1
Lord Howe Island!
This trip was solely devoted to us.
For Suze's big step after University graduation into the world as an official independent human being.
For us as parents to self congratulate acknowledging our duties well fulfilled.
It's a serious ceremony of closure for three of us.
2
When I told people I was going for a holiday they asked where now?
Usually people who were born and grew up here know where Lord Howe is.
But I was surprised still many people didn't know even the existence of this paradise.
Also a lot of people think this is a luxurious destination for travellers.
But for us it was just one of the places we were attracted to based on our values.
Unspoilt nature, less people, not touristy place.
It was not a peak season and we had a really good deal with a reasonable price.
Staying at one place exploring a small island for 9 days was a good experience.
We had seen almost every nook and cranny in it.
Ocean was embracing this small island which was born from a volcano eruption 7 millions of years back.
It wasn't too long to realize that the whole life your vision towards sea was partial and limited when you
got a total picture of wide unlimited scales of ocean on top of a small island.
Day 1: Wednesday 16 May 2018
We were wandering around at one of Quantas domestic terminals after checking in when
suddenly we heard an announcement calling our names.
????
It was a final announcement asking us to board the flight for Lord Howe Island.
OMG
We were running at the T3 terminal from end to end to catch the plane.
We passed the gate hurriedly with another late old couple and a van(?) was waiting to drive us to the plane.
The smallest plane I've ever seen was waiting for us.
I estimated it for 36 people maximum.
Soon the small engine roared with the noise deafening when it started taxing along the tarmac.
It sped on the run way and the craziest and scariest sound finally got steady
as it put its body onto the air.
2 hours of flight was smooth and I saw we were over the white fluffy seas of clouds.
Two big mountains at the end of ocean appeared from no where.
Our plane lowered its body almost touching and floating over the ocean
and with its amazing precision it landed smooth and quick unlike other huge planes.
We came outside of the small plane through the steps and suddenly warm subtropical breeze welcomed us
unexpectedly which made all three of us smile with the escalating expectation about our stay in there.
We walked through a small door into the building.
I saw people who were sitting in the waiting area to go back home in the plane we came.
I was imagining how they were feeling after their holiday finished.
I wondered how I would feel at the end of our trip as well.
People from all different accommodations came to pick up their guests.
It was a brightly sun shiny afternoon when we arrived at our home after 5 minutes' drive.
Weather looked milder and warmer than Sydney.
Island looked peaceful with people walking and riding bikes.
The island was coloured in green from mountains, trees, grasses and blue and white from sky and sea.
We dumped our bags and suitcases and straight came to stroll to Middle Beach with still warm afternoon sun
on us.
It was a low tide showing black coral remnants mingled with rocks and sands.
We turned to Transit Hill soon after where we cold look around the small island as a whole picture.
To far south two prominent mountains of Gower and Lidgbird and to the north Mt Eliza and North Bay.
The huge lagoon was formed between two big mountains and the North Bay where the ocean was coloured
mostly emerald reflected by shallow bottom parts.
No waves could inflict the unmarked connected lines between them.
Eddie wanted wait and see the sun set at 5:30 but we were not prepared for sudden temperature drop and darkness.
We needed head torches and warmer clothes.
We arrived back at home after 5:30 when outside was already dark with sudden temperature drop.
We cooked our hearty meal and spent evening reading books and contemplating on what we would do in the next days.
Day 2: Thursday 17 May 2018
We have two bedrooms with a balcony facing a huge and wide beautiful garden.
Suze complained it was too cold at night showing an obvious intention to sneak into my bed room.
I didn't decide if she was really cold or didn't want to sleep by herself?
I had a little bit of difficulties sleeping too, I woke a few times during the night.
In the morning Eddie went to see the sun rise as usual.
When he came back we prepared our breakfast together.
I bought some groceries from Joys Shop which was conveniently just next to our accommodation.
It was the biggest shop in the island selling all sorts of groceries including frozen meats and breads
and also a lot of travel items including hats and souvenirs.
With a little dearer price especially for fresh vegetables.
The middle aged lady at the counter was not smiling nor kind.
I tried to change coins for laundry but she told me to do it at the bank.
Last Christmas trip we forgot to pack our hats and this time I didn't bring our hats again.
Luckily they had all sorts of nice hats and I tried some and found a good one actually.
I have become slack about packing things and it's partially due to too frequent travels.
Maybe that's better than obsessively packing too many items.
I tried to think more positively but I made a mental note this time not to forget hats for the next trip
definitely.
In our accommodation they provided new towels every morning but during our stay
they didn't clean our rooms which was fine with me.
It was hard to see staff from office except first day and last day.
We once asked them to give us soaps and toilet papers in writing on the board outside of office.
As we were informed we went to a bike storage room after breakfast where no one was there.
So we chose our own bikes and helmets.
We rode our bikes to Neds Beach which was a magnificent beach for all sorts of purposes.
Millions of fish were swimming in the rim of scattering waves surprisingly.
I wondered why they were swimming near the edge of sea water not in deeper spots?
While Eddie and Suze were busy with feeding fish and trying to catch some photos of them by gopro
I walked on the sand enjoying sunshine.
Eddie didn't care his clothes getting wet and she looked having fun too.
Schools of fish were mostly transparent except a few blue coloured unique tropical looking ones.
Suddenly it reminded me of my childhood when me and my older sister tried to do fishing at the edge
of seashore in a small village.
She caught a couple of much smaller but similar kind of fish.
After lunch we walked again to the Transit Hill for the second time.
This time we walked into Blinky Beach, passed airport way, and came back via Lagoon Road.
