remembering home

had my first little inkling of homesickness today. well, not really homesick, just wistful reminiscing of cool autumn days in Indiana. we had quite a bit of rain here last night and it cooled things off considerably. plus the sky has remained mostly cloudy all day with a slightly cool breeze, and to top it all off i spent the morning raking up damp leaves. the smell combined with the cool, wet weather had me thinking of all the times i'd raked leaves under a cloudy November sky in Indy or gone for an afternoon walk on a grey day thru Eagle Creek, or better yet, Morgan-Monroe State Park. there's something special in the air on a crisp fall day in the midwest.

oh well, it'll probably be 85 and sunny tomorrow and i'll hit the beach and forget all about it.

20 Second Tuesday 2

here we are at our second consecutive installment of 20 Second Tuesday! (wow, consistency. huh, must be a fluke.) and i will be the first to point out that this one is technically only 19 seconds. oops. whatever, i hadn't come up with the "20 second" idea yet, and sometimes my camera is inconsistent about how much video i can take at one time--it's about 4 years old and has been dropped too many times to think about so i'm just glad it still takes pictures at all at this point.

anyway, this week's installment is a look back on my very first day in Australia, Monday September 21st, 2009. i was in Brisbane and had most of the morning and part of the afternoon to myself while waiting to meet up with my friend Richard, so i went for a walk along the river.

20 Second Tuesday

okay, so i suck at the whole blogging thing. who has time to sit down and write about their lives all the time? not me, that's who! i do however, have the time to make a 20 second video once a week and post it. so let's hear it for vlogging!

i thought i'd kick of the inaugural 20 Second Tuesday with something everyone can enjoy, a few moments down on the beach. this is my favorite beach--and not just because it's crawling with hot gay men, but hey that doesn't hurt either--but it's also spectacularly beautiful! a small swath of sand tucked between blue waters on the one side and green hills on the other three. plus, there are many convenient little shady spots all around the perimeter of the beach, so you can lay stay at the beach all afternoon without getting baked--by the sun anyway ;-) so enjoy a little slice of my new Saturday morning routine, lord knows i did:

This Week in Suffolk Park

i'm enjoying my tidy little town more and more, it's plenty close enough to Byron by bike, and i keep finding little things i like about it. for instance it seems to be the gayborhood for Byron Shire (shire = county) and every Friday evening the pub sort of becomes a gay bar, well, more of a gay pub a la Ivy's, the curry shop has really good deals on Tuesdays, and i just discovered a little organic grocer down the road with incredibly cheap produce. i got a bunch of apples, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, sprouts and peppers, plus a box of tea for $14! i was a very happy shopper.

also wanted to say, i think i sold Michael a little short. he's actually a really great guy and we've been spending plenty of time together here and there. not romantically at all, but he's slowly becoming a friend. i really owe him quite a debt of gratitude as he was the one who hooked me up with this work-for-stay arrangement, got me my new job with his neighbor (more on that in a minute) and will most likely be selling me his old car in a couple weeks. i know, i hadn't really planned on getting a car, but knowing what i know now, i'm not sure i can live here for a full year w/o one. everything is so spread out, and while i haven't had any problems with hitch hiking yet, it isn't exactly the most reliable mode of transit. plus, it's a station wagon, so i could be saving lots of money on accommodation when i do start traveling again. Chad and i would sort of be splitting it, but we haven't worked out all the details yet.

as for the new job, this one actually pays money! such a novel thought, right? Michael's neighbor, Gabrielle, is in the middle of a huge renovation project, basically doubling the size of the house, installing a pool and massive amounts of landscaping, so there will be no shortage of work for the next couple months. i just finished my first "shift" today and will go back tomorrow. it's a pretty casual arrangement, just working when they need an extra hand, which is frequently since she's doing a bulk of the work herself, only calling in professionals for electrical and plumbing and stuff like that. oh, and towards the end of the day as we were loading up some rubbish in the back of her ute (don't i sound Aussie? a ute is basically an el camino, or, as i like to call it, the Mullet of vehicles, car in front and truck in back) i noticed the side of it says, in big bold letters: Margaritaville! turns out she's a big parrot head, which totally makes sense because the only 2 things on the entire property that aren't in some state of disarray are the BBQ and the Tiki hut, both with thatched grass roofs. (well, the veggie gardens behind the tiki hut are also in really good shape, so i guess that's 3 things) so i think i'm really going to like working for her. she's a little bit scatter brained, which is kind of understandable considering her entire house is one big construction site, but really laid back and seems like a genuinely nice person.

