TiTi's Daily Picture

Holidays

2009-05-26T23:13:00.002+08:00

No! Today is not St Patrick's Day and I am not even interested in St Patrick's celebration anyway but this cross will just mark my lack of inspiration and motivation to post anything in this blog lately. It has been quite a discipline over the past two years and I knew that I would eventually give up the task one day. I am not saying I will not post anything ever. I may keep this blog alive for a while posting from time to time but in the meantime I will take a break away from the cyberspace. Hurray!

Rest

2009-05-20T18:34:00.000+08:00

Mum, this is one of the chairs you might be enjoying while you're here. I have personally never used them since I could not really find the time but I am sure it is quite nice especially at sunset to just sit there with a glass and relax!

Exercise

2009-05-19T06:30:00.002+08:00

I have never been big on exercise since I have never really found any sport I was finding pleasure practicing. That said since I arrived in Darwin I have taken up on swimming big time. I isually go to the pool at least 5 times a week swimming anything between 1 and 1.5 km. I additionally have this machine on which I occasionally step on in front of the TV. But this is much less fun! This morning I woke up a bit earlier to try and burn off the extra calories from yesterday's dinner.

Album of the Week: Meanderthals 'Desire Lines'

2009-05-18T08:00:00.002+08:00

A couple of years ago we had Studio. We then had A Mountain Of One. And now we have Meanderthals. They all have in common the fact that they produce a very particular sound that is difficult to label. I believe it won't take long before somebody comes up with a brilliant idea to tag this mix of Progressive, 70s West-Coast, Dub, Kraurock, Electronica, Balearic and Psychedelia kind of music. Never mind the label, the soothing effect it creates when you listen to it is just amazing. I am not talking about Cafe Whatever or Buddha Lift music. What London's Idjut Boys and Oslo's Rune Lindbaek came up with is the ideal dreamscape. Record of the week, of the month of the year of course! Unfortunately there is only one track to listen to on MySpace so you will have to google elsewhere if you want a preview. But it is pretty safe to just head to Piccadilly Records and purchase their album on CD or on Vinyl.

Not Rubens

2009-05-17T21:58:00.003+08:00

Samson and Delilah is a Northern Territory movie that has made it to this year's 'Un Certain Regard' selection at Cannes. I am just coming out from a screening session and it left me with a strange feeling. It justly depicts the sad reality of the parrallel life many aboriginals unfortunately live in this country. There is no denying that despite the National Pardon the scars remain deep in this part of the world. If your view of Australia is one of kangaroos, koalas and exotism, do not forget that there is also another side that is not that visible to the average tourist but that is a reality you cannot escape from. The way this movie is filmed is simply exceptional and filled with sensitivity and realism. I can't promise you two hours of fun but you will certainly come out of this screening with a better understanding of the Aboriginal suffering. The actors are extraordinary and the music is unforgettable. I sincerely hope it can win a prize at Cannes in order to bring it to a wider audience. An absolute must see!

Here we go again!

2009-05-16T14:53:00.000+08:00

No crocodile story but an emu story for a change. Where else in the world do you have a newspaper relating such stories? 'Woman fends off horny emu', what a title really!? When you read the article it does not have much substance it leaves you with a feeling of being a non-story in fact. But the point is that the title seems to attract readers since this rag continues to increase its publication when the rest of the world newspapers are struggling.

Autumn Fruits

2009-05-15T21:50:00.000+08:00

Nothing is as good as Spring and Summer fruits. When Autumn comes we still have the joy of grapes and pears start to appear. The only problem is that I always find it very difficult to choose my pears. They are either too hard, too mushy or tasteless. But when you pick a good one they can be so yummy!

Ryū Murakami

2009-05-14T22:43:00.002+08:00

I love Japanese literature. I love many Japanese things actually. But their writers are so special. Banana Yoshimoto is on top of my list as well as Ryu Murakami. I am surprised Audition has only been issued at the beginning of the year since it has already been made into a cult movie in 1999. I suppose you can call it a psycho thriller. I just finished it today and I am still disturbed by its story. It is very in the line of his previous masterpieces, Coin Locker Babies, Piercing, In The Miso Soup, Raffles Hotel and Almost Transparent Blue. I read them and loved them all.

She's back!

2009-05-13T16:39:00.000+08:00

A few weeks ago I was telling you about the Stella Deneb that is the biggest Cattle Vessel in the world. Amazingly, she was back at Darwin Port today to load another huge load of cows. I was surprised to note that she had changed name since her last trip though! She is now called the Ocean Shearer. Not so appropriate for cows but I am sure the kiwis will appreciate when she goes there for a big sheep load the next time.

Gourmet Traveller

2009-05-12T21:32:00.000+08:00

My favourite food magazine has to be the ever excellent Australian Gourmet Traveller. I have picked up so many recipes from this monthly publication. If you live out of Australia you usually can find it through any good English magazine provider. It reflects the amazing diversity of Australia cuisine that borrows from the best from any other country in the world really.

Record of the Week: Little Birdy 'Confetti'

2009-05-11T08:00:00.001+08:00

There are so many good records to chose from every week that it is difficult to pick a highlight. But every once in a while comes something pretty much different that grabs your ears and that you know is very special. Actually, this weekend I saw this compilation in a record store called: '(There must be) Something in the Water'. It is the Swan river we are talking about since Perth has been pretty much on the music map lately. All this to introduce Little Birdy's thrid and new album. Kathy Steele's voice is very unique. It probably is a love or hate thing. In my case, obviously, I fell in love with her voice on the strength of the single track 'Brother'. Watch the video here and buy the album through the usual suspects. More info and previews on MySpace.

Circular Quay

2009-05-10T16:28:00.000+08:00

After a morning lazying around we decided to head to Circular Quay for a late breakfast. Above is the view from the breakfast table. But a small digital camera definitely does not allow for a 360 degrees view. So you will have to use your imagination if you want to see the ever breathtaking Sydney Harbour Bridge or the iconic Sydney Opera House!

Sydney Skyline

2009-05-09T18:18:00.000+08:00

I moved back from Papua to Sydney. The view over Sydney's skyline from my room is quite a contrast compared to the virgin Highland forests of PNG. That said, due to the fact I am pretty much a 21st century urban westerner I somehow realise I feel more confortable in that environment.

Beaver Falls

2009-05-08T18:07:00.000+08:00

Oh what a day! I have been flying nearly all day up and down the country. The highlight of the trip definitely has been circling around the Beaver Falls which are kind of a Papuan version of the Niagara Falls except that they are only visible by air. They are not usually part of any touristical itinerary for this very reason. The views over the huge Lake Kitubu were also quite rewarding.

Air Niugini

2009-05-07T17:51:00.000+08:00

Today I am off to Papua New Guinea again for a few days. As long as they are short trips (shorter than a week) I do not mind really. But I cannot say that I was thrilled by the idea of flying with Air Niugini. But in the end it was an uneventfull and even an interesting flight.

Brissie

2009-05-06T20:55:00.002+08:00

After the wallaby spotted in the wild last week-end here comes his urban brother spotted on the streets of Brisbane this morning. I did not really have time for sightseeing but the nice temperature of around 20 degrees that provides a chilly change compared to the temperatures I am experiencing in Darwin allowed for a nice walk from the hotel to the meeting room.

