Deni and Alex hanging out at home

We were only JUST saying goodbye to Denisse in Australia, and now we are JUST about to go and see her in Ecuador!  How did that happen?! It’s certainly been a very interesting year – one full of surprises, changes and challenges.

Wow, where has 2012 (almost) gone? The house felt strange after Denisse left in May. She had certainly brought a vitality and spark to it, which we certainly missed when she left. The first few weeks felt strange, but like most things in life, you learn to readjust and cope. We decided that we would visit India over Christmas, so that kept our minds occupied as well as gave us something to look forward to. We bought the Lonely Planet India guide and started to ask friends about where to go and what to see. It has been on our ‘to do’ list for ages.

The out-laws, Kazz and Alex

August 10 … Happy Birthday Alex! A quiet night at home with the family.  I had an idea, and I shared it with Alex. “Hey, why don’t you ask Dad for a birthday present?  Tell him that you want him to come to Ecuador and meet the family!” Alex looked at me … he thought it was a great idea, but a long shot as we had mentioned it to Dad before with resounding nos! Ah, we had nothing to lose, so Alex ran it by him, telling him that this is the gift he wanted and IF he would come to Ecuador that we would change our plans.  To our surprise he listened intently to Alex’s proposal. At the end he told Dad that whilst there was no pressure we needed to know within two weeks as we had to book the tickets.  Dad looked up and very calmly told us he’d think about it! What!?

Going to Ecuador … yayyyyy!!!

To be honest Alex and I were shocked!  We spent the next week pondering as to whether he was ‘finally going to do it’! A week later Alex reminded Dad that (again) whilst there was no pressure, we had to know within the week as to whether he was coming.  He looked up and said. “I’m coming!” We were both in shock, and I started to cry.  I simply could not believe it!  I hugged him and kept asking him if he was sure. Was he going to change his mind?  Are you sure you are sure I kept asking him.  Yes, he was sure.  Group hug!  Dad was coming to Ecuador and we were ecstatic! We told the family in Ecuador … let the preparations begin!  Everybody began organising stuff immediately.

So, our new travel plans were beginning to take form. We trawled the internet (you try and find cheap tickets to Ecuador in early September for Christmas) for weeks and finally went, via a recommendation, through Karen at Escape Travel in Knox City. She did a fantastic job of getting us the best deal she could in what can only be described as a peak time! Tickets purchased … we were going! So, since then Alex and I have employed a little more structure to the way we have been planning our trip. Traditional ‘let’s wing it’ people, we have been plugging away to ensure that Dad will get the biggest bang for his buck!

Ombi and Alex with from L to R: Moana, Mikey and Pablo

October 14 … my birthday!  You never know what weather Melbourne is going to dish out, but I decided to have a picnic in the park on the day of my actual birthday, which fell on a Sunday. We went to Edwardes Park Lake very close by. I invited a whole heap of friends and family to just come and hang out. It was a great day and I got to chat and relax with my nearest and dearest.

In October Alex was involved with helping organise a free concert being put on by the Embassy of Ecuador in Australia and the Consulate General of Ecuador in Sydney. Finding out about this through another

L to R: Jorge Saade-Scaff and Julio Almeid

Ecuadorian contact he offered his help to promote the classical music concert. ‘Duo Paganini’ is Jorge Saade-Scaff on violin and Julio Almeida on guitar.  They would be performing at the Melbourne Conservatorium  of Music at Melba Hall. Alex is proud of being Australian but he is also fiercely proud of being Ecuadorian, and he wanted to ensure that this concert was a success and attracted as many people as possible.  For your interest, both of the musicians are world-class artists and have performed at New York’s famous and prestigious Carnegie Hall.

With Raul Gangotena, Ecuadorian Ambassador to Australia

 Saade-Scaff and Almeida performed on 3 November infront of almost 200 people. They were introduced by Raul Gangotena, Ecuador’s Ambassador to Australia and Luis Valencia, the Ecuadorian Consul in Sydney. They did a fantastic job of introducing Ecuador’s talent, and I in turn introduced them. It was a brilliant concert, enjoyed by all.  I have never seen ‘so many’ Ecuadorians in one place. After the event, Alex and I and a few of our friends went out for a Thai meal close by.  We invited the musicians and the Ambassador to come along.  What a  great evening we had. What down to earth people they all were.

Catching up with friends, dinners, parties … we always have an abundance. In fact, usually more events than we have time for, but we love our friends and family and always find a way to fit them in.

2012 has been, and continues to be, an interesting year.  It has been a year full of challenges and changes, out with the old and in with the new!  A year of introspection, a year to ponder upon WHAT and WHO is important. Those things and people who don’t make the grade ain’t making it to the 2013 bucket list!

Life is for living, and I only want to be surrounded  by positivity and people who get me!  For those that don’t … please take a bow and move on!  The same goes for Alex.

We are off overseas again tomorrow! First stop, Fort Myers, USA, where we will spend a few days with Alex’s cousin Christian, before flying on to Quito, to spend Christmas and the New Year with the family.

BRING IT ON!

Ombi

“There comes a point in your life when you realise who really matters, who never did  and who always will” – Unknown

Betty, Dion and Karina

Dedication: To all the people who know me, love me and respect me for who I am, and not for who they’d like me to be. You know who you all are. I would like to make a special mention of two of my very special friends Betty Penna and Laurice Asmar; thanks for your unwavering love and support and for being the voice of reason,when I felt that all reason was lost! Love you both!

Books read: The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

Betty and Alex with Julio Almeida

L to R: Jorge, Ombi, Gary and Sam

Alex and Linda

Happy Birthday to me

With baby Josh

Reclaim the Night … Womyn Unite

With Auntie Rina

With my soul mate

Pablo and Moana, Pablo’s Birthday

The Zanettis

Arepas at Gimela’s

Dad and the Garcia Clan

Deni trying her hand at an Aussie meal

Early Saturday morning, ready to explore Sydney!

