Happy Australia Day

Hopefully, you are all doing well, guys!
For a story and some pictures of our last week's hike, click here!
T

Almost drowned at Sydney Festival

Mike Patton's Mondo Cane was going to play at the Sydney Festival yesterday (Saturay, 14th, February 2012) open air in The Domain and for free. We were surely willing to see the front man of Faith No More.  Unfortunately, the weather was not promising and luckily we got prepared at least a bit. Already on our way to the event we got caught in pouring rain. Equipped with a tiny umbrella and one poncho we caught up with friends, grabbed a beer and waited for the band.

Well prepared for an open-air concert in Sydney's summer. No, it is not sun protection. It is rain protection.

For a while, the weather got better. This was before the band started.

When Mike Patton and band entered the stage it was pouring rain. For a couple of minutes it was still fun.

After playing a couple of songs, Mike Patton's Mondo Cane disappeared from the stage again. They go soaking wet as well. Being on stage with all the electronic devices in a strong rain shower is probably not too good. Anyway. When they returned about 30 min later, many people had left already. We were still eager to see the show. But as it started to rain again and we got more and more wet, we decided to leave as well. What a shame!

Sydney's good sense of fashion

This is what I ran into yesterday. Isn't that fashion! Looking great, isn't it? I love it. A bit similar to Tim's nerd sleeve. Only, she can undo this mistake.. 

Hey there! Another week has passed and I don't like to remember that in one week from now on, I will already stay at another place. The dog Emo, the cat Smudge, the chicken, the pool, ..  I love it all! Especially Emo I will miss a lot. This dog is wonderful!

Happy New Year - Best wishes from Down Under

G'day there!

I've safely arrived in Sydney facing a tantalising 2012!

The trip was okay despite its length. I have to say that Emirates was not meeting my expectations in terms of comfort and service. There is not much to complain about, but the seat space felt smaller (especially the width) compared to my last flight with Quantas. And the interior of the Boing 777-300 from Hamburg to Dubai was looking used and old fashioned and was in a bad condition (e.g. stow-away screens of the seats at the emergency exits were falling down at slightest turbulence). During the flight from Dubai to Sydney, there was not more service than absolutely necessary. You had to ask for water yourself and they always seemed a bit reluctant to provide it. Compared to that, on a Quantas A380 I was regularly offered drinks and for those who drink cubic meters of water during long flights (like me) you have a bar for self serviceat the rear of the plain offering cookies, crackers, soft drinks and drinking water from the tab.

Even though it takes some hours longer, next time I would prefer the connection via London and Singapur with Quantas and the Airbus A380 which is by the way often much cheaper that flying Emirates.

We are staying at a wonderful place. For the moment, we have a power-packed dog called 'Emo' and a touching cat called 'Smutge' next to two chicken (we call them Hanni & Nanni). We are sitting those creatures and their home, a house with pool in suburbia, Sydney.

Emo loves catching, chewing and returning whatever you throw!

Smudge

Traveling Iceland: The Snæfellsnes peninsula

For four days I went out of the lab and on the road to explore Iceland's fabulous scenery.

The Snæfellsnes peninsula lies a 2 hours drive north of Reykjavík. Its popularity for tourists is growing. That is not surprising. It is close to the country's capitol and simply beautiful. Still, it is a quiet place and at most of the many beautiful places the number of tourists is still low. The country side is dominated by volcanic mountains and farm land.

Swamps and marsh lands along the coast and the numerous lakes are speckled with cotton grass this time of the year. While most of the birds have already left their breeding grounds by mid-August, the vegetation remains colorful for a while. However, the first trees start to change into red and yellow.

The weather was beautiful, the scenery colorful, often dramatic. Abandoned farms and barn ruins accentuate the roughness of Iceland's environment.

A special view on Snæfellsjökull - the glacier at the tip of the peninsula. It is a small and rather young glacier which can be seen from Reykjavík when the air is clear.

Parts of a wrecked trawler and naturally polished pebbles at the Djupalon beach (south-western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula).

A lava field between Grundafjördur and Stykkisholmur (northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula). Often the cover of moss and lichen appears like cushion. Protruding black rocks of bizarre shapes add a strong contrast. This kind of scenery can be found all over Iceland.

A small lighthouse on a small skerry called Klofningur, in the west of Flatey. The sea was full of puffins who have recently left their breeding cliffs.

Flatey, a small inhabited island between the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords.

On this ferry I went from Stykkisholmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula to the Westfjords.

Iceland facts 01

Iceland is recognized as a fairly clean country. And it is true that you won't find much rubbish in the country side. On the other hand, there are only few waste-water treatment plants! Almost every drop is pumped in the ocean as it is..