Australiana

Featuring the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star, and the Southern Cross constellation. 

Last September 15, 2011, I posted this on my Twitter timeline: 

In Adelaide City... drove a friend- Marie to the Immigration; she'll take the citizenship test today. Good luck to her.  

Well, she passed.  This afternoon, Marie took her Australian citizenship pledge at Port Wakefield Council Office in Balaklava.  A dinner party immediately followed at our friend's place at Salter's Spring Road.  There were plenty of food, and the drinks were overflowing!  Everybody was happy.  

I baked a cake for the new Australian.  She was surprised and very happy when she saw it.  Marie loved it; she was very grateful!

 

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!  Oi, oi, oi! 

This was my first attempt to draw or paint (or whatever we call it) an Australian flag, and I'd say it was successful.  No doubt, this cake was the centrepiece of the celebration.



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The Stranger

The Spencer Gulf, Port Agusta, South Australia

I know it's not right, but I have spoken to a stranger... I invited him to my place, took a safety risk overnight. But here I am now, filling a page of this blog.

The final month of the 54-day broiler chicken growth cycle is always very stressful; and during the last days of the batch, my responsibilities become more and more demanding not only because of the physical challenges but also because of the fact that a day after the six sheds get emptied, I am emotionally tortured and mentally pressured to know if my chickens have performed or not. My chickens’ growth performance would directly speak about my work performance.

Well, luckily, for the past three batches my birds have performed. ...and with the 7 to 10-day shed empty and rest period I always have the chance to escape from the poultry farm perimeter, roam in some parts of Australia to relieve all the tensions, and recharge. I actually have a little regret of not thoroughly documenting my travels and adventures in this blog, I hope I could find time in the future.

I was, actually, planning to visit Western Australia this time, but because I’ll be spending a 17-day holiday in the Philippines next month, I had deferred my W.A. trip and decided to visit the second largest city in South Australia, instead. It’s Port Augusta which, excitingly, is pronounced as Port Agata by the indigenous Australians... it is 209 kilometres away from my place. With this trip I believed that I could relax and enjoy without spending a bag of Australian dollars, only a pinch.

My trip to Port Augusta was very educational and entertaining! Through the Wadlatta Outback Centre, I have seen how the Australian continent has metamorphosed for the past 15 million years! I will not promise, but I hope I could share some of these interesting stories in my next entries.

Andrew's map, he purchased it from Indonesia.

I had the chance to visit the tip of the Spencer Gulf and have seen the Great Western Bridge of Port Augusta. And while I was on my way to Woolworth’s supermarket (which was located close to the gulf) to buy some drinks, I saw this not so skinny, long-haired white guy juggling his 3 or 4 coloured balls beside the walkway. With my desire to take photos of some exciting people I see in the place, I immediately headed towards him. I then saw his backpack and camping gears beside him, and a relatively huge map of the world on the ground which was ‘anchored’ to the ground by a book, a compass, etc., and an up-side down hat with some coins in it. I picked and dropped a two-dollar coin in his cap and thought that it would be a little or enough act of kindness before asking if I could take a photo of him.

Then I asked, and he permitted. After the shot, the guy immediately asked a favour if I could send him the photo to his email. I expressed my agreement so he wrote down his email ad on a piece of paper and gave it to me. His name was Andrew Sable from Lithuania.

I then stayed for a little chat, while Andrew continued juggling, and realized that he had been hitch-hiking from his country, to Russia, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia! And for that journey, he only had to spend money for his airfare from Indonesia to Perth, Australia and all the rest were free! Just hitch-hiking— stopping truck, private cars, motorcycles along the road and ferries for a free ride! He had been doing it since March and he survived! He has seen almost half of the world for free!

It’s been my desire to see the world, and I thought it was very expensive! Not until I heard the story of Andrew. I have met Bertrand before- a backpacker from France, and Phil from Denmark but they were not doing the same risky adventure like what this Lithuanian guy had been doing.

During our chat, Andrew said he will be heading to Adelaide the next day; of course he will be passing by Port Wakefield—where I live and work. Because I am very interested to know more about his adventure, I told him that he could drop by my place.

I was driving to Adelaide yesterday to go to the Asian grocer and supermarket for my tinola-cooking assignment for the KaBlogs Journal, when a blocked number phoned my mobile. It was illegal when driving, but I answered my phone, and it was Andrew on the line! He was in a camping area in Port Wakefield, and was asking if I’m going to pick him up there. I did a U-turn and drove back to where he was.

I took him to my place, offered a meal, a drink, an internet connection, a washing machine, a shower a warm room (it’s late winter in the southern hemisphere) and a comfortable bed.

Before he went to bed, we chatted and he showed me all the photos he had taken during his journey. He said that, so far, Indonesia, and Australia were number one on his list as the best countries he had ever been! ...Indonesia because people are very friendly despite their limited English-speaking skills, and Australia because of its diversity.

