John Fitzpatrick. About New China, the Koreas, Myanmar, Thailand, and also about Japanese and Chinese writers and poets. The main emphasis is on North Asia and the political tectonics of this very important, powerful, and many-peopled area.
Friday, 23 December 2016
I think it is day 5 of our journey from Cairns to Melbourne by car. We are at Surfers Paradise
Thus we are still in Queensland and about half way in our journey. We are having a rest day today peering from the 29th floor balcony at the Novotel hotel at the brisk Pacific Ocean. We have covered 1500 kilometres in those 4 days whic is enough driving just for now. The Nissan Navara pick up is going very well.
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Day 2 drive Cairns to Melbourne, an easy day
We intended to drive for 8 hrs today but detoured at about 300 kms to Airlie Beach/ Shute Harbour a kind of famo7s access point to the Whitsunday Passage, lots of islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
The 300km we drove were easy highway through very dry country, dry river beds, low hills and these dominating giant blue skies in this part of Queensland. I'd like to comment on the people and the local cultural aspects but there aren't any.
We are staying in an apartment with a view of harbour and its n8ce...hot day, cooling in the afternoon, around $170au per night.
Last night in Townsville we stayed at the Aquarius on the beach, and that was really n8ce, at $100 a night. We had a good meal at the Watermark Restaurant nearby in Townsville last night and saw Jonathan Thurston an Australian rugby league football hero and his team at the next 5able. THE Watermark restau4ant has very good food and service and the dinner for 2...2 entrees, pasta and mussels, and one main dish of half kilo tbone steak, a glass of red wine and 9ne of lemade was $120, which is a lot but we were tired and it was
nearby. We will go out somewhere nearby here in Airlie Beach and it will be costly too I expect as it is a bit of annternational destination with the islands and reef etc. And tomorrow we will do the long drive to Central Queensland straight down a straight highway One for about 8 hours. Just had a swim. I think in a few days the weariness we have from ge ting ready for the trip and packing up the house etc will give way to more ease and relaxation. Bye from Airlie Beach, Queensland.
The 300km we drove were easy highway through very dry country, dry river beds, low hills and these dominating giant blue skies in this part of Queensland. I'd like to comment on the people and the local cultural aspects but there aren't any.
We are staying in an apartment with a view of harbour and its n8ce...hot day, cooling in the afternoon, around $170au per night.
Last night in Townsville we stayed at the Aquarius on the beach, and that was really n8ce, at $100 a night. We had a good meal at the Watermark Restaurant nearby in Townsville last night and saw Jonathan Thurston an Australian rugby league football hero and his team at the next 5able. THE Watermark restau4ant has very good food and service and the dinner for 2...2 entrees, pasta and mussels, and one main dish of half kilo tbone steak, a glass of red wine and 9ne of lemade was $120, which is a lot but we were tired and it was
nearby. We will go out somewhere nearby here in Airlie Beach and it will be costly too I expect as it is a bit of annternational destination with the islands and reef etc. And tomorrow we will do the long drive to Central Queensland straight down a straight highway One for about 8 hours. Just had a swim. I think in a few days the weariness we have from ge ting ready for the trip and packing up the house etc will give way to more ease and relaxation. Bye from Airlie Beach, Queensland.
Monday, 19 December 2016
Journey Cairns to Melbourne Day One of the 3000km drive.
Woke up at 4am from a late night feverishly packing the Nissan Navara 4x4 dual cab ute pick up, from sleeping on the yoga mat in Cairns, and advised Mrs Fitz that I had forgotten how to stand up.
After re learning how to stand up from a yoga mat, we did lots of things and finally departed by Nissan Navara, packed to the hilt, literally, at 11am. 4 hours 40 minutes later, traversing the big change from the wet tropics of unending green to the Dry Tropics of Townsville 400km South of Cairns, we made good time on a bright clear highway, stopped a few times, and now are esconced in a Townsville motel called Aquarius on The Beach...as it is on the beach...pics follow.
After re learning how to stand up from a yoga mat, we did lots of things and finally departed by Nissan Navara, packed to the hilt, literally, at 11am. 4 hours 40 minutes later, traversing the big change from the wet tropics of unending green to the Dry Tropics of Townsville 400km South of Cairns, we made good time on a bright clear highway, stopped a few times, and now are esconced in a Townsville motel called Aquarius on The Beach...as it is on the beach...pics follow.
Saturday, 17 December 2016
The Removalists come in the morning, or so they say. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. I really don't know anymore...it really doesn't matter any more...much like Colonel Kurtz somewhere in the lost Apocalypse jungles of Indochina...it just doesn't matter any more...I've gone beyond all that....2.15am at the moment, the screech of packing tape and the slash of the blade. They call him "Box-Cutter Johnny" now.
The Removalists come in the morning, or so they say. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. I really don't know anymore...it really doesn't matter any more...much like Colonel Kurtz somewhere in the lost Apocalypse jungles of Indochina...it just doesn't matter any more...I've gone beyond all that....2.15am at the moment, the screech of packing tape and the slash of the blade. They call me "Box-Cutter Johnny" now.
Friday, 16 December 2016
So, driving from Cairns to Melbourne...7 days, 2,974.35 km, yes, that's okay. Easy. We can do that and still have time for a bit of surfing. Still amazing what can become okay when the heart is set on it and the wheels of one's powers and machinations are fully applied....or, as they say, when the blowtorch is applied to the belly of meaning.
So, driving from Cairns to Melbourne...7 days, 2,974.35 km, yes, that's okay. Easy. We can do that and still have time for a bit of surfing. Still amazing what can become okay when the heart is set on it and the wheels of one's powers and machinations are fully applied....or, as they say, when the blowtorch is applied to the belly of meaning.
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