Mermaid Beach

2009-05-05T20:47:00.000+08:00

How does it sound to you? The name is pretty exotic, isn't it? And if I tell you it is located at Surfers Paradise, it is even better! I landed at Brisbane this afternoon and headed straight south driving for around an hour before reaching the place where some friends are currently staying. I wish I could have more time to explore the area and to relax on the beach. Unfortunately, tomorrow will be a long day spent attending a business workshop.

Record of the Week: Mendes & Alçada 'Coaster'

2009-05-04T08:00:00.000+08:00

That is nice and slow…

Portugal

is on the map again with this lovely piece of vinyl out on the flawless Claremont 56. I absolutely love whatever comes out on this label. And when it is on a Smith & Mudd, Balearic spirit and from

Portugal

it just can’t disappoint. Please pay attention and do not miss this beauty from Mendes & Alçada as you may regret it! On the 12” front, also worth a mention are the Burial and Four Tet essential collaboration on a very limited black label pressing and Featurecast take on Aretha Franklin’s One Step classic could also have easily been my record of the week.

In the park

2009-05-03T19:40:00.002+08:00

The sight of a wallaby in the wild is something that always amazes me. Actually, the sight of any animal in the wild brings its own share of pleasure. But on top of the list come the wallabies, as well as the wombats and the koalas (only seen once in the wild). In this part of Australia I strangely do not get to see many of the three above mentioned creatures. But I had my good share of frogs, spiders, crocodiles, spiders and on a kinder note, birds....

Biographies

2009-05-02T21:42:00.006+08:00

Since I discovered the fantastic Genet biography as written by Edmund White in 1993, I have developed an interest for biographies in general. I find it the best way to learn a piece of history at the same time as you are discovering interesting facts from fascinating people. I just finished two of those lately. On one side a book actually relating the handful of facts we know about Shakespeare and elaborating about all what we do not know as cleverly researched by the ever captivating Bill Bryson. On the other side I came to learn a great deal about Charles Darwin from the inside since this book actually is an autobiography.

First of May

2009-05-01T22:28:00.004+08:00

The first of May is not a Public Holiday here but next Monday is. Nothing special to report since it has been a normal working day. I have a colleague / friend staying at home for a few days. She wanted to go to Kakadu over the weekend but we had to scrap those plans as some vessels will keep me busy all weekend long. Instead we settled for this amazing ABC documentary about The Wet which I would highly recommend to anyone.

Food of the Day - Part Two

2009-04-30T21:20:00.004+08:00

And now for something completely different: Jelly. I absolutely love Jelly! It is so easy to prepare, so easy to eat, so tasty and yet probably so bad for health. But as any of my favourite foods, as long as you do not eat it excessively (as I did tonight) you should be fine. Since I am in Australia I was made to purchase the Aeroplane brand. Orange is my favourite. Yummy! The time when TV ads were lasting for two minutes is well over but you should have a look at this TV classic!

Food of the Day

2009-04-29T21:16:00.000+08:00

The food of day is: Oyster. I never used to like them. Or I used to only like them fried or cooked. But wether it is in America or here in Australia I usually enjoy oysters as they are much tastier and fleshy. Thay have actually grown so much on me that if they are on the menu I am now most likely to order them as my first choice. That's insane how tastes can radically change over the years.

The Dry

2009-04-28T21:12:00.001+08:00

OK. My plants may have been dry for a while now but they are quite representative of what is happening in the Top End at the moment. It is incredible how fast the humidity has fallen down in the past days and how quickly all the green is turning into brown. And I am not talking about all the fires currently taking place that traditionally clear the scrubs in order to avoid bigger fires when everything is dead dry!

Record of the Week: Seth Sentry 'The Waiter Minute EP'

2009-04-27T08:00:00.001+08:00

Seth Sentry seems like a friendly fella! He is from Melbourne and I discovered him through Triple J unearthed. His self produced EP ‘The Waiter Minute EP’ is perfect Aussie MC Songwriter Hip Hop Pop! Yes! Somewhere in between Mike Skinner’s The Streets and what Everlast should have been if he had not turned has-been! Slices of life that are very easy to imagine . The first pressing has now sold out but Seth promises a second batch to be ready by the end of May so you can already place your orders through his MySpace page. Other contenders for the record of the week come with the amazing BBC rendition of Kings Of Leon’s ‘Use Somebody’ by Bat For Lashes, Smith & Mudd ‘Le Suivant’ new album and the latest Speck Mountain ‘Some Sweet Relief’

Mary and Max

2009-04-26T21:51:00.002+08:00

I suppose you all have seen Wallace and Gromit. Let's cut a long story short... even if Mary and Max is an animation movie with characters made out of clay, it has nothing to do with Wallace and Gromit. This production is purely Australian, out of Melbourne, and is as dark as the film poster or the preview suggest. Very bleak indeed. I cannot say that there is much to laugh about. After viewing this movie, that I was expecting to be quite funny, I came out with a strange impression. I am still not sure if I liked it or not though.

ANZAC

2009-04-25T17:16:00.002+08:00

Today is a National Public Holiday in Australia and in New Zealand. And it is also a Saturday so it does not make a big difference for lots of people. But Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The main and notable event for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was the famous fight at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I and this day is also a commemoration for the soldiers who fought in France and Belgium.

More more more

2009-04-24T19:38:00.002+08:00

One million heads were planned so it is obvious that the cattle season is not over. Imagine the quantity of cows being sent to the Middle East! One million heads! So when I went to the Port today I overtook dozens of cattle road trains. On this picture you can see a few specimen with their load waiting to be delivered. Poor cows. It is actually a sad image to see them stuck there inside those trucks, standing and looking at the sea.

Vas-y Jean-Claude!

2009-04-23T19:28:00.001+08:00

That is a real Darwin institution and the sign that the dry season is now officially here to stay. We were pleased to enjoy the seasonal reopening of this great outdoor event called the 'Deckchair Cinema' and the movie played was a real surprise. JCVD. Who would have thought I would one day see a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie! But it was an hilarious and sometimes touching experience. Wether you are a fan of the actor or not I could only recommend this incredible piece of cinema. It has to be seen to be believed. The muscles from Brussels. Aware!

Good Frog

2009-04-22T17:17:00.001+08:00

If I have an ugly beast at my front door I have a lovely one in my backyard. You may remember the colourful green frog I posted some time back. Lately, the nature has been quite present (it actually always is in this part of the world) since I had to evacuate my office a couple of weeks ago because of a bat, I recently had to deal with a Carpet Python (which appears to be a friendly snake) and I had the surprise to witness this lovely guest in the office toilets. Not the best place for her.

Bad Toad

2009-04-21T15:07:00.000+08:00

One of Australia's biggest ecological catastrophy was the introduction of the cane toad as a measure to try and combat the cane beetles. As this animal was introduced from South America, it went on to spread (and continues to do so) and is a real pest in itself since it has poison glands and its tadpoles are highly toxic to most animals if ingested. It kills fish, lizards and any kind of wildlife really because of its poison and is spreading at an alarming rate. On the road to Katherine I always try to kill my good share while driving on these ugly pests. Unfortunately, I occasionally have one on my front entrance and I would be glad if the neighbour's cat could help me to get rid of it since he seems highly interested!

