Did the first half of our south coast trip right after my wedding last year with relatives and friends visiting from Taiwan, 9-12Sept, 2019. Got to Mogo and didn’t have time to go further south, because
we already booked accommodation in Canberra on 13Sept, even though I really
wanted to go all the way to Merimbula/Pambula/Eden where
I did my GP training ten years ago.
My husband actually made a trip
down to Pambula/Eden while I was doing GP training there, but we “just missed
each other.” We were attending the same church in Sydney at that time, but we
barely talked to each other and he changed church even before we had the chance
to get to know each other. Therefore, neither of us even realised we could have
met up in Merimbula at that time.
25Dec, 2020
With border closures due to the recent COVID19 cluster in Sydney, we
could only travel within NSW this Christmas (and we still haven’t diagnosed
anyone with COVID in our clinic yet this year). Decided to complete the rest of
our south coast trip. Passed through places like Batehaven, Broulee, Moruya, Narooma,
Bermagui, Tathra, before arriving in Bega.
Checked out the Bega District Hospital where I did one week of locum
during Christmas 10 years ago, and saw it was desolated! Turns out it had been
replaced by a new hospital, the South East Regional Hospital! Everything was
closed in Bega on Christmas day. Not even MacDonald’s was open! The kind motel
receptionist gave us two boxes of frozen meals and a bag of cherries.
26Dec, 2020
A walk down memory lane, visited the places I used to live, walked on
the main streets in Merimbula. There seems to be a lot more shops than ten
years ago. Woolworth has been shifted to a much bigger building. First time
eating at the MacDonald’s in Merimbula and the view was wonderful. Also ate
some yummy local oysters.
Went down to Pambula and had a look at the places I used to work:
Pambula Medical Centre and Pambula District Hospital. Also went down to the
Pambula Beach to see if I can find the lazy kangaroos that lay by the beach.
There are still many at the caravan park. I saw a Surf Life Saving rescuer use
a drone to search the sea! Didn’t realise they utilise drones in their
operations!
Went further south to the Curalo Medical Clinic in Eden where I used to
work, and suddenly realised I never went further south than that place! I’ve
never even visited the main street of Eden! So we decided to go further down along Eden. Had
a $34 meaty lobster in the Eden Wharf. Went to Boydtown before turning back
north.
Went to Tura Beach and realised there is also a large Woolworth. Went
past a place called Jellat Jellat which had a strange metal fungus-like statue
before returning to Bega again. Again, Bega looked like a ghost town and we were
not impressed at all about the 50 minute wait for our Kebab at Master Kebab
Bega!
27Dec, 2020
A blessed day today! The sunshine allowed me to see that beautiful aqua
colour of the waters of the Merimbula Boardwalk, which I enjoyed walking on
from time to time as a GP registrar ten years ago!
Had to hurry off though, because my husband wanted to see the Cooma Snowy
Hydro Discovery Centre which closes at 2pm. Got to the Brown Mountain via B72
way, which is a easier drive than the Candelo way I used to drive as a GP
registrar. But the Brown Mountain drive is still as difficult as it was back
then!
Got to Snowy Hydro in time. Also went around town, had a nice lunch at
the 123 Coffee House, checked out the Nanny Goat Hill lookout and the Mount
Gladstone look out, before moving on to Queanbeyan. There is nothing much in
Queanbeyan, but we had to book this place as the ACT border is closed to
Greater Sydney.
28Dec, 2020
Woke up pretty early and went to the Googong Foreshores. Luckily the weather
was still beautiful, even though the weather forecast said there was going to
be a thunderstorm. Drove back to Sydney via some smaller country roads instead
of the Federal Highway. Stopped by Bowral and had a look at the Dirty Janes
Antique Market. Bumped into a good friend there! The weather started turning
bad in the late afternoon, as we continued our way back to Sydney.
This marks the end of our Christmas New Year road trip. We probably won’t
be going out much until the current Sydney COVID19 cluster settles.
Listened to a Christian speaker on the car during the road trip and began
to understand why I have gradually been feeling distant from God: There’s been
a lack of quiet time spent listening to and connecting with God, free from personal
agendas. In other words, wanting to connect with God out of a true desire to
connect, and not because I want to ask God for something. And despite knowing
that I am nothing apart from God, who is the source of all living, that
knowledge seemed to be in my head knowledge rather than a conviction in my
heart. In retrospect, I realised I have walked across many “desert roads” due
to my rebellions against God, where I thought I knew better than God about what
was the best for myself and others around me, and tried to solve problems using
my own ways. My own voice was too loud for me to hear God. Glad that I didn’t “miss” my husband in the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti6eJosPOtk&list=PL3F52B8EC7E050087