We arrived back from Thailand on 9 April, and Denisse would be flying home via Florida on 6 May. It was hard to believe that her time here in Australia was coming to an end. Six months had gone just like that! We had tried to do as much as we could with her; she had seen a lot of Victoria and even gone overseas to Thailand, but she had not been to Sydney … yet!  We all know how much better Melbourne is than Sydney (lol), but we could not possibly send her home without having seen some of our national icons. So, as soon as we were back in Australia, we were looking for cheap flights to Sydney. We ended up getting a great deal through Tiger, leaving early on a Saturday morning and coming home on a Sunday night).

Early Saturday morning in Sydney.

What didn’t we do on that weekend?  We had purchased a weekend travel pass which we would be able to use on all trains, buses and ferries, and our plan was to max it out, seeing as much as we could! Upon arrival we made our way to Bondi Beach, which is quintessentially Australian, with its cafes and shops along the beach, filled with people and surfers. Denisse was in awe and this was actually the stereotype that she had expected. From here we made our way to a lookout not too far away.  Whilst not that well known, and thus not touristy, it has an amazing view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with hardly any people.  It’s really just a big park with a phenomenal view.  Again, Denisse was in awe. I must say the view is pretty spectacular.

Bondi Beach walk.

From there we made our way via bus back to Bondi Beach, where we checked out a Farmer’s Market, after which doing some of the coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte. It has been said that this coastal walk is amongst one of the most beautiful in the world.  I am personally never disappointed by it, as you oscillate between virtually being able to touch the water, to viewing the amazing coast from up high. It was lovely to just stroll, observe and take in some of Australia’s spectacular natural beauty!

Circular Quay.

Next on the list was Circular Quay and the area around the Rocks. Circular Quay is the hub of Sydney Harbour and the founding site for Sydney and Australia. It’s also the point at which you can catch a number of ferries to a number of destinations. It’s always abuzz with people and tourists and buskers; a great people-watching vantage point. Besides, it’s really the point that you get up close and personal with both the infamous Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. More wow factor for Denisse.  Our aim was to show her as much of Sydney as we could in a weekend, and I think we were managing to do a pretty decent job. After some oohing and aahing, we made our way to the Rocks, including the weekend market there. The Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney, and is nestled right under the Harbour Bridge and right alongside Circular Quay. It is quaint and historical, yet a number of tourists pass through.  I like being a tourist in my own country. I like seeing foreigners’ reactions to the country I call home (most of the time!).

On the ferry to Manly.

Next on the agenda was a ferry ride across to Manly. It was a beautiful day, with clear skies and perfect weather. I must say that the 360 degree views from the ferry were exhilarating. It was mid-afternoon by the time we reached the other side, and we were all starting to feel the lack of sleep and early morning start. We decided to find a picnic bench on the beach and have a bit of a power nap. Clutching our small backpacks (we had brought the bare minimum and would not be checking into our hotel until late that night to save time), we all nodded off for half an hour or so. Yes, it did revive us a little. We had a look around Manly and its beach after making our way back across the harbour.

Sydney Opera House.

We were working on ticking off the main attractions on our checklist.  Next the Opera House. For our foreign friends, and perhaps the Aussie ones too, did you know that the Sydney Opera House, completed only as recently as 1973, was designed by a Danish architect? It is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable images of the modern world, up there with the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building, and one of the most photographed.  Who doesn’t know what the Opera House looks like or where it is? As you start to get closer and walk around it, the sheer size of it is also impressive.  We walked right around it as well as all the way up the steps to one of its many entrances.

Fireworks at Darling Harbour.

By the time we had circled the Opera House it was dark, giving the whole harbour, bridge and Opera House a totally different look.  They all looked spectacular lit up.  The idea was to then finish off the night at Darling Harbour, another Sydney must-see. Somehow the option of getting a ferry across had deluded us and we walked the one hour or so to get there.  Welcome to Sydney by night Denisse! We arrived just in time to see the fireworks, which go off every Saturday night.  Quite frankly, they were much better than the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Melbourne recently. We sat on the steps and watched the throngs of people talking eating and playing.  This is another terrific spot to people watch. We wanted to go for a coffee somewhere, but we were having trouble peeling ourselves off the steps. By this point it was pure exhaustion.  We were spent! We slowly walked back to our hotel, which was fairly close by. It did not take us long, as we weaved through China Town and the city centre to get there. Upon arrival at our hotel, we checked in and crashed!

Oxford Street.

Day two in Sydney. It was a windy and blustery day. Our hotel included a basic buffet breakfast and it really wasn’t too bad. We made sure we filled up, including (in my case) several cups of coffee. Ready to go?  We were all still tired, but we wanted to make the best of our second and last day in Sydney.  We made our way to the infamous Oxford St, home to the world famous annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the largest such festivals in the world. That early on a Sunday morning it was rather quiet and deserted. We later walked back to Circular Quay and visited the market at the Rocks which we had only passed the day prior. We also visited the Museum of Contemporary Art which has recently had quite a spectacular facelift. Finally, we made our way to Newtown, Sydney’s version of our Brunswick St, where we grabbed ourselves a bit of (very kalate) lunch. And before we knew it, we were making our way back to the airport. We’d had a full-on two days, but had managed to show Denisse a far whack of one of Australia’s most iconic cities. Needless to say, we all collapsed into bed that night!

Australia St, Newtown, Sydney.

The next few weeks seemed to pass at lightning speed, and Alex and I were acutely aware that Denisse’s time was coming to an end. She had been studying English daily at Lyceum Language Centre in the city, which wrapped up a couple of weeks before her departure. I must say that the improvement, although she could already speak English before she got here, was impressive. The week before she left it all started to feel very real, with her suitcases, bags, clothes and other things adorning her bedroom floor, as she aimed to get it all packed. Eventually, her suitcase would prove to be almost bigger than her.

Goodbye and good luck Deni.

