Surviving in a cut throat and competitive world

At 37 close to 38 years of age, I often find the decisions of how to make myself more marketable and up to date as an individual very difficult. Although I do hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Politics and Sociology, I have been informed that my degree is no longer current. Having recently tried for a PhD in Psychology, not being in the sausage factory for 11 years has put me out of sync with the means of studying and the necessary requirements for post graduate education. Quite simply the means of attempting any further study is in itself daunting and overwhelming and as an individual I wonder exactly where my life is going. I find a career path very difficult as I do not possess abilities to be able to enter a career of my choice and strengths. I work in a University Library and even the promotional and staff development opportunities seem out of reach and impossible. Where does this leave me then? As I get older, I begin to realise that having employment is very important as well as the means of networking which I find difficult. I don't know why as an Aspie I am unable to network to obtain a better job but perhaps being too honest and speaking my mind certainly doesn't help, furthermore the necessary social skills requirements in order to progress up the corporate or workplace ladder. It is very difficult working in a university as universities can be very lonely places and I find this a constant problem. I see lots of young people, somewhat younger than myself and yet trying to join clubs at the university and make friends seems impossible. I do have friends in the University Asperger Group but some have moved on and others do come regularly and have their own issues in terms of their lives and study. I have always expected a university to be a place of higher thinking and discussion but sadly I do not see this. Young people are trying to better themselves in their lives and universities have become sausage factories for degrees rather than education and currently a lot of these young people are under a great deal of pressure to meet job requirements and careers etc. Universities are very competitive places to work in and the University of Queensland or UQ as it is called is no exception. Being an Aspie I often find it difficult to gel into the environment and despite working here for approximately 6 years almost, I still seem to be somewhat isolated. I thought I would attend the Staff Reunion at the UQ Library as a means of finding out what it was like for staff who worked here in the 1950's. Hopefully it will be interesting but only attendance will tell. I feel constantly stuck in a position I am not able to advance from and in terms of other employment I am quite frankly useless and inexperienced. I just find the very concept of this so overwhelming and taxing that I have learned to adapt and trying at present to find other areas of interest in my life. I don't like being socially isolated and I get tired of the way my mind works. What else can or could I be doing to improve myself and to be more socially accepted? Perhaps more challenges are the way to go and I have to rely on the support and advice of a counselor to help me navigate the social world of regular people which I find difficult and frustrating. You only have your strength to rely on in such challenging situations and things to look forward to in terms of holidays. I have to be careful of wolves and bullies in a work environment and often I find myself having to put up with difficult people at times. They simply try and make life difficult and be rude to you when you try to do your job. Some people have their own problems and I don't feel I should have to endure their resentment or bitterness as I don't go into the workplace and be pissed off at everyone else if I don't like or enjoy my job.

Why sleeping is sometimes useless

It is 1am in the morning and I am unable to sleep. Sometimes I get these waves of insomnia and there is nothing I really can do. Medication doesn't always work and trying to sleep is an impossible task. It is like my mind is unable to shut down. I try to write things down to clear and get them out of my mind but this in itself does not always work! I have just been overseas and now I return to the crashing reality of trying to fill in the void of an empty social life. Just going out and trying to find a social life is in itself a difficult task. I wish at times that I could find a support worker or someone who could assist me to be able to make small talk and to relate to people but having tried this in the past my efforts have proved fruitless. I don't know what it is with the Aspie brain and why it is wired so differently to other people. Lying awake and not sleeping at all seems to be something that I have to endure as medication is not always able to solve the problem. Why is everything always a struggle? I like other adults don't seem to be able to be good at a career path and a lot of my abilities and strengths are simply overlooked and I am misunderstood as a person. Luckily I am able to obtain counseling which is helping somewhat but still enduring social isolation is difficult. My mind is always trapped in routine and trying to escape it is a real challenge. It is always back to the drawing board of trying to connect with the community to overcome social isolation but this in itself just always seems frustrating. My notes at 12am include 1. Join the gym 2. Try to join a social group and find advice and suggestions to relate to other people 3. Have something to look forward too 4. Don't do too much advocacy to burn yourself out 5. If someone you know has entered a relationship feel happy for them rather than feeling sorry for yourself 6. Being single is not in itself a burden as there are benefits 7. Don't try and look for a relationship but rather live your life and either you will or you wont meet someone 8. Talk about concerns to the counselor as they hopefully will understand whereas people in the neurotypical people wont or will struggle too. Being back to normal is always a hard adjustment but I have to keep trying the best I can despite some critics who keep telling me that I whinge a lot. Maybe they should be in the shoes of someone the disorder and realise just how hard it is rather than just making judgements and assumptions. A person with Asperger Syndrome does not choose to be born with this condition and they cannot always help the way they think and feel. Sometimes some advice and guidance goes a long way to be able to help in the situation!

