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It’s four years since I’ve been home to Australia and with time there is always some level of trepidation about coming back to visit. For Zach and Sami it’s been eight years since they’d last visited. The kids have few, if any memories from their last visit, and so being re-introduced to their large and boisterous family has been interesting to say the least, especially because in Canada they only have a couple of cousins that they see occasionally.
Firstly, the sheer weight of numbers can be a bit overwhelming – 25 people, and that is only half the number as we’re heading over to Tasmania to see the other half this coming weekend.
Indelible Tip #1: We visited the Ballarat Wildlife Park, which has and will always be the kid’s favorite activity in Australia. I guess it’s hard not to be excited when you’re hand feeding kangaroos, and have within arms reach a collection of some of the worlds most exotic animals (Koala’s, Wombats, Emu’s and Tasmanian Devils, to name but a few). From the moment I said we were coming to Australia for our March Break holidays all the thing they were most excited about were visiting the wildlife park.
Surprisingly they even enjoyed visiting Clunes (the town I was born and brought up in - pop. 500) in the middle of nowhere. Strange is all I can say, as I couldn't wait to leave when I was 17 and left for University. It was a novelty to have them experience my hometown, albeit quite a different experience from my childhood. All I can say is that time heals all and we spent an enjoyable day with my younger brother who still lives in the town checking some familiar sites... As I said to the kids, “everything is different, but nothing has changed.”
Poor Zach and Sami were even subjected to a reunion with a couple of old friends from Uni (University). Interestingly, there were many TW stories from my University days that I’d either forgotten or had repressed…likely the latter! :-)
On one hand it feels just like yesterday that we were all in University together but clearly another when you think back to all that we’ve done, seen and accomplished in our lives since leaving all those years ago. Many of my cohort now have grandchildren and my best friend Craig’s daughter Caitlin is getting married later this year and so Zach and Sami are the youngest by quite a few years.
Indelible Tip #2: Our trip has also included a trip on the high speed train to Melbourne, which was about an hour an half from Ballarat. We met my nephew and his wife who were our tour guides for the day. I had forgotten how cosmopolitan Melbourne is or has become, with its cafe culture and its cool restaurant scene. This was compounded by the amazing architecture and if you get the opportunity check out Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, which are across the road from each other and serve as an amazing juxtaposition of styles and era.
Indelible Tip #3: Melbourne has some amazing Street Art especially along Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane respectively - they were incredible (see below for some of the great street art). It was an unseasonably hot day with the temperature reaching 31C while we explored the city, and given the time of year quite unusual.
I've been in shorts since I arrived which I will never complain about given that Canada is very cold for the better part of six months each year, so I will always wear shorts if the weather gets even remotely toward 20C. Each morning I've also been making sure that we all have lots of sunscreen slathered on before we head out, as the sun is blistering hot in Australia and much seemingly a lot stronger than what we're now used to. Hard to believe we need it March.
This visit has been bitter sweet in that I feel as though I don't have an anchor here anymore, which I suppose is normal given that both my parents are dead and the house that I grew up in has been sold.
My siblings are spread all over Australia and other than my infrequent visits I really only keep in contact with my sister which seems to work for us all. Honestly even if I lived in Australia I would likely only see my siblings occasionally even though its great to see them I'm also a realist. We live such different lives, and in fact we always have and so accepting that this is the type of relationship that we have has taken away much of the stress of visiting.
Australia will always be home...no matter what. :-)
Facebook - Google+ - Twitter - Instagram - LinkedIn - ImageBrief - National Geographic
It’s four years since I’ve been home to Australia and with time there is always some level of trepidation about coming back to visit. For Zach and Sami it’s been eight years since they’d last visited. The kids have few, if any memories from their last visit, and so being re-introduced to their large and boisterous family has been interesting to say the least, especially because in Canada they only have a couple of cousins that they see occasionally.
Firstly, the sheer weight of numbers can be a bit overwhelming – 25 people, and that is only half the number as we’re heading over to Tasmania to see the other half this coming weekend.
Indelible Tip #1: We visited the Ballarat Wildlife Park, which has and will always be the kid’s favorite activity in Australia. I guess it’s hard not to be excited when you’re hand feeding kangaroos, and have within arms reach a collection of some of the worlds most exotic animals (Koala’s, Wombats, Emu’s and Tasmanian Devils, to name but a few). From the moment I said we were coming to Australia for our March Break holidays all the thing they were most excited about were visiting the wildlife park.
Surprisingly they even enjoyed visiting Clunes (the town I was born and brought up in - pop. 500) in the middle of nowhere. Strange is all I can say, as I couldn't wait to leave when I was 17 and left for University. It was a novelty to have them experience my hometown, albeit quite a different experience from my childhood. All I can say is that time heals all and we spent an enjoyable day with my younger brother who still lives in the town checking some familiar sites... As I said to the kids, “everything is different, but nothing has changed.”