Just before she left, we organised a farewell for Denisse at our place. It was a fun night with a number of people coming to say goodbye.  She had been a major part  and had played an important part of our lives for six months, and many people had come to know and love her. I was going to miss her terribly. Speech time … I couldn’t get the words out, as I realised how much I was going to really miss Denisse! With tears in my eyes and a choked up throat, I tried to talk of what it had meant for us to have Denisse with us for the last six months. Denisse had to comfort me! It’s a tough gig; I have two families, one in Australia and the other in Ecuador and it’s often really hard to not be able to be close to the one in Ecuador. Even harder for Alex! This opportunity to be with his niece for six months had meant the world to Alex. To be able to share, impart, teach and give Denisse a different opportunity in life was indescribable.

Alex and Deni at the airport.

And almost as suddenly as she had arrived, she was leaving. Dad came past and the three of us took her off to the airport early Sunday morning. After check in, we all had a cup of coffee (we have inducted Denisse and she now understands this ritual). It was soon time to board. I saw the six months flash before me, where had it gone? We all hugged her and wished her luck. Hopefully this would only be the beginning of the rest of her life!

That Sunday was a sad one for us.  It felt empty without Denisse around. I came home from the airport to find two cards awaiting us, one for Alex and I and the other for me. The front of my card read, “Hey Mum, thanks so much for the last half year. It can’t have been easy putting up with all of my shit!” Of course I cried some more. Denisse was not the only one had learnt a lot in the last six months!

Ombi

“The eyes are useless when the mind is blind” – Unknown. 

Dedication: To my Dad (Doobie), brother Fulvio (Fuzz), sister-in-law Kazz and nephew James, for making Denisse feel like she was a true and real part of our family. Thanks for being so kind, welcoming and warm towards her. I know she will go home with loving and fond memories of her Australian family.

Dedicacion: Para mi papa (Doobie), hermano Fulvio (Fuzz), cunada Kazz y sobrino James, por hacerle sentir a Denisse como fuera parte de nuestra familia. Gracias por haber sido tan generosos, carinosos y calidos con ella. Sabemos que va a regresar a su casa con buenos recuerdos y memorias de su familia Australiana.

Books read:

Blood on the Alter – In search of a serial killer by Tobias JonesOlsd

The life you can save – Acting now to end world poverty by Peter Singer

The  Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Blink – The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

Time to go!

At the Coburg outdoor pool.

Saying goodbye at the airport.

The Rocks.

Glass blower, The Rocks Market.

Bird’s Eye view of the Harbour Bridge.

The Opera House.

A bit tired on Day 2!

Luna Park, as seen from ferry back from Manly.

Darling Harbour.

Sydney CBD.

Sydney, as seen from ferry back from Manly.

Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Manly Beach.

Manly at dusk.

Manly Beach.

Alex and Deni at Circular Quay.

Da, da!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beach Volleyball, Bondi Beach.

What to do in Sydney?

Sydney … Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

Bondi surfers.

Bondi Beach.

Surfie chicks at Bondi Beach.

Ombi and Deni on the Bondi walk.

Finally … Sydney!

Gimela at Deni’s farewell

Alex and Jo.

Linda and Naldo.

Linda and Jesus.

The ‘bestias’, Betty and Sam.

Dani and Rob.

Deni with some friends.

Deni with Betty, Dion and Karina.

Deni with Bronc (aka Maria).

Bye and we love you Deni!

Welcome to Australia Denisse!

Whoooooooosh! That’s how fast the last six months have gone!  It feels like only yesterday that we were in Ecuador and Argentina, but so much has happened since then. I have hardly had a second to breathe (I am writing this in mid-May 2012). 


We had been discussing Alex’s niece, Denisse, coming to Australia for the best part of the first half of 2011 but, due to a number of reasons, it was put on hold. When Alex and I went to Ecuador in August of last year, we started to try and ‘firm things up’, but if any of you know anything about Ecuadorian bureaucracy, it’s a nightmare. Little issues become major obstacles, and things that would normally take no more than  20 minutes in Australia take days in Ecuador!  Alex and I are pretty persistent folk though, so by the time we left, in the latter part of September, ‘things’ were mostly ready to go.  

Another family shot … initiation by pasta!

We were waiting on the Australian Embassy in Chile (no, there isn’t one in Ecuador!), to give Denisse the A-OK. The documentation we had to provide was copious, and calling a spade a spade, many people would have found it too hard to decipher and most possibly would have got nowhere.


We had placed Denisse on ‘red alert’ and told her that she had to be ‘ready to go’ as soon as we received word from the Australian Embassy in Chile that her visa had been approved; by this stage it was mid October. We could not purchase her flight to Australia until she was officially given her Australian visa. When word came through, Alex called his sister, Karen, and told her that the visa had been approved and that he’s be booking Denisse’s ticket immediately. The next week was a blur for all, with Alex working hard to get a decent deal to Australia in  a short amount of time. Denisse would be coming in a little over a week!

Denisse on one of our weekend jaunts around Victoria.

It was full on at the Zanetti/ Benavides household as we all chipped in to get our second bedroom, well, looking like a second bedroom! We suddenly found a home for the several boxes which had been lying around forever, the sofa suddenly became a bed and we purchased some nice sheets and covers, we put some photos of Denisse’s family on the walls so she’d feel at home, and Dad and my brother Fulvio helped with constructing (aka putting together) a few shelves from Ikea.  It looked like a room out of one of those home renovation shows.

Denisse and Alex at Red Rock Reserve, near Colac.

October 27 … the time had come! After years of us to-ing and fro-ing to Ecuador, we would have a family member coming out to us.  We were so excited! Dad came along with Alex and I to the airport to pick Denisse up; we had already nominated him as Denisse’s ‘Nonno’ (Grandpa) in Australia. It was quite an emotional reunion, with lots of hugging and kisses. Denisse has always held a very special place in my heart as I lived with her, her brother Axel and her mum (Alex’s sister, Karen) when I met Alex in Ecuador in 1999. The cute little six and a half year old that could recite the capital cities of every country in the world, was ‘suddenly’ an 18 year old young lady hanging out with her aunty and uncle in Australia. Cool!

