You had me at G'day

So this is it, the last week of my incredible year adventure in Australia. I am constantly being asked if I'm sad about leaving. The answer is no, I am so grateful to have had this incredible journey. Don't get me wrong, I am going to miss everything about this magical land down under but this isn't the last adventure I'll be embarking on. Life is what you make it, and mine is just getting started.
Catherine sent me an email with a quote that I can say I've definately lived. "If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you."-Elizabeth Gilbert
I have learned to love myself this year, and that is a truth worth discovering. When you start to look at people as beautiful and perfect, you do the same for yourself. Losing that judgemental impulse takes time and practice but the benefits will continue to amaze you. The more people you meet the broader your spectrum becomes until eventually the differences become normality. Pure simplicity at its finest.
The reality of leaving is seriously kicking in. I feel like I had lost the travel buzz over the past few months. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm taking it for granted. I know I'm blessed to be here but after you've been in one place long enough that initial awe of seeing things for the first time starts to die down. Knowing that I'm leaving it soon has brought the buzz right back into full swing. My eyes are wide and my soul is soaking in every last drop of paradise. I found a little spot in this massive world that can only be explained when you see it for yourself. Australia, you had me at G'day.

To froth or not to froth.

I dig my toes into the sand, The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket, I lean against the wind, pretend that I am weightless, and in this moment I am happy, happy. -Incubus
Today Sweet Tangerine took her first maiden voyage into the Coral Sea. It was magic. After two weeks on a surf trip up the coast I feel alot more comfortable surfing on my own. Gerroa, Yamba and Byron Bay were our destinations of choice. I could completely fib here and paint an insane image of clear skys and perfect surf conditions, however that is far from accurate. It rained all but 4 days and the waves were generally crappy and actually non-existant for 2. Needless to say, I got bigger waves in my bath tub. After a severe case of cabin fever, I went out for a little bit to catch the back end of some whitewash. Desperate, yes. The trip was still deemed a success, fun was had and great friends were made.
The term "frothing" is one surfy term that I have become quite familiar with, though I may not ever fully understand which bloak came up with it(?) Froth: - (to describe how you react when you see something of extreme coolness. Taken from the condition that dogs get called rabies, when foam starts coming from their mouth). . . .that's not the only thing animals do when they get excited, but I suppose "Dude Im totally peeing" never caught on as a catch phrase. Ok so the last part is a little nutty, but I think surfers can go a little mad, much like a frothing dog.I do like froth on my coffee so Im going with that one! Anywho, I messed my knee up pretty bad on the trip somehow. I've let it rest and gave myself until today to heal. Finally got to go out this morning and yes, frothing. The weather could not be more perfect. The water is crystal clear and not a cloud to be seen.I was so excited this morning to wax up my new board and walk down to Freshwater, permanent smile all day. Paddling out I felt like my eyes couldn't open wide enough to take it all in. Life at its finest. The shorter board will take a little getting used to but I'll definately be able to grow with it. Ahh can't wait to wake up and do it again, and again, and again. Nice holiday but good to be back!

Life on a vine

The 16 days I just spent living on a vineyard in South Australia have literally flown by. Quite possibly because I feel like I've known the Ness' my whole life. This family has a love that you can't help but be drawn to. This is a part of Oz that I could have only experienced by living it. This part of the country is glorious to say the least, vineyards and green fields as far as the eye can see. Peaceful, slow, simple. The constant wine buzz definately helps the atmosphere, I've been downing my fair share of the good Lord's grape juice! I'll be really honest now though, I don't know how many more times I can say goodbye. It's very easy for me to give all the love I have in my heart to the good people I meet, but turning around and leaving them is getting harder and harder every time I have to do it. Especially because I know good and well I might not see these wonderful people ever again. In certain situations I can be very good at guarding my emotions and keeping a careful watch on where I let my heart wonder. It's my internal defense mechanism, my way of protecting myself. So far it has proved to be a successful way of convincing myself of my own independence, however my walls have slowly been chipping away on this trip. Does love ever run out or is it truely an infinate supply? Adios to the South, thank you for such a lovely visit. Hope to see you again one day.Geese, this wine is really making me emmotional. . . Onward to a two week surf excursion up the east coast, time to detox!

I made it! I'm officially living the life that I could have only made up in my mind. This could be the most sureal feeling I will ever have. It's also a bit scary, almost like it's too perfect and I should be waiting on something rediculous to completely knock me upside down. As I've always said though, things happen for reasons we may never know. Having the faith to be undeniably ok with this idea is something that only now I am comfortable with.
I live on a peninsula on the northern beaches of Sydney called Queenscliff. A five minute walk to Manly beach on the right and the same distance to Freshwater on the left. The most incredible surf town vibe. Cool cafes and shops, friendly people, active lifestyle and insane beach atmosphere. The Hodson's (family I live with) are a super laid back couple that I've allready become great friends with. Emily could very well be the cutest ten month old little girl I've ever seen, super happy little thing. The house is prime location and I have my own huge balcony overlooking the ocean and city. At the moment I have my doors open and Im listening to the neighbor's party, which I don't mind at all considering they have an acoustic reggae band playing. It is a sweet world we live in, seek and you shall find! Hopefully my travel tales will inspire others to keep pushing until they find what they're looking for. Take action! Learning to trust your instinct is only perfected with downfall.

