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Waiting in Eden
After leaving Sydney on 31.1.09 we spent a swift and rocky night sailing in 15 to 30 knot (16 to 33 mph) winds and reaching speeds up to 19 knots (21mph) while surfing the wakes. That is screaming in sailing terms. We Made our 245 mile trip in 24 hrs under sail.
I spent this trip getting my sea legs, which means I was sea sick pretty much all of the trip. 
but woke up feeling MuCH better.
Our stopping point is the last port in south western Australia, Eden town in two fold bay. This is where passage seekers across the Bass straight wait for the right weather to go. If one doesn’t get it right it can be a very dangerous crossing. The passage lies in what is called the “roaring forties” and is one of the toughest crossings on the planet.
We are watching the weather keenly, and are seeing tomorrow has a window. If all stays as is we will be departing then.
A day in Sydney
So, my latest message to my sister on Facebook said:
“got the local beer… heard some aboriginal musicians, walked the botanical garden, caught a bit of a troupe performing Wind in the Willows (very fun), and went to a Hare Krishna restaurant for dinner! Then slept REAL hard for 8 hrs. Now awaiting convergence to arrive into the Sydney harbor… that sounds cool, eh… Dad’s boat sailing into Sydney’s port… hopefully I’ll catch a pic of them sailing by the Opera House or something!”
Circular Quay view of harbor
This exciting adventure started with a day of Apple store running about (my DVD drive was dead and needed replacing and I felt doing it here was easier than sending it to Apple back home… and it was definitely the way to do it!). But turned into an evening of walking around Sydney. I walked from my hotel across the street to Circular Quay, which is where numerous ferries port tourists to the zoo, and other fun adventures around the bay.
I managed to find two great vegetarian options for my meals (which can often be an adventure in itself), one totally by chance near the Apple Store I went to in Chatswood Mall north of Sydney. It was a little Buddhist center in the middle of a china town like area. The area was all butchers and meaty stuff, not much fun for a hungry vegetarian! The Buddhist center was a warm welcome and very filling & yummy meal of different tofu and eggplant dishes.
In the evening I made my way to a Govinda’s, this is a global chain of privately/locally run Hare Krishna resaurants which I recommend highly, for veggie heads or carnivors. I got a very filling meal at a good price. They offer a movie with the meal, but I arrived late for the one I wanted… pretty cool actually, you by your dinner and see a movie in their VERY comfortable looking recliner/mattress bed thingys. Sorry I missed it, it was Burn after Reading, which looked interesting. To get to the restaurant, as I mentioned, I walked across to Circular Quay, managed to get a shot of my dear artist friend’s art on my chest in Sydney, which a kindly soul standing by took (thanks!), and then walked along to listen for a few moments (as they were finishing up) of an aboriginal musician playing the Digereedo (?), very nice. 
Jen Rosen Art in Sydney
I walked along the harbor until I cut over to the Botanical gardens, where posted was a great welcome sign… I ran my hands along a good few trees, but no hugging today!
I managed to catch about ten minutes of a very well and enjoyably performed Wind in the Willows in the center of the gardens… too fun! Then journeyed on through trees and unusual plantage towards my destination for dinner. It seems I walked through a rough neighborhood, or at least one with awefully provocative women who I think may have been soliciting me… damn, aren’t I beautifully naive! Then on to the restaurant.
Wind in the Willows performance
View of Opera house from Botanical Gardens
My feet ached too much to walk back so I hopped on a bus at one point and made my way back to Old Sydney for a local draft of beer and my hotel where I crashed hard for the night after being up what would have been my entire night (it was 6am at home when I went to sleep here at 10pm)… whew, what a long day after a long day yesterday of travel. now I am loaded with coffee as I await Convergence to arrive so I can join the crew and prepare for a journey southward. Can’t wait to get on board! 
Old Sydney
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To Oz!
About four weeks ago my father asked me a question that was totally unexpected. Altough, as I learned in a conversation with my step mother, the beautiful “Mataji” as our children refer to her, I was aware that my father was to sail his unique stay-less sailboat from the gold coast of Australia to Tasmania… My only inner response, as she spoke of how my uncle Jay would likely be asked but more interested in gold than such a trip, was… “what about me?”; which was quickly followed by my inner cynic; “yeah, that’ll be the day!”.
