Galway - 29/5/2011

Twas a quick flight from Waterford North to Galway. Was definitely the shortest flight i have ever been on. Only enough to read the forward and introduction to my new book (Jandarmarra and the Bunuba resistance). After a speedy check in and shower at my new hostel i headed for the main streets of Galway. Quick Shepard's pie and froth and then made my way to a pub which the cabbie had told me some musicians were playing at. The next 4 hours i watched 3 fiddlers, 2 guitarists and a piano accordionist bust out traditional Irish music to a packed pub. It was up there with the best live music i have seen. Certainly the most unique and skillful i think.

A grey old lady said to me numerous times that "tiss fiddler, shes special tiss one. I is well grey and i seen em all i have, and shes the best". They played fast paced Irish folk music for 20 minutes at a time with the odd 3 minutes break. The longer the song went the higher the notes they employed creating an atmosphere in the pub to remember. I eventually pulled myself away from this pub and tried several others (all with great live music) before hitting the sack in the wee hours of the morn. The following day i walked the streets

and enjoyed some 5 star fish and chips while listinging to more great music in the form of several buskers before catching the bus to Dublin.
My ears will miss you Galway!  - see the link to my flickr for pics and videos will follow later this week. MAH

Waterford - 28/5/2011

I landed in Dublin after a short flight from Heathrow, and headed straight through town to the train station. Headed straight for Waterford, a small town south west of Dublin. The train pulls up right alongside the river Suir and thanks to both the town small size and my pre-study on google maps i walked over the bridge and straight up to the hostel i was staying. I darted down the main strip for a quick cream of veggie soup and froth before making my way up to 'The Forum' (local auditorium where the likes of Cash and Connolly have played before). John Smith, a unknown south Englishman got the night started with an acoustic set to be remembered. If you like Ray LaMontagne, then you will love this guy also.

Then one of Ireland's best young singers took to the stage and treated us to her great material, both from her Best Irish, Best Debut album 'Sea Sew' and some from her upcoming album 'Passenger' which was recently recorded in Wales.

I finished the night off with a evening stroll around the town and wet the whistle at a pub where a young couple were playing live traditional music.
Great night of music!! - well pleased

The next day i trekked around the small town of Waterford. Visited the US coast guard sailing ship docked there, walked the city streets, shops and parks. Finished Waterford off with a coffee whilst introducing myself to the game of 'Hurling' on the cafe plazma. They open the match by marching the players around the field lead by a bag-pipes band. I listened to the match whilst in the cab to the Waterford airport and ask for the result as soon as i got in the taxi just out of Galway.


Great sport!

Thanks Waterford.

Early London days

The first couple days in London were fairly straightforward. After arriving i was fairly tired and could only manage a walk down the main street of East Finchley (where i am temporarily staying with friends) and a cheeky visit to one of the Highgate pubs for dinner, beer and scotch.

The second day i jumped on the tube and went into the city and spent the day walking around taking in the sights

and sounds
 of London.

The 27th May (Friday) was all business. I pulled out the suite and headed for 2 agency interviews. They seem to go well, so i rewarded myself with a night out. The 'Flying Horse' was the choice as Ben's (a friend i know from Perth) roommates pours froths at this particular watering hole. Turned out to be a fairly large night (3am) which finished off at a jazzy club back towards 'the finch' (my temporary place of abode). I certainly didn't plan on such a large evening, especially considering an early wake up was required for my Irish trip the next (same) morning.

5 years in the making!

we have liftoff (just out of Perth)

And here we are then, 12,290m up in the air at a cruising speed of 833kmh. We are flying flat and smooth, as the slightly rattled brain now is also. Its not everyday you have to say goodbye to two of the best people in your life and walk through a door leaving them behind. ANXIETY! Not the nicest thing in the world however once it subsides you can really relax. A half full plane, spare chair next to me, Johnny Walker, and the best ‘who did It’ movie ever made (mystic river) will also assist in that relaxing process.

So ‘travel’.. More than 5 years ago a friend and I travelled for the first time overseas independently to New Zealand. During my 3 weeks there I saw mixing oceans; shot fireworks between my legs; skinny dipped in the coldest, sobering water I have come into contact with; done the (almost) full monty on a public bar table; para-sailed; jumped off 3 perfectly good bridges, out one perfectly good plane; made 50 new friends in about 30 hours (some of which I have travelled with since); swung through a canyon; water tubed through a cave; learnt the famous haka dance; bathed in volcanic pools; white water body-boarded (yes not rafted); swum in Milford sound; and all of this I will never forget. I can imagine a lot of what I did in that wonderful place wouldn’t appeal to many people but I would be surprised if anyone could say they wouldn’t love to do at least 1 of these things.

I am someone who enjoys various forms and types of art, adrenaline, heights, meeting new people and seeing things I’ve only ever heard about from others. This being the person I am, this is why I am sitting in this several hundred tonne bird flying further away from said wonderful people. Since returning from N.Z I have yearned to travel in the purest form, and now that’s finally what I am doing. I am on my way to ‘live’ (temporarily) on the other side of the world (UK) and plan on later exploring most of it with the wonderful Rhiannon. I’d like to thank everyone that makes me the luckiest person on this planet.

First off all my family. I’ve received a great mixture of responses since booking this ticket from the insanely jealous to the ‘shouldn’t you get engaged first’. This is proof that we have a shitload of variety in our genes, which is a great thing.

Thanks mum and dad for everything (not going to dare start that list). You guys are perfect and I can’t wait to see you in a month or so.

Thanks little (older) sis, for looking after the fort (house, family, friends and girlfriend) for me whilst I’m gone, however I would prefer if you passed that responsibility to someone else at some point so you can come challenge me to a tennis match in say either Britain (a nice freshly mowed grass court) or Spain (fast low bouncing clay court). Nar stuff that! UK only! I got no chance against you in Spain.

Thanks Mama and Sils (and the ever great, ever missed Beepa) for giving me a home for the past 3 years which is, financially why am able to set off on this trip. I could not of done it without that.

Thanks Gran and Pop for everything. I can’t wait to get that speech translator and set off into countries where even the toilet signs are weird.

Thanks to the rest of my family and friends for everything you have all done for me. Whether it was a quick game of pong, post work froth, kick of the footy (that’s you Jimmy. Work on that bloody overhead marking! I expect to see improvement), help with car troubles, dinner, chat, WHATEVER! I can’t thank you all enough.

Finally thanks to the absolutely stunning, drop dead gorgeous, understanding, thoughtful, in a word ‘perfect’ Rhiannon. Thanks for letting me get on this plane. We share a great understanding of each other (g). Thanks for the gifts, support, drunken taxis, meals, washing and everything else that you’ve done for me. I can’t wait until we set off on the best year of our lives and soak up what this globe has to offer us. Thankyou all so very much.. Since you have all helped me in getting here its only fair that with today’s modern technology I keep you updated on my ‘Hiatus’.



having some duck and froth at Bangkok airport



Keep posted! Lots of love, MAH.