I only wanted to ask do you like Dire Straits?

I know it has been a while since i have been able to send a email! One of the issues has been that the Thai Jail I checked into did not have WiFi or a dial up internet Connection!. So let me ask. Have you ever been detained, had your wrists cabled tied and placed in a Thai Jail? I can now say I have! What a life, Corruption is of course rife here. Bribes are all the way and the only way to get things done! In early February Thai Immigration did a raid of every western owned establishment. Basically looking for any one working illegally. I was not working illegally but like almost 100 other owners they found something which was not in order! I apparently was not taking the correct names in the correct format, in the correct way, with the correct Bic Pen Colour, for people staying in the guest house. So to cut a very very, VERY long story short, I was dragged off to the police station where i stood in the tiniest room with 55 others mostly Laos, or Burmese, cable tied and all, Think of the scene from Bridget Jones Diary 2. That was me, except i was not dancing to Madonna in a red bra! After 8 hours, my Lawyer eventually found the correct dude within the Police to bribe in order to get me out. $5,000 Aussie dollars later and it was as if it never happened! Money talks and Bribes work!

"What Peak Season?" it was like some one had told you about an amazing movie that was just the most amazing thing they had ever seen! Then you went along and even pre booked your tickets to make sure - "as it was a sure bet" you had a prime seat! Well that is exactly what it felt like here in Samui for Peak Season! Yeah sure there were more people, many many more, and yes my little hotel was fully booked! But wow - I was waiting for a mud slide of Burger orders and Breakfasts each and every day! We did well, thou the chocolate river of mud never arrived!

So we are now what is called High Season! - Have no idea whether that means every one else around here relaxes and maybe gets right up there with the alps (not that they have had snow this year) so who knows! i am still 100% full - actually 109% full if that helps any one. I always dread when a Mini Bus or a Taxi turns up at the front door (not that there is a front door - thou it does sound good!) the other day i died inside! Literally! A double booking! Nice to be popular but a nightmare to explain! yet if it is the clients stuff up it is easier yet they need a bed! HELP! This time was totally mine! Me Mine, Son Of Brian, Brother of Stephen, and Father of 4 Aussie Cats! ..... I completely !@#$%^&*&^%$#$%^ up! How embarrassing! I never do this! I pride myself in being PC/Mac/IT together! I Screwed it all up! And just to rub it in like Tiger Balm or Deep Heat - they were the most beautiful couple!!!! They had read every thing on the Internet about AKWA and me - and yes they were mortified that I had no room in the Inn. I know know what Jesus and Mary felt like. I saw it! The Body language said it all! I died inside. Even my staff said to me that they felt my internal anger with myself about what i had done! Yet I was honest. I told them it was Me, Only Me! and no one else than Me! but that did not help! I found them another hotel - even thou i have been told it is nice and have seen it - they dont think it is any thing on my place! ("$%* #$& $()(%(*!@#$%^*()%^&!@#$%") I have done my utmost to make them happy. God love them they still come back for cocktails, Dinner and a afternoon drink! I keep asking myself why? My brain has been working overdrive in what I can do in order to make amens. Time will tell.

Rack Rates, Bulk Rates, Discount Rates, Corporate Rates and then you have to "Up The Rates". I have increased my room rates 8 times in the past 9 months, not in one month or each month, yet in the past 6 months, most of my rates have gone up by almost 100% - People like AKWA that much, we are popular. The reviews have been astonishing even to me. I am constantly embarrassed by what people write about our itty little tiny place. I personally get a mention more often that not, thou I it is the other staff that really do all the work ( i am good at design and organising ) My night manager Lee White gets some great grabs as well, which is great for his ego and style! He does a great job. So AKWA is now a touch exclusive, and a little expensive. Yet AKWA is worth it, as they say the Bed has 11 Pillows! Ho Hum!

Many people all over the world have no and or little water. Here on an Island we have water! I have no idea how! There is no Dam, They say we have a Lake - but I have seen Chaffey Dam out side of Tamworth (Australia) and the lake here in Samui is a Pin Prick compared to a real dam! Very little houses are designed for rain fall collection. Some places like my new home has a bore! (Bore Water = Yuk) Thou when it rains here it $%^&* RAINS! it is sad all that natural water goes to waste. Yet I know in Sydney and many many parts of Australia, that is exactly what happens. The other month the local council, government, or province fixed a long term leak in the main street (leaking for 22 months) and when I say a leak A #*&*^%$% HUMUNGOUS @$%$(* LEAK. So when they finally fixed it, all the pressure in the entire main chewang road lifted! AKWA's main feed could not cope - so at 4-am it said @#$%^&* IT! and burst! Not that i had a clue as i was in a deep sleep from nothing else than pure cotton sheets, 100% feather down pillows with a 100% feather quilt cover, perhaps maybe too much Vodka (only the cheap stuff - as I am in Thailand) and I know someone else cuddling next to me. My wonderful staff decided to do another thing right and solve it all before I even decided to look in the mirror and yet again decide not to shave for another day! ( I hate shaving - and I hate a beard - again mixed up - not sure which way to go sometimes) I arrived to find at 10-am the floor tiles still wet???? Fon was quick to inform me of what happened before i flew off the handle - not that my handle flying is what it used to be in the good old days! All was good! But then there was the hotel water pump! And this pump does not warrant boring you all with yet another Thai disaster story!

I moved house in December! I again had a huge cleansing process, I threw more and more things out, Gave things away. The interesting thing in Thailand yet the same in any other country, yet maybe not as transparent. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Almost all of the items which do not fit me, or I dont need, are out of fashion or decor, my staff are very happy to take off my hands. When I replaced all the Air Conditioners in my little tower you have no idea how many people would have been in line to collect the rejects. A good thing i think. I do know being from Sydney, one would place these things on the street for the local council to collect and take to the rubbish dump, to find even a hour, or 2 after i had placed it out the front of my home it had been taken by some one else - and yet they would think that I was crazy in getting rid of it! I know i am a cleanser and I like to dispose of what i dont need or like to keep. Being in a country where these things mean so much is a huge eye opener. It keeps you human, or less than a human, so you understand what you throw is to someone else gold.

Moving house again for the 10th time in 3 years was full of throwing out fun. I have moved from Balmain (Sydney) to Woollahra (Sydney) to Balgowlah Heights (North Shore, Sydney) to Waukivory (Hunter Country - New South Wales ) to Detroit - Michigan Lake (USA) to New York (USA) to Randwick (Sydney) to Bangkok (Thailand) to Chon Mon (Koh Samui - Thailand) to Chewang (Koh Samui - Thailand) ........... Moving house is a great cleansing, cleaning and exfoliating clarins facial experience. You have no idea how much crap i have got rid of. You all would die - I find it very interesting to reflect on what you have collected, and then decide what you want and if you want it and then to decide to get rid of it. Yet moving house this time was great! I now have a small one bed room house, and like any home it has assets and liabilities! I soon learnt what these were! The assets are it is nice and close yet far enough away from my guest-house, I negotiated a nice large enough garden that i paid to be landscaped and enclosed for my cats, the interior is all wood (makes my sound system and 30 speakers rock!!!) is nice and large. includes water at no cost. And i have 3 year lease unless I get screwed over! The liabilities are I live right smack next door to a C O C K Fighting Training School, ( not sure how i seem to find this place something attracted me! ) as in these Roasters are all looked after in order to fight each other! Training each and every day just like Thai Boxing! They do not fight next door, just training! - but I tell you there is an automatic wake up call every morning! Which is good as i work days, thou it is amazing that you get used to it so quickly - I dont even hear it any more. Thou one of my Cats "Rexxy" Loves to sit on the brick wall each and ever morning preening himself and looking and scouting the training sessions next door! Speaking of my Cats "Patrick", 'Ginger", "Rexxy" and "Spike" all coped very well moving again. My Cats are my god send in this world apart from my Mum, Dad and Brothers and Sisters and close friends. Yet you do not get to travel with your Mum, Dad or Siblings. All my Cats have jumped right on my bed just like normal. They love the Garden I created for them, they sleep with me every night. Patrick being some 17,19 or 20 human years (i forget hoe old - yet it was his birthday on St Patricks Day) has pride of place every night night next to me - we look and talk to each other during the night. He is my joy, He is my love. He has gone through hell at his age with me. Yet he accepts. He is still happy pawing my cheek with love each and every evening no matter what state i am in when I arrive home. I Love him too much.

I travelled back to Sydney almost 4 months ago for 2 days to attend a funeral - My Grandmother "Alma Condon" passed away. WoW she lived a long life! I was always so young when she and her husband worked. In our way she and I were very close, she was the first person i ever told I was Gay - there was always a connection. I saw so many musicals from her base in Ashfield. I was not the perfect grandson. I was me. I can still spot the Parramatta Road Terrace Shop House she and her Husband Maurice lived. I remember very few memories of my Grandfather Maurice (her husband) - a "Barber" just like my Dad, My Father trained under my Grandfather as a barber apprenticeship and then did a Female Hairdressing apprenticeship in Double Bay ( in those days ) - where he met my Mother Eunice Thompson ( getting her hair "DONE" for of any electrical firm that she worked at for a while attending Sydney University). I always got confused by my Nan telling me how to get to the city by bus, or train. Yet I can remember the Parramatta road shop layout. I can even sketch it out for you. The glass fronted stainless steel fridges to store food in order make sandwiches. The Ice cream flat freezes. The clients from the local car yards coming up for their "normal regular" lunch, Just like my clients now. I could never forget my Grandfather and his walking stick. That walking stick scared the crap out of me. Yet there were many idol threats. I loved my Nan, The funeral was a challenge for me, no crying for me there, not sure why, yet there was much before and far too much after, I guess i grief in different way; I miss her telephone answering "Well" to greet you on the phone. I miss sending her roses on her birthday. I inherited her love for evening talk back radio. I love and will miss her dearly. I love you Alma.

The other day I came home sleepy as I had just had a massage, I stopped a 7/11 and grabbed some Gummy Bears (jelly teddy bears) drove home and sat nibbling the bears while lying in bed watching the movie "Little Mary Sunshine" bliss, happy and a great movie. I guess it is the Same Same But Different! I think we all know i love music, my taste is not always the main steam, Musicals and Classical is usually the drill for me. But i do have over 76,000 songs on my computer. And I think it is interesting how music brings up so many memories. I am never able to write these huge monologs unless i have ear phones in, a song playing in my ear and a vodka close by. I was never able to do any work at my desk unless i had music playing in the background. I have never liked Dire Straits, I really had no idea who they were to be frank. But the other day a song came on the speakers in my hotel playing from my 76,000 song list, and it sent some shivers down my spine, It was "Romeo and Juliet" from Dire Straits, this song my brother Stephen played over and over and over again when I guess it was first released. Steve would play it over for the weeks he was back from boarding school. The song then drove me crazy (as i was a Lloyd Webber fan at he time) But when it played recently - I could see my past, my history, the room we shared, how he would migrate to his room and play Dire Straits, the wonderful house my Mother and Father designed and built, My first cat "Moses" who i trained to jump in my window and then open the fly screen in order to jump on my bed and sleep with me. The Family Labrador "Duke". The in ground pool we (kids) all said we would use if it was built, but we never did. My Vegetable Patch. The monkey bars. The garage, My Brother Phillips's Dark room under the house - he loved taking and developing pictures. I am now addicted to "Romeo and Juliet" just like growing and loving a good wine, It has played on repeat while i have written and re written this email, Just like my brothers addiction.

