veerablog

Chasing the sun

Hello Broome, I’m back in the real life. I’m staying in a hostel for the first time since three months - not so bad. I’ve managed to work my way to free couches, vans, carpets and dodgy corners pretty well after arriving to this over-priced hell of backpackers. The road trip’s officially over - we split up with the boys in Tom Price, near Karijini National Park where we spent an amazing week discovering gorges and swimming in turquoise pools in the middle of the wild. Since the last days of work in Marvel Loch my life’s felt like a movie - I have experienced a lot of Into the wild-ish moments and that’s exactly what I dreamed about. Who would have believed that I was going to love camping? I miss that uncomfortable tent, especially one night it turned into a little lake thanks to the genuine, Australian downpour that came out of the blue. Noodles and tuna sandwiches, peanut butter and boiling hot drinking water - well, not missing them obviously because I’m still on that obligatory diet but now there’s no one to share these miserable lunches and dinners with me. Goodbyes with boys were pretty sensitive, I cried when I woke up that day. However, I got used to the idea quickly after deciding to go on separate ways - they wanted to go back to Carnarvon to look for farm work, which in the end wasn’t a very good idea and now they’re in Karratha. We spent four weeks with each other without having own space so leaving was probably for the best. We just came along incredibly well.  I’ll never forget the stuff we did together, the month when clocks stopped for us - it was all about being happy and free. I know I’ll see them again.

I know people are going to want to kill me when they read this, but we hitch hiked from Tom Price to Broome with Anna. The boys weren’t so d’accord and even I was a bit worried (has anyone seen the film Wolf Creek? Creepy guy killing backpackers in Western Australia,  true story - watched it at Matt’s in Perth just before leaving). But I wasn’t going to let Anna do it alone and to be honest, Australia’s very safe for hitch hiking, just another experience - it’s not like I would choose the same way to travel in Central America. People are unbelievably friendly, relaxed and open-minded. I’ve met plenty of backpackers who hitch hike around Oz, but it’s not one of those things I would do alone. (When I’ll eventually go to Darwin, I want to find a van and people again.) We got six lifts in total and two of them were for over 400 kilometers. I can’t believe how cool people tend to be - the lift included meals and accommodation and these guys were awesome and fun. We spent a very random night in Port Hedland and left early next morning. Finally arrived before yesterday and stayed with Mark because he had two extra beds for 20 dollars in his hotel room and let us stay. Can you get any more generous?

I’m going to try to find a job here in Broome, but might head to Darwin soon. We found a couch surf host today, hopefully he’s going to call soon - otherwise staying in the hostel for the whole week. 

Life’s an eternal summer

We’ve been driving for two weeks. Or Jerome has - I haven’t touched the wheel yet, but  probably tomorrow I will… yess! At the moment we’re only Jerome, Anna, me and Jon, but last week we were thirteen and it was completely insane. We camped in bushes and slept on the van roofs; watched shooting stars, drank Goon (there was an offer of 2 for 18 bucks so we bought 10 boxes, is that beyond unhealthy or just another backpacker thing? They’re probably synonyms anyway). Went skinny dipping, cooked shark donated by neighbour backpackers and noticed that giant thief kangaroos had eaten our bread every now and then. Such greedy animals. They are everywhere, I don’t know how many dozens I’ve already spotted. One day we walked nearly ten kilometers in a national park and swam in perfectly pure river in the middle of nowhere.

Yesterday was pretty awesome as well. We met this Aussie guy the night before as he offered us an enormous fish he’d caught. We took it and he offered taking us to his boat in order to snorkel in the most beautiful place ever while he would go surfing. So of course we said yes. Woke up at six the next morning. This guy went surfing on similar waves I “surfed” in Bali (and ended up in Ubud Clinic) - we jumped into the depths of the sea and the first things we saw were these little sharks sleeping on the bottom. Those corals were very high and aw, dunno how to describe it, but it was definitely amazing, all the fish were colourful and pretty, with stripes or different hippy-ish patterns perrrfect for the Indian Ocean, haha! After that we went fishing and caught two delicious dishes and have already eaten both. The boys made a good fish meal yesterday, à la francais. 

