The last days have been rather busy without being too stressful. We had a look at Pete and Sal's boats at the "Sydney International Boat Show" and saw Laura play Hockey in the olympic stadium but most of all we had to concentrate on getting everything organized for our very first Asia-Trip. We both are very excited to experience something so very different to what either of us has ever done before and can't wait to get into that damn plane that will take us there. The plan is to get everything sorted out in Kuala Lumpur, get over the jetlag and see whats going to happen next... I love it. We don't really have an idea where we will end up, whether we skip Java to have a bit longer in Bali or if we take on the whole way by bus. Either way we are going to have a great time... except we catch one of the deadly diseases which are flying around over there.
However we are getting more and more excited, checking everything we packed twice to be sure we don't forget anything but I'm sure you know exactly how we feel.
We also started to learn some Indonesian tounge to make a good impression even though that impression won't last too long because we really don't know much. But isn't it the first few seconds that count? We'll have to lay all our hopes in that.
I don't really know about the internet over there so this might be the last entry in a long time... or I'll be able to update the blog tomorrow so don't give up on us, check it regularly and don't loose hope when there's no sign from us. We might just be stuck in a place without internet.
We hope to see all of you again and with this in mind we say
"SELAMAT TINGAL" May your stay be blessed!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Byron Bay
We left Yamba on Thursday 14/07 at about 10 o'clock heading to the beautiful beaches of Byron. The drive wasn't very long and we arrived Lennox Head a nice little town only about 20 km south of Byron in the early afternoon. Out of the town towards the headland breaks a nearly perfect wave. It breaks over the rocks at the headland and peels its way into the bay, offering all you can wish for, from fast and hollow barrels to upholding slashable walls. However the day we were there wasn't quite as perfect but also fun with some good rides and nice 4ft waves. The wave easier to take off on than Angourie due to deeper water but it holds up to 15ft. The most tricky part is getting in and out of the water because you have to jump off the rocks into the waves and let them wash you back on to the rocks when you get out. Unfortunately I broke one of my fins off coming out of the water and lost it plus the plug attaching it to the board. I had a great surf though and was a bit disappointed, when the swell dropped the next day and I didn't get to surf it a second time.
After that great session we headed into Byron to meet Max at the beach for a Volleyball session and had dinner at his place afterwards. The next two days were very wet and cold and not comfortable at all. We sat in the car for most of the time and didn't do much. It was OK to go for a surf because you obviously didn't have to worry about getting wet but the waves were small and crowded. We went to the movies and had a coffee but decided to go back to the farm if the weather didn't improve. But miraculously it changed and we could enjoy the blue sky and sunny days.
The next days were beautiful. We enjoyed the sun on the beach and in the local cafes, loved it to check out all the surf shops dreaming of having lots of money every day and went for long surfing sessions at "ThePass". It is always nice to go back to Byron because there is such a magic in the air that you just have to love it. You literally want to take a picture of everything you see, the town, the beach, the hills in the inland, the sealife... Unfortunately we aren't the only ones seeing that beauty which attracts hordes of tourists and travelers who make that tiny coastal town burst with people and everything very expensive. I know, that I am one of those people even though it feels different in a way.
I had to get the fins on my board fixed so I gave it to a local shaper who did the fin and all the other little scratches for only 50$. It was a quite small business and the guys that worked there were very friendly. I would love to spend some time in such a workshop and learn something about shaping boards. I might just ask if I can watch the next time something breaks.
We've also started to organize our trip to South-East Asia. We had to get very expensive but necessary vaccinations for HepA and Typhoid but getting the needles wasn't as bad as I remembered it to be. We also have a checklist with all the stuff we still have to do during the next week. We are getting really exited through reading and hearing about all the deadly and life-threatening things that can happen to you but mainly because we are really looking forward to that great adventure.
Most of the pictures we took in Byron are really good (so I think...) but rather due to the picturesque spirit of the place than to my abilities as a photographer.
