"Charlie" the Fruit Bat

Ahh Charlie, the baby fruit bat was dropped by Mum from high up in the trees along the Daintree River. When we found him he would have been at most a few meters above the water line. Slightly dehydrated, he faced certain death from snakes, crocs or slow starvation.

Part of us realised that this is just the unforgiving cycle of nature at work. But when our guide saw those beady little eyes, and cute little ears we knew Charlie had to be rescued. We positioned the boat as close to him as possible and tried to get him to attach himself onto a broom stick. With a bit of luck, he jumped aboard and Charlie will spend a significant part of his childhood sipping fruit smoothies before strong enough to re-join a colony.

Check out the photos of Charlie and his rescue here

Daintree and Cape Tribulation Nov 07

Away from the relative "hussle and bussle" of Port Douglas Heidi and I managed 3 days in the Daintree and Cape Tribulation region. I can only describe the Daintree as a fantastic natural wonder with so much life and beauty all around you.

My favorite activities were;

1. Bird watching on the Daintree. On the water at 6.30am. Pretty keen!
2. The numerous forest walks, Mossman Gorge and the "Croc Free" swimming holes.
   
3. Daintree Ice Cream co. Tropical fruits turned into Ice Cream. What a great place to hang out.

So it's of no surprise that the camera was fairly busy over those three days. In that time we did our best to capture as much natural wildlife as we could.

Click Here if you would like to see the photo set.

Port Douglas and Region Nov 2007

Finding our way up to North Queensland we were greeted with what even the locals referred to as "unusual" weather. Cyclone Guba was making it's presence felt even though we were quite a distance south from it's real force.

However without being a chore, we braved the early inclement weather and enjoyed a wonderful holiday. Port Douglas highlights for me? Well, it's hard to go past the outer reef cruise, George the resident "Groper" and Lake Eacham in the Atherton tablelands. Let's call it a three way tie all for different reasons.

Enjoy the photo set of Port Douglas and surrounding areas here

Berlin 2007

Berlin is an amazing city ...truly. There are just so many interesting things to do here. I didn't have nearly enough time to do it all.

The first thing I decided to do was a tour of the city by bike with a very well informed tour guide. The history here is nothing short of intimidating. Berlin in one century alone has seen the beginning and demise of two Reiche's (Empires) we know as the great wars of the 20th century. No other city in the world can claim such recent (significant) history such as this. It's profound, and the price the city has paid is all around you - the history of this place had always engaged my interest.

Additionally I was moved by the stories of the Wall - the most effective border control system ever devised. The numerous stories alone from this is worth visiting the city alone.

But what really grabs you about all this is Post unification Berlin/Germany and massive undertaking of construction and projects that are happening everywhere. Berlin, particularly the East is transforming rapidly.

With such projects, buildings, memorials and renovation all around you one might think that quality and design may be an after thought. But not here in Berlin. There is such an artistic flair here that is of course quintessentially "Berlin". New construction isn't just a building it's a statement that encompasses the new vision of the city - "The Unified Berlin".

So what is the choice building product of a new era?

Glass, Glass and more Glass. Glass is all over new buildings in Berlin. But why? Glass is slowly transforming the city replacing an infamous era of stone, rocks, tawdry and grey. Essentially the building style of an old era, of intolerance, one that Berlin would rather forget. Glass on the other hand is 'transparent', 'smooth' open, in essence a reflection of tolerance in society - Democracy! ...And another thing is that if you stand in front of glass, sometimes you can see you're own reflection! ...powerful stuff!

This is used in such clever ways. In the Reich's Tag for example (Parliament) they've build a glass dome on top of the parliament. Therefore any person can effectively 'watch' their government at work for the people. The significance is that gone are the days where people will be looked down upon by oppressive regimes and politicians. It is such a powerful statement, it's brilliant. There are other numerous examples all over this place. This city has moved me in so many ways. I hope to return here someday.

Berlin wow! What a place. ..And if there is not enough happening for you during the day then you won't believe how crazy this place is by night!

Link to photo set: here

Viele GrÜsse,

Macht's Gut!