What followed was an absolutely full on next six months as we aimed to do and show Denisse as much as we could; we covered lots of Victoria, Sydney, and even Thailand. Night number 1 was dinner at Dad’s with her Aussie Auntie Kazz (my sister-in-law), Uncle Fuzz (by brother) and cousin James. They went on to play an important part of Denisse’s life during her six months here.

We had organsied for Denisse to study English at Lyceum Language Centre in the CBD. She would only have a few days of respite before being ready to go, so to speak. She would study English Monday to Friday between 9am and 1pm for the next six months. Having gone to a bilingual primary school all of her life her English was quite good, but there’s nothing quite like learning in the country of origin, and her improvement in six months was remarkable, with her vocab having expanded substantially.

Chillin’ out with Moz & Marie in Mildura.

Only a couple of days after her arrival, we drove down to Mildura to visit our cousins Moz and Marie. We had a great time showing her around, and she got to meet our friends and family down there, including Claire, Bec and the Easterbrooks. We ate, relaxed and visited the sand dunes, amongst other things.

Back in Melbourne, and not a week in the country, she was at Lyceum studying English. How dramatically Denisse’s life had changed in the matter of only a week. Over the next six months, she would find her own little groove, making lots of new friends and hanging out with them; Friday night, we would soon find out, was her night!

We had a welcome to Australia party with the usual suspects, and during her time here, she got to meet and know a lot of our family and friends too. My 90 year old ‘Zia’ (aunty) Rina loved her! We also introduced her to a couple of our favourite eating haunts including the Moroccan Soup Bar and the Vegie Bar, which are both Melbourne institutions.

At Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-ton! (Brighton)

Pommy Christmas at Kazz and Fuzz’s!

We spent Christmas at my brother and sister-in-law’s house with the family, including Kazz’s mum and dad and nephew. Apart from the fact that it hailed golf balls (literally!), we had a fun and relaxing afternoon.  It was our first Christmas at home in years, as Alex and I are usually travelling …somewhere … anywhere! I must say, it was really nice to hang out with the family.  We also had an Italian Christmas at my Aunty Rina’s house on Christmas Eve … she may be getting older, but she hasn’t lost her touch when it comes to cooking.

With cousins Glenn, Michelle, Oskar & Aunty Lori.

Just after Christmas, Alex and I took Denisse on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road. We had a great couple of days, as we got to show Denisse one of Australia’s most spectacular coastlines (and other places in general).  We were so lucky as the weather was perfect; sunny, not windy and no rain, which is not that common along that stretch of road.  No bookings, no reservations, just our usual ‘she’ll be right’ attitude and off we went. December 27 … Dad in his car, and the three of us in ours, we made our way to Torquay. Our friends Stef and Sarah were holidaying there and my cousin Glenn also has a holiday house there. Our first stop was morning tea with Stef, Sarah and little Gianluca, and then we went to Glenn’s. Dad’s sister Lorrie was also down, so we thought we’d have a day with the family. The weather did not disappoint us and we had a terrific time in Glenn’s back yard with his family, munching on food and sipping on drinks.  Denisse was slowly getting to know our family and many friends – thanks to all of you who made her feel so welcome! Dad drove home later that day but we slept at the beach house.

Our national icon.

The next morning, we continued along the coast, showing Denisse the many sights along the way. Next stop was Wye River, where our friend Paul and his family were holidaying for a couple of weeks. They were staying in a quaint little place high up on the hillside. We pitched our tent in their backyard; trying to find  a flat spot was a challenge, but we accomplished it! We all bought some meat and whipped up a big BBQ and salad meal and fun was had by all.

The Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell.

The next morning we packed the tent and took off once again.  I must admit that I HATE packing up tents.  C’mon, I can’t be the only one!  The next couple of days we spent cruising the area around Port Campbell and the Twelve Apostles, and settled into the lovely Apostles Camping Park in Princetown where we spent a couple of nights. From this point we were able to look around the Twelve Apostles area with tranquility, ease and from  a number of angles.  We did a few short walks as well as view the Apostles both during the day as well as sunset … equally spectacular!

Camping … Aussie style.

December 31 … do we stay on the coast or come back for New Year’s? We ended up making our way back home and having dinner with Dad, before moseying on down to the CBD for New Year’s Eve. The CBD was chockers!  We had never actually been there for New Year’s! We hung around with Denisse and her friends for a little bit, saw the fireworks, welcomed 2012 and made our way back home … leaving Denisse behind to continue the revelling! Rewind 12 years … it was the millennium countdown in Ecuador, where I was living at the time. Seriously, where have the years gone? It seems like only yesterday.  Oh that comment … that’s what ‘old’ people say …that makes me feel … old!

In January we went to the Portarlington Mussel Festival, in (as the name suggests) Portarlington.  It was a great weekend.  Dad came down for the day, but we stayed in Indented Heads, as our friends Betty and Sam and their kids were renting a place there for the holidays. Lots of eating and relaxing with a few beach walks thrown in.  Always good to hang out with good friends. Oh, and Betty brought down THE coffee machine.  Hear that … THE coffee machine.  Nothin’ like a brilliant coffee in the comforts of your own home. Your coffee making skills were ‘orright’ Sam! January was a pretty full on month in general, and Denisse even got to go to the Australian Open Tennis with Kazz and James.

On one of our many beautiful beaches, near Great Ocean Road.

The next few months were filled with catch ups with friends, coffees in different places, dancing a few times and weekend getaways.  We were even doing things during the week … the weekends were not enough! So many things to do, so little time! We wanted to show Denisse as much as we possibly could. I think we gave it a pretty good crack.

The three muskateers.

The year seemed to be going at the speed of sound, and we could see that the six months were going to finish almost as quickly as they’d started. We decided that we’d go away on a family holiday … to Thailand.  Yes, 
I love it and so does Alex, and despite the fact that we have been there a countless number of times, we still keep going back; it’s still got the X factor!  It has a bit of everything; shopping, nightlife, beaches and temples.  And thus began Denisse’s initiation into the world of backpacking.  We bought her a backpack (only fractionally smaller than her!), got her to do some research (as usual, it’s travel book first, decide where to visit later) and anxiously waited for the time to come. We chose the two weeks around Easter, as this was the easiest time for both Alex and I to take some time off. We were as keen as mustard. There were still a few weeks to go, but it would be time to go in no time at all.

