Proper documentation

Starting today I will start to use my phone as a better recording device for my trip. I've realized that the time in between wifi spots are hard to find. So I'm going to add photos and narrative in the same bit. Today the 22nd of July I posted some of my earlier doings of my Irish trip. They were fun. 

Through the weeks I have herded plenty of sheep, every house I've entered they have offered me a cup of tea after only knowing me for a short while. The guy holding a cup of tea is Henry I met him through the family of the host that I am staying with. His history has been a few months of travel through Italy and some teaching in the Ukrane. He has been great company to talk about the traveling life and just enjoying traveling while we are young! 

There is a great river that runs towards the end of the property and I went to skip rocks and take small baths. Funny enough every body is like me where proper baths are taken every two days maybe unless we are going to a gathering. 

I've been using alot of axes and chain saws with all the wood we have been needing to gather for the winter. We cut the wood into 1 foot blocks and then chop them in half with an axe or maybe fourths depending on the size. I've learned to ride a quad bike and park a trailer(where I want it to be) in reverse, it's actually kind of hard. 

The kids I'm staying with are rambunctious and full of energy, half the reason must be in the way thy eat pancakes.

They are the nicest group of people I've met so far. Willing to add me to be apart of their family so quickly, it has been the best working with them. Recently I've met a German wolfer( type of farming helper, like myself) who has made quite the impression on me we are traveling in the same area for quite some time so I may adjust where I'll be staying to see more of her. Perhaps we will meet in London and again in Germany. 

Her name is Jasmin (~yasmine~) we met at a weekly BBQ held every Friday at a local hosts house where all the helpers in the area get together to meet and converse about where we came from and where we will be going. 

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There was also a great dance lesson I took part in learning some traditional dancing from some seasoned professional Irish dancers. As a class of 24 we learned how to... in a way Irish square dance can best describe it. I was also whisked away buy a nice old lady wanting to teach me how every thing is done, long after the rest of the class stopped dancing. I didn't take photos but the location was at a local bar right off the highway. 

Today I started my day early with chopping wood. The logs were around 14 feet long and I was tossing them onto a stand cutting them up. This took 2 hours for a bunch of around 17, then another hour to chop them with the axe my hands were weathered and tough today so all the work didn't cause any injuries.

After my day of chopping wood I went on a bike ride... Probably a good 25miles up hills to another farm where I met up with Jasmin again. On my way to her house the chain the bike had bloke leaving me to use the bike like a scooter for the remaining 5 miles. Once I reached the farm I was offered an early dinner ofcourse and then we headed off to the beach. Also I experienced some interesting Irish rain!! Lots of heavy showers throught out the day but all that had left a beautiful view of the sky in the town of Bantry (below).

A few days after that bike ride. I went for a hike on sheep's head. We hiked trough mountains as the rain poured down and all around we had great views of the bay and the Greenery!!!

On another journey we went to Bantry House which is a great place to see, because of the old architecture and the garden with magnificent views.

In Irish Country

My first day in Ireland began at the Dublin airport. My phone having already been disconnected from any American services was now just a useless flash light for all I was concerned. Using what wits I had, I looked for my bus to take me to Cork. Which is the next closest town to the farm I would be staying at. The ride there was nice enough after getting used to the backwards streets 'right way' of the road being on the left hand side. The towns were rows of clay/brick buildings posted along on the highway, as to attract all the passerby's. The houses were all cottage style two story and a nice yard attached, mostly used as a driveway. Then my stop after another bus change was Bantry. I was in the middle of a coastal town. The bay to the west was scattered with boats that were currently stuck in the ground but in 6 hours the tide would rise another 12ft higher to set the boats back in water. I stayed in the town for a couple of hours to catch in all the sights. It took roughly 10 minuets to circle the town. Small shops were going out of business with for sale signs hanging with Christmas spirit. I waited or the long awaited embrace of my hosts, that would be my new family for the next fortnight. We met and Catherine a mother of five younger children embraced me as my own mother would have, and said well lets not wait in the sun and get a move on shall we. With narratives of her everyday family life as we rocketed past fields on a small two way lane to her country house. After some tea and bread I shuffled off to bed to get rid of my jet lag. The next morning I woke up early to clear out the barn so that we could sheer sheep that afternoon. Above the house and barn was roughly 50 acres of rocky grazing land for the sheep, roughly 4 acres wide stretched along their long strip of land from the top of the mountainous hill, then past the house another 80 acres of land mostly for farming hay to a river bed at the bottom of the hill. We had to move 75 sheep through a dozen or so gated areas to reach the barn. Then a professional sheerer came to cut off all the sheep's wool. We put the sheep back into the pastures and repeated the process for the other 60 sheep below to house. I tired to sheer one, but I was so afraid of cutting the sheep that I barely got any wool off the animal. The next couple of days I spent doing small chores like standing hay, mowing the front lawn, feeding the lambs, and moving the sheep from pasture to pasture. Everybody is so friendly here, they say each town has it's own distinct accent. Also the beer is given to anyone who can handle the strong taste. I was given a beer and I tried to gulp the whole thing down with a smile. Well that's all for now ill let my pictures tell the rest. And it's in the middle of the country so when I get to a computer ill upload all my photos from my camera online. 

