Agnes Water, OZ

It's been a year Poo, Mike, Bitch, Ritchie and DD. It's been a year since I went shopping in Nadi in the same sarong that I sit in now. It's been a year since that Thanksgiving Dinner on New Town Beach.

Thanksgiving draws nigh again, and again, I'm celebrating it with a certain style. We've already got 2 turkeys and a coupla chickens (chooks), plus all the necessary other things. Lindsay's handling the cooking, I'm tracking down chairs and a few tables. It's time again for a dinner with friends and family.

Let me digress to mention Lindsay for a moment. She's the other American here in Agnes, she works here at the hostel and at the kayak tours which her boyfriend Luke runs. She's a laid back San Diego girl who can cook good. I base this on her Banafi Pie and Jello Shots, both are excellent. Monday, I saw her here and asked what her plans were for Thursday. She thought maybe some kayaking or going to the beach. I reminded her it was Thanksgiving.

"Shit! I knew I'd forgotten something."

I think there may be over 30 people at tomorrow's meal. I marvel at the fact that there are that many people here who are that excited to share a Thanksgiving meal with us. The entire staff here is coming, which in itself is a wonderful thing. Five backpackers have rescheduled there plans to leave on Friday now. Right now, beyond myself and Lindsay, Greg, Danni, Emma, Rod, Nick, Josh, Whitey, Luke, Stef, Sam, Sarah, Harry, Gwen, Elaine, Lucas, Sue, Carly, Ralph, Inga, Julia, and Jenny are also going. Plus, some partners and kids. Amazing.

Those of you not from the US, may know something about Thanksgiving. It's personally my favorite holiday. You have a dinner in the afternoon. It's not about commericalism, or religion, or drinking. It's about enjoying a good meal with other people. That's it. Many take the time to reflect on what they're thankful for, be it something large or small, trivial or vital.

So, I've got to track down 30 odd chairs this arvo (afternoon), which sounds like quite a busy day to me. And I need to figure out where to get tables.

Agnes Water, OZ

And the Good Times Keep on a Rollin'

It's 1ish in the afternoon, and the sunshine is sweating the alcohol out of people's pores, well, Sarah certainly. Last night may have again been even better than the week before. As Amy, Stef and I began selling Jell-O shot tickets during dinner last night (a somewhat difficult affair, do you know how to explain Jell-O in four languages), Lindsay arrived to let us know that there'd been a venue change. Apparently, all of Agnes Water knew about our Friday Night Fiesta, the kid at the gas station was giving directions to someone in front of cops at one point. Yep, a new place was definitely needed. We ended up at Paul the Caterers place. There are at least 4 Paul's whom I know here in Agnes, which seems like a lot. Anyway, we got to Paul's and things began to swing. Everyone was in good cheer, and few felt like leaving. At one point, Annika was imitating a penguin for 2o minutes as we tried in vain to figure out what she was, "A duck? An emu? A walrus? Very small rocks?" It was good fun. Lindz made up 60 Jell-O shots and Greg'd been sloshing out the Dahoo (Daaa-Hoooo!) punch beforehand. At various intervals during the evening, Paul'd appear with the next dish he'd whipped up, and Greg took over the job of Garcon, his shirt drapped over his forearm. Yes, thing's definitely had a swing to them.

The last troop carrier of drunken sods (Stef, Greg, Sarah, Ed (ooh, he was cooked), and myself among them) arrived back at Cool Banana's at 4am. That's a record in the four weeks that I've been here. I finally went to bed sometime after sunrise. And I wasn't the only one.

I think I'm slowly falling into the job here at the hostel that I seem eminently qualified for, Activities Director. Questions about tours, changing your flights, this weekend's party, when the naked beach van tour's going, these all seem things I'm fit to handle. But weekend's here are just so fun. Charlie in Raglan had it right when he said he only went to parties where he could see the stars overhead. There's something great about partying outside, and the skies here are rife with shooting stars. The Heavens Baby.

My plan for the day is to get to the beach and get in the water. That's about it. Beyond that, I'm hoping to get a massage later, and have a nice steak for dinner. It's a tough, tough life.

Agnes Water, OZ

I rode my first wave! The big swell expected yesterday didn't show, but the waves were still nice. My second wave I got on the green, turned and road it like I knew I was doing. I've even got a witness in Luke. Life is good!

The weekend is kicking off on Friday this weekend, in that the Saturday night party has been moved up to Friday night. Because someone had a beach party last weekend and left a mess, we can't have a beach party, so we're back at the LL Ranch. And the Olympics have come to Agnes Water. Well, our sort of Olympics. But everyone's getting fired up for another weekend extraganza, I've unofficially become Activities Director here in the hostel and have been getting everything ready for tonight's fiesta.

