Veronika Wild

The Overland Track is a 65 - 80 km walk over the roof of Tasmania. It is old news to most Tasmanians, especially the more masochistically inclined and has become so popular that you now have to book a place before you can walk it so that the 'wilderness' isn't loved to death. These days it costs $100 in addition to the normal Park fees and you need at least twenty six essential items of equipment plus what seems like your body weight in food. This is because quite a few people have lost their lives on this walk. Unexpected blizzards are possible, even in the middle of summer and there are the usual risks of getting lost, snake bite, twisted ankles, falls, hypothermia or dehydration. In good weather it usually takes from six to ten days. Round One. Struggling up to Marion's Lookout. Crater Lake, one of many glacially formed cirques, can just be seen far below. In one section you have to haul yourself up on a chain. All I wanted to do for the first three days was to turn...

Health Warning: I was lucky enough to be in Mongolia at the height of its brief and glorious summer and encountered nothing but clear skies and friendly people. Since then however, I have heard some disturbing stories about foreign workers who have been bashed, robbed and left to freeze in the snow, so it is probably not a good idea to go by yourself. City Centre Ulaan Bataar The worst thing that happened to me apart from having to have cold water showers because they turn the heat off in summer, was that my Australian Travelex cards did not work. This wasn't all bad, as many people took me under their wing. Instead of hiring a car and driver as most tourists do, I was squished into one of the many mini vans that travel precariously all over the country. The 'roads' are non existent in many places, with most vehicles travelling on braided tracks beside the road to avoid broken tarmac and treacherous pot holes. Along the way, people are dropped off at isolated gurs together...

It's a bit late now to be sending out Christmas cards if you didn't already get one, but I am still in time to wish all my Korean friends all the best for Solnal, the Lunar New Year. Have a great time visiting your families and may you all dream of glorious red pigs in flight and win huge amounts of $$$$$ playing Yut No Ri. Oh yes, and may you also get lots of red envelopes! Check this webpage for flying pig sightings http://mariah.stonemarche.org/favlinks/pigs02.htm It's not too late for St. Valentine's Day either, so I hope you get lots of presents from all those secret admirers. This half -eaten heart belongs to Korea's best bus driver of 2006. We did however, miss Groundhog Day on February 2. This is an unofficial American event which is said to predict when spring will start. The saying goes that if the Groundhog - a small rodentlike creature, stays in his hole on the 2nd. of February, then winter will go on for another six weeks. In case you haven't gues...

During the Thanksgiving Holiday in Korea, I visited Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. This time it didn't just rain. There was a fullblown typhoon in progress which made going up the mountain in those crazy little cable cars a near death experience. Still the autumn colours were beautiful and there were great hot springs everywhere including in the little ryokan (family hotel) where I stayed. Autumn Colours Tea Ceremony in the Ryokan The room Breakfast Some of the most famous are at Noribetsu which looks like Rosebery with a bit more autumn colour and volcanoes that are decidedly active. One of them is called Mt. Weather. Fishermen say that when it smokes they shouldn't go out in their boats. The day I was there it was positively belching and proved true to its word. 'They' also say Queenstown in Tasmania looks like hell with the fires out. Here in Hell Valley, it looks like Queenstown with the fires still burning. Above it, there are beautiful woods with lit...