17 DEGREES (Australia II)
What was my first impression of
Melbourne? It’s cold! Well, from somebody used to “cold” being 24-26 C, a drop
of 7 numbers down can be downright harsh. My husband did warn me of the climate
this time of year over there and told me to bring my warmest jumpers
(sweatshirts), I did and even shopped for socks and leg warmers but what do I know
about proper winter clothing really, when what’s considered “cold” in my
country IS NOT in kangaroo land? I thought “Nah, I can handle it, can’t be that
bad.” I almost came home frozen.
We were picked up by my eldest
step son from the airport and as we drove off to the city, we passed the industrial
and business district as he pointed out the landmarks and note worthy places,
clusters of buildings and business offices; Big, wide roads skirting through
the vast flat land of Melbourne. We drove on a little bit more, into the
suburbs and through the "Domain" tunnel which is literally built under the "Yarra" river (I know, awesome huh?) and the scenery changed drastically, from concrete jungle to streets lined with trees, trees of different kinds and sizes, some in beautiful autumn
colors, orange, red, yellow. The city transforms into a garden of trees with residential houses and spacious sidewalks added in. Melbourne is a city of contrasts, in my heart, it's a beautiful place indescribable.
Traffic in Melbourne means there
are other cars on the road. There’s continuous movement except on a red light.
The cars stay on their lanes, not trying to take over each other. So there’s
order, there’s discipline. This doesn’t happen in Manila, an unfamiliar sight
indeed. That’s when it hit me, it finally sunk in, I was no longer in the
Philippines, I was in a strange land where traffic rules are observed piously, and over there, I am the foreigner.
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