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  Poughkeepsie, New York, United States
Friday, July 11, 2008

I arrived in New York with Louise, one of my friends who was off to Fiji for her summer program, I was grateful that Marrian had taken all of our project gear. Louise had a trolley full of gear which she had managed to convince the guy at check in to knock fifty or so dollars off the excess baggage charges. Oh the power of flirting. I tried to get an upgrade to first class by doing the same. The guy was unimpressed. Back in New York I bid farewell to Louise with the intent of catching up with her in a week or so with another co-worker Greg who promised us a feast at his mums house in the Bronx. Thanks to my phone dieing it never happened... oh well next time. Anyway, a bus to grand central saw me to my train to Poughkeepsie where my friend Nancy was living for the summer. The train wound through the city and up north along the Hudson River. The river is expansive and actually quite beautiful. Soon the sky scrapers and apartment buildings gave way to lush green trees and large river side houses. Not quite what I had expected from New York.

That was my introduction to five weeks in New York. Obviously I've done a heap of stuff, but again, doing a blow by blow account would likely have you contemplating how they came up with the word 'word' to describe words. My NY experience only involved a couple of trips into the city, which was actually fine. It has given me the opportunity to get to see what life is like actually living in a place. It also gave me the opportunity to see the kinds of things that a tourist would never get the chance to see. Its been great. I can't thank Nancy enough for putting me up for the WHOLE time and putting up with me for that same time period. She's introduced me to so many people and shown me such a great time... she's kinda the shit. I'll do my best to give you some of the highlights from my time here, but its all a bit of a blur at the moment.

The first week or so revolved around Nancy's "workplace" freedom lake. She and a bunch of her friends "work" as lifeguards there. The lake itself it man-made and gets progressively more disgusting as the summer progresses thanks to a mix of fecal matter, urine and an array of 'i just don't wanna know' other things which find their way into the lake. I put the word "work" in inverted comma's as a large proportion of their time is spent throwing things at each other, playing ping pong, wiffle ball (sort of baseball) and diving for things at the bottom of the lake. That said they do have to stop people from drowning and stuff.

I got to experience a legit college party in the dorms at one of the local universities. It was funnier than you could possibly imagine. We...

Ok so this did post before I intended it and thanks to Nancy for filling in the gaps. It seems a travesty to undo all her handy work so I'm tempted to just leave it alone. That said, in the interests of maintaining continuity in writing style (crap) and correct grammar (not American) I should probably fix it up. I guess I'll keep Nancy's writings (in italics) as a prompt and add in my own gibberish around it. So again, thanks Nancy... even for the embarrassing additions.

I would also like to comment on Mark's description of my work place. It is indeed a man-made lake, but is filtered by a natural spring. So it's not as gross as Mark is making it out to be (he's just a bit of a wimp).

Ok, so I might be a bit of a wimp but that lake and its "natural spring" could be considered a septic tank by the end of the summer. I'm unsure as to the origin of its effluent - some foamy algae like substance - but its there. Maybe I"m being harsh but its my blog and I'll write whatever crap I like :)

We went to a Yankee game and went out for drinks in the city afterwards. I took Mark to my favorite hole in the wall bar, which serves $4 drinks all day/night long. Miraculously, we made it back to Poughkeepsie in the same evening in one piece.

Yes the Yankee's game... that was freaking awesome. It was about 44 degrees (celcius) with Darwin like humidity at the original Yankee stadium (due for demolition at the end of the season). As we walked toward the entrance Nancy commented that I would see and here some of New York's Finest in action... no not the NYPD but Yankee's fans. Moments later as we walked behind two Yankees fans with their matching shirts, hats and beer guts I hear one of the most eloquently spoken exchanges in my life. *Imagine a thick, thick Brooklyn accent - Fan #1: "Yo dude what da f*#k, it's hot as a mutha f*#ker our heya" Fan #2: "F*#kin' ay". I told you... linguistic brilliance. The game itself was a side show to the overly enthused fans. My favorite part was when I had to stand for a the US national anthem and a minutes silence out of respect for troops serving in Iraq. It's such a big thing over here - supporting the troops. It's cool but I think they should also support the logical voters who didn't elect that idiot bush. Whatevsies. It was an all round all American experience. We did go to the Bar downtown afterwards which was so cool. I know I'd been into the city before (6 years ago) but I really feel like I got to experience the city this time. Its cool.

