If only you could just drop everything...

But I am and have been raised way too pragmatic and rational for that.

I just saw a movie "Before Sunrise" wow, it was almost painful to sit through...it so accurately captures those moments that every traveller encounters when they travel alone in an alien environment...

where you meet and have an instant connect and amazing rapport with a complete total stranger who you only came to know as you were in the same place at the same time....a chance encounter that had like a one in a zillion chance of happening...

The worst part is you both have your own separate lives to return to very very far apart in geography and that heavy feeling in your heart is that you know you can just enjoy the present moment and then have to say Goodbye never to see that person again. That it was a transient encounter that you have to let go and forget about to spare yourself the pain of separation. The challenge (especially for females) is always about not getting emotionally attached...

And even if you are foolish and try and keep in touch, the timezones and daily life opposite to your own and your responsibilities back home in the with the passing of time get the better of you, so it is actually easier to not even try and just accept that it was a nice moment, that it is what it was. And that's that!

Apologies for AWOL-ness

But I'm totally settled into "holiday" mode now- eg tending a blog is like a chore...cos I have way more fun and mentally stimulating things I can preoccupy with!

Off the top of my head some fun things I did this week:

I ended up hanging out in a random town where I found a random lawn bowling club having an international tournament so I hung out with the oldies in a very relaxing "club setting" where there was cool Hawaii type hula music playing and I thought I should be sipping a pina colada with a pink umbrella sticking out...I had the big sunhat and dark glasses too, lol...evidenced by the fact that I bumped into someone from many years ago who said he didn't recognise me cos he couldn't even see me behind said hat and dark glasses-LOL! I digress...back to the lawn bowls...of course an old man asked what am I doing in said random town "are you here to visit a boyfriend?" I responded indignantly: "Of course not! I'm here because I LOVE lawn bowls...Duhhhhh." People are too presumptious. How many times have I had love of lawnbowling misunderstandings... :P I swear it is such an ageist past-time LOL!

This morning I hung out in an art gallery...this is the third I've frequented on my trip...I could so do this for a living...I did find myself saying of this particular one though re: the odd piece "I HATE that!" and wondering who the gallery director was and that I'd like to have a word or two with them for several misfires of misdirected(read:wasted) funds! Saw a really good exhibition of something pretty unique but I can't say cos it is so unique that would just pinpoint my location which would be an invasion of privacy on par with the evils of facebook.

A funny moment this week was feeling so idiotic and sheepish that I let out a sheepish grin- which elicited a "you have a lovely face and a lovely character" -HILARIOUS! I know INTJs should smile more often...it's a major social advantage however unfortunately I can only do it when I am embarrassed about being stupid-the sheepish grin, or if I find something so funny I am cracking myself up or laughing at someone! Other than that it's the stern and serious penetrating glare of a scorpio gal with x-ray vision seeing what lies beneath :) with no concern for what you don't want seen ;)

I met some cool peeps this week of note a professional flautist and a ceramic artist- why is it that I only meet cool people travelling...it's like cool interesting people DO NOT frequently EXIST in my residential big city...Believe me I have TRIED to disprove this FACT :P

I ate a heck of a lot of good icecream and gelato though I DID NOT APPRECIATE having to pay almost $8 for a frickin icecream...boy do I feel poor in this country- I even met an Old Scandinavian man from Finland who agreed...if they with the highest standards of living in the world find it expensive how are us poor local plebs meant to feel??!

Yup I talked to an awful lot of senior citizens this trip, especially old men, lol that's just the segment of society I just seem to get on with, the most exciting of which was a magician who performed levitation and who did a *magic* trick on me which I was totally chuffed when I somehow managed to perform it back on him!

Other than that I'm back by the ocean again, the weather improved significantly, along with my mood...or maybe it's just cos it's the RABBIT year!!! YAY!!! Happy Chinese New Year ^^ Off to do more eating...I think I feel like espanol tonight Mmmm!!!

p.s two pics as a peace offering...a beautiful view (I climbed that damn mountain in 35 degree temperature- more with the heat baking off the bitumen in SLIPPERS! ouch...), this second one was my left over paella - lol how cute is that box it is literally about as big..or rather as small...as my palm!

Wash Me Clean

So it’s 420am and the sun hasn’t even broken yet. I duck out to the loo and spy the miner? In an adjacent room in his orange suit and hard hat has left for work already. I’m in rural Australia…Loving it up, lapping it up!!! In summary, I AM SO CUT OUT TO BE A COUNTRY BUMPKIN ^^ ^^ ^^!

