Thursday, March 24, 2016

Ravaged...

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Since being home in Australia the realization of the pervasiveness of the risk and dangers of skin cancer has really hit home as both my brother, James and my best friend Craig have had a number of basal cell carcinomas removed this past week. 

My brother has an eight stitch wound on his right cheek after getting one large one removed, and Craig had two removed – one on his forehead and the other on his wrist, with the one on his wrist getting infected and so now having to  

Over the years I’ve had nine basal cell carcinomas removed from various parts of my body.  Surprisingly I had one on my neck removed three times, with successively larger amounts of skin and flesh being taken to ensure they got it all, after it came back on the fringes of the scar on two occasions.  Then three more on my stomach and three on my back…

Without a doubt the skin cancer problems that we now have definitely dates back to our childhood when we didn’t understand the long term damage caused by the sun.  In those days no one ever talked of skin cancer or melanomas and there was zero awareness or education provided about this form or cancer.  No it truly was a simpler and more naïve time when it came to the understanding and management of long-term health risks.

Although you know this already but here are a few reminders about sun management that I’ve taught the kids, and that we all can benefit from:

Indelible Tip #1:  Slip – Slop – Slap  Seek  Slide  Slip on some protective clothing, slap on some high broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ (or higher) sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Avoid using sunscreen to extend the time you spend in the sun.  Slap on a broad brimmed hat, one that protects your face, neck and ears. Seek shade and slide on some sunglasses that meet UV approved standards.

However, looking back even if we did have more information and awareness about skin cancers we couldn’t afford sunscreen.  Sunscreen was considered a luxury that only the rich could afford and so at the start of each summer we strip off to our shorts or bathing suits as soon as the weather got reasonably warm in the hops of getting a good burn.

After a few burns, our skin would inevitably blister and then peel, leaving a browner layer on which to burn more until we were the color of tanned leather.  I don’t know a kid in our town who didn’t do it the same way. 

My fathers response to sunburn, especially the first good burn of the year was to have a scalding hot shower, as hot as we could stand it with his theory being that we could neutralize the burn by burning it again with hot water…

All I know is that both the sunburn and the scalding hot shower were ubiquitous with the start of summer and incredibly painful.  Somehow we kids convinced ourselves that the boiling hot shower worked, after all my dad did exactly what we did and burned to a crisp each summer then worked outside without a shirt for the remainder of the summer, obtaining burn upon burn.

Indelible Tip #2:  Simple sunburn reminders (1) Act Quickly If you feel the tale-tell tingling of a burn or see any sign of skin reddening on yourself or your child, get out of the sun and start treatment. "Sunburn tends to sneak up on us. (2) Moisturize – After a cool shower or bath, slather on a moisturizing cream or lotion to soothe the skin. Repeat frequently to make peeling and flaking less noticeable. And consider a product containing vitamin C and vitamin E.  (3) Hydrate  Any burn draws fluid to the skin surface and away from the rest of the body so intake more water and fluids into your body, before, during and after sun.

I think the worst sunburn I had was after a summer of working on a farm without a shirt, and already quite brown (getting at least 8 – 10 hours of hot summer sun while working outdoors) thought I didn’t need sunscreen when I moved to Darwin.  As you may know, Darwin is in the tropics and relatively close to the equator so the sun is exceptionally hot. 

I went to the beach for two hours without sunscreen and ended up that night with massive water blisters all over my body because of the extreme sunburn.  The worst and most painful of all was my water-blistered eyelids – oh yeah that was by far and away the worst sunburn I ever endured.  It was as if someone had microwaved my body it was redder than a lobster and on top of what I thought was brown suntanned skin…  Not so much!

Indelible Tip #3: Annual check ups  Each year I ask my doctor to check my skin for unusual looking moles, blemishes and marks when I have my annual physical.  Its been during this routine check ups that they've found the early signs and sent me to a dermatologist for removal and treatment of these skin cancer cells.  I would definitely recommend that you ask your doctor to take a detailed look on your next visit! 

It wasn’t until I was an adult that the medical community began voicing its concern about the long term effects of the sun on your skin and undertook a series of ongoing campaigns to help educate everyone about the dangers.  

Now all schools in Australia limit the amount of time kids spend outside in the sun, as well as making it mandatory for all elementary/primary school children to wear a hat, sunscreen, and long sleeves whenever outside – all year round.