After a few rounds of drinks one evening, Mark revealed his true talent: karaoke. At the time, I had lost my voice and could barely talk. Mark thought it would be funny to tell the karaoke DJ to call me up to sing "Sexual Healing". What Mark did not realize is that I'm actually not stupid, and saw him blatantly walk up and sign my name on the list. So, a few minutes later I snuck up to the DJ and told them to call out Mark's name, not mine. So yes, that's how Mark sang "Sexual Healing" to a roomful of strangers. And he did it quite well.

Yes back in Poughkeepsie in the "Dutch Cabin" near Nancy's families house this event did occur. I thought I was real subtle actually. Apparently not. I totally out did the guy from Alaska in the "came farthest just to sing karaoke for ya'll contest". Owned him.

I took Mark to Woodstock to meet my father and his veggie Benz. My father's friend just bought a plot of land in Woodstock that was famous during the 1960s as a nudist camp, so Mark and I walked around the property checking out all the "sex huts". There was also an old tennis ball court in the middle of the camp grounds that people must have played on... nude. NUDE. I can't imagine - nor do I want to. We, however, did not get nude. Mark was worried about getting bit by ticks.

I hold no fear of ticks. I merely felt that neither my hair, nor my beard or pubic hair was neither long enough to honor the hippy spirit that existed at the camp. Nancy's dads 'vegi benz' runs entirely of vegetable oil. Depending on where the oil comes from his car either smells like a Chinese kitchen or french fries. Its cool.

Mark overcame his fear of water and heights when we went cliff jumping at Kaaterskill Falls. Oh wait, but before the jumping part we hiked up the falls (Kaaterskill Falls is the highest two-tiered waterfall in New York State. The water drops 260 feet - not meters -  in two stages. The first drop is 180 feet while the second is only 80 feet), had some awful Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat beers which I will never drink again, and hiked down the mountain while watching our friends stumble down in their inebriated state. It was after the hiking/drinking that we went cliff jumping. We definitely peer pressured Mark into being perhaps a little too carefree and wreckless. Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Gossage, Mark did leave NY in one piece - I made sure of that!

I can add nothing to this. The waterfall was amazing. Oh and there was this hippy couple camping at the top who were off the planet. When Mike asked them how old they were the guy responded with "what, in earth years?" I felt ashamed by my mediocre hippyness. The girl then decided to change in front of everyone hairy hippy legs and all. They were cool. I asked them what they were doing after they left and they were like "oh dude we're headed to this rainbow gathering in the forest... its gonna be a trip". I'm sure they were destined to keep tripping. Cliff jumping was cool but I am allergic to hurting myself so I was reluctant. But it was sweet.

Mark "played" baseball with the Freedom lake lifeguards, meaning we sat in the outfield and drank because the guys thought Mark and I were more harm than help to the team. Shunned by my own friends - nice.

Yeah the baseball. At a fully fledged baseball pitch thingo. Yes we got shunned. They took the game way too seriously anyways. It's not a gentleman's game like Cricket where having a beer in hand while playing is an optional rule. They could learn a little culture from backyard cricket.

Luckily for Mark, he was here for the 4th of July, the celebration of America's independence. I took Mark to a backyard party where my co-worker let his little daughters, nieces, and nephews set off fireworks while we idly sat within several feet of the launch site. All of a sudden, one of the boys set one of the fireworks upside down and it ricocheted in all directions, flying right at our faces. One little girl got burned slightly, but all in all it was a pretty spectacular display of irresponsible firework management.

It was sweet. The upsidedown firework was definitely the highlight. Especially when I grabbed two of the little kids and pushed them underneath me to avoid them copping some fireworks in the face. Another highlight was the fact that fireworks are illegal and one of the guys setting most of the fireworks off was a cop and the other was a catholic priest... I shit you not. It was classic.

The Gay Pride Parade took place down 5th Ave in Manhattan, so Mark and I roughed out a huge rainstorm to join in the festivities. We saw a celebrity on one of the floats which I was rather excited about, but I don't think Mark recognized him (it was that Asian news reporter from "Ugly Betty"). In the same trip, we stopped by the Museum of Sex. Uh, no comment.

Yeah the Museum of sex... well that was an experience. From antiquated dildo's to examples of every form of sexual act known and unknown to mankind. It was pretty well done though. I think I saw more penis's than I ever needed to or wanted to see but whatevsies. Its all natural... except for those unnatural ones... whatever. The pride parade was awesome. It turned downtown Manhattan into a flamboyant and colourfull kaleidoscope of leather g-strings, feathers and flesh. It even managed to piss down with rain for hours and no one really seemed to mind.