Ombi

Alex and Roberto in Buenos Aires last year.

Dedication: In my last blog, my dedication was to several of my Argentine friends, including Charo’s father Roberto (Tito). My dedication is again to Roberto, who passed away in March this year.  I am so glad that I got to see you one last time Tito. I am so glad that we were able to laugh, eat, drink and talk about old times together.  Your smiling face is imprinted in my mind, and your love and passion imprinted in my heart.

Dedicacion: En mi ultimo blog, mi dedicacion fue para algunos de mis amigos argentinos, incluyendo el papa de Charo Roberto (Tito). Mi dedicacion otra vez es para Tito que fallecio en marzo de este ano. Estoy tan feliz que te pude ver para la ultima vez Tito. Estoy tan feliz que pudimos reir, comer, tomar y hablar de tiempos pasados juntos. Tu cara sonriente esta impresa en mi mente, y tu amor y pasion en mi corazon.

Books read:

Inside Wiki Leaks – My time with Julian Assange at the world’s most dangerous website by Daniel Domscheit-Berg

The Nazi Officer’s Wife – How one Jewish woman survived the holocaust by Edith Hahn Beer with Susan Dworkin

“Surround yourself by people who always give you a reason to smile”.

Next: The three musketeers backpack around Thailand.

The Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell.

At the Organ Pipes National Park.

L to R: Deni, Ombi, Karina, Betty, Dion, Sam & Thomas.

Denisse at Sorrento back beach.

Footprints.

Doobie (Dad) on Christmas Day.

Along the Great Ocean Road.

The infamous Mitsubishi ‘Pajero’!

Deni at the Aussie Open.

Denisse enjoying a ‘Moz pasta’ in Mildura.

Mildura Sunset.

Perry Sandhills, near Mildura.

On the banks of the Murray River, Mildura.

Mildura.

Moz pancakes for brekkie.

Mineral Springs at Kyneton.

Deni.

Takin’ the mickey …in David Jones, Spring Carnival.

Deni and ‘the’ Foo Fighters ticket.

Deni at the Perry Sand dunes.

With Kylie, Marley and baby Eva at the sand dunes.

Eating traditional tucker, fish’n’chips, near Brighton.

Food is the spice of life …with Marie in Mildura.

Italian Christmas at Aunty Rina’s.

A Chocoto New Year!

With Bel & Eli at the Johnston St Latin Fiesta, Fitzroy.

In the Dandenong Ranges.

Christmas, with Aunty Iride and cousin Sonya.

A ship on the sea in Portarlington.

Singapore in a flash was our last blog, and in a flash seems to aptly describe the velocity at which this year seems to be flying by. See the theme here? Flash, velocity, flying? In lay person’s English …where has this year gone … well, going? It’s July!

A lot has happened since our trip to Thailand and Singapore over Christmas, but we’re hoping that August will also arrive in a flash, so to speak, as Alex and I are off to Ecuador and Argentina for almost five weeks.  Whilst the bulk will be spent with family in Ecuador, we will also make some time, on the way home, to see some very dear friends, all of whom Alex has met, but whom I have met on my travels over the years. Not surprisingly, none of them in Ecuador.

Ombi and Alex with ‘Doobie’ at Portarlington.

Rewind … after such a relaxing and wonderful trip to Thailand, it was back to the grindstone in Melbourne. Yes, we work to live and not live to work, so we always try and do different things on the weekend, which often includes planning our next trip. Our activities often seem to involve being around foreigners or multicultural events.

The weekend after we returned from Thailand we went to Portalington for the day to enjoy the Port Arlington Mussel Festival with Dad. The festival is a community event showcasing the prosperity of the Bellarine Peninsula, local food and wine and of course, the wonderful Aussie Blue Mussel. It was a great way to spend some time relaxing with Dad and taking in some more sun and sea … like Thailand hadn’t been enough!

Having a bite to eat at our place with (L to R): Ina, Clara and Jochen.

In January we also had the great pleasure of meeting our wonderful friend Jochen’s new wife Ina. They were on a road trip and spending some time in Melbourne. I met Jochen, who is originally from Germany, in Ecuador (as you do!) many years ago, and we just hit it off. He and Ina decided to do a bit of an Aussie road trip, which took them through Melbourne. With their huge caravan, they ended up in the caravan park (literally) just down the road from us, so apart from spending a bit of time at our place we also went to ‘theirs’ … Jochen even organised a great Aussie outdoor BBQ! I must note that Jochen and his daughter Clara started the trip in Western Australia and upon arriving in Melbourne picked Ina up, who had flown in from Germany, from Melbourne airport!  The last time I saw Clara was more than ten years ago before she, her Dad and Mum moved to Western Australia.

The salsa experts, Aida and Octavio Garcia.

The Australia Day long weekend now seems like ages ago, but along with Jochen and Ina and a whole group of other friends, we went to ‘Mambo at the Bowl’, where we were entertained by New York’s Tito Puente Jr. The free concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl was packed with exciting Latin rhythms and scintillating salsa dance performances by local and international artists. We all had a great time, which of course included some boogying.

Camping at Inverloch. L to R: Alex, Sandra, Santi and Jeh.

Sometime in July we also went camping … yes, in tents …  at Inverloch with a small group of friends, and as usual it was a multicultural affair.  This was organised by Jeh. I met Jehvangir (Jeh) a few years back when I was working at Vision Australia, and over time I also got to meet his beautiful wife Faiza, and gorgeous kids Mohammed and Amina. They also invited some friends and we invited Sandra and her little boy Santi.  We ate, went to the beach, and Jeh showed us his kite-boarding prowess, just to name a few of the things that kept us occupied. A good, fun and relaxing time was had by all.

