Day 38 - G'day Australia!

Inner Pilot
Jan 16, 2011
2 min read

Updated: Dec 11, 2024

Brisbane Reflection on River

Last night I was doing my finally walk around Brisbane. As I crossed a bridge over the river, I descended into darkness. The road was closed to vehicle traffic, but pedestrians were still trickling through. Every once in a while, music would boom and echo out, permeating the night. I then came upon workers trying to restore power at an intersection. I looked around some more and realized I was still in a major part of the city, but due to flooding all power was out (along streets and parks, in buildings – everything black). That thought turned the landscape into something totally novel. I figured out where the music was coming from. It was a night club a block away with an open-air pavilion at a third floor level. They had set up an electric generator to allow business to continue. It was an island of lights, people, sound, and activity in the otherwise dark and deserted inner city landscape. It was a really cool scene.

Bat in Brisbane's CBD

Bats were out, eating the fruits and flowers of trees. They descended right into the (still lit) downtown area and squeaked and squawked like rapid dogs (that’s the best I can describe it – they emit truly odd sounds). The bats make a mess of things though, and I don’t think the locals find them so charming.

I was purchasing a coffee at the airport, and the Asian gentleman who was helping me spoke in perfect Australian English (and perhaps a little too loudly and energetically). I knew it wasn’t his native tongue, yet he spoke English better than I and knew the local dialect flawlessly. His name tag said, “Patrick”. (My friend Nathan, from yesterday, said Asians pick a western name for themselves when they arrive.) Patrick was demonstrating his wish to be Australian in a way that could only come from a sincere desire to be here and to be part of this culture.

I know how you feel Patrick. This is a great country. My time in Australia, for this trip, has now come to an end. I’ve enjoyed the people and places immensely. Thank you and a big G’day Australia!