Advocacy of Asperger Syndrome

As I work part time as this is all I can handle as I get exhausted mentally at the end of the day, I spend a great deal of my spare time in the area of Asperger Syndrome advocacy. I am doing this in my own time and I am only able to handle as much as I am able too as I try to move forward to break down the barriers of ignorance. Recently I have updated my blog. I am not sure whether people like it or what else needs to be done to it but I can only do my best. I am in touch with a lot of adults on the Autistic Spectrum and I hear constantly the issues of unemployment, social isolation and depression and I am at a loss to know how to help and what assistance I can provide. I also have to keep my head above water and at times the simple day to day functioning of life can be very taxing. People don't really understand me and my different way of thinking and coping is not always understood. I am also in touch with parents of children with Asperger Syndrome and I hear of the struggles they too confront with the barriers of ignorance and misunderstanding. Just because people with Asperger Syndrome look like everyone else does not mean that within them difficulties and certain struggles do not exist. I try my best to help where I can and not all adults with Asperger Syndrome are always supportive. They have their own issues and difficulties. They have their own ways of coping and some are in denial and this is their own personal choice. Often times you venture into areas where awareness of Asperger Syndrome needs to be made known and you get no responses or interest in return. It is too draining to persevere and the only way to handle the situation is for people within these areas to hopefully express an interest to know more within some future stage. I am not always totally sure myself where my own life is going and often expectations are made of me which I cannot honour. I find life can be very draining at times and I feel trying to show incentive and ambition is a fruitless exercise at times. I just seem to struggle in everything I try to set out to do and trying to succeed perhaps with unrealistic expectations just simply makes you depressed and anxious. I really need help within my own life in terms of counseling to help me to try and adjust and adapt to the Neurotypical world which I find a struggle to understanding. I ask myself the questions Why is it so difficult to be like other people? Why do I think differently? Why do I need vast amounts of time in my own company? Why do I think and over think more than other people? Why do I act and behave differently and become obsessed? Why is it difficult to make friends and enter a relationship? Where will I be in the future for will I be able to live a comfortable life or will I have to be placed into some kind of public housing or an institution because trying to live in the NT world is just too overwhelming? I just don't understand why governments are slow to act on the issue of Autism and furthermore the neglect that adults with Asperger Syndrome confront in society. Surely governments are able to recognise the growing unemployment statistics and later diagnosis of adults and what help is being implemented to assist with support and vital services? People look at you and think you are like everyone else but you think differently and break conventions without even knowing you are doing so and furthermore people are upset when you do or say something which you fail to understand unless they are frank enough to bring it to your attention. I am obsessed with an Autism Bill in Australia not just for me but to ensure adults with Asperger Syndrome and children with Asperger Syndrome are able to get the support and help they need and to no longer confront neglect, social isolation, unemployment and depression. I can only do my best and believe me I am trying the best I can.

