too old for dreads

Currently at Hobart airport en route to Sydney for the next phase of our Oz trip. 

We’re four weeks in overall and feeling pretty well decompressed and relaxed. All good. Still no sign of dreads or tattoos though – but next stop is South East Asia so you never know.

We’re both really sad to be leaving Tassie.

 Given we’re 10,800 miles from home, it’s unlikely we’ll be back anytime soon. It’s had a big impact on us though and I’d really like to think we’ll return one day.

It’s a remarkable place; somewhere to recharge, relax and re-set the dials. 

You could say that it’s the UK 30 years ago but that doesn’t quite work. It’s life like it’s designed to be lived. I prefer roads with only a handful of cars, I love the fresh air (freshest in the world according to the folk here) and we’ve loved exploring the wild and beautiful countryside. It is stunningly beautiful here. 

We’ve talked a lot about the future for Tassie. It’s hard to know what everyone does here. We saw the zinc plant in Hobart yesterday that is Tassie’s biggest employer. I don’t know anything about the zinc market but I fear for the industry here; surely something else that will get gobbled up by the Chinese? Maybe the future is all about tourism but if that’s true, it would mean the end of the emptiness of this place. And that’s what makes it special. Or maybe it just stays exactly like it is – Oz’s little state (roughly the same size as Ireland) stuck out in the Southern Ocean and somewhere for people to come to remind themselves that there is another way to live. 

Just like India, our trip here has been made by the people we’ve met – in shops, bars and restaurants and on our walks. 

We loved sharing our Bay of Fires walk with Peter, Marie, Tim and Zadia – thanks for your company and for making us feel so welcome. Conversations over dinner on the walk ranged across a load of subjects and included an introduction for us to MONA (Museum of New and Old Art) in Hobart. 

We went straight there yesterday when we arrived and were treated to an afternoon of amazing exhibits in an incredible place. It’s worth a quick Google to find out more.David Walsh is the individual behind MONA and it’s been his vision to create this incredible place in Hobart, one of the most southerly cities in the world. He’s made his money from gambling, well figuring out a gambling system which wins. And now he’s invested in this incredible gallery and is giving back, in spades. A real Robin Hood story and one that has put Hobart well and truly on the map. 

We’ve walked miles here including to the top of St Patrick’s Head in very strong winds. 

Stayed in some great places (including Blue Gum Lodge) and experienced the four seasons in one day that characterises this part of the world; from risking hypothermia to frying in the incredibly strong sun. 

The wildlife has entertained and surprised (we didn’t know what a pademelon was until a few days ago and had never seen an echidna with it’s forward facing front legs and backwards facing rear legs). 

And we’ve loved it all.