#241919 - 18/11/2004 20:00
Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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I hope to be around Cairns this coming week, in Melbourne and vicinity the week after that, and finally in Sydney the following week. Lots to do already mind you (1500+ geocaches loaded into my new PalmOne Zire-21, running CacheMate software..), but there may be an opportunity for some wine'n'cheese or seafood or whatever with local Empegger's.
If you're Down Under and interested, then email me your local contact info and we just might get in touch during that timeframe. Or not, no biggie.
Cheers
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#241920 - 19/11/2004 00:54
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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addict
Registered: 03/08/1999
Posts: 451
Loc: Canberra, Australia
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I'd be interested in meeting up with you if you're coming through Canberra. If you're meeting up with other people in Sydney, then I might drive up in the new Liberty. This might also give me some incentive to have the empeg finally fitted to the new car. (oh, the shame!)
I've also sent you an email to this effect - this is just a post to show interest publically.
Have fun,
Paul
_________________________
Owner of Mark I empeg 00061, now better than ever - (Thanks, Rod!) - and Karma 3930000004550
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#241921 - 19/11/2004 08:00
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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journeyman
Registered: 04/05/2000
Posts: 84
Loc: Australia
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If you're interested in a canyon while in Sydney we should be able to work something out!
Rod.
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#241922 - 19/11/2004 12:34
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: Rod]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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Oh, way cool! Mmmm.. quick temperature check.. oh, MUCH warmer than here! Email me your contact info, please!
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#241923 - 19/11/2004 13:10
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: Rod]
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old hand
Registered: 14/08/2001
Posts: 886
Loc: London, UK
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Rod - tell me more about Canyoning. I'll be in Sydney late December - Early Jan and would love to have a crack at that.
_________________________
Mk2a RioCar 120Gb - now sold to the owner of my old car
Rio Karma - now on ebay...
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#241924 - 19/11/2004 21:20
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: furtive]
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journeyman
Registered: 04/05/2000
Posts: 84
Loc: Australia
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Good canyoning info here and here . For the good stuff you need to have abseiling experience and be reasonably fit. Rod.
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#241925 - 21/11/2004 20:11
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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Well, after a worriesome day on the first leg of our journey, we have finally gained admission to the first class lounge in Vancouver, with boarding cards to Sydney in our pockets. Hurray!
Of course, it'll be more than 24 hours from now (even ignoring timezone/dateline effects) before we (hopefully) touchdown in the Land of Oz. Dunno about internet access there yet -- probably none for the first week, in Cairns.
Cheers
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#241926 - 21/11/2004 20:38
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
..after a worriesome day..
Oh yeah. More on that:
Many of you may remember that I regularly get searched at USA airports due to some computer database flagging me for special attention.. well, apparently this database has been adopted by the Aussies now too, and it was denying me entry to Australia today..
And being Sunday here in Canada, all of the contact numbers are "closed", since diplomats appear to work mon-fri 9-5, like bankers.
But it is Monday in Australia, and the nice "Leads agent" at YVR telephoned them on my behalf, and explained that I wasn't as bad a guy as the database might think. Now cleared for travel over the Pacific (whew!).
His advice to me: change how my name appears on my passport. That's the first time someone has given me a concrete tip as to how to escape from travel hell!
Of course I only just renewed my passport , in hope that the old one might have been the trouble, but no.. it's my name. Perhaps I'll legally change it to "Hijack Guru". That should fix it! 
Or go back 20 years in time and start including my middle name again..
Cheers
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#241927 - 22/11/2004 02:11
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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addict
Registered: 03/08/1999
Posts: 451
Loc: Canberra, Australia
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Or go by your middle name and be M. Pontifex Lord or whatever.
Looking forward to seeing such a dangerous man!
Paul
_________________________
Owner of Mark I empeg 00061, now better than ever - (Thanks, Rod!) - and Karma 3930000004550
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#241928 - 22/11/2004 17:53
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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new poster
Registered: 07/09/2001
Posts: 25
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Mark - I was backpacking in Oz last year, and spent some time in Cairns, if you want to know some good/cheap internet access in Cairns PM me.
