Finally, I started writing.

Since I came back from Australia almost 3 weeks ago, I have been trying to adjust my life back to 'normal'. It's all about adjusting the pace, the view on life, and the view of wines.

Probably because this trip was mainly for learning purpose, and most of the itinerary was not under my control. So, selecting what I like & what I'd prefer to write out of the whole lot of information I got was just... HUGE LOAD OF WORK!

Also, as my itinerary was so well-planned, and I got a very tight schedule, I didn't really get a very good sense of location when I was there. Not to miss, all my mind was with the wines - the taste, vinegrowing, winemaking, the philosophies from the masters...

Basically, everything just was mixed all together after my journey of 17 days.

Well, but on the other hand, I should be happy about this. I bet all those actually tell my trip was such a fruitful and meaningful one. In fact, what I've gained from the trip was bit more than what I was expecting before.

Finally, after the 3 weeks of adjustment, I got my body more used to where I am now. I also got my mind put together, and I could write in Chinese by now!

So now, I can start writing - putting down everything in my wine journal & travel journal.

澳洲的天空，特別廣。

記得年前寫過一篇「卑利街的天空，特別高」。
那是為了紀念跟好友們共聚的美好時光，
還有好友在卑利街一角的另一片天地。

雖不算走遍世界，
但也算得上曾經離開過我的家，
出走到過地球上的其他角落，
依然覺得香港卑利街的天空是最高的。

找到了最高的，就想找最廣的。
年前到歐洲，覺得那兒的天空很廣，
猶記得搭火車經過那一大片的太陽花田，
向上看見的天空，是那樣廣呀！

怎料，我最近終於有機會到澳洲走一趟，
去看看那兒的天空，和親吻那兒的空氣。
親身到過那兒，看過了，
才發現澳洲的天空，比太陽花田上的歐洲天空還要廣得多。

在澳洲十多天的日子裡，
幾乎每一天都是那樣，呆著看天空。
不用抬頭看，只要向前看，那就是天。
晚上也只要向前看，就會看見繁星和月亮，
甚麼「月亮高高掛」，實在談不上，
月亮就在眼前，恍惚觸手可及。

又一次，看過日出，用過早點，
我躺在草地上，轉身看看左，再轉身看看右，
又看看上面，都依然覺得那藍天廣得很，沒有邊際。
加上那兒是位於一個小山丘之山，
望開去的不只是一望無際，還高高在上！

回港了，再沒有推開門就看見的藍天，
我又被困在高樓大廈群之中。
以往回來後，沒有那樣嚴重的「JET LAG」，
也沒有於回來後數天，還是覺得「電梯」有點像怪物，
走了進去，好像是給吞噬了，再走不出來。
這次，有點「反常」，
快兩個星期，還是覺得自己在澳洲的時鐘下，
活在那邊的生活習慣當中，
包括離開城市過的「沒有電梯的生活」。

雖然（問心亦無意隱瞞）我依然對歐洲情有獨鍾，
因為她的藝術與歷史，時間是最不爭的事實，
澳洲沒法子追得到。

不過，這次旅程，讓我有機會欣賞到澳洲的獨特，
和只有她才能夠擁有的氣質。
若真的要找到這趟旅程最大的收獲，
未必一定是關於酒學（當然，關於酒學的，也很豐富），
而是我原來也很愛大自然。

這令我進一步深信，有天我定能成為好農夫，
種葡萄去，並繼續好好享受我的美酒人生。

到底那一片藍天，在哪兒？

好友留言說，從酒杯裡看見的藍天只是一少部份，
我看見的，該是在不遠處那一片更廣更藍的天空。

實在，到底那一片藍天在哪兒？
是真的跟我想那樣，藍天其實近得看不見？
還是，原來它在很遠，遠得我根本觸不到，所以看不見？

在澳洲悉尼，跟多年好友相聚，
我望著天上的藍色一片，跟她說「這兒的天空很藍呀！」。
她回應說：「這可不算藍呢！妳看，那兒有一片雲，平日藍得沒一點白！
那才算是藍呀！」

聽罷，我抬頭看多了兩眼，心想這也不算藍，
那我可不知甚麼是藍呢！？

回港數天，
還是停不了在想那片藍，
天剛亮起來的橙藍，
日上三竿的淺藍，
日落前的彩藍。

記得望著藍天的那一刻，
深深吸了一口氣，
然後遠看眼前的廣闊... ...
一切就給印在腦海裡，

不管那一片藍天在哪兒，
雲走到哪裡去了，是晴天，
還是兩天，也不再重要。

腦海裡的那一片藍，會跟隨我的記憶一直走下去。
的確遠得很，遠得觸不到，
但也很近，近得看不見。

Here we are.