What happens in my life now! Many people think that my life is just perfect. That it is! Yet my life has always been perfect! And yet it has never been perfect. I think we are all like every one else, no money, no one person, no one country, no one job makes our life perfect. I have not found any thing yet that makes me 100% complete ( Patrick the cat is close thou ) yet life is hard as i have found and I love and hate the challenges it delivers. I can not wait for the next one, whenever it arrives.

Even when there are cable ties around the wrists, and I may be in Dire Straits, I love my life when it is delivered with a challenge.

love
tim
xo

GUEST SAY'S "Little things make the difference"

We're nearing the end of a 9 month round the world trip and we couldn't have wished for a better hotel in which to spend our last week or so. We'd read the reviews & seen the photos of the guesthouse on the website but having travelled for a while we have come to realise that some places are not quite what they seem. With AKWA, however, we were not disappointed - it did exactly what it said on the tin & more! We were so impressed we decided to extend our stay. From the moment we arrived Tim, Lee & the staff made us feel so very welcome & nothing was too much trouble. Infact they went out of their way to help us.
Our room was well designed & decorated, full of the comforts of home. Like we said, it's the little things that make all the difference - the free DVD & music library, the feather quilt & pillows, the fresh orchids, the comedy toilet brush holder and other quirky furnishings - it all served to make our stay more enjoyable. AKWA is up there with the very best of accommodation we've experienced on our travels & if we return to Thailand & Samui we'll be back for sure.
Thank you to the staff that cleaned our room and kept us amused on a daily basis hiding Rexxy the cuddly toy dog in the most imaginative of places!
Thank you Tim & Lee for sorting out our laptop, for advice on trips & travel & for just being genuine honest friendly people.
-----------http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293918-d620300-r7702561-Akwa_Guesthouse-Ko_Samui.html

A real smile means 9.5/10

AKWA Guesthouse offers two room types, the Deluxe Room and the Penthouse. In general, the rooms are where AKWA Guesthouse shines above everything I've ever seen in all my travels. The level of care and attention to detail are unmatched by any whatever-star hotel I've ever seen. It's even better than some of the five star places I've stayed at, but what separates AKWA from everything else is the personality. It's described as a "funky pop art guesthouse" and that it is; from the Disney-esque but still-funky artwork adorning each wall to the colour to the little helpful doo-dads you'll find all over your room, AKWA Guesthouse may be the most well considered guesthouse in Thailand.

You'll adore the little kitsch accessories. The lamp goes on and off by switching a little, well, dong! The big red chairs are shaped like a hand (very Dalí-esque). The lists of little tidbits that exist solely to impress you are astounding. It's a genuinely welcoming place. From the first moment you walk into the room to the last morning you check out, AKWA Guesthouse makes you smile (and not in that pseudo-fake Thai way). The TV carries all the channels you'll need, there's a nice DVD selection (plus more in the hall way, 100 I think!), a mp3 player, TWO alarm clocks, well placed lighting, great views over the Seascape to the sea, and the bed... did I mention the bed? The beds at AKWA Guesthouse are all wonderful king sized beds equipped with a total of 11 (yes, ELEVEN) pillows of which 6 are massive, down-filled sleepers, and 5 are of varying shapes for propping yourself up for reading or watching DVDs or playing online games on your laptop. The sheets are 400 count Egyptian cotton and the down-filled duvet would be a wedding gift worthy of your best friend. There's a stuffed-dog for those of you who miss your special friend from home. If I have one minor quibble it would be that the beds seemed a touch springy. God I loved staying here. I hate to say it, but it made my trip (at least the Koh Samui part of it)

There's only one penthouse room available and I had the opportunity to spend one night in it as all other rooms were taken. The penthouse truly shines (maybe because it's brand new? ) with a huge deck hosting two beautiful wooden sun chairs and a full dining table for four for those lucky enough to be invited along for the views up and down Chaweng Beach Road (it's one of if not the highest building around) and out to the Gulf of Thailand. The bed offers top quality cushioned comfort from where you can watch a DVD (from the even bigger DVD selection) on the LCD TV and sound system. It's received the same level of attention to detail as the rest of the Deluxe Rooms at AKWA of course, if not more so. Actually it much more so. Stay at the penthouse, it's an awesome experience. Note that there are 3 flights of stairs to get there (but with all the lounging around on the deck you'll do you'll need the exercise). The Deluxe rooms won't disappoint you however. In fact for the price, they're one of the best deals going in Chaweng. The bathrooms at AKWA Guesthouse are nearly perfect (nothing is perfect in this world). Tim's meticulousness and obsession with clean and care shine through here. No cheap skin peeling bar soap and dandruff-inducing bottles of cheap shampoo here. Instead you'll appreciate the ex-foliating glycerin soap's fruity aromas and refresh yourself with quality shampoo from the conveniently placed, tastefully AKWA branded dispenser. Water pressure is adequate and temperature control seems to be set at three levels on the water heater (in the Deluxe rooms). Two toilet paper rolls and holders mean you won't have to change the TP roll yourself. The polished glass bathroom counter and sink make you wonder why you installed that horrid laminate back home and they support a reliable, quality faucet. A notable shaving mirror on swivels and extensions round and out This is one of my favourite bathrooms in Thailand. In the penthouse bathrooms at AKWA everything is there for you and set out perfectly including four bars of soap (different colours, different flavours?) and all the little accessories you get in a 5 star hotel. Relax and take a bath while looking out over the deck, through the typically Thai Buddhist shrine, towards the sea. There are two showerheads, one soaker and one manual. Everything is pristine. Most of all (certainly most important to me), the bathrooms at AKWA Guesthouse are clean and well taken care of. I can't tell you how many times I've been disappointed by the state of mildew culture in the bathrooms of much more expensive hotels in Thailand (I know, I know, the humidity makes the battle so much more difficult).

The rooms are well cleaned each morning by the maid service. The halls and stairs are regularly washed down so you don't have to worry about trekking sand around as you come home from the beach. There isn't many staff at AKWA Guesthouse, but of particular note is that Tim and/or one of his farang employees are there all the time. Problems explaining yourself in pigin English? Sick of being misunderstood and afraid of making cultural faux-pauxs when you aren't happy with something? No problem. Talk to Tim, or his wonderful staff of well-informed farangs (westerners). You get to relax and feel comfortable while asking any questions you might have about Thailand, Koh Samui or Chaweng are sure to be answered honestly, informatively and from a western perspective. They're also willing and ready to help you organize any aspect of your trip.

I was witness to Tim's generosity of time and sympathy to his guests more than once during my stay at AKWA. The Thai staff running the restaurant should be noted for their friendliness and charm. It was nice getting to know them, knowing that they aren't the typical underpaid, unhappy, secretly-resentful-of-the-owner Thais. All their efforts were much appreciated as were the smiles. To quote from the AKWA Guesthouse website, it's located at the quiet end of Chaweng Beach. It's true, it's really nice actually. Chaweng Beach can be a pretty crazy place and all that craziness is about a 5-10 minute walk up Chaweng Beach Road (the main road in front). If you're renting a motorbike on Koh Samui then the whole town is within a 10 minute bike ride (and I do highly recommend renting a motorbike, it's totally worth the expense and you can get a pretty decent deal (150 baht/day) if you book for a week or more). Within only two minutes walking distance you can find some great restaurants (once you've eaten everything on the menu at the AKWA Restaurant) like Poppies and the Indian place up the street and on the left (I can't remember the name of it). As for beach action, AKWA is well setup. To get to the beach you walk out the front door, cross the street and stroll 39 seconds along through the gardens opposite. AKWA also provides beach towels!! Chaweng Beach itself is pretty good as beaches go. I've seen cleaner beaches, although some have said it's just because it's the rainy season. On a good choppy day you can get in some decent body surfing and of course Koh Samui has all kinds of great snorkeling and diving opportunities.

Internet Access at the Guesthouse: The websites state that AKWA Guesthouse offers a wireless (WIFI) Internet connection for its guests, but it should be noted that the signal from the restaurant doesn't quite reach the 3rd floor. Tim has informed me that he's installed an Internet connection in the penthouse at the top of the guesthouse and that its signal should reach the rest of the building soon. I stayed on the second floor and had little trouble connecting. The Internet can be slow at times (perhaps due to the relay connection or ISP), but having had to work from my room and the restaurant for a week on my laptop I can't complain too much. It worked out fine for me and I even downloaded a couple episodes of Brothers and Sisters at night. AKWA Guesthouse is not a resort, but it doesn't try to be. AKWA Guesthouse is just a great guesthouse. After one and a half months of traveling through Thailand and Cambodia it's easily my favourite guesthouse/hotel/resort that I've stayed at. If you're looking for a beach bungalow at a shi-shi resort then look elsewhere (although you might want to ask yourself why that's what you're looking for). But with surprisingly easy beach and resort access across the street, an ideal location, a fantastic restaurant open till late, like 2am! (did I mention they serve illy coffee? Do you know how difficult it is to find good coffee in Thailand?), wireless (WiFi) Internet access, great big impeccably clean and comfortably furnished rooms and personalised service by Tim and Company, you won't find a more satisfying stay on Koh Samui, if not in all of Thailand. I booked on Sawadee for 2 nights and stayed a week! Show the Thai people what a real smile means. 9.5/10 overall review for AKWA Guesthouse. Tyler Canada

“Officially the Best Place in Thailand!”

“Officially the Best Place in Thailand!” The first place that does exactly what its says on the Tin!! The room was exactly as it was portrayed on the net (a first for us!) The comfiest bed, pillows to die for and to prove it the only lie-in we have had in 7 Months of travelling (we usually rush to get out of our hotels!!) We have had the worst luck ever with other places but every problem we came across, Tim the owner was there to sort it out, I don’t know what we would have done without his patience, friendliness and valuable advice!! The AKWA Guesthouse is small enough for the personal touch, all the staff knowing and greeting you – (even if you’re a mile away from the hotel they recognise you!) Only bad point I have to make is a big one – MY DIET IS RUINED!! The breakfast, which is included, is the Best, we are British and we know our breakfasts!! The great thing is the variety, freshness and being able to be flexible and what you eat (no alarm at 6am to get it while you can!) We would stroll down when we were ready to eat not when we were told to! The location is fantastic, far enough away from the noise but close enough to have a night out and only 30 baht to get home. That is if you can drag yourself out of AKWA. The hotels DVD library takes some getting through – ideal if it rains or you just want to relax, lie in bed, order some food and watch a great film. We WILL be back and WE WILL be telling everybody we know about this place. If you’re reading this and your not going to book – more fool you – it’s the biggest mistake you’ll ever make!! Thank you Tim and the Staff for such a wonderful time in Samui!! You have 2 friends for life…… Hasta la vista mi amigo!!! Emma and Marcus …. England Well where do I start. What a Place!! The Rooms are very classy with great artwork, with nice canvasses. Also in the room you have a manual which covers every thing you which to know about Koh Samui and I mean “EVERYTHING” Tim is fantastic, he is so helpful, our time in Samui would have been ruined without Tim’s help, advice and general friendliness. The breakfast included kept me going all day. The Orange Juice is to die for. I believe that Tim knows exactly what holidaymakers want with the 8 feather pillows on the bed, Radio, MP3 Player, and DVD Player. We have been travelling 7 Months and I’ve also been to a lot of countries, and AKWA is up there with the best! I will be letting every body know about AKWA Guesthouse. The worst thing about it is we have to leave. “This is definitely my home away from home” Great Place, Great Staff, Thanks a lot Tim 9the best Aussie we have met) Marcus Jones and Emma England

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

"When are you gonna come down
When are you going to land
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man

You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road"

Hi,

Funny how some lyrics of a song can stick with you! You can listen and listen to them!

