![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTY, YOU GORGEOUS WOMAN!!!!!!
Leave a comment
I just want to get my feet wet...
25 September 2009 @ 11:15 am
I woke up in a bit of a fever at 3am, though physically I was fine. In the land of my subconscious most of my face had been sunburnt to the point of being red raw and gooey and required urgent medical attention. Now, I have all sorts of strange dreams to be fair, but this one really stuck in my gut. And according to an online interpretation of sunburn,(because I believe everything I read on the Internet) there’s a fair reason for it to be stuck:
To dream that you have sunburn indicates that there is an emotional situation or problem that you can no longer avoid. There is some urgent matter that is literally burning through to your soul and demands your immediate attention.
Bugger.
Of course, it might also relate to the start of sunny days again....
Sunscreen SPF50+, anyone?
14 September 2009 @ 07:26 am
This is one of my favourite shots of Llama, who got up quite close through the crowds of people to check out the Mona Lisa. 
12 September 2009 @ 10:56 pm
Although I haven't exactly shared my South America photos on livejournal yet... I feel like starting in Paris and maybe working backwards :P
And where better to start than the Eiffel tower? 
27 August 2009 @ 08:13 am
Posted Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:02pm AEST
The first US retreat for internet addicts has opened its doors, welcoming a teenager that was captive to the World of Warcraft online role-playing videogame.
The 19-year-old boy went from pursuing quests in Azeroth to bottle-feeding baby goats and building a chicken coop as part of a reStart Internet Addiction Recovery Program at a rural five-acre spread in the state of Washington.
"We are a cold-turkey place; no technology," reStart psychotherapist Hilarie Cash said.
"A gamer is not going to be allowed to game any time they are here because it is the gaming that is their drug of choice."
Ms Cash and therapist Cosette Rae opened the internet addiction retreat in July as a live-in centre for re-connecting cyber junkies with the land of the living.
The retreat has beds for six patients. A 45-day stay costs $US14,500 ($17,500) plus cash for daily expenses such as renting camping gear for wilderness adventures.
It also treats internet addicts as out-patients, with typical patients ranging from 18 to 28-years-old with "extensive exposure to porn, but not much to sex".
25 August 2009 @ 10:34 pm
As I rest up against my impressively large 'european pillows' kindly provided as part of my loot and matching perfectly in with my new doona cover (can't imagine where that idea came from) I can't help but think what a great lot of friends I have. Not just because they gave me such a magnificent loot, but because they just rock.. all of you. Go on, admit it, you know you are.
The main cause of saying this isn't for the yummy bottle of amberly chenin, my favourite white since 2001, or the biscotti's that I'm going to get into (mmm biscotti!), the ticket to see broadways greatest at His Maj (theatre! eee!), I mean all these things are BRILLIANT but really, REALLY what really gives the love?
The thought out cards.
There was some card gold this year! and in past years the quality has spoken for itself, and this year was no exception. The card from my eldest brother receives extra special mention, you have to see it to really understand but it was a card about a prison for morons, GOLD! Gold I say! You just can't buy that kind of love!!! ..well okay you can, but whatever.
Coming in with equal weight to the cards were the hugs. Ahh I love a good hug with a cup of tea in the morning, or a pint of cider in the evening, or heck, with a pasta for lunch. A good hug is memorable, there are a collection of great hugs that feature in my most favourite times of my life. A great hug is a gift, and I appreciate them and look forward to many more.
Now I sleep, in happy coordinated linen bliss!
The main cause of saying this isn't for the yummy bottle of amberly chenin, my favourite white since 2001, or the biscotti's that I'm going to get into (mmm biscotti!), the ticket to see broadways greatest at His Maj (theatre! eee!), I mean all these things are BRILLIANT but really, REALLY what really gives the love?
The thought out cards.
There was some card gold this year! and in past years the quality has spoken for itself, and this year was no exception. The card from my eldest brother receives extra special mention, you have to see it to really understand but it was a card about a prison for morons, GOLD! Gold I say! You just can't buy that kind of love!!! ..well okay you can, but whatever.
Coming in with equal weight to the cards were the hugs. Ahh I love a good hug with a cup of tea in the morning, or a pint of cider in the evening, or heck, with a pasta for lunch. A good hug is memorable, there are a collection of great hugs that feature in my most favourite times of my life. A great hug is a gift, and I appreciate them and look forward to many more.
Now I sleep, in happy coordinated linen bliss!
