Everything is ready to go. Bags are packed. Ferry leaves in 15 min from Bainbridge Island to downtown Seattle where I'll be taking the light rail to SeaTac airport. My Dad opens my car door and come to find out I left the keys in the ignition the night before. The battery is dead! We quickly tried to jumpstart it but nothing. Ferry leaves in 10 min. At this point I'm wringing on the neighbors doorbell. We try again to jump it, nothing. I start walking up from the street to find someone to take me and we notice some of the neighbors are getting into their car. We explain the situation and they say yeah no worries get in. On the drive over I'm making small talk and we are rolling along at a blazing 20mph. I'm thinking, "uhhhhhmm you do know the ferry LEAVES in 7 min right?!" We make it and I immediately start bookin it down the tunnel to the Ferry and literally as i walk over the bridge to get on they are closing the gate. As I pass through I throw my hands up like I just won a marathon. I find a seat and right when I sit down the Ferry starts moving. Uhhh wow. What an epic start. The ride over to Seattle is surreal. I put on some beats and I'm just in the zone. I get the feeling I won't be living in America again, other than short term visits. This is gonna be the wildest most epic adventure of my life. I only got a few hours of sleep the night before but I feel like I'm soarin' like the birds I'm looking at out the window. Washington has some truly stunning scenery but I've never liked living in this part of the world. It's just not for me. I put on some Australian beats as I walk off the Ferry and I'm just dancing and singing the lyrics walking to the light rail. People are giving me looks. What's new?
Before I know it I'm at SeaTac skateboarding to my gate. I'm so happy I brought my skate. 10 min after I got to my gate they start boarding. Had I not got on the 11:30am Ferry I would have been toast. My seat is literally the last row on the plane but luckily I got a window seat. A hip looking woman a little older than me sits on my row and I welcome her to the back of the bus. She says, "can we smoke weed back here." Ah ha. "Nice first liner," I said. I didn't want to spend my hard earned money on overpriced airport food, so I was starving at this point. When the flight attendants were wheeling their carts through the aisles without even saying anything my fellow neighbor stole some snacks for me, and well, how can I deny some free food?
At one point during our flight me and her we just chuckling and she was filming a bit because the turbulence was so bad it was like we were on one of those old rickety roller coasters made out of wood.
We were both headed to New Zealand from San Francisco so we hung out for a bit and tried to figure out where we were going. We met up with a couple who were on the same flight and I finally asked this woman what her name was. She said, "Lindsey." And the couple were like "Lindsey Vonn, no way, we thought we recognized you!" Come to find out she is literally the most successful female ski racer in the world, and all I could say was, "so all that time I was sitting next to a professional skier, ummmm well that's just badass." She had been shreddin' in Alaska and was on her way to the south island of New Zealand.
Boarding my 12 hour flight to Auckland I am blown away at the class of this plane. Low light voilet lights running up the sides, very aesthetically pleasing seats, even the smell is straight class. Air New Zealand is pure class. And the accents, yes, I love the accents. I sit down in my seat and start talking to this girl and it seems like she has an accent so I assume she is a Kiwi (New Zealand folk) but she is from Nor Cal. I'm thinking like, "my goodness she's gorgeous."
We haven't even taken off and I'm already goofing around messaging random people making Sophie laugh. It's unreal how much we are vibing. We both bought one way tickets to Australia. We both have a work & holiday visa. We are both certified scubadivers. We are both using workaway.info to find opportunities to work. And we both want to ski/snowboard in New Zealand at some point. Dayyyyyuuummm. We played some multiplayer tic tac toe and I schooled her. Also, I met the woman to my left and she is lovely. Her name is Sarah, and she teaches meditation (breath work) in Vancouver, but she grew up in New Zealand and has lived in Sydney for many years as well. We had a very engaging chat. I can't get enough of the accents. All the sudden there is only two hours left on the flight. That went by fast. They had us fill out a customs form but when we landed they didn't even ask for mine. As I was skateboarding through the Kiwi airport I saw Lindsey again and she was headed a different way. The last thing she said to me as she smiled was, "See ya purple man."
Pieter, the man who I'd be staying with, emailed me almost a full page of directions how to get to his place. It was super detailed, and kinda fun and challenging. A few times I had to ask some people where a street was, or if I was headed the right direction on the train.
Pieter invited his Kiwi friend (Dave) over for dinner and we are just enjoying each others company. Dave and Pieter are so down to earth, so genuine, and just fuckin hilarious. Pieter is from South Africa originally so he made us a classic dish. It was kinda like a quiche with potatoes, onions, curry powder, and bananas. Super tasty. A bird came swerving in and landed on a tree next to us. He, or she, had a yellow mohawk. I'm just blown away at everything. There are a swarm of birds out in the distance and no lie, it sounds like a group of cartoon kids whining to each other with a nasal tone. "Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh, Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh, Ooooooooooooooo, Ahhhhhhhhhhh, Waaaaaaahhhhhhh." I can't stop laughing. Another bird sounds like a child screaming.
