Oz

Sometimes I reflect on how I ended up in Australia and then I really do feel like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, except without the whining... I even have a dog, but for all reference purposes my dog got blown off track to Sydney for the time being (quarantine... he doesn't have rabies, people!). I wonder if he feels the same way. I imagine he does. I've been told that he seems to be waiting for his owners to pick him up. :(

I write this blog so I can stay in touch with people even if the means of communication is one-sided (e.g. I write blog, they read blog) for the time-being. I know my folks hope to settle down with a house soon. A house of their own. Once they settle down, then I can feel that I can settle down. Until then, this is what I need to do. I believe this is the right thing to do.

We picked up the ute from the dealer a couple of days ago. I need to take it into the Toyota dealer for a routine full service check up. Maybe they can also find that squeak that I've noticed since taking delivery of the car. The car has full coverage under a statutory warranty, so now is the time to find out where it's coming from. As I was driving the ute back, I must say that I did reflect, "I'm driving a diesel pick-up worth $30,000 AUD (over $50,000 AUD brand new!) in Australia... how did I get to this point?" There was a surreal moment. The only person I know who drives a pick-up is Eri, whom I must say I still have a hard time seeing in a pick-up, although I have seen it for myself from the passenger's seat.

Anyways, I shall let wisdom be my guide in doing what is right. I try to look at life less seriously. Everything around us is temporary. So why take it so seriously and let it bother us? Everything from a car and a house to a cup. One day, these things will no longer exist in some form or fashion. The car can get stolen, the house sold, the cup broken. What is "yours" one day may not be another day. The less serious we see things and less hung up we are on these things, I think the happier we will be and the less suffering we will impose on ourselves. What has passed is the past. There is nothing that can be done about it anymore. What is the present is the task at hand. The future is not yet here, but we should be aware that it will become the present at some point. Just some thoughts...

Lotus flowers make me happy. They symbolize so much of the innate good in each and every one of us. :)

History of Toowoomba

It starts with this one English gent, Allan Cunningham (English botanist and explorer extraordinaire) who sought native Brazilian foliage to suit Australia's climate. In 1827, he discovered 4 million acres (of which we currently own zero) in what is now Darling Downs (named after then governor of New South Wales, Ralph Darling), which is the general region that includes Toowoomba.

A few years later, a George and Patrick Leslie establish Toolburra Station as part of the first settlers to the area, creating a township to be named Drayton. A few years after that, William Horton builds the Royal Bull's Head Inn (basically, ye ol' pub) and is regarded as the founder of Toowoomba.

No one knows where the name Toowoomba originates from, so I'm sure people have fun debates about that. Essentially though, over the next 160 years, more people settle, the town grows, it's declared a municipality in 1860, township in 1892, and goes from Australia Wild West (relative to Brisbane)...

to the second largest inland city (after Canberra) in Australia (n = 128,600), a.k.a. The Garden City.

The soil is really interesting. Red, extraordinarily fertile. I've been told it's traced back to ancient volcanic soil. It's really red. Almost like blood actually. Creepy. But just look at the size of that lettuce (or whatever vegetable I'm going to be eating tomorrow)!

Ute-ville

It happened. We purchased a silver 2008 (or was it 2007?) Toyota Hilux SR Dual Cab Auto Diesel 4x4. We still need to finish paperwork and exchange of title, but the ute is essentially sold to us. Here it is...

It's going to need some work. There are a couple of areas that could use some touch up paint, but otherwise the ute itself is in fine shape. There will be some modifications I need to add to make it bush-worthy.

Tow bar (preferably with bumper bar)

Bull bar (I haven't decided between big tube at top or type 8 at middle or 4x2 at bottom)

IPF lights

Safari snorkel

Fender flares

All terrain tyres

It's all very practical. Honest.

Sunnybank

Again to Brisbane... my folks needed to take care of some documents. I didn't have much to do. On the way back, we took a look at some utes that we were interested in. The 4x4 monsters that were mentioned before. How did I ever get from this... (I kinda miss my Accord... it did everything I wanted it to do)

... to this? (I think I may have to have a picture taken of me in one of these to let the reality of it sink in)

And yet, I feel like I am more or less the same kind of person.

This is the lunch hour line for this box sushi place in Brisbane... the line actually runs off the picture to the left. It really wasn't moving very fast.

Anyway, we were in Sunnybank, which is kinda like the Brisbane version of Monterey Park/San Gabriel/Alhambra area. Lots of Chinese people, Chinese food, Chinese markets, and, of course, Chinese bakeries...

Ah... how is a Chinese person Chinese without a Chinese market?

Pizza

Finally, I got around to ordering Domino's Pizza. It's Tuesday, which means all pick up orders are only $4.90 on Large Value Pizzas, including cheese and margarita. So I ordered two larges, one with alfredo and one with tomato sauce. There's no basil. That has been supplanted by oregano. It's almost more of a pizza with tomatoes rather than true margarita. The large is a bit underwhelming. Maybe more like medium? It's about 12.5 inches in diameter. Still a good deal to satisfy one's cravings and it was tasty enough. :)

Knots

Just thought this might be handy.

I love what you do for me, Toyota!

I want one of these... seriously...

A Toyota Hilux (Tacoma in the US), dual cab, 4x4, turbo diesel, safari snorkel, all terrain tyres, IPF lights, lift kit, bull bars, tow bar... seriously.

Yeah! Seriously.