The road map for the road trip.

Lots of events came and went in the months that followed, but over the Easter break in April, it was our turn to go on a road trip. I had been thinking about it for a while … a ‘let’s get up and go’ style trip (yeh, for something different!), but as usual we made no firm plans. I had also been telling Dad about my idea, but I don’t think he was too keen on my leave it till the last minute attitude. Alex and I finally coaxed him, and early on the morning of Good Friday, we took off. We had promised Dad that we’d be ready for pick-up at 7.30am, and …. yes, I was ready!

A living bust … bras on tree near Colac!

It was just before 8.00am that we took off in Dad’s car, which was packed to the rafters, mainly with food! The idea was to come back the following Tuesday, enabling us to all have a decent break. Very loosely, we had decided to go via Colac and Hamilton, on to Mt Gambier, Adelaide and possibly Kangaroo Island.  So there was a loose plan, we’d just have to see how it all turned out. The only plans we’d made for accommodation was our first night in Hamilton.

Extinct volcanic craters, Red Rock, Colac.

In no rush, we made our way towards Colac, a beautiful and tranquil place only two hours from Melbourne renowned for its magnificent southern coastline, the Otway rainforests and the northern lakes and craters district. There is so much to see and do, but we ended up at Red Rock. The Red Rock Volcanic Complex was the site of many violent volcanic eruptions which resulted in the craters and lakes found in the area. Although it was cold (thanks for your jacket dad!) the views were arresting. We all felt, literally, like we were on top of the world! After some snack and lunch stops we made it to Hamilton by around 5.30pm. Ah yes, there was an ulterior motive and reason why we ended up in Hamilton!

Hamilton is the home of the Beatons, with whom we would be spending Good Friday. Who are the Beatons? Big breath … Jarrod is my second cousin (son of my cousin Moz), and Kari is his gorgeous girlfriend (we ALL love you Kari!!!!!) … they both live in Melbourne … Rob and Stewart are Kari’s parents (they live in Hamilton), and Ebony her sister (who currently lives in Sydney) … everybody was congregating in Hamilton for Easter, so we thought we’d join them … breathe out!! Geez, sounds like my big fat Greek wedding, Aussie style!!

With the Beatons. L to R: Rob, Ombi, Dino, Jarrod, Kari, Ebony, Stewart.

We had a fantastic night, and for the first time ever, I thought how much more fun it was being ON the Beaton track rather than OFF it!  Robyn and Stewart made us feel right at home, with both wonderful food and company. We were treated to local wine (well Dad and Alex), Robyn’s relish (amazing!) and  Stewie’s pickled gherkins … nah, I don’t do pickled gherkins! But Kari assured me that even hard-core pickled gherkin-haters like Stewie’s gherkins. Not convinced! The relish was amazing, and Stewie, your gherkins rock! The Beatons gave us a couple of jars each to take home, which we gracefully accepted.

The beautiful Limestone Coast.

Over the next few days we explored Mt Gambier and surrounds as well as South Australia’s Limestone Coast. Dare I say  as beautiful as the Great Ocean Road is, the Limestone Coast is as beautiful, if not more so, minus the throngs of tourists. We would do various things during the day, and by late afternoon start looking for a place to stay.  It was only on the Saturday night that we ran into  a spot of bother; there was absolutely nothing available in Mt Gambier, so we had to drive to Millicent about half an hour away. We did find a comfortable little motel in the end and I think Dad was relieved. Whilst Alex and I are accustomed to winging it, I don’t think it’s really Dad’s thing.

Port Nelson Lighthouse, Portland Victoria.

We had a wonderful time over the next few days exploring the nooks and crannies of the Limestone Coast, and like all destinations, we liked some places more than others. As we were on the coast, I also went for some wonderful runs on the beach, which always make me feel re-energised; it’s something about the water, sea and sunshine. We particularly liked Southend, which is a sleepy lobster fishing port. Much to Dad’s dismay, it wasn’t lobster season, so he never did get to eat that lobster he was craving! We also visited Robe, which really did nothing for us at all. Robe is like the Limestone Coast’s Portsea, very upmarket, yuppie and overpriced! Not our deal at all! Kingston, a little further up the coast was also lovely. Another fishing port, but much more tranquil and far less touristy than Robe.

Victoria Fossil Cave, Naracoorte.

We simply did not have enough time to go to Adelaide or Kangaroo Island and spent Easter Monday checking Naracoorte and then made our way back to Mt Gambier. Naracoorte, which is exactly half way between Adelaide and Melbourne, is famous for the Naracoorte Caves National Park, which covers approximately 600 hectares of limestone ranges.  The area is World Heritage Listed and includes a number of caves, with vertebrae fossil material dating back perhaps 500 000 years. With so much to see and do we had to choose so we ended up doing a one hour tour of the Victoria Fossil Cave, which descends into a beautifully decorated chamber and then winds through 250 metres of passages and chambers to a large fossil deposit. Caves really are something else. It’s another world all that way beneath the surface of the earth. Makes you think about what else is there below us that we don’t know about?

Ombi and Alex at the Blue Lake, Mt Gambier

Back in Mt Gambier we went and had a look at the famous Blue Lake. It had been years since my last visit here, but I remembered it well. Situated in one of three extinct volcanic craters, the Blue Lake exposes the crystal clear water that has filtered underground through the limestone, passing slowly beneath the city. Each year in November the lake starts its colour change from winter steel blue to brilliant turquoise blue and then in March changes back to steel blue. Whilst not in its ‘prime’ it was still spectacular! We also drove around to see the other water-filled craters, which were also beautiful. Our ‘tour’ included the Centenary Tower, which at192 metres above sea level, is the town’s highest point. Again, spectacular views were afforded.

Centenary Tower, Mt Gambier.

Like most holidays, regardless of how long or short they are, for me they are never long enough!  After four days of exploration, relaxation and fun, it was time to drive back to Melbourne. We had all had a fantastic time, made all the more relaxing for me as Dad drove for the entire trip, as he says he finds driving very relaxing. Whilst in no hurry to get back home, Alex and I both had to work on the Wednesday, so we had to get ourselves organised.

