A Whale of a Story

Back to work. Oren and I arrived safely last Tuesday the 12th and I’ve worked everyday since. All of my free time has been spent surfing, running, swimming, golfing, and hangin out with the boys. My friend from my younger years, Tyler, arrived in Maui last Friday. Unfortunately on his second day he cut his hand on a piece of broken glass while doing our dishes, so he is learning how to relax on the beach now.
In the last week we have had the most amazing whale watches of my life. On Saturday we had a group of males chasing a female and its calf. The 50 ton female was using our boat to block the males. And yesterday we had a mother teaching a calf how to do peduncle slaps just 50 yards away from our boat.
My first day back I managed to do an indo on my beach cruiser and land on my face. Now I have 3 more scars to add to my 20. Maui is amazing and I am so glad to be home. If anyone ever wants to visit, just feel free to give me a call. (808) 344-9536. Aloha

...the girls make me do all the work!

I Got Love for Tasmania

Before heading to Tazmania Oren and I took a ferry and bus to Coogee, to run along the cliffs to Bondi. Oren used to live in Coogee went he studied in Australia years back. His stories of Coogee are classic. The cliffs were beautiful along the cliffs, I kept telling Oren... closer, closer! In Bondi we stopped at an art gallery that Mikey told us about called aquabumps.com. Check it out! For lunch we stopped at Beach Burritos Company and we ate the most unexpected best burrito in a long time. But watch out for the pink ice drink, can't count how many times I got an ice headache.

Thursday night we hopped on a plane for Hobart, Tasmania, with a short stop in Melbourne. As the plane was landing the pilot announced, "The temp in Hobart is a crisp 11 degrees Celcius." I had no idea what the conversion to fahreheit was, but when I got off the plane I soon regretted only packing tank tops, boardies and sandals. That first night I froze my arse off, so in the morning I decided to pick up a fleeze. Hobart is a pleasant city, if you can even call it a real city. That first night we walked down to the marina for dinner as the sun was going down...very picturesque.

Oren's mom Aliza is great. When it comes to directions, places to eat, etc., she likes to get a first, second, third, and sometimes fourth opinion. Of course us boys don't feel like we need any opinions. But we did make it everywhere we needed to be. Thanks Aliza.

Friday was a busy or in other words full day of adventures. We started in Hobart and drove to the top of Mount Wellington. From the top of the mountain we had an amazing 360 degree view of the city and countryside. Of course we took tons of pictures. And on the way down we stopped for a short nature walk. I wish I had some way of bringing back the smells to share with everyone. The euchylyptus trees produce this smell that just makes you smile. Oren couldn't stop walking off the trail and smelling the trees.

On our way up north we stopped in Richmond at the Meadowbank winery. We tried 9 different wines, including an interesting sparkling Shiraz.

There was a great qoute by Madam Lilly Bollinger on the wall at the winery that read, "I drink champagne when I am happy and when I am sad. Sometimes I drink it when I am alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trfle with it if I am not hungry + drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it - unless I am thirsty." Great principal to live by! After the winery we headed down a dirt road to an olive grove, to get some olives and feta for the night. Just a quick fact, Richmond has the oldest bridge in Australia. The bridge was very uneventful. There was also a no parking sign at a local grocery store that gave us a good laugh, it read, "NO PARKING. Every third person parking here without permission gets shot, the second one just left!"

We stayed two nights on Promise Bay in the Freycinet National Park at the Lodge. We stayed in cabins and the lodge had a beautiful dock that extended 100ft out on the water. The first night we just lounged around and listened to a solo guitar CD, while drinking the wine from Meadowbank and eating crackers with roasted chile red spread and tons of cheese. That night before I went to bed I took the longest warm shower. Isn't it so true that long warm showers are the best in cold places!

