This is the last image in a series I did showing hay bails. Hay is harvested all over Victoria. Almost seems like a strange form of farming. The rest of the images are below
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
1 week back and I can surely say I am .........
I must admit that now I am probably more confused than ever. I came back with no money and a debt the size of my credit card. The has never been a time in my life when I have been this poor. Really, it is almost liberating when you don't consider the charity one must hope for in my situation. So in actual fact I am rather morose at the moment. My family has come through for me as usual and I am so grateful and humbled by their compassion. I just wish I could do something more for them. At present I'm not working and simply waiting for a call from my perspective ex-employer. I feel a great deal of pride when I think about the family of work colleges I have managed to acquire.
As it turns out I may be working back in Brisbane again. Grateful as I am I still feel reluctant to leave my family once again but we must follow our destiny and if that means heading on up to Brisvegas then I must. Uni starts in July and I am very much looking forward to learning once again. It has been some time since the old days of drug induced University. I don't intend on going back to my old ways but I do intend on trying very hard to get a good education. My interest in Uni is very much aimed at giving me the mental resources to work in a foreign country. Hopefully I can start to learn Thai but I am concerned I may not be able to at my selected Uni. We will just have to see. At the moment my priorities are set and my mission is clear. Work, clear my debts, try to save some money and start Uni.
Na and I miss eachother very much but the distance has surely stirred up its fair share of confusion. My situation doesn't only affect my life. It has an impact on all those around me. I'm faced with mounting tension and confusion as I try to predict the unpredictable - once again. Na is on the move very soon and should be in Chiang Mai by morning. From there the world is her oyster. I really look forward to seeing her flourish over the next coming months. The stories will be fascinating as will my own. I type this with a smile on my face because the two of us have been through so much in such a short amount of time. My adventure in Thailand was very much a non-working holiday. Na and I have been slipping away into a vast realm of stagnant relaxation followed by intense 12 hr bus rides and general unknown circumstances. Now we finally have the opportunity to make something for ourselves. I'm optimistic for the future regardless of the outcome as I know things can only go up when you have come down this far.
As per usual I find myself being moderately pessimistic. My trip was supposed to be an amazing adventure and I was looking forward to meeting people from all over the world. Fact is that I didn't really meet that many people at all. Yes, it was amazing and very eye opening but it wasn't at all like the common backpacker experience I envisaged. Never will I regret it but it has surely been trying on my emotions. I have learnt so much about the people, the land, the culture and the life styles of many different individuals. Some is good and some is bad but as the saying goes, "No one is perfect; sometimes good, sometimes bad". As mentioned, I am looking forward to the next coming months, more so because I have come to such a low at the moment that I must do something positive with my life.
I will be riddled with this unknown confusion for some time. Hopefully I can find a positive resolution in the near future. I must admit that I feel more like Nengi now than I ever have. Coming back to Melbourne has been a very interesting experience. There are people here that I haven't seen for over a year and perhaps I might be leaving them once again to follow this destiny of mine. I feel real for the first time in a long time - still, only to an extent.
"....gone are the days of my being inside a carrier. I am now me and I can feel it growing" -Nengi
Nengisuls
As it turns out I may be working back in Brisbane again. Grateful as I am I still feel reluctant to leave my family once again but we must follow our destiny and if that means heading on up to Brisvegas then I must. Uni starts in July and I am very much looking forward to learning once again. It has been some time since the old days of drug induced University. I don't intend on going back to my old ways but I do intend on trying very hard to get a good education. My interest in Uni is very much aimed at giving me the mental resources to work in a foreign country. Hopefully I can start to learn Thai but I am concerned I may not be able to at my selected Uni. We will just have to see. At the moment my priorities are set and my mission is clear. Work, clear my debts, try to save some money and start Uni.
