Melbourne, finally
I MADE IT TO AUSTRALIA! Still can't believe it..yet here I am. While
standing in line for the passport check, I see a sign behind the
booths that reads "Border Security is filming here today, If you
don't want to be filmed..etc". I get really excited! I would
love to see the area where it all happens and guess what..I have a
bag of peanuts in my luggage (which I declared of course but you
never know). After a couple of check points, a lady asks me if that's
all I brought: No meat or vegetables? I shake my head.."Take
that exit"..Darnnit..I found myself at the arrival hall.
I
stayed with Ian and his family, Ians 1st wife's family lived next to
my grandfather so he knew some of my family. Ian and his wife are
very fond of nature, birds, bats. On my first morning there, I saw my
first kangaroo, while we were walking the dog somewhere! How amazing
is that! They showed me a different side of Melbourne, we went bat
trapping (and after writing down some info, let them go again) and
animal night spotting (to observe what lives there), it was very
exciting! I saw animals that I had never seen in the wild. He also
took me to Healesville Sanctuary, I must say, they take very good
care of their animals here (they also did that in Singapore), but
they also run and fly free, it was amazing to see! And they only hold
Australian animals here, so it was very cool! I also saw the home of
the flying foxes (bats), trees filled with them, tens of thousands
just living in the wild!
We
went to Penguin Island one weekend, where we took a boat to Seal
Rocks, where you see as you can guess.. Rocks filled with seals, just
doing their thing 'being seals', swimming around, communicate with
each other and just laying around in the sun. On our way there, some
dolphins passed, another animal I had never seen in it's natural
habitat. At night we went to the Penguin Parade, after a research
tour, we sat down in the best seats of the house where 60% of the
penguins would cross that night. NO PICTURES ALLOWED! The penguins go
out fishing during the day and come back at night, when the coast is
clear to cross the beach, to go back to their burrows. What an
amazing sight. The Little Penguins (named after their size) just
wobbling in front of you. It was weird to see them walking in the
grass and up the hills, because I'm used to penguins in snow, on ice
and swimming. It was an amazing day!
Of
course I also saw some of Melbourne city centre, the Botanical
Gardens, China Town, Queen Victoria Market, The Melbourne Museum
(incl. a 007 design 50 years exhibition which was displayed while I
was there). I liked the city for the time I was there, though totally
different from the nature scenes and less impressive therefor I
guess. I met up with 2Dutch friends and also with 1English guy I met
in KL (he'll hate me for saying English..cause he's from Wales and
that's TOTALLY different, I'll see him again in Sydney for our
skydive).
All
and all, I am excited for what's to come after Melbourne!
Next
stop: Hobart, Tasmania. Cute little town, didn't do much, walked
around a lot, went to the movies and visited MONA (museum of old and
new art). First of all there was a Dutch invasion in the
hostel...4Dutch girls and also a Dutch guy that worked there..I
couldn't get around it and ended up having a great first night with
my first Goon too :). MONA was the weirdest, most confusing museum
I've ever seen. I guess it's because it's called a museum..it was
unusual and the route was confusing..and then when I finally decided
to go to the toilet before leaving the museum, it ended up being an
artwork as well, I'll spare you the details..let's just say, guys
would love looking at their junk in here from a certain angle, while
I really did not need to see it. Anyhow, I guess that's what this
museum was all about...thinking.. what the hell did I just see..
And
then, after almost a year of communicating on facebook..visiting my
family (my moms cousin). I took a 4hour bus trip to Devonport where
they picked me up to take me to their home in Gunns Plains. I knew it
was “in the middle of nowhere” but getting closer to it, I
REALIZED it really was in the middle of nowhere. Some farms, lots of
land, lots of animals, mountains, beautiful surroundings! Corina
grows her own veggies, fruit, flowers. They also have a couple of
chickens for fresh eggs and a dog an two cats. The dog became my best
friend, she's crazy but so sweet at times! The cats are about twenty
years and don't do much anymore besides sleep, eat and walk around.
Her husband, Ross, brews his own beer, some of which are quite tasty
:). Corina took me to see a couple of towns in the area (min. hour
away), Bernie, Penguin, Sheffield. Cute towns, in Sheffield I felt
like going back in time. Also took a bike ride here, very hot..you
really do need a hat to protect you from the sun!
The
weekend after we went on a cruise in Strahan, where we also spent one
night. We went to the pub on the first night and it was fun, I can
see now why we're family (hehe). After watching Bad Santa and a
goodnight sleep we went on a 6-hour cruise. The cruise stopped at two
points, first one was a nature walk in the most qualifying world
heritage area of the planet (scoring 7/10) and the second stop was
Sarah Island. The surroundings on the cruise as well as during our
stops were beautiful. Truly amazing to see such preserved natural
surroundings. After that we went back to Gunns Plains.
There's
the Gunns Plains Caves just a couple of km away from here and a Wings
wildlife park (about 10km). I went on the Caves tour on monday,
amazing caves. I don't know why, but I just love caves! It was a bit
of a adventure walk we had to do, going up and down and “mind your
head”! But it was really cool and the tour guide was hilarious! The
day after I went to the wildlife park on the bicycle as well, again
beautiful surroundings, nothing but mountains/hills, paddocks, cows,
a couple of houses is all I saw on the way. It's funny because all
the cows always look my way when I pass. Anyway, the wildlife park
was awesome! I fed my first kangaroos, I watched how 3 devils fought
over a wallaby tail, funny animals but I could see how they can be
really dangerous! Also saw some koala's, a baby wombat, a camel, some
birds, monkeys, etc. And then back to feed some more kangaroos! It's
so cute how they use their paws to hold your hand while they eat.
“It's
beginning to look a lot like Christmas”. Not really haha and didn't
feel like it either the days before, maybe because time went by so
fast the last months. Anyway, after opening presents and a
champagne/orange juice and croissant breakfast, the christmas vibe
was there. Spending it with new found family was great! And also to
see that the food here is different from what we usually eat in
Holland, reminded me more of the christmas dinner in the states.
On
my last day here I bottled some home brewed beer with Ross (the
husband), it was fun haha! Too bad it was morning, cause it really
makes you want to drink a couple during and after haha.
And
then here I am, spending my last hour in Gunns Plains with family
before they drive me to Launceston where I'm flying from tomorrow
morning to Sydney and seeing two friends from Holland! Poor
guys..their journey here takes about 24 hours. My flight is 1.5hour.
Can't believe after almost a year of talking about this and planning
it, it's really happening.
Happy
New Year to all far and near :)!!
Cheers,
Talitha