Return to Australia - Brisbane
07/09/24-13/10/24
Stepping off the horrendously long 14 hour flight from Doha to Australia I had one of those moments where you can’t help smiling to yourself.
Stepping onto my flight from London to Doha, it is safe to say I was apprehensive of coming back to Australia. Even when I was packing and preparing to go, I think you could ask any family member or friend and they would say I certainly had my reservations. At first I couldn’t understand why - I had absolutely loved Australia before, I had had all sorts of exciting experiences, met new and amazing people, travelled all over the country, met my boyfriend (!), backpacked the East Coast with my best friend, and came home knowing I would have to return at some point. But I then realised that maybe that was exactly it. How could I possible step back onto Australian soil and expect to have an experience anywhere near as good as that!? It felt as though I had set myself up for disappointment and there was nothing I could do about it. What’s more, as silly as it sounds, it felt sad and strange to know I would be in Australia without Anton since the whole time I was there he was there, and it was a place that I entirely associated with him and all the adventures we had. Not to mention, if there is one thing I have learnt about myself it is that I am incredibly skilled at forgetting the hard moments in life. Sounds like a terrible problem to have, right? But this meant that somehow my brain had wiped all the hard and lonely times that come with moving 16,526.46 km away from home to a place where I knew no one. So again, it almost felt like I had shot myself in the foot the first few days I was here and struggling to feel comfortable, settled, safe even. However, as much as I found it hard to believe when friends and family kept reassuring me that it gets better, it is true. By week two I felt hugely better, having got to know the area I am living, met a few really nice people, signed up to various Pilates and running groups, got stuck into my work, and believe it or not, enjoy my own company! So here I am, week four of living the Brisbane life and having a great time!
Stepping off the horrendously long 14 hour flight from Doha to Australia I had one of those moments where you can’t help smiling to yourself. The warm, sticky Brisbane air surrounded me comfortably, and the smell of sweet eucalyptus and the (extremely loud) sound of the tropical birds filled my ears. It was a lovely moment and instantly felt a moment of gratitude for surviving the 24 hour journey (thank god… there were moments).
Brisbane as a city is an interesting one. It’s really a city for families and those that like to be active and a part of nature, yet it feels as though it is trying to prove it has a fun, young side. Whilst ironically referred to by young Aussie’s as “Brisvegas”, you have to give it some credit for its efforts. It has a nightlife area named ”Fortitude Valley”, possibly the most try-hard name they could think and usually teeming with fresh 18 year olds who are quite clearly still learning what the word tolerance means. Yet, it also has a genuinely very cool riverside bar and restaurant area called ‘Howard Smith Wharves’ where lots of people of all ages go to hang out in the evening. It even has heaps of rooftop bars with absolutely stunning views of sunset over the city and on top of this the whole city lights up at night, providing an impressive display for the river boats as people make their way home at the end of their wild night out, around 8:30pm.
Beyond the highly attuned circadian rhythm of its residents, I have also noticed Brisbane to exude an intriguing mix of European and Asian feel. Unlike most Australian cities, it is not directly on the coast but about an hour or so inland by car. This means that rather than being a city centred around the sea and beach, it clings onto the river and its banks. This river-based city reminds me of many of our European cities back home, where socialising, running, and the general throbbing hub of activity traces the curves of the river. You have the kangaroo cliffs and parks, a dramatic cliff headland that runs along the south side of the river, a refuge for runners and picnic lovers. There’s South Bank with its line of restaurants and a charming night market for when you want to extend the evening a little with a stroll. Yet, it remains most notable for its large outdoor public pool supposedly resembling a “beach” but in reality feels closer to the backpacker vibes of Cairns. Nevertheless, to me it is where the best and most stunning, energising, and exhilarating Saturday Parkrun happens and a familiarity from when I was last here. Then, of course, there is the star of the show (in my opinion); the previously mentioned Howard Smith Wharves which still holds some of my favourite memories of Brisbane.
However, unlike the European river-based cities, Brisbane is far closer to the equator. You notice it immediately with its warm climate and the species of trees and plants its nurtures, even just the general greenness of the streets that continuous right in the CBD. Stay a little longer and you might experience the exciting rush to shelter when extreme, sudden rainfall beats down without any warning. Even the early morning culture I mentioned is a testament to the tropical climate, since past 8am temperatures are too warm for strenuous activities outdoors. It’s an interesting combination that gives me both a sense of familiarity and exoticness, arguably a nice bridge between my trip that starts in London and ends in the Philippines!
Whilst this all sounds rather negative, apologies “Brisvegas”, none of this is meant as an insult. Because this is actually what I believe to be unique about Brisbane; how it manages to do it all in moderation - the secret to a healthy life, so they say. Here, when the sky sleeps, the people sleep, and when it wakes as do the people. Being near the tropics, the sunset is fairly stable across the year with sunset ranging from only 17:00 (June 21st - winter solstice) to 18:46 (Dec 21st - summer solstice) meaning people stay very in sync with the rise and fall of the sun. Believe it or not, most people I have met live a whole life before they start work. It begins with a 5:45/6am group morning run followed by coffee with a friend, all before they even start getting ready for work. Even just in a couple weeks I have come to learn how great and mentally beneficial it is to get some time to yourself first thing in the morning. Even on the weekends the idea of a lie in till 9am is crazy to Brisbanites. After all, most the city join Saturday morning Park Run at 7am or wake up early whether it’s to catch the ferry to Straddy (the nearby island) to see the migrating, drive to the Sunshine Coast for a swim and surf, or to one of the various National Parks for a morning hike. Come 5pm, the sun is beginning to dip and people head to the bars to catch the sunset with a drink. It would be wrong to suggest people here don’t socialise, they certainly do, it’s just that the social hours start early, before work even, and finish by 8pm - perfectly in time to get tucked up in bed and be asleep by 9pm!
So, here is a little summary of my first impressions and experiences here in Brisbane. Whilst this may be the last blog piece on Australia for a while, I will next be heading over to Indonesia so stay tuned for some more adventures! Until then, you can keep entertained with the image of me being swooped by various angry, territorial (and dare I say HUGE) magpies, for “swooping season” has well and truly begun…
All photos are digitals taken on Iphone 14.
