Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Last days
The time has finally come and I am heading back to the CONUS tomorrow. Need quiet. Many many people in Sydney, way too overwhelming. This will be the second to last post. Conclusion will follow soon. Thanks for reading. Cheers.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Grinding gears, and ravenous ranting
Typically I would like to think that I have patience. Today however I think I have reached my limit. Trying to get a hold of American Airlines to change my flight date has proved nothing more than a futile waste of energy and money. As I sit here at this terminal I am wasting the last 12 minutes of my 10 dollar an hour internet. In conclusion to the hell I have been in this day, I had one button to push and my time ran out and closed all my hard work. After 3 phone cards running out of money, I have been unsuccessful in trying to contact AA through their Aussie number, instead I had to use the phone cards to call the US through the 1800 number. As a 10 dollar card will only get you about 22 minutes with this type of call, time was of somewhat precious value. After sitting on hold, speaking with somebody, sitting on hold, speaking with another person. Getting my details out, I needed an earlier flight. She had one ready for me that would take me straight from sydney to Las vegas no problem! That is fantastic!!! She got my email, and now needed 42 dollars for the transaction. after all his waiing i finally get somewhere. then my card runs out of money and he phone call ends...ahhhh11111! and this damn keyboard doesn't work1!! aHAhh!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Ayers Rock
I have found the adventure associated with the desert. The desert Solitaire. I was able to make it out of Sydney, but now it seems I am stuck at a resort/hostel with every direction to go, but no way to get there. They strategically placed this resort 20 km away from the rock so it is unlikely anyone will walk there. You then have to jump on a shuttle bus for the low one time fee of about 150 dollars to drive up to the rock. There are other rocks just as far away in the other direction but these too require beacoup de l'argent. Renting a car is an option, but who knows. The last resort is hitching but seeing as how there is almost no traffic and 450 km between towns, I don't think I want to attempt that just yet. Cheers from the canyon desert rock country of the Outback with nowhere to go.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sydney
2nd March 11'
Yesterday I experienced my first Earth quake, or rather an aftershock. I was playing guitar on top of a 5 story parking garage, when my podium I was seated upon started rocking back and forth like a bad massage chair. I looked up and all the light posts were swaying very rapidly as well. 30 seconds later it was all over. Must have been small because nobody else around noticed.
After hell at Sydney airport I finally arrived at my hostel with what seems like 110% humidity and 45 degree weather. Pretentious I know, but I hate English units I really do...The Hostel...The Hostel I am at is similar to a projects apartment complex, but less likely to stand in an earthquake. The "Dining" area is the aluminum roof at a 15 degree angle. There are two bunk beds in my room which would normally hold one person in any other situation. Weird people too asking me questions about whether or not they should pee on the police building, or shaking my hand with no force...If you are going to shake my hand; squeeze.
A tour of the city after I moved in found me up in Hyde park. A lot of firsts there last night. I saw bats with a 3 foot wingspan flighting in the air above my head in the trees, Cockroaches the size of cuban cigars, and rats....I have only seen one rat in my life and I multiplied that number by more than enough. Then there are these weird kangaroo ratlike creatures that might be wallabees? But they are smaller than what I googled. They are creepy critters. I miss NZ where you can camp anywhere and have ZERO fear of anything trying to kill you. There are no bears, snakes, spiders, wolverines, or people. Here there are 6 of the 10 most deadly snakes, spiders, kangaroos, and people. I made it to the Opera house though and it was even better than in every movie I have seen since the Rescuers Down Under. Hopefully Andrew can explain why there are so many Bowls, or what goes on in there.
The nightlife is akward as well. While trying to get my bearings, the roads are very confusing, and if it weren't for a girl a while back telling me to look "Right" for cars, I would definitely have been hit twice last night. The district the people at the hostel told me to go was full of kids all trying to get into a PACKED bar. Bars are Bars are Bars. I do not understand why some people want to wait in line to wait in another line to wait in another line. I left immediately. A 5 minute walk found me in a very flashy neighborhood full of sex shops, strip clubs and bars. These bars however were slightly different. At first I knew something was different, but couldn't point it out. Then after noticing that there were no more girls in this part of town, and all the men dressed absolutely fantastic while holding hands I realized I was in the gay neighborhood. I guess my ignorance has never found me in a place like this and it was very different from what I am used to. Usually it is just a bunch of Chads trying to hook up with Tiffany's (Same story different place all around the world) but here was different. There were no lies, just dudes in bathtubs in the bar windows...I left to get a pizza and go to sleep.