so now i'll have less free time, working at the caravan park and for Gabrielle, but not a whole lot less. nobody wants to work at all after 5, and usually we're done before that. i've been doing a lot of reading--about 2/3rds of the way thru Gulliver's Travels, really liking it, although it kinda confirms that society and politics have been a mess since the 1700s so will probably be forever, sigh. i do have lots of time for reflection and, even though i don't really think of it as such, meditation. i think some about the past, but more so about the future. my mind is brimming with ideas and new dreams and ambitions. i'm sort of formulating a new vision for what i want my life to look like and how to go about getting it. obviously everything is still pretty cerebral at the moment, but i'm becoming a little more certain of what i want. at least for now, let's see what i have to say about that in a year's time.

i've also been rethinking my plans for what to do, where to go and when to get there while i'm here. i've already decided to stay here in the Northern Rivers Region until after New Years, instead of moving to Melbourne after Thanksgiving. partly because Chad is arriving on new years eve day and by all accounts this is the place to be for the biggest and best party, which will also be much cheaper--by almost $100--than any of the parties i found in Melbourne or Sydney. i also opted to stay here because i'm starting to make connections, build a network and really finding my way around to all the little hidden things that tourists always miss, so why would i want to up and move just as i'm getting comfortable? part of the reason i came to Australia in the first place was to determine if this is somewhere i could live full time, something i think i can only decide if i actually stay put and actually assemble a daily life.

all that being said, i do still plan to move on south shortly after NYE. i haven't decided for sure which yet, but i want to be in either Sydney or Melbourne for my birthday. from there, i definitely want to be in Tasmania by February 1st and stay thru April. i want to split my time between woofing and hiking (probably doing some fruit picking too for quick cash) i would love to be able to get some real back country hiking and camping in, stay out for at least a week at a time and reminisce about our AT times. i'm not sure where i'll be hiking for sure yet, but hopefully i'll be able to connect with my downunder doppleganger, Nick McIntosh, who worked as a professional trail guide in Tassy, and get some inside scoops on the best trails and times to hike. From Tassy, i'm not 100% sure i know where i'll go yet, but know that i want to be at Uluru (Ayer's Rock) for the solstice in June. it'll also depend on what Chad is doing. we haven't exactly worked out all the details of what we're doing together and when we'll be apart, so for now i'm just kinda winging it. i know my mom & meema are wanting to make a trip out here and visit while i'm here, so that's something else i need to consider. so much to do and so little time (and money)!

oh, and the Halloween party was a huge success! i had an amazing time and met all kinds of people, some of whom i may have made out with ;-) my puny excuse for a costume was very well received, even here the UtiliKilt always get's noticed, it's like i'm wearing a conversation starter. i'm thinking of trying to get up to Fairland, the farm/reserve/property where the full-time Radical Faeries live. so many of the people i met were so cool and fun to talk to, it seems like it might just be a blast.

okay, my hands are sore from typing and i should go do something before the sun sets. talk to you later

Life's a Beach

wow, i suck balls at this whole blogging thing.

quickly, for those who don't know:

Jasper Hall, for all it's beauty, was somewhat disappointing in the farming sector, which is part of the reason i'm no longer there. the place seems to be in a state of flux, with some people on the way out, others on the way in, and nobody with enough focus or managerial skill to pull it all together. some of the garden beds were really in a shambles: full of weeds or just unplanted , half the veggies having been eaten by worms or an unattended horse, chickens not laying and constantly escaping from their pen, water pumps not working, tractor broken down, etc, etc, etc. boy, listing all those things makes me surprised i managed to stay there for the 3 weeks i did. it wasn't all bad of course, some of the people were really nice and i enjoyed their company, the setting in the mountains was beautiful and the swimming hole down at the creek was great. but i didn't really connect with anyone on a deep enough level to keep me there, and i didn't feel that i was learning anything about farming or gardening. the biggest reason i left was the place was just so isolated. at least an hour's drive to get to a real town or the coast, and since i don't have a car it was more like 2.5 hours to hitchhike down. without the beach or people it just didn't feel like Australia to me.

