I think one of the thing I regret most not doing down under is blogging more and taking more photos. There are so many things which I struggle to recall, to reminisce... With each thought, a frantic grasp to store it in some deep recess of my mind, hoping it will never disappear.
Australia is a really beautiful place. From the most rustic villages to the most urban cities; the unique flare that carries the Australian spirit is omnipresent.
Well... In another bid to catalogue my fleeting memories, I'm going to list down 5 things which I find so awesome about Australia.
Today, it's the weather.
1) The Weather
I think most Singaporeans would agree that Singapore is too hot. Waaay too hot. But guess what, Singapore is not as hot as Brisbane in summer. The summer of 2012 took the temperature all the way up to a blasting 38 degree centigrade that merely staying in the shade was a token blessing. But guess what? Queenslanders love the sun, even in that mad, baking temperature, the man-made beach at South Bank (a testament to their love of the sun and sea), would be filled to the brim with people. Kangeroo Point would be alive with novice climbers attempting to conquer the scenic cliff. Brisbane River would be rife with jet skis and racing kayaks.
That is merely the summer. I could go on and on about the beauty of having 4 seasons.
The transitions between seasons would bring a few weeks of light rain. Unlike the showers in Singapore which comes and goes in a flash; these light rain lasts for days on end - pausing only for a few hours before continuing their laborious task to shift the season. The temperature sometimes plummets during these transitions, especially between Autumn and Winter, Winter and Spring, dropping to as low as 5-6 degrees at night even.
It's during these times when I like to sit at my half broken wooden table outside my house and gaze into the hazy mist. The constant raindrops soothes a troubled mind or wounded heart far better then any other therapy.
Autumn is a curious mix of warm, still air and cold gusts. It's absolutely my most favourite time to brush up on my running. Running down along Coronation Drive, beside the calm Brisbane River at just about sunset is probably one of the most memorable things I did frequently. The sun setting on the horizon reflects snake-like blazing flames onto a pristine, azure sky. Framed by the city, or even the Wheel of Brisbane by Southbank, could just wish you could capture that moment on film. The temperature is usually about 16 - 27 degrees, with the low humidity, it is a chore to break a sweat for constant runners.
Winter is a season which I have extreme mixed feelings about. I will never forget how I just curled up in bed, trying to cover myself with as many blankets and jackets possible.- nothing seemed enough. It did not help that my house was a typical wooden Queenslander house. The roaring winds at night pierced the walls and kept me awake, teeth chattering.
Yeah, pathetic, I know. But I was brought up in a tropical environment, where the lowest temperature is twice that of the max temperature in winter. It was not something I was used to.
Nonetheless, that experience made me appreciate warmth a lot more. I never understood the meaning of "the luxury of a thick blanket and warm fire", until I experienced winter. While heat can severely irritate a person, it never saps the life out of people. Cold however, has the ability to destroy willpower.
Nothing that a warm bowl of stew can't solve however! haha..
Spring is by far my most favourite season. I can dress in berms and tank top, or jeans and jacket and feel comfortable either way. The colours of nature are truly much more vibrant in spring. I have so much memories attached to spring that I doubt I could ever pen it all down.
The Jacaranda tree blossoms, the Toowomba Flower Festival, the River Fire... When you wake up at 7am in Spring, the sun is shining, yet it is the cool breeze of night you feel against your face. You step out into the sun and immediately you feel what is meant by "the sun's gentle caress" against your face. That warmth is glorious.
Springtime is one of happiness. For some reason, nothing gets you down when you wake up, and it affects you for the rest of the day. You think positive, you act positive and everybody around you is just - happy. It's like everything sleepy is waking up again.
Well.. that is it for the seasons.
In Summer, I went to Agnes Waters and the Town of 1770 to fulfill my dreams of touching the Great Barrier Reef. I went to Byron Bay, the town of true chill-out to snorkel. I went to Surfer's Paradise and Colongatta to learn how to surf, and of course experience the truly beautiful waves.
In Autumn, I went to the Gold Coast Hinterlands, Mount Tamborine to see the great trees and temperate rainforests - rainforests that did not have much insects that enjoy buzzing around you - rainforests that you can really enjoy. I went to the Sunshine Coast, to Noosa and the famous Eumandi Markets that stretch for almost a kilometre in length and breadth..
In Winter, I went to the city of Melbourne, climbed ancient mountains and travelled the Great Ocean Road. I went to Sydney city, took a billion photos of the Sydney Opera House, climbed the Harbour Bridge, ate at the Fisherman's Wharf, got lost in the Blue Mountains. In my last Winter, I went to magnificent New Zealand, travelled the entire length and breadth of the Southern Island, visited Queenstown, Christchurch, Milford Sound, Tekapo, Fox Glacier.
In Spring, I went to Toowoomba to gasp at the sheer amount of flora and fauna, went to Tweed Heads to check out the magnificent sea cliffs. I finally went to Tasmania, and travelled the entire circumference and everything in between in a fortnight of extreme adventure.
You see, I did use my time properly. Haha... I don't regret the sheer lack of time I had in Australia for stoning. Every day was an adventure, every season an opportunity. I studied hard, I played hard. And as for the weather, well...
It was awesome.
