Delayed, for various personal reasons, but not dramatic nor traumatic reasons, nothing that would make an exciting personal story. Suffice it to say, I am seeing way more than I want to of my lawyer (never ask a lawyer how his xmas was, it will cost you $15). Anyway, in Perth for another month or so, getting some paperwork sorted. Anyone remember when life was simple? It seems that, as I grow older, more and more people are required to guide me through my life. sigh.
Not to despair, I am hanging with some local Perth friends, seeing what is going on. After 5 years of global travel the old city of Perth seems bland. When people speak of 'crime', I look around at the clean streets, the inhabitants productively going about their chores, and I think wtf! Nothing.
In a week or so I will be free enough to head south for a few days. See some of the towns in south west Western Australia. It is a beautiful stretch of coast. I will hang out in backpacker accomm, and see what the younger folk are doing.
Best wishes to all.
Not to despair, I am hanging with some local Perth friends, seeing what is going on. After 5 years of global travel the old city of Perth seems bland. When people speak of 'crime', I look around at the clean streets, the inhabitants productively going about their chores, and I think wtf! Nothing.
In a week or so I will be free enough to head south for a few days. See some of the towns in south west Western Australia. It is a beautiful stretch of coast. I will hang out in backpacker accomm, and see what the younger folk are doing.
Best wishes to all.
Hello to all my SG friends. Time for a new Ian blog 
This blog is all about the great city of Perth, my home town. I am staying here for a few weeks over xmas and the new year to see friend, family, my accountant and lawyer. Hopefully, in that order. it is in fact good to be back in Perth, a restful place. However, I will be returning to south asia soonest.
About Perth--first, like everything in Australia (ok, 99% of everything) it is named after something in the UK, in this case Perth Aust is named after Perth Scotland. (You may also have noticed the wonderful imagination the early settlers of Australia showed in the naming of their new country: Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, etc.).
Founded in 1829 with convicts and economic refugees, the population slowly grew, attracted by gold and cheap land (err, there were already people living on this land, but well, there you go, progress). Until now, the early 21st century (where things have not changed that much, really), the Australian city of Perth is a wealthy and prosperous city, home to over 1.5m people. The wealth is produced by the eternally abundant supplies of minerals (gold, nickel, iron, etc), found in WA, which we now sell to China and India.
Perth is a beautiful city, it lies along the beautiful Swan River. A small CBD, surrounded by kms of suburbia. Businesses, malls, universities, it is all here!
Here are a few pics of the city. Enjoy:
'The Caller' outside the Art Gallery of WA.
Australia's iconic image—the kangaroo.
The original town hall.
Pics of the cityscape taken from Kings park, over looking the city.
This blog is all about the great city of Perth, my home town. I am staying here for a few weeks over xmas and the new year to see friend, family, my accountant and lawyer. Hopefully, in that order. it is in fact good to be back in Perth, a restful place. However, I will be returning to south asia soonest.
About Perth--first, like everything in Australia (ok, 99% of everything) it is named after something in the UK, in this case Perth Aust is named after Perth Scotland. (You may also have noticed the wonderful imagination the early settlers of Australia showed in the naming of their new country: Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, etc.).
Founded in 1829 with convicts and economic refugees, the population slowly grew, attracted by gold and cheap land (err, there were already people living on this land, but well, there you go, progress). Until now, the early 21st century (where things have not changed that much, really), the Australian city of Perth is a wealthy and prosperous city, home to over 1.5m people. The wealth is produced by the eternally abundant supplies of minerals (gold, nickel, iron, etc), found in WA, which we now sell to China and India.
Perth is a beautiful city, it lies along the beautiful Swan River. A small CBD, surrounded by kms of suburbia. Businesses, malls, universities, it is all here!
Here are a few pics of the city. Enjoy:
'The Caller' outside the Art Gallery of WA.
Australia's iconic image—the kangaroo.
The original town hall.
Pics of the cityscape taken from Kings park, over looking the city.
Back in Australia for xmas!
I am now back in my home town of Perth, Australia. Way over on the west coast, no where near Sydney (Singapore is closer to Perth). I travelled via cargo ship, 7 days from Singapore, arriving on xmas morning. Great fun, great way to relax. I will be here for 3 weeks, then heading east to Sydney to see some friends and to slowly head back to Thailand.