24 August 2009 @ 06:50 am
I just woke up wrapped up in my Royal Doulton sheet set, freshly put on last night.. in my clean jammies, under my new gorgeous Home Republic 'Willow Tree' doona cover and new duck down king size doona...
Mmmmm domestic sleepy snuggly bliss!
My addiction? It's worth it.
Mmmmm domestic sleepy snuggly bliss!
My addiction? It's worth it.
22 August 2009 @ 04:43 pm
Dear Reader,
I don't mean to alarm you with what is, really, a self evident statement. I have a problem. And not just the one, but I'll try to keep it to specific for the sake of this entry.
My name is Kim and it has been 34 minutes since my last manchester purchase.
I sit here with post-manchester-purchase bliss slowly embracing my senses, like the satisfaction, bliss and exhaustion which overwhelms you after hours of love making. I take comfort listening to the whirrr of the washing machine swirling my new linen around. I am already anxious about the wait for it to dry, but I know it will all be worth it in the end.
My manchester addiction really isn't something new. I recall with some fondness a few years ago now, the time I nursed an egyptian cotton sheet set that I simply couldn't resist buying in Melbourne, and then carrying under my arm all the way back to Perth. We still have a good life together, and I think that sheet set will become really close friends with my new addition to my bedding range.
As I drove along the Mitchell Freeway today it became obvious that perhaps this time I had gone too far. I have now been to countless online stores, I have been to 3 baines, adairs, lincraft, k-mart, big-w, Ikea, target, myer and who knows where else... but I couldn't find what I was looking for... In the last week I have purchased three new doona covers, and returned two, eager and obsessed on the search for the image of bedding perfection in my mind. One of my purchases had been made with far too much haste, and post-bad-manchester-purchase regret soon ensued. I learnt my lesson though, as I burned up precious petrol on the way to Joondalup to return what I had foolishly thought was the answer to my awkward bed situation.
This would not happen again, I stupidly thought, not having yet fully appreciated the length I will actually go to for linen luxury... yes dear reader... I would even go to Carousel on a Saturday afternoon which we all know is practically a kamikaze mission into chaos. My first port of call, Adairs, having born witness to the bedding luxury in their most recent linen lovers catalogue (thank you Pete, for feeding my addiction ;-) ). Alas, Adairs did not have the object of my affection in stock, gasp! But after buying a back up doona cover in K-Mart Belmont (yes, Belmont), I called Carousel Adairs again a few hours later (just incase) to find that they did indeed have my King Size 'Willow Tree' doona cover in !! they had just opened the box with it there! So I went back out to Carousel a second time, a dubious decision given I barely survived my first trip, returned the K-Mart doona cover, and bought the one I really, deeply, truly wanted.
I understand that my manchester-addiction is masking other needs, really I do... and maybe one day as I get stronger I'll be prepared to face that side of things, but for now I'm content with my purchase and I feel as though we're going to have a long happy life together in sleeping bliss.
Some people have alcohol, some have cigarettes, others have gambling... I personally have manchester, and I'm okay with that.
I don't mean to alarm you with what is, really, a self evident statement. I have a problem. And not just the one, but I'll try to keep it to specific for the sake of this entry.
My name is Kim and it has been 34 minutes since my last manchester purchase.
I sit here with post-manchester-purchase bliss slowly embracing my senses, like the satisfaction, bliss and exhaustion which overwhelms you after hours of love making. I take comfort listening to the whirrr of the washing machine swirling my new linen around. I am already anxious about the wait for it to dry, but I know it will all be worth it in the end.
My manchester addiction really isn't something new. I recall with some fondness a few years ago now, the time I nursed an egyptian cotton sheet set that I simply couldn't resist buying in Melbourne, and then carrying under my arm all the way back to Perth. We still have a good life together, and I think that sheet set will become really close friends with my new addition to my bedding range.
As I drove along the Mitchell Freeway today it became obvious that perhaps this time I had gone too far. I have now been to countless online stores, I have been to 3 baines, adairs, lincraft, k-mart, big-w, Ikea, target, myer and who knows where else... but I couldn't find what I was looking for... In the last week I have purchased three new doona covers, and returned two, eager and obsessed on the search for the image of bedding perfection in my mind. One of my purchases had been made with far too much haste, and post-bad-manchester-purchase regret soon ensued. I learnt my lesson though, as I burned up precious petrol on the way to Joondalup to return what I had foolishly thought was the answer to my awkward bed situation.
