tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17565921230455913332024-03-14T00:06:45.798+13:00TacographyPhotos and Insight from Prem Arup / Taco Belson / Aaron BelsonTaco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-92176400099515347182012-11-21T05:37:00.000+13:002012-11-21T05:37:50.580+13:00Beautiful Samaya AshramAfter an incredible six months at Samaya Ashram, I created this short film to give you a look at the Beauty I saw there, everyday. So much Love to the Samaya Ashram family. Hope you enjoy!<br />
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<br />Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-9067081393000655562012-06-26T18:18:00.002+12:002012-07-03T10:24:12.050+12:00Ashram BlissIt's been two months now since I came to <a href="http://www.ashraminthebush.org.au/" target="_blank">Samaya Ashram</a>, and it has been the most rewarding and enjoyable time of my life. It hasn't been all pleasure and easy going though. I've let go of bad habits and cultural conditioning, released emotions that I had been holding inside, and overcome barriers of the mind which hold us back from seeing our full potential and doing what is difficult. Through the technique of Vipassana meditation, I have gone deeply inward, becoming aware of my true essence and profound stillness. I have seen how we are distracted by the constant chatter of the mind, and through all of this, experienced pure joy and eternal bliss from truly <i>knowing</i> myself. <br />
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I want to share with all of you some of the techniques of meditation that have really helped me, in the hope that you will do them yourselves and experience the same joys and freedom that I am experiencing. They are not difficult at all and many do not require much time commitment. The key in all of them is "Awareness", being aware or "watching" what is going on inside you or inside your mind. For example, as you are reading this or thinking about meditating, your mind may be saying, "I can't do that" or "That sounds silly or stupid". Be a witness. Don't judge it or become frustrated. Just watch, and let it be. Also, with these mediations, do not "try" to do anything, just let it happen, it is already inside you, and you will see just how easy it is.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYLOrwSVZ3o/T-UagA6C7SI/AAAAAAAAASY/JZsDHO12JMY/s1600/DSC02949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYLOrwSVZ3o/T-UagA6C7SI/AAAAAAAAASY/JZsDHO12JMY/s640/DSC02949.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">a winter's sunrise over the hills of Rosebank, NSW</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><h3><b>Dancing Meditation </b>(5 Minutes - One Hour)</h3>Put on your favorite song to dance to. If you want to dance for longer set up a playlist that you will not have to attend to. This can be done by ones self or in a group, both can be equally powerful. The key here is: not to <i>do</i> the dancing, but to <i>let the dancing happen</i>. Move to the music. Do what comes naturally, and be aware of everything that is happening to you and inside you. For example, if you are doing some dance "moves" you may become aware that this is the mind telling you how to dance. Be totally free. Dance to your fullest. Do not mind what the dance looks like or who is watching. You will see that the way in which you dance will change, it will become more free, you will become more open. Try this meditation in the evenings to let go of your day, or in the mornings as a beautiful celebration to the day. This is my favorite active mediation. I use the sound and my attention to the music to remain present, and I find that when I am dancing "totally", I am fully there, and nothing else matters.<br />
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<h3><b>Awareness Meditation</b> (1 Minute - 10 Minutes)</h3>This can be done sitting or standing; doing or not doing. All it is, is to become aware. First, be aware of what you are doing; then what it feels like; then what is happening inside you; and then become aware that you are aware. For example, you are sitting in a chair. Become aware that you are sitting, or rather that sitting is happening. What does it feel like? How do you know that you are sitting? Is there a sensation on the back of you legs and butt? What about a sensation in you back? What else do you feel? What else is going on inside you? Is there emotion? Is there no emotion? Now, grab hold of that awareness. Know that you are aware. "I <i>know</i> that I am <i>aware</i> that I am sitting". Practice this throughout your day, continually become aware of sensations, feelings, and emotions that arise in the body. And also become aware or thoughts that arise in your mind. When watching your thoughts, do not become attached, do not be the thoughts, remain The Watcher. And do not judge, good or bad, it is just the mind.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v3gV4dAm6U/T-UcldTMapI/AAAAAAAAAS4/7mf48R7iJr0/s1600/DSC03012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v3gV4dAm6U/T-UcldTMapI/AAAAAAAAAS4/7mf48R7iJr0/s400/DSC03012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">full moon's brilliance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><h3><b>Seated Meditation</b> (10 Minutes - One Hour)</h3>This is similar to Vipassana meditation, but I am explaining it, so I cannot say that it is exactly Vipassana meditation as was discovered and practiced by Gautama Buddha some 2500 years ago. In a quiet place, find a comfortable and reasonable position to sit for the meditation. I prefer to sit cross-legged on a cushion with my back against a wall. Sitting cross-legged can be painful for westerners as we are accustomed to sitting in chairs and not on the ground. Although, the more frequently you sit this way, the less painful it becomes, and additionally, the pain of sitting can be a great tool as something to watch. It is also possible to meditate sitting in a chair, only to make sure that the back is straight and that you are not so relaxed that you begin to fall asleep, which is very common when learning to meditate. It can also be helpful to wear some type of blindfold, or just gently close the eyes.<br />
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In this meditation, you will be bringing the awareness to the breath. This can be done in two ways or in two places. One is not better than the other, and it is possible to do both at the same time. The first place to watch the breath is at the nostrils. Feel the sensation of the breath as it enters the nose. The second place to watch the breath is at the belly. Watch the rise and fall of the belly as the breath comes in and out. Third, watch what is going on inside the body and inside the mind. Nothing is a distraction in this meditation, so if something arises, just watch, do not become attached, remain separate, remain The Watcher, and let it be. <br />