Dad dropped us off home late-afternoon, and Alex and I did what we had to do! We had had a truly wonderful time, and the break had done us all well!

Ombi

Dad and Alex enjoying mussels, Portarlington Mussel Festival.

Melinda, this one’s for you!

Doobie enjoying calamari at the Mussel Festival with Alex and Linda.

Ombi and Linda at the Mussel Festival.

Karen’s birthday. L to R: Karen, Ombi, Linda and Cathy (Karen’s sis).

Ombi and Clara digging into some pizza.

South End, South Australia.

L to R: With good friends Jo and Kristy at Kristy’s farewell – off to Paraguay.

Ombi and Ina, picnic at Arthur’s Seat, Mornington Peninsula.

Doobie … on the way back from our road trip.

Sunset at Kingston, South Australia.

Cave Gardens, Mt. Gambier, South Australia.

Free roadside coffee stop on the way back from our road trip.

At Dad’s for dinner with Yuko and Yuji

I cannot believe that it has already been over three months since we came back from Malaysia.  So much has happened in that time.  Alex had his birthday, I resigned from my job and we moved into our new little place in Coburg North.

I should mention that we also had our dear friends Yuko San and Nashville San visit us, literally two days before we flew out to Malaysia, at the end of June.  Really, it was hardly enough time, but unfortunately, we had all booked our tickets way in advance, getting us cheap flights that neither of us was able to change.  We definitely made the best of those two days however, and crammed in as much as we could.  After picking them up from the airport, we

Got to have pizza in Carlton!

dropped them off at their hotel, and later it was dinner at Dad’s.  The next day we visited the Melbourne Museum, followed by a typical Italian lunch in Lygon Street.  Yuko and Yuji (who we fondly refer to as Shopping San and Nashville San; Yuko because she likes shopping and Yuji as he plays the guitar really well and loves country and western music) have become truly special friends, and if you recall came out to Australia only a year ago.  On this trip, they also visited the Gold Coast.  Unfortunately, our time with them on this trip was short and sweet, but Dad got to spend some time with them after we left for Malaysia.

Our humble abode

Upon our return from Malaysia, in mid-July, Alex and I started to get ourselves organised and move into our new place.  It did take us a little longer than expected…thank goodness for Dad!  Whilst I am not the home-renovating queen (let alone type!) nor a Ms Match-It…those white floor tiles had to go!  Alex and I have a rather ethnic and eclectic style, so we knew what we needed and wanted, including polished floor boards.  We knew that we needed the warmth of the colour of wood, to go with everything we had.  A little bit of research later, we decided on bamboo flooring, as it looks earthy, is more durable than wood, and is eco-friendly (consider killing a forest as opposed to using bamboo, which regrows quickly and is sustainable).  I must say, it made all the difference, and was all the “renovating” we required.  Over the next few weeks, we moved our stuff in, and on the 22 August we were officially in our new little town house.

James (my nephew) sleeps over

Slowly, slowly we have been adding things, and fixing things to our liking.  I believe that creating an environment that you love and feel comfortable in is an organic process.  It might be “finished” in a month, in a year, or never…it’s that organic process I was speaking about!  Slowly, slowly we have also been inviting different groups over for dinner, who in the past have had us over.  It’s a lovely feeling to be able to repay the favour, so to speak.  Having said that, we still have not got around to everyone…slowly, slowly.

Amongst all of this, I also resigned from my job only days before we moved into our place.  Essentially, it’s something that I needed to do, in order to be true to myself, my values and what I feel I am worth.  Everything happens for a reason and so now I am again on the hunt for a new job.

Carn’ the Pies…Fuzz and Gazza in the centre

Alex’s birthday was on August 10th and we had a small gathering with friends and family at Dad’s house.  It was also Fulvio, my brother’s, birthday on the 26th September, and as all good Aussies would know this is virtually like an Australia Day for us…the football (well Aussie footy anyway!) Grand Final.  So Fuzz, as Fulvio is also known, threw a combined birthday/footy bash at his place…lots of laughing and lots of screaming.  And I must say, that even I (who doesn’t follow footy at all) was getting into the spirit.

Ombi with Mali (L) and sister Teah

My birthday was on the 14th October, and we decided to have a dual celebration, combining my birthday with our housewarming.  Due to the multitude of friends that we have we decided on an open-house style affair, which was held on the 16th October.  The time was listed as “anywhere between midday and 8.00pm”, as we wanted the opportunity to be able to chat to everyone.  The weather was supposed to be shocking, with both rain and hail predicted (thanks Melbourne). Luckily, apart from a morning shower, the weather held out, so all of the kids were able to run around and play outside.  About 60 people came over the course of the day, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  The last guests didn’t leave until after midnight, and although it had been a long day, it had also been an enjoyable one.  My aim had been accomplished, and I was able to speak to everyone.  Thank you to all of you who came – you are all a special part of mine and Alex’s lives.

With Rozzie and Ida

I had another guest over for my birthday – my friend Rozzie from Cairns.  She was coming down for her grandmother’s 100th birthday.  Pretty fine effort, I might say! I went to pick her up the morning before my birthday.  It was great to see her again, as the last time had been in Melbourne, almost two years ago.  Rozzie only had a week and had to divide her time amongst a few people here, but we still managed some quality time together.  On her first night here, we got Ida over for dinner.  Many of you would recall that I worked with people with disabilities for many years and Ida was one of the residents.  We still stay in touch.  Some 10 years ago, however, on one of Rozzie’s trips to Melbourne, she met Ida and Ida has never forgotten her. In fact, whenever I speak to Ida, the three people she always asks me about are my Dad, Alex and Rozzie.  Why does she ask about them?  Quite simply because each of them have shown her, over the years, that they care.  At the end of the day, what one is remembered for is whether they were kind or not, not whether they owned a mansion in Toorak or not!  Ida, thanks for being a gentle reminder as to what is and is not important in life!

