Saturday, December 27, 2008
Wild, Mysterious Australia
A postcard image mirrors reality
It's approaching 2009 and here I am journeying among the ghost gums, the wild, parrot-laced forests, the oceans swimming with gorgeous fish. An energy tingles in the air, a certain wild mystery that both consumes and inspires. Travel brings me alive, awakening latent images of quests in foreign climes and, even though I'm living out of a tumbled suitcase moving among several beds and abodes, I am nearly content. The only thing missing? Twenty-four hour broad-band Internet access. Don't laugh. After all, I am a bit of a broad. But still, it has become a bit of an issue keeping you all informed and I do like my wild tempered by technology.
I haven't felt this kind of true exotic excitement since Africa when I camped out beside the Zambezi and paddled a kayak past the hippos. There's just something so invigorating about the raw wild. Here in Australia danger is never far away though the insouciant Aussies have developed their notorious relaxed attitude to compensate. The fact that their homeland is home to ten of the most dangerous beaties in the world doesn't matter. So what if half their household spiders could kill you?
Speaking of which, we happened upon a huntsman spider playing dead in the garage the other day. If you haven't heard of huntsmans, think tarantula and you'll grasp the general idea—very large, hairy-legged creatures much like certain male types. But here's the thing: the Australians don't consider them dangerous. Never mind that an Aus spider website states that bites '...may cause swelling resulting in difficulty breathing, severe pain, and localized swelling', that definition, aparently, does not result in dangerous. Dangerous equals death in three minutes. If you can get to the hospital in time, you're good, right? My nephew Nick made such a statement in true Aussie fashion (he, unlike the Zimbabwe members of the family, is true Aus). "Oh I was bit by one of those once. No worries: I just went to the hospital and got the antidote'. See, nothing to be concerned about, got that?
Does this temper my enthusiasm, you ask? Not really. I know what dangers lurk and I'm careful where I step. For instance, seeing three dorsal fins cruising the waters off a particularly deep-water beach yesterday did keep me out of the swim but today I'll head for another area not known for sharks. Blue bottle jellyfish are the biggest concern right now. Very beautiful but nasty things with streaming tentacles and a tendency to sting. The truly exotic can't be described as such without a little danger, right?
Tread carefully
So, what does this have to do with knitting, you ask? Well, everything, is my usual response. Life is knitting, knitting is life. Still, very soon I'm going to reveal how all this feeds my imagination.
Posted by Jane on
12/27 at 07:05 PM
Jane, it's lovely to hear my everyday world described through the eyes of a newcomer....it makes me look at things afresh. Looking forward to meeting you in Sydney shortly.
By Christine Jones on 2008 12 28