Back home then back to our 2nd home, then home again

Back home then back to Indo

           We were home! I did lots of surfing sick waves and get plenty of work. Clint came back a couple of times so surfed with him. Shell went to Armidale for uni, I picked her up and we headed down south for Shell’s family reunion and saw Leslie and Chris. Got some little waves at Rennie’s. Then went up to Krepo’s and Roy and Joy’s later in the week. Then I got the job in Bogor, we were thinking of buying a car and we were ready to stay for a while but as usual an awesome opportunity came up so we took it! Had some tiny waves at Agnes and stayed with Phil and Jodie. Drove home myself and Shell finished her prac and came back the next Wednesday. We did some renos and the place looked heaps better. Krepo came down for a Thursday and Friday night and we got trashed and had a fire at the beach. We bought a new computer for Shell to do uni and I used the old one for my IB course. We then headed off to Rainbow beach and saw Roy and Joy, Carl on the way and Clare on the way back. Just before leaving we found out Kate and Darren were having a baby, uncle Luke! We had a garage sale and sold everything so we could rent our unit out and stayed at Mum and Dad’s the last week. We were a bit sad to be leaving but excited about going back to Indo for a couple of years.

We loved it in Bogor! Our place was huge and really flash. Everyone was really nice at school and it’s well organised so that’s great. We had to go to Singapore for a day to get our Visa sorted, had a look around Sentosa Island. Went to Cimaja about every second weekend usually with Charlie, Luke and G and got plenty of fun waves, barrels sometimes and we were learning about plenty of spots to avoid the crowds. They were mostly not real good so we still got plenty anyway and some size. We mostly went just for the day and came home to avoid traffic. We also went to Jakarta some times for some night life and good food. Shell did a prac at the school and then she was busy with Uni. We got bikes and went on some rides around, not a lot to see but it was nice to get out. We also went to the cinema often if we were home on the weekend. We had a maid who was Ok but just didn’t quite get things right so we changed to another. It wasn’t long before we were booking holidays, first of which was to Sumatra first holiday in October. Philippines was next for Christmas then Bali next year. Had sick waves in Krui. Only about 3-4 foot but heaps of fun and some barrels. It’s beautiful here and we’re stoked. Davo came down and we had a great night with him, Simon and Rebecca. Dropped off the next day so we moved up to Ujung Bocor and had another god night with them. Got some big heavy waves at Mandiri and the point next day. Got a bit hammered but sick waves then went back to Krui the last night for more barrels and some airs. Had a great holiday! Went down the coast a few more times and watched Cat empire in Jakarta. Charlie had to quit for family reasons but his replacement surfed so I was hoping for another surfing buddy.

Philippines 3^rd time

Had a great time in Baler! Went for a beautiful ride through the mountains for a fun left at Dianed, Cobra reef solo and the river mouth.  Went for a nice ride on the bike together for Christmas day and saw waterfalls and some great views of the endless wilderness they have everywhere here. We liked it there, nice people and good cheap food. the people we stayed with invited us to eat with their family one night which was really nice. Had a few waves at Cloud 9 and Jacking horse then headed up to Bollox bar. Because we had no power Allan and Cecilia let us drink free, we made the most of that! Surfed sick Burgos New Year's Day, some little barrels and perfect air sections. Got really windy up there but some waves at Tangbo and Pacifico. Did a stunning bike ride around the island after that surf. Went back to Gl and had a few fun ones at Jacking horse again before being sucked way down the beach by the rip. At El Nido in Palawan, it's beautiful here though and we are booked in for a dive tomorrow. The ride had spectacular scenery also. The wind got even stronger at Cloud 9 so I didn't get to surf it again. Had fun waves at Salvacion and the second day I went there I walked out to the Island with some food and had a couple of surfs, it was awesome. The next day I surfed Stimpys and it was fun too, a pretty long left with some good sections a bit like Salvacion in reverse. So not near as good a season as last year in Siargao but still had a great time. Shell finished uni work for so we could really enjoy the holiday together which was nice.