But, then in astonishment my chin became slack, when indeed during one of our conversations centered around Dad calling me for tips on some bothersome IT ailment, he asked, amazingly calmly almost matter-of-factly; “hey, would you be interested in helping me sail our boat to Tasmania?”
!!!!!!!! Um….. YEAAAAAAH!
….gulp, but… I gotta check it out with the boss, my dear Sulhada.
I did mention it in passing one conversation shortly there after, and had even decided it would be impossible soon after as he had been planning on travelling about a week earlier, and I was way to busy with my own business to do such a thing.
But then a turn of events; our friend Trou visited us and when I told him anou the opportunity he immediately said, “I’ll come stay here with Sukhada & the kids if that would help.”!! Uh, yeah! That would help.
It was around this time that Sukhada woke up one morning and with love in her eyes said, “you should, you should go be with your Dad.”. Wow, I knew what it meant for her to come to this decision and it meant an enormous amount to me.
That was one been light, now the other, my business. Radmacdaddy Productions or RMD pro, has become a lifeline for both my clients, and my family. I am enormously grateful for the gift this business has been in a small state like Vermont where work can be real challenge, and of course in these times that means even more. And, as it worked out I saw a lull approaching, and also learned that the work I normally do in emergency support soul have full backup support by a great guy and colleague right in my
Neighboring town. Second green light.
Clear road…
So here I am, not in Kansas anymore, nor Vermont! But about to touch down in Sydney, in about five minutes.
I will still be plugged in for the next day or two as I settle into Sudney awaiting the arrival if Convergence into the harbor. I hope to resolve some home business, assuring that Troy our kind friend, will arrive safely to VT and hang with the family. And get the opportunity to focus on other client design work. Oh, yeah, and enjoy this!! 
Reflections on the present
This journal entry was inspired by and taken from a letter to a close lifelong friend from California, Jen Rosen;
My meditations on my dear friend Jen Rosen’s paintings have helped me feel the need and pull to open my sketchbook up and use it… to draw, to paint, whatever comes, to journal… must do!
I recently had a strong vision to do four sweats (Native American sweatlodge ceremony) in eight days. A powerful cleanse, and a dire need to sweat. I am meditating on having it ready for solstice and doing one then. I need to build the sweat, so finding those moments is big.
It’s been a hectic time since I got back from El Salvador. Missing almost two weeks of work out of a month made getting the mortgage together a real grind. We managed it, but just… whew!!! It was the first time I can remember where I really let it get me depressed. sigh. Such a grind sometimes. I am blessed in that we have been well and able… but it all teeters on the edge so much… this whole system.
I am trying to get a clear image in my minds eye of a circle of yurts in the woods, part of a larger vision I share with friends who with us would relocate to the southwest. I have seen it once or twice, so I am working on focusing on it.
I have often had difficulty in the last ten years or so focusing on a dream or vision. I get clouded in my present state so easily. My challenges as a husband of a beautiful but damaged wife, and the tragedy of my own faults as a father and a business person, equally damaged.
I have hopeful days that show me possibility here where we are, but still we lack community, real community with purpose. I feel so torn by this often in my present that focusing on those dreams and visions are a struggle, like the community vision for the Southwest. I have doubts about our personal ability in such a place, a close knit community. But still, it is what I want and idealize about.
Picked up Sun Bears Path of Power, and looking for revisions of hope and self strength.
I just got up to turn up the heat in my chilly office and as I sat my eyes rested upon one of the quotes hanging on my wall: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." W.H Murray, Leader of the 1952 Scottish Ascent of Mount Everest
Baby steps. I got out into the woods on my cross country skis this morn. Mostly a workout venture to get my body healthier, but being out there helped me consider being there to build my sweat lodge. I have a week. Gonna focus on that outside my work. Got to.
Thanks and gratitudes
Thanksgiving, a day to be reflective, of our moments, gifts, successes, failures, lessons and relations.
I have so much to be grateful for, so much to celebrate, so much thankfulness.