One weekend, I had to drive to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to drop off some of my belongings at my apartment at college. Mark tagged along, of course. My anthropology professor invited us over for a homemade Guinea Bissau style feast. She was ecstatic to meet Mark and hear all about Cocos, as she and her husband are both practicing anthropologists.

Yeah I got to check out Nancy's "school" read - Uni. It was pretty nice. Very white upper class. Which is interesting considering Nancy's half Japanese tendencies. We got to check out her new apartment which is strategically positioned above the towns two bars... coincidence... I think not.

Two of my friends are ex-culinary students, but although they dropped out early they learned enough to throw a fancy dinner party for us. Mark actually dressed up and looked like an old man for once. After our classy dinner party, Mark got drunk and half naked, pulling down his pants and showing everyone his speedo. Hold on, let me explain. He wasn't wearing a speedo for funsies, but instead because we had not done laundry in over a week and that was all he had left. Okay, moving on.

Thanks Nancy for filling in the details on that. Firstly I didn't look like an old man... just me dressing up as if I was going to work for 'the man'. Secondly I believe my pants were pulled down when someone spotted my speedos. I merely didn't bother to return them to their normal position. What you also failed to mention was that I was then joined by the rest of the male population in sitting sans pants for half an hour after I told them that it was the latest trend in Sydney.

New Paltz is basically the new Woodstock. It's my favorite hippy town in New York, as Woodstock has been destroyed by the tourist industry. On our way back from hiking Minnewaska, we passed through NP and had lunch. It was either this trip or another one when Mark walked into a bazaar and almost bought a rastafari hat. It looked pretty good on him. Minnewaska was pretty cool - the view from the top of Millbrook Mountain would have been much more expansive if it wasn't for the thunderstorm clouds that accumulated there overnight.

New Paltz had really cool vibe. Like an American Margret River without the surfing culture. The hike in the National Park was cool. Made me appreciate our National Parks at home though. Much better kept and without the porta loo's.

In the mornings, I coach a rowing team consisting of about 20 boys. I needed some filming assistance one practice, so Mark woke up at the buttcrack of dawn with me and rode in the launch filming my boys. Later in the afternoon, I convinced the organization to let me take out a crew shell with my younger sister, her friend, and Mark. However, I did not tell them that Mark had never rowed before... instead I told him to lie his face off and say he had "some" rowing experience. Meaning, watching my boys practice earlier that morning. I was rowing in the front seat while Mark was in the back, mostly so I wouldn't get pissed off with Mark for screwing up and turn around and smack him with my oar. However, I must admit, Mark caught on very fast. We were all impressed by his natural ability to pick up a skill that takes most rowers at least one season to understand. Kudos, Mark.

Thanks Nancy. Rowing was hard as though. Especially because one of the head coaches was watching from a little dingy (he was out coaching another boat). We'd had to lie to him so we could use the boat and he was watching intermittently throughout the whole thing. I rowed on the Hudson... it was cool.

Ummmm.... gosh what did we do for a month? It seems like it all kind of blurred together. There was a lot of learning on my part of Aussi culture, which I found entertaining. However, Australia, you can take Fosters back to your island and keep it there. Please. Right now. I'm sure Mark thought my American/New Yorker ways were a bit odd as well, and hopefully he doesn't trash me too much in his blog entry. He was fascinated by squirrels, chipmunks, deer, groundhogs, and fireflys - and slowed down every outing by stopping to take pictures of them.

Those animals were cool. I took lots of bad photos. I love squirrels. From this point I head(ed) to Central America via Miami to work for BR.  New York almost felt like home. I'd made some great friends and done some really cool stuff. So thanks to everyone for looking after me.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

poughkeepsie	The Bronx - Yankee Stadium	Metro North Train	Woodstock - nudist camp
Kaaterskills - post cliff jumping	"Playing" baseball	4th of July	4th of July
4th of July	Manhattan - Gay Pride Parade	Manhattan - Mark in a rainstorm	Manhattan - Dude from Ugly Betty
post rain storm	Manhattan - Museum of Sex	Manhattan - $4 drinks at Asian Pub	Fancy, but not classy, dinner party
New Paltz - The Almost Rastafari Purchase	Minnewaska hike	early morning row	Filming the morning practice
Actually rowing	chipmunk

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