Matt Down Under
Ruby developer, founder of choc media, bushwalker, MacGyver fan and hobby photographer, German citizen and Australian Permanent Resident.
In 2008 I moved from Germany to Australia, the best decision of my life. On this blog you can find stories and photos about hiking in Tasmania and on the mainland, travelling, and life in Australia — my journey from Working Holiday to Permanent Residency.
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26 posts tagged Insight
13 things I will miss when I leave Darwin
Just so I don’t appear too negative (or too German?) after my last post about the 3 things in Darwin I won’t miss, here is a list of 13 things I will absolutely miss once I leave Darwin on Thursday.
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3 things I won’t miss when I leave Darwin
In two weeks I will leave Darwin to travel Vietnam for a month before flying from Hanoi to Germany, where I want to stay over Christmas and New Year, until I get bored or until I feel cold and miss Australia — whichever comes first.
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Backpacker Australia vs. Real Australia
The last few weeks while I stayed in a backpacker hostel I noticed how much different my views of Australia are today, compared to my views in 2008 and compared to those of other backpackers today. When I say backpacker, I mean foreign Working Holiday makers and other short-term visitors.
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Life in Numbulwar
When I came to Numbulwar, I was hoping to get a better understanding of Aboriginal culture and lifestyle, and of the conditions of living for Aboriginal people in remote communities in Australia. Now, two months later, I still find it difficult to come to a conclusion — there were so many impressions, and so many different aspects and opinions that I have seen and heard. No doubt that Aborigines are heavily disadvantaged in Australia, but on the other hand I found it fascinating that I never heard anybody complaining.
Here is a list of things that I found remarkable over the last two months, to give an impression on what it’s like to live in Numbulwar.
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Back in Darwin
Two weeks earlier than expected I am back in Darwin. It’s hard to adjust to city life again after two months in a remote Aboriginal community.
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The day the shop got cursed
Today was one of the funniest days since I came to Numbulwar. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen a lot of things that I had never seen before but today was one of those days when I almost forget that I’m in Australia because things are so different out here in this small Aboriginal town. One always need to be prepared for the unexpected.
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Darwin
Wednesday we arrived in Darwin — after 8 days, 2.300 km, with visits to Nitmiluk, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Even though we only planned from day to day, I think we made the most of the short time, and it was an amazing week.
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To YHA or not to YHA
Another lesson learnt — $60 lost. Today I arrived in Adelaide after I got picked up by a backpacker tour bus late yesterday afternoon in Port Campbell.
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“When you have a problem, analyse it. If there is a solution, there is no need to be worried. If there is no solution, there is also no need to be worried.”
A bit of wisdom from Ernst Christen, a fantastic Swiss guy who stayed at my hostel until this morning. He is currently cycling all around the globe, having already completed the route from Switzerland to Australia via China, Thailand and other countries. He spent 2 years living as a monk in an abbey in Thailand translating buddha’s speeches and we spent a lot of time talking about buddhism, Thailand, and how to live a simple but happy life. Here is his website, where he has gorgeous photos from his travels. One of the most fascinating persons I have ever met.
