Sunshine State & North Stradbroke Island

Life is finally as it should be. Yesterday a new Aussie friend of mine let me
borrow a skateboard and an acoustic guitar. I'm the happiest kiddo alive.

Everything’s okay now. It’s all really challenging you know, traveling around and living together with people with extremely diverse interests and needs. I’m like used to live pretty much on my own, have my own bathroom in my own flat etc. And why is normal hygiene always a big issue among flatmates? Fuck, pardon my language. I seem to have grown into a nagging old freak or something. Probably not that bad, but I can’t wait to be the queen of my own castle again. Won’t be that long though. Just ordered flight tickets to Perth, where I’m going alone to visit some family for about ten days. November 6th – 17th. Lovely! Can’t wait. Even though they got sharks, the surf in Perth is said to be awesome. I’ll go there four days after I come back from our two week trip to Vietnam where we travel as a group. I also ordered tickets to the Harvest Festival in Brisbane – November 18th. Santigold, Dark Dark Dark, The War On Drugs, Fuck Buttons, Dark Horses, Grizzly Bear, The Dandy Warhols, and Sigur Rós are some of the headliners. !!! Anyway. Saw some autumn pictures from Norway earlier today, and I noticed that the only thing I miss except my folks are the colours. Explored more of West End of Brisbane together with my new friend James yesterday, and found a music pub which serves nachos and live music. For my major assignment I have decided to explore how up-and-coming bands in the Queensland area can afford to keep on traveling around playing gigs, record and make music. My main focus will be how new bands work their way up from nothing to become recognised bands that actually get paid and gain profit from their concerts.

Most common, just like for us back in Norway, independent and unsigned bands play gigs for free just to get recognised by the audience. There’s a long way to go – to get acknowledged by the bigger crowds. I’ve been to a couple of band-stand nights already, but I guess there will be more research and digging into the musical environments here in Brisbane the upcoming weeks. Think I’ll place a holdon the AC/DC bibliography at the library. Gotta start somewhere. Now I have to focus on environmental issues faced in Norway and Australia. Minor assignment. Yay. Outside the sun is shining and the city streets are overflowing with kids and families back home on holiday. Tomorrow, hopefully, I’ll go to Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise or Byron Bay. Been trying to get someone or anyone from my class to join me for like three weeks (I seriously can’t believe people can be that dull), and I’m starting to realise I’m a lonely weirdo on this trip. But, now that I got a skateboard to follow me I guess I don’t mind fooling around on my own.

Last week we visited North Stradbroke Island, located in the state of Queensland, 30 km southeast of the capital Brisbane. Wikipedia says that before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. In that year a storm separated it from South Stradbroke Island, forming the Jumpinpin Channel. It is known colloquially as Straddie. To get there we had to take a ferry from Cleveland to Dunwich for about forty minutes, and then our hippie bus took us to the other side of the island, up North to Cylinder Beach where we went for a swim in the Coral Sea. Afterwards we went back to near Dunwich for a boomerang and digeridoo workshop.

It’s a jungle out there! Heading for the salty water. Finally.

I’m a crazy tree lover so you can imagine how fascinated I get. The forests in Aussie is far more interesting than the boring Norwegian ones. Last week I climbed one just to get away from everything and everyone, at Kangaroo Point where I live. Trees. Haha. Recorded and made a song of it too. Monkey in a tree, that’s me.

A shame we didn’t go to the other side of the island, Main Beach, where the surf spots are located. Next time!

Since I came to Aussie I’ve been swimming in rivers, hot springs, pools and stuff, but nothing beats the ocean. I almost started crying when we finally got there. I’m too sentimental, I know.

Awesome! Looks just like the woods in Jurassic Park! And there’s baby dinosaurs all over the place! They say Australia has 755 species of reptiles, making it the country with the highest number in the world.

I just love sand between my toes. Sand, sand, sand. Waves, waves, waves. Ah, life. I guess I love my life right now.

Best feeling ever, except from surfing green, sweet waves.

Me and some other classmates at the beach!

Guess the picture speaks for itself. We had fun there body surfing and splashing around for an hour or so before we saw …

A live koala in a tree!!! Unfortunately he or she find herself living in the middle of a street in neighbourhood where you find dogs, cars and other things that would kill you – if you were a koala.

Then we went to learn some more about indigenous dance and music traditions.

Digeridoo. Women aren’t allowed to play, but lucky me has tried one of those back in Norway. The man who led the workshop was carzy good at it, and we were all dragged into the atmosphere and sounds he created with the digeridoo. He demonstrated and played us a song or a story, imitating different kinds of birds, water, humans and so on while he was playing.