so now i am on the beach. i'm staying in a little township called Suffolk Park, just south of Byron Bay and just north of Lennox Head where i stayed last time. it's a neat little seaside town, quiet but active, secluded but close to town. it's kinda funny to me that i should be staying here now as i never actually visited it when i was here before. i found myself here, somewhat predictably, thru a man, Michael. we met online and after dinner and some drinks i ended up spending a weekend at his place. he's a nice guy with lots of connections and local knowledge. fortunately he helped me find my current job/housing arrangement here at the Suffolk Park Holiday Park, a sort of campground/caravan park on the beach. the people who run the place are really great, and i'm actually working less hours/day here than i was on the farm, doing pretty much the same kinda work. plus they're planning to erect several permanent cabin tents in the next two months so i'll be able to get some paid work as well.

as for farming, i do plan to get back to it at some point, i'm just not ready to be in such an isolated location to do it. right now i'm focusing on trying to find something close enough to public transport near Melbourne so i can combine the farming/city experience and have found a couple of promising candidates. however, Chad will be arriving in Dec/Jan so we may focus our time more in the city center. if that's the case, i'll wait till i'm in Tasmania to resume full time farmer fun, since everything in Tassy is isolated, and i've already found a farm there i'm excited about. plus i still have a contact down there in the form of my down under doppleganger, Tassy Nick (what's with me and the Nicks?) formerly a professional bush-walker, so maybe i can finally get some backcountry hiking and camping in. but for now, i'm fine with beachside camping and to-and-from town hiking.

that's all for now, getting a ride into town this morning to pick up a few small groceries, then back here for some work. hope all is well State side, you know you can always write and let me know what's going on with you, too. i'll try to be better about this blog in the future.

cheers,

nick

first week, first impressions

well, it's actually been a little longer than a week. i arrived on Monday and this is Tuesday, but whatever.

the flight was actually pretty enjoyable considering its length, and Air New Zealand still provides customers with actual service, a very novel idea in the airline industry these days. dinner was decent, and there was a good selection of movies and tv shows, a perfect opportunity to watch Star Trek again and Wolverine for the first time. i was a bit worried about being able to sleep since once again there was a baby one row over. but she hardly made a sound and i was able to sleep most of the flight. the crew woke us up for breakfast while it was still dark, which was fine with me since breakfast included "bubbles" or sparkling wine, nothing says "Good Morning" like a mimosa :-) the international terminal at the Auckland airport has had some renovations in the last 6 years, adding a second level to keep arriving and departing passengers separated. the flight to Brisbane was pretty uneventful, a second breakfast and more sleep in a row all to myself.

arriving in Brisbane i passed immigration and customs without any problems, my tent being sufficiently clean of dirt and the only food in my possession being ramen & chocolate. walking thru to a familiar arrivals terminal i called Rich with a little help from a "Welcome Ambassador," one of several elderly people walking around with little badges and big smiles--not unlike a Wal-Mart greeter, only useful--ready to help flailing tourists place a phone call (you have to dial first, then pay) and direct them to the train to get to city center (downtown). after a short, pleasant train ride to city center, i stashed my bags in a storage locker (yes, they still have those in train and bus stations here) and went exploring until Rich was done with work.

Brisbane has definitely done some growing since last i was here. at least 5 or 6 new sky scrapers and a couple more museums along the river. the day was sunny and hot, Queensland is definetly the Florida of Australia. well, Florida, Georgia & Alabama--lots of retirees & tourists, lots of new money & shiny buildings, and lots of racist rednecks. oh, and lots of tan, attractive boys walking about ;-) after plenty of walking about i met up with Rich for a late lunch/early dinner on the Queen Street Mall, an outdoor shopping center in the heart of the city. we had no problem picking up where we left off in conversation and passed the time quickly so that he almost missed his bus to Uni. he's working full time and studying part time with one more semester to go on his Law degree. after we parted ways i found a cheap hostel across the street from the train station and realized it was the same one i'd stayed in last time, the Tin Billy. not exactly full of fond memories, the place has gone down hill a bit. that being said, i didn't much care when my head hit the pillow and i was out for a solid 12 hours. before going to bed however, i sat in the common room to use the internet and learned some fun things about TV in Australia. firstly, they have Bravo but call it Arena, on which they run unedited episodes of Sex & the City--and i mean UNedited: tits, ass, sex, "Fuck" and all the rest included. not bad for basic cable.

