The Estonian's and I, and EVEN MORE Estonians went out again this weekend. I once again cannot go into details. But, I did learn another drinking game.
In this one, there is one person who sits out of play and is the role of Dealer/Judge.
They shuffle the deck, and draw a card. Various rules are applied to various cards at the end of each round (you never make it through the deck) the first three rules are:
On the King, make a crown like symbol over your head.
On the Queen, cup your bust making the shape of a bra.
On the Jack, I don't remember... but I'll let you know when I know.
The Dealer/Judge decides who was the slowest person to do the action and they have to drink. after going through the cards, the Dealer/Judge decides who drank the most, and they are now assigned as the Dealer/Judge after creating a new rule for any of the cards.
I did say my first complete sentence in Estonian, and it was a very very fitting sentence to say on my hero, President Ronald Reagan's birthday:
"Kai Persa Noukogude Liit"
Which, very loosely translated into English means:
"F^<% you Soviet Union"
I never said it was a pleasant sentence, i just said it was my first one that I put together myself.
The 2nd group of Estonians are friends of the 1st group. They happen to be staying in a hostel outside of Griffith (40ish minutes north of Leeton). Two guys and a girl. My number of Eesti sobrad (Estonian friends)keeps growing.
And so, the Birthweek celebration comes to a close.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Operation Nova Aquila Update 2
For those who don’t know, that is what I have decided to name my time here in Australia. My first two months having been here complete, I figure it’s time for another update.
Objective 1 (Lose weight): I’ve just past the 43 inches mark. That makes the 4th inch lost in Australia (between my two trips). In two months, as opposed to the 5 inches that I’ve lost in California over the other 10 months. 1 inch per 2 months at home, 2 inches per month here. Plan seems to be working.
Objective 2 (Find job): Well, those who actively keep track of my blogs would know that I’ve had a series of short term jobs, not necessarily one stable one, but, my handler Michael the Orange guy always seems to pull through.
Objective 3 (Get Ripped like Jesus): Dependant on Objective 1, but, seems like it is going on course.
Objective 4 (Save Money): Dependant on Objective 2, but, also seems to be going on course.
Objective 5 (House Makeover): Well, the house it’s self, I have not had time this past month between the Road Trip and finding work. The shipping containers are nearly 100 percent.
Objective 6 (Quit Pepsico Addiction): The first part of the 2nd trimester seems to be going ok… no with drawls. Yet. The accelerated detox these next few weeks worries me slightly, but, I’m sure I’ll be alright. Having P.O.G. juice around is helping the process out, so now water isn’t my only other option.
Objective 7 (Learn new life lessons): I don’t know how good of a father I’ll be anymore. I am a great scout leader, because at the end of the day, I get to hand the little ones off to their parents, and I can babysit my niece for hours, but at the end of the day, I get to hand her over to her parents. I need a lot more work on my patience than I thought that I did. Also, it's harder having brother's then I thought (but that is kind of a continuation of last month's new life lesson)
Objective 8 (See all states/territories of Aus): After the road trip, I have now seen New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Now I still have the Australian Capital Territory, Tazmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland.
Objective 9 (Re-learn how to ride a motorcycle): Yes, it’s been over a decade since I have last riden a motorcycle, and now, I am unsure of my abilities on one, and so, want to re-learn how. Paul has agreed, but, now we need a working bike to do so.
Objective 10 (Drive manual left handed): Gave it a go awhile ago… it was laughable (to say the least according to Paul). But, I was proud of the fact that it didn’t seem to throw me off that much.
Objective 11 (Dive in GBR): Need money, that’s it, the moment I have the money, I’m going diving. EVERY SCUBA diver, who knows about the Great Barrier Reef, wants to go diving in it, and here I am, so close, and yet penniless (quite literally, Australia has no $.01 piece).
Objective 12 (See one other country): New Zealand air prices from Sydney seem quite reasonable in May, but, as I have that problem with Objective 11, I have the same problem present with Objective 12. That has never stopped me before however.