Me and some of my classmates. Photo by Henriette Gauteplass Rygg.

Anne Berit in the mood. Instruments used for all sorts of occasions – like dancing traditional dances. We also learnt some hunting and fishing dances, but I didn’t get any pictures from it.

I had to try them too!

Indigenous face paint. Afterwards the awesome digeridoo-man painted all of our faces with clay, the native way.

Our mission for the day. Painting our own boomerangs!

All in deep concentration. Focused. Just like children’s school – we kids loved it!

Then suddenly it started raining, a storm on the way, and I had to finish my boomerang under a table. Photo by Una Brännström Sverdrup.

Photo by Una Brännström Sverdrup.

Me and my crappy painted boomerang. Photo by Una Brännström Sverdrup.

Haha. Then we we’re throwing boomerangs till the storm arrived.

Raining outside, happy kiddo and her new toy. Photo by Henriette Gauteplass Rygg.

Storm. It was raining cats and dogs and cows and whales and what have you. Photo by Una Brännström Sverdrup.

TUNEZ TODAY: FOO FIGHTERS – ONE BY ONE. Been listening to the album on repeat the last couple of days. And to the rest of you readers, I’ll be back with more photos and updates from Aussie later. Love K.

Back O’ Bourke

First night in Bourke went well, we’re staying with a charming family  who runs a restaurant and a motel in town. Just had a nice breakfast with scrambled eggs and bread at their restaurant named Diggers On The Darling. Our house is lying on the riverbank next to the Darling River. Now two girls from our class showed up and we’re off to our first photography lessons. Got my camera with me! Tomorrow I’ll add a bunch of pictures I promise you! Got so many beautiful views to show you. Peace and love from the outback, K.

Australian outback – Back O’ Bourke – that’s the place. Here they just call it paradise and I can see why…

HAPPY!!! Kangaroo and it’s alive! At least it was yesterday. It almost got hit by a huge truck as it tried to cross the road.

Me posing and playing with shadows.

Bye bye Norway

Caught in a turmoil, makes my head spin.

Akkurat nå må jeg skrive på norsk. Ord kan ikke beskrive. Reisefeber!!! Skal straks legge meg og late som jeg sover i litt under fire timer. Sjukt at jeg reiser ifra alt og alle. Ikke en dag for tidlig! Blir godt å savne hjem!

Meg og en kompis!

Had to write some Norwegian… And then I’m suddenly on my way! Can’t wait to update later. Internet ain’t faithful and is probably ditching me again any second. Gotta be fast – My plane takes off from Gardermoen Airport 0750. 8 hours and then…. I don’t know really. It sure gonna be a big adventure. Heathrow first, then Hong Kong and finally Brisbane. 40 hours travel. Cross all my legs and fingers I wont get my period or catch a cold during the flight. Fuck, such irritating things tend to haunt me – especially when I’m up so something. Had my ups and downs today freaking out a bit and stuff but I think I’m all good to go now. Crazy…. Tomorrow I’ll be long gone. AWESOME! Now I just have to say goodbye to my friends. -Cry me a river jus like Dustin! Fuck, again. Pardon my language. Cupid is stupid. I get so sentimental. EMO. But it’s all good. It’s really all good… Love K.

Butterflies

They sure got an extra pair of wings, those butterflies in my stomach.

As I’m writing these words I’ve just started my adventure. This weekend me and some beloved lady-friends of mine went to the oldest known rock festival in Norway – Glopperock. Good times. I got a thing for these small festivals. Last Thursday me and my band VITO performed four songs at Open Mic in Volda. Last night we had our last jam session in 6 months. Got a Thin Lizzy LP – Black Rose A Rock Legend, as a going-away-present from my drummer. Then I got REALLY sentimental, and wrote a new song. Tears wont stop us being productive! Now I’m back in Tomrefjorden to say some good byes to my family. Gonna miss them, much! After a stressful summer I eventually notice the seasons ripe for change. Tomorrow I’ll head for the rail way station, one hour drive to a small town called Åndalsnes, located in the middle of Møre og Romsdal. Then it’s off to the state capital Oslo, baby. Then to Asker, to visit my love Nico. Monday September 3rd calendar says byebye everything I know – hello AUSTRALIA.

