Out of the way

I have been hoping to go to the W3C's workshop on mobile web in developing countries, and to BarCampDelhi-2, but I got to Japan without a visa for India. Fortunately, the staff at the Japanese embassy in Tokyo, and their colleagues in Canberra (who had to do some of the procesing) were extremely helpful, and I was wanting a fairly standard thing. I was nervous for a couple of days (and I spent a fair bit of time going to and from or hanging around the embassy, which is not the most productive way to spend a day in Japan), but now I have a visa. Thanks to all concerned...

I got to catch up with colleagues from my old job, and from Opera's Tokyo office, both of which were nice things. I also got to talk to a lot of interesting people about a lot of interesting topics.

And I flew to Australia and got 4 seats! A chance to actually sleep a bit. It isn't like a bed at home - the noise, the lumpy bits, and the mass of people around ensure that, but it is better than sitting bolt-upright all night wondering where to put my feet now.

Australia was a 2-day visit. A bad idea. But I did get to have a decent meal in a cheap Melbourne restaurant, go to a couple of nice pubs/bars with friends, and see people I haven't seen for a few years. I also got to eat a proper meat pie, have a bundy and dry, and watch some cricket with my grandmother (even if we sat mostly silently, and both fell asleep in our chairs).

I missed out on many more things. But that's life - there are always more things I would like to do than things that I can. Like writing about the other things I enjoyed over the last week or so. And various other writing.

I'm writing from Auckland - next stop Hong Kong. One day I better go out and plant a lot of trees again.