Hiking and Exploring with a Dash of Sentiment

from weds to fri this week i stayed local and went hiking on trails in the area.

i checked out the 1,000 steps/kokoda war memorial track (aussie's use the word track instead of trail). this track is meant to commemorate the fallen soldiers from WWII in papau new guinea. it is also illustrating to some extent the elements they had to deal with (with respect to the denseness of vegetation). soldiers usually couldn't see more than 10m ahead in the jungle (metres! not miles you americans!). for those that have done the grouse grind it is the equivalent of going about one quarter to half way up (20-25 mins all steep uphill). great weather and exercise. it looked like a popular spot for gym bunnies to get some cardio in too.

i attempted this trail again the next day but only as a warm up for the main event. i hiked a good way across the dandenong national park (3 hr hike up and down). some beautiful scenery and friendly faces with most people saying 'g'day mate, how ya goin?' (cracks me up every time) although for many parts of the hike it felt like i was the only one in the world. it's nice to spend time with yourself every once and a while.

i didn't really see anything new on this hike..oh wait..i encountered a couple of small sunbathing lizards that were too quick to catch on cam. one other thing of note is the number of rosella's along the trail. they would scatter into the trees about 15 feet before you on the trail. they are a beautiful native australian parrot that are usually found in small groups together (well at least from my experience). i took a bunch of pictures but they are terrible. check out the link: http://www.fiu.edu/~larkinsg/Crimson_Rosella_b.JPG

the second tallest variety of tree in the world covers many parts of the dandenong mountains. it is the australian mountain-ash. they are tall and slim with little foliage so their presence isn't as great as one might think.

i also did a few hikes behind the house which is also part of the dandenong national park. here i can count on multiple rabbits dodging back and forth, duck varieties i've never seen, cockatoos soaring across the valley and laughing kookaburras. the vegetation in this area is much different than from the previous hike i mentioned. it is lower scrub brush on smaller rolling hills.

there is a great path for jogging around this large pond that i hoped to do today (saturday) but it is already 32 C at 11am. by the time i'm finished it will probably be ridiculous celsius. could still do it but then i'd be zapped for the rest of the day. pass.

apparently this area is also kangaroo filled but i haven't gone quite at the right time of the day yet (just before sunset) but i will soon. one day i went with narelle and we found a great lookout spot where you can see the distant city skyscrapers and long swooping valleys where farmers have jammed in some small fields and livestock.
i've been missing roel intensely the past few days. he's working on tying up loose ends in new york. resigning from his job, sorting and packing up the apartment and saying goodbye to friends. i'd love to be there for him as i know it can get tough. i should know seeing as though that was me a few months ago. as much fun as i'm having here jan 31 can't come soon enough. i can't express enough how happy i am that we found each other. i'm starting to get exited about getting a celebration reception together once we're back in north america.
also, seeing narelle and greg's network of friends reminds me of my own and how i miss them. it also reminds me that when roel and i settle down i have to start the extremely painful process of trying to find new ones. i know it should be fun getting to know people but the problem is i don't like spending time with most people i meet. it's not that i dislike them but i would rather just be on my own. i'm just on a different speed setting. i know few people who don't drain my life force. most of all though i am thankful for the friends i do have. the ones who go out of their way at the right times without you having to ask because they just know you probably need it.
so i'll end this with a general thank you to my friends and family for loving me so. i wish you could all be here with me.