my first morning in Brisbane i booked a bus to Byron Bay at 1pm. the city was nice enough but also expensive and boring. i made good use of the morning though when i discovered that the Queensland State Library had free WiFi. after that it was back to the bus station and a scenic drive thru farm and bushland to Byron Bay. now Byron is a place full of fond memories: the dive shop where we were Padi certified, the bakery with half-priced bread after 4, the many gelati stands, the lighthouse. all of which were still in place, except for the bakery, it's been replaced by another annoying billabong-esque store selling overpriced flipflops & board shorts. but for the most part, Byron remained as i remembered it.

once off the bus i popped into the information stand, not sure exactly how to get to my hostel, and received directions which included the bad news that CountryLink trains haven't stopped in Byron in 4 years :-( you all know how i like trains. anyway, i walked the 4 or 5 blocks to the Arts Factory to secure a camp site and drop my increasingly heavy bags. it was fun setting up my little tent in the camping area, not used to seeing it in such a tropical, crowded setting. once everything was in its place i made a B-line for the beach, towel in hand. nothing really has changed there, the sky and water were clear blue, the sand was soft and white, and the lighthouse sat perfectly on the headlands to the east. it was a very blustery day down on the water, so much so there wasn't much point in spreading out my towel, just left it folded with my clothes on top while i ran for the water. a little cold at first, nothing like it was in San Fran, but i haven't told you about that yet. the odd thing was, i kept walking out and the water never seemed to get deeper than my waist. the tide was obviously on its way out, so i had to go pretty far out myself to get my head under the waves. so worth it. the water was crisp and refreshing, everything i remembered it to be. my swim was shorter lived than i wanted it to be, but the sun was getting close to the horizon and i knew it would be pretty cold after that. getting out of the water i barely needed to towel off the wind was so strong. i let myself air dry while building a small sandcastle and watching some soccer players.

dried and dressed i returned to the hostel for a cheap, delicious dinner of spaghetti bolognese while chatting with some other travelers. i made quick friends with a couple of Irish girls and a German guy and the four of us decided to walk down to the bottle shop and split a case of beer. walking back with our box of Tooheys New, i looked up and finally caught my first glimpse of the Southern Cross. we stayed up late that night, drinking and talking and meeting other people and generally having a good time.

the next morning i boarded the Nimbin Shuttle with one of the Irish girls, Jen, who'd recommended it. after boarding i realized it was the same bus, and driver, that i took to get there the first time, years ago. as we left Byron and started climbing into the hills i began to notice a haze on the horizon that was growing quickly. i had just commented on it to Jen when the driver announced that practically the whole of New South Wales was experiencing one of the worst dust storms in its history. by the time we reached Nimbin the sky was red and the air was thick and left a taste of clay in my mouth. gazing up i noticed that the sun actually appeared blue. Nimbin itself was pretty much exactly as i remembered it, small, a tiny bit dirty & dodgy, but mostly quaintly hippyish. we stuck around for 2 hours, more time than you need in Nimbin, but the shortest amount of time to make a tour seem legit. the bus then headed thru the Nightcap National Park and we stopped to take some pics of a koala who didn't seem to care much that we were there. then we headed to a water fall, or more accurately a place where a water fall would be were there any water. as it was, a small trickle cascaded down into a gorge, the bottom of which we couldn't really see because of the dust :-\ can't win em all.

from there we drove for less than 5 minuets before the driver stopped to let me out. from here i would make my way to Jasper Hall, and that, will have to be another post, because this one is too long already and i'm hungry for dinner.