Record of the Week: Old Jerusalem 'Two Birds Blessing'

2009-04-20T06:37:00.001+08:00

I still remember the first time I heard Iron & Wine. It gave me such a peaceful and happy feeling. The music was delicate and lovingly crafted. Sam Beam’s singing was so charming and sweet without being twee… All this to say that I had a similar feeling when I heard for the first time the previous Old Jerusalem album while I was in Portugal a couple of years ago. Therefore, I was very curious when I saw there was a new release this year. And it did not disappoint. It even greatly surpasses this Portuguese folk songwriter’s previous effort to become one of my favourite albums of the year so far. Go and visit its MySpace to hear some tracks as usual.

While I am talking about Iron & Wine, it is worth mentioning that Sub Pop issued a lovely live CD in the States last Saturday 'Norfolk 06-20-05' for the Record Store Day (hence only officially available in stores, in the US, on that day but surely available through eBay at silly prices) and a new double album will be out on the 19th of May (‘Around the Well’).

Fisho

2009-04-19T18:04:00.001+08:00

What do people do on Sunday? They fish? What do people do in the morning? They fish? What do people do in the evening? They fish? What do people do whenever they have 5 minutes? They fish? Well, that is true for the Northern Territory. Everywhere you see a paddle of water you can see fishermen (called 'fisho' in here). It is the number one passtime for guys, girls and kids alike.

Yeehaaa!

2009-04-18T23:24:00.000+08:00

Today is the International Record Store Day but well... there are not many in the area. Instead I went for a very Australian experience tonight. The rodeo. The event that took place at the Litchfield Pub, an hour drive away from Darwin, is the first meet in an eight-round competition which will continue throughout the year. It was an interesting experience as seen from a tourist point of view but it was a bit like being in a parrallel world for me. All those cowboys and cowgirls, hat and beer culture are a thing that do not have so much connection with my interests but once more it made for an entertaining evening. I particularly enjoyed the bareback and bronco showdowns. And in case you wonder, the action was way too fast for my little camera so I propose a crowd photo instead.

2009-04-18T08:00:00.001+08:00

Mindil

2009-04-17T20:49:00.000+08:00

Tonight we parked the park at the museum and went for a nice walk from the museum grounds, over George Brown's garden and down to Mindil Beach. It was actually the nearest I found myself to the casino. The above picture was actually taken last week but it is a photo of the casino which has always looked like an ugly blockhaus from distance. I was actually surprised to see that it could probably be a pleasant place. I will definitely have to give some of its restaurants a try.

Burnett House

2009-04-16T17:44:00.000+08:00

Here is the external view of the Burnett House I was mentioning yesterday. Beni Burnett was quite an interesting character. He actually grew up in Asia; his parents were Scottish missionaries and he spent time in Mongolia and Malaysia. You actually do see the influence of his early years in his architecture. He subsequently became the Australian Government's Principal architect in the Northern Territory, and was commissioned to design quite a few houses in Darwin for senior public servants. Only a couple survive on the left and right of this building.

Tea Time

2009-04-15T18:35:00.000+08:00

Every Sunday from 3.30pm to 6pm the National Trust hosts a High Tea in the verdant tropical gardens of Burnett House. Burnett House is a rare example of Darwin’s early tropical architecture, having survived both the Japanese bombings in 1942 and Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Today is not Sunday unfortunately but I promised myself I woul go there for that occasion one day. In the meantime I visited the place under a nice tropical day and could easily imagine the life in the area a century ago...

Build Down

2009-04-14T23:31:00.001+08:00

Probably one of the last evening clouds of the season. Now that we are reaching the end of that cross season locally called the 'build down' (as opposed to the build up) the clouds are going to be a rare sight. We are in for a long 'dry'. The green of the nature will turn a bit yellow, the smoke will start to be a common sight in the evening sky and some of the birds will migrate to wetter pastures. In the meantime I continue to enjoy the view from my balcony...

Record of the Week: Cymbals Eat Guitars ‘Why There Are Mountains’

2009-04-13T08:00:00.000+08:00

It is all in the title. Cymbals Eat Guitars certainly are the reason why there are mountains. It all makes sense now! A melodic chaos of sound. They are the band everyone is talking about. And you can’t read a blog review not comparing them to Pavement. Come on. Leave Pavement out of this. Cymbals Eat Guitars have their own particular sound but one thing is for sure is that they had to come from New York. Only New York bands know how to deliver melodies so easily but with an impression of slackness, wackness and nonchalance! If you can’t find their album anywhere on the internet – and even if you can – I still recommend you purchase it through Piccadilly Records or any other good music specialist who know their music.
Other contenders for the record of week title were the new The Juan McLean album ('The Future Will Come') on DFA and last week’s issue of the BBC concert of Elbow’s album ('Seldom Seen Kid Live At Abbey Road') that I only could listen to yesterday for the first time.

Yurmikmik

2009-04-12T22:18:00.001+08:00

It was a long drive for a short walk but totally worth it. Today we decided to explore another part of Kakadu and ended up in the Southern Part known as the Mary River area. We decided to go for a 4-hour trek from Yurmikmik. We were rewarded by a beautiful and peaceful fall and natural pool at the end of the track. It is funny though that you cannot help thinking about the crocs that might lure from below the water while you are swimming (even though it considered to be a safe place to swim). We also noticed how dry the nature starts to look like. It will definitely be a dry, long and harsh season for some of the wildlife in this park.

Box Jellyfish Safety

2009-04-11T19:20:00.002+08:00

There are so many nice places to go walking to in Darwin. And we keep on discovering more and more of these pleasant spots. Tonight we went to the Casuarina Coastal Reserve. It features 13 km of sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and casuarina trees. Unfortunately, as any beaches in the area, you can only walk or rest on them. But always remain alert in case of crocodiles. In the water the biggest danger comes from the deadly box jellyfish that can be present all year long really... so no swimming! That's frustrating.

Good Friday

2009-04-10T19:13:00.004+08:00

We were a bit lazy today and we are not very Christian but as we always enjoy seasonal food goodies we purchased some Hot Cross Buns which are very popular all around the world in AngloSaxon countries. I had my first ones 25 years ago in England. Calling our family we discovered they all made their own for Easter, some the traditional way with raisins, others a bit more fancy with cranberries. I like the way they taste and it always is a pleasure, while eating them, to think that it will be a full year before I have another taste...

M/V Stella Deneb

2009-04-09T18:58:00.000+08:00

215 meters long, 38000 Square meters. Those are the dimensions of the biggest Cattle Vessel in the world. It was here at the Port today to load another shipment of cows from the Northern Territory. Destination? The Middle East. When I was working in Dubai I used to see them coming full of sheep from New Zealand just before the Ramadan and cows from Australia all year long. Now I see them at the point of origin. I am just a bit more compassionate for the poor beasts and also wondering what the methane carbon footprint surrounding this vessel is.

Hoons on Utes

2009-04-08T20:53:00.000+08:00

Two very Australian words in one title. The hoons are mostly white, suburban, teenagers. Not much of a brain. They are those kids whose main activities include speeding, street racing, burnouts or screeching tyres in their utes. So what's a ute I hear you ask? Just see the picture above. A ute is short for 'utility vehicle'. They have been very much in fashion for some years now but lately they have been mainly coming in funny colours and it is not uncommon to see gangs of them aligned at some reststop parkings. Each country has its own plague really.

