A few other notes.

1. Chris - tell those crims to leave my car alone. But seriously, that shit is crazy! Someone stole my car and I knew nothing about it? geez. I hope that wasnt too stressful for you on Christmas eve... Thanks for looking after it and sorting that all out.

2. Anyone - I received $50 credit, transfered into my bank account titled "haircut". Is someone hinting that i need to spend some money and get a haircut?

I think thats all.

Cheers, Geno

Hey hey!! its a little late for a Christmas note - but i think we are still in the season right? So Merry Christmas from Chamonix, France.
So snow is crazy. Not sticky enough to make snow balls or snow men with though. And we had to go to the French alps 3000 or so meters up just to make we actually saw the stuff. A few days in the freezing cold was pretty challenging after some of the warmest days of the whole trip in Cinque Terre.
None the less, we rugged up in our own Perth-esc way and took a ski lift 2000 meters up to some of the most amazing and far away from home views I´ve seen in my life. Mountains covered in snow and stepping knee deep in all that white fluffy goodness. Thanks to Steph I was well equipped with good hiking\snow shoes.
A wimpy but successful cut off branch for a Christmas tree, decorated with Rom and Mels jewelery (as well as some alfoil from a chocolate wrapper), we surrounded it with presents we had sneakily brought each other over the trip.
Croissants for breaky, a lot of cheese fondue for lunch, and an amazing true Christmas dinner at the hostel.
We ice skated in the evening and i enviously watched some young kids play ice hockey on an outdoor rink surrounded by mountains. Coup fell over a lot.
On boxing day we wondered about the test results and decided we better set up a competition of our own. Seen in the video is the final of our €3 schled slide down a little hill race. It was one all in a best of 3 final. Rom took the trophy after Mel cheated with an early start (see 3rd umpire video).

So now we are in Barcelona for new years and Coup and I are a bit hungover after trying to out-drink a Canadian linebacker called Dave. Hes about 300 pounds (thats probably an over statement but he is pretty big). I don´t think we really had a chance after 1 too many Mojitos.

.Geno

On a side note...

In Cinque Terre a pizza cook approached me with a small pen and paper and sort of motioned that he wanted my autograph. He then said something in Italian and then said "...You are Steven Spielberg!... We all laughed thinking he was joking. He wasn´t. He actually thought I was Steven Spielberg. Mel told him the truth and i think he was pretty embarrassed. In other words - my beard is coming along nicely.

Deutschland

International model, originally uploaded by bloodless_coup.

Smokey rooms, pool German rules, no penalty for sinking the white, we were dominating, Gene sunk the black prematurely, cheap beer, shouted a shot by an old man must of though i was a girl, Jess is the best neo-host, Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin wall - not there anymore... poo viewing ledges, haulocaust, first christmas markets, statues, pork, sauerkraut and potatoes, forestry hippie party, Mel and Rom intiated a tunnel, Metallica dancing, Eberswalde locals invited us to traditional breakfast, Indian in Germany for dinner. Took a lecture in the forest, coupled of nazis called me a "sloosh" and a gay cowboy. Quark, mustard and cheese on really good brown bread. Raves, local Bars, friends of Jess gave us Prague tip-off , Rom and I skip Copenhagen. December the 5th choclates in our boots. 10 euro day rides for trains, gluehwein (hot wine) christmas warmth. No snow yet, dissapointing.

This was a long time ago i dont think we covered everything our recollection was a bit hazy and our internet time is almost up.

chao Coup and Gene

Have fun, will travel, reach the heart of Durgerdam

getting involved, originally uploaded by Genoceros.

We roam the stone roads of old Amsterdam NL, navigating, dodging hundreds of hurried bikes, dinging trams and cars that don't seam to belong. We tour around the canals and walk the streets, popping in and out of little shops, assigning ourselves simple tasks - an hour spent looking for the ultimate frites shop (frites are chips. The best you'll ever taste, doused in mayo - they drown them in that shit). Just happy not having any responsibilities. The girls and Coup have their heads buried in the Amsterdam map as it almost falls to pieces from so much re-opening. I hang a few paces back and stare up at the beautiful old town houses that are so squished together some look as though they will pop right out. Occasionally I cop a strong whiff of a so called 'Coffee Shop' and feel like I'm at the Big Day Out or my Dads 40th birthday party.
We hire bright red bikes and wear matching blue rain ponchos, standing out in the crowds as the obvious tourists we are. The Dutch yell "What are you doing?!" and "Mac Bike - Gay!" as I nearly crash into them on the bike path. I like that they assume I speak English as a first language. Don't ride on the left. A tip.
20 minutes by bike out of Amsterdam, we arrive at a quaint little village called Durgerdam, 1 row of old pointy cottage houses, facing a talked up dirt mound dyke and a row of old fishing boats. We ride around, looking at everything with such awe and amazement, stepping out of the cold and into a dark local pub. Befriending the locals, they buy us shots (apparently this is unheard of) and Coup steals their cake.
The Red Light District is crazy and weird. Window Shopping? But this is nothing new. We get offered "Cocaine? Ecstasy? Speed?!" 3 times in 5 meters... we politely decline. In the evenings we retire to amazing home cooked meals at our temporary home with Deerah, GertJan and Riya, and I fall asleep at the table.
We've had some sunny days, some rainy days and some fucking freezing days.
Everything is crazy. Most of our conversations start with "It's cool how..." "It's crazy how..." "It's awesome how..." "It's amazing how..." "It's weird how...". It’s all of those things. And we've been here less than a week.

"A crazy evening in a Coffee Shop" post - coming soon.

Steph is 21 today (except here its still dark)

Steph is 21 today
Originally uploaded by melody.jane.

happy birthday my darling steph! i think that youre one of the most wonderful people i know and i wish i was there to help you celebrate reaching your 21st in such style! ill have a beer for you, although i doubt ill be able to find a little creatures bright - german beer will have to suffice. wuv you wots and wots xox

Perth to Singapore

flying over middle east, originally uploaded by bloodless_coup.

Lekker feta, spinach and roasted capsicum sandwiches in the deli-corner of Hyde Park, a farewell lunch with Macca. Took off, airport bound. Coffee, Cake, Judy, Helen, Jack, Mike, Hayley, Brendo, Jano, Miniature Perth, photos, immigration, stamped passports, conveyor belts for our possessions, departure corridor, anxiety. First flight was smooth, small TV screens in the back of seats, last train to freo, curry beef and Asian vegetables, whisky, fosters and VB. Nearing the Singapore airport we could see bolts of lighting sparking in the clouds. A smell that took me back to Bali greeted us at the Changi airport. Meet up with Mike, conveyor belts for us, took a slash, lost Mike, sampled mint and caramel Baileys, collected board passes, airport security holding machine guns, Asian girls sleeping in a huddle on the carpet, we all had foot massages. Gene found Mike at a bar said good luck in the Cactus Garden. On the plane Rom fell asleep first, I was jealous.

Click on the photo above and it will lead you to all my photos.
Coup

We looked unhappy, now we look crazy.

Couper and Gene go a bit Bloody Bs in photoshop.

Protection from snow, puddles and frost bite, pre-trip shopping.

Au revoir !

tu manques madame Andree! (first "e" accent aigu to be grammatically correct)
Yes were out in just over a week !

This is not a test of the emergency broadcast system...

This is the real thing. oh yea!! we are going to Europe!. oh yeah we are.