For who are wondering how I am doing and are not interested in the marvellous game of cricket, I'll tell you shortly about that as well. In general I am doing fine. School, "uni", in Australian is just starting, so that's nice.
Yesterday I was at Architecture: Thinking Making Inhabiting introduction and that seems very promising. I think were are going to design a small house which would be very cool. We will also be using Rhino, what would also be cool to learn. Today I had an introduction in Advanced Computer Animation, which is a course about animating in Maya, which can make movies such as Shrek and Monsters Inc. Tomorrow there is The Human Environment on interior design, which might also be good. I am hoping to get enrolled into another course on animation, and maybe I would like to to a course on designing for theatre productions which looks very promising. But than I will have to swap it for something else, so I am not sure yet.
I am also trying to get into the rowing club, which would be very cool, but that is not very successful yet as the head coach does not return my phone calls for some reason. I'll keep you posted...
25.2.08
Cricket
This weekend I watched cricket on the TV. Australia was playing India, so that was quite an interesting match as I am in Australia and I have just visited India. In the end Australia won by 18 runs: Australia had 317 runs vs India's 299. They were supposed to win, because they are the current favourites and India currently ranks about fourth, I am told.
I tried watching cricket before in Australia when India was playing Pakistan but I did not understand a thing, partly because I did not know the rules and partly because all the comments were in Hindi. This time it was more fun however, as I had internet and a Pakistani to explain the rules to me. As I like the game and it is serious part of Australian sports culture, I will try to explain the rules to you briefly.
In cricket there are two teams playing. One team is batting and the other bowling (throwing) and fielding (catching).The batting team in in the position to score runs. A run is scored when both batsmen (there are two, on opposite sides of the pitch, the one in use seems to be called the striker) succesfully move to the opposite ends of the pitch. Every time they cross the pitch counts a run. A run can also be scored by hitting the ball over the edge of the boundary without hitting the ground. This scores six points and there is no need to do any running.
The team that is fielding and bowling will try to minimize the number of runs the batting team can make by trying to get the batsmen out. The striker is out when the ball it caught before it has hit the ground. Both batsmen can get out if the two bails are thrown from the three poles behind them. The combination of the bails and the poles is called a wicket. The fielding team can throw the ball at the poles as long as the batsmen are running. I think.
The game goes one for quite some time. First one team plays does the batting, until their batsmen are out and then the other team plays batting. In the classic game, now played in testmatches, it goes until both teams are out of batsman. There is a maximum of five days for the entire game. But today's matches are played with 60 overs. An over consist of 6 legitimate bowles (throws), and after an over the game is reversed. That's why each side of the pitch must have a batsman, which means that there will be one, lonely batsman left when the game is over. There is also a new, extra short version of cricket: 20-20s, in which each teams gets 20 overs. This last for only three hours and is thus easier to watch.
Should you like to do some more reading on this marvellous game, start by checking wikipedia by clicking here. They also have a very nice 4 min video that explains it better than I do. Thanks for reading anyway. Bye!
I tried watching cricket before in Australia when India was playing Pakistan but I did not understand a thing, partly because I did not know the rules and partly because all the comments were in Hindi. This time it was more fun however, as I had internet and a Pakistani to explain the rules to me. As I like the game and it is serious part of Australian sports culture, I will try to explain the rules to you briefly.
In cricket there are two teams playing. One team is batting and the other bowling (throwing) and fielding (catching).The batting team in in the position to score runs. A run is scored when both batsmen (there are two, on opposite sides of the pitch, the one in use seems to be called the striker) succesfully move to the opposite ends of the pitch. Every time they cross the pitch counts a run. A run can also be scored by hitting the ball over the edge of the boundary without hitting the ground. This scores six points and there is no need to do any running.
The team that is fielding and bowling will try to minimize the number of runs the batting team can make by trying to get the batsmen out. The striker is out when the ball it caught before it has hit the ground. Both batsmen can get out if the two bails are thrown from the three poles behind them. The combination of the bails and the poles is called a wicket. The fielding team can throw the ball at the poles as long as the batsmen are running. I think.
