trav·el·er or trav·el·ler n:

  a beverage, usually alcoholic, which is carried and consumed whilst travelling from one location to another.   generally used when in transit between one’s residence, and a final drinking destination.

well, my first critical mass was fun :) the ride took us from the city, through the car park at the crown casino, past the melbourne international motor show at the exhibition centre, then across the citylink tolled bolte bridge. where we stood and waved our bikes around, and waved at the media choppers that were following us. some of the motorists thought it was excellent, some were amused, some were patient, some glared, and some yelled abuse. i like the fact that things like this ride happen. and watching the security guards get all stirred up at every place we cycled near (and through) was pretty amusing. although online newspaper reports about it are labelling it as a protest – according to the abc: “The group, which calls itself Critical Mass, was protesting against society’s reliance on cars and the shortage of bike lanes on major roads.”

critical mass is on again in melbourne – the 100th event! it started in san francisco in 1992, and it’s been going since november 1995 in melbourne. it’s that whole unorganised coincidence thing, where a heap of cyclists turn up and happen to block the streets, and celebrate alternative transport (and stuff like that). meeting outside the state library, 5.30 on the last friday of each month if you want to play.

this is a picture of the shiny thing which i got from everyone from my birthday. yes it is exciting. no you can’t touch it.

the thailand gallery is finally nearly done (hoorah). we’ve had issues making the photos behave (issues with dates and ordering, and then the gallery randomly deciding it doesn’t like one of the albums). but it’s working now. so go and look at the photos and write comments and things.

and for today’s final gimmick, i present you with geoURL, click on the nice green button to find my geographical webby neighbours:

my visited countries map…

it’s just a little bit depressing. to create your own go here

hmmm, to dreadlock or not to dreadlock? meanwhile, cats and geckoes do not mix. while i was away, the cat that has been living in my house jumped on top of my gecko cage, bending down the wire of the cage, and allowing either 1) geckoes to escape; or 2) cat to eat geckoes. thankfully the same thing didn’t happen to the other tank of geckoes, who are living a life as refugees, after a narrow escape from death at the claws of at cat in their own original home.

weeee! back now. thailand was fantastic. there were chickens everywhere. some photos below, but there’s a proper gallery coming.

Jackie coming up the first pitch on Ao Nang Tower.

Playing hacky sack on Ton Sai Beach.

The longtail boatride home from Krabi.

Ton Sai Beach.

The view from the top of Wat Tham Seua.

Val on the Lion King (6c+).

Bouldering at Railay East.

Kicking back outside the Chillout Bar.

Chickens!!!

Roar.

Sunset from Ton Sai Beach.

Wat Tham Seua.

Jungle internet.

A longtail all dressed up for the cliff wedding.

Catching the local bus to Krabi.

Val on Babes In Thailand.