Finding The Hidden Gems Of Australia
Written by Kevin Kapusi Starow
Flying over the top half of Australia, we are met with images of a harshly etched landscape, spotted with numerous trees, replete with accompanying shadows, a phenomenon unique to this part of the world. Rivers, etch their way into the landscape, veraciously piercing the surface giving the appearance of an established tree root system, transporting vital nutrients far inland.
It looks a harsh and semi-lifeless environment, rock escarpments reach into the sky, their surfaces weathered through thousands of years of exposure to the abrasiveness of elements. On and on this landscape extends, though rather than being monotonous the combined harshness rather reveals a combined beauty, a magnificence, which cannot be appreciated through the study of only singular elements.
It is a breathtaking land, harsh and seemingly unforgiving though incredibly spectacular, this was the landscape we observed throughout our flight. As we flew into Kununurra through the landscape changes, into a green oasis full of farms that grow produce I would not have associated with being from this region. Kununurra is an important transit point in Western Australia, being the entrance or gateway to the East Kimberly region. Located only 37 kilometres from the Northern Territory border, the town was initially established to service the massive Ord River Irrigation scheme.
Today we see an amazing variety of products grown in the region from an abundance of mango orchards to Bananas, pumpkin, melons, peppers, tomatoes, sugar cane, rice, and the list goes on. We were fortunate enough to stay on a mango plantation, though not the season, we were shaded from the abrasive sun by a canopy of huge mango trees surrounding the house we were staying in. There is so much life and activity up here, the wildlife, the lakes, rivers and dams, you would be excused from not believing in droughts with the abundance of water around, used for irrigating fields, and providing life for so many.
Boab trees grow in abundance up here, well in their form of abundance, in a conversation with one of the elders he told me I could eat the nut produced by the tree. Which I did, and you know what, it was good, great texture, and a slightly sour tinge to it, I will certainly go back for another one.
Kununurra is a jewel that needs to be experienced, these mere words alone cannot hope to encapsulate the true spirit, the amazing life force found throughout the area. This was my second visit, and certainly will not be the last, as next time I hope to explore the Kimberley’s, the Bungle Bungles, the waterfalls, and just drink in the life opportunities found within the area.
A Life Of Abundance A Life Of Abundance
