Tuesday, December 30, 2008

"Well, it sounded good at the time..." & Australian Bank Account (part one)

So I've been back in LA for a minute now, on vacation, and have had some good conversations again with people who I haven't seen in a while, like Mr. Rekik, my moms, and that yellow-teethed crazy on Santa Monica and Purdue, among others. These re-connections are finally helping me again to partake in a passion that I've been neglecting a little bit. I'm doing my thing in Okinawa, and a big part of "my thing" that I haven't really been keeping up on lately is creative writing.

So anyway, I'm going to start a bit of a project, just to give myself a necessary kick in the arse to write stuff that I want to write. I guess this is going to try to be a Whereverhome blog-collabo fictional experimental piece for myself, with some sort of meaning behind putting it on my village well. On the wall of the well. So that when it starts to stink I'll kick it into the depths. Australian Bank Account will be in separate entries from regular blog entries, at least that's kind of how I picture it right now. But seriously, please don't expect too much. Wooord. Presenting:



Australian Bank Account (part one)
How did he come up with such a bad idea? Kaito knew that my friend had an account in Spain, and he once told me that his uncle's godfather had numerous bank accounts overseas. But was it simply because we were talking about old movies and Swiss investments in that rickety old ramen shack that one evening that he came up with it? "What on earth's goodness do you plan to do with something like that?" I remember asking him. I didn't have much to go on, honestly speaking, but still, it was a horrible idea, if you ask me.
I would've thought that I would have more to go on, now, seventeen months later- that I'd be aware enough to make quick judgements on friends' decisions- but the truth is I still have none-to-zero awareness. But let me tell you that this ricket-ramen-shack in Okinawa is an investment itself of an old schoolmate. From kindergarten. His name is Melvin, and he used to bring these funny noodle sculptures to show and tell. And now, on the shelves of the square-shaped room with sliding glass doors sit sixteen glistening copper-wire works that mimicked those old pieces we'd eat at recess. Melvin even sold a couple to a gallery in Shibuya, for a good amount, enough to buy himself a brand new bicycle and some electronics. The restaurant is called Shinbunshi, because of the newspapers neatly pasted on the walls and the fresh issues from all over the world on a rack next to the self-serve water jugs. As Melvin stirred the huge pot behind the beechwood counter, I sat at my table next to the bar with a coffee and The Dagbladet, a paper from Denmark. I looked at what I could read and saw that the date was September 16, a Thursday. Was that our date here, or Denmark's?...
to be resumed later or continued

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Skating in Okinawa

There's not much to skate on the island of Okinawa, but you know that there's always the good old parking lot down the street. I live uphill where I can skate toward the ocean and try to ollie this ratty torn up cracked out four stair with Sanpin-cha bottles strewn on the side, and a cuurved out run-in that goes around a manhole, and the wondering gasoline stand kids stare, waiting for those little Japanese cars to come into the stand driveway.

There's not much time to skate in Okinawa, with work and that, but it's always like, no matter how tired I am or how late at night it is, if I do get up on my board for a little bit, that rattling and crunching and reverberation brings me back. And then I hang up on that tall curb and eat shit... hahah Aahhh, the beauty of skating in a place where the buildings are old and the sidewalks look like mini-earthquakes were thrown onto them for the rats. I got to roll down 58.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Two Years of Summer

Finally, I get a winter after three consecutive summers.

Mt Fuji, took a while back, snowcaps from an airplane.
Probably like two years ago I took this photo... for some
reason it was in my LA file. My LA file, like
LA Gear black and neon green.


So last summer I was in Los Angeles, chillin at the Colby house, working nights at that restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd and at the Institute for Intercultural Studies during the hot bicycling days (big ups to Dr. Han). Then I moved to Australia, which I'm sure you know is in the opposite hemisphere north-south ways. For some reason this creates a January mid-damnin-hot summer, I think because of the tilt of the world. Then this year, I came back up past the equator to Okinawa for a burning hot summer on a tropical island. So the last time I tasted real, good cold air was like two years ago.

It made me realize how much I love summer, but a perpetual one wouldn't be good for me. I need some sort of seasonal change; I think we all do. Isn't that why the Earth, like, turns? Yeah, change is progress, and I get really cold recently riding my moped with two jackets on, hunchbacked and notredamed, teeth chattering, but I'm actually down for it. Watttuuupp winterrr.

