Without Direction

Hi everyone! First of all, sorry for the complete lack of posting to the site. I promise to fill the gaps, but first I’ll let you all know where I am right now; I’m back in Brisbane. Yes I’ve been here before, and yes it is on the opposite coast to where my journal left me last. Such is manner of unplanned travel.

After my last roadtrip, which shall be chronicled in depth in later entries, I was in Perth, on the west Coast of Australia. We checked into the cheapest hostel in Brisbane as a group. When I say hostel, you might have in mind a cheary colorful place full of fresh faced youths, eager for the break of dawn to explore yet another cultural icon of Perth. Rather you should think along the lines of a hippy residence, East coast USA, circa 1972, except, on the sun drenched west coast of Australia. A single house in the middle of vancant lots at the end of Perth’s party street, surrounded by a wall, often lept over; (often business conducted tool) with spaces to the rear and front, choc-a-block with broken and mis-matched funiture, and many empty beer bottles. No reception, no rules. Welcome to the house known to other backpackers as “the dark side”.

But don’t be mislead. I could have left for the hostel across the road, with swimming pool and Air-Con at any time. The sooty exterior concealed something of a gem, in your spic-and-span hostels that exist today - “A community”. So when a notice appeared on the notice board, showing a “teddy bear” blindfolded, a knife to it’s neck with a ransom note, everyone knew immediately who owned the bear, and who the likely suspects were.

There was a cast of tenants, that would make Dickens blush. Many of the people that hung out there, didn’t even live there; the just washed and ate and hung out there, and then retired to the back of their vans and cars to sleep. One Irish guy checked out, and promptly moved into the sitting room. There were the Irish guys, mostly working hard and living hard. Labourers mostly, a diver, all complete with Irish tans. The deadlocked Itailians, who visited to eat, and wash; play guitar and smoke. The young brash South African brother and sister; the English girls, one loud, one quiet. No americans. From time to time, a new face would arrive; sometimes leaving quickly, scared by the grimmy exterior of the people, the place.

Once in it was easy to get stuck. Everynight in Perth, there are deals for travellers. One pub PAID you to go to them, $5 a person, and a free BBQ. Another took $250 bucks from a group and give you a $1000+ bar tab. It was easy to drunk on $10. And we did. Everyday there was something going on, the beach, a BBQ in the hills. Days went by. I released I had to move, to decide where to go, and how. My visa was running out. I had to fly, I booked a flight to Brisbane; leaving the day after St. Paddys day.

Surprisingly maybe, St. Patricks day isn’t a big deal for me in Ireland. I usually avoid the city, but in Perth, it was fun. The streets were closed to make way for stages and drinking. Every non-Irish person in house dressed in green, Irish music was played, there were water fights, Irish dancing leasons, alot of beer. It was loud, brash but rather good fun!!
As you can imagine I took the plane to Brisbane hungover. So I was in Brisbane, what next?

I’ve spent a great week and a half in Byron Bay. Really landed on my feet. A very kind friend of mine I met in Thailand lives in Byron, and let me stay in her house for a week for free. Thanks Karina!!

Byron Bay is a pretty cool place, with a real hippy vibe to it. There are about 30 yoga classes each day, massage and reiki healing everywhere in town, and everyone is really laid back. The other thing to do in Byron is surf. Of course I couldn’t come to Australia and not surf right? So in Byron Bay one morning I went for a surf lesson. I’m a natural, stood up on the first go which was cool. Check me out!!!

The other cool thing in Byron Bay is the cinema in the Art factory. You can lie down in the seats! Nice!

Hi all, well I’m in Adelaide, for 3 days now. The road trip from Melbourne was a blast. I don’t have the time to tell you all about it now but it involves wild Emus, koala bears, a near miss with a Kangaroo, Mozzies, surf beachs, camping wild, good people and lots of fun. Tomorrow I’m heading with some of the same people and some new people to Perth, should take about 17 days or so. Since there really isn’t ANYTHING between here and there, I’ll update you all in Perth !!

I’m on a road trip to Adelaide. 10 people, 6 nationalities, and 2 Ford holdens. Camping all the way. Should be fun, I’ll update you all when I get to Adelaide.

G’Day avid readers, from Melborne, Australia. After some plane trouble,  I’ve arrived just in time for the Chinese New Year and the St. Kildas festival, so there should be lots to do and see. As for my plans from here, well I really don’t have any!! Going to think about it over the next few days and figure out how to travel around this bloodly big county!

 Any suggestions?

There are lots of new photos added. Check them out using the photos link on the top of the page!

There are many reasons the people come to Dunedin. For some, it is to the see the Royal Albatross , with it’s giant 3 meter wingspan. Others come to see the rare Yellow Eyed Penguins or the Fur Seals. For some its the Hertitage and links with Scotland. I, however, had set myself a challenge.

“The Challenge: To pay into the Speight’s Brewery Heritage Tour and drink the entrance fee back in the tasting room”

I had done the math(s).

Cost of tour :  $15.00

Cost of Speights Handle : $4.50

Required handle to be drunk: 4+

 As I paid to the cashier, I was upbeat. The cashier had lived in Cork, “Irish?, you guys can put away the drink.” Someone on the inside.

I felt even better when I released the cashier WAS the tour guide.  I sized up the others on the tour. Would they hamper the pace and but the whole challenge in jeopardy?

