Ready for another year in Oz

On our last day in Bali, we just strolled around Kuta and met up with Asonk (remember? The groovy Couchsurfing guy!) the the beach.
Dom got himself a special birthday present that day. Growing up on the East Coast of Australia, had never ever seen a sunset over the ocean in his life. Sounds pretty crazy, hm? But if you think about it, it's logical...
So on his 50. birthday he saw the sun set on Kuta beach, with a cold beer in his hand. Could be worse!

In a mix of shock and delight, we discovered a couple of orphan monkey babies tied to a cage standing on the sand. They belonged to a man who got them from tourists who had saved them from ending up as satay. We couldn't believe it, they were so scared and cute and just like frightened little babies... As soon as Dom got on his knees beside the cage, they leaped onto his lap and snuggled up tightly, looking for warmth and protection.

It was great to see Asonk again, he even organized us a cheap taxi to the airport.. a helpful friend until the last minute ;)

We had an almost sleepless night on the plane to Brisbane (Dom had an upset stomach :/ )

Shuffled out of the airport sleep deprived, and got welcomed Maryline and LAURIE! I was so happy to see them again.

I know, he's just a car, but .... He's that one steady thing that I got in this country, my home, my artwork and my ticket to freedom.

We dropped Maryline off and made our way south direction Byron Bay.

And then...

The Nahko and Medicine for the People concert!!!

Uuuuuhhh I was sooooo excited

Dustin Thomas, the bands' bassist and super talented singer songwriter (and beatboxer) himself, did the opening of the show - WOW! Check him out, think I might become a fan ;)

Nahko Bear. :)

"Dooooom! It's Nahko!! It's NAAAHKOOO!!"

Chase Makai, frickin' AWESOME lead guitarist shredding the 12 string

Justin Chittams

Dustin "Little Buffalo" Thomas with the fuzzy head and the big smile

Unforntunately, Hope Medford, the amazing lady on the cajon was not part of the crew. Being a bit older than the other band members, I bet she took a break from all this crazy jet setting and driving and travelling around the globe, from town to town and gig to gig. But for me she's a part and highlight of the band and I hope, I will see Hope in Woodford! :)

That chick! Is the most WICKED dancer EVER!
Nahko said her name but I can't remember, I searched the Internet for ages to find out her name and start feeling like a real stalker, but I can't find out who she is :(
Anyway, she came on stange during "Warrior People" and started dancing like I have never seen anyone dancing before, it was mindblowing. I even stopped looking at Nahko singing because I looked at her with an open mouth, she was dancing so stunningly. No idea how you would call that sorta dance, she stomped and waved and wiggled and bent and flowed, then she was like a robot, then she was like a hip hopper, then like someone on drugs jumping around, but very gracefully...

During "Wash it away", which is partly about Australia and its aboriginal culture, a traditionally dressed Aborinigal danced...

Photos by Kurt Petersen from www.thedwarf.com.au

Of course Nahko and his friends are also determined enemies of the fracking that's going on in this beautiful country with the irresponsible money grabbing government. To learn more, Lock the Gate!
  www.lockthegate.org.au

We danced the ghost dance in two seperate countries
To this old song, so familiar to memory
The road will teach you how to love and let go
it can be lonely but it's the only way that we've ever known
Our mommas told us, Let go of jealousy
and for vagabonds and vagrants that won't come so easy
we've come from nothing, nothing
I traveled halfway across the country and back
Only to find love defined
and I'm ok with that
'cause I'm gonna be a guardian
be a man among men
or be a woman among women
be a guardian, be my friend
Teach me to love you in a different way
same cuts, same guts, same crazy
It'll wash away
Lift 'em up.

_______________________________________________________________

On the following day, we found a beautiful empty, white and bright and VERY windswept beach to chill out and catch up on some sleep, before we made our way inland to a place near Lismore - Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery. www.buddhanet.net/bodhi-tree/schedule.html

This place was not only well worth a visit because of its remoteness, spiritual peacefulness and undisturbed beautiful nature - it is also the home of Mal, an old mate of Dom's. They've been close friends and work mates for years, until they both ended up stuck in places/lives/committments/circumstances or whatever - they hadn't seen each other for 10 years!
At my age, I can't even imagine how it would be like to reunite with a close friend from such a long time ago, but it must have been awesome and very happy for them.

Mal is cook and gardener and caretaker for the Monastery, and visiting him was the reason why I bought tickets for the Nahko concert in Byron and not at home on the Sunny Coast (where they also played). So Dom would finally have a good reason to travel all the way down to Lismore and catch up with him.
They talked and laughed talked and played guitar and showed photos and reminisced and talked... :D
Happy Birthday Dooooom!
In the meantime I enjoyed the beautiful place, tried to meditate, and got a terrible hay fever attack -_-

I don't wanna complain, but I'm so fed up with the hay fever and all the snotting and sniffing and snorting, the itch, the tissue party, the gasps for air while eating, throbbing head, the sleepless nights and the general feeling like a big ugly piece of crap. I had it before Bali, it took me 3 weeks in Bali to recover, and now I have it again, aaaaarrr!!!
All you pitiful-amused readers, be happy if you don't have such a messed up immune system, hey.

Sunday. Next stop was the Gold Coast where we visited Dom's oldest daughter Honi who provided us with a delicious lunch...
Afterwards Dom picked up his car parked in Brisbane and went home, because he had work the next day.

I steered Laurie on familiar roads and went to catch up with Ian in Mt. Mee :)
Again, I was provided with a tasty meal, and a bunch of happy kids, fresh mountain air, a place to park and sleep in the clear night, and a splendid conversational companion :)

The next day, I visited Wendy's horse valley to see how my racehorses were going and how much the babies had grown! That felt like coming home already ... of course the foals have grown a lot, some horses I knew are gone, some new ones came and some familiar ones even seemed to recognize me :3 Tango and Diva and Pixie and Ember and Star and ....

After that, it was finally time to return to Buddina and see if my Kitty would still remember me...

She grew up! Kitty is no kitten anymore... as big as Mow Mow, the older cat now. Beating her up over the food and becoming fat herself!

And not as sweet and cuddly anymore... rather a bit bity-clawy-cranky.... maybe she is sulking :D

It's Christmas time!!!

I love Christmas, did I mention?

And I get almost a bit homesick this time of the year...

Compared to all those Aussies who don't even know how a real traditional Christmas is like...

And I desperately try to explain who St. Nikolaus is and what an "Adventskranz" is and why I want one... and that I want an Advents calendar! And candles! And I'll bake Christmas cookies and play "Weihnachten mit Boney M" and "Rolf Zuckowski"....

And maybe I will, for heaven's sake, stop mocking that plastic thing they have as a Christmas tree...

 Can be quite fun, I  "stick together" my tree, this year!

At least I have a tree this year, and a Christmassy home, not like last year, when we were on the road and didn't even really have time to get into a Christmassy mood.
And, come on, decorating a Christmas tree in shorts and bikini - that's pretty good!

These songbirds love Christmas like me