Monday, Oct 4th 2010 - The Beginning of a New Chapter, Cheers to Flat 130!

I'm full of mixed emotions at the moment.I have just spent the last 8 months with some of the most caring, interesting and sometimes outright crazy people here in Perth.I will truly miss all of those who I have been lucky enough to share such a monumental experience with during these past few months--- especially those who shared the epic flat 130! Zombie party, photo ops in the middle of the storm of the century (and Matt's car breaking down!), Rune's "megabed", facebook hacking, election movie night, Sunday sessions, "International Dinner Week", the random and sometimes inappropriate conversations, Uni Games parties (enough said), C-restaurant, running errands with Matt, punch afternoons on the deck… the list of good times could just keep rolling!Although it's sad to part some new-found friends, I can honestly say that I will be seeing those familiar faces in the near future, whether it be in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Japan or Australia… it will happen and I'm already looking forward to it!

The night before leaving Perth, I decided to opt for one last Sunday session at my favourite spot in Freo---Little Creatures.I promised my housemate Matt that there would be no tears (which I was 99.9% sure there wouldn't be), but I guess that 0.01% got the best of me!The next morning Matt and Danny drove me to the airport after spreading some more tears saying a tough goodbye to Sara and Rune (who couldn't come because they had class).I think the feeling that I was leaving Perth for good actually hit as I walked away from the car and entered the terminal with a year's worth of luggage alone.

After completing the new state-of-the-art self check in at the domestic terminal, I sat down at my gate and reflected on the past few months during my hour and a half wait.I was regularly interrupted by a Philippino-Aussie bloke who was really keen on learning about Canada… maybe this was a good thing as it kept my mind from wandering too much!

Finally I boarded my small plane… destination: Alice Springs.Talk about the middle of nowhere for a family reunion!I was really excited to arrive in the vast desert and meet my parents and brother… however I'd have to wait a day until I could finally meet them because the flight I was planning to take had sold out before I could book!

My 2.5 hour flight went relatively quickly considering it lacked the modern luxuries such as movies and seatback TVs that most Qantas flights have.The end of my flight we experienced a fair bit of turbulence as we entered a storm system.I'd like to think I handle turbulence quite well… sometimes even thinking of it as a ride!The poor lady next to me didn't quite share the same opinion however!In the end we landed safely and all our worries were put behind us!

My next venture was grabbing a taxi who could take me to Desert Palms Resort - where my own personal villa was awaiting me!I had a wonderful Pakistani driver who told me that I had a "beautiful language and outlook on life" - I think I blushed a bit!

Just after I settled into my villa a torrential downpour began.Palm trees were swaying like crazy and rain flying in all directions!I thought this was supposed to be a DESERT!?I was pretty tired, so I got in my jammies and attempted to watch a movie to keep my mind from wandering… yes wandering!Matt lovely flatmate was kind enough to inform me that Alice Springs was the "murder capital of the world" prior to my departure.So here I am, alone in a villa, reception just closed, a killer of a storm is going on outside and I'm in the murder capital of the world… GREAT, sets a perfect background for a horror movie!I was tired enough that once the movie was over I passed out and that was that!

For the record, I checked out Matt's information and here's what I've come to conclude: Alice Springs was dubbed as the murder capital of Australia… (the stabbing capital to be more specific) in 2008; occurrences have been decreasing however, break-ins and theft rates have increased exponentially. The main cause: alcohol.People in the Northern Territory consume, by an enormous margin, the most alcohol per capita than the other Australian states.

You can rest assured; I did have a beer or two in the Northern Territory and lived to tell the tale!