Home now - so where the bloody hell are you?

The trip of a life time has ended, but it has only left me with dreams of further travels abroad. Im dieing to get back to Brazil and to travel through the other South American countries, I need to get to London and Ireland to see my friends Phil and Helen, and now with my new buddies in Spain its a must for me to get there too.

I've done my fair bit of travel so now its up to others. We've saved you a spot on the beach - so where the bloody hell are you?

Time to say 'see you again soon' - not a goodbye

Where did those ten months go. Seriously can someone tell me what happened? I can't believe, no sorry I don't want to believe its time to head back to Sydney Australia. It seems weird, just as weird as it was when all those ten months ago I left Sydney with way too much luggage and only a ticket to New York City with the return home from San Francisco. Back then I had no fucking idea what I was going to do with myself, but all I know now is that I have a big bunch of great friends all over this country as well as in Madrid and in Brazil. My heart has been hurt along the way, and I know that I have done the same to others, others that i never ever intended on hurting or disappointing. But I left Sydney with not knowing where, when or how I was going to be living or traveling. But here I now stand, at San Francisco International airport with three of my close friends who couldn't just let me go without giving me that last one big hug, a kiss and a 'dont go'. But I need to go home to see my friends, pay off my debt, and most importantly to see my parents. I haven't seen them in over a year and I need to do just that. They are the two most important people in my life, and throughout the past ten months they have been there for me all the way. Taking care of my rental property, paying my bills, doing my tax and giving me advise along the way. They are the best.

William, Silvia, Courtney & myself @ SFO


Last look back through the security gates @ SFO

SUPRISE !!!

I spent Saturday out with Scott and Jarek at a party hosted by friends of theirs. Someone was leaving to go overseas, all a bit familiar. It was a cool day and it was raining, but that didn't damper anything and I had a great afternoon. William was having some people over for drinks that evening and we were to leave this party and join William for his drinks. I guess we were suppose to leave by 7.30pm but at 8.30pm we were still at the first party. I didn't think anything of it as it was Will's friends just coming over to have a drink with him, well that's what i thought until we finally rocked up. Scott and I were giggling drunk as we walked up the stairs of Will's apartment to which we were greeted by a big 'finally' from Will and the faces of all my friends, even Parker from New York was there. William had thrown a suprise farewell party for me, and Scott got me there late. There were more drinks, food and a absolutely fabulous cake created by Silvia which she apparently based on the photo of me lying on Haulover Nudist Beach, Miami. I was stoked, and then of course I got drunk. The party attendees was of everyone that I had become close to while in San Francisco, people I call true friends. After spending a lot if time in San Francisco I ended up knowing a lot of people, but these people were the important ones

The following day we hit El Rio. I like going to El Rio even though I'm not a salsa dancer. Its usually a great afternoon to sip on 2 or if I dare 3 of Christina's margarita's. They are strong but good. I don't know of an outdoor salsa bar here in Sydney, not sure if we have the Hispanic community to influence such an activity. Afterwards we had a spot of dinner in the Castro and then off to the bars. Parker and I were the last ones standing, and finally when we got home proceeded to drink and make a mess of Williams kitchen by trying to pack portions of the left over cake into zip lock bags and putting them into the freezer. What a mess!

Receiving my gift with the now infamous AussieBum cake in the background


The unvailed present, a singlet top with a print on the chest of my naked body lying on Haulover Park Beach




Courtney & myself


Myself & Kevin


Courtney & Kevin, with his sexy face


Myself & Silvia with that incredible Aussie Bum cake


(l-r) Parker, Scott & Jen


Nick & Silvia


(l-r) Kevin, Silvia, Nick & Courtney - the downhill progression








Myself & Silvia - yep Im geting tipsy


Johnny its like the old days in South Beach - Vodka Soda was it?


William & I


Coutrney & I getting drunker


Jarek, Sasha, Johnny, Wayne & Jarek's b/f Troy (noice)


Nick stop eating my......cake!


Little William & myself


Kobus & Olivier


Kamran


Serious, guys stop it with my cake


Olivier & William.....oh & me int he background not wanting to be left out


Silvia & William


Scott, Silvia & Steven

Voting in the NSW elections - Take a stand.

All you New South Welshmen and women have to vote this coming Sturday. All I have to say on this matter is that I all hope you GLBTI and GLBTI friendly people have completed some research and will cast your vote in favour of the party that has as part of its policies a commitment to bringing equality and recognition to our relationships. Voting any other way would be a shame and a let down for our community.

