Lake St. Claire NP

So, i just got back from hiking in Tasmania. Today has been the first bit of Tasmania's famous rain that i've seen yet. Backpacking in Lake St. Claire was amazing. I hiked up to this lake called "shadow lake" in the shadow of a couple mountains, set up camp, and then climbed a nearby mt. rufus. (funny name for a mountain). It was more difficult that I anticipated, but the 360 panarama of tazmania's rocky crags all around was amazing.
Also, if I was ever told that hiking through a bog would be enjoyable, i would have probally laugh at you. But it was absoulty astounding! Imagin hiking on a surface similar to that of a putt-putt course, and everywhere around there are holes of diffrent sizes and shapes, some full of water, some with little creeks down in them. And all around you: mountains. Amazing.
At the top of the mountain i thought of a quote: "
These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that mans weak praise should be given God's attention." -Miller
The newsboys had the same idea: "If we keep silent... these very rocks will scream"

Also, hostel life is really fun. I've met people from all over the world, had some beers with some english guys, cooked dinner with a german and a guy from the neatherlands, Met people from france and italy. It's great!

Anyhow, i fly to sydney tommorow which means today (its raining) i will clean my gear from the hike and get packed up for the trip!

I'll be back in the U.S. on monday!
Peace,
Mike

Lake St. Claire NP

So, i just got back from hiking in Tasmania. Today has been the first bit of Tasmania's famous rain that i've seen yet. Backpacking in Lake St. Claire was amazing. I hiked up to this lake called "shadow lake" in the shadow of a couple mountains, set up camp, and then climbed a nearby mt. rufus. (funny name for a mountain). It was more difficult that I anticipated, but the 360 panarama of tazmania's rocky crags all around was amazing.
Also, if I was ever told that hiking through a bog would be enjoyable, i would have probally laugh at you. But it was absoulty astounding! Imagin hiking on a surface similar to that of a putt-putt course, and everywhere around there are holes of diffrent sizes and shapes, some full of water, some with little creeks down in them. And all around you: mountains. Amazing.
At the top of the mountain i thought of a quote: "
These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that mans weak praise should be given God's attention." -Miller
The newsboys had the same idea: "If we keep silent... these very rocks will scream"

Also, hostel life is really fun. I've met people from all over the world, had some beers with some english guys, cooked dinner with a german and a guy from the neatherlands, Met people from france and italy. It's great!

Anyhow, i fly to sydney tommorow which means today (its raining) i will clean my gear from the hike and get packed up for the trip!

I'll be back in the U.S. on monday!
Peace,
Mike

Hobart, Tasmania

I was praying for somebody to kind of guide me on my entry into Tasmania, show me how to get to my hotel, tell me some good places to go backpacking, etc. Anyhow, I sit down on the plane and then next to me sit down this older couple in their 40's. Let me paint the picture for you:
Matching hiking outfits from the Columbia sportswear hats, matching hiking shirts, straight down to the same boots. I imagine they even had the same wool socks and capilean undies on. These are the kind of people who judge you based on what kind of gear you have.

Anyhow, they gave me some great advice on some trails to check out, and took me to where you catch the bus that takes you to the hostel! Answer to prayer? Check.

This is my first hostel experience, and its kind of fun. Let me tell you a little bit about Hobart:
Hobart is kind of similar to Portland. I say that because there are a tonne (yes, metric) of coffee shops and trendy stores, its very walkable, and it rains a good bit. everybody dresses like they're in an indy rock band. Its really pretty, there are a lot of gardens with roses and all sorts of flowers, a really cool market place, and street performers performing all kinds of music. There area lot of old houses, and churches here, and being on the hillside on the bay you feel like you're in the Mediterranean. I'd put some pictures up but I can't from this terminal. When i can, I will! An interesting note about Hobart is that the original Candbury Chocolate factory is here. I might go for a visit later, but right now I'm enjoying just walking the city.

Anyhow, tomorrow i catch a bus to lake st. Claire to do some hiking. I've bought fuel and i need to get some matches (things you can't bring on an airplane).

Oh, and i finished "through painted deserts" and have picked up a hilarious book "A walk in the woods" by Bill Bryson. If you've ever backpacked any part of the AT, or maybe just backpacked at all, you should enjoy this book.

anyhow, take care!
-Mike

The List

I forgot to mention, for those that keep up with my lists, that I have had my first few experiences driving stick. I can't cross it off the list yet, because:
a) The stick is on the wrong side
b) I stall out EVERY time i get going
3) I almost put the car in a creek trying to shift gears and go over a bridge at the same time
d) I can't shift gears and remember which side of the road i'm supposed to be on at the same time
v) I almost hit another car because i was focusing on switching

but someday, it'll be off the list. (or on the other list... depending on which way you look at it)

Back to Brisbane

My tour of queensland is comming to an end. There were some things that I did forget to post about though.

