PALENQUE

This photo is of part of the tomb lid of Pacal who ruled the Mayan empire in Mexcio from 603 AD for 68 years. Unfortunatley we didn't make it to this site while in Mexico in June. Timing and location made it just to hard to get there. Next time for sure.
Lucky i had Teotihucan, Chitzen Itza, Tulum and Coba to keep me happy in amazing, beautiful ruins.
This is actually a plaster cast i bought in a little road side store, its about 20cm by 10cm washed with brown.
I was trying out the functions of my new camera, long range and short range stuff. I'm pretty happy with its close detail. The whole thing has many more carvings around the edges.
It is so beautiful and detailed.
Some folk believe its proof that aliens walked amoung us. It does sort of look like a man at a control console i'll give them that. It would be amazing if there was any real proof of such a thing but i'm afraid not...
He is shown falling down the World Tree into the jaws of the Underworld. He is accompanied by an image of the head of a skeletal monster carrying a bowl marked with the sign of the sun. This sign indicates that Pacal would be reborn as a god by defeating the Lords of Death who live in the Underworld. Portraits of his ancestors can be seen around the four sides of his coffin. Each figure is wearing a headdress symbolizing a fruit tree.

;)

WHILE WE WAIT



Rob is starting to get his tax stuff together, its going to the longest part of the process methinks. Not much we can do until that looks closer to being sorted.
So i thought rather than just let this place gather dust, i'll have a play.

I just bought a brand new camera from Ebay last week, a Kodak DX6490 All the reviews are very favourable and i got it for $380, which if you believe the seller it can retail for $600.
My little Minolta i bought dutyfree before a went overseas in May has died again
and i can't find the receipt yet. So i thought i'd splash out and get something that should last longer than 6 months.

So if i take a picture i like i'm going to post it here, just for me.

;)

THE BEGINNING- parte the second


I got the forms from the consulate in the mail yesterday. Not a quick read or a particularly easy one. First part involves Rob. He being the American citizen has to sponsor me and fill out a few forms, get various documentation and hand into the consulate in Sydney.
It doesn't seem as complicated as when Rob was filing for Australian permanent residency, but looks are deceiving and i'm sure it will be time consuming and lots of fun.
It looks like he will have the most bother with it. Need US tax returns for the last three years...hmmm since he has been living, working and paying tax here for the last 10, it may take some time to get that sorted out.
After that all checks out i need to get all my papers together and they will grant me/us an interview.
I need to get a Police report, which involves me going to the nearest cop shop, fill out the correct form, hand over my fingerprints and pay them. Lucky they have a central data base for this, i was worried i would have to contact each town/suburb i've lived in since 16 for a report, but no, just one will do. Apart from all those crimes against humanity i've perpetrated, i've never had so much as a speeding ticket, so being the goodie goodie that i am, i'm not worried about that.
Also need a full medical, that can only be done by two doctors in the city. Chest x-ray, HIV test, the works. Which will be probably a handy thing, i feel and look healthy but it will be good to know in case i have anything lurking.
I'm really glad we live in Sydney as its the only place you can do this. So if you lived in Perth would have to make a couple (at least) trips. They only process these applications on Thursdays between 8-12am.
There is not a huge rush on this as we have no deadlines, so we can make sure we have everything correct before starting as they will be checking every i is dotted and t crossed.

;)

THE BEGINNING

I think I am jumping the gun starting this blog now. But i got all excited after going to the Sydney Blog and beer night at the pub. Abit worse for wear today though.

Now we are both keen to move to the States, i planned on having a blog to recount my hijinxs to the folks back home. I haven't even started the visa process yet so the move is at least 6-12 months away.
So i'll use this as a diary on the process of proving my worth to the American government.

;)