sept 23- East of Everything

im exhausted today. Yesterday was fun but long. Went in to the filming studio at about 1 and didn't finish until midnight. Basically all we did was dance and walk around in the background for 10 hours. Me and some friends are gonna be extras in the second season of East of Everything, which is an ABC drama here in Australia. It will air next June, and i start in episode 9. The show is supposed to be based on Byron Bay (the most easterly point of Australia) and filming takes place outside of town. I guess the story is about a backpacker hostel (the set replicates The Arts Factory where im staying). We filmed the episode where josh (craig stott) goes to a party and gets hit on by a few cute girls (one of which i am currently talking to and traveling up north with) because they found out he had luekemia and is a virgin. Josh's grandpa told these girls this in the hopes that he could get his g-son laid before he went into a critical condition! I couldn't believe they are putting this on tv when they told us this. We were the surfers/partiers in the background, but who knows how much we will actually be seen??? Probably very little.
I had a shirtless scene(!!!-that'll be in there im sure) where i was walking back from the beach with a buddy, we finished playing volleyball. The director must have not liked us/loves to joke around cause he kept trying to tell us to be gay surfers in this scene (Elle Pappus...more on her in a bit) was struggling with a surf board as we walked by (strapping young lads like us would not stop and help her... cause we were gay as the director said). In a later scene i was supposed to be chasing a girl around during a party, but because i was gay i was supposed to "frolick and skip after her"...??? I assume he was an Australian director cause most Australians love to fuck with people, especially us newly arrived Americans. They have pretty good sense of humors here. It was kinda odd, but a great time and experience. That among many many other scenes and repeated out-takes of those scenes were filmed. We got paid very very well, ate like kings, and got to act like we were partying and dancing all day. It was a great time. On top of that i got to meet some popular(apparently) Australian actors. Can't remember names except for Elle Pappus, and Craig Stott. Also met the main character from the show (an ass... Tom Long???) and some guest actors who were Australian and really into American guys. Elle Pappus being one of them. She was my first experience with an actress hitting on me. Good times. I get to go back in tomorrow and the cast director offered to have me come back in next week as well, but i am planning on leaving tomorrow after i get off. Don't wanna leave but i think i have to. The extra work isn't consistent enough and i have to make some serious $$$ soon. Overall it was a great time though and i met a lot of cool people. Keep your eyes out for this show next June!
So im leaving for Brisbane tomorrow after work and i might be up there for a few days before heading more north (up to Arlee Beach to meet up with friends and work). Im feeling much better now, thank god. I was sick for almost a week straight with horrible stomach pains. Things are amazingly excellent if that works. Hope you all are enjoying life as much as i am!! Live it up cause "are you living just to die, or just dying to live???" I know my answer.
Try to update more soon.

D"when i walk through the forest with my space suit on the trees listen to me" lee

Sept. 21

so not much new to add, but this might be my last update for a bit. Ill be leaving soon and not sure when ill find the internet again...
Have my tv gig tomorrow and then on tues. ill be leaving, most likely. I have my bus pass to use, but i also found a ride with a friend. She was heading up to Brisbane next weekend and decided that i have to go with her instead of taking the bus. I might convince her to leave on tuesday. We met recently and clicked instantly. She is another Aussie from Melbourne (everyone ive met from there is awesome). Long story about this girl... she's awesome (told she had three weeks to live and fought through it). I know we will be friends for a long time. Yet again im probably gonna have to part ways (made so many connections at The Arts Factory, i don't want to leave).

Been kinda sick lately. Have the stomach flu and i think i got it from the kitchen at the hostel. Many of us got sick with the same symptoms, its a gut wrenching pain in the stomach. Think im getting better, even though i haven't slept well the last few nights.

Went to the beach all day yesterday. Got a decent tan (sunbake) going. Got stuck in a riptide when i was boogey boarding. That was fun.

Finch is heading to Melbourne on Tues. we part ways for now.
Things are well. Miss you all back in the states.


D "when we truely have someone else's interest in mind, instead of our own, no one can get hurt"lee

sept. 19

so just a quick update. Im am gonna be staying in Byron Bay until at least the 23rd. Im having a good time and i don't want to leave just yet. My bus pass expires that night at midnight as well, so im just gonna chill and see if i can nab one of these jobs. Lookin into a few more today as well.

Also looked into a place today. It was a shared bedroom in a house just outside of town. The tenants are from all over the world, i haven't met them all. The French girly was drop dead gorgeous though, so that's always a plus. The guy who owned it was kinda wierd, i think he smoked himself stupid.

Met some more Americans last night (from: seattle, chicago!, girly from Mass., girly from New Jersey). It was seattle's 21st and we had a crazy night. Imagine us "yanks" and a bunch of German girls who barely speak english. Partied deep into the morning (bars dont close here until people stop drinking, no matter the time!) The yanks had to leave though, too bad. Americans are such an instant connection around here.

