Well, here we are back on the "Big Island" and experiencing a bit of culture shock! Admittedly, we found ourselves in the city, and although the caravan park which we now know well, and is so well situated for the ferry, is extremely well kept and upmarket, it has the misfortune to be situated on the edge of one of Melbourne's less salubrious suburbs. Walking out from the caravan park, we couldn't help noticing the litter, the scruffiness of the streets and gardens, all in sharp contrast to the cleanliness and tidiness of Tasmania. There even the most modest of houses was surrounded by a beautifully manicured garden brimming with flowers. Tasmania lives at a different pace also.
All that being said, we are at the moment on Wilsons Promontory, not far from Melbourne, in a beautiful National Park. Warwick was amused to read a warning notice informing people that they should not leave food in their tents, but put it in their cars. Wombats apparently can smell food in tents and will rip the tents open to reach it. People are asked to report aggressive behaviour by wombats to the ranger. One wonders what the punishment is!
Meanwhile, of course, we are again seeing nature venting its wrath on the world. We had no sooner sent off a donation via an ex-student of mine from Jakarta days*, the daughter of a friend now back in Scotland, to help the Christchurch disaster effort than the tsunami struck Japan. Horrific events there.
*Lucy has had beautiful long blond hair all her life. With a husband from Christchurch, she wanted to raise money for the Salvation Army's disaster relief effort and to publicise this she had all her beautiful hair shaved off. Bless her, she has raised over 2000 NZ dollars. We could hardly resist adding our little bit of support. Well done, Lucy! Since she now lives in Brisbane we may be able to catch up.
So now we are making gradually for Sydney and expect to be there in about three weeks or so. Winnebago at last dry but still no television which in this time of dire world events is very irritating.
More soon.
All that being said, we are at the moment on Wilsons Promontory, not far from Melbourne, in a beautiful National Park. Warwick was amused to read a warning notice informing people that they should not leave food in their tents, but put it in their cars. Wombats apparently can smell food in tents and will rip the tents open to reach it. People are asked to report aggressive behaviour by wombats to the ranger. One wonders what the punishment is!
Meanwhile, of course, we are again seeing nature venting its wrath on the world. We had no sooner sent off a donation via an ex-student of mine from Jakarta days*, the daughter of a friend now back in Scotland, to help the Christchurch disaster effort than the tsunami struck Japan. Horrific events there.
*Lucy has had beautiful long blond hair all her life. With a husband from Christchurch, she wanted to raise money for the Salvation Army's disaster relief effort and to publicise this she had all her beautiful hair shaved off. Bless her, she has raised over 2000 NZ dollars. We could hardly resist adding our little bit of support. Well done, Lucy! Since she now lives in Brisbane we may be able to catch up.
So now we are making gradually for Sydney and expect to be there in about three weeks or so. Winnebago at last dry but still no television which in this time of dire world events is very irritating.
More soon.
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