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Meditation is most accurately described as a state of "No-Mind". So, while there are no goals in meditation, look for this. At first, you will encounter a noisy and chattering mind, and because of this, it may seem difficult to keep the awareness on the breath. At this point I tend to go in one of two directions. The first is to get into a rhythm of "thought and breath" or "thought and no-thought". With your awareness on the breath, a thought will arise, watch it for a moment, and then return to the breath. Another thought will soon arise, and again, briefly watch it and return to the breath. This will become the rhythm. With practice, see if you can speed up the rhythm, see if you can slow it down. Slowing it down brings us in the other direction, moving closer to this state of "No-Mind". <br />
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Buddha stated that "thought and breath are directly related", so to slow down the thought or the mind, we must slow down the breath. Notice the words used when we say that we are "watching the breath". This does not suggest that we are <i>doing</i> the breathing, it suggests that <i>breathing is happening. </i>So we don't want to try and breath slow, we don't want to "try to do" anything, we just want to <i>let it happen</i>. I find the best way to do this is; while meditating, gently let out the breath and pause. Do not breath in the next breath, nor hold the breath, just watch. If you are not restricting anything, you will notice the breath comes back in with slow, very shallow breaths. Since you are just sitting and not moving; moving will often break the awareness, you do not need a full breath. This is the body's automatic breathing, and it may be the first time that you actually ever watched it, since it usually occurs when we are not aware or paying attention. So continue to watch this happy little breath. Continue for ages, it will take you to a place inside yourself of deep stillness. Wherever it takes you, just keep the awareness; remain The Watcher. <br />
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Discovering this stillness, our true essence, was the greatest joy that I have experienced in my life. When I returned from my meditation I found that I could not express enough, the joy that I was feeling inside, from truly <i>knowing myself</i>.<br />
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Try it, see where it takes you. <br />
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"If not you, who? If not now, when?"<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">koala in the gum tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Neamd5fPf_M/T-Vo0FmuHQI/AAAAAAAAATw/iyjaYsiwtSg/s1600/DSC03074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Neamd5fPf_M/T-Vo0FmuHQI/AAAAAAAAATw/iyjaYsiwtSg/s400/DSC03074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> wallabys in the field with yurt in background</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkX3L8rdTi4/T-VpTVp-IuI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Gh_3M3LeA3s/s1600/DSC03090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkX3L8rdTi4/T-VpTVp-IuI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Gh_3M3LeA3s/s640/DSC03090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ocrinWbO488/T-lR8F4NfiI/AAAAAAAAAUw/DQ2WP-igk1g/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ocrinWbO488/T-lR8F4NfiI/AAAAAAAAAUw/DQ2WP-igk1g/s400/IMG_1649.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">our resident peacock</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8v3HZ3gfgd8/T-UeyIAeX0I/AAAAAAAAATQ/medUfHpGFxM/s1600/DSC03032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8v3HZ3gfgd8/T-UeyIAeX0I/AAAAAAAAATQ/medUfHpGFxM/s640/DSC03032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emerson road Rosebank, NSW</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I share this with you from Love. There is no better time than now to awaken to what truly <i>is</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com1221 Emerson Rd, Rosebank NSW 2480, Australia-28.652746099999991 153.4085397-28.652746099999991 153.4085392 -28.652746099999991 153.4085402tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-66546708507569009972012-05-06T18:49:00.000+12:002012-05-06T18:49:58.884+12:00Beautiful Byron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has been two months since I came to Byron. These two months have held many of the most incredible experiences that I have had since I began traveling just over two and a half years ago in Hawaii. In this time, I have experienced pure joy, grown, and learned about myself and the world to an un-measureable extent. I began my time here living at a beautiful yoga studio and homestay. Here I found a Love for yoga and meditation, something that has and is continuing to change me and my life so much for the better. I am so grateful to have found this place, the people I met there, the experiences I had, and the skills and practices I learned will be with me forever. My health has reached an all time high as well. Many things have contributed to this, not only surfing at least once everyday and practicing yoga four or five times a week, but changing to an almost entirely vegetarian diet and being very conscious about what I take in, eliminating all preservatives and disguised artificial additives that are in virtually every product that you buy from the grocery store. Because of these small life changes, I feel amazing, I am at an all time high of happiness, and have had time to really work on myself to be the best that I can be, for myself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some pictures of the yoga and meditation studio, my friend and yoga teacher Tara and I, and a street view of sunrise beach. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Byron Bay is the Eastern-most point in Australia. It is marked with a beautiful lighthouse that stands as an icon of the town and metaphorically as a beacon shedding light and awareness on those who surround her, the beautiful feminine energy of Byron Shire. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>This is Matt, Marie, and Myself who woke up extra early to catch the sunrise at the Lighthouse.