Check it out!

I must clarify that it is Mikey, not Mickey. Oren corrected me. For some reason I thought I saw Mikey write it like that once.
Also, we were reading the paper this morning and we found a great article about Jack and his new album. Thought I would share it with everyone!

Jack Johnson Gets Sparkey
Nui Te Koha
January 27, 2008 12:00am
//JACK Johnson tours with two sets of demands. The first is an eco-friendly backstage wants-list of fresh organic fruits and vegetable platters.
Johnson's other requests are for his wife, Kim, and their two young sons.
"Family is first and foremost," Johnson, 32, says.
"I build my career around them. When I tour, I design it so that in any given place we have time to see parks and zoos and museums. It's a family road trip," he laughs. "And at night, I disappear to go and play shows."
Johnson's new album, Sleep Through the Static, was partly recorded in the garage of his home in Oahu, Hawaii.
"I had to declutter first. In between records, my studio had somehow become the boys' playroom."
When Johnson needed to finish the new album in Los Angeles, his wife and kids went, too.
"I can handle a few days away from home, solo. More than a week, then the family road trip takes over."
Family, love, death and circle-of-life themes play heavily in Johnson's new songs. Recently he has helped raise his two sons but also watched close friends end their marriage and cancer take a 19-year-old friend.
"Life deals us whatever it deals us," Johnson says. "I had to say goodbye to a close friend. It was a reality that everyone who knew and loved him were dealing with.
"I spent a lot of time thinking about him, spending time with him . . . in the end, writing songs not necessarily about that situation.
"But it was on my mind. I'd talk to my kids and, seeing them grow up, it was always in the back of my mind: all things must pass. It made me reflect and appreciate every day."
Johnson's conversations with his sons about life and loss inspired a few new songs, including Monsoon.
"It is about the inter-connectedness of all things," Johnson says. "I was trying to explain to my son how souls function."
Early reports about Sleep Through the Static said Johnson had left his sea-swept soft rock sound for something electric. That is partly true.
The album starts with the melodic, folk traditions of Johnson's hit albums In Between Dreams, On and On and Brushfire Fairytales.
Further in, he stretches out with different instrumentation and freer song structures. His producer and regular collaborator J.P. Plunier inspired the change.
"It's been '4ft to 6ft and glassy' long enough," Plunier told Johnson.
The singer explains: "It's a term to describe the perfect day of surf. But it was Plunier's way of saying something to me without being offensive. It was time to bring in a few new moods and feelings – make things more dynamic."
Initially, Johnson meant the album title, Sleep Through the Static, to be cynical.
"We are at war, but it's a war that television viewers can turn on and off whenever they feel like it. We can ignore it. We can sleep through the static."
Lately, he prefers a more positive take.
Johnson's home studio is solar-powered. He built a similar facility, called the Solar Powered Plastic Plant, in Los Angeles. It has skylights, walls insulated with recycled jeans and recycled timber panelling.
Johnson follows the eco-friendly lead of Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne and Pearl Jam. "Willie had a biodiesel bus, so we got one, too," Johnson says. "I'm jumping on these traditions to become part of a group trying to make a change."
Johnson has a greater affinity with those classic rockers than the pop charts he dominates. He has sold 15 million albums worldwide.
"There is a whole music industry that feels foreign to me," he says. "Big record companies pumping out formulaic bands. I've never been a part of that."
But Johnson, whose independent record company, Brushfire, is overseen by a major label, is prepared for another album tour. His world tour starts in Australia in late March.
"I need to clarify something," he laughs. "I do not own a house in Australia. That gets exaggerated."
But Johnson is a regular visitor Down Under.
"I felt at home in New Zealand and Australia right off the bat," he says. "Here's a guy in flip flops singing about sunnier days. I was the summer vacation guy."//
couriermail.com.au

i love jack's last line, very fitting, since I pretty much live an endless summer=)

Sailing with Sisca

The boat we sailed on was Sisca, which funny enough, is russian for "red titties." Our group was made up of French, Germans, British and ourselves. Our captain was Chey, with deckhand Gem and chef Megz. Once we told the crew we worked on boats and we are 1st mates, they put us right to work and they kept us working the entire trip.