But I digress… the reason for this post: I had a very “revelatory”? conversation with a good mate last night probably one I could have used a long time ago…I had so much guilt I couldn’t sleep. I felt almost like I was confessing to a priest…anyway hopefully like the title of the KD Lang song and how it seems to work for Catholics I’ve been cleansed…and can go back to sleep!

On a somewhat related note I have been thinking about baptism…the jury is out but wow, talk about the ultimate “cleansing”. When I got this leaf necklace for my 30^th it signified the birth of a new era of living by faith…but maybe I need a ritual cleansing too…if anyone has had one( an adult voluntary baptism), would be interested to know if you think it’s worthwhile…Later bloggies!

P.S Oh boy has obtaining a workable net connection in the country been somewhat of a challenge!!! So yes apologies for not being around in the blogosphere to read all your interesting blogs…When I miss the net I miss all my blogger peeps!!!

*HO your candy is in the mail- don’t usually like to spoil surprises but figured I owe you…no doubt you’ve been STARVING without your daily dose of Zhen…hehe ;)

*JJ I’d send you candy too but I don’t think it’d be good for your blood sugar levels- and besides you have your harem ;) BTW it's only cos of your msg I bothered to post...I miss you or our "understanding" too!! Anyway gotta run!!

*how time flies*! 11.1.08, 13.1.08 – la clique: TF♥

Please Keep Me Warm, Santa!

I don't know what happened but suddenly I find myself exhibiting some sense of normalcy because my emaciated frame is actually starting to feel the cold for the first time, probably ever. I have no idea how this is going to work when I am traversing the far extremes of the Opposite Pole in the height of Winter...

I can only hope that maybe Santa will bring me an extra warm set of gloves, earmuffs, jackets, thermals, furry hats and scarves if I so require.

That also leads me to some concern...how exactly am I supposed to fit that much in my luggage- must I travel with a TRUNK? Yikes.

Something tells me I'm going to need some nice Northern hemisphere person to grant me the favour of dumping a load of stuff at theirs while I do my happy wanderings... three continents, experiencing multiple cultures, half a year...or more...I canna wait!!!

Zhen...Globetrotter!

The seed has been planted. I think I want to try and travel again.

So I think I have to start going all tight ass and lock myself up to be able to afford it...and hopefully the exchange rates improve by then!

Just a tentative plan and hope...but I guess we'll have to see...

Latent City Malevolence...

Well in terms of luck today was like seeing the complete flip side of the coin compared to yesterday! Typical sine wave...

That's duality for you! LOL

Well I don't have time to detail everything so I'll just share the one main story that sent my stress levels skyrocketing today...interesting thing is my astrological calendear had warned it'd be a stressful one today! LOL

So anyway I needed to get cash out...but my local ATM was highly suspect eg I could totally jiggle the card holder part which was poking out a bit too much....skimmers! I thought I'd not take the risk...

So anyway I decided to just EFTPOS at the small grocery store instead...after a separate stressful incident involving a newbie operator who wasted my time for 40 minutes and then couldn't even refund me the money they'd taken off me for no service, I realised...SHITE! The rather large sum of cash I had EFTPOSed prior for my weekend away...well she'd never given me the cash!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!! It's not like little grocery stores even have surveillance cameras...so if the operator had pocketed my cash that's buhbye and one big dent to my paltry savings!

In any case to cut a long story short I gave the shop a call...and spoke to the manager...she was very good. I think it happens quite a lot...the monotony of the day for the check out chicks numbs their brains...and the girl had forgotten...cos my hands had been tied and I'd been rushing around like a mad chook I hadn't noticed either that she'd given me my groceries but no cash!

ANYWAY....was stressful...lesson learnt...need to be more careful...not that I'm not but I get forgetful and scatterbrained especially when busy and tired...

When I headed back out to claim my cash back I took along Horace and it was very relaxing- there is just something about making black and white images that really benefits my psyche especially when my nerves have been shot!

Yes, I really DO NEED this weekend escape- but unfortunately I'm gonna have to drag study up with me too...next 2 weeks are pretty hectic for me- if anything I'm probably overdoing my capacity...in any case I don't mind lugging the study stuff as long as I get to commune with nature. :-D

It's 1:23am and...

I'm BORED OUT OF MY BRAIN! (this very rarely happens). I'm waiting for my hair to dry.

