Happiness
More or less
It's just a change in me
Something in my liberty
Oh, my, my
Happiness
Coming and going
I watch you look at me
Watch my fever growing
I know just where I am

But how many corners do I have to turn?
How many times do I have to learn
All the love I have is in my mind?

Well, I'm a lucky man
With fire in my hands

Happiness
Something in my own place
I'm standing naked
Smiling, I feel no disgrace
With who I am

Happiness
Coming and going
I watch you look at me
Watch my fever growing
I know just who I am

But how many corners do I have to turn?
How many times do I have to learn
All the love I have is in my mind?

I hope you understand
I hope you understand

Gotta love that'll never die

.. everyday it comes to this- catch the things you might have missed....

.... today was Napier, New Zealand... and it was the completion of a very big circle for me. I used to go to Tofino and stand in the water there, watching the sun set and wonder what was over there- what was it like? Today- I dove into the Pacific Ocean 13,545 Kms from that very spot and found out. Circle Complete. Question Answered. Next.

that pretty much encompasses the last 37 days. I spend the morning trying to remember all the feelings/questions/general wonderments about the world that have gone through my head in the last 15 years, then i leave the safe zone of the ship and get lost for a few hours and see if they get answered. Mostly- they they don't. But on the off-chance that they do- like today, one more doubt about my choice falls away and this all makes a little more sense, gets a little easier.

... we used to dream, now we worry about dying...

.... I've been trying to put into words the feelings that have gone through my head since i left... and today i found them:

'.... if you give it a second- it'll make sense. trust me'.

That's what the old lady who owns this Beach-front B&B said to me before i took this picture. And it does.

Trust Me.

..... I don't worry about dying anymore.

tdk.

21NOVEMBER2009

Napier, New Zealand

... everything is awesome and nobody's happy.....

.... have you all seen that Louis CK skit on Conan that's been making the rounds of late? No? well, then i suggest you get on it. It's boss.


This has all come to light over the last few days that we have been traveling around Aus and the Satellite Internet/Phone Connection has been down. I'm utterly amazed at how pissed off people are that they can't get their emails while on vacation.

The key word being VACATION...

You've just spent the sunny side of $14000 to be able to check your flaming email? WTF?!

.. but here's the kicker.. for me anyways- The mean age for this ship's passengers this cruise is 74... I actually had one old lady get pissed off at me because she wasn't able to blog to her Bridge Group!

Aside from all that- things have been really good.... I'm getting into the swing of things and really starting to feel like I'm actually contributing, rather than just being the FNG. I haven't had much time to get off the ship in the last few ports because i've been covering for some other people that wanted to go ashore for the day. I'm saving up my Brownie points for the next Cruise we do to New Zealand. I have already booked most of the day off to do a sightseeing tour of The Bay of Islands, which has pretty much been the one place I have been looking forward to this whole time. I have always wanted to go to New Zealand, and we now get to do two complete tours of it- J'aime Excite!!

... not really much else to go on about.... I have really been taking this time to get back to me of late- and it's good. Real good. I like the fact that have the time to read and think and go to the gym.

... I'll upload some more pictures later when I'm in Tasmania on thursday- the net is still too slow here.

Stay Gold, Kids.... I miss you.

David Komadowski

07november2009

Somewhere between Adelaide & Melbourne

... a few shots from the last week.....

... I'm still trying to get into the swing of things on here... The top two shots are from the office that i work in and then the view out of said office window- which changes on a daily basis. It pretty much is a small town. We have our own Printing Presses that print our on-board daily news paper, a full doctor/surgeon staff, 10 restaurants/ Bars.... and 900 staff to run it all for 2138 people. Amazing isn't even the word for it. I have lucked out with my choice of job- by being part of the Hotel Department, I'm considered a Junior Officer and get a pretty sweet cabin that Share with my room-mate Alvin. In fact- my room is larger than than most of the passenger cabins! I also get to eat in the officer's mess (Dining Room) and get to go anywhere on the ship I like! It's pretty boss- Not gonna lie! I even get the whole 'Officer and a Gentleman White Uniform'... which -if I may be so bold- I look pretty hot in! The people onboard are rad and to cap it all off- one of the first people I met on-board is from Richmond of all places! Small world....




And a little extra for those of you who are closet El Camino fans:







They LOVE these things here! They even trick them out Stupid- Huge Spoiler's and bad paint jobs like the Rice- Rockets back Home!





I'll catch you in a few days.....

Six Months on a Leaky Boat.....

‘....when I was a young boy, I wanted to sail ‘round the world.. that’s the life for me, livin’ on the sea....’

Since it's taken me almost 2 weeks to find a decent place to get internet- I have dropped the past few days together.... below is the result:

15OCT2009- Left YVR today... So fucking nervous... can’t even begin to figure this out. In two days I’m going to be on the other side of the world... On a Ship.... For Six months. Last time I was this nervous I was packing up to leave for Whistler. And we all know how that worked out! It’s not so much that I’m worried that I won’t like it and want to come home- But that I will, and won’t want to come home.

It is what it is, as they say.

15-16OCT2009- Just in the middle of my 4 hour layover at LAX... This place is a fucking hole. Not to mention that the international terminal is on the OTHER side of the airport... The highlight so far? Air Canada. There. I said it. It was quite possibly the greatest flight I have ever experienced. TV? Check. Legroom. Check. Decent-ish Food? Ah- almost had ya, didn’t I?

... I’m now off to San Fran to meet up with my connection to Sydney. That’s right. I flew down to Southern Cali- only to have to fly BACK UP to SFO... oh well. It’s not like I can be picky- Princess paid for it.

Still 15-16OCT2009-I think.- Sitting in the Terminal at SFO and wondering where my bags are. I hope to hell they make it- I only packed 1 one pair of Hulk Underoos in my carry on...

...The Twilight Zone... Just crossed the International Date line, and blew into the Future... No Rod Serling, No 88 miles-per-hour, Marty- not for this kid. As simple as that, I’m in tomorrowland! I like flying on these newer 747’s. They have this Star Trek-esque main viewer screen right in front of me, showing me this impossibly small little airplane icon over this incredibly huge expanse of blue... 13 hours and 13,847km & I’m half-way around the world. I hope Sydney is cool. I’d hate to think that I had come all this way for an un-cool city.

Ps- I’m stuck between Farty Korean Grandma & Chatty Chinese computer programmer on his first big adventure.

SleepyHead.

16OCT2009- 0745am... I’m here. In one piece. Flew right over the harbour- saw the bridge, The sails, everything. So amazing. The hotel here is pretty nice as well.... They are even cleaning my room as I type.

Which is rad because after travelling for 26 hours, I smell like 2-day Marinated Festival-Box.

( That was for Megs & Amanda- you know what I’m sayin.)

I’m going to hop in the shower, make myself presentable and go get lost in Sydney. Wish me luck!

This just in: Sydney = Pass! This city I want to live in. My kind of people. The main harbour by the opera house reminds me of a cross between Downtown Vancouver, Seattle and somewhere else I can’t put my finger on.... but it’s beautiful, and the people are mad friendly... Like Canadians, only with funny accents.... here’s a few pics to get you in the mood, like.....