Veloroo: 2006

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Biking the Scottish Highlands

Out of Glasgow, hightailing it to the Highlands on a steed propelled by an organic two-stroke engine. Ascending along the shore of Loch Lomond, then traversing the treacherous Rannoch Moor to the magnificent descent into Glen Coe and eventually spit out into the Great Glen. There was a harrowing sprint beside Loch Ness outrunning the foul breath and razor teeth of the Loch Ness monster, to land safely in Inverness: cradle of civilization. An excursion to the field of Culloden was made before venturing towards Aberdeenshire and a tribal gathering. The musical accompaniment is A B Corsie (The Lad from Orkeny) - Ril Bheara - Richard Dwyer's Reels by Silly Wizard. *NOTE: Nessie declined to make an appearance, as he's awaiting a call from Scorcese.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Marine Corps Marathon 2006

The annual Marine Corps Marathon on a breezy Sunday of 29 oktober 2006, starting and finishing in Arlington, Virginia. Around 24,00 participants from all over, padded the roads - serious runners, casual runners, one day of the year off the couch runners and even once in a life time runners. A peoples' masochistic run. The musical accompaniment is On Savait (Devenir Grand) by La Grande Sophie, wrapped up with a portion of Tiger Rag by Benny Goodman.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Big Banners

Another fascist regime overreaches towards its own self-destruction. History repeats itself. And today's "good Germans" sit slack-jawed in front of their cartoons, while circling the drain.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Safari Sauvage - Ronda

Andalucia, Spain. The town of Ronda sits atop a plateau skirted by towering cliffs. Bisected by the El Taji gorge, they finally built a bridge so little old ladies wouldn't have to leap across on their way to market. It's also the site of Spain's first bull ring, if you like to fight the bulls. During the civil war, they didn't take too kindly to the fascists. And judging from the portrait outside the bus station, the townsfolk are still good guys. WARNING: Some footage in this film was taken during the course of cordless bungy jumping. Do not try this at home. We are trained professionals...well, those of us who survived.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Backpackers From Another Galaxy

Kibbutz Hefzibah 1982 - 85.They travelled thousands of light years across the Universe... to hang out on the grass. Also, indulged in some Purim debauchery.Then there were excursions to Juicy Lemon, Jericho, and a tramp up Wadi Qelt for a gander at St. Georgeâs Monastary. Eventually, coin was need for inter-galactic petrol. Hence a migration to toil on Moshav Neot Hakikar, south of the Dead Sea in the Negev. What a delightful place with withering heat, poisonous snakes, poisonous insects, deadly arachnids, scattered land mines, brawling drunks, so many tomatoes that they invaded your dreams, melons and their labourous moon tunnels, a company store with a crooked shop keeper, stray camels, and the odd sandstorm. The musical accompaniment is Diavolo Rosso by Paolo Conte.

There's a Hefzibah Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4744638014&v=info

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Wandering Off the Kibbutz

Kibbutz Hefzibah. 1981 - 82. Our intrepid volunteers ventured out exploring a strange land and meeting strange people (well, maybe not as strange as some of the volunteers those ulpan critters). They ranged north to Golan, south into the Sinai, En Gedi, the Dead Sea, Masada, the Negev and Juicy Lemon. The musical accompaniment is Oh My God by the Kaiser Chiefs, wrapped up with a portion of Reefer Madness by UB40.

*The final installment of the Kibbutz Hefzibah Trilogy is "Backpackers from Another Galaxy".

There's a Hefzibah Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4744638014&v=info

Monday, July 31, 2006

Once Upon a Time on a Kibbutz

Hefzibah. 1981 - 82. An international brigade of volunteers heroically laboured in exchange for Friday night disco, coffee & tea gatherings in each others rooms, cow chocolate, sitting out on the grass, coffee house bikkies, hiking up Gilboa, our shacks rattled by sonic booms, trooping down to Sachne for swims, aerogrammes, movies half obscurred by multiple subtitles, visits to the juggling falafel stand in Afula and great weather (and peace and happiness for all of humankind, of course!). The musical accompaniment is "Wonderful World", performed by Jimmy Cliff.

There's a Hefzibah Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4744638014&v=info

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Safari Sauvage - Malaga, Spain

Perched on the southern coast of the Iberian peninsula is mythical Andalusian city of Malaga. Birth place of Pablo Picasso, who painted the world reknown masterpiece, Dogs Playing Poker. From the towering heights of the Alcazaba, one can look down. Then there's a cathedral short one tower because they gave the money to rabble rousers in a British colony on the other side of the Atlantic - and looked how that turned out. Upon arrival, dangers won't cease with lost luggage at the airport. Illegal Moroccan immigrants posing as seminary students from the alpine region of France attempt to fleece unsuspecting naifs of their dwindling Euros. The musical accompaniment is Quijote by by Olivia Ruiz.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Attack of the Green Slime

It conquered.
It watched the World Cup.
And now it watches you.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Safari Sauvage - Costa Rica

Autumn 2002. The best images were missed during one walkabout when I neglected to bring along the camera (since when did you need a camera for photos?). Fret not. The imagery was captured in my mind's eye and is available via telepathy. Photo snapping was further famished as I was having the best body surfing since Australia. So we'll have to make do with this paultry selection. As a special bonus, you've been spared one of my own Garageband musical attempts. The musical accompaniment is Cambia la Vida by Ardag. Shot on location in Alajuela, La Fortuna, a road somewhere, and Tamarindo.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Rolling Thunder 2006

28 maj 2006 - The annual Rolling Thunder motorcycle run in support of veterans. Rumbling from the Pentagon, they crossed Memorial Bridge to the Vietnam Memorial and the Mall. The appropriate motorsickle music was performed by the Leningrad Cowboys.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

March Against Monochrome

A coalition in support of the expression of colour marched down Wilson Boulevard, despite the monochromatic skies. In the end alas, the everyday blandness prevailed. Actually, it's the annual Arlington County Neighborhood Parade. I'm not sure if it takes place anymore.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Approaching Tangier

October 2001. On the ferry from Algeciras, Spain approaching the port of Tangier. Hustlers awaited to pounce upon alighting naïfs. After a certain event in September, the stream of tourists had shrunk to a trickle. The jackels were hungry. Walking away from the port, I was intercepted by a few of them. They said there weren't any more buses today. Certainly none to Fez. On the contrary. There were a couple. One leaving in fifteen minutes. And I was on it.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Mount of Olives Pilgrimage

Ascending the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, volunteers from Kibbutz Hefzibah climbed towards the holy of holies - beer and food. Alas, the kiosk was closed, forcing them to clamber back down to the awaiting coach.

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Tour de Frame

The 107th International Tour de Frame in an undisclosed secret location, revealed to the riders only minutes before the start. The world's most gruelling bicycle race. Not for those nancy boys in the Tour de France.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Chain Bridge Water Main Burst

Quicktime
Flash

Film of the great water main burst under Chain Bridge (12 mar 2006) has been found swept up on an Icelandic beach. Cinematographer, Luigi Cafeteria is still missing, with his whereabouts under investigation.

WARNING:Graphic footage may be too intense for hydrophobes.

Peter Jackson eat your heart out.

Veloroo