All the best, happy xmas and new year to all.
A few snaps from my ship trip. The ship, the crew, the captain, me, and sunset.
I am now back in my home town of Perth, Australia. Way over on the west coast, no where near Sydney (Singapore is closer to Perth). I travelled via cargo ship, 7 days from Singapore, arriving on xmas morning. Great fun, great way to relax. I will be here for 3 weeks, then heading east to Sydney to see some friends and to slowly head back to Thailand.
All the best, happy xmas and new year to all.
A few snaps from my ship trip. The ship, the crew, the captain, me, and sunset.
Hey all,
New blog. I am now in the southern Thai town of Hat Yai, on my way back to Australia. I will be here for a few days. It is exciting. The town is just north of the 'deep south' of Thailand, where Muslim separatists are shooting people and exploding bombs to gain independence. I am also staying at a hotel which now has a police conference! Does this make my hotel a target? Exciting times. Wish me luck.
Update: evening 10th December.
Just discovered that the conf is a joint Thai/Malaysian top cop conf. Place is swarming with uniforms attacking the buffet while outside are dozens of uniforms with jackets and weapons. AND tonight a top pollie from Bangkok is making an appearance. I might just stay here in the internet cafe, down the street. I wonder if I can sleep here? Nahh, sure it is safe. Wish me more luck.
Will try and get a few pics, without getting shot. If you see a tiny, backpage newspaper article entitled 'Australian tourist unintentionally shot while taking a pic', remember me fondly.
New blog. I am now in the southern Thai town of Hat Yai, on my way back to Australia. I will be here for a few days. It is exciting. The town is just north of the 'deep south' of Thailand, where Muslim separatists are shooting people and exploding bombs to gain independence. I am also staying at a hotel which now has a police conference! Does this make my hotel a target? Exciting times. Wish me luck.
Update: evening 10th December.
Just discovered that the conf is a joint Thai/Malaysian top cop conf. Place is swarming with uniforms attacking the buffet while outside are dozens of uniforms with jackets and weapons. AND tonight a top pollie from Bangkok is making an appearance. I might just stay here in the internet cafe, down the street. I wonder if I can sleep here?
Nahh, sure it is safe. Wish me more luck.Will try and get a few pics, without getting shot. If you see a tiny, backpage newspaper article entitled 'Australian tourist unintentionally shot while taking a pic', remember me fondly.
Inspired by my SG friend Collide, who is wonderfully talented (and very pretty), and who posted some striking pics of Rome, I am posting here some pics of Thailand. I hope they are a little bit striking.
As with Collide, I have tried to avoid the 'postcard' look and go for a little more grit and a little more unusual. Comments welcome. Of course, remember, I am a very sensitive person, easily hurt.
As with Collide, I have tried to avoid the 'postcard' look and go for a little more grit and a little more unusual. Comments welcome. Of course, remember, I am a very sensitive person, easily hurt.
Sitting in a 'Coffee World', Pattaya, listening to the corporate approved musak and enjoying a good coffee. My second root canal 'procedure' has been completed, not quiet as much discomfort as the first, but not fun. I dislike the claustrophobia, my mouth filled with tools and hands, my eyes covered to protect against the glare from the dental lights above, and several people standing around me. I sound like a wuss.
Anyway, my next visit is on the 18th, after that I should be getting my cap. I am going with gold, it is cooler and better. And, again, way cheaper than Perth, Australia.
Interesting to take a moment to reflect upon 'medical tourism' and the cost of medicine. As said earlier, the total cost in Pattaya could be 10% of Australia. A big difference. I am not urging anyone to run off to the 2.5 world for their next heart transplant, but for less critical ops you might want to think about alternatives to the domestic. The service here, in my experience, is good, as good as in Aust.
This delay is going to put a few crimps in my travel plans, but not much.
Good day to all.
Anyway, my next visit is on the 18th, after that I should be getting my cap. I am going with gold, it is cooler and better. And, again, way cheaper than Perth, Australia.
Interesting to take a moment to reflect upon 'medical tourism' and the cost of medicine. As said earlier, the total cost in Pattaya could be 10% of Australia. A big difference. I am not urging anyone to run off to the 2.5 world for their next heart transplant, but for less critical ops you might want to think about alternatives to the domestic. The service here, in my experience, is good, as good as in Aust.
