This is where I am right now!

ok, so this is where I am right now.

From Back to the North Island, NZ

The lack of blog postings can be attributed to the fact that I'm a little busy. I'm busy living in the moment, which doesn't allow time for documenting things that happened to me yesterday, or a few weeks ago.

But this is where I am right now. Looking at the ocean. And far far far away on the other side of that great big blue is the U.S. (California to be more precise). I miss it tremendously. I can't say that all traveling is fun or easy but I feel like I've been handed this great opportunity to see the world, meet its people and ignore all the things that make us different.

I know now beyond any shadow of a doubt that so much of what's important is at home with your friends and your family and the people who know you. That part of me wants to abandon the journey and go home. The other part of me that doesn't give up easily wants me to stay, because once you get wrapped up in schedules and bills and paperwork, its so hard to escape again. In fact, it's hard to break free of whatever spinning wheel you find yourself on. And the reality is, I'm in New Zealand RIGHT NOW, I have a plane ticket to fly to India on Friday for a two week yoga retreat and a tour of both the northern and southern regions of a country that I don't understand at all.

I tend to make plans, then when it actually comes down to executing them, I can't really remember why I made those plans to begin with and more importantly, if I actually want to do what it is I've made plans to do. But I never seem to deviate from that even if I'm pretty sure I don't really what to do that thing that I've planned on doing. Spontaneity, on a large scale, is a challenge.

But I've been living out of a car for the last two months as a vagabond, a vagrant, a complete waste of time, resources...just a slap in the face to productivity. For two months I haven't had a clue where I'd be or what I'd be doing on any given day. No plans. No schedule. And now I've been getting ready to go to India, while simultaneously looking for a job and a place to live in Mt. Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty, and for someone who used to be so organized, and whose life was so well planned out, I'm finding it difficult now to make plans beyond the next day or two. I haven't even bought my return ticket from India. And I only bought my ticket to India yesterday. Is that cool and brilliant? or completely stupid and irresponsible? What happened?

Anyway, I'm graced with this beautiful ocean front view because I'm staying with two doctors (couchsurfing.com I can't explain how incredible this community is. sign up. just do it.) and it makes me want to make a lot of money so i can have a house on the beach. But right now, I'm not being very good about furthering my career. i dont have a career. and I'm getting a little concerned by the fact that that doesnt really bother me at all. I used to be terrified of failure, and now I'm not really convinced as to what failure actually is. I wish I could say that all that really matters is that you're happy. But I'm not really all that happy. Not all the time anyway. Sure, i'm having a lot of fun, but my current circumstances aren't really making me any more or less happy than my 'normal' life did.

And then there's stress, which follows me everywhere. don't think that just because I don't work a 9-5 job I dont get stressed. i do.

So I'm going to India. Not to find myself. Not to have some magical spiritual awakening. but because I have the OPPORTUNITY to go to India. I haven't thought about it all that much. I don't know where I'm going exactly when I get there (haven't looked at a map). I haven't even begun to think about packing. I'm picking up some malaria pills tomorrow (i hope).

Maybe it's just procrastination, but maybe it's that I've finally figured out how to get out of my own head. What an amazing revelation! Now if only I could figure out what I'm doing here.

I'm not trying to be happy. I'm not seeking happiness, or contentment or fulfillment in any way. I don't think I'm looking for anything actually. Happy-ness. I'd don't really know what that is. Happiness and sadness are impermanent anyway, so no matter how happy you are or how sad you are, you won't stay that way long, so why search for or try to attain something that is so fleeting anyway? I just think life is really cool. and the world is really cool. and learning all about it and experiencing different things is just a great way to spend a day. I'm totally fascinated by the world I get to live in and I love learning and I'm kinda starting to think that's what it's all about. If we could all just be more inquisitive, simply for the sake of learning, we'd be so preoccupied by all the interesting-ness that surrounds us, we wouldnt be able to go to war or kill people or say mean things, because all we'd want to do is ask questions, be active students of our world. I want to be a student forever. After 16 years of formal education, i feel like my brain is finally starting to work. (ironic considering the random ramble of words that precedes this statement!)

Point is (if in fact I have one. I don't really know where the rest of this sentence is headed) (pause)
Point is, it doesn't really matter what the hell you decide to do with your day. You could sit behind a desk, or you could go to India. Neither will make you 'happy.' But who cares?! India is just more interesting. so for now, I choose India.

Go read a book!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

He puts the 'man' in Manly

So after 14 grueling hours aboard a giant metal tube flying 30 thousand feet above the earth...most of which was spent reclining, watching movies and sipping champagne, so forget what I said about 'grueling,' Alicia and I arrived in Sydney.