Objective 13 (Learn Estonian): I have three new Estonian friends, who love speaking their native tongue all the time, and, I don’t blame them at all in the slightest, but I am determined to not be left out of every conversation, and so… I am going to learn as much Estonian as I possibly can. Have a few words so far, but mainly just slang to use in a pub.
The adventure continues!!! And so friends, I leave you with this though of the day that I think applies to this update…
“There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth... it is you!”
Thursday, February 4, 2010
P. O. G.
For those who don’t know, when I worked at Rancho Alegre, we had a juice machine that we the staff used to fill up pitchers for campers during the meals.
In the Juice Machine, there was usually:
Apple
Grape
One other thing
And……
POG!
What is this P.O.G. many of you might be wondering?!?!?!
Oh… nothing special… ONLY THE GREATEST JUICE EVER!
So, anyway, at some point in time while taking apart the shed, I had this sudden craving for P.O.G.
At first I don’t know where it came from, but after further reflection, I think I figured it out.
Remember Ranger Larry I mentioned back in December? Ya, well, every year at camp, (don’t worry, I’m coming back to POG) during staff development week, he made it a point during his oh so lovely OSHA talk, to scare the bejeezus out of EVERY member of camp!
HANTAVIRUS!!!
Hantavirus is a respiratory infection that occurs when you inhale the dust created by the movement of rodent fecal matter.
Or… “the crud that you kick up when your sweeping up all the mouse poopies in your cabin”. When this “Death Dust” reaches your lungs, they begin to bleed! AND YOU DROWN IN YOUR OWN BLOOD!!!
So, ya, as much of a laugh as us older staff have after hearing “the Hanta talk” year after year… the moment I saw a pile of what I thought might have been rodent crap… I immediately put on my mask, and proceeded with caution. The whole time I was taking the shed apart and more rat crap came from the other side of the wall, the more and more Ranger Larry’s voice played in my head!
It was like… I was haunted by the thought of hanta, I could just hear it over and over again like a broken record in the back of my mind with every panel I took off…
“Eagle… HANTA!”
“Hanta Eagle… Hanta!”
“The dust is creeping in!”
“The mask won’t protect you…”
“you’ll get Hantavirus Eagle”
“…Then… your lungs will fill with blood”
“Can’t you feel them burning inside already”
It was at this point, that I had the most intense craving for POG juice… and looking back on that moment, (because it was very strange for me at the time why I would have such a pregnant woman intense craving) I realized, that was usually about the same time in the speech when I would excuse myself and go hang out in the kitchen talking to Liz and/or Dana and drink POG so I could avoid as much of the OSHA talk as I could.
So… anyway, I had this intense craving with me throughout the rest of the day. I asked Jan if she had ever heard of POG, and her response…
“POG?! What the hell is that?”
“It’s a type of juice”
“Oh… huh… POG?”
“Ya… it’s a blend”
“Check Woolys, if they don’t have it, you’re out of luck”
Well, I went to the store with Paul after work, and!
They did NOT have it. I really didn’t think they would… but it was worth a shot.
I went on a juice buying frenzy though!
I never realized how much I really like juice! It’s like crazy! I feel so healthy.
So, anyway, I found an Orange & Passion fruit blend and then I found some Guava Nectar (which happen to be the 3 fruits involved in the creation of POG).
I bought the 2, and spent most of the rest of the afternoon finding just the right mixture, as it turns out, which is just way WAY to easy… pretty much, 1/3 of the Guava Nectar, and then the other 2/3rds you fill with the Orange & Passion fruit juice.
So there you have it, the way to make my favorite type of juice, and also, a valuable lesson in how not to fill your lungs with blood.
Dirty Job #4
Working at a grain storage facility.
It was alright I suppose, but, score another point for college degree (seems to be a theme developing). Another job found for me by my handler, Michael the Orange Guy (yes, his new official nic-name), quite possibly the best of my birthday presents (in the sense that I actually had work)
At least I got along well with my boss.