Flix in the Wet – The Final

2009-04-07T21:40:00.001+08:00

Yesterday evening was the last screening of the indoor Flix in the Wet festival. Now that we are entering the ‘Dry’, the festival will be back to its original location, outdoors, screening movies for mobs of aficionados from the comfort of their deckchair under the Down Under starry sky. This last movie had to be one of the best I have seen coming out of Italy in years. Having shared an office with an Italian guy for over a year I was very familiar with the main actor, Antonio Albanese, but I was surprised to see this comedian (‘Chiu pilu per tutti’) playing a rather ‘dramatic’ role. Meanwhile, the main actress, Margherita Buy, was seen before in another excellent italian movie called ‘Le Fate Ignoranti’ (His Secret Life) and she turned out to be fantastically charming once more in this one.

Record of the Week: Bob Evans 'Goodnight, Bull Creek!’

2009-04-06T08:00:00.001+08:00

It might have been recorded in Nashville with producer Brad Jones but Bob Evans latest album is pure Australiana. A kind of Australian poppier version of Damon Gough (Badly Drawn Boy) if you ask me. The first single to be lifted out of his new and third album is ‘Someone So Much’ and features such a ridiculously catchy chorus that once you have heard it one time, it just sticks in your head for hours and days and weeks. The same is also true for some other album tracks like ‘Pasha Bulker’. Highly recommended Asutralian singer songwriter pop material.

Listen to some tracks on MySpace as usual, visit his website and if you cannot get your hands on his CD in your country, download it through iTunes or order it through JB Hi-Fi.

Yellow River

2009-04-05T20:06:00.003+08:00

After a wonderful sunset yesterday, we started the day with an even more wonderful sunrise cruising through the Yellow River. We did not regret waking up at 5 and enjoyed the very active fauna living along this floodplain. This had to be the highlight of our trip to Kakadu. Seeing all these birds in their natural habitat and most impressively a good number of crocodiles. We then headed for a walk to another amazing Aboriginal Rock Art Site at Nourlangie also providing commanding views of Kakadu's escarpment. Finally, we ended the visit via a 1 hour flight all the way down to the famous Jim Jim and Twin Falls which are still unaccessible by car at this time of the year. It gave us a very different perspective. A wonderful week-end exploring Kakadu overland, over water and from the air.

Ubirr

2009-04-04T19:48:00.000+08:00

Today we decided to take a private guide to try and learn more about the Art, culture and geology of the Bininj. And we indeed learnt a lot. Our guide was so entertaining, friendly and knowledgeable. We learnt a lot about the Mimi spirits visiting the mysterious Art Sites on the way to the top of a rocky lookout offering amazing views over the Nadab floodplains at sunset. A powerful experience.

Before Kakadu

2009-04-03T19:48:00.000+08:00

Ouch! If Kakdu was planned for the week-end, the fact I would go under general anaesthesia to get two wisdom teeth removed today was not really part of the program. Not that they were paining but the monthly visit of an oral specialist from New South Wales up in Darwin motivated me to go for this operation and it was decided in a blink. At 1415 I still had my wisdom teeth and at 1630 I was out from the clinic without them and after a short but deep sleep. I do not see any reason why it would prevent me from enjoying my week-end!

Casuarina Square

2009-04-02T19:07:00.002+08:00

As probably mentioned a few times over this blog, people are not that interested in shopping in the Northern Territory. Their main occupation is fishing and after work people do not have many goals: fishing, fishing and fishing. And having a beer. Or several. Casuarina is the largest shopping centre. It can be fairly busy on Saturdays but as the fishing rule also applies to the Ladies here, you never see many of them browsing through the handbag section in the fashion stores.

Petits Canards

2009-04-01T19:14:00.000+08:00

A fish story could have been appropriate for April Fools Day but it is actually a sad story. All my little fish that have always been so happy to see me when I was approaching to feed them and that looked so healthy and lively in their pond died on Sunday due to water poisoning (probably too much chlorine in Darwin's water). Fortunately, I still have thousands of natural fish in the marina at the back of my house and most importantly the little duck family that had disappeared for a while has just started to reappear. It is amazing to see of the ducklings have grown since the last time they paid me a visit. I had feared they might have been eaten by a crocodile or something but they are obviously too smart for that!

Nightcliff

2009-03-31T18:49:00.001+08:00

Just the name is kind of exotic to me, or at least mysterious... It is somehow rumoured to be associated with one of the Beagle trips. Darwin is pretty small but it is only recently that I started to enjoy the Northern suburb of Nightcliff. It has a long footpath along its foreshore that is used for walking and cycling and it is particularly busy in the evenings after work. Along the footpath there is Nightcliff Jetty, Nightcliff Beach and Nightcliff Swimming Pool. All are very pleasants places to wander around.

Record of the Week: Felice Brothers 'Yonder is the Clock'

2009-03-30T08:00:00.001+08:00

Even though I definitely dislike the way the USA saturate the world with their manufactured mass produced bland and tasteless music there are always a few bands and artists escaping the mould. They represent the real America and they deserve much more exposure. Take Calexico, American Music Club or David Bazan. The Felice Brothers can also be added to this list. They are composed of three brothers Ian, Simone and James Felice, their friend Christmas, previously a traveling dice player, and, most recently, Farley, a washboard player and fiddler. Their new album is out soon and you should definitely check their MySpace page to listen to some tracks or their website for info and updates.

Rapid Creek Market

2009-03-29T14:24:00.003+08:00

The market season is approaching with the famous Mindil Beach Sunset market soon to reopen as it seasonally does every year in late April. In the meantime you can enjoy a few markets in Darwin, especially on weekends. Yesterday, we went to the Parap Market which is pretty small and a bit hippie but still enjoyable. Today, we were in search of organic fresh fruits and vegetables so we headed to the famous Rapid Creek market. It has a strong Asian influence. Coincidentally, a few people have been questioning me on Darwin's legendary Asian influences lately and I have to admit that I kind of see them less obvious here than in Sydney for exemple. But in between Thai massages, Indian spices and Vietnamese food stalls you could be mistaken for thinking you are somewhere in Asia.

A dragon fly can tell a lie on early Dry

2009-03-28T21:11:00.001+08:00

The above was a title of the local newspaper (NT Newspaper) at the beginning of the month. It is true that the Dry season is not supposed to have officially arrived before mid-April. But it has been quite beautiful and dry since the beginning of March (to the exception of a couple of flash storms). I have also noticed that the reed beds in the mangroves are starting to lose their bright green wet colours in favour of dry browns. for the locals, one thing is for sure, the en masse arrival of the dragonflies clearly marks the end of the Wet (even if they can tell a lie). The one above was flirting with some others above my fish pond.