I must say that despite all this awesomeness, I’m not the most enthusiastic camping person, but so far have enjoyed the journey so much that I could probably go on loads, maybe for another month and probably also will because we’re trying to get into fruit picking/packing etc, farm work. I’m not literally broke yet, this is genuinely the cheapest way to travel. All we pay is the fuel and food. But there’s always the risk that our van breaks down at some point. We’ve been in Exmouth quite a while, waiting to hear something from Carnarvon, town we already passed by but might return in case they have jobs for us. Carnarvon produces about 85% of all the fruit industry in WA and there should certainly be something, it’s just that the season starts later this year - apparently the wet season had been going on for too long.

What are my plans after this? Our destination’s Darwin, but I have no idea if I’m going to fly there later on - depends on the job situation here in the West. However, I’d like to see how it’s like up there. Kakadu National Park and tropic - yes please. But I’m already longing for the East Coast - have heard so much about Cairns, Byron Bay, Airlie Beach… Melbourne eventually.. Want to go back to Bali to completely deep water course of scuba diving. Maybe see Cambodia which I missed out this winter. I have thought about going back home for a while, but seem to be very unable to decide anything. I don’t usually know what time, what date or what day it is and find this hippie “let’s-not-wear-shoes…-ever” sort of thing brilliant for now - so no, I think I’m postponing home, A LOT. I’m going to apply to this uni in September so that will be an indicator of what happens next. And well, if I really, totally completely run out of money and have no choice, then of course I will have to head back home. However, I miss my friends, my family, my own bed.. and today’s the 30th April, so GLADA VAPPEN, I’m missing champagne and party streamer here! :-(

Road trip 1

What comes to traveling, I actually believe in fate. ML was so not meant to be.

I really thought I was going to fly up to Northern Territory, but that was the voice of sense talking. So now we’re 10 people, 2 vans, 6000 kilometers. Leaving on Wednesday. (And yes, seatbelts - check.) I cannot describe how excited I am!

Journey goes on

Back in Perth already! I left the country pub place two weeks earlier than planned. It was interesting but also not exactly made for me due to several things I’ll be happy to tell you about. Anyway, I managed to gather some money and should be heading to Cairns and probably Innisfail for some hostel&farm work next week. I’m very willing to change places after staying six weeks in WA and should quickly decide whether I’m flying to Cairns or if I want to go on a road trip to Darwin with two French guys and a British girl I’ve met couch surfing, but feel like I should save up a bit more money to avoid arriving somewhere completely broke. Hence, likely to choose Cairns.  

My last week in ML was a bit shitty, but then again, random in a good way. I barely slept at all, became friends with one of the rare young people working in mines (such a sweet guy) and drove back and forth to Southern Cross with the newest barmaid Franzy whom I left there alone, not good! On my last day at 5 am I was taken for a breakfast and motorbike ride and also saw some reckless motorbike jumping. The sun came up, it was silent, we were in the middle of nowhere and could only hear sheep baaing and ducks squacking. The farm was Jared’s, my favourite person in the whole marvellousluck (=ironic). Crazy man and always happy, laughing, jumping, dancing, being everywhere and talking about everything at the same time. He happened to be awake so as we bumped into each other, we got invited for a tea in is awesome house. He has a three-legged dog and apparently a couple of crazy kids, but didn’t see them. Hilarious 8AM talk. I won’t ever forget my last few days there.

Now I’m back at Matt’s couch surfer paradise, but will book my flight asap. Don’t know where, but however by Thursday should be in a new place, so write again after. 

I can’t update for a month or so, as only my phone is connected to the real world. I’ve never been in a place that seems as isolated as here - it’s my personal military service/big brother/you name it experience. My job’s ok though and wages damn awesome, and there’s a swimming pool, free room and food provided.. But indeed, that’s pretty much all there is. Yesterday I went running to a desert so this place must have driven me already a little nuts. I also sang, screamed etc. I LOVE it - there’s just no one. Snakes perhaps but they’d better wind aside. I had to be 18 000 km away from home to become a fitness freak. Fair enough… Anyway, happy April guys! I’ll write about my plan Cairns later.

I’m only here because I want to twist the structure of my average day

The week’s been new clothes and feeding kangaroos. I also went to Ikea, ate meatballs and bought Finnish chocolate. Time goes by so fast, the sky’s high and cloudless here and it really has an effect - it’s simply much harder to have a bad day as normally grey, cold and slush are involved. 