I have read the party policies of the The Australian Democrats, The Greens, Labor and Liberals, and only two of those have contained in its policies the above mentioned. The other two parties do not. In fact the other parties do not mention a single word about fighting for our rights. The Australian Demoncrats and The Greens do. Please vote for the right for our relationships to be legally recognised so that we may enjoy the same benefits as hetrosexual relationships.


Additional information on The Greens policies

The final coutdown

I'm into my final two weeks of this great trip. Its a strange concept that I will be heading back to Australia soon, where I will have to go back to work. I think that is the worst part of it, the going back to work. This non-working lifestyle is perfect for me. I can go whee I want, when I want for as long as I want. I've had no responsibilities and been totally care free. Why would we want to live any other way? But of course to do that I would need someone understanding partner by my side who loves to work, and works hard to earn the money required to keep me in the lifestyle I have become accustomed to over the best part of the last year.

I have been telling myself that I need to do a practice run in packing my luggage. I came way with a monstrous bag filled to the brim with clothes telling myself that to save money I will bring everything I need so that I didn't have to spend precious cash buying stuff I already had. Absolutely no will power. I shopped and I bought and now I'm packing boxes to ship unnecessaries back to mum and dads for collection later after I get home.

One of the things I was going to do during my time here was to find myself a job, a career change of sorts. Not permanant, but something to give me an experience that I could use at home. But I don't think I needed a job for that. This whole thing has been the experience that I was in search of. The people, the places, the the the the everything. I am more confident within myself, I dont need someone there to lead the way, I can approach an unfamiliar situation and know that I can handle it. I feel good about myself and that people are genuinely happy to see me.

William took me to the Eagle for beer bust on Sunday. I always wanted to go and finally here is my chance. I presumed there would be a bunch of hairy bears, but it wasn't that at all. I actually liked it it and would definately go back again. We didn't stay for too long, we left to go and see the movie 300.

But now I sit and I stare around my bedroom at Williams place. It looks like a bomb has gone off as there is just clothes and belongings of mine everywhere as I try to sort myself out. I dont want to go home, I now feel at home.

Sunday beer bust @ The Eagle

From Palm Springs to San Francisco

Some how I managed to squeeze into my suitcase all these extra clothes I know had from my shopping extraganzza. William did say before we left S.F not to pack much as we would be buying alot, but I didn't heed his warning. The flight out of Palm Springs was a bumpy one. Those hills definately stirr up the air currents and we were rocking and rolling. I have experienced worse before, first time flying back into Sydney at night after being to Launceston Tasmania to see family. I actually thought we had the possibility of dying. Second time was flying out of the old Hong Kong airport on a 747 to London. On this take off for every part of airspace we climbed, we then suddenly dropped about half of that before he start to climb again. Everytime the plane dropped your stomach would climb under your ribcage.

The landscape around Palm Springs is breathtaking from the air. The people I met in Palm Springs were great/friendly. It is a good place to be, and I say that again not knowing what summer is like.

Palm Springs

A few days after or ski trip, William and I flew down to Palm Springs to see Renata. I had always wanted to go to Palm Springs and William had the week off work, so we took a mid week flight down. The first two days were spent shopping, and boy o boy did William and I shop. We shopped for nine hours over the two days and collectively spent just over $2,000. And amazingly enough me not working and all managed to spend the largest chuck of that amount. I now have way too many clothes to take back home to Sydney, but I will manage.

William and I did the rounds of the bars in Palm Springs. It was fun. We met and chatted with boys, worked our charm, flirted, and of course I got a little tipsy. I really like Palm Springs but not sure how it would be in the height of summer.

Renata and I


Over looking Palm Springs. The town is in there amongst all the palms


Friday evening out for Tims Birthday








Cable car ride up the hills behind Palm Springs

Lake Tahoe

I left South Beach at the end of February and flew into Houstin to catch up with Chad for his birthday and to see Kawika. From Houston I also took the bus up to Austin to see some friends there. From Texas I mad my way over to San Francsisco on which the next day promptly left for Lake Tahoe to go snow skiing. The last time I went skiing was September of 2000, and that then was the only second time I had ever gone skiing.There was five of us. William, Kevin, Alex, Michelle and myself.