3 Ozzies  (2 Sheilas)  :  Well I can count on the Ozzies. Pissheads.

10 Americans :  This might be a problem. Some of them like they have been on Spring Break though.

4 English : Could go either way.

2 Dutch guys : Result.

1 Irish guy : Me. Must lead from the front.

We started the tour. The usual brewery stuff with some funny stories etc. told with Kiwi wit. The clock was ticking. Starting at the top of the brewery we worked our way down, floor by floor. The tasting room was located on the bottom floor. Our descent was slow but steady.

Second floor: The tour guide leads us into a room and turns on a video. Speights promountional adverts and crap. Speights adverts feature these two “Southern Men” , no-nonsense outdoor types who ride horses and work the land. Real men. I glance at my watch nervously. ” I don’t know about you but watching that makes me thirsty” . Thank god. We move to the tasting room.

 My heart sinks.

On the bar are 20 odd glasses of beer. Not handles. Small glasses. 1/2 handles i think, maybe a little less. My math needs revision.

Cost of tour :  $15.00

Cost of Speights Handle : $4.50

Required Glasses to be drunk: 8+

That means returning to the bar 7 times. I’ll need to set the pace. We all take a glass. The guide brings us though the tasting process.

 Smell the beer; can you smell the hops? -  tip your tongue in the beer, taste the sweetness -  take a taste. Let to roll though your mouth.

  I drain my glass in one go.  Not subtle, but we need to get this ball rolling. The others are sipping and tasting. Even the Ozzies look like they are some sort of connoisseurs.  Give me a break mate, where else in the world can you buy beer called piss? 

It was looking grim.

“Hole in your glass mate ? ” , the guide, “Sorry ’bout that, can’t have a Irish man without a drink. Same again?”

2 beers down, 6 to go.  

I look at he Ozzie guy, he look relieved and knocks back the glass.  There are 5 Speights beers.  Porter, Gold, Pilsner, Old Dark and a summer limited edition that has ginger in it.

I’ve had two golds, so if I get one each of the rest, I’d fail. I order a porter.

“The porter tastes better a little warmer than it pours, here are two to compare”

 Both taste like Murphys.

1 Pilsner , 1 Old dark , the ginger beer. 

7 Beers down. 1 to go. 

It was looking good.

“Ok folks, thanks for coming to Speight’s tour. Hope you enjoyed the beer.”

 People start to filter out. So near. Failure.

“One for the road mate? ”

Ah success from the jaws of defeat. I take my glass, hold it up to the light, bask in the golden color. Smell the beer. mmmmm hops!Taste it with my tongue tip. Sip a little. Knock it back. Success tastes good.

8 Beers drank : Cost of tour NZ$0

From the http://www.dailypost.co.nz/

A Maori cultural performer who headbutted a tourist and broke his nose said he did it because he thought he was being laughed at.

Richard Minarapa Mitai-Ngatai yesterday admitted in the Rotorua District Court breaking the nose of Dutch tourist Johannes Scheffers by headbutting him during a Maori welcome at Tamaki Tours on November 24.

The 40-year-old said he assaulted Mr Scheffers because he thought he was laughing at him.

Prosecuting Sergeant Jim Broom told the Rotorua District Court yesterday that Mr Scheffers was part of a group of 160 tourists visiting Tamaki Tours.

They were being given a formal traditional Maori welcome.

Mr Scheffers was one of the nominated chiefs for the welcome and he was told he would have to lift a peace token which would be placed at his feet. He was also told any sign of laughter or humour would seem to be disrespecting the ceremony.

During the final part of the ceremony Mr Scheffers gave a nervous grin with no intention to be disrespectful.

Mitai-Ngatai approached Mr Scheffers and “physically nudged” him in the face with his forehead causing the Dutch man to fall backwards with blood coming from his nose.

Several of the tourists were shocked by what they saw.

Mr Scheffers received a small fracture to his nose and had swelling to his eyes.

Mitai-Ngatai admitted what he had done but said he thought Mr Scheffers was laughing at the ceremony.

“His [Mitai-Ngatai’s] intention was to nudge him back into the line with the main group of visitors,” Mr Broom told the court.

“However, the force he used was well in excess of his intention.”

Mitai-Ngatai co-operated with the police. He was ashamed of what he had done and was remorseful.

Brilliant!! Apparently a couple of years ago a Maori  reinacting  welcoming  the Europeans to New Zealand decided to  change history and started fighting with them!!

Wanaka Is a really pretty little lakeside town. Good food, good beer, good walks.

A bunch of us from my hostel decided to climb Mount Roy , it’s a pretty steep climb all the way up, but with my new found fitness it was no problem.

The views from the top where spectactular.

After our hike, 10 of us went to dinner in the Indian Restaurant. The food was amazing!! Indian Palace or something is the name…

Got a lift to queenstown tomorrow . Cool.

Today I went ice walking on the Franz Josef glacier.

I went for a full day walk which is really much better than the half day hike.

The group was 20 people which was split into 4 groups according to ability, I choose the hardest. It wasn’t too bad actually, and we got further up the glacier than the other groups and did some trickier climbing.

Higher up you get “Blue ice”

and some huge folds of ice to walk in

There is a cool parrot which lives on the ice too, its called a Kia. Its really smart and has even managed to lock trampers into a hut!

Great fun even if it was really cold and wet, but hey its a glacier!