Saltie

2009-03-27T15:20:00.000+08:00

Not a day in the Northern Territory without its croc story. And crocodile catching is a full time job for a wildlife ranger team in the area. Your typical newspaper front-page always carries one their sighting experiences. It was amazing to read that 58 crocodiles have been trapped in the area since the beginning of the year including three on this very day. If I have my statistic correct and if we continue with that trend it will make an average 250 crocs caught in the year. If I remember correctly it is more or less the figure that was also reported for the whole year in 2008. What happen to these crocs? They are sent to the crocodile farm with the nicest specimen kept in captivity and the rest probably end up in handbags, shoes or barbecue skewers.

Hand cream

2009-03-26T19:16:00.001+08:00

It might be the result of too much swimming but my hands have pretty dry lately. Therefore, to keep them moist I have started to use my favourite cream once more. I do not want to sound like a walking advertisement when I talk about the products I use but I believe I would not hesitate to criticize loudly all the same if I were to be disappointed with something. That said, I am generally of a positive nature so these occasions might be pretty rare.

Evening at the Esplanade

2009-03-25T16:12:00.000+08:00

This was actually taken yesterday evening from the same place as the thunder at the Esplanade. The picture has not been edited from its original content (except cropped). Sunsets can be fantastic in Darwin, and if there is no sunset you can get scary colours before the evening thunderstorm!

Thunder Lightning

2009-03-24T20:09:00.002+08:00

Back in the Northern Territory after an absolutely gorgeous week-end in New South Wales. And I am back in what Darwin is famous for: thunderstorms. After a beautiful day, the sky suddenly turned balck by 6pm tonight and the wind started to blow. It is very usual up here but not all the storms are spectacular and they more often than not disappear after a few minutes. I have never experienced such beautiful lightnings as what I was given to witness tonight. Spectacular! I parked the car on the Esplanade and joined the crowds trying to capture it on picture but it is far from being an easy task. At least 50 black or white pictures...

Record of the Week: Sore Eros ‘Second Chants’

2009-03-23T08:00:00.002+08:00

Another contender for the title of Record of Year. 2009 is promising to be a nice year for music after a rather dull 2008. After Telepathe and The Phantom Band, this week brings the debut album from Sore Eros from ‘a field’ somewhere in Connecticut. This record is a bit hazy but very lush and grows and grows on you after each listening session. Robert Robinson, the main player in this project has previously been working with Ariel Pink and Gary War in a musical spectrum that was ignored until the issue of the new Animal Collective album that everyone is raving about this year. The sound is somewhere up there in between the latter, Panda Bear (a childhood friend), Mount Eerie or Woods. It is out on the current label to watch shdwply and is dead limited to 500 vinyl copies as any of their releases. Grab a copy while you can at the ever wonderful Piccadilly Records and listen to some snippets and watch some videos at their MySpace page. And for once you can download the digital version here since I understand that shdwply believe sharing downloads can bring people to purchase the physical format. The future of music is now so spread the word and purchase the vinyl!

Pearl Beach

2009-03-22T08:02:00.004+08:00

We left Sydney yesterday by lunchtime to head up North to Pearl Beach, a 100km drive away. Some friends rented a house by the beach and we are enjoying the tranquility, the beauty and the amazing weather of the place. It is a wonderful week-end, spent in good company. A good break. Above is the view from the balcony while waking up this morning. Lovely.

Yayoi Kusama

2009-03-21T20:35:00.001+08:00

It is not so often that we have the opportunity to witness an exhibition featuring a wide range of works from the ever fascinating Yayoi Kusama. It is amazing to think she now is 80 but continues to be on such a creative and groundbreaking roll. But that said, she now has been this way for decades. Obsessed with dots, repetition, pattern and aggregation. It came as a shock a few months back while visiting a gallery in Darwin when I discovered the work of a 'modern' aboriginal artist using dots in her painting entitled Hail Storm in practically the same way Yayoi is in works like The Moment of Regeneration. From aboriginal Art, to New York through Japan and back to Australia. And it is unlikely these two Artists are even aware of each other's work. In the meantime, you still have time to go to Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art since the exhibition entitled Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years still runs until the 8th of June. A very rare opportunity.

Off

2009-03-20T19:08:00.000+08:00

Today I am taking things back up where I had left them a couple of days ago. My last picture was about flight tracking this one will be about travelling. . I have been 'off' the internet for a couple of days due to lack of time. Busy, busy, busy I was... And tonight I am 'off' to Sydney for an extended week-end. It is good to take a break from time to time, isn't it? The only thing is the notion of distances here in Australia which is pretty different from the notion we have back in Europe. Where would I be if I were to fly in between 4 to 5 hours away from Paris? Cairo? Moscow? Nouakchott? Here, if I fly for that duration I am still in Australia...

Flight Tracking

2009-03-17T16:23:00.001+08:00

When not for me it is for someone I am expecting, but I am quite familiar with any flight tracking system. They all are different though. My favourite actually is the one from the Melbourne airport that tracks all the flights in real time on a map. As a result you know exactly where the planes are. But this morning I had to track flight SQ231 landing in Sydney at 1105 and Kingsford Smith Airport is unfortunately not offering this service. Anyway, being Singapore Airlines and being Australia the plane landed exactly on time (OK, I admit, it is not always the case but sometimes… which remind me by the way that on a flight between Cairns and Darwin I arrived 50 minutes early a couple of weeks ago! That had to be my personal record for a commercial short haul).
http://www.melbourneairport.com.au/flight_radar/

Record of the Week: An Horse 'Rearrange Beds'

2009-03-16T08:00:00.003+08:00

Is it a coincidence that when my record of the week is not from Manchester it usually is from somewhere in Australia? I discovered this band from Brisbane on Triple J that’s for sure and I suppose it was on Home & Hosed but I do not exactly recall that fact. It was sometimes late last year with the amazing track Postcards that definitely deserves to be a hit – and that unfortunately might remain obscure like many quality tracks unless their current US tour sees them hit the jackpot which is yet another possibility. They just had to cancel two of their dates since they were invited to perform on the Late Show with David Letterman a couple of days ago!!! I really liked their story of having worked together in a tiny indie Brissie record store that gradually saw its opening hours getting shorter while the vendors (Kate & Damon) were actually spending more and more time practising and trying to perfect their sound. Let’s wish them all the best and please buy their record. You might find it difficult to lay your hands on a physical release (you can try Valve Records) but for once I will encourage you to grab a copy through iTunes where it is easily ‘downloadable’ (I got mine through the French Store).

And check their website for more or the usual MySpace to listen to some tracks or anywhere else on the WorldWideWeb to understand the reason behind the strange name.

The Old Berry

2009-03-15T15:59:00.001+08:00

I must have been getting this one for over 4 years now. They were not that common by then but the old beast now is completely outdated but still very reliable so I am in no mood for a change! It is amazing that it has been keeping me company all those years on an absolutely daily basis. From my very start of the day (waking me up to the sound of its vibration) to the moment I close my eyes (the last thing I am doing – come to think of it – must be checking if there are any important messages before I go to bed). Modern technologies are addictive and we are lost without them. It is only recently – while in PNG – that this personal friend refused to connect to any local gprs signal. It was the first time ever and it really made me feel the isolation! I was suddenly no longer connected to the rest of the world.