Bekki and I have also developed a love for sandcastles. It started in Yamba where I thought the old Mermaid or Dolphin stereotype was lame and we built our first sandcastle together. It was really cool with a suspension bridge over the moat (yeah, I had to look that word up...), cool decorations, including seaweed-flags and a lantern over the gate, and a secret entrance. Unfortunately we didn't bring the camera and the next time we were down there it was washed away by the flood.
This is our second model. It is bigger than the first but with less Schnickschnack. However this one has a war-tower, a kings-tower and a princess-tower (f.l.t.r.).
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| This pic shows how long the shoulder of the wave actually is. |
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| There is a lot of space on that wall to work on. It starts to barrel a bit further down. |
After that great session we headed into Byron to meet Max at the beach for a Volleyball session and had dinner at his place afterwards. The next two days were very wet and cold and not comfortable at all. We sat in the car for most of the time and didn't do much. It was OK to go for a surf because you obviously didn't have to worry about getting wet but the waves were small and crowded. We went to the movies and had a coffee but decided to go back to the farm if the weather didn't improve. But miraculously it changed and we could enjoy the blue sky and sunny days.
The next days were beautiful. We enjoyed the sun on the beach and in the local cafes, loved it to check out all the surf shops dreaming of having lots of money every day and went for long surfing sessions at "ThePass". It is always nice to go back to Byron because there is such a magic in the air that you just have to love it. You literally want to take a picture of everything you see, the town, the beach, the hills in the inland, the sealife... Unfortunately we aren't the only ones seeing that beauty which attracts hordes of tourists and travelers who make that tiny coastal town burst with people and everything very expensive. I know, that I am one of those people even though it feels different in a way.
I had to get the fins on my board fixed so I gave it to a local shaper who did the fin and all the other little scratches for only 50$. It was a quite small business and the guys that worked there were very friendly. I would love to spend some time in such a workshop and learn something about shaping boards. I might just ask if I can watch the next time something breaks.
We've also started to organize our trip to South-East Asia. We had to get very expensive but necessary vaccinations for HepA and Typhoid but getting the needles wasn't as bad as I remembered it to be. We also have a checklist with all the stuff we still have to do during the next week. We are getting really exited through reading and hearing about all the deadly and life-threatening things that can happen to you but mainly because we are really looking forward to that great adventure.
Most of the pictures we took in Byron are really good (so I think...) but rather due to the picturesque spirit of the place than to my abilities as a photographer.
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| Finally a pic of me surfing! I like the light in this one. Everything is sparkling. |
Bekki and I have also developed a love for sandcastles. It started in Yamba where I thought the old Mermaid or Dolphin stereotype was lame and we built our first sandcastle together. It was really cool with a suspension bridge over the moat (yeah, I had to look that word up...), cool decorations, including seaweed-flags and a lantern over the gate, and a secret entrance. Unfortunately we didn't bring the camera and the next time we were down there it was washed away by the flood.
This is our second model. It is bigger than the first but with less Schnickschnack. However this one has a war-tower, a kings-tower and a princess-tower (f.l.t.r.).
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Yamba
We left the farm on Tuesday at lunchtime after a cup of tea and a chat with Gran and Pa. Destination: Yamba. I enjoyed the trip because we drove through a really nice national park forest with huge trees and deep valleys. The forest was of a full healthy green which I had missed a bit before. Bekki wasn't feeling too well though and so I had to take over the wheel soon and couldn't concentrate on enjoying the nature around me anymore.
We arrived in Yamba after 3 hours and without any car problems! It was so nice to get back to the ocean and even though I really loved the time at the farm I had also missed the sea. The sun was was on its way to Germany and almost gone so we decided, first thing to do was, to go for a surf. It felt so good to be back in the surf!
The next days where really lazy. You don't have much of a sleep with three little kids but we would go to the beach at about 10 o'clock and stay there til lunchtime. After lunch we would go back to the beach or a stroll around the main street. It's warm enough to run around in boardies when the wind goes down which usually happens around midday and the water is cool but refreshing and really nice in a wetsuit top.
Bekki, Elli and I were looking after the kids because Sally is in Byron over the weekend which gave us an insight how much there is to do to satisfy three children at once. You just don't have time for yourself until they are in bed and then you are tired and go to bed early, also because you have to get up with them. But we still had a good time going to the beach, the skate park or the lolly-shop.
