Melbourne!!!! New POST!

Finally the day has come and here i am writing a new blog as you can well see!

I will dig all the way back into my files and present the deatails of the entirety of the remainder of my time spent here in Aus.

From Byron bay i was due to head south although i felt a little place called coollangatta pulling me northward. For good reason too...surf. This is were pro's from around the world flock to partake in several world class breaks. With a full load and on a hunch from a Russian woman working in a breadshop i lugged my ragged bones about 6 blocks. Upon arrival i was more than shocked to find out that the place had no dorm beds and would cost about 40 US a night. I bargained and wiggled my way into a deal with the man at the front desk and he let me stay for about 20 US. Pretty cool if i may say so myself. Jumped in room and got board ready and basically ran to the point where Duranbah surf break resides. The day was coming to a sleepy yet brilliantly colorful end with pinks, yellows and reds as i rubbed shoulders with sponsered surfers out in the water. There were many breaks and i had one of the best sessions of right hand breaking surf ever. I don't know if it was good wave withdrawl that guided me or some unseen force, but i do know i had an amazing session. My accomodation was plush and sterile. Hardwood floors covered the giant dining room and a walk in fridge was a nice feature. No people were really staying here and it was more of a chance encounter to spot a human. I rested really well the first night and made my way around the corner to check out another famous break Snapper Rocks. A right hand point break that looked machine made. Waves would break close to the rocks on the point and the water would suck out and just dump as the waves broke. Some truly brave kids were out there just getting tossed everytime, by way of the lip throwing over. I ran home grabbed my gear and lathered up with tons o lotion since it was a cloudless day and swealtering hot. Paddled out and caught a few good ones, but nothing like the day before. I did have the distinguished pleasure of sharing the ocean with a famous professional surfer, Mick Fanning. Australia's favorite poster boy! He totally ripped an i was just happy to be out there with a seat that defies a front row view. I spent 2 more days surfing at D-Bah scoring great waves, relaxing and recovering from my time at Byron.

Jumped on a plane down to New Castle. A touristy city with a nice little beach in the middle of town. I was here for about 3 days. Not much to metion though, just kinda wanderd around the city. Nice to see, but nothing notable.

Caught a train down to Gosford to meet up with Danny and John the dudes from England who i spent the first part of my trip travelling with. Dan's Uncle lives there and i was invited for Christmas! What a cool deal to be almost on the other side of the planet and have a family to share Christmas with. I gotta give big thanks to the Lenan family for their generosity. Arrived 23 and revelled in the fact that i was actually staying in a HOUSE! A little mat on the floor of a family room never appeared so inviting! Dinner was planned for the following day and i caught up with my compadres. Phil, D's uncle, is into home brewing so we had plenty to talk about and he was amazed at our brewing process. He purchases a premade beer kit which you basically add water to and allow for fermentation. Anyway guests began to arrive on Christmas Eve and everyone was very kind and made me feel right at home. With three cousins, a girlfriend, Grandpa, and house cat it was quite the full house. A meditteranean themed meal filled my longing stomach. Although i have been eating well on the trip this was truly the first MOM made meal i had eaten since departing. During the gifts i even got a wrapped up candy bar. Totally thoughtful and cool to be acknowledged as family by complete strangers! Discussing travels and life we drank and ate into the night and i had a fabulous time. Slept great and woke to a day full of promis...Christmas Day!

I don't think there is a more holy way to spend the day than going to a rave of sorts, so that is what me and the boys did. Sydney was completely booked up and i was lucky enough to score a place with a few friends in an apartment right in the middle of town. The rave was quite fun and i danced for hours just laughing and having a great time. D and i tried to outdo eachother on the floor so i entailed the use of patented back spin on the middle of the dance floor. The next day i was at Bondi all day with the boys and enjoyed this little cove of a beach which happened to be pumping with huge close out waves that were not surfable. Even playing in the ocean was a test of strength watermanship and endurance. I have never felt a current or wave intensity this close to shore anywhere. Had some great body surfing waves and fun in the ocean despite its severity. I could hardly believe how many people lined the beach apparently this was the place to be seen. My next adventure was a ferry ride through the harbor to Manly beach. This was reall the first time i got a great view of the Opera House and the famous bridge. It was quite surreal to say the least and the architecture did not disapoint. The suburbs spread out like lichens and line the many banks of the plentiful bays and inlets. I would recommend a ferry ride to anyone who ever goes to Sydney. It is only from this vantage point that one can truly take in the magnificentness of the city.

New Years was nutz. Me and some friends made camp across from the Opera House and enjoyed watching the people pass by and watching people slowly become more lucid and rambunctuous. The energy mounted and we made our way to a geat vantage point on top of roof. Never has there been a more overobard fireworks display, ever. Amazing falls short. It was so cool giant shells exploeded with great awe inspiring precision and colorful spit. Fireworks from the top of high-rises were just one more element that set the show off. The buzz of the crowed and the energy pumping from the fireworks truly set my new year of with a blaze! Throngs of people about a million lined every nook and cranny of the surrounding area. And the mass exodus was unimaginable. Our exhaustion of the day put us to sleep somewhat early and exitedly fell asleep.

Another 2 weeks or so were spent wandering around the giant city taking in the people smells and atmosphere that can only be found in a giant city like this one.

I am ready to leave and city life behind i am ready for Thailand.

here in Melbourne for 2 days and i am off to Thailand. Awesome!

will make a great effort to post more often.

Lots of love and peace!