After Australia, Andrew will find ways to proceed to New Zealand; then continue his adventure to the Pacific Islands, parts of the USA, South America and North Africa, Western Europe and then back home. The Philippines was not included on his list, but I will let him experience the Philippines under my roof. We will be going to the Barossa Wine Region later for the Barossa Gourmet Weekend... He was still sleeping in the guest room while I was writing this entry.

I accommodated a stranger. Yes, Andrew was a stranger, but only until I have started to speak to him. After that, he was no longer a stranger, but a friend I believe.

Andrew Sable- the hitch-hiker from Lithuania.

You can visit Andrew's blog and follow him as he discover the world.

The 'Heart', in situ

It’s my first time to visit Riverton, a small town in South Australia known as the heart of Gilbert Valley. As we drove through the main street, there were three art galleries and a few antique sandstone buildings which, I believe, were erected in the mid-1900 when the first settlers arrived in the place.

The hallway in the care home, with handrails on the walls.

Riverton is approximately 85 kilometres southeast of my place. The sealed roads and highways were occasionally pine-lined; and across the endless horizon were the flourishing wheat and barley plantations, and the blossoming canola that creates a patchy artwork of verdant rolling plains and bright yellow hills. As we came closer to Clare Valley and Auburn, there was a very distinct transition of vegetation from a rich, blooming field to those leafless vines and melancholic vineyards...

The residents and the caregiver in the lounge.

I went to Riverton not as a tourist, though, but as a friend. Together with Tony and Jane, and their 3-year old daughter Ella, we accompanied Aling Siony to the Riverton Hospital which is also a centre for elderly care in the region. We visited Charles—Aling Siony’s husband who will be turning eighty-four by the end of this month. Charles has been in the care home for more than a year now, and every time he sees his wife he would say, “I think I’m gonna die...”

I, actually, don’t want to think how Charles and the other residents have survived in the care centre. Don’t get me wrong, aside from the inevitable smell of soaked adult pads, the hospital is very clean and tidy, equipped with a complete range of age-care facilities, and by the looks of it, I can say without second thoughts that the entire building has been regularly maintained inside-out. I believe that every member of the staff is well-trained to run the centre and is competent enough to offer the best care to their residents.

The residents' shared room.

...but it is the sense of belongingness that concerns me the most. The caregivers may have been doing the same job for years—skilled and knowledgeable, but the fact that they aren’t even related by flesh and by blood to their patients is truly an emotional pain for me. Elderly people don’t just need excellent care of their competent caregivers, but genuine love and care which should and could only be given by their own family. There are twenty-two residents in the ‘home’, two of them in each room but they don’t even know the name of each other, and couldn’t even remember the life story of their roommate. A ‘care home’ is not a home!

Charles' walker...

We were sitting in the lounge when Charles asked Aling Siony to take him to his dad. He said he wants to see his father, and his brother. Aling Siony held the hand of his husband and squeezed it, she blushed and dropped a tear... the truth is—Charles’ dad has passed away many years ago... dementia had possibly made him believe that his dad was still alive.

Charles asked Tony to open the built-in case of his walker; he said that there’s a lemon and a grapefruit inside. Tony obeyed, and to my surprise, there were fruits in that box! Charles took the grapefruit, handed it to Aling Siony and said, “This is for you, dear. Take it home.” We soon realized that the fruits have fallen from the tree standing in the backyard of the elderly care centre.

When it was time for us to leave, Aling Siony took the visitors book of her husband so she could sign. The last entry was June 23, 2010—a visit made by herself, Jane and Ella. In the first Sunday of September, Australia will celebrate father’s day. I wish that Charles’ children from his first four once legal wives (but now legally-divorced) will come and say hello to their dad (Aling Siony is the fifth, and the couple hasn’t been blessed with a child).

Charles, Ella (the grapefruit behind her pink backpack), and Aling Siony.

I will be celebrating my fourth birthday in Australia this month. I am definitely getting older and older... in this Land Down Under where the conception and views about elderly care are very different from what we have back home. I have been granted with a permanent resident visa in this country, and with what I have seen in Riverton today, I am reconsidering my plans to achieve the ultimate immigration status down here.

The dining, with the lemon and grapefruit trees outside.

I am looking forward to visit Riverton again, not to see the home for the aged but to explore the town and discover more about the real heart of Gilbert Valley.

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Lost in Translation

Ako'y naaliw. Sa wakas tumawa rin ako ngayong araw!

Nang dahil sa Facebook, kinailangan kong buksan at gamitin ang Google Translate para maunawaan ko ang mga updates ng isang kakilalang Pranses na nasa aking friends list. Ayos pala, naunawaan ko ang mga updates ng aking kaibigan kahit na ito'y nakasulat sa French.

Subalit nang sinubukan kong ipasalin kay Tito Google ang isinulat ko sa aking Facebook status noong June 18, 2010, ito ang naging resulta:

ANG ORIHINAL
"Kung alam lang siguro ng mga alaga kong manok na napakaganda ng Tasmania, o ng buong Australia, siguro hindi sila papayag na ikulong doon sa sheds. Tiyak maghahanap sila ng paraang makalaya mula sa kanilang kulungan, at lumipad papunta rito sa Hobart!"

