My dearest blogreader,
Unfortunately my 4 month journey is coming to an end. As I'm writing this blog, I'm looking at my suitcase which I will repack for the last time.
It has been good, those 4 months. I feel reborn. Does that makes any sense?
After Surfers Paradise I took the train to the Brisbane airport and flew Qantas for the last time to Sydney.
When I arrived in Sydney, where my little journey begun, it was pouring rain. Like the sky resembled the way I felt. That night I met up with a great guy I met on my last Contiki tour. Good thing he had an umbrella :)
The next day, my very last day Down Under, the rain stopped and this beautiful Autumn sun came out. As if Australia was telling me: It's okay...
That night I met up with Mattie, a guy I met on my first Contiki tour. We had a few drinks and a few laughs :)
The next morning after packing I had a quick drink with Jason, overlooking the Harbour bridge.
After that my airport shuttle was there.
As the immigration officer gave me my "Departed Australia" stamp he asked me: So, will you be back?
I replied: I hope so... He said: you should, a pretty girl like you is welcome in Australia anytime. :) That's a sign right? Haha....
My flight to the United Arabic Emirates would take 14 hours and 35 mintues.
You might think it's a lot, but it went by so fast. I watched 5 movies and some series. Read my book and had some meals and before I knew it we were descending into Abu Dhabi.
Yey, another stamp in my passport :)
My brother was there to pick me up and we drove to Dubai.
Yesterday I enjoyed some hot sun and in the evening we met up with a friend of my brother and his wife to have a drink and some sheesha.
And that brings me to today. My last day of this amazing trip.
When I look back I smile and think to myself: What a wonderful world :-D
Saturday 22 May 2010
Thursday 13 May 2010
Off to paradise...
Today was my last day in Brisbane... I could easily move from A (Antwerp) to B (Brisbane).
But, at least for now, I can't. In one week I'll be on the plane to go and see my Brother for the weekend.
I'll go from 25°C in Brisbane to 20° in Sydney to 45° in Dubai to... 9° in Belgium???
Painfull thought.
Right now I'm sitting next to the lit up pool overlooking the lights of the Brisbane CBD and I can feel nothing but gratitude for this very moment.
I don't need much to be happy, something that became even more clearly on this trip
Give me a smile and a little bit of sunshine. That's all it takes for me to be satisfied. Everything extra is a bonus.
Brisbane... another city where I lost my heart. A lot of people think Brisbane's boring because it's not like Sydney or Melbourne, other people think it's too far away from the beach. But I, I love it.
I know I should never compare places, but I think Brisbane might be the new Antwerp. Not the biggest city in Belgium, but a great vibe. Not near a beach but with a nice river.
A little outside the city is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The place I was hoping to do some volunteer work with wildlife. But unfortunately the volunteer jobs are full untill the end of the year.
So on Monday I went there, by myself, to finally see the koala's. After travelling through Australia & New Zealand the last 4 months I saw many animals in the wild, but no koala's.
Why? Because they are endangered. Only 20% of the koala population is left and it's still decreasing. Which is sad because they are sooo cute!
I got to hold a fluffy female koala who just loved her gumtree (eucalyptus) leaves like I love my chocolate :)
I also got to hold a 2,5 meter Olive Python :)
What else was there? A platypus (looks like a flat duck), wombats, crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, prey birds, sheep dogs and sheep, dingo, ...
I loved it. I also loved the slogan they had: "The earth is not for humans alone"
Tomorrow I'll be taking the train to paradise, Surfers Paradise to be precise :) The white sandy beaches of the Gold Coast with the bronzed bodies of Surfers... Me like :)
Being a beachbum for the last time, maybe even taking a surflesson from a hot surfteacher (with or without the stripes) before flying out to Sydney...
Tania the beachbum
But, at least for now, I can't. In one week I'll be on the plane to go and see my Brother for the weekend.