After a bit of chaos earlier this week, things have settled down here. Faces are again becoming familiar. Last night there was a group massage session (no, that's not a euphamisn for anything, get your minds out of the gutter), which ended when Greg told me there was going to be no John Mellancamp, or John Couger even, music played at 2am. Gwen, one of the Welshies in the hostel is healing from her scooter-roo accident. According to me, she hit an emu, but I think she really just had a crash. The emu story's better. Oh, we also learned Welsh last night. "Carrie Koala da nine," "Dim Roo E.T. Hanno," and, "Hasseff thavid er aim nolfweist," which mean, "Go fuck you're grandmother (Welsh equivalent of "Fuck off" apparently), "No sex for you tonight," and "I would like a sheep for the night." Welsh is fun! So, that's where things stand.

Finally, I want to take a moment to congratulate my friend Fausto who just passed the New Jersey and New York state bar exams, meaning he's now a full fledged lawyer. What this now means is every time we have an argument, I'm gonna get charged $60 an hour. Anyway, congrats Fausto, you done good.

Agnes Water, OZ

Kitchen Bitch No More

Well, the job lasted two days. Somehow Greg didn't relish the idea of a 6' crossdressing American yelling in German at the new arrivals. I'm not to fussed. There's a swell coming in. I went surfing this morning and again this afternoon today. This afternoon was biggish waves. Tomorrow's supposed to be even better.

The hostel's going through another turnover. I think there's only 5 people who've been here longer than a week now, quite a difference from last week when 75% of the hostel had been here at least a week. That was a record though.

Not too much else to report. I did some domestic chores today, cleaned Vac which had been several days in coming. Spent some serious time in the hammock. Well, Stef's got the fire going, so I'm gonna head on out to that. I should mention that Stef's job here at the hostel is to build a fire every night. That's it. Not a bad life.

Agnes Water, OZ

Okay, this is for all the girls who have worked in the hostel since I've been here.... I AM THE GREATEST KITCHEN BITCH EVER! Had to be said. Outfitted by Julia, I did my maid duties then was the midday Kitchen Bitch. I remembered how Jenny ran the kitchen and I'm scarier (especially to new people who find a 6 ft. crossdressing American screaming at them in German to get out). Pictures are soon to follow, so you'll see what I'm talking about. Couple confused hungover people though, as I barged in yelling, "Housekeeping!" So, that's done, first time I've done any real work in 14 mo. I'm beat, think I'll see if the swells are finally in.

Oh, on a sidenote. Luke was telling me last night that the beach'd been closed yesterday because of sharks. Well, someone told me it was closed. Luke told me about how he watched a Tiger shark swim past him in waist deep water. He said they surfed for a few more minutes before deciding it might be best to get out. A few more minutes. I love it here, but Ozzies are nuts.

Agnes Water, OZ

Oooh, my head feels rough. It's Sunday here in Agnes, and once again we had a blow out Saturday night. I'm getting good at this party planning stuff. The other hostel in town got wind of our Fiesta last night and showed as well. Excellent! It was a merry evening at Lindsay and Luke's, we decided after 3 beach parties in a row to have a change of scene. Greg made up his infamous Dahoo punch (you drink it and it compels one to sing DaHoo!!!, similar to how one says Yahoo), and Lindsay made Jell-O shots, something new to many people. Well, that did it, I got good and tipsy. It may well have been the largest party yet, it certainly lasted longer, as it didn't really break up till 2am, the last shuttle back to the hostel was 2.30. I'd driven in Vacilando, and just crashed in the field for the night.

So, I've got an hour or two to rest and recuperate before I work as one of the cleaning maids in the hostel this morning. Greg couldn't find anyone and asked if I'd help out. Not difficult, Steph and I have watched the cleaning girls during our morning constitutionals for weeks now. Put on some short shorts, a bikini top and go fluff some pillows. No problem. I wonder what the reaction of a hungover crossdressing American cleaning maid will be, but hell, most people were at the party last night, so I'm aiming for understanding. However, I must dedicate today's working to all those cleaning maids who've maid morning so pleasant: Steph, Jenny, Biggy, Lauren, Emilia (yeah, weird one) this one's for you, darlings.

Agnes Water, OZ

A Pervy Perfect Sunday Afternoon

Life is good. Saturday morning as we sat around having our morning coffee, a strategy session was called for the first time in days as Steph'd been out diving. I finally suggested that a Toga Party is a wonderful excuse for a party and suddenly we sprang into planning stages, in a last ditch attempt to persuade Jimmy to postpone her onward travel for the sixth time. What I mean by sixth time is that she'd actually checked out and rechecked into the hostel five previous times. Sadly, Jimmy left, but the party was still on.