Along with 19 other fellow students on the Austral-Asian Culture program I’m going down under. To see the sun, to taste the salt water.. To get away. To the land of convicts, explorers, and adventures. Tomorrow on the train I’ll start dig down in history. A concise history of Australia – by Stewart Macintyre, pensum. Kangaroos and wallabies. Crocodiles and sharks! Can’t wait to see one! Got the rest of my stuff packed today. Credit card, passport, and my backpacker sack – CHECK! Hope everything goes smoothly with the tickets and stuff. Everything’s good to go. But, I guess with my pre history of bad karma I’ll forget my luggage at the wrong platform, oversleep, or get stuck in the doorway or something.. On the other hand I’m the luckies daydreaming bum since mom will take me to the train station. I’m not too good with time tables, busses, or any public transport, no doubt about that. I’ll cross my legs, arms, and fingers just to be sure… My sense of direction and intuition will be far more better in the next couple of weeks, I wish. Never thought it would be easy to get outta here. This great big challenge, I’ll have it anyway.

At the end of our first week in Brisbane our class will head out on a field trip to the outback of New South Wales, Bourke. I’ll post an update on the excursion later! The following five weeks I’ll be sharing apartment and travel with two happy guitar playing blokes named Martin and Marius, and an open minded globetrotter named Anne Berit. We don’t know each other that much yet, but I have to say at this point I’m pretty excited! Hippie spirit! That’s it for now. Gotta catch some rest before the new day arrives. Take care. Love K.

TUNEZ TODAY:  The Distillers – Coral Fang (Album)

Liebster Blog Award, thanks to Dear Kitty. Some blog

Dear Kitty. Some blog was so kind to nominate me for the Liebster Blog Award. Thank you!

“This award is to promote quality blogs & to help promote the work of bloggers who may not have a large following. Part of getting this award is giving it forward and to award it to 3-5 blogs you enjoy that have under 200 followers.”

According to the ‘rules’ (btw I’ve never done this before) – Presumably, one should add the Liebster Blog Award picture to the post on the award. Done…

Dear Kitty. Some blog fascinates me in so many ways. I wish more people in this world would share her point of view. Check her out!

Here are my nominees (I am not sure whether I have kept to the 200 or less rule, as not all blogs list their number of followers) (I have linked to the nominees’ blogs. I will notify them at their blogs):

just be. love all. live life.

dogsharon

SORRY, I CAN’T STAY LONG

The receiver of the award should copy & answer the questions below.
My answers are:

1. What’s your favorite word in the English language?

Fuck.

2. What are you listening to as you write the answer to this question (if not music, what sounds)?

A shy tinnitus buzzing in my ears. Can feel and hear my heartbeat, kinda. The sound of overdrive and distortion. School of Nirvana, and four songs with my band VITO. The open mic gig tonight was insane…

3. What was the last thing you ate that you really, really enjoyed?

A simple green apple. Enjoying it at this particular moment.

4. You’re at a job interview, and the interviewer asks you to make him laugh. What do you do or say?

I1d say I’m not that funny.

5. The world is about to blow up, but you’re being saved, and are allowed to take five things to another planet (aside from the clothes you are currently wearing), where you and only 999 other people will now exist (ignore the bleakness of this question). What do you take?

My guitar, my journal, a pen, a toothbrush, and a pillow.

6. What’s your favorite drink to consume first thing in the morning?

Milk.

7. What was the last book to make you cry?

Buddhas Children – A Journey Among People – by Torbjørn Færøvik.

8. What’s the most ridiculous or silliest way you’ve been injured?

Stumbled down some stairs, fell flat on my face, and ended up with a fractured ankle/foot – crutches for seven weeks. FML.

9. What’s your favorite city in the world? Why?

Stockholm. Fell in love at first sight. The Swedes got everything. Astrid Lindgren, Unga Klara – Suzanne Osten, Vår Teater, Stadsteatern, Kungliga Dramaten, Unga Dramaten. Also got good memories from Moderna Museet, and Beyond Retro. 

10. What’s the most embarrassing album in your music collection? (Be honest)

Aqua-Aquarium. First CD I ever got. I even know all the lyrics.

11. To borrow an old line from a Crowded House song, would you rather a mansion in the slums or a caravan in the hills (i.e. a nice house in a not nice area, or a tiny living space but with views)?

I’d like to live in a bungalow by the beach. Perfect view!

1. How long have you blogged?

Since 2005. Just random gibberish at that time, Gaffelioyet is the first “real” blog I’ve got.

2. What is your talent you are most proud of?

Never giving up..

3. You wake up in a shaggy hotel in a city of your choice with your best friend and a complete stranger of the opposite sex. There’s a kitchen-battle-axe on the floor with blood on it and an owl in the bathroom. What has happened?