The first weekend after I came back was gone.

On Friday, I was there having a glass of white wine in the early afternoon,
reading the book I bought from Australia - titled 'The Good Life'.
That's the one about the Post-911 lives of a few New Yorkers.

Saturday evening, I went to the Annual Dinner at a club,
where there were heaps of Portuguese mood and smell.
I couldn't get away from the feeling of being in Portugal that whole night.
Sitting there, looking at the map up on the wall -
red lines connecting all spots around the world were starting from THAT single point.
Then the glass of red wine was from Portugal too,
with the unfamiliar grape names like 'Trincadeira',
but the smell and the taste was so close to me... so close to my heart.

Sunday, I finally got to meet my nephew after all the weeks apart.
He looks different - he could now sit straight up, he could turn his body,
and for sure he felt like crawling, yet still lack the strength to do so.
Yet, he's still my Nephew the King, with the family bond which I am always aware of,
and will last forever in my life and his life.



Today is ANOTHER MONDAY - meaning another week has begun.
May 2010 is here.
My trip to Australia has ended, my dream is over.
I am back in Hong Kong, I had my last weekend here, and a new start of week is ahead of me.

It seems as if life has changed after I came back -
I was out there away with the luxurious wine & dine experience;
I got the time enjoying wines under the blue sky;
I happened to experience the moved moments on the ANZAC Day;
I met a lady in hostel, who both the reception lady & I thought she presumably has got some mental problem indeed, and she talked to me for quite some time about her life.

Just everything I experienced has made me feel like life has changed.
'Has it really changed though?', I was asking myself today after I finished reading 'The Good Life'.

Life hasn't changed.
Here we are still who we are.
I am still a girl from Hong Kong,
hoping to go out from time to time,
drinking wines over the dinner,
going to the dinners and gatherings which I am supposed to be at,
playing with me nephew and seeing him grow up.

I found it really easy to assume that life has changed,
and once it is changed, we could not possibly go back.
In fact, life has always been the same. Nothing has changed.

What might have changed is our own selves.
We acquired new experiences, memories emerged, time elapsed...
we might choose to live the life we want or might not have lived before.
Possibly, we might choose to go with the flow, and live the life however it is.

Here we are - life has not changed, and probably it will never change.

If it was a dream...

In my dream, I saw this 'painting' through my eyes, and camera!

***
If that was a dream,
it was a really wonderful and unforgettable one.

I still remembered.
Everything was still so vivid in mind,
as if all were happened just yesterday.

In my dream,
I met angels from around, who love drinking good wines and having good food;
I was lying on the grass, seeing the blue sky above,
and watching the clouds move.
I breathed.
I felt the morning mist, and the smell of the wet grass.

In my dream,
I climbed up to the mountain,
and I saw the valley down under my feet.
Up there, I got my glass of white wine for breakfast.
It was just amazing!

In my dream,
I was thinking what if I would never wake up.
Shall I just stay here in my dream,
and forget all things around?

I knew it was not a dream.
Everything was so real,
but too real to believe.
Then that made it as if everything was a dream.

Now, I am here, I am back to everything I was used to.
My family, my friends, my room, the humid air, the dinners and gatherings...
The dream is over, but it has never gone far.
It has always been in my heart.

***
P.S. If it was a dream, shall I just stay there in my dream,
and forget all things around?
My answer is NO, I want to wake up.
I should not be staying always in THAT dream only.
I have to go out and see, and keep dreaming something else.
That would help me keep going, keep searching, keep exploring, and keep learning.

My next dream - South America!!

