Far North Queensland, Part 2

Moving ahead: day 3 in Kuranda

Flecker Botanical Gardens.
Set deep within the tropical gardens is this delightful café. Serves a killer eggs benedict.

Barron Falls.
The area is really full of surprises. Who would've thought a short walk through the dense tropical forest would suddenly explode into a rocky gorge complete with a waterfall? Pity about the lack of water though.

Army Duck.
Very touristy, I know, but it is a certainly a unique way to see the rainforest by means of an amphibious vehicle from WWII, dubbed the 'army duck'.

Navy Duck?
This particular bird is renowned for its fishing prowess.

Far North Queensland, Part 1

In place of journeying to a winter and riot-stricken city, we holidayed in somewhere quite the opposite: warm and sunny, laid-back and simple, where the rainforest meets the ocean. Of course, none other than our very own Cairns.

So as to not bore with wordy tracts recounting our every adventure, below are some pictorial highlights, with captions (days 1 & 2):

The Lakes Resort and Spa.

Only minutes by car from the airport and to Cairns, and right beside the Botanical Gardens, this is a well-equipped, convenient and comfortable place to stay. Good value too.


Lake Barrine.
Right in the heart of the Atherton Tablelands, this lake was formed some 10,000 years ago, a result of volcanic activity. Serenely pleasant, beside it sits a tea house with the best scones I've ever had. Bad coffee, alas.


The Cathedral Fig Tree.

Nestled in the Tablelands, this is a particularly grand example of fig trees found throughout the rainforest. It is a result of relentless root formation by epiphytic, not parasitic, growth.

The Millaa Millaa Falls.
No better way to cool off in the tropical north.

Afternoon Tea.
Sumptious ice-cream served, worth every yard of the windy and occasionally hazardous road to get there.

What a riot!

Our planned eight-day sojourn in Athens and its surrounds, followed by three days gallivanting in Dubai, was prematurely aborted by the recent civil disobedience in many parts of Greece. What began as a reaction to the police killing of a 15-year-old in the anarchic Athenian suburb of Exarchia rapidly degenerated into a open-throated cry against the many social injustices experienced by the citizenry.

The history behind it all is really very interesting: ever since tanks rolled into university to quash mass demonstrations in 1973, killing many students (reminds anyone of June 1989?), it was henceforth written in the constitution that the military is not permitted on 'educational' property. Hence, universities throughout Greece serve as safe havens for anarchic activities. Not that this is necessary a bad thing; after all, it was thanks in part to these riotous students in 1973 that the military dictatorship was finally removed in 1974, paving the way for a democratic government (which admittedly isn't doing a fantastic job at the moment).

Rioting, looting, airport strike, general strike: safe or not it probably would not have made for a very pleasant holiday. Ah well, maybe another year. For now, it's off to Cairns instead!

Toodles all.

Hellos and Goodbyes

A very big 'welcome back' to John!

***

The time I spent in HK last week was probably one of the best trips there I've ever had. It was a very last minute decision, cashing in my soon-to-expire frequent-flyer points to fly back. The six-day whirlwind of shopping, eating, and family-seeing was so rewarding: exploring new places, revisiting some old and familiar ones, and reconnecting with people whom I've known my whole life long. It felt so brief, and yet so full. You know, almost like that 'my life flashed right before my eyes' feeling. Oddly, throughout I had this sense that I was saying goodbye, with some finality, even though I'm certain that I will be back there in the not-too-distant future.

I don't think it was the place nor the people I was really saying goodbye to there.

A Cadence

It's a little hard to believe that after six years of university, everything is over. No more tutes, no more study, no more exams. Despite having had two absolutely brilliant nights out, with some of my most favourite and fantabulous friends, it still hasn't quite sunk in. And much more so than jubilation or relief, I feel a certain excitement, almost a quickening within, that the rest of my life is about to begin.

I definitely could not have done it without you, my friends. Thank you.

But in the meantime, I am waiting for my plane to Hong Kong to depart, waiting to graduate, and waiting to enjoy what is likely to be the last mostly carefree holiday period for the foreseeable future.

***

Today is St Cecilia's Day, the patron saint of music; so I shall finish with an aria from Handel's Ode for St Cecilia's Day:

But oh! what art can teach,

What human voice can reach

The sacred organ's praise?

Notes inspiring holy love,

Notes that wing their heavenly ways

To mend the choirs above.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

In you, I see

My insurmountable deficiencies,
My unremitting emptiness,
All that I shall never have, and
All that I shall never be.

