Travel

That’s Odd

I see the strangest things when I’m cycling to work.

I pulled up at a set of lights this morning and noticed that the lady in the Volvo beside me had a large white cat across her lap. The cat seemed quite happy and probably does a fair bit of travelling with its owner but I do wonder about the wisdom in driving with an unsecured cat in the car, especially sitting on top of the driver.

If the car had to stop suddenly, Tibby would be rocketed into the dashboard. I’m a real cat lover; I’m just not convinced that cats should go everywhere that their humans go.

Later during my ride I noticed a young guy in a work ute drinking a can of Red Bull. I wondered why anyone would need an energy hit at that time of the day. If you need artificial stimulants to keep going that early in the day you’re going to be completely wrecked by lunchtime. I didn’t think too much of it at the time but I couldn’t help sitting down and shaking my head as I pondered the situation while sipping my double shot espresso at my desk at work.

What are some of the strange things you’ve seen on your daily commute? Whether you travel by car, bike, bus or train, I’m sure you’ve seen some intersting sights.

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A nation behaving badly

Mar 30th, 2009

by Rodney Olsen.

4 comments

Are Australians the ultimate ugly tourists?

It seems we’re costing Australian tax payers more and more while we’re overseas and dying abroad at an ever increaasing rate. We keep getting arrested while travelling and we apparently don’t care much for those in authority. We also need rescuing a lot more that we used to.

The information has been released by our own Department of Foreign Affairs and is being reported at News.com.au in the article Department of Foreign Affairs reports latest Australian tourist figures.

WHINGEING, irresponsible, cut-rate Australian tourists abroad are costing those who stay home millions of dollars and are being arrested more than ever.

The latest figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs show that 2009 is set to become the first year when more than 1000 Australians are arrested and when more than 1000 Australians are expected to die overseas, The Australian reports.

Surely we’re not all bad.

While I don’t get to travel overseas a lot I do make a point of behaving myself while in someone else’s country. Mind you, I pretty much behave at home too. I suppose that with more Aussies travelling we’re bound to see an increase in the number of ‘ugly Australians’ leaving our shores.

What’s your experience? Do you travel a lot? If you’re Australian have you ever seen other Aussies behaving in such a way that you’d rather you weren’t idetified as their countrymen? If you’re not from the land down under, what are your impressions of Australians that have visited your part of the world? Who do you think are the world’s worst tourists?

Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section of this post.

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See you soon, James

Jun 27th, 2008

by Rodney Olsen.

4 comments

I’m battling to stay awake.

I’d go to bed but I need to head back into work this evening to give a youth group a tour of the radio station.

I got about two and a half to three hours sleep last night because we had to get up at 2:00 a.m. to take James to the International Airport. You have no idea how tough it was to sound happy and vibrant on the radio this morning.

James is traveling with Pauline’s mum to England and France. Not bad for a nine year old. He’ll be in Paris for the final day of the Tour de France. (Not that I’m jealous.)

Over the next few weeks he’ll see things that I’ve never even dreamed of seeing and go places that will broaden his perspective on the world.

We’re going to miss him like crazy but we’re so glad that he’s getting such an amazing opportunity.

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The day arrives

Apr 5th, 2008

by Rodney Olsen.

Comments are off for this post

Posting may be intermittent over the next couple of weeks.

I’m the only one up in my house at the moment but very soon we’ll all be sharing our last breakfast together for ten days.

I have to be at the airport at around 9:45 to fly out at 10:45. Between now and then I need to put all the clothes my Pauline has so wonderfully prepared for me into my case and then double check that I have everything I need. (I just know I’ll forget something.)

Over the next couple of days I’ll fly from Perth to Sydney then to Los Angeles then Miami and finally on to Haiti. I’ll be in Haiti for around a week before I repeat the entire process in reverse.

I feel totally unprepared but I’m sure that’s what long flights are all about. The flights will give me time to finally stop and soak in the information that I haven’t had time to process so far. I’ll read about Haiti and find out a little bit more of what to expect, I’ll read the instructions to my audio recorder to make sure that I know what I’m doing when I start interviewing people from Compassion and those they serve.

I probably won’t get many opportunities to write much over the coming days but I’m still hopeful that I’ll keep you up to date.

Your comments will be very much appreciated but I may not get to reply to them immediately. If I get internet access I’ll be checking my email so feel free to drop me a line. You’ll find my email address by going to my Contact Page.

Until then, catch you somewhere around the world.

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Come fly with me

Apr 4th, 2008

by Rodney Olsen.

12 comments

I’m getting ready for some very long flights over the next day or so.

As I mentioned before I’m heading to Haiti with Compassion Australia to see their work amongst people living in desperate poverty.

I love flying but sometimes being in the air for fourteen or so hours at a time can be a little tiring. It all begins tomorrow morning with a flight to Sydney, then on Sunday it’s a fourteen hour flight followed by a five hour flight.

Of course I’ll make the correct preparations tonight. I’ll choose a couple of good books and make sure that my iPod’s fully charged.

Do you enjoy flying? What do you do to keep yourself entertained on a plane? Are you able to sleep well on planes?

I’m hoping that I’ll have internet access at some of the places I visit so that I can keep you up to date with my travels.