Ta for now

Busy in Brizy

very little time to post this, but just wanted to say that i'm in Brisbane, about to board a bus for Byron Bay and really begin my adventure. things have been sunny, warm and fun so far. met up with Rich and had a great afternoon yesterday. can't wait to get to the farm.

i do have to have one small rant. for a country that actually grows coffee, the coffee here sucks. that's because nobody drinks drip, brewed or filtered coffee here, it's almost exclusively esspresso. asking for a regular black coffee will get you an Americano, which they don't call an Americano, but a long black. WTF! i guess i'm just going to have to break the caffine habit or switch to tea. anyway, all the rest is wonderful, although i must say i don't remember things being quite so expensive. then again, last time i was here i had a $150 a week allowance. how times have changed :-)

keep well, love you lots
cheers
Nick

Parting with Portland

expect to see this next sentence a lot: i'm so sorry i haven't posted. things have been crazy busy, beautiful, and sooooo much fun! i just haven't been able to set aside time to work on this. i have been playing with iMovie and am working on getting some things up on YouTube and post them here. keep posted.

last morning in Portland. eating oatmeal and watching cartoons with Chad. i don't know if i can begin to tell you all the things that have happened since i got here. soccer games, good beers, bars, clubs, parks, shops, books, boys, trains, busses, street cars, drugs, sex and rock 'n roll!

right now i'm just packing up and getting ready to head to the bus station so i can spend 17.5 hours on a Greyhound to get to San Francisco. very excited for that.

okay, sorry this is so short but i have to finish packing and go see if a certain someone remembered to mail a certain package in a timely manner.

much love to you all, i promise more is coming soon!

way back in Portland...

well the flight there was predictably obnoxious. i'm not exaggerating when i say there were no less than 20 very small children on the plane or when i say the 6'4" 350# man sitting next to me had small seizures in his sleep so that his elbows were constantly in motion well onto my side of the armrest. whatever. flying sucks.

Portland, on the other hand, does not suck. it's probably the least sucky place i've been in a very long time. a true planner's paradise, everything just fits together in a beautiful mosaic of urbanity. after gathering my luggage from the carousel i made my way to the MAX train where i talked transit with some locals just returning from Hawaii. i got off the train downtown quite literally in front of Chad's work, Rock Bottom Brewery. after some hello hugs and a post plane IPA we walked back to his place where we spent the rest of the night reminiscing and planing new adventures, giggling and laughing like little girls.

day 1)

the next morning, having slept in a bit later than Chad, who had to work, i tidied up the apartment and set out for food. sitting at a sidewalk table, reading The Oregonian to catch up on local issues and eating the most delicious apple walnut pancakes ever, i watched a british family trying to decipher the parking restriction signs. at an understandable loss, they asked me if i knew whether they could park their car where it was, to which i responded that, while i did agree with her interpretation of the sign, it was only my first day in the city and she had better ask someone else. in the end, they decided not to risk it, but she did snap a picture of the sign, announcing her intent to write a letter of complaint to the transportation department for producing such confusing signs. tourists.

after that it was off to REI where i felt very much like a kid in a candy store and spent at least 2 hours looking at bags and shoes. i managed to find the perfect little backpack but was less lucky in the shoe department. Vibram Five Fingers (VFFs) are in high demand everywhere without the supply to match. however, the customer service department said the Hillsboro store did have a pair in my size and would hold them for me for 3 days. from REI i was off to Powel's books and was again overwhelmed by the wide selection. after much browsing, hemming and hawing, i eventually landed on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, a book i've been meaning to read for a long time.

day 2)

with a free cup of Starbucks in hand (Chad's boyfriend Chad--yes, they're both named Chad--works there and snagged some free drink coupons) i boarded a Blue Line Max train to Hillsboro to pick up my new VFFs. the ride was uneventful and mostly just read my book between glances at the ridiculously hot boy sitting directly across from me. a single bus transfer later, and i found myself at a very stylish "Lifestyle Center" or outdoor mall as they were once called. imagine my disappointment to learn that there had been a miscommunication and instead of the KSO VFFs i had requested but the Sprint VFFs. so i bought some shorts on clearance and headed back to the city center a sad panda indeed. but my mood was soon lifted when i met Chad back downtown for the Timbers game--the Timbers being the local soccer team--which was made all the more fun with $2.50 beers! GO TIMBERS!!

day 3 - 5)

Vancouver! this will be covered in another post

day 6)

just recovering from days 3 - 5: laundry, internet, TV, sleep, photo & video editing, & 1 beer. that was about it.

