More Spontaneity

Plans change, but as always it's best to go with the flow...

I got down to Mooloolaba with plenty of time to spare (and once again much earlier than planned), and had a great couchsurfing host there as well. The triathlon went really well, for the organizers in general and me in particular. I got rostered on for an extra day of work early in the week, and having spent the last few days just chilling out beforehand I was well rested and ready to go. A good thing too because it was standard event hours, with my work days ranging from 9.5 to 14.5 hours long. I missed out on seeing most of the World Cup races, but had a pretty good time working in the age group transition area where I did commentary, helping a couple thousand mostly confused athletes figure out what they were supposed to be doing, and answering the same four questions about a millions times each. A little repetitive but more fun than the before and after parts - the set-up and take-down of all the racks for said athletes. On a side note, it's amazing how many people will still try to park in a parking lot that is half full of bike racks, has a "CLOSED" sign posted, and barricades across the entrances.

It wasn't all relaxing at the beach beforehand though. I went for a "hike" in the Glasshouse mountains with Jimmy, my couchsurfing host (who participated in the triathlon- way to go Jimmy!) and one of his friends. It was only about an hour up, so he said, and I guess it was, but it sort of slipped his mind how near the top it goes very suddenly from hiking to climbing. While we were a bit surprised by the sudden change in steepness and difficulty level, we weren't about to turn back so we kept on going. We eventually got to the top where we were treated to a lovely view of clouds, and the start of a typical Queensland downpour. None of us wanted to end up on the six o'clock news as the hikers who had to get airlifted from the mountain, and since it didn't look like it was about to clear up anytime, we decided to head straight back down, going very slowly. On the plus side it wasn't hot, but it is a little worrying when there are small waterfalls running down the rock face between your knees, and you can't always see where your next step is. Despite the less than ideal conditions we made it back safe and sound, and celebrated being alive by stopping on the way back for some steaming hot classic Aussie meat pies.

So hiking adventures and triathlon out of the way my next step was to join Klaus and the crew of Zero Gravity as soon as I could. I was hoping to get another ride share up the coast to Mackay, but that fell through and I ended up taking a not so lovely, long, overnight bus trip. I have since decided that distances that long are best not covered by bus, which takes even longer than a car due to the many stops, and is rather difficult to sleep on even for me, and I generally sleep easily while traveling and was already exhausted from work and post work partying. Needless to say I was grateful for my bunk on Zero Gravity which is docked at the Mackay marina, and blissfully floated off to sleep that first night to the gentle rocking of the boat. Unfortunately, while I was finally where I wanted to be - on board a sail boat destined for the Whitsunday Islands and further destinations - things don't always work out, and plans have to be adjusted...

Our speedy departure has been delayed due to mechanical issues, and we will now not be able to get out of Mackay until after Easter. This was at first disappointing to me since I have limited travel time left in Australia and am keen to be on my way, but since hearing the news I have formed new plans. More spontaneity = more opportunities. It seems like everyone I've been talking to lately has been parroting the same thing to me, something along the lines of: "you only live once and you never know when or if you will ever come back to the places you travel to, so you may as well take advantage of where you are". Which is why I decided to dip into emergency funds and set myself up for a very non-traditional Easter weekend.

As it turns out, one of the guys on board Zero Gravity was planning to head up to Airlie Beach by car ahead of the boat anyway, so on Good Friday I'll get a lift up to what is without a doubt a backpackers' Mecca. Normally I might go for couchsurfing or at least a quiet hostel away from the tourist strip, but I figure my days are numbered for still enjoying being in the middle of youthful insanity, so I booked the cheapest hostel I could find in the center of activity. While this in itself should offer plenty of opportunity for festivities, it's not the sort of festivities I would normally expect at Easter. I normally celebrate the holiday with my family, but since they aren't around I've decided to do mark the holiday by doing something special on my own. This would be enjoying a spectacular aerial view of Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays from several thousand feet - from outside the plane. I've heard lots of skydiving stories recently, and since it's something I know I want to do one day, I figure there is no point in waiting.

Happy Easter, enjoy the long weekend, and I'll be back with a post free-fall blog next week.

On the road, again!

It feels like I barely declared my intentions to trim my belongings back down to what fits in a backpack and get back on the road before I was out my front door and on my way to Bundaberg. Had things followed my tentative plan I would still be in Brisbane, but traveling is all about being spontaneous and taking opportunities as they come, so here I am.