Markus

Cormet De Roselend

With some extra time up my sleeve I knew I had to explore the scenic way back to Basel Switzerland. From Bourg Saint Maurice I found the turn off to Le Cormet De Roselend a 1967m alpine pass and began to really enjoy the scenery of the french alps.

Fortunately the weather was also superb and I'm constantly reminded how lucky I've been with it thus far.

Just over the pass I had my most memorable "coffee break" so far. And make no mistake the french do a really good cup of coffee!



Check out the other pictures in the set right here

Au-Revoir mes amis!

Markus

Le Tour De France 2007

Well this part of my "Dream" has finally been realised. I think I've needed a couple of days for it all to sink in and think about what has just transpired. For me, the Tour De France has lived up to everything I'd hoped for. It was unforgettable!

The day began quite early, and I was out of the hotel fairly quickly as I wasn't exactly sure when they would close the road to the Val D'Isere. While driving up I noticed a serious of sharp hairpin bends on about a 6% gradient. I knew there was a fantastic spot where I could see the riders come up the hill and then view them as they left me. "This is it!" I thought to myself and easily found a carpark another 300m up the hill. Being early, as I was later to find had really payed dividends..

As the day wore on the traffic volumes coming up the Val D'Isere became more and more conjested. Once the road was closed to spectator traffic, the Tour turned into a circus of dazzling advertisement and marketing. Wave after wave of vehicles would throw food and other samples out to the crowd and we all began to have some fun - whatever nationality you were.

As the hellicopter arrived I knew the leaders were fast approaching. The crowd clapped and screamed "Aller"..Aller" as the leading climbers boldly jostled for position. The excitement gave me goose-bumps all over. Being there, and seeing close up the faces of anguish of the riders giving everything to wear the Maillot Jeune was truly amazing.

So by the end of the day Rassmussen the Danish rider proved too strong. So far he has proved himself as a formidiable climber but has he left anything for the Pyranees? To me Valverde looks the business, however we will just have to wait and see.

I've waited a very long time for this and am quite happy with the photos/memories that I have of this day. Follow the link to have a look right here

Or as a slideshow

See ya later and "hello" to all back home.

Cheers,

MK

Christmas in July 2007

Well Ho..Ho..Ho

It's Christmas in July! Thanks to all those who contributed and made this a great day. Furthermore, an honourable mention goes out to the "hostess with the mostess" for her exemplary organisational skills.

Oh... and whoever brought the Egg Nog, please take a bow!

Enjoy the photos: here

Cheers,

Markus

Travel Itinerary July 12th 2007 - August 22nd 2007

Here it is! This itinerary is just a general outline of the regions/cities that I'll be visiting.

13th July Zurich airport (Arrive)
13th July - 14th July Basel, Switzerland
14th July - 16th July Watching the Tour De France somewhere in the Rhone Alps, France.
16th July - 20th July Basel, Switzerland
21st July - 26th July Berlin, perhaps via Prague, Dresden
27th July - 30th July Vienna Austria
31st July - 9th August Vienna, Sopron Hungary, Buk Hungary
10th August - 15th August Bayern
16th August - 20th August Mannheim Germany, Side trip to Trier to watch WRC Germany.
21st August - 22nd August Basel, Switzerland then to Zurich Airport (Depart)
23rd August - Melbourne, Australia.

Wow! What a trip.. Not long now.
Stay tuned for regular updates to this site while I'm away.

French Island Easter 2007

Picture this! An island bigger than it's neighbor Phillip Island, little infrastructure, corrugated roads, millions of Koala's, a Chicory Kiln, and an old Prison and you have French Island.
I wouldn't exactly call it a complicated place, however as it turned out that's precisely why I liked it. It's never easy finding a good campsite over the Easter holidays that's quiet, yet that's exactly what we found!
The bike ride to the campsite was about 13km of butt pounding vibrations produced from the worst corrugated roads I'd ever seen. We camped at the old Chicory Farm and were very surprised to enjoy some good old fashioned hospitality in the form of scones with home made jam. I'll make note of the apparent Koala epidemic too. They're everywhere! ..and their call at night is similar to a wild pig that will definitely give you a start if you didn't know that.
So will I be back? Maybe.. But there is very little to do. It just not that type of place!

