Oh what a feeling

The journal about our stay and trip after arrival was mainly practical. I thought I would not be able to put down into words what being in Australia does to me. A friend asked me about it and was very happy to hear my experiences, so I will share them on this weblog anyway.
The first thing that always welcomes me getting out of the airport is the wonderful scent of gum trees. There is nothing like it. Then the very comforting temperature hugs your body as you get out into the open air. Yeah, you need sun protection between certain hours, but the warmth does really feel like a warm welcome. Especially of course if you also land in the arms of a dear friend whom carries a big smile on her face.
During the firsts day of our stay the general friendliness and politeness of the Australians struck me once again. People seem to be so happy, content and at ease in general, whereas in The Netherlands if you come across people being on their way they seem neutral at their best but more often grumpy, sad, or even angry. Comparing is not the way to go, but you just notice things and sometimes you do compare as life is different all over the globe.
What I also like is the cleanness of the environment. There is very little litter, most public areas are well taken care of and so wherever you go it feels pleasant to be there.
And then, after leaving Fremantle and Perth behind us, there are the wide stretches of land. We drove hours through vast plains with nothing but earth, plants, scrubs and trees. I was surprised by the amount of butterflies that crossed our paths during these long rides through the country as with the naked eye, seen from a car at a speed of 110 km per hour, there seem to be no flowers of fruit where they could live from. But they are there. And so are many other animals that you know are there but mostly sleep during the hours that we passed.
It is hard to describe the feeling you get when you look out your window, or stand beside the road for a P-break, and you just see land, land and more land. Sometimes the road stretched out dozens of kilometres ahead of you and at the far green horizon you see this one little ditch which is the road you are travelling on. It feels like the road to nowhere and it gives such a sense of space and insignificance and gratefulness of being able to be there and even better: being able to call this amazing, harsh, warm, pure country our home.
The meetings with the animals we have had during this journey were very special too. Animals that live their lives at ease with the people in their close vicinity. It is so different from viewing animals in captivity. You can do nothing but absorb those moments and respect these wonderful creatures. And enjoy thoroughly that you are able to be there to experience this. Somehow it also broadens your respect for all other creatures, including humans and the more dangerous species in the animal kingdom.
Striking was the scent of the Frangipani flowers in Broome. There are much more trees planted over the years and the scent seems to have become the town’s all day perfume. Even more then the gum trees it settles my soul and welcomes me home.
And then of course there are the meetings with the ocean. Although worried in The Netherlands about all dangers on the beach and mainly in the ocean, there were wonders why I couldn’t remember being worried when I lived here. Now I remember why: there is no need. The ocean here is so pure and clear, the beach pristine. Along a reef or amongst rocks there might be more dangers, but they are nowhere near Cable Beach. The ocean feels as a womb when you surrender to the waves and just float about. It is so beautiful. And as a dessert you get the most beautiful colourful sunset you can imagine watched and shared with content people around you or on your own if you’d prefer it.
At home there are friendly tree frogs in the toilets, gekko’s wonder about in the bathrooms and birds and cicadas sing their songs. What can I say? I deeply love this country. And I am so lucky being able to live here and to make it even better: to see my child grow up in this environment. Lucky us, we are very grateful.