TASmania! Ch.2: The Tasman Peninsula

Picking up from where I stopped the other time...
After spending some time in Hobart... we headed further south to the Tasman Peninsula...

We had the keys to a friend's shack at Eaglehawck Neck...  by the time we reached there it was late in the evening... and for the first time in my life I had spotted wallabies which ended up hopping towards me and freaking me out...



The morning after we started exploring the area around... we drove to the Tasman Arch which has a stunning view to the Ocean...



And the ever steep Devil's Kitchen... I wonder what was he cooking down there...



Trying to find some fossils at the Fossil Bay...





And looking at the blowhole... though it had no sound, only a bad breathe...



We kept driving to Port Arthur and though we made it to the site... we decided not to venture going inside. Port Arthur has a major role in the History of Australia. This was a convict settlement in the 1800s where British and Irish convicts were brought here. The site is heavy with memories as another tragedy took place in 1996 when 35 people were killed in what is know known as Port Arthur Massacre.




* Image by the Hubby

Along our drives... we came by a nice white beach... simply beautiful... a beach no famous but for those lucky enough to live nearby...





We drove by many small towns... and had fish and chips at a local place in Nubeena where instantly we felt we were the strangers and the new faces of the day for the locals eating and working there...



We visited Maingon Bay...





where you can see the special rock formation on the outside wall of Remarkable Cave



before you actually go inside the cave to take an insider look at how the ocean can deeply kiss the earth...



We reached further down to the Coal Mines Historic Site and walked there until the sunset. This site is full of memories too where convicts were used as cheap labors to dig out coals. Many lives had vanished on that site.



After that we drove back to Eaglehawk Neck finishing up the whole road circuit in the Peninsula.



Next day we managed an early visit to the Tessellated Pavements... a marvelous work of time and pressure... nature being sculpted in the most precise geometrical forms I've seen in nature.







And then we headed back up to Hobart....  before our next drive up North along the east coast....

Chapter III: The East Coast

to be continued...

TASmania! Ch.1: Hobart for the first time

Awhile ago I went backpacking to Tasmania with my husband.. I found myself stepping back to a time and a place of utter childhood happiness and serenity...
It was a journey of exploration... experiencing new things and living in a fairy land...
While there you become oblivious, just like the land is, of what is happening out in the ugly rest of the world...
Without a mobile coverage or Internet access... My only connection was with the beauty... that has been always there... waiting to be seen... and yearning to be admired...

During the short time we stayed there... we spend a couple of days in Hobart with our friends... then we head down south to the Tasman Peninsula... and afterwards we explored the east coast reaching to St. Helens... then we went back to Hobart but this time we drove inland...
I'll try to share my experience with you... hoping that one day... you can experience it too...

------------------------
Chapter I: Hobart for the first time...

After having our flight cancelled due to the ash cloud... we found ourselves on another plane three days later... and in two hours... I saw Tasmania for the first time... and yes it was love from the first sight...
We got picked up by a friend from the airport... who took us on a drive around the city before reaching his house and resting for a while...
We arrived in Hobart on a Saturday... Saturday in Hobart for a newcomer means one thing; Salamanca Market... 
You can find many things in the market... fresh fruits... leatherwood honey... Crafts of every sort... alternative clothing... live performances... hand made stuff... homemade food... and the famous man calling out [Applllllles]...













I didn't walk around that much because the plan was to pay another visit to the market on the following Saturday...

After that, we walked around the city... the houses there are different than in Sydney... you feel that you are in the countryside... the settings are much relaxed...



The city is hilly... and in that way... most of the houses face the Derwent River...



First day finished with me well pleased with Hobart...




First sunrise in Hobart was amazing..



On Sunday you have another market... the farmers' market... we went there just to look at the fresh veggies and fruits...


image by the Hubby....

Apples are very famous in Tasmania... in one of the stalls... a man was selling appleccino... a yummy spicy hot fresh apple juice...





And then we were recommended to try the sushi stall... with the Tasman wasabi...





After that we explored different parts of the city...



We visited some friends... before heading off to our first stop at Eaglehawk Neck...

I have to say... I was pleased with Hobart... and its different air and feeling...

Chapter II:  The Tasman Peninsula...

......... to be continued

Dancing in Public!

I love when people claim back their public spaces. People should be able to do things collectively and on an urban scale!!

That's why when I first saw the video of Lebanese dancing Dabkeh at the Airport I got so excited...



But then I saw various videos of Jordanians dancing whatever styles in the mall... and I thought [Seriously...!?]. For many reasons it just looked meaningless and shallow to me...



Don't get me wrong! There is nothing wrong in wanting to dance! But in a country or in an area where we have so many causes to take... so many issues to address... why would we choose to dance on Lady Gaga's songs!!!?

Of a late, there has been many flash mobs and flash dances organized by BDS Movement... I saw videos of that happening in the US and in Australia....



You look at these people who have a strong stand about something they think is wrong and here they are standing by the Palestinians and against injustice... while we dance on Lady Gaga!!



I wish there will be a day when all the injustice in this world will be gone! When we have no problems at all... and we can rejoice and dance...
But until then... I have to sing along with these people if I ever feel the urge to dance in public...

Gooday Sydney! Good Day Change...

It has been a very long time since I blogged... so I feel like starting with [Asslam Alikum] to all the brave people in the Arab World... who have made me believe again in the power of the people... and the possibility of a change... my words fall short in front of the greatness of your efforts... may they be blessed... and may more change come your way... for the best from now on... Bless your souls you Arabs and Muslims there...

As for me... Australia has become my new home... and oh Boy! Sydney!!!! 
What better way of expressing how I feel than these photos that I will share with you... Hope you'll like them...

Much love and salam from super devoika from the down under... =)