So what did I do this time? Well, I cleaned the outside of a shed. Easy right? Well, if you think of “shed” in terms of that little 5x4 that you put your lawn mower and rake in the back yard… then ya, I suppose I could see why you would think it was easy, but… if you thought of shed as in the “store tons of grain and could fit the condo I grew up in, plus my house on Oxford, plus my Aussie home… well, slightly harder.
So, I spent the entire first day cleaning 3 out of 4 walls, and then the 2nd and third days taking apart and then putting up a new 4th wall.
I learned something new about me… ANY other time, put me in a basket, and then hoist me 30-50 feet in the air, no problem at all in the slightest and my Ealge-like awesomeness kicks in. Do so when I am dehydrated… hmmmm… ya… not so much. Though, after a few moments of the rocking back and forthness, I was alright and felt like a nance for complaining in the first place.
Being as the day’s events weren’t extremely eventful…
I’ll leave you with this story that my boss told me:
“After the War, there was a high tax on a lot of different produce that would have normally gone to the soldiers. Well, Nestle comes to me ol’ man and asks him if he can get them X number of almonds.
“So him and his mates get together, pick the amount asked of them, so they did, and where all happy that they had a big pay day coming to them.
“Then they get a call from this guy from the government. Turns out he come down to Wagga asking for all this tax. So my old man goes down there, and meets one of his mates, and asks, ‘where is this government guy?’
“his mate tells him, ‘down at the pub’
“ ‘well what did I come down here for if he’s just at the bloody pub?!’
“ ‘(what’s his name) has him down there buying him beers, now, in a little bit, you go down there, and you start buying that bastard some beers, and tell (what’s his name) that we need him here, then I’ll go in, and we switch out again’
“so my old man goes down to the pub and starts shouting drinks for him till his mate come and switch out with him, then his other mate switch out with him, and my dad go back in… well, eventually, they drink this poor bastard under the table. He is so pissed drunk that the three of them pick him up, and carry him just down the block to the train station, get him on the next train going to Sydney and paid one of the guys ten quid to throw him out when the train got to Sydney.
“And ya know what? They never heard another word about that money ever again”
Anyway, funny stories from Aussies, thought I’d share.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
“Happy” Birthday
Sigh
My birthday and time zones just don’t get along. Like not even a little.
Jan and the family tried to help me have a good day. Jan got me a Leonardo action figure, which is really cool cause it actually jumps and does a back flip.
But… I’m in Sydney time right now. While I was enjoying the first day of February, everyone else I know (even my friend in Germany) was still saying goodbye to January while I was having my birthday.
The fact that I wasn’t feeling all that great didn’t help things much at all. Still, the part about most all of you forgetting that I was in a different time zone and so already had my birthday by the time most of you said, “Happy birthday” really didn't help. But that still wasn't the worst part.
Like I said, my birthday has not had good luck with time zones…
One of my Aunts in Honduras (one of my Mother’s cousins, but you know us Latinos) for the past few years would call me in the morning on the first of February to wish me a happy birthday. Before it was just a card, until my last visit back to the motherland, then she started calling. Which, for a 3rd worlder to call a 1st worlder is very kind and thoughtful, so, I did appreciate the niceness of it all, but, I couldn’t display those feelings when I was being woken up just before 6 am. You see, all of Honduras is in 1 time zone, they don’t span across 4 like the 48 states do, and Honduras is 2 hours ahead of California, so that means, even though they were trying to get a hold of me before my cousin Orlin went to school, that was still two hours ahead, while I was still lying motionless in bed.
And so… in 2008 and 2009 I actually spent the night at the Kigers the night before my birthday just so that, even if they call, I could still sleep in. Which... looking back just makes me feel like even more of a dick. All they wanted was to be good family, but it was to inconvenient of a time for me.