The plan was to spend two days acclimating ourselves before continuing onto Auckland. We couchsurfed on the other side of the bay in a town called Manly.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.spirittravel.com/images/symbology/symbol.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.spirittravel.com/logosymbology.html&h=165&w=190&sz=10&hl=en&start=2&sig2=nd11XS0lpssQNSGxmslHtw&um=1&usg=__6dsRi1JGPFlsdHI_utBKAGBUSKQ=&tbnid=Va7mmnGzrsptTM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=103&ei=XoYLSYrkFZuw0QSK_qy6BA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtravel%2Bsymbol%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADBF

From New Zealand, North Island

After a few days lounging on the beach, we were finally on our way to New Zealand. We had purchased tickets on an airline called Aerolineas Argentinas. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS AIRLINE. Purchase the tickets was a whole fiasco in itself (thank goodness I had some free time in bike around Boston for two days to sort the whole thing out.) Then to top things off, they delayed our flight.

Ignore the dates!

So, from here on out, the dates are going to be a bit erratic, but I promise to go in chronological order....

Hello from kiwi land

So, internet is not as easy to come by around here as one might have hoped. But rest assured, all is well.

I finally had a chance to update my blog that has been oh so outdated for oh so many weeks.

I've been in New Zealand for almost a month now and I've got lots to tell, so check back for pictures and such of my current journey soon.

...It's all happening...

Chapter 3

After almost two weeks back in the states, which included hanging out with my family (my grandma is doing much better, thank you.), a wedding on the top of a mountain (congrats Eric and Holly), time spent with my brother and my new sister-in-law (exciting stuff, huh?), a college night with my baby cousin (ok, so 19 doesn't make you a baby, but still), reconnecting with an old friend (and my current travel buddy), a wild night in HB that ended with a midnight dip in the ocean, some last minute preparations and some good ole family time with my parents (hi mom and dad!) and that little yellow waggly ball of fur (hi Wrio!)...It's time for the next chapter.

The plan is (after a brief layover in Australia) to make our way to the north island of New Zealand, buy a campervan, live in said campervan and drive around exploring the country, getting to know the locals (i mean, sheep) and eating kiwis (the fruit) until we find a town we like, then settle down, get jobs for the summer and figure out the rest later.

Here's to (mis)adventures, driving on the left side of the road and experiencing what life is all about. May the road be generously paved with good fortune, good intention, and a smidge of good luck! A-HO!

Well, that's that.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Portugal, Andalucia, and yes, even Morocco.

I feel alive. Isn't that great!

Faro

Ever since I left Portugal a few weeks ago, all I've wanted to do is go back. I get off the bus and wander into the southern town of Faro. I'm sitting at an internet cafe trying to scrounge up phone numbers of possible couchsurfing hosts, send out a few text messages, and moments later Joao breezes into the internet cafe and gives me a ride to his apartment.

His two cats greet me warmly, one is named Sagres which is the name of a town and also a Portuguese beer. I take a moment to organize myself. Joao has to go back to work so he drops me off at the beach on the way. Before I get out of the car he apologizes for his poor English (which isn't poor at all) and also for the poor weather (which again, isn't poor at all.) He'll be done with work around 3p and he'll come back to pick me up then.

After my debacle in Seville, I've only got one day in Faro and I'm perfectly content to spend it on the beach.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

dogs playing on the beach always make me smile.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

wierd little decorative chimney's around here;

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

I walk along the only street that runs between the beach on one side and a harbor on the other. I want to see the houses.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

The houses start off normal looking enough.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

But then they get enveloped by sand.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

If you hate having sandy beach feet in your house, then this is your worst nightmare. The streets and the sidewalks here are made of sand. I'm not even sure these houses don't have sand instead of regular floors on the inside. And really, when you've got sand up to your doorstep, why bother

Caught this big fella taking a nap in the shade.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

good 'ole pickleweed.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Last chance to be a tourist for a little while so I whipped out my old friend the camera, set up the timer, and help my own little personal photo shoot. I wanted to remember what my face looks like when it's not destroyed by stress and what a smile looks like when the happiness behind it is real.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

we did have a bit of a malfunction. This is the photo my camera took in mid-air as it got knocked off its makeshift tripod by the wind.

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Just one more picture of my feet for good measure

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

look at the old wash tub in the corner

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

This street brings new meaning to the term 'beach house.'

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Travel tips on the beach by yours truly;

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

A quick swim...
and saying goodbye


I claim this land...for my bathing suit top!

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Ok, this is the last feet picture, I promise

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Looking pensive (or worried)

From Portugal, #2- Faro

and bad ass

From Portugal, #2- Faro

time to pack it up and head home...

From Portugal, #2- Faro

I love botched English translations

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Back at the apartment, Joao and I head to the supermarket for provisions and he cooks up a tasty Spaghetti Bolognese. Nice apron!

From Portugal, #2- Faro

Meanwhile, the cats are mesmerized by my stuff

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

We head out for a quick tour of Faro. It's a beautiful little town that I wish I had more time to explore;

Portugal is filled with janky old, crackling buildings. It's...well...beautiful. This one is literally breaking in half:

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

My last European sunset for a while:

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro

From Portugal, #2- Faro