Australia has a lot of Jellyfish.

Hello all, it has been a very nice and relaxing up here on the Central Coast. Staying at Pascoe's house has been really good, I have been working on my Japanese a lot and there is a huge field across the street that I have been running around. I have been trying to get back into shape a little bit, but not too seriously. I do about 8 laps and I am over it. There's one part of the loop though that gets near some shrubbery and tall grass and I always get really uncomfortable when I run through it. I pick up my pace quite a bit actually when I get there.. Actually the other morning a friend of mine turned on this show called Australia's Deadly Dozen, which was about the 12 deadliest creatures in Australia. I was not happy about it, I wanted to watch Kung Fu Panda, but unfortunately did not have control over the control. I don't really even want to discuss the creatures on the program, because it will only get me thinking about them again, but basically everything here is vicious and angry and ready to kill. I have been stoked I haven't seen any of the "deadly dozen' though and I hope it stays that way. Unless I make it to the Reptile Park, which is right down the road. I really really really want to make it there and look at the huge croc's and snakes, and I want to bring bug spray and kill all the spiders. The one creature in Aus that keeps attacking me is the jellyfish. I have been getting dominated by them. Pascoe and I surfed this beach break that was just ridiculously windy one day and as soon as we were paddling out we realized that there were seriously thousands of jellies in the water. We were both wearing spring suits as well, so out torsos were safe, but our heads, arms and legs were there for the taking. I totalled about 6 stings, and Pascoe had close to 15, including one to the face. I didn't know how many there really were until I caught my first wave and was paddling back out, it was a real surprise. Needless to say we didn't stay out for very long. The good thing was that the stings where not that bad, they hurt for like and hour or two then went away. I don't know what kind of jellyfish they are, but Pascoe called them Purple People Eaters, so that is how I identify them now. The P.P.E.'s are not as bad as the Blue Bottles that they have here too, which they also have in Hawaii. I took a blue bottle to the toes on Saterday and it was brutal. I was not stoked. Even today, we were just surfing, and it was pretty much the first glassy day I have had in Aus and I still got stung! There were a few little People Eaters lurking around and I was laughing about it and just as I went to paddle I got zapped. The waves where pretty silly today, about 2 feet and really clean. It felt like I hadn't surfed in a while though, I still had fun regardless. There really hasn't been that amazing of waves since I have been here, but I really cant complain, there is always something fun to do. I can walk from Pascoe's house to the beach in about 20-30 minutes and just lounge or surf funny little beachy waves. There is a cool little town as well that has some nice bars and lounges. Saterday and Sunday afternoons are pretty much a scene at the beer gardens. Everyone from age 18-80 come out and have beers and relax out on the patios, imbibe and socialize. Australian's are definitely partiers, and always up for a good time. So I really feel like I fit in here, not sure if I could live here though, but I would give it some thought. When the weather is nice it is incredible. The water is clearer than Hawaii and about the same temp. The sun is so hot here you feel like you are tanning as you walk out the door. I have been accused of bleaching my hair while everyone is away, which is false. My beautiful colored locks are natural. That's another thing, my hair is driving me nuts. It's not really long yet, and not quite short, it is in that awkward stage where its close to being long though. I am not going to cut it, I want to see how long I can get it, but it sure is a battle. I bought some pomade so I can at least calm it down a little. All the salt water and sun exposure as made it run wild.. not that it was really tamed before. Anywho, Australia is amazing, I have remained safe this long, and I have about 6 more weeks in Australia total. So pray for me. I need it.

Until later, Ciao!

Ps. If you did not see already, I fixed the pictures from the second part of New Zealand at the end of my last post. Check them out if you haven't!