Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • Review – Star Wars: The Force Awakens


    Released: 17 December 2015
    Seen: 17 December 2015
    Cinema: Hoyts Melbourne Central
    Director: J.J. Abrams
    Cast: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Max von Sydow
    Gene: Science Fiction
    Rating: 8.5 / 10

    Synopsis
    Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order. When a defector named Finn crash-lands on a desert planet, he meets Rey (Daisy Ridley), a tough scavenger whose droid contains a top-secret map. Together, the young duo joins forces with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to make sure the Resistance receives the intelligence concerning the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last of the Jedi Knights.

    Review (warning spoilers)
    The Force Awakens is a memorable welcome back to the Star Wars Universe. The prequels are now behind us which most people are happy to forget but I thought we passable (at least Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith).

    The movie quickly establishes the new main characters; the wonderful Rey (Daisy Ridley), the conflicted Finn (John Boyega), an ace Starfighter Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and the main protagonist Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

    There is much in common with the original Star Wars Episode IV including having an android (BB-8) lost on a desert planet after Poe Dameron realises he will be soon be captured and needs to get critical information to the Resistance. The old stars are back, Harrison Ford (who plays a significant large role), Carrie Fisher (in a small but important role) and in Mark Hamill (for about 30 seconds but very important for the future).
    At times the movie felt like a rehash (but a fund rehash) of the original Star Wars movie.

    There is a death star like weapon (well be a sequel it’s an even bigger weapon), a call to arms but a young hero, a reluctant hero (Finn) and a dark opponent. But that is selling this movie short. The new characters have greater back stories and motivations, there are secrets we still don’t know and the pieces for successful future movies have been set.

    The only thing I was unhappy was with is how they explained the Resistance as different to the New Republic and the First Order. I totally understand the First Oder being established out of the Empire but at the start of this movie there shouldn’t have been a Resistance, they were the winners and part of the New Republic. With the destruction of the Republic (I’m fairly certain Coruscant was destroyed or at least the New Republic headquarters planet) we then should have seen the survivors form a ‘resistance’. For the story to make sense the New Republic needed to be destroyed for the opposing sides to be of similar strength but the Resistance doesn’t make sense existing before the destruction, they could have still be the New Republic Army hunting down the First order.Still it’s hard to be critical when I get to see the Falcon jump to hyper-drive after all of these years. I’m looking forward to this new expanded universe and finding out what is to come and even who of the old cast will be there to see the Force Awaken a long time ago.

    Recommendation: The Force is back and the House of Mouse (Disney) will be very happy for the next decade full of Star Wars movies that will expand the Star Wars universe while trying to forget about the prequels.

     

  • Short Trip 2015: Day 3 – Adelaide, South Australia

    Photos

    So today was the last day of my short trip to Adelaide.  It started out with disappointment as the catch up with a friend that we had prearranged was cancelled at the last minute.  This was my fault for not communicating better and taking things for granted 🙁.  It was a shame as I was really looking forward to the day has planned.

    This meant I got to spend more time with my brother talking about his travel plans to USA & Canada in 2017 in particular a train trip across Canada that made me slightly jealous.  We walked back into the CBD and found Adelaide strangely quiet for 10 am on a Sunday.  People didn’t really start coming out until 11 and noon, the weather was fantastic.  There was also a Christmas feel to the retail district which reminded me to start thinking about gifts for family and friends to keep the capitalist system going, I suppose that’s a good thing 🤔

    We returned to the Adelaide Casino for a longer stay and play this time.  Playing the gaming machines in Adelaide is a little different then Melbourne as you need to purchase credits on a card instead of just feeding money straight into the machine (you can put coins directly in).  I expected this would reduce gambling loses as it gets people to move away from the machine to spend more money.

    The taxi ride to the airport had a very happy driver who told us about all the visitors for the Test Match and how great business has been since Thursday.  Reagan suggested that we return next year and we stay an extra day going to the cricket on days 1 & 3 and to the horse races on the Saturday (day 2).  I am tempted but it depends on the opponent and dates.  I definitely want to see an AFL match at the Adelaide Oval in 2016.

    At the airport, past the security checks, there was a Aboriginal performance at Gate 22.  Mostly dancing with some music and a huge crowd of happy travellers.  There was also a number of Japenese female students who were very excited by the performance getting selfies with the indegenious performers.

      Other than this at the airport it was mostly time spent in the QANTAS lounge watching the cricket, enjoying the free food and drinks as we waited for our flight back to Melbourne with the flight itself being uneventful.  I will say the weather in Melbourne was colder than Adelaide and it was a shame we had to leave on the best weather day.

    Overall an enjoyable visit to Adelaide for this historic match.  It was a shame that my original plans for the Sunday didn’t occur.  I should have had a backup to see more of this beautiful town to make the most of this short visit or better yet not take a friend for granted.  

    Maybe I’ll be back next year.

  • Short Trip 2015: Day 2 – Adelaide, South Australia

    Photos

    After a good nights sleep at the Sage Adelaide Hotel (formerly Chifley Hotel) I set out to explore the city before the Test Match resumed.  There was a march against Domestic Violence in Victoria Square, much more civilised then the recent ‘Reclaim Australia’ / Anti Immigration or Pro Immigration rallies recently in Melbourne.  Definitely somthing to get behind, it starts with us all taking responsibility and needs to include police and court support to the victims.