ANG SALIN NI GOOGLE
"If you only knew the owner would probably chicken superb Tasmania, or around Australia, maybe they are not willing to shut up there in sheds. Surely they find a way to be free from their prison, and to fly off to Hobart!"




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Discover, and learn...

Not only humans have the capacity to learn. Animals, too. And so do machines. This June, we chose 'learning' as our theme to celebrate the opening of classes in the Philippines. Being the month of weddings, we also featured a couple of articles about love and marriage. And what can be fitting this month than to honor a fellow blogger who happens to be teacher, too! We are also proud to present to you an article written by a kabayan teacher in Thailand. True, there's so much to learn from this issue.

-the KaBlogs Journal 3rd issue

Explore the pages of the KaBlogs Journal and be part of it! It's not mine, it's not yours. It's ours! Enjoy reading...

Pita

Jollie by the River Torrens
Elder Park, Adelaide City, South Australia

Para kay Jollie...

...ang aking pinakamalapit na kaibigan dito sa Australia na binigyan ko ng kopya ng pinakapaborito kong akdang Desiderata- na nakadikit sa isang maliit na pirasong tabla,

...subalit ang nais ay ang Filipino version nito.

Sana'y magustuhan mo ang salin kong ito. Print mo nalang, bro.

Sa gitna ng maingay at matuling takbo ng buhay, maging mahinahon at palaging alalahaning may katiwasayang hatid ang katahimikan. Hangga’t maari, sa abot ng iyong makakaya, makibagay sa lahat ng tao.

Ihayag ng matahimik ngunit malinaw ang iyong mga paninindigan at pananaw, at makinig sa panig ng iba, ang kanilang mga kwento'y iyong igalang, kahit ang mga musmos o di kaya’y mangmang. Iwasan ang mga taong maingay at masalita, magagambala lamang nila ang iyong maayos na diwa.

Huwag ihalintulad o ihambing ang iyong sarili sa iba, maaari mo lamang matuklasan ang iyong mga kahinaan at tuluyang mawalan ng kabuluhan; sapagkat sa mundong ito may mga taong sadyang mas nakaaangat at mas mababa kaysa sa iyo.

Ikalugod ang iyong mga natamong tagumpay, at magalak sa iyong mga hangarin. Mahalin ang iyong hanapbuhay at ipag-imbot ang iyong pinag-aralan nang may kababaang-loob; sapagkat sa patuloy na pag-ikot ng gulong ng buhay ito’y mananatiling iyong pag-aari.

Maging maingat sa lahat ng mga bagay na iyong papasukin sapagkat ang mundo’y nababalot ng paglilinlang. Ngunit patuloy mong buksan ang iyong mga mata sa mga kabanalang nariyan; marami namang mga taong nagsusumikap gumawa ng kabutihan at kahit saan ay may nagpapamalas ng kabayanihan.

Magpakatotoo. At higit sa lahat, huwag magkunwaring kumakalinga o 'di kaya’y nagmamahal. Huwag mapagduda pagdating sa pag-ibig; sapagkat sa gitna ng kalamlaman o samaan ng loob, pilitin mo man itong lipulin ito’y parang damong paulit-ulit na sisibol.

Tanggapin ng maluwag ang mga pangaral ng nakaraan, habang maayos na isinusuko ang mga bagay ng kamusmusan sapagkat kasabay ng pag-inog ng panahon lumilipas din ang kabataan.

Pangalagaan at panatilihin ang kalakasan ng loob upang may panangga sa mga ‘di-inaasahang kasawian. Ngunit huwag pahirapan ang iyong sarili sa pag-iisip ng mga bagay na walang kabuluhan. Maraming mga pangamba ang nag-uugat sa kapagalan at kalungkutan.

Habang isinasagawa ang mga itinakdang panuntunan maging banayad sa iyong sarili. Ikaw ay katangi-tanging nilalang ng sansinukob, katulad ng mga puno sa kabukiran at mga tala sa kalangitan hawak mo rin ang karapatang ipamalas ang angking kagandahan at taglay na kinang. Malinaw man o hindi ang bagay na ito sa iyo- walang pag-aalinlangang ang sandaigdigan ay sadyang likas na puno ng kagilalasan.

Kaya maging malapit sa Maykapal, anoman ang pagkakakilala mo sa Kanya. At habang patuloy na nangangarap at nagsisikap sa gitna ng nakalilitong takbo ng buhay, panatilihin ang kaayusan ng iyong tunay na pagkatao. Sa kabila ng mga kasinungalingan, kapahamakan at kabiguan, siguradong mananatili ang likas na kariktan ng sanlibutan.

Mag-ingat at magalak. Sikaping maging maligaya.

-ni Max Ehrmann, 1920's

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