I wanted to tell anybody going to townsville to stop by "the brewery" and have a "Neds Red"... quite possibly one of the most outstanding brew's i've had to date. Imagine a guiness texture with an irish red flavor. For those true blue guiness fans, they also had a stout that was comprable. Talking about brews, I havn't had a fosters here yet, much less been to a bar that serves it. Stetson Draught is brewed by the same company and is very popular, but the most popular is "XXXX gold". Other common brews are Toothy's new (and the darker version, Toothy's old). Also bundaburg rum (i toured the distillary) is very delcious, and you can buy pre canned rum and cokes!

Parts of Australia doesn't get rain very much, and because of that they are very water concious. Many houses have rainwater collection systems, and some are plummed to use "grey water" (recycled water from showers, sinks, and laundry... not toilets) tu water their lawns. Solar water heaters are also very common, but the thing that will catch you most of gaurd is that their toilets here have 2 flushers. One's a half flush and ones a full flush. I guess its up for you to decide which one needs to be used.

Magnetic Island might need som clairification as well. Its an island, mostly covered by national park and home to the largest colony of koalas in Australia. For the lost fans out there, it is indeed magnetic to the point where compasses don't work right on the island, there are old WWII bunkers and gun stations on the island, and most of the island is mysterisouly innaccessable (no roads or trails going to that half of the island). But as for the other half, it is very over developed with lots of propertys to be rented or bought, sandy beaches, shops, and you get there by ferry. Its quite nice, and if you want to go there for cheep it has FOUR backpacker resorts on the island (yes, not hostels, resorts)

also, just for your information, there's not a whole lot in the outback... unless you like cattle.

Also, an update on graduate schools for those who are intrested. I have been accepted to University of Colorado (boulder), Colorado State University, University of Notre Dame, and Clemson (I think?). Colorado State and Notre Dame are offering me very nice finicial packages, clemson is offering me an ok one, and boulder is working on it. University of seattle must be sleepy due to all the rain, because i havn't heard from them.

Anyhow, peaceout. Pray for me while i'm in Tassie (starting Friday), I'd appricate it!
-Mike

The road to townsville (and back)

Sorry its been a long time since I last posted. A lot has happened but i will try to sum it up!

Over the past week or so we've been driving up to townsville. Roads in Australia are diffrent than in America. They're pretty much just 2 lane highways with long stretches of nothingness. The towns remind me of the old west, with a few shops and restaruants pulled right up to the highway. We stopped in one town to grab a bite to eat and the local grocer walked next door so he could be the postman for me as well. He was eager to have somebody new to talk to, and he had a really thick Aussie accent.

anyhow, we arrived in townsville after stoping for 2 days in the small town of bowen. where my cousin john lives. I havn't seen him since i was 9 so it was a good time. We went to magnetic island, fished, hiked, and had good times. I also went to a few australian pubs. People at pubs here are very friendly and willing to talk, as long as you take turns to "shout" drinks. I met a guy named tomo (a long haired brick layer) and his talktive girlfriend lucy. Also lockland, a kiwi that moved to Australia to do landscaping, and a guy named TC, also a kiwi who moved to Australia to work in the mines.

Anyhow, we're on our way back to brisbane now... be sure to check out the photo's on facebook and i'm sorry i dont have more time to write!

I'll be back soon!
-mike

Rockhampton

"Everybody, every person, has to leave, has to change like seasons; they have to or they die... Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons"
-Donald Miller

So i've been on the road over the past few days driving up to Rockhampton to visit some more relatives. Australian roads are quite different than those in America, they still remind me something of the old west. There are no interstates, just 2 lane highways, and when you come to a town there are a few shops and restaurants and a police station, all nestled up to the road and people stop, and rest. That's another thing about Australia, they don't have as many parking lots. These small towns, you just park on the side of the road. Big stores are build raised up from the grown and you park underneath them.



anyhow, on the way up we camped on the beach... What i wouldn't have given for a surf board, the surf was beautiful. I need to surf while I'm here. It was pretty cushy camping, my uncle spent 10 weeks in the outback so he has this setup with beds and everything. At night we saw baby sea turtles hatching. The photos are on my photo page but they really don't do the feet justice. The things are tiny, they fit in your palm. They hatch and spend a few days, about a hundred or so of them in each nest, crawling to the surface. When they break to the surface they crawl out to the ocean, following the brightest light they can find. They say only 1 in 1000 makes it to adulthood.

Changing subjects: i'm reading through painted deserts by donald miller. Its really a good book about traveling and finding yourself. A lot of people have asked me How i can afford to travel, and i guess my response would be how can I afford not to? Since when has the bottom line in our lives been dollars. If you're interested in seeing Australia, and you have no money, you can travel through the country as a fruit picker for a few months to a year. What you can do is rent a camper van or stay in hostels, and you pretty much make all the money you need. There are free books here about doing that sort of thing and I'll bring them home for anybody that's interested.