New Technnology and a shrinking world

As technology grows and grows it seems that the world is becoming smaller. If you use Google Earth you can search for a location on earth in a matter of seconds and should you wish to contact someone in another country, then you only have to browse the internet and click a webpage or information that relates to the necessary information required. Recently I have upgraded to an Iphone and what you can do on an Iphone is incredible. You can download documentaries on it and watch it on your phone and you can keep up with family, friends and contacts by the many applications the phone features. So if you go for a walk and listen to your ipod, you are never stuck for you can use social utilities and the phone itself to make contact. I can remember back to when I was younger and communication was different as to what it is today. Few people had a car and communication was by the family phone. If you were well off you could have two phone lines or phones in your house and this was considered a luxury. When you look at the world today, almost everyone has a mobile phone and getting in touch with another person is not in itself difficult. You see younger people talking on their mobile phones and wonder how much debt they are getting into or what exactly they use their phones for. As custodians of this planet we exist in a large vacuum of space and we seem to be the only humanoid life as we know it at the moment. Will humanity start to look for other planets to colonize and to explore in the future? If our own planet continues to grow at a rapid rate reaching almost 8 billion people, how will the planet support so many inhabitants? Globalisation has made the world smaller but in reality what will the future be like? How will people live and what will happen to the earth's natural resources? Technology is making the world smaller and hopefully the future will be optimistic to an ever growing population.

New Technology

I have recently purchased an Iphone and I am learning how to use it despite its many different and unique features. I never seem to have much luck with Mobile Phones as they either end up crashing on me or after a while they just become cumbersome. The great thing about the Iphone is that you can use it like an Ipod and furthermore download documentaries and other information on it. I am new to all of this and furthermore I never really knew how to use an Ipod which I am still learning. I am somewhat in the dark ages when it comes to technology but when you are able to access it, you can learn a great deal more. On the Iphone you can apparently pick up itunes or certain musical sounds from other phones within the globe. I am familiarizing myself with the phone as I speak and hopefully I should have a greater understanding of modern technology. Since my return from Europe, I have also been re-adjusting to life in Australia and am pondering over whether I should attend the University Library Staff Reunion. All things to think about. This blog is a small entry as I am not able to write as much as I usually can at the moment.

The Silent Struggle

Not many people realise that Asperger Syndrome is a disorder where a person lives within their own world and finds it difficult to communicate with others despite their strength and weakness in social skills. Often people have asked me "Garry why don't you write a book about your experiences?". Well in answer to this, I have tried to do so and there has been no interest not to mention how difficult and draining it would be to write a book. Who would read it and furthermore why put myself under all the stress to write it and not obtain any result? Recently I have jettisoned plans to undertake further study. I have raised the idea of presenting a lecture on being an adult with Asperger Syndrome to a contact within the University of Queensland Psychology Department but such an idea does not look like it will come to fruition. The idea would be to raise and promote awareness amongst Psychology Students about Asperger Syndrome but perhaps I lack the ability to be able to do this. I have a learning disability. Being able to write and undertake university study is difficult and the level of support I would need is simply not available. Furthermore my own definition of psychology differs to text book psychology within a university. I have had to use my own form of psychology to break through anxiety and to try and cope with and understand this world. Why should I have to research and write psychology when I have AS myself and see things differently to university psychology? Some people just don't get me but that is their problem and not mine. I can't help being the way I am and I don't think I need to jump off a bridge because I am unable to fit in to the mainstream of society. Yesterday I met with local member of parliament to raise awareness of Asperger Syndrome in adults. Being an adult myself, I feel it concerning to know of other adults with AS who simply are unable to find employment or obtain a reasonable quality of life. The member concerned is hopefully going to raise my concerns and issues to both the Minister for Health and Employment at a national level. For adults wherever they may be, we need to unite and network and not work alone in our advocacy if we are to raise awareness in our prospective countries I feel. I do a lot of advocacy within Brisbane but for some of the other adults, they find executive function difficult and often cannot promote awareness where they can or organise meetings. Earlier this year some adults with AS contributed to a documentary on Asperger Syndrome which hopefully will reach some form of media in the not too distant future. These adults made a great effort and their contribution is invaluable in raising awareness in adults. A lot of adults are living their lives in solitude and social isolation and although awareness is being picked up in children, adults are still left in the wilderness. Society cannot ignore this growing problem and with increasing diagnosis, what support and help is available? I have adults who have been diagnosed ask me "Where to from here?". I don't have the answers but I do know that slowly a network is building of adults with Asperger Syndrome and we all need to help each other out where we can. I don't know the answers and have often been criticised for thinking the way I do but I grow tired of the silent struggle and seeing others around me in a lower quality of life and essential support and services unavailable. We need to look at social skills support for adults, accommodation and employment support before we can begin to really make significant change. I live a lot of my own life within seclusion and social isolation. I find it very difficult to show a lighter side and furthermore make friends easily. Everything seems to be a struggle and I know that advocacy can be the only way to heal the wounds and overcome the ignorance. I know it will take time but I am not prepared to sit back either and just think things will happen automatically. The awareness needs to begin somewhere and people need to show a guiding light towards a better quality of life and understanding. People can be hurtful out of ignorance and misunderstanding but more awareness will hopefully pave the way for more support and understanding.