Explore - [SEARCH] - Rethink - Learn

Lucky me getting the opportunities to travel to some countries around the world.
Remembered that I wrote something about my 'reason to travel' -
not really thinking of 'escape' by now, but all I want is to keep exploring.

I couldn't recall when I started liking the idea of 'exploration'.
I used to be really rigid, stubborn (perhaps still a bit now) and wanted to go with MY flow.
After sometime, maybe due to the 'accumulation' of travel experiences,
I realized the process of 'exploring' could mean searching around -
for things that I don't know, and then go with OTHER'S flow.

Yes, there are theories saying that we tend to pay attention to things that we have heard of,
or have seen before. But, when you are out there somewhere you have never been to before, and you are not joining a tour - you got to do everything on your own, you'll realize how little you know.
Plus, there are THEIR ways to work things out, there are THEIR patterns of living.
You simply just can't stick to your own idea or pace sometimes.

Then you may have to rethink how to work things out,
with THEIR way while not losing your own appetite for things around.
(After all, travel should be a happy & enjoyable experience!)

If you are open-minded enough, and take this as a 'learning opportunity',
you would learn something at the end indeed!
Sooner or later, everything is a happy thing - as you would believe
'there's always the way out'.

***
During my stay in Canberra, I noted the words below - about [SEARCH] in a new place. Enjoy!

[SEARCH]

I brought with me my wife and daughter, rice cookies, and a small green buddha

I brought with me my mother's handmade linen

I brought with me traditional medicines, hair oil, tamarind and gold

Coming to a new place I brought my heart

I've brought something from each of the countries I've lived in

I have come from a very crowded city in Europe

I come from an ancient country

When I first arrived I went in the wrong direction for an hour

Before the plane landed all I could see were rolling green hills and water holes

To get here we travelled by bus for three days and nights

Which way is east?

Highlights from the trip: 'Australia 2010'

Well... well... well...

It was really a fruitful and wonderful trip indeed.
After one or two days,
I realized,
'where there are too many highlights, you don't know what means by highlight itself'.

So there I got really dilemma - how to show you all my photos.. and writings.. and all everything.
Real challenge...

Wait and see... will make it more structured soon... hehehe...

Last day in Australia - moved & touched (Part III)

After the National Ceremony, the Australian War Memorial opened.
I was in there again - instead of going to the 'Roll of Honour' - I went to the exhibition hall.

It was 12.15pm.

I started with the exhibition hall about 'First World War'...
then 'Second World War'...
then 'conflicts from 1945 till today'...
also the 'Of Love and War'...

I also visited some other halls,
showing the different wars in which the Australians were in service;
I stayed in some halls seeing the aircraft,
watching the panaroma short movie with the scene, the sound and the move of air above me - creating an illusion that the aircraft is really like over my head.

Clock ticked - 1pm... 2pm... 3pm... 4pm..
When I was at the last stop - the souvenir shop - it was 4.15pm!!

Basically, apart from the half-an-hour lunch inside the Memorial,
I spent almost like 4 hours there for the exhibition, and indeed - I didn't really go through all the exhibits.
Some of those are really bit 'heavy' for me - I still couldn't understand why there was WAR.
Seeing all those exhibits which include like letters from those who were dead;
aircrafts - bombers - guns - navy submarines - swords - knives;
photos showing the prisoners who were starved to death...
countless people were dead - some even nameless because their bodies were discovered only some years after the war ended.

So there I was walking through the years - from First World War till the most recent 'conflict of today'.
That includes the 'post-911' US-Afghanistan conflict.
(Coincident, I am reading a book about the lives of the New Yorkers who survived from 911.. )

Why war? Why no peace? What's the point of 'winning' the war with so many people died?

I was asking tonnes of questions to myself.
Yet, I am sure - there are no answers out there.

***
I was indeed surprised to see all the exhibits,
and the Australian War Memorial is definitely one of the best in my museum list!

Never imagined I would have got the chance to walk through all those history in such real touch,
I felt like I saw the weakness of mankind -
for I guess those declaring war might be indeed in fear of their own weakness being attacked.
On the other hand, I saw the courage among those men and women at war times -
or those involved in war matters for their families may be survivors from wars or ones being left behind...

