Tuesday 18 March 2008

A sojourn Down Under

My last update in Thailand feels like a lifetime ago and I'm not sure where my first month in Australia has gone. From the basic accommodation I have been used to since I left England, I have been completely spoilt staying in luxury with friends and family.
Flying into Sydney was as spectacular as ever and I wasted no time in taking the ferry across the harbour to Manly; the view of the bridge and the opera house never fails to take my breath away. Walking along Manly beach reminded me of how wonderful the outdoors lifestyle is here with so much going on; volleyball, surfing, jogging and general healthy living. After a fantastic week catching up with friends in Sydney and visiting beautiful beaches, my next stop was Brisbane where I met my dad to drive up to the Sunshine Coast together to meet up with my mum, brother and his family. Noosa is definitely one of my favourite spots in Oz and it was great to spend time there with my family again. Kelly Slater was in town for the Festival of Surfing so I thought I'd test my skills at the local surf school. I was slightly embarrassed when my young nephews and niece stood up on their boards first time and continued to display what can only be described as perfect balance while Auntie Katie struggled at the back. I decided at that point not to try anything new while I was with them and withdrew from the fishing and go-karting competitions we had organised.
Wine-tasting is a must in Australia and driving through the Mary River Valley, we visited the Sunshine Coast's oldest vineyard for a sampling session. The scenery was spectacular and driving on up through the Glass House Mountains National Park there was a noticeable (and welcome) drop in temperature. A trip on the sugar cane train at The Big Pineapple took us through tranquil rainforest and a huge array of plants & fruits, I now know how to grow a pineapple. Stopping off at the koala and fauna sanctuary reminded me that the Aussie native bear is actually not that cute and cuddly but we enjoyed watching the kangaroos and their joeys.
So after ten days of fun, full-on Aussie cuisine & top notch wines we headed down the coast.
From Noosa to Sanctuary Cove, where the preferred method of transport is the golf buggy, another world greeted me. Swimming in the lagoon of the stunning five-star hotel, the poverty of India seemed worlds away and I reminded myself how fortunate I am.
Back up the coast I shared my birthday celebrations with my brother at the multi award-winning Sirromet winery at Mount Cotton, another chance to taste some of Australia's finest and as we took in the breathtaking views over the vineyards I knew this would be a birthday to remember.
My stay in Brisbane finished with a visit to the Queensland Museum as a volunteer with Manly State School where I learned everything I need to know about dinosaurs, dung beetles and 6 year old children (who I suspect are rather more difficult to control than any other creatures).
So after saying goodbye to my family I am now staying with another good friend just north of the Gold Coast and looking forward to the coming weeks in the land of Oz.


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