I just reviewed my #2012 travel year in review post. If for no other reason, this blog is worthwhile
for the simple fact that I can review trips.
2012 was characterized by a lot of travel within Australia and not much
running due to ongoing injuries and health issues. 2013 was much the same with travel abroad and
a slight upturn in running. However, I
wrapped up the year hobbling around with a sprained or partially torn
meniscus. So my running nightmare
continues into 2014. I did manage a few
bouts of spectacular training in the Perth Hills during winter/spring and a
finish at the Climbathon# for the second year in a row.
Last year I spoke about the revolving door of people in my
life. That is still true but I am starting
gain a more consistent group to meet with in Perth (non-runners since I still
am not going strong). I reduced the
amount of short camping trips outside of Perth to instead spend that time in
town, with people. I feel like I have
seen of enough the southern beauty of Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and
Pemberton...etc. And most of the North
with a trip to Karijini National park still outstanding. So I am finding it more valuable to stay put
near the city opting to get on an airplane to go somewhere when I feel the
itch. I will continue this trend in
2014.
So here is the list in chronological order of notable trips
I have taken in 2013:
Southbound. I once again attended to the annual camping,
music and arts festival down in Busselton.
It was a fun time but I feel I am getting a bit old for it or maybe I
just don’t like being penned up in a place for 2 days? The highlight was an intimate, impromptu
acoustic session by First Aid Kit at 1am in front of 20 lucky fans.
Tasmania. What can I say, I loved it. Better known to me as the West Virginia of
Australia, Tasmanians are friendly, quirky, and love the great outdoors. I spent the entire week in a rental car
camping out everywhere I could, running every trail I could. I got two, yes two!, flat tires at the same
time and was stranded on a dirt road in backwater Tasmania. I had no cell phone coverage so I had to walk
towards the next paved road some 7kms away.
I knocked on a dilapidated door and hitched a ride to the town Triabunna
where the local pub allows people to pitch tents in their backyard. I huddled up there for two nights while doing
a day trip to Maria Island which proved to be a real gem with dolphins jumping
next to the ferry on the way over. It
should be noted that 40% of Tasmania is protected wilderness with a ridiculous roadless
chunk covering almost the entire southwest. The Western Arthurs Traverse and Franklin
River have therefore been added to my Bucket List.
Family Visit. My mom and sister came to visit. We had one week to see everything we could
and I think we did a very good job. We
headed down south stopping in Margaret River, Pemberton, through to Albany,
toured the mine site in a few days. The
remaining days were spent in the Perth Area with the highlight being Rottnest
Island. I have to say riding bikes
around Rottnest Island is the best activity you can do in Perth. It was good to have the family here over
Easter and have a big dinner with friends.
Singapore. I spent
the entire week staying in one place which is uncommon for me. The gap year hostel run by Dennis and Jerrlyn
felt like a natural fit. Max, a guy from
Malaysia living out the “Gap” and I discussed life, girls, and our dumbest
mistakes to each other late into the evenings.
People in general are interested to get the American’s Perspective on
most things, but unfortunately they tend to follow American news and politics
more than I do. Singapore is a very
western type city as far as the internationalism and the fast paced business
world is concerned. However, it is so
diverse and the hawker centres are amazing for their food selection. Basically, you just get into the longest line
and you will be guaranteed a good meal.
Singaporeans love their food. A
typical meal costs about 5 dollars, which is at least double any other south
east Asian city but still a bargain for me.
The highlight of my trip was doing some mountain biking on Palau Ubin,
an island off the coast of Singapore.
That, or running around the city at night with the Frenchman from my
hostel. Singapore has one of the best
skylines in the world at night. But I didn’t
take any pictures…
Melbourne. My buddy from college the Dirty Dar was there
for work so I shot over for the weekend.
We forgot to take a picture together so the best one I have is of the
Melbourne library. We are pretty awesome. It was great to catch up to share a few
drinks and hot chocolates all over Melbourne and St. Kilda and the infamous Nunnery
hostel. I snuck out to the Dandenong
Range do some running and hiking which turned out to be a pleasant a short
train ride from the city.