I'll go from 25°C in Brisbane to 20° in Sydney to 45° in Dubai to... 9° in Belgium???
Painfull thought.
Right now I'm sitting next to the lit up pool overlooking the lights of the Brisbane CBD and I can feel nothing but gratitude for this very moment.
I don't need much to be happy, something that became even more clearly on this trip
Give me a smile and a little bit of sunshine. That's all it takes for me to be satisfied. Everything extra is a bonus.
Brisbane... another city where I lost my heart. A lot of people think Brisbane's boring because it's not like Sydney or Melbourne, other people think it's too far away from the beach. But I, I love it.
I know I should never compare places, but I think Brisbane might be the new Antwerp. Not the biggest city in Belgium, but a great vibe. Not near a beach but with a nice river.
A little outside the city is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The place I was hoping to do some volunteer work with wildlife. But unfortunately the volunteer jobs are full untill the end of the year.
So on Monday I went there, by myself, to finally see the koala's. After travelling through Australia & New Zealand the last 4 months I saw many animals in the wild, but no koala's.
Why? Because they are endangered. Only 20% of the koala population is left and it's still decreasing. Which is sad because they are sooo cute!
I also got to hold a 2,5 meter Olive Python :)
What else was there? A platypus (looks like a flat duck), wombats, crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, prey birds, sheep dogs and sheep, dingo, ...
I loved it. I also loved the slogan they had: "The earth is not for humans alone"
Tomorrow I'll be taking the train to paradise, Surfers Paradise to be precise :) The white sandy beaches of the Gold Coast with the bronzed bodies of Surfers... Me like :)
Being a beachbum for the last time, maybe even taking a surflesson from a hot surfteacher (with or without the stripes) before flying out to Sydney...
Tania the beachbum
Thursday 6 May 2010
Excess baggage
Excess baggage is a term that can either be used literally or figuratively.
I suffered from both. My luggage was already too heavy when I left Belgium and so were my emotions.
I didn't know what to pack for four months of travelling and I didn't know what emotions to leave in the past as well. So I dragged my excess baggage with me.
But along the road, I started to get rid of little unimportant things, one at a time, to make my baggage lighter.
Now, almost 4 months later, I can say that I have left a lot of that excess baggage behind. Every new place I went to, every new stranger I would meet took a little piece of my excess baggage, and made life lighter for me.
The newly created space (either in my suitcase or my mind) has made room for souvenirs and priceless memories. Much more fullfilling but much lighter than my previous excess baggage.
It's like I reorganised not only my suitcase but also my mind. I can see things more clearly now. What I want and what I don't want in life.
My biggest fear now is, can I keep this up when I get back home? Will I tumble back in the old bad habbits and routines? Because, face it, our country is so small and even for only 10 million people, the governement can't compromise.
That's not a good example. Maybe policitians ought to travel a little bit more too. Not to the luxurious spa's but 'down to earth' travels, and speak to locals to get ideas on how things are done all over the world. Than come back to Belgium and see what is best for our country.
Enough politics now. Today in exactly two weeks, I'll be leaving Australia and my excess baggage behind and reclaim my life. :)
P.S.: The picture is me bathing Buddha on his birthday with fragrant water that smells like roses. You bathe the little Buddha by pooring the water over his left schoulder 3 times. This gives you inner peace and brings peace into the world.
I suffered from both. My luggage was already too heavy when I left Belgium and so were my emotions.
I didn't know what to pack for four months of travelling and I didn't know what emotions to leave in the past as well. So I dragged my excess baggage with me.
But along the road, I started to get rid of little unimportant things, one at a time, to make my baggage lighter.
Now, almost 4 months later, I can say that I have left a lot of that excess baggage behind. Every new place I went to, every new stranger I would meet took a little piece of my excess baggage, and made life lighter for me.
It's like I reorganised not only my suitcase but also my mind. I can see things more clearly now. What I want and what I don't want in life.