      

    March against domestic violence
     I spent a bit of time walking around the city shops, it’s definitely Christmas with all the trees up and the carols in the stores.  My youngest niece Erin had a birthday today back home and I gave her a call to say happy birthday.  Erin was very excited by her sleepover party with friends today.  It’s hard to believe that she is already 9 years old.  I still get the’Uncle Nathan’ shouts and hugs but not always or as enthusiastic as they once were.  Still hopefully a few more years of ten pin bowling and taking her to a kids movie, just for her mind you not so can sing along like with the Lego Movie 🙂

    I meet up with Reagan at a local Tab were he had been successfull backing a few winners.  From here it was a short stroll to the Adelaide Oval once again via the Casino / Central Train Station.  The sun shining down and walking with the happy cricket fellowers makes you realise they is life outside of the 9-5 office politics we all get caught up with.  New seats today, still on the Southern Stand end but this time to the left of the wicket and a little closer to the action.

    The day at the cricet was great, with the match turning several times.  New Zealand really got on top in the first session taking 8 wickets.  It looked like New Zealand would expand their 8 series unbeaten run going.  Then we got to the controversy of the match, probably the series if not the summer.  Nathan Lyon, batting at 10 due to Mitchell Starc’s injury, was given not out to hitting the ball onto his shoulder and then being caught.  New Zealand went for a review of the decision.  While watching the replays on the screen a small ‘hot shot’ was seen on the bat and Lyon started walking off, however the mike didn’t pick up any impact and after a very long 5 minutes he was given not out, or another more accurate decription was the original decision wasn’t overturned.

    This proved to be critical to the match as Lyon and Peter Nevill took the score from 8-119 when Lyon was given not out to 190 and later Nevill and Mitchel Starc added another 34 to end the innings at 224 and a lead of 22 runs when in reality Australia should have been behind and in all kinds of trouble.

    The final night session started with New Zealand fighting back well before Australia chipped away 5 wickets in the session.  New Zealand leads by 94 runs with three days to go.  The match could easily be over tomorrow and either team could win this seesawing match.  A large number of ther crowd stayed to the end, the walk back to the hotel took longer due to the congestion of fans near the stadium.

     

    Night Session Day 2 AUS V NZ
     This had been a great two days at the cricket with Adelaide turning on the charm. 

  • Short Trip 2015: Day 1 – Adelaide, South Australia

    Photos

    So it was off to Adelaide to experience the first ever day-night Cricket  Test Match, Australia vs New Zealand the third and final match of the series with Australia leading 1-0.  Test cricket is a passion of mine, in fact  it’s on my bucket list to see Australia play in six countries and I’m at three so far and I’m playing to add to that number next year when I visit Sri Lanka.

    But I’ve also wanted to see the upgraded Adelaide Oval watching with envy at the football and cricket matches over the past 18 months as the locals filled the stadium and were so loud it could be hard to hear the announcers.  So it was a three day trip planned with my brother Reagan.

    The day started with an early morning flight from Melbourne after an hour eating breakfast in the QANTAS lounge.  The plane was totally full despite being 9 am after normal flight time for business people, this was a sign there would be lots of people flying in for the match.

    A quick an cheap ($28.00) taxi trip from the airport to our hotel found a lot of people waiting to check in early.  As it was too early to get a room most people, including my brother Reagan, left their bags with security.  Walking though the city it was obvious that cricket was in town and so where a lot of visitors to enjoy the event.  The Adelaide Casino was on the way so a very quick (and unsuccessful visit) was called for.

    The walk to the ground from the Casino to the Adelaide Oval was spectacular, walking over a river via bridge, the sun shining, people excited, the atmosphere was special indeed.  The studium itself is very modern and a definite improvement, I always liked the Adelaide Oval so I was worried that the upgrade would lose it’s unique character and would just be another generic mega stadium, I need not have been concerned.

     The seats were at the southern or city end behind the bowlers arm, a little to the right but close enough to seen the pink ball swing around.   The day was a really enjoyable experience, over 47,000 people having fun at the cricket.  There was a sober moment at 4.08 pm as a short video remembered Philip Hughes who died when playing a year ago with 408 being Philip’s Australian Test Playing Number.

    Australia bowled well during the day to bowl New Zealand out for a low 202 but Mitchell Starc got injured meaning we would be a bowler down for the rest of the match.  Australia got to bat in the twilight / evening but unfortunately that was too much for David Warner.  It was great seeing cricket in front of so many people, with a magnificent sunset and an easy to see cricket ball.  I think this is the future of cricket.

      After a long day and a 40 minute walk we got back to the hotel around 10.30 pm and it was time to charge the Apple devices, settle in and look forward to tomorrow’s second day.

  • 365 World Tour

    So Intrepid Travel just released a 365 days around the world tour!!

    Obviously this would just be piecing together several, well many, of their different trips together but wow that’s crazy. You only need around $108,000 AUD ($75k USD) and an entire year off from work or study.

    I wonder what kind of relationship you would have with fellow travellers after a year on the road together?  The longest tour I’ve ever been with ‘strangers’ in the same tour group was around 56 days during my Mexico and Central America Tour (15/12/2012 to 10/2/2013). Personally I got on well with the 7 people who did the entire 4 tours combined but a year would be whole different matter. I’ve also seen people causing each other major grief after 14 days together, so much so that even a few extra days would have likely lead to emotional and physical breakdowns between these travellers!

    I have been also on longer trips with a family member (Andrew 66 days 2009-2010 world trip) and a friend (Jon 121 days 1999-2000 world trip). Again this went fine but there are definitely times when you need a time out from your travelling companion.

    I’m not even sure how many people would take up this around the world package, but what an experience, outback in Africa to cold of Antarctica to Asia. I also wonder how you’d be able to return to the ‘real’ world again. It can be a struggle to go back to work after my 4+ month trips.

    I guess it must be nice to even have this as a travel option.