Toes on the nose bros!

This is the Bro Post. Mikhail gets here for a few weeks of vaca. Picking up my brother at the airport.

Gave him the most ridiculous towel I could find.

Its been 8 months since I've seen my brother. From India to Melbourne. This is the last shot I had of him from our travels through South India.

I've been hanging out in Melbourne for about 2 months now. It seems like a year has gone by. The longest I have stayed in one place. I'm enjoying the western feel but starting to get itchy feet! (This was taken almost a year ago in Southern India)

Espresso bar in a trailer in an art gallery. This wouldn't fly in the T dot.

Melbourne coffee culture is sure to up your caffeine intake 2 fold while you tour the city!

Guest of honour everywhere he goes. My friend Rebecca who I met while volunteering in Kenya.

Sidewalk party with Jackson and crew. Book drive for kids in Kenya. Jackson is another friend I met while volunteering in the outskirts of Nairobi. These girls are balancing work, Uni and fundraising to send help out to kids in Africa.

So We started off with a little Street art. Melbourne is full of great bars but they are all in the sketchiest looking alleys.

Random suits.

Rebbecca invited us to come out on her catamaran. Good times!

Setting sail.

Back at the condo the birthday bash starts off promptly.

I'd show you more but it all goes downhill pretty fast from here. We got pretty shot ducked!

One with the boardwalk.

Feeding these filthy rats with wings.

Working for the weekend. Roadie, off to Phillip Island.

How ya going mate?

Wombats are our friends.

Kangas!!! Can you believe people actually eat Kangaroo meat as if it were a fine piece of steak. I'll take mine medium rare.

Roo!!

So high, always.

This guy did not move an inch...probably meditating.

Secluded beaches in the winter time. Had the entire beach to ourselves. Winter weather here is still unreal for us Canadians.

5 star service back to town. Thanks Terry.

Mikhails new fav drink.

At a little creatures pub. They make killer beer!

Bar hopping in the same building. 2 more to go.

"Daddy can't dip" quote of the year.

So, planning on staying a few more months and then its time to hit the road. I think I got my fill of routine for 2009. Bring on the new Adventures! Perhaps the Philippines or Indonesia as a New Years reso. Merry Christmas y'all!

Melbourne!

O.k. so Its been over a month since the last update. I'm in Melbourne for good(about 3 months in Dom years) Been lookin around for the usual "real life" accessories like a job and a place. Let the fun begin....but first a little shopping.... They built a mall around this tower. Dodgy Aussies.

Federation square.
Just giving you a panorama of the square where found a gig.

Good old Real job. I've traveled all this way to work in a bar...again. This place has as many if not more beers than the last place I worked at. Perks here include a mandatory drink after shift, sending customers to the kitchen to order food and 13 other bartenders that help you shut the place down. The police throw people out over here and the bouncers are actually bigger than the patrons.

Pissed that we've spent almost 3 weeks in Backpackers since arriving in Melbourne.

Even more pissed...

Instead of banging head against wall I decide to go house hunting.

But before that its time to catch up with old friends. I stayed at the Orphanage in Kenya with Rebbecca. While I've been selfishly travelling about, she's been busy fund-raising to send books overseas.Condo time. Its been a year so I pick up where I left off. Got me a sweet Korg R3 with my first paycheck. Rent can wait. I'm seen here annoying my neighbors. The place has a gym and a lap pool... so I've got no excuses not to get in shape.

The queen west of Melbourne. Fitzroy is pretty rad.

Just sauntering about.
Keeping the beats Alive! Here is the latest! To say this track is a departure from my usual stuff would indicate I actually have a style. Feel Free to Bite... check it out here

Doing the Graffiti walk in Brunswick.

Another friend from the orphanage in Gathiga. Jackie! She took me out to go see some live music in Chinatown.

Who needs nuit blanche when the most random art is all around you? The sailor and I found these clean white slippers in step right off a major street in Fitzroy. Yes I did look around for a mental health clinic.

So with hot water, wifi, a job, bars and summer on its way I'll be chillin here for a while. I can now officially accept couch surfers!

The Reality of Travel

There comes a time in a backpackers journey when he looks online at his maxed out credit card statement and cries out "Damn it! Alright, I'll get a job". Seeing as I'm coming ever so close to that point, I've decided to preemptively jump on any job that came my way...Enter the Fair.

A few friends and I were able to snag some sales jobs at the two fairs in Brisbane and Adelaide.
Even though the tag reads "made in China" We are "Made in Australia, for Australians by Australians". To increase sales I'm come up with a new sales pitches "I've gone completely nuts, I can't believe I'm I'm selling these wheels for twenty bucks!"


I'm flanked on both sides by The christian outreach booth , the Bible League booth and by a mattress salesmen from Chicago who keeps a healthy supply of free candy to entice customers to stop by. One of my co-workers decided to drop in and ask for a piece. The salesman said "If you've been a good girl, you get one candy. If you've been a naughty girl you get 2 candies"....I love Adelaide.

I pretended to be a fruit market salesmen and the embarrassment just melted away. Plus its a great way to practice your voice projection. Christine manning the trolley booth.

Shown the ropes of carnie sales, I'm told that any pitch goes "recommended by the chiropractic association of South Australia" "Micro fibers line the fabric" "Life time warranty" "Step right up mom! Dad, Come try our revolutionary new back supports! 20 bucks!" I'm positively knackered in this shot.

Sell Amy Sell! " My pitch for this was "Sit Right" back support systems! Sit tight and you'll feel right! Step right up folks, the chairs won't bite but the prices will reel you right in!" Actually puked a little while saying it :)

Naturally the nicest and most normal people at the convention. "Oh we don't sell anything here Dom, well I guess we're selling the word of God"

They were kind enough to provide me with holy reading materials to pass the time and free coffee. Bless your heart.

"Getchyer dirty Spice/Root/Flower/Herb packs".

Helped Pete with his sales pitch. "No Wheat no Rice no Worries".

The week was worth it, I guess. Not sure if I came out of it a better person though. Got enough to get to Melbourne, drop a few weeks of rent and partay!

Oh the hippies. O.k. I may have joined in on the 15 drum jamboree for a few minutes...come on, its Byron Bay! These pictures were taken about a week before starting the jobs.

Great live music here in Aus.

Too much Goon! A type of cheap wine here that comes in a 4.4 litre bag, contains fish part and can be used as a pillow afterwards. I was lost in the woods at arts factory here.

Staying with friends in Freshwater. They've got a bunch of guitars!!

Manly Beach, located just north of Sydney. Pretty nice for winter weather.

Ah... the infamous Opera House.

Blur House.

The Iron Lung linking Sydney to the north end.

The botanical gardens here are so beautiful you tend not to look up!

Massive Botanical Bat.

St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Its the Largest church in Australia.

Having finished Adelaide, Syndey and Byron I'm now in Melbourne for a little while. The City rocks so far!!! I'll have a post up soon!