With the New Year approaching

Well, after sleeping through Boxing Day (still don't understand the holiday, but most that people that I've met don't really either), I'm enjoying a brisk Tasmanian Summer. I'm heading with my friend Katie to the Falls Festival for New Year's, it's a two day music event not far from Hobart. Last year was its first year, and though it didn't sell out then, tickets for this year's are long gone. I'll be camping out for the last two nights of this year, and I believe the musical acts are going 'round the clock. Not sure what else I can tell you about it, I'll have to wait and see for myself. Went out with Phil, Judy and Sarah (Judy's daughter) the other day and met up with Wayne and Jim, the Tassies who stayed at my Beacon Hill abode back in 2002. And, Jim has Absinthe at his bar! Some may realize that I am extremely happy about this little fact. So, it's to the Falls festival I go, with some embarrassingly bad facial hair that, Mom, I know you hate. Photos of said embarrassment will follow soon.

Tasmania

Well, for those of you who wondered if I'd ever leave Fiji, I have. I flew out on Christmas Day and arrived many, many hours later in Hobart. So, in addition to having the earliest Christmas of the World, I was able to celebrate it with two groups of people in two countries yesterday. I saw midnight come and Christmas Eve slide into Christmas Day with Mike and Poo, the two that had been in New Town beach during my entire seven week stay in Fiji, and with whom I'd had my Thanksgiving dinner a month beforehand.

Because my flight left rather early on Christmas Day, I elected to drink the night away rather than try and sleep. I also figured that the six hour layover I had in Sydney would be plenty of time to rest. It wasn't, but I met several wonderful Aussies, who, upon learning that I'd just arrived in Australia, were determined that I should have my first beer in their country. And second, and third.... and so on and so forth. I am now at Phil and Judy's in Hobart and resting after my very long Christmas Day. I'm not too sure on my immediate plans but I'll sort them out along the way.

Choices, Choices

I'm sitting in Nadi, debating my options, three paths to take and three places for the holiday cheer. I should come up with a decision, but I'm not fussed and the weather's nice here. I'll either head to Taz or NZ or stay here for the holidays, all three sound nice. One of these days I'll make a decision and let y'all know.

Escape from Fiji

Okay, I've returned to Nadi to figure out how when and where I'm going after I finally leave Fiji. Spent the past few days in Nananu i Ra, an island on the Northern coast of Viti, the main island. Very chill place, had one of the best campsites I've had in a long, long time, shade all morning, and a nice breeze sweeping through my tent. I could happily lie in till 10am, which is rare. Pleasant for my 2pm nap as well. Anyway, I'm trying to work out if I'm headed to OZ or NZ from here, and when that'll be. But sooner or later I'll get there so I'm not too fussed. Poo and Mike are still in Nadi great to see them again. Mike's feet are going full Fiji, he dropped a burning log on one last weekend so they're a bit...fucked. Anyway, I'm still working on the plans of my exodus but the weather's warm again and it's great to be back at New Town Beach.

Nananu i Ra

Okay, I'm on an island off the northern coast of Fiji, and it's expensive internet here so I'll be brief. Suva, the capital was fun, but wet, spent most of my time at the Raintree lodge next to a rainforest. Beautiful but wet. Though if you are going to the wet part of Fiji during the rain season, it makes sense to hit the rainforest. Drying out now, (well, sorta) and trying to start making plans to leave Fiji. I may get out of here by Christmas but I honestly don't really know at this point. I'm not even sure as to where I'll be headed. There's a chance of making some minor changes to my plans but we'll see. Okay, that's it for now.

Beach House

Well, it's been a relaxing week or so, kicking it on Fiji's southern coast at the Beach House, a very nice relaxing place to lay a weary head. I met up with Brian whom I met on Tavewa a few weeks ago and spent the time hanging out with him and two mad girls, Katie and Siobahn (just pretend you're Gov. Arnie when you say the name). It's been fairly cheap for me to stay here so I haven't been quick to move but after a week and everyone leaving the hostel I think it's time to push on to Suva, Fiji's largest city. I've been asked to talk a little about my days here in Fiji, which lengthened to four weeks now. I pretty much live in my Sarong, or Sulu, Douglas Adams was wrong, a sarong is the most important thing to travel with, it does all the same stuff as a towel, plus you can wear it and it makes a handy bedsheet. I tend to go barefoot around the place a lot, my feet are no where near Fijian feet standards (ie you can hold a flaming stick on them), but they're toughening up nicely. Fiji moves at a fairly slow pace, Fiji time is such a wonderful concept. The beach here is nice and there are a bunch of hammocks to lounge in. I just finished reading the first book I brought to read on the road, "The Rise and Fall of the 3rd Reich," by Shirer, my nod to Steinbeck as Cruicks noted. 1,500 pages, took me roughly two months, I think. Anyway, that's a bit all for now, it turns out I'm not being kicked out of my bed tonight so I don't have to go set up my tent. Think I'll lounge instead, or get a massage, 1 hr. for 14USD, not so bad. Hope everyone's safe and sound. I may try to start uploading some Fiji pics in Suva, but we'll see how fast their internet is there.