Testing a Polarsteps Embed

Borneo (Diving)

Our diving part of the Borneo adventure was at Bigfin Diving on the coastline north of KK and closet to Kota Belud.

Sally and I learned to dive in Malaysia many years ago at Tioman Islands which is off to the bottom right of peninsula Malaysia. When we looked at coming to Borneo Sally chose Bigfin as the location to let us do some diving, as well as signing Arthur up to do his Open Water and signing Dixie up for a try dive.

We didn't take a camera diving with us this trip but I can report that apart from a very rusty and apprehensive approach to my first dive in a bunch of years we all did great and saw a bunch of things. This was despite it not really being the crystal clear water experience we have had on past diving holidays.

The accomodation was comfy and the food was amazing. Really lovely way to spend a few days together.

We had this view of Mount Kinabalu from our accomodation.

And this is the bay that Bigfin Divers runs it's operation from

I really didn't take many photos but this friendly spider was a good one. We met this spider waiting for the boat to take us to Bigfin. It kept jumping on the camera when I tried to take a photo of it so this is me using my phone to capture my new eight legged buddy.

Borneo (before Diving)

I'm in Kota Kinabalu (KK for short) having just slept through our seventh night in Borneo. In the time in this part of Malaysia we have seen a bit of Sandakan, Sepilok, Bukit Garam, the Kinabatangan river and now KK. All places on the general north east part of Borneo. 

Note: I'm finding the location info in my photos a real bonus for easily navigating to the "where in the world was I when I saw that?".

Haven't taken photos of the difference, but KK has the feel of a city of it's size; infrastructure, development and big buildings. The retail and residential building (pictured above) our Airbnb is in is a case and point. 

Interestingly Sandakan didn't have the same feel despite being similar populations. Technically these are on different sides of the island, KK is on the South China Sea and Sandakan is on the Sulu Sea and maybe the relative level of development reflects this. Not sure what I'm trying to say here about it except they are different enough that I was surprised to find they had same populations.

Anyway the main reason we came to Borneo was to see Jungle and Animals, not discuss its cities. We landed seven nights ago in Sandakan and went to Sepilok which is on the edge of a protected area of jungle where conservation efforts for Orangutan and Sun Bears (and general conservation) have been established. Sepilok is also the staging point for trips into the Jungle areas (best accessed by river), so that's what we were there for!

We opted for the two-night jungle experience staying in a very basic lodge on the edge of an oxbow lake formed off the side of the Kinabatangan river in a protected jungle area. It was hot, humid, basic, and fantastic. 

We saw a bunch of animals, the herons, proboscis monkeys and the old man crocodile were my favorites, and while we didn't see some of the bucket-list critters, we did get bitten by fire ants, stung by a scorpion, nibbled on by mosquitoes, itched up by heat rashes and...

Annoyed by another tourist in the group. It's strange how other humans can colour an experience. Objectively we all had the same quality experience but this particular person fell in the glass half-full (more like empty actually) side of things and wasn't afraid to say it. At length, all the time.

I'm super impressed that my kids didn't allow this to reinforce any doubts and discomforts they were having. In fact it seemed to cement our whole family's resolve that the trip was a fantastic experience. Group dynamics are interesting and there is definitely some merit in a common 'enemy' that isn't in the family group!

I have very few creature photos to share that look great. Most of the photos do well to remind me of what I saw looking through the binoculars but are otherwise terrible! However this tree frog came out great taken on the night walk so will have to serve as the placeholder for the other photos (and videos) posted in the shared Google photos folder linked earlier.

Speaking of things that came out great on the night walk, Dixie got 'bitten' by something on the walk which we all assumed was a fire ant a critter that was expected and which had taken to my ankle a bit earlier in the walk (they hurt quite a bit). It wasn't till we washed her trousers back in KK that we shook them out and guess what fell out?

Anyway, she didn't die, and isn't particularly affected by the idea of a scorpion crawling up her trousers leg so that's a bonus!

The return to Sepilok after the jungle stay was extremely comfortable and delicious. We saw a young orangutan at the recovery centre (there's a great video of the main encounter here) and then it was time to head to KK.