The UK Autism Bill

On a recent visit to the United Kingdom I was surprised at the level of awareness of Autism with the passing of the Autism Bill. The passing of the Bill puts Autism on the national front and goes further to make Autism seen as an important issue rather than an isolated disability. By this I mean families and individuals affected by Autism have some recognition at a federal level. The question I ask myself is how possible is it for other countries particularly the United States and Australia to pass a similar Bill to put Autism on the national agenda. In my own opinion I think both the United States and Australia are lagging behind the United Kingdom in terms of this area. Autism and Asperger Syndrome are seen as something that is not clearly understood and the struggles and difficulties associated with these conditions are often swept under the carpet or necessary funding is going to the wrong areas. You grow tired of people not understanding Asperger Syndrome and in all honesty not everyone is going to understand but like other areas and disabilities have some recognition, it would be good if Asperger Syndrome/Autism had the same recognition. I know all too well the struggles I and other adults have being on the Autistic Spectrum. A high percentage of adults are unemployed and furthermore a greater proportion are leaving below the economic threshold. Not being able to find employment means poor quality of life and good minds and intelligent people are just existing on the scrap heap. It is going to take years for change to occur but letting time pass and being idle is not really the solution. The National Autistic Society in the United Kingdom seems to get a lot of funding and furthermore access to services seems at a higher level compared to other countries like Australia and the United States. If you mention Autism in the United Kingdom you are more likely to be understood whereas in other countries people know very little about it or how to react to the condition. From my own personal struggles, I know I have to be an advocate where I can. I get tired of people not understanding as it makes life more difficult and challenging. Within the United Kingdom the National Autistic Society based in London seems to have and offer a lot of awareness and how can other countries implement the same approach and awareness? What needs consideration is that children with Autism ultimately become adults with Autism and what support is available for adults apart from living under the economic threshold and needing family and limited services to survive on? I do not have all the answers but I do believe that more needs to be done. Adults present the highest in unemployment statistics and very little is available by way of accommodation and vital services. If we are to understand Autism at a wider scale then surely the answer is to get a Bill or similar passed in parliament to put Autism on the national agenda. If people write to their politicians and promote awareness where they can then more and more the word is getting out there as well as greater understanding. Every little bit helps and time is very important. Together everyone can make a difference where they can.

What exactly is success?

In the world today you hear of people who have talents and who are successful compared to those who just work and make a living and just get by. In terms of measuring success you need to define what you think success is in your own words. I would not regard myself as successful for instance as I am just a survivor. I don't really have any talents nor am I good at anything and I have come to realise that trying to obtain goals and reach expectations just simply isn't worth it. If you strive to obtain goals or you have too high an expectation on something, you often meet with disappointment. Furthermore just having different wiring means that you are going to perhaps being unconventional in your ways of thinking. I think as a society that the socialisation process places a goal of being successful in life in order to set some kind of standard or benchmark. Too often if people are not able to fit the criteria or meet expectations they feel at a loss within themselves and often feel a sense of worthless or low self esteem. In my life I have had dreams and desires and mostly they have not come to fruition. Promotion or success is just something that doesn't exist if you have Asperger Syndrome but there are other possibilities where you can live a quality of life. If you have interests you can retreat into these and escape the world of conformity. Too often the world of conformity can make you feel that you have to somehow fit in with the world around you and if you don't then you feel shattered or a sense of no worth. Some adults with AS often say to me that how can you obtain a quality of life and why is life so difficult and why do I feel depressed etc. There is no real simple answer to this but you have to work within your boundaries and not try to conform or think you are like other people. Don't compare yourself to others and if you are not able to succeed then don't be too hard on yourself. Often people try too hard to achieve and some have talents but 99% of the population have to work and mostly don't like their job. The world can be a very difficult place but more so if you try to resist or want to change it. Some people are receptive and want to be your friend whereas others just ignore or don't want to have anything to do with you. This is the way they are and it is their problem and not yours. Don't take things personally and learn to accept your strengths and weaknesses. In my own situation I struggle a lot and have a difficulty with reading and writing in terms of assessment and learning things in general. Some things I just struggle to pick up and I either try where I can or just accept where I stand. Success is something that can make people competitive and also make people depressed so you need to know what it is you can handle and what you need to jettison. I also get tired of people who want me to be the way they think or want me to be and don't accept me for who I am. I have different wiring and ways of thinking and I cannot help the way my brain is and thinks. People with AS have different wiring and our brains just think differently and it is beyond our control and often we can be rejected or overlooked just for simply being the way we think and are in the world.