This would not happen again, I stupidly thought, not having yet fully appreciated the length I will actually go to for linen luxury... yes dear reader... I would even go to Carousel on a Saturday afternoon which we all know is practically a kamikaze mission into chaos. My first port of call, Adairs, having born witness to the bedding luxury in their most recent linen lovers catalogue (thank you Pete, for feeding my addiction ;-) ). Alas, Adairs did not have the object of my affection in stock, gasp! But after buying a back up doona cover in K-Mart Belmont (yes, Belmont), I called Carousel Adairs again a few hours later (just incase) to find that they did indeed have my King Size 'Willow Tree' doona cover in !! they had just opened the box with it there! So I went back out to Carousel a second time, a dubious decision given I barely survived my first trip, returned the K-Mart doona cover, and bought the one I really, deeply, truly wanted.
I understand that my manchester-addiction is masking other needs, really I do... and maybe one day as I get stronger I'll be prepared to face that side of things, but for now I'm content with my purchase and I feel as though we're going to have a long happy life together in sleeping bliss.
Some people have alcohol, some have cigarettes, others have gambling... I personally have manchester, and I'm okay with that.
09 August 2009 @ 06:09 pm
---- Volanos, Lakes, and Man made water falls ----
It seems that to be a town in South America, you are required to have your very own volcano. Everyone has one, they´re a dime a dozen. I pass one now and *yawn* what was that, another volcano? Same as waterfalls, those places that don´t have their own natural waterfalls create man made waterfalls, and they are sign posted as such.
To be honest, you never get tired of volcanos, though you do get over the waterfalls. Pucon is surrounded by lakes and volcanos, literally SURROUNDED. You can´t so much as sneeze without bumping into one - Main Volcanos Villarrica, Mocho or Quetrupillán and Lanín. Main lakes: the Villarrica, Caburgua and Tinquilco lakes. I took a horse ride around the base of what I assume was yet another volcano, along the shores of yet another river, and it was such a great time.
This is what I horse rode along the base of...
08 August 2009 @ 04:10 pm
06 August 2009 @ 07:13 am
One of the things that I was most excited about entering Argentina apart from the great coffee, with these cute little cookies.. mmmmm yummy
27 July 2009 @ 09:26 am
Anyone fancy seeing Tori Amos with me in November? :)
Go on, you know you want to!
Posted via LiveJournal.app.
Current Location: Australia, Western Australia
22 June 2009 @ 05:15 am
After the joy of the salt flats, and the laziness of Salta, I headed into Mendoza. Unfortunately I´d been struck by some illness and was on no-alcohol antibiotics, however I timed them such that when the wine tour came around, I was good to go.
Mendoza is probably the best known region for Malbec wine and while the wine I tasted at the wineries really wasn´t that impressive, other Malbecs I´ve tried from the region have been simply divinely delicious. The food as well, though quite italian following with the wine / olive oil theme, was fabulous if you went to the right places. Yumm.
More photos available in the Argentina folder on my flickr page.
Mendoza is probably the best known region for Malbec wine and while the wine I tasted at the wineries really wasn´t that impressive, other Malbecs I´ve tried from the region have been simply divinely delicious. The food as well, though quite italian following with the wine / olive oil theme, was fabulous if you went to the right places. Yumm.
More photos available in the Argentina folder on my flickr page.
16 June 2009 @ 01:18 am
Backtracking a little, I finally got around to uploading photos from the Colca Canyon that do not involve birdlife (no problems Kristy). One of the ´things´ you get in touristy Peru places, and some Bolivian but less so, are wonderful photo posers, only you have to pay for them otherwise they get most upset. Being not a believer in paying for an over posed moment, and much preferring a real moment, I managed to capture this through the bus window. Of course, I bought some gorgeous scarves from here so I was then able to take pictures a plenty, but I didn´t know that at the time.
She´s the daughter of one of the local handicraft women who have darling husbands who farm alpaca wool, then they make the fibres themselves, knit products from them, then every day make their way to a specific point which, as you can see from the photo ain´t close to town, and involves a hell of a hill, where they sit and wait and hope some silly gringos rock up and buy something. The price was almost robbery, as in, for the work they put in for what I paid? I felt almost guilty, but you know, they were happy as well, so I guess it all worked out in the end.
