Down under travelling

While I’ve mostly posted day to day happenings on our trip to Australia, I thought I’d just finish off with some things I’ve thought about.

Travel is not just a destination to tick a box. At least we don’t view it that way. Travelling is a learning experience. We learn about the culture, history, culinary delights, and flora / fauna of the places we choose to visit.

We also learn about ourselves. The things that delight us! The things that upset or disturb us. What we want to experience again or only once will do. It’s also a chance to step outside our life box and see it all from a different perspective. Often renewing or changing goals when home.

The more we travel, the experiences don’t just come in blocks or boxes, but they blend together to enhance our knowledge and appreciation for our natural world and the human family as a whole.

It’s interesting what one simple thing will do to change a mindset, or way of doing things.

For example: did you know, 34% of the countries in the world drive on the left hand side? I didn’t. Had to look that one up.

Being from the UK I’m familiar with that, Japan and Barbados I knew, but there are many in Asia.

Australia falls into that category as well. What I’ve noticed in the UK as well as Australia is that not only to people drive on the left…. they walk on the left as well! just off the plane and into the airport that’s noticeable. So gradually we train our brain to do the same so we’re not ‘going against the tide’ all the time.

Readjusting now we’re home. 😀

For those who were concerned… or asked, we did see signs to watch out for poisonous snakes but never saw any, except behind glass at the Adelaide zoo. No spiders either. we’re happy about missing that experience! 😄

We flew several internal flights while in the country and noticed something interesting. My husband commented that they manage to board the plane more quickly than we are used to. I thought about that, and realized one reason was because no one asked for ID as well as our boarding pass.

In fact, we checked in at a booth. Putting in name and flight. No request for ID. Then, dropped bags with no human interaction. Through security with only the boarding pass requested. So, really, anyone could fly on the purchased ticket if they knew the basic info. Hmmmm…. It used to be in Canada many years ago, one could pass their ticket on to someone else if they couldn’t fly. Not so now.

No matter which city or area we traveled to in the country, we found a ‘melting pot’ of nations. The friends we met at the literature carts were no exception. New Zealanders, Maltese, Samoan, Japanese, British, various African and South American countries also represented.

The variety of nationalities represented meant that the dining options were also varied. So much to choose from!

Unfortunately, there are some foods I cannot tolerate so have to miss those. Sushi is a favourite of ours anyway so we ate lots and lots of that!

Even found an ‘all you can eat’ buffet (qualified by a 90 minute limit) in Glenelg. $49 each ($43 for seniors… which apparently begins at 70 for the reduction)

Pretty good we thought. Big variety, but small portions so there were a few we ordered more than one. Some interesting desserts. Matcha cheese cake and green tea panna cotta. Both very good.

Several friends asked us if we had tried Fosters Beer while in Australia. Never saw it! They have quite a few IPA beers. None of which are favourites of ours, in either country. They have all the imports. But we did want to try what they make there.

It was our first night in Melbourne at the Network sports bar we were introduced to Carlton Draught. A little like the honey brown we have here. Amber in color and a rich Malty flavour.

At the Nijumaru Japanese Restaurant I mentioned above, there was a dark Sapporo beer on the menu. Never had that before and it was very good.

It was interesting to see how much history has been preserved there. When there is the opportunity to somehow save at least the facade of a building, they will keep several outer walls and build the new high rise inside. It made for an interesting architectural landscape in the inner cities.

One friend asked what surprised us? Since I had done several months of research, looking at menus and places to stay, neighbourhoods etc. watched YouTube videos and read blogs about what to do and where to go etc. there really wasn’t a surprise. Lots of lovely experiences even so. The only thing I could think of was, looking at the maps, you don’t quite realize it’s in 2D. So there were times when that realization hit home when we were climbing a hill we didn’t know would be there. North Sydney I particularly noticed that.

Seeing video and pictures of the ’12 apostles’ on the great ocean road I knew I wanted to see that in person but the reality, enhanced by the roar of the ocean waves, the smell of the salt water and wet sand, and the sheer size of the cliffs were well worth the effort to experience.

Seeing the little penguins hop out of the ocean and waddle up the beach, then the hill to their home burrows, babies calling to them and their warbled reply in the near dark was memorable. As was seeing the Milky Way. Many emotional moments which will remain with me.

So… worth the trip. Very definitely. Would we go again…? if we could!

As with any country, there is so much to see. If it’s the first visit, you have a list of obvious things to do and see and experience, then if there’s time, or just by accident you find something beyond that.

Once you are there, you realize there is so much you could add to the list, but never have the time. Some things need an extended stay, which most people can’t manage.

However, we now have much to think on, and share, for those who are interested. We’ll have to watch for the glazed over eyes and know when to stop sharing! 😅

Our amazing planet has an endless variety we can enjoy. There’s a song that asks the question, “who wants to live forever?” I always answer, “I do!” When given the opportunity, I like to share with others that very possibility.

Thank you for reading. Hope you found something interesting in what I shared.

Where to next.. a mystery to us as well. But you never know!