The moment

A theme of this trip has been an attempt to live in the moment. I have recognized that so often at home, my mind was in the future or the past. It still is a great deal, but with every passing day I am trying to focus more on what is right in front of me. To appreciate where I am, what I see, what I taste rather than take myself into the hopes of my future or the memories of my past.

This video...exemplifies that idea perfectly. Props to Sarah P. for finding this.

Smile, New Zealand

Picture Time.



Brad Groesch, as you have never seen before.






The Emerald lakes...



One of the most beautiful and peaceful places in all the world, probably.



This is Lucy, my sweet ride.

Until you do, you will not.

There has been a thought that I have consistently defeated out here.

Its a simple one. It goes "I cannot do this."

Soon, this enemy will be vanquished for good.

The first instance that really stands out for me was my first day tramp(intensive hike) somewhere around the Fox Glacier. It was an 4 hour trek up a mountain and a 4 hour mess coming down.

About an hour in, I actually thought I couldn't proceed. Imposing walls stood before me many a time. I climbed and I climbed and thought I had reached my peak many times. My lungs strained against years of smoking. My legs and arms throbbed with each step up. The only thing that kept me going was the belief that I could do it, that I would do it. And I did. We made it to the top. We were rained and hailed upon during lunch. I fell at least 5 times on my way down and stepped out of that forest with at a few whopper bruises and cuts to go with em....but I did what I had thought impossible.

Examples abound...sky diving, other hikes, even semmingly minute things as telling embarrassing truths and hopping on rocks across rivers.

Its all possible. Perception really does affect reality. I don't intend to let this slip away. Life is going to get more and more interesting as I start to accomplish goals that I require of myself rather than those required of me.

+30 to both Endurance and Willpower.

Living on 4 wheels

Last week, I left Christchurch with high expectations.

They have been met and more.

I worked on an organic farm called TreeHugger Organic for a week. I arrived Thursday afternoon and immediately set to work. My first task was mowing the lawn and even though it was a familiar usually tedious task back at home...I was giddy. To one side, mountains complete with snow on the summits...to the other...the pacific ocean.

Nathan and Steph own this beautiful and bountiful property. Myself and two other woofers named Jean Baptist and Carrie worked on it for the week I was there. Carrie is from a small town called Red Deer in Alberta Canada. She works in a historic site, churning butter and entertaining children on field trips. She brought a yukalaylee on the trip which was used to jam together and teach me cord progressions Jean Baptist is from...yeah..France. He's a DJ there and was constantly playing sweet reggae whilst doing some funky dancing.

We did all sorts of random work varying from weeding to operating to a giant tree destroying mulcher to transforming barley into BEER. We worked from early to late and enjoyed a beer and delicious, homecooked, organic feasts at the end of every day.

I couldnt have hoped for a better experience there. While every activity was great, the people made it what it was. Every night we ate dinner and drank wine, telling stories, listening to music and sometimes watching movies. Carrie, JB and I would have jam sessions as Nath and Steph listened and smiled. I was really sad to leave that place...but I woke up early and hit the road after one week.

I drove 5 hours to Queenstown to meet Tyson Vince and Sarah at noon.

We reunited once more and almost immediately headed off to Karawawa Bridge...to jump off of it with elastic cords tied to our feet.

I was scared. I just told myself to do it. And I did. I leaped out and yelled the whole way down. There is a video of this experience that will be shared at some point.

That night, we went to a campground next to a huge lake with mountains being mirrored in it. We skipped rocks, cooked up some food out of our vans, and sat around talking about our time apart as well as Buddhism with our only lighting being tiki torches and the stars.

We have hiked all around since then. I fell into a swamp. We have seen Milford Sound...which has to be the most beautiful site I have ever seen. Its been a trip both literally and figuratively. I am loving every minute of it. Even driving through this country seems surreal.

I am now in a backpackers getting some much deserved R&R..as well as a shower.

The only place you can ever go is forward

A lot has happened. I have climbed rock walls, skied, eaten new foods, cooked, and had incredible conversational and cinematic stimulation. I grew: in every way possible, no matter how averse I might have been to it.

But now, tomorrow is today and I am leaving what has come to be home. I have been challenged here. I struggled here. I loved it here. I will miss it. I feel similar to how I did when I left the U.S. This time, while I am still unsure, I know that uncertainty is nothing to feared. I know it has to be embraced.

