All was going swimmingly well and then I got to my 'job' where I would edit this "cosmic" man's book(s) in exchange for meditation lessons --he sounded deep, ya'll.  And he was.  Madd deep.  So deep, he was in Peru when I got here, Ha!  By the time he was coming back, I didn't even want to meet him, so I packed up and headed north to the Kuranda Roots Music Festival outside of Cairns (pronounced Cannes).  It was great fun - where people from all over the world were rockin' to Stu B Doo's beats!  Stayed in the area for a few more days rubbing elbows with the indigenous, where I managed to go off my strict vegan diet to taste a kangaroo kebab and eat barramundai (fish).  I tried to bring it back to organic by eating a green ants bum (it has vit c and tastes like lime), but ruined it all over again when I took a day trip into Tasmania, which only rivals HELL - I think they were doing some devil worshipping winter solstice festival (kinda crazy!) and, skipped the oysters, skipped the duck, skipped the canolies, but had wallaby nuggets.

Fast forward to a full day of flying around, I make it in to New Zealand where they are super SUPER strict about declaring EVERYTHING and not bringing ANYTHING in.  I have jellies, I have jams, a fresh palm leaf that I made into a decoration with the rainforest people, and, the worst possible thing - I have lemons.  A gift, mind you, from some dj at the festival, which at the point where the beagle was sniffing me out, I realized could potentially have been grown with marijuana.  I don't know if it's the wallaby from the night before, but my stomach is in knots!  

Yikes, zip, zam, zoom - shiver mi fuckin timbers, I get fined a whopping $--- dollars for breaking some f*cking international law.  Now, I am glad that they didn't put me in jail , though that didn't seem to be on the table, but as many countries that have attempted to kick me out, I wish NZ would have just sent me packin'.  The place ain't all dat and I didn't even take a cat out on the plane (this time) 

Was gonna go sky diving for my bday in 11 days, but -- between the fine and my wallaby luck, I think I'll keep my 2 feet on the ground.  I sure wish I had my ruby slippers! ​

It is a long, expensive flight from New York to Australia, but it surely is worth it once you get there.  Above you are viewing indigenous artifacts housed in a cultural center that aims to teach Australians about the longstanding and respectable Aboriginal lifestyle of thousands of years ago.

The Melbourne Botanic Garden is free to enter and beautiful to walk around.  A hydro powered rainman is situated in the middle of the pond and when it rains, he moves.  Lentils As Anything is in walking distance and with the concept of pay as you can to eat healthy delicious vegetarian meals, it was a coveted spot of mine.

A quick trip to Cairns in Far North Queensland (FNQ) to partake in the vibes and experience of the Kuranda Music Festival gave me the energy and love that I needed after leaving the pseudo cooperative community of Mt. Murrindal in Victoria.  I knew I was 'home' when my ride picked me up from the airport with no shoes on.  On another day, after touring a rain forest and crocodile river, we stopped for ice cream.  "Do I have to put my shoes on to go in?" I asked.  The tour guide-driver noted, "Nah, this is a barefoot country."  Otherwise known as heaven?  

A quick trip to Adelaide and back to Melbourne, where I got a pedicure and a nose ring rounded off the two month trip nicely.   I was also able to visit the Hare Krishna temples of St. Kilda and Adelaide.   Yes folks, that is kangaroo meat in the supermarket.  I have to admit that I did eat a kanga-kebob while touring the Tjapukai Cultural Center of the Rainforest People.  I saw traditional dances, decorated a boomerang, learned to throw those and spears and made jewelry with a rainforest princess.  I was also given a simple lesson in playing the didgeridoo.  I ate wallaby as well when I took a day trip into Tasmania.  To my lucky horror the Dark Mofo Festival celebrating the Winter Solstice was taking place.  It was dark and festive.  Off to New Zealand! 

The best part of living in that awful cooperative community in Australia was my roommate, Jess.  A twenty-six year old former Mormon from Arizona.  Her and I were a lot alike and shared the same interests in health and sustainability.  She was a very smart and pretty master Yoga instructor and masseuse who knew a lot of the conspiracy theory of the United States government.  I loved her and we spent hours cooking and talking and gossiping about the degenerates of the area.  She maintained the organic garden while I edited spiritual books.  Having lived in New Zealand for the past three years, she inspired a last minute, one month trip to the country.  Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to visit her in the South island; however, my time in Auckland proved to be somewhat eventful and relaxing.  I even visited sky tower and contemplated skydiving.