The Last Stand
By Marty Page

Location: London, Egypt and Israel
Date: September 6, 2000

All around the globe, athletes are fine-tuning their bodies and minds in an attempt to achieve the pinnacle of their sporting careers.

Next week it all begins - the Olympics Games - to be held in Sydney, Australia.

I too am in now in a similar frame of mind, striving for a similar pinnacle. It has now been over 11 months of grueling adventures, new and unusual experiences and hardcore partying. I've climbed the mountains and swum in the seas....I've walked the dusty, winding roads....sorry, where was I....Oh, that's right ....reaching a pinnacle...

In 2 days I hit London for what my training partner, Allan, has dubbed 'The Last Stand'. 5 days and nights of intense partying, guaranteed to have me peaking at the right time...

Saturday is also happens to be my birthday! I called my 23rd year, 'the year of the party' - which was definitely apt and is definitely deserving of a huge finish. 24 may have to be 'the year of the recovery'...I doubt it though!

In 7 days I will be in Sydney, to represent my nation in the Olympics Games. I have a bed arranged, a fridge stocked with beer, a couch and a TV. I'm ready for it. Let the games begin..

I'm now still in Israel. I have been in the Middle East for 5 weeks now. Just over 3 weeks in Israel and nearly 2 in Egypt. I can't explain what this country is like. Thousands of years of history all condensed in such a small area of land. There is a little too much religion and politics going on here though for my liking and with 'peace' talk decisions imminent, I think it is a good time to get out.

Egypt was great. We only spent a day in Cairo. Just enough time to see the pyramids and get hustled. Seeing the pyramids was a highlight of my trip.

Every time I have come face to face with a wonder of the world (I'll have to count how many I've seen), I've been in complete awe. A little tip though...whilst riding camels might seem like a fun novelty...trust me, they are bloody uncomfortable!

After Cairo, we headed to banks of the Red Sea in Sinai. We got a bamboo hut, only metres from the water and a mattress, and we lay there for 10 days. We were virtually the only ones on the beach. We moved forward to swim and snorkel and backwards to the restaurant to eat. Paradise! So that is about it. I'll write again before I get home to Melbourne on the 21st. Until then....spare a thought for me...a young aussie battler, going hard for his country.

Carn Australia!

Marty

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