Poor Zach and Sami were even subjected to a reunion with a couple of old friends from Uni (University). Interestingly, there were many TW stories from my University days that I’d either forgotten or had repressed…likely the latter! :-)
On one hand it feels just like yesterday that we were all in University together but clearly another when you think back to all that we’ve done, seen and accomplished in our lives since leaving all those years ago. Many of my cohort now have grandchildren and my best friend Craig’s daughter Caitlin is getting married later this year and so Zach and Sami are the youngest by quite a few years.
Indelible Tip #2: Our trip has also included a trip on the high speed train to Melbourne, which was about an hour an half from Ballarat. We met my nephew and his wife who were our tour guides for the day. I had forgotten how cosmopolitan Melbourne is or has become, with its cafe culture and its cool restaurant scene. This was compounded by the amazing architecture and if you get the opportunity check out Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, which are across the road from each other and serve as an amazing juxtaposition of styles and era.
Indelible Tip #3: Melbourne has some amazing Street Art especially along Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane respectively - they were incredible (see below for some of the great street art). It was an unseasonably hot day with the temperature reaching 31C while we explored the city, and given the time of year quite unusual.
I've been in shorts since I arrived which I will never complain about given that Canada is very cold for the better part of six months each year, so I will always wear shorts if the weather gets even remotely toward 20C. Each morning I've also been making sure that we all have lots of sunscreen slathered on before we head out, as the sun is blistering hot in Australia and much seemingly a lot stronger than what we're now used to. Hard to believe we need it March.
This visit has been bitter sweet in that I feel as though I don't have an anchor here anymore, which I suppose is normal given that both my parents are dead and the house that I grew up in has been sold.
My siblings are spread all over Australia and other than my infrequent visits I really only keep in contact with my sister which seems to work for us all. Honestly even if I lived in Australia I would likely only see my siblings occasionally even though its great to see them I'm also a realist. We live such different lives, and in fact we always have and so accepting that this is the type of relationship that we have has taken away much of the stress of visiting.
Australia will always be home...no matter what. :-)
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“Hanoi Posting”
This week's selection of photos is from our current trip to Australia.
Enjoy!
TW
“Hanoi Posting”
A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis
Episode 37: Hostage
Bill left the office walked towards the Star Cafe through the crowded streets and alleyways of the Old Quarter, the noise, humidity and throng of scooters had become his second home. He loved the grittiness of his life in Hanoi, and the juxtaposition of its innate beauty. As he walked he could see through the limbs of the overhanging Banyan trees that the sky was transforming into the dark and leaden form which occurred each afternoon right before the torrential downpour and the respite from the tense humidity.
He began to hear the first heavy drops on the leaves above him and so instinctively stepped under an awning. He hadn't seen the shadowed form of the two men standing deep inside the darkly lite store front nor felt the blow that rendered him unconscious.
Bill's head ached as he slowly became aware of where he was, or where he wasn't to be more precise. He wasn't able to remember much about anything as his brain felt completely muddled. He tried to open his eyes, but realized that he had something over his head which felt like a cloth or bag of some sort. His hands and feet were tightly tied behind his back and he was lying on his side on a cold floor.
What the bloody hell was going on he thought as his mind began to regain some semblance of order and understanding to his predicament. He could hear the muffled sound of voices nearby but couldn't decipher what they were saying. He wondered how long he'd been here? And wondered why he'd been trust up like a pig and left to lie on the floor.
His first thought was to yell, but soon thought better of it. Although never being in a situation like this before, he sensed that this was more than a simple scare tactic and that if he knew what was good for him he needed to remain silent as though he was still unconscious and try and glean what he could.
The ropes on his hands and feet were tight, and now becoming very uncomfortable. His mouth was dry and tasted stale as if he'd been sleeping with his mouth open. He wondered if the wound on his head had been reopened, it sure felt like it from the blinding pain that surged through his head and emanated from the same spot... He tried to remember what had happened, but more importantly what day it was.
He'd decided to walk to the Star Cafe...it had been Monday afternoon.
Next week: Episode 38: All Set
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This week's selection of photos is from our current trip to Australia.
TW
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| An inquisitive wallaby at the Ballarat Wildlife Park |
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| The majestic Kookaburra, although this guy wasn't laughing |
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| Cute, cuddly and cantankerous! |
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| Zach enjoying hanging with a kangaroo at the Wildlife Park |
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| Sami hand feeding a wallaby at the park - every kids dream! |
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| Ballarat was home to the rowing for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics - we're staying in Ballarat with my best mate Craig and his wife Audrey |
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| The Arch of Victory to commemorate the end of WWI in Ballarat - they planted a tree for everyone who served from the city and it seriously goes for miles |
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| The memorial to Australia's Prisoner's of War - all 35,000 names from all wars in which Australia has fought. The fallen pillar signifies that not all those who were taken prisoner came home.... Very moving! |
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| Bushland around the town I was brought up - all eucalypts |
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| Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street Station with a modern tram passing in front |
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| Flinders Street Station in juxtaposition with the new architecture of Federation Square - somehow it works |
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| Some of the most amazing street art in the world! |
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| Cool street art adjacent to AC/DC Lane in Melbourne's CBD |
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| Melbourne's world renown cafe culture - sensational! |
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