Autumn Farm

What a beautiful place full of eccentric people. From what I'd heard about the place before i got there I was expecting to fall in love with it, but I had no idea how truly amazing it was going to be. It's definitely "out there" in terms of location and state of mind and i think thats what i love about it so much. Golden Bay feels like a different reality, in a different universe, a place that's been forgotten. It makes me feel good knowing it's there. If the world fell to pieces Golden Bay would still be there, its not part of the rest of the world.

After a day in transit aboard ferries and buses i made it over Takaka Hill and landed at the door stop of Autumn Farm. It felt good to be at a home instead of a hostel. I was completely taken back by the 12 acre estate that peter has transformed from some fields with a barn back in the early 80's into the magnificent property that is Autumn Farm. It's completely stunning. There must be about a 500 unique species of tree and even more herbs and flowers. They also have 3 cows, some sheep and some chickens. Autumn Farm is in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains, so when there's a space between the trees that's what you see. And if it wasn't enough there's even a babbling brook that cuts through the property.

I am a Wwoofer there so I do four hours of very easy work in the morning and spend the afternoons exploring Golden Bay with the other Wwoofers and at night end it in a outdoor fire heated bath tub under the stars. The stars here are incredible.

There have been three wwoofers here for the past three weeks. Laura and Dave a young american couple from the Chicogo area and Matt a young guy from Winipeg. It's been amazing getting to know them and being able to experice Autumn Farm and Golden Bay together. There's been a few times I'll never be able to forget and I will no doubt keep these memories very close over the next few years. The couple of afternoons spent at the river swimming hole cooling off. Exploring Rawhiti cave and the beautiful rock formations with only a couple torches. Riding our bicycles into town to get to bar and obviously having a wonderful time getting back home. And finally just the experience of being at Autumn Farm, you just couldn't explain that if you tried. It's been amazing.

Good Bye Sydney!!

Its been a very busy week for me!

I just spent the last 3 months working for Fairfax on the 24th floor in downtown Sydney. Working in a cubical on the 24th floor is another career path i can happy say is not for me. I had told them I'd work until the Friday but i realised i had had enough by Tuesday afternoon and I decided to scribble an "I Quit!" note and walked out the door. Yes I can hear your Applause! I was very proud of myself too.

As much as the work did suck, the people there were good fun!

The amazing Todd "Manacle" put on a lovely BBQ on my last day and he even baked me a holiday cake (See Left). It was followed Jhuny's birthday party and Joyce Mange's summer Munts party at the flinders which landed me a wreck at the airport for 7am check-in. But somehow I did make it to New Zealand!

I'm in Wellington at the moment... and to be alot more precise I am at Mett Toppa's parents place as we speak! The view from here is absolutely unreal! (See below) So I get to hang with the tall man today and then I am off to Autumn farm on the South Island tomorrow morning. Anna and Topp in suits! I'm so proud of the two Kiwi's!

There are some more pictures of the BBQ on Saturday under the Sydney '07 Album on the right.

Off to the farm!

Speak soon!
Ty

A New Home!

I'm spending my last month in Sydney at a friends place in Vaucluse! Its only a block and a fall off the cliff away from the ocean!


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Driving Skills

So I've been learning to drive! Well actually I've been learning to drive on the left side of the road... which is the wrong side of the road. And just to mix things up I'm learning to do it in the center of Sydney!

Last week Jase tore his calf muscle playing squash which landed himself and I in St. Vincents Emergency. His leg is on the road to recovery but his injury has rendered him unable to drive. Jase being unable to properly press brake pedals means my main mode of transportation has been exhausted. And Jase now needing transport to Physio has created a transit dilemma for us both!

The solution?

Let's insure Tyler a young inexperienced driver from rural Alberta to drive on the wrong side of the road in downtown Sydney!

Weeeeeeeeee!

We'll its been an exciting week anyways and luckily I've made it through unscathed. A 40 min drive through rush hour traffic to Cronulla is nothing! Sink or swim right Jase?! oh and the car isn't an automatic! yay!

