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!

Australia

Well its been a solid month since my last post. Been chilling in Brisbane, Byron bay and Surfers Paradise for a month doing some odd jobs and enjoying first-world cities again. Found myself washing my hands at the hot water tap for about a minute then snapped out of it. Its so nice to have hot water and little extras you take for granted without having to pay extra for it. On the other hand a water bottle cost $3.50 and a can of coke is around $2.50 at most places so getting a job was the order of the day!

Gold Coast at dusk. Was lucky to get a job lined up in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Surfers Paradise!

Most easterly point in Aus, Byron.

Byron Bay Handstands.

The Brisbane Wheel of death on South Bank. Great Running paths here.

Cool urban planning.

Tim and Jess. Tim was able to get us all jobs for the 10 day Ekka festival in Brisbane. Helluva guy. Helluva guy.

Trance-fest on the Brissie riverside

Dancing/Epileptic seizure.

Jess pictured here killing some pins.

Steve ended up beating the rest of us with a triple digit score...at least I beat the girls right?

Don't touch the stash dude!

Traffic control at Ekka.

Air-Cycle.

The girls got the German "super wipes" rolling gig for the first day at the fest. 1000 rolls to go...999 to go...998...997. I was flipping steak, burgers, making wraps and burning myself on the fryers, felt like I was 17 again! Oh Aus you make me feel so young!

So flying down to Sydney for a week then Adelaide for another show and then its off to Melbourne to finish off the work circuit and enjoy the Aus outback!