Maybe I should have stayed at the farm - yet there was no job offering differing challenges there.
I definitely know no one can hold on to me forever. I signed up with no one, and if i did i guess the cats are the winner!
I am over penthouses, marketing, selling or living in them!
I guess i have decided that maybe my future lies beyond any and all gold or yellow brick roads.

WOW how my daily life has changed!
Today i have lost close to 30 Kilos.
I now weight myself every day.
I jump all over the place, up down yet the monitoring helps me adjust what i eat and drink each day!

Koh Samui is an amazing place.
It attracts so many different people - from all places. I was always a very extroverted social person when I worked at the Regent (now Four Seasons)
I use to get invitations to Guests homes all over the world, to stay and enjoy their country. Christmas Time was always a challenge - I would get Xmas cards from guests I could not even remember, Who would send me photos and what they had been up to for the past year!
I think it is all about to happen again!
In the past week I have meet a great Dutch Couple, a Couple from Georgia in the USA, 2 Lariken Wogs from Sydney, A very cute Swiss couple on a budget around the world! If i give myself permission ( which sometimes is hard) to converse friendly, honestly yet graphically about their travels and what i am doing - I hit it off! Some many addresses, emails, and numbers have been exchanged! Maybe back to the future!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some past goals I will not hit again.
Loosing weight is hard.
I get frustrated if i have not lost each day.
The body is funny too - almost like a yo yo. I totally understand what those gainers on the Biggest Looser go through when they gain!
But over all I keep on going down!
I am now 20 Kilos from my goal weight.
when I reach it - I should have lost 50 Kilos or a touch more!

My Cats are a god send! I love them!
They have all settled in so well, and all are happy.
Sleeping each night with one or all of them is bliss.

I never thought I would have a back pack!
Yet I now have my bike, and i need to carry items home, like food, stuff, and my Apple Mac Laptop!
Sits comfy on my back!
I so look like a teenager!
Riding the motor bike is fun, challenging, scary, careful and a precarious task each day.
You have to judge the pot holes, gaps, taxis, people etc.
even slow is hard.
Yet nothing like the previous yellow brick road.
I would never have thought I would be bringing linen and napkins home hanging on each handle bar (so i could do a bleach wash-!!)
You get used to it!

I guess it is clear my future is beyond A yellow brick road.

regards
Tim

A Birthday, A Bike & A Break

I can remember when i was growing up in Tamworth in Country NSW Australia my birthday was approaching. I think it was my 10th or 12th year in a tiny town on this tiny planet. It was the height of the BMX Bike Craze, and I being me! Wanted a BMX! I of course new exactly what one I wanted! I dont think i had been in the "Peel Street Bike Shop" ever in my short 10 years. Yet there was something which just attracted me to this BMX Bike! It was Red, It was New, and It was Expensive! Far more superior than the other bikes that my older brothers had been given at the same age! I had to have it! My parents were always very very generous to me, not sure if it was that I was the youngest, my valuable set of lungs, or the fact i just could "nag and negociate better". But on this birthday I got the Red BMX Bike and I thought I was "the man" Every thing was perfect in my life!

Like all kids (i think) I got what i wanted and played (rode) with it for a while - and then the novelty soon wore off! I was lucky during my limited BMXing around Trealor Park I did not sustain any injures! I was quite envious of the kids at school who had broken their Arms, Legs and so forth and were in plaster casts. They always seemed to have special treatment, along with all the colour and movement on their casts! Yet I never broke a bone in my childhood.... burns and stitches yes, Bones No!

When you land in Asia, one thing you notice is the people are very in-genius in the way they use and approach things with very creative lateral thinking. From street stalls selling every type of food you could imagine, cooked to perfection to every type of vehicle and mode of transport in order to get from A to B and then to C as quickly as possible! I was always amazed by The Motor Bikes in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Samui and just about any where there is a need for a short distance run from A to B. Their little Orange, Red, Pink, or Green waist coats with their designated numbers stiched on their backs! They were allways ready to take you where ever you wanted (almost) and for a price of course!

I landed in Koh Samui, Thailand in Late February. I hired a car, yet I quickly realised a car was NOT going to be the best means of transport. So I decided to hire a Manual Motor Bike. Then after a week i decided to try a automatic Motor Bike. The Automatic won! Much easier, less concentration! Maybe that was a mistake? I would jump on my Honda Wave and zoom to work, to dinner, to shop! One of my Goals was to train one of my cats to sit in the front basket as I cruised around! The Thai people here have this amazing ability to carry, hang, poke, stick and juggle almost anything from a motor bike. My favourite is the Middle Aged Thai guy with almost no teeth, who delivers the newspapers to the Guest-house, He has his little White Silky Terrier Dog riding with him on the front of the Bike too and from his clients delivering papers, Happy as, with the biggest tongue wagging slippery with slop dripping as the bike gathers speed, he almost begs for his master to go faster and Faster!

I was very very proud of my "Bike Tan" along my Arms, Legs, Face and Neck. I was finally crisping to a warm Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Light Brown, something i had wanted all my life. A nice golden brown tan! Yet if you lifted the shirt sleeves or shorts too far up you would see I could be from Denmark!

I had mastered my bike! Parking, hanging shopping, doubling people, reversing and stalling! I had the hang of it all! I loved mornings! I just loved getting up, with no one on the road, and being able to have a nice leisurely ride to work, the wind rushing through my hair! There is no need for a Hair Dryer on this Island! What ever style you are able to masterfully achieve which of course resembles the models from the runways in New York or Paris created by those talented souls from Goldwell, Redken or Schwarzkopf, YOUR Style will END UP 100% better by the time you get to work via the Honda Wave! The Wind at 45-km hour has a way a Sunbeam (despite the name) could never achieve.

Yet Confidence can be a challenge to handle sometimes. Last Sunday "Mothers Day" was my Birthday! Every 4 years I think May 14 falls on Mothers day! I decided to get up at 7am and go and have a yummy breakfast on the beach. Whilst travelling down my usual road, I could not stop looking at the Crystal blue water and view and thinking about all the changes I had made in my life and where i was now today on my 36th Birthday - I then missed a sharp corner! Woops! I guess a lack of concentration and too much confidence! Guess what! My Right leg now has a cast, Ankle to Groin! Adrenaline is an interesting hormone, it all happened in slow motion. I was lucky i was not going fast. The bike was not damaged at all. I was!

Most Thai people are so nice, a Chef on the way to his shift stopped and picked me up (bloody and all), I quickly fell again (due to my right leg) then another wonderful Thai Girl stopped, and they both promptly positioned me on the back of her bike ( like a young FAT calf on the way to slaughter ) she took me to the ER of Samui Hospital........ then a further 2 ER's, 2 Hospitals and 4 X-rays later, I discovered I had no broken bones, thou I had tore completely all 4 ligaments left and right and through my knee - hence why i have a cast and now walk on crutches! I have to say in some silly weird wired wonderful way i was excited when the Dr told me I was going to have a cast for 4 weeks! I had never experienced that, and really wanted too! I have no regrets, thou it is slightly inconvenient, sore, and a consistent challenge.

Yet I move (well limp) on! I now have a very interesting Taxi driver that picks me up at 9.30am from my house and delivers me to the lounge in the guest house where I have mastered delegation from a distance. (pointing crutches can help!) Every now and then I get a urge to stumble up the stairs to check on the maid and the rooms to make sure all is 110% perfect. Coffee is my best friend.

Patrick (my cat of 16 human years) is a god send, funny how they seem to know when you are not well. He follows me every where I go in the house, and has slept with me for every night since my "accident" We talk often during the night whilst we roll and change sleeping positions.

The cast comes off "so they say" in 3 weeks! (which i doubt) so who knows! But I know you can picture me on my BMX bike back then in 1982 in my thinner days ..........

Bye!

Schwan went MaD

Cat = English!
Katze = German!
Gato = Spanish!
Chat = French!
Gatto = Italian!
Kот = Russian!
Maa-oh = Thai!

Hey Hey Hey

(interesting stuff above for some) The Thai word for cat is just like the cat sounds "Meow" - but not so much eeeeee more mooooooew or OHHHHHHH! Maaooohhhhhhh.

Its a different and interesting place I am living now. Totally different to the world I was once part of in Bangkok. I have a very small living. Small amount of money each day to survive. I have a good business, my Guest House and Restaurant. It does ok. Not amazing money but i make a little bit more than ends meet. I eat well, I sleep well. I have now lost 27 Kilos. I dont know how I ever got to 126-kilos in weight. I must have been so big. Yet I made some pretty radical decisions in the past 24 months. I did sloth for a while in NYC, and Bangkok. Its hard when you get to a heavy size.

I now wake at 9-am each day from an amazing deep sleep, I go to work, start at 10-am - no hassle, not busy, do my check ins and check outs (with my little computer program) supervise lunch service then go to the top Hotel in Samui and go to the Gym! I do about 90 mins of gym over looking the beach and sea till 5pm. I always stop on my way home at the local Thai Tiny Restaurant for Dinner. My Friend the Cook "Nat" knows all my likes and dislikes. I ride on my Honda "Wave" Motor bike to and from work! Its an interesting change to my Mercedes C320. Yet I have some scares on my Knees, Calfs, Hands and Elbows. I have had some run in's with Dirt, Concrete, Sand and a too many sharp corners containing confidence!

I ironically walked across Cheweng beach Samui alone for a bloody long time today. I ended up at the head with large rocks....... I saw all these German Tourists stumbling over them.......... I giggled so much, I dont think I will ever forget walking the Bay of Fires in Tasmania with Sophie & Debbie. I was Such a Porky thing at 124 kilos! I made it thou! It was an amazing experience! I also finished a book on the bay of fires trip ( im not a great reader - I finished Kitchen Confidential ) I was very proud i did that too - apart from those fu..cke.n heavy back packs. geeezzes......

I have moved into this little 2 bedroom house within a tiny compound of several houses, in the coconut flat area off Bo-Put, not too far from Cheweng - Koh Samui (I know all the directions are Greek - but settle ....... ). My house is Brand New. The owner is just beautiful. He is Thai and inherited the land from his dad. He goes above and beyond what he needs or has to do. He has no issues with the cats joining me, or my music.... I of course push the Envelope in the volume dial......I am not sure he knows what a ampliphier is......... Touch Wood.

"Patrick, Rexxy, Ginger & Spike" (the Cats) arrive from Sydney next Saturday. A Long way for them, and that will be the final closure for them and for me in my 24 to 36 month exit extravaganza. They will have a little culture shock with the heat and so forth, but once adjusted they will be ok and happy. I am sure they are all looking forward to sleeping on my bed just like old times. ( with the air conditioner going in the back ground )

Life is different, always different, just the way i seem to always arrange and create it. I dont think I will ever settle down. My brain says yes, My actions differ. I am not sure why. I do become very frustrated when others are affected by my actions as my family, my cats, my previous staff. But alas I am me and my path seems to continue although with out a "UBD" or "SYD WORLD-WAYS" page number. I have no idea where my next stop is after this precariousness, Though i feel i will be on an island for some time.


love

Timothy
x

thanks again for the fantastic time

Hey Tim!

Just a quick note to say thanks again for the fantastic time we had with you and everyone at Akwa. We've not long arrived home and we're feeling ok considering the flight, but we would do anything to be back with you all on Koh Samui!!!
The weather is shit and cold..... no surprises there.