The game goes one for quite some time. First one team plays does the batting, until their batsmen are out and then the other team plays batting. In the classic game, now played in testmatches, it goes until both teams are out of batsman. There is a maximum of five days for the entire game. But today's matches are played with 60 overs. An over consist of 6 legitimate bowles (throws), and after an over the game is reversed. That's why each side of the pitch must have a batsman, which means that there will be one, lonely batsman left when the game is over. There is also a new, extra short version of cricket: 20-20s, in which each teams gets 20 overs. This last for only three hours and is thus easier to watch.
Should you like to do some more reading on this marvellous game, start by checking wikipedia by clicking here. They also have a very nice 4 min video that explains it better than I do. Thanks for reading anyway. Bye!
23.2.08
the Blue Mountains
Hi! Yesterday and today I have been to the Blue Mountains. I was a nice trip, good to get out of the city but I haven't found out why they are called the Blue mountains. Very few blue things about them. Me and my bicycle took the train to Katoomba, a cool name for a place, where the hostel was full, but I could still rent a hostel tent. So I did, see below.
Nice eh? When I got the tent sorted out I took my bike to check out the Blue Mountains. I took a trip along the cliff road from where you easily stop at several viewpoints. The views were really good, but I found the "three sisters" a bit of a disappointment: not as cool as the books say they would be. Next I went to Leura, where you can see some cascades, which was nice. After that I called it a day and went to my tent.
Today I went to see Evans Lookout in Blackheat. The view was similar, but there was a very nice walk that took me into the canyon where a kind of rainforest grows. The trip was about 2 hours with a lot of stairs but is was very very cool. After that I went on to Victoria Falls, where the landscape was much dryer and totally different, but still nice. When I got to the Victoria Falls lookout a sign said that the falls could not be seen from there, and seeing the falls would take another 4 hour walk. Slightly confused, I decided to go home.
The pictures will be on my Flickr account if you are interested. I am however not allowed to make any more sets, - until I upgrade my free account, which I might - so they are not in a tidy set. Yet. Sorry.
Nice eh? When I got the tent sorted out I took my bike to check out the Blue Mountains. I took a trip along the cliff road from where you easily stop at several viewpoints. The views were really good, but I found the "three sisters" a bit of a disappointment: not as cool as the books say they would be. Next I went to Leura, where you can see some cascades, which was nice. After that I called it a day and went to my tent.
Today I went to see Evans Lookout in Blackheat. The view was similar, but there was a very nice walk that took me into the canyon where a kind of rainforest grows. The trip was about 2 hours with a lot of stairs but is was very very cool. After that I went on to Victoria Falls, where the landscape was much dryer and totally different, but still nice. When I got to the Victoria Falls lookout a sign said that the falls could not be seen from there, and seeing the falls would take another 4 hour walk. Slightly confused, I decided to go home.
The pictures will be on my Flickr account if you are interested. I am however not allowed to make any more sets, - until I upgrade my free account, which I might - so they are not in a tidy set. Yet. Sorry.
21.2.08
Newsflash: dying bugs in room
Hi! I just found the first cockroach in my room. It was in the drawer and already dying. I was amazed at how few bugs there are in my house, but I have been told that the house has just been fumigated this summer: this means sealed off for and filled with poison for a few days, or something. The only bugs you will find now, are dying ones. Nice, as outside on the street you can find them up to 8 cm long. This effect will last for another 2 to 3 months, after which the bugs might return. Less nice. Besides the picture below, I have also got a nice movie of it which I will share with you as soon as I get youtube sorted out. Bye!
19.2.08
New things...
Hi! Yesterday I moved to a new place: my own room, next to a church. The room is not that big, but also not that small. It has a lot of cupboards. It is nice and it is quiet and I like that. The house is located in a new neighbourhood: also quiet with a lot of Italians and trees. I have never seen so many pizzaria's in one street. Nice.
Also, I bought a new bike to get around. It is not so big, has 26 inch wheels, a shockbreaker and 21 gears. And I have got a new helmet to go with that. I do not like helmets, but the fine is 200 dollars for not having one.
If you like, you can check these new things - including the helmet - out on my Flickr account.