The reason im staying until tuesday is because today i got a gig on monday. Im gonna be an extra in a reality tv show here. I don't know all the details just yet, but i do know i have to go in on monday and shoot a few different scenes. They want me to play a surfer type, i will probably be seen playing the guitar in the background or something like that. Me and a few others from my hostel are going. They came in and picked who they wanted for certain parts. Should make some decent $$$ for a days work and i get fed. Can't wait should be fun! Thanks to all who keep sending me good vibes, know that you are having a part in my well being here.

yankee doodle danny "everything we own owns a piece of us, the less we own the free-er we are!"

Sept. 18-some may think im crazy for this one

So i have to say that this place is starting to feel like a home. I have only been here for about 8 days, but i feel like i have a comfort zone now. I have met many incredible people and have made some headway in finding a job. The vibe i get is positive at least. It's starting to warm up (consistently) and the feel of summer is approaching. Just when this happens though, i might have to leave. We shall see what happens, but i do love this area and will be back as soon as possible.

Today i had a Reiki healing session from a lady named Denise. She comes to the hostel i am staying at gives classes and sessions. I had a short 30 min. session, but in that time period i felt a change through me. She used crystals (for conductivity), heat, sound, and meridians along my body. I went into a deep trance... at first my breathing was heavy, then it slowed to almost nothing. When she started with the sound healing (chimes placed along my meridians) i felt completely relaxed, almost like i was floating. I could no longer feel the table beneath my body. Somehow the heat from her body was intensified at this point, which was a very soothing feeling. After the session i felt like i was grogy and out of it-this is normal i guess. After waking up though i felt energized. I highly recommend everyone try Reiki. She was saying that i have a few blocked chakras and was pointing out reasons why they might be so. She mentioned things that i should work on and i agree with what she was saying. I want to look into this more in the future and take classes. It's such a powerful tool for our everyday lives. Check out Reiki!

In addition i have been reading an excellent book about our personal energy fields and how to control and project them. In conjunction with the atmosphere im in and the conversations with different people around my new home, i have a few things to say...
Human beings are such a powerful organism. We are soo complex and probably know very little about the deepest ways in which our bodies work and grow. Science is great, but there is so much we know very little about: the universe, the depths of the ocean, etc. I think we can put ourselves into that category of unknown as well. I wise man once said something to the effect of man spends most his energy trying to conquer other individuals, but imagine if man spent that energy trying to conquer himself, what the outcome would be! My point is that we need to spend more time listening to our bodies and progressing our mind. Little things such as smiling; releases endorphins and makes us happier. Paying attention to our diet and how it affects us (I wonder why cancer is so prevalent in our world). Intuition- its stronger then we think. Controling our thoughts and being aware- negative thoughts give way to negativity. What we think really does control our reality. If we think we fail then we do. If we think it's gonna be a bad day then it is. If we weave positivity into our core then that is what we attract and project. Think about it. Something so simple, yet i know very few who recognize or believe this.

On top of this, the human network... its real. There is this energy that envelopes the world. Everyone puts into and takes away from this. The more negativity that people project the more negative the world gets, and the more positive people are the more positive the world gets. Have you ever walked into a place where everyone is happy and projecting positivity?? how does it make you feel, no matter how you felt before you walked in?? This is the same on a much larger scale ( I feel this on a scale the size of my hostel right now. A lot of like minded people who are aware). Its the energy of the world. Imagine if we were all to increase our awareness of this and actually work on changing it, by keeping our negative emotions at bay. Its easier said than done, but change starts at an individual level. All it takes is conscious awareness. Test it out if you don't believe in it. Your mind creates your reality. Im finding more and more who are becoming aware of this, and this makes me excited for the future. They say we are coming into the age of awakening (the age of aquarius in astrology) and the mayan calendar ends in 2012. Maybe there is a conscious evolution at hand??? Maybe humans are evolving to the next level (even though it seems as though we are destroying ourselves)???? Look into how many books there are on these topics i just wrote above. How can it not be real if so many people are relating and experiencing this??? Anyway i know that we are the most advanced organisms on earth and we have a power greater than anything we previously knew. All is ask is that we be aware. Listen to your body and use it for all that it can do. If you put your mind to it you can manifest your deepest desires and make them a tangible reality.

D" love or not, our greatest responsibility in life is the energy we put into others and ourselves" lee

some ideas that flow through my head

L.O.V.E.- the 4 most powerful letters arranged together. LOVE might be the strongest word in the english language. It is the strongest 4 letter word i can think of. LOVE is accepting, embracing, and cherishing. HATE and KILL are also strong 4 letter words that are of opposite meaning. Those are negative, cold, and angry. Its easy to turn a shoulder and reject, which is what one does when effected by these emotions. To accept and be open to LOVE is much harder to do. This is why i think LOVE is a stronger word. So many people in this world HATE and KILL because its easier to do so. "Make love, not war" another powerful statement. Things would be so much better if people chose LOVE and worked a little harder at rejecting HATE. There is so much pain we don't even know about, what it would be like if we rejected HATE and accepted LOVE with open arms. Together we rise. Is there a more powerful word in language than LOVE?


