will have no trouble finding a guide to show you the ropes.First stop when you get to the legendary village of Wharepapa South should always be “Bryces Rockclimbing Cafe” – (phone 07-872-2533). If it’s raining you can enjoy a coffee and some fun on the inside bouldering wall - of course the fun really starts when you get outside.The team at Bryces will be able to give you local information on conditions and help you locate some of the best climbing spots. The crags of Wharepapa South and Froggatt Edge are ideal challenges for beginners with guides available from either “Bryces Rockclimbing Café” or the team at “CastleRock Adventure” (phone 07 872-2509 or visit www.castlerockadventure.co.nz. Accommodation is available in the Wharepapa village.

Central North Island:
“The Bay” – Small Pocks, Tibia, Dr Funkenclimb are the names of just a few of the five hundred climbs at Whanganui Bay. Located on the western shores of Lake Taupo it is a truly special place. The location will take your breath away, the people will inspire you with their humanity and Aroha, and the climbing is like the icing on the cake.The area is popular with university climbing groups for their Introduction to Rock Climbing courses. Attending one of these courses is a great way to get started. Otherwise, find yourself a guide from one of the local climbing gyms like the team from The Rockhouse (http://www.therockhouse.co.nz/).

Safety/Technique:
Guides & Instructors: So how do you know if a guide or instructor is professionally trained? The New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association provides a rock climbing qualification and the minimum standard you should look for is NZOIA Rock I. An experienced climber that is known to you may be another suitable alternative, and organisations such as the New Zealand Alpine Club (www.alpineclub.org.nz) run outdoor climbing courses.

Helmet: A helmet can be your best friend when you are climbing outside. Small rocks have been known to fly out of the sky and narrowly miss climbers - or hit them. Modern helmets are light but capable of protecting you from falling objects or impact against the rock during a fall. While you are being guided you should expect to be provided with a well-fitting helmet. While it may not be the most stylish looking accessory in the world, you may be thankful for it later.

Technique: The best two bits of advice you will get while climbing is to climb in diagonals (with opposite hand and foot on the rock at a time), and to keep moving your feet up. If you remember these two small pieces of information you will be able to keep powering up the rock or indoor wall. Excellent advice often comes for free from climbing centres. They are a great place to develop your climbing skills in a less challenging environment.

Safety: A vital part of your safety is the belayer – the person who is holding the rope at the bottom of the wall or rock. It usual practice to climb with a partner and alternate between belaying and climbing. When you are the belayer it is important that you pay attention to your climber and remember to follow all instructions that you get from your instructor. Cell phones, conversations and belaying don’t mix well.

Climbing New Zealand: Climbing New Zealand is the National Sporting Organisation responsible for competition climbing in New Zealand. Competitions are held throughout New Zealand, organised by local climbing clubs. Visit www.climbing.co.nz for more information.

Kids Climbing Clubs: Local climbing clubs run workshops in technique and development especially tailored for youth climbers. Your local climbing centre will have more information on clubs in your area, or visit the clubs page at the Climbing New Zealand website.

Climbing Story:
Mark O'Connor - Kachoong

Kachoong is just one of those climbs. An undeniable classic with a reputation that proceeds itself, long before you even reach Mt. Arapiles. I had heard the name mentioned in revered tones shortly after I began climbing the gyms and crags around Christchurch. Its name is synonymous with Victorias infamous Mt Arapiles. ‘If you go to Arapiles, you have to climb Kachoong’. And now here I was; walking around nervously, sun beating down, summer flies buzzing my face. I was trying to get myself psyched, focussed, amped – however you want to describe the mental preparation that was going on. I had led an 18 to warm up and it hadn’t gone well. Kachoong is graded 21. It would be the hardest grade I had attempted on traditional gear (this means placing nuts and cams in cracks for protection).
It’s a short climb; and apparently over graded (not as difficult as the grade suggests). Eventually Steve got sick of my wimpy procrastinating, “Stop stuffing about and just climb the bloody thing” he grumbled, like only an Aussie can. I checked my gear for the tenth time, swallowed hard, and stepped out over a ten metre drop. The first few metres are simple, an easy skip over positive holds chalked up so much they stand out like neon lights. And then you hit the roof – 5 metres across and perfectly perpendicular to the main wall. Luckily there is a beautiful flake which you can lay back off and jam your feet into as your shuffle your way across to the lip. The advice about this section had been quite uniform – don’t muck around. So I didn’t.
I clipped an old rusty piton, placed a perfect number 4 cam and went for it. I’m not a fast climber. Normally I plod my way up like a disabled tortoise. But for those few brief moments I really hustled, wedging my feet in the flake and moving hand over hand to the ledge. Heaving and puffing I reached the edge and made ready to pull myself over onto the next vertical section of rock. Grasping hopefully, I found a couple of good pockets for my flailing fingers and kicked my feet around, ending up in a sort of yoga crouch just above the roof.
But I couldn’t hold it. My right foot floundered around as my arms powered down within a matter of seconds. “Take!” I screamed, moments before my whole body peeled off the rock like a piece of salami, and I hurtled through the air in a giant pendulum. My heart started up again as a swung into the rock from the gear I had placed. It had held. Ten minutes later and I was ready for attempt number two. I normally feel more confident after a big fall - but back at the roof - that confidence began to diminish. Again, I dropped a gear and motored. Reaching over the lip I could feel my arms starting to wane. Knowing I had to make it this time I reached high and kicked my feet around, landing in the same crouching position.
This time my feet stuck to good ledges, allowing me to grope for higher holds with my hands. Forearms bursting with pressure, I frantically grasped for something decent. I was breathing hard, totally focussed and completely fearful of another fall. My left hand found a nice little pincher and I put as much squeeze into those fingers as my muscles could muster. My right hand hit a nice jug and I stood up with a surge of relief. ‘Wooooo!’ I screamed, as a rush of relief stormed through me. I was past the crux and back onto easy cliff. Five more metres and I was at the top. They say you either do two things when you climb Kachoong – you either blast straight up it, or fall from the lip. In my two attempts, I managed to achieve both.

For more rock climbing check out:

Intrepid Magazine
Climbing in Fontainebleu

MOUNTIAN BIKING VIDEOS

2008-09-18T10:04:00.004-07:00

I dont know what kind of drugs these guys are on, however I know that when it goes wrong it will be spectacular. The stuff these guys do makes you weak at the knees, its big bad and ugly.

White Water, whiter knuckles

2008-09-18T10:04:00.003-07:00

by Dr. Justin Venebal
Mention the White Nile to a kayaker, and visions of epic big-water play waves cause uncontrollable salivation in many of our brethren. However, there is another stretch further downstream, flowing through Murchison Falls National Park that deserves equal recognition for its ability to induce anxiety and provoke perspiration among those familiar with its challenges. It is often spoken of in hushed whispers around campfires. Those who have seen it usually vow never to return; it is often these same men and women who find they cannot stay away from this ecological jewel despite the risks. It seems the only ones truly salivating there are the man-eating crocodiles in anticipation of a delicious meal!
Dr. Justin Venebal describes the expedition in 2006 through Murchison National park in the heart of Africa, alongside Kiwi Kayaker Ben Brown, and a team of experienced kayakers and rafters.

An epic adventure awaited, and I was invited to join this intrepid group of boaters as the kayaking doctor by the expedition leaders, South Africans Hendri Coetzee and Peter "Megadeath" Meredith; the dual talismans of African river exploration and essential roster members on any serious expedition on the continent.

As details of the trip were explained, the challenges quickly became evident and I began to experience that warm sensation that usually precedes a Class V Dump, (which occurs while scouting when the bowels loosen quite suddenly in anticipation of a possible beat down). Hendri explained that the whitewater is huge, the access is remote wilderness within a national park setting, potential for violence from rebels was a real possibility, and the densest concentration of hippos and crocs in the world ratcheted things up to a level of insanity. Hippos are to be avoided at all costs, and charging crocs must be dealt with reciprocally: kayakers will all charge directly back at him, prepared to strike with our paddles and hope for the best. Vigilance for approaching wildlife must be maintained at all times, with everyone announcing our presence by constantly beating paddles on hulls. The extreme remoteness of the stretch virtually eliminated the possibility of emergency helicopter extraction in a reasonable amount of time or cost. So I was here to do what I could for anyone who ended up seriously injured a long way from any hospital.
Murchison Falls National Park, also called Kabalega Falls, is Uganda's largest park and one of the most spectacular parks in all of Africa. Named after the founder of the Royal Geographic Society and regal geologist Sir Roderick Murchison, the park begins as the river flows over the still un-run Karuma Falls and downstream for 80 km. Then the world's longest river explodes violently through a narrow 6 meter cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge in 3 cascades to a frothing pool 43 meters below with a deafening roar. Park wildlife populations have largely recovered from the mass slaughter and poaching in the 1980's; now elephant, giraffe, cape buffalo, leopard, warthog, many antelope species, lions, monkeys, hyenas, and baboons are commonly seen.
After a serious of formalities we're off! 300 metres downstream and just around the bend, whitewater is heavy and team members Pete and Dustin flip in a hole. It requires seven of us to right the heavy boat. The incentive of survival is enough motivation to have both of them on top of the raft in record time, as a large six meter croc is trailing us through the water to see if we are something tasty. Within 30 minutes, the raft flips again! Back upright and we continue downstream with an ominous feeling in the pits of our stomachs, to our right lay rebel country. This was where men killed one another and women and children. We stared hard at the bush for signs of life, wary but at the same time fascinated with a morbid curiosity of this place that we had heard so much.

The landscape of the park varies from dense rainforest to undulating savannah. On sandbanks large crocs bask in the sun, impossibly large and slothful-looking until they spot kayakers in the river and suddenly erupt to life, sailing into the current much faster than anyone could paddle away from. Paddling through pods of hippos, one feels as though you are paddling through a land mine field; you quickly realize that if you boat here long enough (or perhaps at all), your luck will eventually run out.

We spot river otters, bathing Cape buffalo, and men on the bank with AK-47's who we kindly ignore and paddle quickly away from. Finally we spot a nice campsite on a small rock ledge and agree to stop for the night. Steve and New Zealander Ben Brown begin the battle for fisherman supremacy; delicious stew is prepared as the daily late afternoon thunderstorms roll in.
Awake at first light for coffee and cereal, we quickly rig and shove off toward more whitewater, holes and excitement. It is quite easy to imagine a hungry lion stalking up on us while we bank scout rapids. We located some fortuitous hippo trails that traversed a large rocky island in all directions and dispersed to find the best route leading to another small channel into which we could bypass the chunkiest section of whitewater. The trouble with utilising hippo trails for access is that eventually you are destined to encounter a hippo!

While searching, Steve and Ben startled a cow hippo and her calf in the thick bush; she bellowed loudly and began crashing through the jungle, frantically searching for the safety of the river. Steve and Ben both attempted to run from the charging beast by diving off the trail and into the impenetrable jungle; both were immediately ensnared by thick vines and thorn thickets, unable to move their arms or legs at all. Luckily for them, the hippos happened to run in the opposite direction. "I can't remember the last time I had been so frightened," Steve say's. This was interesting coming from a boater with such a reputation for fearlessness. I encountered Ben running at breakneck speed back towards the boats, jungle vines trailing him from his dash from death and explaining that we were under siege.

My own Hippo encounter was just as scary. A large tree was suspended above the water and spanned most of the river in the middle of the steep rapid, invisible until we had entered the flow. We all managed to avoid the wood but were concerned for Pete and Dustin in the raft. Scott and I attempted to hack back upstream to alert them of the danger. Scott stayed low to the water as I decided to use a hippo trail to get back up above the rapid and report to the boys. I heard a loud grunt just ahead of me and looked up to see the jungle ahead erupt into chaos, shaking wildly back and forth. Something huge was bearing straight down on me very quickly. I panicked and realized that I could not outrun whatever was coming, so I looked up and grabbed the largest vine I could reach and clambered up hand-over-hand as fast as I could. Just as I reached about eight feet off the ground and pulled my legs up, two massive bull hippos came charging straight underneath me on the same trail I had just been standing on! I clung desperately to the vine until I thought it safe enough to return to the river, hollered for Scott (who had managed to warn the boys in time) and got back to the boats as quickly as possible.
Leaders Pete and Hendri both continually instill confidence and quiet strength which permeated the rest of the group to maintain calm even when charging crocs or hippos threatened our safety.
We all paddled across the river to eat lunch and decompress. Hendri led us up to a high grassy knoll overlooking the falls; this was easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We noticed from this vantage point that a transformation had begun taking shape; the thick, dark jungle was changing to savannah; beautiful Acacia trees, with their stratified branches like low, wispy clouds, hovered randomly like many islands in a sea of golden waist-high grass. Buffalo and Impala grazed on rolling green hills that stretched into the distance, and the cascades thundered below. We agreed that we were indeed blessed to see such beauty still completely unmolested by the hand of man. Peter makes a delicious meal of two chickens stuffed with garlic, lemons, and ginger and smeared with olive oil and spices on coals with butternut squash and mashed potatoes. We tear into the feast like hungry wolves. Afterwards, we sit around the fire under the tarp and tell lies while the croaking of baby crocs lulls us to sleep.

Back on the water and on to the next large rapid, "Jou Ma," to strategize about how to avoid the massive hole at the bottom that seems to be sucking light from the sky. We negotiate the ledges successfully in kayaks, but the raft is inadvertently pulled into the main channel at the bottom, with a spectacular flip and a deep flush. The boys are fine, we right the raft again and continue pushing downstream. The number of hippos is astounding so we are forced to stay in the main flow and avoid all eddies like the plague.

Arriving at "Likkewan", we encounter a complex series of violent pourovers in the center and large curlers feeding the maw on the left. The raft flips again attempting to run left and we quickly right her and make our way to the last river camp, and best yet. A wide, grassy beach and view of the rapids upstream provides ample fishing opportunities. Ben catches two nice sized Nile perch, much to Steve's chagrin. Fisher bakes them up for us on a bed of coals in true river expedition style and we fall asleep watching shooting stars in an unparalleled equatorial African sky.

Everyone wakes early for the crux day. Just after entering the river, a massive seven meter croc which at first appears dead, sees us and flings himself with shocking speed and agility into the water to give chase. We manage to disturb a pod of land-grazing hippos that recognize our presence and dash back to the river, sending small tsunamis speeding toward us from their panicked belly-flops. The greatest concentrations of animals are along the river; even some elephants allowed us to get quite close to them as they grazed along the bank.

"The Matrix" is first up, famous for its colossal standing wave with a true 20 foot face; this time, with lower water, it had degenerated into a breaker with a chaotic pile on the left shoulder and a sticky ledge just downstream. We lined the raft around the upper drop and took turns defying gravity in our kayaks on the herculean wave, broad smiles greeting each other in the bottom, "thank God" an eddy.

"S-Bend" is the crux rapid of the entire run; it is nearly a mile long with a last-chance eddy on the left that, if missed, results in an inevitable first descent over Murchison Falls. Des has trekked upstream from the falls to meet us and her boyfriend, Steve. She invigorates us with the knowledge that she has procured plenty of cold beer, and it awaits our arrival at the takeout. We choose our lines carefully over the many ledges and between pods of hippos amidst the heavy whitewater. We all execute flawless runs and make the critical eddy with no problems. Fortunately for us, the most serious carnage of the entire trip included foot rot and skin infections from acacia thorns; amazing considering the potential for serious injury or death.
We had arrived at last. We embraced and breathed deeply of the euphoria that accompanies success. There was a general consensus that we had just shared the greatest river experience any of us had ever had. We passed the evening with friends and girlfriends and too much strong drink. We told stories, we joked, and danced. In the air there was a slight fever that reigns over survivors of an ordeal, tinged with a hint of regret that the action is over.
It seems to me that it is useless to seek happiness elsewhere than in the warmth of friendship and shared experience. Nothing can match the treasure of common memories, of lessons won from shared hardship which bind us forever. It is such a privilege to spend the greatest moments of our lives among rivers that remind us of our vulnerability, our ultimate lack of control over the world we live in. Rivers that demand humility but yield so much peace in return.

Kayaking

2008-09-18T10:04:00.002-07:00

Metz National Rodeo Challenge
Jump into the Mosselle River for the National Kayak Rodeo challenge - of course! These guys where all battling for a spot in their own national teams so you can imagine it was a great spectacle. I had no idea that you could throw a kayak around like they do, forward rolls etc.The music was pumping, beers where cold and cheap, it was a great afternoon watching these guys battle it out for braggin rights and a spot in their national teams.
Click here to read more . . .

White water, Whiter Knuckles
Mention the White Nile to a kayaker, and visions of epic big-water play waves cause uncontrollable salivation in many of our brethren. However, there is another stretch further downstream, flowing through Murchison Falls National Park that deserves equal recognition for its ability to induce anxiety and provoke perspiration among those familiar with its challenges. It is often spoken of in hushed whispers around campfires.
Click here to read more . . .

Kayaking in Luxembourg
The weather in Luxembourg had been spectacular all week, I cant recall a single cloud for almost 5 days, The sky was that radiant blue that you dream of and the temperature was over 30 degrees every day (who says that summer in Northern Europe is s*% » ?) and I had been at work the entire time.
Click here to read more . . .

Traveling part one

2008-09-18T10:04:00.001-07:00

SKIING MOVIES

2008-09-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

As the season gets closer (it was 3 degrees on the way to work today) my anticipation grows, I work less and spend more and more time trying to get my skiing 'fix' watching movies. Having spent alot of time searching I thought that it may be a good idea to put a few of my favourites up.

So here they are - enjoy. Take some time out of your hot summer to think about what your missing because somewhere in the world people are picking lines, stomping drops and flying high, enjoying a winter wonderland.

Top 5 Easy Camping Meals

2008-09-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

Having spent a while camping in France (on a budget) We have identified a range of meals that are based on easily accessible and affordable european produce. Seeing as we where traveling light most recipes only require a pot and a frying pan (its all we have - therefore its important).

These meals are in no particular order.

Prawn Risotto:

All of the supermarkets I have been into in France sell precooked, unshelled, big delicious prawns. They sell by weight, 100 grams is un (or deux/trois etc) cent gram. If you are ever food shopping an important french phrase is 'c'est tout', 'that's all'. Everyone uses it and it's invaluble. For two of us we would usually get 100 grams (mainly cause I don't know how to ask for less), that makes a fair sized meal.

Ingredients:
100 grams of precooked prawns
Risotto rice
A stock cube
White wine
1 onion/ 2 shallots2
cloves of garlic
MushroomsBroccolli (or any vegetable really depending on what you like)

Heat two parts liquid (water and wine) for one part rice, add the stock cube then set aside.Sweat the onion in a generous dollop of olive oil (and butter if you can get it), then add the garlic. Shortly after add the mushrooms and broccolli. After a few minutes add the risotto rice and coat it in the oil.This next bit is fairly boring but necessary. Just add one or two spoonfuls of liquid at a time, stirring until it is absorbed. Keep going untill the rice is soft and chewy (but not crunchy), you may not need all of the liquid. Add the prawns last and just heat them through. The meal is delicious served with a squeeze of lemon juice. Kate's

Orange and Almond Couscous Salad

Ingredients:
Couscous
Red onion
Yellow capsicum
Stock cube
Almonds
Dried Apricots
2 oranges
Chicken (optional. if using, marinade in orange juice and olive oil just before cooking)

Boil some water (one part liquid to one part couscous) and add the stock cube, orange rind and juice. Take it off the heat and add the couscous, sprinkle salt and pepper a dollop of olive oil and cover.Fry the chicken now, in the marinade juices until cooked.Chop all the other ingredients and mix them and the chicken into the couscous.

Chorizo and Mushroom Pasta (or Risotto if you like)

Ingredients:
Pasta Choriz
Onion
Mushrooms
Chilli Flakes (optional)
Cherry tomatos

Boil the pasta, drizzle with olive oil and set aside.Sweat onion and add garlic, sprinkle a little chilli in now if you want it. Add the chorizo and cook lightly, then add the mushrooms. Lastly add the pasta and chopped tomatoes, warm through and serve with salt and pepper to taste.

Tomato Pasta

I'm adding this recipe for a basic tomato sauce because sometimes you just get stuck with barely any food. If you have a few basic ingredients, you can make the tomato sauce and then add in anything else you happen to have lying around.

Ingredients:
Garlic
Onions
Tomatoes
Tomato Paste (optional)
Balsamic Vinegar (optional)
Chilli Flakes (optional)

Cook the pasta and set aside. Sweat the onions slowly in a good dollop of olive oil, add the garlic then anything else you happen to have lying around (left over veges, meat, fish... anything). Add the chopped tomatos and cook untill they have disintegrated and reduced. Add vinegar and tomato paste if you have it. Stir in the pasta to warm it, serve seasoned with salt and vinegar.

Sams Breakfast Eggs:

This breakfast is great if you have been up late tasting the Bourdeux wine and need to soak up any left over alcohol or have a range of food that just needs to be eaten.

Ingredients:
Ham
Onion
Milk
Butter (optional)
Red, green or yellow capsicum (optional)
Sausages (optional)
pre cooked potato (optional)
mushrooms

Sweat the onions in a little oil (or butter if you have it). Add the ham and other addictional ingredients fry until crispy. Add the eggs and milk and whisk together, leave to cook as slowly as possible until light and fluffy. Season generously and serve with bread and chopped tomatoes.

Top 5 traveling gambles (worth taking)

2008-09-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

5. Don’t check your email
Just because you don’t keep in contact with the outside world for a few weeks won’t kill you. Being alone in the present is a great feeling. It’s worth doing just to immerse your self in the culture and surroundings. The down side – as with all procrastination when you do finally check your email there could possibly be hundreds.

4. Brush your teeth with tap water
I am NOT a doctor and if you get sick take no responsibility, however do also believe that (except in extreme examples eg India) you should brush your teeth with tap water. The reason for this is simple your body is not used to the bacteria and bugs as they evolve in their own micro environments around the world; this is largely due to the medicine used to combat them. However if you provide your body the opportunity to build up antibodies by exposing it to small amounts at a time you will build up immunities faster. You may even get sick but a mild cold is better than a more substantial illness.

