Back to Civilization

[22/12/06]

Waking up at 4:30 AM to catch the 6 AM CityTrain to Brisbane, you can well understand our day was not starting off too well. What's more, we managed to get off the train a station early, and E. forgot her handbag in it - handbag meaning it held all those useful things like credit or insurance cards. Fortunately for us, we have left France behind and Australia is a much more efficient country: going to the nearest office, the girl got her bag back in no time, allowing us to put the whole lot of our luggage into lockers and be off to one of the most fulfilling breakfasts ever in the Pancake Manor. Food galore there, with pancakes with bacon & eggs, bananas & ananas, and pancakes with ice cream and maple syrup - but most delicious of all was the marshmallow cocoa, cherished old favorite for English speakers, mind-blowing new discovery for us Frenchies.

Afterwards, it was just a matter of killing time until 2 PM, when we were to meet up with our new hosts. Nicole and dad Keith pick us up at Roma Street to drive us back home to Sunnybank Hills. The exact opposite to Bob's farm in every way, our new home is modern, spotless and as comfortable as we only dared dream it could be. We enjoy a warm welcome from all of the family, mom Deborah kindly fussing about all of our needs big and small, and blissfully sleep into fabulously clean sheets in a soft bed for the night, making it all the more worthwhile.

In the morrow, we hang out with Keith in the park, watching a dozen teens playing cricket. Keith being a sports teacher, we can finally learn about the rules of this obscure game in an understandable way. Guess what - cricket's actually interesting when you're not wondering what the hell they're doing. In the afternoon, we leave the city behind to head for Springbrook National Park and tour all of the best lookouts. Though the day is overcast, we can still glimpse the tall buildings and skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise in the distance, over miles of forest and rolling mountains. We walk to the Goomoolahra waterfall, spot a few pademelons here and there - they're akin to an extra-small kangaroo, barely reaching knee-length.

All in all, a bit of a lazy day, with more watching and picnicing than walking around, but after a fortnight of rustic life, we decide to allow ourself to indulge in a comfy life for a while...