Thursday, July 28, 2011

U.S of A.

New York, New York, it is my favourite city, it has a magnetic energy and I always feel so happy here. Even in the winter, despite my intense loathing of cold weather I feel enlivened by the big apple. Today though, it is a hot summer day as I sit in Bryants Park on 42nd St overlooking a patch of perfect green lawn, surrounded by New Yorkers enjoying a "can't feel the weather" summer evening.

Being back in the US has made me feel more homesick for Melbourne and my wonderful family and friends that I have since I left almost four years ago. I think it is because of the similarities in culture and the familiarities of a Western lifestyle.

After jetting halfway across the world I touched down for a six hour LA layover; spent at Manhattan Beach, eating pancakes and toasting in the Californian sunshine with the ever fabulous Jamie and Alex… now thats the way to stopover!  Wearied from my 20 plus hours in transit I boarded yet another plane for an overnight flight to Florida where I was greeted by a wall of heat and humidity as I trudged out the airport doors.

The US segment of my adventure was set to bring education and new skills but first I was to be reunited with some of my new friends of the past six months.  I was welcomed to Florida by J Lee who I had met during my first week in Costa Rica back in January, after a much needed disco nap a night of Sushi, Southern style rock and much cheap beer ensued. 

After a week of cheese grits, collared greens, macaroni cheese, biscuits, iced tea, beer, a not half bad attempt at throwing my first pot and tubing Blue Springs it was time to meet up with Howard (who I met in Argentina in April) and Aponte (the super cute K9) and make my way towards NYC.

Orlando, Florida to New York City is around 1700km of Interstate which features pretty much just highway framed by a wall of woods on either side and dotted with fast food stops and gas stations.  We made our way through Georgia and stopped in South Carolina for some good ol' Southern seafood and to check out the pretty city of Charleston. The next day we headed for North Carolina, but not before a sweltering stop at "South of the Border", a crazy mexican themed roadside tourist complex. Escaping the scorching heat we continued North, through Virginia and onto Washington DC to meet the President…well not really but I did get to see The White House which was pretty cool!

As always I was bewitched by the big apple and spent my week there traipsing the streets of Manhattan, biking the beat of Williamsburg, being initiated to PunkRope, catching an off Broadway show, stuffing myself silly with Sass at Smorgasburg (the über delish Brooklyn Food Flea Market) and enduring a stifling New York heat wave… 103 degrees is Hot in the City!

After a few weeks of good times, old friends and new, halfway around the world and the US and a great seven plus months of mostly lollygagging it was time to apply myself to something and switch gears from N to D… Wilderness First Responder training (http://www.wildmed.com/first-response/wilderness-first-responder.php) and Colorado was calling…


J Lee and I high above the oldest city in America!


Never too old for the carousel


Sunset over Florida waters


Aponte and I barely escaped a gator attack at Disneyworld!


A big ass Southern bridge....everything's bigger in...oh that's Texas


Sweltering @ South of the Border


Hello Mr President


New York...how I love thee


Completely Ukrainian... actually just the High Line


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Half way around the world and back again

My few days in LA were a breath of fresh air and it was an absolute joy to be there. Warm blue sky Californian summer days, late cafe breakfasts, live music, great friends and ticks in all of my to-do list boxes.


Being back in a metropolis, back in my old-real world was surprisingly agreeable, it certainly did not hurt that I was completely spoilt rotten!


Jamie put me to work on the first day with a little removalist work-out, we followed up our working afternoon with a spot of shoe shopping and a thirst quenching pear cider....or five.


That evening I got a taste of an American, formerly junior high only sporting phenomenon "Dodgeball". Previously I thought Dodgeball was simply the cinematic comedic brilliance of Ben Stiller, but no, it is seriously competitive stuff. A high energy combination of concentration, coordination, retro fashions and musical flashback... if its not already back in Oz I am bringing it!


My LA stopover was sweet but way too short, before I knew it I was en-route to Thailand for some more of my old real world.


A week in tropical paradise... Old friends, a beach wedding, my own tranquil waterfront villa, bachelor/ette shenanigans, tanning, a burnt esophagus, Buckets, Dvd's, sweating, sleeping and future lifestyle designing was how I spent my seven days in Koh Samui.


After six months of being on the move, forever forging on towards a new destination, trying a new activity and constantly meeting new people I found it a little difficult to be idle... I can only imagine it as a taste of what lies ahead when I return to Melbourne later this year.


For now though there is only more new places and people on the horizon as I board another plane and long-haul my ass back to the US for the next chapter of my crazy adventure.


Stay tuned...


Dodgeball fashionistas!

Junior high sports for grown ups

The ever fabulous Jamie & Alex

Two vodka Nicole!

Bachelor / ette monkeyshines

Me and Lems

Super cute couple of the day

Twilight Koh Samui

Beach beauty @ dusk