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After one month, I left the yoga studio and at first lived out of my van at the amazing Belongil <i>("bel-on-jill")</i> Beach, later to rent a small apartment where some great friends, Tara and Russell, also lived. Just based on the fact that I actually was renting a place to stay and not living out of my van was a shocking but lovely change from the way I had been living and traveling before. The comfort, ease, and "cruise-ability" of the place was unbelievable and by far the best part of the whole situation. I would wake up in the morning and walk 100m down the street to the beach and go for a swim, a surf, or just sit and drink some tea. Continuously going back and forth, seeing friends, maybe riding bikes into town for a smoothie, or to hear music at night, made for an incredibly easy-going, fun, and relaxing life while living there. The apartment itself was really nice looking, in a gated courtyard with outdoor seating areas, and lots of plants and palms, the inside was cozy and really all I needed to take a break from being on the road and in the bush. The Belongil lifestyle was so great, friends and I would constantly exclaim a phrase from a neighbor's sign, we would say, "We're Just Belongil Dreaming".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDmy4ghj1ow/T6JVzhwnRUI/AAAAAAAAAPA/2qqamOpBveI/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDmy4ghj1ow/T6JVzhwnRUI/AAAAAAAAAPA/2qqamOpBveI/s400/IMG_1627.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9WMnWHyExM/T6JZaVCMvmI/AAAAAAAAAQw/oIokN6sRRiE/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9WMnWHyExM/T6JZaVCMvmI/AAAAAAAAAQw/oIokN6sRRiE/s400/IMG_1569.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4okZH5eiNGo/T6JZFGB5BOI/AAAAAAAAAQo/QTQ_pI2aHfk/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4okZH5eiNGo/T6JZFGB5BOI/AAAAAAAAAQo/QTQ_pI2aHfk/s400/IMG_1565.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6HIShoj1Lc/T6JYt7Vn2CI/AAAAAAAAAQY/XeCu1h-8xDc/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6HIShoj1Lc/T6JYt7Vn2CI/AAAAAAAAAQY/XeCu1h-8xDc/s400/IMG_1555.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-68NKa2bS7CU/T6JZ-Uw1OLI/AAAAAAAAARA/kpvl0W4puKs/s1600/IMG_1588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-68NKa2bS7CU/T6JZ-Uw1OLI/AAAAAAAAARA/kpvl0W4puKs/s400/IMG_1588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LV3GaOHHAh0/T6JaPSJO7BI/AAAAAAAAARI/10o4m6Fl5kU/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LV3GaOHHAh0/T6JaPSJO7BI/AAAAAAAAARI/10o4m6Fl5kU/s400/IMG_1590.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OsSvr4_Pc98/T6JZuPkPHJI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/48qgX1maSWg/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OsSvr4_Pc98/T6JZuPkPHJI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/48qgX1maSWg/s400/IMG_1586.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULFXRVgpEtw/T6XekH2g_FI/AAAAAAAAARc/M9uTNeYd4QQ/s1600/DSC02915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULFXRVgpEtw/T6XekH2g_FI/AAAAAAAAARc/M9uTNeYd4QQ/s400/DSC02915.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YTPDmHQEL-0/T6XeHvJZdPI/AAAAAAAAARU/cmzp8wnx6r8/s1600/DSC02911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YTPDmHQEL-0/T6XeHvJZdPI/AAAAAAAAARU/cmzp8wnx6r8/s400/DSC02911.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcRyOobj-sk/T6X5hIaVlDI/AAAAAAAAAR4/YJmi1uHfDCo/s1600/IMG_1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcRyOobj-sk/T6X5hIaVlDI/AAAAAAAAAR4/YJmi1uHfDCo/s400/IMG_1559.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Aside from all the good times at Belongil, I would regularly go and longboard at The Pass with my great friend Matt. A right hand point break, The Pass is know internationally in the surfing community and is Byron's most well known place to surf or learn to surf. The Pass is an amazing place, beautiful scenery, friendly people, and good vibes. It is one of the longest waves in the world. After you catch a long ride, maybe as long as 250m, you have a long scenic walk back to the point, its glorious. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a5oSpqOkZs8/T6JVaENaCEI/AAAAAAAAAOw/zNMZOhxYuLw/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a5oSpqOkZs8/T6JVaENaCEI/AAAAAAAAAOw/zNMZOhxYuLw/s400/IMG_0882.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7FmTakZQFC0/T6JXwye_seI/AAAAAAAAAP4/KRBXRr7SUdU/s1600/IMG_1483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7FmTakZQFC0/T6JXwye_seI/AAAAAAAAAP4/KRBXRr7SUdU/s400/IMG_1483.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is Jess and I. Jess met Tim and I in New Zealand, and without knowing that each other would be in Australia, I ran into him by chance at the Byron farmers market and together we enjoyed many surf and yoga sessions, meals, and nights out in town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNoL7gjEAYU/T6JVmVB6qbI/AAAAAAAAAO4/Ks2d5esbkxI/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNoL7gjEAYU/T6JVmVB6qbI/AAAAAAAAAO4/Ks2d5esbkxI/s400/IMG_0887.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This is White's Beach in the Broken Head Nature Reserve. I took a trip here one day with Tara and Matt.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqrlv2spHEg/T6JXbdQwW9I/AAAAAAAAAPo/fjf53Hi9Qss/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqrlv2spHEg/T6JXbdQwW9I/AAAAAAAAAPo/fjf53Hi9Qss/s400/IMG_1444.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bx55trk5WOg/T6JW9TgiDeI/AAAAAAAAAPY/eoDjKBrvztk/s1600/IMG_1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bx55trk5WOg/T6JW9TgiDeI/AAAAAAAAAPY/eoDjKBrvztk/s400/IMG_1434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciKQLC6rh5Y/T6JXPNiCFuI/AAAAAAAAAPg/lQ_YIqkxaI0/s1600/IMG_1435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciKQLC6rh5Y/T6JXPNiCFuI/AAAAAAAAAPg/lQ_YIqkxaI0/s400/IMG_1435.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is Lennox Head. Epic Surf spot</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hw3Mtoh6DfQ/T6JTCysi_NI/AAAAAAAAANo/SXNkiBERhx4/s1600/DSC02807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hw3Mtoh6DfQ/T6JTCysi_NI/AAAAAAAAANo/SXNkiBERhx4/s400/DSC02807.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HkR8IiIAaFg/T6JWhs45U8I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/nqxAZoCmYIc/s1600/DSC02724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HkR8IiIAaFg/T6JWhs45U8I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/nqxAZoCmYIc/s640/DSC02724.