Beautiful Brisbane-Day Two


Beautiful Brisbane-Day Two

 Yesterday afternoon I arrived at the Brisbane Domestic
Airport from Cairns and taxi-ed out to Sandgate where
my hosts live.

 Aniska and Tony live right on the bay directly in line
where the sun rises on the Pacific beyond and the bay
at this time.

 We talked briefly and then went for a few K walk along
the water's edge last night as the full moon rose.
Then back to talk about many, many things. They are a
couple years younger than I am. Aniska is a Yoga
Teacher, very accomplished one and Tony is a manager.

 Off this morning by train to Brisbane, about 18 k from
Sandgate.

 As I walked out of the Central Station I did not know
what to expect. There is front, to the right, to the
left, behind me; surrounding me were many very
contemporary hi-rise buildings. Each excellent
designs. Before I boarded the train in Sandgate I
called Iain Duruid, president of the Queensland
Chapter of the Australian Professional Speakers
Association, who I am speaking for on Monday evening
at the Novotel Hotel in downtown Brisbane. We made
arrangements to meet at the Central train station at
12:30 giving me 1 1/2 hours to wander in Brisbane.

 Wandering was great!

 So many excellent pieces of contemporary architecture.
The streets all seemed lined by beautiful trees.
Each street I turned on had a park of one type or
another.

 Several people on the train with me all seemed to walk
in the same direction. If reminded me of a typical
football weekend scene in Athens, Georgia. Then I
noticed that they were carrying flags, hats and
"colors" scarves for the Lions, the Brisbane Lions,
their local "Footty" team: Australian Rules Football.
Had I known that was being played today I might have
gone. I watched one with my hosts in Perth last
weekend.

 After a few minutes I found the downtown walking MALL.
It was filled with people of all ages enjoying the
beautiful morning and weather.

 Walking along the Mall I saw a group of cowboys on
horseback. They were advertising the upcoming
rural/farming show opening in Brisbane this week on
the 9th. Had my picture taken with them with my
Outback hat on. Just fitting in.

 Then I found an information both and picked up a map
and saw that there is a river running through Brisbane
just a couple blocks away and walked to it.

 Great view of the arts center, museum, etc. and
apartment buildings with great views of the very wide
Brisbane River.

 I strolled for awhile along the river and back to the
train station to meet Iain for the afternoon.

 Off we went to the highest hill where there is a great
vantage point to view the total area. Unfortunately
no one was inside today in Brisbane. They were
outside nearly everywhere we went. So Iain suggested
we have lunch along the river at Oxley's, a wonderful
seafood restaurant. So I had rack of lamb which was
delicious.

 We talked along time getting to know each other and
sharing life and professional experiences. We talked
briefly about my presentation for his ANSA Chapter at
the Novotel tomorrow. Then he drove me to the site of
the World's Fair of a few years ago and I wenting
wandering again.

 In a short while I jumped on a "City Cat", catamaran
(spelling?), one of many that cruise like busses way
up and way down the river.

 Halim and Esra the boat ride reminded me of the
wonderful times on the Bosphorous in Istanbul. The
sides of the river are lined with houses, apartment
buildings and office buildings in a contemporary way
much like the European and Asian sides of the
Bosphorous.

 The river is also lined with parks and walkways
similar to Istanbul on both sides.

 As it got dark I got off the Cat at the city centre
area, picked up some flowers and a bottle of wine for
my hosts and trained back to Sandgate.

 Tomorrow more wandering in Beautiful Brisbane.

 Those of you who have been following the news, unlike
wandering Alan already know of the things that have
been happening in Sri Lanka: bombing of 5 commercial
airlines.

 I received an email message from Sri Lanka via my
contact in India telling about how some airlines have
stopped serving Colombo and Sri Lanka in general and
how the U.S. Government has released a warning for all
American to leave and/or not enter Sri Lankan now.

 There goes a very nice paying day of workshops and two
days of visiting that beautiful country.

 I have had other programs cancelled for varied reasons
since I started many years ago as a speaker but never
because of a REVOLUTION.

 Back to the drawing board with my plans after Malaysia
and Singapore.

 No Worries Mate, Cheerio

 Wandering Alan

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