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)

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.

Happy New Euhear (Yaheeeeard)

Hello, I hope you all had a great holiday-time, wherever home you are at. Christmas and New Years in Australia was wicked. Sooo good, I was in a great woody place south of Perth, Margaret River, with the Woods, as in the wonderful, eccentric family of Sharmila. Fact, these warm eccentricities cannot be found anywhere else. We hit up the beach where the huge waves smashed the big rocks everyday, and the water was really different from up north, chilly when you just put your feet in, but super nice once you dive in.

Anyway, this entry will be a photo gallery from the world famous Christopher Gurney (I hope that loose verbal permission was enough for me to put these on, bro. ) Christoph Le Guhrn, aka Goontits, aka friend-of-milk-puker is also cousin of Sharmila, and a super good bodyboarder- el rollos like nothing. Talk about talent. Chris is truly the homie. From homie to homie to family- Enjoy.

Redgate Beach, Moorumburri and Aki.

House that John Wood built (with friends).

Flight of the Andrew.

The Forests of Margaret River & species Doofus elfus.


Redgate in colour (with flavour (madd flava)).


Man in charge. Of many things, like WeetBix and bread.

As for me, its back to the boats on Monday... Stay tuned from Arafura; thanks for looking and reading and stuff. 今年も　よろしくお願いします。　じゃね！　May the new year be well for all of you.