Sound Relief

2009-03-14T18:39:00.001+08:00

The show has been going on for nearly 10 hours now at both Sydney and Melbourne Cricket Ground. It is relayed on TV through Max and on the radio through Triple J. I have not been watching it all day but I saw a good part of it and heard another on the radio while driving. Sound Relief has been put together as a support for the terrible bushfires that took place a few weeks ago in Victoria. It features many great Australian performers. I am not particularly fond of some of them but I have to admit they have nothing to envy from their Brit or American counterparts. The local scene has produced (half the acts playing today are from the 80s) and continues to produce a good array of talents. I particularly enjoyed Split Enz, Josh Pyke, Kings of Leon and Augie March. I am now waiting for Liam Finn which will probably be one of the highlights of the day; the other two highlights have been the Coldplay / John Farnham duo and most importantly the ever amazing Little Birdy. And as any Australian main event we had some nice didgeridoo moments.

Life in the Top End

2009-03-13T13:25:00.003+08:00

I have never been to the N.T. General Store but I drove past many times. It seems to actually store Army surplus supplies, boots, tents and that kind of things. It is located on Cavenagh Street, one of the three main streets forming Darwin’s tiny city centre. Like many stores they close early on weekdays and most of them are closed on week-ends. It is to keep with the Northern Territory pace which is not really a consumerist market. People prefer the outdoor. People prefer to go fishing. People do not like to waste time shopping and are not stressed about earning lots of money. They are happy as long as they have time for themselves. A nice philosophy of life if you ask me. A bit of a caricature of life in the Top End but a true observation nevertheless.

In my fridge

2009-03-12T15:33:00.003+08:00

My fridge is always always filled with yoghurts. I just love them. In France you can have two or three full rows of yoghurt products in the shops. I do not actually recall having seen as many brands and types anywhere else in the world but when it comes to quality, Australian Jalna yoghurts are the best without any contest. I have tried the whole range by now but nothing comes as close when it comes to creamy texture and taste as the Vanilla one. I used to love the coffee flavoured one but I have not seen it for a few years now. Their claim is that many yoghurts are mass produced using gelatine, starches and food acids. But Jalna is different. Indeed.

Good for You, Good for the Environment…

2009-03-11T14:04:00.000+08:00

That’s what the label says. For some time now there have been many incentive to encourage people to eat kangaroo meat. I admit that I am not a big carnivore but over the past 4 months my red meat consumption is probably split as is: 60% Kangaroo, 30% Lamb and 20% beef (the latter mainly being the Boeuf Bourguignon I ate in France). For once I will cut/copy/paste word by word what is written on the sticker that accompanies kangaroo products here as it is self explanatory: Kangaroo’s need less food than sheep or cattle, are better adapted to drought and are far less damaging to the fragile topsoil than their sharply-hooved sheep & cattle counterparts. Australia’s sheep and cattle produce huge amounts of methane, an important greenhouse gas – but kangaroos do not. (…) Kangaroo meat is 98% fat free, high in protein, iron, zinc and also contains conjugated linoleic acid, which reduces blood pressure. So if after that you’re not convinced… The only thing is that it is valid only if you live in a country where kangaroos are grown (erm… I mean Australia). If not, if you have to airfreight the meat, there are no benefits for the environment, really!

Grow Your Own

2009-03-10T19:34:00.003+08:00

Flix in the Wet continue to amaze me with their program. It has to be the first time ever that I have heard about only one movie out of the whole selection. The person(s) selecting the films went to great length to dig deep into the best of the recent world production without being too indie neither. Yesterday evening brought another fine couple of alternatively moving and funny hours. Grow Your Own was touching for its depiction of real suburban characters perturbed by the influence of foreigners on the little piece of England they call the Allotment somewhere around Liverpool. But you quickly realise they all have their own past and present personal stories, some of them very tragic, others quite touching. Not highly philosophical but not dumb neither. Just a sweet, genuine and warming comedy. Oh and I forgot to mention it was out on Warp films, the movie division of the ever groundbreaking Warp Records.

Record of the Week: Single Cell Collective 'Six Rivers'

2009-03-09T08:00:00.002+08:00

It cannot come any better than this. It is from Manchester, it is eclectic, it is free, it is new and it is fresh! I am talking about Manchester's new label Single Cell. As best described on their website Single Cell is a collective of musicians and artists based in Manchester, UK. They make music, play gigs and take part in larger projects... Imagine, the Durutti Column mixed by some brilliant minds out of Various Production out on a Freestyle and Twisted Nerve joint venture and you get this amazing record full of experimentations and showing the way forward. I particularly like the compositions from Caulbearers, Broken Bow and Invertor. What else? The CD is lovingly packaged and the cover is perfectly designed. It is limited to 200 copies and is available for 8GBP only through their website. I could only recommend you press the 'order' button before they disappear and if you can't wait for your shipment to arrive you can download the whole CD for free. If you've gone all digital you can still make a donation on their website while you legally grab your free copy.

Darwin from Fisherman's Wharf

2009-03-08T19:19:00.003+08:00

This is a view of Darwin city centre from Fisherman's Wharf. This port is actually a nice place to come in the morning and get fresh fish (Barramundi of course), bugs or prawns directly from the boats. If you prefer to get your fresh seafood from a shop you can also pop in Mr Barra next door where they are quite passionate about freshness and quality.

Blogging

2009-03-07T09:04:00.005+08:00

The idea of this blog originally was to post a picture every day, mainly to 'reassure' and kind of keep in touch with my mother. This is the reason why I never went on with deep thoughts and long rents in the pictures comments. What is written within this blog might sometimes sound a bit shallow but I want to keep it that way. The original spirit was not even to write any comment actually. Also, even though each picture surely reflects what I have been doing that day or is taken in a place I have been to it might distort a bit the reality of things. For exemple, if you see the picture above you might think that I am spending the day at the beach. It might be true for 10 minutes but the rest of the day might also be spent working. As there is nothing interesting in boring my mum with my workday (and generally nothing really interesting to visually report about it anyway) you might think I am in constent holidays. I wish it were the truth but believe me it is not the case!

Fruits of the season

2009-03-06T20:58:00.000+08:00

Oh that is great! After the peach and apricot season this summer here come the grapes starting to pop up in every supermarket in the area. The Northern Territory does not grow any grapes and does not produce any wine as far as I know - and I might be wrong - but the Southern Autumn makes itself felt with the arrival of these seasonal 'fruits'. The weather seems to be a bit in transition here at the moment with dryer days, bluer skies but hotter temperatures as well. The temperatures should then hopefully drop a bit to leave the area under constent sun and no clouds. That's what I call winter!

Road Signs

2009-03-05T08:54:00.003+08:00

The Kangaroo and Crocodile road signs are famous Australian icons all around the world. If you actually see the kangaroo one on nearly every road all around the country, the crocodile sign is less frequent and I do not recall having seen the Cassowary sign before today even though I surely have seen a huge flock of emus in the wild in the past - but it was down in Victoria and there was no sign for them...

Cairns

2009-03-04T22:42:00.000+08:00

I left Papua this morning and I am back in Australia. My Port of entry is Cairns, only two hours by plane from Port Moresby. As there is no connection back to Darwin until 9 hours later I took a car to explore the coast up North. It is dotted with an incredible number of beautiful and 'wild' beaches. Dozens of them all the way up to Port Douglas and above. I ferried across the Daintree River to Cape Tribulation and came back to Cairns before the sunset. I did not stay long but I found the city to be pretty similar to Darwin but with a much more touristy feel, tons of backpackers (obviously using it as the gateway to the Great Coral Reef) and a funny but great idea - since it is virtually impossible to swim in the sea because of the usual box jellyfish, sharks and the rest - of having an open sea water pool in the middle of the city.