I'm coming home! I got a flight back to LA on the 23rd of December and will be in America until Jan 6th... I'm pretty hyped; I actually miss my country, the smooth sidewalks, Comedy Central, right-gear-shifts, all my clothes in storage, my books, two tacos for a dollar... Let me know if you're around- I'll probably be staying in Torrance, near that Benihana's. Which is good to the Wilmington skateplace you say about, Geoff. Damn, I'm about to just drive out to the Korean Bell and kiiicckk ittttt.

Words, there's a new live music class in our curriculum here, which is pretty sick, and all is ever-proceeding with Okinawa Actors School and Live City, too. I'm lucky to be able to be doing this translating, curating, teaching and filming.

Peace, see you soon.


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Yeah


YEEEAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Monday, November 3, 2008

ATLiens Running OKInawathons

How's it going? Today is a rainy rainy day, and I was listening to this CD that my friend gave me a while ago- Outkast's ATLiens instrumentals... of course the Elevators track is sick, and my personal favorite is the instrumental for Wheelz of Steel. The following poem came on top of the best classic beat though, ATLiens, number two... (I know my poetry sucks, but if you read it while listening to the instrumental, you'll only get bored of it halfway through instead of after reading one-third) Enjoy. Or make sure you have a sofa or bed nearby to throw your computer at after you get angry at yourself for reading such garbage. But enjoy that too.



Interesting
That no I'm not from the ATL
But rather I have the power in me to yell
That I come from Los Angeles County
You get more aware of that while living in a different country

It's likely
That most, many, or some of the people who we meet
In this Japanese nation or on an Okinawan street
Have only visions of movies and television
Cultural differences and a foreign vision
Allow me to perceive how I perceive
Not through any media except my own eyes
The information that I receive
The ways that people create both laughter and drawn out sighs
It's like good roasted pork meat
Like a timelessly marinated OutKast beat
It's all quite neat
and
Interesting.



I don't know about that sighs part.. what do you think?

Aaaanyway.....

It's good to know that my absentee ballot is either in the LA County Clerk's office or just a couple miles away now. Big day tomorrow. To be honest, I feel really American right now. Letss doo this!

Later y'allestikos

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Surroundings (日本式)

How's it goin, hey? A photo essay-slash-journal-slash-commentary that started from an uploading mistake:

I begin at home, sitting on the ground with the fan going....


I get up and get in my girlfriend's car. Speed is good...


Weird antennae creature lurks upon the car's radiator, and Okinawan
lights pursue, just a normal picture...




Damn, this movie was siiiick.


Did you see Wes Anderson's latest? It was pretty late to come out in Japan, but I was like, so comforted. His movies are dope.

So we're putting on another surfball tournament this weekend, and we've got a team made of Marines. They're actually pretty cool, which is a little rare.


Filming for our TV show, Live City, is continuing as well. We're on Episode 28 now, jjeeah.

laaater, and yes, i would like to know how you're doing, please let me know. Big ups to cold green tea!


Saturday, September 27, 2008

Recently, my cell phone got up and took some pictures.

It was crazy, he was like, yo straighten me out, flip me out homie. Then he grew eyes and was like, yeah, that's good, yeah. So then he told me to "put these on the web cuzz" and I was like, okay, whatever you say. Crazy technological Japanese telephone. They're mini-computers, and I still can't work like 5/8 of the functions. The camera works well though. It told me to work harder, he was like, "I'm doing all the work here dumbass."

My ride. Uuuhhhhhhhh


Good ol pool art behind a very abandoned building.


Sunrise from Mt. Fuji, Shizuoka prefecture, far from here.


A neon store right downstairs from my apartment.
The owner has this little toy-poodle, but he's all tough
and beer. It's pretty rad, he sells these old MGD t-shirts
and coasters from like 1986.




Sunday, September 14, 2008

iMoved

Yup, I have no actual pictures yet because I'm lame and I haven't taken pictures of my new habitat, but I now officially live in the Building with the Giant Buck-Toothed Dog on Top, Ginowan City, Okinawa. So if you read this, and if you're my friend, and you're ever in Ginowan, there's a tatami mat with your name on it! (well not actually written, but if you really wanted to, you could burn your name on tatami with incense sticks, cuz i accidentally dropped a bit off and that shit looks like a little 2-D rat poop.. just a simple FYI)

So I'm planning on going to this cafe across the street where I might get a good view and maybe some pictures. I didn't even notice I moved in under _______ (my landlord said he doesn't have a name, and I haven't named him yet) until my sister said, "Do you live in the building with the big dog on top of it?" And I went home and there was a dog on top of my building. A bit more info on the dog to come..