In addition, there are ongoing television, newspaper and social media campaigns that target the dangers, effects and effective management of the sun in Australia all the time – and with good reason!

Some startling statistics:
  • Skin cancer is the most common cause of cancer in Australia and accounts for 80% of all cancer diagnosed. 
  • Australia has the rate of skin cancer is the highest in the world which equates into almost half a million Australians being diagnosed each year with skin cancer a rate which is three times higher than the rates in the UK, Canada and the US.
  • Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70…
These staggering facts are completely preventable, and it starts with our kids. 

Fortunately I’ve been a huge advocate of sun management with Zach and Sami from when they were babies, using and encouraging the use of sunscreen on a regular basis even for day to day use, not just in the summer.   

A reminder for us all!


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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 37: Hostage

Monday dawned like any other with Bill walking towards the Star Cafe through the crowded streets and alleyways of the Old Quarter, the noise, humidity and throng of scooters had become his second home.  He loved the grittiness of his life in Hanoi, and the juxtaposition of its innate beauty.   As he walked he could see through the limbs of the overhanging Banyan trees that the sky was transforming into the dark and leaden form which occurred each afternoon right before the torrential downpour and the respite from the tense humidity.

He began to hear the first heavy drops on the leaves above him and so instinctively stepped under an awning.  He hadn't seen the shadowed form of the two men standing deep inside the darkly lite store front nor felt the blow that rendered him unconscious.  

Bill's head ached as he slowly became aware of where he was, or where he wasn't to be more precise.  He wasn't able to remember much about anything as his brain felt completely muddled.  He tried to open his eyes, but realized that he had something over his head which felt like a cloth or bag of some sort.  His hands and feet were tightly bound behind his back and he was lying on his side on a cold floor.   

What the bloody hell was going on he thought as his mind began to regain some semblance of order and understanding to his predicament.  He could hear the muffled sound of voices nearby but couldn't decipher what they were saying.  He wondered how long he'd been here?  And why he'd been trust up like a pig and left on the floor.  

His first thought was to yell, but soon thought better of it.  Although never being in a situation like this before, he sensed that this was more than a simple scare tactic and that if he knew what was good for him he needed to remain silent as though he was still unconscious and try and glean what information he could.

The ropes on his hands and feet were cutting into his wrists and feet and so uncomfortably tight. His mouth dry with the lingering taste of blood and wondered if the wound on his head had been reopened, it sure felt like it from the blinding pain that emanated from his head...  His mind raced as he tried to remember his last conscious thought before he found himself here.  

A deep fear began to build...



Next week:  Episode 38:  Finally

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This week's photos are from our visit to Tasmania during our Australia trip.   

Enjoy!  

TW


The iron bridge at the junction of the Tamar River and Cataract Gorge
in Launceston, Tasmania
Makes an impressive view from the gorge walk

The river leading into Cataract gorge

A Lyre bird in the gardens 

The suspension bridge over the Gorge

Feels a little like an Indiana Jones movie set...

Amazing sky over Cataract Gorge

Hand carved graffiti on a giant boulder at the entrance to the gorge,
with carvings dating back to the 1800's

The suspension bridge from across the gorge - spectacular!

So much history in Tasmania - if you get the chance its like a step back in time...but in a good way!  :-)


Friday, March 18, 2016

Homecoming

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It’s four years since I’ve been home to Australia and with time there is always some level of trepidation about coming back to visit.  For Zach and Sami it’s been eight years since they’d last visited. The kids have few, if any memories from their last visit, and so being re-introduced to their large and boisterous family has been interesting to say the least, especially because in Canada they only have a couple of cousins that they see occasionally. 

Firstly, the sheer weight of numbers can be a bit overwhelming – 25 people, and that is only half the number as we’re heading over to Tasmania to see the other half this coming weekend.

Indelible Tip #1:  We visited the Ballarat Wildlife Park, which has and will always be the kid’s favorite activity in Australia.  I guess it’s hard not to be excited when you’re hand feeding kangaroos, and have within arms reach a collection of some of the worlds most exotic animals (Koala’s, Wombats, Emu’s and Tasmanian Devils, to name but a few).  From the moment I said we were coming to Australia for our March Break holidays all the thing they were most excited about were visiting the wildlife park.