3. Meet the locals and other tourists
When in a new country or area make the effort to talk with both the other tourists in the hostel and also the locals. If you’re nice and polite the locals will show you incredible spots unknown to most tourists and they also provide the flavor of the country. If you don’t speak the language say please and thank you as much as possible, they seem to like this.

2. Don’t use fear as an excuse
It’s this simple, if you want to do it; ‘JUST DO IT’ Nike was on the money with that slogan. If there is somewhere you want to go, see or do don’t let others talk you out of it. It’s normally just because they are too scared to do it themselves. You will meet others who are like minded and traveling the same road. For example I moved to a country in the center of Europe called Luxembourg. It was a huge gamble; I had no job and had never even heard French spoken before! The major problem is that French is Luxembourg’s most widely spoken language. Besides stories about the hard to reach, out of the way place are always more impressive, that somewhere everyone has been to! Do something you have always been terrified of. It will only make the trip more rewarding and memorable.

1. Acclimatize to the country
Be prepared to get sick, if you travel you will get sick, it’s a fact of life, don’t get sick but don’t be scared of it either. The bacteria and germs are different from what your body is used to, they evolve differently in different areas of the globe. Give your body a chance to build up immunity to the new bacteria in the environment. After moving to Europe I was constantly sick for about 6months, I had eye infections, colds basically the germs raked havoc on my body, but one day I was fine and I have been ever since.

Be prepared for incredible experiences, you will meet people, see things you never imagined. Look fear in the face, do things that you normally wouldn’t try new and exciting things. Understand that not everything will work perfectly, roll with the punches and be prepared to change your plans.

Click here for more TOP 5 lists

Bad luck happens in three's . . .

2008-09-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

Bad luck happens in threes . . .

After a while you get quite good at travelling you learn a few tricks and - even get a little cocky, we have been in Europe for almost a year now and the ‘that will be fine’ attitude begins to rear its ugly head. This belief is intense enough to ensure that you believe you control things, which are clearly outside of your control, the weather for example.

This happened to use over the weekend, it was a reality check. My sister Rose and her boyfriend Mike had been travelling around France and decided to come for a visit over the weekend. Really it was the lure of a hot shower and a bed that ensured they knocked on our door, not us. They had been camping for over a month and they where getting tired, dirty and after last nights deluge wet.

I arrived home after work on the Thursday to the smell of a freshly baked cake and everyone sitting in the kitchen drinking wine, (it was good of them to wait for me I thought) The night continued that way, had dinner, talked about ‘stuff’ nothing specific just ‘stuff’ followed by more wine and even a whiskey or two. The next day we had decided to drive into France and visit Metz before heading towards Vianden and Echtenach (both beautiful towns in Luxembourg). Metz, as always was nice; the passing rain showers didn’t even deter us. On the way to Echtenach however the torrential rain forced us to actually slow down because the windscreen wipers couldn’t keep up.
It was when we arrived in Echtenach that Rose discovered her shoes (complete with holes in the toes) surprise surprise where no longer waterproof. We went for a quick walk around the village and had a compulsory ice cream stop enforced by Nicci. Echtenach is a very old and beautiful village situated on the Luxembourg German boarder which is also the river Sure.
After this we decided to try and get to Trier which is a shopping village in Germany (that would make 3 countries in one day – not a bad feat). But 2 inches of water on the road and thunder rolling above us helped to make the decision that a Friday nights shopping might not be the best idea, so we headed for home.
Over a bottle of wine we decided that tomorrow we would head towards Brugge, Belgium. Being small and expensive to get accommodation in Brugge we booked a room in a city called Gent which was 40km away.
Proud because the accommodation was so cheap and we where organised we all disappeared to bed. The next day we drove up towards Gent, a very quick stop in a place called Spa (the home of . . . you guessed it Spa’s) we thought a relaxing dip may be in order – it was here we discovered that in Europe the only acceptable swimwear for guys are Speedos. Not being very interested in wearing budgie smugglers we left in disgust.
Gent was about an hour away so after a quick bite to eat we jumped back into the cars and soon after arrived. This was when we found out that the campsite ignored our email. It was now fully booked we had no where to stay. The campsite did kindly offer us a room for tomorrow night ‘Gee thanks’ I thought. After trying to book into a number of other hotels we discovered that Gent is a popular tourist spot and was subsequently booked out. . . No problem, onto plan B.

We drove the remaining 40km to Brugge. Plan B was simple - have a huge Belgium stew; and LOTS of beers so that when we sleep in the cars that it wouldn’t be so uncomfortable. In hind site I don’t know how a 6ft guy sleeping in the back of a VW Golf hatch back would ever be comfortable but that was the idea.
We woke in the morning to the sound of heavy rain and the buzz of mosquitos in the car. We quickly packed up the cars and had a look around the city of Brugge – in the rain.

About mid day we headed off towards Apre and Arras. Both small cities where the home of vicious fighting during World War Two and subsequently we had family buried here. We stopped and found two very beautiful grave sites. One of the cemeteries backed onto a wheat field which waved in the wind and overlooked the French countryside. Then for the first time that weekend the sun even came out for the occasion, but it was still bitterly cold.
Getting late on Sunday night and the thought of work creeping back into my head I decided it was time to head back to Luxembourg. We said good bye to Rose and Mike and went our separate ways, they where heading to Paris while I was going back to work – gutted.
Just to finish the weekend not only did the rain begin but Nicci went into a service station to buy dinner and in the process managed to leave my wallet there. Once we realised what had happened we had to turn around and drive for a further 1hour to ask if they had seen my wallet (they hadn’t).
By the time I crawled into bed it was well after 12pm and all I wanted was to go to sleep and hopefully wake up from what was quickly turning into a real nightmare. I was tired, wet and without, cash, cards, drivers licence etc.
To top it off Nicci had tried to smooth out the situation not with an apology but the comment ‘oh well at least you wont have any more problems bad luck comes in threes’ then when I was kicking the car in anger she quietly asked ‘please don’t hurt the car’. It just goes to show that there is little your in control of and sometimes it all goes wrong, I guess one weekend like that a year is not that bad.

Mountian Biking in Europe

2008-09-09T00:36:00.000-07:00

Mountian Biking Jargon
Like with most things that are specialised as the sport of mountain biking has grown so has the language, now when reading a lot of forums I find myself struggling to understand. So have taken the time to compile a selection of mountain biking jargon that I found while perusing forums and websites. To be honest I haven’t heard of a lot of the terms but there are some real great terms there that deserved to be used more.
Click Here To Read More . . .

No Pain No Gain
Most people who know me will agree this statement pretty much sums me up. I have a number of rules that I force upon myself and others around me that usually result in some level of pain and spectacular bail or two. This weekend was no different, everyone had left Luxembourg for the weekend and the three of us that remained decided that some mountain biking was in order.
Click Here To Read More . . .

Mountian Biking in Luxembourg
I am still new to the sport, I have ridden bikes most of my life but actively searching and riding trails for enjoyment has only come about since moving to Europe, Luxembourg to be exact. While living here we have been riding a lot, 3 – 4 times a week over summer. It’s just so easy and accessible, in the weekend we load the bikes onto the car and travel to the corners of the country and attack the more technically demanding tracks. The problem is that mountain biking is quite an addictive sport, once you have overcome one hurdle (without to much pain) you immediately look for another, this usually involves travelling a little further and looking for a bigger vertical drop – the Black Forest in Germany is my next destination, I have been told its incredible.
Click Here To Read More . . .

MOUNTIAN BIKING VIDEOS
I dont know what kind of drugs these guys are on, however I know that when it goes wrong it will be spectacular. The stuff these guys do makes you weak at the knees, its big bad and ugly.
Click Here To Read More . . .

Metz Rodeo Challenge

2008-09-08T01:57:00.001-07:00

What is the most exciting thing you can think to do with a crisp clear and cold May afternoon in Metz a northern city in France?

Jump into the Mosselle River for the National Kayak Rodeo challenge - of course! These guys where all battling for a spot in their own national teams so you can imagine it was a great spectacle. I had no idea that you could throw a kayak around like they do, forward rolls etc.
The music was pumping, beers where cold and cheap, it was a great afternoon watching these guys battle it out for braggin rights and a spot in their national teams.
Freestyle kayaking is fast growing sport in France and if your keen to learn it is defiantly the place to do it. They have custom build courses all over France including Thames Valley, Metz, Hawaii sur rhone and slalom courses near Lyon. There are shops who specialise in the sport and will not only provide good advice but the right gear as well.

This video is one I found on YouTube of the specticle, you can see the tricks, rolls, twists and turns. Very impressive watching. Everseen someone do a forwards flip in a kayak? Better click play, you might want to watch it twice to believe it! The control and skill these guys and girls have are second to none!

Camping in Europe

2008-09-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

What do you need for a camping trip in Europe
Besides the obvious essentials like a tent, sleeping bags, and chilly bin, esky or cooler box there are a few essentials required to have a successful, enjoyable and comfortable camping trip
Click here to read more . . .

Camping in the Ardeenes and Luxembourg
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg maintains one third of its territory (some 800 km2) is covered by forests. It is of little wonder then that so many excellent camp sites are dotted throughout the countryside.
Click here to read more . . .

Top 5 easy camping meals
Having spent a while camping in France (on a budget) We have identified a range of meals that are based on easily accessible and affordable european produce. Seeing as we where traveling light most recipes only require a pot and a frying pan (its all we have - therefore its important).
Click here to read more . . .

Useful Links
Camp Sites in Europe, A list of some of the smaller and less well known parts of Europe and the cmapsites avalible there.
Click here to read more . . .

Mountian Biking Jargon

2008-09-03T10:00:00.001-07:00

Like with most things that are specialised as the sport of mountain biking has grown so has the language, now when reading a lot of forums I find myself struggling to understand. So have taken the time to compile a selection of mountain biking jargon that I found while perusing forums and websites. To be honest I haven’t heard of a lot of the terms but there are some real great terms there that deserved to be used more.

-A -
Acro-brat - Kids who use their bikes like pogo sticks. They should be confined to the Circus or other freak show reviews.
Air - Space between the tires and the ground. (Both tires must be off the ground or it isn't "air".) Said to be caught or gotten.Anchor - your child, or children (anchors) that keep you from riding. "Wait till you anchors grow up, you'll have road rash for breakfast and prunes for dinner!" To be used as an endearing, not demeaning, phrase.
ATB - All-Terrain Bike or Biking. A synonym for MTB.
Auger - to involuntarily take samples of the local geology, usually with one's face, during a crash. See face plant.

- B -
Babyheads - round rocks which tend to be found in a loose jumble on hairpin corners or other difficult-to-negotiate sections of trail. Babyheads are similar to death cookies, but bigger.
Bacon - scabs on a rider's knees, elbows, or other body parts.
Bagger - one who always agrees to ride, party, gather, etc. but rarely shows. "Tom swore he'd be there but he bagged."
Bail - to jump off in order to avoid an imminent crash. To bail out.
Balance blackout - that short time during almost every ride when you start to fall, lose your balance without reason, or seem to be unable to clean even the simplest obstacle.
Banana scraper - low hanging branches, the kind that smear the guts of that banana you put in the pouch on the back of your camelback when you don't duck low enough.
Bear trap - to slip off a pedal, causing it to slam one in the shin, when one gets cracked with a pedal. 2) n. the tooth like scars resulting from being beart rapped.
Betty - any female rider.
Biff - a crash. Synonyms: wipe out. v. "I biffed and then wiped away the blood."
Boing-boing - a bike with front and rear suspension. Might possibly be considered offensive to owners of said bikes.
Boink - same as bonk.
Bolt-on - a woman with breast implants. Derived from the term for after-market bicycle parts that are literally bolted on.
Bomb - to ride with wild disregard to personal safety.
Bombers - the earliest mountain bikes, converted from cruiser road bikes to race down mountains.
Bonk - to run out of energy or grow exhausted on a ride. "I bonked so early it was embarrassing."
Boot - to expel pre-ride stomach fillers due to extreme physical exertion. "That climb was hairy, I think Brian had to boot back there."
Bra - the rubber strip placed inside the rim to protect the tube from the nipples.
Brain - a biking computer, usually featuring an odometer, speedometer, clock, and other "important" display modes. Not to be confused with the one at the top of your body. This brain is much more important.
Brain bucket - helmet.
Brain sieve - a helmet featuring more vents than protective surface.
Brand whore - a rider that will only buy high-end parts/gear with name recognition. Wouldn't be caught dead using LX level parts or wearing a pair of Nashbar shorts. Rather universal and not special to the sport of mountain biking.
Bring home a Christmas tree - to ride (or crash) through dense bushes, so leaves and branches are hanging from your bike and helmet. See prune.
BSG - acronym for "Bike Store Guy". Originates from the book BFG from the author Roald Dahl
Bunny - 1) same as betty, but used to emphasize the female rider's body; could be considered insulting to some. 2) female novice rider.
Bunny hop - to lift both wheels off the ground by crouching down and then exploding upward, pulling the bike with you. Useful for clearing obstructions, such as curbs, potholes, logs.
Burrito - a rim braking surface that's bent inward towards the tube, forming a section that looks rolled like a burrito.
Buzz - euphoric feeling. Commonly used after a particularly hard passage is successfully completed. "I got such a buzz after that downhill run."

- C -
Carve - (from skiing) to ride with great speed around the corners.
Captain crash - to "go down with the ship". Usually the result of a novice spud-user failing to clip out in time.
Cashed - to be too tired to ride any farther; bonked.
Chainring tattoo - the dotted-line scar you get from gouging your shin on the chainring. See rookie mark.
Chainsuck - condition when the bike chain gets jammed between the frame and the chain rings, or when the chainring is so worn that it holds onto the chain and lifts it up to meet the incoming part of the chain.
Chi-chi - extravagant parts used to dress up a bicycle to make it more impressive looking. Often also refered to as ‘bling’
Clean – A nice easy section of track that has often been swept or has no major obstacles. "That last section was pretty clean."
Cleanie - one who desires to remain clean; a wimp who will not have fun, stays on the clean trails. Clip out - (or, sometimes, click out) to disengage one's spuds.
Cloon - slamming into the ground, resulting in a ringing head, or a delay in the action. Term used in biking, skiing, and snow boarding.
Clotheslined - the act of catching an upper body part (e.g. the neck) on a low piece of vegetation, resulting in separation of the rider from the bike.Cob clearer - the lead rider who has to clear out all the spider webs for the following riders benefit. May experience wang chung while trying to get the spiders off his face. Similar to spider patrol.
Cockrotter - one who allows his bike to fall in disrepair, and whose bike invariably fails him at some point in every ride. These people don't know why their bike always breaks, and often would rather buy new parts than keep their bike in good condition.
Condom - the little plastic or rubber thing that protects your tube's valve stem from rim damage.
Corndog - to become covered in silt, usually after a fall.
Cranial disharmony - how one's head feels after augering. "When my lid nailed that rock, I had a definite feeling of cranial disharmony."
Crotch-testing - sudden impact between a male rider's private parts and something very hard and pointy, such as a handlebar stem or seat.
Curb grind - expensive erasure of low-hanging, shiny parts of the bike on a curb or rock.
Curb slide - to place the front wheel up on a curb and allow the rear tire to scrape along the curb, usually resulting in a loud tearing sound.
Cyclephernalia - the parts used to upgrade/dress-up a mountain bike". See also chi-chi.

- D -
Dab - to put a foot down in order to catch your balance on a difficult section of trail. "I made it without crashing, but I had to dab once."
Death cookies - fist-sized rocks that knock your bike in every direction but the one you want to proceed in.Death march - a ride that turns into an investigation of your endurance limit. "The bridge was out, and I had to go all the way back the way I came. So the morning's nice, easy ride turned into a Bataan death march."
Dialed in - when a bike is set up nicely and everything works just right.
Dig in - a face plant. "Look at that guy on that gnarly single track... he's going to go over the bars and dig in."
Drillium - any part with lots of holes drilled in it to make it lighter.
Dual boinger - a full-suspension bicycle.
Dual-track - a dirt road used by four-wheeled vehicles rarely enough that their tires have made ruts that became parallel single tracks. Also called double track. See single track.

- E -
Endo - the manoeuvre of flying unexpectedly over the handlebars, thus being forcibly ejected from the bike. Short for "end over end". "I hit that rock and went endo like nobody's business." See "superman". In BMX riding, "endo" used to be a synonym for front wheelie.
Engine - the rider.Enscarfment - a food break at the edge of a cliff.
Epic - a ride that must last for at least six hours and include at least three mechanicals that add at least an extra hour to the ride time. Epics are usually started with a statement like "the trail is buff, should only take three hours." Similar to death march.

- F -
Face plant - hitting the ground face first. "Joe hit a tree root and did a spectacular face plant." Synonyms: auger, digger, soil sample, spring planting.fair
Grunt - an expression exclusively used non-chalantly by others to describe a death march, in hopes others will try it, fail, and revere them as bike gods.

-F-
First blood - credit to the first rider in a group who crashes and starts bleeding as a result.
Flying trapeze - when you endo into a clothesline.
Foot fault - when a rider can't disengage his cleats from the pedals before falling over. See horizontal track stand.
Fred - 1) a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can't ride. "What a fred -- too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill." Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a "barney". 2) Often identified by chainring marks on white calf socks. Used by "serious" roadies to disparage utility cyclists and touring riders, especially after these totally unfashionable "freds" drop the "serious" roadies on hills because the "serious" guys were really posers. According to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.
Front wheelie - what endo used to mean in BMX: a trick where the rider applies the front brake and lifts the back wheel off the ground; this is the basis for many BMX tricks. Most riders cannot pedal effectively while doing a front wheelie. Also called a "nose wheelie" or "stoppie."FS or F/S - an ambiguous term, can mean Front Suspension or Full Suspension. Not used by anyone who wishes to be understood.

- G -
Gear masher - someone who always rides in too high a gear, stomping on the pedals.
Giblets - all the colourful parts and pieces that you can add or change out on a bike.Gonzo - treacherous, extreme. "That vertical drop was sheer gonzo."
Gnarly - extreme technical sections. Characterized by very rough, rooty, slippery, or rocky sections. ‘that last piece was really gnarly.’
Granny gear - the lowest gear available on a bike, which only a grandmother would need to use; designed for steep uphill climbing, but extremely easy to pedal in on flat ground.
Gravity check - a fall.Grinder - a long uphill climb.
Grunt - a very difficult climb, requiring use of the granny gear.

- H -
Half-track - a trail so narrow and/or overgrown that you'd hesitate even to call it single track.Hamburger - the condition of skin, post auger, when geological contact was made with sharp rocks such as on a shale skree slope.hammer v. to ride fast and hard. n. someone who hammers.
Hard tail - any bike with front suspension but no rear suspension. Contrast with rigid and F/S.
Hiker log - an obstacle (e.g. a log or boulder) placed in trail by biker-hostile trail users.
Honk - To vomit due to cycling exertion.
Horizontal track stand - a foot fault that happens at a stop sign.

- I -
Involuntary dismount - a crash.- J - jet v. to accelerate quickly; to go very fast.John boy'ed - When a rider’s face gets covered with spots of mud, making him look like "John Boy" on the Waltons. "I hit that mud hole and got John boy'ed big time."JRA - acronym for "Just Riding Along," a phrase universally uttered by people bringing both halves of their frame and the remains of their fork in for warrantee replacement.
Jump - or v. where we now say bunny hop, BMXers used to say "jump".

- K -
Kack - an injury to the shin received while doing trials, a kack can be the result of any injury receive during technical riding.Kick-out - a bunny hop in which the rider pushes the back tire to one side.

- L -
LBS - acronym for Local Bike Shop.
Lid - helmet.
Line - the desirable path or strategy to take on a tricky trail section.

- M -
Male blindness - when a male rider watches a beautiful female ride over rough terrain and stares intensely at all the jiggling parts, making him too dizzy to see straight when it's his turn to ride the same terrain.
Mandibular disharmony - how one's jaw feels when it and the handle bars attempt to occupy the same space and time. "****!" "Pray, whats wrong?" "I've got mandibular disharmony."
Mantrap - hole covered with autumn leaves, resembling solid earth and effective at eating the front wheel of the unsuspecting rider.
Metal head - see organ donor.
Mo - momentum. "If you don't get in gear at the bottom of that hill, you'll lose your mo."
Mojo - See Mo.
Monkey-motion - magazine writer speak for a full-suspension bike.
MTB - the activity of Mountain Biking. Or a mountain bike itself. v. "MTBing". See ATB, OHV, ORV, VTT.
Mud diving - what happens when a bike slows abruptly in mud, throwing the rider into wet goo.
Mud-ectomy - 1) a shower after a ride on a muddy trail. 2) the act of becoming clean.

- N -
Nard guard - used to prevent wang chung.
Nipple - the nut at the end of a spoke that nobody knows the real name for.
Nirvana - the state of being in absolute control and totally in tune with your bike, the trail, and your physical strength. "I was just doing it all so smoothly and delicately and quickly, it was nirvana!" Synonym for The Zone.
Nose pickium - the crusties you pick from your nose after a ride in a dusty environ.
Nose wheelie - see front wheelie.

- O –
OHV, ORV n. Acronyms for Off-Highway Vehicle and Off-Road Vehicle. These have motors and are not bicycles.
Organ donor - someone who rides without a helmet. Also called a "metal head".
Over-the-bar blood donor - a rider who is injured while doing an endo.

- P -
Panic skid - to try with all one's will and strength to prevent an impending stack by attempting to implant one's heels as deeply as possible in the ground. Usually a dumb idea.
Pimp - a Bike Store Guy who is always trying to sell stuff on the trail. "Blow off, pimp. If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you."
Pirelliology - the noble art of being able to identify tires from the tracks they leave on the ground.
POD - Potential Organ Donor.
Pogo - to bounce on a full-suspension bike like a pogo stick. Also, for a full-suspension bike to bounce annoyingly and uncontrollably.
POS - Piece Of ****. The antithesis to real bicycles, typified by Huffy, Murray, and any of a number of other bicycles that are poorly designed, manufactured, and assembled.
Poser - derogatory term for people with $7,000 bikes that never see an actual trail. Usually found near a trail head and never dirty. Seinfeld may be an example. Synonym for fred.
Potato chip - a wheel that has been bent badly, but not taco'd.
Power slide - a two-wheel sideways slide, with the foot opposite the direction of travel kept on the ground.
Prang - to hit the ground hard, usually bending or breaking something.
Prune - to use one's bike or helmet to remove leaves and branches from the surrounding flora. Usually unintentional.
Push-push - a novice's pedalling motion, consisting of alternately pushing each foot down, instead of spinning.

