Traveling is not always easy. Right now I am having a weak moment. I am worried about the future, haunted by my past and thus having problems focusing on the present. A friend of mine had said some unsettling things to me the other day, and I have yet to be able to shake their sting from my soul. What is it they say, “sticks and stones…” such utter nonsense that is, I’d take the stones any day. Sometimes I find it difficult to realize all that I am, or try to be, while in a foreign country. It can get a little lonely on the road, and when these moments happen it can get difficult to remember that somewhere, not too far away, I belong to a community, a family, friends, a school; even though not many people know it here, but somewhere someone does know my name. When I feel lonely during a long train ride, I try to keep as many pictures as I can on my iPhone and I start paging through them. Seeing the smiling faces, the times that have passed, brings sunshine to the chill that loneliness can bring. I think about what my friend are doing now, and I think about the USA and how it is starting to become summer and how that always had meant something to me. It doesn’t really mean anything to me now, because I feel so far away from it all.

An excerpt from my journal as we were on the train to Brisbane:

02/06/10

“Right now I’m on the train to Brisbane. It’s funny, I feel like I’m on a nicer version of the commuter rail in Boston. A trains a trains a train. If only the commuter rail could be as nice, would have made my commutes a couple of years ago much more bearable.

I just started thinking about age and how sometimes I don’t realize how young I am. But at times, it’s hard to realize because age is relative. Why should I realize it if I haven’t experienced anything else? Well, the obvious answer is of course through other people.

Another thought I had was about love and how love is maddening – just thinking of the things that I’ve done when enraged by love. Even now I could do crazy things for it, and I’m sure crazier things have been done. Things like flying half way around the world and spending insane amounts of money are a couple of things that come to mind. How many people have done these things only to be rejected? Or worse.. To find their love with a new love?

There’s an Asian woman of about 60-70s holding a girl of about 3-4. They look beautiful. I don’t want to forget this image… sitting on a train in Australia, looking to my right and seeing many people but being intrigued by the beauty of the woman and child. Looking ahead I see my new friends and the Australian countryside flying by me at a staccato rhythm. Just as I think it’s going to be a green field it turns into a brown swampland, Australia, you’re as inconsistent as my thoughts and words on this page. I love you for it. “

My video series regarding the trip:

Video 1: Accommodations

Video 2: Day Time Fun

Video 3: Nightlife

Video 4: Reflection

As always, for all of the pictures taken from the trip please click on me at the top left hand corner.