Having just traveled to Central America, by the grace of my grandparents, Herb & Peggy Repass, my uncle and aunt; Beth & Jay Repass, my father and his wife; Randy & Sally-Christine Repass, my first client ever as an IT consultant; Shannon Lee, all for having helped cover the cost to go on a house-build. My mother; Sue Robinson for inspiring the trip, and all those engaged in the trip itself. From the persons I shared the chicken bus with, to the local expatriate who first informed me of how I could get to where I was going, to the founders of the Fuller Center for Housing, Millard and Linda Fuller, to my facebook friends who encouraged me and listened as I mentioned a place or a picture along the way, and to my family; my wife Sukhada and my children who kept me grounded and gave me the freedom to let the wind carry me; and to Living Love-Noni and Dear for teaching me to ground and showing me unbridled love… so many made this possible. I am so grateful to you all.
I am a man of God. Not someone who seeks to force that on others; God knows I have. But one who lives internally on the quest daily, remaining open to the messages of the Spirit, the Divine, in each of us and all around us. Today is a day for me to reflect on this and be grateful for this vision and a vision of hope in that guidance and the greater plan of all that is.
We live in uncertain times. I believe that we will be tested in this time far more than we are experiencing now. I believe that that is a good thing, as it teaches us new ways to live and breathe, to pray and respect each other, the earth, the universe and beyond.
We are a people globally who are spoiled and take so much for granted. Even the impoverished, the down trodden, the beaten. We all do it. We overlook what we have breath to breath.
Granted, there are many who take this moment each and every day, to be thankful to love what they have and respect all of their lessons and such. But we all expect the sun to rise, the rain to fall, the earth to give, the oceans to make waves, on and on; and that may be, but I am here questioning of my own ways, not to judge… that is not my job.
In travelling to Central America, what have I come back with, what will I do with that, how will I live today?
On one level, I hope to help further stimulate the community we built 16 houses for by providing computers for each of those houses… I mean, how many of you have an old computer which is a “dinosaur”? Well, that dinosaur could be a treasure for someone in that community, and puts those people on an even playing field with the rest of the world, literally (not to mention keeping that toxic stuff out of the landfills). That is the beauty and the danger of the internet… you never really know what you are dealing with on the other side of that web; in this case it is an opportunity for sure.
On another level; I believe most of those “impoversihed” people are far more wealthy than most of the “first” world. We are so buried under our “stuff” and often so lost in our “stuff” based holidays, that we forget that our hearts are led by pain, hurt, anger and the biggie, FEAR. This is a personal journey for each of us. We each must look at fear, or choose not to, and learn from that choice. Or as I have been learning; wash it from us.
Washing the fear from the heart means washing the anger, pain and frustrations of our lives right out of us. This is everything directly apposed to what we are taught and how we live since our learning and teaching is based on so much fear. Fear through war, fear through suffering, fear through what will happen if we do not accept this way or that. Fear.
We are afraid of poverty. Yet, our own poverty is there to teach us and we live in poverty.
In the world I grew up in, poverty was how we avoided dealing with our pain, our anguish at not being heard or understood, or whatever. This poverty is in either trying too hard to understand it (via this therapy or that, this answer or that), or in not doing anything about it. After a life of this journey, in embracing religion, institution, shopping, yoga, this way and that; I am finding that the simplicity of the body I was given is telling me so much, the world in which I live is constantly communicating with me. It is only up to me to pay attention be alert.
I don’t want to make this posting a “way” for others. I want only to share my joy in finding my way. In knowing that we are all individuals, we each have our way. Yet, ironically that way for each of us, I believe, is only available to us when we embrace what others; friends, relatives and the Divine Spirit, are showing us. Each is our own personal messenger. Each entrance of a being, each vista, is there for us. There is no shame in this, there is no egoism in it. It is a gift to us from the Divine Spirit, or what ever you personally call it.
I am aware that it is not an easy vision to see, and I as much as any often refuse it’s lessons. Yet still they are there, and the Divine Spirit never tires at showing us those lessons, never gives up in the effort to bring forth our love. First for ourselves so that then for others. Oh, what a hard lesson I find. To love myself as a divine being, here to grow, here to learn, here to love and be love.
Oh’yee!
Aho!
Jai!
