Ah... what a great week it's been. First the mark of the end of exams, then the arrival of Muffin, followed by the iPod Video, and then, just yesterday, Esther & I just got home from a 2 night holiday at the Dandenong Ranges.
How refreshing the trip was. To be immersed in the richness of Australian nature. Not the dry, red, central type of course - but the mass greenery, where the noisiest things you'd here is but the rustling of tree leaves, the chirping of birds and the soft flow of nearby streams. What a change it was from the bustling traffic, dust-infested city air with neverending car alarms going off.
There were a whole heaps of highlights of the trip that's worth mentioning. So much that I can't really fit them in a single post. But because I'm lazy and am not up to splitting it up to two posts, I thought I'd just share a few bits of the trip.
First up we found a beautiful Bed & Breakfast place just between small towns Sassafras and Olinda called A Country House.
It was priced rather affordably, considering the facilities. We chose the Chapel, where we had a huge studio-like room, equipped with a dining area, a couch, tv with dvd & vhs players, a bathroom that's as big as my room here in Melbourne featuring a spa, and a verandah overlooking the green backyard. We so didn't feel like going out sightseeing at all upon arriving.
But we did, of course. Eventually. One of the places we explored was the National Rhododendron Gardens - a huge reserve with over 43 hectares and a 5km round trip, boasting the loveliest of gardens and lakes.
more pics will be posted at focus
It was so big that neither Esther and I could finish the walk as we were too tired just about 3/5 way through. The sun was up to maximum power (thank God for that though as it was forecasted to be rainy all day the day before), leaving us burnt, tired and hungry by then.
We treated ourselves after that of course, by heading to the little town of Sassafras, where the infamous Miss Marple's tea house stood.
Based on Agatha Christie's classic character, Miss Marple's was one of a kind. It was as if the whole place was a dedication to the detective, decorated to the last inch with photos and memorabilia of her. The tea house was more like a museum, really. But still, that in no way has discounted the quality of the food at all. So good that we actually went there twice. First time was just for lunch, while the 2nd was to try out their infamous Scones - something that we missed out on the first trip.
They're not infamous for nothing, I tell you. The scones with their homemade jam and whipped cream are the best combination since cars and wheels.
Of course, there were several other places we visited and several other interesting stories to tell. Like the creepy (at least I thought it was) William Ricketts Sanctuary, which was an outdoor gallery of the artist's sculptures in the forest. And also the Puffing Billy, the classic steam train which takes tourists around on a scenic tour across the Ranges (it even features Thomas the tank engine). But like I said, I'm lazy.
It was the perfect getaway, I could say. An escape from the realities and responsibilities of life in the city. Away from the hassle and hazards, off to the quietness of mother nature and all her treasures hidden away in a stash. If only I could afford to do it a little more often. That would really be perfect then.
Oh well. I guess I'll just have to wait for my strike on Tattersall's 'The Big One'...