Does a Brummy s**t in the woods?

So we left cairns later than expected in the old Ozzy favourite, a Toyota Hilux, a renowned workhorse. It was a 2 hour drive from Cairns to Daintree and we made several stops on the way to pick Ackee*, harvest sugar cane and to take a dip in the ocean at one of North Queenslands stunning tropical beaches.

*Ackee

Also known as cheese fruit. Indigenous to West Africa.

only edible when pod has opened naturally into 3 peices as pictured below.

To eat break open with hands and eat the flesh that clings to the seeds.

Has a mild cheesy flavour and soft nutty texture.*

"You might want to go barefoot"

 

I was advised as we approached the gated paddock at around 16:30. Sky parked the ute and sure enough it was sound advice. We trudged down to the river crossing where a small row boat was waiting tied to an old tractor. 

"We don't hang out in the boat too long because of the crocks."

Just what I wanted to hear after being elected to row the boat. I didn't need to be told twice. We loaded our bags to the back of the boat and I rowed us across. Admittedly landing a little further downstream than I had intended, but safely and free from Crocodile atacks. 

On the other side we tied the boat to a tree on the river bank and broke through the tree line leading to another field that was ankle deep with mud. We crossed the field before approaching another line of trees concealing a hill.

We broke the second tree line and passed under a barbed wire fence then over an electric fence designed to keep out bush pigs. Before me was a lush green hill in a clearing surrounded by dense forest. There were banana trees on the left and at the top of the hill I could just make out the roof of the house.

We ascended the hill and crossed over 1 more electric fence before being greeted by the sight of our home for the next 10 days. Home sweet home.

The house had running water filtered from rain collectors and also had electricity but no water and no toilettes, so I suppose it begs the question. 

"Does a Brummy s**t in the woods?"

On a raw vegan diet rich in coconut milk, yes, yes he does. 

The farm was obsencley picturesque and isolated, at night the sky was a panorama of stars untainted by the lights of towns or cities. One could survive there solely on the food growing in the gardens. There were coconuts, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, passion fruit, paw paws, chillis, sugar cane and many more tropical edibles that I struggled to pronounce let alone spell. 

We ate mostly a raw vegan diet whilst on the farm as the owner usually enforced this passionately, however as he was in Italy so we did cook the occasional hot meal which quite frankly, went down a treat.

My conclusion on a raw vegan diet is that it's not for everyone, it has to be something that you really want to do. Although I did begin to recognise the health benefits, I was also concerned that I was losing weight. A wonderful thought for some, but those that know me will know that I don't have much weight to lose. Since leaving the farm, my diet has Improved immensely, I seem to have lost my aperite for things like donuts and burgers and have been more drawn to the healthier options.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Sky, the loveley Australian herbologist expert who showed us lots of edible fruits and veg available throughout North Queensland and accommodated us at the farm. 

For the next part of my blog I tell the story of Vigga and I hitch hiking the east coast from cairns to Ayr. 

Bonvoyage

As I previously mentioned, since arriving in cairns 6 weeks ago I have been employed and unemployed multiple times. One such employment was promoting for The Woolshed, 

"best nightclub in cairns mate." 

Whilst handing out fliers and free entry wristbands for another one of The Woolshed's "unforgettable nights out" I met a somewhat bohemian, none the less loveley Danish girl named Vigga, a true character to say the least. Vigga, being a keen yoga enthusiast and devout Vegan wasn't taken in by the offer of cheap booze and a wet T-shirt competinition on a Wednesday night, but is an individual who always relishes the opportunity to converse with new people, an incredibly positive person who instantly intrigued me.

A short time later and I was in dire straights again, after far too much goon* and what one may call a little too much enthusiasm on a night out, I was relieved of my duties at The Woolshed and quickly saught various other forms of employment throughout cairns. 

*Goon 

The Australian delinquents drink of choice.

 Boxed wine sold in multiple varieties including, but not limited to: fruity lexia, dry white and red.

 Also popular amongst backpackers due to it's low cost, relatively high alcahol content and ability to lower inhibitions.

Caution! may cause Severe bafoonery, unemployment and memory loss.*

After multiple employment disasters that are hardly worth mentioning I began promoting for a well known travel agents for free accomodation. I was even given a second chance promoting for The Woolshed, provided that I, 

"Don't be a fuckin dickhead!"

