Across Continents

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The cunning plan

May 29th, 2011

The cunning plan from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken introduces his latest cunning plan. And his pen.

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Mapwork

May 28th, 2011

Mapwork from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Marvel at Ken’s discovery that… maps are quite handy on the road. Next week, he invents fire…

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Question of scale

May 11th, 2011

Logmap

Don’t exactly expect maps in tourist brochures to be to scale. Just a small modicum of accuracy. Proportionate. But the one I’d picked up for a van park north of Rockhampton? Positively logarithmic. Showed a pub. Local school. Just off the highway. The site pretty well adjacent. Actually a couple of miles further on. Steep climbs. Arriving at dusk. But worth the effort. Peaceful. Pitch amongst the trees. Just two fellow campers. Couple of wallabies. Numerous green tree frogs.

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Finding your way

August 15th, 2010

“Can I help” she asked. “Actually, yes, there is one thing” I replied, explaining my map showed the Chinese characters for just the cities. Perhaps she could translate a few of my smaller proposed nightly stops. That way I’d avoid inadvertently missing a turning.

Navigating in China - web version

I’d met Mao at a petrol station. She’d majored in English at University, worked as an interpreter for some years, but was now a traffic police officer. Off duty, she was travelling with her young son. She thought the road dangerous, but sought to assure her I thought drivers very considerate, the road surface of a standard I’d rarely seen since Turkey.

What did I think of China, she enquired? Early days of course, I explained, but I was already impressed. The neat, clean streets of Khorgas, the huge investment in infrastructure, road building in the mountains, the sheer beauty of Lake Sayram Hu. And the friendliness of people. Passers-by giving me breads, fruit and water.

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