With our family at our housewarming

My friend Bec also came down to Melbourne in August for our friend Vickie’s birthday.  It’s always great to catch up with you too Bec.  Bec’s from Canberra but is now living in Brisbane.  Way back in 1999, I met Bec in Bolivia (a couple of months before I met Alex), and then the two of us met some months later on to cruise the length of the Amazon River, from Iquitos in Peru to Belen in Brazil.  There’s a whooooooooole other story that goes with this tale! Remember our Hawaii 5-0 moment Becs? We would eventually end up in Porto de Galhinas, where we met Rozzie.  Now that was a beach to die for!  And coming from an Aussie, that’s saying something!

Rita, Harry (her father in law) and moi!

My friend Rita, who lives in Dubai with her husband Graham, and two young boys, Sam and Darcy, have also been here a few times this year, and are actually here right now (late October).  Rita is effectively my sister, and I became the 4th adopted Garcia girl a very long time ago now.  When Reet’s around, I make the effort to see her as often as I can.

Wow, it has taken me a couple of days of “full-time writing” to get up to speed on my blog, but I think I have managed it.  I can’t beleive that we are breathing down the neck of Christmas now.  In true Ombi and Alex style, we have booked a trip to Thailand…where we will spend Christmas and the New Year.

Ombi

Dedication: For my “sister” Rita.  You have been there for me though the highs and the lows, and through thick and thin.  You have never judged me and always supported me.  Thank you for your constant love and support.  You are one in a billion and you know that I am always here for you, as you have been and continue to be for me.  Our friendship is eternal.


“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are” – John Wooden (I think this aptly sums real friends and friendships).

Yuko and Yuji give the tram a go!

Ombi with ‘special friend’ Judy Genge

With the love of my life at Sorrento Beach

On the beach…

At a festival in Hurstbridge with friend SAndra

Yuji chills at Dad’s place

Special friends forever

Happy Birthday Ben! (my spunky godson)

L to R: Lola, Sonya, Anne, Joan and Alex…dinner at our place

Dad and Aunty Lori

With Michelle and Steve at the housewarming

SAndra, Dad and Alex work on restoring the table for our new home

With Yuji and Yuko at Dad’s

With my cousins Carol and Glenn and Carol’s daughter Caitlin

L to R: (Back) Narelle, Jane, Natarsha, Ombi  &(front), Linda, Karen & Kirrily

As I tap away, I am acutely aware that we are almost in the month of  November, which would not normally be such a big deal, except for the fact that the last time I updated my blog was months ago!  I have been meaning to write for weeks, months really, yet that elusive thing called time always seems to somehow, well, elude me!  Having said that, I have decided this fine Sunday morning that “the woman on a mission” has a new mission, which is to write a series of blogs that will update you on mine and Alex’s comings and goings over the last few months or so!!  So, let me get  cracking.

Peruvian shaman

In Late June my close group of friends that I fondly refer to as the “South America Contingent” collectively organised an Inti Raymi Party.  Inti Raymi, or the “Festival of the Sun” (to be exact, “resurrection of the sun”  in the Quechua language) was a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire to honour the Incan Sun God, Inti.  It also marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere.  As a bit of an aside, since 1944 a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsayhuaman, a sacred site only two kilometres from Cusco, on the 24th June, attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world….I was one of those visitors in 1999, only months before I met Alex.  The energy was intoxicating, and it is a memory that will always remain in my heart and soul.

Linda beating to the rhythm of the drum

Meanwhile, back in Australia…our dear friend Linda, aka “Ms South America Melbourne”, was involved in the organisation of this event in Melbourne (one of many), with a contingent of mostly Andean, and to be specific, Peruvian friends.  It was an invitation only event, to be hosted at the home of our also dear friends, Mick and Claudia Benham.  Let me tell you, that night it was definitely the Rain god and not the Sun god that was present, as there was an alluvial downpour to rival all downpours.  The backyard would have made a brilliant mud-wrestling pit, but alack and alas, the ceremony went on, rain, mud, slush and all!

Mud-fest at Inti Raymi

Despite the rain, a great time was had by all, as most of the attendees have some connection to South America, the Andes or its people.  We were all asked to bring along a plate to share, but before we all got stuck into the food, a shaman took us through the ritualistic part of the ceremony.  This ceremony transported me back to Peru, or even to outside the churches of Chichicastenango in Guatemala…a world where cultures, traditions and religions are mixed.  In moments such as these, I desperately want to be anywhere but Australia, as I long for that deep-rooted culture and tradition that I find so lacking here.  I suppose yearning is the word.  My physical body lives in Australia, but my heart and soul are constantly travelling the world – neither seems to want to settle in Australia!

Shaman conducting Inti Raymi ceremony

Despite the continual rain (the Rain god was NOT going to give in!), we danced to Andean music and conversed with our peers.  Unbenownst to others, I was floating in and out of my own little world….before backpacking through South America and meeting Alex 11 years ago, I knew not a lot about South America, its traditions or its people…but traversing this continent would change my life forever.  My travels and experiences there have touched me in the most profoundest of ways.  It turned me into a “culture jockey”…ever since, my life has consisted of straddling two cultures!

Shaman making offerings to Inti, the Sun god

Whilst I love Australia, and am proud of being Australian, not a week goes by where I do not yearn for South America.  I love the vibrancy and passion of its people, many of whom have nothing, yet have everything…and then I think of my own country…where many people indeed have everything, but who spiritually have nothing.  Love, passion, spirituality and few material goods  versus a plethora of material goods yet a spiritual void?  To “have” or “not to have”…that is the question!

Ombi

Dedication: For South America and its people – you are my second homeland!  Thanks for the great love and passion you have instilled in me.  Knowing you has changed my life…forever!

What am I reading?
Conversations with Tariq Ali  – Speaking of Empire and Resistance, by Tariq Ali and David Barsamian

“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we work on natural stupidity?” – Steve Polyak