Future Decisions

One of the things I find most difficult is socialsing with other people. I find it extremely difficult to make conversation and have a lighter side and often in social situations I find it difficult for other people to understand me. It always seems and feels like I have to go back to the drawing board to find out what I am actually interested in and to furthermore find interests. I am now seeing a Psychologist at Minds and Hearts. Friends and family are often difficult to be around and I don't think you can rely on people nowadays as everyone seems to be busy. I have decided to also jettison plans for further study as I am not really keen on the idea of more assessment and being told I cannot write properly and to understand referencing according to a university. In all honesty the psychology that exists as perhaps text book psychology is not the same psychology I have used to get through my life. If I don't have an understanding of Psychology then how did I get to where I am today? I have had to rely on my own techniques and strengths to survive as best I can. I get tired of critics telling me that I am always negative. If they are aware of Asperger Syndrome, depression is part of the condition and ways of thinking and behaving are different. I will continue to assist with Asperger Syndrome advocacy where I can but some people will never get it or try to understand just like I guess I will never really understand them. I do enjoy traveling and finding what I am good at I guess I will no in time. I tend to link being good at something to being selfish as it is all consuming and I forget about everything and everyone around me. I do hope to visit some other adults with Asperger Syndrome in the not too distant future. Some countries on the cards are Norway, the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. My publications seem to be of no interest to anyone in the Asperger field so I will no longer be sending information and writings in relation to this area to those concerned. My main concern is that there are a lot of adults with Asperger Syndrome unemployed and with this their quality of life is lower than others. They cannot fund their special interests nor can they experience life to a regular standard. The government needs to listen and stop pretending that Autism is not a reality. You need to live with and have Autism to experience what it is like and believe me it is an important issue. The United Kingdom has an Autism Bill but what about Australia? Can such a Bill come into existence and be implemented and services to match? I will be undertaking awareness where I can without burnout but I am unable to take queries in finding support for other adults. I need to look after myself first so that I don't burn out. I will try new adventures but once again the social component is always the most difficult. I look like everyone else but yet I think and act differently. More updates later when I feel up to writing again. I enjoyed my trip overseas and despite there being some challenges at least I got there and showed other Aspies they can travel also. There is hope for them and I hope it comes their way also.