She´s the daughter of one of the local handicraft women who have darling husbands who farm alpaca wool, then they make the fibres themselves, knit products from them, then every day make their way to a specific point which, as you can see from the photo ain´t close to town, and involves a hell of a hill, where they sit and wait and hope some silly gringos rock up and buy something. The price was almost robbery, as in, for the work they put in for what I paid? I felt almost guilty, but you know, they were happy as well, so I guess it all worked out in the end.
14 June 2009 @ 01:42 am
I think this picture is self explanatory, mini-Laura and I had a talking to on the salt flats. Ahh the salt flats, did I mention they were wonderful for taking pictures? hahaha I´m looking forward to editing out some tell tale shadows when I get back.
Did I just say that? man, Im a photo geek sometimes. Well, I am looking forward to it, so ner.
Did I just say that? man, Im a photo geek sometimes. Well, I am looking forward to it, so ner.
14 June 2009 @ 01:39 am
¨Does anyone else feel weird standing on coral island with cacti in the middle of a salt desert?¨
In short, day one of our trip through the salt flats - national park - desert - volcano area of Bolivia involved waking up early, buying last minute things in Uyuni after realising that yes, it is bloody cold, and then heading out to the train cemetry, then Colchani villiage for one last loo stop, salt souvaniers, and a visit to a small salt ´factory´. Then the salt flats themselves with a llama bbq, then Fish Island (Isla de los Pescados) which is an island of fossilised coral covered in 1000-year-old cacti, and then after following the wrong car and getting lost, finding the right hotel made of salt and spending the night there.
Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 12,000 sqm in size, and up to 20m deep in the centre, it´s... well... huge... and great for photos... which have been uploaded and can be viewed if you go check out my flickr page, under Bolivia.
In short, day one of our trip through the salt flats - national park - desert - volcano area of Bolivia involved waking up early, buying last minute things in Uyuni after realising that yes, it is bloody cold, and then heading out to the train cemetry, then Colchani villiage for one last loo stop, salt souvaniers, and a visit to a small salt ´factory´. Then the salt flats themselves with a llama bbq, then Fish Island (Isla de los Pescados) which is an island of fossilised coral covered in 1000-year-old cacti, and then after following the wrong car and getting lost, finding the right hotel made of salt and spending the night there.
Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 12,000 sqm in size, and up to 20m deep in the centre, it´s... well... huge... and great for photos... which have been uploaded and can be viewed if you go check out my flickr page, under Bolivia.
11 June 2009 @ 09:31 am
OMG OMG OMG
The Proclaimers and the B52s are coming to Perth!!!
Sun 6 Dec 2009
Sandalford Wines
Caversham, WA
Tickets about $90, I´ve already bought two if someone wants to come with me!!! I did promise myself I wouldn´t look to see what concerts were coming up in Perth, in order to save my budget, but by jove the subject line came up in my email and there was no stopping me, mwahahaha.
Anyone?? anyone at all?? :P
The Proclaimers and the B52s are coming to Perth!!!
Sun 6 Dec 2009
Sandalford Wines
Caversham, WA
Tickets about $90, I´ve already bought two if someone wants to come with me!!! I did promise myself I wouldn´t look to see what concerts were coming up in Perth, in order to save my budget, but by jove the subject line came up in my email and there was no stopping me, mwahahaha.
Anyone?? anyone at all?? :P
01 June 2009 @ 08:39 pm
So I decided to do one of the top 10 most dangerous things to do on vacation, Death Road Bolivia. Unfortunately it also snowed and rained on us, so it was the most deadliest road in the world, in the worst conditions. Rock on.
Death Road is roughly 64kms down a 3600m vertical drop, half of it on two lane tarmac, the other half on single lane gravel (and the gravel part is mostly unused by vehicles). We managed to do it in just over 3 hours, including breaks, police checks, and drug monitoring. You start high up at 4,700m above sea level, I´m talking above the snow line. Though at the time there was no snow on the ground, there was snow falling as we got to know our bikes and adjust the front and rear suspended $3000 hydraulic brake bikes to suit our particular bottoms.
Down the tarmac stretch the snow hit my face with agonising cold pain, and it was fantastic. Unfortunately for us, it was the first day in about 4 months that there was any rain. Dry season my arse. Surprisingly I felt safe almost the entire time. The only time I didn´t feel safe was when I realised that all it would take is a very simple mistake, and you´d be up a certain creek without a paddle.