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Broken Head Beach, once called "magic carpet rides"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIGpH_c6acs/T6JXmNL_48I/AAAAAAAAAPw/BI0Ksz4vmRQ/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIGpH_c6acs/T6JXmNL_48I/AAAAAAAAAPw/BI0Ksz4vmRQ/s400/IMG_1459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After two amazing months in Byron, I felt it was time to move on. After learning about Vipassana (silent) Meditation, and then hearing about a Vipassana retreat from a fellow traveler staying at the yoga studio, I decided that this was just what I have been looking for and I gave it a try. At the retreat, I met many amazing and beautiful people and for three days we sat in silent meditation together. It was a very rewarding experience and at the end of the retreat, they invited me to come and stay with them at the Ashram, to live, work, and practice all forms of mediation. Of course I said yes, and after another amazing week living it up and surfing it up in Byron and at Belongil I went to live at Samaya Ashram in the bush. It is an incredibly beautiful place where simple living is key and I am surrounded by other people who are focused on meditation and finding themselves as well. I have only been here a few days now, but I am so glad that this is where I am, I am feeling such a deep happiness everyday from just Being, and I know that I am doing exactly what I want to be doing right now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So to all my Friends and Family: Thank you for being there for me, I send you infinite Love and Gratitude and know that our paths will cross again when the time is right. PEACE!!!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3j2-kfZVUM/T6YeE-GuneI/AAAAAAAAASE/UwsIqD_igGU/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3j2-kfZVUM/T6YeE-GuneI/AAAAAAAAASE/UwsIqD_igGU/s320/IMG_1622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-18882580877848226742012-03-21T15:30:00.000+13:002012-03-21T15:30:33.799+13:00Barrier to Byron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">February 2012</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some time has passed since my last post. These past few months have been some of the best of my time, here in New Zealand, and my Life, since I graduated from college a few years ago. I find myself once again on Great Barrier Island, which is truly a peace of paradise for me. All that is Pure and True is paramount here on The Barrier, where the views around every corner are of the utmost magnificence. Pursuits of Land and Sea allow us to focus on the Natural World, bringing you closer to Mother Nature. Only what is necessary in Life will you find here, the frills, intricacies, luxuries to which we have become accustomed, and even some of their complexities have been stripped away. And what is left is a Life of simplicity, of living amongst Nature, of feeding from Land and Sea, of a rich sense of Community, of belonging to The World, and Being, and Living in it's crown Gem. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some views of Okiwi Valley which was Home for me the past few months</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDUcYf1DE34/T2LUUbPAuBI/AAAAAAAAAIc/tlLMPUB61C8/s1600/DSC01136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDUcYf1DE34/T2LUUbPAuBI/AAAAAAAAAIc/tlLMPUB61C8/s640/DSC01136.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6K__-seJsw/T2koVcO9BDI/AAAAAAAAAMA/69ELRQCJKd0/s1600/DSC02142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6K__-seJsw/T2koVcO9BDI/AAAAAAAAAMA/69ELRQCJKd0/s640/DSC02142.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7BpbVKFchA/T2LVtJm6WvI/AAAAAAAAAJE/rwi4wIjcLys/s1600/DSC01146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7BpbVKFchA/T2LVtJm6WvI/AAAAAAAAAJE/rwi4wIjcLys/s640/DSC01146.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2KOTHx274c/T2LWjb4qD7I/AAAAAAAAAJM/LOBLxyUvMGw/s1600/DSC01147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2KOTHx274c/T2LWjb4qD7I/AAAAAAAAAJM/LOBLxyUvMGw/s640/DSC01147.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RxSQkJvH5NU/T2LW2psqe7I/AAAAAAAAAJU/zDLnaBy5RJU/s1600/DSC01149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RxSQkJvH5NU/T2LW2psqe7I/AAAAAAAAAJU/zDLnaBy5RJU/s640/DSC01149.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PACpkUG1mEA/T2kok6MXO2I/AAAAAAAAAMI/Ilf50A79F4E/s1600/DSC02191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PACpkUG1mEA/T2kok6MXO2I/AAAAAAAAAMI/Ilf50A79F4E/s640/DSC02191.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTXJBo7-364/T2LXAEORzjI/AAAAAAAAAJc/rTXhPEYS5aA/s1600/DSC01152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTXJBo7-364/T2LXAEORzjI/AAAAAAAAAJc/rTXhPEYS5aA/s640/DSC01152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMouFclIyGM/T2LXdZr-9QI/AAAAAAAAAJk/RlV9KCvkn48/s1600/DSC01176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMouFclIyGM/T2LXdZr-9QI/AAAAAAAAAJk/RlV9KCvkn48/s640/DSC01176.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These night shots and panoramas were taken on a new 'Sony-alpha-nex' camera that was given to me as a gift from my Family when they came to visit in November.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuQEx96qrEo/T2LU0rERwOI/AAAAAAAAAI0/TzM7fFn2AYg/s1600/DSC00965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuQEx96qrEo/T2LU0rERwOI/AAAAAAAAAI0/TzM7fFn2AYg/s640/DSC00965.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is "The Shack", a place of respite from the sun we built entirely from locally sourced materials (Manuka wood posts, Flax tie-downs, and Ni Kau frond Screen) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1OeW1iAl_Q/T2LYvbIa7uI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/AMcVO3gDUuQ/s1600/DSC01206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1OeW1iAl_Q/T2LYvbIa7uI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/AMcVO3gDUuQ/s640/DSC01206.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ch4exRxSoSY/T2LX2wZCLXI/AAAAAAAAAJs/Oj6UauwS2sk/s1600/DSC01185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ch4exRxSoSY/T2LX2wZCLXI/AAAAAAAAAJs/Oj6UauwS2sk/s640/DSC01185.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bS-ggxXQzAA/T2LYXMtaShI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/AELl7kLdk9k/s1600/DSC01189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bS-ggxXQzAA/T2LYXMtaShI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/AELl7kLdk9k/s640/DSC01189.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mighty Orion in all his Glory. The balance of symmetry is astounding.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VZkdRETAOSw/T2LZCiTwuxI/AAAAAAAAAKE/uvB4X-MarJI/s1600/DSC01373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VZkdRETAOSw/T2LZCiTwuxI/AAAAAAAAAKE/uvB4X-MarJI/s640/DSC01373.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1igfjIJJGNU/T2LZYj3CUJI/AAAAAAAAAKM/HTZF577Zdl0/s1600/DSC01404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1igfjIJJGNU/T2LZYj3CUJI/AAAAAAAAAKM/HTZF577Zdl0/s640/DSC01404.