Tassie Tigers

"Used to be one of the rotten ones and I liked you for that.

Now you're all gone got your make-up on and you're not coming back.

Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under your breath.
Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under your breath.
Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under your breath.
Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under my window."

-Anthems for a seventeen year-old girl, Broken Social Scene

Hand's up if you have voluntarily been to Tasmania (and not been dragged there on a family vacation, or a 'tournament of the minds' national championship competition)?...noone? √
Hand's up if you have a desire, or have had a fore-thought to voluntarily go to Tasmania?...noone? √
Mmm. exactly.
(for those friends across the sea's who have never even HEARD of Tasmania, don't feel ashamed, its a small and often forgotten island off Australia)
Well... I went there. 


Aido (lover)  and Chrisso (brotha from anotha motha) decided to take Tassie on. They flew to Hobart without a plan or any prior knowledge to the place, brought push bikes from a tip, loaded them up with vintage bowling bags and cameras, and set off to ride the entire way around the island.
I, decided to fly over and meet up with them for a couple of days of unexpected awesomeness.
I landed with a backpack, a sleeping bag, and a first aid kit (rookie camper over here in the corner), hired a ute, and set off for a 2 and a half hour drive through wilderness at dusk to get to where to boys were pitching our two man tent. (yes. you heard me. two man tent for the 3 of us. utterly romantic.)
I can honestly say I am completely lucky to be alive right now, as that drive was the most terrifying experience I have ever encountered (even scarier than being held in China for 2 weeks...but that is another story). 


To say that Tassie is abundant with wildlife would be an understatement. On that drive, I began counting the amount of animals I came across (mainly so I could boast when I found the boys, 'cause I'm REALLY good at spotting them!), but little did I know that it would come to a point where I could no longer keep up! 
Kangaroos sitting on the side of the road ready to bounce out in front of the car at the exact point where it is too late to brake, entire possum families in the middle of the road, bunny rabbits running straight into the lights of the car, echidna's posing as rocks, and sadly enough, endangered Tasmanian devils (who are BLACK) running out in front of me.
I ended at least 3 animals lives that night, and if I hadn't of been driving 10kms an hour every time I saw beady eyes in the distance, I'm positive it would have been many more. 
To top this off, Tasmania has decided it is so insignificant to the point where they do not have cell reception, so if I had of had a collision with a daddy of a kangaroo, I could have totalled the car and been stranded in the middle of nowhere with no way of contacting anyone (heavy).
"but you could have waved down a car or walked to the nearest gas station (drama queen) " I hear you say ...
well, firstly, there were no other cars. at all. secondly, everything in Tasmania closes at 4pm (including gas stations) thirdly, each gas station had a sign out front stating "last gas station for 257km" (slightly exaggerated with the km figure there, but go with it). Fourthly, I'm a chick (and a pretty wimpy one at that). And lastly, small Tasmanian towns are the frigging creepiest things at night (and mostly during the day too).
So, I made it (obviously) and met the guys at the 1 pub in town (on the 1 road of the town), shared a few $10 jugs of beer and made out with Aido on the pool table.


The rest of my adventure ticked ALOT of boxes. Hiking, camping, making mermaid shrines, cleansing crystals in a waterfall, sleeping under the stars, feeding a wild wallaby (And then recruiting it as our pet), and hearing Chrisso sing every word of 'spice up your life' .


I walked into the 1 shop in town and they had 1 sad/neglected disposable camera on the shelf. It felt meant to be.
Here's a film diary of the trip.
Also check out this rad clip of the boys doin' their thang here