Coming back to my room the other night I was greeted by a fairly large spider sitting just inside my doorway near the foot of my bed. It was not there one minute ago (I had just been in to grab something). It was roughly half of the size of my palm, brown and hairy! Personally I find it is the spider's legs that determine how comfortable I am - long and spindly is okay, thick and furry not so cool. This bugger was built, definitely a gym goer.... Next time I see one I'll hopefully have a camera with me. I coerced him into the kitchen with a pillow and smooth talking, although I think the pillow had more of an effect on getting the spider out of my room. It felt somewhat like a fun international adventure.
After being told the next morning that I would prefer the spiders in my room to the insects that would follow I allowed their entrance. I would like to note that Australia is home to some of the most dangerous spiders in the world, if I would prefer these to the insects it makes me wonder what Aussie insects must be like......
I now share my room with two spiders (that I know of). They look kind of like Canadian Daddy-Long-Legs, but with larger bodies and shorter legs, and they live in haphazardly built webs. The legs, you may now have presumed, are thin and spindly. These spiders are okay in my books. My two spiders have also been named. Mike resides in the right hand corner about 4 feet above my pillow, Ike is in the upper corner opposite. They are named after a greatly missed friend from my previous job in Halifax - the candy machine.
Speaking of candy I would like to note that I cannot find "Real Fruit Gummies" in Australia. This must be some sort of sin, or maybe a punishment? Maybe a breach of the little known missing 11th commandment? I'll look into it.
In full touristy mode I went to a movie with a friend last night. Slumdog Millionnaire. It was AMAZING! I would strongly recommend seeing it if you have the chance.
I'm also reading a witty, laugh-out-loud book by Bill Bryson called "In a Sunburned Country". It's written by an American about Australia. Without visiting the country I would strongly suggest reading it. It is hilarious, and will interest even those who have no interest in travelling here. Below is a sample insert just to give you an idea. In this exert Bryson is being giving instructions on how to boogie board by an Australian.
"If you're caught in a rip ," Deirdre was saying, "the trick is not to panic."
I look at her. "You're telling me to drown calmly?"
"No, no. Just keep your wits. Don't try to swim against the current. Swim across it. And if you're still in trouble, just wave your arm like this" - she gave the kind of big, languorous wave that only an Australian could possibly consider an appropriate response to a death-at-sea situation- "and wait for the lifegaurd to come."
- Bill Bryson
I love it! And you have to read it!
No comments:
Post a Comment