I was looking for a ride-share up to Bundaberg to up the fun factor and lower the costs, so when a french couple with a camper van contacted me on Monday to say they had space for me, but were leaving the next day, I just started packing faster. Luckily my housemates had planned a going away dinner for me on Monday, so I left just late enough so that I didn't spoil their plans by leaving early!

It turned out to be a good decision, because the couple were planning to go to a sea turtle rookery Tuesday night, and they booked me in as well. I got to see baby logger-head turtles climb their way out of the sand and make their nocturnal dash for the ocean - definitely the cutest reptiles I've seen on this continent!

Fortunately my change of travel dates worked well for others as well. Klaus, the captain of the boat I will be sailing on, was eager to meet me as soon as possible so he can get under way as soon as possible. This may prove problematic with a cyclone warning currently in effect in the area, but the only thing to do is wait and see. After meeting him and the other crew, and seeing the boat, I have to say I am eager to join them on board, though that will have to wait until after I finish work at the Mooloolaba Triathlon, (although I suppose this could be a good thing since by then the cyclone should be well and truly blown over). Also, my wonderful couchsurfing hosts, Val and Ely, were fine about having me arrive two nights earlier than planned, and have been very good about showing me the area. I was left to do the tour of the Bundaberg Rum distillery on my own, but since they give everyone two free samples at the end of the tour, your fellow tourists are generally pretty friendly, if not at least in a good mood.

So now after my sudden departure and trip up north, I am heading back down to Mooloolaba with time to spare, and hope to enjoy being there for the weekend, and can maybe even pick up some extra hours of work leading up to the triathlon since I am in the area. With my arrival in New Zealand and coinciding - though hopefully temporary - joblessness looming, any extra income is welcome.

That's about it for this little update, it feels rushed but I needed to get something up since I've been so busy I don't think my parents even know I've left Brisabne, and I think there are probably a few other people back home who would like to know my general location. Now you do :)

Oh, Canadaaaa...

It was a great day to be Canadian on that last day of the winter games. As I tell people here, I'm not really even that much of a hockey fan, but that didn't stop me from being glued to the TV, pulling out my hair and screaming at the screen during the gold medal match a few days ago. Granted I had to watch it on my own on Monday morning Aussie time, although we did have a Swedish couch surfer staying at the time so at least she could relate a little. It was awesome to see it even on my own, but I think this was the first time I really felt regret at not being at home. Seeing the wall of red-clad fans in the arena, and the wildly enthusiastic facebook posts from friends at home made me wish I could be there to celebrate and share the moment with everyone one else.
During all the time I have been overseas, I have often missed my family and friends, or just being at home, but I have never had a sense of regret, because that's just the trade off you make for travel. Also, earlier I was restricted by flight schedules, whereas this time I could have stayed at home after Christmas, but made the choice to come back to Australia. In the end, I am glad I came back to Oz since my visa here will soon be up and I want to make the most of it, I just had to do my best to enjoy what I cold of the Olympics vicariously through the TV and friends and family at home. I think I have perhaps been thinking of home even more lately because the weather here has been very West coast-ish, i.e. days of steady rain. Plus, my brother has just returned home from his year and a half stint teaching English in Seoul, so I know he is enjoying the comforts and I wish I could be there to welcome him back as well.

And aside from watching the Olympics whenever possible, what have I been up to? Mostly the same as my last post I suppose - working when I can, training, and now that my days in Oz are numbered, spending as much time with friends here as I can. Since most of my friends and family probably know about it already, I may as well also add that I have also being seeing a very nice Aussie guy, Dylan, who I met at the Christmas party for 99Bikes. (He was starting just as I was quiting). It's going very well, but with my inevitable departure from Oz looming there will obviously be some tough choices to make. Also, with so little time left here, I have also been busy planning my next few steps of my journey...

I'll explain a bit about visas for those who don't know about them. I am on a working holiday visa, which allows my to stay in Oz for one year, and work so long as I don't work for one company for more than six months. (That's why I had to quit the bike shop). There is a possibility of renewing the W-H visa, but it requires you do at least three months work in regional Australia, typically on agricultural or related work. I haven't - I've pretty much been in Brisbane the entire time, so I don't qualify for renewing my visa. I know there are people who cheat the system and get away with it, but I'm not willing to risk not being caught, getting fined and banned from the country for five years. At least this way I can still return to Oz as soon as I like, but it will have to be on a tourist or, if I want to stay longer, a real work visa. Even if I want to stay/come back though, I have to leave the country when my current visa is up, or get kicked out, which I'd rather not experience.