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ni Kau Palm Standing Strong</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mg093Rr763U/T2LZzynajmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/KEkHQeEHUGY/s1600/DSC01424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mg093Rr763U/T2LZzynajmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/KEkHQeEHUGY/s640/DSC01424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full Moon in Okiwi</span><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunset in Harataonga. This was taken when The Parker Family came to visit us, we all had an amazing time and we got to do some fishing as well.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRZPNV_fb-4/T2LaKWWnMjI/AAAAAAAAAKk/MgFkU_T12Oc/s1600/DSC01849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRZPNV_fb-4/T2LaKWWnMjI/AAAAAAAAAKk/MgFkU_T12Oc/s640/DSC01849.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kvee7gF2JrM/T2kk2ttu5kI/AAAAAAAAAL4/7bSBHd9NkcY/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kvee7gF2JrM/T2kk2ttu5kI/AAAAAAAAAL4/7bSBHd9NkcY/s400/IMG_1189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Soul and Maia, we got to teach them Free-diving and the Art of Spearfishing, as well as Surf lessons and had some fun trips to near-by Waterfalls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVdDoov8XTw/T2koz0g-xpI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/cjcoOUvrpXU/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVdDoov8XTw/T2koz0g-xpI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/cjcoOUvrpXU/s400/IMG_1113.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also here are Local kids, Billy and Amy. Billy LOVES Michael Jackson.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRU_fzfViR4/T2kpHQ1Co3I/AAAAAAAAAMY/O6GROJtXL2A/s1600/IMG_1226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRU_fzfViR4/T2kpHQ1Co3I/AAAAAAAAAMY/O6GROJtXL2A/s400/IMG_1226.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> My most esteemed endeavor in my Life thus far has been in my Surfing. Surfing is something that unlike many other water activities hasn't come easy for me, or maybe it has. Because of the difficulties and history of injury with my left shoulder, I was not able to begin to learn to ride a Surfboard right away. Instead, I learned to surf by riding a Bodyboard. In some circles, especially in New Zealand, Bodyboarding is seen as Surfing's "little brother", inferior, and even in some extreme cases not deemed the same respect as that of its vertically standing wave riding brethren. This was mentally difficult for me as I knew that I would be able to ride a surfboard, if I could only regain the full use of my shoulder. And thus after much training and practice riding a bodyboard, and through the power of visualization, manifestation, and Spiritual Healing I was able to overcome my difficulties, stand up on a board, and Ride the Wave. And while most beginning Surfers can take a while to gain confidence and ability, I progressed at a quickened pace, due to my Bodyboarding experience. All this happening in the place where I found myself totally captured by the beauty and wonderment of the World. It was a truly incredible experience.</span></div><div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5BkHFThRGY/T2Lac3KubWI/AAAAAAAAAKs/Ep4ccmNTC9g/s1600/DSC02131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5BkHFThRGY/T2Lac3KubWI/AAAAAAAAAKs/Ep4ccmNTC9g/s640/DSC02131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shjvgONMf3M/T2Lat-0mpzI/AAAAAAAAAK0/M3qaxhu4cWo/s1600/DSC02133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shjvgONMf3M/T2Lat-0mpzI/AAAAAAAAAK0/M3qaxhu4cWo/s640/DSC02133.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rW6MOZGnCz8/T2LbiVwp_pI/AAAAAAAAAK8/e3opBYZcD50/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rW6MOZGnCz8/T2LbiVwp_pI/AAAAAAAAAK8/e3opBYZcD50/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of my time on Great Barrier and in New Zealand, I got to spend time with my Lifelong friends The Nardella Family. We had an am</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">azing time camping out, going fishing, jumping off waterfalls, and just being together. These photos are from our la</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">st night together and my last night in New Zealand after Fifteen Amazing Months.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vA3UkwI7uQA/T2kpYNUyYII/AAAAAAAAAMo/zXt7XWQXrNQ/s1600/IMG_2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vA3UkwI7uQA/T2kpYNUyYII/AAAAAAAAAMo/zXt7XWQXrNQ/s400/IMG_2147.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRi7ol-2Ks4/T2kpQskZU_I/AAAAAAAAAMg/8UFHNTnShdw/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRi7ol-2Ks4/T2kpQskZU_I/AAAAAAAAAMg/8UFHNTnShdw/s400/IMG_2066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">March 2012</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I now find myself in Byron Bay, a small Surf town on the Eastern coast of Australia, known for its good Surf, warm waters, relaxed vibe, and free-thinking, ecologically, and Spiritually minded community. I have only been here a couple weeks, and already I am totally Loving the place. I have moved into a Yoga retreat, bought a bike, and a sweet 7'4'' Surfboard made by a local Byron Bay shaper, biking to the beach in the mornings to Surf, then come back and practice Yoga and Meditation. It's really a lot of fun, and I am fully enjoying myself. I will have more words and photos to come as I spend more time getting to know the people and the place. Much Love.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFXCyc2SrbE/T2k5igD3HYI/AAAAAAAAANY/gWOFufCDy1A/s1600/IMG_1375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFXCyc2SrbE/T2k5igD3HYI/AAAAAAAAANY/gWOFufCDy1A/s400/IMG_1375.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-6Y3BbU7yQ/T2k4m8eT5CI/AAAAAAAAAM4/eRVraPQHVhs/s1600/IMG_1318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-6Y3BbU7yQ/T2k4m8eT5CI/AAAAAAAAAM4/eRVraPQHVhs/s640/IMG_1318.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7tPb7aexxw/T2k4z5qekpI/AAAAAAAAANA/owEAMFYVTKk/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7tPb7aexxw/T2k4z5qekpI/AAAAAAAAANA/owEAMFYVTKk/s400/IMG_1331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ci7LxAaR9us/T2k4-seUB-I/AAAAAAAAANI/pqivh9UoRe0/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ci7LxAaR9us/T2k4-seUB-I/AAAAAAAAANI/pqivh9UoRe0/s400/IMG_1342.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-MJzA2WeAM/T2k5M-1SHHI/AAAAAAAAANQ/ZUyZD-G1voM/s1600/IMG_1364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-MJzA2WeAM/T2k5M-1SHHI/AAAAAAAAANQ/ZUyZD-G1voM/s640/IMG_1364.jpg" width="480" /></a></div> Aloha<br />
