Spunkeymonkey starts all over again

It appeared at one point, last January precisely, that i thought life was finally coming together and go easy on me. There was a bloke i thought would actually be good to stay with the rest of my life, there was my dream of going back to Canada coming to fruition. I had passed my specialist exams (MRCGP) and had passed the first part of my fellowship exams here in Australia.

One year on, engagement is over, failed to match to a residency program in Canada despite working as a General practitioner the past 3 years and my specialist pathway was up-ended overnight by the RACGP here in Australia, blocking my way to do my last 2 exams. My family faced financial difficulties as well so you could say it was an annus horribilis of huge portions. Having lost everything what is there to do but start all over again?. Pick up the pieces and travel and just enjoy my own company. Try very very very hard not to feel like someone just took a sledgehammer to your sense of self and whacked it vigorously.

What do you do when the one person you thought understood you thinks you deceived them?. Explain and try not to reel from the thought that after all these years, they really did not know you at all.

I am deeply grateful and thankful for my friends though. Having them to talk to, talk through things and have a good cry has helped immensely.

So, i thought why not start all over again on internet dating?. I'll be studying again for my Fellowship and keep trying to get a chance to write them. I will also still try to get a residency spot and if all else fails just go over to Canada and work as a "physician's assistant" and see how much of the torture i can put up with. Or, just not bother anymore, admit defeat and keep raking in the cash here in Australia. Hmm, perhaps internet dating will be a good distraction, plus you don't have to waste money going out. Plus, the optimist in me thinks, maybe i'll meet a great guy.

Not knowing what to do, fortuitously my answer came during a break in regular programming. Something called eharmony.com. Allegedly, they'll only match guys who fit your criteria or whose personality fits your own. In order to find this "match", a series of questions covering 27-29 categories were posed. I was tickled pink to find out i am soft-hearted, emotionally responsive, curious about the world, focused and a know-it-all. Not very flattering but hey, beggars can't be choosers.

Apparently, matches are hard to come by. Receiving 8 matches, 2 caught my eye. What do i look for?.Someone who sounds semi-intelligent, not a pervert, interesting and easy on the eyes. Although i am no supermodel, i clean up really well and i find i do need "chemistry" before i bother going out with anyone. A rocket scientist was offered (for real!) and an artist type person.

After 4 days, i've had about 5 guys try to "communicate" with me. Sadly, only the artist dude i quite like. However, after several rather painful emails -painful as i write nice juicy long ones and get a 3 sentence reply,i realize a good profile does not a match make (okay, that confused me too). Too bad, i rather thought artist dude and me had lots of things in common: a love of the arts, Natalie Portman, we are family-oriented, not much into the looks bit, both concentrate on financial security and our careers. Plus, we both have Indonesia as a common factor.

Well ladies, i can only say this: if a guy can only write 3 sentences in an email, either he does not dig you or he's too busy. The 3rd option, he has limited verbal skills is scary.Let's not go there.

Wish me luck, next dating website check is www.bust.com/personals.

Spunkeymonkey does Cape Leveque

 

Short 1 day trip to Dampier Peninsula courtesy of Kimberley Wild adventures based in Broome. We had an early start to the day, with the massive 4WD truck/bus picking up passengers at 650a.m. I was picked up from Cable Beach Club Resort which was about 10 minute walk from my current accommodation.

There were 17 of us, a good mix of newlyweds, older couples and a very fun bunch of Spanish emigres who are from Melbourne. I especially enjoyed listening to Estella, a very cheerful and sprightly Nanna from Spain, telling me about their family, how they live in Spain and her grandchildren. What can i say, a lot of oldies remind me of my own Gran who i wish we travel a lot more!.