Happy Respect-for-the-Aged Day (9/15). I looked up 敬老の日, the Japanese holiday, and that came up. Really though, props to all who are living large and madd yearrrrsss. Respect.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Roppongi, Yanbaru, and the end of the Olympics (among other things)

What it is? I'm back in Okinawa after five days of metro-madness up in the crazy city of Tokyo. And you know what, I'm not afraid to say it: I love nature and I'm completely content living on this island with beautiful ocean and forests. Although it was good to get into the city for a bit. Them Kenyan brothers at the entrances to the clubs between the Roppongi metro station and my brother's pad (thanks Ohki, foshoooo) be like, "YO Aniki, aniki! Kawaaii-YO, Aniki!" Loosely translated, "Hey, brother, brother the girls are cute here, brother." And at first glance you'd think these dudes are from like New York or maybe Washington DC, but naw, they're like, from Cameroon and Zimbabwe. Yeeah, aniki. It was a good time getting back into the buildings and crowds and shops.

So here are some photos, as Beirut sings, it's 'A scenic world'...

Tokyo trains take time to tolerate; people passing
publicly passive, robots require resuscitation.


The girlfriend and I went to Tokyo Disneyland, and
this pic of Pixar hats is a decent depiction of height
difference, at least. Maan, we became small children again!


It was sunny all day and then rained a little bit
when we were in line for Thunder Mountain,
which was refreshing.


The Toei-Oedo line was Londonese to me,
reminded me of England.


And back to Okinawa, a quick drive through the forests.


Woo.. good one Shoko

Yessirr, that's how some of it went down. I took a video camera and taped my (real) Aniki and myself climbing Mt. Fuji two Fridays ago, which was quite an experience, but my camera broke on the way down the mountain and I have yet to extract the pictures from it.

Now I'm back in the office, comfortable and getting ready for the new semester starting next week. Yeah!! And hopefully I can continue filming as well, jeeeeaaahh! I'm finishing up a Hemingway book on bullfighting, pyyeeaaahhh. And I picked up a new Raymond Carver collection, sssssssssseyyyyyyyyyyyeeaaahhhh.




Hell yeah Olympics were ssiiiiiick! Later yalls, I miss all of you back home, and in whereverhomes. Holmes. Sherlock.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Waddup Now Bruddahh

YOo, how is everything? My brother Ohki came and kicked it with my sister Yuki and I Aki (we two both live and work in Okinawa) this past weekend, and it was really, really nice to be back with the family siblings again. It's always kinda new after we've been apart for a while, but for sure after a while there's that feeling of chilling out with bloodrelatives that definitely comes back. We went out to eat pasta and drank coffee and Ohki got lobster-burnt at the beach... Enhancer that shit, bro (the Yuki hookups)! Here's when we ate in the tree-restaurant near the airport on Sunday night.


The food was allright but the service was shit
so I had to down hot clams and salmon so
we wouldn't miss Ohki's flight. If you're ever
in Okinawa, check out the tree-restaurant; it's on
the right when you come into the city out of the airport.
You can't miss it. I don't necessarily recommend eating
there, though. Although they had a bigscreen playing
The Making of Blue Planet, which was minimally
cool. Questionable, but cool. How about this essay-type
caption for two photos? Yeah


So, getting goodly busy these days with a different kind of work from teaching... I'm getting the chance to learn to be a cameraman for Live City! Siiick! I like cameras, and cameras are suuper dope to work with, just like the amazing people here. Yeah, reminds me of good ol Kam-Ra back home- how you iiisss homie? I'd like to thank people. Thank you, momma. Later, more to come. Peace my fleece. For Fuji.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Happy Fourth of July

Living in a foreign country, it's easy to feel detached from my home country. But just leave it up to all the Armed Forces stationed on Okinawa to bust out them barbeques and meaningless tattoos and footballs and strong come-ons to the local girls out on the beach. It's a crazy type culture out here, you meet some down people both Okinawan and American, and the interactions between all cultures is right interesting.