2007 was the last birthday that I talked to Orlin. He was murdered last June just after I returned to CA from my last trip out here. As much as it use to annoy me… right now I would give anything to be woken up by my Aunt at any hour day or night if I could just talk to my cousin again.
Then throw in the absence of the turtles and… well…
It wasn’t the greatest way of starting off my 24th lap around the sun.
At least I’ve only got another 363 days left till my car insurance goes down.
21 Feb 2010
Ammendment 1
A. My Aussie family did what they knew best to do to make me feel loved, this isn't a blog about what they did or didn't do because what they did do was kind hearted.
B. I do NOT make it sound like I would have only been happy if my entire family flew down, I was talking about the fact that a couple friends I've yet to even meet in real life, said happy birthday before a couple of my best friends who I've known for nearly 20 years.
C. This blog was not an opportunity for all of YOU to call me a selfish dick, this blog was ME confessing it.
D. This blog is about how much my cousin Orlin was on my mind all day because he and his mother historically called me year after year on my birthday, and I'm a selfish dick who would have rather slept in, than to talk to a family member, and now, I will never again get that chance, because Orlin was murdered and I never replied to the last letter he sent me because I procrastinate, and even though I shouldn't let it, it kinda haunts me to know that I never replied, never let him know that I love him, and am glad to be related to him.
My birthday and time zones just don’t get along. Like not even a little.
Jan and the family tried to help me have a good day. Jan got me a Leonardo action figure, which is really cool cause it actually jumps and does a back flip.
But… I’m in Sydney time right now. While I was enjoying the first day of February, everyone else I know (even my friend in Germany) was still saying goodbye to January while I was having my birthday.
The fact that I wasn’t feeling all that great didn’t help things much at all. Still, the part about most all of you forgetting that I was in a different time zone and so already had my birthday by the time most of you said, “Happy birthday” really didn't help. But that still wasn't the worst part.
Like I said, my birthday has not had good luck with time zones…
One of my Aunts in Honduras (one of my Mother’s cousins, but you know us Latinos) for the past few years would call me in the morning on the first of February to wish me a happy birthday. Before it was just a card, until my last visit back to the motherland, then she started calling. Which, for a 3rd worlder to call a 1st worlder is very kind and thoughtful, so, I did appreciate the niceness of it all, but, I couldn’t display those feelings when I was being woken up just before 6 am. You see, all of Honduras is in 1 time zone, they don’t span across 4 like the 48 states do, and Honduras is 2 hours ahead of California, so that means, even though they were trying to get a hold of me before my cousin Orlin went to school, that was still two hours ahead, while I was still lying motionless in bed.
And so… in 2008 and 2009 I actually spent the night at the Kigers the night before my birthday just so that, even if they call, I could still sleep in. Which... looking back just makes me feel like even more of a dick. All they wanted was to be good family, but it was to inconvenient of a time for me.
2007 was the last birthday that I talked to Orlin. He was murdered last June just after I returned to CA from my last trip out here. As much as it use to annoy me… right now I would give anything to be woken up by my Aunt at any hour day or night if I could just talk to my cousin again.
Then throw in the absence of the turtles and… well…
It wasn’t the greatest way of starting off my 24th lap around the sun.
At least I’ve only got another 363 days left till my car insurance goes down.
21 Feb 2010
Ammendment 1
A. My Aussie family did what they knew best to do to make me feel loved, this isn't a blog about what they did or didn't do because what they did do was kind hearted.
B. I do NOT make it sound like I would have only been happy if my entire family flew down, I was talking about the fact that a couple friends I've yet to even meet in real life, said happy birthday before a couple of my best friends who I've known for nearly 20 years.