After dinner Pieter and Dave whipped out their guitars. Pieter was in several different bands for over ten years and Dave worked with some famous artists back in the eighties. They are killin it. Both jammin and singing. Like really really really killin it, and I'm just bee boppin back and forth doing dishes.
Before I know it I'm at SeaTac skateboarding to my gate. I'm so happy I brought my skate. 10 min after I got to my gate they start boarding. Had I not got on the 11:30am Ferry I would have been toast. My seat is literally the last row on the plane but luckily I got a window seat. A hip looking woman a little older than me sits on my row and I welcome her to the back of the bus. She says, "can we smoke weed back here." Ah ha. "Nice first liner," I said. I didn't want to spend my hard earned money on overpriced airport food, so I was starving at this point. When the flight attendants were wheeling their carts through the aisles without even saying anything my fellow neighbor stole some snacks for me, and well, how can I deny some free food?
Goodbye Seattle
At one point during our flight me and her we just chuckling and she was filming a bit because the turbulence was so bad it was like we were on one of those old rickety roller coasters made out of wood.
Touching down in San Fran
We were both headed to New Zealand from San Francisco so we hung out for a bit and tried to figure out where we were going. We met up with a couple who were on the same flight and I finally asked this woman what her name was. She said, "Lindsey." And the couple were like "Lindsey Vonn, no way, we thought we recognized you!" Come to find out she is literally the most successful female ski racer in the world, and all I could say was, "so all that time I was sitting next to a professional skier, ummmm well that's just badass." She had been shreddin' in Alaska and was on her way to the south island of New Zealand.
Right when the carpet turned to marble in the airport, I got on my skate and said see you guys at the gate. Skateboarding through the airport is much fun. No one said a word.
Later Auckland, I'll see you next year.
On my flight to Sydney I sat next to a really sweet Venezuelan girl named Yanel. She had come to Australia a few years ago and because she didn't know English at the time the only job she could find was at a mushroom factory two hours south of Sydney. She still works there. It always amazes me how different everyone's experience is. That's one of the many reasons I see so much value in people and relationships because you can learn so much from every single person. She said if I come down that way she'll introduce me to all her friends and show me around.
Touching down in Sydney!
Right after this part we drove over a freeway and I noticed all the driver seats on the right hand side. Yes. I'm truly in a different world.
Planet Straya'
Going through security was a cake walk. They didn't even ask for my work visa or proof I had plenty of funds. Hell, they didn't even care that I couldn't tell them the exact address of where I'd be staying first. Awesome sauce. I picked up my Opal card which allows me to travel anywhere via bus or train and was on my way. One step outside and it smells tropical. And it's beautiful and sunny. I suppose it's in the eighties. I'm in heaven. On my skate over to the bus station I'm enjoying all the new flora & fauna.
There is such a feeling of wild ancientness here.
After quite a long walk with all my gear I finally came to Southern Street and I knew his house was on this road. Getting excited! I look to my left and see a huge body of water through a gap in between two houses. Wow.
Then I make it to his driveway, and he even put in the directions "you will see a boat to your right with a gray cover over it, and a car on the left which is my landlords."
"Then walk down about ten steps in the middle and take a right."
"Go past the first door and you have arrived! Take your shoes off and make yourself at home."
Wow
Wow
And triple wow
My body is not used to the humidity so I was soaked. Took a nice cool shower, ate some muesli with Australian whole milk, and passed out for a few hours. Woke up, skateboarded into town. Picked up a fifteen dollar phone and headed back to the crib. When I arrived Pieter was home and said, "Welcome to Straya' mate!" Also, a dude named Christian from Germany who was workaway-ing as well. Christian can't speak much English but no worries cuz Pieter is fluent in German. Talk about one chill man. I connect instantly with Pieter and I feel right at home.
Pieter invited his Kiwi friend (Dave) over for dinner and we are just enjoying each others company. Dave and Pieter are so down to earth, so genuine, and just fuckin hilarious. Pieter is from South Africa originally so he made us a classic dish. It was kinda like a quiche with potatoes, onions, curry powder, and bananas. Super tasty. A bird came swerving in and landed on a tree next to us. He, or she, had a yellow mohawk. I'm just blown away at everything. There are a swarm of birds out in the distance and no lie, it sounds like a group of cartoon kids whining to each other with a nasal tone. "Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh, Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh, Ooooooooooooooo, Ahhhhhhhhhhh, Waaaaaaahhhhhhh." I can't stop laughing. Another bird sounds like a child screaming.
There was a squad of about eight rowing boats at one point. Nice place to practice.
After dinner Pieter and Dave whipped out their guitars. Pieter was in several different bands for over ten years and Dave worked with some famous artists back in the eighties. They are killin it. Both jammin and singing. Like really really really killin it, and I'm just bee boppin back and forth doing dishes.
I think I'm in love.
In love with Planet Straya'
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