But I always tell people I meet- and they are always like "Oh, you're from Los Angeles, you must have like 28 bullet holes in your front door and your aunt must carry a gat"- and I'm like, damn, people really do base a lot of what they know about America on television and movies. I guess it's an obvious thing. But I always say, sure there's crazy shit going down all the time, but there are also some of the best people and great moments happening in the U.S.A. even now. Reality is reality, and there are lots of misconceptions of the reality of the U.S.

Anyway, it's good to be able to rep my country and connect back to my blood at the same time. And there's always the new experience. I'm getting a bit used to work and life here, but I don't ever want to forget all the little thangs that make it fun- like aasaa(seaweed, good in soup) getting stuck all up in my naplocks when I go for my morning dip in the ocean. Gotta make sure to wash it out though, aasaa could get mighty stank.

So America, America, America, I miss you, all the good and the bad. The people, the people. Happy Fourth! Then on to Bastille Day! I don't see nothing wrong with the French. Ou revoir, baby. Is that from a Van Damme movie? Naw, he doesn't say baby, that's hasta la vista. Who remembers that Van Damme movie set in Quebec where he says ou revoir, something? Damn, let me know if you know... anyway, laaater dudes. Chyeahh

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Finally Some Vision

YOo, I hope you are well, and getting some good meals up in the system. I ate some really good cutlet curry right quick at a manga-kissa, which is this pretty dope concept where you go into a cafe/restaurant with walls filled with madd comic books (the good Japanese kind) and kick it and read, write, eat, drink, fiddle fingers. And its also dope cuz I just looked at the word マンガ喫茶 written in Roman alphabet and it seems like a place where all these people get together to make out with Spiderman, Ranma 1/2, and Captain Tsubasa. But alas, that is not the case. Well, I guess you can kissa the pages if you want. The cashier/server/all around boss lady probably wouldn't be havin none of that, though.

I finally got my camera running again, and so here are some photos from a snorkel trip some of my students and I went on yesterday. I'm in the classroom and the office all day on weekdays, so it was really nice to get out with our school's marine crew, WaterWorld.

The ocean at Sesoko, up on the northwest side.

I still can't really calculate how many kph equals
how many mph... we were going like 120 kph, which is
like as fast as a doped up donkey, I guess.


Nice block.

Yeah WaterWorld! See all them W's?
Represent, foooooooooooooo


And this here is a photo I took after the Surfball tournament we had held last Saturday down on the south part of the island. Surfball is a sport we invented when I went to school here a couple years ago, and it's siiiick. Keeps you madd fit too, cuz it's crazy on the lungs and legs. Check the site if you want, though it's all in Japanese: www.surfball.jp

Nothing like a beautyful sunset after a long day
running around on the beach.


So while I'm at it, I'd like to promote one of the main projects we're doing at our school. Yeeeaaahh publicity, homiiee. My sister Yuki is a madd talented screenwriter, and she writes and produces a badass TV show called Live City, it's all kinds of wicked, and everything is done by the students, from the shoot schedules to the cameramen to the acting. It airs on Okinawan TV on Saturday mornings at 10:55, and it's in its second season, and getting reeeal interesting. You could at least see the pictures and stuff on the Japanese website: www.livecity.tv

I'm blessed to be a part of something as great as this. I have the awesome job (no joke, it's so good to see all the different places and work with such a commited group of people) to drive the crew van whenever I can. I like driving. Allright, I gotta translate this song for class, thanks for the comments, and please let me know how you're doing. I miss yall. Peace for your niece.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Keeping in with the TaiChi


Starting position. I have a friend named Pepe here, so I hooked up a photo.


Duuuude, how it iiisss. Hope you're doing well, if you're reading this at all, sorry for the long intervals in between. Damn I want to see that movie Darjeeling Unlimited. I've been trying to either run or swim in the ocean every morning if I have time, but it only seems to work if I can get to sleep before 1 am. Maybe I'm just lazy. The ocean is getting madd nice, warm even in the am, cleansly. And also a bit of TaiChi everyday, thanks Baylen, I'm trying to keep it up. I need to learn more, get a master or something.

A note on the Pacific: it's definitely not as salty and soupy as the Indian along the west coast of Oz. It's real nice and kind of soft, like the coral reef put in some kind of elixir or something that makes it all ex-for-e-ating or whatever. That's what I feel like, like my skins freaking ex-for-ee-ating when I sweeeem in ze oshun.