We started sailing from Airlee Beach, past Pioneer Pt. and through the Hook Island passage, then south to Dumbell Island where we spent the night. By days end we had travelled over 50 miles. The first night Gem skiffed us over to the beach for little game of sunset beach soccer. It was an intense game, but Oren scored on an assist from me to win the game. Yea Buddy! That night captain Chey showed us how to play the didgereedoo with a 5 foot long pvc pipe, which he later gave to us as a gift. And the stars that night provided an amazing backdrop. It almost seemed as though there were more stars than darkness. Megz pointed out the southern cross constellation, which is on the Australian flag and tattooed on her arm. Unfortantly my camera couldn't get the shot.

The next morning we sailed to Tongue Bay on Whitsunday Island, where we hiked to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. Whitehaven Beach is one of the World's Best Beaches, all you need to do is see a pic and you will know why. The sand is incredibly white, made up of nearly pure silica, whcih is a very fine quartz (99.8%). To the right of Whitehaven is Hill Inlet where tidal movements influence the inlet and are continually shifting. From the Hill Inlet outlook we were blown away by its beauty and of course, we took a million goofy pics just so we could say we were there.

I reached the thousand mark this morning, having taken 1000 photos on our trip...ouch. The fish pics are for you Andy! At Blue Pearl Bay, we swam in the Great Barrier Reef. For any of you that don't know, it is that largest tropical coral reef system in the world, covering 2000km or about 70 million football fields. Despite having to wear stinger suits because it is jelly fish season we had an 'epic' time. We saw a huge Elvis fish (Hump-headed mauri Wrasse-2.3meteres), a Loggerhead turtle, Short-finned batfish, Banded Humbugs, Estuary Rockcods, a family of clownfish, a Sea Mullet, and I swam briefly with a Reef Shark under the boat.
On our way back to Airlee, captain Chey told me to take the helm and he let me sail all the way home from Blue Pearl Bay, about 20 miles. Simply amazing, cheers Chey! Chey said we were the best crew he has had in six months and that Oren and I should have been payed for working. We told him that he prob allways says that, but he also came out for a few drinks later and brought his wife, who claimed Chey hadn't come out to the bars in 6 months.
Love that guy!

Well everyone, a few days rest in Airlee, then we are flying back to Manly, Sydney. Those of you that sent addresses...I put your cards in the mail before I left for the Whitsundays. Oren's parents get here in a week and we are going to Tazmania. Wines, cheeses and hiking...yummy!

4 Wheel Drivin on Fraser Island

We made some wonderful friends these past three days on Fraser Island. Team C, as we were called, was ourselves, Chris from Germany, Genevieve and Erin from Canada, and Nick, Lee, Jack and Gill from England.

I've lost track of days, yet I believe today is Thursday. On Monday morning, we packed up an old Landcruiser with 4 tents, a shovel and toilet paper, food supplies, a map, water, tarps, our 7 new friends, and of course beer and wine. Not to mention "howz it hangin." So chalk up another epic adventure!

We took a barge from Rainbow beach to Fraser Island and as I pointed out in the last blog it is the largest sand island in the world. Before we left we were warned not to go into the ocean bc there are tons of sharks and deadly jelly fish.

Our first stop we drove 5 kms inland to Lake Mckinsey. Of course, Oren and I swam across the entire lake, a little over a mile. Oren said it felt like ten miles and I would agree. When we would get tired we would dive down and drink the water.

On our drive down from the lake we encountered a little problem. 3 of the 5 bolts on our back left tired had sheered off the tire bc they hadn't been tighted enough... the verdict was that it wasn't our fault. So Mickey, Oren, Jack and Nick headed back up the road to l0ok for help. We weren't very optimistic that they would bring back help, but we were fortunate to get a mechanic within an hour. Mickey had to use the SOS rescue line at the lake. The operator said do you need the police, hospital or fire department, and giggling he replied, "i need a mechanic." So she transfered him to the police! And it worked out in the end. The mechanic said we were one of his top 3 groups, but not 1 or 2 bc we were too self indulged...lol.

On Fraser Island you have to allways check the tide charts bc to get to most places you have to drive on the beach and you can't drive when the tide is high. After our little incident, we had to make camp bc the tide was coming up.