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<span id="goog_1881547645"></span><span id="goog_1881547646"></span>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-53346297663572056112011-10-25T20:54:00.000+13:002011-10-25T20:54:55.146+13:00Fiordland ExpeditionA few weeks ago, Tim and I set out on an epic adventure through beautiful and rugged Fiordland. For nine days we hiked the Hollyford track from deep in the Hollyford valley, to the sea at Martin's bay and back again. It was an incredible experience, one that I will remember for the rest of my life. Here is the first short film from Big Island Productions titled River Mouth.<br />
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</div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-44417118355965441962011-10-02T18:41:00.000+13:002011-10-02T18:41:41.573+13:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Much Love to my Friends and Family, EnjoyTaco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-92092250803450829432011-07-18T18:25:00.000+12:002011-07-18T18:25:45.274+12:00After Barrier<div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Barrier was such an epic experience, living in nature that it was hard for any trip or adventure to live up. After we left, it was a bit of a culture shock just just driving on paved roads and being around people. After a short visit to Waiheke Island, a few days in the volcanic Waitakere Ranges, a road trip to Taranaki on the North Island's West coast, and a Surf trip to the East coast, we began a new chapter of our trip . A new chapter in which we got back to wwoofing, did some fruit picking, learned some new skills, and got to explore some beautiful territory. Check it out.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_418480052"></span><span id="goog_418480053"></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='960' height='750' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/z9sIPKm0rPA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Waiheke Island was beautiful but not exciting. We went there intending to work on a vineyard picking grapes, but when that fell through and there was no surfing or convenient dive spots, it didn't make sense to stay there even though it was so nice. In these shots are a view of Stoney Ridge Vineyard, some land and a secluded beach on the more isolated side of the island that we drove to, a nice beach that we paddled to in our friend's kayak which we still had at the time, a nice sunset, and a view from the island back to Auckland city.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmOshCjVrIQ/ThkvQ7x-_dI/AAAAAAAAAAs/6WON-me7Dmo/s1600/IMG_4781.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmOshCjVrIQ/ThkvQ7x-_dI/AAAAAAAAAAs/6WON-me7Dmo/s640/IMG_4781.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After we left Waiheke, we camped for a few nights in the Waitakere Ranges regional park. This area of land was formed by an off-shore underwater volcano, giving the coast a blanket of black sand and the land of jagged cliffs, a vast and lunar feel. The Ranges are protected as a Regional Park extending a great distance up the coast and they have many hiking trails and beaches to explore. These shots are from the trails over Mt. Zion and Karekare beach</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxpLbx_p74o/TiPJ_1eUusI/AAAAAAAAAHU/rcTDlwtjN-U/s1600/IMG_4933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxpLbx_p74o/TiPJ_1eUusI/AAAAAAAAAHU/rcTDlwtjN-U/s640/IMG_4933.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then we headed to Raglan and Taranaki. Raglan is one of the top surf destinations in NZ featuring lots of left-hand point breaks. Taranaki is known for its rugged coast surrounding Mt. Egmont. Here we found some great spots and interesting sand/beach patterns. Unfortunately we hit some bad weather and had to head back north to Tauranga to return the kayak and seek some shelter.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zk-10OaXCJE/TiPK-md2kVI/AAAAAAAAAHc/wzTjvfS_sqk/s1600/IMG_5001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zk-10OaXCJE/TiPK-md2kVI/AAAAAAAAAHc/wzTjvfS_sqk/s640/IMG_5001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next we had our first trip to the East coast, where we are now. We surfed in four different regions of the coast in four days and saw loads of spots in between, it was great. One spot was especially amazing, we hiked with our boards along the coast for about forty five minutes to Stingray Bay which I got to surf by myself on perfect, consistent, peeling waves for two hours, it was some of the best surf I've had in New Zealand...Epic. </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0qpD4o3odw/TiPMcdrW6RI/AAAAAAAAAHg/YZRCsQSXTlQ/s1600/IMG_5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0qpD4o3odw/TiPMcdrW6RI/AAAAAAAAAHg/YZRCsQSXTlQ/s640/IMG_5140.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stingray Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then we settled in a little bit at a farm in Gisborne, picking organic Persimmons and Kiwifruit. We stayed there for one month, picked loads of fruit, packed them for export, and got to earn some cash to continue on the journey. We surfed a few times a week, and had a hike to Cook's cove where Captain James Cook named this beautiful area. Also pictured are the side-by-side green and gold kiwifruit, the gold ones are delicious and not sour tasting at all but they must be grown under a special licence obtained from the company that created the variety. One of the pictures is of a wind machine which is used as frost protection and blows the warmer air towards the ground to protect fruit and flowers from frost damage.</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cml-43m26Cw/TiPNktkjxUI/AAAAAAAAAHo/pvlIU02AAX8/s1600/IMG_5756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cml-43m26Cw/TiPNktkjxUI/AAAAAAAAAHo/pvlIU02AAX8/s640/IMG_5756.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Continuing on our farm tour down the east coast, we stayed for a week at Zidkeen farm where we learned the work of a fence contractor, a very important NZ farm trade, and got to do some work assisting Paddy the farm owner who is a working Bee-Keeper. We first moved some of these hives to their new winter location under the cover of night while the bees were asleep, then came back the next day to check the frames. First, the hives must be smoked, which makes the bees calm, then the covers are removed and each frame is pulled out to check if the bees in that hive are producing honey. In the pictures are healthy frames, full of honey and properly capped to seal and preserve the honey that is good and no action needs to be taken. But when we find bad frames where the cells are empty and some are filled with drones in an attempt to make a new queen, we need to replace these frames with leftover frames full of honey from last season so that the bees will have enough food to survive the winter and properly make a new queen if they need one.