The waves are quite small at the moment so I'm not surfing very much. I've just been out for a couple of times to get wet and I'll try to get to Angourie some time to surf my first world-class rated wave ever. The swell is meant to pick up over the week so I might be able to ride it at friendly 4ft. I've started to do a lot of bodysurfing in the smaller waves. It is so much fun and you are even closer to the waves then when on a board. I definitely need a pair of flippers though because it's far too hectic to paddle into the waves only using your arms.
Oh yeah... I bought new shoes! They're called "Sanuek" which is Indonesian for "Fun/Joy". I've been dreaming of these shoes for a long time and the only thing I can tell you is that I've never worn more comfortable footwear. Here's a pic:
Ann and Laura joined us on Sunday to stay in Yamba for the next week. We all stayed in Craigmoore, the Apartment right on the ocean, which has a 180+ angle view over the Pacific. You can see Wales and Dolphins from there every day. We had a great time with great weather and great company.
I got to surf Angourie Point on a lovely Tuesday at 3-4 feet. I went out at low tide, which is the best time, and the lineup was packed with people. Even though the conditions weren't the best I had to share the waves with more than 20 other surfers. That and the fact that I didn't know the wave at all made it very hard for me to catch a wave. You had to sit really deep in the inside and when paddling for a wave you looked down at almost blank boulders. I stayed in til the tide went higher and the waves didn't suck all of the water of the rocks anymore and most surfers left. With a bit more space in the lineup it really started to work for me. It was still kinda scary to take off with a very good view on the rocks below you but once you got the trick you could have such a good ride. I learned a lot that day and had a really good session in one of the best waves I've ever surfed!
Harry Potter 7.1 started that night in Australian cinemas and so Laura, Bekki and I went to watch the premiere in the middle of the night. Great movie, you should watch it...)
My last surf in Yamba was also one of the most beautiful in my life, not because of the waves but the sea-life around me. I literally surfed with the Dolphins. I went out for a late surf in the arvo, the sun was almost gone and there where only a few surfers out at Pipi's beach. After looking around a bit you could see Dolphins everywhere and they weren't shy at all. They swum through the lineup, letting you know they were there and came really close. I could have touched one if I had stretched my hand out one time. That was such a beautiful thing and I was so stoked I just couldn't stop smiling for the whole session.
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| The view from the Strawberry-Lookout on the way from the farm to Yamba. |
We arrived in Yamba after 3 hours and without any car problems! It was so nice to get back to the ocean and even though I really loved the time at the farm I had also missed the sea. The sun was was on its way to Germany and almost gone so we decided, first thing to do was, to go for a surf. It felt so good to be back in the surf!
The next days where really lazy. You don't have much of a sleep with three little kids but we would go to the beach at about 10 o'clock and stay there til lunchtime. After lunch we would go back to the beach or a stroll around the main street. It's warm enough to run around in boardies when the wind goes down which usually happens around midday and the water is cool but refreshing and really nice in a wetsuit top.
Bekki, Elli and I were looking after the kids because Sally is in Byron over the weekend which gave us an insight how much there is to do to satisfy three children at once. You just don't have time for yourself until they are in bed and then you are tired and go to bed early, also because you have to get up with them. But we still had a good time going to the beach, the skate park or the lolly-shop.
The waves are quite small at the moment so I'm not surfing very much. I've just been out for a couple of times to get wet and I'll try to get to Angourie some time to surf my first world-class rated wave ever. The swell is meant to pick up over the week so I might be able to ride it at friendly 4ft. I've started to do a lot of bodysurfing in the smaller waves. It is so much fun and you are even closer to the waves then when on a board. I definitely need a pair of flippers though because it's far too hectic to paddle into the waves only using your arms.
