First, let’s start with a much over-due update. I (Ashley) am living in an apartment in Burleigh Heads right across from the beach and am working a few days a week at Hot Stuff Surfboards, Burleigh’s original surf shop. My 12 year old- Blue Crush obsessed- dreams have come true! Sam’s adventures have taken her and Ian and Jo to a farm that, in all honesty, I know next to nothing about, but from here on out we will be posting on our own. Look for our signatures at the bottom of each entry to know who’s writing!
This past week one of my best friends that I met studying abroad, Haley, flew completely across the world to come visit for 8 days. She came up with the idea and booked the entire trip within 48 hrs… not that I should be surprised, her and I adventured to Japan this last fall together on a whim also. We spent the first half of her visit in Burleigh Heads and Byron Bay, then flew down to Sydney for a long weekend. Highlights of the week were meeting West, (a Californian entrepreneur with enough travel horror stories to make you want to hire your own personal Liam Neeson), attempting to surf at The Pass in Byron Bay, a beautiful lighthouse sunset, getting to hold a koala and hop next to kangaroos, a spectacular walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee, descending the Giant’s Staircase at the Blue Mountains, riding the ferry out to Manly with huge bags of candy, a stroll through the Royal Gardens, and doing the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb during the Vivid Festival of lights on our last night!
All in all, Sydney is without a doubt my favorite “big city” I have ever been to, but then again that probably is biased by my obsession with boats. I could sit outside at the Opera House Bar drinking Pimms and watching the swirl of sails across the water every. single. day.
Our day trip out to Manly was made by the boy I am about to introduce you to. His name is Taj Ralph and in the most basic of comparisons he is the Justin Bieber of Australia. But so much better. We heard his voice long before we saw this 13 year old surfer/skater boy posted up at the center of the pavilion and surrounded by nearly a hundred people. After listening to his entire set of a mix of both covers and originals, I got the chance to speak with him and his dad for a few minutes. Here’s the scoop:
Taj started playing guitar when he was 8 at his house in the Northern Beaches. His first time busking was- ironically- right down the street outside of the ice cream shop that Haley and I had just purchased ice cream at. He recently released his first album (he sold out of every single one he had with him at $10 a piece- I’m listening to it right now), and writes all of his own songs. My favorite? “Don’t Go” which is about his best mate moving away. When I asked him where his inspiration comes from he replied, “I don’t know, it just comes!” To be young and bold. Which is another thing- not only can the kid sing and play guitar like a pro- he performed like one as well, making small talk with his audience as he tuned his guitar mid-set. I could really go on and on, but I’ll let this video of one of his originals that I snagged do the talking:
If you want to hear more of his music you can find him on Facebook, Instagram, on his website and on iTunes!
Cheers, Ash
Coming of quarter age 