- R –
R&D - Ripoff & Duplication, or Research & Development.rag dolly v. to wreck in such a way that one's person is tossed like a flimsy scrap of cloth. "Did you see me rag dolly back there? I think I pierced my ear on a tree branch."
Redsocks - hikers who always block the best single tracks, so named because they're always wearing those funny red socks.
Retro-grouch - a rider who prefers an old bike with old components and isn't fond of new, high-tech equipment.
Rhoid buffing - going down a hill so steep that your butt touches the rear wheel.
Ride On! - a parting phrase used by riders with out much else to say.
Rigid - a bike with no suspension.
Roadie - a rider who prefers riding on paved surfaces.
Road rash - contact dermatitis; an allergic reaction of skin to moving asphalt.
Rock-ectomy - removing rocks, dirt, gravel from one's person after a yard sale. "Some betty stopped by and performed a rock ectomy on my knee after the wreck, I think she digs my scene."
Rocket fuel - the mandatory pre-ride coffee.
Rockwell - an unintentionally performed hardness test rendered by a trial side object on your anatomy or possessions. Requires the use of a number to rate the event. "I 50 Rockwelled on that last buster." "No way, dude, it was at least a 60!"
Rookie mark - chain grease on a rider's pant leg. "Give that guy extra points for his rookie mark. It's even on the wrong leg!" See chainring tattoo.
Roost - to go fast or accelerate quickly. Or, to stop suddenly.

- S -
Schmooz -the act of reaching a trail head and not riding. What is done when one really can't stand the thought of starting a ride. Talking. Bullshitting.
Scream - 1) n. a real biker's dream ride. 2) n. a long, straight, and deceptively steep hill. 3) v. to bomb so fast one can't pedal fast enough to make a difference.
Single track - a trail just wide enough for one person or bike - the MTBer's holy grail. Contrast with dual-track.
Skid lid - helmet.
Skid row - that section of trail that nobody ever expects or remembers that always appears too suddenly when riding too fast. Usually switchbacks. Named after all the skid tracks left there from previous riders.
Sky - to jump extremely high. To get big air.
Snake bite - a double puncture of an inner tube, caused by hitting an obstacle too hard or by under-inflation of tires.
Sneakers - tires.
Soil sample - a face plant.
Spider patrol - lead rider, or first rider to run into a mongo banana spider. Similar to cob clearer.
Spike - to obtain a chainring tattoo on the back of the calf, usually the result of a newbie trying to dab or panic skid at high speeds.
Stack - crash. v. crash.
Steed - your bike, the reason for your existence.
Stoked - euphoric feeling of enlightenment, caused by adrenaline rushing to the brain during a gonzo clean. stoned adj. describes a rider after a crash which imbeds stones into the rider's skin.
Stoppie - see front wheelie.
Superman - a rider who flies over the handlebars and doesn't hit the ground for a long time. This may result in injury, but when it doesn't, it's really funny for everyone else.
Swag - the stuff that manufacturers and vendors donate to be given away at bike related events. When you race, go to bike shows, help put on events, write bike articles, you are often rewarded with swag.

- T -
Table-top - a jump in which the rider throws the bike sideways in mid-air. Less commonly, a jump made over a hill that reaches a plateau and goes back down.Taco - to bend a wheel over on itself, in the shape of a taco. "I taco'd my wheel, and it cost me a hundred bucks." Worse than a potato chip.
Tea party - when a whole group of riders stops and chats, and nobody seems to want to ride on.
Technical - a section of trail that is difficult to ride because of rocks, tree roots, steep drops.
Techno-fad - a screwy or unique technology that a dominant company (usually Shimano) tries to foist upon the innocent cycling public. Past techno-fads include Biopace chainrings, and overly complex "thumb-thumb" or "push-push" shifters.
Techno-weenie - a rider who knows more about the newest MTB parts and techno-fads than about the trails. Someone who buys lots of gadgets to add supposed iotas of performance to the bike. Greeting a friend whom we haven't seen in a year, I might say "Hi, Marta!" A techno-weenie might say "Oooh, you got White Industries hubs on that bike now?"
Thrash - 1) to cause severe ecological damage to a trail, usually during the wet season. 2) adj. a damaged trail "That trail's really thrashed after last winter."
Toe clips - a clip-and-strap system that connects a rider's feet and toes to her pedals. Toe clips usually don't require special shoes.
Tombstone - one of those damn little rocks protruding out of the trail which you don't notice because you are having a heart-attack climbing the hill.
Tornado - To balance on your front wheel while turning your back wheel 90-180 degrees in either direction.
Track stand - (from road-cycling) a manoeuvre where the rider stops the bike and attempts to remain standing.
Trail mix - the involuntary release of last night's dinner by the way it came in, usually with the assistance of too many adult beverages and accompanied by a long grinder.
Trail swag - equipment or accessories dropped by other bikers and found on the trail.
Tricked out - when a bike has the latest and hottest components.
Tweak - a jump during which the rider twists the handlebars back and forth in mid-air, the more times the better. 1) to slightly injure a part of the body or the bike in a crash. "I tweaked my wrist when I fell." 2) to make a minor adjustment. "My brake pads were rubbing but I tweaked the cable and it went away."

- U -

- V -
Vegetable tunnel - a single track that is heavily overgrown with foliage, so a rider must duck and bend to get through it.
VTT - Velo Tout-Terrain, the French term for mountain biking. Velo = bike, Tout = all, and well terrain is terrain, its universal.
Vultures - spectators who line up at dangerous obstacles in hopes of seeing blood.

- W -
Washboard - small, regular undulations of the soil surface that make for a very rough ride.
Wash out - to have the front tire lose traction, especially while going around a corner.
Weight-weenie - a MTB owner (not even necessarily a rider) who is more concerned with how many milligrams a certain component saves off the bike's total weight than with how to be a better rider.
Wheelie - lifting the front wheel off the ground, usually with some combination of pulling on the handlebars, pedaling harder, and balance.
Wild pigs - poorly adjusted brake pads that squeal in use.
Winky - a reflector. "Nice winky!"
Wipeout - a crash. v. ("wipe out") from the surfing term to fall or crash.
Wonky - not functioning properly. "I bailed, and now my wheel is all wonky”
Wrench - to work on one's steed, to adjust or repair. n. a bike shop mechanic. "I blew my shock but the wrench at Charlie's dialed it back in for me."

- Y -
Yard sale - (from skiing) a horrendous crash that leaves all your various "wares" -- water bottles, pump, tool bag, etc. -- scattered as if on display for sale.

- Z -
The Zone - a state of mind experienced while riding. You don't think, you just do. A truly mystical experience that can't be fully explained, but when you get there you'll know it and strive to reach it again.
Zone out - a state of mind where you think you've reached The Zone, but you really just stopped paying attention to what you're doing. Usually used as an excuse for a particularly embarrassing biff.

Please note this ends our vocabulary lesson for the day. I found the bulk of this list online some time ago, I thought it was fantastic and stored it away for future reference. It has since been added to, changed and terms adjusted. However after subsequent searches I struggled to find the original. If anyone does know can you please let me know and I will happily place a link and give credit. It’s a substantial list and credit must be given to those that have done the hard work done.

Top 5 Lists

2008-09-03T03:57:00.000-07:00

Top 5 easy camping meals
Having spent a while camping in France (on a budget) We have identified a range of meals that are based on easily accessible and affordable european produce. Seeing as we where traveling light most recipes only require a pot and a frying pan (its all we have - therefore its important). Click here to read more

Top 5 Travel Gambles (Worth Taking)
When in a new country there are things that you should and shouldn’t do, here is a list of the top 5 things that most people don’t recommend yet are (in my mind) risks worth taking. They will help make the experience more real and rewarding.
Click here to read more

Top 5 Planned trips (for the next 12months anyway)
This list is constantly changing and growing, it should really be a top 50 list because of the amount of trips we have planned with different people. Anyway here are the top 5 trips planned for the next 12 months.
Click here to read more

Top 5 Most dangerous countries to be a tourist
So you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie? You like to travel to those unknown and exciting places that are literally ‘off the grid?’ unknown or forgotten by society? Like the idea of being shot at or making a drug deal? Well here are the top five countries in the world the above is most likely to happen. They are arguably the most dangerous countries for travellers . . .and residents for that matter.
Click here to read more

Top 5 Best ski fields in Europe
As the weather begins to cool I sit at work look out the window at the depressing grey sky and falling rain and while drinking a coffee my mind begins to wander. I don’t think about the long hot summer I had but instead the long dark winter ahead. It’s not all bad though, yes it gets light at 0900 and dark by 1600 but the ski season is coming!
Click here to read more

Top 5 things to look for when booking a hotel
What you do and dont want when booking accomidation, price vs quality. Etc
Things to lok for when booking a hostel

Top 5 ski resorts in Europe

2008-09-03T03:53:00.000-07:00

As the weather begins to cool I sit at work look out the window at the depressing grey sky and falling rain, while drinking a coffee my mind begins to wander. I don’t think about the long hot summer I had but instead the long dark winter ahead. It’s not all bad though, yes it gets light at 0900 and dark by 1600 . . . but the ski season is coming!

Skiing is something I live for. 18 years I have skied and been lucky enough to ski in the southern hemisphere, America and Europe. Now based in Europe and desperately keen to take my mind off the weather I decided some research was in order -where should I book my next ski trip to?

This list is the top 5 ski fields in Europe, please understand I am not talking about top ski fields that provide for the shopping, cafes of five star hotels. I’m talking skiing, vertical drop, steep runs, most snowfall or powder. These things that actually apply to skiing not the pre-madonna culture surrounding it.

5.) St Anton – Austria
St Anton is spoken about as one of the best ski resorts in the world. It has to be assumed this is true because only the best get the joy of hoisting the World Alpine Skiing Championships which Anton did in 2001. There is a small village nearby which ensures that attraction of a huge night drinking is reduced and instead you can spend the night drinking wine around an open fire arguing over the ‘bail or stack’ of the day. The resort attracts a diverse range of skiers, and English seems to be dominant language. Now to important matters . . . the slopes themselves? The reason Anton is in the top 5 is simple, St. Anton is not for beginners, its widely recognised that in St. Anton, a blue run is a red, while a red is a black. This field is pitched at experts and ambitious intermediate level skiers. The only downside to it is that unless there’s been a fresh snow-fall, conditions are sometimes less than perfect, because of the south-facing aspect the field it can get icy and very hard if there is not fresh snow. However, if you have a nice snow-dump, then you’re in for one of the best European ski holidays of your life.

4.) Cervinia, Italy
Often overlooked in favour of Zermatt, this Italian field actually gets better snow than its more famous Swiss neighbour. It shares a large area with nearby resorts and is perfect for intermediate skiers or boarders.
If you really feel like giving your legs a workout, this ski resort has some of the longest runs you will find, anywhere in Europe. Try 22 kilometres all the way from the Swiss-Italian border to the village at the bottom. It is actually possible to cross international boarders by ski or board while skiing. For someone that grew up on a small island 5 hours plane trip from our nearest neighbour jumping across boarders like that is incredible and fantastic to claim such bragging rights.
Cervinia is based on the same glacier as Zermatt, thus ensuring that there is always snow to ski on even in early season (or over a warm winter) and often right into summer, with over 60 lifts and gondolas you will be spoilt for choice.
A price and quality combination rocketed Cervinia into the list. Skiing in Italy is often cheaper than France and Switzerland simply because they are looked down upon by the residents of other European countries, the villages don’t provide the same 5star accommodation, however they are still in the same alps and if the queues are shorter that is OK by me.

3.)Val d'Isère/Tignes, France
Home of one of Europe’s best known ski runs the OK Course it’s demanding and has established itself as one of the classic expert runs in the Alps. Val d’lsere also boasts the Face de Bellevarde, considered one of the best mogul runs in the Alps. Over the past decade this area has established itself as a destinations for expert’s skiers and snowboarders.
Val d'Isère boarders neighboring Tignes and now are known as L'Espace Killy, and incorporate everything French skiing is famous for. There's an old village core, popularly known as Val Village, now turned into a glamorous downtown and surrounded by enough new accommodations to justify nearly a hundred lifts.
There is a huge nightlife, fine dining and cafes pepper the village providing entertainment for everyone. The reason this appeals is because it is nothing too formal or fancy. The village is almost purpose-built resort ensuring ski-in, ski-out access. There is nothing quite like riding to your door at the end of the day. The fields are all situated above 2300m and the top peaks at over 3600m. The off piste is what ensures that Val d'Isère/Tignes is in the top 5. It has incredible off-piste terrain, and a vertical drop of more than 2,500 meters. Watch out for cornices, drops and cliffs. This area can have huge snow falls so Avalanches may also be a risk. Incredibly there’s even summer skiing on the Glacier de Pissaillas.

2.) Zermatt, Switzerland
Its been said that even if it didn't have great terrain, Zermatt would be worth visiting for the unsurpassed scenery, its lucky that it has both and that decision doesn’t have to be made.
It is an isolated town at the end of a long valley that backs onto the world famous Matterhorn. There is no better backdrop than this and my infatuation with the Matterhorn ensures that it is one of the reasons Zermatt made the top 5.
Incredibly Zermatt was the first car-free resort, everyone arrives by train. Guests and luggage are transferred to their lodgings by traditional horse drawn sleigh or more modern electric cart, pretty impressive!!!

Now onto important features there is 313 kilometres of some of the highest north and west facing slopes in Europe. Expert skiers should be sure to check out the heli-ski trips. Alternately the highest lift unloads on a rocky point, offering an extraordinary 360-degree panorama, of which the Matterhorn is just one feature. In addition to the scenery, you will find excellent on- and off-piste terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. The same lift also accesses the Plateau Rosa, from which you can ski 2350 vertical meters down into Cervinia, Italy, and as mentioned before what is more impressive than saying you skied across an international boarder. Alternately take a ride on the historic Gornergrat railway, from which you can accesses huge empty bowls and snowfields.
Note: This is perceived to be a very exclusive resort so the fantastic skiing will come at a price, be warned eating out here may require a second morgage on your house!

1.) Chamonix, France
Arguably the most famous ski field in Europe, how could the number one spot go to any other ski field in Europe. Chamonix makes the list just because of the bragging rights associated with having skied there. The popularity of Chamonix is probably due the shear quantity of Warren Millar ski films made here and the long history of mountaineering by locals. Unfortunately with increased recognition also comes substantial growth of tourists, nowadays Chamonix is very crowded.

Chamonix offers great backcountry skiing but it requires a reasonable level of mountaineering skills, however if capable you have the opportunity to get lost in some of the softest, deepest powder in Europe. If this sounds too challenging, never fear Chamonix is not just for backcountry skiers, it offers great skiing piste skiing with some easily accessible off piste runs. Incredibly, Chamonix actually boasts the greatest lift served vertical of any resort on the planet
The Grands Montets is renowned as one of the world's most challenging ski areas. Its highest cable car rises to 5000m (that’s almost high enough to demand oxygen tanks). The Aiguille Verte and Dru Needles are also awesomely steep, if not bordering on insane. Better still you can buy a pass that will provide you access to 200 lifts over 13 different fields!
But what really sets Chamonix apart from all other resorts is the abundance of off-piste terrain acres and acres of untouched and un-skiied chutes, drops, snowfields, glaciers, and high bowls.
Need icing on the cake, that’s not enough, you haven’t booked your ticket yet? Don’t forget there is also Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. Individually these are all very good reasons to see Chamonix at least once in a lifetime, as a combined it’s a MUST DO!!!!

Of course this is just an opinion and I would love to hear from anyone who believes I have missed a resort. Maybe you know of that tiny field that deserves a mention. Well leave a message and argue your point!

Luxembourg - What to do?

2008-09-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

Kayaking in Luxembourg
The weather in Luxembourg had been spectacular all week, I cant recall a single cloud for almost 5 days, The sky was that radiant blue that you dream of and the temperature was over 30 degrees every day (who says that summer in Northern Europe is s*% » ?) and I had been at work the entire time.
Click here to read more . . .

Mountian Biking in Luxembourg
I am still relatively new to the sport, I have ridden bikes most of my life but actively searching and riding trails for enjoyment has only come about since moving to Europe, Luxembourg to be exact. While living here we have been riding a lot, 3 – 4 times a week over summer. It’s just so easy and accessible, in the weekend we load the bikes onto the car and travel to the corners of the country and attack the more technically demanding tracks.
Click here to read more . . .

No pain no gain
Most people who know me will agree this statement pretty much sums me up. I have a number of rules that I force upon myself and others around me that usually result in some level of pain and spectacular bail or two. This weekend was no different, everyone had left Luxembourg for the weekend and the three of us that remained decided that some mountain biking was in order.
Click here to read more . . .

Wakeboarding in Luxembourg
The weekend was rapidly approaching (actually it was only Tuesday but felt like it had already been a long week) when I received an email inviting us to come wakeboarding . . . wakeboarding in Europe? I didn’t need to know how or where we were going wakeboarding (Luxembourg is landlocked) – it didnt matter ‘Hell Yea’ I replied.
Click here to read more . . .

Mountian Biking in Luxembourg

2008-09-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

No pain no gain . . .

Most people who know me will agree this statement pretty much sums me up. I have a number of rules that I force upon myself and others around me that usually result in some level of pain and spectacular bail or two. This weekend was no different, everyone had left Luxembourg for the weekend and the three of us that remained decided that some mountain biking was in order. . .

The Saturday morning dawned and blue skies ensured it was going to be a nice September day. We rolled out of bed and stumbled across town to Hendre’s apartment where steaming hot coffees helped justify the fact we where out of bed before 10.00am on a Saturday.

Sitting around the table we pulled out the guide book which shows all the mountain biking tracks in the Ardennes region of Luxembourg. Being the gentleman I gave Nicci the final choice of routes – hard or extra hard. For some reason I thought that European standards would be easier than ours so assumed it wouldn’t be a problem to do a 27.5km forest route that was described as ‘a demanding tour, with short fast descents and long climbs, recommended only for the hardened rider’. Actually in my defence it was Nicci who chose this route!

Coffees where finished and we loaded the bikes onto the back of our trusty old VW Golf, off we went. The heat was already radiating down as we left the house and for about 5 hours the thought that winter was rapidly approaching was forgotten.
We found the start of the route in a small village called Clervaux, which is on the boarder of Belgium and Luxembourg nestled deep in the Ardennes region.

The track was well maintained but a steep uphill section to begin with set the tone for the rest of the day, the topography of the ride could only be compared with the bounce of a heart beat on a monitor. Speed up hills with 160m vertical climbs ensured that everyone was soon feeling the pain. Fortunately after every uphill was a screaming downhill, which at times was so steep you felt like you where actually sliding down rather than riding it. Loose gravel ensured that if you followed too closely behind someone your shins took a real ‘hammering’ from the pebbles spat out from the bike in front. Nicci really surprised and impressed us, on the roads she put her head down and we struggled to keep up, she has serious endurance that girl.

We rode thought a number of small villages, in Hupperdange the farmers making hay watched three sweaty red faced people ride past, they shook their heads in disbelief. Then in Mauslusmuhle three blurs resembling people sped past the local cows at breakneck speeds.Mid way through one of the final stages of the track we actually stumbled across an old world war two British aircraft and the graves of those who where flying it. They where returning from a mission when they where shot down . . . this just reminded us that we where ‘playing and enjoying’ the area where some of the worst fighting of World War Two occurred, a rather sobering and humbling experience.

Incredibly we travelled 27.5km on this route, admittedly it was almost all was in the forests and the Ardennes region is not heavily populated at all however it is regarded a bit of a playground for those around it – yet today there was no sign of life. The track was well signposted but we saw no other riders and there weren’t even tracks to indicate anyone else having ridden this way for along time. At times plants encroached on the track and spider webs where a constant challenge. All in all it was exciting riding and enjoyable to be so isolated. Clervaux is a beautiful little village with a large Château overlooking the village and a large church with steeple also exerts its dominance over the skyline, the surrounding country side is full of farms, cornfields, forests and streams.
We arrived back at the car some two and a half hours later and physical exhaustion set in, we had a couple of gin tonics in the local square before heading home to a warm shower and soft couch absolutely exhausted.

. . . But wait there is more, we woke up the next day to find a repeat day so decided to take advantage, this time we met in the centre of Luxembourg City and headed for the nearby hills. That’s the beauty of Luxembourg, you never have to go far to get into the forest. We rode up a cycle path darting into the forest when we could find shoots and narrow tracks to ride. The pain from yesterday was evident, I would peddle, my legs would move but nothing would happen, I had no power left in my muscles. For the next 8-9km km we continued this way (with Nicci leading the way AGAIN) until we looked at each other and in unison said ‘its time to go’. So we turned around painfully aware we where still 9km from home. As we rode home we approached one of my favourite ‘runs’ it’s a narrow track that runs perpendicular to a steep steep slope, it’s fast and technical. I powered up and flew through the trees; the world was flying past as I accelerated, then suddenly and unexpectedly I came up to a sharp turn and totally misjudged everything. The next thing I knew I was off the track, actually not only was I off the track I was actually off the ground as I flew through the air before landing with a thump that forced the wind from my chest. Quickly I jumped up to grab my bike and act like nothing happened when Hendre came up behind me - he had seen everything and was laughing, describing how ‘I just disappeared in a cloud or dust’ coughing, I had to agree with him. Quickly remembering my motto ‘no pain no gain’, I jumped back onto my bike and while Hendre was peddling off he challenged me to ‘keep up’, we shot out onto the main path as a serious rate of knots, much to the surprise of a number of cyclists. We must have looked a real state, Hendre came out of the bush with a puff or leaves following behind him and I shot out soon after covered in dust and blood.