Traveling abroad as an adult with Asperger Syndrome

Often adults with Asperger Syndrome may feel intimidated or overwhelmed or perhaps disadvantaged in not being able to travel abroad. I would like to say from personal experience that this is not the situation. As adults with Asperger Syndrome spend a great deal of their or own time in social isolation, this does not preclude us from going abroad. I can travel on my own and I have learned to not rely on other people for entertainment or support. Traveling on your own allows for certain benefits in that people don't prevent you from seeing things you want to see and more importantly if you go on an organised tour which can be run by a travel agency such as Cosmos etc. This takes out all the strain of getting around a country or countries and all of the hassle associated with immigration and other over whelming matters. I recently have traveled abroad to Europe, traveling by Singapore Airlines and undertaking my tour with Cosmos. I informed both organisations of my Asperger Syndrome and now that I have the Autism Alert Card, if there are any problems or questions which I cannot answer due to anxiety, I show whomever concerned the card. It can be anxiety provoking for anyone when traveling abroad but if you are open and honest about your needs and support it can go a long way to freeing up a lot of anxiety and stress. Often going through customs and immigration can be stressful as well as boarding an aircraft. A lot of Aspies get overwhelmed very easily in such situations and having some support can make the world of difference especially when traveling alone. I am not prepared to sit around and not undertake opportunities because I have limitations. I have been told by some people it is amazing what you do as if I am some kind of invalid. There are people worse off than me but I am not going to depend on other people either to do things with other people. When I travel I often spend time on my own and find it easier being in a travel group as you don't have to worry about getting lost and having to find transport etc For instance if you travel on your own you have to make a lot more decisions and furthermore deal with immigration and other ways of thinking and cultures. It is important to make someone aware while abroad that you have Asperger Syndrome whether this be a tour guide or someone in authority. This person needs to ensure they understand your situation for if you get lost or have issues they can assist you wherever possible. A mobile phone is important and meeting points on the trip. It is important you know where the meeting points are in the countries and cities and that you communicate clearly with the tour director. You may need more than often to push for Meet and Assist on the Airline and as more awareness of Asperger Syndrome becomes available you will be less likely presented with a wheel chair. I often remark that the wheel chair is when you are exhausted from the over stimulation. Adults with Asperger Syndrome can travel and I hope that I can provide encouragement to other adults to travel and not feel trapped by Asperger Syndrome. Traveling great distances can be overwhelming but support and help is available also. I don't let AS stop me from traveling overseas rather I try to conquer the way it affects me. While in Singapore I had to rely on myself to get to the Hotel I was in. Firstly the travel agent booked a hotel a fair way out from the airport and the driver spoke very little English. While I was in the Shuttle Bus, he dropped off the other passengers and I was the last on the bus. He was about to drop me off at the wrong Hotel and luckily I picked this up, so at least I saved a taxi fare. I found Singapore an unusual place and I was concerned that I may not get to the airport and had to rely on my organisational skills to ensure I had enough Singapore Dollars for a taxi fare. For all I knew I could have been driven the longest routes to accrue more of a fare so I just hoped that the driver was honest and could speak good English. I was glad to have left Singapore as the previous 12 hour flight earlier had knocked me around and I kept having to stave off sleep in order to organise things.

