Brisbane arrival

I’ve been meaning to write for several days but have been kept completely on my toes arranging the accommodation, transport, and various incidentals associated with unscripted travel. You see the original plan had been to spend approximately one week in Brisbane before travelling south along the coastal route to Sydney. I’m convinced we’ll make it there eventually but in the meantime our Brisbane visit has been extended indefinitely.

What a glorious city. The locals suggest that Brisbane has risen dramatically over the previous ten years. I recall staying several nights in the mid eighties and being mildly confused by the central district’s deserted streetscapes after about nine o clock. That appears to have remedied itself so there is plenty of activity to look at. Colourful, eccentric, and lively Brisbane folk. It’s a good-natured place so there’s no problem asking someone for directions or a piece of local advice. After almost a week in luxurious Kangaroo Point, we’ve moved to a beautiful garden unit in a suburb called Indooroopilly.

Indooroopilly was recommended by an acquaintance from the Organic Growers. Conveniently central with a pleasant suburban atmosphere. The distinctive name is Australian Aboriginal and refers to a place of running water. Lots of well manicured lawns and eucalyptus trees for shade, which is terribly important down here. Yesterday’s temperature approached thirty degrees around lunchtime. We’re told that’s almost mild for this time of year! I’ve already adopted the strategy of early morning and evening activity with long siestas taken during the hottest period of each afternoon.

After England, the vibrant intensity of Brisbane represents something of a culture shock. Each morning the skies are bedeviled with the brightest and noisiest flocks of parakeet and cockatoo. Twelve hours later the twilight plays host to gigantic bat like creatures called Flying Foxes. Indeed, close up they are not much smaller than a native fox and curiously intelligent in appearance. The locals are not keen on their habits. Quite destructive of fruit and trees I’m told. They also generate foul odours with their urine and droppings. I’m yet to ascertain whether these offerings might be employed as a convenient source of soil enrichment. Possibly not.

Can’t conclude without mentioning the food down here. Fresh and abundant, served perhaps without the precision and ceremony we’re accustomed to at home. I adore the seafood platters with fried Barramundi. This is the sweetest tasting fish you’re ever likely to encounter. It’s farmed or caught from the wild in the tropics above here and is one of the most popular estuarine varieties in Australia. Try the Tiger Prawns and Moreton Bay Bugs if you get the chance. The latter are a brilliantly flavoursome crustacean which appear to be unique in this part of the world.

It should be possible to secure our vehicle tomorrow and I’m certainly looking forward to visiting a number of nurseries and organic gardens during the weeks ahead.