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.

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.

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...!

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.

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!

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.