Good busy days, the school is going well. I want to give props to Dr. Han for training me well, thank you.

Right, I gotta eat some foods. Ahhh damn the Okinawa-soba is good stuff. Had some for lunch today, which is pretty rare. Yo, eat while you can! That's what they say.... Laaater.

Friday, May 23, 2008

The Joys of Fridays

So I was talking to my friend the other day, he's from New Zealand, one of the downest dudes that I know. He was like, remember how you were all high from your trip, don't let that buzz come down, don't forget to keep it going. And I thought that that is like a lot of things... there are a lot of things that can bring me down, getting used to a certain way of living, always a sniff of stagnancy when you start that "getting used to" business. So at least as my own mindset, I'll be on my travels for a while longer, even if I go home during them or even if I get into a certain rhythm.

I've created a pretty crazy schedule for myself these days, with teaching and getting a faculty-type system together, curriculums, texts and meetings. But I find the things that are just as important- taking a swim in the ocean for 10 minutes, going for a 20 minute skate, zoning out at my desk for a couple seconds (that one I just did.. duuuuuhhhhh)- are hard to find time for but so crucial. I want to give thanks, and to be able to know that I'm so damn lucky to be doing what I'm doing. Woooord.

A location-descriptive list: CDs strewn, white walls, pen lines, humidity, Port of Pearls the book, the Calypso, my ¥100 mug, backaches, library, Aesop, Japanese words, vending machines, little cars, a fire extinguisher that says Hatsuta on it. AAnnd the Belafonte:



Yeeeah, watchoo know about daatt? Thanks, Steve. Right then, take it eeeasy, thanks for reeeading.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

In the Week of Gold

Today is Children's Day in Japan, and everyone is on vacation and all the malls are busy and people gather in large swarms where there are Golden events. Why golden, you say? Well, that's what I asked, and the answer that I got from these foos, my friends, my co-workers, is that this is a period in Japan where there's a bunch of national holidays lined up, so it's like a second spring break in the middle of May, and it's called GOLDEN WEEK. siiiick.

So yeah, hope you're doing well, and my week is about chillin and getting ready for the next long semester at this school. Yeeeashh, along with making up conversation worksheets and stuff, I'm also doing a marine class and we're going to choose boats- be like Jacques Cousteau on the Calypso or Charles Darwin with the Beagle- and do madd research on an imaginary journey so we can get some knowledge and do something to help save the dying coral reefs of Okinawa. I'm also teaching English playing sports and stuff, saying like "Pass the ball!! Here!" Good times, good times... This teaching thing is pretty dope, but that's probably because the institution I work for is pretty free and still developing, rather than already set in educational values, methods, and rules. I'm real lucky to be given this opportunity to try things my way. We'll see how it turns out.

So yeah, I've also been running around on the beach three times a week, playing this sport we invented... Everyone keeps telling me I look all dark, but I can't really tell myself. Dipping in the ocean after a morning of running full speed- mmm, nice. And never forget the food, the food, so lucky to have food! Way different from my college-writing days when I lived on trail-mix and Folger's. Hahaha- Hope you're all doing well back in LA, in Australia, in Japan, everywhere.

Woo Gnarl's Barkley Odd Couple, and also Nat King Cole and Thelonious these days...

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Of Mopeds and Cold-Sunny Days

Hellooo from this side of the Pacific. I'm at my other home now, this here home, with all my Japanese homies and other random people. It would be really easy to write something about the American occupation situation here on Okinawa, where a good amount of the land and economy is controlled by the US government, but I'm simply just another American occupant, so I can't really rant or whatever. That said, there are a lot of people from the midwest here, which is different for me, coming from a Southern Cali upbringing. Okinawans are a great people- chill, kind, and good cooks, who live really long. I really like being on this island, where the spring air is crispy like Japanese KFC I had the other day (it was allright, but no Popeye's)

In other news: I recently picked my fro, I bought an Oolong tea from the vending machine two days ago and I got a bottle of water, fresh is the word, my Honda moped speed-demonizes everyone, and I haven't had much clothes to wear because I have only what was in my backpack for 6 months.

Sorry there are no pics, the battery on my camera died again. I really should get a rechargeable one. I miss you all back in LA, hope things are well. It's nice to think.....
of Clouds and Hot-Tasty Foods.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I made it back to the island

Hello, long time no see... How are you? It was a crazy trip, but for now this leg of my journey has come to a close. I type from the office at the school I now work for in Ginowan City, Okinawa. The weather has been nice, but it's pretty weird coming from a full summer down under to a spring about to go into summer.