The first night we cooked chicken stir fry on our little stove. It was the night before the full moon so we all had a little moment on the beach before we hit the sheets. Oren and Chris entertained us with backflips.

On our second day we woke up early and Oren and I made eggs and toast for everyone. We had to wait til 11 to hit the road, so we passed the time with a little howz it hangin.

Incident #2, we let Lee drive! Stuck in the sand just 300ft from our campsite. Took us a good 45 min to get our car dugout and we were on our way. First we stopped at shipreck, then headed to Indian Head, and back to Eli creek. Oren and Mickey trecked up the creek and used a big stick to scare the girls into thinking it was a huge snake...and it worked!The boys and girls really took to the Carlton draft and the goon(wine) throughout the day. Oren was doing backflips off the back of the other trucks, Mickey was slapping the goon and the boys were wrestling. The night got a little crazy when a few of our canadian friends, that we had met a few days earlier playin ball, showed up and wanted to hear Oren play. Soo fun! Everyone had headlamps and we went NUTZ!

Took us a little while to gather ourselves and clean up in the morning. We then drove up to lake Wabi. Absolutly breathtaking. We were boogey boarding down the sand hills.
This weekend was crazy fun. We'll miss our 7 new friends. Just a sidenote, we finished all but 10 cans of beer, not that I was any help, I may have finished a six pack.
A little aloha to everyone back home. Oren and I were sitting on the beach yesterday morning and were were saying how it makes this trip even better that were are going home to a place as beautiful as Maui. Everyone we've met is dreading going home to work, we are stoked!
We are now in Airlee beach. Tomorrow we are leaving for a 3 day 2 night sailing adventure on Sisca, a 80ft monohaul sailing rig, with 22 people around the Whitsunday Islands. Sweet as mate!

A few notes from our friends...
Chris wrote:
ok guys, this is it! I had an awesome time on Fraser...playing how's it hangin, gooning everybody in and imaginable position, jumping off sand walls and backfliping! Group C just handled every situation, we got stuck after 1.5 hrs of driving, our wheel was broken...thanks for entertaining us, Oren! Anyways thanks to the crew, hopefully see you again someday!
Lee wrote:
First of all, I would like to take a chance to apoligise to the crew for getting us stuck! I'm sorry guys I was feeling pressure. And secondly, I would like to thank the most awesome group of people, hwo made my time on Fraser Island, unforgetable and now I'm gonna "put this shit to bed."
Jack wrote:
First impression of the group, way good ("beer") we were all thinking the same way, I like that.
The first day was probably one of, if not, the best day of my trip so far, everything seemed to go well and even when we broke the truck, we all got through it and had a good time. To be honest my two favorite times were breaking down and getting stuck in deep sand, there was definatly a big sense of unity and success in the group.
I will never forget this trip and the people that made it amazing!
Gill wrote: (condensed, jack you can back me=))
While our trusty mechanic fixed the very dodgey loose wheel, the group really bonded over a sing-a-long sess and the creation of the game "extreme goo" - the rules are complex...you have to drink a shot of goon while either playing the ucalaylee or standing at the top of a ladder held by your trusty friends?!
We exhausted ourselves on day one and pretty much went to bed at 9 (so much for a party night?!).
After another incident, I realized that there is nothing "team C" can't solve and with a bit of sweat, blood and tears we were on our adventure again. From beginning to end I have laughed, I couldn't have wished for a group of better people, i have never known so much energy, karisma, wit, humor, support, piss-taking, banter throwing, insult making, to be in one place at one time!
Love you all! Long live Goon shots!! Cheers to you and you all for managing (somehow) to get all of our deposits back at the end of the trip. How we managed that after beaking the seat and the wheel and losing that all important cereal bowl I never knew!!

Fun at the ZOO!!

Yesterday we woke up early, 5 am to be exact. We wanted one last surf session at Tea Tree in Noosa before we headed south to Brisbane.

As we had planned, we stopped at the zoo. The pictures should tell the story. We got to pet Koalas and feed the kangaroos! One of the park dudes gave us kangaroo food, we were worried Oren would eat it all, since he eats everything. Just to get a few pics for Abe, I went to the venomous snake attraction. Australia has the most venomous snakes in the world.