We've been in KK three nights enjoying a different small city and catching up on delicious food (that's the night market we ate at twice pictured above) and some clothes washing. Today we head about an hour or two north up the coast to do some diving. Fun!

Trip Photo Album

I'm going to share most of my photos using a shared Google Photos album. This album:

Big Trip Photos 2023

All my photos will have semi useful date and location info if you dig in to find it which may be useful if you really want to know the when/where of them, but the intention is to also put a caption on each photo that's helps me to remember the why!

I was toying with simply blogging through these photo captions, but maybe writing some words helps give an overview of them and organise my thoughts into something less flippant! 

Leaving Nelson

Today we left Nelson embarking on a six-month trip with the kids around the world.

This was the view from the plane as we left our home town today on the way to Wellington. Beautiful!

Our short lay-over in Welly meant we had a chance to catch up with the whole Fieldes side whanau at lunch. Here's a picture of us all at Flamingo Joe's.

Thanks to everyone who made the journey to see us. It was so special seeing everyone and so nourishing to have leaving hugs to carry us over till 2024.

We are now on the leg to Auckland where we will overnight before heading away from NZ properly.

I suspect this kind of posting will be how I record the trip from my perspective. Use the dead time on the flights and other transport options we take to set down thoughts and collate photos.

If you are interested check in on this blog from time to time or dredge up your old RSS skills and subscribe!

Singapore

We made it to Singapore and have had a hot and humid time of it. Writing this in the downtime between Singapore and Borneo (I'm actually in Kuala Lumpur airport!).

Top photo is the iconic sculpture trees in Singapore's Gardens by the Bay. Currently this is my fav photo taken so far; kinda arty and actually in focus. My phone camera is having issues with focusing so I'm really only taking photos "to remind me" in case they come out a bit blurry. This photo came out great despite intent to remind me of my LEGO Singapore!

Being in Singapore means access to fruit and veg and deliciousness that at times would cost >$100/kg back in NZ. This photo will remind me of that abundance even at Singapore supermarket prices.

Kids/family has travelled pretty well together. No major issues so far. I'm not feeling great. Hope it passes soon enough.

Food in Singapore has been great. Lots of Indian eaten and parata (paratha/roti) however you say it is the most delicious. Arthur really took to it and happily ate it for breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner! 

This photo isn't of our local but it will help me be reminded of how the food went down in Singapore. A real bonus of traveling with the kids is seeing them do things out of my own comfort zone and getting to try new things.

We had a place down the road from where we were staying that was our 'local' for the trip. Thoroughly recommend Al Bidayah Restaurant for anyone staying nearby. 

Speaking of down the road, we were staying in a red light district. Could have been eye opening but actually presented in totally a matter-of-fact way that was more intriguing than confronting. 

I have no idea how it all works, but kept wondering how it all worked. I'm still thinking about it. Each business seemed to be in a distinct house which seems expensive in terms of real estate. Each had older Chinese Singaporean men as a kind of front of house and each had a frosted door leading into a lobby where women could occasionally be seen sitting on chairs awaiting clients. I guess I didn't really see it late at night, but over the time we stayed there I couldn't tell if anyone was frequenting these businesses, no idea of the demographic being catered to, or how much money was needed by the participants to make it all worth doing... So yeah, the area made an impact.

Anyway enough about that. I think I started this with a comment about it being hot and humid. I'll end it with the best way to beat that particular problem.

Hicksville

Google tells me that it has been three years since my last post. Fittingly then it is at least 10 years, and probably more like 13-15 since I last read Hicksville.

At the time I was living in the Todman St flat and I think Chris lent me his copy. It was one of those, not pressured, no obligation, I think you'll like it moments. Even if it wasn't and this is completely misremembered then I'll go to my grave thinking about this moment.

It was this moment and the reading experience that followed that has cemented Hicksville as an Important Book for me. It sits on the same shelf as Neuromancer. And I'm unsure why.

I read it ONCE. Only once. Neuromancer, shit I've read that dozens of times. I can fall into that world at a drop of a hat. Hicksville, on the other hand, was an immediate force but one I got to put down, put aside, but never forget.