The next morning Oren and I woke up early and went for a 6k run to Sleepy Bay. On our run we were visited by a Wallaby (small kangaroo). When we got back we ran down the dock at the lodge and took a very very short dip because the water was shockingly cold. Aliza and Jay rounded us up for a 12k circuit hike to Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach. I plan to sail to Wineglass Bay! On the hike I brought along a native Tasmania tree book I borrowed from the lobby and tried to identify trees. I was successful in identifying the Banksia Marginata and Casuarmina Stricta. I had to ditch the book because I was tired of running to catch up to everyone.

Dad: I wanted to grab some sand from Wineglass Bay to add to your collection, but the consensus was I wouldn't make it through customs and agriculture in Hawaii.

Despite being sore the next morning, Mikey, Oren and I decided to wake early and climb Mt. Amos. The hike was a little dangerous and steep, but we made it to the top. One of the best climbs I've ever been on. The pictures I took from the top, do not do the view justice. Standing on massive boalders we could see Promise, Wineglass, and Coles Bay. We had to do some controlled sliding on the way down. You can see why from the pictures. When we got back to the parking lot there was two Wallabys hangin out. There was a mother with baby in her pouch. She would even let us touch the babys head. Surreal experience! Made me thankful that I didn't order the Wallaby on the menu the night before =)

Leaving Freycinet we looked back at the lodge and mountains and all agreed it was a great weekend. Well done on the pick Mikey. We drove another two hours north to the wine and food festival in Launceston. When we got to the festival there was atleast 30 concession stands, a Neil Diamond cover band, magicians and some locals shakin tail. Oren's philosophy was wait until all the venders are about to shut down and throw out their food, then run around and ask for free food. It actually worked and we got pissed and super full. So full, that I had a hard time getting out of my chair. After catching a late flight last night, we are now back in Manly, but just for another day before we head back to Maui sweet Maui.

Jay and Aliza left this morning for New Zealand. They took such good care of me. Two of the most compassionate, generous, and caring people I have ever met. And I don't know anyone that can match, nor come close to Aliza's energy. Cheers for a great weekend!

I absolutly love travelling! No cell phones, no list of things to do, no hustle and bustle , no work (in this case), new things around every corner, different foods, and loads of great new friends to be made. My brother is studying in Uganda right now. How cool is that?! Can't wait to hear the stories he has. Cheers to everyone that followed my blog. Felt like everyone was almost here with me.

I'm tooo lazi two prouf reed so iph I maid som sp mistackes...piss off! Sweet as Mate.

From Kebabs to Caviar

We're now back in Manly Beach, resting from our adventures along the coast. Last Wednesday Oren played a three hour set at the cafe 'En Situ.' There was quite the turnout and even Mikey came up to play 'Mango Kisses ' with Oren.

On Friday Oren's parents arrived. They told me over lunch that they were adopting me for the next few weeks. The first night they took us all to 'Quay,' which is one of the best restuarants in all of Sydney. From your table you can see the Opera House on one side and the Sydney bridge on the other. Amazing!
It felt like I was on that cook off show and you wouldn't believe what I ordered. First I started out with Sea Pearls (sashimi tuna , pearl meat, aquaculture caviar, smoked eel, sea scallup, octupus). Then for my second plate I had slow cooked quail breats, baby radish, eschallots, olorasso, truffle infused milk custard, and milk skin...simply delightful. That was followed by brioche crusted pink snapper (with celery heart, elderberry, parsley root, hazelnuts, brown butter, and young leeks). For dessert I had a five texture chocolate cake and the fifth texture was hot dark chocolate syrup on top. I can't decide what was the best part about the restaurant; the 9 people that served us, the amazing view of the opera house, the fact that I had no idea what I was ordering, or the muddy tasting Wine?! hmmm....

Lately Oren and I have been trying to get back in shape after eating disgusting for the past two weeks. Surfing twice a day, eating salads, running on the beach in the morning, and today, we woke up early and swam in the open ocean Cole Classic swim. I'm still a little tired from the swim, so excuse me for the short blog. Here are a few pics!
I think we are going to watching the game tomorrow...go Patriots! Then run 8k's to Bondi Beach. Off to the Blue Mountains Tuesday to rock climb, that is if the weather cleans up and Tazmania over the weekend. cheers all! zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...