Re-located

The next big Australian move has begun. I am now Sydney's newest resident and could not be any happier. I feel the most intense feeling of peace and thankfulness. Brisbane was a great experince, it seemed to give me time to catch my breath, save up and regroup. I was safe and could not have found a more caring family to have lived with. However, three months away from the ocean was long enough for this beach bum.On my first day of Coogee Beach exploration I found a quaint little book shop on the main road. What I found next seemed to be some sort of sign, for me at least.
In a tiny book shop in a small beach town all the way in Australia I found "Letters from Point Clear". For me it's these simple moments that can put the biggest grin on my face. It felt like someone was saying, "Home will always be there waiting, keep living it up!" And that is exactly what I plan on doing.
In a beautifully written letter from the Brown's when I left, Paul Coelho was quoted in saying; "The universe will conspire to bring you all that you want." It allready has, and I am forever grateful. Australia Round Two: to be continued. . .

40 million and still going. . .

Today my dad informed me that the oil could be reaching Mobile Bay on wednesday.I've never felt so helpless, especially being on the other side of the world from this horrific disaster. It can also be seen as a blessing being so far away, at least I don't have to be there to witness any of it. I can only imagine what 40 million gallons of oil is going to do to our coastline and seafood industries. That's what home is to me, a day at the beach, fishing long afternoons in the gulf and an abundant selection of fresh seafood. What is happening? The thick crude oil covering the white sandy beaches, dead dolphins, birds and sealife are images I can only pray never to see up close. My heart goes out to the shrimpers, fisherman and any others in the seafood industries that will be completely out of work for the next 10 years. It's easy to turn a blind eye when you don't care about an issue at hand, but my home coast happens to be something I hold very close to my heart. There is already close to 40 million gallons of oil floating in the gulf of mexico, the worst part is it's still going. They can't stop it and efforts to clean it are failing. "Figure out how to cut the damn thing off", one of my favorite quotes from a Louisiana fisherman. Plain and simple.Already six weeks into the initial explosion and there is no guarantee this spill will be stopped by august. Democrats and Republicans alike are both in agreement that we need to seriously step it up! It also makes me agry to sit here and watch world news correspondants arguing over this issue in their fancy buisness attire, they have no idea of the good people and environment it's effecting. Pointing fingers at this point isn't going to help anything, it just diverts the focus. We know who's fault it is and we also know who has the most control over efforts to solve it.
Fact: Happier than ever to be on the clean coasts of Australia this summer, never taking it for granted!

Brisbane and so on. . .

Welp, as if things couldn't be going any better. I will officially be living on the beaches of Sydney (Queenscliff)come July. A five minute walk to Manly Beach, great running along the coast and surfing galore. I will be keeping a nine month old little girl named Emily whose parents I've allready skyped and seem to be super chill and sweet. I will have a ton of free time and the whole month of september/october to travel and see anything I might have missed along the way. Seriously looking forward to this one, especially after I buy a board!
Brisbane is absolutely great so far, no complaining here. The boys keep me company when they're not at school, so far "the crepe game" is an all time hit, don't ask. Basically I run after them and if I catch them they roll on the ground like a crepe and have to name a filling (chocolate, sugar, berries etc.)I seriously think I could be slightly delusional when I come up with some of these things. But if I wear them out it only takes one good book to put them into snooze mode by the end of the day. Easy cheesy.
It feels good to be back in a routine of some sort. The Koala Conservation Park is right up the street. It's the largest Koala reservation in the world. Incredible bike trails and hiking paths through beautiful wildlife. Note:Kookabura's sound like monkeys (slightly annoying at 5am) and the rainbow parakeet is magical to see fly in front of you. I wake up every morning with a fresh cuppa (coffee) and a long run or bike at the park. My new favorite song for the uphill part is Men at Work-got to keep on moving,download if you havent allready.
South Bank is my favorite part of town. Hung out at the man-made beach which is smack in the middle and then watched sunset over the city from the Goodwill Bridge. The walk back was the best part, the promanade runs between the river and cultural gardens. The arbor overhead provides a canopy of fuscia flowers and glowing paper lanterns. If this place hasn't been in a movie, it will be soon. I wonder how many proposals happen there? There is always a pluster of different cultures wondering around as aimlessly as me. This place gives new meaning to perfectly lonely, so relaxing. The live music every evening is the cherry on top. Modern, hip and just plain entertaining. Hopefully headed soon to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast which are both convieniently located outside of Brisbane. That will have to be a blog in and of itself. Untill then my friends, "nothing to do, nowhere to be, a simple little kind of free. . . i'm perfectly lonely."