All The Small Things

"All the small things
True care, truth brings
I'll take one lift
Your ride best trip

Always I know
You'll be at my show
Watching, waiting, commiserating

Say it ain't so,
I will not go,
Turn the lights off,
Carry me home"

All The Small Things - Blink-182

When you start travelling you meet all sorts of people: the partiers, those interested in the local cultures, even those who are sulking about being overseas (an odd bunch of people these ones). Sometimes when travelling you only get a few days or even a few hours to get to know someone and then one of you moves on. From these limited interactions it becomes quite common to have a generalised opinion of them, even though you hardly know much more about them then where they are from and what they do. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with some people I met while doing my first travels through America and my original impressions of them changed, and there's one in particular which brought me to writing this blog.

It started when I found out they read nearly every post I write, and I had no idea apart from their comments on one travel related blog. It's one of the biggest compliments a person can give me, saying they read and like my blog. There are people I know read this blog every time a post goes up and I value their feedback. But there are others who read this and I have no idea who they might be - but that's the internet for you. 

It shouldn't seem too out of the ordinary that he reads this given how many random blogs and articles we click on every day, right? Well, this person also happens to be the loosest person I have ever met. I have never seen anyone party as much or drink as much as they do, to the point where I was nearly fearful of them. I honestly have no idea how they made their way on their travels given the nights we had out. It was all in good fun and towards the end of the trip I wished I had gotten to know them a bit better. When I reunited with the group recently the guy was, without a doubt, still one of the loosest people I had ever met. It's like that's their thing, their one big impression they want everyone to remember them by. 

But as this reunion went on I began to see the smaller things. The compliments about my writing came out again and the support offered about a few of my sadder posts. We talked more and actually listened to one another (a topic which I intend to cover more in my next blog). We laughed and danced to terribly awesome 1990s music with the rest of our group. And when some idiot made me drunk cry at about 1am we drunk sung Shake It Off together. I always knew they weren't a bad person but I never knew they were such a good person.  

There were other revelations about my travel mates on this reunion - like the girls who turned out to be lovely and fun and not at all stuck up like I first thought. And then, unfortunately, the people who turn out to not be as good as you once thought. I guess it works both ways. 

I love all the people I meet while I travel, as they are part of a huge adventure. I enjoy their stories and goals and visions for where they are going next. I wish I could keep in touch with everyone I meet and get to know them a lot better, but realistically that's not possible. I take what I can get from people as I go, and sometimes I'm lucky enough to meet them again, and maybe some of them will really turn into my life long friends. 

Back Home

"See, we won't forget where we came from
The city won't change us
We beat to the same drum
No, we won't forget where we came from
The city can't change us
We beat to the same drum, the same drum

(Hey!)
La-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah
La-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-doe
(Hey!)
And no matter where we go
We always find our way back home"

Back Home - Andy Grammer 

I'm home. Four months on the road and I'm home. 

Melbourne - Perth - Brisbane - Sunshine Coast - Byron Bay - Sunshine Coast - Vietnam - Perth - Adelaide - Melbourne - home. 

I left with one thing in mind: to find out what I really wanted to do. It was an open planned adventure. I didn't know if I wanted to travel and explore new places or if I wanted to live across the ditch. I had planned out the first five weeks and let the rest fall into place. This ended up meaning my time in Byron Bay was extended with a night's notice, a trip to Vietnam was booked three weeks in advance and while I tried to settle in Perth for a bit I woke up one day and thought "I'm ready to go home". People asked me why I was heading back. The best answer I could give was "it's not working". I didn't have any luck finding a job and as I wandered around Perth I lost the desire to live both there and anywhere else in Australia. Perth is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to and I enjoyed my time but living there was another story. I wasn't ready to live away from home. 

Along the way I met people with great stories. They came from all over - South Africa, England, France, Sweden and America. They were on youth visas searching for work, or just visiting because they too were not ready to live away from home. I met one girl who had her visa but decided to cut it short because she couldn't bear to be away from home for Christmas. I met a Grandmother from Pennsylvania who was doing conservation work in Adelaide - this was her time in her life to leave her kids behind and travel. It was these stories which helped me develop my own and realise that I just had to do what was right for me. 

To be honest, I didn't think I figured out what I wanted to do. I'm back home, unemployed and living with my parents and not sure what my next move will be. But I did figure out what I want to be. I want to be happy. I want to find the good in the bad. I want to be able to trust the vibes of a place or trust what my gut tells me to do without doubting the consequences. I had the amazing time doing what I wanted and needed to do. It wasn't always easy - there were tears and fears and confusion but I always kept going until I knew it was time to come home. 

