Darwin, Australia, some memories

I flew from Nadi,Fiji to Darwin, Australia for about $200US one way. I picked Darwin because it has a diverse population, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. I stayed about one month, volunteering with The Laarakia Nation and the Darwin Festival. This was early Aug of 2009.

The hauntingly beautiful singing of Geoffrey G.

The huge signs in front of every Aboriginal housing community. They were signs detailing the fines and offenses imposed by the government if people were caught drinking, doing drugs or having pornography; signs like these are not present in other communities.

Sleeping on Noodle's porch for a month, my couchsurfing host Noodle usually has a warm and welcoming house full of a colorful assortment of friends and couchsurfers. I lucked out and got the enclosed porch!

Interviewing and filming (The Retta Dixon Home Reunion) the now adult victims of the forced removal of Aboriginal mixed children from their Aboriginal homes and to the Retta Dixon Home (in the 1950s-70s, I believe). Hearing their stories about their feelings of loss (cultural and familial) and also of recovery.

Seeing the decaying food in a pan among old blankets and clothes belonging to the "Long grass people" a group of Aboriginal people that live in the bush. Their belongings were taken into custody by "park" rangers to try to force them out of the bush.

Watching the encroachment of "civilization" mini mall hell descend up Darwin and surrounding lands. Bulldozers everywhere.

Driving into Arnhem lands, the redness, the quiet, the mist, the beauty, the tragedy.

Darwin festival politics!!! Uuugh, but I did enjoy volunteering and also conducting on-camera interviews.

unafraid of the earth
but so much in Australia CAN kill ya :)

Huge dripping termite mounds

Being mistaken for part Aboriginal (at least that is what I am assuming) and being told (by the cashier at the grocery store) on the legal spaces where I could drink (the white wine I just bought for a party). "You can't drink in front of the store or on the roads" she said. Well, I had not planned on it. She said nothing to the other people buying drinks. When I asked a man what she meant, he said "She thinks you are part Aboriginal"....who knows but it was very odd to be told in such a way...and I will not forget it.

Surrounded by amazing beach but knowing that venturing into it could mean that a croc or a shark ...or a deadly jelly fish could KILL me....ummm no thanks...but I did swim in the lagoon.

Watching the great film festival movies! Sampson and Delilah is worth a peek!!!

The beauty and the bigness of it all.....is bigness even a word?...I am making it one.

Pacific Island Memories: New Caledonia and Fiji

New Caledonia, my second stop in my year of travel: New Caledonia is a French Territory (a handful of beautiful islands) with mostly a Melanesian population, people speak various Melanesian languages and also French. Approximately $400 rt from NZ, in April. I visited 4 islands (Circle Island airfare about $400) staying about one week on each. The smaller islands are mostly Melanesian villages. I stayed with some families just by meeting them that day and others I had contacted via couchsurfing and hospitalityclub websites.


Crushed white sea shells acting as a pathway linking beautifully constructed huts(a bedroom hut, a kitchen hut, an office hut, and a bathroom hut!) together on Ouvea Island, when the moon hits the shells the path is illuminated and lights are not necessary. On many islands this is common. I enjoyed living in several huts along my travels.

Laughing like a crazy person while jumping in some of the most beautiful water I have ever seen...I was alone on a beach..with a dog.

Seeing the size (HUGE) of the spiders that had been living just above my head in various huts, hey they blend in with the tree branch walls:)

Families and friends that I lived with. I greatly appreciated the "simple" and sustainable living experiences that they offered me. It is amazing how delightfully simple one can live and how little waste one can produce...and honestly how little we all really need!! I learned so much!!!!

Snorkeling in clear blue waters among vibrant colorful fish on each island!!!

Drinking coconut water from the coconut.

Utilizing my high school French....though not very well.

Bonding with the 2 year old, Angel (in the family I was living with on Mare Island) because we both spoke the same level of French, she was my home girl. And living with that family (with their 2 dogs, pig, guinea pigs and cat) was such FUN! even when we got pulled over by the police.

The upbeat dancing and singing of Kanak performers

Living in areas and huts that kept reminding me of "The Blue Lagoon" I barely saw materials like metal or plastic used, it was great and inspiring!

Seeing how curious and happy Kanak people were to meet their "first African American" and "first American" in many cases.

An airport employee (at the tiny Lifou Airport) inviting me to stay with him and his family....WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!!!!!!

Merci!!!

Fiji Memories, my 3rd stop, was about $400 rt from New Zealand. I should have gone directly from New Caledonia there but did not think of it at the time.

Diane's welcoming Purple house. She is now a great friend and was the ultimate host!

"Bula" smiles from so many people. Island vibes. Silky waters begging me to swim.

A one burner stove at Diane and Paul's place...wow did I eat a lot of bread...I get kinda lazy when it comes to a one burner...but Aggie and Thomas cooked up a storm!

Delicious Indian food (at Chicken Bites Cafe) !!!! ROTI I love you!

Treasure House Children's Home! The children, the staff, the laughs, the learning.

My lil couchsurfing room, being the appointed couchsurfing host when Diane was busy...haa haa

Watching dogs breed...trippy and looks painful.

The Hindu temple, so colorful and a peaceful place in the mists of busy Nadi.

Someone out there stole my skirt that had photos of family on it...ha ha

me, the fake Fijian

Rugby rugby rugby :)

Blue Clear water....OH....

crazy looking dogs trying to bite at my heels...I cursed him out and he stopped!

Gotta love those minibuses...and those big buses playing the reggae!

So many DVDs to watch and so little time!!! There are no movies theaters in Nadi, Fiji, so HELLO pirated DVDs....


Too many good times and good people to list!!!! BULA!