My First Trip to Tasmania , Australia !

My First Trip to Tasmania , Australia !

My first trip to this island just below Australia was really exciting and wonderful ! I had lived most of my life in Asian countries and was always wondering about countries that were beyond my Asian cultures . I grew up being educated in the western language and most of my knowledge was from Western perspective ! Born in , Malaya when the British ruled here was a very different country from the Malaysia of today ! As I spoke English and read and wrote English , I became more and more comfortable in it . I loved reading and read far and wide. 

Australia really fascinated me . This huge land mass is the smallest continent and that too an Island ! Being isolated from the big Asian land mass , it had some of the most unusual life form . Kangaroos , Koalas, Tasmanian Devil , Dingos and Platypus . Everything was so different and awesome . The natives or Aborigines too were fascinating people . They were the dream people . Their haunting music from this strange wooden pipe , the didgeridoo

!

With so muct to expect , my excitment was really high . I choose to go in mid August . Than I realised that I was going in mid winter ! I was going to the Southern Hemisphere . I looked at the map and saw that Tasmania was very close to the South Pole ! In fact , Hobart was one of the last port of call before ships went into the deep South ! In the days of whaling , alot was happening in Hobart .

All said and done , our flights were all set. We flew from Kuala Lumpur to Malbourne . Then from there we took an Australian flight to Launceston , Tasmania .

Oh yes , I must tell you another side to my packing ! As I thought I was going just short of the South Pole , I made sure I had taken enough of warm clothing just in case ! I think , I over did that .

As I landed in mid day , with the sun shining and a nice warm day with a cool to cold breeze off and on . I was really surprised to see how the people were quite relaxed and enjoying a beautiful day . Some were actually eating ice-cream ! 

That night , I made sure I was well prepared to keep myself warm as I was told that the nights can be cold . Tempertures can go to zero or below ! To me that was really scary . So , I slept with sufficient warm clothes and with an electric blanket . I felt secured and warm ! No chance of freezing in my sleep ! After a few hours , I jumped up and out of bed ! I thought I was in a sauna ! I was dripping in water ! Sweating profusely , I started taking of my clothes and dried myself . All around me had a good laugh . Now I went back to sleep with just a boxer ! We learn all the time !

We drove on one of the most beautiful and scenic roads towards Hobart . I felt so joyful and happy . Just watching the sheep like little white dots on the green pastures . The big huge Gum tress with their white trunk and pilling bark. The Pines all over the hills and mountains .

Clear blue skies , cold breeze , lush green pastures and fields . Quiant little villages and townships dotted as we drove past them . It was sheer fun and joy . I was just so excited being there. We could stop on the way and park our car at small picnic spots . BBQ plates were just waiting for us to heat our snacks and breads and much more . 

I also saw Black Swans ! What a wonder ! We are so used to thinking of swans as white ,  seeing black swans was a delight !

Oh , I must tell you that seeing the Kangaroos and their other smaller species was really a wonder ! 

What an amazing animal . Can you imagine that they carry their young in a pocket or pouch ! What an amazing sight .

My first trip was an eye opener to the wonders of our wonderful planet .

I realised that learning and education is another nmae for life ! We are here to learn and experience the mystery and magic of life and living .

I will end here. Til we meet again .

Enjoy. Namaste.

Amar.