We’ve played the game they play in Four Rooms, and the owl is the award.

4. What’s your favorite day of the week?

Any day after a good night sleep!

5. If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?

A squirrel. Had to be one in a play a while go. Never got rid of the moves…

6. What are you doing for your living?

Traveling student at the moment. AUSTRALIA.

7. Where would you take me in your hometown, if I would visit you?

I would take you somewhere nicer than my hometown!

8. What is your favorite sound?

Waves.

9. Do you have a celebrity crush? Who is it?

I got two. Patti Smith, and Brody Dalle.

10. What is the first web-site you go to when you open your browser?

http://www.mangareader.net/94-8-1/bleach/chapter-1.html

11. What languages do you speak?

Norwegian, English, Swedish, poor Danish, and lousy French.

This rare evening… This week has been exhausting. Good though. Gotta show up at school in less than five hours. VITO – we had our best gig ever tonight, and I even got to perform cover of Nirvana with some other grunge blokes of mine. Open mic in Volda and the audience … mental ! Fuck. Then I got this award from http://dearkitty1.wordpress.com. What a day! I sure appreciate it! Don’t know what to say…

School’s up

Got all these nerves in a bundle. Don’t know if I’m scared, awkwardly shy, or just bashful about telling folks how I really feel. My knees are shaking, and inside my head – though I have never been there – I swear it’s JUST like Disneyland. Everything’s blinking, beeping, twisting, and turning. Bet some of it’s jumping too.

View from the place we’re staying in Brisbane – Kangaroo Point. I can get used to this!!! Mad. Pic downloaded here.

First thing I gained today was the knowledge that if you go East it takes one hour drive from Brisbane to locate the first surf spots. Up North, approximately one and half hour drive before you get great shores and waves. Whoop! I also learned the fact that I’ll have to befriend a surf-loving driver who’s in the possession of a real driver’s license. Or, I knew that already, BUT, we’ve been talking about this well known phenomenon – long distances. Very long distances. On the Australian continent there’s a lot of them. I guess I’ll forget about my favorite  activity as a non-driving hippie; walking. That was a joke, I prefer skating and bicycling. But neither will do. Gotta learn how to trust planes and cars. If there’s anyone in the Queensland area who’s up for surf in the middle of September let me know!

First day in my new class, and we’ve just started with the introduction course of the Austral-Asian program. Been chatting with some teachers from Brisbane, and we have started discussing different topics of our main major assignment. Children’s theater, shadow plays, masks, clay, costumes, traditions, plays, puppet theater, school system, vietnamese theater, aboriginal theater, culture for children – how is the situation compared to Scandinavia? And then there’s music! Oh, I’m such a nerd.

Australian phrase of the day: “No worries mate!”

The whole class had to say it out loud. At the same time. Awkward, and we all acted like small giggling girls. In front of the old school black board compassionate eyes of an urban globetrotter woman told me we still have a long way ahead of us. Not sure if our stuttering Norwenglish blew her away anywhere. Gotta work on my dialect! Then they started all this talk about spiders… and I went to get lunch. Now it’s back to class. Information about the seven day trip into the outback, more specific Bourke – is about to be given. I’ll welcome it with open arms! Stoked! Love K.

TUNEZ TODAY: Natural Mystic – Bob Marley & The Wailers, Flake – Jack Johnson, The Letter – Xavier Rudd,
Collie Man – Slightly Stoopid.

Ripe for change

Air tastes sweet. Flow of heartbeats. Another proof of living. 
Chasing a dream. In my head I'm skating a moonbeam.

 

Lazy living, everyday that is. The only not-lazy thing I’m doing these  hot summer days is making money, and a lot of them too, I wish. From now on, as you’ve already noticed, I’ll try to write this blog in English. I know life is full of challenges. No doubt this is one of them! I’m struggling. Hopefully those of you who’ve managed to stumble over this blog will have some patients, (pray I get better after some practice!) and eventually, hopefully you will get some of the idea of my chaotic thinking and expressions with words. I will add some pictures to try fill the gaps of vagueness.

A major, teeny tiny – eight thousand words – assignment is waiting for us down under, this upcoming semester. Better start  now, feed my brains with useful information and trigger my inner nerd to come forward. Make the it breathe! Old school brainiac. It’s as clear as crystal, the paper won’t write itself… Anyway, cash is king. I’m off to work in a couple of hours. Again and again. Most of this summer I keep myself occupied working late shifts, nights and early mornings. Work, eat, sleep – repeat. Same old story. This time I like it though. Even got the time for some socializing!