Another topic...
so recently i have decided to do some things i have never done before (when do i not push myself??). These haven't been anything major, but i like the feeling i get and i highly recommend others do the same. Two new ideas...
one is my "pay it forward" mentality. Now i have never seen the movie, and only found out about it after i decided to do this. This movie is on the top of my list now. Pay it forward: Anyone i connect with or was positively effected by I have to give them a gift. It can be something as small as an anklet or it can be something that they may need. By doing this they will have a piece of me and will not forget me and it will make them feel good. In return they are supposed to continue to "pay it forward." It can be anything really. My most recent "pay it forward" i gave one of my cherished books away. I gave it to a friend that was continuing to travel and it was a book that i felt would help her on her journey. By doing this we are spreading good vibes and helping out people along the way. Imagine the possibilities of something so small!

Another idea along the same lines. The idea of a notebook of memories. We all meet so many people in our lives that sometimes we may forget a lot, or at least details. This happens especially when we travel. I bought a small notebook/journal today that i will carry on my person and have others sign and say whatever they want. Whether its a quote, a memory, an inspiration, contact info., whatever. I will carry a piece of them with me and have a book of memories and pictures.

I guess the point of these two ideas is to spread positive energy and carry a piece of those you connect with, with you. By giving and taking we are circulating energy and creating a world of joy. Its reciprocity at its greatest.

Sept. 16

So this place we call Byron Bay is amazing. I love it here. Woke up and chilled in the hot tub and pool. Said goodbye to friends and then went down to the beach for some exercise, reading, writing, thinking, and people watching. There are some beautiful beaches around for sure. Some of the local shops are interesting and fun, i like the energy of this area. Too bad i might have to leave for a bit...

I am seriously debating on going north to work. Like i said before, its really hard to find work here because its super saturated with people compared to jobs. I have an opportunity to go up near Brisbane and make some decent $$$$. One of my new friends left this morning and he is going up there. I would be there for about two months and i could save all that i make. I will know in the next few days if i am leaving. If i do go up there i am not sure how the internet situation would be, so it might be a bit before i leave an update...we shall see. Also if i do this sadly i will be parting ways with Finch, for now. He has been persuing other endeavors anyway, and my path seems to be leading me to work. It could be good for us though, in the long run we will double our contacts and experiences.

This brings me to another topic. The connections that i have made recently. I have met two different groups of people, both of which I have only known a couple days each. One group is originally from America and the other group is from Australia and South Africa. I became really good friends with them and looking back it seems like we have known each other for weeks. Maybe its because we are all travelers and on the same frequencies in our lives? Maybe its my mindset and being completely open about everything? Whatever it is, im so appreciative. I never thought i would connect on such a deep level, in such a short time, on numerous occasions. That being said, the downside is parting ways. My deepest connections so far have all continued their journies. We will meet again and for reasons i don't currently know, this is for the best. The backpacker lifestyle is amazing and yields so much. I have met people from all over the world and seen so many cultural dynamics, that the anthropologist in me is having a blast. I feel like i have learned so much about the world lately, things that i would not be experiencing back home. Reasons like these are why i am here.

Time to go make some food.

Danny "the only way to live your dreams is to wake up and be aware" lee

the start of the adventure

Said our "until next time's..." and boarded our flight in SF. 15 hours into the future and a major nap under my belt we arrived in Sydney. Spent a few days in a couple different hostels, but Wake Up! was by far the coolest one, we met a lot of interesting people there. Did the tourist thing for a few days and then decided we had to ditch the cold. I loved Sydney and plan on going back, but for now the sun is calling. Sydney reminds me of San Francisco in many ways, but it is much more massive. Very cool place Sydney is, but it was a melting pot, and we were striving for the true aussie experience.

Bought a bus pass and headed up the east coast to our destination... a little place called Byron Bay. Much warmer here and a cheaper stay as well. Staying at a place called The Arts Factory and its just what we need. We can camp and surround oursevles with like minded people who are interested in personal growth. They offer classes in Yoga, Reiki, massage, etc. and offer a lot of cool amenities. Plan on sticking around here for a bit, if i can find a job that is. Very hard to find work here cause its such a small town with a lot of people trying to stay here. Its a surfer's dream and has many beautiful beaches, people just kinda get stuck here.

So much more to say, but i gotta go. There's no possible way i can detail all of what i want to say. I hope all is well for everyone else. More to come soon...

Danny "the most important thing is not to find oneself, but to create oneself. Go create" lee