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5o14YtgTeo/TiPN4SGUn7I/AAAAAAAAAHs/o8HwFyhlakY/s1600/IMG_5880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5o14YtgTeo/TiPN4SGUn7I/AAAAAAAAAHs/o8HwFyhlakY/s640/IMG_5880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After we left the bee keepers' we spent two weeks on the most picturesque farm we had been to thus far. The place was immaculate, from the pristine farmland, to the perfectly maintained fences, breathtaking views, the massive acreage of the farm itself, and the luxurious homestead were all outstanding. The farm was raising sheep and cattle, and it was our introduction to working with livestock. We got the experience of mustering (herding) the sheep and cattle into the yards where we administered necessary treatments (for worms, lice, etc.), taged/marked them for gender, and even steered a bull. We also had the opportunity to assist in sheering the ewes (female sheep), the task we performed is called rousing which entails sorting of the wool after it has been sheered, removing dag (clumps of poo) from the wool, and filling up the sheerer's pens with more sheep once they have emptied them as we had to sheer close to 300 ewes. It was quite a long job and took about four hours, but this was nothing considering the farm had around 2,000 head of sheep. Sheep and cattle farmers use dogs bred and trained especially for mustering the animals, it is amazing to see them doing their work. The farmer controls the dogs using commands and the dogs know exactly what they are doing as they maneuver the livestock down a road or across any terrain which can be quite steep as you can see in the pictures. The farm is situated in the hills of Mahanga overlooking the Mahia peninsula. All of the pictures were taken from the property which show just how expansive it was, it stretched four kilometers up the coast. There is also one image of olives on the tree which we picked and were going to be brined and aged in local olive oil to be eaten as table olives. We also got some epic surfing in at some the many local surf spots in the area.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JF3UXhVusv0/TiPOb4KeKYI/AAAAAAAAAHw/pCskriTuSyA/s1600/IMG_5965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JF3UXhVusv0/TiPOb4KeKYI/AAAAAAAAAHw/pCskriTuSyA/s640/IMG_5965.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And lastly where we are at now. Wairunga is an amazing family-run farm, golf course, and accommodation. They also have sheep and cattle which we have got to help muster and do scanning, where with a veterinarian and a scanning machine similar to Ultrasound the ewes are scanned to determine whether they will give birth to one, two, or zero lambs. With this information the ewes are separated and are fed accordingly as to how many lambs they are carrying. We have also played many rounds of golf on their nine hole course which the family designed and built themselves. The course is unique in that the grounds are maintained not by lawnmowers and greens keepers, but by sheep! Only the greens need to be mowed, and the only drawback to this system is that you might find a bit of poo lying next to your ball, no worries just flick it aside and off you go. Although the greens fees are only ten dollars per round, the course is closed durring the winter so we have had the course and its experience all to ourselves. In addition to some beautiful hiking trails around the property, we have also got to brush up on our shotgun skills with a few rounds of shooting clays, it's a blast.</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GXh02BdP80/TiPPHe-d29I/AAAAAAAAAH0/LgHhg7sDYcc/s1600/IMG_6077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GXh02BdP80/TiPPHe-d29I/AAAAAAAAAH0/LgHhg7sDYcc/s640/IMG_6077.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One Love, Miss you guys!</div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-67739348659152140422011-04-16T16:51:00.000+12:002011-04-16T16:51:14.716+12:00Great Barrier Island<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Just a few weeks ago I retuned to the New Zealand mainland from Great Barrier Island after almost a month and a half, and what an unbelievable experience it was, it was the most beautiful and isolated place i've ever been. The entire island is "off the grid" so everyone who lives there uses some combination of solar panels, windmills, hydroelectric dams, solar hot water heaters, and generators to power their homes and small number of shops and restaurants. This among other factors gi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">ve the island a simplicity and laid-backness. Tim and I spent most of our time there surfing the most epic spot called Okiwi, they say that the waves are "world class" and they definitely are. We had many days of perfectly clean overhead barrels, it was unreal. We also did loads of fishing and speardiving, catching our food for the night and continuing to live the simplest life possible just getting down with nature. Did lots of kayaking and hiking as well, which was amazing, very beautiful, meditative, and awakening walks through native forests and epic and relaxing paddles as well. So many of these places we went to were so insanely beautiful that they suck you in and captivate you like an energy vortex, it is so amazing. It was really a trip filled with beauty, nature, great waves, catching food, and simple living. So Great! I took so many pictures that I have to break them up by region of the island. The first, Haratonga, was where we spent our first night on the island and returned again to experience the natural and beautiful setting of the campground and the unbelievable hiking trails along the coast. This is also from where we launched our kayak to paddle nearly 20km around Arid island (Rakitu) and the eastern coastline. Views of Arid island are also included, the island has a U-shape in the middle, and there are three families that live there permanently.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">The second, Awana, was another amazing campground, where we stayed. There were many breathtaking views here making it one of the many unbelievable GBI Vortexes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Next, is all the photos from the many hikes we did up and around Mt Hobson (Hirakimata) as well as to waterfalls and hot springs. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">All of the Nature and Wildlife shots are next. Each plant and remarkable view I saw, seemed to have a character and spirit of its own..