After a five hour bus trip from Brisbane we have found ourselves in Rainbow Beach. Enjoy these 3 Blogs because it may be a few days before I get a chance to updated the blog. We are going on a 3 day 4wd trip on Fraser Island, the biggest sand island in the world.

Keep the comments coming... The boys and I love reading them. Fill me in on what's new in your life AND send me addresses so I can send postcards!

Have fun and explore!

Noosa, Noosa, Noosa

Oren Writes:

There's nothing better than packin the boards in the Nissan x-trail, cruisin up the Pacific Coast highway and checkin the surf. Finally find our spot, throw some block on, grab our boards, and head out. Walkin through this superlush rainforest and you can just here the swell pumping. Sun is peaking, birds are goin crackers, and we walk out and there's these perfect rights just peeling and pitching - dolphins flying out of the water, all sorts fish swimmin aroung, big ones too. This was gonna be a good day.

This is Noosa Heads!

Between surf sessions we cruised through the beautiful national park filled with pepper scented Eucalyptus trees, pines, and kickabeen palms, birds chirpin, a koala snackin, kamoto dragons going nutz and the waves...the waves were beautiful! Little coves surrounded by greenery that reminded me a little bit of Maui and Costa Rica. Jumpin off of jagged rocks as the surf crashes and your right in the line up. The sky was a deep blue, the water warm, and two Aussies next to you talkin story about grabbin beers after the surf.

I love Noosa.

I love my LIFE.

Sweet As Mate!!

Hurry Up, So We Can Relax...in Byron Bay!

And relax we did. Mikey and I staked claim to the hammocks overlooking the sanctuary at the hostel, while oren played his new single on his ukelele, soon to be released! (Don't worry Stewie, it's not as relaxing as "rancho relaxo") We also had these three iguanas that payed us a visit every 20 minutes. I'm just finishing up the Trilogy book, so I need some suggestions for my next book?!

After a little run on the beach and a quick game of yahtzee, we surfed Tallows (thanks Alli from Cali for the recommendation). A little inconsistant, but still fun.

Oren and I are going Nutz for the fashion here in Auzzie. There is a return to the 80's surf theme, witht the hot pinks, light blues, neon yellows and grens. Oren bought a pair of Mambosa boardies that are hot pink and I bought an aweful hat thats brim flips up and reads "Rusty."

Leaving Byron, we headed north past Surger Paradise and Brisbane for Noosa Heads, with a short surf stop. We saw signs for the zoo on our way to Noosa, so we plan to make a short stop on our way back to drop off the car in Brisbane. Apparently it is "da zoo" of Australia and home of the crocodile hunter. We're yet to see kangaroos, so I'm extremly excited. A special note...

Presley: No we don't wear shirts, that is unless we absolutly have to. Someday soon you'll have to convince your mom, dad and grandparents to bring you to Maui. We'll go look for Nemo together!

Love and Miss.

I'm Singing in the Rain

Coffs Harbor was a short stop to say the least. When we arrived it was late and raining so we had to post up in a youth hostel for the night, the boys said that they were looking out for me bc I'm sick, how cute?! Definitly the highlight of our trip was in the morning when we met famous australian surfer and shaper, Scott Dillon, at the Legends surf museum. He comes from Owen's (trilogy captain) generation. To say the least, he's da man.

As we headed up the coast our plan was to stop in Ballina to surf and camp. Unfortunatly when we arrived there were signs on the beach warning that the water was contaminated from the storms. The beach smelled of dead fish!...I still think we should have charged, maybe we could come out as mutant surfers.

Left with no options, we headed north to Byron Bay. If you've never been, it is a must. We're camping at the Arts Factory for the next few days. This is backpackers heaven! You have the choice if you're not camping; stay in the dorms, a double decker bus, OR tepees (not sure about the sp).

The surfing in Byron is legendary, at the moment, not so much. Small, not so clean, onshore, and a good rip. Nonetheless, the water was warm and we had great time landing on the beach =-)

All smiles, looks like my cold is on its way out! It may have been the herbal tea this hippy friend made me drink last night, which by the way tasted like battery acid... Or maybe it was Oren singing "stay positive!"

Cheers to everyone for leaving comments, atleast I know my parents aren't the only ones reading this.