Kokoda Trail

2009-03-03T20:32:00.000+08:00

If I had not been to Papua New Guinea some long years back and was not living in Australia I might not have heard of the Kokoda Trail. It runs nearly a 100 kilometres overland through the Owen Stanley Range. The track is the most famous in PNG and is renowned as the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942. The track ends here (or starts depending on how you want to walk it) at Owers Corner in Central Province, 50 kilometres east of Port Moresby, after having crossed rugged and isolated terrain culminating over 2000 metres high. It is constently ran by mobs of Australians but it does not have a reputation as being an easy track. High humidity, mud, insects, heavy rainfalls, cold nights make the task difficult and the track is rarely crossed in less than five days (it usually averages 10) except by the locals who are known to do it in less than three days. I would not mind giving it a try but it is unfortunately not the reason why I am here today so I have to satisfy myself with the memorial located here and the sign showing me the direction to follow...

Record of the Week: The Temper Trap ‘Sweet Disposition’

2009-03-02T08:00:00.000+08:00

Is it because I am Down Under or are Australian bands the flavour of the moment all around the world? Cut Copy, Empire Of The Sun, Little Birdy, The Presets, The Crayon Fields... Anyway, my record of the week goes to that Indie-pop band from Melbourne who is soon to release its first album proper. This first track has been out for over a couple of months now and comes in the form of a nice 12” with some interesting remixes. You can still even order a signed copy through JB Hi-Fi here in Australia. What about the sound? Well, it can be an easy analogy at a time when U2 have just revealed their new album but if you have the choice you should definitely invest in a good up and coming band rather than in a soulless old and tired band. Just watch the video here to be convinced.

Port Moresby

2009-03-01T18:24:00.002+08:00

Today I left the fine coastline of Queensland to fly up to Port Moresby for a few meetings. Last time I went there was 17 years ago on a stopover to the Huli tribes of the Highlands and the river villages of the Sepik. A wild and exotic experience. Unfortunately, the capital city is not as attractive as the rest of the country and there is not much to see and do. Still, you can enjoy the view of the stilt villages spread all around and you can have an idea from the picture above of how tiny the city is laying at the head of the point. I wish I could go back and explore some of the remote places of Papua instead of having to stay in the city.

Sunshine Coast

2009-02-28T19:05:00.003+08:00

After the small job I had to do, and since it was Saturday, I moved up the Coast, past the Moreton Peninsula - famous for its Moreton Bay Bugs as digested a few days ago - I first stopped at Bribie Island. A quiet spot, many boats and many fishoes. A bit too quiet to my liking. I then headed to Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast which is a nice sea resort and stopped at Alexandra Headland's Beach just south of Maroochydore. There are long stretches of fine sand and even though it is the weekend, and supposed to be crowded, many places are void of people. Being used to the overcrowded Mediterranean beaches it always surprises me to have all these empty beaches in Australia. But then again, it is true that the waters are not as inviting since they are populated by animals you'd better avoid and the coast is only a mere... 50,000 kilometres long!

Brissie

2009-02-27T19:01:00.000+08:00

Today I had to go to Brisbane and to the exception of a stop over on my way to Papua New Guinea 17 years ago I had never visited the City. It is the third biggest in Australia and continues to grow fast. You easily understand why since the weather is always good. Never too hot, never too cold, the sun shines all year long, it is near the beach, tucked away in between the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Wandering through the streets you can feel people are happy to live here. It makes me wonder why I would not make the move myself as well!

Crocodilians

2009-02-26T12:55:00.000+08:00

Even though Charles Darwin has never set foot in Darwin and has never seen a Territory Crocodile in his life there was no better place and better moment than to set an exhibition about crocodiles in... Darwin. The exhibition currently running makes it for an interesting additional information about the beast and the room that bears an incredible timeline on its four walls make you realise the history of this fascinating reptile. Crocodilians: Darwin’s ultimate survival story is an exhibition demonstrating Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through crocodiles.

The Ghan

2009-02-25T11:15:00.000+08:00

That's what happens when you are coming from the comfort of your Air Conditioned vehicle and want to take pictures outside. If I was wearing glasses it would be the same. Fog on the lense! Anyway, above is the foggy picture of famous Ghan that goes from Darwin to Adelaide. It takes two days to travel the 3000 kilometres that separate the two cities. It also is the reason why there are so many wild camels in Australia since they were used during the construction of its rail line. It additionally gave its name to the service - originally The Afghan Express - since the camels used for that purpose were imported from Afghanistan. The connection to Darwin was only in service in 2004, so it is quite recent, and even though I drive past the station several times a day I do not have the opportunity to see one of those very often as they only depart from Darwin twice a week (on Wednesdays at 10am and on Saturdays at 9am).

Flix in the Wet

2009-02-24T13:01:00.000+08:00

Since the traditional outdoor and deckchair cinema cannot continue to screen its movies during the wet season and we will have to wait until the rains disappear entirely in April, they take the opportunity of slow Mondays to rent a screening room within the Darwin Cinema to run private (but public) sessions. Yesterday I went to see the impressive anime entitled 'Waltz With Bashir' which is an obsolute must see. The unexpected insertion of real footage from the Sabra and Chatillah massacre right before the closing edits is a moment difficult to digest but leaves you with food for thought for hours and days and weeks.

Single(s) of the Week: Port O'Brien 'Winter' / The Low Anthem 'Charlie Darwin'

2009-02-23T08:00:00.001+08:00

No nonsense Americana is my choice of the week. Two great slabs of vinyl. Both lovingly packaged, made with love, far from the impersonal digital releases (well, 2009 oblige they are also available for download) and both with a very particular theme.

The former, Port O’Brien, that I have been following since day one, have decided to issue a 7” for each season of this year. So logically, here comes the first instalment subtitled winter but the actual A-Side is a rework of ‘The Whiskey Song’ while the beauty of this record is hidden on the B-side, new track ‘Is This Really What Its Come To?’.

The latter have already issued two albums over the past two years but this year might finally see the public ripe for their beauty and success. Pure Americana in the vein of Bon Iver. The theme of this very single is their own celebration to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin whom incidentally I have also started to develop a fascination for lately. Please buy them on vinyl. The 500 Ltd. edition Port O’Brien single is available through their website or Piccadilly Records and the Low Anthem here.

Bugs

2009-02-22T15:21:00.005+08:00

The first time I read the name on the menu in a restaurant I was really curious about this. What is this? Australians actually eat bugs? What kind of bugs? Then I saw that it had nothing to do with the terrestrial bugs I knew. Actually the name is short for Moreton Bay Bug. They are very strange creatures, a bit like lobsters but with no head or rather a flat head. They look rather prehistorical to me. Once cooked on the barbecue their flesh and taste are heavenly. Better than lobsters in my opinion. Here you can see them in my sink before I cook them...