Today - there are still wars going on somewhere in the world.
People are killing others; nations are fighting against others or fighting in the name of 'defense'.
Frankly, I guess there is no end to the game of 'war'.

However, I believe there is peace existing somewhere in the world.
Yet - I think before seeing that existence, everyone has to see that from within ourselves first.

***
Last day in Australia - I was moved & touched - for I heard not the voice from within,
nor that from the Nature or the people around me,
but the voice from history - from the messages left by those who died in wars.

** END **

Last day in Australia - moved & touched (Part II)

Couldn't stand staying in front of the 'Roll of Honour' seeing all the names of the dead -
I went for a coffee at the cafe next to the Australian War Memorial.

***
While having my coffee,
I overheard the story told by a veteran sitting next to me,
he was telling his story to another lady at his table.
I couldn't really imagine how life was at that time,
although probably one might tell me 'why bother? there is no war in your country!'

Inevitably, all I heard has provoked some thoughts in mind -
some thoughts about life & dead;
some thoughts about love & hate;
some thoughts about war & peace.

It was still early morning - just 8am.
I had been to the 'Roll of Honour' only - but I wanted to visit the special exhibition ongoing there, which was named 'Of Love and War', featuring the relationships and affairs at war times.
It will open at 12noon.

So, 4 more hours - what to do?
I didn't want to go back to city centre, so then I decided to stay for the National Ceremony!
(What an Australian life I had!!! I haven't been to the National Ceremony of HKSAR or PRC! What a shame....)

There was the ceremony, parade... Prime Minister... Consulate-General from the different embassies...
I was among these guys at the Ceremony!
I couldn't really remember all the things I have seen - and who the parade people are.
All I could recall was the last minute of the ceremony, before the 'big guys' left -
the noise from the Royal Australian Air Force aircraft right above me!

Stunning - I have never imagined that kind of noise... like a needle piercing into my ears.

There I was,
at the National Ceremony among all the Australians.

***
(to be continued)

----
Reference:
'Roll of Honour' at Australian War Memorial:
http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/introduction.asp

Last day in Australia - moved & touched (Part I)

25.April.2010 - 'Dawn Service'

The same day 95 years ago,
troops of Australians & New Zealanders set out to fight again the Turkish during WWI.

Today,
Australians & New Zealanders commemorate 'Anzac Day' (ANZAC: Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) on 25th of April.

**
Frankly, I wasn't really aware that I would be here in Australia on its National Day.
Until when I got to decide where I got to go after my 'wine trip',
then I realized I would be here in Australia on this special day.

Towards the end of my 'wine trip', I found that I didn't want to do anything touristic again.
I want to experience the REAL AUSTRALIAN SPIRIT -
that's why I am here in Canberra, the capital city of Australia.

I wanted to see how it goes here on the National Day - on the ANZAC DAY.

Excuse me for my ignorance, I wasn't really into history and therefore,
in fact, I didn't know that it wasn't really a celebration, but commemoration.
It is also due to my ignorance,
I started searching for more information about this 'commemoration'.

Before the ANZAC Day,
I read a bit on the internet whenever I could get online;
I went to bookstore and had a quick check at the books about ANZAC;
I was reading the newspaper which got special features about ANZAC the day before;
I talked to the New Zealander who accompanied with me during my wine trip;
I spoke to the Australians here, and asked how ANZAC Day is.

Finally - on the ANZAC Day,
I woke up at 4am, and I was on the road by 4.30am.
There was special FREE shuttle bus from the central bus station (they called it 'bus interchange' here in Canberra) to the Australian War Memorial - so I was there in the queue by 4.45am.
By 5am - I was there at the ground in front of the Australian War Memorial. Already packed.
I got the program booklet, and got a poppy (a symbol of war remembrance) in hand.
Lucky me - I found a seat there up on the stage right in front of the memorial. There I sat and waited.

5.30am, the 'dawn service' started.
Following the hymn, prayer, and speech...
there was the 'one-minute silence' - complete silent at dawn.
Only the sound of the birds there.
Last - there came the national anthem.

Then, sunrise followed.
I was there still sitting, while all others have left.
Staying there for a while to see the sky turn blue - with some grey & white cloud.
Nothing bright yellowish, as I've seen so far in Australia.
Seemed like the Almighty has also heard the cry from the land on Earth - nothing bright.