We limped back to the Scott bar for a few beers to celebrate a fantastic weekend, when we arrived we where again the centre of attention, everyone was nicely dressed and enjoying their Sunday afternoon. It was when I tried to wipe the dust off my face I realised we must look like a bunch of ‘bums’ sweating profusely and all covered in dirt. Luxembourgish people are infatuated with road cycling, mountain biking doesn’t exist here. They have incredible tracks and everything is well organised but nobody tends to partake in the sport. Therefore we tend to look really out of place. However the upside is we get the use of these fantastic tracks we don’t have to share with anyone. All in all it was an incredibly a successful weekend, and then on Monday I could feel the dull ache of my legs, and the sting of my cuts as they attempt to recover. While these feelings reverberate through my body I’m already on a mission find something bigger and better for next weekend after all ‘no pain no gain’.

Top 5 most dangerous countries

2008-08-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

So you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie? You like to travel to those unknown and exciting places that are literally ‘off the grid?’ unknown or forgotten by society? Like the idea of being shot at or making a drug deal? Well here are the top five countries in the world the above is most likely to happen. They are arguably the most dangerous countries for travellers . . .and residents for that matter.

Drugs, murders, human trafficking, and terrorism are all key indicators of violence in our world. In fairness the records between these countries vary hugely with some countries outright lying or denying facts, so a few assumptions have been made. However it’s safe to say that all people living in these countries live in fear, that criminals have no value of human life, and do what they want. More often than not are often the wealthiest people in the country and the most corrupt and dangerous having huge sway over everything including politics. Death is a common element for everyone in their daily lives. In fact you would have to do well to defy death in these countries because statistically you would be an anomaly. Incredibly none of these countries are even at war. This list outlines the most dangerous tourist destinations not the stupidest. The following countries are living in ‘peace’. Locals know they can sleep safe with the knowledge the army wont bomb their house or turn the area into an artillery range, phew what a relief that is for them.

5. Russia. In this crime-ridden, ex-Soviet state, the government no longer has control of the country, a combination of a large population, poor and extreme cold in winter, I’ve been told its like Florida over summer has provided the catalyst for the infamous Russian Mafia to take over. The Russian mafia is well and truly in charge, unofficially there are more gangsters than police, and a Russian is assassinated every 18 minutes. The usual culprits raise their heads here - Prostitution, drug trafficking and turf wars play their part. Pay attention because foreigners are kidnapped frequently due to the higher ransom they can demand. A world superpower with the ability to destroy us all and the corruption to ensure that someone with enough desire could make it happen – Think Columbine on a world scale! That’s terrifying and exactly why Russia is number five on the list.

4. Venezuela. Ongoing political tension ensures Venezuela is a dangerous place. However it’s the nonexistent middle class widening gap between the upper and lower classes that you can blame for this country's ridiculously high crime rates. Homicide has reached a new record under Hugo Chavez office with an estimated increase of 67% since 1999. Venezuela also proudly boasts one of the highest gun-related deaths in the world (leading you to believe that gun control is not high on the government’s agenda). Corrupt law enforcement does little to keep civil order, policemen are often criminals in uniform. This in turn causes the locals to take measures into their own hands. It’s reputed that you can have someone ‘disappear’ for as little as $20.00USD. And it happens on a regular basis; people are shot and killed for reasons such as dirty looks or insults. Murders in Venezuela average 5 per day in a nation of 25.6 million.

3. Jamaica. This island nation always had their problems but previous to tourism they where just that - their problems. Since the growth of tourism and Jamaica’s introduction to the international stage its bad reputation has increased exponentially. Jamaica’s capital, Kingston is reputed to be overrun with poverty, gangs and politics are the cause for most out breaks which often escalate to shootings. An average of 5 murders per day in a nation of only 2.6 million is almost as incredible as the Jamaican track team in the Olympics. Crimes usually occur in the poorer sectors of big cities, but of course don’t be fooled, there are plenty who like to ‘buck this habit’ and try to exploit richer areas. Corruption and wide-spread drug trafficking contribute to the increasing numbers of assaults, robberies, and murders. The Jamaican law enforcement is weak and ineffective. The lower class, underpaid, overworked policemen often tied to family units, have to compensate their inadequate government wage crossing the line (which they promised to uphold) which combines to create more violence and theft. To make matters worse its nearest neighbouring country is Haiti which only just missed out on the top five by a 4 shotguns, 3 corrupt officials, a drug lord and a partridge in a pear tree. Therefore Jamaica is proudly representing the area at number three.

2. South Africa. The rich class in South Africa, (those that haven’t already left) has moved into gated communities, literally creating a line in the sand between classes – in the past it was called apartied, but that’s now illegal. It is ranked first in rapes per capita amongst the entire world and has an unbelievable record for car hijacking. No where else in the world is it openly acceptable to speed through red lights to avoid being car hijacked . . . or worse. One of its capitals, Johannesburg, is the most dangerous, with almost all middle-class and high-class families carrying weapons simply for protection. They have gun lockers in night clubs and it is acceptable to shoot at people (on your property) if you fire a warning shot first. Therefore it’s not surprising that last year South Africa had almost 32,000 murders with a national population of 47 million. If that’s not bad enough they have an aids epidemic that is estimated to have already infected some 25% of the population.

Colombia. The situation here is simple; ‘drugs and those that control the drugs rule this sandbox’. Colombia is infamous for its guerrillas, multibillion dollar cocaine industry, and corrupt government. It’s not hard to understand why Colombia ranks as "The Most Dangerous Country in the World". Bombings targeting civilians are common and terrorism is a way of life for most citizens. Local Colombian residents have grown accustomed to the chaos. Darwin’s theory of fight or flight comes to mind here – it is Colombia’s motto. It has a high rating for kidnappings, with businesspeople, tourists, journalists, and scientists being popular targets. Those who try to resist robberies usually get shot and killed. Bogota, Baranquilla, Cartagena, and Medellin are statistically categorized as the most dangerous cities, with Medellin holding the title of the Drug Capital. Its murder rates is quintupled that of New York City. In recent years, murders rates in Colombia have dropped, but not enough to pass the title to South Africa. What is behind all the heinous crimes in Colombia you ask? The one thing you can guarantee all these countries have in common an expanding drug market and drug lords eager to increase market share. Two things took Colombia to the top first of all, it’s recognised as a breading ground of terrorist groups (just like jail is a school for criminals). You don’t believe me? Why not ask Ingrid Betancourt. In Colombia’s defence it’s reported to have fewer murders on average than South Africa. Secondly these statistics however are believed to be incorrect. This means it’s safe to assume if government officials are happy to lie to the international community bribery and corruption is rampant within the country of Colombia. The total disregard for human life, incredible rate of self destruction, open corruption by officials and numerous terrorist organisations ensures that Colombia can proudly be crowned the most dangerous tourist destination in the world today.

Six degrees of seperation

2008-08-27T02:50:00.000-07:00

It’s a small world after all . . .

Everybody knows this song, in fact your probably singing it in your head right now! If you don’t know the song then continue reading and this will just reinforce my belief that ever since Christopher Columbus discovered New Zealand in 1769 the world had been getting smaller and smaller, for example I believe in the concept of six degrees of separation, but always thought it was a little unrealistic at the same time.

Anyway, a few months ago we where sitting in an Irish bar in Luxembourg called the Pyg with some Italian friends having a few beers – sounds like the start of a joke doesn’t it. What you must understand is that when your in a county and you cant speak the local language its an incredibly good feeling to hear your language spoken and understand what’s happening around you (even if it is with an Irish accent) so as you can imagine we frequent the Pyg a lot. However on this day it had been rather uneventful and was about 11 o’clock at night. We where finishing our beers so we could catch the last bus of the night. I quickly went into the toilet (there is not a lot worse than having a full bladder on a bouncy bus ride home.)
While I was standing at the urinal a guy came in, I glanced over and casually said hello, with that came a quick retort as he replied in an English accent, ‘oh s#@t another Ozzie’. Now there are two things annoyed me about this comment. First of all a lot of countries especially the smaller ones have a country they don’t like to be associated with. In Canada its America, in Belgium its France, in New Zealand its Australia - maybe it’s the big brother syndrome, no body wants to be compared with bigger siblings but at the same time desperately wants to ‘kick their ass’) Secondly in over eight months living in Luxembourg I had only met a total of 5 Ozzies and Kiwis here. So I looked over at him with the intention to politely tell him to ‘bugger off’ when I realised he was joking and knew perfectly well I was a Kiwi and just wanted to see my reaction.

So standing at the urinal we began to chat (don’t ask it’s a guy thing) he explained that he knew a lot about New Zealand and in fact was even in New Zealand two weeks ago for a wedding. Suddenly incredibly keen to hear anything about home I asked him where the wedding was, ‘Russell – in Northland’ he replied. Something was a bit weird here so I dug further and asked him the names of the couple that got married, he looked at me strangely as he replied . . . after a lengthy pause it sunk in, we would have been at the same wedding if we hadn’t been living in Luxembourg.
Now take a second to think about that . . . What are the chances of meeting (in a bathroom in Luxembourg ) one of the guests of a wedding that had only 100 people attend and was performed 11,276km away - and yes, I did look it up.

Now seeing as we where officially best friends we wandered back to the table keen to tell everyone what had happened. If you don’t think this story can get much stranger then keen reading. It turns out that Mike was in Luxembourg to see some friends and had flown over from London just for the weekend; he didn’t even live in this country and was here for a grand total of 60hours. We sat down at the table and began regailing the story of our ‘bathroom meeting’ when a manager from my work arrived. That’s not strange he is one of the few people I know in Luxembourg and I see him everywhere. What is strange is that he was here to meet Mike - the guy that I just met in the bathroom, not only did they know each other my manager also knew our friends in New Zealand, it turns out they all worked together in Germany a few years ago.

So after a few tequila shots to celebrate the newly weds and a few more just because we couldn’t quite believe what had happened someone had the great idea to call New Zealand and explain what was going on. Out came the company phones and a rather lengthy and expensive call occurred to explain how the four of us came to be sitting in the same tiny Irish pub in Luxembourg talking about them. The night went on like this nobody could quite believe what had happened, we talked and laughed about it for hours. Finally when it was all over we had to endure a lengthy, cold and sobering walk home because our night was only just beginning when the last bus for the night was leaving.

Now I ask you the question again, do you believe the world is getting smaller?

Europe at a glimpse

2008-08-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

This is just a small taste of some of the adventures we have had in Europe so far. There is alot to experiance and a lifetime of places to explore.

Traveling Tips (get a bigger bang for your buck)

2008-08-26T04:05:00.000-07:00

This is a collection of useful information (tips and techniques - most of which has been discovered the hard way) about travelling in Europe, especially if travelling on a budget. It encompasses information about a range of types of public transport including the trains and planes. Having managed to 'bumble' my way around New Zealand for most of my life without serious mishap I had a few surprising and eye opening experiences (most outlined in detail below) upon arrival to this continent. Hopefully this will help ensure you don't make similar mistakes.
The articles cover a range of topics, the most obvious being things such as the communication barriers, and secondly my notion that everything would be exactly the same as New Zealand and that it would actually be easy. Also things that you may not think about until its to late, like travel insurance for example. Travel Insurance is an imperative purchase but maybe not the first thing you think about when taking that European vacation of a lifetime.

Travel in Europe by train
I should probably start this by explaining two things: In the past I have never been a public transport kind of guy. I only have memories of being late, or not showing up at all when relying on public transport. I have smelt body odour in the New York subway and got lost in London on the Tube. However from the minute
Click here to read more . . .

Travel in Europe by plane
Getting to Europe is an expensive task, however once here, everything is very close and travel can be affordable if you are clever, I have identified a few tricks that enable you to get those European vacations you want without paying the price for airline tickets.
Click here to read more . . .

Tips for purchasing travel insurance
While I have never had one of those terrible experiences of seriously injuring myself or anyone I am travelling with I am also a big fan of travel insurance and make a contentious effort to ensure that I always have travel insurance for any backpacking holiday I take.
Click here to read more . . .

Traveling in Europe (backpacking)
I write this while currently backpacking through Europe. In fact I have been travelling for almost three months now. I left New Zealand with little more than my pack and a set of skis. I am currently staying in a small country called Luxembourg
Click here to read more . . .

Tips for learning French
I have travelled a little before but my eyes where defiantly shut when I left for Europe. I had the standard Kiwi – ‘it will be fine attitude’. That meant can’t speak the language . . . no problem. Don’t know anyone there . . . no problem. Don’t have a job . . . no problem. I was actually ignorant enough to believe that Luxembourg would be exactly the same as New Zealand
Click here to read more . . .

Tips for packing your travel first aid kit - what do I need?
'Be Prepared' It's the Boy Scout motto and it defiantly applies to first aid situations. This is never more relevant than when your packing your bags and heading to an unknowns and exciting location on vacation. It is not uncommon when travelling to find yourself along way from help if there is an emergency. If camping, tramping or backpacking, at home or in foreign country there are a few essential items to carry.
Click here to read more . . .

Europe at a Glimpse

2008-08-26T04:03:00.000-07:00

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Luxembourg is a tiny European country that has grown around its capital city of the same name. The country is well known for its financial sector, it’s considered a tax haven and banking security laws make it a popular area for smaller large business worldwide. Incredibly its smaller than the U.S. State of Rhode Island.

Founded in 963, Luxembourg (the city), endured many centuries of cultural and political change, many invasions, two world wars and a number of attempted invasions. Subsequently the city is incredibly fortified and has earned the nick name ‘Gibraltar of the north’ because it has never been successfully invaded. Finally, in 1867, it was declared permanently neutral.

In the 1940s, it ended that long-held neutrality, and joined many of the modern European positions and organizations. It in fact became one of the six founding members of the European Union. (EU)

This beautiful, historic slice of land is today a prosperous constitutional monarchy, known as a international tax haven and banking center.

The Luxembourg maps and information pages are currently being revised, and will be posted soon.

Did you know:

Official Name Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Capital City Luxembourg (76,600)

Biggest Cities Luxembourg 76,600
Esch-sur-Alzette 28,200
Dudelange 18,000
Schifflange 8,100
Bettembourg ???

Latitude/Longitude 49° 45'N, 6° 10'E

Languages Letzeburgish, German, French, English (don’t be worried about communication here, most luxembougish people will speak a minimum of 3 and up to 5 languages.)

Official Currency: the Euro

Population 480,000 (2006 est.)

Land Area 2,585 sq km (998 sq miles)

Landmass A landlocked country of thick, 80% of the country is covered in green forests that cover rolling hills and low mountains, the countries highest point it roughly 560m above sea level.
The biggest rivers in Luxembourg include the Alzette, Eisch, Moselle, and Sure. The largest lake is Haute Sure. Many of the rivers create obvious geographical boarders for the country with Germany and France.

Main districts of Luxembourg Diekirch, Grevenmacher, and Luxembourg

The country of Luxembourg

2008-08-26T04:01:00.001-07:00

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a tiny European country that has grown around its capital city of the same name. The country is well known for its financial sector, it’s considered a tax haven and banking security laws make it a popular area for smaller large business worldwide. Incredibly its smaller than the U.S. State of Rhode Island.

Founded in 963, Luxembourg (the city), endured many centuries of cultural and political change, many invasions, two world wars and a number of attempted invasions. Subsequently the city is incredibly fortified and has earned the nick name ‘Gibraltar of the north’ because it has never been successfully invaded. Finally, in 1867, it was declared permanently neutral.

In the 1940s, it ended that long-held neutrality, and joined many of the modern European positions and organizations. It in fact became one of the six founding members of the European Union. (EU)

This beautiful, historic slice of land is today a prosperous constitutional monarchy, known as a international tax haven and banking center.

The Luxembourg maps and information pages are currently being revised, and will be posted soon.

Did you know:

Official Name Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Capital City Luxembourg (76,600)

Biggest Cities Luxembourg 76,600
Esch-sur-Alzette 28,200
Dudelange 18,000
Schifflange 8,100
Bettembourg ???

Latitude/Longitude 49° 45'N, 6° 10'E

Languages Letzeburgish, German, French, English (don’t be worried about communication here, most luxembougish people will speak a minimum of 3 and up to 5 languages.)

Official Currency: the Euro

Population 480,000 (2006 est.)

Land Area 2,585 sq km (998 sq miles)

Landmass A landlocked country of thick, 80% of the country is covered in green forests that cover rolling hills and low mountains, the countries highest point it roughly 560m above sea level.
The biggest rivers in Luxembourg include the Alzette, Eisch, Moselle, and Sure. The largest lake is Haute Sure. Many of the rivers create obvious geographical boarders for the country with Germany and France.

Main districts of Luxembourg Diekirch, Grevenmacher, and Luxembourg

Rock Climbing in Fontainebleau

2008-08-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

My hands where clammy as I drove into Fontainebleau, I have climbed on and off for years. My father climbed a lot when he was younger therefore we have been bought up around it as a family (Much to my mothers distaste). Since coming to Europe I had drifted away from the sport somewhat mainly due to a lack of local knowledge and enthusiastic climbers . . . however that was all about to change.

We had just had an incredible two weeks in the South of France surfing with friends when one night over a few Bordeaux wines someone mentioned we should travel back to Luxembourg via Fontainebleau. Ignorantly I asked ‘why?’ (Before you get to upset with me bare in mind I am from New Zealand and knowledge of such places doesn’t often reach us).
After the verbal barrage stopped I had the most eloquent description of the climbing in Fontainebleau – incredibly brilliant because it came from a hard talking Irishman. His description of the place made me want to pack my tent and get there straight away; he was practically salivating just describing it.

Over the next few days we moved up the country through Boudreaux and Cognac before finally driving into Font. Fontainebleau is a beautiful little city, with the most amazing château I have ever seen – It claims to have 1900 rooms and I wouldn’t be surprised.

As the sun was setting we found a nice little campsite and in my broken French I asked if they had room for us – ‘of course’ was the answer cloaked in a very British accent, that was a real surprise.
We picked a site, put up the tent and sat down for a drink while watching a steady stream of climbers hobble back after what I imagined was an incredibly satisfying day. As the sun went down we crawled into bed (I only had a day and a half so was going to make the most of the opportunity)

The next morning I was up and scratching at the tent door like a dog needing to pee. A quick trip to Decathlon to pick up a pair of shoes and ‘thunderbirds where go’. The build up given about Fontainebleau was not fabricated in any way. We pulled into a rest area (or ‘aire’ in French) and followed the track into the lush forest. Soon we stood in a wide open space with a nice sandy floor, shaded by trees, while all around us where hundreds and hundreds of boulders, some small enough to sit on and others 3 stories high. Groups of guys wandered through the cool forest with topo maps picking their next problem to attempt. I was like a kid in a candy store . . . so many climbs so little time. Being arrogant (or ignorant) about my abilities I decided a steep overhang with only small finger holds was a good warm up climb.
This is where the pain began, not only had I not climbed for quite some time but my technique had disappeared and even resorting to brute strength didn’t work, I was in serious trouble. The session continued this way, Fontainebleau was getting the better of me in fact after a few tumbles it actually felt like I was getting beaten up by the forest. Shear determination and memories of success kept me going, slowly it began to come back. I scrambled up a number of easier problems slowly beginning to work up to my previous ability. I climbed for about 1.5 – 2 hours before my muscles said ‘that’s enough’. It was obvious I was in poor form.
We returned to the camp site for a bite to eat and after a look around the city I returned for an evening session on the boulders of Fontainebleau. This time my mind was working, earlier concerns where alleviated and I felt comfortable as I conquered an easy problem. The rest of the trip continued like this, it was as if Fontainebleau would let me build up my confidence before ripping it down. The problems range in skill level so that almost anyone can climb here but few can master it. What is brilliant about Font is that while my girlfriend is not interested in climbing she sat with me, watched me climb and got very involved in figuring out the problems. The beauty of this situation meant that I was no longer reliant on others to climb anymore. That and Paris is only 65km away so a compromise can always be quickly and easily reached if travelling with a partner that doesn’t like Climbing.

The next day we had to continue to Luxembourg, this was probably a good thing because that night it was I who hobbled back into camp and yes it did hurt but what an incredibly satifying feeling it was, one that only comes with a great day. The next day however it was just pain as I struggled to lift my hands over my head.

All in all an incredible experience and I am already planning another trip to the climbing Mecca that is Fontainebleau. I would strongly suggest even if you’re not a strong or confident climber that you attempt some of the routes or problems, it’s enjoyable and will push you physically and mentally. It’s a great way to spend a warm and sunny weekend in France.

For a comprehensive guide to 'beginners rock climbing' click here the article covers where to begin, how and what equipment is required.

About Me

2008-08-21T03:01:00.000-07:00

I grew up in New Zealand, and spent some 24 years of my life there so when (like most Kiwis) I got the itch to travel, I was compelled to scratch it.

I left New Zealand bound for the big wide world. Europe namely but anywhere really that interested me enough to justify buying a plane ticket.
I left after selling almost everything I own and was left with little more than a plane ticket, a pack, and my skis (I was going from spring to a European winter – why wouldn’t I take my skis?)

Over the past months I have travelled through an Italian winter in shorts – thanks to an unknown country and their airline for loosing my bag. Surfed in France and squeezed in some of Europe’s most renowned tourist attractions.

In my travels I have established a few things:
1. Once you have been to St Peters Basilica in Rome no other church or religious edifice can quite compare, therefore you should do the Basilica last.
2. It really annoys Europeans when you say ‘wow that’s looks REALLY old . . . it must have been built at least 100 years ago’ – In my defence that is old by New Zealand standards.
3. Avoid back to back winters! They are incredibly demoralising and depressing; my body is defiantly vitamin D reliant, when the first warm rays of summer began to break through the clouds I was like a dog on a hot day ‘lapping it up’.
4. Finally, I am not a big city kind of person. I like my personal bubble and don’t some homeless guy sticking his armpit in it while standing on the Metro. I have been to London, Paris, Frankfurt etc but what I really enjoy is being outside enjoying nature, or playing sport.

The final reason is why I have created this site, it is to provide you information about less well know activities outside the major centres of Europe. In my mind these are the best way to discover not only the European culture but also the country. The majority of these activates are also enjoyed by habitants of the country and this provides you the opportunity to interact with them while seeing parts of the country that most tourists don’t even know exist. In the time that I have been here I have met very few Kiwis and Ozzies, friends consist predominately of Belgians, French and even the odd Irishman, while this may not be everyone’s idea of fun I don’t think I would change much.

