Hitchhikers Guide to Australia...

One of the age old ways to travel from point A to point B is to stand on the road with a sign and your thumb in the air. It has been a part of life for as long as any type of transportation had been around... Even with horses. So, what is my best option for traveling from west to east of Australia? You guessed it; I stuck my thumb out and started dancing in the road.

From Perth to Melbourne, I was able to hitch 2 rides. The first was a quick hour ride to Dunbury. I got picked up by this guy, let's call him Andy. As I put my bags in the bed of his ute, he comes around back with a case of beer. We end up driving an hour or so drinking along the way. This is something I would not have ever imagined doing. What a great experience. 

The next and most interesting ride was from Dunbury to Melbourne. I met this guy on gumtree, Craigslist for Australia, and we ended up driving the remainder of the trip to Melbourne. But this was no uneventful road trip. On the way, we got stuck in Esperance for 2.5 days, hit two kangaroos before crossing the border into south Australia, got pulled over for speeding and got hit by a car that almost flipped us. This all happens in a span of 1.5 days and we still manage to make it to Melbourne in the same car. Try saying that in one breath. 

All in all, I would have to say that hitchhiking across a country the same size as the US is quite a feat. It has really opened my eyes to a different world and level of trust. Five years ago, I most likely would not have even thought about hitchhiking or picking up hikers. Now, after experiencing the wait with your thumb out and trusting my personal effects with other people, I am able to read a person and their intentions a bit more effectively. Plus, i can say i played the longest game of kangaroo golf in all Australia. This is a win. 

Exploring Margaret River...

As it goes with new world wines, Australia is high up on the list with the best. Specifically speaking, Margaret River is right on top with smooth and dry whites, powerful and full bodied reds and the newly popularized orange wine. Not only do the vineyards scattering the south western coast of Australia follow the traditional European techniques, they are prideful of them. 

Meeting with my friend from Hawaii, we explored many different vineyards and breweries looking for 2 things; a few bottles of wine to drink at home and to get drunk for free all day off great wine. Driving around the trellaced fields of young grapes growing on old vines, I became reminiscent of time spent in the Italian wine country. 

By of course, one of the defining characteristics of Margaret River wines is the alight brininess, or the natural salt factor. This is due to the expansive ocean that is so close to all the vineyards. Swimming in this freezing, crystal clear water was a great way to wash away any subconscious doubts or worries about the world. This was such a peaceful place and it was comfortably quiet. A perfect place to find yourself. 

Barbie at Kings Park...

There is a well known phrase that the rest of the world affiliates with Australia: let's put some shrimp on the barbie. It turns out, there is a multitude of barbies all around Perth. If you go to the beaches, people will have coolers filled with beer and grillables. When you are tossing a ball around in the park, more likely than not, there will be a bunch of people with sausages or roo patties grilling away. It is truly a cultural experience and I am a strong advocate of it.

Lets not be fooled, these are not the common barbecue we know and love in the US, Instead of charcoal or propane burning beneath steel grates, there is a solid, concave metal plate that has a drainage hole in the center. To heat the plate, the only thing necessary to do is press and hold a green button until it beeps and begins to electronically heat itself. there are no heat settings, only on and off. The simplicity of the entire production is incredibly enticing. So please, I urge you, go out and barbecue with some friends or loved ones. Make it a communal "thing". What else in this world is more important than friends and family?

The Beaches of Perth...

Someone once told me that one of the most incredible things to do in Perth is to sit on the beach in the middle of the night and try to find the separation between land and sea. This was, by far, one of the most grounding experiences I have had. Sitting on the cusp of falling off the earth, listening to the waves beat the ground was indeed humbling. 

These beautiful white sand beaches with freezing crystal clear water are more than breathtaking. You can swim out until you can't touch the ground anymore and still see the sand below you. It proves that with a little bit of care towards the earth, we can have such beautiful sights to reward us. I sincerely hope and will work towards maintaining this scene for many years to come. 

House of the wombats...

Perth... The most isolated city in all of Australia. Arriving here begins a new chapter after an incredible and unforgettable month in Thailand. As I am driving down the streets in the back of an uber, a chill of excitement Runs down my back. After more than a decade of hoping and dreaming, I am finally here. This is the place I have been yearning to explore and I will not hold back anything. Get ready Australia, it's time to play. 

Hostel Family Meal #3...

The world loves food. If there is any type of gathering, whether positive or negative, food is always present. The main reason why I cook is to bring people together for happy occasions to celebrate life and family. This is why hostel life has been so kind to me. 

We decided to invite our friends from the Laguna to dinner to return the favor of our last meal together. This time, it was going to be my menu and my treat to them. Our hostel mother brought me to the market and helped supply the food for the feast to be. This was an incredible place to be. 

All of the stalls had fresh and bright produce, some of which I have never seen before. There were three different types of cabbage, two types of ginger and 30 different leafy greens. To say the least, there were not enough options. 

We finally lug all of the produce back home and it's show time. As it turns out with most hostel cooking, utensils and equipment are scarce. So, it was time to improvise. I only had one wok and one pot for pasta. After the linguini was cooked, I mixed my Thai pomodoro into the same pot back with the paste. It was 3 pounds of saucy glory with chicken. 

In the wok, I stir fried carrots with mustard greens and kefir leaves, baby corn with Chinese broccoli and oyster sauce and Napa cabbage with mushrooms and mung bean curry. It turned out to be a success but definitely reminded me about how to be resourceful with minimal everything around me. It reminded me to always look for another angle. 

Sunrise to Sunset...

Two of the most beautiful things in the world are often missed due to our "busy lives". I'm not talking about anything man made, this is all natural: sunrise and sunset. They are early in the morning and  at the end of our day. Each one is like a snowflake in the sense that none are the same, ever. 

Jenny and I started our excursion at 4:30 in the morning to get to the top a mountain before the sun rose. It was dark and cold and part of the journey included riding through a farm in a tiny dirt road. Finally we arrive at the top of the mountain and we are standing in front of a Chinese pavilion with a few tables and chairs all around. The only sensible thing to do is get some pastries, a pot of tea and sit at a table to wait. 

As the sun peaks over the mountain ridges across the valley, the sky explodes with gold and light reds. The light enhanced the beautiful haze that sat at the bottom f the valley. It was a beautiful sight and well worth waking up so early. 

Throughout the day, we explored a few waterfalls and some farmlands. All of these led to the Pai Grand Canyon. We hiked up about 200 stairs to see these beautiful spines that had a about a hundred foot drop on either side. These overlooked an incredible expanse of jungle filled land. 

Once we hiked around and found a great spot to watch the sunset, we set up cameras and started throwing rocks into the valley. With all of the clouds shattered around the sky, the sun lit up the clouds a brilliant deep red and orange. It cast fingers of light all throughout the sky and created an amazing contrast with the valley below. This is one of the most memorable days I have had on this incredible journey. Sunrise to sunset: a full day indeed.