It was still very early - not yet 7am.
I was there in the Australian War Memorial 'Roll of Honour' -
watching people come to look for the names of the 'wall'.
The names are the Australians who died in wars - WWI, WWII, any other wars happened,
in which Australians joined the fight on the battlefield.

People who came are probably their children, grandchildren or colleagues who made it to survive.
Everyone put the poppies next to the names they recognized.
I stood there for quite a while, watching & watching.
I started thinking why there was war, why people couldn't really stay calm and make a peaceful world?

So cold - I couldn't stand staying there anymore.
I went for a morning coffee at the cafe next to the Australian War Memorial.

***
(to be continued)

An end marks another beginning - note from Australia.

It has come to almost the end of my trip in Australia - 2 more days to go.
Have been thinking about the 'theme' of my trip indeed.
Although for sure, WINE is definitely one that comes TOP OF MIND,
I found there are much more than just WINE.

Not until I came over here in Australia,
I realized that I really have been travelling a lot.
(Of course, compared with my CRAZY friends somewhere out there,
I am just no way comparable!!)
With all the travelling experiences, I learnt a lot for life.
Plus, all different experiences have brought me different thoughts about life.

I used to think that I got to listen to the voice from within,
for who I am, what I'm doing, what I care, who I love, what I love - hate - dislike - like...
Everything was from within myself, as I still got the choices throughout my trip.

Out of expectation - I found this trip has got me something new.
I wasn't really listening to myself - or the 'voice from within',
but the sound around me - from the Nature and from people around me.

My 'wine itinerary' was completely planned in advance and - (forgive me to say) - I got no choice indeed. So,
I was there in the vineyard - seeing the snail next to the grapes;
I was there on the field - looking over the green piece of land under the blue sky;
I was there up on the mountain - walking slowly as if I was dancing in the ballroom, just because I was so scared of slipping down and rolling over down the slope and not able to go back home forever;
I was there watching the ants running on the mud, knowing their ways, stopping sometimes without the help of traffic lights;
I was there listening to the winemakers, who were sharing how the grapes were grown, what biodynamic was, how their wines were made with passion & experience;
I was there sleeping on the grass, looking up into the sky, and hearing the fly buzz next to me;
I was there playing with the dog at the guesthouse up on the hill;
I was there just daydreaming, hearing the music on the way to winery or the stories from my wine travel companions...

A strange trip somehow - for I didn't hear myself at all.
All I heard was the voice from the Nature and people around me.

Back to the question - about the 'theme' of the trip.
Definitely WINE will make up a great part of my trip, and
I will have dedicated webpages about that.
Still - I believe there is out there a 'theme' for my whole trip.

In fact, I got one sparkled in mind - will see by tomorrow if that's really the ONE.
Yes - tomorrow - because I planned to go to the dawn service on the ANZAC day,
and then visit the War Memorial.
Everyone here was telling me that would be touching - I believe so.

Probably that would help me 'conclude' my trip on the last day of my stay in Australia.
Last but not least, I'm sure that 'conclusion' (or 'the end') will mark another beginning of my life.

What a trip, what a life!?

@Hunter Valley, Australia


Enjoying the wines up on the mountain, looking over the Hunter Valley - that was just fabulous!!


I couldn't have imagined that I would be having a wine tasting there up on the mountain,
looking down - there was Hunter Valley in Australia!

Unimaginable - unbelievable - but that's so REAL!

Will be on the road, exploring again shortly -
if not able to keep updates here, will be back 28th April.

Goodbye & See You!

Time flies unbelievably fast - it has come to the last day of the 'Wine Australia Travel Scholarship' trip.
It's the last day of it in Sydney. Time to say goodbye to my travel companions, who I was with for the past 10 days.

That's kind of crazy having a trip with 6 others who you have never met before, and from different places over the world.
And it was a 10-day trip - surrounded with wines, embraced by the sunshine under the very blue sky.
We chatted about wines, had good food, smiled, laughed, had bit of singing, little dancing steps, games, riddles...
Just fabulous!

That's hard to believe that it has come to the end of the trip,
and we had to say goodbye to each other.