Yet,

I cannot stop missing,
Longing,
Or caring, as I always have.

I attempt from love's sickness to fly.

Al...most...

OSCEs are finally over!

Despite a couple of hiccoughs (and tell me, has anyone had a completely glitch-free set of stations?), I think I've made it through to the other end, largely in one piece. Interesting moment toward the end of the ABG station was when the examiner wryly described the RMH as "Parkville Bush Nursing Hospital" and said "that's not a good place either" about my going to the Austin next year.

Now I wonder where she works... (no prizes for guessing)

All right. Two down, one to go. Per ardua ad astra.

You don't say...

"On the whole, the acceptability of taboo words is only loosely tied to the acceptability of what they refer to, but in the case of taboo terms for effluvia the correlation is fairly good. Shit is less acceptable than piss, which in turn is less acceptable than fart, which is less acceptable than snot, which is less acceptable than spit (which is not taboo at all). That's the same order as the acceptability of eliminating these substances from the body in public."

En Mass

Currently one of my favourite choral masses is the Berlinermesse by the modern Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. It is an intoxicating mix of the:

Haunting mysteriousness of Byrd 4;
Ethereal atonality of Messiaen; and the
Lyricism of Rheinberger in Eb.

Bravo Arvo!

E Pluribus Unum

By all accounts, Barack Obama will become the United States' 44th President, come inauguration day next year.

It has been a remarkable and grueling 21 months for both the candidates: a charismatic yet little-known senator from Illinois, and a cash-strapped decorated war hero from Arizona. Apart from the extraordinary feat of being the first African-American to hold the highest office in the land, President-Elect Obama in himself captures not only the essence of the wide and disparate country, but vitally, where the country should be going. His mixed parentage highlights the possibilities for racial tolerance, harmony, and equality, while his time spent living abroad reflects America's wide-reaching influence around the world. But most of all, he embodies the American dream; that hard work and passion can, and will, bring one success. There are no limits.

This is not to say that we deny John McCain's role in this election. In so many ways it is his compelling and honorable candidacy that has resurrected Americans' faith and passion in their political process. Although having long been an towering figure in national politics, Senator McCain was not afraid to disagree with his party, or even with his president, for what he believes to be best for his country. His tenacity, dynamism, and sincerity is near without parallel, never mind in a man of 72 years. To the last he is a patriot first, something never so evident than in his concession speech, in which he asks all his supporters to get behind their new commander-in-chief, no matter the political or idealogical differences. It is uniting behind shared dreams and values that a plural nation can stand as one.

Record voter registrations and turnouts. First female Republican vice-presidential candidate. Unbridled national debates, on issues. Leadership qualities above age, gender or race. This is a day of which all Americans should be proud; a day of firsts and lasts;

Above all, it is a day of victory for opportunity, freedom, and democracy, everywhere.

New Beginnings

*drum roll*

Happy 18th Loren! For yesterday

Now that you can, feel free to go nuts and... vote.

More fun, though, was going out last night. Starting inauspiciously, we ventured upstairs into the Melbourne Supper Club, which made us feel more like we were celebrating a retirement (great glass of red though!). Next up was a failed attempt to locate our next venue: strike no. 2. Finally we settled at Manchuria for a fancy 'tail or two (thanks especially to the expert imbiber for his recommendations), and then finally at Seamstress, which was also enjoyable, despite the diminutive San Choi Bao portions.

Mmm, yes, good...

Gaspard de la nuit

Expectations of having an average evening yesterday were shattered by the sound of the 'inside' doorbell at 7.15pm. Assuming it to be my parents having returned home from Sydney, I dashed to the door only to find a 6 foot 3, middle-aged man standing outside. Thinking that it was a neighbour in need, I opened the door without suspicion, only to be told that he was 'Paul', a 'gutter-cleaner', and having seen that our gutters were clogged was so overwhelmed by a sense of urgency that he overleaped the fence to ring the doorbell. Still not suspicious, I inquired about his business card, car/van and the nature of his work, none of which he answered satisfactorily.

He finally left, but then proceeded to ring another doorbell several houses down, then disappeared around the corner.

I eventually called the police, who sent around a patrol shortly to hunt him down, but no luck. It turns out that there has been a spate of burglaries in the area, and that I should have called 000 much sooner, said the frustrated senior constable. So if you live in my area, lock your doors, and beware.

As for you, 'Paul', cave canem! Grrr.

Realistic Idealism

Some days I just don't know how to be happy.
But tomorrow comes and I always try again.