Surprisingly they even enjoyed visiting Clunes (the town I was born and brought up in - pop. 500) in the middle of nowhere.  Strange is all I can say, as I couldn't wait to leave when I was 17 and left for University.  It was a novelty to have them experience my hometown, albeit quite a different experience from my childhood. All I can say is that time heals all and we spent an enjoyable day with my younger brother who still lives in the town checking some familiar sites...  As I said to the kids, “everything is different, but nothing has changed.”  

Poor Zach and Sami were even subjected to a reunion with a couple of old friends from Uni (University). Interestingly, there were many TW stories from my University days that I’d either forgotten or had repressed…likely the latter!  :-)

On one hand it feels just like yesterday that we were all in University together but clearly another when you think back to all that we’ve done, seen and accomplished in our lives since leaving all those years ago.  Many of my cohort now have grandchildren and my best friend Craig’s daughter Caitlin is getting married later this year and so Zach and Sami are the youngest by quite a few years. 

Indelible Tip #2:  Our trip has also included a trip on the high speed train to Melbourne, which was about an hour an half from Ballarat.  We met my nephew and his wife who were our tour guides for the day. I had forgotten how cosmopolitan Melbourne is or has become, with its cafe culture and its cool restaurant scene.  This was compounded by the amazing architecture and if you get the opportunity check out Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, which are across the road from each other and serve as an amazing juxtaposition of styles and era.

Indelible Tip #3:  Melbourne has some amazing Street Art especially along Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane respectively - they were incredible (see below for some of the great street art).  It was an unseasonably hot day with the temperature reaching 31C while we explored the city, and given the time of year quite unusual.  
I've been in shorts since I arrived which I will never complain about given that Canada is very cold for the better part of six months each year, so I will always wear shorts if the weather gets even remotely toward 20C.  Each morning I've also been making sure that we all have lots of sunscreen slathered on before we head out, as the sun is blistering hot in Australia and much seemingly a lot stronger than what we're now used to.  Hard to believe we need it March.

This visit has been bitter sweet in that I feel as though I don't have an anchor here anymore, which I suppose is normal given that both my parents are dead and the house that I grew up in has been sold.  

My siblings are spread all over Australia and other than my infrequent visits I really only keep in contact with my sister which seems to work for us all.  Honestly even if I lived in Australia I would likely only see my siblings occasionally even though its great to see them I'm also a realist.  We live such different lives, and in fact we always have and so accepting that this is the type of relationship that we have has taken away much of the stress of visiting.  

Australia will always be home...no matter what.  :-)



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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 37: Hostage

Bill left the office walked towards the Star Cafe through the crowded streets and alleyways of the Old Quarter, the noise, humidity and throng of scooters had become his second home.  He loved the grittiness of his life in Hanoi, and the juxtaposition of its innate beauty.   As he walked he could see through the limbs of the overhanging Banyan trees that the sky was transforming into the dark and leaden form which occurred each afternoon right before the torrential downpour and the respite from the tense humidity.

He began to hear the first heavy drops on the leaves above him and so instinctively stepped under an awning.  He hadn't seen the shadowed form of the two men standing deep inside the darkly lite store front nor felt the blow that rendered him unconscious.  

Bill's head ached as he slowly became aware of where he was, or where he wasn't to be more precise.  He wasn't able to remember much about anything as his brain felt completely muddled.  He tried to open his eyes, but realized that he had something over his head which felt like a cloth or bag of some sort.  His hands and feet were tightly tied behind his back and he was lying on his side on a cold floor.   

What the bloody hell was going on he thought as his mind began to regain some semblance of order and understanding to his predicament.  He could hear the muffled sound of voices nearby but couldn't decipher what they were saying.  He wondered how long he'd been here?  And wondered why he'd been trust up like a pig and left to lie on the floor.  

His first thought was to yell, but soon thought better of it.  Although never being in a situation like this before, he sensed that this was more than a simple scare tactic and that if he knew what was good for him he needed to remain silent as though he was still unconscious and try and glean what he could.

The ropes on his hands and feet were tight, and now becoming very uncomfortable.  His mouth was dry and tasted stale as if he'd been sleeping with his mouth open.  He wondered if the wound on his head had been reopened, it sure felt like it from the blinding pain that surged through his head and emanated from the same spot...  He tried to remember what had happened, but more importantly what day it was.  


He'd decided to walk to the Star Cafe...it had been Monday afternoon. 



