Townsville

Date: 15 September 2007 03:24:33

Final part of my short travelogue: part 1 here.

I forgot to mention the old cemetery in my last blog: it is very much an 'old style cemetery': hedges and a grand entrance which you can see to the right. Dare I admit myself to be somewhat strange [as if you didn't already know!] and confess I rather like cemeteries? More due to fascination and interest: though they are, naturally, rather sad places also -- but there is also some hope there, some measure of joy and light, through the words often written about people on them. I used to regularly have lunch in a cemetery close to work: it was quiet at least. The old cemetery at Ingham is rather sad though: many children's graves and many drownings [the river is behind the cemetery]. Some of the graves near the river have subsided partially, which does give an eerie feel. Fresh flowers continue to be placed on the grave. May God grant rest to His servants, and may their memories be eternal!

Townsville is a small coastal city; Cairns, several hundred kilometres farther north, seems to be the popular tourist city; Townsville is content to be for locals and industry -- at least as I see it. Though it has many beautiful attractions. We visited the informative and interesting Reef HQ Aquarium. We walked and the kids played along the ocean foreshore, known as The Strand [with more signs indicating the presence of stingers in warmer months], where the Strand Ephemera was on displayed, a collection of various outdoor sculptures. Very interesting. Seemingly dominating Townsville, at least in my view, is Castle Hill: aptly named. A gloriously sunny and warm day, and a very pleasant day out.

A brief, but very enjoyable, trip up north. Next holiday [November] is a bit farther afield: San Jose, London, bits of England, and some cities of Wales [and the possibility of Amsterdam depending on where a friend finds herself then]. More information in early October here; and I'll be sure to start a thread on the Wibsite bulletin board.