C. This blog was not an opportunity for all of YOU to call me a selfish dick, this blog was ME confessing it.
D. This blog is about how much my cousin Orlin was on my mind all day because he and his mother historically called me year after year on my birthday, and I'm a selfish dick who would have rather slept in, than to talk to a family member, and now, I will never again get that chance, because Orlin was murdered and I never replied to the last letter he sent me because I procrastinate, and even though I shouldn't let it, it kinda haunts me to know that I never replied, never let him know that I love him, and am glad to be related to him.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Stealing Mike Tyson’s Tiger
Finding a baby, throwing a mattress off the roof, and being attacked by an angry naked Asian guy where not part of this weekend! Well… I don’t remember those parts if they were.
(Those of you who HAVE watched “The Hangover” help out those who haven’t)
The Estonians and I gave our first go at going to the pub. We had a few drinks at the house first, and they taught me an Estonian drinking game. One which I shall now enlighten all of you on:
Step 1 – get a deck of cards and ensure they are properly shuffled
Step 2 – pick which direction you are going to go
Step 3 – make sure everyone has a full glass of whatever they are drinking
The cards:
Ace – place the card on your forehead without adding any form of moisture to aid in its adhesive quality and take 5 sips, should the card fall, commence the process over again.
2 thru 6 – the person who draws this card gets to assign the number of sips displayed on the card to any player or combination of players. (Ex. Edward draws #5, assigns Markus and Richard 1 each, and Martin 3)
7 – Is a number game, which I hate. The person who draws this card chooses a number and a word to replace that number. Say Martin chooses number 8 and the word is “what up”, we will go through the numbers skipping anything with an “8” (Ex. 8, 18, 28) or anything divisible by “8” (Ex. 16, 24, 32) when these numbers come up, the person who would normally say the number says the chosen word (in this case “what up”) and the direction reverse back the other way.
8 – A “Waterfall”. Here, the person who drew the card chooses a direction for the waterfall to end. Everyone then takes a continuous drink until the person who drew the card finishes, which then sets off the person next to him to finish, which then ends the person next to him, and so on and so forth until you have reached the last person chosen by the one who drew the card.
9 – Lists. Upon drawing the #9, the person thinks up a topic (Ex. Movies starring one of the 6 cast members of “Friends”) to which everyone would have to list an item that fits on the list (Marley and Me, Madagascar, Lost in Space, Analyze That, etc.) the first person to fail, gets to take the sip.
10 – A new rule! This one can be awesome, or completely terrible. Whoever gets the #10 can create a new rule and delete a previously established rule by another #10 card
Jack – “The Chin Master” (If at a circular table can also work with thumbs). The concept is simple, the last person to draw the Jack receives the title of “Chin Master”, until the is de-throned at any point throughout the game, he may place his hand over his chin (in a style of his choosing) and the last person in the group to realize the covering and mimic his action, fails, and therefore takes a sip.
Queen – “The Question Master”. Along the same lines of “Chin Master” in that, you are in that role until someone else draws the next Queen. Any time the QM asks a question, if someone answers them, they fail, and therefore take a sip, IF HOWEVER! The person catches the trap and replies with “You’re the QM” well, different story… The Question Master then failed, and has to take the sip.
King – There is a mutual cup in the center of the action, anyone who draws the first 3 Kings adds a bit of their own drink to the communal cup at center. The 4th king however, not only ends the game, but the unfortunate soul who draws this card must consume the poisonous concoction contained within.
And so, the new game taught/learned, and played… we headed off to the pub in search of fun and adventure!
We got there a bit earlier than the rest of the crowd, we spotted one small cluster of girls, walked over, Martin taking point, initiated contact with the gaggle with, “Hi Ladies, HHHHAAAAve ya met Ted” and turned towards me. (Those of you who DO watch “How I Met Your Mother” help out those who do NOT). Well, as a matter of fact, the girl closest to me HAD met me, because it was my new adopted cousin Laura. Laura’s friends all flocked over to the Estonians with hugs and hello’s, leaving Laura and me standing to the side totally confused. Turns out my crew met her crew the night
before Australia Day.