I hope you enjoy the site and the information is of some help.

Wakeboarding and water skiing

2008-08-20T04:35:00.000-07:00

Wakeboarding and water skiing are great sports, both physically demanding and a great workout. 30minutes on a wakeboard will have you in pain for a week. While the set up costs are increased it’s much easier than surfing because you’re less reliant on the weather conditions. The swell is not important and as long as there is little or no wind you will be able to find somewhere suitable for a water ski or wakeboard. Like surfing early morning is still best. The most enjoyable part about wakeboarding is the entertainment value it provides for those on the boat. Spectacular tumbles and spills come hand in hand with improving at the sport.
We have introduced what has become know as the 'golden rule'. At any time ANYONE on the boat can demand that the person wakeboarding attempts a spectacular trick. No one really cares if they land or not either way it’s always impressive. In fact it’s usually the bails and spills that are the most impressive.

The early morning missions before work set the tone for the day, the sun is still rising, even in the middle of winter when its FREEZING COLD its worth every second, the water was like glass - wakeboarding at its absolute finest.

Even ice cold water wont stop the tricks, they keep coming, backfilps, rotations - 180's, even 360's and even the odd grab thrown in for good measure.

The tumbles are very impressive, they 'rattle your bones' and 'shake out the cobwebs' but do little real damage - its not like a game of rugby or American football.

Info about rock climbing in Fontainebleau

2008-08-19T08:06:00.001-07:00

Fontainebleau (or ‘Font’ for those who know the area best) is situated 65km south of Paris and has to be described one of the best bouldering and climbing areas in Europe, if not the the world. The bouldering is found in the forests that surround city of Fontainebleau which in turn makes for a magical and unique setting. The sandstone rock is of fantastic quality and the landings are generally soft and sandy. The climbing technique required for bouldering involves excellent skills, balance, footwork and technique. (The technical problems are just that, they require a lot of skill and my brute strength climbing technique was ‘ripped to shreds’ I was forced to learn to adapt.)
For those that know Fontainebleau even if its just by reputation know of the four legendary bolders or problems that exist. They are the “Big Boss’, “Tristesse”, “Big Golden” and “Fourmis Rouge”, four mythical problems on four enormous boulders that stand there, waiting for the next climber who follows their call. For those of us that are less developed as climbers there is still something to suit everyone. There are a range of circuits that have been developed and are colour coded, they lead you from boulder problem to boulder problem. There are literally thousands of them for every level of rock climber. The yellow circuits are for the inexperienced climber; to orange, blue and red circuits for intermediate climbers; and white and black circuits offer the top end bouldering experience. There are also many individual extreme problems outside of the circuits, generally graded at Font 8a and above!

The main areas of interest for climbers in Fontainebleau would have to be:

Bas Cuvier & Gorges d' Apremont.
Located just off the N7 into Fontainebleau Bas Cuvier was the first set of boulders to be developed and climbing problems assigned it could still be described as Fontainebleau's ‘Piste de resistance’ . There are many classic problems here at all levels with 6 circuits all within the main forest. Apremont is another popular area of the forest as it is such a vast and rugged terrain with an abundance of routes at all grade climbs with 24 different circuits. It is also the closest area to the village of Barbizon, which also has accommodation if required.

The Trois Pignons area.
This is probably the largest rock climbing area of the Fontainebleau - with hundreds of square metres of forest, there are white sandy beaches, perfect sandstone boulders, and over 60 different circuits. The landscape of the sand and trees means you are constantly in and out of the shade as you complete a circuit. The sand provides the best and softest landings in the whole area.
This is a good place to be based, as it is very central to all the bouldering. There is also a good campsite in this area call La Musardiere. The campsite is open from mid February to the end of November. It does get busy during holiday season so it is best to book.

Franchard and Fontainebleau.
Located in the main forest area Franchard is one of the most popular sites to climb. The rock is very sharp here, which will test your fingers and you’re edging ability to the full. In total there 15 climbing circuits covering all grades. Included in this is the renound mountain circuit which consists of 6km of easy bouldering. The climbing is linked together to make a very physical experiance amongst the trees and rocky crests. There are also a small number of circuits just outside of Fontainebleau itself mainly to the south and west.

L' Elephant.
Near La Chapelle-la-Reine to the southwest of Fontainebleau is the areas most famous boulder - The Elephant. This iconic boulder is seen on many postcards and also has some great problems on it. L' elephant circuit is also excellent though the boulders are generally higher than most other areas of the forest.
It is ideal to go bouldering in Fontainebleau at any time of the year, you will always find either the shade or the sun depending upon the season - it's only the rain that will stop you. The only equipment you need is your boots and a rag or mat to clean the sand off your boots. However many people now use a crash mat and chalk.

There are a couple of guidebooks that cover the bouldering at Fontainebleau. When we went I didn’t have one however in hindsight would defiantly recommend the investment as they are essential to determine the circuits to do and where to find the start of them.

The two local books I found that have been published in English they are Fontainebleau Magique published by Jingo Wobbly. This guidebook has selected 50 medium grade classic bouldering circuits. As well as covering the main popular areas such as Diplodocus and Cul de Chien, It also holds a few secrets that have been forgotten or overlooked by climbers over the years. All circuits and problems are accompanied by excellent diagrams.
The other book I have discovered is Fontainebleau Climbs. This purple cover guidebook covers more circuits than the Jingo Wobbly guidebook and again is aimed at the mid range climber.

Surf Spots on the Atlantic Coast

2008-08-19T02:13:00.000-07:00

Almost all of the waves in these areas are beach breaks; the waves are not incredibly steep or powerful but provide a great amount of fun and are perfect for long boarding or mastering the sport without fear of injury. They peel nicely and often one wave will break both left and right off a bank. The waves break on banks and can move from day to day so it pays to spend a few minutes watching the sets before entering the water. Because the beaches are long rips and undertows are common and provide perfect channels to get out the back quickly. On a 3ft day you might not even get you hair wet, paddling out can be that easy.
Don’t be fooled, while one day it can be millpond flat when an Atlantic swell crosses the ocean and hits the beaches of Bordeaux it can be huge and powerful. Be prepared for a range of different sized waves. Also the size of the waves are measured in their faces not the size of the swell or to the bottom of the trough, head high and 6ft is just what they say it is.

Favorite Breaks:

La Rochelle To Bordeaux (France):
This area is quite literally littered with surf spots, If I was to list them I would feel like I was name dropping world famous waves. This beach is almost constant, however it is recognised that the northern parts of the beach towards La Rochelle including Caracans hold a bigger swell when it is scarce. The islands (lle d’Oleronoff and La Flotte) off La Rochelle provide some magnificent views are easily accessible and surfing is world class.
Further south I would recommend the smaller towns of Biscarrosse-Plage and Mimizan as destinations, the surf tends to be clean and enjoyable, the smaller towns are easily manageable and smaller populations result in less people competing for your waves.

Between Bordeaux and San Sebastian (Sth France to Nth Spain):
Hossegor or Seignosse has the most powerful beach breaks. The main surf spot is Estagnots belonging to the village Seignosse. Biarritz is quite probably the surfing capital of Europe. This is obvious as all the local villages have people wandering through the town, having a coffee with surf boards. It can be good surf by the stone pier at Plage des Cavalier. La Grand Plage isn’t always that good because of water pollution that can frequent the area; however a little further north of the main beach there are plenty of banks and this is where the lifeguards are stationed.

San Sebastian towards Bilbao (Spain):
Mundacca is the best and reputed to be the longest left wave in Europe. The spot is located at a place called Amorebieta, to get there you follow the auto route and turn off in direction of Guernica.

What is amazing about the surfing and beaches in France/Spain is that the Atlantic Ocean and even the Mediterranean Sea are incredible playgrounds. France offers every type of beach no matter the taste including families and pensioners to pro surfers and fussy celebrities and those looking for a cheap hoilday destination.

Local Towns:
Arcachon (France)
This small resort on Cote d’Argent near Bordeaux is encircled by France’s largest pine wood and offers small and delectable beaches, it is a elegant and beautiful city with large amounts of culture and history. A couple of kilometres south is the Dune du Pyla, the largest sand dune in Europe. This area is magnificant, large offshore sandbanks protect this area from surf, however a boat could provide access to some incredible offshore surfing, where you would be all alone.

Saint-Jean de Luz (France - Just)
A peite seaside resort a few minutes from the Spanish boarder and in the heart of the Basque Country. Saint-Jean de Luz has stunning beaches, good surfing, shops, cafes and markets.

Biarritz (Spain)
Each year During the Surf Festival each July, surfers from France, Hawaii, Australia and California come here to celebrate the birth of surfing in Biarritz. Aside from great waves, this posh town offers popular beaches, superb cooking, golf courses, several sporting facilities and a nearly constant breeze. Early morning is the key here over summer the 35degree temperatures are magnificant, but mean that its often onshore by 0900 in the morning.

NOTE: Throught south of France especially the Bourdeoux region from Mimizan to Cacans and south to Biarritz you will encounter crowds however if you move away from the main walkway to the beach and the lifeguard towers you can find yourself a nice piece of beach or waves you will often have to yourself especially if your early. Take everything you need because the cost of buying anything from these areas is often exorbidant especially if you travel over peak season.

Surfing the South of France – the Atlantic Coast.

2008-08-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

When I was posed the question if we wanted to go to the South of France (namely the Bordeaux region) I quickly answered yes। It was the thought of the beach, sand between my toes a beach and the possibility of a wave that appealed the most, maybe even a taste of the local wine. I’m not complaining about the lakes in Luxembourg it’s just that there is something special about salt water that im drawn two, so much so that I am prepared to drive across one of the largest countries in Europe to get a fix. Sometimes I think it would be cheaper to addicted to drugs.
Long story short, I booked two weeks leave, bought a 1995 VW Golf and packed everything that might be remotely useful into the car. Then we drove almost the width of France some 1200km to get to the beach.

A few things to note:
Between the 15th July and 15th August are summer holidays and Europeans especially the French take this quite seriously, EVERYONE is on holiday – shops will shut their doors over this period and a lot of French people love to camp so not only do the prices go up the campsites do book out. We where lucky in New Zealand style we travelled over this time and didn’t book anything – it wasn’t a problem, although we did encounter traffic jams on the roads and big queues when trying to book into campsites.
For more details about the driving I will load an article about driving in France shortly.
Secondly, a few key words of French go along way – I watched one English person walk straight up to the counter and with out even saying hello talk in English to the girl behind the desk, when she didn’t understand he repeated himself louder using exactly the same words. Have a little respect after all we are visiting someone else’s country.

We arrived in a tiny town called Mimizan, roughly 120km towards the Spanish boarder from Bordeaux obviously on the coast. Mimizan is well know for its surf break and the smell produced by its paper mill, (neither where to let us down). Besideds nothing was going to bother me; I was at the beach that equals ‘happiness’.
The beaches are incredible, the sand is like talcum powder and the water is a comfortable 25 degrees. Incredibly all those stories about women tanning topless are also totally true, inhibitions are don’t exist in France.
Mark and Emma arrived the next day surfboards in tow. Mark is a staunch long boarder and luckily bought enough boards for three people to surf every possible condition, giving me a great choice of boards (mine still being in New Zealand).

In the morning the paper mill was blowing straight into our face – the smell brings a tear to your eye, but its also great news because it equals the magic words all surfers’ worldwide love to hear . . . 'offshore breeze'. An early morning mission to the beach proved to be successful with clean 5-6ft waves with beautiful clean faces. Better still we where the only people surfing the break, eventually the onshore breeze arrived and so did the crowds. We happily retreated to the comfort of the campsite for a breakfast of bacon and eggs. After almost a year without surfing I was happy to get out of the water as my shoulders where screaming in pain.
Over the next few days we repeated this formula – early morning was defiantly the way to go, the offshore breeze was quickly overthrown as the land heats up and the dreaded onshore takes over. Interestingly the tides seemed to made little difference – they changed the shape of the waves a little but overall we had nice waves through a range of tides (over the time we surfed almost everything but dead low)

From Mimizan we moved up the coast to another renound French surf spot of Biscarrosse which is very close to the city of Archachon. Seeing as it was essentially the same beach I was surprised by the change of wave It was smaller maybe 3ft and not as steep – perfect for the bigger long boards 9’2 and 9’8ft, it was great fun riding the waves of the big boards. At one point I watched Mark ride with ‘five over the front’ and the tail of the board still planted firmly in the green face of the wave. The second day unfortunately it was totally flat, the water however was an incredible turquoise Green. An amazing colour and just screamed ‘swim’.

Then final stop of the tour was Carcans, we moved from Biscarrosse rather quickly when we established the swell was go and wouldn’t be back for a few days. Hoping for more luck at Carcans we where not disappointed – the swell report read like something from the movie ‘Big Wednesday’ 3.5meter swells reported later in the week. Mark and I looked at each other and laughed nervously painfully aware the smallest board in our arsenal was an 8’6ft Gun or Mini-Mal. We only managed to surf here once, the conditions where OK, but not what we where accustomed though. Carcans had clean lines and a nice break, lots of peaks and was probably the most un-crowded of all the beaches, the downside was that there where a lot of English speaking people here – 200km south we where quite an unusual breed. As reported the swell picked up and a strong and constant onshore breeze that was accompanied by thunder and lighting made surfing an impossible task. With great disappointment we had to resort to what everyone else was doing . . . testing the world famous Boudreaux red wines and telling tales - It really is a hard life some days.

We did however wander to the beach one evening to see the excitement of the French lifeguards in full action, two lifeguards dived into the setting sun and swam out the back to where six people where being smashed by the waves. I have no idea how they found these people because even from the top of a sand dune we couldn’t see them, the waves where large and dumping heavily onto everyone in the water. Then out of no where a rescue helicopter flew overhead quickly identifying the group and dropped another rescue swimmer into the water. Within minutes all six individuals and the lifeguards where back on the beach and after a quick victory lap the helicopter was also back on the tarmac. I have to take my hat off to their dedication and skill of these lifeguards, they where fast and professional even without the aid of the helicopter I am confident the two swimmers would have helped everyone to safety.

I can confidently say the waves along the Atlantic Coast are some of the best I have ever surfed, it is all beach breaks and sand banks, it’s safe to say there isn’t a point break within a few thousand kilometres of here. On the upside, find a good bank and choose left or right – waves usually break both ways. Be aware surf when it on offer because the surf is not consistent. It can be onshore and sometimes even flat. I have also been told winter is a better time for the surf with more consistency, however the 35 degree temperatures and blue skies where just beckoning I couldn’t wait for winter. Besides when did surfing become a winter sport?

Then suddenly after all the excitement the next morning it was all but over, a 1000km drive across France meant we had to say good bye and head back towards Luxembourg where reality would once again kick in.
Mark and Emma where heading up to St Rochelle for an attempt to find those nice clean Atlantic waves again before heading to Britney and finaly home to Plymouth.
It was a long drive but nicely broken up with a very enjoyable climbing session on the world famous boulders of Fontainebleau just 60km south east of Paris. Finally if that wasnt enough to top off a great couple of weeks we watched South Africa loose to the All Blacks 19-0 in the Tri Nations.

Mountian biking in Luxembourg

2008-07-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

I am still new to the sport, I have ridden bikes most of my life but actively searching and riding trails for enjoyment has only come about since moving to Europe, Luxembourg to be exact. While living here we have been riding a lot, 3 – 4 times a week over summer. It’s just so easy and accessible, in the weekend we load the bikes onto the car and travel to the corners of the country and attack the more technically demanding tracks. The problem is that mountain biking is quite an addictive sport, once you have overcome one hurdle (without to much pain) you immediately look for another, this usually involves travelling a little further and looking for a bigger vertical drop – the Black Forest in Germany is my next destination, I have been told its incredible.

Within Luxembourg there is a huge amount of terrain to cover on your bike; this is because roughly 2/3 of the country still covered in forest, the Ardennes region which crosses the borders and continues into Belgium is a personal favourite of mine for riding. It is actually a volcanic region covered in forested hills and fast-flowing rivers. What is excellent about this country is that you have enjoy a hard technical trail or follow one of the large river valleys like the Moselle, Sure or Rhine which are relatively flat and actually travel from village to village this way. It’s an incredible way to enjoy the scenery of Luxembourg and a nice way to spend a weekend over summer. There are even travel companies that have packages designed to suit your every need from touring the country to adventure trips.

For serious mountain biking you cant go past the Ardennes region, I have purchased a binder called ‘Mountain Bike Tour Luxembourg Ardennes’ it outlines a large number of different tracks all of which are fantastically signposted and with the map provided its hard to get lost. The Binder comes in English and can be bought in tourist offices or book stores. A worthwhile investment – they provide a lot of details about the track and the degree of difficulty.

I have added a few pictures of a trip we did at the start of the year, it was still cold and actually snowed later in the afternoon, luckily we where packed up and already heading home. It was Just Nicci and myself and we where having a chilled out Sunday afternoon so we took a nice easy route and discovered a couple of tiny villages while travelling through in the Ardennes and Luxembourg countryside.

These are a few links that can help you to identify some attractive terrain and alternately some nice walking tracks.

http://www.hiking-in-luxembourg.co.uk/
http://www.mullerthal-trail.lu/

(The Mullerthal – Known as ‘Little Switzerland’ or the Lower Sure region offers great cycle tracks which are all described and mapped in the brochure “Mullerthal Biking”.)

http://www.pch.public.lu/reseau_routier/pistes_cyclables/index.html
Alternately the following site has a huge amount of information
http://www.ont.lu/

This link will take you to part of the Luxembourg national website; it contains data about cycling tracks – all of which are maintained by the government of Luxembourg and in fantastic condition. There is over 900km of tracks and 23 different paths. The rides vary in ability. The website translates into French, English and German. It also provides information about topography and traffic, both important if planning a cycle touring holiday.

This video clip is of a mountian bike race on the steps of the Sacre Cour - A very famous tourist attraction in Paris. It just shows that there is a little bit of everything in Europe, no matter what your taste you will find something you enjoy here!

For more info look at: Blog Directory

First Aid Kits - what do I need?

2008-07-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

'Be Prepared' It's the Boy Scout motto and it defiantly applies to first aid situations. This is never more relevant than when your packing your bags and heading to an unknowns and exciting location on vacation. It is not uncommon when travelling to find yourself along way from help if there is an emergency. If camping, tramping or backpacking, at home or in foreign country there are a few essential items to carry. These include simple items such as heavy duty tape, cable ties, a torch, but most importantly a first aid kit. I’m a pessimist at heart, I prepare for the worst but am grateful when the worst does not occur, however I know that if something does happen I will be ready for it.

The following article compiles what would have to be the most important items and should be included in a first aid kit. Importantly if you invest in a first aid kit read the instructions and know how to use the items in you kit – before you need them.

Be aware - If you have prescription based medication you need to take overseas with you then ensure that it is correctly labelled, and the prescription is correct. In the current age of fear surrounding air travel you must be extremely careful with such details nothing is overlooked and your incorrectly labelled heart medication could be the cause of a full search resulting in you missing your plane.

Latex gloves – Latex gloves are mandatory these days, always wear gloves when attending to someone else's injury, especially if you’re the first on the scene and don’t know the injured person. Your life is always more important, don’t take unnecessary risks. There are many contagious diseases around today; contact with another person’s blood should be avoided at all cost.

Paracetamol based pain killers - A lot of pain killers have Paracetamol in them, ask for it by name as they are extremely effective at reducing pain. The little known benefit is that Paracetamol also reduces nausea and will therefore not only help headaches but also stomach aches, and even that hangover from last night.

Tweezers – Its silly things like a splinter or sliver of glass that can really make a trip uncomfortable, especially if hiking a long distance, therefore a good set of tweezers is perfect for removing splinters and other such annoyances.

Sling (triangle shaped bandage) – A perfect tool for immobilizing arms. If you think the injured arm is dislocated or even broken, place into a sling as this will do no more damage to the injury. It will however help increase the patients comfort and help reduce pain. Pain management is important, especially so if you need to evacuate the patient because help cannot get to you.

Saline solution - This is often overlooked especially if running out of room in your first aid kit. However it is one of the most used items; often utilized for things not injury related like cleaning your contact lenses. Saline solution is the same composition as tears and there for perfect for rinsing foreign objects from your eyes or a wound. Saline solution is a very versatile item.

Plasters - To save on room and time there is only one plaster recommended for a first aid kit; that is the continuous strip cotton plaster. Such plasters are incredibly strong, durable, long lasting and - they can be cut to cover almost any size wound, they protect blisters, and will stay on no matter what – they will stay in place even if wet and when placed on over moving body parts.

Bandages in various sizes; about 4 or 5 assorted bandages minimum, if you’re unfortunate enough to encounter a wound where there is a lot of blood the bandages provide hygienic materials to clean the wound, stop bleeding and minimize the risk of infection. Alternately, if you are day away from medical help new bandages can be used each day to redress the wound thus helping reduce the chance of infection. In reality they will be used to strap twisted ankles and sore elbows which are much more common.

Emergency blankets are compact aluminium foil blankets, they are inexpensive and light. Emergency blankets are important if your travelling outdoors, or simply if your stranded in the car. Shock victims are prone to heat loss and hypothermia therefore all efforts must be made to keep them warm.

Gauze Pads and Rolls again in various sizes, these can be used to pack large flesh wounds or keep burns moist until medical professionals can assess the severity of the injury.

Antibiotic Cream, every wound has the high chance of infection especially if you’re travelling in the outdoors. Even if the wound is not big enough to justify immediate medical help it's extremely likely an infection will set in if you're not careful. Poor treatment can ensure that the wound does become serious and will ruin a vacation. Look after cuts no matter the size and use antibiotic cream when dressing them.

Antiseptic wipes another great tool for reducing the chance of infection. Cleaning the wound as soon as possible is obviously important, however it's imperative if camping or hiking because you're living in a much dirtier environment. This will greatly help reduce the chance of a small cut or graze becoming infected and inflamed.