Europe Trip

I would like to begin with my flight from Brisbane. I left on Thursday 13th May bound for Singapore to connect with the flight to London. Leaving Brisbane at around 2pm on the afternoon of Thursday 13th May I arrived in Singapore at around 10.00pm that night and my flight to London was about an hour afterwards. It takes about 12 hours to get to London and the flight is long and it is often hard to sleep on the plane. When you see the flight path you cross from Singapore over India and it takes a while to get to Europe. I found it difficult to sleep and after taking 1/2 Valium I found I got a few hours sleep and felt somewhat refreshed afterwards. I eventually arrived in London at 5am on Friday morning. London was cold and I had to be careful to not confuse myself with it being 5pm in the afternoon. Once I arrived in the terminal, I obtained assistance to find a tour group representative. After finding this person I then boarded the shuttle to the Hotel. Once in the Hotel I knew I could not sleep and so I boarded a tour group bound for St Pauls Cathedral and some other well known sites of London. Afterwards I went to bed at around 8.30pm with the sun still shining. The next morning, I woke up with my mobile alarm at 5am. I then proceeded to the lobby of the hotel to where lots of people, a lot of Australians and New Zealanders were waiting for their tours. We boarded buses then bound for Dover to cross the English Channel to Calais in France. The trip from London to Dover is about an hour and a half. Having reached Calais the group then had to go through French customs and after the 1 hour and 15 mins journey, France came into view. Once in France there was a toilet stop before the paying of 50 Euro to 1.50 Euro toilets. Then onto Brussels. Traveling through France before reaching Brussels, I could not believe that I was finally in Europe and the land where Napoleon once stood. It is easy now to go through Europe and I would encourage others to go to Europe if they get the chance. Belgium was not much different to France but Brussels was a city on its own. I tried to order some food in Brussels and nobody could speak English and you had to push your way through. As there was a Philipino family, I decided to join them for some dinner as going it alone was almost impossible. After having something to eat, I then toured the square for with every European City has one. Then the next stop was to Germany and then onto the Czech Republic. Germany was green and had rolling hills. I noted the churches with their unique steeples and the towns in Germany. Austria was a little different with some ALPS and apparently in Europe there are tracts of space prior to the boarder which acted as a safety boarder should nobody enter the country without being thoroughly checked. The Czech Republic was different. It previously experienced Communism and when Hitler decided to march into Czechoslovakia in 1938, Britain and allies thought that they can have it rather than the bother. So many people disadvantaged etc. Stalin was no saint either and killed many people more than the Third Reich. A lot of ruin occurred because the Communists let the Czech Republic go. After my stay here then onto Italy after visiting Austria. Italy was different, you bought the food and showed the receipt prior to getting your food etc. Italian people rather aggressive and Venice and Rome were different and somewhat dirty in places. Europeans smoke a lot and cigarette butts everywhere. Besides this the roads were chaos but Italy has its own charm I guess. After Italy then onto Switzerland with the high mountains and crossing the 17km tunnel under the Alps. Yes a 17km tunnel under the Alps and its construction was amazing. Enjoyed the scenery in Switzerland and then enjoyed France afterwards. France was like Germany with lush green hills and cows on almost every pasture. Paris was awesome and climbed the Eiffel Tower and did a cruise of the river Seine. Enjoyed Paris and wish I had more time there and then back to London. All this in 15 days and what a lot to see!!

Europe Trip

On Thursday 13th May 2010, I left Brisbane bound for London via Singapore. On my first day I visited St Pauls Cathedral in London, Westminster, the Borroughs of London, Buckingham Palace and met a couple of Americans from Arkansas. On Friday 14th May 2010 I headed for Brussells by crossing the English Channel (1 hour 15 mins) from Dover to Calais. Brussells a an interesting city. On Saturday 15th May undertook a Brussells tour and saw King Leopold Monument. Cathedral Square and had a look around The rest of the tour was spent in Nuremburg, Prague, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Florence, Switzerland, and France. I will have photos to come with my Facebook page and these will indicate the places I have been too. I enjoyed Paris as there was so much to see there but unfortunately too little time to enjoy and see more. I could not see the Louvre which has a lot to see in it and I had to give the Palace of Versailles a miss as I chose to go up the Eiffel Tower and do a cruise a long the River Seine in Paris instead. I think the English underestimate that France is only 1 hour and 15 mins by Channel Crossing and 20 mins by Euro Star from Dover to Calais. I think London is a different city to Paris and I have visited London before. I don't think the grey cold weather of summer 17 degrees is something that I am used to as a summer's day. I am pleased that I saw Europe and it would be good to see Paris one day again. Every people get the chance they should visit Paris as there is so much to see. I never thought the Eiffel Tower was brown for I thought it was black. I never thought Paris was so big and the inner city surrounded by a ring road system. Within the Ring Road the old Paris existed. In Europe you are often mistaken for being English and one lady I mentioned Australia to in Florence Italy could not place Australia on the map and knew very little about it. Coming from Chicago in the US and being of Asian origin I was somewhat surprised. I now return to Australia after over nighting it in Singapore after a 12 hour 50 min flight. The long distance travel does get to you and jet lag is worse upon return as you are not prepared for it. More photos to come later but for now I have to waste 2 hours in the Hotel Lobby and 4 hours in Heathrow Airport before boarding the plane. I think I will try and get some sleep or rest as I don't like hanging around airports much.

