Mr. Buddha Soaking Wet
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One Tire in the Grave |
“Come Here. Pretty Please.
Can you tell me where I am?
You… Won’t you say something?
I need to get my bearings.
I must. And the shadows keep on changing.
I’m Haunted…”
“Haunted” by Poe
Author’s suggestion: buy Poe’s Haunted. Great album, that is if you are into alternative rock. Best album I have listened to since the last Crowded House album back in the mid-90′s.
The only thing consistent about me is my inconsistency. I think I have shaken my past attitudes but they come for a friendly visit from time to time to haunt me.
All About Eve
Eve, Eve, Eve. What have we done to you? It seems every town of over 10,000 people that we stop in, Eve decides to keep us on our toes (I guess we should look on the bright side of life and thank God that there aren’t too many towns of that size in the Outback).
After replacing her catalytic converter in Darwin, she decides to have a flat. I guess that one was inevitable, and I forgave Eve that indiscretion. I was also driving when she decided to blow, so I guess I have some culpability. I actually thought we lost the axle.
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Eve Flat Fix |
The second time, Eve decided to veer wildly into an oncoming kangaroo. Well, actually I was driving. I guess she gets a reprieve (but I have more to come). I felt horrible when I hit the roo. I was driving at dusk, and this roo just jumped hare kare into Eve. I just heard a THUMP, then looked to the left to see a roo doing a back flip into the air and coming back down on to the front. This was my first roadkill ever (well, Otto and I did run over a small, slow bird in Oregon. But I don’t think that counts) and one of my biggest fears. I love animals. I wanted to puke. I said to the group, “Shit. I hope I killed it instantly when I hit it. I would hate to think that he is back in the road half-alive. I just couldn’t live with that.” Tony replied: “Eff the roo! What did he do to my car?” Well, the roo took the front headlight and took my clean record of a Friend of Animals and tossed them both into the dung heap.
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Eve: Roo Terminator! Roo: Headlight terminator! |
In Broome, Eve decided she had enough of us and decided to keep us out of the car. First one door handle broke, then the other and a third. What we had to do was this: unlock the driver’s side door (which unlocked all the doors), then the person on the left side in the back had to open the door for the front passenger, who then could let the driver in who would then let the right-side passenger in. We were figuring that if it were to go on much longer, we would all have to enter from the trunk (you don’t know how hard that was for me to write ‘trunk’. I almost wrote ‘boot’. Help me).
Eve barely made it to Perth when her starter gave up the ghost (after failing to start at a fuel stop outside of Perth. Again I was driving. Coincidence? I think not). I asked Tony how many more parts of Eve could go to hell in a handbasket. He started to name them all and we both decided it would be better not to think of it all.
The Journey
After leaving Broome we headed down to Karijini National Park or should I say, Karijini visited us. Return of the Red. You all remember how much I enjoyed the liquid red of Ayers Rock. Well we all got a double dose, but this time in its dry form. The roads were unpaved, and the dust we kicked up landed everywhere. Eve was covered inside and out and so were we. I was blowing red dust from my nose for days.
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Red, Red, Go Away |
After that we headed up to Exmouth. Tony was quite excited about visiting the town because it is the same name of his hometown in England. Exmouth is a great place. The town is not much to speak of, but the beaches near there were near perfect.
We headed to Turquoise Bay for the day. Man that was heaven. They don’t call it Turquoise for nothing. Beautiful clear water and great snorkeling. It is part of the Ningaloo Reef, which although smaller than the Great Barrier Reef, I think is much better. There are less people, the water is calmer, and the fish are more colorful and smaller (probably the most important point). I snorkeled and was slowly carried by the current, and I looked down and saw all these colorful fish swimming with me. I waved. I was also peeing at the same time and I thought to myself that life doesn’t get much better.
After Exmouth we headed down to Coral Bay and did more snorkeling then off to see the dolphins at Monkey Mia.
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Feeding Time at Monkey Mia |
Monkey Mia is where the wild dolphins come into shore to be fed. From what I read, it seemed to me to be some freak show for tourists, and the poor dolphins are the sideshow attraction. I wasn’t too far off the mark. I have to admit that I enjoyed the dolphins up close and they did say that they only feed the dolphins enough so they won’t become dependent on humans. I dunno. I liked it but felt very cheap at the same time.
After that we headed down to Kalbarri then on to the Pinnacles. The Pinnacles are my most favorite place in the world. Ever. I was just enthralled. The Pinnacles are a group of limestone rocks that some early Dutch sailors mistakenly thought to be ruins of a lost civilization. It was truly haunting and fitting of my mood. I walked around the park, enthralled at the eeriness and peacefulness of the place.
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The Haunting Pinnacles |
After visiting the Pinnacles, we made our way down to Perth. It rained the whole way (the cloudy sky at the Pinnacles was just perfect). I loved it. It is the first rain I have seen since Ayers Rock, over one month ago. You should have heard my English traveling companions. Talk about bitching and whining! You think they have never seen rain before.
Perth so far is living up to my expectations. It really reminds me of Los Angeles about 25 years ago (if any Perthlings are reading this, PLEASE stop the sprawl before it is too late!). We noticed, however, that once we dropped below the Tropic of Capricorn that it got much colder – in Perth last night it got down to 37°F (3°C). Oi! I realize how woefully unprepared I am in the winter clothes department. When I left LA, it was over 110°F, so I didn’t think much of warm winter wear. I have one hooded sweatshirt, and that is about it. I am going to have to add to my possessions again.
But I do wholly realize now that it is not the clothes that make the Buddha, but rather his attachments to possessions, events or outcomes. Strip anything defined and be free!
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I Am a Fallen Pinnacle |
Final Words and Final Death
“COME HERE!
No I won’t say please!
One look at the ghost before I gonna make it leave
COME HERE!
I got the pieces here!
So I am gonna gather up the splinters
Build a casket for my tears.”
“Haunted” by Poe
Moods. They are a bitch, aren’t they? Thank God I don’t have many of them and hopefully I have filled my quota for the rest of the Striptease.
I like my alone time from time to time. However, when you travel you tend to be in close proximity to the same people day in day out, 24 hours a day.
When I got moody, I would then just go off by myself or put on my headphones. With age, I realize that the problem always lies with the recipient and not the deliverer. Back home if I got moody, I would just sequester myself in my apartment. But I always try to treat people like I would like others to treat me. I felt horrible that I wasn’t able to be more communicative with my travel mates. But I guess moods, good and bad, are just part of life and not to be glorified or shunned; they just are. To look on the bright side of life, I did learn a lot about myself this trip. So I should stop haunting myself with my moods. Add that to my list: I am neither my country of birth nor my moods.
The only items to be parted with on this episode of The Buddha’s Striptease: Naked in OZ Tour 2001″©2001 are some ripped and grease-stained shorts, smelly sandals, one of my many sweatpants, and a long t-shirt that I think I inadvertently left behind in a caravan park. But I did purchase some cheapy flip-flops in Monkey Mia so I guess I am behind schedule.
Next Topics:
South Western Australia and the Nullabor!
