The Bumbling Bug

This time last year I was boarding a plane to the great land down under; Australia. Fresh faced and keen I was moving a long, long way from home, off to cuddle some koalas and hide from deadly spiders. But I would soon be surprised to find that the drawbacks of OZ are not the number of creatures trying to kill you, but rather the overly consumerist society obsessed with material things and guided by the need for fuel. I aim to show you my highs and lows from the land down-under, as well as highlight how OZ is ‘fuelled’ by it’s relationship with the fossil fuel industry. Sunshine and Shopping Bussleton Pier I loved Australia. You go to the beach whenever you want. You know it’s going to be blisteringly hot so everything is air conditioned. People take their time, they have fun. Perhaps my most quintessential Aussie memory was in visiting Bussleton Jetty, in Western Australia. It was early springtime, the water hadn’t quite hit summer scorcher levels, and yet children were ...

Flying over the rainforests of Borneo you would not be faulted for assuming that these 85,000 ha of dense tropics had never before been touched by mankind. It is only until you begin to descend that you become aware of the trees clearing. The tiny landing strip welcomes your tiny plane with a tremendous thud and you have arrived, Mulu World Heritage Area. DAY 1 My trip to Mulu began, as many others do, with this breath-taking flight in. The only way in to the jungle is by air or by foot, and the later is rarely recommended. Stepping off the plane you are greeted by mountains on all sides, and, regardless of the season, a sticky humidity that will remain with you until you leave. Unfortunately for me, my trip also began with a slight panic as my flight had been delayed, and following some unforeseen circumstances and poor planning, I turned up for a four day tour with absolutely no idea what was going on. Fortunately, I was welcomed by a lovely lady who announced herself as...