Oh yeah... I bought new shoes! They're called "Sanuek" which is Indonesian for "Fun/Joy". I've been dreaming of these shoes for a long time and the only thing I can tell you is that I've never worn more comfortable footwear. Here's a pic:
Ann and Laura joined us on Sunday to stay in Yamba for the next week. We all stayed in Craigmoore, the Apartment right on the ocean, which has a 180+ angle view over the Pacific. You can see Wales and Dolphins from there every day. We had a great time with great weather and great company.
I got to surf Angourie Point on a lovely Tuesday at 3-4 feet. I went out at low tide, which is the best time, and the lineup was packed with people. Even though the conditions weren't the best I had to share the waves with more than 20 other surfers. That and the fact that I didn't know the wave at all made it very hard for me to catch a wave. You had to sit really deep in the inside and when paddling for a wave you looked down at almost blank boulders. I stayed in til the tide went higher and the waves didn't suck all of the water of the rocks anymore and most surfers left. With a bit more space in the lineup it really started to work for me. It was still kinda scary to take off with a very good view on the rocks below you but once you got the trick you could have such a good ride. I learned a lot that day and had a really good session in one of the best waves I've ever surfed!
Harry Potter 7.1 started that night in Australian cinemas and so Laura, Bekki and I went to watch the premiere in the middle of the night. Great movie, you should watch it...)
My last surf in Yamba was also one of the most beautiful in my life, not because of the waves but the sea-life around me. I literally surfed with the Dolphins. I went out for a late surf in the arvo, the sun was almost gone and there where only a few surfers out at Pipi's beach. After looking around a bit you could see Dolphins everywhere and they weren't shy at all. They swum through the lineup, letting you know they were there and came really close. I could have touched one if I had stretched my hand out one time. That was such a beautiful thing and I was so stoked I just couldn't stop smiling for the whole session.
The Farm 1.2 and Captain Thunderbolts Cave
It's great here on the farm and Bekki and I are really enjoying our stay here. It's lovely to have my family around me and get to know all of them a little bit better. There is so much to discover here. For instance, I didn't know that my Grandfather was a really surfy guy when he was younger. And heaps of the stuff from the old days when my ancestors built the farmhouse is still there and working. To go through that old stuff is almost like traveling back through time. But also the now is very nice there.
On Monday Sally took us for a walk to Captain Thunderbolt's cave. Thunderbolt was an Australian outlaw who is often compared with Robin Hood because of his actions. It's actually a really cool story, check it out if you like... The Ledgend Of Thunderbolt
We had a look at the remains of his hideout, a small cave in the bushland, where he lived for some time. It is a really cool cave but when you consider that he had to sleep there in winter with only a small fire it doesn't seem so cool anymore.
After having a pick-nick on top of the cave we drove back to the farm where I could chop some wood for Gran and Pa. It may sound a bit weird to hear this from me but I really liked it to do some work after hanging around for such a long time. And I felt very satisfied after finishing the whole pile of wood.
On Monday Sally took us for a walk to Captain Thunderbolt's cave. Thunderbolt was an Australian outlaw who is often compared with Robin Hood because of his actions. It's actually a really cool story, check it out if you like... The Ledgend Of Thunderbolt
We had a look at the remains of his hideout, a small cave in the bushland, where he lived for some time. It is a really cool cave but when you consider that he had to sleep there in winter with only a small fire it doesn't seem so cool anymore.
After having a pick-nick on top of the cave we drove back to the farm where I could chop some wood for Gran and Pa. It may sound a bit weird to hear this from me but I really liked it to do some work after hanging around for such a long time. And I felt very satisfied after finishing the whole pile of wood.
As you know, I love my new camera for its underwater function of which you should be bored of by now. I however can't get enough of capturing the underwater world and after being in the countryside for such a long time I was very happy to have the camera with me when I crossed the creek on the farm on a lovely winter day. Bekki and I decided to stop there and have another go with the underwater mode. These are some lucky shots:
Actually Bekki took most of the pictures. I recon she's getting really good at it.
Actually Bekki took most of the pictures. I recon she's getting really good at it.