The dives we did in El Nido were amazing, heaps of varieties of Nudibanch, Stingrays, hard and soft colourful corals and plenty of fish. The next day we got on the bike and rode to a deserted beach and I had a great snorkel, lots of colourful coral and some nice fish. We then had another ride to an Island just off the beach we could walk across to and I had an Ok snorkel. We then had a few beers and watched a beautiful sunset before having a quiet night and way big a movie. The next day we headed back for Sabang beach, Shell wasn't feling great so I went on the underground river trip alone. It was awesome, lots of bats, stalagmites, stalactites and columns of different colours and shapes and some monkeys having around being pests. We then had a short ride back to Puerto Princessa ready to fly out the next day. Our last night was in Manila and we just made the most of the last chance to eat good pork and drink some wine. Had a fantastic time once again in Philippines!

Back home again already

            After just getting my dreads done again Jim said parents were whinging so I cut ‘em off no questions asked. Had a few sucky weeks to start the New Year, had to do promo work after hours for school and Bali flights got canned. Was getting a few waves in here and there but the drive was getting to us. Shell also went home to do a prac and that sucked. I went to Hammersonic while she was gone tough and saw sick bands like The Faceless, Mayhem, Vader, Lamb of God, Unearth, Colossvs and some sick Indo bands. Not long after that I went home for Clint and Ayu’s wedding which was nice and saw all the Family including Kate and Darren’s daughter Anna. Things all went South in that time though. The JIS teachers’ whose case I’d been following closely had been found guilty and locked up so I quit my job and went back to get our stuff and that was the end of it. We had to stay at Mum and Dad’s for a bit while our tenant left but soon we were back in our place and we were both getting plenty of work. I was surfing my butt off. Went through 3 boards that year, killed a cheapy new one then got the best board I’d ever had (the bamboo Stealth) and a Webber that I sold again quickly. We got a nice little Lancer wagon and put the sub in it and did some camping like at Yamba and Minnie waters for Dunga day where I won two divisions! Shell went back to Roy and Joy’s for another prac and then at the end of the holidays we lost Joy in a horrible car accident. It was a really hard time for both of us and particularly Shell. She spent a lot of time with Roy and a lot of time in tears. It’ll never go away but it gets better so we’re told. We both miss her very much.

            Went for a camping trip to Brooms, Evans, Caloundra, Coolum and then back to Currimundi in September hols. Saw Amber and Chris, Dover and Narumi, Shell had an exam in Bris and we saw Clare, The Beddows’ and we stayed a few days with Roy too. Did a few things to make the house nicer like the breakfast bar we’d been wanting, making the back garden nicer and a new lounge. Had my 20 year high school reunion was a bit of fun. Went to see Roy and the Beddows briefly before Christmas then went down to Ulladulla and had Christmas with Joy’s family. Stayed at Gerringong on the way down but didn't surf til I got down to Ulladulla. Saw Leslie and Chris too. We went from down south across to SA and camped in Hay on the banks of the Murrumbidgee where we had a swim in the arv. Stayed a coupla nights with Raylene in the Barossa, went for a wine tasting which was nice. Had a great night in Adelaide. Looked around in the morning and then got some gourmet food and wine and had a picnic in a park then retired to our room for a while. Went out at night for a little while but unfortunately not much was open so we were in bed pretty early. Looked for waves at Noarlunga and Victor Harbor area but was onshore again! Had a good New Years at Port Victoria, had a few at the caravan park then one at the pub. Was a shitty year really. We were hoping things could only get better. Looked around Berry Bay and Marion Bay but was small and onshore so kept going and camped at Port Parham. Saw some beautiful places in South Oz and Victoria. Had sick barrels at Pambula and Broulee and some fun ones at Mollymook. Had a service for Joy which was nice. Stayed at Mallacoota for 2 nights and had a good time. Camped on the road on the way there outside Orbost then camped just outside Narooma on the way back to Milton.