Rain Rain Rain

2009-02-21T15:46:00.003+08:00

This week has been absolutely gorgeous. We did not have any rain and the skies have even been cloudless on many occasions. Unfortunately there is another Tropical Low coming from the East and it all suddenly changed a few minutes ago with the first heavy downpour of the week. Not a very good weather for barbecues this week-end. But it promises to clear up for a while before the Low passes overhead from Sunday night onwards. I really enjoy these heavy downpours. It is fascinating to watch the rain fall from the comfort of your home.

National Geographic

2009-02-20T20:41:00.001+08:00

The Darwin saga continues and it seems there will be quite many events and publications this year to celebrate the man's bicentennial. National Geographic has pur Darwin on its cover under the quite unusual title of "What Darwin Didn't Know". It starts with an article about his long Beagle journey and continues with a second article about the "Modern Darwins" and the science he helped inspire. It makes for a very interesting read indeed.

Japanese research vessel

2009-02-19T08:39:00.003+08:00

I saw this vessel at the Port this morning. Nothing exceptional except that a fence had been set all around to forbid access. A bit odd considering that you do not usually see this kind of actions in that part of the world. It then made me wonder why this could be? It could be linked to the fear any Green group might want to take this opportunity to board the boat as protests are still common and ongoing, especially in Australia, against the Japanese who continue the whaling - supposedely over the legal quota and also supposedely for research purposes. This vessel is not a whaling vessel but a Marine Research Vessel... Any info welcome.

Stokes Hill Wharf

2009-02-18T15:01:00.000+08:00

Today I took a small boat to go and visit one of our Vessels near shore. It was actually my first trip out of Darwin by sea. It is great since it gave me a new perspective. I departed from Stokes Hill Wharf which is a place that is very popular with the tourists and locals alike. Housed under the roof of the building you see in the picture (the roof actually says ‘Welcome To Darwin’) are a good quantity of restaurants and is a popular spot to watch the sunset while having a bite and a drink. I have been to some fancy restaurants but the best Barramundi I was given to experience remains at Stokes Hill Wharf for a few quids and in a plastic plate with plastic forks and knives.

Internet Access

2009-02-17T15:25:00.000+08:00

The same as for the cars, the telephones and all the rest, it is difficult to imagine how we would live without internet nowadays. For someone like me, often on the move, it is a great tool to keep in touch with the rest of the world, exchange messages with my friends, purchase my weekly fix of vinyl records, etc. Nevertheless, we are not all equal when it comes to the connections. In France, I must admit that I am very happy about the speed everything is going. Singapore remains a nightmare, even with the best plan. If you do not live in the right location, downloading / uploading speed is a nightmare. But there is an advantage though, you can find free hotspots pretty much anywhere in the city. I have never seen a country with so many free accesses. But I use the word ‘free’ as in ‘gratis’. If not, many websites and blogsites are still restricted and that is a big frustration. The sensation of being controlled is terrible (and I am not talking about China). Another ground where we are not equal is the access from hotels. So far, the only country where I have experienced free access from all the hotels I visited is the U.S.A.

Here, in Australia, I have this 3G thingie that enables me to surf from pretty much anywhere as long as there is coverage. It is great but the down point is that it is often quite slow, not so reliable and pretty expensive (well, I am not paying for it but still!).

Record of the Week: Doves 'Jetstream'

2009-02-16T08:00:00.002+08:00

Of course, the Doves are one of my favourite bands ever so it is difficult for me to remain objective. I was so excited when I was directed to their website for a free download of one of the tracks from their forthcoming new album ‘Kingdom of Rust’ that is out on the 6th of April. The track that is currently being offered through their website (here) - be quick - is the opening title of the new album and as best described in their own words “being fans of the Vangelis film score, 'Blade Runner', (they) always wanted to write an imaginary song for the closing credits on Ridley Scott's classic... It's called Jetstream”. The best is always coming from Manchester!

Darwin, the man

2009-02-15T19:49:00.001+08:00

Even though I am in a place called Darwin I had not realised I knew so few about the man who gave his name to the city. I was delighted to watch a documentary today that made me feel like learning much more. The doco I watched was interesting but a bit superficial I reckon concentrating on the first quarter of the Beagle voyage only. You almost feel that there should have been 4 additional parts. But it corrected several misconceptions I had about the man. I always heard he joined the Beagle even though he was not particularly brilliant. There I learnt the real story behind his joining and understood how serious and dedicated he was to his job. It also enlightened me a lot on his theory of evolution itself. I was still with the image (often seen on posters) of the man evolving from the ape but his tree of life theory is nothing like that! To make a long story short, there is no doubt that one of my next readings will be his autobiography to try and know more. I also feel his theory should be taught much more thoroughly at school.

Back to the Pool

2009-02-14T15:22:00.003+08:00

Back to the Pool after nearly three weeks of laziness. It is true that while travelling it is never a priority to find a lap pool and since I came back here on Tuesday I have been pretty lazy but I decided today was the day. I was hoping it would not be too busy but when I arrived at 1340 I was shocked to see the crowd was consisting of two guys who were actually leaving. I ended up swimming my kilometre alone. A kind of private pool. Weird but it is also true that the summer school holidays are over and that it was raining over lunchtime. Also many people might have been digesting by that time. I personally had my lunch after the pool session...

More from the Northern Territory News

2009-02-13T23:15:00.004+08:00

When the rest of Australia is continuing to be under the bush fires shock and trying to forget and get hope thanks to the Sam and Bob koala story effect, the ever amazing Northern Territory News newspaper has nothing better to do than to bring a 10-year old story about a guy who got bitten 9 times by a King Brown snake. At least it is a change from the usual Crocodile story. That said we had a few snake stories in the past as well as some shark and box jellyfish stories. One of the best one so far this year has been the sighting of a flying car over Darwin (drinking is a big occupation here so that might explain some of the stories). Please also note the top story which relates the story of that woman who is outraged from having been banned from a Shopping Centre because she was wearing a bikini. I am always amazed to see all those people shopping barechest.

Dry fruits

2009-02-12T12:42:00.002+08:00

I usually really like dry fruits. Of course, it is often the common apricot or mango that I tend to snack on but I often try something new and different. I never had any kiwi before. It is not bad. I am not overexcited about it but it still makes for a good snack. The proof is that I finished this 150Gr packet in two days. The problem I find with most dry fruits though is that they contain lots of unecessary sugars. It is quite rare to find raw dry fruits without any additive and it is a shame since they are much tastier in the raw. The other problem is that the drying process kills most of the Vitamin C but they remain rich in vitamins and dietary minerals.

Water

2009-02-11T12:33:00.001+08:00

My favourite drink after... milk, of course. I love water. We all do I suppose as it is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. During and after a long plane trip it is more essential than ever. I got this bottle from Coles Supermarket today and it informed me that Elysha drinks 2 litres a day. Well, it is very good on her, whoever she is. I personally probably drink more than this, especially at the moment.

Back in the "Wet"

2009-02-10T13:20:00.002+08:00

Back in Darwin. We are in the middle of the wet season. The nature continues to thrive. The birds of course, the ants as well and I have already started to spot quite a few grasshoppers which were not as numerous before I left for my holidays, that’s for sure. I wish I can get time in a couple of months to explore places like the Kakadu National Park that is supposed to be at its best in April.