***

What a fulfilling day I had today. Of the best sort: not necessarily all fun and games, nor work and progress, but a fruitful cocktail of both. It started off as a relaxing coffee and The Age before GP began, then a morning of wakeful (that's progress, believe me) history-taking, examination, and discussions on Australian cricket and cancelled concerts. With an annoying tram-following drive as intermission, study was done with a mate and I, and ultimately the evening was capped by $10 steaks/unfulfilled parma-pipedreams/pots-of-beer/crazy-pool-games. And it's still only 10pm.

A good evening to you all: sogni d'oro.

Anger Management

Everyone has a different way of dealing with difficult emotions, and one of the most prominent of these is anger. Adam Sandler tried to make it funny, except watching a mostly unfunny Mr Sandler on the silver screen serves only to exacerbate matters.

Anyway.

Psychologists in group therapy teach 'mindfulness', that is, recognising the emotion being felt at the time, so that it may be dealt with in a healthy manner, such as exercise, offloading to a friend, or distraction. Although when anger is mixed with alcohol, danger or indeed hilarity, may ensue. For a good mate of mine this weekend, this included:

Liquid-throwing
Misogynistic expectoration (though rather pa-pa-pathetically)
Punjab-pushing
and
More drinking (of course)

Whereas when I feel angry, I tend to...er

um...

Avoiding Controversy

A little observation that made me chuckle on the inside:
(Yes, I'm the lamest so-and-so in the world etc.)

Just below the Blogger tabs ("Create", "Settings", "Layout" and such) are the sub-tabs (I guess?), one of which is "Moderate Comments". So where should one post divisive, defamatory or delusional ones? What about the inflammatory, incendiary, or the plainly irksome?

*puts away Roget's*

Habitué

ha·bit·u·é

a frequent or habitual visitor to a place, such as a blog.

Respite Fare

Perhaps inappropriately but welcomingly so, the Hadj, Greg and I went out for $4 pizzas at Bimbo's mid-week, accompanied by an obligatory number of beers. Thereafter we met Amer, hailing from the Kingdom of Jordan, a ward of one Director of Surgery at Maroondah Hospital for a few more at Sister Bella's -- yet another of the CBD's well-hidden gems.

Ah Melbourne, you've far from yielded up your treasures willingly!

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In Supplication

This full moon’s eve
All is dead to eye and ear
No fog obscures
No wing cuts
No wind gusts

Full lunacy.

To the fates my bosom bared
And no more in shades I hide

Take me away
I cry
Take me away

In dusk or weather
To the endless ether

But ensnared I remain
Frozen
In your gaze

Wan and waxen
My face bloodless bathed
Still frozen in your arctic gaze

Cycles

The old adage:

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutatur in illis
(Times change, and we change with them)

Really?

I believe that past a certain point we, in ourselves, no longer change in essence. While circumstances and manifestations may differ, at our very core, the stuff of which we are made remains immutable:

Our hopes and dreams,
Our needs and wants,
Our peeves and fears;

And this is something we need to understand and actualise so that, ironically, we can move on in our lives. This is not to say we avoid change and shirk challenge, but rather to prevent us from repeating yesterday's mistakes, or endlessly pursuing novelty or worse, el dorado, to nobody's happiness. Ultimately, this might allow us, as penned by one wise Stephen Stills, to love the one you're with.

Who's that, you ask?

Why, your good self.

Keeping Balance

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

After generally-practicing for most of the week, amongst other things, a night on the town with some of my bestest friends was just what the doctor ordered. Without doubt one of the highlights was the understatedly delightful Little Peninsula, where delicious $13 cocktails are served, oddly but pleasantly, for only $8 on Fridays.

Whoever said a little peninsula cannot satisfy?

To make up for a night of drinking and junk food, I upped my weights today at Body Pump, after which I could barely stay on my two feet. But in a good way. After all, mens sana in corpore sano.

Too true.

Décor

Finally settled on a colour theme. This must be how couples feel when they visit the Dulux showroom.

Yes, yes, conformity blah blah. But blue does go with beige. [Insert Freudian interpretations of the use of beige here] So sue/prosecute/arrest/sic-a-German-shepherd-upon me. 

Première

Début. Opening. Page one. Il primo posto. (Just a guess)

No, I am not thesaurus.

Haven't really the faintest why this blog has been conceived, much less who would bother to read it. If it ends up being an unwilling receptacle for my logorrhoea, then que sera, sera. Bring toilet paper.


Let the frivolous festivities begin!