For those who haven’t read any of my earlier posts, this fall I’m planning to study abroad and get some extra study points to finish my bachelor degree. Earlier this spring I some how succeeded in making and performing a puppet-play for children all by myself, and then wrote my bachelor paper in drama and theater. I still haven’t had the time to let the fact that it’s all over sink in. The practical music exam also went well. Got mark B on both subjects. It’s weird and confusing, all of it, really. That’s why I’m going. September 3rd. All I have to do is print the plane tickets and pack my stuff. Already started. Just a little. I was lucky to get in on a Austral-Asian culture-course at Griffith University in Brisbane. I told mom I will be coming home for Christmas. Or will I?

Yesterday my boyfriend Nico ordered tickets for us to Malakoff Rockfestival 2012. Nordfjordeid – July 20th and 21st. In a few days they will bump down into my mail box, everyone will be happy and it will also be awesome. We’ll be joining a couple of friends from Volda, like Malin, her boyfriend Torbjørn and my bestfriend Oddis. Finally a break from paid work, restless sleep and responsibility. An opportunity to celebrate my 22 year long survival, maybe… This year I’ve eventually started living. I guess you should not need any reason to celebrate. Life it self is a never ending party, they say. Nico said he would show up this Tuesday or Wednesday, just in time for my birthday. I sure miss that face. Lars Winnerbäck (!!!) the mysterious poet-man with the dreamy beard, and a chill voice that sings lyrics that makes my heart cry in a good way… This year he’s coming for Norway.

The whole festival will be lovely. Turboneger and Seigmen are going to be insane. Seen Turbo before at both Malakoff and Raumarock, but I guess Turboneger will be something else now changing their name back to negro and bringing along their new Tony Sylvester. I have listened a little to their new album “Sexual Harassment”, and I have to admit the british accent doesn’t blow me away anywhere new – rather back to my rebel teenage years jumping around in a mosh pit. The Duke of Nothing really is something different than previous former vocalist Hans Erik “Hank Von Helvete” Dyvik Husby which left the band in 2009. -And that’s a good thing. Bare Egil Band, Dum Dum Boys, Casio Kids and Den Svenska Björnstammen. Rival Sons and Meshugga. Yay! Can’t wait to check out the other headlines. Been there two summers before. It’s like my legs are tripping at the disco. I’m shaking. Yeah, this summer got me trembling.

Bach home at Vestnes and Tomrefjorden I had a wonderful time. The following pictures describes some of it. It hits me, five years has passed since I left. Since I cursed into the night and made a lifetime promise to myself – to never ever live stuck in that shit hole ‘Fjorden’ again. Pardon my language. I guess the world has changed and expanded into many directions the last couple of years. I don’t mind a visit now and then, it’s good to be home.

 
Little sister Linnea, and her best friend with her awesome hair, Mathea.
 
Funny picture of dad and mom. – View of the forests in the area where I grew up. My old house behind the hill to the right
 
My folks’ new house to the left. And further into the wild we go… – My blond natural hair color has grwon back. Yay.

  
Finally back together with my girls. Rosé wine to celebrate, one year has passed since last time.

Nina got her hair extended. Fascinating concept. I like it.
 
Michelle’s beautiful little creature – he’s kind of my little nephew – Matheo.
 
Early morning fun, I were playing horse and he was my owner.
  
Adorable little hunk. – Marielle and Michelle.

Michelle and me on one of the old bridges in Vestnes “centrum”

     
We were all staying at Marielle’s mom’s place for a couple of days. The last night we had shrimps and wine. Mmm.

 
 

 I’m blessed with the world’s most beautiful friends and family.

57 days to go.

Australia, I’m getting prepared by twisting my mind thinking big pink and yellow spiders are Pokémon. I’ve been studying an Aussie spider-guide that Nico left by before he moved back to Asker. He’d seen a lot of them back in Cairns he said. Now I regret even hearing about the book in the first place. I admit I’m a chicken. I screech like a girl when I see one… Long, slim hairy legs. A lot of them. And then there’s too many eyes. They seem to be all over the place. The creatures on the pages are still eye-contacting me, luring in the back of my permanent – long term memory. One creepy crawl had big red horns and an extra pair of eyes I’m sure. Goosebumps all over. I bet the jungle spiders in Nam are even more colorful. I’m gonna catch ’em all.

TUNEZ TODAY:
Warpaint – Elephants, Devendra Banhart – Lazy Butterfly.