13. June 2013 09:40 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Aiden insect bite 13. June 2013 09:40 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetaiden insect biteShareThe other day was in the park with his daycare group to play at the playground.While he was there he was bitten by some unknown insect and the morning after his whole face was swollen.Fortunately he was happy enough and it didn't require any visits to a doctor.
30. May 2013 10:47 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Emma's Birthday 30. May 2013 10:47 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetemma s birthdayShareLast weekend it was our Niece Emma's first birthday.This was celebrated with lots of cakes and a jumping castle on which Aiden had lots of fun.
2. May 2013 09:16 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Countries I have been to 2. May 2013 09:16 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetcountries i have been to 61ShareI just updated the map of the countries I have set my foot in...now 66 countries. AfricaRene(68)KimAidenLucas Kenya YES Tanzania YES Uganda YES Egypt YES Tunesia YES Morocco YES Gambia YES Senegal YES South Africa YES YES YES YES Zimbabwe YES YES YES YES Zambia YES YES YES YES Europe Turkey YES Spain YES YES France YES YES Swizerland YES YES Austria YES YES Greece YES YES Italy YES Lictenstein YES Vatican YES YES Yougoslavia YES Croatia YES YES YES Slovenia YES YES YES Bosnia YES YES YES Montenegro YES YES YES Poland YES East Germany YES West Germany YES YES YES Belgium YES YES Holland YES YES Denmark YES YES YES Sweden YES Norway YES Finland YES Portugal YES Luxenbourg YES San Marino YES Monaco YES YES Cyprus YES Hungary (YES) (YES) (YES) United Kingdom YES YES (YES) Americas USA YES YES Canada YES Mexico YES YES Chile YES YES Peru YES YES Bolivia YES YES Argentina YES Brasil YES YES Asia Japan YES Russia YES Malaysia YES YES Thailand YES YES YES YES Singapore YES YES (YES) Cambodia YES Laos YES YES YES YES Phillipines YES YES YES YES Burma/Myanmar YES Hong Kong YES Yemen YES Qatar YES Indonesia YES YES Diego Garcia YES Vietnam YES India YES Australia/Pacific Australia YES YES YES YES New Zealand YES YES YES YES New Caledonia YES YES YES French Polynesia (Tahiti / Bora Bora) YES YES YES (YES) Vanuatu YES YES YES YES Fiji YES YES YES YES
2. May 2013 08:17 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Vanuatu - Captured by the tribes 2. May 2013 08:17 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetvanuatu captured by the tribesShareThey finally caught us and wanted to put us in the big pot......but we told them that we are too skinny and that some of the fat tourists would taste better and be able to feed the village for months, so they let us go (whew...)!
2. May 2013 08:16 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Vanuatu Tribes 2. May 2013 08:16 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetvanuatu tribesShareWhile in Vanuatu we went on a couple of tours to get some insight into the old tribal culture.We did one evening tour with food, song and dance and then a couple of days later we did another one during the daytime with a bit more insight into the tribal life.On the evening trip they would be jumping out at us in the middle of the bush.Afterwards they entertained us with song and dance.During the day tour explained the significance of things such as their tribal drawings.How they would use bark for making clothing and other items.How they would preserve banana for several months....and the wild pigs they would hunt.And they would also explain how cannibalism used to work in their society.As well as other traditions.I took a whole bunch of portraits of the people in the village.There were also a bunch of kids around.
2. May 2013 08:15 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Aiden playing with the local kids 2. May 2013 08:15 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetaiden playing with the local kidsShareOn one of the trips to a local village Aiden started playing with the local kids. It was great that he had some fun as it is pretty hard for someone his age to sit still for long periods of time.The local kids were great at helping him around and holding the dog so he could pat it.
