That sink in feeling.

Today is the coldest by far. By cold, I'm implying that for once, we aren't sweating profusely just by sitting and doing nothing in the shade. Yesterday we ventured into the city of Brisbane for the first time. An hours ride and $4.60 later and we were there. Everything seemed familiar and yet at the same time totally foreign to me. There were definite aspects of London present, a bit of what I would expect New York to look like and even a tiny hint of South Africa all thrown into one metropolis.

Then, out of nowhere, it struck. The skies darkened, a shadow fell across the land and the heavens opened. Within minutes, shops below ground level were flooded, roads were being closed, drains on the street were overflowing and even 4x4's were experiencing difficulty traversing the concrete jungle. This was unlike anything I had ever seen before. After marveling at it for a few minutes we took evasive action and headed to higher ground - the food court inside the mall. 

It's been nine days since we landed in this country and I am still unaware of what has really happened. Often, Christine and I have discussed when our adventure to another continent will really sink in. It didn't happen the night before we set off on our journey. It didn't hit us on the plane ride over here and even the unfamiliar accents that surrounded us on a daily basis didn't even really do it for me. There were brief moments of realization I guess: feeding the marsupials at the zoo, roads and entire cities flooding in minutes being the norm and perhaps even stopping for a picture moment on the corner of Blackbutt Avenue and Scribbly Gum Place (yes, these are genuine road names, I kid you not!). So I am left wondering when this all will really sink in. What if it never happens? But more importantly, how do you even define that moment? What is the criteria needed for it to have officially sunk in? Maybe my realization sponge has lost its absorbency or is totally saturated and is allowing nothing more to sink in. I wonder if there is a cure for that? Mental note: Eat more sponge cake.

 

Kangaroos: Spring loaded

 

 Brisbane: Or London?

City: Wet

Street Names: Surreal.