My trip to QLD and the social differences

Hello again,

Sending out 2008, and welcoming in 2009. Happy New Year everyone!
It's been longer than I'd hoped to post as I've been away in Queensland for 2.5wks over the holiday period.

Isn't it always exciting to explore a new place and culture?
Hey sure, I grew up in Australia (Sydney to be precise) BUT i'd say that there is that good old fashioned Aussie rivalry between states to contend with. QLD is almost like a new culture aye?

Kidding, I loved it! Was a fantastic trip. I stayed out in the country, a town called Tully south of Cairns - the complete opposite to the city life of Sydney.
Got to swim in clean rivers, walk amongst the cows and drive by the fields of banana and sugar cane plantations in the trusty ute.
You were within 30mins drive of the rainforest, tropical beach, mountains and cool rivers. At night when the sky was clear, the stars were out in force 200 times brighter than I'd ever seen. Completely idyllic.

One HUGE thing I noticed about Tully was the interaction between people. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone waves. Everyone says hello. Even when you're inside cars, everyone honks a greeting!

When NYE came along, we drove up to Cairns to celebrate... and met half of Tully there! You couldn't escape a hello anywhere. It was just amazing.
No-one locks their doors, and an eye is barely batted when unexpected guest arrives to say hello.

Isn't it interesting to compare that with the city life? We're anonymous blips that rush by in the crowds. It's hard to know everyone in your own suburb. People communicate more through technology, the internet & mobile phones rather than the yarn in the front porch. We sit as far apart from others on public transport as we can.

I know of familes that own multiple computers, all in different rooms. They'll play an online game together separated physically through walls. They might even chat through messenger instead of walking 5m to talk in person...

We all need that feeling of connection amongst our modern lives eh? This is how we've made up for it in the 2000s - through social media.

Social media sites like Blogs, Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Twitter have grown in popularity because of our 'historic' need to connect AND also get to know eachother like friends. We can do this around our busy lives, online at the click of a button. Yipee! Deep down we still like to share and pass things on, and have fun with endless facebook applications because it's about us and our personality. It's a virtual world of face to face communication.

People are becoming celebrities because they make cool vids on YouTube! They're giving value to their communities in some way. (Entertainment, information, education etc) It can even feel like we know them personally.

Anyway, those are just my observations of Country life vs. City life and also the growing popularity of Social Media.

Feel free to share your thoughts!
Click to add me on facebook or check me out on twitter! :p

I'll be adding up photos of the trip, of past trips and videos shortly.
Now it's back to work, reading, learning and sharing.

Until next post...

Cheers, Agnes

Welcome

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to my blog!
Over the past few years, much has changed for me in my life. Am discovering new things, ideas, and exploring new places. If you had known me years back at school, you probably wouldn't have seen the me I am today. I couldn't have even seen the me I am today!

Anyway, this journey of life sure can have it's twists and turns.

Would like to have a place for me to share my experiences and thoughts. It's always fun to share with others and be in it together :) Hope to hear more about you and your life as well. Feel welcome to share and comment.

Cheers,
Agnes