Next week:  Episode 38:  All Set

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This week's selection of photos is from our current trip to Australia.


Enjoy!  

TW


An inquisitive wallaby at the Ballarat Wildlife Park

The majestic Kookaburra, although this guy wasn't laughing

Cute, cuddly and cantankerous!

Zach enjoying hanging with a kangaroo at the Wildlife Park

Sami hand feeding a wallaby at the park - every kids dream!


Ballarat was home to the rowing for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics - we're
staying in Ballarat with my best mate Craig and his wife Audrey

The Arch of Victory to commemorate the end of WWI in Ballarat - they
planted a tree for everyone who served from the city and it
seriously goes for miles


The memorial to Australia's Prisoner's of War - all 35,000 names from all wars in which
Australia has fought.  The fallen pillar signifies that not all those who were
taken prisoner came home....   Very moving!

Bushland around the town I was brought up - all eucalypts


Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street Station with a modern
tram passing in front

Flinders Street Station in juxtaposition with the new architecture of
Federation Square - somehow it works

Some of the most amazing street art in the world!

Cool street art adjacent to AC/DC Lane in Melbourne's CBD

Melbourne's world renown cafe culture - sensational!

Friday, March 11, 2016

Four-day flip!

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As you know I’m an avid traveler and love the explore the world around me -  yes its truly one of my passions.  To help both support and quell my thirst for travel and adventure I created what I like to call a “four-day flip”. 

Once a month, if I don’t have a trip already planned then I choose, somewhat last minute a list of perhaps three or four locations that I want to explore, which could be either domestic or international.  When I research them I compare the following attributes - flight availability, cost and overall travel time to help narrow down my options.  This generally leaves a couple of locations that are feasible, and then, you guessed it.  

I flip a coin!  

For example last November my list of locations was initially between Dubai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Berlin.  My research began in earnest with less than a week before my targeted travel date, which is pretty normal for a four-day flip adventure as you tend to end up with some great deals on flights and hotels. 

Dubai was eliminated even though the initial flight time to Dubai was great, I could also procure some great deals on both flights and hotels, however the issue became getting home.  Which looked, no matter which was I cut it was going to be at least 48 hours…  So a non-starter this time around.

Hong Kong was eliminated primarily because I’ve been there so many times already, and although I love the city and the vibe I felt like I needed a new adventure.

So now it came down to a flip between Tokyo and Berlin.  The last time I was scheduled to go to Japan was the same week the Tsunami hit a couple of years ago.  Even after it hit Japan I was still eager to go, but everything began to disintegrate starting with the hotel that was closed because of the rolling electricity blackouts and non-guarantee of fresh water.   Yeah, sort of a big deal at the time!  

Heads – Tokyo, tails – Berlin…

Tails it was, so I boarded a plane Thursday night bound for Berlin, returning on Monday after four amazing days spent in beautiful and historic Berlin.  By the way I would definitely recommend a long weekend in Berlin as it has so much to offer.  You can read all about my visit in my blog “Connection Berlin” and as a pre-read would recommend “Essentials”.

For the most part I always have a list of places that I want to go explore, although this does continually evolve and change.  Here are three things I always do when planning a four-day flip, or any travel for that matter:  J

Indelible Tip #1:  Research is key to a successful four-day flip.  My method is to triangulate a few of my go-to websites to get the best deals on airfares – Travelocity, Kayak, Expedia all aggregate the best last minute flights, and surprisingly if you’re patient even between them for the same carriers you might get a significantly lower fare.  Just be careful of the fine print about cancellations or changes as this may impact you. 

For finding the best accommodations including hotels I generally use Booking.com, although depending on the city its sometimes worth double-checking Priceline.  As well, you can’t forget Airbnb is also another great option and well worth checking out.

Indelible Tip #2:  Less is more - when you’re researching your cities its important, for me at least to have a specific interest or reason to visit.  When I think about my initial list of cities I always use Travel Advisor to help me narrow down a list of things I’d like to see and do on my visit. 

Clearly the tricky part is not to overload or restrict your self by having an enormous “to-do” list.  Hence I try to limit my itinerary to a small number of things, with the majority of the time being spent on exploration.  This translates into me walking the city with my camera and soak up the vibe and culture as much as possible.

Indelible Tip #3: Loyalty Programs When I travel I ensure that I have enrolled in loyalty programs to accumulate points, thus allowing for upgrades, gifts and free stuff.  The tricky part is figuring out which ones to enrol in and trying to stick to them so that you can maximize your program point accumulation.