Riding down, behind paid staff who are sent up the front to check for incoming traffic and provide warning to avoid any nasty disasters you´ll find in the news if you check, it was fantastic. They stopped
us every ´section´ to brief us on what to expect, how to handle your
bike and so on. There were three guides to ensure different speeds and though I was sure I´d be with the slowbies, as it turns out mountain bike riding downhill is something I´m very good at and so I was up the front with the fast crew the whole time. (sorry Mum, but it´s true).
Cold. Numbing. Wet. I mean so wet that water got through my water
proof hired pants, and soaked my cargos underneath. Extremely muddy, dirty, and awesome. Rounding a bend to discover amazing waterfalls on the other side. Vistas over mountains and watching the vegetation change through the decent. It was apparent that other companies just didn´t cut the mustard though, looking at the other bikes I was so grateful to have mine. There are many many maaaany companies that offer mountain biking, however there are only two of the 50 or so companies that are recommended. They´re a bit more expensive, but really, when thinking of ones budget doing a thing called Death Road is not an appropriate time to cost cut.
Photos (taken by the company) available on flickr. Its so nice knowing someone else is taking shots, I didn´t take one the whole day. Bliss!
To read more on Death Road - go here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/f
Death Road is roughly 64kms down a 3600m vertical drop, half of it on two lane tarmac, the other half on single lane gravel (and the gravel part is mostly unused by vehicles). We managed to do it in just over 3 hours, including breaks, police checks, and drug monitoring. You start high up at 4,700m above sea level, I´m talking above the snow line. Though at the time there was no snow on the ground, there was snow falling as we got to know our bikes and adjust the front and rear suspended $3000 hydraulic brake bikes to suit our particular bottoms.
Down the tarmac stretch the snow hit my face with agonising cold pain, and it was fantastic. Unfortunately for us, it was the first day in about 4 months that there was any rain. Dry season my arse. Surprisingly I felt safe almost the entire time. The only time I didn´t feel safe was when I realised that all it would take is a very simple mistake, and you´d be up a certain creek without a paddle.
Riding down, behind paid staff who are sent up the front to check for incoming traffic and provide warning to avoid any nasty disasters you´ll find in the news if you check, it was fantastic. They stopped
us every ´section´ to brief us on what to expect, how to handle your
bike and so on. There were three guides to ensure different speeds and though I was sure I´d be with the slowbies, as it turns out mountain bike riding downhill is something I´m very good at and so I was up the front with the fast crew the whole time. (sorry Mum, but it´s true).
Cold. Numbing. Wet. I mean so wet that water got through my water
proof hired pants, and soaked my cargos underneath. Extremely muddy, dirty, and awesome. Rounding a bend to discover amazing waterfalls on the other side. Vistas over mountains and watching the vegetation change through the decent. It was apparent that other companies just didn´t cut the mustard though, looking at the other bikes I was so grateful to have mine. There are many many maaaany companies that offer mountain biking, however there are only two of the 50 or so companies that are recommended. They´re a bit more expensive, but really, when thinking of ones budget doing a thing called Death Road is not an appropriate time to cost cut.
Photos (taken by the company) available on flickr. Its so nice knowing someone else is taking shots, I didn´t take one the whole day. Bliss!
To read more on Death Road - go here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/f
27 May 2009 @ 06:12 am
Cusco, Cuzco, however you may particularly spell it, was quite a gorgeous coble stone colonial city... once home to the Incas, it was most certainly overtaken by the Spanish and the Inca foundations reused for you know, churches, government official buildings, etc.
Photos from around Cusco have also been uploaded along with the Colca Canyon, though I´ve not emailed yet about Cusco I think you will get the idea. Cobble stones, steep hills, coca products, church things, inca ruins, markets with lines of women ready to make you fresh juice - only limited by your imagination, and your ability to identify fruit either by spanish, charades, or simply pointing at them.
Lance the Llama also features with his fancy show hair do. He kept jumping into otherwise great photos, but there´s not much you can do if a Llama wants to get in the way.
Love!
Photos from around Cusco have also been uploaded along with the Colca Canyon, though I´ve not emailed yet about Cusco I think you will get the idea. Cobble stones, steep hills, coca products, church things, inca ruins, markets with lines of women ready to make you fresh juice - only limited by your imagination, and your ability to identify fruit either by spanish, charades, or simply pointing at them.
Lance the Llama also features with his fancy show hair do. He kept jumping into otherwise great photos, but there´s not much you can do if a Llama wants to get in the way.
Love!