Home. I did my annual 3 week trip back to the USA
in August. I felt like an outsider this
time, as if I am more accustomed to Australian custom these days. I spent the first few days in LA with my
brother. I did a fair bit of running
Baldwin Hills Park running repeats from bottom to top. I like the people and the encouragement that
goes on there. I also like the beach
culture near Venice and Santa Monica.
You wouldn’t get characters like that on the Australia beach scene. I then went back east to Pittsburgh to
surprise my mom for her 60th birthday, did a road trip to North
Carolina with my sister and saw Aussie-Americans Running Store owners, and sent
my little sister off to Turkey. It all
went by really fast so I am looking forward to the next trip back.
Borneo:
Malaysia/Brunei. I really nailed
this trip. I met so many interesting
people which made the experience remarkable.
I can hardly remember them all because it seemed like every new town I landed
in (and there were many) I seemed to run into incredible people and share the
sites with them. I exchanged running war
stories with the global crowd at the Climbathon race, spent a day being
chauffeured around mysterious Brunei with people I met on the ferry (now good
friends), experienced World Heritage listed Mulu National Park with the Irish,
and cheered for the home soccer team with most interesting set of Backpackers
in the surprisingly chill city of Kuching.
I really need to write a report or post a video to do this trip
justice. 11 days jammed packed with
adventure and people. Kota Kinabalu to
Kinabalu Park for the Climbathon race, then hopped a ferry to the sultan
country of Brunei with is loaded with oil money, then bussed it to the
transient oil town of Miri, flew a prop plane to the Limestone caves of Mulu
National Park, another prop plane to Kuching to finish off the last 3 days of
the trip partying with backpackers and locals, and watching the goofy
Orang-utans and running up Mount Suntoberg at Fastest Known Time speeds.
Bali. I officially became a West Australian in
November. Bali is a west Australian
playground. It is cheaper to fly there
than Melbourne or Sydney. I can’t say I
really enjoyed it but did have one awesome day walking around the villages.
Perth Hills. This isn’t a real destination but I spent a
significant time here this year. I love
the trails and the feel of the region, especially during winter when the water
falls are in full force. Most People
don’t travel here because it is about 40 minutes’ drive inland from the
coast. I don’t understand it because
people choose to live in cookie cutter suburbs on flat land when they could
live in a unique neighbourhood in the hills.
To each his own.
2014. My travel plans are set thru March with trips
planned to Jakarta, Kyoto, and North Island New Zealand. I am still working out the logistics after
march but intended to do my annual 3 week trip home to the USA, Northern India
to visit Brother Athang’s School (pictured above), and another trip to
Bali/Komodo?. My running still is not
going so great so I don’t want to make any promises but I would love to do the
Climbathon in Malaysia in October for a 3rd straight year, the
Kepler 60km ultra in New Zealand in December, Mount Fuji in June would be a
life list event, and have toyed with the idea of doing a stage race in
Nepal. If I had the chance to do just
one of those 4 events, I would be more than satisfied. But I really just need to use 2014 to build
up again. 2015 I will target 100 mile
race……….YEA YEA YEA…
2014 goals. Secret.
I wish I would have written more, took better pictures, and
shared the adventures with people. I did
however manage to somewhat succeed at taking a picture a day for 2013 (still
need to update that blog). I really fell
off the ball in November and December because I thought it was a dumb
undertaking. And It was for the most
part since I did not spend much time trying to actually improve my photography
skills, but quickly flipping through every picture last weekend allowed me to
relive the entire year in 5 minutes. I
liked it so much I decided to do it again in 2014. Take one snapshot that epitomizes the
day. I upgraded phone so I can now take
pictures on the phone which will greatly simplify the undertaking.
Favorites of 2013:
Movie: Lincoln (only other movies I can remember watching
were: Annie Hall, Cloud Atlas, and Man of Steel).
Book: Choose Yourself by James Altucher. A big reason why I have started to revaluate
my routine during the second half of 2013 and refocus on intentionally
living.
Song: Wally Wider or the Ballad of Speck and Pebble by Delicate
Steve (xcmcvey recommendation)
TV: Game of Thrones (all three seasons watched). Crazy and morally bankrupt show but I can’t
imagine the amount of work and dollars that has gone into making it. Epic.
I promise to Blog more in 2014…
Bye
Pictures aren't working now...so I will update in a few days
Pictures aren't working now...so I will update in a few days
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