Had a great yoga session tonight (first I've managed in 3 weeks but apart from that...blergh....the daily grind is just getting too mundane....cramming, cramming, cramming. I think it only struck me how sucky my current routine existence is after I managed to see REAL LIVE friends(by accident) and realised it is actually fun having these :p...and when a friend pointed out that basically our existence revolves around 1)study and 2)making sure we don't fail. That reductionist view of our lives has festered into discontent...and if I wasn't so overcommitted time wise I would be so tempted to just select some random date in some random drop down menu and just take some random trip...somewhere. I think I can be a bit of a demanding excitement junkie when my life is not packed to the rafters...Need so much mental stimulation...

I also found out that this year's breaks are my last "holiday" periods before I enter the working world, which for our field means no real holidays again...hmmm, so tempted to actually take a proper trip....hmmm maybe I'm just feeling envy that the folks are in the other hemisphere, with my sister just returned and my other sister due to go in October. That just leaves me the sole non-jetsetter in our family :( oh well at least there are less than 12 hours before I get to see my mate D from Japan and we're going to stuff our faces over yum cha...so that will be at least some "event" in my mundane existence...

Travelling...

***

Postcard from...Home.

Home. So relaxing. Just finished my tai chi class and feel as loose as a jellyfish- doubting if I even have bones! A hot guy just yelled at another driver who failed to stop for me at a zebra crossing...it's all about "community" law here...so civilised ;)

The sign at the Hippie Shop today reads: "There are 3 ingredients to the good life...Learning, Earning and Yearning".

A cool breeze cuts through the balmy warmth just enough so it is comfortably pleasant and unsticky. I'm sitting under a canopy dining alfresco on some steaming wok-fresh thick-cut noodles...my favourite!

In front, a father watches while his two young sons take turns divebombing off the jetty...

As the sun prepares to bed down for another night, pelicans bask on the lake soaking up its last rays, and I find myself dreaming of the day I'll be back...

This "adopted home town" is truly an inspiration- it is the one place I never fail to remember to Enjoy The Present. Cheers :)

It's Been a Year.

Today culminated in a really looooong 300km 6 hour round trip to complete a "ritual" that started Friday. I happened to pass by my old town and felt a profound sense of Yearning... SOOOOO HOMESICK and SAD I couldn't still be there! But I felt better doing my trademark seaside walking meditation...walking along with the waves lapping my feet and sand squelching beneath my toes and ambient music in my ears with the sound of waves crashing in the background....is that Perfect Happiness or what?!!

In any case, Conclusion...

Attachment is Evil. As is Mushy Sentimentality. Blargh.

Tomorrow, a shorter trip, lunch and a class of Tai Chi with some uni friends...wow how refined is that?

Five-Toed Sloth In The City

Now that the non holiday season has kicked in, I find myself wondering what to do. I know I should be responsible and earn and save some money while I have spare time...yet while half-heartedly researching various employment alternatives, I find myself and my inner Hippie first and foremost called...drawn...lured back to The Land: back to basics, crisp mountain air, early mornings, yoga and plant foods only.

The city just does nothing for me except transform me into a five toed SLOTH....because I'm constantly tiiiiiired (think: energy totally sapped by electromagnetic radiation) and uninspired...I just don't feel like doing anything productive! I also don't appreciate the heat or muggy stickiness of Summer here which in this age of global warming is often annoyingly interspersed with wintry blasts of gusty chills or sudden downpours of heavy rain.

Maybe I just need to give myself a good smack and hold myself to Discipline but then I find myself justifying this particular rural stint with it being "value adding" to my future career prospects...What to do? What to do? argh. Isn't it nice to have the luxury of choice? For that I am truly grateful!!! Maybe I should just enjoy the luxury of not having to work for the relatively short time it is available...although this would mean not being able to travel, this is probably being more realistic as I would likely need to head straight into training with a mentor after I'm done with the studies.

I guess I can always go travelling overseas repeatedly in smaller trips when I've earnt some decent money and strengthened my physical constitution, rather than do the whole lengthy backpacker odyssey through umpteen countries which will no doubt be skimming the surface and very tiring....and plus the dollar looks like it will be very crappy for some time yet and I don't know how long I could last physically without decent sleep!

Sorry, just talking to myself.

I'm baaaack!

But very very tired.

I was so glad for a *hot* shower, although even after scrubbing and soaping myself many times over and a fresh change of clothes, I still feel decidedly dirty.

First thing I did -no surprise- was do the washing... I got so unbelievably filthy. Next top priorities after cleaning, will be sleeping, eating asian food and catching up on the internet world.

I kind of miss the never ending interesting times and companionship of my backpacker family (who perhaps by the types of people that are drawn to vast open rugged spaces) I have a whole lot more in common with than my fellow Sydneysiders, but at the same time I am totally exhausted from such a social life and looking at my clean, spacious and comfortable, convenient loner abode with fresh, appreciative and admiring eyes.