Motion sickness tablets - Imperative to saving a holiday experience, don't be macho about the situation, if your on a cruise, plane or even a car and you know your prone to bouts of travel sickness take a tablet before you leave, it may very well save you day and even the vacation.

Be Aware - If your accident doesn't require medical attention and you decide to carry on with your vacation ensure that you redress any wounds every day to help reduce the risk of any infection.

Sharp medical scissors - these scissors need to be heavy duty, stainless steel and sharp enough to cut clothes, plasters and bandages. Scissors are quite simply an extremely versatile tool that will be in constant use.

Antihistamine tablets – Perfect for allergic reactions like brushing against poison ivy or more serious like bee stings or reactions to nuts.

Be Aware - After the basics, don’t forget things like your Asthma medication or blood pressure pills. It is also important to include specialty items to your kit to the country or area you're travelling too. For example, if going to the tropics take sun block and aloe vera.

In conclusion the most important requirements for a first aid kit are the most basic they will also be the most utilized. The items outlined in this article comprise a basic first aid kit. When travelling (especially for long periods) weight will dictate how much luggage you can carry. If you still feel unprepared then the next most important thing you can invest in is education. Some one who knows what to do in an emergency situation is more valuable than someone who doesn't yet has the most comprehensive kit. If your trip is intended to be for a long time or you will be going to a remote area, it is recommended you complete a first aid course. This will not only teach you important techniques, it will also teach you about all the items you’re carrying and also show you how to utilize surrounding environment when required.

Wakeboarding the Moselle in Luxembourg

2008-07-28T04:41:00.000-07:00

The weekend was rapidly approaching (actually it was only Tuesday but felt like it had already been a long week) when I received an email inviting us to come wakeboarding . . . wakeboarding in Europe? I didn’t need to know how or where we were going wakeboarding (Luxembourg is landlocked) – it didnt matter ‘Hell Yea’ I replied. The idea of an entire day wakeboarding and waterskiing sent my week into a tailspin. It had been almost a year since stepping on a wakeboard, and now it was all I could think about. I had never even imagined that I would have the opportunity to wakeboard in Europe, but thanks to the Moselle river it was actually going to happen.

Finally the weekend arrived, Saturday morning and we went shopping for supplies – one thing I really like about Luxembourg is that EVERYTHING is closed on Sunday so you have to be organised. We needed the ingredients for a perfect day beer, bbq, sun, and water. (This combination can sometimes be difficult to find in Luxembourg). In anticipation and only partially due to the huge thunder and lighting storm and I even stayed at home on Saturday night in preperation for the next day.

The day dawned and luckly there were no remnants of the storm the night before which had blown itself out. We filled the chilly bin and went in search of ice – incredibly they don’t use ice in Luxembourg, you put your food and drink in the chilly bin and they think that is enough, there still a few tricks we can teach Europe.

Weather aside we where picked up about midday and took the scenic route to arrive in a small village called Grevenmacher which is on the Moselle River, which is the border of Luxembourg and Germany.

This place was fantastic¸ the wakeboard club was a run down old wooden hut, with a wooden jetty and a serious ski boat that had a 280hp inboard engine – everything we needed. It was just like something you would see in the movies the guys greeted us in boardies, sipping a beer, the music pumping out of a stereo in the corner of the jetty and a rubbish bin full of empties that helped set the tone for the day. The atmosphere was chilled out and a lot of fun. I was envious, what a great lifestyle –these guys where the closest you would get to beach bums in Luxembourg. The guys made us feel right at home and took the time to help everyone learn and give wakeboarding their best attempt. It was a real party we had 20 friends with us and other strangers from the wakeboard club joining us throughout the day, they would take the opportunity to show us how it was done when there was a gap in the queue.

What was so amazing was that at times when wakeboarding we where only meters from the rivers edge, hanging out the side it felt like you could scrape your hands along the river bank. We passed cyclists and pubs along the waters edge, behind that was vine yards as far as the eye can see. The quote of the day had to be ‘I can’t believe we are wakeboarding in Luxembourg’ however what was even better was the fact we actually got to ski on the boarder of Germany and Luxembourg! Is that international waters? The Moselle is a fantastic place to water ski; high hills protect the water and ensure that even on a rough day the chop in nonexistent.

As the day continued the boat never stopped, there was a constant queue for the opportunity to ski or board. To stop people fainting with excitment we ‘sparked up the barbie’ and had cooked up the many sausages we had bought with us, this provided the strength for round two and again everyone charged into the water.

Slowly numbers started to dwindle and people disappeared in search of hot showers and warm beds, but not a hardy few – our driver who had driven the boat for us for about 5hours straight jumped onto a wake skate and then a wakeboard, the man turned into an animal, wake to wake on the wake skate and then laying down some huge tricks on the wakeboard, it was obvious he had done this before and loved it!

We had our final runs as the sun was setting, a full and enjoyable day. By this point my sunburn was starting to tingle, I couldn’t lift my arms any more and my hands where shaking because of the adrenaline running through my veins. It didn’t matter, in fact I so content, it all just felt SO good. As I crawled into bed around 12oclock for the first time that day I remembered I had to be back at work tomorrow, that was going to be a long day . . . oh well it was worth every second.

As I crashed into a deep sleep my mind wandered, I didnt really know how to explain the dream I had that night but think this video clip sums it up well. This will be me one day when I am big and strong.

If your keen to give wakeboarding a try, you have to contact the team at Ski Nautique Grevenmacher, they are fantastic.
http://www.sng.lu

More Photograph Techniques

2008-07-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

Due to the interest the Last Article I wrote generated I thought I would write another, this time we will go into a little bit more detail and how to compose a photo that is visually pleasing. Photography is a real art form, I often feel that there is something missing from my photos . . . they are not the same quality as those pictures you see in magazines or in art galleries.
I have actually been involved with magazine photography for a number of years now and it has taught me a few key lessons that will help improve your photographs. First and foremost learn the Basics , especially the key rules which are the rule of thirds, framing and basic composition. Secondly it’s not the camera that takes the picture; it’s the photographer that fills the frame, its important not to forget this as a good workman never blames his tools. I have seen some spectacular images taken with very basic cameras. What ever camera you have make sure you know how to use it, learn what the different settings do.

Key points of composition are; always look for a different angle, if possible avoid taking photos at eye level. The reason for this is simple – it’s what everyone sees all the time, its normal, therefore its boring. Find something you wish to photograph and try using a different angle for example take a picture from up high or down low, a different angle can make all the difference and turn a good picture into a great one. (This is why you will often see other photographers crouching down when taking a photo.) Also note that; When photographing people a slightly lower angle will make a person look younger because it will reduce the visibility of wrinkles and other signs of age. Lower angle again will make the person look larger and taller than they really are. A high angle shots will do the reverse and make them look smaller.

Research is another easy way to improve your photography fast. Look at other people’s photos. Scour magazines and art galleries spend time and try to identify what makes a specific photo great. Then when you’re next doing your own photo shoot try to replicate this. Before taking pictures spend time thinking about images you would like create, if you know the photograph you want before picking up your camera then your half way there.

Decide what your focal point is, then use it to fill in the frame. This is the key and is what makes photography and art from – a camera cannot fill the frame for you. Identify your focal point and use it to fill as much of the frame as possible, close ups are always impressive. If you try and include too many different things in a photo it becomes cluttered and ensures that nothing in the image will have impact – KEEP IT SIMPLE. Remember just because it’s not in the middle doesn’t mean it’s not your focal point; don’t forget the basics.

Rotate your camera; your camera doesn’t always have to be horizontal, vertical pictures are often more powerful because there is one focal point and less clutter in the background. In my mind having only one focal point in the image improves the entire pictures impact and composition. Also note that it doesn’t matter which way you hold the camera you still have to be careful, the horizon line should always be parallel with the top of the image, this is a sure fire way to ruin a nice photo.

When photographing people especially outside, ask them to remove hats and sunglasses if possible and then always use a fill in flash. This may sound contradictory to use a flash on a bright sunny day however it will help reduce shadow and balance out the light in the image. This means that not only will your ‘models’ have smoother looking skin they will also look younger and healthier. This is never a bad thing especially when taking photos of your girlfriend.

In conclusion; Learn The Basics of photography things such as the rule of thirds or framing it will provide the building blocks for great images, from there improving your photos is easy, it just involves a lot of practice and a little research. Spend time looking at other photographers photos and envision what images you would like before starting to take photos – it is much easier that thinking on the spot.
Finally, when you know the rules break them - there is no right or wrong way to take a photograph. The basic photograph techniques are all just guidelines to what is aesthetically pleasing, once you understand these don’t be afraid to try something new it will either reinforce the rule or create a great photograph. Best of all in today’s digital age its not going to cost you anything to practice and try new photography techniques. I categorically believe that the best way to become a better photographer is to practice, practice, and practice.

If your interested in some more images and photography check out www.outwidephotography.com. Its full of incredible images from all reaches of the globe. Its also updated regularly so if you like it dont forget to check back regularly.

Top 5 travel locations (for the next year anyway)

2008-07-24T09:08:00.001-07:00

Top 5 up and coming trips

This list is constantly changing and growing, it should really be a top 50 list because of the amount of trips we have planned with different people. I am constantly looking for somewhere unusal to visit or something and exciting to experiance, I will travel to kenya if there is snow, just to say I did. Here are the top 5 trips planned for the next 12 months.

1.) While this is not the most exciting trip planned my addiction to water ensures that it ranks pretty high. (8 months without a holiday also ensures that this trip will be a welcome relief.)

1st August (France, Boudreaux) Driving the 1200km across France in our brand new (old) 1995 VW Golf for two weeks Camping, Surfing, climbing and mountain biking and of course a little wine tasting in Boudreaux. This is a trip is one I have desperately been waiting for. Since getting to Europe I have been swimming once. This is not good considering I used to be in the ocean 3 days a week all year round.

View Larger Map

This trip was completed with great statisfaction and enjoyment. it was amazing to see the Boudreaux region of France - check out Surfing the South of France for the details or The Atlantic Coast for details about the breaks and camping in the area.

2.) December (Italy, Saulze o'Doux) Skiing in the European alps, the very small hotel we are booked into is at about 2500m above sea level and is run by a fantastic couple and their staff. We actually visited Saulze o'Doux last year and had so much fun decided to go back for round two. The prices are excellent and worth every penny. It is part of a larger group of ski fields that are joined by gondola and ski lift, this means that if you stay for five days you can ski a different mountain every day.

3.) April/May 2009 (South Africa) this is a dream trip, its been along time in the making, my girlfriend is originally from Johannesburg originally emigrating to New Zealand. We hope to spend about a months in South Africa and in that time plan to dive with the great white sharks in Cape Town ... yes that’s right its not a typo, I want to dive with great white sharks. They captured my attention when I was just a child, I love to see sharks, while never having seen a great white I have a very healthy respect for all sharks and I love to see them in the wild. I have already been in contact with a company www.sharkdivingunlimited.com they are fully equipped and ready to help. Then after diving with one of the most feared predators in the world we will relax and visit family in Johannesburg before getting back amongst the predators when we travel to Kruger Park and the Okavango delta. Dates are yet to be defined but it’s going to be insane. I have a ton of camera gear to take with me as I don’t want to miss a second of this trip.

4.) Fontainebleau is a tiny town about 65km south of Paris. The town is quite beautiful with a castle that claims to have 1900 rooms! However its not the town of Fontainebleu that I am interested in, it is the surrounding forest which is known to have some of the worlds best bouldering and climbing in Europe, if not the world. Fontainebleau forests are scattered with boulders ranging from waist height to 4 stories high. This region is the birth place of the type of sport climbing knowm an 'bouldering' Fontainebleau has just made the official Top 5 list.

5.) June/July (Morocco and the top of Africa) I have family converging on this point in the middle of the year. I want to go, but know very little about this place (except they speak French). A predominantly Muslim country that reads religious scriptures over the loud speaker to the entire country every morning at about 6am – its defiantly going to be a real culture shock to a ignorant westerner like me. Also renound to have some incredible surf breaks - this could deserve some closer attention.

Tips for traveling by Train

2008-07-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Euro Rail passes

I should probably start this by explaining two things:
In the past I have never been a public transport kind of guy. I only have memories of being late, or not showing up at all when relying on public transport. I have smelt body odour in the New York subway and got lost in London on the Tube. However from the minute I landed at the Frankfurt airport (for the first time in Europe) and walked to the railway station I have loved the train system in Europe.
Secondly, we bought Euro Rail passes before landing in Europe. Euro rail passes are not very well known about however are quite literally the ‘best thing since sliced bread’ you have a range of choices however the basics idea of the pass is you can travel for a set number of day as much as you want in the countries you desire. The ultimate being a 2month passes for all of Europe. For example our Euro rail passes we bought provided us with seven days travel (over a two month period from the activation of the pass, and we could travel anywhere in Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy)

It’s the long haul international trips that are really enjoyable and cheap since we had the Euro Rail pass. One night we did a 12 hour trip from the south of France all the way to Frankfurt, then another 4 hours to Luxembourg – in one day. I admit I was dubious the first time about the idea of sleeping in public transport however sleeping in the night trains is comfortable and an effective way to get around. Long train rides provide the opportunity to spend time and meet other travellers or locals is a great enjoyment, often a trip will take 5-6 hours if not longer. So you actually get to spend the time learning about different countries and nationalities from those that have either been there or actually live there. Of course every country is different but what I will point out that so far the trains are normally very punctual especially in Germany. Always be early because you can set a watch to the German time table.

There are a couple of traps that you need to be aware of with Euro Rail passes.
First of all we bought our tickets before leaving New Zealand because it is almost impossible to get these passes in Europe.
Be aware that some countries will identify sections of rail as "scenic rail" which will can incur surcharges. So note you may also be charged a fee for crossing international boarders and if you ride the ICE or TGV (high speed trains)

The ICE and TGV are something else; they are absolutely incredible pieces of engineering. You ride along doing in excess of 250km per hour and it feels like your floating. The staff are also excellent – you can purchase beer and wine from the bar and a food trolley provides the essentials. All the announcements are in English and the language of the country. I have a fantastic memory of riding the ICE towards France along side the Rhine River sipping a German Beer, served to me by your stereotypical jolly German complete with the large moustache. France, Belgium and Netherlands are similar, quality trains, helpful and pleasant staff and always on time.

However when it comes to the trains in Italy I have to describe them slightly differently. They seem to be constantly encountering delays and problems. The only language spoken is Italian (this includes the announcements). We where due to go north from Rome on a train that comes once every two hours, however they announced – in Italian that they where swapping platforms and a different train would be stopping at your platform instead. Of course they didn’t think to change any of the signs so when the train arrived we dutifully jumped on having not understood the announcement. It wasn’t a beautiful Italian girl diligently pointed out with a quick sake of her finger we where on the wrong train. Of course this ensured a two hour delay. Furthermore the staff where not that interested and didn’t even feel obligated to offer an apology.

Another thing we found was that the only way to reserve seats is to pay extra for this privilege. I seriously recommend, no matter the budget to pay the extra money (about 3 euro). It’s not uncommon to have people in the isles and it really really sux to be kicked out of your seat two hours into a six hour trip!

If possible get to a smaller train station rather than a large one, there is limited storage space on these trains and they can get very crowded quickly sometimes. If a station name ends in "Termini" or "Centrale" it is a main station.

And one final tip, don't arrive at the station an hour before your train leaves and expect to get your reservation for the train. Reserve and book tickets ASAP, Italians seem to leave things like booking tickets to the last minute, don’t get caught in the rush, be organised and it will be a lot more enjoyable.

All in all, the train system (even in Italy) is impressive, there is always a train to get you towards your destination even if your stuck in a tiny village in the middle of the French Alps and its New Years eve. Not speaking the native tongue is always tricky however everyone is helpful and we never encountered any serious issues. On that note I would love to hear from anyone else who has used the trains and Euro rail passes – have you had similar experiences to us? Or is there something that I have failed to mention. The aim of this site is to help other travellers so any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thought of the week

2008-07-23T04:36:00.000-07:00

Everyone tells me how rude and strange the French people are, they are nationalistic and wont talk with strangers etc. Its probably a topic I will continue to revisit becuase I dont really understand it however I have been living in Luxembourg (on the boarder of France) for over 6months now. Since moving here I have always felt like a tourist – its not home and it hasn’t felt like it. Having never heard French before hasn’t made things easier (90% of Luxembourg speaks French) so I have always found myself on the outside of jokes and quite literally haven’t understood a word around me for the either time I have been here. In their defence my New Zealand accent really confuses them and a lot of people don’t understand me.
Now don’t get me wrong its not that these people are not nice and friendly but it’s the fact that English is their second language and it’s harder for them to speak, so communication between me and them is usually limited to asking for what is required.

The first time I felt actually comfortable in Luxembourg was about 3months ago, a group of us had been to Paris for the weekend, While I loved Paris and thought it was an incredible city when I got on the train to go back to Luxembourg I breathed a sigh of relief and actually relaxed for the first time that weekend, that for me was real turning point to this OE to Europe, it made me realise what a fantastic country Luxembourg is, however I was still sceptical about the people – the French have a real reputation worldwide and I can appreciate why.

However, over the past two weeks I have noticed another change in the dynamics of Luxembourg. That is my relationship with everyone here, especially at work. In the past I felt like it was them v me. But, for example we went to see ZZ Top the other day with my French manager – he spoke more English with me that night than ever before.

Last night we went out for dinner (with the same manager) and our French head of department. We went to a Japanese restaurant in Arlon, Belgium (yup that’s right, we went to another country for dinner) As usual the conversation was mainly in French and yet for the first time it was much more comfortable, we where included in the conversation, they wanted to know about us and New Zealand. It was enjoyable to interact with these people especially because they have lived such different lives from us, the stories they tell and places they have been are things I have never heard about. Our head of department bought his wife and two kids to the restaurant. The children where playing together – incredibly this 4 year old and 6 year old where switching between English and French, this is something that made my jaw hit the ground, you wouldn’t see this at home that is for sure.

I don’t know if it’s the fact that I have been studying French a lot and its slowly starting to pay off - I can understand the odd joke now and comprehend the general conversation (within reason of course– ask me about make up and I have no idea).
Yet I don’t quite understand what has changed, maybe its that I understand more, or the opposite that I have realised how little I understand and don’t care anymore. Maybe these French people have realised we are here to stay and suddenly because more interested in us? Either way it’s great, I had my first ever ‘BonJour’ from my manager this morning – maybe it’s because I drove him home last night in his car after dinner (and the 4 bottles of wine).

I don’t really no why or how and don’t really care - I am not complaining, lets just see if it continues.

Useful Links

2008-07-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Camp Sites in Europe

This camp site is very close to the beautiful town of Metz, France http://www.campinglasamaritaine.com/

This camp site provides easy access to both Dusseldorf and Franfurt Main, Germany http://www.campissimo.de/

Deikirch is a magnificent city in Luxembourg, the camp site is located on the river Sauer (or Sûre) and is perfect for kayaking, water sports or enjoying the Luxembourg countryside. http://www.campsauer.lu/

Echternach is an incredibly beautiful city on the boarder of Germany and Luxembourg, the River Sure runs though the region creating a geographical boarder between the countries.
http://www.camping-alferweiher.lu/

Vianden is in Luxembourg and is home to a spectacular château and a picturesque village. A large lake and river surrounded by a nature reserve ensure that there is plenty to explore. Both sites in Vianden are comfortable and well situated.
http://www.camping-our-vianden.lu/
http://www.campingopdemdeich.lu/

Welcome to Wilz, yet another picturesque village in Luxembourg
http://www.campingkaul.lu/fr/accueil

This is the link for the hotel Orso Bianco where we stayed in while skiing in Saulze d'Oulx Italy, it was fantastic, situalted at 2/3 of the way up the ski field the only way to get there after hours is by ski mobile. The whole experiance was so much fun.
http://www.sportinia.it/fr/accueil

Links

The worlds leading guidebook publisher is also online. Lot of information and updates to their guides. they also have a travel forum.
Lonely Planet On-line

Converts all the worlds major currencies with real time and up to date data.
Oanda: 164 Currency Converter

Has the weather reports for most major cities, world wide.
CNN: World Weather

An English site that provides you with a range of information about Luxembourg and the attractions.
http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/

A 'been there done that' series of links to of other Travel blogs from all over the world.
Directory of Travel Blogs

Photos of Netherlands

2008-07-21T03:53:00.000-07:00

The Netherlands, is on the coast of the North Sea. The Netherlands is 360 by 257 km and is low and flat except in Limburg in the southeast, where the hills rise up to 322 m. Roughly half the country's area is below sea level, making the famous Dutch dikes a prerequisite for the use of much of the land. Reclamation of land from the sea through dikes has continued through up until today. All drainage reaches the North Sea, and the principal rivers—Rhine, Maas (Meuse), and Schelde—have their sources outside the country.
Keukenhof, is the world’s largest flower garden is located between the towns of Hillegom and Lisse. This garden attracts 800.000 people, and only opens for eight weeks each year. Not surprisingly it is one of the most photographed sights in the world. Each season more than 7 million bulbs are planted making the flower season something very special to look forward to.

The Netherlands are world re-nound for its windmills, we travelled to a place called Kinderdijk (just north of Roterdam) where they have one of the biggest concentrations of windmills in the Netherlands. Its an incredible sight to see 19 windmills in perfect condition along side a canal. The windmills where used to drain the water from the plains either side of the cannel that are below sea level.

A good source of local information can be found on this website site.
http://www.kinderdijk.nl/

The easiest and most effective way to explore the city of Amsterdam and the rest of the country is to hire a bike and ride. It's a very small country, but full of enjoyable surprises.

The port of Rotterdam is the largest in Europe and was the worlds busiest port from 1962 to 2004. After this it was overtaken by Shanghi. Rotterdam is situated on the banks of the river Meuse River. The port at Rotterdam is an incredible sight and worth taking the time to see the port, it appeals to the little kid in all of us.

The Dutch East India Company was established in 1602, and by the end of the 17th century Holland was one of the great sea and colonial powers of Europe.

Dont forget to see some of the incredible art work that is also avalible in the country, this includes works from the likes of Rembrant, van Gogh, Frans Hals, and Vermeer.