_________________________
RioCar 20 Gig Blue & Tuner
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#241929 - 22/11/2004 20:43
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: phillos]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
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When I was there in the Time Before WiFi there were plenty of cheap internet cafes. Cairns is full of student travelers who want to check their email.
Matthew
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#241930 - 26/11/2004 06:17
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: Rod]
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old hand
Registered: 14/08/2001
Posts: 886
Loc: London, UK
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Great, thanks. I'd call this experience enough: 
_________________________
Mk2a RioCar 120Gb - now sold to the owner of my old car
Rio Karma - now on ebay...
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#241931 - 27/11/2004 00:01
Canberra
[Re: phillos]
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new poster
Registered: 31/07/2002
Posts: 18
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PaulWay, was Mark coming through Canberra at all? If so I'd be keen to meet up too
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#241932 - 16/12/2004 23:41
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: PaulWay]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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Well, in the end, Australia was just too big for us.. we never had an idle moment, and just ran out of time seeing the sights and doing the Do's (apologies to Bitt).
Thanks Paul for your adventurous offers, and to the others who posted/emailed as well. We never did get to meet up in person, but I loved it down there, and just might be back again in the future (esp. now that Air Canada is beginning non-stop service from YVR, avoiding the nasty US Customs run-around-the-tarmac nonsense in Hawaii during refueling there..
Cheers all!
(obligatory beach photo attached)
Attachments
243566-beach.jpg (222 downloads)
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#241933 - 17/12/2004 11:56
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
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Photo above may be NSFW ^
_________________________
~ John
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#241934 - 17/12/2004 15:31
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: JBjorgen]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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NSW (New South Wales) -- Bondi Beach, actually.
Cheers
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#241935 - 17/12/2004 16:49
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: JBjorgen]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3995
Loc: Manchester UK
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Quote:
Photo above may be NSFW ^
Yeah, the guys in the office looked a little bemused when that popped up.
_________________________
Cheers,
Andy M
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#241936 - 19/12/2004 02:57
Another Oz Photo
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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Bonus points to anyone outside of Australia who can identify this exact location. Or even those inside Australia.. though I suspect it ought to be an easy one for them!
EDIT: Heck, for that matter, I'm offering a (surprise) gift to anyone who posts a photograph of themself in the exact same spot!
Cheers
(photo attached)
Attachments
243729-oz.jpg (231 downloads)
Edited by mlord (19/12/2004 03:00)
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#241937 - 19/12/2004 06:09
Re: Another Oz Photo
[Re: mlord]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 2009
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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I could guess, but I certainly don't know for sure and I'm an Aussie. Cool pic though
_________________________
Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)
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#241938 - 19/12/2004 15:40
Re: Another Oz Photo
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31565
Loc: Seattle, WA
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I've got no idea where it is, but WOW.
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#241939 - 20/12/2004 13:28
Re: Another Oz Photo
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Gives me the heebie jeebies just to look at that picture. I'm guessing it was taken by a friendly passing mountain goat.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk
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#241940 - 20/12/2004 13:39
(yet) Another Oz Photo
[Re: wfaulk]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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This photo (attached) is also from Oz. It probably doesn't come through, but the position is far more precarious and dangerous (to me) than the earlier posted one from the Grampians.
I was in this specific spot because of a geocache hidden in a crack just behind my heels.. about 25m straight above where the salty waves were crashing against the defiant underbelly of the bluff -- undercutting it by about 8m or so.
The pancake supporting my body weight was about 5cm (2") thick, and had a pair of see-through holes for added effect.
Cheers
Attachments
243797-z0064488.jpg (201 downloads)
Edited by mlord (20/12/2004 13:45)
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#241941 - 20/12/2004 13:43
Re: (yet) Another Oz Photo
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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Perhaps this (attached) will aid in understanding the situation. My feet in the previous photo were on a ledge just around the corner from this lessor one..