This koala nearly made me cry, too adorable

Sanni comes back from her woofing place today so we’re going to have a lunch before she takes off to the East Coast. We drank Goon yesterday (live in Manning now) and I climbed a tree, don’t quite understand how I’ve managed to come down. I’m not feeling so good right now, hope Sanni doesn’t mind me being in a horizontal position for the whole five hours….

Enjoy your life because you are privileged.

I’m at Peterpans (adventure/travel agency for backpackers) and nearly ran to this place, I was so much in hurry to save my thoughts before they slip away. Then this son of a 母狗 connection came along and erased the whole text, which wasn’t even the nicest thing to write this time, but here we again.

Today I’ve been discovering Perth properly. I went shopping, and it got completely out of control (who needs four diaries!?) but maybe I can allow this pleasure since I’m moving to Marvel Loch for the entire month of April. Please don’t ask me where I live because I don’t know either. I skyped with Claire the other day and she asked me “So what the hell are you doing in Australia then?!” I only said: “I really don’t know.” We couldn’t stop laughing. If you know me well, then you probably also understand why it’s amusing.

I switched couches yesterday and I’m staying in South Perth at the moment. There’s an incredible balcony view and nice people. Nate woke me up at seven and told me that I would have to spend the whole day in the house or leave and come back when they return from work. I love being up early these days - it feels like I get completed much more things than I would if I woke up at midday. I just hate the actual waking up part of it - lema, swollen face, irritation and desire to continue my dreams. My dreams are like movies and I feel sorry for those who don’t have any, ever. Don’t know how that’s even possible.

We made pizzas and quiche with Zoe this week.

They say he’s fat but I can’t agree! He’s the cutest little thing, always eating my stuff.

What’ya think about this balcony view?!

Recession. Flashbacks from those early teenage years when nothing was more entertaining than grabbing photos in fitting rooms. Awkward. Great start for my fashion blog 

OK whatever, now I have to write about this thing that has made me very sad this week. I heard that one of my friends from Disneyland (summer ‘09) died in an accident on Sunday and I just couldn’t believe it. We weren’t very close and hadn’t been in touch after that year, but hung out together constantly back then - Claire was her room mate and we had this little group of people, I think everyone else was French but me (“Finnoise de Merde”, hahah).  We arrived the same day, took the same trainings, had parties, shared rumors and did other glamourous things you can do in La Boiserie. I remember her as a happy, motivated and open-minded person - always ready to help the others. She wasn’t afraid of making her dreams come true. She’d been studying and working in Japan and Mongolia and she was in SciencePo, Paris, so her working morale was excellent. In all ways, she was one of those girls who lives her life to the fullest with a genuine smile on her face. I can’t understand how someone like her could be taken away so early. Rest in peace, Camille.

Countryside calling

I got a job. I’m supposed to leave Perth around the 27th because I’m moving to the countryside, 400 km from here! I wish I had a car so I could make a road trip and listen to Bob Dylan and PJ Harvey windows open & vocal cords broken. I’ll be a bartender in a country pub; I’m going to serve beer to rednecks and try to understand their strange accent. I talked to a Swedish girl who’s working there now, she’s leaving so I’m going to replace her, and she told me that she’s had the best time there. It’s a good way to save up - they have great wages, accommodation provided and nothing else to do apart from work. I actually need this after all those travels. And I want to read and write like a maniac, finally start running and all those things that aren’t supposed to ever happen but will happen anyway. The only problem is that I’m not a countryside person at all, after one week it drives me crazy and I have all these symptoms such as rage outbursts and hyperactivity that cannot be loaded because there’s nothing - yet I want to try and take this for another experience. So I’m gonna.

I have ten days left here and that’s just perfect. Now I can relax, buy a hard drive to watch movies and new rags to wear, lie on Freo/Cottesloe beaches as much as I want and drink beer without feeling bad about it. People say the West Coast has absolutely better beaches than the East; suck it!! These beaches happen to be the purest perfection. My beach, for example, is special exactly because it’s not. People don’t go to beaches for the same reason I don’t go to forest in Finland. 75 % of Finland is forest anyway - why bother? Although, after this year I think I’ll do it a lot. I’ve become a nature lover.

