There is no greater example of modern luxury
Then this strange dependence on technology
To travel to a place, regardless how poor
Requires a swag of gadgetry galore
Camera and kindle, ipod and phone
Do you think I can leave my laptop at home?
Memory cards and sticks, even a hard drive
Without these with me I just couldn’t survive
It goes without saying that there must also be
A fast internet connection and electricity
A thing’s not worth doing if it’s not going to look
Good on my twitter, flikr or facebook.
Sometimes I have to remind myself to sit and just be
To let the place I’m in well up and absorb me
I’m here to learn, in each place I visit
So I’d better disconnect or I’ll bloody well miss it!
Written July 2010, amazed at the divide between the technology of tourists vs the locals in rural Africa.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Source of Wander
Sometimes you just fall in love with a place
Be it buildings, a people or a natural space
It’s hard to describe the source of appeal
It’s less an aesthetic than how it makes you feel
In Tibet there was a cliff above the Puncheon’s palace
In Cambodia, a people, wronged but without malice
Morocco had the desert and the camp therein
Croatia, an island, not without sin
The Thai’s gave me an escape and an awful tattoo
Israel taught me respect, and what was taboo
Egypt had grandeur, like I’d never seen
Each offered something new, these places I’ve been
But sitting in Uganda, overlooking the Nile
Beer in my hand, I can’t help but smile
Is this the way that my die has been cast?
To keep stumbling upon places more impressive than the last?
Written July 2010, on the banks of the Nile in Uganda, loving life and to be back on the road!
Be it buildings, a people or a natural space
It’s hard to describe the source of appeal
It’s less an aesthetic than how it makes you feel
In Tibet there was a cliff above the Puncheon’s palace
In Cambodia, a people, wronged but without malice
Morocco had the desert and the camp therein
Croatia, an island, not without sin
The Thai’s gave me an escape and an awful tattoo
Israel taught me respect, and what was taboo
Egypt had grandeur, like I’d never seen
Each offered something new, these places I’ve been
But sitting in Uganda, overlooking the Nile
Beer in my hand, I can’t help but smile
Is this the way that my die has been cast?
To keep stumbling upon places more impressive than the last?
Written July 2010, on the banks of the Nile in Uganda, loving life and to be back on the road!
Andy’s Gone with Cattle by Henry Lawson
Our Andy’s gone to battle now
‘gainst drought, the red marauder:
Our Andy’s gone with cattle now
Across the Queensland border.
He’s left us in dejection now;
Our thoughts with him are roving;
It’s dull on this selection now,
Since Andy went a-droving.
Who now shall wear the cheerful face
In times when things are slackest?
And who shall whistle round the place
When fortune frowns her blackest?
Oh, who shall cheek the squatter now
When he comes round us snarling?
His tongue is growing hotter now
Since Andy crossed the darling.
Poor Aunty’s looking thin and white;
And Uncle’s cross with worry;
And poor old Blucher howls all night
Since Andy left Macquarie.
Oh, may the showers in torrents fall,
And all the banks run over;
And may the grass grow green and tall
In pathways of the drover.
And may good angels send the rain
On desert stretches sandy;
And when the summer comes again
God grant ‘twill bring us Andy.
Not mine, but wow, what a beautiful Australian poem, discovered and given to me by my mum.
‘gainst drought, the red marauder:
Our Andy’s gone with cattle now
Across the Queensland border.
He’s left us in dejection now;
Our thoughts with him are roving;
It’s dull on this selection now,
Since Andy went a-droving.
Who now shall wear the cheerful face
In times when things are slackest?
And who shall whistle round the place
When fortune frowns her blackest?
Oh, who shall cheek the squatter now
When he comes round us snarling?
His tongue is growing hotter now
Since Andy crossed the darling.
Poor Aunty’s looking thin and white;
And Uncle’s cross with worry;
And poor old Blucher howls all night
Since Andy left Macquarie.
Oh, may the showers in torrents fall,
And all the banks run over;
And may the grass grow green and tall
In pathways of the drover.
And may good angels send the rain
On desert stretches sandy;
And when the summer comes again
God grant ‘twill bring us Andy.
Not mine, but wow, what a beautiful Australian poem, discovered and given to me by my mum.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
5 Min Nap
Light of wallet and even lighter of heart
Three Asian bankers in an adventure took part
Each had a skill which he brought to the table
Something he excelled at, that the others weren't able
Vic could sleep, anywhere and anytime
Had a penchant for cheese, but struggled to rhyme
Pete liked to fart and board the odd luxury yacht
Even if his mates, he sometimes forgot
Yao Ming was tall, but his gift was his snore
He could rattle any hostel room, right to its core
They each had different favs, of the places they went
But agreed the Croatian girls were the ones heaven sent
None knew what was next to do or to see
They were all just so happy, not to be at DB
Written Aug 2009, just discovered this poem on the back of a plane ticket. Was written while travelling with two mates, during a mandatory 5 min nap break (Thanks Vic).
Three Asian bankers in an adventure took part
Each had a skill which he brought to the table
Something he excelled at, that the others weren't able
Vic could sleep, anywhere and anytime
Had a penchant for cheese, but struggled to rhyme
Pete liked to fart and board the odd luxury yacht
Even if his mates, he sometimes forgot
Yao Ming was tall, but his gift was his snore
He could rattle any hostel room, right to its core
They each had different favs, of the places they went
But agreed the Croatian girls were the ones heaven sent
None knew what was next to do or to see
They were all just so happy, not to be at DB
Written Aug 2009, just discovered this poem on the back of a plane ticket. Was written while travelling with two mates, during a mandatory 5 min nap break (Thanks Vic).
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Living the Dream
Insatiable for adventure with a thirst that can’t be quenched
He's wallowed in the pool of life and come away drenched
Never able to sit still, or even slow down
Hungry for a new life, in a foreign town
Determined not to be, just like all the rest
Trying all the paths to see which one suits him best
Laughing to himself at those who choose to settle
Why be on the road if your pedals not to the metal?
He only gets one shot at this, so he'll make sure he does it right
Live and love and play and dream, make peace and start a fight.
He has his whole life, to live the aussie dream
but not before he's had the chance to blow off a little steam
How can he give himself to someone else for life
If he's barely old enough to know himself, let alone a wife?
He'll be drawn to those with vision, who protect the lower class
And shun those more focussed on their own wealthy ass.
This will change in time, inevitable as kids and tax,
But he'll enjoy it while he can, take some time to relax
The secret to a life, lived without regret
Is to follow his dreams, and not the safe bet.
Written July 09, while my friends are looking at apartments and marriages and I am giving in to the travel bug again.
He's wallowed in the pool of life and come away drenched
Never able to sit still, or even slow down
Hungry for a new life, in a foreign town
Determined not to be, just like all the rest
Trying all the paths to see which one suits him best
Laughing to himself at those who choose to settle
Why be on the road if your pedals not to the metal?
He only gets one shot at this, so he'll make sure he does it right
Live and love and play and dream, make peace and start a fight.
He has his whole life, to live the aussie dream
but not before he's had the chance to blow off a little steam
How can he give himself to someone else for life
If he's barely old enough to know himself, let alone a wife?
He'll be drawn to those with vision, who protect the lower class
And shun those more focussed on their own wealthy ass.
This will change in time, inevitable as kids and tax,
But he'll enjoy it while he can, take some time to relax
The secret to a life, lived without regret
Is to follow his dreams, and not the safe bet.
Written July 09, while my friends are looking at apartments and marriages and I am giving in to the travel bug again.
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