The Blitz in review…
Blitz build is right, and blitz trip as well. Fit it all in in a week, less really if you discard travel. A week to get to know a people, a country, a bus driver, and a whole horde of great people from all over the US and beyond.
on the scaffolding, on site
I was traveling with a group of eight others organized through the First Congregational Church of Manchester Center, VT where my mother, Sue, attends. Of that group was their pastor Steve Berry, a forward thinking and “thinking encouraging” minister who’s mission rides strongly on reminding his flock to look outside the box at ways that are not of the heart and the mission of Jesus Christ, see it in their own lives and grow from there. A perfect telling of this came in his morning devotion to our roughly 200 builders in Thursday morning; that competition is not the way of Christ. It was spot on to say the least.
Steve & Kristoff Berry
The trip organizer, Bob Rice, is a gentle perceptive man who won my heart immediately in his clear acceptance of my “less traveled path” way of arriving into El Salvador and his kind nature. We shared some fine discussion and mutual mission in discovering a dark beer in El Salvador (which alas we never found), and discussing our favorite VT micro brews which have spoiled our taste for anything less. Bob did manage to find a Hefferweisen which was certainly more satisfying to his taste.
Bob Rice & mason Gorje behind
Karen Coppin is a kind and concerning mother of two beautiful twins (Jennifer & Karla) who lit up the youthful community wherever we went, oh yeah, and the dogs who followed them everywhere. Karen explored this trip with great interest and was a passionate worker even after giving over to exhaustion. She expressed to me her feeling of loss at not having my adventurous energy around once we parted. Who wouldn’t love this fine woman!
Karla & Carmen with kids (Jen’s legs in the top left)
Ken Moriarty, is a slim inspector Cluseau looking fellow who’s initial quite demeanor and warm smile gave way to a sharp and strong willed conversationalist eager to debate any topic put forth. I was impressed by his steady work ethic on the site and immediate support when at one time I was in need of American dollars, having not had the chance to cash a traveller’s check.
Ken Moriarty & Sue Robinson (My lovely mom)
Kristoff Berry, pastor’s son, is a gentle and kind soul who accompanied me in my ramblings of journies through Honduras and my philosophical maze of thought and journey for many hours the the first two nights of our meeting. We connected on many thoughts and I look very forward to any opportunity to cross paths again. On the site, in our house, he was referred to by our house leader as one who “works like a slave”! When there was opportunity to venture off site for tourist oppotunities, even though they were during quiter times of the week with little to do, he refused to leave and only gave continually to the build.
Kristoff breaking for lunch
Doug Miller, our house leader, a robust 72 year old who’s experience was a relief and his pace a setting for us all as he mixed mortar tortoise-like for 2 1/2 days straight. He filled our moments with visions of builds throughout the US and beyond. His “gypsy” life of living in Montreal, Vermont, Georgia, Arizona and more was painted colorfully and joyfully as he embodied the storyteller of old. He passed me his tool belt as the last day was coming to a close and stated, “Randy, I’m giving this to you, but I’ll need it in Peru (the site of a major build next June) so please return it to me then”.
Doug Miller, leader extrodinaire
Wendy Miller, Doug’s daughter, on her first build is a tough minded and bodied ‘Mama sita su casa’, our little mother of the house (or at least how I called her that!). She kept the house we worked on clean, found any tool or material that we needed somewhere on the site, and was our savior in communicating with the local masons in our house. She and I share a common profession as technology consultants, and generally had a very fun brother/sister style relationship… there if needed, to chide or comfort.
Mama sita su casa (Wendy Miller) & Gorje
There were so many other, it is hard to mention them all; Jacob Battle, the enthusiastic African American preacher from Americus Georgia, with the southern accent and the energizing words to the group who I assisted in getting his laptop online and setting up a Facebook account; Carmen, the representative for us to the locals who so expertly supplied my vegetarian fare and learned that, no, fish is not a vegetable; Joel, a world cruiser on a 47′ catch held up all winter in El Salvador from a massive wind that tore three sails in five minutes now living down the road from our hotel in the little beach front property he bought; Cindy, the bubbly curly haired and wide eyed conversationalist who told of her gentle reminders at her work desk that helped her get through the days to the next build; Marybeth, our body surfing buddy who helped us round up more bodies to enjoy the night surf below beautiful stars; Millard Fuller, the staunch founder and advocate of this whole project who so mirrored the nature of my own granfather; Bobby, the enthusiastic Bostonite who exposed his gentle uncertainty as our Steve Berry chided his Boston accent as a former Boston man himself; the 20th anniversary couple (forgive me for forgetting your names), who accepted our party crashing efforts in search of cake for our fellow Vermonters; Bob, the fellow vegetarian who shared my veggie fare when he had nothing else to eat… and so many more.