The brother and the kidlets get in tomorrow and then there is Xmas, New Years etc etc so like everyone probably won't be as excessively conscientious as I usually am about tending my blog...but hopefully I'll get round to sifting through the fruits of my and Horace's labours and post some pics on a new pic blog soon.

...It was a misadventure waiting to happen...

So, I only just got back to civilisation for the 3rd or 4th time after being in woop-woop again...hence internet and mobile reception- woohoo what luxury!

In any case, today, the 2nd last day of my trip I stuffed up and it was kinda stressful cos literally I pretty well got left with just the clothes I'm standing in, and not even any clean underwear or possibility to acquire any...(okay you probably didn't need to know that however I thought it aptly hinted my stress level at the situation.)

So anyway, luckily I fly back to the comfort of home (and the guarantee of clean underwear) tomorrow night...so look out for more elaboration and maybe even pretty pics in days to come :)

I sure had an interesting time and bar today's misadventure it all went reasonably well and it was a really good **social** and learning experience for me...I think I really want to go to Europe now...but with how the dollar is and my flying issues hmmm...but I think as soon as I get back I'll try and get full time work so I can start saving...I think soon I'll be too old and tired to do another extended trip(and with at least 14 countries to cover it's gonna be more than double duration and even more challenging!)

A Return to Civilisation...

I find it ironic that the last time I used that title was on my return to the city...Now my thoughts have flipped 180...in "civilisation" I'm referring to my old regional town...I finally went back for the first time in 10 months!

And wow, what a welcome it gave :-D On the way up, I couldn't help but feel sheer inspiration and awe at the beauty and majesty of the natural scenery, even though I'd seen it countless times before.

The weather was perfect, and as I sat contentedly on the waterfront breathing very-much-not-taken-for-granted-clean-air eating fish and chips, a Pelican flapped right down near me to visit close enough so I felt the water spray off its wings. Not only that but my favourite Husband and Wife Duck who used to accompany me on the trail home at dusk also dropped in to visit! I Love Ducks :)

When I was sitting there waiting to leave a Rainbow appeared!

Unfortunately, when I was leaving the city, it was horribly overcast and raining so at the last moment I removed Horace from my bag so sorry no pics :(

Although mentally I knew and remembered people up there to be Niiiiice, it was still quite a shock to actually experience the genuine warmth and friendliness of the locals! I felt a bit strange though to be confronted with such a different world and realised definitely after being in the city for awhile now I'd become more reserved, inhuman and standoffish again. I was taken by surprise when cars actually stopped for me at the zebra crossings, there was actually SPACE and nobody was puffing a ciggy in the vicinity let alone my face!

Being a bit of a hippie town, I managed to stock up on 10(!) more crystals which I haven't seen here in the city...the more interesting ones being Apatite,Coral and Peacock Ore(iridescent rainbow)...sorry too lazy to pic them!

The one I was most drawn to immediately out of the comprehensive collection was definitely the apatite-the colour was just so pretty!

I think if I'm going to be stuck in the city for another 2 years minimum I really need to go up more frequently to save my sanity- it's such a positive vibe and so reenergising and relaxing :-)

Couchsurfing: Just Curious!

image: turin chaise longue sofa from furniture123


Well-travelled R who just returned from a many monthed epic world adventure, *envy*, recently told me about "couchsurfing" - yeah, folks we live on an isolated island continent here- it takes a while for information to permeate through LOL

In any case, for someone who is limited by the fact that she doesn't do long haul flights (and let's face it when you're in Australia, that is pretty limiting), so anyway, the concept got me very excited- when travelling solo, I think being able to see a different place through the eyes of a local is totally unreal, however being a small sized female generally quite cynical about the good intentions of society, I wasn't sure how wise or advisable it is for someone like me to actually try...(in the event that I do get myself on a long haul flight.)

And, cos I pretty well hold my personal space as SACRED there is no way that I would want to have random people in my place since I can't even stand the people close to me living with me for too long! So I think it's kinda unethical using the service unless one has a couch to offer...