The rest of the night was filled with meeting new people, and then dancing with new people. I’d go into details… but I can’t, either cause I don’t want to, or can’t remember. I will say this much, the weekend leading up to my Birthday and kicking off my Birthweek was quite a lot of fun.
In other news! I have completed the 1st trimester of my detoxification process from Pepsi. I am now down to only 2 a day. After discussing the process with my sister… I have decided that during the 2nd trimester I’ll take away 2 Pepsis a week as opposed to only 1. This will accelerate the 2nd trimester, making it last only four weeks instead of seven like the first. I don’t know what I’ll do for the 3rd and last… we’ll see how I take this one.
(Those of you who HAVE watched “The Hangover” help out those who haven’t)
The Estonians and I gave our first go at going to the pub. We had a few drinks at the house first, and they taught me an Estonian drinking game. One which I shall now enlighten all of you on:
Step 1 – get a deck of cards and ensure they are properly shuffled
Step 2 – pick which direction you are going to go
Step 3 – make sure everyone has a full glass of whatever they are drinking
The cards:
Ace – place the card on your forehead without adding any form of moisture to aid in its adhesive quality and take 5 sips, should the card fall, commence the process over again.
2 thru 6 – the person who draws this card gets to assign the number of sips displayed on the card to any player or combination of players. (Ex. Edward draws #5, assigns Markus and Richard 1 each, and Martin 3)
7 – Is a number game, which I hate. The person who draws this card chooses a number and a word to replace that number. Say Martin chooses number 8 and the word is “what up”, we will go through the numbers skipping anything with an “8” (Ex. 8, 18, 28) or anything divisible by “8” (Ex. 16, 24, 32) when these numbers come up, the person who would normally say the number says the chosen word (in this case “what up”) and the direction reverse back the other way.
8 – A “Waterfall”. Here, the person who drew the card chooses a direction for the waterfall to end. Everyone then takes a continuous drink until the person who drew the card finishes, which then sets off the person next to him to finish, which then ends the person next to him, and so on and so forth until you have reached the last person chosen by the one who drew the card.
9 – Lists. Upon drawing the #9, the person thinks up a topic (Ex. Movies starring one of the 6 cast members of “Friends”) to which everyone would have to list an item that fits on the list (Marley and Me, Madagascar, Lost in Space, Analyze That, etc.) the first person to fail, gets to take the sip.
10 – A new rule! This one can be awesome, or completely terrible. Whoever gets the #10 can create a new rule and delete a previously established rule by another #10 card
Jack – “The Chin Master” (If at a circular table can also work with thumbs). The concept is simple, the last person to draw the Jack receives the title of “Chin Master”, until the is de-throned at any point throughout the game, he may place his hand over his chin (in a style of his choosing) and the last person in the group to realize the covering and mimic his action, fails, and therefore takes a sip.
Queen – “The Question Master”. Along the same lines of “Chin Master” in that, you are in that role until someone else draws the next Queen. Any time the QM asks a question, if someone answers them, they fail, and therefore take a sip, IF HOWEVER! The person catches the trap and replies with “You’re the QM” well, different story… The Question Master then failed, and has to take the sip.
King – There is a mutual cup in the center of the action, anyone who draws the first 3 Kings adds a bit of their own drink to the communal cup at center. The 4th king however, not only ends the game, but the unfortunate soul who draws this card must consume the poisonous concoction contained within.
And so, the new game taught/learned, and played… we headed off to the pub in search of fun and adventure!
We got there a bit earlier than the rest of the crowd, we spotted one small cluster of girls, walked over, Martin taking point, initiated contact with the gaggle with, “Hi Ladies, HHHHAAAAve ya met Ted” and turned towards me. (Those of you who DO watch “How I Met Your Mother” help out those who do NOT). Well, as a matter of fact, the girl closest to me HAD met me, because it was my new adopted cousin Laura. Laura’s friends all flocked over to the Estonians with hugs and hello’s, leaving Laura and me standing to the side totally confused. Turns out my crew met her crew the night
before Australia Day.
