New Zealand trip

Arrived in LA on Thursday after a 12 hour flight, where I met up with Jackie - the first person Adam and I met in Auckland when we arrived in New Zealand - and now the last person I'll see as the trip ends! Jackie has been the most incredible host and has tirelessly shown me around the city. It's been a blast, filled with beaches and cheesy tourist sights. Also met up with Alison, a friend from Wellington who happened to be going through LA at the same time.

The last time I was on the west coast I didn't make it to In N Out Burger, that mistake wouldn't be repeated on this trip. It was number one on my to do list. Below are a couple other checks off the list.



pondering celine dion's greatness



The Hollywood sign - just as impressive in person as when seen on TV





The only thing i couldn't check off was Amoeba Records, a huge independant music store. It's probably just as well though. I would have ended up spending money i don't have and bored Jackie to death as i drifted aimlessly for hours within it's walls.

It's been a blast, but I head out tomorrow - headed home! Tomorrow I arrive in DC around 9 and head back to the Burg to figure out what i'm doing next.

Playlist:

Gnarles Barkley - Transformers
Metric - Calculation Theme
Belle and Sebastian - White Collar Boy
Belle and Sebastian - Funny Little Frog
Stereophonics - Rewind
David Grey - Lately
Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

Oz was great - lotta camping, lotta hippies, lotta good times.

Arrived in Sydney on June 21st and ended up spending 4 days in Sydney (that's about 3 days too many). I ended up doing a surfing trip up the east coast with surfaris a company that runs a tour between Sydney and Byron Bay, a small beach town about 3 hours from Brisbane. The tour ended up being a blast. I hadn't really done much camping on this trip yet, so it actually got me out into national parks and camping right on the beaches we'd be surfing. Wild dingos, kangaroos and kookaburras were everywhere and it was the best food I've had while camping ever (sorry mom). Even though it was winter the days got up to about 70 degrees and the water was about the same temperature - nights, however, were pretty cold. It was a fun and even though i'm still not that great at the whole surfing thing, the people on the trip, the awesome parks we were going to and the campfires made the trip the highlight of Australia for me.



Once in Byron Bay I stayed for two nights in the Arts Factory hostel, which has this hippy commune feel to it. Drum circles, lots of tie dye, lots of dreds and lots of Canadians... It was actually a really cool place - buildings were spread out over a pretty big property with a hot tub, pool, teepees, and a lush rainforest feel as you walked around. Weather in Byron Bay was beautiful too - warm enough for a beach day in the middle of winter. The town, which refuses to let Mc Donalds in, has a nice feel to it. Glad I spent my time there instead of Surfers Paradise, which looked a lot like VA Beach when i drove through it.

Sunday I headed to Brisbane, where my flight would leave on Tuesday (today). I ended up meeting up with Stuart, a friend from Wellington, for a walk around the city and a few drinks. It was great to see him again.

Back in Auckland for a bit now. Gotta buy my kiwi music and close my accounts here. Then, sadly, say goodbye to NZ.

Playlist:

Fly My Pretties - Turn It Around
Kora - Burning
The Roots - Why
The Clash - Train in Vain
M.I.A. - Sunshowers
The Go! Team - Ladyflash