Check out the set right here

Chasing the Tour de France 2007

It looks like part of the dream has finally turned into a reality. I'll be seeing a few stages of the Tour De France 2007 and I can't wait. Somewhere in the French Alps I'll be waiting for the overall classification contenders to assert their dominance.

It seems for as long as I've owned a bike I've been following the tour from my lounge room, amazed and intrigued by the strategy and the incomparable endurance required to sustain and win "The hardest sporting endurance event" on the planet.



Alexander
Vinokourov

And what about the controversy? The Tour de France has had a very decorated history indeed. What about that year most of the cyclists boycotted the stages due to the "alledgedly" over intrusive drug testing procedures? Or, ironically, last year when Floyd Landis on the "Juice" making the most unbelievable recovery after being well and truly "out of juice" in the mountain stage the day before? Unfortunately it doesn't have the best reputation as a clean sport, however in terms of determination, sportsmanship, team spirit and courage it doesn't get any better. This is a race that makes legends!

The Nice Little Weekender

Well that was a nice weekend. Pity they can't all be like that!

Heidi and I returned back to 'Sunny'? Melbourne on Monday night to polish off the remainder of the shortened week.

The chosen destination was a nice place called castaways in Skenes creek only 6 kilometers from Apollo Bay. (It was a mystery, but the game is finally up!).

Unfortunately we kind of lost a day due to rain and were forced inside watching movies and eating tomato soup - Yes this is the hard life!

Once unleashed outside here's what we managed to accomplish;

1. Dinner Apollo Bay- first night at a semi fancy restaurant and to the Pub on the next night.
2. Triplet Falls walk Otway ranges
3. Otway Fly tree top walk
4. A walk on the pier at Apollo Bay - I think I found a fishing charter that I might do? Looks like fun!
5. Otway Estate winery. This place could be very dangerous before a long drive home?

You can find my photo sets here

Don't touch the system on a Friday?

I believe it to be worth a mention of some excellent advice I received today from my team leader, technically very experienced in the up keep, maintenance of business critical applications.

He says: "One should never (if possible) make any major or even minor system changes, enhancements to any business critical applications on a Friday". Why? Simply because if anything goes wrong and invariably it does, you'll spend the whole weekend or part thereof fixing it up. Not worth the risk, I say.

So obviously this begs the question: What should I be doing on a Friday?

Generally, if everything is running smoothly time should be devoted to answering emails, authoring and reading documentation and perhaps even a nice lunch wouldn't go astray. Makes sense really, to enjoy the good times while they last!!

Rochford Winery - New Years Eve 06/07

Fireworks Over Rochford
Originally uploaded by Markus Krebs.

Usually I can't be fussed when it comes to New Years Eve celebrations - I mean why should I be? It's the same old tripe year after year? New years eve parties for me suffer from a severe image problem. Could it be all the party's where you spend half the night ordering a drink because it is so packed? Or greeting a city full of riot police arresting obscene drunks all competing for just a handful of cabs, watching people throw their guts up within meters of you while waiting for the late night trains. That's if you can get on the last train, otherwise you'll have the dreaded two hours of being stranded. Might as well crack another beer? Or get myself arrested maybe even both! I'm not going to expose myself to it again, I've seen it all.

Well as it turned out I didn't have to. This year Rochford winery New Years Eve party presented the right balance of live entertainment, fun, great outdoor atmosphere with enough people to make sure that event staff and facilities were able to adequately cope with all the demands placed on them. It was easy to get around, friendly crowd that was the change I needed to re-new the enthusiasm for new years eve celebrations.

So congratulations on all that made this night a really enjoyable one - the good friends, good atmosphere washed down with a nice glass of Pinot Noir (I think I drank the whole bottle) was a welcome change to what I'm normally accustomed to. Bring on grape grazing!

Check out the link for all the snaps: http://flickr.com/photos/34952034@N00/sets/72157594466359042/

Flickr

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