The weather’s getting colder, but it still means +35 degrees (nights are seriously becoming chilly though!) - and April’s supposed to be fantastic with its daily +28. I’m not looking forward to the downpours between May and August, but what I’m going to do is to escape to Darwin/Cairns in three months time - they’ll have dry season by then. When I’ve gathered money enough, I’m going to participate in a barista training course and apply to cafés and restaurants. Great success. I’m not very keen on the idea of these jobs in general because I know that it’s not what I can do the best - in fact all I’ve got are these pictures of myself stumbling and mumbling and breaking wine glasses, dropping food on customers fancy dresses and the list goes on. However, I’m not studying but it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be learning new things and I definitely want and have to learn how to make special coffee and cocktails and how to wait and cook. Not my area, but why not? It only depends on how you deal with it - attitude question. My cookings have always looked quite hideous. But it’s the end of an era!!!! Point taken? So not..

The share house I wrote about turned out to be so much fun. I enjoyed my time there and I’m possibly going to hang out there next week. Hilarious people and interesting, funny conversations. Wish I could quote one but I’m afraid it’s too vulgar. When I went there on Sunday, I was stressed out and complained about my bank account situation. When I left (even poorer), I didn’t even think I’m broke anymore and I’d skipped two job interviews without announcing. Instead of conquering Gumtree, I went to a beach. Got the vibe. Now I’m back at Zoe’s and there’s a rabbit eating my muffin and kitten trying to express herself by walking on the keyboard. Love.

Kaiser Chiefs, The Raveonettes and Florence are coming in May - good 21st coming up! Also put myself in Coldplay waiting list in case they’re coming this year.

(To my grandmother: I’m not sad, but the sun was shining straight to my eyes!)

Embledon says hi

Today I woke up early. In addition to waking up at nine, I also woke up in a different way. I woke up to the fact that I’m here and I should do something about it so that I could be here also tomorrow, next week and next month. I’m on the Island, this share house where four people live permanently and couch surfers/neighbours come and go. Lots of nice people in all the time. I’m here probably until Friday, then might go back to Freo to Zoe’s. I miss them - felt like home there with my best cat friend and good music and a lot of laugh with Zoe, Jess and other surfers. I’ve got two-hour trial in an organic food store tomorrow. I walked in earlier this afternoon, gave my CV, had some kind of interview right after and got invited - their boss seems to like Finnish people. I REALLY WANT THAT JOB because to me an organic food thing isn’t just another shit job - it actually interests me. I WANT IT. I’ve also applied to similar places before. In addition, I have another interview through somebody I sort of know through CS and I’ve got no clue what it is but I’m heading there early tomorrow and see. Sales-marketing- something.

I’m starting to like Perth. I’ve spent an excellent day, was on a good mood, walked around for five hours, bumped into my new French friends and agreed to meet up tomorrow, dropped my resumes in places that aren’t so obvious (=outside the centre), received my bank card PIN and tax number, decided that I won’t give up on what I’ve been waiting for a long long time - so I won’t go home even if I only had 200 € left. There’s got to be a solution since I’m really making an effort.

Tonight we went to this organic farm/house where they’re growing plants outdoors, selling second hand clothes inside and cook vegetarian food every Monday. People can donate whatever amount they want, so if you’re broke you can give zero and compensate the week after - you choose. The food was delicious and there were lots of people. Great idea. 

I guess this update is quite boring but I needed to clean up my chaotic mind.

Serious business

East Coast’s full of water (lil’ fluds you see) and Perth’s packed and basically there are no jobs. Too many backpackers. AAAAAAARRRRR go away!!! There she goes, my sweet little karma. Couchsurfing’s the best though, without it I’d be lost. I’ll stay in Fremantle over the weekend and try to find something. My host Zoe’s working in a beach café and I’m going to drop my resume there. 

Freo’s cool and I want to stay, but I’m going to north on Sunday, stay in a share house built by couch surfers and pounder my options. 

We cooked delicious Finnish food today. I had waited for this!

It’s hard to explain this one..

Australia’s good money, but not the most ideal place to travel around at the moment. Can’t afford anything. So I’ll just go around a bit, must see Melbourne and Byron Bay eventually, and then buy a ticket to New Zealand to find out what it’s all about, whenever the hell that’s supposed to happen. I’m so used to moving on that staying in one place feels strange. I need something to do, work, activities, anything. Givemeajooooooob.