Time for some time-out and an interesting camera effect on our journey down to the Hunter Valley on our little Qantas Link prop plan - a Bombardier Dash 8-300.
A more relaxed flying experience than usual, lower flying at 22,000 feet enhancing the views over the Gold Coast as we flew South, destination the Hunter Valley wine region. Although not the quietest flight ever - my ears buzzed for days, a beautiful flying day, brilliant blue skies as we flew past the beautiful rugged coastline of New South Wales to land in Newcastle. Recording the prop through the window on my camera made for some fascinating and entertaining viewing.
There is no sense from up here how potentially hostile it can be on the ground. Outback Australia famous for its dangerous snakes, spiders, extreme temperatures and dry, arid red dirt.
I'm no expert, far from it and it is a mindset to which every migrant, inbound to Australia must adapt. I am sure Aussie kids are brought up to just be naturally careful, otherwise surely they wouldn't survive the weekend.
If you leave your shoes on the deck overnight, don't forget to bang them out before putting them on! If in a cafe, don't be surprised to look up and see a snake coiled amongst the rafters, keeping warm! Watch out for possum's in the trees in early evening, even in the city, see the flocks of bats with more than a metre long wingspan head in at dusk in mango season and just occasionally, pause the car while a koala labours its own sweet way across the road in front of you, apparently without a care in the world.
Don't get me wrong, all this doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it is more typically a sense of awe and wonderment than fear that pervades, even after 16 years of living here I am not entirely sure I shall ever quite get used to it, I hope I never take it for granted.
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