So, back to the plan... while I have contemplated staying here a little longer, or leaving and coming back, the plan as it stands now is to leave when my visa is up at the end of April. With that in mind, I want to see a little more of this country before I leave. And, I felt I should at least compete in a triathlon at least while here, so for better or worse I singed up for a race! Just a sprint distance, but that's quite enough for me at the moment.
I have two more events left with USM, the next being at Mooloolaba (pronounced muh-LOO-la-bah), a couple hours north of Brisbane. I will keep my room in my current house till then, but when I leave for Mooloolaba I'll leave here as well. After Mooloolaba, the plan is to help crew on a yacht that is sailing north up the coast of Queensland. I was going to continue with that right up till the end of April, but I've changed my mind and will only go as far as I can before I come back for one more USM event, the Gold Coast Triathlon. It will be one more chance to earn a little more money and see friends in Brisbane before I leave.

And where will I go? New Zealand of course! I was contemplating coming straight home, but I think I would always regret not going to NZ while it was so close. It's been at the top of my list of places to go since before I even started to travel, and it's only my unexpectedly long stay in Australia that has kept me from it. But now I have to leave soon anyway, and as it turns out, the timing is coincidentally rather good for somethings else as well... As any loyal Ringers out there will know, production on The Hobbit is due to start a few months from now. For anyone out there who may have missed out on all pop culture of the last half century, the Hobbit is the book that came before The Lord of the Rings. Anyhow, the bottom line is I wouldn't be me if I didn't try to get a job on that movie. My goal is to get work as a runner, which pretty much is what it sounds like - you run around doing what more important people tell you to do. I have already sent the production unit a cover letter and resume, which where received with a kind response to re-submit once I was in New Zealand and have local contact details. This I will do of course, as soon as humanly possible once in the country. I'm not really sure what my chances of success are, but I know I would regret it if I never even tried.
If that doesn't work out though, I will look for work elsewhere, (I plan on getting a working holiday visa for New Zealand as well), and see how things go. I obviously would like to see as much of the country as I can while I am there, and how long I stay depends on how well that goes, what work I can find, and whether I think I can make it home on time for a Canadian summer. On the other hand, if I do manage to get a job on The Hobbit I may well find myself, once again, staying somewhere a little longer than planned.

That's all the major news I believe. Below I have put up some photos ranging from my visit with Jordan in Seoul to some more recent events here in Brisbane. Enjoy!

One of my favourite spots in Seoul, the Gio Cat Cafe, where customers enjoy a drink and the company of forty or so (mostly) friendly felines. The one directly below seemed to like the taste of my camera.





Teacher Jordan at work, and the colourful hallway of the English education wing at his school.



Shots from a chilly winter palace tour, and a street vendor selling traditional sweets.




The modern exterior of the Korean history and art museum in Seoul. It held many beautiful exhibits but exploring only half of it left me exhausted.



Brrrrrr! Jet lag and jumping into a very cold climate seemed to give me cold, and I spent a couple days recovering in the shelter of Jordan's apartment.


But then I went from that...

...to this!


Ahhh, summer! I was back in time to celebrate Australia Day - like Canada Day, but with more sun, BBQs and alcohol.


Driving down to the Gold Coast was an adventure in Dylan's mini, but the ride in the mini was worth it just to go on the Superman ride at Movieworld.




Fun with housemates and couch-surfers around Brisbane...

Nikki showing off her fire dancing skills, and couch-surfers enjoying themselves at Nikki's brother's birthday party which we had here at the house. Having my travel photo-book around is very handy to share with other travelers.




Mickey, the other cat in the house, likes choosing inconvenient spots to sleep.


Nikki and I, ready to see Avatar with our 3-D glasses and chocolate-dipped ice-creams.


Out with the housemates for a fabulously cheap buffet dinner for Josh's birthday. that's Louise beside Josh, and Fiona beside me.



Cooling off in the Southbank pool with couch-surfers Sara (Sweden), and Emma (Wales).