Na and I miss eachother very much but the distance has surely stirred up its fair share of confusion. My situation doesn't only affect my life. It has an impact on all those around me. I'm faced with mounting tension and confusion as I try to predict the unpredictable - once again. Na is on the move very soon and should be in Chiang Mai by morning. From there the world is her oyster. I really look forward to seeing her flourish over the next coming months. The stories will be fascinating as will my own. I type this with a smile on my face because the two of us have been through so much in such a short amount of time. My adventure in Thailand was very much a non-working holiday. Na and I have been slipping away into a vast realm of stagnant relaxation followed by intense 12 hr bus rides and general unknown circumstances. Now we finally have the opportunity to make something for ourselves. I'm optimistic for the future regardless of the outcome as I know things can only go up when you have come down this far.
As per usual I find myself being moderately pessimistic. My trip was supposed to be an amazing adventure and I was looking forward to meeting people from all over the world. Fact is that I didn't really meet that many people at all. Yes, it was amazing and very eye opening but it wasn't at all like the common backpacker experience I envisaged. Never will I regret it but it has surely been trying on my emotions. I have learnt so much about the people, the land, the culture and the life styles of many different individuals. Some is good and some is bad but as the saying goes, "No one is perfect; sometimes good, sometimes bad". As mentioned, I am looking forward to the next coming months, more so because I have come to such a low at the moment that I must do something positive with my life.
I will be riddled with this unknown confusion for some time. Hopefully I can find a positive resolution in the near future. I must admit that I feel more like Nengi now than I ever have. Coming back to Melbourne has been a very interesting experience. There are people here that I haven't seen for over a year and perhaps I might be leaving them once again to follow this destiny of mine. I feel real for the first time in a long time - still, only to an extent.
"....gone are the days of my being inside a carrier. I am now me and I can feel it growing" -Nengi
Nengisuls
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Coming home. Both Joyous and Mournful
Hey Mum,
Yeah made it to Bangkok safely. Na is still with me and we should be leaving for the airport in about an hour. It has been a very sad day or 2 and it is finally starting to sink in that I will be going home and may not see Na for a long time. Really, after all that has happend I still feel so strongly for her as she does for me. She knows that there isn't much help I can provide given the limited time I have to pay off my debts and what she has to do here. None the less she is going to work very hard in the near future and is definately going to make a concerted effort to make it to Australia. She is willing to do everything it takes to come and wants to really make some thing for herself and us. So much so that she is willing to --------------- to get there. I know she did some questionable things in the past and I'm aware of the reasons. But it is her willingness to give all for the goal that makes me crazy about her. I don't know what will happen in the future but I am not calling it quits just yet. Nobody said life was easy and I intend on keeping what we have as strong as I can, even if it is accross international lines. Life can be unpredictable and certainly difficult but what would I be saying about myself if I simply cut and run when things looked bad. At anycost I do not have anything to lose and everything to gain with my trip home, work and education. If Na can be a part of that life I would be very happy.
See you in Melbourne. I'll try to call from Sydney if I can. heheh Might have to call reverse charges as I don't have any Australian currency on me.
Luv --------
XXOO
Yeah made it to Bangkok safely. Na is still with me and we should be leaving for the airport in about an hour. It has been a very sad day or 2 and it is finally starting to sink in that I will be going home and may not see Na for a long time. Really, after all that has happend I still feel so strongly for her as she does for me. She knows that there isn't much help I can provide given the limited time I have to pay off my debts and what she has to do here. None the less she is going to work very hard in the near future and is definately going to make a concerted effort to make it to Australia. She is willing to do everything it takes to come and wants to really make some thing for herself and us. So much so that she is willing to --------------- to get there. I know she did some questionable things in the past and I'm aware of the reasons. But it is her willingness to give all for the goal that makes me crazy about her. I don't know what will happen in the future but I am not calling it quits just yet. Nobody said life was easy and I intend on keeping what we have as strong as I can, even if it is accross international lines. Life can be unpredictable and certainly difficult but what would I be saying about myself if I simply cut and run when things looked bad. At anycost I do not have anything to lose and everything to gain with my trip home, work and education. If Na can be a part of that life I would be very happy.
See you in Melbourne. I'll try to call from Sydney if I can. heheh Might have to call reverse charges as I don't have any Australian currency on me.