The rest of the night was filled with meeting new people, and then dancing with new people. I’d go into details… but I can’t, either cause I don’t want to, or can’t remember. I will say this much, the weekend leading up to my Birthday and kicking off my Birthweek was quite a lot of fun.
In other news! I have completed the 1st trimester of my detoxification process from Pepsi. I am now down to only 2 a day. After discussing the process with my sister… I have decided that during the 2nd trimester I’ll take away 2 Pepsis a week as opposed to only 1. This will accelerate the 2nd trimester, making it last only four weeks instead of seven like the first. I don’t know what I’ll do for the 3rd and last… we’ll see how I take this one.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Australia Day
Celebrate what’s great!
Well, that’s what the commercials say. The Abo’s might say celebrate their demise!
According to Wikipedia, Australia Day is a day celebrating the first English fleet landing on the Southern Continent. In historical terms, it’s the equivalent of Columbus Day, but, in national terms, it’s the closest thing that they have to an Independence Day (since they got the red coats “out” of their country by agreeing to keep the Union Jack on the flag and the Queen on the money).
So, how did I celebrate what’s great?
Well, remember those Estonians I talked about earlier? Well, yesterday at work, we got out way early, so that kinda gave us a lot more time to hang out and stuff and we ended up learning about some Koala reservation in Narrandera (a town about 20 minutes south east of Leeton). We thought this would make for a great adventure. And so, the great explorer Belton with his new team of Estonians set out for adventure! (and Koalas)
I followed the directions, and we get to a network of dirt roads, and then… it is time to make a choice, I go left.
I don’t want to say that I took a wrong turn, because, really, I simply took a turn which ADDED to the experience of exploration.
Our first encounter with the wildlife came in the form of a group of horses. At first it was all… “oh, hey guys, look at the horses…”
Then it became… “oh, well, I guess we are going to sit here and wait for them to cross”
Until we noticed one separating from the group:
And then the next thing you know…
OMG!!!
And so… we sat there for awhile… just… ya know… kinda staring at each other.
The horse finally moved out of the road, and we weren’t eaten, and so we drove off.
We saw various birds…
…and a few different Kangaroo and Wallaby troops…
… well… we DID see them… they apparently don’t photograph well. But we did end up chasing them in the car for awhile, until they realized they were kangaroos and could jump anywhere they want, not just next to the road where the stupid people in their car could see them.
We ended up taking a bit of a break from our hunt and check out the river.
Then! We finally got to the reserve. So, we started walking around hunting Koala,
looking around… and looking… and looking…
No Koala
But! A cool looking tree.
And so we walked onward looking up into the trees in search of wild Koala
…we didn’t see any…
Finally… we got back to river.
We decided to head back for the car, but, instead, we decided to dangerously leave the trail, and follow the river back to the car as opposed to returning on the Koala less trail.
Feeling slightly disappointed about the fact that we found no Koalas in the Koala reserve.
Then, I looked up, and saw a neat looking bird, as I told everyone, “GUYS! Check out that bird”, Martin looked up and said…
“Forget the bird! LOOK AT THE KOALA!”
And by golly… there was one!
I thought it would be a great idea to try to join the Koala up in the tree… unfortunately for me and my fat… Markus was MUCH more successful in this plan…
…don’t get me wrong, he still epically failed… but… he was more successful than me.
The Koala changed trees, leaving Markus in the dust, and watching us… probably wondering “when the blazes are these bloody blokes going to F^(% off and leave me alone”
Having had our fun, we returned to the car feeling like victorious explorers, and you know what… WE WHERE!
My birthday is coming up, and now having found some friends of my own (not that they don’t hang out with the family, but, I did find them independently from just leaching off the twins) I can actually say I’m looking forward to it. Another thing I’m looking forward too is partying in their new flat!
After our adventure, we returned home, told the family of the awesomeness that was our trip, and while having a bit of a swim, a guy who my handler (Michael the orange guy) got us in touch with called, and we hurried over to take a look at an apartment that he had available.
