Priceless Paintings from W7

Just returned from a long weekend to Hamburg, by way of a very narrow escape from both the British Airways strike and the ash cloud. Our guardian angel now deserves a little rest, but hopefully won’t desert us all together. Fortunately, we didn’t know of the latest airspace closure while we were out and only learned of it hours prior to our return, so we could enjoy an unworried weekend with our friends in Hamburg. (More photos will be coming up soon.)

We had always thought Paris, Sydney and London make the perfect blend for the perfect city: cosmopolitanism, water and weather from Sydney, all things food from Paris, and London for everything else. Must now throw a good pinch of Hamburg into the mix.

First of all, for its cleanness. After living in London, which is nothing but a giant rubbish dumb in many streets and public places, it’s just nice to be in a place where city and most people make an effort to keep the place tidy.

Second, and most of all, for the public transport system.

It’s inexpensive, thus attractive: €9.20 for an all-day ticket serving up to five adults travelling in a group, valid for the whole of greater Hamburg – I think, it’s like, I mean, wow!

It’s fast and efficient, thus attractive: Suburbia to the very city centre in less than 15 minutes, with waiting times in the 5 minutes or less range, and connecting trains and busses being ‘just there,’ because the try to run in synch between the different lines and services – I think, it’s like, I mean, wow!

It’s accurate, thus attractive: the platform display says “next train in three minutes," and when they say three, they mean three – I think, it’s like, I mean, wow!

Wow is all I can say. Oh, and dead jealous, and take an example at that.

Thoughts, Travel Germany, hamburg

Modern flying machines are incredible high-tech machines. We all heard news of some flight computer taking over from the pilot, or pilots being overwhelmed by the complexity of the in-cockpit displays, the board computer having shut down, being lost, being too firmly in control, etc.

How fascinating that the switch panels in the service areas still look as if they were designed and made by the time of the Apollo 11 mission: big mechanical switches, secured to the aluminium front panel with thin 14mm nuts, simple lamps in different colours, engraved labels.

I guess there just never was a need to upgrade those panels, and it is probably just fine to control the cabin lights or the coffee machine with a good old switch which doesn’t need a reboot, and comes without the ramifications of computerized equipment in safety gear.

I just like the discrepancy in style, and always admire those 1960s panels.

Thoughts, Travel flying

How does one get from A to B these days?

Like almost everything else, you’d start by going online, and seek Google’s advise.

Google’s maps are superb after all, and their driving instructions excellent. Our collective blind reliance on Google as the world’s single source of information on almost anything is increasingly worrying. Not that I have reason to believe they do anything wrong, or filter or rate or present information in a way that I disagree with, but I grow increasingly uneasy about this whole thing.

Supersized media barons such as Axel Springer or Rupert Murdoch are tiny players in the information monopoly game, when you compare it to Google.

So, when it comes to journey planning within the UK, it turns out that there is an excellent, government-funded alternative: Transport Direct.

Unlike Google, Transport Direct only covers the UK.

Unlike Google, Transport Direct considers the use of sustainable transport (i.e. bicycles) and use of public transport in addition to regular use of roads and cars. They factor live travel news into the equation, compute the CO2 cost of a trip, know locations of car parks.

And, they aren’t run by Google.

Thoughts, Travel, Web/Tech Google, Internet, society

This week, I’ve been mostly eating Australian meals. I mentioned already that the Australian cuisine appears to be largely governed by Fish and Chips or Steak and Chips, so let me try to recall some of the more noteworthy meals that we had:

A cheap-and-cheerful Singaporean Dumpling Laksa in Adelaide Central Market. Very nice, although nothing is really cheap in Australia, even if the Pound exchange rate wasn’t so depressing.

Fillet of Kangaroo, with various accompliments, in various places – including our own: I cooked my first ever Kangaroo, and managed to judge it right, hurray! Kangaroo meat is a tender, low in fat, dark red that wants to be eaten rare. It’s lovely. I recommend it, when you get a chance. Oh, and if anyone knows of a reasonably priced source here in the UK, please drop me a note.

A cold platter with smoked Kangaroo, Emu pate, South Australian goat cheese, and a lovely fruity “bush tomato” relish.

Food and Drink, Travel australia, cooking, food, recipe

We are used to the occasional sight of a deer in our part of the world, or similar animal. As soon as they notice us, they disappear.

