Fixies, Ray Band Knock Offs, and Skate Spots for Days... Im Home

Welcome to Melbourne

I found my Pops emblematized as a statue

The hostel I stayed in has live Irish music every Thursday; basically, about 20 blue hairs gather in the bar room and jam till about 11:30pm. Amazing.

Window reflection

Dinner in Chi-town

Good Samaritans: Jamie Thomas and Julian Stranger

Annet from Norway and I on the trolley

Wall ride

Now this, does not happen in San Francisco

Check out the photos; this was by far one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had...

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/sydney-turns-red-dust-storm-blankets-city-20090923-g0so.html

Custard Apples & Palm Beaches

Wow... where to begin... I love my life. I simply and fully do. My path has been adventurous and exciting, the people have been exquisite, the memories are what shape my future. I am speaking of my friends at home as well as abroad, I cannot find the words to express how blessed and fortunate I am to have these people in my life. Let me begin by telling you about my new house: my roommate Andrew had his girlfriend Marine move from France about three weeks ago. When she arrived they decided to move out and get a smaller one or two bedroom for the two of them. They asked me if I would like to move in with them if they found a nice two bedroom place and I said I would love to as long as the rent was cheap enough. It was such a nice compliment to know that although Ive only lived with Andrew for three months and had just met Marine, that they really wanted me to live with them. Within about all of four days, Marine set to work and found a gorgeous flat off the Manly Scenic Walkway. This is where I went on my crazy 20 mile hike with Anna back in my first few days of arriving here. Check my first blog for photos. Anyway, it's amazing, it's one of the most prestigious and beautiful areas to live. It's peaceful and dead quite at night. We're right next to the harbour and at night I sleep with all the windows open and listen to the tinkering of the boats and the gentle wave flop onto the rocks. In the morning I awake to the sound of about five different exotic birds in the trees surrounding my house on the hillside. It's quite an experience to be awoken by sounds so unfamiliar. A few days ago I was describing the unsettling feeling I have when I look at the stars in the sky to my friend Lara. She had the exact same feeling in the northern hemisphere when she lived in London for a year. You don't realize how much of your life you spend looking at the sky and always knowing where to find certain constellations that it becomes a natural and consistent part of your environment. However, when I lay on the ground here and look up, I don't recognize anything, all the stars are different and I find they have more linear patterns that what I'm used to. Of course a few constellations are upside down, but again, it doesn't make it any more comforting. This observation has been a very reaffirming of just how far I am from home.

Back to the new house, again I live in the sun room, and I have the only view of the water from our flat, my rent is also only $150 a week which is $15 cheaper than what I was paying before. Sweet. I can still walk to work and the walk is just stunning. Such a lovely way to begin each day. Work is still very good. There girl Lara, who I mentioned above, is the new chef and she and I have just become the best of friends. She and I hang out pretty much everyday. She's a lovely person and I'm glad to have her here with me. Her family lives just up the road from my old house but they're originally from about four hours south of Sydney. And! Can you believe it, she just moved into a new flat as well two blocks from my new place. We had been house hunting and room hunting together for the last few weeks before it was decided that I was moving in with Andrew and Marine. She made me dinner the other night, little dumplings, and we sat on the balcony with her view that over looks the entire north shore harbor.