Please tell Matt that Claudine is crazy about him and she hasn't stopped thinking about him since they said goodbye. Could you also pass on many kisses to Go from Sophie. Of course we both send lots of kisses to you!!

Take care, lots of love
Claudine and Sophie

Island life is Idyllic.

Hi Hi,

Island life is Idyllic.

Dictionary

idyllic |īˈdilik| |aɪˌdɪlɪk| |ɪˌdɪlɪk|
adjective
(esp. of a time or place) like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque : an attractive hotel in an idyllic setting.
DERIVATIVES
idyllically |-ik(ə)lē| |aɪˌdɪlək(ə)li| adverb

Thesaurus

idyllic
adjective
the once idyllic islands are now subjected to martial law perfect, wonderful, blissful, halcyon, happy; ideal, idealized; heavenly, paradisal, Utopian, Elysian; peaceful, picturesque, bucolic, unspoiled; literary Arcadian.

I would not say that the island is perfect! The roads are far from it.
My life thou is blissful, happy, peaceful and picturesque.
I dont know if i am pleased with my new lifestyle, I certainly love it. I do miss busy times, certain work pressures, the environment and ability to succeed. You dont get much of any of that here! Near, just close or i missed is acceptable!
I do miss some parts of Bangkok, Sydney and New York, thou it is totally different. Here you can not ( really ) turn things on and off when you want - like New York or Bangkok. You do not get the beautiful and clean Sydney.
Yet for every positive there are negatives. I dont have to suffer fools, rude people, I get smiles every where.

I went to Bangkok last Saturday to collect "Patrick" "Rexxy" "Ginger" and "Spike"
It was a huge effort. I do not think i have filled out so much paper work or had to go through so much crap and bureaucracy in my life!
One sheet and a passport for a human to enter. I have almost 136 A4 pages of "stuff" that i had to file to get them.
My "Mates" arrived on a flight from Sydney via Melbourne at 6:30am. I arrived at 7am.
They were installed and delivered in a Thai Air Cargo area of the Airport.
I did not get to see, water, and clean their little airport flight creates till 10am.
My little "reunion" was well very exciting, Meows and Tears flowed.
We then all jumped on a flight to Samui at 2pm.
They are all happy as little monkeys up a coconut tree!
The staff of the owner of the houses absolutely adores them all.
Sleeping arrangements have been messy, yet Patrick (13 years old) has sorted out the pecking order and where we are all to sleep on the King size bed ( im in the middle!!!)

Nush my maid did not come over to Samui, and boy do I miss her! It was very big change for her and I. As you know she has a little girl 18 months old. It would have been difficult for her. I did not have the room for her to live with me, let alone wanted to have a young child around at this point in my life. Saying good-bye was very difficult, many tears from her. I think once I am settled I will ask her to come and look after me again. I Just need to sew some seeds here first.

I have started to prepare my Vegetable garden next to my house, "Moo" (female) who is in charge of all entire land that the owner lives on and we live on has been helping me. She speaks almost no English, yet i today discovered that she is a lesbian, and has girl friend in Bangkok. She loves the cats! And loves that i am "very different" to all the other people that she "supports and helps" Good to see that my landlord is an "Open" person - not that i have any one to "display"!

I think it is now time, that i have a routine in place to apply myself and write a book about life! My life I guess! I am not sure how it will go, or how good it will be to read.

It is Thursday night here. I am sitting doing my Emails, Listening to Elton John songs (very loudly) on shuffle with "Rexxy" at my back on the lounge, "Patrick" at my feet (purring very loudly) "Ginger" on my left Knee, and "Spike" fast fast asleep in his allocated position on my bed.

Life is Idyllic.

"like a pea in a pod"

HEY HEY HEY!

I have slotted into my new Bangkok company "like a pea in a pod"
They all think im hilarious!
I make every one laugh!
One thing that has come back with the removal of all the other crap in the past 24 months is my humour, wit and spontaneity!
I now sing LOUDLY & OPERATICALLY Happy Birthday to staff members who have a birthday, ( i of course know the dates , as i control the staff data base)
The PA to the owner had her last day, and we were all invited to a (huge 300 people) restaurant for dinner. I very very LOUDLY sang Happy Farwell.
I dont think i have had applause like it for almost 14 years, when i used sing as a waiter at Jordan's seafood for peoples birthday!
MY GOD - I HAVE TO SAY I WAS LOUD!
yet it was hilarious - very very funny.
That never happened in the past 10 years.
I did not make people laugh at work as much as now
I made people laugh on the phone (yet it was hard work to think on my feet - or ear!)
I now come out with lines and wit that even surprises me!
I am actually very funny!
and I make myself laugh as well!
a good thing.
-
I have learnt also in the past 4 months in Thailand that i am a good person.
a very good person
I care about people
I enjoy people
and I wish all people which I come in contact with to be happy and content.
The majority of the company staff gravitate to me to solve any issues they have with the owner and so forth.
The owner gravitates to me to ask about the staff and how to make the staff happy.
its an interesting dynamic.
Yet I have learnt that I like and are good at being a subordinate manager
-
I have always wanted to right (should be write but i cant change it as its is funny) a book about my experiences
I have always wanted to write about companies and management
Tonight at the restaurant it dawned on me what the title and or subject would be.
I have to work on the title thou
"Selective Subordinate Management"
Who knows
but i have to say I love answering at a mid, upper level, and not being the Boss.
so i think ill work on that subject, having been subordinate at McGrath and then the Boss at Di Jones and then subordinate at Destination Properties.
lots of subject matter.
-
Yes as you have read i am having lots of fun at work!
And a rarely have McDonalds delivered for dinner.
I prefer to get KFC delivered as I love the coating (being honest and it is so cheap and easy)
and oh my god yes - i am still very very Fat!
I have not put on any weight at all thou - I have lost weight!
I have lost some due to the company supplying lunch each day as well as walking to and from work
My favourite day is Tuesday - not for the food, but I get lunch and then sit at my Apple Mac and watch Media Watch replayed on ABC broad band!
-
I went to the dentist twice this week
Any one who can remember knows I have good teeth, thou i have 4 old silver YUK dark fillings. (2 top and 2 bottom)
so i went and had my teeth cleaned, and the YUK fillings replaced with white fillings.
I also had my teeth cleaned and Bleached. ( Not that I need to ) thou it is economical here so I did!
I now have a mouth like a light house - it just shines back and forth.
Oh and yeah - next project is the waistline. thanks for the reminder!
-
My maid now comes 5 days a week (part time), as she needs the money as her husband left her and she has a 10 month year old kid.)
she looks after me well, and is very honest.
so who cares about the extra money = she needs it!
-
its a public holiday here on Friday - QUEEN OF THAILAND'S B'DAY
so a huge sleep in for me!
-
nite
tim

Blizzard

Snow snow snow today!
Blizzard
They say could be a record for New York too!
So I said fuck that!
I wanted to go and see Avenue Q “the best musical last year”
But its always booked out 4 months ahead no matter what price!!
A mate told me that if snow hits get in there as people wont go out in it
and cancel.
So I got up out and about in this bloody blizzard and got a great seat from
a cancellation!
Was very very funny - very good!
Its minus 17
And they say will be a record snow storm!
Was fun schlepping around Broadway in 6 inches of shlush!!

Tim
Xo

Memories!

Wow - can you believe it! 2 months & 1.5 weeks = almost 10 weeks on holiday! wow! and all on a budget! and I came in under it!!!! YIPPEE!! "2001/2002 Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, New York, London, Amsterdam, Bruxelles, Cologne, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Stuttgart, Venice & Rome."

LOL MMMMMM its Monday the 6th Jan 2002. I arrived at work @ 4.15am - Very excited to be back! have my apple mac pumping out German Musicals!!!!!!! mmmmmmmmm Memories! Love them! I am fortunate to have them.

I treasure my job. Im glad im back.

You have a great new year for 2002 I know I will! I hope life brings you all the happiness you desire.

Love Tim xoxo

Taxi Taxi - Rip me off to the terminal please

Well its been 10 weeks! 10 weeks off on the longest break I have ever had in
my life. I arrived in Rome to the worst hotel I have ever seen! And to think
that they wanted 125.00 a nite for the room! I arrived and looked around and
thought the reception looked suss! then got to the room! Well I wont go on!
it was well. I last 5 mins and said cya! and hoped in to a cab and went to
another - someone suggested! 500% better! I was happier now - and not a
great deal more either! I checked in and the met up with my mate Marylyn
from New York, we went for a long walk past the Pantheon, and other sites,
there is soooooo much to see in Rome! Its amazing and very old history. We
had a great dinner together in a nice little Italian restaurant, swapping
travel stories, I don't really don't think she had a chance as all I did was
babble and babble and babble! But was a treat to catch up and share what
happened for my time of travel. The next morning we met up very early and go
lost walking to the Colosseum. But we did make it! and was worth all the
history, it was freezing mind you, I thought I lost a toe or 2 as it was
soooooooooo cold! But I checked and they were all there when I hoped into
the bath that evening. We had a late lunch/dinner at the hard rock café and
then off to our respected hotels. But I was well not a good terminology but
"I was over it" as in the holiday! I wanted to come home , I wanted to work,
I wanted my home back, I wanted my cats, I wanted my friends, - so knowing
me - I did what was right and hopped on a Qantas Jet and am back in Sydney!
I'm back at work on Monday the 7th with millions of ideas and things to do.
Thanks for all the emails and fun while I have been away! speak soon Tim
xxox

Happy New Year!

