Brisbane and Beyond

I first arrived in Brisbane with Nicholas on Friday, March 7. We had booked a hotel downtown, checked in, dropped off our stuff and started to explore the city. A city of 1.5 million, Brisbane's downtown houses several skyscrapers and is parted by a mall-type street at the end of which has a large casino in a beautiful old building, ironically the old treasury building. The mall street is like any other mall street, lined with stores and restaurants. However, Brisbane decorated its mix of old and new buildings with some very interesting architectural canopies that cover the mall area.

While we were walking down the street we saw a barrister hurrying down the sidewalk sporting a white wig that was blowing in the wind. Curious, as two foreign lawyers could only be, we followed him. After he turned into what was the courthouse, we followed him each noting that neither of us had seen court conducted in Australia.


Chasing the barrister

When we entered the building, two elderly security guards eagerly greeted us. We informed him that we were American attorneys and would be interested in watching some courtroom drama if any were going on. They directed us up to Courtroom 12 on the 4th floor. When we arrived in the court room, we took a seat in the benches along with the other 25 spectators. The courtroom almost mirrored the Hennipen County Courtrooms which are a 1970's structure with "modern" facilities and zero grandeur. In the courtroom, the judge sat at a 45 degree angle facing the 12 jurors and two tables accommodating the defendant (on trial for assault we quickly learned) and the prosecutors. Curiously, the barristers had removed their wigs which sat on top of the table, but remained in their black robes. The judge did not wear a wig nor could we see one on the bench, but was dressed in a very colorful robe. Other than the slightly different courtroom attire, we soon realized that Australia courtroom drama is just like American real-life courtroom drama--nonexistent.


Me in front of the court house.

We then continued on our tour of Brisbane after our short stay in the court house. We eventually ended up on the South Bank area of Brisbane. South Bank, a former site of the Worlds Fair (do they even have those anymore?) inhabited a Library, Theatre, outdoor auditorium, man-made pool/beach (sand around a pool), manicured hedges and lawns, a gifted Tempal from Nepal, and a large area for shops, restaurants and the continuous open air market.


Nicholas, an American joining the Australian obsession of text massaging on the mobile, at South Bank

While Nicholas went back to Sydney, I stayed on in Brisbane to enjoy the city. On Saturday night, I went out to explore "The Valley" a trendy area just north of Chinatown (which is the most up-scale Chinatown I have ever seen). In the Valley, to my surprise, I encountered some great bars and night clubs. The clubs were very hip, some of the nicest decors of clubs I have been to, which is to say quite a bit since I love nice night clubs. That night, I met this Black American woman who had been living in Brisbane for 10 years and a couple of her friends. I was extremely curious to talk to her about the obvious lack of any black people in Australia, or for that matter, the lack of anyone of color. She said she did not experience a lot of racism per se, but she said lots of people like to stare at her. Her black friend from Angola agreed. We had a great time chatting, dancing and partying the rest of the night.

On Sunday, Brisbane had its GayDay which is like a gay pride event. I figured since I was in Brisbane, I should check it out. The city is not very big; likewise the celebration was not either. I did, however, meet lots of people. Brisbane is a very friendly place and, like the rest of Australia, very hospitable.

One of the people I met that day was Eric. We ended up hanging out together the rest of the day and night. Going along with the extreme hospitality Aussie's provide, Eric offered to let me stay with him while I was in Brisbane to save on costs of a hotel. He has a beautiful 4 bedroom house with all the conveniences of home including a magnificent garden/patio. I ended up staying with him for a week.


Eric in his kitchen

While I was in Brisbane, Eric was a great host. I totally felt at home. During the week, we just hung out, went to the gym and out to dinner. I was able to do some reading and enjoy hanging out in a home, which was very nice after traveling so much.


Eric and I at dinner

On the last weekend that I was there, Eric took me to explore the area around Brisbane. The terrain varied of farmland, small ranches, small mountains, dry bush land and beautiful shore. The farmland is strikingly similar to that in which I grew up. The fields were similar, the towns were similar--sometimes I felt like I was in southwest Minnesota. The only bad part was that it is fall here and like in southwest Minnesota in the fall, my allergies were going crazy.

On Saturday after driving through the farmland areas we came to the small mountains. We spent the rest of the day hiking around and exploring the rainforest that blankets the small mountains. The Bunyan Trees that tower over the land, giving the Bunyan Mountains their name, drop 30 pound pine cones that contain a popular treat Bunyan Nuts. In the forest, we saw small lizards and some beautiful birds amongst the exotic (to me anyway) flora that cover the mountain floor and hung from the giant trees.


Eric and I in the Bunyan Mountains

On our last hike, we climbed onto a trail that led to a wonderful view of the sun setting over the valley beyond the mountain. On the trail to the viewpoint, the ground cover differed from the rainforest on the other side of the mountain. On this west side, the vegetation hunched over us in a thick bush filled with grass trees and tons of vines hanging from the tress. We literally crawled though tunnels of shrubbery.


Tunnels of shrubbery

Once we tunneled our way to the top of the mountain, we were greeted with a beautiful view of the valley. As the sun dropped, the valley changed colors before our eyes.


Pre-sunset


Sunset

After we quickly made our way back down the mountain--we did not have a torch to guide us in the dark--we quickly showered in the cabin we had rented near the entrance of the national park. The name of the place we stayed was Rice's Log Cabins. I say this because if you ever find yourself in Brisbane, you must come and stay with Cathy and Peter Young. They are the ultimate hosts. I recommend dining with the Youngs if you get the chance. When we arrived we asked where to eat and Cathy told us that she prepares meals for her guests if they are interested. We thought what the hell, lets do that. Cathy said "Dinner is at 7:15." Her mother leaning against the half front door of their home, added "And for desert fresh rhubarb pie." I was very excited...I love pie!

Our meal could not have been better. Since we were the only guests to have a meal that night, we were seated at fully adorned table in a octagonal three- season porch surrounding a grand fire place anchored in the center. We were then served a four course meal ending with the rhubarb pie. The meal was exquisite.

The next morning we were greeted by a wallabey kangaroo and her young joey peaking over its pouch. We were then treated to a three course breakfast by Cathy before checking out and heading back towards the coast.


Kangaroo with joey

On our way back towards Brisbane, we wandered through several small country towns stopping for coffee at a very cute cafe and touring through a ginger factory. I was very disappointed, however, to discovery the ginger factory did not have ginger bread man decorated with frosting in different costumes. I got over it when I ate my chocolate ginger fudge!

Further along we stopped at the Glass House Mountains. The mountains looked like they were just pushed up thought the flat landscape (as many large rocks do in Australia).


Me in front of the Glass House Mountains

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