Jacob Battle, keeping the spirit alive
Bob, my fellow plant eater
Millard Fuller, founder of Habit for Humanity walking with Sara, a soon to be house owner to tour her present house
And… of course, my mom, Sue Robinson, who I shared this trip with from many months before. We approached it differently, but there is no doubt it was life changing for both of us. She was touched, expanded in consciousness and a way to be, live give, like she had not anticipated. She has more of this in her future I am sure, and any opportunity I get to join i will most certainly jump at the chance!
“Hola Mama!” Mom and a local boy who is peeling an orange with a big knife
What a ride. What a pleasure, what a gratitude to spend this time with people who voyaged to give and in doing so opened their own eyes to a greater world view and a new possibility for those without a simple dwelling like those we provided. What a heart break… breaking open our hearts as we watched the new home owners shed tears of joy and awe at what they now have. What a ride.
The whole group gathering for a group shot
Father and son in our “finished” house
Doug gives a bible to our new home owners at the dedication ceremony… Francisco was so touched and swelling with tears with the house he could not speak, understandably
We all signed the house… good job team!
Blitz build
So we’ve done three days of blitz building and Thursday rolls around… this is the time that we need only a few more bricks, a little more rebar and a lot more concrete… but we can’t order too much. If we do, we have too much, meaning we spend more than we have, etc. So, this morning we were looking for things to do after a hard working day yesterday; wed is the traditionally the tough day, we were tired, but managed to work hard and get a long way along. Thursday on arrival we were mostly done with the brick laying but needed rebar to complete the top of the walls. We have used tons of rebar due to the earthquakes they get here. This is volcano country.
Steve & Bob Rice in front of our build
Due to the slow activity level we decided this was a great time to go see our new homeowner’s present house. 
On the road to our homeowner’s present house
Steve Barry called us together and offered that we do this, so most of us got together and were given a lift to his place. The trip was about twenty minutes on a well built road with corn being dried on the shoulder of the road. The neighborhood was well developed with shops and dentist and doctor’s office. The new owner, Francisco, showed us the place where he lives, which belongs to his father-in-law’s because his place washed away in recent storms. Their present home is built from steel box and corrogated steel. 
Steve Barry & Francesco in front of Francesco’s tin house
Francesco & House
Francisco & family
the present “banos” toilet, which I used
Some chicks following a hen
a “bambino” baby in his hammock sleeping peacefully…
I must say, I was appreciative of the new “banyos” bathroom they were building there which will be a composting toilet! Very cool, evn though the house is tin, the toilet is right up to date IMHO.
I was thrilled to record several rooster sounds with my iPhone for a website I am working on for Living Love in Johnson, VT. I had been planning on using a sound from a freeware video online, but now I have my own!!! Cool!
We enjoyed our trip there very much… Francisco and his family were very hospitible and I personally learned a grat deal of how one can live if they have very little, and what they will have once they make this transition to their new homes. Not only will they have an “instant” community, but a bigger space and a possibility for further cleanliness and potentially peace of mind.
Jennifer, from our VT group with Carla the daughter of one of our Masons
check out the machete strapped to the bike
On our return we worked for about an hour then had lunch. During lunch Jacob, an inspired and lively man asked me if I wanted to join him in a trip to San Salvador to buy some souvineirs. I jumped at the opportunity and helped organize a trip there. We have very little time during our build, and have very little left to do so this was a prefect day to do this. With two kids birthdays comign up I was ready! We managed to gather about 15 people together and hop in one of the buses and go to San Salvador. We journeyed to the “artisan market” a touristy place were local arts and souvineirs are sold and did what us US citizens do best (ashamedly or not!); we shopped!
I managed to find some great little, and VERY traditionally made local arts and gifts for my kids, my wife and yes… myself.
A volcano in San Salvador
Rush hour crowd heading home
We arrived back to the building site in time for dinner, ate quickly and hopped back on th ebus for the hotel for our nightly body surfing expedition and, yes, cervesa (beer) drinking evening. Nice.
sunset at the “playa” , beach