So my journey through Southeast Asia was really good, I kind of sped through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong in ten days. I'm still kind of in "reflection mode" or whatever, getting ready for the new semester here, starting in April. So yeah, here are some photos, kind of like my recent mind-photos (I've been working on my photographic memory), and I would like to thank everyone who I've met, who helped me out along the way this time, in Australia, Battambang, that pickup truck, whatever. I'm really lucky to be living this life I am. Word!

The river runs through Bangkok.



Battambang, Cambodia. My favorite city that I hit this time.


Phnom Penh, the capitol. Everyone wants to skate in Cambodia!!



On the train from Ho Chi Minh to Ha Noi.


French-looking old ladies in Ha Noi. Check the flag.

I tripped out on Hong Kong, crazy city! Siiiick skating there.

Yup, yuuuup. Good times. So I'll catch you again, I'm going to be in Okinawa for a while, so let me know how you are! Laaater.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Hello from Phnom Penh

Hi, how are you today? It's like day 4 since I started my venture into Southeast Asia, and all in all it's freaking awesome. I found an internet place in the capitol of Cambodia; but the best city I've been in so far is Battambang, kind of in the countryside. The markets here are siiiick; I've been eating madd mangoes, mandarins, skewered chicken and weird boiled eggs they sell on a little egg-stand. My nose is all messed up from the dust and pollution, and the four hour ride in the back of a pickup truck from the border into Cambodia with 25 other people tried to blow it out, but it just stuffed more dust in my face. hat-cheww-- Woord.

Pictures to come probably when I get back to Okinawa, if you want to see some crap photos I've taken from guest house balconies and stuff. Ah well, hope you're doing well. Daamn this is a trip...!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Peace Beagle Bay

So I just came off the boats into BroomeTown after I finished my last swing with Arafura Pearls. Sad to leave the pearling, but moving on. Props to everyone who's moving on! And that's everyone who's alive, so if you're reading this goodonya, mate. Here're some photos from Beagle Bay. Just a side note for Chuck and all you other net-capitalists: the mother farm for Arafura Pearls is up north in a place called Elizabeth Bay. Guess what they call it: E-BAY. hahahhaha "Life is Good."


This dude was chilling a lot of the time when you're on
the john or having a shower. Or maybe that was his
cousin. Taking a shower.



Wickaaaaaas. Wickers, the skipper for the
Christine Marie. LEG-END.




Uh, this is called pulling the line. You pull up panels with
shell from the water and push them through that
cleaning machine behind me, and then the crew on the other
side chips all the sea-shit off. Spew



The boys, Stevo, Johnno, Fart-Manaki, and Jem.
Whatnow, you mobbb




Stevo is the only dude I know who can do a real even Wesside,
cuz he got the tip of his finger chopped off by a rope on the boat.
He owns the best shirts and a remarkably high voice. Yeeah bro.




The crew leaving for work yesterday.
Ahhyeah, I'll miss yall and the sea.


Yup, I'll definitely miss Beagle Bay; it treated me well. Now I continue my way up north to Darwin in the Northern Territory, then Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and hopefully anotherhome in Okinawaaaa. Wish me luck, and good luck to you. Bring the serious funs, homie.




Monday, February 11, 2008

Colors (Iro-Iro)

Hello, what is the goings on? Today I 'm feelin artistic or something, listening to good Nujabes beats... if you like mellowish hiphop, look him up; highly recommended- song called Feather is wicked. These beats have been stuck in my ears for like, years, or large decimals of years now. Thanks Yayoi. Anyway, here're some photos, I like the colors of Western Australia. Iro-iro.

AM at Beagle Bay- battle of the ships.


Same AM, storms and shrouds.


Midday at the jetty beach in Broome. Melting hot.


Andrew and Sharmila's backyard in Roebourne,
random pointing and a red afternoon.



Sunset before the kangaroo hunt, out bush in the Pilbara.

Night of the Shovellor Band Party, Roebourne.
Camera- waved meteorites.



Back in Beagle Bay, brightest moon
during the last king tide.