This delay is going to put a few crimps in my travel plans, but not much.
Good day to all.
Well, one thing done, root canal part one is over. An hour plus in the chair, lots of prodding and pocking, and finish. I am not an easy patient, I like to know what is going on, and ask questions, not easy when your mouth is full of tubes and some plastic gadget which stops saliva from entering the tooth.
Not have a saw left jaw, 2 bags of pills, one antibiotics, the other for pain. Hanging out in my room while my gf goes and gets some food. A quiet night, and on Thursday I will be back for a check to see if the organic material in my tooth is all gone. I did read up on the procedure in wiki--- lots of fun. Scrapping out your inner tooth filling and replacing it with gunk. cool.
Not have a saw left jaw, 2 bags of pills, one antibiotics, the other for pain. Hanging out in my room while my gf goes and gets some food. A quiet night, and on Thursday I will be back for a check to see if the organic material in my tooth is all gone. I did read up on the procedure in wiki--- lots of fun. Scrapping out your inner tooth filling and replacing it with gunk. cool.
My comments have clicked over into double digits, time for a new blog post!
Thailand, what is up? Well, big floods in the south, disaster areas declared; political instability; the King of Thailand has been in hospital for over a month, but I am fine. Heavy rains near me, but no major personal problems. However, tomorrow, I will be having my root canal work
.
Xmas, I am contemplating returning 'home' to Perth, Australia for xmas with the fam. Also some paperwork to take care of and people to see.
Everyone hang in there, don't give up. Life is nasty, brutish and short, but it is all that we have.
Thailand, what is up? Well, big floods in the south, disaster areas declared; political instability; the King of Thailand has been in hospital for over a month, but I am fine. Heavy rains near me, but no major personal problems. However, tomorrow, I will be having my root canal work
.Xmas, I am contemplating returning 'home' to Perth, Australia for xmas with the fam. Also some paperwork to take care of and people to see.
Everyone hang in there, don't give up. Life is nasty, brutish and short, but it is all that we have.
wow my blog posts are coming fast and quick. I am now in Bangkok for the Loi Krathong festival. A celebration of the Buddha's birthday, celebrated by launching candles mounted on tiny boats onto lakes, rivers, oceans (water in general). Lots of fun. I will post a few pics.
One week and counting to my first root canal. Wow, how exciting. Can hardly wait. Am wondering, should I twitter the process?
One week and counting to my first root canal. Wow, how exciting. Can hardly wait. Am wondering, should I twitter the process?
FRAK !
I am getting a root canal down in Pattaya. No, this is not some complex form of sexual dalliance. Here the word 'root' refers to the nerve of my tooth. Apparently, this nerve is sick, infected with something infectious, and it has to go! Yikes. I find that as I get older I like less and less the idea of losing any bits of me. And, we are talking root canal.
This is like 2x 1 hour plus visits to the dentist. Sitting in a chair while a stranger carves and slices my good self. Yikes. The one good thing is that in Pattaya, in a 'tourist' dentist, the cost is ~$200 per tooth, while in the land of Oz it is ~$1500 (usa dollars or ozi dollars, now about the same, hehe).
I have sent my xrays to my dentist in Australia for a 2nd opinion, but the tooth is ahurting, something is wrong, and so something must be done.
My scheduled first visit is on the 9th November. Here's hoping no complications!
I am getting a root canal down in Pattaya. No, this is not some complex form of sexual dalliance. Here the word 'root' refers to the nerve of my tooth. Apparently, this nerve is sick, infected with something infectious, and it has to go! Yikes. I find that as I get older I like less and less the idea of losing any bits of me. And, we are talking root canal.
This is like 2x 1 hour plus visits to the dentist. Sitting in a chair while a stranger carves and slices my good self. Yikes. The one good thing is that in Pattaya, in a 'tourist' dentist, the cost is ~$200 per tooth, while in the land of Oz it is ~$1500 (usa dollars or ozi dollars, now about the same, hehe).
I have sent my xrays to my dentist in Australia for a 2nd opinion, but the tooth is ahurting, something is wrong, and so something must be done.
My scheduled first visit is on the 9th November. Here's hoping no complications!
