Canberra, home sweet home!

After a delay (again, the airplanes are worse than the NS) I arrived on the 10th of March in Canberra! Home sweet home again! I stayed here before and I know the people who picked me up, Henry and Liz. I was so happy when I saw them at the airport, familiar faces!

It felt like I’ve never been away. I came back into their home, the dog came to me and I knew where my room was. My own space and very important, some privacy!!!

In the evening we went to the Canberra festival. Again, I arrived at a perfect time! We eat on the festival, watched the light show and went into the old parliament house. On my first visit I haven’t been there. So now I can see: been there, done that.

After a long day we drove back and I went to bed in a recognized place. I knew I could sleep in and I did!!! The next day I woke up and had an easy day. Did some shopping, because a lot of things were empty. I also decided to make a backup of all of the pictures I made so far. A couple of them were already somewhere ‘in the sky’, but that place was full… So solution, thumb sticks!!!

I bought three thumb sticks and I used them all. It took a lot of patience, because for some reason it was taking hours. Again I found something to do, watch television and start to write my story about Adelaide, the outback and Tasmania.

On the 12th I had to wake up early because of the hot air balloon festival. If you don’t know what it is, you didn’t look good in the newspaper in the Netherlands. Het AD (Algemeen Dagblad) published a small ad in the paper! Well, let me explain what it is as well (will save you some time searching for the article): it is early in the morning and if the weather allows it, dozens of hot air balloons will take off. The hot air balloon has got different kind of shapes and are standing very close to each other. It was quite impressive to see all those balloons taking of. They were so close (maybe a little bit to close) and I never saw that many together. Good experience!

After seeing those balloons, we went for breakfast at the library and after that we wanted to go to the market. We were a little bit early (market wasn’t open yet), so we decided to do some walking. Good to walk our breakfast off again. After a while we realized that we were almost at the market, so we kept walking till we were there. The last time I was at the market I bought some jewelleries, but this time I wanted something different. So why not a Henna tattoo. A beautiful drawing of ‘the tree of life’. Good meaning if you compare it with everything I’m doing now.

In the evening Jane, Mark and Bevan were coming over. We watched a real New Zealand movie. Why not, I’ve been there ;) So a good end of the day.

The next day I could sleep in again and after waking up slowly, Henry and I tried to watch a real dog race. Typical Australian where dogs have to try get sheep on certain places. And after this we wanted to drink a coffee. Well, we were struggling to see and do this because of Canberra-day… Everything was closed. But if you never try, you never know. So after a drive we found a place to drink something!

In the afternoon I want to Mark’s place. Together with Jane I made banana muffins and white chocolate cheesecake!!! In the last visit Jane told me about this cheesecake and I couldn’t imagine to eat cheese (from the cheesecake) with chocolate, so we tried! And… It was delicious! OM*, Like an angel pieing on your tongue (Dutch saying). During the baking we watched the very first episode of NCIS (I really wanted to see that one) and the movie ‘Jurassic Park’. They told me that I must have seen ‘Jurassic Park’, so I watched it. Well Sietze, I can join you know in a talk about dinosaurs. I know a lot more about them after watching the movie.

And then, at the 14th… Dentist… Yes really, I needed to go to the dentist here because of a loose filling. I have to say that the equipment they have over here is maybe better, but the price you have to pay for it. If you ever decide to go to Australia, get your teeth check again before you go! Just an advice, you don’t have to.

After they numbed my mouth and did the treatment I was going to see Stephen and Nathan again!!! Nathan is a cute little boy of 4 years old and wanted to hold my hand all the time. Sorry Stephen, I will be away soon, then he can hold your hand again ;)

Together we went first to a big dam and then to the space tracking centre in Tidbinbilla. This is the only NASA tracking station in Australia that is still in operation. It’s also used for the Apollo program. It was really interesting to see. The shuttles they use are massive and are built so smart. You could see, in the little museum over there, how the space shuttle looked like. Actually strange, they showed a camera from back then. Not as good developed like now. So, they could built a whole space shuttle with a lot of technics in it, but a camera was more difficult.

After being in space we went to a waterfall in Tidbinbilla. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t good, so we weren’t there for a long time. But the view was good!

Of course Nathan wanted to show me the house where he lives. I got a whole tour in and outside the house. Thanks Nathan for being the tour guide there, I know that I won’t get lost in your house.

The next day I had an easy day. I wrote, wrote and wrote… I really wanted to finish my stories about Adelaide, the outback and Tasmania. I know it’s a lot of work (feels sometimes like homework), but it’s nice for later and for next to the pictures I made. But the most important thing, I finished it! Only need a final check on spelling and Liz is so nice to check that all the time. Thank you Liz, for making my stories better/ correct them!

The weather was still bad today. A lot of rain. But luckily the weather was better in the late afternoon. So I had a nice walk together with Henry and the dog Huw. We saw a beautiful sunset behind the mountains and the many kangaroos made it even more special.

After almost 5 months of travelling I decided the next day to go to the hairdresser. No worries, nothing special, only cutting of the dead ends. I know that I’m doing crazy things over here, but not with my hair ;). Later that day I went shopping with Amy, she needed a new dress and found one (she looks really good in it) and in the evening we had dinner with Anne and Paul. Nice to see them again as well!

I know that there are a lot of names in this story. You don’t have to remember all of them, but for me it’s nice to have them in here!


Today (17th), that I’m writing this story about Canberra, is my last day here in Canberra… This morning Jane, Mark and Bevan came to say goodbye to me and I went out for breakfast/ lunch with Henry (I know after this that I don’t’ like barramundi). So a calm day where I also have to arranged a couple of things. For example: bus for tomorrow to Sydney and my flight to Fiji!

Feels a little bit sad, because I really feel welcome and home over here. I know the place and the people. Tonight we have a barbie with the family (Henry, Liz, Ann, Paul, Otto, Carol, Steven, Nathan, Sam and her two boys) so it’s a good way to end my stay here in Canberra!

Thanks special to Henry and Liz for having me again for the second time. Again, I enjoyed it! I will see you wherever and whenever the next time!