As we left Australia, we left behind family and friends who have done more for us than they could ever know. From the moment we left Sydney and landed in Adelaide we were treated better than we imagined. In Melbourne, our time with family was an experience that we will treasure forever. We left with the warmest memories of kindness, caring, generosity and love. We showed up empty handed and left with bags full of food and gifts as well as hearts full of joy and gratitude. Every afternoon we woke up to a huge hot homecooked buffet breakfast, after which our attempts to help clean up were turned down and we were told to relax instead. We were driven to experience all the beautiful sights, sounds and tastes of the city. Every single minute was wonderful and memorable.
In the last few days, we visited the botanical gardens where we saw large turtles and fed the black swans while they swam around with their little chicks. We shopped at the fancy malls and wandered the huge downtown library. One of the days, right after a big breakfast we went to a shopping center where my cousin insisted on buying us a big lunch of sushi, burgers and chips (fries), so we ate. Then he insisted on ice cream and we expected a small ice cream cone each, but instead he showed up with two oversized belgian waffles covered in syrup topped with four various flavours of ice cream on each as well as whipped cream and fudge. After this we head out to a dinner party. Following dinner we went out with a few of my cousin's friends. One of his friends is an emergency physician who took a look at my funky arm. Another day, we walked through Melbourne central and basked in the hot sun by the lake, this day also included ice cream. We had a lovely dinner at my cousins house where he cooked a fabulous meal. I spent several hours drawing out a family tree and realizing how little of my extended family I actually knew of.
We spent everyday hanging out and cuddling three of the sweetest children I have ever met. I melted every time they spoke! We spent a night at one of my cousin's home and stayed up until 5 am making fun of crappy movies and eating kilos of several different types of junk food until we could no longer move. Then we slept in until the afternoon when we rolled out of bed back to the dinner table for a lovely lunch.
On our last night the family threw us a goodbye party at a Persian restaurant where we ate kabobs among other ethnic delights. Then we head home for desserts and tea. Here Tyson was convinced by the crowd to show them a trimmed beard. This was one of the main events of the evening. He shaved off his three inch beard of three months and was awarded a night out at a pancake dessert place. So after a full heavy meal and complete dessert, we head off for a meal/dessert combo. My cousin's daughter works at this restaurant where they sell every ice cream and pancake combination one could configure. So we each ordered banana splits, pancake/ice cream pies, dipped cones, shakes and other figure busters. Before our specific orders came, my cousin's daughter began showering us with other desserts including one huge novelty margarita glass called the colossus. It was overful with two gallons of their special flavours of ice cream, marshmellows, strawberries, cookies, bananas, cherries and whipped cream in addition to their special fudge topping. This fudge, that we poured over the concoction, is made with melted real chocolate, marshmellows, heavy cream and other secret ingredients. So we all dug in and shared, immediately following this event, we were served our actual orders. Needless to say when it was time to leave the restaurant, no one could actually stand. We then proceeded to mix all the leftovers into the empty margarita glass and take our turn sipping out of it. Gluttony may be too gentle a word to describe our crimes. I did not eat for 12 hours following this because the thought of food was traumatizing. We laughed and laughed the night away until we finally peeled our heavier buts off the chairs and head home.
It was here that the epic HOOKM (a card game) win took place. My cousin and Tyson versus my cousin's wife and myself. Us girls had won a round (seven wins is one round) several days prior, and the boys wanted "revenge". So we played and they beat us and we were crushed. So the boys had won one round and we had won one, it was a tie. Everyone agreed to a tie-breaker round. It was a close game and our emotions went on a fast, curvy, backwards, upside down rollercoaster but finally the wives came out victorious. It was a fabulous, glorious win, one that will go down in history as good beating evil.
In the morning everyone came over to the house to say goodbye. They gave us many very thoughtful and extremely generous gifts. We did not expect the lengths that everyone went to. It was humbling and we appreciate all the love. It was a difficult process to say farewell and we left with heavy hearts.
I will miss them so very much and hope that we will have the priviledge of hosting them in Vancouver. Although we are leaving with a minimum wieght gain of ten extra pounds each, I would not trade the time we have had here for anything in the world.
After a delayed flight to Darwin and then through to Bali, we commence our South East Asian portion of the world trip
"If we are not happy and joyous in this season for what season shall we wait"
women always win....
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