day 7 -10)

i couldn't really tell you what happened on each individual day. nights out at the bar, days walking around town, coffee shops, museums, streetcars, parks, movies, 1/2 price sushi, 5 for $5 nights at CC's followed by Voodoo Donuts (i know it sounds wrong, but bacon maple bars are the BEST!), avoiding street kids, hanging out with Chad & Robin, or Chad & Chad, or Chad & David--in short, Life.

day 11 & 12)

these days will get their own post soon. way too much to cover here. i'll just say this is the day i met Nick Mattos :-)

day 13)

Mushroom Monday. if you need more explanation than that, you're not getting it here ;-)

day 14)

had a leisurely morning with Chad before he had to be off to work. i headed downtown and dropped my bags @ Powell's, totally taking advantage of their baggage check. then i met Nick and had an amazing last afternoon with him. Lunch and a few errands later and we said our goodbyes in front of the bus station before heading out separate ways. i boarded my Greyhound bound for San Francisco and bid farewell for now to the Rose City. it's only for now...

All my bags are packed, i'm ready to go

well the day has finally arrived, and it's very surreal. i've been on a roller coaster of emotions in the last 48 hours when the immediacy of this trip made itself fully realized in my head. nervous, excited, happy, anxious, sad, fearful, impatient, joyful, etc. but here i am 5 hours from departure and not sure how to fill the time. i've packed, unpacked and repacked my bags 3 or 4 times over to make sure i have exactly what i need and nothing more. i'm sure i'll change my mind on some things after a couple days in Portland and even more once i finally get to Australia, but that's what endurance traveling is all about. i've said goodbye to everyone, made all my plans, cleaned my room. now we play the waiting game... awe, the waiting game sucks!

anyways, i didn't really have anything to say but...

Well it's about time!

so, i've been talking about starting this blog for the past six months, which isn't all that bad considering i've been talking about the trip which inspired it for the past six years. for those that don't know--although anyone who reads these first few entrees really should--i am finally setting out on my much anticipated return trip to Australia. ever since my initial visit in 2003 as a student in Ball State's Australia Center program, i can't seem to shut up about the place. even when i'm not actively talking about it, the idea of a return trip has held a prominent place in the back of my mind. i fell very much in love with the country to the point where i feel i can't really move on and decide on a "Grown Up" life until i've gone back to properly investigated my love of the place. was it a fleeting thing? connected to a specific time and the people i shared it with? or was there something more, something inherent in the confluence of sea, hills and culture that touched my soul in a way few other places have? there's only one way to find out. and so, on September 19th, 2009 i leave the country of my birth in search of the country of my choice.

my intent is to tour the country with the seasons in a vaguely figure 8 pattern, starting with the most familiar places, Byron Bay & Lennox Head. from there i'll head south to Melbourne, followed by Tasmania, Adelaide/Kangaroo Island, Alice Springs/Ulurur (Ayers Rock), Darwin, Broome, Perth, Canberra, and Sydney. Sydney being the departure point for New Zealand. one can't be too thorough when searching for the country of one's choice, now can one?

having listed all those cities as destinations i should probably clarify that i don't actually plan to be much of an urban dweller while down under, listing the cities is just an easier reference point for me to type and you to visualize. but apart from casual touristing in the territorial capitals, most of my time will be spent in the surrounding countryside working as "volunteer" labor on organic farms. i say volunteer, but really i will be exchanging my labor for food, shelter and an education in the day-to-day workings and management of such an enterprise. so really, in a way, i'm going to Australia to get my Masters Degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management. i'll be away from home for 2 years, meeting lots of new people, learning new skills, and interspersing my hard work with trips to the beach. see, just like college. well, maybe not that last bit about the beach, and i won't have a sheet of parchment with fancy calligraphy backed by tens of thousands of dollars in debt to say i'm smart. but other than that, it's just like going back to college.

as for this blog, my hope is to use it to chronicle my adventures, post pictures and videos and all those other things one does with a blog. i plan to try and post at least once a week, so if i start to slack feel free to send an irate email demanding knowledge of my whereabouts and doings. oh, and if the lack of capitalization bothers anybody, tough shit. that's the way i roll, bitches. ;-)

nick bilz