Coco Jamboo(long but worth it)

Comedian in Christchurch sucked. His name deserves no mention. I am going to skip about 5 days of my trip on this blog. There were some great moments and cool things to see…but I had some back home obligations that required me to stay up in the middle of the night for hours so I could be on EST. I knocked out several tasks related to my future move as well. My sleep schedule is now upside down. There were two days in a row where I slept all throughout the middle of the day. My eating schedule seems fine though. I am going to skip the 5 days because I feel like my thought process was turning cynical and I don’t want to give much more energy to the negative.I needed a city with secure wifi for this week and I was scared that if I was on the move in between different places in this country that I might mess up and miss a meeting..or interview..or whatever. So west coast..over to ChristChurch..and now way back up in the Northwest corner of the South Island. I will say this one thing from the past week.…which is quite funny in a way.

I found out yesterday that my SSN was stolen and someone used it to file my tax return. I believe that this can be traced back to my previous employer’s cyber attack from Russian hackers back in October. I have talked to old colleagues..and I’m not the only one that this happened to..many actually are going through the exact same scenario. So I’m sitting here thinking well…I already don’t have a job, a home, a partner, a dog…what’s my birth given number that gives access to everything about Zack Houston being stolen going to do..the world can just have it all at this point lol. A feeling of lack of belonging is what my mind really wants to go to..but I don’t let…lets get in the car and show the world…that you can’t defeat us…because we are resilient, courageous, and sleepy as hell!

This is a fun one..I hope you’re ready because it may be a little long..not sure yet…I’m winging just about everything at this point anyways.

I would like you to play the song “Coco Jamboo” …I’m sorry..but you’re not going to be able to enter any further than here if you don’t show some “Coco Jamboo” i.d. Okay..you got it playing? Now put it on repeat..put up your phone and finish reading this blog.

This morning..I wake up at my $10 hostel. I think an asian couple slept below me in this room filled with 10 people..well… I guess 11 people lol. I rent cheaper car for this next expedition…it’s maybe a mitsubishi.. there is Japanese written throughout the vehicle. I have a general idea of where I’m headed…ride the coast towards Abel Tasman..make it to one of the towns and ask a local where to not waste my time and then keep going.Thats the plan. It’s been raining in this part of the country for many days in a row…I heard that alot of the roads I drove further south on the west coast were flooded and shut down. The rain is lifting a little on my drive..fog rolls in big time..I drive through Abel Tasman…can’t see crap. It felt like a mountain road in Western North Carolina or maybe Blue ridge. Windy..steep..and green..and a gray fog covering everything else…I have seen pictures of this national park…I want to see this national park…but not being able to doesn’t bother me that much..because after staring at a laptop for a week in a city..I was just happy to be adventuring again. So this radio is finicky…it doesn’t have bluetooth…the radio station cuts in an out as we get deeper out here. I talked to my dad most of the way out here…and the other time was spent listening to nothing..which as you know about me..is rare. It was fine..not ideal… as I wanted to cruise to my songs.

I make it to Tanaka…which some one say is the last real town before it gets pretty desolate. I agree to a certain extent…but guess what…there is one more town. I’m currently eating “country fried chicken” and “potato with gravy” in the last town. Its Collingwood. It is a one Road Township that dead ends…it’s sort of like a peninsula town…water on all sides. I meet a local..I’m told no matter the weather..go here. It does get skipped. I’ve got time…weather is crap..but not raining terribly. They said go easy on the dirt and gravel roads. Before I leave town…I walk across the street to an antique/miscellaneous store…I’m thinking..I need music for this drive…whattaya know! They have about 30 cd’s sitting on a shelf in the back corner. Bingo. The selection is…rough…I don’t understand half of the artists names and I don’t see any familiar artists. The first one that caught my eye.. was an album by Mr. President..a black guy with his shirt off with two white girls on each side of him…the cover screamed 90’s. The cd’s are one NZD by the way. 60 cents for me. I really don’t know what to expect with what kind of music Mr. President sings..but I know it’s going to be gold. Okay..we need to mix it up now…I see a scorpions cd..80’s rock..got it…okay switch it up one more time…”The Diamond Accordion Band” Play Country Greats…I recognized some of the songs so I picked this one too.