29, 30 & 31 January 2001 Venice, Italy
Well its January 1! Euro day! so 14 countries today have introduced the
Euro, I tell ya! Thank god! I was growing crazy, 80,000 for this 150,000 for
that in Italy was so confusing. IT was interesting to get a cup of coffee
this morning, the girl at the cash register battling, it must be so hard for
old people that have had the same style of currency for all their life. It
will be so much easier thou, and interesting to see what happens across the
board. I had a wonderful time in Venice, what a amazing place, you see it on
the TV, books, but to actually be there, water all around, canals, truly
breathe taking, I had the longest train trip from Stuttgart, Germany to
Venice, I coped quite well, considering me! Took the day, but was worth it!
I took the number 51 boat (like a little ferry) over to Lido, another island
canal place part of Venice but not on Venice, I could not get any
accommodation in Venice that was reasonable, (very very expensive) so I
decided to stay over on Lido, I was actually very happy I did, I know
staying on Venice (I was not far away like 5mins on the Ferry) would have
been better, but I got to see things on the Ferry like all the stops, I
stayed on one Ferry for the entire circumference of the island, I suppose
you could call it a island, - it truly is amazing, not only the history,
buildings, cathedrals, palazzos, but for us Australians - like the Concept,
of interconnecting canals, and all buildings on the water, and when I say
canals, not one! like thousands, little, large, small, medium. The only main
mode of transport on the main island is water ferry, or a water taxi, the
taxis are very very expensive, ferries cheap and fun, but very slow, I tell
you, you would not want to be in a hurry in Venice! Takes ages by the ferry
to get any where. I did not take a gondola ride around the canals, although
with a partner it would be incredibly romantic in summer/spring - it was
still a little cold, now where as Cold as Prague or Berlin, but cold. Every
thing is geared to the tourist, nice knack and touristy shops every where,
and I mean every where! I walked the entire place - top to toe, was fun, had
no idea where I was going, but you really cant get lost as all the little
paths lead to another main on and so on, walking, browsing, up over little
bridges over little canals......... Gondola passes by, it is very
picturesque, romantic, fun and exciting. I will never forget it, and one day
will have a great time again. Most my trip this year has been like a nice
long Table de Hotel Menu, I have had a long time off, but the destinations I
am going to have been quick and I have not stayed in one place (other than
New York) for any long time. I use a Table de Hotel Menu as this is the
style of menu where there would be like 6 or 7 meals but they are all
different and of a small portion, mainly used to taste the best of the
entire menu in a restaurant. I decided that I would have a little bit of the
areas that I would like see, and then the next trip in the future ill stay
longer and make a month holiday in one place. I would never have thought the
Brussels, and especially Burge would be what its was, so that entrée will be
requested in a main course size next time. I am absolutely itching to get
back to work and Sydney, I have had a good time off, recharged, learnt a
huge amount about others lives, countries, travel, and me. And am ready to
return to work in a week, so I spin around like a Tassie devil and get on
with a million things I want and have to do for 2002 at work and home. I had
my first encounter (first time ever during any of my trips ever) in Venice
of communication difficulties, and someone not understanding me - or not
willing to understand me in what I was after. It was an incredible
experience, the cashier was soooo RUDE, here I was a timid (not in control
at all) subservient, passive boy asking for a cappuccino, and a sandwich
(which I could not pronounce) as the sign was on the other side of the café,
The casher's expression on her face, her amazing over articulation with
PASSION AND VENOM of "I don't know what you Want, Sir! Italian Please!" is
still imprinted - (just like a foot print in the snow) on my brain, I can
still see her as I type, angry, passion, venom - was like as it was
happening was just in slow motion, I have never in my life had any one not
even have any idea about what I was expressing - ever with such anger. In
Tokyo I found that the Japanese were so polite and would stand there and
listen to every thing that you were asking (you could ask the same thing
"where is the cash machine, AutoBank" - 25 times over and over) and in Tokyo
they would just politely stand and nod, not having a fucking clue what you
were saying, I can remember standing in the subway saying the same thing and
this lovely lady nodding - to start I thought she knew what I was saying -
NOPE - was not till like the 5th time that I was saying in my brain "YOU
DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT IN SAYING DO YOU" and you would nod and off she would
go and you would ask another till you could find a solution. Japanese for me
when I was there were so polite, went out of there way. But this experience
was amazing. Its interesting that people get angry with others as they can
not speak the same language - when there are so many other ways - signing,
pointing, paper to help get the message, pointing and signing is my best
ability, have a knack from acting and stuff improvisation to just instantly
get my request across. But nothing work with this chick! ( she was not
willing to try ) its a bit more complex, and funny when I tell you over
lunch, you will laugh. But I find it that a foot print can be left on the
mind just like an museum and musical, I know they are all experiences and
events, just this came out from left field. - I did get my sandwich of
choice by the way, and by her! WAS NOT GOING TO LET HERE WIN!!! NO WAY!!! I
just left the line - went and recruited another staff member that was
willing to understand what I wanted and asked her to explain to the cashier
in Italian, that was funny as the 2 women were yelling at each other about
me in Italian! im standing there - LOL - all the peoples head in the line
all at the same time turn and look at me! so I was mentioned some where in
the monolog of the screaming! was funny! ohh and the best bloody cappuccino
I have had for ages! The Venice square is astounding! You should have seen
my mouth when I turned the corner and bang there it was! I have to be very
careful because the more I am looking around at places and am in ore my
mouth seems to open and like stay open, "ohh" such a tourist. Looking here
there every where. Ill catch one of the pigeons in my mouth in The Square if
im not careful. They were a blast those pigeons, im standing watching a
Japanese young couple with a child, say 4 years they bought some seed (you
can buy it from sales stalls) and gave to the little girl, then put it in
her coat pocket, these pigeons were all over her, she was like laughing and
like was in bliss running and a million pigeons wanting the seed in her
pocket and had, sitting on her head arm any where, parents with the video
camera, so funny was laughing away. Food has been good, the hotel I stayed
in was the first time my internet booking site really have been misinformed!
This place was like faulty towers! It really was, trying to be every thing
and achieving nothing. But clean, warm and comfy! On the train to Rome, see
you sooner than you think! Tim xoxo

6 Curtain Calls!

Well my whirl wind trip (8 hours on da train) to Stuttgart (Stuttgart for 10 hours) See the musical "Tanz der Vampire Gesamtaufnahme" - Dracula (then da train 11 hours to Venice) WOW what a show! I knew I would love it! would have loved it even more if I understood the words!!! LOL could not understand a fucken thing! LOL but I got the just of the plot. I played the 2 cd set on the train to Stuttgart so I would have a idea of the music and feel for what is happening! Gee what a huge Theatre like some 2500 seats! AND FULL HOUSE!!! boy this thing is popular in Germany! Won Most outstanding New Musical Europe or something! The sets were surreal very clever, very smart *VARI-LITES all over the light rig! (yeah I know you have not a clue what they are!!! *VARI-LITES the most complex, smart auto mated light in the world! can do any colour of the spectrum, any brightness, any projection i.e.: patterns, does spots and can do a entire 360 degrees turn - all light comes from complex sets of lasers & mirrors in side - They are the ones used mostly by huge Rock stars on the side or foot of the stage that can move and stuff - they are like SOOOOO expensive to hire! you can not buy them - always have to hire from *VARI-LITE and complete computer controlled! Very complex ok! Get it! ) not many shows use them as they are expensive, but they are creeping in here and there! there were like 50 of the little buggers!! spinning around like mad men! so you know I get excited looking at every thing! was in my element. the lead guy playing the Vampire - Dracula guy, was ok - I have a feeling he was the understudy! but it was very very good! normal plot, Cute str8t boy meets and falls in love at first sight with a cute str8t girl, then Vampire - Dracula wants the cute str8t girl, Vampire's GAY assistant wants the Cute Str8t boy (and doesn't get him - story of every poofs life!!! LOL) then they all turn into Vampire's!!! very surreal, funny in parts, (yes got some things - amazing what body language and acting can do) I was so lucky - (mmm maybe not just contacts) I had a house seat 6 rows from front smack bang in the middle! I would have died if I had to sit in that hall at the back - it was soooo huge! So I was a very very happy and excited little boy! and I had a ball! and so did the audience! 6 Curtain calls! - back to my hotel! was again cheap as! (5 star) xmas combined with lower travel = lower room rates!!! and I'm lapping it up!! 3 quarters of the way to my venue destination Venice. Well I tell you I was lucky in getting a seat in this train. Its BLOODY CHOCKERS! people pouring out off all the windows and halls!!!!! LOL thank goodness I get off on the next stop!!!! then swap over to another tran that takes me to my final stop. I quite like these trains! Good for reflection on things going in the world and life in general. cya in da new year! bye! Tim xoxo

"THIS IS C N N"

I have been watching all the Fires and turmoil in Sydney, on CNN, amazing what it is like when you are on the other side of the world! CNN news sounds like they are reading from the first couple of paragraphs of the SMH online!!! I had a very nice time in Prague. I was lucky as on the 24th it is Christmas there and many things were closed. I arrived on xmas eve. SO COLD - MINUS -14 - I got up nice and early and had a one on one tour guide (I organised it the night before) many things are very cheap in Prague. So a one on one tour was very economical, most of the group ones are in German then English, and I don't like that! I was a little surprised at what the old city is like - well not a car or bus sort of place - tiny streets, so all tours are walking. My guides name was Hanna - she spoke perfect English, Czech, German, French, Dutch and Russian. She used to work for the Military - in secret - translation stuff. She was absolutely great. She knew all the ins and outs - tricks, what to do where to go - was just fab! and she is the biggest Cat fan as well! She rescues them from the streets - (bit worried she may be like - you know "the old cat woman" - like she said she had 40 cats or something!!! god!) - She Verbally abused a lady in Prague castle in Russian who was wearing a very rare almost extinct snow CAT FUR COAT - was a little embarrassing - but funny - had no idea what she was saying - well YELLING - all in Russian - I was waiting for the red paint can & brush to jump into her hand and "slash a red X across the coat" she was a hoot! excentric so we got on great! as you can imagine! she is the biggest history and architectual buff! took me through all the sections of Prague 1 (there are 15 areas divided up of Prague) 1.8 million people. We went every where, and it was great as she had all the history of the country from BC to before Nazi, after Nazi, then Russian, Communised, after to present. I was in bliss. Was like a live walking 6 hours of the history channel on Foxtel. Prague Castle, Jewish ghetto history and after (most beautiful now) the bridges, synagogs, Palaces, Chapels, Cathedrals, too much to go into. Was great! but I figured out why there are these machines called a "Solarium" I think it means "thoring machine!" I tell you after Christmas day walking for almost 6 or 7 hours @ minus -12 and then it got warm at minus - 4 then back to minus -7 I got to the hotel and like was Frozen!!! 20 mins in the "Solarium" mmmmm warm! and I got a little darker too! I had a nice dinner - yummy Salmon! then as we covered sooooooooooooooooooo much the day before I had a huge sleep in. Up and about and had a look around again! Had a great 2 hour massage after (cheap as - like 2 hours for $50 au) then nice dinner again! Went to the opera "Carmen" the Prague musical scene is incredible - shows (mostly - classical) all over the place - like 10 or 15 a day! at different times, most go for 50 min that's it! Vivaldi, Mozart u name it! and Prague is huge on Marionettes - Little puppet theatres all over the place! - was up early and off to Vienna, Austria Yesterday and EVERY THING CLOSED! so just walked around and stuff, then bam last night I decided to go to Stuttgart. I was never going to Stuttgart, Germany - at all till I found out there was the award winning musical "Tanz der Vampire Gesamtaufnahme" = "Dracula" I have the CD! sounds great! all in German cant understand a word!!! but I liked "Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame" = "HUNCH BACK OF NOTE DAME" so fuck it im off to see it! The Germans have a weird, cleaver, very creative way of presentation that I like very much! and all the direction of Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame was great! So ill give the "Tanz der Vampire Gesamtaufnahme" a go! I know ill be pissed off if I don't! so I am on a train from Vienna to Stuttgart to see it tonight! then on a early train to Venice for 3 days! for New Years!!! love Schwan

There is a Bear in there & There AND THERE!!!!