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Farm
The drive from Armidale to Guyra is not very far and we had Elly in with us so we reached Guyra without making any d-tours and with only a few minor car problems. We stopped at the farm house to see Gran and Pa and felt the temperature change from Armidale to Guyra which was dramatic because we made more than 300 meters difference in Altitude. It was freezing. But we were very warmly welcomed into the warm house and had tea and a nice chat with my Grandparents. After that we drove over to Sally's place where we are sleeping and staying most of the time. It was really nice to see the kids again, all 4 years older than in my memory but still very lovely, and catch up with Sal and Pete. We are sleeping in the new part of the house which is soooooooo nice and has electric blankets, pay TV with heaps of channels, a shower for two, a Pizza-Oven and best of all, A BEER-FRIDGE!!! Our days are packed because we spend a lot of time with the kids which is really nice and a lot of fun but very exhausting. It's heaps of fun to ride the Quads around the farm and there is so much to see here. We even found a chopped of Kangaroo-Hand which we took back home. I'll ad a picture of it later on. We're having a lot of outside time here and I'm really enjoying it. The kids are really loveing Bekki! She is spending a lot of time with them, drawing, playing and doing their hair.
These are some pics we took on a Quad tour around the farm. The sun came out that day and it got really warm outside and it was a really nice trip. We saw Kangaroos and had a little chat to the cows and played a game of Football afterwards. I'm totally loving the time here and it seems that Bekki enjoys it as well. We are getting very spoilt here and it will be so hard to go back to living in the Van again.
We'll drive to Yamba tomorrow, where we'll spend the next two weeks. It'll be very nice there and I think its even warm enough for the beach so you can look forward to more water pics.
These are some pics we took on a Quad tour around the farm. The sun came out that day and it got really warm outside and it was a really nice trip. We saw Kangaroos and had a little chat to the cows and played a game of Football afterwards. I'm totally loving the time here and it seems that Bekki enjoys it as well. We are getting very spoilt here and it will be so hard to go back to living in the Van again.
We'll drive to Yamba tomorrow, where we'll spend the next two weeks. It'll be very nice there and I think its even warm enough for the beach so you can look forward to more water pics.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Armidale
Once again it seems that I'm a little bit behind with my posts but the last few days were really busy and I didn't find the time to fill you in on the latest happenings. Until now. It is a lovely Monday morning on the farm, Bekki is playing with the girls and Jack's not there so I can use this quiet moment to recall what we have been doing over the last week.
I'll start where I left you about a week ago. We arrived safely but tired at Aunty Ann's place on Monday morning. After two cups of coffee and pancakes for breakfast Ann and the two girls took us for a drive around Armidale, a small country town, only a bit smaller than Eckernfoerde. The next day we went for a walk at "Bluehole", which is a waterhole near Armidale with a bush walk along Australia's first commercial Hydro-electric Scheme. The Gara river, which follows the bush track for a while, had a lot of water because of the heavy rain in the prior days and was beautiful with its waterfalls and rock holes.
We spent a few more days at Ann's place and just enjoyed the comfort of a warm bed, very delicious food and the company of lovely people. It was a really nice and recreating time and Becks and I loved it there. We left Armidale on Thursday to head up to the farm and meet the other part of my family.
It's still very cold up here and we get frost over the nights but we have a warm place to sleep in and it's still beautiful when the sun comes out.
I'll start where I left you about a week ago. We arrived safely but tired at Aunty Ann's place on Monday morning. After two cups of coffee and pancakes for breakfast Ann and the two girls took us for a drive around Armidale, a small country town, only a bit smaller than Eckernfoerde. The next day we went for a walk at "Bluehole", which is a waterhole near Armidale with a bush walk along Australia's first commercial Hydro-electric Scheme. The Gara river, which follows the bush track for a while, had a lot of water because of the heavy rain in the prior days and was beautiful with its waterfalls and rock holes.
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| Don't you think the stone looks a bit like a heart? |
We spent a few more days at Ann's place and just enjoyed the comfort of a warm bed, very delicious food and the company of lovely people. It was a really nice and recreating time and Becks and I loved it there. We left Armidale on Thursday to head up to the farm and meet the other part of my family.
It's still very cold up here and we get frost over the nights but we have a warm place to sleep in and it's still beautiful when the sun comes out.
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