Photos

Check'em out: http://picasaweb.google.com/ollie.olsson/OzCP4x4#

and some new in http://picasaweb.google.com/ollie.olsson/OzPhotoAssignment#

Enjoy!

Hope this gets through!

CP 4x4

Wow guys, I don't even know where to start with this blog entry.

I know how about my first paintball practice. It wasn't too much of a practice, but it sure as sh*t was fun! We only did a few drills, but I got a feel for the guy who I was practicing with (also met another team mate the day before who was pretty cool). I see a lot of potential with this team. I'm also going to be playing in a tournament this up coming weekend with a Div. 3 team along with the guy who I practiced with. I'm well excited I am.

Also been talking to a girl who my friends from Dunedin recommended I get in touch with, and now it seems like I have someone to spend Christmas with - in Tasmania!

Nothing is for sure yet, but if it all goes through, I'll be on a beach in Tasmania that an old couple (who've walked 900km over a couple of months! And made me feel mega lazy) recommended to me. Like I said, nothing is for sure, but if it all goes through, that would be primo!

Now, on to the main event. I left this Monday, and we've only stayed in a motor camps twice, done some seriuos 4x4 driving along the way. I even got to do some of the driving too! Apparently I did some pretty hard tracks, and even my travel partner thought I did a pretty good job. He felt that it was my initiation of fire. And boy, my nerves were a bit shook up afterwards, and made me want to buy my own 4x4 - straight away. The camping spots we stayed at were pretty amazing! Location location location. It did it all. Our first night was pretty crap, but it worked. Every other night after that (besides when at a motor camp that is) were freaking unbelievable. It really made you feel really small and in the middle of no where (it got me thinking about Deliverance). We didn't meet too many people when in the bush, but we did happen to drive past some though. We also found some pretty remote housing which were old farms. Got me thinking about what it would be like to live out there in the middle of the bush just farming and hardly meeting anyone. You'd have to be pretty self reliant and self sufficient. Crazy stuff. However, last night was probably the harshest yet. The wind was really howling along with some crazy rains and hails. We were in the Alps and above 1000 meters, which made the weather even more unpredicable. It also put my sleeping bag to the test, and it failed. Not miserably, but it wasn't as good as my military sleeping bag; same can be said about my tent too! It was sturdy and took the wind with out any problems, but since the weather was near winter weather, I would of preferred to have a 4 seasons tent to accomodate the changing environment. Oh! It was snowing yesterday! Can you believe it?! And the temperature yesterday was about 4.5 degrees or colder. Yeah, Oz isn't as warm as you thought it would be, eh? But I'm still loving it!

We've also explored two caves, both of which were pretty mean! One cave had water in it, resulting in me being completey wet (but it's good I was in there in my jandels) and the other one was dry cave. Instead, on the ground, was bat poo. Lots and lots of poo, along with bats all along the cieling. The bat cave I luckily went in with my shoes, but I always wore my jacket when I was in the caves, which was a pretty good stress test for it. That is one wicked jacket, thank you Marmot! Been heavily abusing my swim shorts too which seem always seem up to the task: swimming, diving, hiking, caving, construction work, etc. I think I have to write a thank you note to these companies or something.

I've seen quite a few kangaroos too, both on the side of the road and in the bush. We real came close to hitting one, but it was avioded. And at that point, it got me wishing I knew how to gut animals. Yes, sounds a bit psychotic, but if you've tried kangaroo, you would understand. Especially when the beef here tastes the way it does (read: not too great), having fresh roo would be choice!

As for the rest of my time here in Australia, not too sure what to do. I want to work on a farm or whatever to get my visa extended pretty soon, just to get it out of the way, and also to try to miss the tourist season. Funny, I know, a tourist who doesn't want to meet other tourist. And I'm really not too keen to work on a "backpacker" farm, becasue then you will definately be given a poor deal, and so I've been lucky and found out about a blueberry farm where you can get a minium wage instead of a provionsal pay (ie. by the basket I pick pay). Yet again, we'll see. It would give me a chance to maybe get myself physically fit for the paintball season which doesn't start until June/July. Good chance of me heading up north along the East coast to see what all the hubbub is about is in the plans too. One step at a time though. First step, get through this trip, and then figure out my Christmas plans.

Got a couple of more days on the road until I'm back in Sydney, and till then - smell ya later!

Edit: Got back today, but I tried to email this entry up, but no go. Sorry, will post another update later.

these days

I woke up, stretched a bit in my massive bed, and then contemplated what to do. And then it struck me: go for a swim. And so I did. I totally forgot what a morning dip can do to you. I feel pretty refreshed, and pretty good.

Today? I guess I'll be checking out Manly a bit closer, I think there are some small walks in the area that have some good potential.

Ah yes...life is grand.

beep beep!

Photos are up! More "arty" than usual.

Face/Off

Some small renovating of my blog, and well, going to make this short. Moved out of the hostel out to Manly Beach and living with my old friend Mr. P from Mexico!

Only a 100 steps from the beach, and I'm all good. Got my own double bed, en suite bathroom, free internet, free food (limited), big ass TV, good sound system, and oh, did I mention, 100 steps to the beach!

I'm lucky, I found the bonus ring that poor old Mario keeps on looking for. Hahaha sucker, beat ya to it!



View Larger Map

Got some more photos coming soon! Talk to ya later!