Here are a few fun pics!

A Dingo Ate My Shoe

After leaving Stockton we headed north to Seal Rocks, where we camped out in Treachery, just south of the rocks. When we woke up Oren had to chase after a dingo that had stolen his sandal and chewed on mine.
I've found myself sick with a little head cold. Guess I'm not used to weather that is colder than Maui weather. AND it doesn't help that we've been surfing everyday in chilly water.
About to run out of time, so so....
WE had a great surf session both at Seal Rocks and in Crescent Head. Just woke up to rain in Coffs Harbor. Anyhow, I'll fill you all in more later...

Big Rights, Small Lefts

We've left Sydney and began our adventures due north along the coastline.

If you've never been to Australia, it takes a little getting used to everyone driving on the other side. The trick to remember is, big rights and small lefts. I'll be shocked if we make it up the coast without any accidents!

Our first stop was Stockton, just a small suburb outside of Newcastle, where we met Mikey's long time friend Stewart or "Stewie." Mikey met Stewie about eight years ago in a Rio de Janeiro youth hostel affectionately dubbed "the crackhouse", a freakin' crazy place where nothing seemed to be illegal. They became fast friends and followed each other across South America for the next ten months. Now that Mikey's living in Sydney a pit stop 2 hours north at Stewie's pad, to let these old timers catch up, was a must.

Stewie just bought a house, which he calls "rancho relaxo," only two houses down from the local pub. Established in 1884, this pub was full of the mic dundee types and by the end of the night everyone was singing...hopefully I can get a video posted. Oren and I also introduced "howz it hangin" to the mates and they loved it. Stewie has the best backyard for it.

After a super fun surf session this morning, it looks like we're heading to Seal Rocks, 2 hrs north of Stockton, where we plan to camp and surf. Although I hear there are a lot of sharks!

Wish everyone were here to see how beautiful it is. After surfing today I found handfuls of shells on the beach. I plan to make some outragously cool necklaces on the car ride.

Cheers mates!

Sydney and Manly

Morning surf report from Mikey's apt. balcony

Sightseeing in Sydney

Sydney by night.

Mikey and Oren...

Passports And Boardies

We've finally arrived!
Before we arrived at the airport we decided that as long as we had our passports and boardies, we were good to go. AND surprisingly we weren't charged for our surfboards on our flight to Oahu or to Sydney. Gotta love the Aloha!
After a 9hr flight from Oahu, we landed around 4pm in Sydney. All we wanted to do was surf, but first we had to stop at customs and have the soil cleaned off Oren's running shoes by an officer, take a half hour train to the Sydney harbor to meet Oren's brother Mikey, then a twenty minute ferry ride to Manly beach.
His brother Mikey is the oldest of three brothers that moved to Australia a year ago from New York to work for a law firm. Mikey lives seven miles from downtown Sydney in Manly. He lives in a rediculous 12th floor apt. overlooking the beach. His morning commute is a five minute walk and a twenty minute ferry ride past the famous concert hall.
So now Mikey has joined our crew!
According to Mikey we couldn't have arrived at a better time. The waves are perfect, the sun is shinning and it's summer. I'll try to post some pics soon. Sunset surf last night, salmon mixed plate, morning sunrise beach run, surf, a little "howz it hangin," and more surfing.
i love auzzie!
gday mates!
ps. thanks boys for the "bamp bamps" (short shorts) i'll fit right in

Lets go nutz

*Guava trees, waterfalls, sunset surfs, humpback whales, scubadiving, carveboarding, mai tais, sailing, paddleboarding, and full moon hikes ...Not to forget all my wonderful friends!

What is there not to love about Maui?

Hey it's Gabe, I moved to Maui a little less than a year ago to work for my best friend Ginger's dad, sailing catamarans (check out sailtrilogy.com). I love being able to call Maui my home. Oren works for trilogy as well. He taught me the meaning of going nutz. Whether it be backflips off 60ft cliffs, carving, or eating too much, this kid goes nutz. Oren seems to think that going to Australia is undeserved, I'm sure he'll look back and say it was well deserved when he has three kids and a wife.

I'll do my best to keep everyone updated on our "epic" adventure down under. Aloha