Europe

Today I finished my Europe Tour. Despite being 15 days and visiting several countries, I really enjoyed my visit to Paris. I know not everyone is able to visit Paris but it is a great place. I visited the Eiffel Tower and had a river cruise on the River Seine. I am now in London and despite several attempts to try and log onto my plog and make a post, it appears now I am able to! Traveling through Europe has opened my eyes to many new experiences and sights. My anxiety levels have been controlled and I purchased for myself a swiss automatic watch and an Austrian hat. I have visited London, Brussells, Prague, Vienna, Nuremburg, Rome, Switzerland and finally Paris. So I have seen a lot. I return to Australia tomorrow via Singapore and I hope to travel again sometime soon. It takes me time to save up but when I do travel, it can be enjoyable. I never knew the Eiffel Tower was brown for instance as I thought it was black and I never knew that Paris contained its old city within the section of a ring road around it. I am proud of my achievements and I hope that if anyone gets the chance to visit Paris that they should do so.

Off to Venice

This morning the trip is off to Venice. I am interested in seeing Venice and more importantly the Austrian Alps. Yesterday I had a look around Vienna and purchased an Austrian Hat. The hat itself cost 40 Euro and the feather was 18 Euro. I would have paid 20 Euro for the feather but the best I could do is find it 2 dollars cheaper in Vienna. Vienna is a grand city. It has many beautiful buildings and I visited the Palace in Vienna yesterday and had a cup of coffee and some apple struddle. Last night, I went to a local Austrian dinner venue. Here I had Austrian food and drank some wine and listened to a local Violinist play traditional music. It was great and I did some dancing as well. Venice is overcast with some light cold drizzle and it should be warmer in Italy. It is my turn to sit up the front of the bus this morning on the 7 hour drive to Venice. I have enjoyed the trip so far and the tour guide is American. He is from Philadelphia in the United States. He can speak several languages and has a good knowledge of world history, especially European History. I don't know why Austria and more so Vienna have so much wealth and prominence. It seems to me that a lot of Europeans moved around and Austria was a place to settle. For your information, the Blue Danube is Blue but the Danube Canal flows through Vienna and feeds into the Danube itself. It is a natural canal. I listened to music from Strauss and Mozart on my first night in Vienna and really enjoyed. I am told that Venice is very busy. More updates soon.

Vienna

Yesterday I arrived in Vienna and the countryside was magnificent. I saw a few castles and then went to see a Vieniese Musical last night. Being in Vienna reminds me of the movie The Third Man starring Joseph Cotton. This movie was set in the city just after the end of World War 2 and features Vienna in the background. Today I am off to disover the city and have a look around. Off to see a historical castle and then to attend Vienna in the Woods later this evening.

Prague and the Czech Republic

Yesterday afternoon I crossed into the Czech Republic from Germany. Crossing into the Czech Republic you see a lot of poverty as these people were repressed under communism. Up until the late 1980|s the people of Prague had no contact with the west and anything to do with the west was literally banned. They seem a slavic people and the city has endured many years of hardship. They still use their crowns but the Euro as well. The European Union allows you to cross Europe more easily it seems as I only to show my passport once in Calais. Anyhow am off to Austria later today before another walk around Prague. Last night I had a walk around Prague until 10.30pm. I found Germany a very scenic country and I managed to get a small Steiger and some German Gingerbread which I am currently consuming. I went on a river cruise last night down Prague's River enjoying Czech food and watching a lock work. A lock is a means of allowing or rather I say controling water flow in a river.

The trip so far

Yesterday I arrived in Wurzburg pronounced as Versenberg. Germany is a very scenic country and a country that has endured a lot of pain over the years. It is a very lush country and you often hear the guttrel sound of nicht or ver in accents. The street names are distinct in their pronouncation and sounding as well. I have tried to look for a German souveineir but have only managed a post card so far. Yesterday I cruised down the Rhine which was a Roman area and some Roman Walls still stand. The Architecture in Germany is also impressive and I got to see Frankfurt from a distance. Frankfurt is a modern German city and has an airport similar to Paris in that it apparently crosses over a freeway. I am yet to see this. I am off to Prague shortly and then onto Vienna to see a concert, see Vienna woods. I am hoping to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris and test my limited French with Tour De Eiffel which is how I think you say it in French. Europe is a great place and you only need to show your passport in Calais. As I write this the European Union are trying to convince from what I see in England joining the EU more.