One step... The First Step

Arriving in Dublin.. If excitement ever happened at an airport you would think that it would be a bomb threat or a chase for a flight linked up in another terminal and with 5 minuets till the plane takes off you might be stranded in this airport for who knows how long.... Yet believe it or not my action came at baggage claim but not quite baggage claim maybe 3 minuets before, When I was being grilled at immigration on why I'm staying in Ireland and can I sustain myself how much money do I have in my bank... I almost froze up from the resistance I was getting... Isn't traveling popular in Europe I asked puzzled, I'm just passing trough maybe a couple months at most. He looked at me with scrutiny, as if I was a germ about to ruin his country.. Well he gave in, ill give you 3 months. Dang it's like I almost had to tell him my blood type and have my thoughts read for ill intent... But I made it here and I'll make sure to remember to keep it simple next time.. No life stories.

Touring the city

It was a hot day and being ushered out of my slumber at the Sun Bright, I made my way to the Brooklyn bridge. The sun was out in full force but I blended with the mob of tourist making the trek from manhattan to the other side in Brooklyn.

Looking for some choice shots(photos) around the parks and bridges I wasted half the day looking at the way every body congregates at the parks that find themselves in between towering buildings. Later that day I hooked up with one of my cousins, Theresa. She spent the most energy making sure I experienced the New York she knew and loved. We started at a park in Brooklyn there was a huge free concert. Playing smooth feel good music, weed in the air, and beer as the new water. Every body chattered in excitement for the next performers. We moved along with the beat and talked idly for when the guy that we had waited for came on, we were deeply disappointed with his performance.

Leaving around 1030 we headed on to the next buzz. Which with a few train connections found us in Williamsburg. It's the hipster town central, rock music in bars with live bands making a name for them self.

Food trucks galore there was so many places to eat I couldn't decide where I would be happiest here or heaven. So I picked here and there mostly pizza and hotdogs available. Walking past clubs we walked into a hole in the wall kind of place and found a band playing hard rock in the very back a crowd  of mostly guys bobbed their heads to the beat.

We stayed impressed with the talent the rocker coming out in both of us
screaming for more. After the band died out we found ourselves wandering back to the rat infested subways tuned in with a subway performer setting the mood for the night.

Good night Liza.