More, please.

Higher, Higher

The bus crawled up another steep hill. I resembled a dog on a joyous car ride, throwing my head from side to side, a huge grin plastered across my face.

We had decided to venture to Rapaki. It is a small farming town in the center of what seemed to be a crater. A lake filled the middle of hillsides and semi mountains, with no flat land to be spared.



Less than ten seconds after hopping out of the bus, a rooster crowed in welcome.

Up the road we went, eying the sheep that stared at us curiously.



We walked along the barbed wire looking for any structural deficiencies we might be able to exploit. Soon enough, a wooden gate presented itself. Over we went and up we began.

It didnt look too intimidating at the time. Only as I progressed did I start to realize exactly what I was doing. My breath was short. I was really leaning into the hill, trying not to tumble backwards. I looked down.

See that road down there? Neither can I.

I looked up. Angles that and obstacles that didnt exist when looking up the road were laid before me. A natural playground. Sunlight spilled over the peak and seduced me. I wasnt leaving until I saw it.

I climbed further, sometimes on all fours using weeds as hand grips. I was rewarded for my persistence.






+1000 Experience points.

Pick a Bus, Any Bus

I had an idea. After seeing the map of bus routes which resembled a rainbow spider web more than anything coherent, I wanted to hop on one and see where in the web I might find myself.

So Vince and I picked one. The number 60 to Parklands. Sounds like an excellent adventure right? Parklands.

We passed a few exotic places only to eventually see a small dune blocking any possible view with signs posted saying "Beach Access." Yes.

We hopped off and sprinted up. We were rewarded with this sight.


It was deserted. It was breathtaking. It needed a conscious mind to observe it. So we walked, examining shells, odd sites, anything really.


The remains of a prehistoric marine apex predator.


A happy man.

We soon stumbled upon a small group of trees - a perfect fort. Many of these trees offered their branches to our feet...so we politely accepted the invitation.





After refueling on chicken, pasta, and mango at the local cafe we decided that, surely, there must be some more quests in this area.

As we stepped onto the beach again, an objective showed itself. Down the coastline, perhaps a couple miles of way was a pier reaching out into the ocean. We walked with purpose.






Maybe what we found instead was peace.

I will try to remember always, always to have a good time

It was about 2 in the afternoon. I looked around the apartment looking for something in which to invest my time, having accomplished all that I had to in the day.

My eye scanned for possible activities from books to guitar and then rested on a the back tire of a bike peaking out from beneath a tarp on our patio. It was a beautiful day and the bike beckoned for a master.

I flew into Christchurch with a bit of recklessness. While the city is beautiful, as documented, I wanted to see more. I thought to myself "You are in New Zealand. Go see it a bit of it."

It wasnt long before I didnt recognize where I was. Now, normally meaning back home, this is cause for panic. This time, I shrugged. It was a shot of refreshing freedom. I assured myself, I knew, that I was capable enough for whatever obstacles lay ahead in the unknown.

I had my doubts again. When I found myself on the minuscule bike lane of a highway, cars zipping by me, I began to doubt. "Holy balls man, this is madness." I thought.



I destroyed the thought before it had a chance to influence action. I was going to be fine. No, more than fine. I was going to see the damned Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life. Lost? What is being lost? Being on a set path or making your own?

So I rode on. My legs complained. I noticed them. I didn't let them bother me. This is yoga talking. Real bikers, including a substantially large portion of the Christchurch bikers club passed me up. They were equipped for this. As my coat formed a rather sweet shadow on the ground I realized I more closely resembled batman than an athlete.

I rounded a corner and saw something I am not accustomed to.



Parks in or around Chicago just dont have such sights. Needless to say, I stopped and explored a bit. I had been riding for about 2 hours at that point and needed a lil respite.

Shortly after I had resumed the adventure, I saw something in the distance that conjured a familiar old feeling. You know, that feeling all young boys have in which they NEED to investigate.

It was this that did it.



Investigated:



And there it was. The Pacific. A beautiful scene. The goal accomplished. The defeat of exhaustion and doubt.



Home was approximately 8,300 miles thataway.

