Melbourne, It’s Been Nice Knowing Ya

Ok. I’m leaving Melbourne for real now.

I realize that this site probably hasn’t been the most exciting thing in the world the last few weeks as I sat here in Melbourne and took care of my business. I can actually start moving again.

I’m not going to go to Tasmania like I had first thought. I’m really sick of sitting around and a plane flight is really not something I want to do. I’m going to drive from Melbourne to Adelaide along the Great Ocean Road. I’ve heard is it one of the greatest stretches of road in the world. It is one of the things in Australia I’ve been looking forward to the most. I’ll probably stretch it out across a few days so I can get out of the city.

You may also be wondering what is up with the little man in the upper left-hand corner of the site….

As you know, I’ve used my time in Melbourne to work on the website. I’ve always wanted a logo for my site. Something sort of professional looking. All I’ve ever had up there was text, and I wanted something more. Especially if I was going to be doing a video podcast and branching out into some other areas.

My first challenge was to think of something which would be unique and represent me and the site. I tried working with some people who made logos professionally, and I was less than pleased with their work. They just trotted out the same old stuff you’d expect: a globe, a compass, and a guy wearing a backpack. Boring, boring, boring.

I didn’t know what I wanted, but I knew what I didn’t want.

Eventually, it just hit me. Once I thought of it, the answer was obvious. My tattoo!

For those of you who haven’t been following along since the beginning, when I was in the Cook Islands, I got a tattoo with Cook Island Maori symbols as a memento of my trip. The central symbol on the design is that of a man. It is called a Tikitikitangata. I figured if I can get the image embedded on to my skin for the rest of my life, I could certainly put it on my website.

…and that is how the logo was born.

I’m not an artist, but I know someone who is. I asked Scott if he could do the logo for me and he was able to crank it out quickly. (If you look closely, the logo and the tattoo image are not exactly the same. We had to make it a bit, ahem, less anatomically correct else I’d never heard the end of it. )

In case you haven’t seen it before, here is the video of me getting my first (and only) tattoo in Rarotonga:

11 thoughts on “Melbourne, It’s Been Nice Knowing Ya”

  1. what a cool idea. i love when people personalize.
    although, i’m going to be honest.. i never knew it was a little man until this post. woops!

  2. The new logo looks great.

    I also like how the site has lightened up a bit. Man, I haven’t “dropped by” for a while

  3. Gary — your new logo is fantastic! Even to the favicon! Inspired! Now you need to revamp your ECard with your new logo and look!

    I can’t wait to see your photos of the Great Ocean Road — I’m traveling the world in your photos and loving every second of it.

    ê¿ê

  4. love your tattoo! at least you found something that would remind you of your trip. i guess the trip really meant something to you.

  5. Cool.
    I love that new logo and I totally digg it as a favicon :)!!

    I had to laugh out loud for the “not exactly the same” thing ;)

    Have a safe trip down the road :)

  6. I think the little man is great, even missing body parts! I also like that you added it as a favicon.

  7. I would imagine you hit some nice restaurants during your time in Melbourne. Great Ocean Road is cool, though you should probably stop a lot if you’re the one driving. Nothing sucks more than the scenic drive that you can’t fully appreciate as you try to stay inside the lines.

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