I've also purchased a new Nikon DSLR camera! My old one has died... it took almost 10 000 photos! I only had the last one for just over a year so hopefully this one last longer! So expect some new photos soon!!!

Welcome!

Welcome to my web page! I've decided to put together something a little shinier and with a little more "Umphh!" So here you go! Bookmark this page so when you're at work, suppose to be studying or just burning the midnight oil you can see what tomfoolery I've been up to.

I'm also in the process of creating some photo albums of where I've been and what I've seen. Just click on the "pictures cards" on the right-hand column to link to the album. When you're viewing the photos, if you really like one just click on the download link to download a high resolution version (just right-clicking and saving gives you a lower resolution photo).

As far as a update goes for me I'm currently doing some work for a IT buisness magazine in Sydney. I'm on the 24th floor of the Fairfax building downtown... and I'm so ready to get out of the rat race! I'm moving to New Zealand on November 25th and will be Wwoofing (willing workers on organic farms) in the Golden Bay/Abel Tasman for the summer.

Leave a comment on my blogs or photos if you like. I love hearing from everyone so feel free to email me. Just a "Hi, I'm alive!" is great! Hope everyone is well!

Much Love and Aloha,
Ty

http://www.wwoof.co.nz/

Sleaze Ball 2007

Friday September 28,

I met Ken in Hawaii the first time i was there summer of '05... He's been in Australia for a few months now travelling around the coast. I was up to visit him in Port Douglas in August to see the Reef... He flew down to Sydney just for the Sleaze Ball weekend and i had the joy of breaking him in to Sydney myself... He's been living in a tent for the last 6 months backpacking so he was pretty stoked to get here. He arrived on Thursday and I took him on a quick tour of the city on Friday... Hyde Park... Mrs. Macquaries Chair... The Opera House... Da Bridge... All the good stuff. It was a warm beautiful day and it felt so good not being at work. As we were walking around the Quay we ran into these two japanese fire entertainers shouting out "PLEASE COME. FIRE SHOW! START 5 MINUTES!" Thoroughly entertaining! We ended the tourist tramp with a beer at the Glenmoore Hotel in the Rocks with Jason and the Bridge Climbers. Exhausted we all went to bed early.













Saturday September 29,

A Lazy morning of cafe bacon and eggs at Bronte beach, followed by a Hugh Jackman spotting and a coastal stroll to Bondi. The calm before the storm...





In the afternoon Ken, Jase and I scrambled to get our costumes (handmade ourselves) organized for Sleaze Ball. Later on a bunch of friends met us at my place for some pre-sleaze drinks and to wish Jason a happy birthday. Jeff, Dave, Rob, Zanah, Jill, Bryan, Tracy, Chris, Michael and Nick were all in attendance. Zanah helped with makeup and Jill tailored our capes. We were off...





Sleaze Ball is a huge annual dance party which raises money for a even bigger dance party Mardi Gras in March. It falls on the October long weekend so it is one of many dance parties. This Sleaze Ball was called Zirkus so the dress theme was something along the line of circus performers... We dressed up as Spartans from the movie "300"... which isn't really circus but oh well! The whole shebang is a big camp production with three different venues to dance at and some pretty amazing shows every couple hours. The 4am production was absolutely incredible... a ringmaster, the half man/half woman, midgets, a Strong man and Cosima Da Vito singing away. We danced till the sun came up...























































Sunday September 30,

Made back home from Sleaze Ball around 7am for a quick shower and fresh up before hitting the day dance party at manacle with Dave, Jase and Ken... yes i know, another dance party, because 8 hours of dancing at Sleaze Ball wasn't enough...

...We danced at Manacle until 2pm when we all headed home for a quick 4 hour nap before Ken, Jase and I headed to our last dance party called "Action" at the art house. (Yes that's three dance parties in two days)
























I've never been so tired...

This weekend was by far the craziest thing I've ever done... by far the best weekend I've ever had... and by far the most dancing my feet have ever danced! So glad i got to share it with some of the best people in the world!

I'm taking next weekend off.