I debated climbing a less imposing, but still awesome boulder as I took in the scene and rolled a cigarette of celebration. As I took a drag, a boy no older than 8 appeared at the top. I smiled. I wanted to thank the mother for letting her children explore, and just letting them be kids. Fear doesn't beat you, you beat yourself if you let it control you.

So I completed the day.



Cheers.

Christchurch, En Zed

These are a FEW of the pictures I have taken of this gorgeous lil city.


These creatures were spawned of the local Arts festival. They roamed throughout the city making beats and noises by banging wooden sticks on different city property.



Beauty. Relax.








A horizon to conquer.

For more pictures, check the facebook.

Things have been progressing. I am starting to plan my journey through the country - checking maps, prices on vans etc. All flatmates have arrived as of yesterday. A guitar has been purchased. Jobs are being hunted, though not easy prey.

I would be a liar if I said this transition has been easy. Its challenging me like I have not been challenged in a long, long time. Its forcing me to look inward moreso than I was willing or able to do at home.

As said though, this is what I needed. This is why I am out here. That, and a lot of fun.

+20 to Willpower.
+10 to Focus.

Exploration

“Wanna ride some bikes?” Tyson asked with a tilted head and the accompanying smirk. It was 10 pm on Friday., cold as any mid-October evening in Chicago. I had ingested a couple drinks.

“You wanna ride bikes man? Yeah, lets ride.” I answered.

We sailed down the streets. It was dark, cold, and slightly foggy. My hands were freezing as we made our way into a park, lights sparsely distributed along the black path.

I rediscovered something in that park. Its hard to say what, but I can describe the feeling. Ive been worried about impending doom for too long. What if I don’t find ? What if I get lost? What if I fall? When will the economy fail? What will social unrest be like? What if What if What if. Death. Death. Dead.

I smiled. There was no what if. There was the moment. I felt the wind through my hair and the fatigue of my legs. I saw the lights, blurred by the fog, pass by and reappear. I appreciated it all. It turns out that if I simply choose to appreciate each moment: the smell, the cold, the lights, each moment is pretty awesome.

We rode again Saturday night, this time to have dinner with an older woman Tyson had met during his Celta course.

Her name was Marilyn and she was mighty energetic. She bounced from one subject to the next faster than a positively charged subatomic particle. Money troubles, problem 17 year olds, you name it, she covered it 3 minutes ago. You just were not paying enough attention.

Her husband, a jolly old man by the name of Steven, seemed to be her polar opposite. He talked slowly in a very calm and collected tone. Marilyn contrasted him not only in speed, but with a shrill voice. We ate and began having some after dinner tea when an atomic bomb of conversation began.

Steven expressed his great admiration of America and I, attempting to be a gracious guest, bit my tongue as long as I could. Eventually though, my principles conquered my social norm habits, as is usual practice.

I recall saying “There would be no Mcdonalds in France if the French were not eating their cheeseburgers.”

Eventually Steven, Tyson and I were involved in some sort of philosophical political debate. I still bit my tongue at points as my views were very contrarian but overall it was a good discussion. Marilyn was obviously feeling left out at points. Every time I looked in her direction she snagged me into some sort of short discussion. As nice and hospitable as she was, I couldn’t help but immediately try to sneak back into the other conversation.

Sunday, we moved. I am now officially living in Christchurch with my own digs. Its cozy but it works. Tyson is giving me some much needed cooking knowledge. We are beginning to watch Battlestar Galactica. I am starting to look for part time café work.

While the main part of my adventure is probably 2 months away, a major step has been taken. I am separating myself from things I could not seem to shed at home. We have no cable. No Adult Swim. I have no car. No xbox 360. I have less time on the internet. I am glad.

I am leveling up, you see. Everyone knows you cant level up by staying in the same dungeon forever.

Cheers.

Over the giant pond

I made it. I made it through 3 flights, one 4 hour, one 13 hour, and the last piddle of an hour one. It was a trip, both figuratively and literally. Somewhere along the line I lost all concept of time. I had left home at at 5:10 pm Wednesday. I arrived at my final destination at 8 am Friday. It was still Thursday at home.

Good luck trying to make sense of it, especially when on the plane.

The last flight was the killer. I had to drag myself onto that thing. After conquering a 13 hour journey, just having to board another beast was brought fatigue.