Photos of Italy

2008-07-18T04:16:00.000-07:00

Italy has to be one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited in my life. The country is filled with history and culture. It doesn’t matter where you go for your Italian holiday, it could be Rome, south to the beach in Naples, maybe to see the Coliseum in Rome or even just to hire a Villa in Tuscany, what ever your choice you wont be disappointed.

These first images are from a group of five tiny villages, the area is called Cinque Terre located in the mountains overlooking the sea between Pisa and Genoa, more specifically between La Spezia and Levanto.
They are old fishing villages on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It has recently been made a UNESCO's Mankind's World Heritage' and, also, is an Italian National Park and Protected Marine Area, the villages of Cinque Terre are called Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Be sure to stop into Bar Centrale (Riomaggiore) and have a drink, the staff are friendly and have some fantastic stories to tell.

Rome, considering the history of this grand city it has to be one of the most historical cities in the world, Rome is also one of the most unique cities I have been to in Europe. There is actually too much to see and do in this city in one vacation. I was ‘ruined’ out by the time we left Rome, all the ancient ruins beginning to blur into one. However my most memorable points had to be the Pantheon, Coliseum, Spagna which is east of central Rome and home to the Spanish Steps. Towards the west is the Vatican City which houses Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.

To the north of the country, past Milan high in the European Alps is a city called Turin and is incredible for its raw power, the mountains rise out of the ground and provide a fantastic winter wonderland for skiers and snowboarders alike. My favourite ski field was Sauze d'Oulx, but there are actually seven different ski fields that are linked by high speed chairlifts this is called the 'Milky Way'. This provided a huge amount of terrain, if you wish you can even ski accross the boarder into France. Sauze d'Oulx and the Milky Way was also the home of the 2006 Winter Olympics. When whe where there we stayed in a hotel called Orso Bianco, everything about it was spectacular and I would definatly recommend a trip.

Check out:
http://www.sauzeonline.com/

This is the Orso Bianco Website

http://www.sportinia.it/

Amsterdam - The city for every taste

2008-07-18T04:08:00.000-07:00

It's been almost 4 months since we sold almost everything we owned, packed our remaining belongings into a single pack each and left the safety and comfort of New Zealand to see the wonders of the world. Since then we have travelled through Italy, France, and Belgium, therefore as you can imagine when we stumbled into Amsterdam on the last train of the night I was exhausted.
Amsterdam is like no other city I have been to; it's diverse in culture, a real cosmopolitan city. I staggered off the train under the weight of my pack only to suck in a deep breath of marijuana. Surprised I looked over to see an elderly man with the biggest joint I had ever seen. "Welcome to Amsterdam" I laughed to myself as we wandered out of the central station at about 1am in the morning on the mission of finding our hostel. Accommodation is available for all price points however I would recommend booking early, Amsterdam tends to draw people in for the weekend.
I will also point out here that the trams (there is no underground here) and busses run regularly till about 12.30 pm then they all but stop. A real catch for tourists used to a 24 hour lifestyle.
The next day, I got to see Amsterdam in all its glory. It's a beautiful city with many buildings hundreds of years old, that even more surprisingly somehow survived World War II. A good night's sleep had revived my strength and a desire to see more ensured breakfast was quickly inhaled. We where only in Amsterdam for a few days and there is plenty to do. Amsterdam is a great tourist city; communication is easy - the locals, all speak superb English (They seem to love American TV) what ever the reason, they are proud of their ability to speak English and take any opportunity to practice.
Over the next few days we where on a mission to see as much of the city as possible; each site visited left us with a desire to see more. Being from New Zealand (a country surrounded by water) it was incredibly enjoyable to just wander - often aimlessly up and down the cannels looking at the boats and enjoying the serenity. We would stop at cafes and drink beer while sitting in the chairs on the cannels edges. I could have done this for days . . . A tip would be to hire bikes for the day; you will see much more of the city this way. Before getting engulfed in the culture available (like the Rijks Museum) I would suggest spending an entire day looking around, the bridges, boats, buildings and cannels deserve the time to be enjoyed after all its what makes Amsterdam world famous.
What's amazing about this city is almost anywhere you wish to go you can get to by boat. It’s designed in blocks similar to New York, but instead of roads you have cannels. This is because the entire city is below water level (hence no underground train system). It is defiantly worth taking the time to get a cannel cruise around the city, you can hop on and off at different places as you desire we got off outside the Anne Frank House and then again at the Rijks Museum. Make sure that you see the port - it is incredible, the size and structure of it all boggles' the mind. For centuries the Dutch used to be the biggest traders in Europe (Dutch East India Company) so have had the time to perfect the ports in Amsterdam and Rotterdam
The Anne Frank House tells an incredible story of a family of Jews hiding from the Nazis during there occupation of Amsterdam in World War II. An experience like this makes you realize how easy we have life these days. You need to get there early, or else you will queue. There will be people not just outside but all around this humbling experience. The area in which they lived is small and it can get very crowded in busy times.
If you didn't come by train swing by the central station it's a huge and magnificent building on the edge of the port and intricately designed.
It's true what some say about Amsterdam being built on drugs and sex. The red light district is a definite must. In the evenings you wander down an exquisite cannel surrounded by buildings hundreds of years old, in each window is a girl dressed only in lingerie and it brings a new meaning to the saying ‘window shopping’. Don't be embarrassed by the experience, what amazed me was how normal it was to the Dutch people, in fact to everyone there. I saw elderly couples wandering through the crowd walking their dogs; I imagine they do it every night. I will warn you however that it is not acceptable to take pictures of the girls; if you attempt to someone will appear from the crowd and throw your camera in the cannel.
Finally, while in this area of Amsterdam as you walk down the narrow streets listen for the whispers that will come from the shadows – the walls really talk here. These are drug dealers trying to sell their products; it's possible to buy anything you like if you listen hard enough. The Coffee shops are another experience, it's legal to buy marijuana here and it is everywhere. Buying such products in a shop legally over the counter is an obscure experience; a dream for most world wide marijuana connoisseurs though, no doubt.
Running low on time we attempted to also see as many museums as possible, with so many in Amsterdam it was always going to be a stretch. Not being a huge art or culture fan I was surprised by the incredible amount of diverse works on display and how much I actually enjoyed them. Even if you’re not big on the arts at least try either the Rembrandt House or the Van Gogh Museum, I am confident you will find it worthwhile.
Amsterdam is alive and buzzing, the cultures and relaxed attitude had me in ore. It is a must see if in Europe. The experience of the red light district and coffee shops is a must. I can't imagine anywhere else in the world like this. The Dutch have embraced an underbelly of human culture and made it an acceptable . . . if not actually respected. The Dutch have incredible acceptance of diversity and the ability to celebrate such brilliance like Van Gogh, or Rembrandt, no matter your taste you will find something about Amsterdam you will enjoy.

Tip for cheap flying in Europe

2008-07-18T02:10:00.000-07:00

Flying in Europe

Getting to Europe is an expensive task, however once here, everything is very close and travel can be affordable if you are clever, I have identified a few tricks that enable you to get those European vacations you want without paying the price for airline tickets.

Be flexible in your travel dates. This helps to find the cheapest fares available because the airlines charge more for travel on certain days for example Fridays and Sundays. It will also cost you more to fly a holiday or the day immediately after a holiday. These are all heavy travel days so airlines won’t discount them. Try flying in unusual times of the day, this tends to be cheaper than ‘peak commute’ times. A Friday morning or even Thursday afternoon can be fantastic if travelling away for a weekend.

Do your homework: Websites like http://www.skyscanner.com/ or http://www.bestfares.com/ they are fantastic because they are not an individual company’s website; they are independent and will identify the best airline travel options for you the consumer.

Book your tickets in advance: It’s often the airlines company policy to increase the price of the ticket in direct relation to the length of time before the planes scheduled take off. It’s a simple thing to identify, ask for a ticket on the next plane and then for one also in 3months – the price difference will be obvious.

Watch out for cheap airlines: There are a number of companies out there that offer ‘cheap airline flights’, or the ‘best price airline tickets’, watch out. While the initial price quoted for your airline ticket can be incredibly cheap ensure that you add up all the costs before you start comparing your actual flight costs. The operating costs of these cheap airlines are not much less that standard airlines. They will cover their costs by selling you a cheap plane ticket then making up the money by charging extra on bags, paying with a credit card, and other misc taxes. The cost of these cheap airline flights will often be more than flying with a standard airline. Once you total the costs it is cheaper to fly from Frankfurt to London on British Airways than to buy a 5 euro ticket with other companies.

Finally, find out which airport the plane lands at is: Often the cheap flights will land at obscure airports and require pricy bus or train tickets to get to your final destination. For example one company that fly’s from Frankfurt in Germany uses an airport that is two hours travel from the main international airport in Frankfurt. The same applies for the airport in Rome and London. These taxis, bus and train tickets can all grow transportation costs exponentially. Don’t forget to add this into your costs when comparing your options. A friend bought a 90euro ticket to go skiing in Italy, problem was it cost another 80euro to get connections to the ski field because they landed so far away – in comparison it cost us 20euro in the taxi.

Learning to speak French

2008-07-18T00:46:00.002-07:00

Learning to speak French

I have travelled a little before but my eyes where defiantly shut when I left for Europe. I had the standard Kiwi – ‘it will be fine attitude’. That meant can’t speak the language . . . no problem. Don’t know anyone there . . . no problem. Don’t have a job . . . no problem. I was actually ignorant enough to believe that Luxembourg would be exactly the same as New Zealand. Before leaving New Zealand we had been told that everything in Luxembourg was in English. English was the business operating language and that we would have no problem communicating. It didn’t even bother me that I had NEVER heard someone speaking French before.

I left New Zealand looking for an adventure, I wanted to challenge myself and push the limits, and French has defiantly done this for me. It has been the thing I have hated the most and loved at the same time, its incredibly difficult not understanding the language around you and incredibly rewarding when you begin to make it work and understand.

When we arrived in Luxembourg and where picked up by a gentleman who spoke 3 languages, however none where English. This is when our dreams became to crumble to reality, work was in English . . . but because English is a second language for everyone they speak French for EVERYTHING else, therefore you miss out on all types of general conversations and gossip. Even going to the supermarket became a nightmare – everything is in French, you don’t know if the meat you’re buying comes from a sheep cow or even horse!

Now being a contentious and respectful Kiwi I had decided that if I was living here I should learn to speak French, however I had seriously failed to understand the dynamics of that decision and how much harder it would be than I realised.

I am now Six months in, my accent is TERRIBLE, but I can build a basic sentence, ask questions and understand the answers – I still have a lot of work to do however life is a lot more comfortable even with this basic understanding.

In the past six months I have found a few tips and techniques that may help others to learn French.

To learn French you need to hear the pronunciation, while many of the words are the same as English the pronunciation defiantly isn’t. Before I left New Zealand I listened to a CD in the car and memorised a few key sayings; however what I forgot was that if I ask a question in French you get an answer in French – you must have a reasonable grasp on the vocabulary to understand the answer.
When ever you watch a movie in English put the subtitles are on – it’s a great way to learn basic French words and sentence structure.
I catch the bus to work, everyday I pick up a French newspaper and read about what I am interested in. I bought a dictionary and translate the words I don’t know. The effects of this are twofold – you learn the words on paper, you can take your time and read slowly thus making sure that you understand. Also it enables you to grow your vocabulary.
Read advertising – all advertising everywhere.
Hope that your colleagues are kind and patient, first of all listen to them talking, then practice, practice and practice. It’s really hard to start speaking another language and you will feel really stupid when you begin, you will make a lot of mistakes. However this is something you simply must work through if you actually want to learn to speak French.
Do all of the above together at the same time, emersion is defiantly the best way to learn another language. Every day I read the paper I hear people talking and using the words from the paper; this reinforces them and ensures my understanding grows word by word.
Practice, practice, practice unless you have a photographic memory you will need to continually reinforce the words until they become second nature.

Finally, if possible enrol in French lessons or courses, they are expensive however these French courses have defiantly helped me to learn French and are probably the best investment I have made.

Please understand while my French is still terrible, it has improved dramatically. These tips are not fail safe solutions to learning French, however they are tips and techniques that have helped me grow from NEVER having heard French in my life to making basic communication. It’s a base that you can continue to grow and improve from.

Camping in Luxembourg and Ardeenes

2008-07-18T00:46:00.001-07:00

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg maintains one third of its territory (some 800 km2) is covered by forests. It is of little wonder then that so many excellent camp sites are dotted throughout the countryside.

Here is a comprehensive and compete list of sites.

http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/camping.html

http://www.ont.lu/

There is also a very practical booklet with the so called “circuits auto-pédestres”, these are 171 round-walks, selected by the Ministry of Tourism. You leave your car on the parking-area and the walk will lead you back to this place. The booklet consists of handy maps, which can be taken out individually. They give you extra information about the route, the difficulty and the places of interest you’ll cross. This is really good value for money ! There is also a booklet “182 x Luxembourg” with local footpaths and informative educational paths.
A similar booklet is edited by the CFL, the national railroad. Here, the starting point of the walks is always a railway station, so that you can explore Luxembourg without your own transportation. These 40 walks combine in a perfect way with a restful trip by train.

Tips for travel Insurance

2008-07-17T05:15:00.000-07:00

Travel Insurance

While I have never had one of those terrible experiences of seriously injuring myself or anyone I am travelling with I am also a big fan of travel insurance and make a contentious effort to ensure that I always have travel insurance for any backpacking holiday I take.

While being expensive it provides peace of mind because quite simply you never know what is going to happen. Everyone likes to think that they are 10ft tall and bullet proof (myself included) however when doing a backpacking holiday and isolated, its not the best time to be proven wrong. Everyone knows of that person who had an accident, got sick or lost their luggage, unfortunately it’s a fact of travel.

There are a few pit falls and things to know that will ensure you get value for money and good quality travel insurance.

First of all: Cheap travel insurance, it’s a misconception; travel insurance is an expensive part of any holiday, however if something does go wrong it will suddenly become ‘cheap travel insurance’.

Ensure that your travel policy covers the basics for travel aboard, this includes:
- cancellation and interruption of your travel - lost of your luggage and theft - medical expenses - repatriation
I prefer to use a travel agent when booking travel insurance because I like the idea of face to face contact and point of return, especially if there are issues while on holiday. While the internet offers the concept of cheap travel insurance it does this because there is no personal help when it’s required. I speak from personal experience here because I did purchase cheap travel insurance off the internet for my trip to Europe. After landing in San Francisco for a 3hour stop over I was informed my bags had been lost. Felling powerless and unable to do anything continued to Frankfurt where I was told ‘your bags have been found and are on there way here’. Problem was I then caught another connecting flight to Rome, Italy. Subsequently I spent 3days (in the middle of winter) in Rome wearing shorts and jandles freezing cold before my bags arrived. When my bags finally appeared, a number of items had been damaged including my expensive sunglasses. My cheap travel insurance, purchased off the internet became rather expensive because I am still battling with the company over the claim and struggle to contact a person. Hence my belief that working with a travel agent is beneficial.

Backpacking guides, I can’t say enough about backpacking guides, they are a real wealth of information, this includes what is required to get you to the beginning of your backpacking holiday and home safely. Refer to these guides and take them with you when travelling, don’t forget you’re not the first to do such a holiday so learn from other peoples mistakes, read blog sites and websites like this, while I am not an expert but I have made plenty of mistakes that don’t need to be repeated.

Final point would have to be: When booking travel insurance ensure that you will be covered for the type of holiday you’re planning. If you’re going skiing in Europe make sure that adventure sports are part of your travel insurance package. Sometimes this is how insurance companies can create the perception of cheap travel insurance -by removing parts of the policy. Please note, that illegal behaviour, war and acts of terrorism are not covered in a standard travel policy, so if you’re planning a trip to a place like Afghanistan or even Israel make sure you consult a travel agent before purchasing a policy. I know that some standard travel policies don’t cover all aspects of a backpacking holiday either so be sure to get the details from a travel agent before purchasing a policy that is not suitable.

I hope that this will help you weigh up the benefits and costs of travel insurance and enable you to make a more informed decision, I know a long term backpacking holiday is defiantly not the time for stress and worry so if something does go wrong the peace of mind knowing that your travel insurance will cover the cost is comforting.

What do you need for a camping trip in Europe?

2008-07-17T01:13:00.000-07:00

Besides the obvious essentials like a tent, sleeping bags, and chilly bin, esky or cooler box there are a few essentials required to have a successful, enjoyable and comfortable camping trip.

Depending upon the environment and where the camping trip will be, there are other items that will vary according to the terrain, weather, and any flora and fauna that may be encountered.
However the items below I consider are absolutely essential to ensuring an enjoyable vacation.

A first aid kit is at the top of the list and an absolutely essential. This is required no matter the environment or type of trip planned, a
first aid kit can be stored in the car, and hopefully they will stay there. But at least you know its available if required. The intention of a camping trip is to get away from civilization and built up areas. ‘Roughing it’ in central Paris or London may defeat the purpose of camping. Because, you’re more isolated should an injury occur it can me much more serious due to the delay you will have in getting medical help. Also because of the environment your now living in even small cuts can get infected so must be treated and cleaned carefully. This is why it is important to have a first aid kit with you.

Along with your first aid kit you should bring a flashlight (don’t forget to check the batteries before leaving home). Battery powered headlamps are fantastic tools and can make challenging tasks life carrying a bucket of dishes across a dark campsite more manageable. They are also great for reading before bed.

Campfires and BBQ’s are not allowed in a lot of the campgrounds in Europe for the fear of starting a fire, ensure that you have a gas cooker with you just in case your not allowed to use your beloved BBQ. With that in mind a lighter is an obvious and necessary tool. I know that man evolved because of tools, and his ability to create fire by rubbing sticks together, however it’s 21st century and its not a lot of fun to attempt this, especially when you’re hungry.

Be sure to bring a selection of basic tools like screwdrivers, pliers, a hammer (for hammering in tent pegs), and a good sharp knife. A spade is also a valuable tool, in Europe it can rain very hard and small floods are not uncommon. This is especially true if camping near the beach, and on sand. Dig a trench around the outside of your tent; it can make a huge difference to a potentially horrible situation. This has happened to us, a huge thunder and lightning storm and incredibly heavy rain flooded the toilets, filled the pool with sand and did damage to the campsite all in a few hours. We however slept though the whole thing and woke up dry, simply because we thought ahead and dug a drainage ditch around our tent.

Finally, pack a roll of duct tape and cable ties, I don’t know how many times these two items have ‘saved the day’. They are diverse and have so many uses.I’m not going to go into much detail about personal hygiene items but would recommend you don’t forget a toothbrushes and toothpaste. Be sure to pack toilet paper even if staying in a campsite because often they won’t supply you any. They will however charge exorbitant amounts to buy some.

A real necessity is insect repellent and bug candles. Bug candles (when lit) will help keep away the bugs from your campsite in the evening. This is important because insects are attracted to light and given the chance will harass you ALL night.

We recently allowed ourselves two luxury items that have transformed our camping and bought out of the Stone Age and into the luxurious 21st century. A camping table and chairs makes a huge difference to sitting on chilly bins or lying on towels. You can sit, read, eat and play cards it’s also a central point for the campsite and you will one you find once you have these items will find them indispensable.

Finally we have gone high tech, a three way socket for the cigarette lighter in the car has ensured that we can now run an electric cooler to keep our food cold, a portable ipod station and speaker provides us with music and a spare plug ensured that we could charge mobile phones, even torches with ease. Obviously because these operate off the car battery be careful not to drain the car battery, have a pair of jumper leads with you just in case you do.

Kayaking in Luxembourg

2008-07-17T00:07:00.000-07:00

The weather in Luxembourg had been spectacular all week, I cant recall a single cloud for almost 5 days, The sky was that radiant blue that you dream of and the temperature was over 30 degrees every day (who says that summer in Northern Europe is s*% » ?) and I had been at work the entire time.
Desperate to get outside and enjoy some of the sun we had organised to hire some kayaks and paddle a 16km stretch of the river Sure ending in a beautiful little town called Echternach. It wasn’t going to be a hard paddle, however some un-forecast rain the night before ensured that some of the grade one rapids would be pushing grade two by the time we arrived.

We arrived mid morning, being from New Zealand, we had a fare idea about how this would work so came organised with some of the basics, the Italians we met there however didn’t. He arrived wearing a Prada business shirt, designer jeans and loafers (I have never used this word before but it really is the perfect description for the type of shoes he was wearing). His girlfriend, well I am not going to go into much detail – let’s just say that in true Italian style she looked stunning. It didn’t phase them though, I will happily admit they where the first onto the river.

The company who provided the kayaks did so in true Luxembourgish style making statements like: ‘we don’t need your credit cards as bond – where are you going to go?’ ‘Yes we provide life jackets and helmets . . . you can wear them if you like – they are for your safety’. Finally their idea of teaching you how to paddle a kayak consisted of ‘go with the current, and don’t go down the rapids sideways’. With that they pushed you into the middle of the river and away you went . . . ‘Oh and don’t forget always stay right’ came the shout – anyway I think that’s what he said he was speaking German after all.

Nicci and I had opted for the larger double canoe, many of the others (who had never been in a kayak before) jumped in singles. What a sight we where, the first rapids approaching at speed ensured plenty of swearing and shouts as each kayak rounded the bend. Collectively we broke all the rules as some went down the rapids sideways others deciding not to go at all and attempting to paddle against the current ended up doing the first white water of the trip backwards.

In between the mayhem of the rapids, it was a relaxing and enjoyable trip, we passed fishermen and camp sites. There was plenty of current ensuring that as long as you kept the kayak straight the river did most of the work for you. This was a hard learned lesson for many in our group. After about an hour or so, someone suggested we stop for a beer, so we pulled the boats up onto the river bank and wandered up into Germany (did I mention that the River Sure is the boarder for Germany and Luxembourg?) We found a little café overlooking the river and proceeded to carbo-load with pizza and beer.
We continued down the river, moving somewhat slower now, until we came a cross an island dividing the way, while the left looked like so much more fun, we heeded the advice of the German and stayed right, a good choice because the rapids where longer stronger and it turned out the left was a dead end.