I’m putting a cd to a radio for the first time in ages..nostalgic. Even though cd’s weren’t that long ago…still. I thought…if I had taken a trip like this in early 2000’s I would be adding a massive cd booklet to the packing list and have a cd player on my hip at all times during hikes. How blessed are us music listeners to have bluetooth, Spotify, playlists, and earbuds!

The first cd has to be Mr. President…oh man..its better than I expected..(I hope you’re still listening to it by the way") Wow..great first song…it feels a little long though..I’m kind of getting lost in the scenery develop too as I get closer to my destination..I look down and we are on track 3. It’s the same song playing but it’s remix on track 3. I look at the back of the cd case and this cd only consists of 8 different versions of the same song. I try to skip…the skip button doesn’t work half the time..sometimes the skip button turns off the radio and starts you back on number 1. So you know what..I’m just going to play Coco Jamboo for the next 30 minutes…I hear..extended versions…club remixes..”DJ DODO’s twist on Coco Bamboo” My favorite track is number 7. It’s the instrumental version…I felt the biggest relief when I made it to that track.

My favorite line in the song is “When I hold my baby, she say I do it nicer
I like my chicken with rice and lemonada
And that's what she get when she shouts out "Jamboo"
Now I gotta go, yo coco”

Mr. President is a euro dance group from Germany. 96 I think? I just went back and watched the music video…oh man..its even better.

Okay..enough of this for now I’m gonna crazy listening to this song over and over.

I plug in the scorpions…first song is fine..80’s big hair? I guess?..Next song..not terrible..the cd skips back to song 1. There are only 2 songs on this cd. Wonderful.

I probably listened to each of them…6-7 times. The bumpy dirt road…absolutely ruined this cd.I forgot that was even a thing..now I’m stuck with 8 versions of Coco Bamboo and Country classics played with an Accordion. I park at the trail head.

Pause.

Unpause.

The fried chicken place was closing at 7:30. Man, it was really.. really good. Reminded me of home. Speaking of home. OJ Simpson.. Murderer and father of Klohe Kardashian died today. I’m sure he’s looking up at me living my best life. Good riddance. The masters are on… I saw a glimpse of it on a tv early.. man.. that makes you miss home right there if nothing else. I am so thankful my dad took me twice as a high schooler. I saw Angel Cabrera win.. who I think just got out of jail.. and then we saw Bubba win his 1st one.. the crowd was so big around 18 green so we headed to the post ceremony spot and had a great seat. I remember Bubba crying. I think there was a Go Dawgs.. said several times in there from him and the crowd. Also, that day.. I met Willie Robertson from Duck Dynasty.. he signed my sperry shoe with a pen I borrowed from an officer. I think the signature wore off the next time it rained in Macon. Good memory though. I don’t even know if I want to go again.. I feel like everyone should be able to experience the Masters at least once in their life. I’ve been lucky enough to see it twice.. I can still envision everything about it. I would feel like I was taking someone’s spot who entered the lottery all of their life to go. I don’t enter the lottery anymore. I’m blessed to have experienced it twice. Thank you dad.

My favorite golfer is Patrick Reed…sike… cheater.

My favorite is still Rickie Fowler.. I have always enjoyed his positive outlook… his humor.. his swing style.. fashion style.. his advocacy for growing the game.. he’s a great ambassador. I know he’s had a rough go over the last idk how many years now but I always pull for him and hope he can have some remarkable comeback and resurgence one day.

If anyone absolutely insists though.. I’ll go with you I guess ;)

Okay.. a little off track.