Now I'm back I'll settle for a little bit here then consider my next move. But no matter what sights I saw, and I saw some amazing sights while I was gone, nothing compares to home. A lot of people asked about New Zealand and I always replied with "it's the best place in the world". Before I left I blogged about not forgetting your roots and I held true to that promise. I'll come and go from this place, but I will always call New Zealand home. 

Here's a few travel snaps of the best times with the best people

Cycling the suburbs of Perth

On a junk boat in Halong Bay, Vietnam (a beautiful place)

Melbourne reunion with my American contiki mates

This is just a sweet brag of the time I met Andy Grammer (this didn't happen overseas)

Walk

"I'm learning to walk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
I'm learning to talk again
Can't you see I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?"

Walk - Foo Fighters

I posed a question to my Facebook friends near the end of last year partly to research for this blog and partly because I was curious: if you had to have one musician visit you on your deathbed who would you choose? The only restrictions I put on the question was if you wanted to pick a dead person you also had to pick someone living. The rest was interpreted by the person answering - why they were on their deathbed, what you would talk about with the musician and for how long, etc.

The results were, of course, vary in and interesting. There were obvious deceased choices - Michael Jackson, Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, Bon Scott and Jimi Hendrix. Others, still living, were Ben Harper, Michael Buble, Annie Lennox, Sol3 Mio, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Britney Spears (during her prime era) and a lovely gesture from my uncle who would like his son, a musician, to be beside him. I'm glad to say I have friends who make good choices on their deathbed - there was no mention of a Justin Bieber or Drake being called to the bedside.

Personally I would want to talk to Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters. I did filter through a few choices before deciding on Grohl - I considered Taylor Swift, Hunter Hayes (though he was vitoed as a recent obsesssion), Jimmy Christmas from Luger Boa and John Cooper from Skillet. While these musicians, and many more, would be incredible to have visit during your last moments, Grohl is my number one pick because of his stories. I imagine lying in bed and listening to tales of rock and roll lifestyles, overcoming the despair of Nirvana and moving forward into Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl would also tell it to you straight and I imagine the last thing you want when you're dying is a whole lot of bullshit.

Of course, I hope I am years and years from being on my deathbed - hopefully so much so that I out live Dave Grohl. It is for this reason I picked out Walk for this blog. It's a tad ironic to think you could learn to walk again in your last moments. However, Walk is a great song to learn from as you take on life. There is a section in the song when Grohl literally screams "I never wanna die ... I'm dancing on my grave... I never wanna leave". Time and time again we will have to restart, to pick ourselves up and walk back into the insanity that is life, and not succumb before your time. It's a theme which Grohl has used in many of his songs and if he's coming to my deathbed then I want to be able to tell him all the times I learned to walk again.

If you missed it on Facebook do mention below who you'd have on your deathbed - it is an interesting idea to consider.

Don't You Worry Child

"Upon a hill across the blue lake
That's where I had my first heartbreak
I still remember how it all changed

My father said
Don't you worry don't you worry child
See heavens got a plan for you
Don't you worry don't you worry now"

Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia

It is the last day of 2014 and my Facebook feed is full of people reflecting back on the year and setting goals for 2015. This has been one of the biggest years of my life - I've been through so much self change - but I wonder what I can bring for myself next year? I've narrowed it down to three resolutions 1) to make my bed every day, 2) to stop eating snacks in bed and 3) to worry a whole lot less. The first two are most likely to be rather big fails as I hate making my bed and I love snacking. It is the third point here which interests me and will be the challenge for the next year.

There is plenty of reading avaliable on why worry is wasteful, unproductive and even reduces the doing part of your brain. But research and statistics are not why I want to quit worrying. Instead, I will tell you a story.

You're probably familiar with the story of my friend dying on Contiki - it has featured in many blogs this year as it affected me immensely. I want to bring it up one more time. Earlier the night she died there was a bit of a tiff within the group - a drunken joke got taken the wrong way and cracks started to appear in our Contiki family. I remember there was a bit of worry for either side of those involved. Two hours later it was never talked of again because something a whole lot worse happened.