In fact the only immediate reaction to reading Hicksville in early 2000's was to buy it... and then send it... to my sister in Canada.

The reason for that was obvious and justified. My sister needed to read it. I could tell. I could also justify sending away a thing I loved, because I said to myself that I would read this precious thing while sitting in the cabin by the lake my sister had spoken of and the visions of which had made me want to travel to Canada with a need.

So let's say 15 years later, I'm home with my family and look at my book shelf and see my copy of Neuromancer, and think of Hicksville.

--

The follow up to this story is that of course this thought process resulted in me purchasing myself another copy. I've just finished re-reading it. It took months before I started the re-read. I was scared that this precious thing would, after 15 years, be tarnished.

It's not, at all. But I'm still mystified about why this book has got me.

I'm now the very proud owner of another book that I will reach to on occasion. It can sit on my shelf, next to Neurmancer and, like this post, be an outward sign of who I am.

--

The only regret that my copy brings is the fifteen year failure to feed the need to sit and read it in Canada... with my sister.

Neuromancer

<p>There seems to be a bit of momentum towards making Neuromancer a movie. Coming from someone that has always wanted to see this as a movie you can expect two things from me. 1. I'm not going to be happy about it till I'm happy about it. 2. I'm happy about it till I'm not going to be happy about it...

I suspect the vast majority of my blogging in the near future will be taken up by points one and two.</p>

Testing blogging from a phone

Testing 1 2 3 !

Three Years On

 
 
Celebrating three years of my new life today with a Piratical Themed party. Much fun had by all, most especially the birthday boy himself. This was the pick of the cards.

We are off to Thailand for a month. You will not notice my absence from this blog.

Save the Mokihinui

120 kayakers, environmentalists protest West Coast dam - Environment Sci - Video - 3 News

Briefly out of blog retirement to lament the slanting of the above news item. Having been at the Mokihinui this weekend in support of the river run, I'm disappointed that news piece couched the run in terms like "costly" and supported by "outsiders".

For the record the most of the costs of the exercise went directly into the West Coast economy and a number of locals are against the dam. This would have been evident if the ONLY 'local' interviewed in the piece hadn't been a representative of Buller Electricity. Also, Meridian's consent is under appeal and this means that the dam is NOT going ahead until these appeals are sorted (amongst other go-ahead issues).

The river run was an incredibly important way for those opposed to it to generate a personal understanding of the river and balanced publicity for the reasons behind not wanting to dam it. It was also an economic way for some river lovers to run the Mokihinui river and see it, first-hand, for what may be the first and only time.

As I mentioned I travelled to the coast to support the trip, but to be honest, I wasn't entirely for or against the dam. On seeing the river, and on walking some of it's length, and witnessing the effects that large scale industry are having on the West Coast, e.g. the Stockton mine, I can't help but now be 100% against the proposed 85m tall dam.

I say we should save the Mokihinui.

In other News...

Building and Resource consents have both been granted. At last. We shall commence and there will be photos and posts...

Yay!

Broken Blogging Continues

Still really haven't got a use for this site, but in the interests of half maintaining a presence on it, here are a couple of links to two inspirational videos that I just keep watching. It helps beat the winter blues you know...

Video one is just plain awesome. Linked to it by William Gibson, way back in August last year, I've been regularly watching ever since. I keep hoping it will start me back on the path to flight dreams. I used to have them regularly as a kid and teenager but for some reason they have left me in more recent years. Every time the spectator on the road yells "Dude, that was sick!" I'm reminded of that delicious sick feeling that I used to get when jumping off cliffs in my dreams or diving in flight. Quite how stomach churning sick feelings can both be delicious and yearned for I don't know. But I want them back. This video is the closest I've come in AGES!

http://vimeo.com/1778399?pg=embed&sec=

The second video was linked to my my best blogging buddy ~m. Of course he would be up on the latest rising starlet of YouTube. And this true celt from the Isle of Skye riding his bike around Edinburgh seemed like a Friday Linky just-for-me! Anyway, if you ever wanted a reason to ride your bike then join the other five an a half million viewers and take a look at the cool shite you can do on one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

Arthur is One!