Having an airline on each of the big alliances is important as there is no guarantee that you’ll always get the best deals on Star Alliance or OneWorld.
I have the majority of my airline points on Air Canada (Star Alliance) and Qantas (OneWorld).  The beauty is that if I fly with any of the other airlines on either alliance I still accumulate air miles with either Air Canada or Qantas.   It’s surprising how quickly you can accumulate status and take advantage of the benefits.

It’s the same with hotel programs – I’ve been a loyal and long term member of Marriott and now have lifetime status because of the large number of hotel night stays.  But unlike the large airline alliances the chains are not broadly linked.  Over the years I’ve tended to enrol in almost every hotel loyalty program known to man – no harm in joining and seeing what benefits and partners they have.  You might be surprised at how big their network is and where else you could accumulate points.  Getting the odd loyalty award is all good!
This week I’m writing my blog from somewhere over the Pacific Ocean as Zach, Sami and I jet our way to Australia for our March break vacation.  This is a big trip even for us, as it’s close to 30 hours door to door, so you really have to want to do it and its certainly not for the faint of heart – especially flying economy. 

Everything is upside down with a time difference being 16 hours ahead in Melbourne from what we left in Toronto.  Let me just say that the jet lag is ferocious! J  It’ll take a couple of days to sort out and be just about in sync by the time we’re ready to leave and come back. 

So for the next couple of weeks stay tuned for your blogs coming to you, along with lots of new photographs from Australia.  

It’s going to be awesome!




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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 36: Uncompromising

The wound on Bill's head was healing nicely and with the stitches now removed it hurt a whole lot less.  He was excited at the thought of seeing Mai, but also a little apprehensive especially given Phuong's information on who had attacked him in his apartment.  Was this a set up he thought, although try as he might to expunge the thought from his mind...it kept scratching away in the back of his mind.

Mai stood barefoot on the marble patio with a brightly colored sarong tied neatly above her breasts, she was transfixed by the brilliant tropical sunset over the lake and was so absorbed that she didn't hear Anh approach. Anh wrapped her arms around Mai's waist and nuzzled her ear before kissing her neck lightly.

This was the perfect time of day and Mai's favorite, she truly felt at peace bathed in the late afternoon sunlight as it slowly changed colors from the reds and yellows to the deep purples of the early evening.  It was rare that Anh and Mai's paths crossed at this time of day, as generally Mai's day was just getting under way.   

Anh was easily bored with the tedium of small talk, and especially with the embassy set that Mai tended to float so beautifully within.  However, more than anything she despised the revolutionary council and dismissed them as a traitorous group that should be lined up against the nearest wall and shot.  She felt deeply betrayed given that they had fought for so long for independence, only to now open up the country to all the western powers once again.  

At least she controlled the Chợ Đồng Xuân as she saw fit, without interference from anyone and ruled it with a iron fist.  This was her turf and the revolutionary council knew better than to interfere especially since she paid so handsomely each month, which undoubtedly kept the local coffers flush and thus ensured everyone gave her a free hand.

It as Mai who spoke first as they stood in the diminishing light, "I finally heard from my Australian friend" she said brightly.  Anh didn't have to enquire as to who she meant as it was immediately obvious.  "So the Australian has finally resurfaced" she said with a slight edge to her voice. "Yes, I'm seeing him next Tuesday" Mai said defiantly as she turned to look Anh in the eye.  

No one spoke to Anh like this.  She had always loved Mai's fierce and uncompromising courage when faced with situations like this - she was like a cornered tiger Anh thought.  Anh was silent momentarily as she contemplated her response.  Then finally said, "he is unreliable and disappears for long periods, clearly he is using you" she spat with a venom so rarely seen by Mai.  Mai laughed softly, "you've always instructed me to use my male suitors to my advantage, whose not to say I'm not doing that now to him" she mused. 


Anh knew Mai, better than Mai herself and could see that she felt something deep for this man...



Next week:  Episode 37:  Hostage

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This week's small selection of photos are from a recent photo shoot at the Toronto airport.   

Enjoy!  

TW


Black limos all lined up waiting for trade


My favourite word!

The to and fro of the travellers arriving into Toronto's terminal 1

Hhhmmm where should I go???

Love the lines