A new and better year

I was working at Lowanna and Upper Orara and Shell was studying and working casual at the High School. I was surfing heaps of course. We went to Evans head for Easter and had a good time, got a few waves but it rained a lot so we went home a day early and caught up with Davo. The board troubles hadn’t stopped, I bought a Diverse which I didn’t like so I sold and another Stealth but it was nothing like the best one and cracked after 4 surfs so I sold it and went back to the old one yet again. We went as far as Roy and Joy’s in the April holidays and caught up with the Beddows, Clare, Krepo, the Masson’s and the Lands. We also had 3 days at Caloundra which was awesome! Had some fun little waves at Moffats, Neill and Ann st and enjoyed our luxury apartment with a spa right on the water. Went back to work and went for a job at Mullaway I didn’t get unfortunately. Found out about a week later that I definitely had the Sandy job for term 3 and 4 so I was stoked. Surfed heaps still, bought another board I didn’t like and sold it for another $50 after repairs so worked out OK. Tested a couple of boards but nothing was shaping up to the old bamboo stealth. We tiled our kitchen and bathroom over a few weeks and it turned out looking great. Got my motorbike P’s and dad’s scooter so that was sick riding around to the surf. Spent a long weekend at the Gorge. Was beautiful, went for a walk to the waterfall and had a fish, didn’t catch anything though. Had a nice warm fire and cosy shack. Went to Comedy festival was classic!

We went Back to Sri Lanka and the food and people were still great and everything's cheap! The beer had gone up a bit though. Had sick waves the first day at A bay for about 4 hours. So easy to do airs there! Went to Whisky point the next day and it was fun but a bit fat, less crowded than the Bay though. Pretty spot too. Had plenty of sick waves at A bay. I met a bloke named Tyler out there and asked him to go halves in a Tuk tuk to Okanda. We got fun little waves there and not as crowded, beautiful spot too. Surfed the Bay again that arv and got plenty of sick ones. The next day we searched around a bit and saw some more stunning set ups and ended up back a Whisky point. Got my board back after repairs then and had some sick waves at the Bay, so stoked to get back on it. Airs straight away! Our Safari trip was cancelled so we got a scooter and went to a cool temple and lake in Pottuvil. What turned out to be our last day we went to Okanda again in the morning and got some little barrels and heaps of waves. Our Safari was canned again (other people booked and pulled out) so we decided to head up to Ella. A bay had been great but we were looking forward to a change in the scenery and weather! We had a huge day at Ella, got up at 5 and walked for a couple of hours up to Little Adam's peak. We got there just as the sun was coming over the mountains and the view was spectacular. We then went to an interesting ancient temple and had another half an hour worth of steps at Sheeta cave which had a stunning view of Little Adam's peak. In the afternoon we walked for an hour to Nine arches bridge which was enormous. We then went to Nuwara Eliya and it was cold and raining. It'd been a year since Joy was taken from us. We think of her always but especially that day. We had a gin and tonic in her memory and told stories that made us laugh and cry. It's always going to be a hard day.  Had a beautiful walk through Horton Plains NP the next day. World's end was spectacular and Baker's Falls was stunning. We saw some funny stuff like the crashed water truck with a sign saying 'Car wash'. We went to Hatton the next day and had a look at Lake Castlereagh from the amazing view of an 18th century church. We had a few beers that arv overlooking the river at the place we stayed. The next day we got in a Tuk-tuk and went whitewater rafting at Kitulgala which was heaps of fun. We then jumped on a bus and headed for Negombo via the big smoke of Colombo ready for our flight back to KL the next day. In Negombo we had a couple of beers the first night then enjoyed our nice aircon room and I watched some telly while Shell caught up on some uni. We'd had a great time and done a variety of things that we both enjoyed heaps. 