This afternoon I took my new bike out for a testdrive and it was nice. I really missed cycling and I really hate going by bus. Cycling here is pretty cool. Everything goes up and down all the time and can be pretty steep, so the downhill part is great. On your bike you are allowed to use both the road and the sidewalk: this is pretty nice as it helps to avoid a lot of traffic lights and makes the riding a very dynamic experience. I did not like the shockbreaker at first, but it does come in handy going up and down the sidewalk all the time. So, if you are in Sydney for a while: get a bike! And below: the view from a bridge.
Also, I bought a new bike to get around. It is not so big, has 26 inch wheels, a shockbreaker and 21 gears. And I have got a new helmet to go with that. I do not like helmets, but the fine is 200 dollars for not having one.
If you like, you can check these new things - including the helmet - out on my Flickr account.
This afternoon I took my new bike out for a testdrive and it was nice. I really missed cycling and I really hate going by bus. Cycling here is pretty cool. Everything goes up and down all the time and can be pretty steep, so the downhill part is great. On your bike you are allowed to use both the road and the sidewalk: this is pretty nice as it helps to avoid a lot of traffic lights and makes the riding a very dynamic experience. I did not like the shockbreaker at first, but it does come in handy going up and down the sidewalk all the time. So, if you are in Sydney for a while: get a bike! And below: the view from a bridge.
17.2.08
Today: Tropfest
So, maybe you were wondering what I have been up to? The answer: not much. The whole week was a bit slow, I expected more from the university introduction which was very short, and was left with a lot of spare time. I have been hanging around in the Botanical Garden, reading a bit and visiting a few museums.
Today was pretty okay though because I went to visit Tropfest: a short film festival. It was held on the Domain, which is a large piece of grass next to the Botanical Garden. In the middle of the field there was a large triangular stage with screens on three sides. It started in the afternoon; there was not much to do yet, but you could have a picknick on the field which created a nice and easy going atmosphere.
Around 6 things started to get going with a band - Von She, or something - which was acceptable. After that the directors came in and after that, at long last the movies started. They screened 16 short film finalists (rules: première movie and max 7 minutes). I liked the ones on the mouseracing and the Japanese most. Sadly I left early, after seeing 8, because it started to rain, which I did not like. I will try to get the DVD next week and watch the other 8. All in all, a cool and easy going festival.
If you are interested, visit the Tropfest website by clicking here. Bye!
Today was pretty okay though because I went to visit Tropfest: a short film festival. It was held on the Domain, which is a large piece of grass next to the Botanical Garden. In the middle of the field there was a large triangular stage with screens on three sides. It started in the afternoon; there was not much to do yet, but you could have a picknick on the field which created a nice and easy going atmosphere.
Around 6 things started to get going with a band - Von She, or something - which was acceptable. After that the directors came in and after that, at long last the movies started. They screened 16 short film finalists (rules: première movie and max 7 minutes). I liked the ones on the mouseracing and the Japanese most. Sadly I left early, after seeing 8, because it started to rain, which I did not like. I will try to get the DVD next week and watch the other 8. All in all, a cool and easy going festival.
If you are interested, visit the Tropfest website by clicking here. Bye!
15.2.08
Bats
Hi! I have just seen a lot of bats flying through the city tonight. They look very cool and they move in large groups. Below you see them hanging in the tree in the Royal Botanical Garden. They sleep and hang during the day and go look for food at night. When they fly they have a cool batman silhouette against the night sky. Luckily they only eat fruit. I think. A cool site on bats is sydneybats.org.au, read their article by clicking here.
To get you started, here are some quotes from sydneybats.org.au:
"Flying-foxes groom their fur frequently with their claws and lick their wings. They urinate on themselves to wash and in the summer they urinate on themselves, then fan their wings to cool down."
"Do flying-foxes drink? Yes. They swoop down to belly-dip in rivers and dams. They then land on trees and lick the water from their belly fur."
"Can I have one as a pet? No."
To get you started, here are some quotes from sydneybats.org.au:"Flying-foxes groom their fur frequently with their claws and lick their wings. They urinate on themselves to wash and in the summer they urinate on themselves, then fan their wings to cool down."
"Do flying-foxes drink? Yes. They swoop down to belly-dip in rivers and dams. They then land on trees and lick the water from their belly fur."
"Can I have one as a pet? No."
Abonneren op:
Posts (Atom)