I may leave tomorrow to the Western side of Australia and get out of the city and into the desert which calls my name. I watched 127 hours yesterday on the plane and frankly this was one of the best movies I have ever seen. One of those that makes you want to run away to the desert solataire. Cheers.
Yesterday I experienced my first Earth quake, or rather an aftershock. I was playing guitar on top of a 5 story parking garage, when my podium I was seated upon started rocking back and forth like a bad massage chair. I looked up and all the light posts were swaying very rapidly as well. 30 seconds later it was all over. Must have been small because nobody else around noticed.
After hell at Sydney airport I finally arrived at my hostel with what seems like 110% humidity and 45 degree weather. Pretentious I know, but I hate English units I really do...The Hostel...The Hostel I am at is similar to a projects apartment complex, but less likely to stand in an earthquake. The "Dining" area is the aluminum roof at a 15 degree angle. There are two bunk beds in my room which would normally hold one person in any other situation. Weird people too asking me questions about whether or not they should pee on the police building, or shaking my hand with no force...If you are going to shake my hand; squeeze.
A tour of the city after I moved in found me up in Hyde park. A lot of firsts there last night. I saw bats with a 3 foot wingspan flighting in the air above my head in the trees, Cockroaches the size of cuban cigars, and rats....I have only seen one rat in my life and I multiplied that number by more than enough. Then there are these weird kangaroo ratlike creatures that might be wallabees? But they are smaller than what I googled. They are creepy critters. I miss NZ where you can camp anywhere and have ZERO fear of anything trying to kill you. There are no bears, snakes, spiders, wolverines, or people. Here there are 6 of the 10 most deadly snakes, spiders, kangaroos, and people. I made it to the Opera house though and it was even better than in every movie I have seen since the Rescuers Down Under. Hopefully Andrew can explain why there are so many Bowls, or what goes on in there.
The nightlife is akward as well. While trying to get my bearings, the roads are very confusing, and if it weren't for a girl a while back telling me to look "Right" for cars, I would definitely have been hit twice last night. The district the people at the hostel told me to go was full of kids all trying to get into a PACKED bar. Bars are Bars are Bars. I do not understand why some people want to wait in line to wait in another line to wait in another line. I left immediately. A 5 minute walk found me in a very flashy neighborhood full of sex shops, strip clubs and bars. These bars however were slightly different. At first I knew something was different, but couldn't point it out. Then after noticing that there were no more girls in this part of town, and all the men dressed absolutely fantastic while holding hands I realized I was in the gay neighborhood. I guess my ignorance has never found me in a place like this and it was very different from what I am used to. Usually it is just a bunch of Chads trying to hook up with Tiffany's (Same story different place all around the world) but here was different. There were no lies, just dudes in bathtubs in the bar windows...I left to get a pizza and go to sleep.
I may leave tomorrow to the Western side of Australia and get out of the city and into the desert which calls my name. I watched 127 hours yesterday on the plane and frankly this was one of the best movies I have ever seen. One of those that makes you want to run away to the desert solataire. Cheers.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Au Revoir Shoshana
28th Feb 11'
I am finally leaving NZ. Last night I departed my dear friend Adaleine jusqu'à ce que nous nous reverrons à Paris! Spending the last couple of days with her, made me realize I speak a lot more French then I thought. Now just to translate the underwater mumbling I hear that is the French Language being spoken to me. Au Revoir Shoshana!
I left the horribly boring industrial city of Invercargill (Pop. 50,000) for the airport in Christchurch today. 8 hours later I finally arrived. The complete and devastating wreck that claimed the heart of CHC has wide spread effects. Most stores are out of water, toilets are not to be used ie. "if it is yellow let it mellow". Worst, every Hostel/backpackers/Motel Hotel Holiday inn is completely full for as far as I am willing to pay for a taxi. So last night I joined the elite group of airport sleepers! I have always wondered what happened to people that got stuck at airports overnight. I had to carry my guitar and pack at least 15 minutes before I found a "Kosher" place to sleep. There must have been a few hundred people sleeping there. Oddly however, they are all like me and have sleeping bags prepared. Maybe they couldn't find space in a hostel, maybe they know airports are free roof's with television. Regardless the lights are constant, which shouldn't be a problem from Antarctica, TV's always shouting, people always shuffling by and every 15 minutes, NZ's safety administration has to remind me to stay with my bags. Say Goodnight Dick.
p.s. if there is confusion with the timing of this, it was taken out of the journal from last night, and I am writing it across the street so it is confusing for me to write it in the future past prefix adjective participle thing.
p.p.s.s.p.s.Q? After being woken up by a nice lady telling me to wake up because it is about to get real busy in here, I found out that there were about 10 aftershocks last night, the biggest being about 3.6 on the Richter scale. I don't feel a thing. That is probably for the best.