Berlin - Germany 22, 23, 24 December 2001
Prague - Czech Republic 24, 25, 26, 27 December 2001
There is a Bear in there & There AND THERE and they are every where! As the bear is the symbol or mascot or something of Berlin every where you go there are bears! Not live Bears! like that would bite your arm off - (well at least mine - as I would just have to go over and pat one - if he was alive) But made out of any thing and every thing you can imagine, Paster, brass, copper, plastic - they all sit out - "walking like" in front of all the offices - hotels shops, pedestrian crossings - any where - it is a form of like art? Or good luck - I got conflicting reasons! The one that is in the Swissotel Lobby is made of CHOCOLATE! and we are talking like - solid Chocolate! and he is as big as a live Bear!! I tell ya this morning while I was sitting next to him (the bear - Not a Date) (having a chat ;) LOL - remember LOL means Laugh Out Loud) waiting for a taxi to the train station I like was almost forced to bite his EAR OFF!!! -- mmmm chocolate Bear!!!! LOL - I am in good sprits - sitting here on my train - have my mac playing a musical I saw l last night (IN GERMAN) ..... More on that later ..... So im happy, sitting, with a big grin and smile on my face ........ Just like the Cheshire Cat from the cartoon "Alice in Wonderland" HUGE SMILE :) a tear almost keeping into the corner of my year ( the song - playing - sad :( and I really am in "wonderland" what a great 3 days in Berlin! Truly Ruly Was Great. The Park Hyatt In Melbourne was nocked off as My Number #1 hotel in the world! The Swissotel in Berlin - was - words can not do it Justice. It opened on September 1 2001. So is brand New - the rooms are amazing - designed like nothing I have ever seen before, simple, modern, warm, practical - each had a espresso cappuccino machine, free internet on the TV, free movies, The Bathroom design would make any one of us in Property look (even thou we have seen a zillion bathrooms) and say "WOW" - I again got a million ideas! But the service in this place was - honestly - (remember ME speaking!) OUT OF THIS WORLD! Was booked on the internet - like every hotel I have stayed in is booked - sight un scene. & cheap! As they opened on Sept 1 and then Sept 11 happened (Belgium airline Sabina bankrupt - Swiss airline Swissair bankrupt) they want business and are trying to start something - I paid $92 US a nite! - and THEY FUCKEN WON ME! Every time one of the staff saw me, (rememeber my body language is like "Go Away" - LOL ) it was always "Hello Mr Schwan", "Mr Schwan, Good Morning", "How are you today Mr Schwan" "Can I help you with any thing Mr Schwan" - I cant explain - in my short 31 years on this planet I have never had service like it, not arse licking, genuine, careing, happy, loving care for another - and they (the staff) all of them were Smart Very Very Smart. I want to know who trained, hired them! Like get this, I call from a house phone in the foyer to Housekeeping - They answer in German! But when I am in my room - I call house keeping they answer in English! Wake up call - all in english, now you all may think that should be normal - not from my other european experiences, Boy they knew what they were doing, as on the second day during turn down, (im not there im at a show) they (house keeping) notice that I have turned the heater up! (I was a little cold after my trip out and about) and when they noticed that I had turned the heat up a little - they used their initative - went and got another feather doona fold in to a nice square - leave on bottom corner of bed, typed note (english) "Mr Schwan we noticed you may be a little colder - we have placed a extra doona for you should you require - good night, house keeping" - HONEST - my smiles cant express the feeling I have from my time in Berlin! And I tell you - no one - well to me - speaks english! not like Amsterdam, or Brussels. The conciege of the Swissotel - My God! My God! My God! - amazing!!!!!! A cappachino machine in every room? Have you heard of a thing? And Free! lavatza coffee! - free! Intenet Access free! They had a good old shoe shine service - like the great days before it all left - leave your shoes out by 3am! Polished and returned by 6am! I had the most amazing Dinner last nite - Room service! Rosmary Crustred Lamb Loin! - Oh Yum! I can still taste it! Can you believe they (reception) escorted me to the room on check in! I thought that went out in the year 1831. Showed me the room and amenities - (nice and quick) not over bearing! And yes I could Dial My Free call number - and was that! Free - no service charge at all! So I wont go on, but if you have not under stood yet ill make its easy "The Swissotel, Berlin was astonishing, astounding, inconceivable, beyond belief, surprising, remarkable, incredible, miraculous, mind-blowing!!!!!" And Now for
Schwan's Top 5 Hotels of The World ( sponsored by the Chocolate Bear )
1. Swissotel Berlin, Germany (100/100)
2. Park Hyatt Melbourne, Australia (96/100)
3. Bellagio, Las Vegas, United States (91/100)
4. Park Hyatt, Sydney, Australia (89/100)
5. Shangri La Island Hotel, Hong Kong (81/100)

The concierge got me A1 Prime seats to 2 Musicals, 1 "Falco meets Amaudas" (sung in German & English) and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (Sung in German) I was not sure if I would enjoy or cope at all - as they were in German! The first one Falco is interesting - did not cope too much - it is about a Pop star meeting Mozart Amaudas - his pop songs and Mzart blended together! They say Falco was like huge in the 80's! Never heard of him! some songs reminded me a little! Singing was good - set average! But the World Wide Premier of Disney's "Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame" or "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was Unreal! It was so nice to see on this trip another great Show! It was all sung in German! I am glad that I knew that story. And the launguage made it all so more sad and romantic from my perspective. Great Cast - Unreal Singing, and music was by 3 of my fav composers/lyrst, Stephen Schwartz, James lapine, and Alian Milkein - The set was incredable - very very clever, simple, and complex, the stage was divided into 12 squares that were the top of large Boxed Rectangles, and all 12 boxed Rectangles going up and down (some times all the way to the top) in order to change the set and scene - they then used projections - from the front onto the front of the boxes and sides! they had fly tower textured screens fly in and out for projections as well! I have not seen as complex a set since Jane Eyre last year. The projections were great! Some of the songs are so beautiful and more so as they are in another language - Disney's new theatre company really does do great stuff I have now seen them all - "The Lion King", "Aida", "Beauty & The Beast", and now "Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame", I can not stop playing the cd - OVER & OVER & OVER - ( I get repetative - Ask mum and dad - saw Evita in Sydney at age 6 or 7 (I think) and did not stop playing the tape for years! - I know every word, inflection, pronunciation on every song) I love Music! I get soooo very excited and happy when I have seen something good! I could honestly now quit my work - go on the dole - and tour every city in search of good theatre and music! (there are 2 more in Germany I am craving to see) - but I wont Quit! The last up date I said I my not come back! Joke! LOL I could Hear Di & Bill Jones "shudder" all the way from Qld when I typed! I was right! LOL she emailed me back and said NO WAY!! God love Her! As long as I get a good theatre fix each year (as I love it) ill be fine! I do love my work, I love my City Sydney, I love my home, I love the Company Di Jones R/E (best company I have ever worked at) I love the people I work with, I love my mates, I love my Girl Friends (you know who u are) I love my Mum and Dad, I love my family, I love my mac, and we all know I love my Katz (german) (Love ya "Spritzzy" (passed away Kat)) This trip alone was very important to me. I have never done a "alone" trip before - although I had arranged to be with someone for Europe, I am doing it myself, and I am so glad I did! There is snow every where I am on my way to Prague for Christmas day! I woke this morning to SNOW SNOW AND MORE SNOW! It is interesting to walk around the streets, your not trudging - but you are certainly being careful to watch you step, the snow when fresh seems fine, but then sort of melts into the shoe print then snow falls on top melts again into each other and freezes over and the whole side walk is a colleague of foots, foots and foots! - some paths have been cleared and they put sand stuff down to help both walking and navigation! You have to be careful not to slip over! I haven't yet! Touch wood - or chocolate bear! Berlin was so interesting and enjoyable! I did do the day tour yesterday, some of the buildings were very very pretty, and the history was very interesting. Berlin is going through and has since the Unification in 1990 a building spree, it is the busiest building site in the world at the moment, They are trying to get back to what it was or some sort - I can not even start to imagine what it would be like to have a wall down the centre of the city - its still there for a block near "check point Charlie" It really is a extraordinary city - many many things to do - even 3 full days I could not get to it all! - I did not find that I did not speak German hard. Tokyo was harder! But it is an interesting thing to sit in a taxi going some where and the driver speaks ZIP its like a blind date going bad when no one talks! I cant cope with it! Lol but I cant say any thing - as he wont say any thing as he knows I cant understand and visa versa! Very funny! All shops are closed on Sundays! Weird and I mean Every Thing Closed! I did find it hard to like look around and browse in between the city tour! Like I was so frozen by 9pm Saturday I walked past a Solarium Salon! Right in I Go! 18 mins of mmmmmmm SUN well fake sun! That thored me out! and I hope I get a little colour! I AM SOO WHITE! Like you rug up, gloves, scarfm leather jacket, jumper, and there's no sun any way! - Not that I have never really been a good person for the beach or sun! Maybe I'm getting better? But I do miss it. During my travels I was browsing and found a spectacles shop, and hey they had "Harry Potter" eye glasses! That's so funny, like Warner Brothers have marketed and branded "Harry Potter" eye where! lol - next will be the Eau de Cologne "Potter Pong" hehehehe - I literally stumbled onto the Sunday Flea Market yesterday - like the Paddington market - but honestly we have no idea what a true flea market is! To start it was like 1.5 Kilometres long! 2 rows! and was just incredible. Like any thing you could think, buttons, 2nd hand furniture, plates, silver, billions of like good old bric a brac, watches, keys, coats, furs, shoes, all 2nd hand, there was one stall that both Di Jones and I would go crazy! all old like antique gold fittings and fixtures like, door handles, letter box flaps, gates, candle holders for the front door, door nobs, large ornate stuff similar to the French era but would say from the old Germany or country houses - and cheap. For what you would pay to get it in Sydney and or if you could get it you could fly to Berlin for the weekend and an empty suit case and snap up some priceless stuff for a house reno. U would have to take some one that spoke German to help barter for you - and you Shut up!!! I was looking at watches and in one of the cases was a Rolex watch in the original case - seemed Real - the German couple next to me asked in German "how much - Rolex" and he said $3200.00 marcs, They said no and then I said in english "how much - Rolex" and he said $4800.00 ......... Yeah mate im stupid! The dollar Aussie to Berlin is good, Like we do well! $1.10Aus to $1.00Ger so things have been resonable. There were lots of things I did not get to do, as there are soooooo many museums and they were very crowded on Sunday - did not get to see the Andy Warhol retrospective - was going to do first thing Monday - but all musems are closed Monday! so did not get to to that!! Pity! Just got to the Czech border - and 4 Politze want all my ID - and visa and stuff! 3 people taken off the train - no visa! mmmmm but in kewl!! so far the Czech Rep looks very pretty, I know I will like it. MERRY CHRISTMAS, love tim xox

.....WHITE XMAS

I am on the train travelling to Berlin - we are an hour away - but I have to
tell you I have never seen snow like it! we are in the middle of no where
passing through fields, little towns, farms etc! snow every where, It is
falling atm....... Everything from the powerlines to the trees and fences
are covered in Snow! Something other than Salt Lake City some 4 weeks ago
never en-counted in such mass. Ironic as I type a Barbra Streisand Christmas
Song starts to play. So I will have a nice little white christmas, rugged up
in my nice dark blue jumper from chicago, and my new black Kenneth Cole
Leather jacket I got on sale in New York. Some things occurred to me
yesterday - one was why they have jumpers that have the long role up neck -
always thought they were silly - but well here your neck would freeze!!! and
why my Volvo has seat warmers!!!! LOL your bum would freeze with out them! I
am Spending Christmas in Prague - that people tell me is like Burges in
Brussels - where I loved!!! Can you beleive that I have been away so long!!!
I never thought I would survive! but im doing great! Never know may not
return ;) tim x x x

Minus 6 and Snowing!

