Out in the Pilbara, the vastness of Oz is laid bare by the flat scrubland, devoid of any human feature, bar the road splitting it in two. Termite mounds stand like sentries. It's surprisingly green, the spinifex adding splotches of colour to the red soil. There is little shade from the midday sun.
The oppressiveness of the heat is unlike anything I've experienced. It's hot from 7am. At 9am it is scorching. The heat sears my nostrils, like I'm breathing in a sauna. All we can do is hide in the gorges, sheltering in the shade like fugitives from the sun. The pools of water are our only relief.
The fact that Aborigines survived and thrived in this environment is astounding. Incredible skill and knowledge of the land must have been vital. Likewise the first pioneers must have been hardy men. They've left their stamp here, from Fortescue Falls to the more recent Tom Price - much of the landscape has been named after people. Determind spirits, hardy souls - their legacy might explain why physical perfection is so prized in modern Australia. Tanned, toned, surfers, swimmers - in Ireland we value wit and banter, the ability to have the craic. Polar opposites, complimenting each other? Or stereotypes, impressions after four weeks glimpsing the country? Ireland could certainly do with more focus on physical health. Although that might be a process already underway.
The oppressiveness of the heat is unlike anything I've experienced. It's hot from 7am. At 9am it is scorching. The heat sears my nostrils, like I'm breathing in a sauna. All we can do is hide in the gorges, sheltering in the shade like fugitives from the sun. The pools of water are our only relief.
The fact that Aborigines survived and thrived in this environment is astounding. Incredible skill and knowledge of the land must have been vital. Likewise the first pioneers must have been hardy men. They've left their stamp here, from Fortescue Falls to the more recent Tom Price - much of the landscape has been named after people. Determind spirits, hardy souls - their legacy might explain why physical perfection is so prized in modern Australia. Tanned, toned, surfers, swimmers - in Ireland we value wit and banter, the ability to have the craic. Polar opposites, complimenting each other? Or stereotypes, impressions after four weeks glimpsing the country? Ireland could certainly do with more focus on physical health. Although that might be a process already underway.
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