One thing we enjoyed a lot in South Australia is that this isn’t always the case there. Apart from nosy birds begging from food, there were also several cases of very close encounters with Kangaroos and Emus in particular, which weren’t bothered or interested in us at all.

A simple case of peaceful coexistence, how nice. One morning, we had breakfast just outside out tent, and right next to us, a pair of Kangaroos also nibbled away on their breakfast. We met Emus at very close distance, and even shared a track with an Emu dad and his eight chicks once.

Most other animals escaped quickly (or felt safe, such as Koalas 20m up in a tree, or seals sleeping on an inaccessible rock), but the experience of some that were simply there – that was quite some experience. Probably the nicest single aspect of the whole trip.

Out and About, Travel australia

So, we went to Australia for holidays, and back. While the Missus stays on for a little longer for work, I have returned a week ago. What can I say in a few words?

It’s a 30-hour pain in the back to get there, and the same thing back. ‘There’ being Adelaide in the state of South Australia. Nice town, and nice to see our friend there.

As far as towns go, Adelaide is pretty much all that South Australia has to offer. Leave Adelaide, and all you find are comparatively tiny towns, far apart, all sharing the same sense of perpetual dust, dryness and remoteness.

In culinary terms, we’d be in for a disappointment, if we hadn’t known it from our previous visit to Australia: instead of benefitting from the best of the old and the new world, from the Indian sub-continent, Indonesia and south-east Asia, Australia, on a whole, seems to have opted for the least common denominator. Fish and Chips and Steaks and Chips are abundant, and everything else is rare and far between.

Just as well that we came for a nature experience more than for a culinary one. True wildlife spottings (i.e., not in a zoo or sanctuary), include Fur Seals, Sea Lions, Opossums, Wallabies, Kangaroos, tailless lizards, Monitor Lizards, Koalas, Emus, Goats, Rabbits, Dolphins, a snake, and an ever-present, colourful and abundant bird life with Pelicans, Rosallas and a selection of other parakeets (including the beautiful ring-necked green ones depicted here), all kinds of sea birds, Oyster Catchers, … you name it.

Oh, and black swans, too.

You can see all 916 photos right here, but don’t worry. There’s also a tiny 64 image selection for a quick impression.

Out and About, Travel australia

Over three days hiking the Cornish costal path, with plenty of sunshine, more than plenty of wind, and not a drop of rain, how’s that?

We took the train from Paddington to Newquay, a smooth and quick connection. Upon arrival, we found that town councillors ruined the town of Newquay pretty much with concrete and the omnipresent “amusement arcade;” it could be a lovely place otherwise.

Onwards, along the south-west coast path to Perranporth (20km up and down and, in parts, through loose sands), then to Portreath (another 20km piece, less loose sands but a few more steep descents all the way down to sea level and back up to the top of the cliffs again), then to Hayle (again a 20km section with mixed environment: dunes, beach, cliff tops – nice).

Then just a 90 minute walk to St. Erth station, following our Sunday breakfast, hop back on the train to Paddington, and back in just under six hours, just in time to do some shopping and prepare supper. Perfect.

Some pictures are right here.

Out and About, Travel coast path, cornwall, hiking

Effective January 12, 2009, all visitors to the US traveling on a visa waiver program are required to obtain an electronic travel authorization before boarding.

So, I click https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. In the name of fighting terrorism, I obtain the following warm welcome to the United States of America:

“This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) computer system and any related equipment is subject to monitoring for administrative oversight, law enforcement, criminal investigative purposes, inquiries into alleged wrongdoing or misuse, and to ensure proper performance of applicable security features and procedures. As part of this monitoring, DHS may acquire, access, retain, intercept, capture, record, read, inspect, analyze, audit, copy and disclose any information processed, transmitted, received communicated and stored within the computer system. If monitoring reveals misuse or criminal activity, notice of such may may be provided to appropriate supervisory personnel and law enforcement officials. DHS may conduct these activities in any manner without further notice. By clicking OK below or by using this system, you consent to the terms set forth in this notice.”

If they could shoot me through the Internet, I am sure they would also allow for that possibility as a precautionary measure.

While DHS reserves the rights to conduct these activities in any manner, they apparently fail to prevent everyone else from conducting a new kind of business: While the DHS seeks to fight terrorists, they forgot the common crooks, who were quick to set up genuine looking web sites that charge anything from $49 upwards to assistance with the process – which is free and simple if you ignore the crooks and go for the not so intuitive official URL.

Thoughts, Travel law enforcement, United States, United States of America;