Athens

Hi just a short entry to update you all. Im currently teaching English in Athens, mainly to refugees from Syria, Somalia, Iran and Iraq. Its a really rewarding experience. Athens is a city that feels like a cross between the western 1st world and the 3rd world. there are markets on every street corner, and many archeological sites all hidden within the city. The Acropolis with the Parthenon and ancient temples (also called Mars Hill) are a centre point in the city. This is where Paul would have preached back in that day. Athens is the best at night when the Hill is lit up by spotlights and there are people dining everywhere on the streets, with european guitarists playing music at every corner. the atmosphere is awesome. (or romantic if you like). Athenians have a siesta every day from 2:30 till about 4 or 5, then open up shop from 5 till about 830, when then close up and head into town for some night life till late. they then get up early 8 or 9 and work till 1 or 2pm, close up for siesta and start again......

Athens is Hot at the moment. 45 today i believe. also we donw have airconditioning, so i have resorted to wearing wet clothes all the time. we went to the beach the other day in the mediteranean. it was nice but not as good as australian beaches. trigg or scarborough beach would kick butt to the ones ive seen so far. mostly its the european feel that i enjoy. like off a James Bond movie, with the umbrellas and chairs that you have to hire.....

thats all for now gotta go.

Our January trip to the Stirlings (Ridge walk)

I have cheated with the date on this one. But i got some spectacular photos of the Stirling Range ridge walk in January and had to put some photos up! Basically this is typically a 2 night trek from Bluff knoll to Ellen Peak, (although i have heard that some people do it in 1 day by sprinting!). You need about 12L of Water each if you are going for 2 nights and 3 days. That is about 4L per day (in January when it is really hot), you tend not to need so much food. Also try to go 2 to 3 weeks after a storm or similar, then the water barrell half way along the walk will be full of the Most delicious Mountain water you have ever tasted. Also if you get to the barrel and the siphon is not working then, just climb a little further up the crack to the barrel and re-siphon the water into the tube. There WILL be water there after a storm....i think. Even though the ranger cannot tell you for sure because of the liability.....Anyway

Here are some of the great pics

UK! and Holmsted Manor, West Sussex

I arrived in the UK, on the 18th of April and spent a couple of days with My sister and Brother in Law, and My Niece in Newbury. Then on the 21st i headed to Holmsted Manor in West Sussex. DTS kicked off that night, there are 13 of us, 10 Girls and 3 guys. Also there are 3 other schools on concurrently. a School of Worship and a School of Digital communication.

Ok Im back online now

Well i am currently in the UK and have been here for a month now. Im really enjoying the stay here. I havent kept this blog up to date over the last month, because i have had some serious trouble trying to get my Laptop fixed, and Internet is REALLY slow here..... in the next few entries i will try to get back up to speed with things..... Its a long story.....anyway

Highlights of Bangladesh

Well from the 3rd of April to the 10th of April, i spent in Bangladesh with my friend Richard, who works there for an Aid organisation called Heed Bangladesh. He is the manager of the Arsenic Mitigation Program (AMP), which is a project within Heed that aims to treat issues surrounded with Arsenic poisoning from ground water.
From my experience there the main focuses of the AMP is

1. Pproviding clean water source for the villages through (a) rain water tanks and (b) tube well for ground water
2. Medical aid and treatment for patients who have Arsenic poisoning.

Over the next few pictures i will try to outline the field trip and some observations that stuck out to me.

Only passengers are allowed inside the Dahka Airport so i had to find my way completely outside on my own, where i was greeted by many many bengali friends! They were all trying to carry my bags.....I though that Richard had brought a huge party of people with him for my welcome (i was wrong)....Also mental note, if you want to get through the Dahka airport door security screening with no problems simply mention that you are australian, mention the australian cricket team, smile and nod with "Ricky Ponting" and "Shane Warne" on your lips whilst taking a swing with your "air-bat" and they will let you through.

Ok the air in Dahka is NOT clean. It is difficult to find a place where the general underlying wiff is not based on Diesel and gasoline, (although a great number of Autorickshaws are converted to CNG - they are refered to as "CNGs")

The streets in Dahka are also very crowded with all kinds of Vehicles.

Well ive been wondering about how exactly to use this site. I mean will it be merely a point of information transfer...ie simply the facts about my journeys? or should i make it deeper and actually share my thoughts about things and my travel experiences? Ii think that it is likely that we all have fears about people might think of us and our beliefs, and i am no different. However i have decided to do the later anyway and try to share with you all (whoever is interested) my perspectives and what i have learnt. I guess, i reason that those who will most likely read this blog are my friends and the people whom i love, so even though i may have different opinions or perspectives about the world (or you may label me as a crazy Christian), the thing is.....this is who i am. and i aspire to be totally true to who i am. Essentially i aspire to see life through the eyes of Jesus, who i think is The truth. Many of you know my philosophical side...and ive no doubt its going to come out.

Well im spending the day at KL airport (currently sitting in a forgotten corner next to a powerpoint), that was the most stressful airport check in experience of my life. :) i got to perth and my luggage (including guitar) was 32 kg so i had to completely repack. i ended up changing from my suitcase to my rucksack after all (i was prepared). and ive got to say that 20kg is absolutely nothing at all! Well in the end the check in lady upgraded me to business class because of all the trouble....which meant that i could actually get some sleep on the plane.

highlight of the repacking experience....for the record...was mum shouting across the airport terminal for all to hear, "stuff you underpants inside your jacket pockets Darren, it'll save weight", whilst grabbin handfulls of boxershorts and shoving them into my jacket for me when im facing the other way. great tact mum. real subtle. way to remove any pride from my person...its ok i love you still.