Merry Christmas from Canada

Merry Christmas from Keith and I and our family (staying warm inside) on a -25C Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!

Here are some images of Christmas in South Australia sent to you with heartfelt wishes for a wonderful holiday season where ever you are.

The West End Brewery Display...

whale and all!

It's nice to be home despite the cold and snow. I never got used to seeing Christmas decorations in a hot, sunny, snowless climate.

Santa and his reindeer in the "Christmas Pageant"

Santa on Rundle Street

 

 

They don't call it a Santa Claus Parade. It is known as the Credit Union Christmas Pageant and is the largest of its kind in the world!

Rude Awakening!

I am settling back into life in this cold northern country.

I am not sure if it was the cold weather, I went from +31in Bali to -20 in Edmonton; returning to my house still in upheaval with men in suits in the sealed off basement removing asbestos; or my daughter, a teacher, in tears telling me about the horrific Newton Connecticut school shooting the morning following my landing in Canada; or all three that made me sick.  I came down with a bad flu.

My backyard

 

In February I posted a blog about Port Arthur, the 19^th century penitentiary in Tasmania Keith and I visited.  On the grounds of the prison was a memorial to the 35 tourists and employees killed by a gunman on April 28, 1996.  In response, conservative Australian Prime Minister John Howard oversaw the passage of sweeping gun control legislation. Semiautomatic and automatic rifles and shotguns were banned, and a mandatory government buyback program was enacted to collect weapons. The results were striking: homicides by firearm decreased 59% between 1995 and 2006, with no corresponding increase in non-firearm-related homicides. The drop in suicides by gun was even steeper: 65%. Studies found a close correlation between the sharp declines and the gun buybacks. Robberies involving a firearm also dropped significantly. 

I found Australians don’t trust America. This caused me to look more objectively at my long held views, specifially American trade agreements and policies.

I can deal with the weather, the basement is now clear of asbestos and awaiting renovation but the American right to bear arms culture is too close for comfort. The first item on the news today was that 5 schools around my province were closed due to threats on social media.

Now I am getting my energy back I will be advocating for tighter gun control but also better support for people with mental health issues, which I know first-hand is lacking.

And yes, it’s wonderful to be back with family and friends. Cold or not, there’s no place like home!  

Korea

My flight home had an 8 hour stop over in the Incheon Airport, close to Seoul, South Korea. Normally I would venture out into the city. But I had been warned that Seoul is huge, few people speak English and when we arrived it was snowing and I hadn't been in snow for 10 months and it scared me! I was tired and Korean Airlines treats its customers well with a great economy class lounge with showers, wifi, recliners for snoozing and decent food and drink.

It is ranked the best airport in Asia and I am not surprised. Like the city the airport is massive and they bring Korea to you. They had a cultural centre with arts and crafts, displays and performances of traditional dancing in costume. 

Om Swasti Astu

... is the traditional greeting in Bali. 
I am having a thoroughly relaxing time in this beautiful, peaceful and spritual place. My classmate Pande picked me up at the airport and took me around to some of the temples, beaches and restaurants as well as arranging my presentation at the university. 

Pande looking over my 'frog' coconut drink

Pura Pusa temple

My hotel - Artini 2

This morning I had breakfast with some fellow travellers and simultaneously we called our hotel an oasis - a lush, calm, quiet enclave hidden away from the tourist bustle.   Today I took a tour with two others, a small group who were able to convince our driver to only go to the spots we wanted to see. In the process I made new friends. Here are some of the things I have experienced.

The local way of life

Samples from the local coffee plantation

Batur Mountain. The Volcano last erupted in 2004

Rice fields

Inhabitants of the Monkey Forest

My Last Day in Adelaide

was full on as they say.  It was hot and sunny so a beach walk and swim was in order.

Oh the water was warm and the waves were high and I didn't want to get out. But...

we had tickets to Ovo, the Cirque de Soleil show about insects. Apropos as the real insects are appearing in Adelaide: huge Huntsmen spiders; cockroaches; centipedes; and flies that buzz around your face. Though not quite as big as this one!

Here's Deb standing outside the Big Top. Note the Australian and Canadian flags.

Last

This is my last week in Adelaide and Australia for that matter. I leave in four sleeps.  Every day I do something for the last time.

On Saturday I ate at the Waffle King, real Belgian waffles and chocolate. Then, I lingered over the books in the second hand bookstore for the last time, choosing two for the long way home.

 

On Sunday I went to the Marion market and bought nectarines, mangos and avocados. 

On Tuesday people reminded me that it was my last ‘morning tea’.

Last night was my last bus ride from the city, it was late and I was surrounded by ‘other’ sleepy students.

This morning was my last swim at the mega size YMCA.  I enjoyed every moment in the 50 metre pool.

Tonight was my last grocery shop. The mall was busy with Christmas shoppers. The ‘barkers’ were selling their wares, everything from cakes and pies to jewelry. They stand outside the store with a microphone promoting the items on sale.

And tonight was my last home made supper. Friends are 'shouting' me a meal from here on in. I chose to eat seafood – a mixture of mussels, squid, salmon, whitefish and scallops on pasta; a salad with avocado, tomatoes, olives and radishes, and fresh mango for dessert. Oh and cordial to drink. All local and very yummy!

Carpet of colours

One of the first things I noticed upon arriving in this part of the world last February were the Agapanthus.

They are tall, globe shaped flowers in different shades of mauve. They grow everywhere - on the side of the highway, in people's gardens, in parks. They're blooming again, now that I am going home.

I feel like Adelaide is rolling out its purple carpet for me - the magnificent deep purple and periwinkle Jacarandas, the Agapanthus...

and Oleander which are pink, but lovely, none the less.

Cycling the Torrens

As my time in Adelaide draws to a close I am packing in the things I was told to do but hadn't got a chance.
I cycled beside the beautiful Torrens River on the weekend.

Parts look like the Amazon rainforest

It's a narrow river, about the size of the Rideau Canal, and runs through the north side of the convention and theatre centres, museums and art gallery, Government House and the University of Adelaide. Paddle boats and sight seeing boats went by. Black swans and a whole variety of ducks floated here and there.  Families were having picnics and others were walking or cycling.
The Zoo and the Botanical Gardens are on the south bank.
Here are some photos of the gardens. 

A row of Morton Bay Fig Trees

Cactii, bromelaids and waterlilies

Birds of Paradise

Lush climbing vines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Australian Native Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Dangers

So have you ever noticed that most people seem to get injured doing everyday things? A fellow at school severed his Achilles tendon while in Iran, stepping on an uneven sidewalk. My landlady broke her ankle on her driveway last year. And I severed a tendon in my ankle in Austria years ago not skiing but stepping off a curb!

So in the land of sharks, crocs, snakes, spiders and even gum trees that drop branches in the heat, killing people, I ended up in hospital from a kitchen accident.   I dropped a china bowl and it shattered on the ceramic tile floor. When I went to pick up the pieces there was blood everywhere spurting out of a 2 cm long gash below my right ankle.

No one was home so I applied pressure (with a tea towel) and elevated my foot. I called Deb and when she arrived the scene in the kitchen looked like Freddie Krueger was Down Under!  

She drove me to Flinders Emergency Department (just down the hill from where I study). After an hour long wait (not bad) I was admitted.

The nurse was initially quite serious but when the physician arrived it was like a Monty Python episode. He was British and sounded just like John Cleese. After a quick look he said "we'll need to amputate above the knee". Joking and banter ensued. In the end they decided not to stitch but sealed it with glue and tape.

'John' finding pictures of a stray cat he adopted!

Deb about to 'tag' her fluorescent 'Visitor' badge