Not exactly a place overlooking a grand scenic vista… but, it did have AC, which is quite valuable in a place like this. They got themselves moved in, and came back over for dinner.
And so… a great day, evening, and night was had by all.
A great first Australia Day for me and my new Estonian friends.
Well, that’s what the commercials say. The Abo’s might say celebrate their demise!
According to Wikipedia, Australia Day is a day celebrating the first English fleet landing on the Southern Continent. In historical terms, it’s the equivalent of Columbus Day, but, in national terms, it’s the closest thing that they have to an Independence Day (since they got the red coats “out” of their country by agreeing to keep the Union Jack on the flag and the Queen on the money).
So, how did I celebrate what’s great?
Well, remember those Estonians I talked about earlier? Well, yesterday at work, we got out way early, so that kinda gave us a lot more time to hang out and stuff and we ended up learning about some Koala reservation in Narrandera (a town about 20 minutes south east of Leeton). We thought this would make for a great adventure. And so, the great explorer Belton with his new team of Estonians set out for adventure! (and Koalas)
I followed the directions, and we get to a network of dirt roads, and then… it is time to make a choice, I go left.
I don’t want to say that I took a wrong turn, because, really, I simply took a turn which ADDED to the experience of exploration.
Our first encounter with the wildlife came in the form of a group of horses. At first it was all… “oh, hey guys, look at the horses…”
Then it became… “oh, well, I guess we are going to sit here and wait for them to cross”
Until we noticed one separating from the group:
And then the next thing you know…
OMG!!!
And so… we sat there for awhile… just… ya know… kinda staring at each other.
The horse finally moved out of the road, and we weren’t eaten, and so we drove off.
We saw various birds…
…and a few different Kangaroo and Wallaby troops…
… well… we DID see them… they apparently don’t photograph well. But we did end up chasing them in the car for awhile, until they realized they were kangaroos and could jump anywhere they want, not just next to the road where the stupid people in their car could see them.
We ended up taking a bit of a break from our hunt and check out the river.
Then! We finally got to the reserve. So, we started walking around hunting Koala,
looking around… and looking… and looking…
No Koala
But! A cool looking tree.
And so we walked onward looking up into the trees in search of wild Koala
…we didn’t see any…
Finally… we got back to river.
We decided to head back for the car, but, instead, we decided to dangerously leave the trail, and follow the river back to the car as opposed to returning on the Koala less trail.
Feeling slightly disappointed about the fact that we found no Koalas in the Koala reserve.
Then, I looked up, and saw a neat looking bird, as I told everyone, “GUYS! Check out that bird”, Martin looked up and said…
“Forget the bird! LOOK AT THE KOALA!”
And by golly… there was one!
I thought it would be a great idea to try to join the Koala up in the tree… unfortunately for me and my fat… Markus was MUCH more successful in this plan…
…don’t get me wrong, he still epically failed… but… he was more successful than me.
The Koala changed trees, leaving Markus in the dust, and watching us… probably wondering “when the blazes are these bloody blokes going to F^(% off and leave me alone”
Having had our fun, we returned to the car feeling like victorious explorers, and you know what… WE WHERE!
My birthday is coming up, and now having found some friends of my own (not that they don’t hang out with the family, but, I did find them independently from just leaching off the twins) I can actually say I’m looking forward to it. Another thing I’m looking forward too is partying in their new flat!
After our adventure, we returned home, told the family of the awesomeness that was our trip, and while having a bit of a swim, a guy who my handler (Michael the orange guy) got us in touch with called, and we hurried over to take a look at an apartment that he had available.
Not exactly a place overlooking a grand scenic vista… but, it did have AC, which is quite valuable in a place like this. They got themselves moved in, and came back over for dinner.
And so… a great day, evening, and night was had by all.
A great first Australia Day for me and my new Estonian friends.
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