</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Okiwi is where we spent most of our time on The Barrier. The campsite is surrounded by Whangapoua estuary and on the other side is the beach and surf break. Offshore you can see the rocky point where the waves break, and beyond that the side of Arid Island, looking so majestic in the distance. Towards the end of the slideshow are pictures from our hikes just north of Okiwi where we walked through farmland trying to discover some new beaches and interesting places, I think we found some pretty good ones! And of course the many amazing sunsets, full moons, and sunrises, that we experienced there. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Next, is Port Fitzroy, where we did most of our fishing and diving. We also got to travel by boat to one of the "Broken Islands" where we helped place and set rat traps to help in their eradication from the island in hopes of one day being able to have native birds return there.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Lastly, are all the other amazing beaches and bays where we went to camp, go fishing, and hang out and enjoy the spectacular views! What an amazingly beautiful place GBI is!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-84489537571347599942011-03-26T18:09:00.000+13:002011-03-26T18:09:49.683+13:00Taurranga - Surfing The MountIt just so happened that we came to stay at The Mount during the week of the biggest summer swell. We Surfed the Mount Manganui beaches everyday we were there, it was pumping. Twice, we got to travel by boat to nearby Matakana Island to get after some early morning un-crowded waves with our Friend Vinnie whit whom we were staying as well as wife Kim, and daughters Olivia and Maya. They are fortunate to get to live in a large and beautiful house on the beach and were delighted to have us come and stay with them. We really enjoyed the accommodation as well as playing, singing, dancing, and having swimming races in the pool with the girls and their cousins and friends. Everyone we met there was so incredibly nice and fully supported our traveling mind-set. At the end of our time with them, Kim and Vinnie offered to let Tim and I take their two-person ocean kayak with us on our next adventures. We were stoked and happily accepted their offer as we were hoping to have access to a kayak at our next destinations, Coromandel, Great Barrier Island, and Waiheke Island. So, with our gear "all sussed out" we departed to The Coromandel with plans to return to The Mount!<br />
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</div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-28397229102927051242011-03-26T17:09:00.000+13:002011-03-26T17:09:48.474+13:00MangawhaiWe started off our three weeks in "Magical Mangawhai" attending an awesome show with two bands we had been waiting to see live since we both came to New Zealand. The Black Seeds with Katchafire opening was a musical experience of Epic proportions. Katchafire treated the crowd by playing all their old school favorites with everyone singing along, and The Black Seeds put on a true performance coming out to deep bass and traversing many different genres of music throughout their set. The next week, at the same venue, the Mangawhai Tavern, we saw Fat Freddy's Drop who also astounded the crowd with an excellent performance of truly unique sound (their song "The Raft" plays in the slideshow background). Working on historical Tara Road at the Avocado orchards, we worked picking avos, doing a bit of brick-laying, and a massive job of clearing fallen Cypress trees that had been interfering with power lines using chainsaws and tractor we completed the job in just three weeks. We also had quite a bit of time to visit the many beaches pretty much every afternoon, do an unbelievable hike through the Mangawhai Heads Cliffs where we encountered Kawakawa plants directly related to the Kava plants we had been farming back in Hawaii, and do some camping and fishing at Te Aria and Forestry beaches on the Pakiri Coast. As it was tradition at the farm for wwoofers to leave their mark in the hut where we slept, we did a "Hawaiian Style" painting montage to go out with class.<br />
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</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='864' height='540' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/B210S8p8S3E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-4514606367760332492011-02-10T15:28:00.000+13:002011-02-10T15:28:49.490+13:00The BarrierTomorrow, Tim and I will be taking a Ferry to Great Barrier Island. Equipped with two-person Kayak, Camping gear, Surfboard/BodyBoard, Spear-Fishing, Fly-Fishing, and Surf Cast Fishing gear, as well as enough food to last us a while and to supplement the Fish we will be catching we will be headed out to camp, explore, and experience The Barrier for a whole month. Should be Fun! As I will be out in the wilderness I wont be able to make any Blog posts until I get back to NZ mainland so please be patient! As always please feel free to make any comments on the Blog or send any feedback to me personally at aaronbelson@gmail.com Cheers!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="540" width="864"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Ul0FZ5AHxg?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Ul0FZ5AHxg?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="864" height="540"></embed></object></div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-52614760744097658312011-01-26T20:48:00.004+13:002011-01-27T22:08:39.334+13:00Otamuri to Matai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After we left the First farm, we started heading north, camping at a few Department of Conservation campgrounds. They were unbelievable! The first one was called Otamuri and although we only stayed one night we got to hike all around the area and got some great pics! The second camp called Matai Bay was also remarkable, we stayed for three nights, did lots of Fishing and hanging out on the beach which was beautiful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">On our way up North, we stopped in Tauranga and went for a Hike up Mount Manganui. Check it out!</div><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40966283@N04/5374555666/">Mount Manganui Hike</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/40966283@N04/">tacobelson</a>.</span></div><div class="flickr-yourcomment"></div>Taco Belsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397202251673391413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756592123045591333.post-84671691219580005592011-01-12T15:20:00.000+13:002011-01-21T15:32:32.714+13:00Pickin Up The Van!<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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