Despite my initial grumpiness, the last hour gave me an adrenaline burst. The windows did not hold the infinite black ocean or just clouds any longer.

Mountains. Mountains the whole ride, cutting through the top of the clouds with jagged peaks. I couldnt help but lean over the dude next to me the entire way. I grew up a Midwestern kid. This was on the level of the hobbits seeing minas tirith after knowing nothing but the shire.I had never seen anything like it.

I was picked up by some of Tyson's flatmates and being a typical American, attempted to enter the car on the driver's side (right side) and then commented about how odd it would be to drive on the left side of the road. I passed out upon arrival.

The next thing I heard was Tyson's laugh. We reunited. I missed him quite a bit and its just great to hear his excited laughter and poodle talk once more. Already I have heard "Whats with you and poodles?" in an Australian accent. I could only smile.

Speaking of which, part of the reason I chose New Zealand for my first out of US experience was the fact they spoke English as well. And while its true they speak it, there is still a daily struggle to understand what they hell anyone is talking about.

New Zealand-isms so far:
Pissed = Drunk - yeah...that got confusing. "Why were you pissed? At who? You were ALL pissed?"
How are you going? = How are you doing?
Cheers = Good bye or Thank you. I havent determined if its both or what yet.
Z is not pronounced Zee but rather "Zed"
Fuckall = jack shit

Tyson and I have been busy looking at flats in Christchurch, where the first few months of my NZ journey will be spent. Its a gorgeous, quaint city complete with trolleys and cafes galore. The park is larger than all Chicago parks combined and many times more beautiful. Pictures will be posted when we move in, probably later this week.

Its winter here, but it feels like fall to me. Ive dealt with Chicago winters, this is really fuckall. In Tyson's current flat we make a fire in a woodburning stove at night. I had my first experience chopping wood with an axe. Its as satisfying as it sounds.

The first few months will spent with weekend trips and possibly a part time job in Christchurch, getting acclimated to the country and hopefully making a few friends. I am considering buying a van for when I leave CC and begin to tour the country. We shall see.

Asheron Called Me

In early high school, I was known to be slightly or moderately or excessively into a video game known as Asheron's Call. I had answered his call as if he had filled the game's soundtrack with the siren's song.

If I tried to explain the entire game accurately, I would write a book. A synopsis filled with memories of a past love will have to do. It was a massively multiplayer online role playing game. You created yourself as a sorcerer, warrior, archer or a combination of the three. I chose a warrior to start. I got a couple of my real life gamer buddies to play. We roamed a landmass called Dereth, going from town to town, exploring. We hunted all kinds of creatures, from cat goblins(drudges) to giant bugs (olthoi) to mysterious cape ghosts(virindi). We braved forests, deserts, dungeons. As we did so we gained experience points and leveled up we sharpened our skills until we were certified badasses, This was world of warcraft circa 1999, and it was amazing.

We explored the world with nothing but the items in our backpacks: health potions, food, armor, and weapons.

We went to dangerous places, we died, we lost some of our shit, and then we made it to town. We survived. We had fun doing so.

This game is also how i first started developing a love for economics, and while that sounds insane to someone who hasn't played these games, it makes perfect sense to anyone that has.
When I say massively multiplayer, I mean it. There was this one dungeon on the map, nicknamed the Subway because it had a portals to many towns at the bottom, that nearly everyone gathered to sell items and trade in. People would stand there for extended periods of time advertising items they had to trade. It was crowded. It was the place to be.

FT: Fist of the Quiddity, 4 Small Shards.

Translation: This person has a rare hand weapon that looks like it is made of glowing sapphire that he wants to trade for 4 Small Shards, which could be assembled into something called Shadow Armor.

I learned what the hot items in the game were. I learned what materials people had to collect to make the most epic weapons and the best armor. It made sense to me that these things were worth a lot. There was a market dictating prices.

Now, here I am. I love economics with an inordinate amount of passion and am leaving for New Zealand, to wander from town to town, exploring.

And I really cant help but wonder, is it really possible that the video game I spent most of weekend nights in high school playing has driven me to learn all I can about Austrian economics and wander the country where LOTR was filmed with one of my best friends? Have I taken the idea of working on your character quite seriously? If so, time well spent.