It was at the top of these rapids one of the group decided it was a good idea to stand on top of a rock in the middle of the river and empty his canoe that was half full of water, watching this guy ‘walking on water’ and emptying his canoe was hilarious, so funny I almost fell out of mine.

The length was perfect, it’s about 2.5hours paddle and when you have never canoed or kayaked before you quickly realise it uses muscles you didn’t know you had. As just as everybody was getting tired and starting to hurt we rounded a bend and in front of us was the town of Echternach, more importantly a truck waiting to collect our kayaks – perfect. We rolled out of the kayaks, wet and sunburned signs of a good day. We left the canoes on the river bank and swaggered into town leaving a trail of wet footprints in our wake, it didn’t matter we where intent on finding a beer.

For more information refer to the following websites:

http://www.outdoorfreizeit.lu/

Guide to backpacking though Europe

2008-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I write this while currently backpacking through Europe. In fact I have been travelling for almost three months now. I left New Zealand with little more than my pack and a set of skis. I am currently staying in a small country called Luxembourg, while organising how to get to Russia. I have seen quite a bit of Europe in the past few months. Among other things I have seen the Coliseum in Italy, Eiffel Tower in France, and travelled though the Benelux countries. It’s been an amazing trip; of course it has had highs and lows but overall an incredible experience. I have learned so much about myself the countries visited and the people.
I thought while I had the opportunity provide a few tips to anyone looking to spend time backpacking through Europe with the hope that it will make things easier, after all why should other traveller’s have to make the mistakes I already have.
Research is key: For me I was amazed at how large Europe actually is. Not only is it large, there is a huge amount to do, my advice, unless you have along time accept defeat now, you wont see everything. Therefore you need to investigate the countries and decide before you get there what the places are of interest to you are If you must see the Coliseum put it at the top of your list. Bare in mind that you can also make changes to your itinerary once you’re in the country of interest. For example Rome had huge significance for me and I planned to see a lot; after 4 days of the Coliseum, St Peters Cathedral, Basilica’s, Vatican City, and of course Ancient Roman Ruins I was quite literally ‘ruined out’ and didn’t want to see anymore old buildings, and therefore quite happy to leave Rome for other parts of Italy.
Insurance: travel insurance, what a fantastic invention, I flew into Frankfurt, Germany to find that they had lost my bag during my connection in America. Subsequently my trip to Rome and four day spent sight seeing was spent in shorts because I had nothing else (I will add that it was also the middle of winter). Ultimately it wasn’t a problem because when the insurance came through they paid out the original price for items without problems. Also, if the worst happens and you have a medical emergency they will ensure that everything is covered and you are well looked after. The insurance is expensive and you hope you never need it . . . but its comforting to know its there just in case.
Be prepared for anything: The key here is to be flexible and learn to expect to adapt. It’s the Boy Scout motto and it defiantly applies to travelling, At all times I carry a multi purpose knife, duct tape, zip-lock bags and cable ties. If anything this type of travel will teach you to ‘think outside the square’. My bag is now held together with cable ties, and after skiing in France my ski gloves are covered in duct tape - just to name a few examples.
Be respectful: After Rome I arrived by train in a tiny Italian town, it was late at night and pouring with rain. Not being able to speak a word of Italian a kind a local gentleman (who couldn’t speak a word of English) realised my predicament he took me to the hostel and then to the nearest bar. As a thank you for his help I bought down a bottle of wine and invited him to join me. I ended up drinking with this gentleman and the bar owner until the early hours of the morning. It is still one of my favourite memories of the trip so far. Moral of the story, listen to your mum - say please and thank you, a lot especially when you cant speak the local language. No body likes loud obnoxious people especially when they obviously don’t belong.
Be organized: You don’t have a lot, but make sure that you think about how you pack, if your travelling a long way put your heaviest items at the top of the pack, this will help you balance better when walking. Put items you use a lot in accessible items, its extremely frustrating having to unpack just to find your passport at the bottom of the bag. Before leaving, print all documents you may need, flight details, accommodation bookings etc. Mistakes are made by these companies and often being able to show the original details will make your life easier and save you money.
Invest in Euro rail passes, they are available for all sorts of different countries, combinations, lengths etc. but basically they give you the opportunity to travel for an entire day, as many trains as you wish. They will save you money and provide you the ability to book tickets at the last minute without paying premiums.
Also, pack light, you will be carrying all this gear around with you, you must be able to carry your pack or you will have problems.

Be careful: Don’t trust anyone; I always carry anything of value on me, even in hostels. I would love to allow my fellow tourists the respect of trust. However I can’t afford to have my passport, train tickets or even my ipod stolen. Unfortunately therefore I assume – everyone is out to steal from me.
Also, when you’re a tourist some locals will attempt to take advantage of you. This seemed extremely prevalent in Rome and Paris. They see a potential customer and will try to sell you something – if you like it or not. You obviously have more money than them because you can afford a holiday (no matter how small you budget). Besides that you are probably carrying a great big sign on your back saying ‘I don’t belong here’. There are two key groups to be wary of, anybody who approaches you with string in their hands or locals asking if you speak English – ignore them, it’s often extremely hard to do, however integral or else you will be broke in a day. They target you and are often outside key tourist attractions like the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.

Expense – cut costs by . . . doing everything you can, food is probably the easiest – go to the supermarket, buy ingredients to make sandwiches during the day (this is where the knife on your multi tool comes in handy). Most hostels will allow you to bring food in or even cook meals there if you ask. An example of how expensive Europe is would have to be Paris – it cost 2.80 Euro just for a can of Coke. Go to the supermarket and stock up, this will also save you time and you will be able to see sights in a day.
It may be a little scary and unnerving but use the public transport, all in all its efficient and not to expensive. Be aware things like the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower in Paris all cost money to experience, don’t be disillusioned you will spend money.

Final tip: learn the language; At a minimum learn the basics and have a phrase book handy at all times – If you’re planning a long trip spend the time and money to get some lessons before leaving your country. I didn’t and it’s probably the biggest mistake I made, I thought I would be able to bluff my way through most things. However when doing something like booking a train ticket to Paris you must get the right ticket and train for that matter, or else things can go very wrong for you. (Trust me on this one). If you’re travelling all over this part of Europe learn French, it seems to be widely understood. The residence of countries such as Holland and Germany they take great pride in speaking English well so you won’t have as many problems, the French however take pride in their language and expect you to at least attempt to speak the language.

I hope that this guide is of some help to you and saves a few headaches during your trip abroad. There will always be issues with this type of travelling, but if you relax, learn how to ‘roll with the punches’ and improvise you will have an experience you will savour for the rest of your life.

Postcard quaility photos

2008-07-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

Everyone has seen that image that quite literally stops you in your tracks . . . It's so spectacular that it doesn't matter where you are - walking past a shop, or perusing a friend's photo album. You must to go back for that second more detailed look. It could be a magnitude of things that cause you to stop and stare, the colours, the detail or the photos contents. It doesn't matter which of these catches your eye the one thing that I can guarantee is that the photo is well constructed. A well constructed image is created using a few simple rules and is where the photographer spends a little time thinking about how to actually construct a more appealing image, identify the point of the image and capture it. A great photo is not directly related to the camera or the amount of money you have spent on it, it is the user and their are a few simple rules that anyone can learn and apply to their personal photographs for more visually stimulating images.

Before delving into the Techniques which will improve your photography you need to understand that the human brain is constantly absorbing information. It works subconsciously within less than a second of seeing a picture it is drawn to specific details; the human brain also knows what it finds appealing. Of course everybody is different and people like different things. This is true at many levels however there are a few of the most basic rules that are universally acceptable. Upon taking the time to understand how the brain thinks and reacts to certain parts of a photograph your photography will have already improved.

There are four such rules that can make your photograph more appealing to the human subconscious. (Please note that in this situation I use the word rule very loosely, there is no law saying this is how it must be done. Photography is not a black or white science it is an art form and with that comes situation there is plenty of grey area to be exposed, these are just guidelines to remember.)

Focal Points Before you get trigger happy and rattle off hundreds of pictures eetake a moment to decide what are you actually taking a photo of? The focal point of the picture needs to be the most important thing in the image. Mentally split your picture into two sections; the foreground and the background. This is a great technique to remember when taking those pictures destined for the family photo album. Your brain can only process one part of the picture at one time, it is either the foreground or the background and in which order is dependant on how your frame your photo. If you want a family photo zoom in close and ensure that the people fill up the majority of the picture, this will immediately draw the focal point to the front of the image. Alternatively apply the rule of thirds' and have the people stand slightly to the side, then use the background to fill the rest of the picture, this will give your picture background emphasis. The balance between foreground and background will be purely dependant on how close you zoom in or how far away you are from the foreground.

The rule of thirds: Imagine looking through your view finder, cut the image using two horizontal lines that create 3 boxes. Do the same with two vertical lines, this will give you nine equal squares. The aim of the rule of thirds is to place your focal point on the intersection of any of these lines. This will ensue that your focal point is never in the middle of the image but slightly to one side. This is immediately more pleasing to the eye and will provide you're photo a better composition. It's very simple, if you place something in front of your nose you go cross eyed, it's immediately uncomfortable, on a smaller scale the same thing applies when looking at a photograph.

Framing: Your eyes will automatically look into the picture if you frame it correctly. Your brain can be lazy, in a sense you can trick it or help it see what you want it to. This means decide on your focal point and use something in the foreground to direct the eyes towards your focal point. This is usually something vertical on either one or both sides of the image, it does not have to be solid but cannot be two far towards the middle of the image or it will take the emphasis away from what your trying to photograph.

Line your photo up: Your brain likes lines however within a photo they must be either parallel or perpendicular with others to be most effective. This is incredibly important if taking scenic images, nothing ruins a lovely landscape picture faster than if the horizon is not straight. Two examples are horizons must be parallel with the top of the image and people standing should be parallel with the sides. Always try and find a link with your focal point and the edge of your image.

In conclusion, the aim of a good photograph is to give the mind something that it likes to look at, it must be easy on the eye and the focal point is to be immediately recognized. Dont forget the same rules apply when photographing people. Now with a little practice your photos will only improve. Remember, there is no black and white rule just Guidelines, therefore don't be afraid to break the rules if you desire.

ZZ Top do Europe

2008-07-16T02:06:00.000-07:00

When you have moved to a new country, don’t know any one, have a new job, can’t speak the language you gratefully accept ANY offer of social interaction. So when one of my colleagues asked if we would like to go to a ZZ Top concert I jumped at the opportunity.

I ignored the fact that we had no money, or that it’s not normally a concert I would have gone to and we where in the process of trying to buy a car and spent the 100 euro required on tickets. As the day drew closer I was disappointed how ‘flat’ I felt, I wasn’t getting excited like normal – ‘maybe I’m just getting to old for this I thought.’ Of course I had to eat those words later on when my 38year old French manager decided to come and subsequently drove us to the concert.
Now this French manager who drove also hired me. However since that point has not said two words to me, we do have a standing joke that neither of us understands the other; OK so it’s not really a joke - it’s the truth, great working environment I know . . . yet somehow it’s just never a problem.
We arrived in a sea of Harley Davidson’s, Choppers, leather, tattoos and facial hair. Considering Luxembourg is the world capital of suits, ties and accountants it was a VERY respectable turn out, in fact I was quietly proud. We sat in a café having a bilingual competition to find the best beard and pair of leather pants (believe me it was a hard fought competition) The winner was a ‘gentleman’ who was covered in tattoos, had a goatee that would have touched his belly button and was wearing a ZZ Top t shirt from a concert he had seen in 1991.

We wandered into the Arena, and pushed our way to the front, beers and hot dogs in each hand. We stood there talking, and laughing – partially at the crowd, many looked like they pulled there mouldy, moth eaten concert clothes from storage for the first time in 20 years, then also because somehow all these clothes had also mysteriously shrunk? But mainly we laughed because Oliver pointed out that the ZZ Top members are 59 and not only had been playing together for 40 years but where also still cranking out the hits. Nicci then professed that she didn’t know any ZZ Top songs, which proved to be an absolute lie because everyone knows ZZ Top you just don’t always know it.

It was at this point of the night (about 3beers) that I then realised my French manager was speaking in English, its safe to say that he spoke more English in this one night that the entire year I have known him.

When ZZ Top came on the crowd erupted, I have to take my hat off to Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, they are incredible - always in time, voices still in perfect control, and they sound just like they did 20 years ago. Best of all, I truly believe that both Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill still love to perform, you could see it from the crowd, they where laughing and having fun. It looks like they have a game where they try to trick the other into making a mistake. They really are like and old married couple – they know what the other is about to do before he does. A very impressive trick, Guitar riffs would get faster and faster or solos extended all in the name of entertainment. Incredibly they don’t use any peddles and all effects are done on the guitar by hand; best of all they still played for over 2hours (not bad for two old boys). These guys really know how to put on a show it superseded all expectations. They played the best songs including ‘Gimme All Your Loving’, ‘Legs’, ‘Got Me Under Pressure’, ‘Cheap Sunglasses’ and ‘Sharp Dressed Man’.

The next day at work both looking a little shady it was back to normal my manager still doesn’t talk to me but in English but everyone has decided to fix this all we need to do is get him drinking beer before coming to work.. It was one of the best concerts I have been to for some time, a fun night – not bad for lill ol Luxembourg, even more amazingly across town ‘Blonde’ was also playing another concert, so many decisions, so little time . . .

Heineken European Cup Final

2008-07-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

If your a true rugby fan then you must go to a game in Wales (Previously Cardiff Farms now the Millennium stadium) its always been a dream of mine . . .

Nicci organised this past weekend as a birthday present for me. All I knew about this weekend was that there we where going to a festival in Europe and to get there was going to be a huge amount of travel involved. I was quite dubious about how much fun we could fit in around all the travelling. Nicci however was adamant that this ‘incredible european festival’ would be worth it. As a last minute idea I managed to scrounge the Friday off work (from a rather unimpressed manager) I don’t understand his problem, I true to form I asked on Thursday – it wasn’t last minute or anything.

We started the weekend with a 2 hours bus ride to Frankfurt Hann, where we waited and then caught another bus to Frankfurt Main where we spent the night. The next morning we caught a train back to the airport and boarded a plane to our final destination – seeing as we where in Germany I thought it would be in Russia, Prague maybe. Boy I was surprised to find out the plane landed in Bristol, Wales????
Turns out that Nicci wasn’t entirely truthful and this ‘Festival’ was actually the European Cup Rugby Final, not only had our newly adopted team Munster made the final. Somehow Nicci had scored amazing tickets to the rugby almost on the 50m line. Better yet the final was being played at Cardiff, the home of Wales rugby.

Anyone who knows my father will probably have heard a few of his stories. Well one of my favourite tales has to be ‘story number 54’ when got rugby tickets to the All Blacks vs Wales at Cardiff Farm Park. He still says it is one of the most memorable games he has ever seen, his one regret was that the All Blacks wiped the Welsh and he didn’t get to hear much singing from the crowd, they where rather tame he says.

Well knowing this we got off the plane and Nicci was grinning from ear to ear, being run over buy a bus wouldn’t have wiped the smile off her face, unfortunately realising she had left her phone on the plane did! It wasn’t the phone that mattered she explained not only where we going to the rugby final, but some good friends where in Cardiff as well and she was supposed to call them and we were to meet them for a few pre match beers. Sounds terrible!
We couldn’t do much about the phone because the plane was already heading back to Frankfurt so we jumped onto a bus heading to Bristol where we where staying. The schedule was always tight so we only had enough time to dump our bags at the hostel before getting onto another bus to Cardiff. This feat would have gone a lot smoother if some local hadn’t sent us in the direct opposite direction from the hostel.

As we wandered down the street it was here that I started to realise that rugby wasn’t a sport but actually a religion here. We where still an hour and a half drive from the stadium and literally every second man woman and child walking down the street had a bright red Munster shirt on - talk about support Wales rugby is alive and well.

After wandering around in circles for a while, we boarded the bus to get us to Millennium stadium – still carrying our bags. Suprise surprise it was overflowing with red Muster fans. The trip was rather uneventful but as we pulled into Cartiff the bus stopped, we couldn’t move. Looking out the window it was painfully obvious why, Munster fans had taken over the streets, they where everywhere. Thousands and thousands of Munster fans – incredibly it was only 1200, kick off wasn’t until 1700, this was a real rugby town.

With some help from well lubricated but extremely helpful fans and a program sales lady who became our personal secretary for the day (if you wish to apply for the position you have to provide your own phone) we managed to not only pick up our tickets but to call and meet Mark and Emma in the pub. Well not quite the pub, the small grassy area next to it, the pub was overflowing, the windows where wide open, everyone was just passing pints onto the street. On the street it was standing room only. The seriously outnumbered Tulouse fans had nothing to worry about, the atmosphere was so chilled. The stadium sits about 75,000 fans. But I am sure there was closer to 100,000 people there, and I only counted 3 cops all night. We watched 9 or 10 pink French bunnies (????) carrying huge Tulouse signs above their heads attempt to sneak thought the sea of red Muster fans like cartoon characters, big high steps, standing on tip toes and fingers pressed to their lips indicating to anyone who was watching to be quiet, of course the entire street was watching. I by this time was on the floor with fits of laughter, it was so funny. They carried on down the street like this until one Munster fan; adamant of their impending doom bought them all a round because he ‘felt sorry for them’.

We then downed a few beers and talked about how rugby was an outside winter sport therefore closing the stadium roof was a ridiculous idea, why would you do this? We asked. Then all too soon it was time for kick off. Still carrying our bags and headed for our seats on the 40m mark. The stadium the atmosphere can only be described as electric it was so intense. The huge stadium was full of Munster supporters (about 68,000 I have been told). The few Tulouse fans that actually turned up where hell bent on making some noise though, they carried drums, cow bells, pots and pans and anything they could use. The entire stadium was red, there was nothing else, just red, you couldn’t even see the blue seats the people where that thick.

The noise was indescribable, when the teams came out the cheer that erupted was so loud you couldn’t tell if you where actually yelling or not. The game was fantastic, a real final, close and hard fought. This just excited the crowd. The Tulouse fans would try and make some noise just to be stopped dead in there tracks by 68,000 Irish and Welsh fans who would start singing – not just a drunken sing along, but incredibly in harmony, the entire crowd would actually change octaves through the song. It was at this point I decided that shutting the roof of the stadium was brilliant because the acoustics where just cool, you could almost feel the building pulsing, it the roof was open you would have heard the Munster fans in Paris.
The match paled in comparison to the atmosphere, although Doug Howlet nearly scored a great try if he wasn’t delivered a forward pass, Byron Callaher played a solid game as usual (even if he is a dirty frenchy now) and the Tolouse winger put on of the best tries I have ever seen. It started from an offensive Munster kick deep into the French half; he gathered the ball from outside the touch line. Passed it to himself, then beat most of the defenders with two chip kicks, which he subsequently recovered, then provided a text book off load to a supporting player who scored - nice.

After the game finished it was back to the pub, everyone we spoke to would look at us ask what on earth we where doing there (not being Irish – we stood out like sore thumbs as soon as we opened our mouths). We coined a standard answer which was “We are New Zealanders . . . who else would travel this far for a rugby match” they seemed to love that answer; it was talk of the pub. The other quote of the night was “eight busses, one train, two planes, one weekend - watching Munster win in the Cup final . . . Priceless”. Turns out everyone knows this Mastercard add, everyone liked that also.
Its about now I have to admit that New Zealand rugby supporters have nothing on the Welsh or Irish, Cardiff is a real rugby town and rugby is a religion over there, they really put us to shame. Welsh rugby is like nothing I have ever experianced.

Then all too soon, it was 1.30 in the morning and fun time was over. We had to catch our bus back to Bristol (still with our bags) and attempted to find our hostel again. At 3.45am we had succeeded and crawled into bed, painfully aware a sleep in the next morning was not an option as check out was at 10.00. We survived the next day drinking coffee in cafes (intravenously into my veins please) and wandering through the shops, stopping to pick up Vogels bread and tea for Nicci.

We caught the bus back to the airport and checked in, we boarded the plane and then we waited . . . .and waited some more – turns out they couldn’t find one of the passengers, painfully aware of how far we had to travel I started to worry, the minutes continued to tick by. Finally she turned up, no apology and she actually had the nerve to ask everyone in her row to move because she liked the window seat. It was about this time that the pilot came onto the radio and told us we had just missed our take off slot and would have to wait another 45 minutes for the next one. A head wind ensured that we where going to be over two hours late landing in Frankfurt.

While in the air we had a competition to see who was the most screwed – I think the air hostess won, she had a daughter at home, had missed her connecting flight which meant a 3 hours drive to get home, AND she had a big exam the next morning at 0800. The couple behind us where on their honeymoon and missed their connecting flight (but the way they went on though you thought the sky was falling) and as for use we had missed the last bus back to Luxembourg for the night.
That’s not a problem I thought, we will just catch a train. Turns out that the only train that we could have caught to Luxembourg goes via Paris, take over 8 hours and we would have to train changes 5 times (it’s normally a direct 3 hour trip).
Ok, that’s cool, more than one way to skin a cat, we will rent a car and drive; it can’t be that expensive. Haha we got quoted 400 euro for a 24 hour rental. Flights to Luxembourg where about 400 euro each so that wasn’t an option either. Our next option was to book a hotel and leave in the morning, my already angry manager won’t like this I thought. That wasn’t going to happen anyway because the hotel reception had closed so we couldn’t even book a hotel. Hhhuummm its now 12oclock and we are really stuck now. So we did what every self respecting kiwi would do. We found four chairs in one of the biggest busiest airports in the world and tried to sleep. Being mildly paranoid about having my bags stolen sleep doesn’t come easy to me in public places so I rested my eyes . . . in between watching everyone that walked past. At 2.30am we boarded the first bus to Frankfurt Hann, where we would catch a connecting bus to Luxembourg.
I rubbed my eyes and hopped off the bus at 06.15am on Monday morning, it was light the city was awake and everyone was off to work. Not wanting to feel left out I went home, changed and went to work - I was even early, but I hadn’t slept.
Funny thing is not only did I get kudos at work doing such a trip after I had finished telling this entire story it was may manager was the one who was laughing longest and hardest.