New post for a new year

I have been ignoring my blog posts for some months now. I recall reading about one of the golden rules of blogging and that was to post regularly. Well I have definitely broken that rule. Life often gets in the way and there are times when you just do not feel like writing or sharing for that matter.

It also seems that lately I have been making decisions on the spur of the moment. Coming home to Australia for Christmas was not on the agenda but here I am. Aside from a nasty bout of food poisoning which knocked me out of action for a few days, it has been soothing to be home. The weather has been perfect with warm, dry days, deep blue skies and pleasant cool evenings.

With 2012 behind me, I am now looking forward to a new year with many changes including a new position in August 2013. If you had asked me would I have imagined this change a year ago I would have not thought it remotely possible. I still have yet to sit my Chinese level 5 proficiency exam but all in good time. Contentment is my key this year and I am sure this will be challenged.

Reflecting on the past world events in the last few weeks of 2012, I considered myself very fortunate. The horrendous rape and subsequent death of the young woman in New Delhi along with the dreadful shootings in the US, make me realize what a violent and angry world we still live in. Will this ever change? When I come home to South Australia and wonder at small things like a magpie singing in a tree nearby, it makes me realize what small cogs we are in this huge world. I am then also hit by the massive difference in my second home of busy, cosmopolitan Singapore which is changing so fast (perhaps not always changes for the better) and the world of my family home, the garden that surrounds it and the challenges Australia is facing in yet an ever changing world.

So with all this change surrounding each and everyone of us, I decided to aim to be content was a good goal for 2013. This word came to me in December when I visited the local temple in Yishun with my partner's mother. As a dragon, I was told it was important to go and pray. The last visit was a prayer for thanks and as I stood there, with joss sticks in my hand, the word contentment resonated in my head. Why? Well it seems to be that along with all our materialistic values, that is the one thing we seem to be lacking. Strip away all the items we accumulate in our lives and what is left is the real us. I do sometimes wonder are the goods we collect a means of not facing up to who we really are. 

So here is to a content 2013.  I am sure it will be a struggle. I am writing this on the veranda looking out onto the garden listening to the sounds of nature. That gives me hope.

Barossa Valley, South Australia

In June of this year, I travelled with family for a short stay in the Barossa Valley, located just about one hour drive from Adelaide in South Australia. June is winter time in Australia and this winter was particularly cold by Australian standards though there was no frost. We stayed in a small house called Tungali Cottage. Located just off a main road amongst sheep and cattle farms, it made for the perfect getaway. 

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The cottage comprises of two bedrooms and can easily accommodated four adults. The best feature is the open fire in the living room. The owner ensures there is an ample supply of firewood and every night we had a roaring fire; perfect for sitting by and winding down at the end of a day's sightseeing. Of course, if you visit in summer, you won't be needing a fire to keep yourself warm. 

The Barossa Valley is home to some of Australia's most premium wineries. A  must visit is Jacobs Creek Winery which comprises of a modern building, housing a wine tasting area, restaurant and museum. In fact there are so many wineries in these region, one could spend all day driving from one winery to another. 

The cottage is perfectly located near native bush and the famous Heysen trail. In the early morning, kangaroos can be seen in the distance coming down from the bush to graze. The sounds of birdlife is especially noticeable in the early mornings, cockatoos, magpies and kookaburras are very prominent. 

The only way to do justice to the beauty of this area of South Australia is to present it in visual form. So for this post I have put in a slideshow, along with a movie I made called Road Trips. 

This truly is the perfect getaway. I went in winter. Each season would present a different perspective but would just as memorable. 

Adelaide in winter

Smaller cities have a lot going for them. They are compact, the cost of living is generally lower and they can be packed full of hidden treasures. 

Of course I am a little biais when it comes to my hometown of Adelaide. Located in South Australia and with a population of around 1 million, it is typically labelled as a quiet little city with great nearby wineries and a biannual arts festival. 

However, stereotypical viewpoints are just that. Adelaide is anything but boring. It is just one has to take a different viewpoint and not expect a 'Sydney' or a 'Melbourne'.

My favorite dive to hang out, especially on a winter's day, is a cafe located in city. Situated on the corner of Wakefield and Hutt Street, it is always my first choice for a quick bite or a nice meal with friends and family. It also makes great wood fire pizzas. The cafe offers free wi-fi. 

The name of this cafe? Boceli. Check it out if you are ever in Adelaide!