The ride started off smoothly but once we got onto the turn-off to the Dampier Peninsula is what like riding a wild thing. The recent late heavy rains had caused deep corrugations in the road,and had covered bitumen with the bright red Kimberley soil. No sleeping on this trip!. The rough and wild ride lasted nearly an hour. It was with great relief we stumbled off the bus to visit Beagle Bay indigenous community. The main attraction here is the Sacred Heart Church which is has an altar made of Mother of Pearl and decorated with shells. A compact church, it serves the Aboriginal community of Beagle Bay. A quick morning tea courtesy of our guides with Anzac biscuits and Fruit cake. An unexpected attraction was a visit by a curious lad and his wonderfully adorable dog.

After a refreshing tea break, it was back on the bus to One Arm Point community. Both Beagle Bay and One Arm Point are self administered Indigenous communities and they are alcohol free. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_Bay_Community,_Western_Australia)

One Arm Point is located on King Sound, which is a large bay that extends all the way to Derby about 200km away. Looking out North, you can see Thursday Island and the rapid and powerful tides that will give rise to the Horizontal Waterfalls. If the wave energy or current energy was ever harnessed, there would be enough energy to power the whole of Australia (according to our guide!).

At One Arm Point, we visited an amazing hatchery: breeding anemones, soft coral, barramundi, clown fish and greenback turtles. Some of these marine creatures were found in trouble and then rehabilitated here. I loved it as i fed one of the turtles and got to scratch their shells!. Apparently, turtles love having their shells scratched. All you had to do was be a bit careful where you position your fingers. If it is too much in their faces, watch out!.

Feeding barramundi was a highlight as well. These fish are agile and powerful. As soon as they grow to a 100cm long, it's barbecue time. There was also a Lion Fish:spectacular and deadly. Being able to gently stroke anemones and soft coral that are grown there was another highlight. A special species, Magnificent Anemones is home to clown fish and quite essential for their survival. Smaller clown fish hide amongst the tendrils and are kept safe from bigger clown fish that would have simply ate them!. Clown fish are very advanced. They are all born male and then if water temperatures rise to more than 25 degrees celcius they become female. In another circumstance, if a female clown fish is eaten, the male will change and become a female.

Barramundi are interesting too. As soon as they grow to 4-5kg, they switch over and become female. I would not mess with barramundi though. Just eat 'em.

Another highlight at the hatchery was lovely shells polished to a sheen for sale. Some of these shells were made into lovely bangles. As i did not know we could have purchased, i was short of money!. So sad, but i do recommend them as you cannot buy them anywhere else and the bangles are gorgeous.

After spending close to an hour at the hatchery, we stopped by the shore to get a closer look at the rapid tides going across King Sound. In the hazy blue horizon, a faint outline of Sunday Island can be seen.

15 minutes away was out next stop, Kooljaman resort, the only one in the area. Kooljaman is administered by the Indigenous community there. It is strongly advised to make bookings early on. Space is very limited at Kooljaman. However, it's location close to One Arm Point is well-worth the trip. It is MUCH cheaper to take a flight to view the Horizontal Falls from Kooljaman than from Broome ($290 vs $575 or $690 depending which company you go with). A very short and cheery lunch was had in one of the thatched shelters close to the beach. At this point it was midday and broiling.

Quite a few brave souls headed out to the beach for a dip. Sadly, they reported to me it felt more like a hot bath than a refreshing dip. Another quick tea and coffee and we were off to visit Lombadina.

Lombadina is another Aboriginal community of the Dampier peninsula. The main attraction there would be the Bush Church which is a wooden structure. It is quite rickety now but charming in its way. Lombadina was our last stop and our way back, Jeff our guide pointed out Cygnet Bay-a pearl farm. Cygnet Bay used to be closed to the public but now people can come and visit and there are tours from Broome that stop here as part of the Horizontal Falls trip.

The ride back was certainly wild and bone-shaking for about 2 hours. I swear, at times i flew up out of my seat, restrained only by the seatbelt. Sticky, tired but rather happy, i was dropped of at Cable Beach Club resort. Definitely recommend traveling with this company as you are well-fed on their trips.

1.www.kimberleywild.com.au
2.Horizontal Falls:
http://www.horizontalfalls.com.au/
www.kimberleyextreme.com.au/
www.bushflight.com.au/horizontal-falls-tour.php