Cheers! Internet is too expensive to post pictures. Will do so in a conclusion.
I am finally leaving NZ. Last night I departed my dear friend Adaleine jusqu'à ce que nous nous reverrons à Paris! Spending the last couple of days with her, made me realize I speak a lot more French then I thought. Now just to translate the underwater mumbling I hear that is the French Language being spoken to me. Au Revoir Shoshana!
I left the horribly boring industrial city of Invercargill (Pop. 50,000) for the airport in Christchurch today. 8 hours later I finally arrived. The complete and devastating wreck that claimed the heart of CHC has wide spread effects. Most stores are out of water, toilets are not to be used ie. "if it is yellow let it mellow". Worst, every Hostel/backpackers/Motel Hotel Holiday inn is completely full for as far as I am willing to pay for a taxi. So last night I joined the elite group of airport sleepers! I have always wondered what happened to people that got stuck at airports overnight. I had to carry my guitar and pack at least 15 minutes before I found a "Kosher" place to sleep. There must have been a few hundred people sleeping there. Oddly however, they are all like me and have sleeping bags prepared. Maybe they couldn't find space in a hostel, maybe they know airports are free roof's with television. Regardless the lights are constant, which shouldn't be a problem from Antarctica, TV's always shouting, people always shuffling by and every 15 minutes, NZ's safety administration has to remind me to stay with my bags. Say Goodnight Dick.
p.s. if there is confusion with the timing of this, it was taken out of the journal from last night, and I am writing it across the street so it is confusing for me to write it in the future past prefix adjective participle thing.
p.p.s.s.p.s.Q? After being woken up by a nice lady telling me to wake up because it is about to get real busy in here, I found out that there were about 10 aftershocks last night, the biggest being about 3.6 on the Richter scale. I don't feel a thing. That is probably for the best.
Cheers! Internet is too expensive to post pictures. Will do so in a conclusion.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Earth Quake
A large Earthquake just rocked Christchurch for the 3rd time in a couple of months. There have been many aftershocks since the first one in September, and a lot of damage done. But this one was especially bad because the buildings had been weakened previously. Many people have been killed and the "Unconfirmed reports" state that up to a few hundred may have already died. There are many people still under rubble texting and emailing friends, And let us hope that they are found in time. It is the biggest disaster I believe NZ has ever had to face. May everyone stay safe, be found alive, a let this be the last quake.
Monday, February 21, 2011
West Coast
Sun Rain Sun Rain More rain and beautiful mountians. NZ has everything Colorado has except more water. The trees are tall, but the mountains are impassable, unless you are a kiwi in which case they don't believe in switchbacks and point to the top of the mountain and don't ever divert from that path. I am now sitting in a grocery store in Te Anau (pop about 1000 which is huge for the west coast) writing this and will probably do an overnight kayak tour to doubtful sound tomorrow. Been hiking about 1500 meters of vertical every day and about 15 kilometers. Figure it out in American units...Mur'ka. Oh and I have a guitar on my back to help the situation. Rambling is rambling however and it is rainy today. The Fjords are abruptly rising out of the lake next to me with such stark contrast that it is a miracle the trees are able to take root at all. There is either flat or cliff in NZ. Flat glacier carved valley turned swamp, or cliff with eroding vegetation and old swinging 1 person bridges erected years ago. Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, Hokitika beaches, and now Te Anau Fjords. All I can say negative is STAY AWAY FROM QUEENSLAND! Unless you enjoy hanging out with 18 year old Americans who want to party harty, and even then they don't even party with style. The exuberent display of annoying that is everything an 18 year old American who is paying 600 dollars for skydiving one day then going on a 1000 dollar cruise the next, then renting a mountain bike for a week? I want their job...Aside from Queensland, NZ is everything. Cheers! Leaving in a Week for Australia which I hear is one big Queensland with more Germans...
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