My biggest fear now is, can I keep this up when I get back home? Will I tumble back in the old bad habbits and routines? Because, face it, our country is so small and even for only 10 million people, the governement can't compromise.
That's not a good example. Maybe policitians ought to travel a little bit more too. Not to the luxurious spa's but 'down to earth' travels, and speak to locals to get ideas on how things are done all over the world. Than come back to Belgium and see what is best for our country.
Enough politics now. Today in exactly two weeks, I'll be leaving Australia and my excess baggage behind and reclaim my life. :)
P.S.: The picture is me bathing Buddha on his birthday with fragrant water that smells like roses. You bathe the little Buddha by pooring the water over his left schoulder 3 times. This gives you inner peace and brings peace into the world.
Saturday 1 May 2010
Mayday 2010
The first of May, in Belgium known as 'labour day'
In Australia it's just a normal Saturday because here, they celebrate labour day on May 3rd. This Monday.
All weekend there are celebrations for Buddha's birthday. Little asian markets with oriental food and goodies, music, and a corner dedicated to Buddha with a pond where you can make a wish. Which of course I will do!
The markets go on untill 10pm with lit up twinkle lights. On Sunday Buddha's birthday weekend will be closed with marvelous fireworks.
And on Monday, the aussies get to sleep in :)
On that same Monday I will meet up again with Marianka, my Canadian friend who I met down in Sydney. She is amazing and funny and she reminds me a lot of Kristin, my American friend who I met in Australia last year.
Both girls are vibrant, cheerful, funny and truly amazing. I love them.
Of course, I do not only 'survive' and stay sane in this crazy world if it wasn't for my friends back home. Some I have known for years from the time I was still a teenager, some even from when i was still a kid and some I only got to know in the last couple of years or even months.
But they all have one thing in common: they are there for me when I do need a friend. Even when i'm 12,000km away they will still comfort me when I'm sad, or listen to my crazy stories, or keep me updated about what's going on in Belgium & their lives. Either with stories or with pictures.
So thank you, my friend, for always being there when I needed you, for accepting me the way I am, for loving me the way I am.
And please forgive me for the times I might not have been there for you. I know that sometimes I get caught up in my busy life and forget what's really important: you!
So let me dedicate this blog to you, my friend & my family. Whether it's by blood or by spirit. You truly are the most important thing in my life. Because if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have found the courage to come here in the first place. I wouldn't have learned so much about Australia and most of all about myself.
If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be me.
Love always,
Tania
In Australia it's just a normal Saturday because here, they celebrate labour day on May 3rd. This Monday.
All weekend there are celebrations for Buddha's birthday. Little asian markets with oriental food and goodies, music, and a corner dedicated to Buddha with a pond where you can make a wish. Which of course I will do!
The markets go on untill 10pm with lit up twinkle lights. On Sunday Buddha's birthday weekend will be closed with marvelous fireworks.
And on Monday, the aussies get to sleep in :)
On that same Monday I will meet up again with Marianka, my Canadian friend who I met down in Sydney. She is amazing and funny and she reminds me a lot of Kristin, my American friend who I met in Australia last year.
Both girls are vibrant, cheerful, funny and truly amazing. I love them.
Of course, I do not only 'survive' and stay sane in this crazy world if it wasn't for my friends back home. Some I have known for years from the time I was still a teenager, some even from when i was still a kid and some I only got to know in the last couple of years or even months.
But they all have one thing in common: they are there for me when I do need a friend. Even when i'm 12,000km away they will still comfort me when I'm sad, or listen to my crazy stories, or keep me updated about what's going on in Belgium & their lives. Either with stories or with pictures.
So thank you, my friend, for always being there when I needed you, for accepting me the way I am, for loving me the way I am.
And please forgive me for the times I might not have been there for you. I know that sometimes I get caught up in my busy life and forget what's really important: you!
If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be me.
Love always,
Tania
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