2. May 2013 08:13 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Vanuatu - Fireshow 2. May 2013 08:13 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetvanuatu fireshowShareOne evening we went to see a fire show...This turned out to be probably the best fireshow we have ever seen...spectacular.Fortunately I brought my tripod along so I could capture the following amazing pictures.The whole show was about 30 minutes with 6-10 performers and finished with group dancing where all the local kids also participated. Categories: 2012 | Tags: | Permalink 14. May 2012 06:55 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Mothers day with Autumn colours in Mt Wilson 14. May 2012 06:55 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetmothers day with autumn colours in mt wilsonShare It is Autumn here in Sydney and today the forecast was for 19 degrees and sunny...the first cool'ish day here. In the morning we went with Kims family to the cemetry to visit Kims mum. After this we were planning to head up to the Blue Mountains to Mt Wilson to visit some of the private gardens to take photos of the Autumn colours and get some new family photos of Kim, Aiden and I. When we arrived it was really windy and only 7 degrees (later it dropped to 5 degrees). We had dressed for the cold, but Dylan who had joined us on the spur of the moment was a bit underdressed and cold so he borrowed a spare jumper I had with me. We immediately found a pile of leaves and they started having fun throwing them up in the air. We decided to visit the Yengo Sculpture garden and the owner came to greet us, tell us about the garden and charge for the entry. The garden was very nice and the colours were awesome. There were lots of sculptures hidden around the garden. Dylan got a bit upset because we had to scold him for running around (this was a private garden so deserved a bit of respect), throwing pebbles, thrashing my camera gear and keeping to run into the frame of the photo I was trying to take. I had also been trying to get a bit interested in what he is seeing around him to learn more things and asking him if he was interested in some of the lookouts to experience one of the most beautiful places in Australia, as well as look at the things in antique shops etc., but he was totally dis-interested..."you can drag the horse to the water, but you can force it to drink". After the garden Aiden was really tired and cold and we were getting hungry, so we decided to head back and stop along the way for lunch. It was good timing as it started to rain a little. I decided to drive on the great western highway as there were more options for food and I though it would be quicker getting back...turned out everyone else had the same idea so it was at a crawl. 12. May 2012 07:56 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments An Officer and a Gentleman 12. May 2012 07:56 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetvanuatu the market in port vilaShareOn one of the days we made a day trip into Port Vila city centre. Here was the big market with is open 24 hours per day.The market is full of fresh produce of all sorts depending on the seasons.There is even some live produce available such as chicken and crabs.Because the market is always open, people live and sleep between the stalls with their families.It is also the place that people go to during lunch to buy food to eat.There was a whole row of women sitting their waving their arms to keep the flies away from the food.Also, I don't understand why the western world is spending so much effort and resources on finding cures to diseases such as cancer, diabeter, high blood pressure, arthritis, obesity, athma etc. since they here in Vanuatu already has one magical cure that takes care of them all. It was cheap and easily available at the market and it doesn't matter how much you buy, the price is always the same.They were also selling improvised charcoal stoves bringing back memories of Kenya where everything was cooked on a Jiko's.While we were outside the market discussing where to go next this woman and her little girl walked past. The little girl let go of he mums hand and walked over to Aiden (who was sitting in his pram) and gave him a BIG kiss...Aiden is such a chick magnet. << Older posts Newer posts >> Newer posts12...404142434445464748...9293Older posts SearchInclude comments in search Newsletter Get notified when a new post is published. Enter your e-mail Please enter an e-mail address Please enter a valid e-mail Thank you
14. May 2012 06:55 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments Mothers day with Autumn colours in Mt Wilson 14. May 2012 06:55 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetmothers day with autumn colours in mt wilsonShare It is Autumn here in Sydney and today the forecast was for 19 degrees and sunny...the first cool'ish day here. In the morning we went with Kims family to the cemetry to visit Kims mum. After this we were planning to head up to the Blue Mountains to Mt Wilson to visit some of the private gardens to take photos of the Autumn colours and get some new family photos of Kim, Aiden and I. When we arrived it was really windy and only 7 degrees (later it dropped to 5 degrees). We had dressed for the cold, but Dylan who had joined us on the spur of the moment was a bit underdressed and cold so he borrowed a spare jumper I had with me. We immediately found a pile of leaves and they started having fun throwing them up in the air. We decided to visit the Yengo Sculpture garden and the owner came to greet us, tell us about the garden and charge for the entry. The garden was very nice and the colours were awesome. There were lots of sculptures hidden around the garden. Dylan got a bit upset because we had to scold him for running around (this was a private garden so deserved a bit of respect), throwing pebbles, thrashing my camera gear and keeping to run into the frame of the photo I was trying to take. I had also been trying to get a bit interested in what he is seeing around him to learn more things and asking him if he was interested in some of the lookouts to experience one of the most beautiful places in Australia, as well as look at the things in antique shops etc., but he was totally dis-interested..."you can drag the horse to the water, but you can force it to drink". After the garden Aiden was really tired and cold and we were getting hungry, so we decided to head back and stop along the way for lunch. It was good timing as it started to rain a little. I decided to drive on the great western highway as there were more options for food and I though it would be quicker getting back...turned out everyone else had the same idea so it was at a crawl.
12. May 2012 07:56 by Rene Pallesen 0 Comments An Officer and a Gentleman 12. May 2012 07:56 by Rene Pallesen | 0 Comments Tweetvanuatu the market in port vilaShareOn one of the days we made a day trip into Port Vila city centre. Here was the big market with is open 24 hours per day.The market is full of fresh produce of all sorts depending on the seasons.There is even some live produce available such as chicken and crabs.Because the market is always open, people live and sleep between the stalls with their families.It is also the place that people go to during lunch to buy food to eat.There was a whole row of women sitting their waving their arms to keep the flies away from the food.Also, I don't understand why the western world is spending so much effort and resources on finding cures to diseases such as cancer, diabeter, high blood pressure, arthritis, obesity, athma etc. since they here in Vanuatu already has one magical cure that takes care of them all. It was cheap and easily available at the market and it doesn't matter how much you buy, the price is always the same.They were also selling improvised charcoal stoves bringing back memories of Kenya where everything was cooked on a Jiko's.While we were outside the market discussing where to go next this woman and her little girl walked past. The little girl let go of he mums hand and walked over to Aiden (who was sitting in his pram) and gave him a BIG kiss...Aiden is such a chick magnet.