In the car park.. two magnificent peacocks come up to the vehicle.. there’s one other car in the lot.. me.. and two peacocks. They are cussing me out.. I didn’t even do anything I just got here bro. pics attached.

I start the trail.. the pictures I add will be in order from car park to the beach. I know that there is a scenic spot somewhere out there that I’m trying to go see.. but other than that I’m just wandering around and taking it all in. I can hear the ocean roaring.. beautiful rolling hills around me.. the dirt path turns to sand.. the green hills turn to rainforest.. then the rainforest turns to dunes.. there she blows.. a magnificent view of the beach with yuuuugeee rocks.. I feel like almost running at this point in my wee little green huk booties(thank you Mom.. they have been a huge help on this trip) can’t recommend them enough. I’m so excited.. seeing this is a reminder of why I’m doing this trip.. I stressed all week in paradise.. now I get to soak in this paradise. I come across 5 people while on this beach. I can’t believe how empty it is. You put this anywhere in America or Europe.. it would be covered with people. I have all of this before me… to myself. I explore a couple caves. In NZ.. like I’ve said before on here.. there aren’t reptiles, insects, or 4 legged things that can hurt you or mess with you.. so after being here for quite awhile… I guess my guard has been down while hiking because there’s nothing that can get me.. besides my own head;) but I’m in this open shallow/big cave/overhang thing.. a seal! Locks eyes with me at the same time! I spooked him.. he spooked me! He blended in with the rocks.. I was within feet of him with my back turned and didn’t even realize it. we exchanged pleasantries and I apologized for disturbing his slumber.. he huffed and puffed and went back to sleep. I’ve never seen a wild seal.. except for in Astoria, Oregon(goonies film location)

I walk around a little more. I come across a little pool.. of freaking baby seals… I quickly look around for the mama… she’s over there chillin.. I’m keeping my eye on her… these seals are my freaking favorite! The sun has even popped out. You can see a silouhette of one perched on a rock looking out towards the ocean. Next to a bird drying his wings. I absolutely… am in love with this spot. In that very moment.. I decided I was going to stay in Collingwood for the night.. it was 4:00 and I had yet to pick a place to stay. I found a freaking gem in this beach. The name of the beach is Wharariki Beach. When I was driving out here I began to feel like I was headed towards the edge of the world. When I made it to the seals.. I thought… this has to be the edge of the earth.. this is how far it goes. This is paradise.

I change my mind about Austin in this moment. I am going to live with the seals. I am going to become one with the seals. I am going to strictly wear blue. I’m going to be a navy seal!

I didn’t even find the spot I was looking for.. the sun was fleeting and I spent more time than expected with the seals. I’m going to find the spot I’m looking for tomorrow. I’m giddy.

I actually didn’t listen to my music for a majority of my time on this beach…on purpose..once I soaked up the natural sounds..I plugged in my AirPods..and played some specific songs. One is “Vivre” by my friend Brandon Sanders..an artist out of Carrollton/Atlanta and a special new friend in my life. He has been in my life since about a year ago and I’m very grateful for him…and his music.

The main song on repeat the past few days though..has been by #1 Dads..called “Freedom Fighter”. Usually I'm into a song for the sound…the feeling it gives me. But this sound..its the sound, the feeling it gives me, and the lyrics match up pretty well for this brokenhearted skinny white boy. Not all lyrics..but 80% of them. Give it a listen if you would like a peek inside. “Let me figure this out, figure this out”

Vivre by Brandon is also one that I listen to for the sound, the feeling it gives me, and the lyrics. Thank you Brandon. Keep going friend.

I also listened to alot of Incubus on the beach..and probably will tomorrow.

There have been several times on this trip where I have been so happy to experience something alone… but this was one of those spots… where I wish I was experiencing it with someone else.. anyone else! I’m going barefoot tomorrow. I will spend hours out there.

I’m heading back there in the morning to ask the seals if I can join their club. I cannot wait!! The journey lives on and Zack lives on! Here. We. Go. Baby!