India 2^nd time, Cambodia, Thailand 2^nd time and Laos

I was then really busy back at work in my new job at Sandy Beach and the first weekend we went to Racecourse with Ray and Jackie Friday night. Applied for full time job at Sandy but no go. So we were thinking South or Central America. Got awesome new camera, used it quite a bit camping. Went to Dave and Rox’s to see Aurora and Roy was there. Bought some electric drums and rerecorded a heap of songs.Had a great time in Border ranges, saw Roxanne and Aurora the next day then spent two nights with Roy at Nanango. Was raining unfortunately but we went to a waterfall. Went to Bunya mountains bushwalking on the way to Claire’s where we stayed two nights. Went to Main range NP and checked out 3 waterfalls on the way to Tenterfield for grand final of the footy last night, Shark’s won! Went camping at South west rocks. No waves but had fun and caught a tiny cod. Shell finished uni  and was teaching at Sandy! Shell got a permanent job at Maitland! Went to Glenreagh waterfall and the Golden dog for lunch on Saturday after I took Shell shopping in Coffs. Ne Obliviscaris was awesome! Shell got paid and worked at her new school. Camped at Diamond head Saturday night, was lovely. Shell hung with Loretta while I was at gig. I got a job at Shell’s school doing reading recovery. Had been loving the job at Sandy, great kids and staff and surfing most days, some before and after work on the scooter but we were looking forward to a change. We had an awesome trip over Christmas and the New year. Our first stop in India was back in Varkala! Had tiny waves the first morning then a snorkel in the arv but didn't see much except a few fish and crabs. Got a bike and had a ride around, found somewhere else to stay. Had a few beers and cocktails after a long hot trip in the bus. Stayed in KL Saturday night and had a few beers then crashed. I got a job at Shell's school for next year! It was only temp for a start but they trained me in reading recovery and I'll do learning support and some music so stoked. We had a huge week, Shell cleaning and packing the house and me doing the same at school. Were stoked to be back in Kerala and relaxing! Had a few more little waves in Varkala and Edava which was a 10 Minute one-armed scooter ride away. Went to a 'festival' there which was 1 hippy drum band and lots of waiting for police to go away so we could have a drink. Had a lovely anniversary, treated ourselves to aircon for $20 and then had a nice dinner and some cocktails. Had a great time in Kovalam too, waves weren’t great but had a good surf there the first full day but the next day was closing out and crazy locals in boats were hooning around everywhere. Had a pretty chilled Christmas just had a few beers and a nice feed and where in bed by about 9. We then went to Kumily to see Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary which was amazing! Saw some Monkeys, Macaques, Deer and then that Deer got munched by a pack of Indian Wolves. The next day we went to Fort Cochin on a long and slow bus ride. We just had a lazy day there and a few drinks at night. We then flew to KL and on to Cambodia. Had a great day at Angkor Wat and the other temples around there. Then had a huge New Years at Pub street.

We then went to Sihoukanville and had a dive which was great, saw heaps of nudibranchs, shrimp fish, Cobias, Barracuda and more. The coral had been bleached and ruined by dynamite and cyanide fishing but is recovering slowly. We then took a bus and crossed the border to Thailand by foot and it took most of the day so we stayed in Trat which had an awesome food night market. Then we got an early bus to Bangkok the next day. Had a great time in Bangkok, was a big daunting at first but went to a huge market and on a boat ride sightseeing and had a couple of huge nights. We then went to Vientiane! We got there on the sleeper train from Bangkok. Had a walk around town looking at temples and then went to the dentist. After that we had showers and a rest then went out for a few beers and Sangria! Next was Vang Vieng was awesome! Went tubing the first day and while there were only two bars open we had a ball. The second one had basketball and a bunch of us played drunk volleyball in the rain and mud then danced around the fire. After that we went out and they had an hour of free whiskey and we danced with the crazy Koreans. The next day we slept in a lot and just cruised around taking photos of the breathtaking mountains looming over the town. On our last full day there we went tubing in a cave then kayaked to zip lining, kayaked some more to get picked up for another couple of caves and the blue lagoon. Had an amazing day and then went back to the whiskey place then to a reggae bar. We then went to Luang Prabang! Went to the water fall the first full day in the arvo which was spectacular. Got there after a long and beautiful drive through the mountains from Vang Vieng. Had a walk around town and took photos after spending most of the day trying to sort inspections for units in Maitland and then went out at night. On our last day we hired some pushies and rode around town checking the old buildings and temples out. I walked up the mountain in the centre of town for sunset photos while Shell did some last minute shopping. We had a great holiday and were looking forward to our new start in Maitland.