Imperial Salt: October 2006

We went away to Port Macquarie last weekend to celebrate our 3rd anniversary. Work had been really crazy for us lately so we were looking forward to spending some time alone and be with our thoughts.

Mel had the whole trip planned. We were to drive to Port Macquarie Saturday morning. Deep sea fishing on Sunday. Horse riding Monday. And ate at award winning restaurants. I was hyped.

The drive up the coast was beautiful. The day oozed with wonderful tropical weather goodness. We stopped for a light lunch of scones with cream and jam, salmon salad and cool ice cream spider at this family run café called Mermaid Cottage (pics), before completing the rest of our 6 hours drive north.

Our accommodation was at the HW Boutique Motel, located by the banks of the scenic beach front. The view from our room was breathtaking! We ended our day as we watched the sun slipped behind the velvety costal line from our little triangle shaped balcony. It was great to hear the whooshing of waves. To see the surf washing onto the beach. And to smell the rich salt in the air. It reminded me of the many sunsets I spent at Cottesloe Beach in Perth writing in my diary. *sigh* How I love those days.

The awesome tropical goodness sadly didn’t last beyond Saturday. Our fishing trip was cancelled the next day due to big surfs. Mel was devastated. But I was secretly relieved. I was soOOoo not looking forward to spending my Saturday morning with my head hanging over the side of the boat and seeing my vomit used as bait (sorry..). Deep sea fishing however, was on my long to-do-at-least-once list so I have to admit, I was a tide disappointed.
So instead of fishing, we visited a council run theme park called Timbertown and the wineries. Bago vineyards & Cassegrain.

First of.

I detest theme parks. I mean, I don’t see the point in paying to visit a man made world to which I already live in. I have made exceptions. Disneyland, because of my childhood obsession with Bambi and Peter Pan. And I was in Tokyo. And a future anticipated park in hopefully not too distance future for those uniquely creative Japanese cartoon animation. My only other theme park experience was Sunshine coast Movie and Sea World back in Aug of 01, which was such a mistake. The only thing that kept me in was the fact that I had paid for them in advance and was too much of a tight ass to not go. aug!

But Timbertown is a non-profit funded park, whose sole purpose was to educate the public of the hardships of pioneering loggers of past, so it was alright. It was down to earth, modest, unpretentious and pleasant. We played with farm animals, read how timber was harvested, watched a Bullock show, waved at passing steam trains, giggled at the teenage jugglers that could not juggle and poked fun at a funniest looking chook we’ve ever seen. (This was as close a shot as I could get. Notice the one on the right witht he kick ass afro hairdo.)

At the wineries. We tasted wines. Chatted with really friendly staffs. Watched the pita-petal of rain fall onto the lush vineyards. Had chili mussels for lunch and ate expensive hand-made chocolates. The day turned out to be sOooOOooo sublimely perfect!

Our last activity before the end of our getaway was horse riding. I had ridden once before and loved it so I was really looking forward to it. We were chauffeured to the ranch in a shabby van from the side of a bush track deep into the bush lands where the horses were bred (free range!). The owners were once Sydney-siders whom about 3 years ago, decided to give up the rat race city lifestyle and settled into a quiet tranquil life of horse training and raising farm animal as pets. I don’t think I could ever give up city dwelling. I guess I’m too entrenched and really don’t know any better. But than again, do I really want to share my bathroom with creepy crawlers and slippery critters?! I think for their sake, the creatures of the bush are better off without me and my "vocals".

Anyhow. As I mentioned, it was my second time on a horse but Mel’s first. We had just missed the holiday crowd so it was just us and the owner. Before heading off, we were given a crash course on basic horse ridding techniques. We rode through bush lands and up hill tops. We breathed in crisp sweet air and saw wallabies bathing in the sun. It was awesome.

I swear the horses knew we were beginners. In mere 2 minutes, they quickly established their “rule” over us and went about doing their thing. We were just these 2 legged creatures that happened to be sitting on them because we looked like the other 2 legged creature that feeds them. We were so pushed over. Mine stops at every up hill climb. And Mel’s walks into huge bush for a belly scratch. Every. So. Often.

Back at the ranch, in a little hut behind a tree. An inquisitive adult Huntsmans whose home was the toilet paper dispenser decided he wanted to get acquainted. Need I go further??

“FREAKING freakIN GET OFF ME!!!!!!!!!!!! WooAH!!!” *shudder*