Day One: After the normal who-ha of renting ski's, boots and poles We hit the slopes around 10am. I was pleaseantly suprised on how well I was skiing, considering the lapse in time since my last experience. I wasn't very good nor had the confidence all those years ago, but back then a friend took the time out to teach me some of the little things that made a world of difference. So this weekend I took my time and remembered back to all these little things that I was shown and taught and away I went. It may not have been graceful, but I was in control and was having a ball. The sun was out the air was warm, the snow conditions were perfect and there weren't many people on the slopes. Kevin had gone off to a green course to practice snowboarding while the rest of us were skiiers. I use that term loosely. Alex and Michelle are very accomplished skiiers while William and I had not skiied in years. The four of us skiied as a pack. Alex and Michelle would head off first and wait for us midway down so we could regroup and then attack the second half of the course together. The runs were wide so I meandered down taking wide turns and just enjoying the experience. We even did the Black Diamond runs We skied for four hours before breaking for lunch. I purposely withheld from having a beers over lunch so as not to have alcohol in the system as my legs were tired, in fact my thighs were buring.

After lunch we headed back up to the top. I was sharing a chair lift with Michelle and during the trip up he was scouring the runs looking for something new. He spotted one and boy did it look difficult from the chair lift. Michelle reassured me that it just looked like that from above and that it wasn't that bad. Remember Michelle is a very good skiier. We jump off the chair and the four of us ski down to the beginning of the run. At the top of the run I again made a point on how steep the run was and how narrow it was, but this time Alex reassured me that it was fine, another very good skiier. Now after having such a success in the first half of the day I thought I would be cocky and go first, to show these boys that I could actually ski. So away I went. I made the first turn, my legs were sore, I struggled through the second turn, for the love of god my legs were tired and sore, I went for the tird turn and boom down I go, face first, on my stomach. But thats not where it ends. We are on a STEEP slope and the snow is quite icy, so with the momentum I had I continued on down hill head first. Arms outstretched, legs and ski's spread eagled and boy was I moving. Under the chair lift I went for all above to see and as Im heading down I think to myself 'stay away from the trees'. With my hands I am trying to both stop myself and steer myself. As I'm digging my palms into the icy snow, its being kicked back into my face. I start to turn around and next thing I know I am going down backwards and I have lost a ski. As I'm looking back up the hill I see Alex skiing down after me yelling assurance that everything was ok. "Just keep going' he yells. I didnt have a choice, there was no stopping my from barrelling down this hill and a pace that even Alex couldn't keep up with. I try digging my last ski into the icy snow but all that did was to again rotae me around so again I has head first. Arms out stretched and snow being kicked up into my face. A wall of snow is now building up on my face. It started at the chin, it past my mouth and now my sunglasses were cover. I could not see shit, and I was still on the go. I finally came to a rest three quaters of the way down the slope. Snow all down the front of my ski jacket and a face mask made out of solid ice. Alex skiied up to me asking if I was hurt. I wiped away the wall of snow from my face and Alex said all he could see was this huge smile on my face. I sat myself up, looked back up the hill and yelled out 'did anyone get that on film'.

I didnt ski after that. My legs were tired and sore and that huge experience sort of knock the confidence out of me. I sat back at the lodge in the sun just relaxing. Needless to say I got sunburnt from sitting there.

Our humble snow cottage


with spa



William and I at the top with the Lake behing us


William and Alex


Michelle


Michelle and Alex


The group

Happy Mardi Gras - Parade time

Parade is the jewel in Sydney's crown. It has an unrivalled reputation for glitz, glamour, satire and sass. It's a celebration of pride and diversity that never forgets to deliver its messages with humour and pizazz.

Mardi Gras Parade has grown to become a major cultural event and its appeal stretches well beyond Sydney's gay community and its close supporters.

Indeed over half a million Sydneysiders turn out each year to cheer on the parade. Joining them are thousands of overseas visitors lining the route - from US circuit party boys to Japanese office ladies.

Thats not a sausage roll

While in Boston I made friend with an acquaintance of Angel and Henry's. His name is Peter and most nights I joined him for dinner and way too many drinks. One one of our outings we got to talking about food and I had mentioend the meat pies and sauage rolls from home. Peter referred to an article that he had read in Gourmet, the magazine of food living. It refers to sauage rolls and how they are the big item in West Virgia. After our drinks that evening I dropped off into his apartment to read the article, and I was left laughing. Not only wasn't it a sausage roll as I knew it, the story itself had a hint of sexual reading. The picture in the mag of the sausage roll itself was nothing but a sauage in a bun with red onions. But below is an extract of what they wrote about it.

'A cooked roll is a wieldly handful about four inches long and resembles the border of a thick pizza. Inside. the red sticks of spicy sausage occupy a tight tunnel, the bottom of which has been moistend by their hot oil seepage.'