That reminds me, I have to tell you about my new Brazilian friend Plinio. We met at my friends BBQ a few weeks back and have shared some wonderful days together since. He leaves in a few days to move back to Brazil, he has been here nearly two years, so it's a bummer our time was short lived. We took the "crazy bus" to Palm Beach and spent the hot and beautiful day on an almost vacant beach. We had lunch at one of the most gorgeous cafes on the water and ate some beautifully prepared dishes. He and his friends have a weekly cook off on Sundays where they invite a few close friends over to have dinner and drinks. Plinio is a chef and it was his turn to cook; he make a absolutely stunning seafood risotto with prawns, calamari, and mussels. Friends played the bongos and we drank wine on a wooden table in the back yard. It's memories such as these that I am completely enamoured with living here.
On a very exciting note: two things!!! First, I have learned to play three new songs on the guitar, and I'm able to practice almost everyday so I keep improving :) Jade (Hamish's girlfriend) has an absolutely stunning voice and is a master at teaching me to play. I have my own guitar here so we have girls night when we sit and drink a bottle of wine and play together... well, she plays and I learn. One of my goals before coming here was to learn to play, so I'm very pleased with the progress I'm making. Second, there is a very well respected Emeritus Professor that comes into my work almost every day. He and I usually talk politics and social welfare when he comes in and we go toe to toe on the latest articles from the NY Times, Obama, and the health care reform. Interestingly enough, we had these discussions before I found out who he actually was. Until about three days ago I thought Stuart was the just they crazy, well informed, old guy who sat at table 7 every day and ate triple berry muffins. I now know that he used to teach at Berkeley, as well as another university in Arizona, London, and Sydney. Not to mention he is the founder and director the of the Sydney Peace Prize which is an internationally recognized award given to people for their commitment and work in humanitarian and social equality. Past recipients include Desmond Tutu, Irene Khan, and Olara Otunnu; I highly suggest checking out this link to the foundations home page: http://www.sydneypeacefoundation.org.au/index.shtml This year the award is going to the Australian journalist John Pilger, and Stuart, "ahem" I mean Professor Rees has invited me to attend the award ceremony at the Opera House in November. The word stoked doesn't even come close to conveying how excited and struck I am about the extraordinary opportunity that has been presented to me. Events in life happen for certain reasons, generally unbeknown to us at the time, but I think this is why I happen to stumbled upon working at the cafe. Ah yes, on that note, I'm looking for a new job... kind of...

Before arriving, I read an article on the plane that interviewed Matthew McCaunaghey (or someone like that), and it said that when he moved to Australia for a year when he was 19, he held 11 different jobs. I don't know if this is the source of my madness or just the subconscious challenge I have set myself up for to see if I can beat. Time will only be able to tell... Perhaps it has something to do with my constant restlessness.

Alright gotta go! Lots to do! I love and miss you all, hope you had an awseom summer! My first day of spring was September 1st; isn't that crazy?! Please, leave comments for the blog, it's a good way for me to know who's reading and to ask me questions rather than through email! Take care, hope you enjoyed the entry, im out!

This is how I got to work everyday at David Jones
And this was my view going into the city everyday... not too bad
Here they are! Get'em now!!! Custard apples son!
Ya, these guy hang around manly, no biggie
Plinio and I on the "crazy bus" to Palm Beach
There was about 5 dolphins that came by to say what's up when we were layin on the beach
The view from where we ate lunch
Plinio's
Mine
The chef of the night
Seafood risotto was ridiculous
Mini cupcakes got eaten before I got the shot... and strawberries for desert

Backyard sesh
My lovely Lara
"Italian Tuesdays" at Shore Club, ya I got in there
How cute are these dumplings!!!
Dinner is served
How lucky am I??? All these people keep cooking for me!!
The old house
Last sunrise in front of my place
The view when I'm sunbathing on days off... I'm just sayin...
Welcome to my Friday. Belgium molten hot chocloate... yup
Stumbled upon this by chance
The new house, and my bougainvillea tree I walk under to reach myy front door
Bedroom view
Balcony view outside my kitchen
Front yard
Backyard
Stairs in backyard lead to...
This view. It's amazing.
Of course I BBQ'd my first weekend there
Doin what I do best... is that grilled salmon...
Anna made it over to Manly finally
This is Sindu. She's from Nepal and we took her out for her 36th birthday
I'll leave it at this. According to Lara, by bending over (in order to be "upside down") and drinking water from the opposite side of the glass, it's a garuunteed way to cure hicups. I think we both just died laughing...