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As I write briefly and not descriptively from my diary, this is how my journey went on.
New Zealand.
We set off from Tanna in Vanuatu to Port Villa (also Vanuatu) to Sydney and on to New Zealand. The Journey from Vanuatu started at 10am on 11/10/07.
Leo explained to us in Vanuatu that our journey would continue with the Maori.
We were to live and work on a ship for the next part of our trip. I knew that this part of the journey would be truly awesome, as New Zealand was somewhere that always had great meaning to me.
The tall ship, R. TUCKER. THOMPSON was huge, with enormous sails and a grand entrance, it had such a beautiful sense of welcoming. We climbed aboard and had little time to settle in before we began our continued epic journey. It was a wise idea at the time to only take the essential stuff with us. Our bags were so big to store on board that it seemed pointless bringing everything. Waterproofs were the only thing that were essential.
As we found our feet, I couldn't help but wonder about our current situation. For me, it was a time to think about my life and what was important. My journey had suddenly become a real evaluation of my true emotion.
After a few days of settling in 15/10/07 to be exact, we went diving for cray fish. We rowed the Waka out and away from the TUCKER THOMPSON tall ship and had a quick brief on the dive. Our task was to dive down and collect as many cray fish as we could. This was something for Brian and Leo as they both had diving experience. I couldnt work out the whole breathing thing-I was spitting and coughing and god knows what. No, I just couldnt master it! Still, it was pleasent enough, I was swimming in the New Zealand sea for fuck sake!.
New Zealand.
We set off from Tanna in Vanuatu to Port Villa (also Vanuatu) to Sydney and on to New Zealand. The Journey from Vanuatu started at 10am on 11/10/07.
Leo explained to us in Vanuatu that our journey would continue with the Maori.
We were to live and work on a ship for the next part of our trip. I knew that this part of the journey would be truly awesome, as New Zealand was somewhere that always had great meaning to me.
The tall ship, R. TUCKER. THOMPSON was huge, with enormous sails and a grand entrance, it had such a beautiful sense of welcoming. We climbed aboard and had little time to settle in before we began our continued epic journey. It was a wise idea at the time to only take the essential stuff with us. Our bags were so big to store on board that it seemed pointless bringing everything. Waterproofs were the only thing that were essential.
As we found our feet, I couldn't help but wonder about our current situation. For me, it was a time to think about my life and what was important. My journey had suddenly become a real evaluation of my true emotion.
After a few days of settling in 15/10/07 to be exact, we went diving for cray fish. We rowed the Waka out and away from the TUCKER THOMPSON tall ship and had a quick brief on the dive. Our task was to dive down and collect as many cray fish as we could. This was something for Brian and Leo as they both had diving experience. I couldnt work out the whole breathing thing-I was spitting and coughing and god knows what. No, I just couldnt master it! Still, it was pleasent enough, I was swimming in the New Zealand sea for fuck sake!.
Later on that day, Dave and I decided to climb up to the top mast where we had time to reflect. I think we both had a true moment, and I would give almost anything to have that moment again. The moment was an overwhelming one of realisation and of reality. We were in New Zealand looking upon the great sea with the sound of silence in our lives. It was this very moment that I began to find true peace with the devastation and destruction I had endured in my young life. We didnt need to say anything to eachother because we both knew it. We knew this was the start of something better.
When the night fell upon us, the ship really did do itself justice. I would stand over the edge, holding on to the ropes and see dolphins glowing in the water and swimming gracefully beside us. The stars shined wildly over the sea, and looking into the distance, there was nothing but an open world. It was breath taking, it was the beginning.
The vessel would glide through the sea so passively and with little effort against the harsh waves. A storm had brewed up over a few days, but none of us were frightened. I think I speak for everyone when I say, we made the most of every minute and it was here that we fought together.
For most of the time it was all pretty hands on, our duties were to put the sails up, scrub the deck, polish the brass, steer the boat and help the chef cook. Bruno was the one who had the cooking expertise, so he took on the cooking job very well.
Working on the ship was a real team effort. I know it sounds obvious, but I think that it was here when we all came together and bounced off each other. We had all been thrown into the middle of the ocean, and they say that if you're out at sea for too long, you go insane....Thankfully, that didn't happen, but quite a few of us were barfing up the first few days.
It wasn't long before Leo told us that we were to climb an Island called the Motukokako Island, Hole in the rock or as Pirates call it Piercy Island. It is a rocky island off the very northern tip of Cape Brett Bay of Islands, which features a hole where boats can pass through. The Island, to the Maori holds something of a rite of passage. The Maoris would swim the shark infested sea to the island, and then climb to the very top. It was hardcore.
I was below deck when we arrived at Motukokako Island. On climbing up to the top deck, everyone had gone pretty silent and I think the fear of the climb had started to wade in. It was massive. No question.
On the 17/10/07 we began our climb early at 8am, and after 4-5 hour or so, there abouts, we all reached the top. We initially climbed it individually then went up through the terrain together on a single rope which we were all attached too. The view was just too much to comprehend. Unreal and truly amazing. The tall ship looked like something out of a film, so rich and grand. On reaching the summit, Leo informed us of our next destination on this once in a life time journey. Bhutan. I couldn't really react at the time but I did my best, because I remember everyone saying "wow, that's cool" and all I could think of was "where the hell is Bhutan...."
When the night fell upon us, the ship really did do itself justice. I would stand over the edge, holding on to the ropes and see dolphins glowing in the water and swimming gracefully beside us. The stars shined wildly over the sea, and looking into the distance, there was nothing but an open world. It was breath taking, it was the beginning.
The vessel would glide through the sea so passively and with little effort against the harsh waves. A storm had brewed up over a few days, but none of us were frightened. I think I speak for everyone when I say, we made the most of every minute and it was here that we fought together.
For most of the time it was all pretty hands on, our duties were to put the sails up, scrub the deck, polish the brass, steer the boat and help the chef cook. Bruno was the one who had the cooking expertise, so he took on the cooking job very well.
Working on the ship was a real team effort. I know it sounds obvious, but I think that it was here when we all came together and bounced off each other. We had all been thrown into the middle of the ocean, and they say that if you're out at sea for too long, you go insane....Thankfully, that didn't happen, but quite a few of us were barfing up the first few days.
It wasn't long before Leo told us that we were to climb an Island called the Motukokako Island, Hole in the rock or as Pirates call it Piercy Island. It is a rocky island off the very northern tip of Cape Brett Bay of Islands, which features a hole where boats can pass through. The Island, to the Maori holds something of a rite of passage. The Maoris would swim the shark infested sea to the island, and then climb to the very top. It was hardcore.
I was below deck when we arrived at Motukokako Island. On climbing up to the top deck, everyone had gone pretty silent and I think the fear of the climb had started to wade in. It was massive. No question.
On the 17/10/07 we began our climb early at 8am, and after 4-5 hour or so, there abouts, we all reached the top. We initially climbed it individually then went up through the terrain together on a single rope which we were all attached too. The view was just too much to comprehend. Unreal and truly amazing. The tall ship looked like something out of a film, so rich and grand. On reaching the summit, Leo informed us of our next destination on this once in a life time journey. Bhutan. I couldn't really react at the time but I did my best, because I remember everyone saying "wow, that's cool" and all I could think of was "where the hell is Bhutan...."
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