Beinke (pronounced Binky) and I headed to the Op Shop (2nd hand shop, like Goodwill) and bought as many sheets as I could find. Around 6.30 we finally settled on a location and I took off with Josh (a kid here in town whose age I can't determine, or if he's really short) to collect fire wood. That done, I had some din and the Toga party began as robes were donned. We made for the beach as has been done on every Saturday night since I've been here, a fire was built, booze was drunk and we had a merry time. Before the muttering that I seem to drink too much, I haven't really been drinking save for Saturday nights here so breathe easy. I'm not much of a drinker though I still remember how.

There was a motley mix on the beach that night, many of the faces that have become so familiar were absent. But there were several new ones, including one Japanese girl whose name turned out to be She Ho. I had an awkward time explaining to her why I found her name so amusing, but she eventually understood me, much to her embarrassment. But come on, She Ho, heh heh heh.

Mark, a rather serious Dutch man staggered back to the fire at one point an our after disappearing (though he firmly maintained it wasn't more than 10 minutes), and declared he was not shit faced, just hammered.

Rain storms gathered and eventually drove the party from the shore, save for a few hearty and drunk souls. I was more on the hearty end, Kirstin was on the drunker end. Some others were on the beach as well, but enclosed in the darkness of a nearly moonless night (it was a first crescent that set not long after dark, third time I've looked to the sky and seen that crescent hanging next to Venus). We drank and stared at the sky that did not fail to disappoint. The rain faded, the clouds cleared, and the stars began to shoot across the sky as we lay next to the sputtering fire enjoying the fine display the sky put on. Kirstin faded in and out and definitely was snoring at one point.

Finally, it was time to go. I grappled the sack of rubbish in one hand, the sack of non rubbish in the other and began the ascent up the hill with Kirstin in tow. Well, sorta. After 30m. I turned back to find her no longer behind. Backtracking, I found her halfway back, passed out on the side of the trail. It was a slow climb. This happened a few other times, the final one being when we finally got back to Vac. I dumped the trash and then returned to find Kirstin missing once again. I got out the torch, and eventually spotted her, ass over tea kettle in someone's campsite. However, I put on the Wham! tape I'd gotten along with the sheets that day, and that perked everyone quite up.

Today, we took a Sunday Afternoon Drive with Greg to a beach about 8k away in a National Park. It's a lovely spot and has few people there (we're in Agnes and it's a 4x4 track). We baked, we basked and we had one of the most pleasant afternoons that one can have.

On the ride back, Steph got that fever that a 4x4 and a dirt track can bring on. Sadly, there was a turtle of a driver ahead of us, which necessitated us taking some breaks, getting some room before hitting the gas. On the first such occasion, belts were fastened and rechecked, prayers were made, and asses were sad in the knowledge of what was to come. Yipppeee Hooo Haaaaa, there's something about speeding at 30k that's just so much fun.

Anyway, such is life as it were. I've taken my second day off from surfing in two weeks now, and the rest feels good, as my belly's finally healing. It's a bit roughed up from the surfboard but looks worse than it is.

Back home Pam is convinced that I may never leave OZ, and Cesar complains that he's ready to hear of other lands. Here, I'm tempted, I have to say. It's such a fun little town and it's in such a transition. Greg told me today that they only got their first police officer in 1998 (they've got 2 now). A year ago, this was a different place, and in five it won't be recognizable again. I would love to watch this place change, watch it grow. We'll see, at any rate, I've got a boat in the Whitsundays waiting, or rather a yacht. Yippee!!

Agnes Water, OZ

Yep, still here. Indeed, this is a Black Hole Hostel. It's been a fun week here, I've met some great people. A large group moved on today, the Swiss Misses, Jon Boy, Bastian, Roxy and several others. I was supposed move on too. That didn't happen.

I've finally started surfing! By that, I mean that I finally caught a wave. That was two days ago and since then, I've caught a few others, a couple yesterday and today... well, today was excellent. I was consistantly getting up on waves and finally I surfed naked. That's right Steph, some serious A. I should point out that today makes one week that I've been surfing daily, usually for at least two hours. Best exercise that I've gotten in a long, long time.

Other than that, life's good. This weekend I went to two parties. Friday was a quieter affair at Link's place and Saturday was a Halloween party on the beach. Both night's were interesting in their own special ways, though Saturday involved me breaking out the costumes. Heh heh heh. Not too much else to report, life here is pretty simple. And that's the way I like it.