Melbourne - Full Circle!

Well, we're back in Melbourne, which means we've come full circle since we arrived here on 15 February 2007.

What a wonderful time we've had. I've been trying to think of my top five highlights, but it's too hard to choose. The koala hospital with its inspiring volunteers and adorable (sometimes heartbreaking) patients was definitely the most rewarding experience in Oz. Our time in Tasmania was like a dream; it's so beautiful, I can't imagine why more people don't go there. Our visit to Kangaroo Island was action-packed and great not only for spotting koalas and echidnas in the wild but sleeping right amongst them in our swags! Our time in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains was a solace after leaving the koala hospital; we hiked ourselves silly and marvelled at all the fauna and flora existing so quietly yet so incredibly in this huge, amazing area. At the top end, we hiked and swam ourselves silly in Kakadu's Jim Jim Falls; that water was so cold but refreshing after climbing miles uphill through scratchy plants and over rocks. I caught up with a friend I hadn't seen in 20 years; we've now met up with each other in the US, England and Oz (and will hopefully manage to stay in touch this time)! We saw stromatolites and thrombolites, just sitting there doing the same thing they've done for millions of years; it's thanks to their species that this planet obtained enough oxygen to support the creatures we evolved from. We swam with whale sharks, rays, reef sharks and countless fish amongst gorgeous corals in Ningaloo Reef and the Great Barrier Reef, and we spotted a mother dugong with her baby swimming along the sea grass beds in Ningaloo Reef as well as turtles, whales and dolphins on both coasts. We sailed among the Whitsunday Islands for three days, loving to bits the beauty of the whole area and the experience of soaking up the sun, snorkelling and sites without motoring through it all in a hurry. We've been through rainforests, caves and underground dwellings; climbed mountains and made it through the Overland Track (not gracefully!); run up and down huge down sand dunes and squealed like kids as we boarded down them; walked among massive tree tops (not at all afraid when the whole tree top walkway shook with people's steps or the wind!); seen the most gorgeously clear starry skies with the milky way showing itself as a massive cloud; walked along the most pristine beaches with pure, white sand and swam in their crystal clear waters; gaped at amazing rock formations, some of them in the most unlikely-looking locations; been ceaselessly delighted by the birds, animals and plants in this country -- so much colour and specialisation; and been absolutely charmed by the people here (Ozzies and people from other countries who are lucky enough to call this place home) and their wonderful language and way of life. And along the way, we've gained friends among the locals and travellers alike, friends I hope to see again someday either in Oz or any other country.

I've found Australia to be fiercely beautiful and will miss it too much for words to express. It's been our home for over five months, and I sincerely hope we can call it home again -- even if only temporarily! We still haven't seen everything here, after all...