It was a lesson in not worrying about the small things. It was useless to worry about a small tiff, just as it is useless to worry about being a little bit late or whether something will work out or how someone will receive you, because worrying is completely inaffective. I believe there is a plan for you set out by a higher force - for me it is not necessarily heaven but rather the universe's spirits helping to work out my life. When something looks like it's going wrong one of four scenarios is going to happen: it won't matter, it will matter, it's going to be a whole lot worse than it looks or a whole lot better. But worrying isnt going to help any of these situations. And if there's one thing I've learned this year it is that I can get through any curveball thrown at me. As an old English proverb says "worrying is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere."

2014, you were a hell of a year. I've met the best people, kept the most important friends close to me, reconnected with my extended family and made friends in foreign places. I've seen sights and experienced local culture and learned to not be afraid of change. But there's also been heartbreak this year when I lost three people important to me. To conclude 2014 I want to pay tribute to them:

My dearest Grandfather who lost his battle with cancer in February but whom in have such cherished memories with working on the family farm.

Former executive producer of weekend sport Matho - you never forget those who give you a chance to start your career.

And the beautiful Clarissa who I met on the most important adventure of my life, you are now the brightest angel.

Musical Musings will be back in 2015. I'll have more songs, more stories, more wisdom and more ways to make life one happy journey. Until then, worry a whole lot less and enjoy what you have now.

Rude

"Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life
Say yes say yes 'cause I need to know
You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die
Tough luck my friend but the answer's no

Why you gotta be so rude
Don't you know I'm human too
Why you gotta be so rude
I'm gonna marry her anyway"

Rude - Magic!

Since it's radio debut late last year Rude has coped a bit of a hating. It seems not many people want to side with Magic! Rather, people feel it's a bit rude to turn up on daddy's doorstep and demand his daughter. What if the daughter doesn't even want to be married? The video clip tells otherise - daughter goes behind daddy's back and marries mister Magic! lead singer anyway. I've always been on the fence about what side I'm on, sometimes I feel sorry for the guy being told no and sometimes I think daddy is doing best for his daughter. But despite what side I take there is one important lesson here: family comes first.

In my three years of blogging I have only once before touched upon the subject of my family and that was following my Poppa's death in February. I guess it's because my family is just always there and we all just go along our business as we please. We have little drama and mutual respect for what each other does - probably because we are all very different people. We're also completely crazy in the best way possible. But God help you if you insult any of them, because I will hunt you down and hurt you.

My family is on my mind right now because I've just spent my first Christmas away from them. I made the decision in November not to return home to New Zealand for the holiday season - I couldn't justify spending the money to return home for one day and my mum agreed it was sensible not to return (my aunt was amazed I still spent Christmas with the folks well into my early 20's). I still had a great Christmas day, I was adopted by a friend's family for lunch and going to the beach like a true Australian. However it was still weird to be away from home and I was sad opening my gifts from home while being so far away. It's okay though, my family is only a phone call away and I suspect they are secretly jealous of my big adventure.

One day I want to extend my family into a husband and children of my own. Hopefully I will bring home a man my father likes and he won't be rejected when asking for my hand in marriage. Then, I will teach my children that family is number one. You may not talk every week or quite know what your brother does for a job or not listen when mum says buying a scooter is not the most sensible idea but you will be grateful when dad picks you up in the early hours of the morning or when your brother takes you to the cricket or when mum says go have your adventure. Because no matter who else comes into your life, family comes first.

Geronimo

"Can you feel it
Now it's coming back we can steal it
If we bridge this gap
I can see you
Through the curtains of the waterfall
When I lost it
Yeah you held my hand
But I tossed it
Didn't understand you were waiting
As I doved into the waterfall
So say geronimo
Say Geronimo"

Geronimo - Sheppard

There are officially 10 days left of 2014. There's things which have happened this year which excite me so much - three overseas trips, a whole lot of spiritual discovery and yet another year of musing through songs to discover meanings, sort out my head and tell you the stories of my life. I have an idea for a Christmas blog and a New Years blog to bring you within the next few weeks so I thought today was the best day to wrap up this year's music.

As soon as I mention this blog is 2014 music in review you've probably picked up why Geronimo is headlining this blog. Yes, Geronimo is my pick for song of the year. It took a bit of thought to get to this as there have been some bangers this year (all mentioned below). For me though Geronimo takes the top spot for being an awesome debut hit which is edgy and a bit indie thrown in with pop. It's a song you could just rock out to or you could think about the deeper lyrical contents of diving into something alone versus taking someone with you. I am so excited for everything Sheppard is going to do in 2015 and I sure hope there is a wicked follow up song to Geronimo.