The First Night in Chinatown

Once I arrived at the steps of the Sun Bright I was tired and sweaty. The air in New York takes a long while to get used to. Just imagine walking through a rainforest where instead of water the trees are fed piss and trash to produce a tropical city smell. Climbing the stairs I then turn to see a middle aged Asian man working the counter, picking his toe nails. Paying no mind to his job I should have had a blow horn to get his attention. I had reserved my spot already so getting in should have no problem, but he wanted more of a print out.. I didn't have one so he wanted to see my phone. Now we exchanged a brief yelling and shouting on one corner I was protecting my phone from his grimy, thief prone hands. And he was blindly asking to see my email which can only be seen when the phone is in his hands... You can see my predicament.. But my stomach was aching for food and my 50pound bag wasn't the best comfort. Giving in I handed over the phone and he checked me in for a night. Walking up the stairs I almost cursed that I had been scammed. The first two floors were a combination of cubicles lined like how you would hold chickens in a coup. It was hotter and stank even worse than any street I had been on so far. Filled with the Chinese workers this is what they called home.. Terrible. Working my way up I found a steel door separating the stair well from my own soon to be home. I opened the door and was relieved that I had found my own Antarctica in the midst of this hellish heat. I was pleased with the cool breeze that froze the sweat I had accumulated through my trip. I'm pressed with my find I walked down what looked like rows of changing rooms. Boy was I wrong these where the rooms they were as wide as two doors and inside long enough for a twin bed (see attached pic). Size usually matters but for now this would do, my bag can be safe and I can go on the prowl for some food. I wondered out side and found that the mix of rich, poor, food, and trash was separated by just blocks at the corner trash piles and across the street people are eating $30 plates in little Italy. I found my way to the warmth of a food cart he was already my friend greeted me with his Brooklyn accent saying he was going to take care of me and prepared me a $6 feast of chicken on rice with some fire sauce. Walking around I tired my self out while I ate, heading back to my coffin of a sleeping area. Settling down I realized that the a/c had a dripping of cold water conveniently over my legs, this was going to be a long night.

The New York Life

Suddenly after a long sleep I wake up to yelling in the front seat of our van, they are arguing for the next destination. Money is tight but nobody says it out loud. I drift back a day it's the after noon and I've just said goodbye to a girl. She is a teen, she looks at me with a flair in her eye, it's hard to notice the sadness in her eyes because she hides it in mischief, turning so quickly as a stranger would to say goodbye. My disappointment shows as she turns back to laugh, hug, then leave again just as quickly as we met. Brief but all that was needed. That was our goodbye, for however many years I'll be gone. The smile my sister left me was going to have to last till the next time. I bring my self back to the car, streaming through east coast towns we make great time. Yet they still argue our next stop and how to get there. I pretend to sleep keeping myself out of the fray surely If I say anything it won't help the mood. I just want the journey to begin. I guess in a way it has, I look up he catches my eye. A quick exchange of words and sure enough I'm getting out the car with the intention to get as far away from that car as possible. The goodbyes again were quick, sweet, almost rehearsed. There was a comfort to knowing they would stay the same. Turning away I struggle with the weight I have gained close to 50 pounds of gear. Turning my head up, where am I.. It takes a couple minuets to figure I'm in New Jersey. I find a park easy enough. A couple of choice pictures with the skyline and I get to work on my phone looking for a place to stay. The add looked nice enough a little hostel in the middle of Chinatown... I book a room and take a sub way, hiding all my belongings in my bag I should be ready for any surprises. 5 min and I'm climbing out of the subway dazed and directionally lost I head a mile in the wrong direction till I realize my mistake. Turning around my path takes me through many shades of neighborhoods straying from wide streets and outside dinners to busy streets through packed apartments down into dark empty business areas with trash bag lined sidewalks. And I fine my hotel... The Sun Bright.. I laugh and walk inside  

New York & Road Island

Stay posted for the photos ill upload them soon maybe on the side link there will be a page that corresponds to this post that says the same title. Today and the past 3 days we have been traveling from Omaha all the way to New York we made the trip in a little more than 28hours of straight driving. With us was Dania, my Dad and Kaile. We visited Hersey, Pensilvania, basically a town for tourist as well as a community supporting the orphans that the Hersey family brought in. We also went up to see my Aunty Debby and her family in Providence, Rhode Island. 

  The air in New York was thick and sticky when you would breathe in what you would get would be a stench and bad odors as well as choking on a humid tropical combination of motor vehicles and passing strangers. The lights at night are blinding in time square, where people sit and watch all the commercials on the buildings. There is no traffic rules per say. When you cross the street you play Russian roulette with the cars will the stop or run you over while honking madly for the inconvenience it has caused them. I also ran into my old job FIVE GUYS... To tell you the truth it is so different out there the burgers would probably taste much different just as much so as the looks and the way the employees talk. The accent reminds me of someone making a nice deal and yelling at the same time but their voice is no louder than mine in regular conversation. 

  Also I bought some new gear for my trip a sleeping bag that can survive 10* degree temperatures and a pad for underneath it as well as a tent for outside sleeping. 

Until next time!!