Then we would be back on the track of our lives at our homes spreading across the world -
USA, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Austria, Ireland, Hong Kong.

Yet, no doubt, I believe all of us would remember the days - sometime in 2010 -
meeting some crazy strangers from different part of the world & passionate wine people from Australia,
and making new friends over glasses of wines!

I wish all my new friends there happy lives and keep enjoying every moments!

***
On this day - before 'Goodbye', I had a morning walk along the harbour.
That was early as 6am-ish, and there was the wonderful sunrise scenary.
Another brand new day has begun indeed.

On the way to Melbourne

April 10, 2010 (Sat)

9am Qantas flight to Melbourne - making me wake up at 6am, ready to leave home by 6.30am.
So there I was at the airport, checked-in.
Before going to the gate, I had my breakfast at a really slow pace.

In fact, I used to be really rush at trips before - but somehow not sure why, this time - just so relaxed.
Probably that's because my itinerary and almost everything were so well-prepared already... so, no worry at all.
(Or, so far, I didn't worry about anything much! So already kind of my 'practice'!? Anywayz.)

***
I did the online check-in on Friday indeed, I chose the window seat with just ONE more seat next to me before going to the aisle.
There was the big guy sitting there next to my sit when I boarded the plane.
After a while, we greeted each other, and started chatting!

Gosh - he's australian, married to an English woman, with the little kid - both wife & kid now in London.
So there he just got off from the plane from Heathrow, London, transit through Hong Kong, going back to Melbourne!
Most interesting - he studied creative media, then went working for a publishing compnay, doing IT magazines.
He also did write some columns for the IT magazine.
Right now, he is a primary school teacher!

We chatted and chatted... almost half of the flight hours!
He also plays African drum & acoustic!!
He's also interested in knowing Chinese culture & politics (a bit).
All everything so interesting indeed - so there I made a new friend on the plane!

***
Apart from the chat, I watched two on-demand movies: 'Avatar' (which I didn't have much intention going to see when it was on in cinema) and 'The Hurt Locker'.
Two movies both made me feel bit heavy indeed - both somehow about 'war & peace'.
I don't really know why we got the idea about war, and conquering...

***
9 hours gone really quick!
There - I arrived at Melbourne!!

***
PHOTOS:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/untitledjournal/Australia2010Day0Departure#

The Day Before Departure

April 9, 2010 (Fri) - Day (minus)1

Have been struggling how to start my writing - should I begin with my 'Wine Australia Travel Scholarship' day? Should I just write about my wine story? Should I write about my wine life?

Have been struggling where to go after my scholarship part is done - Tasmania? Western Australia? At first felt like vacation, then felt like perhaps I should make my trip all the way just about wines!?

FINALLY - All I had in mind before I departed - Just let it go, and let it flow.

***
So there on the day before my departure, I got the invitation to attend a press conference - orgnized for wines/ food from Tasmania + Queensland + South Australia. Met quite a few people there, and all of them were just telling me the same thing: 'Oh, awesome, you are going Australia tomorrow morning!? Enjoy! Do you now feel like you're there already?'

Yes - they were right! I felt I was there already - having all the wines & food from there... and they were such fresh produce. Nice!

It's the first time for me to explore Australia - although I have been involved in wine sales for Australian wines, and met the winemakers & the suppliers for times. However, I haven't had the chance to go there and see the real thing!

TODAY - I got it!!

Indeed, it was 'teatime' hour when I went to that press conference. There, we were having lobster, abalone, lamb... just LUXURIOUS!! How could you imagine that kind of food for 'TEATIME'!? Anywayz - that's how my '(minus)1 day' began!

And then in the evening - there was temporarily suspension of water supply. Because of that, I thought I would stay home and get prepared. YET - finally, I couldn't resist the temptation to go out for a drink before I left. ONE round - thanks my angel friend stopping me from going somewhere else for some more rounds.

There my day was done - fully ready physically & mentally - to Australia!

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PHOTOS:
LUXURIOUS teatime: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/untitledjournal/Australia2010DayMinus1PreTrip#
WONDERFUL one-round of drink: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/untitledjournal/Australia2010DayMinus1PreTripNight#