3/31
because of the weather forecast i decided to tkae a bus tour which combined bondi beach area with sydney city stops. it was a hop on/ hop off type deal. it turned out to be a good call since it poured rain the majority of the day. i rode the beach part into the city, transferred to the city portion and rode all around, anticipating i'd return to the stops i wanted to explore, but i tried and i was so miserable and wet, i got back on the bus to head home. mind you, even the fact i was wet and freezing from the air conditioned bus, i was impressed with myself for keeping the words of eckhart tolle in mind, "right now, this is how it is. i can either accept it, or make myself miserable. the primary cause of unhappiness is never the situatin, but your thoughts about it." i was disappointed but had to overcome that and had to realize its my only chance to explore sydney. am i going to walk away, bitter at the circumstances, or happy for the opportunity? we create our own perspective. i gave it my full effort and then surrendered to the defeat. i came to the hostel, had a hot shower, and instantly felt better and the misery was soon forgotten. and get this... there's a guy here from newcastle, maine! as fate had it, someone told him the same time and there was knock on my door and it was ben. he's 19 and hoping to extend his stay until november as he's landed a job at the youth hostel. i'm sure if we talked enough, we'd discover we know the same people. he even dated a girl from winthrop, but the age difference didnt connect the last name for me. we both enjoyed talking "maine-ese" and connecting over the sox, celts and other local funnies like uncle henry's. and i feel grounded because now when i'm at the hostel i'm taken by surprise for someone to call out my name. i had gone almost two days without talking to anyone besides the ladies at reception. it felt strange to have a buddy.

and tomorrow i have arranged to have dinner with a local bahai. i declared myself a bahai when living in tokyo but havent been thorough in my practice lately. i'm excited to meet them but hope they arent disappointed in my lack of knowledge or experience in the faith. they've invited me into their home which says a lot about the bahai faith. extending an invitation to a total stranger. my view of the faith is sharing in fellowship and living out the principles about the independent search for truth, (there is no clergy to tell you what is right and wrong with "god"), and the fact they see all mankind as one. when i was in new zealand and vanuatu i looked up the bahais and they were so loving, kind, and friendly, opening thier hearts to me. this continues that love....