However, 2014 also spawned some more brilliant hits, so let's run through some honourable mentions in the top 40 category. Both Iggy Azalea's Fancy and Calvin Harris' Summer were wicked songs to play in the club or at the beach or while road tripping, and it's no wonder both songs are in the top 25 biggest selling songs of 2014. Obvious mention to Taylor Swift for Shake It Off - a pretty average song but a killer to head bang along to in the car (I did it twice the other night while the guy driving just sat there unamused). I could keep listing of songs but I'll finish the top 40 section with a bullet list of my final five favourites.
- We Are Done by The Madden Brothers
- Life of the Party by Shawn Mendes
- Que Sera by Justice Crew
- Don't Say Goodnight by Hot Chelle Rae
- every single released by The Vamps this year

This year wasn't just about the top 40 pop though. Despite being released in 2013 Let It Go from Frozen was a killer song for 2014. It was sung by children everywhere all the time and drove parents crazy but it is such a good song. I much prefer the Idina Menzel movie version over the Demi Lovato version. Two other movie theme songs which must be mentioned are Happy by Pharell because that song was everywhere this year and a song about being happy is what the world needed, and Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde which is currently blowing up in your face because it is so good.

One last topic to cover for 2014 - the oh so epic gigs I got to go to. Overseas acts which I had such fun times at were both Jason DeRulo and American Authors. Another highlight was seeing Clap Clap Riot play their most recent album live back in March - they still are one of the best bands I've ever seen live. On the topic of New Zealand music Homegrown 2014 was a brilliant afternoon once again with local talent proving they've got star power - Benny Tipene in particular was brilliant. And I will never forget how this whole year started, with Fat Freddy's Drop ringing in the new year at Waihi Beach.

2015 is set to be another epic year for music - The Vamps, Foo Fighters and The Script are all on tour, and the breakout artists of this year are surely going to follow up with some great hits. But for now I have one last piece of advice - grab someone's hand, dive into a waterfull and say Geronimo!

Better Than This

"Could be a dead end road

I could be chasing down a broken dream

But I don't even know 

Just to where this thing is gonna lead 

It's a mystery

Oh, and ain't life a trip

No, it don't get better than this" 

Better Than This - Hunter Hayes

This blog is coming to you from a hotel room in Hanoi, Vietnam. I've been on the road for nine weeks, and this adventure is coming to an end of sorts tomorrow night when I board a plane back to Perth to settle for a little bit. I left New Zealand with my backpack and this blog post's song in mind, determined for it to be the theme song of my travels. It's been with me throughout Australia and came with me to Vietnam, providing a bit of comfort for me when things got tough. I was determined to see Vietnam and everything fell into place three weeks before I departed. 

Then, I did one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life - I got back on the Contiki bus. 

The memory of my last Contiki tour has been on my mind for the past 10 days. You never forget the sickening feeling of sitting in a room with your tour group and being told one of the girls you've spent a week travelling with died over night in hospital. I've been worried, paranoid and miserable at times because you can't help but think what if it happens again on this tour. I wish I was one of those people who could put such a tragedy behind me and go forward, but I'm not. Rather, I allowed myself moments on this trip to breakdown, and with the support of an excellent roommate and tour guide, these moments were short. 

Although this tour was tough, I knew it would be worse to have not come at all. Here, I overcome a fear and the reward was incredible. I saw the lights of Ho Chi Minh city at night, lay under the stars on the beach in Nha Trang with a cocktail in hand, and cycled through Hoi An in the pouring rain. I've tried dozens of new foods - soups, rolls, seafood platters, and local beers. I've learned more about the war which shaped Vietnam and saw the effects which remain to this day. I spent a night on a boat in Halong Bay, kayaked out to see monkeys in a lagoon and even held a python. And, of course, I did it all alongside a whole lot of new friends - these people made this trip incredible. 

There's a line in Better Than This which goes "learning through the downs, living for the ups" and I think that sums up both my Contiki tours perfectly. Traveling is tough - you want it to go so well and sometimes it just doesn't. But when things go bad it doesn't mean you should stop. There's a whole world out there which I still have the opportunity to travel. Vietnam is ticked off the bucket list but there's so many more places I want to go. I'm pitstopping in Perth for a bit but I'll hit the road again before long, with my backpack and my travel song blasting loud, because it don't get better than this.