23 January- on the road to Rotorua
"I really loved Wellington. It was so great to spend time with people who live there too- Jo and Becca...Jo and Seamus went through sort of the whole cultural history of New Zealand with all the Maori relationships, and Jo sang the national song for me in English and in Maori. Maori and the way the language is incorporated into Kiwi English reminds me of Gaelic/Irish."
"So I'm on the bus and I couldn't get any accomodation so I'm staying with a friend of Jo's in Rotorua!"
"New Zealand's history is in it's geological and land history. The history of human beings in this place is not that old- even the Maori came here not that long ago. But the Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Erosions, glaciers- that's where the ancient lies, in the earth and land. That's what makes New Zealand special."
Rotorua, 11pm
"TE PO, INDIGENOUS EVENING EXPERIENCE- It was ok. The show/music/language/dance was really cool and beautiful. The food (Hangi) was really good, and there was a lot of it. But really, I could have done without that part. I also had a boring table. But at the end we saw the hot sulfur guyser- THAT was worth it. That's when it felt sacred. The sun was setting, casting light play all over the clouds and sky, you could see the moon, and the clouds of guyser was all intertwined- it was beautiful and incredible that it was all a part of the Earth. The Maori culture is endlessly fascinating, but I felt that this was a nicely packaged, entertaining "show" as opposed to any kind of real spiritual experience."
"What I like about Maori is that it is a LIVING earth-based indigenous culture that is a major part of New Zealand culture. It is NOT in the background or even very untouchable. Although this thing was so touristy and put on display, it is still a major part of life here."
"Val is really cool and I basically have my own room tonight and I got to play piano for them and I'm lucky that I got to stay here tonight."
24 January- Rotorua
"OHINEMUTU- Maori Village- That was good! That was so real! The church...which was interesting, a real living village, and I spoke to real people and FELT IT."
"I dont feel like I'm going to Australia tomorrow. Or I guess I feel like Australia is just an extension of New Zealand. The West Island, they call it."
"It still hasn't really hit me that I'm traveling around the world."
25 January- Sydney, Australia
"Goodbye, beautiful, laid back, open and 'sweet as' New Zealand. What will Australia give me..."
"Sydney is AWESOME. I am liking it so much so far- cute little alleys and very real workers, livers...So far I don't feel as drawn to Australians as I did New Zealanders. But they're kind of the same to me. The Sydney crowd is more cosmopolitan, sure of themselves, less rugged."
"Now I'm in Coco Cubano- a very atmospheric cafe by the hostel. I'm having a tasty flat white. Sydney is a great place for people watching."
"Ok so I think I'm starting to get homesick. To miss my New York way of life. Coffee dates and deep conversation, interspersed with musical/artistic endeavors."
"Sydney is a hard place to get a read on Australians because it's just a great big city like New York. It quite reminds me of London, actually."
26 January- Australia Day (like the 4th of July)
"I'm exhausted. Spent the whole day walking, in the sun, met with Pauline and Nienke (Dutch girls I met in New Zealand) and had a good time wandering about the throngs of people, sampled a few beers outside in a pedestrian area, and then heard an AWESOME band for free, dancing and all."
27 January- Bondi Beach day
"I've found a spot by the water where a bunch of navy ships are docked. It's quite peaceful among the ships, industrial buildings and few people on their cigarette breaks."
"Now I'm at Bondi Beach. Was here with Pauline and Nienke. It started to rain so they left. Now I've found a little shelter on the beach so I can look out at the waves and surfers and seagulls and rainclouds. So Sydney is a strange sort of place. It is (or seems to attract) a party scene- and therefore in my mind very plastic and souless. People who feel so bad about themselves that they'll do anything for attention. and then, outside the hostel and Kings Cross, there are these little pristine alleys and residential areas, hills that wind and a vibrant arts culture. I guess it's like New York.I also had a epiphany- I don't need to do the touristy things- the real city always lies in the people who live there."
"The Ocean sets me free."
28 January- Sydney
"I just experienced some magical warm things. A puppet shop where clearly everything comes to life at night. I bought a headpiece for my street performing. The shop was in a complex of stone alleys and hideaways, with levels and steps- the sort of thing I love. The magic I felt inside the shop combined with the strange energy I'm carrying with me finally brought the rain."
29 January- Melbourne
"I met my new best friend, Nikki from Brighton...we wandered along and talked for a while, looked in various vintage shops and bookshops, had coffee in this cute, hip, williamsburg-y area called Fitzroy. It was just right."
30 January- Melbourne
"So last night I went with Nikki to a very cute restaurant and had a bottle of wine- it was really lovely. We had a fab conversation about spirituality, travel, relationships, culture- the whole thing."
Seen on a wall in a cafe- 'MORNINGS EVENINGS AND AFTERNOONS, MY LIFE IS MEASURED IN COFFEE SPOONS.'
"Today I am going to attempt to make art out of myself by singing/performing, making live theatrics out of public art- graffitti and murals..."
"and I managed to do it! It was awesome! And Nikki was a huge help- she made it look like something. These two people stopped and watched for a while and then asked me, "were you drawing energy from that mural?" They answered my questions and gave me money and generally supported me. We made some more photos and sang some more, and then I did some more singing/busking in another location. I brought The Other Side, myself, my art, to the streets and real people of Melbourne, inspired people, were judged by people, brought people together and made them think.
I DID IT!
31 January- Melbourne
"SO last night was really lovely. Cooked a big veg dinner with Nikki and Katie (from Scotland), and we went through a few bottles of wine. SO lovely. Two sweet German girls joined us as well. It was very girly and reminded me of a night with the Emilies. Just what I needed. Then the Germans answered my questions, with awesome answers. I feel like I'm really doing my trip, really making it happen, really learning and growing and connecting, and it all feels very much a part of the show."
"Well Melbourne was so peaceful, wholesome, real and girly. I just left and said goodbye to Nikki and the really sweet German girls. I feel very warm and fuzzy from the people I've met and the real experiences I've had in Melbourne. It really felt the most like a home."
