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Blog 25 - Sunshine coast
Once I arrived (again) at Brisbane airport, it was raining cats and dogs and I realized how lucky I had been with such beautiful weather at Fraser Island and the Whitsundays. I took a coach (bus) back to the hostel, where I checked in quite late. I got all my stuff out of the luggage storage to reorganize (again).
Friday morning I got up earlyto do my laundry, some groceries shopping, had a long warm shower, breakfast and then it was time to hit Brisbane trying to find a place where they could fix my glasses (one leg was to loose) and my camera. I also had to decide where I was going to stay on Fiji, since you do have to book accommodation beforehand.
Atthe end of the day I did have all of this kind of covered. Glasses were working again, Fiji booked, at least for one week (island hopping… the second week I'll stay at one hostel, just surfing), but the camera… well not much to do about it. Sand was the bad guy here, so I finally bought a water/sand/shockproof camera… But I did call my insurance in NL and it is covered, so in the end I will get some money back somehow…
Since I didn't spend enough money already, my right thong (flip flop, they call it thongs here, which is a word I find awkward to use, because of it's meaning in the US) died after me slipping over some tomato in the kitchen. Oh no! My amazing 2 years old free reef flip flops L. I knew right then I was never going to find a pair as comfy as these… but maybe I would find a better looking pair…
Saturday morning, after waiting for 10 minutes for a late bus, I was on my way too pick up my car… a red one this time and even bigger than the one in New Zealand! A Nissan Tiida Sedan. I drove back to the hostel, where I filled the car with my stuff (I've so got to get rid of at least half of that before I continue my travels). That afternoon I drove all the way up to Noosa, where I had a late afternoon surf at the main beach.After the surf and a couple of surf shops later I found my new flip flops and they are really happy and comfy as well!! That evening I had a chat with some people and I ended up parking my car in a posh neighborhood, where I fell asleep…
The next morning I woke up at 6 am and I drove to the National Park where I went for a surf at Tea Tree Bay. The waves were really good (see pic's), but it was crowded… Sunday morning, not surprising… After the surf I went for a walk in the NP andI ended up on the beach where I read the Kite Runner. It's been a while since I wanted to read this book. Didn't find the time in NL, the book was not in the library in Manly (3 books, all gone), so I kind of gave up. When I was in the hostel in Brisbane I discovered the Dutch version! on a bookshelf with books that people left there for others to read. Anyway, great book, finished it that same day… In the afternoon, as I walked back to my car, I met Matthew, who invited me for a coffee later that evening (he was just on his was to the surf). That evening we had a coffee and Matthew offered me bed that evening, which I couldn't resist. We chatted till late, but I slept really good that evening an woke up around 11 am. As I got up, Matthew was still in bed as well: surf does make you tired. After breakfast and a walk to the beach and back, I booked a ticket for the bluesfest in Byron Bay. I'm so going to see Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, Missy Higgins and Xavier Rudd! Looking forward to it already J
I went for another surf in the afternoon, while Matthew had some things to do, and that was awesome. Still a bit busy, but I caught hypes more waves then the day before, although some guys kept on dropping in on me… Again I was really tired (I do have a bit of a sore throat since Fraser Island, so that's probably the reason), so I went to sleep (in the car again, after a long ..cold… shower) at 7 pm and woke up 12 hrs later. As the waves were nearly gone, I didn't even bother going for a surf (lazy? Or still not feeling well)..
I went for a drive, checked the surf at several spots, but there was too much wind and the weather just wasn't really nice. I did some shopping and found out that my pass wasn't working (always a bit embarrassing when you want to pay but you can't). So I went to an ATM to find out why (I had 408 dollars on my account…). The reason for me not to be able to pay was that, if you book a ticket for the bluesfest on the internet (130 dollars), they kind of block 400 dollars on your card, which means that there was only 8 dollars left to spend… mmm.. Luckily I had some money on my Dutch account (thanx mum ;-) so in the end I went back to the store and paid cash (isn't this an amazing story)…
As I drove on to Caloundra, it really felt like I wasted a day: No surf, no yoga (too much wind, too cold), no running (not feeling like it)… something had to happen here. My heart lighted up when I drove pass an 'music academy'. 'Practice rooms available' it said. So I made a U turn and parked my car nearby. As I entered, no one there… So I memorized the phone number and I called as soon as I got back to my car. No one answered. I walked back, with my phone (knowing there was a mobile number to dial as well). As I walked around the building, a man was just outside and I asked him if he worked there. Ken Kelly did work there: teaching piano. I asked him if I could borrow a piano for a bit and explained my situation. He showed me a tiny room with a really nice piano in it and I was happy! Played for over two hours. As Ken walked in at 7pm he forced ;-) me to play him something and I played the song I wrote for my sister and finished (kind of) in Wellington New Zealand. He was really stoked about it and I told him that Alistair, a guy I met in Wellington, really liked the song as well and asked me to send him some recordings, pictures, movies, etc from me singing/ playing. He works at a radio station and knows some people that are looking for someone 'new'.To make a long story short.. Ken and I played music until 10 pm and he offered me to sleep in the building. There was a room with a double bed (and a very comfy mattress), a shower and a kitchen… He had to go home to his wife.. So I ended up sleeping there, playing the piano till late J
The next morning Ken arrived 'round 9.30am and called a good friend of him, Helmut (yes he's German), to see if he wanted to come over with some stuff so I could record my song and so he did. First we recorded the piano (electric piano) and then I had to sing for a bit. We had to do the whole song in one take (no cutting and pasting possible), so that was kind of a challenge. I have to say that I'm quite happy with it. Next thing to do is to email it to Alistair… Well, you never know, if you don't take a chance… and I think this is the best song I've written so far, so we'll see what will happen..
The rest of the day I chilled out for a bit, played some piano, finished an other song I was working on and that's about it… Ken let me stay there another night, so that was great! Today I left for the Gold Coast after playing quatre-main with Ken and after some interesting conversations (I'll tell that personally).
Isn't life a mystery.. I remember Rob (New Zealand) telling me I could do anything I want if I just really wanted it… and then the email from Alistair saying: (after I answered him that I had no possibility recording that song, since I'm living in a car) you'll find someone that will help you, someone with a record studio of some sort. So far so good ;-) Lets just see what happens next ;-)
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