From Exported Videos

From Exported Videos

Three Posts: Three

We bought a house.  In fact we bought this one...

It is an old villa that was built in all likelihood in 1914 as part of a development that was designed to create affordable housing for workers in Nelson. 

It is in a particularly poor state of repair.  You can't see it from this photo, but the lean-to area at the back of the property, which housed the bathroom, kitchen and toilet, can't be lived in at the moment - well not at least with a baby.  It has taken three months just to get rid of the mouse poo and urine stench.

It is proving to be a very interesting project.  Not only does the property need a HUGE amount of work, it is protected by inclusion in the Elliott St Historic Precinct that recognises the importance of maintaining the houses in the street as an example of early New Zealand housing.  

We had to apply for resource consent to approve the renovation work we aim to commence and were worried that this would unduly hold up the project.  However we were very pleased to have been granted consent last week, and are now itching for the building consent before we commence the renovation works.  The condensed list will see us re pile the house, extend the rear lean-to, renovate the front veranda and redecorate and insulate the entire old house.  There are also plans to add a solar hot water cylinder and re-roof but we hope to delay that a little till the funds come through.

In the end we hope that the exterior of the building will look like this:

Will have to post progress photos.

Fortunately  we have the house pictured in post Two to stay in while the work is carried out.  Even better is the fact that the in-laws, and owners of the big house, are dab hands at renovation work, having fully renovated Hillwood over the last number of years.   It is their expertise and support that has allowed us to go full steam into the Elliott St project.

That said, it is proving tricky balancing the demands of the project with a twelve month old baby.  So this Sunday I'm on baby sitting duty while the missus is in at the house sanding and scraping (we are re-using all the original lean-to windows and doors etc.).  The baby is asleepat the moment and I'm not being the productive domestic goddess that I'm supposed to be.  Off now to hang out the nappies, make some vaguely pureed veges and some homemade crumpets for the adults.  But while I'm doing that, I'm itching to be at the house...

Three Posts: Two Point Two

Just a quick follow up on the second post.  Saw this article in the paper a day or so ago.  

Spooky about how that happens; you think of something and then it pops up again a short time later.  

Three Posts: Two

As mentioned (almost a year ago now...) the plan was to head back to NZ and start settling in Nelson.  Here is a special photo of the house in which the family is currently living.

It is an amazing photo for a couple of reasons.  For a start, the perspective of it makes the massive building look like a dolls house. The miniaturising perspective was achieved by an arborist, who had climbed one of the massive redwood trees on the property.  The photo was taken in on the 28th of August last year, right after the big storms had come through the region, toppling trees and generally making a big mess.  The protected trees at the house in the picture were no exception and this arborist had come to lop off dead hangers, tidy up the fallen branches and, for good measure, climb the tallest tree on the property!  At the time we didn't knowhe had his camera with him.

The arborist died in a private climbing accident eight weeks later.  We read the news article at the time but didn't put two and two together and realise that the climber was the same arborist that had visited a couple of months earlier.  When his widow arrived a week or two later, and offered us copies of his photos, she told of how Stephen had spoken very fondly of the big redwood in his last weeks. 

We are very lucky to have this photo.  Thanks Stephen and Denise. 

Three Posts: One

It has been nearly a year and the silence on this blog has been near absolute.  Here is the reason, my lovely boy Arthur.

This is my favorite photo of Arthur.  It is reminiscent of old photos of me at Arthur's age; always smiling and always with some food in my mouth!

Being a dad is great.

Hmmn

My baby saw the new Indianna Jones movie today.  I have yet to see it.  Seven weeks old (nearly 8) and I am already jealous of him!

Home in about a month

Quick update on the return from France.  We are travelling home.  Yes home, for good.  We arrive in NZ on 02 July 08 (in Auckland) and will drive down the Nth Island to Welly town thereafter.  Plan on hitting the capital on 04 July 08, so for those of you who are also in town that weekend lets get together.  I have a son, now 7 weeks old, to show you all!

That is all for the moment.