Take it easy breezy peas-e, never cheezy. OW!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Catch of the Day(z)(e)

How's it going to-day? Did you watch the Australian Open? Did you hear Heath Ledger (RIP) died? Saturday was Australia Day here, and we watched one of his movies Two Hands (pretty good movie) and drank a lot of beer. We made a small pool out of an unused pearl shell breeding tub. Ah the pearling life, the pearling life.

So there are lots of animals in the wild west of Australia. Here's a couple caught on a couple days after work. Scotty the reptile man (and marine engineer) is always getting some lizard or snake and we all play with them before we let them go. And we've been fishing quite a bit (pretty spoiled, fishing-wise, in the Norwest). Yeah Animales!



Wicked skin on a goanna, which is apparently
good eating, if bigger. Haven't tried him yet. Mm



Scotty with a crazy frill-necked lizard,
goes all running on two legs and shit. Crazy.



This is a queenfish that I caught after work one day-
good fight, good fresh sashimi. I was daamn happy.

YO! Give thanks to NAY-CHA! Keep it reeeah! (that's my new slogan that's going to go on my new trapper keeper. did you know the school year starts now down under? summer holiday is over, everyone! whaaat)

Friday, January 11, 2008

Back in the wayoutback, I reminisce of my last day in town...


So I'm back at Arafura Pearl Farm at Beagle Bay; it's good to be back bush. But alas, as the new year begins, our boats are screwed. Yeah, we spend a good amount of time servicing our vessels, since an oil intake pipe is busted here, the steering fluid leaks there... I'm learning a small amount about boats, but the engines are damn dope, huge loud things. I feel like a kid again, in awe of massive machinery. Of course, we're also back to cleaning them pearl shells as well, since there are so many lines of shell out there. This here is the boat we use to ship to and from shore and the chipping boats; we call it the Eggshell. I'm glad it's alive, it sunk early December. Lots more roomy than the little tinny dinghy.




So anyway, I had a whole weekend in Broome to chill before coming back to work, and I had a real nice day on my last day in town. It seems like a while ago, sitting in the farm office typing... so anyway, I woke up in the morning at the Lasty's- Last Resort- my home in Broome, one of the best backpackers' I've stayed in (funny name, the people are real, like some Kiwi fishermen or Japanese chick who lives there waiting for her fishing boyfriend every week, there's a rock pool with running water, it's super comfy for me) and thought of what to do that day. And only one thing came to my mind. SKATE. So I drank madd water and skated down to the skatepark. Broome Skatebpark, on the way to Cable Beach: sooo good, real mellow transitions, a little flatbar, pyramid, banks... This is an homage to a UK television show that I've never seen, but I've heard of the boosh ride, and had some. Skate forever. It was real good, just cruisy and real warm, nice session.



And what's a skate mission without some of the locals? I met these kids (semi-primary colored t-shirts, whaaaat!) in the parking lot at the shops, and we had a good little skate, speed bumps and the local security guard lady told us not to grind the metal hatch-thing on the sidewalk. Good kids, definitely. While we were skating, I was all into it and I left my camera on the brick planter, and when I looked again it was gone. I was like daaamn, super bummed, and these three dudes helped me look for it for a while. I was like, aw, it's done, imma go now, thanks anyway bros. I was halfway back to the Lasty's when they come on their bikes like, "AAArrkkiiiii!!" and I turn around and they're like, "We found your camera!!!" YEEESSS! Awww the happiness! I was freaking elated, and I was like let's take a photo yo. And so, some of these photos are treasures because they were once lost and then found again. Thanks Jermaine and Co. Check the steez. That's Broometown, yeah.



Here's a bit of historical goodness, and in a way I feel like I am retracing the steps of some of my ancestors. This is the Japanese cemetary in Broome, where a plaque states that most lying here died from the bends from diving for pearls or in massive typhoons. A big reason why I came to work on the pearl farms in Broome is the history of Japanese people who came here in the mid 1800s from places like Wakayama and Taiji, and sort of their legacy. I've been to the library reading up on some stuff, and if it weren't for the Japanese, much of the industry wouldn't be what it is today. I paid my respects, and the cemetary really reminded me of those few I've visited in Japan. Thought of my grannies and grandfathers. A bit of an indirect ohakamairi, I guess. It's really a beautiful place.




Yup, now I have a stomach full of chicken, peas, and sweet potatoes, so I shall leave and go to sleep, for tomorrow is a new day. Later yalls, let's hope the boats don't break down too bad tomorrow.