Well cologne was mmmmmmm a touch boring. Most of the inner city of Cologne
or KOLN - was destroyed during world war II, but the Magnificent Gothic Dom
(cathedral) survived no fewer that 14 bombings and it is really the own main
attraction. It boasts the worlds largest church facade. Mind you I tell you
it needs a bloody good clean! other than that there is House #4711 that has
a fountain out the front that dispenses famous scented water (that is
apparently drinkable) and this house was on Eau de Cologne! that is where
the famous perfume name came from! the scented fountain out the front......
But it is now labelled House #4711 due to a Napoleonic system that abolished
street names!!!! .......... Last night was my first bad hotel experience!!!
I stayed at a very nice Renaissance Hotel 5 star! Great rooms! nice and
cosy! Cheap $85US a nite! But bloody hell, the management decided to bar all
access to free calls or 1800 numbers! and as the internet service around the
world uses a german free call I could not connect! Added to this was the
tour guide brochure people contact number was a 1800 free call, and on top,
the telephone card I use to call home (much cheaper) was a 1800 free call as
well! so bam!!! 3 differing ways I could not use it! well we all know what
that would have done to me!!!!!! I WENT CRAZY!!!! reception then to
supervisor then to front office manager, then to duty hotel manager, then
str8t to the top the GM! I was on a mission! How stupid! Why would you
program your PABX not to dial a free call number!!! They all said that it
was the PABX!!!! gezzzzzzz! idiots! so I marched to meet with the GM!!! (I
was so angry) he said that they had charging difficulties as some free calls
in germany are not free calls and charge and they cant charge on to the
guest....... I sat I listened......... I then told him what I thought and
how rediculous....... And then got to the crunch in explaining that there
was a way around in programming the bloody PABX. (this is a F____K__G 5 star
hotel remember) so he got the IT person!!! I felt like I was at work -
wanted to send them a invoice for my time!!!! but explained to all 4 people
(by this time I was at the bar - at a small table - needed a southern - GM
paid !! thank god) Then it all made sence to the IT guy and GM!!! they
understood? How silly! they have had the Free call barring for 6 mths! GM
told me they had a million complaints! but he could not see a way around it!
- any way LOL they had AT&T in programming from what I could see when I left
at 10am this morning!!! (it all sounds like it took me hours - actually was
only about 1 hour - and I got a drink or 2) and yes! I got net access, and
my calling card - they connected me from the GM fone (only one that can make
these calls) LOL well I did good here!! im off again on a train to Berlin!
Snow every where and minus 6 - I wonder how I will go sight seeing in this
weather! mmmmmmm interesting! I love the trains! Just show up with the
eurorail pass to any train going any where hope on and done!!! its great! I
tell you this is the most amazing train! TVs in the back of the seats and
all! very classy! take care and have a safe xmas.... Tim xox

English?? Do you Speak?

I really am well and truly not sticking to my plan! Not at all like me! I decided yesterday I would get up at 5.30am and catch the train to Luxemburg - as lux is small you can look around quick! then I would come back and do the Brussels tour for the late afternoon and into evening! Have a nice dinner and jump on the 11.53 overnight train to Berlin! I after a long chat with a mate in Sydney I fell asleep at 12.45pm ....... RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING IT WAS THE WAKE UP CALL AT 5.30AM ..... It was raining! I couldn't do it!!! I was tired so booked another call for 9am!!! was not sure what I would do! BUT SLEEP was definitely on the agenda! RING RING RING up I got - packed like a Tasmanian devil (from the warners bugs bunny cartoons) spinning around like a mad man! Was at the brekkie table with coco pops and coffee by 9.13am! I almost beat my record! of 10 minutes!! I decided I would do Brussels then Lux, then overnight to Berlin. Well that went out the train window like one on my scarfs from here to Amsterdam ......... The train to Berlin was totally booked!!! every thing!!! first time I have had a issue!! but I guess- xmas and all that! so people getting to their destinations for the weekend and holiday fun! So Lux went out the window as its is hard to get a train from there to Berlin (or any where actually- TRUST ME I KNOW THE EURO RAIL TIME TABLE LIKE THE SONG FROM URINETOWN) so - I decided to take the exciting FASTTRAIN to Cologne for the afternoon and nite! Then go to berlin in the morning! Done! Brussels is a very interesting city! I guess not many people over the world would realise it is such a huge influence and head or the European union! has very strong connections to The Netherlands - Languages are Dutch (57%) French, German. I still had a little of a hard time getting people to understand me! But they have usually just asked a collegue who they know speaks English to help. The tour was great! but very rainy and windy! again some amazing buildings! Brussels houses the worlds largest collections of Cartoons!! The Cartoon Museum!! The hotel I stayed at last night was fantastic! The people were so nice, the room warm and comfortable! The show was great! and all for like $107 australian dollars - and that includes breakfast! As all the trees are bear of leaves - was very cute to see all these birdsnests (empty) perfectly made and sitting on the atop of many of the trees! The Begium Franc is good value to the aussie dollar - just like Holland! It is so different when you travel to check in to a hotel, ask for a cup of coffee, sandwich, buss or train ticket and not have a heart attack at the price - like 3 times in London! and New York (usa) double!
A normal Latte coffee in New York was $6.35 AUD (aussie dollars)
A normal Big Mac Meal in New York was $12.45 AUD (aussie dollars)
A normal Latte coffee in London was $9.60 AUD (aussie dollars)
A normal Big Mac Meal in London was $15.10 AUD (aussie dollars)
I have not had much fast food at all (except my binge late at 2am in London when every thing including the subway was closed! But you see the bill posters every where and it is always interesting to do a like for like comparison. Our dollar is seriously fucked! But if you are good at shopping around and like a bargain (like me) you can get good value airfares (at least now) and Hotels! Mistake that I have made has been planing Europe and not just the key dates like xmas and new years! Some of the cancellations have cost me a small fee! but I have made that up pretty quick in a more economical hotel there at a different time! I do not know what the airlines do in the current economy as well as all the anti flying! I think it is going to better but like in Europe, by the time you take in the 2 and 3 hour check in time, the flight, safety issues, taxis to the city, you can get around Europe often quicker and less expensive! One thing that any company and or airline will have to deal with in the future is DEBT! when the market goes south, and people don't spend, and you have debt - then you cant service!! well HELLO ANSETT!! Why on earth would Low and Fox or the lowlyfox buy ansett, even if they got it for a song, even a $1 they have debt up to their eyeballs to service! They will have a long way to go to compete in my eyes! And then again even a BA or Qantas has debt issues, Qantas's lucky break was Ansetts fall from grace and the opportunity to refinance, and get American Airlines planes at a song! well not really but big discount! (American could not longer purchase & and we know why) Germany Just went into recession, USA is there already Bush thinks that he is on holiday - spending on any thing and every thing! UK soon, Japan! well that's a joke their interest rates at Zero! 0 ziltch! zip! no further can they go trying to motivate spending and activity! Thank god I have no debt! I have a mortgage or 2 but not heavily geared and property can be sold for at least if purchased properly what you paid! Try doing that with a Boeing 747, or a Truck, or a printing press! hard to sell when times are tuff! Australia may scrape through by the skin of the GST motivation, but unlikely, I do believe we may of course get some sniffs and a runny nose when the USA and europe catch a cold! It will be interesting to see what the Euro does in 2002 to other countries! Hard to understand actually, but one currency is easyier! much easier! every thing is priced in Euro now! and they are all pumped up for it! Some areas I think will benefit and others will not - just like our GST - one thing is clear in my eyes, in the current economy and environment it is not a good thing to be introducing! It will cost a fortune for most companies and business to comply with, systems, pricing duel currency! A Bloody nightmare. And any one who ignores it may be left behind! if I was travelling id use Euro 100% The winners will be Visa, Mastercard, and Amex as they are like universal - may even become more cashless. Arrived in Cologne Cya! love tim

Euro NOW!!!!!

Well my little trip changes every day! Just as I think I have a itinerary set in concrete! bing bad da boom!! (to quote Tony Soprano! (Vicki knows) lol) well what was I saying!! bing bad da boom!! I see something else I want to do! So this morning I was up and out and about and left Amsterdam! I was aiming for the 6.23am train to Brussels, Belgium! I got to the train station nice and early so I could figure what to do! Well that was a mistake! The station like most I would guess attracted all the homeless during the winter! Was not a issue but the Amsterdam Station also does not have a seat in site! So here I am at 5.35am in the Station. Watching these bloody beggars circling like sharks! Wanting money! It was kewl! Body language can do wonders some times! But I would hate to have the grave yard shift for the Politze! (police) all they do is go around & around & around & around & around the station telling the little buggers to piss off somewhere else!! I jumped onto the train and off I went! looking looking looking looking...... Boy it does not get light in Europe during winter!!! some things as aussies we take for granted as we just like are so used to it! As I was on the train (with my Mac and music) I did another itinerary and decided to take straight off to Bruge a small and largish city an hour from Brussels - almost on the border! I got to the Central station! my god! it looked like something out of the Cold War! ---- I battled to find the place to store my suitcase! - and I tell you it was a bloody battle to try and figure out how to use the friggen thing as well!! like 20 mins!! and people tell me im a genius at computers and the like!!! but had it figured and hopped onto the wrong train to the wrong place but in the right direction! thank god! so off again and onto another train! But before I left I had to PEE! now the reality of the Broadway musical that I only saw 2 weeks ago (twice) URINETOWN! hit me! I had to pay! But see I had just arrived and did not have any Belgium Franks! aaaawwwwwwww damn and if I wasn't care full there would be a bing bad da boom!! what to do what to do! I ran around chasing my arse and found a money place! got some coins I seriously now know the words for the show! now I got to Bruge - walked to where they said eating a cheese, ham and tomato baguette! WELL - WELL WHAT CAN I SAY! I wen there as the book said "Bruge - a majestic town with gothic beauty unparalleled elsewhere in Europe" and LIKE FUCK! WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD! surrounded by a circular canal and JESUS - the beauty there are note words for it! I did a hour tour in a group of the whole place! It seriously was like (bad very bad analogy) a giant DISNEY creation! that is the only thing in my vast knowledge that I could compare - all the architecture, the moats, canals, tiny tiny streets, the churches, cottages, restaurants! was truly amazing! I am so glad I went! I think that will be the highlight for me - as it was so small but sooooo big!!! But we will see what happens during my travel logs! at about 3pm I went back and was a little hungry! I stood trying to figure out what sort of waffles the were from the names!!! I ended up going with apple - which I guessed was apple! I got back to Brussels where I have not seen anything of yet - parts! EVERY WHERE I GO I HEAR BLOODY KYLIE MINOGUE! I like the new album but honestly ! they love her! Hope she is investing in property! I got to my hotel which is quite economical only $55us a nite! and the quality is like a 4 star that would be worth $150 - $200usa a nite in the normal times I think! Most hotels I have been into have been very slow and sluggish! I popped out and had a nice pasta dish near my hotel. Then its off to bed as I have a big day 2 morrow - have to be up at 5am - going to Luxembureg for the 6 hours - then back to Brussels for a afternoon tour and walk around then at 11.45pm I jump on those sleeping trains and go to Berlin!!! I arrive at 8.26am! I am starting to like the idea of the sleeping on the train as it does take up a lot of your day! But im alone so its good as I can get up early like im used to. And see this is some things I am learning - my itinary changes! so my hotels are always changing online! I am glad that I booked ones that did not have a cancellation policy........... Lets see what 2morrow brings nite tim xox

DYKES, DYKES & MORE DYKES!

Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, well what fun I had in deed! I
go here about 2pm! nice train in from the airport! I am starting to like
these trains. Settled into my hotel, after 7 room moves! Shezzzzzeee, I
could not get one that had a analog dataport connection! but I sorted it!
mmmmm had to raise my voice a little, just a touch, but I got what I wanted.
Then off I went! walking walking walking! oh oh oh oh I just love those
buildings! like all different and smack bang built into each other! You can
understand that The Netherlands is on a swamp! "The Dutch say that God
Created the rest of the world and They created The Netherlands!" And those
cute little buildings lop sided falling into the dykes! but wow! How pretty!
Now that evening, first nite I was by myslef I flipped out a little! I was
sitting in my hotel room @ 1.40am! I could not sleep! I am not very good
travelling alone! I didn't know how I would cope! Knowing me I would just
end up going home if I get bored! I think I am doing better now thou! I was
tired I think!!!! I called a mate mate in sydney and had a good chat - so
after that I was ok! Off to sleep I went. I had a pancake the next day!
mmmmmmm was a little different from what I was expecting, but yummy! I took
off to the Van Gogh Museum. This specially built Museum holds the largest
collection of Van Gogh's that any where in the World! I did the audio tour!
It was great! There was also a great photographix exihbition on the history
of the USA! now that was very kewl! to see all the old photos taken over
time! I had a nibble for lunch and then off walking & walking & walking &
walking & walking & walking & walking through the windy streets and by
canals! Bloody Hell you betta watch out for those bloody bikes! Fuck! I
almost lost my entire Nine Lives just walking & walking & walking &
walking - I never was good looking left and right!! Shhhheze!! I decided to
pass on the Amsterdam Roll it, Light it, and smoke it coffee shops - mind
you the Chocolate Creamy Hash Milkshake did look nice! Almost tempted! NOT!
but I do know why they maybe legalised it! They don't drive!!! No one to
kill!! Hard to do damage with a bike!! lol Then went to the Anne Frank
Museum! - Imagine being in a loft for 4 years during the Nazi occupation of
Amsterdam, As a australian I have no comprehension of what people wnet
through, history always amazes me. This little girl who wanted to be a
Journilst, was with 8 others (including here family) for four years in the
loft, She wrote a diary. Was very touching. Off walking & walking &
walking & walking & walking - saw a cute Cyber hairdressing Salon, where you
could get you hair cut and surf the net at the same time! not sure how that
would work? Dad had a hard enough time cutting my hair at the salon with me
fidgeting, God how would you do it typeing and surfing!!! But interesting!
Saw lots of interesting fixtures and fittings and stuff. I loved that they
had all the tulips and bulbs! I would go crazy if it was in sydney! Well im
off again! On a train to Brussels, Belgium, till next train trip and
monolog!! love tim

DYKES, DYKES & MORE DYKES!

Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, well what fun I had in deed! I
go here about 2pm! nice train in from the airport! I am starting to like
these trains. Settled into my hotel, after 7 room moves! Shezzzzzeee, I
could not get one that had a analog dataport connection! but I sorted it!
mmmmm had to raise my voice a little, just a touch, but I got what I wanted.
Then off I went! walking walking walking! oh oh oh oh I just love those
buildings! like all different and smack bang built into each other! You can
understand that The Netherlands is on a swamp! "The Dutch say that God
Created the rest of the world and They created The Netherlands!" And those
cute little buildings lop sided falling into the dykes! but wow! How pretty!
Now that evening, first nite I was by myslef I flipped out a little! I was
sitting in my hotel room @ 1.40am! I could not sleep! I am not very good
travelling alone! I didn't know how I would cope! Knowing me I would just
end up going home if I get bored! I think I am doing better now thou! I was
tired I think!!!! I called a mate mate in sydney and had a good chat - so
after that I was ok! Off to sleep I went. I had a pancake the next day!
mmmmmmm was a little different from what I was expecting, but yummy! I took
off to the Van Gogh Museum. This specially built Museum holds the largest
collection of Van Gogh's that any where in the World! I did the audio tour!
It was great! There was also a great photographix exihbition on the history
of the USA! now that was very kewl! to see all the old photos taken over
time! I had a nibble for lunch and then off walking & walking & walking &
walking & walking & walking & walking through the windy streets and by
canals! Bloody Hell you betta watch out for those bloody bikes! Fuck! I
almost lost my entire Nine Lives just walking & walking & walking &
walking - I never was good looking left and right!! Shhhheze!! I decided to
pass on the Amsterdam Roll it, Light it, and smoke it coffee shops - mind
you the Chocolate Creamy Hash Milkshake did look nice! Almost tempted! NOT!
but I do know why they maybe legalised it! They don't drive!!! No one to
kill!! Hard to do damage with a bike!! lol Then went to the Anne Frank
Museum! - Imagine being in a loft for 4 years during the Nazi occupation of
Amsterdam, As a australian I have no comprehension of what people wnet
through, history always amazes me. This little girl who wanted to be a
Journilst, was with 8 others (including here family) for four years in the
loft, She wrote a diary. Was very touching. Off walking & walking &
walking & walking & walking - saw a cute Cyber hairdressing Salon, where you
could get you hair cut and surf the net at the same time! not sure how that
would work? Dad had a hard enough time cutting my hair at the salon with me
fidgeting, God how would you do it typeing and surfing!!! But interesting!
Saw lots of interesting fixtures and fittings and stuff. I loved that they
had all the tulips and bulbs! I would go crazy if it was in sydney! Well im
off again! On a train to Brussels, Belgium, till next train trip and
monolog!! love tim

"Taxi! Taxi! ""TTAAAXXXIIIII!!!!!!!"

Well I had a good flight from New York to London! IT was Virgin Atlantic. I was flying from New York - I was in economy - which was great value the return flight New York to London was $222.00 return US so $444.00 Aus!! Cant beat that for great value! I wont even use the return part! I came with maralyn from New York, a very close friend of mine. As I had a ticket for a Mate and had to use it as he was unable to. We battled with the underground and got to Farringdon Station which is where the little Home of Abi, the person I am doing a house swap with. And a great little place it is! I was very very happy as I was greeted by 2 little Kitty Cats "Zoro" and "Figo" so I was able to have my little cat fix!! I was soooo tired - did not really sleep on the plane! so I had a nap - got up and went for a walk around. The next day I checked out the theatre scene to see if I could see any thing! NOPE. I had dinner in with Maralyn and The cats! watched TV.
On Sat nite well. I of all people ended up going OUT and as in "OUT" OUT" LOL was very funny! I was decided I had had enough (enough of both "OUT' and "Southern") so I found the subway and off I went! I was starving (as one gets in the middle of the morning when they have not had any thing to eat for dinner! ended getting a bite! then I went to get the Sunday papers! so I could have a read after my "SLEEP IN" - Jesus! I am glad I don't do PR in London! I said to the guy " sundiii paper thanks mate" reply "which one - theres 7 mate!" My God! so me being me! I bought all 7!! I tell ya you need a degree just to figure out whos who!!! Good luck to the publist dept in London! Mind you if you did well in London You'd make it any where with that experience! The next battle was to get Home! Oh Dame!!! Even London is a back water! I have not felt like I had felt that evenening since the days of being 19 and battling with the "nightrider" from the quay in Sydney after work at the regent!! All the subways and trains STOP!!! AND I MEAN STOP!! at 1am! bang! that's it! I get confused at the best of times with directions, left, right, up down, black, white !!! What to do!! so "Taxi! Taxi! ""TTAAAXXXIIIII!!!!!!!" - why is it any where in the world you can never get a cab when you want one!!! mmmm any way I flagged a buss down!! Nice driver said jump on and wait till he told me to get off (remember im alone!!!) so I waited and off I got "Thanks mate" and flagged a cab down - Nice bus driver took me almost to my door - was only 2 pounds in a cab to my Place..... And boy after all that - Did I sleep! I am on a easy jet flight now! Very interesting, Easy jet do not do seat allocations at all. So you just scramble to the best seat you can find!!!! The plane seems old as well. But Hey I paid 22.50 English pounds so that's about $60 aus one way flight to Amsterdam! I am there for 4 or 5 days! But with the internet it is so great as I just decide where I want to be when I want and then just book the flight and or hotel online and then take off! I did not stay in London for long. I actually don't like London Very much! I was there for the theatre! But none!! well None for Me! I have seen every show!! and as it gets so dark at 4pm!!! My God! no wonder they drink! its dark so early! even I would have a issue! I had to keep on looking at my watch to see what time it was when it was so dark out side! So that's why I left and off to europe now! I must say I think I am a bit of a airline guru having flown the following, QANTAS, CONTANENTAL, DELTA, AMERICAN WEST, JET BLUE, SPIRIT AIR, NORTH WEST, VIRGIN ATLANTIC, EASY JET, and go knows who else~!! I had a great rain trip into The centre of Amsterdam, nice, clean. I had my money changed at Thomas Cook, brought back memories of the colourful money my father brought back after his europe adventure with "Swartskopf Hair" I have a nice and ecco hotel! all the europe hotels are on special any way! I already love the architecture here! Yum Yum! am going to organise a tour of the historical houses on the canal 2morrow! Only 7 days till christmas - hope you have done all that shopping and stuff! take care and ill email soon! love tim oxox

I'm in the air!

Hi, well I wrote this little letter on the Plane on the way over to London!
I got to the airport 4 hours before my plane was to leave. You would not
believe the lines! It took 3 hours to get checked in and then get through
security! The Security was soooo tight it was unreal! I am on a virgin
Atlantic airbus!! Wow they have a speedy little crew! Literally running
through the isles to get things! It seams to be a very well run operation!
You get a huge amount of goodies on you seat when you there. the food was
good and they have in seat TV sets as well, and a 46 stations! so far so
good. The flight is nice and smooth! I love my Apple Mac - I am sitting here
writing you a email while I was watching a dvd on my screen at the same
time! I had a great time in New York. was nice just to chill, sleep in and
re charge, I am looking forward to travelling thought Europe.

Well off to sleep now!

Tim

Like "SICK MAN"

Well im on the Cheap Plane service - JetBlue that leaves from Salt Lake City
- 5 hour flight - $94 dollars. But I tell ya this airline is prob the best I
have had so far! Better than any of them....... Staff are so kind and happy.
They have leather seats all through out the cabin, little TV's in that back
of every seat with 24 LIVE VIA SATALITE channels. Almost brand new
plane...... I would hate to run a airline so hard with the cost of planes
and all. It will be interesting to see if Ansett gets it together - but I
doubt it. Salt Lake is a interesting place.... The hotel I stayed in was
called the Hotel Monaco - & like - WOW - such a funky little place - cheap
as - and was unreal.... Very similar to a cross of the Park Hyatt Melbourne
and The Sir Stamford Double Bay (originally Peppers) - cute, colourful, and
great........ After all my trekking around I needed a DRINK! And I mean a
REAL one. But you open the mini bar - nothing with any % in it! - Well why?
Mormon Country! Utah Laws - there is only 3 or 4 places in Salt Lake you can
buy it!!!! So I got directions and headed down to the "ALCAHOL DEPARTMENT OF
BEVERAGE CONTROL" local out let!!! oh that's so funny! I tell ya.... All
State Govt run and all. Very Interesting..... During my little walk home to
my hotel ( freezing my nuts off - my toes were ...... Oh yeah I did not have
any - could not feel them) I had a look around ..... Pretty architecture
..... I had a unreal day today..... Fantastic. I was only in Salt Lake City
for 30 hours but I had a ball....... I have never scene so much snow in my
life! Snow on the paths, roads, on the top of cars driving, trees,
powerlines, EVERY WHERE. Was a interesting experience. I went up to Skiing
country - only 30mins to get there, (there are several locations in and
around Salt Lake) I went to Park City - home of the 2002 Winter Olympics....
Gee I had fun, I got all my stuff, clothes, skis and all...... And was on
the slopes - sorry - I was falling down the slopes by 10am...... OH MY GOD -
IT WAS as they would say "IT WAS TOTALLY SICK" The runs were sooooo long. I
did ok actually. Much better than I thought I would........ It was great
fun.... Imagine that just one day! Skiing! was kewl. Went home at 4pm and
had a nice long hot shower.... And jumped on JetBlue bound for NYC. BYE BYE
love tim