Capturing Australia on Camera

I'm reporting live from my home office at 3:30am, 27 hours after returning from Australia. Clearly, I am suffering from jetlag and "I-don't-have-any-idea-what-time-zone-I'm-in" syndrome.  Although I'm sure I'll have future (perhaps even coherent!) reflections of my time in Australia, here's few images capturing some moments.

I can't show pictures of Australia without showing some native wildlife.  This particular koala bear was fairly energetic and showed us how it could run up trees in seconds.

I had my first experience on a city train.  As it turns out, it makes me carsick, just like nearly every other form of transportation, but it was another thing to add to my list of experiences.  Bec, Earlene and I took the train to Melbourne for a fun day of shopping and girl time.

I couldn't help but feel I was visiting a food market in Paris with merchandise like this.  My beautiful sister-inlaw, Bec, bought one of these for us to share at the Victoria market in Melbourne.  Fresh bread filled with chocolate chips?  I'm in!

So this is what I'd look like with long, straight hair.

The Australian answer to America's burger and fries .  Every town and city street corner seems to have a bakery selling a huge variety of fresh meat pies and croissants.   Farewell, good intentions and hello to buttery pastry and gooey cheese! 

This was the first time meeting my GORGEOUS nephew.  He is simply so stunningly beautiful, and has such a sweet personality to match.

  

My first official seashell picked up out of the sand along an ocean beach.

I was greeted at the airport with signage and huge hugs by my niece, Piper.  She is six, very soon to be seven, and simply cannot wait for her birthday.  Once she turns seven, she claims she'll be able to go shopping whenever she wants and watch TV without asking her mom and dad.  She has a unique capacity for loving openly and completely and feeling deeply.  At the beginning of our visit, I told her I would probably need lots of kid hugs to alleviate my loneliness for my family.  She took her job seriously and gave me tonnes of hugs and cuddles.  What a sweet girl.

A great memory of Gord in our younger years (some would argue we're still living them, but just hear me out) was hearing him play guitar and sing.  And the guitar seems to continue making an appearance when we see eachother.

Aussie surfers out for a casual, relaxing day of risking their lives battling relentless, dangerous waves and unpredictable riptides.  Maybe that's just my fear talking.  It was my first time watching surfers, and it actually looked like a lot of fun, though I can't see myself ever having the courage to try it.

Piper and Jasper hanging out at Gunnamatta Beach.  Note the two heads in the top right-hand side of the picture.  That's me and Gord wave jumping.  I must admit, though it freaked me out going into the waves, it felt totally exhilirating, and even better when I was back on dry ground.  It's not quite surfing, but it gave this ocean-rookie a rush, nevertheless.

Earlene (left), Bec and I on our last evening together.  I feel so blessed to have these two beautiful, insightful and gracious women in my life.

See these waves?  My goodness, I could watch them all day.  Each one is alive and different from the previous one.  When we were at the beachhouse for three nights, I fell asleep with images of ocean waves in my head.  Pictures simply do not do this amazing force justice.

Sigh.  Other than the fact that I look like I just woke up, this picture, and others like it, remind me how lucky I am to have this guy in my life.  Though he frustrates the pants off me some days, he is fun, tender, compassionate, and generous and I feel so fortunate to have such a good relationship with him.  Saying goodbye to him is never easy.

On that note, I'm going to go to bed now.  My Aussie family is just considering going to bed now, my Canadian friends and family will consider waking up soon, and my body seems to have no idea what just happened.  Good night and good morning!