So despite a few minor hick ups along the way all was ok again within my Australian bubble. I knew at least that I would have a bed to sleep in and a little cash coming my way. It just so happened that Vigga was also employed by the same for mentioned travel agent and had  also been volunteering at the cairns vegetable markets on Saturday mornings where she was invited to work on the farm in Daintree. Vigga left on Thursday morning, telling me that she would ask if there were any more spaces on the farm when she arrived. 

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and I received confirmation that I could go to the farm and that a lift would be arriving on Monday morning. I spent most of Sunday tying up loose ends and bidding farewell to a few friends before heading back to my hostel to eventually pack. 

Fortunately due to some forward thinking I already shed a few belongings since I arrived in Australia. traveling light massively increases one's mobility. If I could offer advice to anyone thinking of traveling in the future, it would be to travel light. I prefer to be able to carry all of my belongings and still walk without too much physical strain so that when it's time to go I can go. 

Pictured above is my trusty 50ltr North face backpack, traded with a fellow traveler for my Argos Backpack and enough money for a weeks budget accomodation in Croatia whilst traveling Europe in 2011.

A good trade I would say as its been 4 years and it still does the job.

If the previous owner is reading, I promise, one day we will trade back brother, as soon as you get your old ass back on the road.

 

Vigga told me she would arrive at my Hostel at 8am on Monday morning but I knew I was dealing with hippies. I was confident they would be late, so I set my alarm for 07:55 and didn't rush in the shower. 08:25 and they still hadent arrived. I hate to reinforce stereotypes, but if the shoe fits. 

09:00 Vigga and I left my hostel to meet the others, a german girl named Hannah, an Australian girl named Sky and the owner of the farm, Sammy, the self proclaimed wildest hippie in cairns. I was inclined to believe him. He was bare foot, bearded and completely off the wall, but as they say, Chaos to the fly is normal to the spider and I don't believe anyone becomes that eccentric without years of invaluable experience to mould them.

Sadly Sammy was leaving for Italy that morning and would be returning in a few weeks, leaving the remaining four of us to maintain the farm. 

Sky drove Sammy to the airport whilst Vigga, Hannah and I collected a few last supplies from town. At around 12:00 Erin got back from the airport and we finally hit the road. If I'd known how much time I had I'd have had a lie in and maybe squeezed in one last full English breakfast before I headed into the Vegan wilderness. Such is life. 

Entry to the village

I just received a photo showing me how I will be gaining access to the vegan village. Now I'm excited.

An offer I can't refuse.

It's funny how life flys by and how much can change in just 1 year. Twelve months ago I was almost penniless, struggling to make a start in London. I stooped well below the poverty line and found myself at home amidst the vagrants and runaways of London's squats, partly due to journalistic curiosity and partly due to necessity. 

I'd never have foreseen then that 1 year on I would be in Australia's tropical north Queensland . Admittedly still almost penniless, but worlds away from hard line anarchists, abandoned police stations and surprise evictions. 

My latest adventure does however share some common ground with my experiences in London. Once again I will soon be cohabiting with individuals determined to live outside of "the system". 

"What crazy cult or commune have you gotten yourself wrapped up in now Pete?" 

I hear my mothers voice ringing in my subconscious. But it's not as bad as it may sound, it is perhaps an opportunity that was too good to pass up. So tomorrow I will be meeting a friend who will drive us North of cairns to an Organic Vegan farming village hidden amidst the famously beautiful Daintree rainforest. 

"But Pete, no more than a week ago you were binge drinking and gorging on McDonald's every night." 

I hear the hypocrisy, but I'm a man of forever broadening horizons, besides after a hectic arrival in Cairns that saw me employed and unemployed 3 or 4 times in as many weeks and a hefty fine from the local constabulary for acts better left unspoken, a detox is definitely on the cards. 

I'll be spending a little over a week in the village before returning to cairns and hitching a ride South to a more financially prosperous farming opportunity and the many natural attractions that Australia's east coast has to offer. 

More to come on the vegan village later in the week, but now I really must stop procrastinating and pack my belongings that are currently strewn across the hostel floor.