Luv --------
XXOO
Monday, February 06, 2006
3 days trekking at Doi Intanon
Na and I have just completed 3 days on the mighty Doi Intanon. Doi is the Thai word for Mountain and Doi Intanon is the largest mountain in Thailand. Unfortunately our trek didn't involve hiking to the top of the mountain but we were able to see some great waterfalls and I also had the priveladge of launching myself off the top of a 5 metre cliff into the water. All great fun. We were accompanied by 5 other trekers from Scotland, China and Canada. In total we hiked about 17 kms and swam in about 4 different water holes with very scenic waterfalls all round the area. As per usual I am ver Kii Ki Et (lazy) and will have to wait till I get back to Australia before I start uploading photographs. I can assure you this national park is both beautiful and picturesque.
My excitement about my up and coming journey back to Australia is building. I have become quite slow and tired now. The thought of spending some time writing simple blog entries tries me and I feel I need to ground myself. I will surely miss my Teerak (:P Darling) but hopefully I will see her in the near future. Whether that be in Australia or Thailand. This experience has taught me so many things but these lessons are taking some time to be acknowleged. I hope that once I reach home soil I will be able to reflect positively on my time here. At present I am just trying to relax as much as I can and finalise things here before I head back to Bkk and then Sydney to Melbourne.
I miss my family so much and feel as though I need them now to ground me again. I have been running an unpredictable gauntlet for the last couple of months and the idea of living in Thailand is way to much for me to cope with at the moment. I can't wait to shake my brothers and step fathers hands, and to see the look on my mothers face when I walk through the arrivals section of the airport. This moment is one I think of contiually but could be ore to my detriment as the home sickness can be somewhat depressing.
Anyway I'll cut it short and end with some words of passion and conviction. My time has been far different from that of a common backpacker. I have not followed the worn path of many a backpacker. I have traced the steps of Thai society and seen a side that many have not. I have eaten many foods I most likely wont find in Australia (I'll try to cook some when I get back). I have learnt more Thai than I need for now but because of my surroundings still find it hard to order some food in Thai. I have seen the poor rice farmers of the north east and truly understand the difficult they suffer every year due to low rice prices. There have been so many other things that will take some time to recognise but in time I will look back and truly cherish the time I have spent. Even with times of turmoil and disappointment I am truly happy with my experience and do not want to trade it for the world.
Signing out for now
Nengi
My excitement about my up and coming journey back to Australia is building. I have become quite slow and tired now. The thought of spending some time writing simple blog entries tries me and I feel I need to ground myself. I will surely miss my Teerak (:P Darling) but hopefully I will see her in the near future. Whether that be in Australia or Thailand. This experience has taught me so many things but these lessons are taking some time to be acknowleged. I hope that once I reach home soil I will be able to reflect positively on my time here. At present I am just trying to relax as much as I can and finalise things here before I head back to Bkk and then Sydney to Melbourne.
I miss my family so much and feel as though I need them now to ground me again. I have been running an unpredictable gauntlet for the last couple of months and the idea of living in Thailand is way to much for me to cope with at the moment. I can't wait to shake my brothers and step fathers hands, and to see the look on my mothers face when I walk through the arrivals section of the airport. This moment is one I think of contiually but could be ore to my detriment as the home sickness can be somewhat depressing.
Anyway I'll cut it short and end with some words of passion and conviction. My time has been far different from that of a common backpacker. I have not followed the worn path of many a backpacker. I have traced the steps of Thai society and seen a side that many have not. I have eaten many foods I most likely wont find in Australia (I'll try to cook some when I get back). I have learnt more Thai than I need for now but because of my surroundings still find it hard to order some food in Thai. I have seen the poor rice farmers of the north east and truly understand the difficult they suffer every year due to low rice prices. There have been so many other things that will take some time to recognise but in time I will look back and truly cherish the time I have spent. Even with times of turmoil and disappointment I am truly happy with my experience and do not want to trade it for the world.
Signing out for now
Nengi
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