Quite the walk...and more to come \m/

So, been keeping myself pretty busy the past few days.

Yesterday, went to the Newtown Festival, which was pretty mean! It was it's 30th anniversary, and there was a mere gold coin donation required (read: entrance fee). Music was pretty sweet, and there was a lot of stalls there too. Before I had left, my brain was screaming to take out some cash for food, but I screamed back that if I ever got hungry, I'd go out and get some cash out of an ATM. Yeah, great plan Chris. None of the ATMs wanted to accept my Visa, but luckily, I had $4.20 and Hare Krsna had some vege nuggets for 4 bucks! I had a return ticket back into town, so I was set. Also, at the Festival, I met a CS host who was pretty cool. A girl from England whose set her heart on staying here by the sounds of it (not an uncommon thing to be hear over here :S).

And then I was a new web page I was told before I left called gumtree.com which is a site where you look for ride shares going around the country, and there I found a great travel opportunity! A Dutch guy was looking for some people to join him a road trip to the outback in his 4x4, and when I read this, I saw it as a sign, and contacted him straight away. We made a date and met up today out at Bondi Beach (to which I walked, and taking a detour through Centennial Park; 10-15km). He's a pretty sound guy, and I look forward to taking this road trip with him. He's a 32 year old unemployed engineer for disabled people equipment (like wheelchairs, winches, etc) who is trying to move here to Oz. He's done quite a bit of off-road driving, so hopefully I'll learn a thing or two from him during the trip. I finally asked him how long he guessed we would be gone for, and the answer I got was pretty surprising: 2 weeks! He said we'd be heading in the Canberra and then check out the surrounding area. I'm already wetting myself from excitement just thinking about it.

Also, my old friend from Mexico called me up today, and said I could come and crash at his parents place for a while over at Manly Beach. I'm going to try and meet up with him to see if we gel, and if it all works out, I'm definitely going. The hostel sign says no refunds, but I'm going to talk to them and if they still say no, I still might leave just to get to stay in house for a while. Apparently it's right on the beach, which is...how do I say this...F-ING AWESOME! But not hoping for anything at the moment. First step, meet him, and see what kind of character he's become, then I'll decide.

Here are some new photos to enjoy in the mean time. And Family Man has given me an assignment. He digs my photos, but feels that I need to stop putting my object in the center, start taking different angles, closer (real close), and try to compose my photos differently. Going to try this out, see if I can't get any better photos. This is exactly why I need to go into some sort of club when I settle down and learn some more about photography.

Ciao my friends!

PS. Love the people here, they're so friendly. A guy almost gave me cash for the bus cause he thought I didn't have enough. In Sweden, they would of thought, bummer for you bro, and then just gone about their business.

Kualas watch out, here I am.

So here I am in Australia, feels weird, but good. Another new adventure awaits me :D Rock'n'Roll!

Going to make this short as the internet time here is a bit more expensive.

Plans? Might be heading either up north to Byron Bay, or to the West Australia, or down south Melbourne. No definite plans.

What I do know though, is that I'm pretty excited about what lies ahead.

And so to start it all off, there is a new map out. It will be updated as I go along just like my NZ one.

And some new photos.

Speak to you soon!

PS- if you want my new phone number, just comment and I'll give it to you.

PSS- Might change the blog address to something more accommodating for my current situation. Will keep you posted, so don't worry :D

Hip to the Hop and over the Ditch I go to Oz

My current state: Good.

I went to the doctor today, and I've torn the cartilage on my chest plate connecting to my rib. Lung is good though. I've also got post concussion syndrome, but will ok. The doctor said to give it about a month to heal up properly.

I've closed my bank account today too, transfered all my money to my Swedish account. And just finishing up my final touches to my departure.

Awesome. Check out the new album I've put up here.

Self destruct mode activated. T-minus: 4 days.

Today I went kite skating. It was rad. It was wild.

First got to play around with a small kite which was tricky, but still mega awesome. Could do some easy jumps with it too.

Then we moved onto the big one. About 2x5 meters. It was massive. You need to wear a harness when you use it, and it ended up lifting me off the ground and throwing me into the ground face first more or less. I was bleeding from my nose, and I swear on anything that is holy. When I looked up, everything was exactly like a scenario I've dreamed about. It lasted for about 30 seconds, but every single little detail was EXACTLY like I had dreamed about. I had this dream quite a while back, but yeah, it was really weird. But I felt all of the sensations involved (read: pain). I hit my rib again, not cool at all.

Now my face is a scraped up a bit, my other leg has a wound on it, and my right elbow has a scratch on it too. Sweet as. Or not.

Also, my I noticed that my dive computer was broken a few weeks ago, and it got sent away for repair. Luckily the warranty still covers it, and so, in return, I'm getting a new model, but it's meant to replace my old one. Bloody mint. I love getting new stuff :D

Ok guys, I'm pretty beat (quite literally) at the moment. I'm gonna bounce (off the ground and into bed). Speak to you soon!

PS. Will post some more photos soon!

big sigh of relief

My flight is sweet. At first I was worried that I would have to leave on the 6th and not on the 7th, but I went to the immigrations office, and I'm all good. Aus is going to happen - legally.

Looking for couches to surf in Sydney, don't really want to go back to hostel just yet. Need a home feeling.

I'm doing good, a bit anxious about leaving, but pretty excited too. Blah.