Attachments
243798-a.jpg (209 downloads)
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#241942 - 21/12/2004 01:11
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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addict
Registered: 03/08/1999
Posts: 451
Loc: Canberra, Australia
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Quote:
Well, in the end, Australia was just too big for us.. we never had an idle moment, and just ran out of time seeing the sights and doing the Do's (apologies to Bitt).
Yes, Australia does that. Australians just drive through 900KM of scenery and interesting places on their way from Sydney to Brisbane without a second thought, while tourists can't get enough of it. I think US citizens in particular take for granted that there's going to be nothing really interesting between major cities (which have popped up near the interesting features).
I'm sorry we didn't get to meet up, by the way, but if ever you're back then our door is open. (That offer also goes for most people on the empeg BBS. If you're coming to Linux.conf.au 2005, then let me know!)
Quote:
Thanks Paul for your adventurous offers, and to the others who posted/emailed as well. We never did get to meet up in person, but I loved it down there, and just might be back again in the future (esp. now that Air Canada is beginning non-stop service from YVR, avoiding the nasty US Customs run-around-the-tarmac nonsense in Hawaii during refueling there..
Now that is news! I too would like to avoid nasty US Customs run-around and Kate and I would love to visit Canada. I'm assuming there's a stopover in Hawaii, still. Which Australian ports does this go to? (Starts web searching...)
Glad you had fun,
Paul
P.S. These days taking unsolicited photos of women on Australian beaches can get you in trouble with the police... 
_________________________
Owner of Mark I empeg 00061, now better than ever - (Thanks, Rod!) - and Karma 3930000004550
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#241943 - 21/12/2004 02:58
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: PaulWay]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 13/02/2002
Posts: 3212
Loc: Portland, OR
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Quote:
P.S. These days taking unsolicited photos of women on Australian beaches can get you in trouble with the police...
Perhaps that's how Mark got his name on the terrorist watch list to begin with. 
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#241944 - 21/12/2004 12:23
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: PaulWay]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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As I understand it, Air Canada has just begun flying their new A340-500 aircraft NON-STOP from Vancouver to Sydney (Australia) return. No refueling, no stopping, no nothing.. just a LONG time in the air.
The babe shot was clipped from a much larger beach panorama frame I took. Didn't actually notice them when taking the photo, though they were hard to miss when walking along the beach afterwards. Great place!
Cheers!
Edited by mlord (21/12/2004 12:24)
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#241945 - 07/01/2005 02:57
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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addict
Registered: 03/08/1999
Posts: 451
Loc: Canberra, Australia
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SYD -> YVR non stop, eh? OUCH!  Better take some books and a Karma or iPod if I ever do that one. And I hope that the A340-500 has more legroom than the Boeing 747-400, otherwise anyone with normal sized legs would end up crippled! Have fun, Paul
_________________________
Owner of Mark I empeg 00061, now better than ever - (Thanks, Rod!) - and Karma 3930000004550
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#241946 - 07/01/2005 03:19
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: PaulWay]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 2009
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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Interesting you should mention it. I just booked a ticket Sydney to Vancouver non-stop on Air Canada. The plane is apparently an A340-300 not a -500 though. Flight time is 14 hours 40 minutes.
_________________________
Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)
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#241947 - 07/01/2005 17:34
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: Shonky]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14478
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
Interesting you should mention it. I just booked a ticket Sydney to Vancouver non-stop on Air Canada. The plane is apparently an A340-300 not a -500 though. Flight time is 14 hours 40 minutes.
Mmm.. watch out -- that might be the flight that "touches down" in Hawaii.. The 340-300 cannot carry enough fuel to do the whole thing in one leg.
Cheers
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#241948 - 07/01/2005 18:30
Re: Mini-Me(ets) in the Land of Oz?
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Maybe it'll do an in-air refuel. Yeah. That sounds likely.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk
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