Upon arriving to Rockhampton we went to a football match. Football is really confusing here because it means one of 3 things: Aussie rules football, soccer, or Rugby league (which is different than rugby union played in the states). We went to a rugby league match and saw the highly acclaimed brisbane broncos stomp the locals. I'm also learning the rules to cricket because it too is a big deal here.

A little shout out to Matt Barry (and anybody reading this, make sure he gets to see it) I went to a rum distillery on the drive up and saw how they make Aussie rum. It is actually quite good. A new drink to try: the dark and stormy, is composed of rum and sarsaparilla (aka Root beer here in the states). Also, at sporting events you can buy rum and cola ready mixed in a can!

Some more Australian words: Boot means Trunk, Pokies means slot machines.

"I want to repeat one word for you:
Leave
Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."
-Miller


Peace, love, and rock and roll
-mike

Lamington National Park

Today we planned on going off roading in my uncles modified subaru, but bush fires impeaded our journey. So instead, we went into lamington national park for a hike. I hiked to a few very nice waterfalls and saw a number of tropical birds. The rainforest was beautiful.


here's me covered in tropical birds.


Also, i thought this was kind of cool. It's the bower of a bowerbird. A male bowerbird takes great care to build his bower with two sets of sticks stuck in the ground. All around the sticks he collectes blue things, and places them around his bower. The idea is, a female will find the bower, and if she thinks the male has done a good job, she walks through the rows of sticks, meaning she accepts the male. The male then flys down, gets the girl, and takes her to the nest. You know the rest of the story... they buy an SUV and a nice house in the suburbs... I guess like the bower birds, human males try to build an impressive "bower" to attract females. I like metaphores!

Australian Word for the day: Chemist is what we would call a Pharmisist as in "I need to stop by the chemists to pick up my drugs"

Note of the day: Australia has fast food restaurants including McDonnalds, Burgerking (which is called Hungry Jacks here), and even KFC, but whats really big here for a quick meal are pies and quiches. (by pie, i mean like chicken pot pie). How bought that!

Oh, i've started a photo album, you can look at it here

Brisbane

Holler,
so i'm in Australia after a long plane flight. The nice thing though is the australian airline has on-demand movies and free sprits with the meals (which are served on real plates and things).

anyhow, on arrival, monday:
-I was singled out by customs (Long hair?)
-took a moped tour of brisbane (How fast is 60 km/hrs, and how do traffic circles work? and why is everybody on the LEFT!)
-tea with my 91 yr-old great uncle val.
-Headed to Coochiemudlo island in the brisbane bay after gathering supplies (beer, bait, and fishing gear)
Australian word for the day: Esky means Cooler as in "throw some drinks in the esky to keep them cold!"
Note about australia for the day: they have churches and their signs are just as cheesy as ours.

tuesday
-fishing (caught snapper, stingrays, and mackrel)
-swimming
-saw the set of a matthew mcconehay film, "fools gold" (my uncle is an extra in the film).
Australian word for the day: Petrol means Gas as in "i need to stop by the petrol station and fill up before we drive to rockey"
Note about Aussie for the day: I feel like the girls here are all taller than in America.

wednesday
-Spent the day walking around Brisbane. Adventures in public transit included.
-Brisbane is a nice city, very modern and very easy to get around in. It's the 3rd largest city in the country, and its built on a river. I spent most of the day walking around, taking buses and ferrys to and fro. Here are some pictures from the city:


Brisbane from the riverwalk. Brisbane is a VERY walkable city


brisbane at dusk


Kyle, this one is for you, brisbane also has some cliffs in the city which are popular for climbing. They light them at night for night climbing, and keep the grass trimmed under the cliffs.

Australian word for the day: Pom means Englishman as in "this beer would knock the block off a pom"
Note for the day: Australian accents usually seem "sexy" in the states, but when they're everywhere they're really not so much.

Side Note: my uncle has a mac, and because mac's dont work right ever (see list to right), I can't bullets or spell check to work right. I'll re-update this post when i can get to a decent PC. He also has cats, but they're actually pretty cool.

peaceout!
-mike

Leavin' on a jet plane

So I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Australia. If you call me before noon you might still have a chance to get in touch with me before I spend more than 24 hours in airplanes and ports. Jet lag, here I come!!

I'm a little bummed because i didn't get to finish my TV-stand before I left, but here's a picture of what i did get done so far.

Also, here is something you can make at home and add to your "survival resume". A stove made out of soda cans!

Anyhow! Don't forget to write me! My e-mail address is mrsoltys@hotmail.com !!