But hmmm...I LOVE.LOVE.LOVE talking to people from other countries, people whose experiences so differ from my own:
I love learning stupid phrases in all different languages!
I love learning country specific slang and culture specific ideas!
I love talking similarities and differences and I love exotic accents!
I guess that's why I love having penpals cos that's the next closest thing. I'm still looking for one that I'll still be writing to when I'm 60 though-hint, hint ;)

I'm still keen to explore the bits of Australia I haven't though as I'm still trying to stake out where I want to relocate in this vast island when I'm ready to set up shop. I'm really tempted to use this "couchsurfing"methodology not to crash at random strangers as such but just to get to meet up with some locals and learn about actual living in the new potential area though cos as always...I'm always drawn to places where I know absolutely noone-it's just more exciting that way! All my friends and family are total city slickers anyway :P

On the other hand I love exchanging stories with people about my country too...so maybe not 'couchsurfing' as such but a cross-culture or cross-locality interchange...that is, unless I ever decide to open a hostel...

I don't think so.

I am NOT a Hippie!

So today with child-like zealousness I set out to a particular part of the city I rarely frequent with sole mission to join an organic wholefood co-operative, inspired by my recent trip and the fact that my parents keep going on about the huge spike in the costs of food.

I was pretty disappointed with what I found. Although it seems "cool" to be part of a cooperative... with this particular one at least, the freshness of the produce was lacking, the knowledge of the produce was lacking, the prices were surprisingly high...so I'm sticking to the bi-monthly organic produce delivery service :)

So anyway having been ensconced in Hippie-ness far more than usual lately, I've realised all the labels I've always refuted are just that-PLAIN WRONG: I am SO NOT a Hippie!

Okay, so maybe I'm into alternative therapies, herbs, crystals, organic food, nature, the environment, astrology, tarot, foreign cultures, progressive ideas and I listen to world music...avoid certain conventions and support certain socialist ideals...HOWEVER That doesn't make me a Hippie!

Here is my case:

1) I always wear shoes- especially on the street.
2) I bathe EVERYDAY without fail. I can't stand dirt and generally don't smell bad!
3) I'm generally quite with it and articulate- none of that glazed eyes phenomenon and dopey expression for me!
4) I dress boring and prefer a classic black to a rainbow palette and exotic accessorising.
5) I like bourgeoisie things like glasses of red wine, imported chocolate, Italian leather, swiss watches, diamonds...LOL

Adventure to the Hippie Heartland
So during my trip we did manage to venture to what would probably be classified as THE Hippie Heartland of this country. It was really grotty and there were quite a few deros indiscreetly trying to make sales: do you want ganja, mushroom, cookie? In any case, I thought it was amusing that I was the only one of our party to not get asked.

So anyway, one of our party couldn't resist giving a cookie a go - from a herbalist's point of view, observing the after effects was utterly fascinating(except for the puking part)...yup the raw stuff ingested directly is pretty potent! Moral of this story: ALWAYS follow dosage instructions from your "pharmacist"-better yet don't take *stuff* unless you need it! LOL

Of course being the herbalist I am, I had to undertake a little "investigation"...on recounting the whole story my mum was rather concerned, however I reasoned with her that if I was gonna turn into a druggie surely it would have happened already during my artsy fartsy digital media days? And in any case, honestly,I have access to waaaaay more consequential chemical compounds via my Chinese herbs if that was my calling! Who would be so stupid to spend exorbitant amounts on illegal western stuff when you can can get such easy and valid access to much more potent and legal stuff?

Haha yes it has occurred to me that being a Chinese herbalist could actually make for quite a good underground money spinner...except for the fact that I am into it for therapeutic purposes...LOL I think The Hippocratic Oath is binding on ALL healers not just conventional ones!

One GLORIOUS Week :-)

Got back. It was incredibly hard prying myself off that golden sand and out of that hammock- I must have glanced back at the spectrum blue water and rolling waves over 5 times before I could finally get myself to leave...and even then, it was very grudgingly ;)

One week is just the minimum amount of time to escape- I realise it took me 2-3 days just to fully unwind and lose the tension that had gathered in my body. About 2 days before the end of my holiday I started getting tense again at the thought of having to return to the city...

But at least I was completely at ease and able to relax 100% for 2-3 days :)

It was a pretty *interesting* and thoroughly *enjoyable* escape...

Actually, I don't feel any need to blog LOL: Holiday was THAT Sanity restoring ^^! Somehow, as long as I have beautiful fresh clean air and am near the water, life just becomes instant perfection and content : )

*Completely Rejuvenated*

No time to elucidate details though...after indulging in the luxury of a zero modern communications week, just sorted through what accumulated and realised I'm kinda busy - it's pretty well right back to half throttle at least- with quite a menagerie of things happening starting later today...

So maybe I'll backblog bits and pieces later...after I've had a chance to sort the photos!

BIG CONCLUSION: I really have to do these getaways more often!

:-D