Kiama
Post categories: Student blog
| 15:12 UK time, Monday, 16 January 2012
In the last post I talked about my study and my part-time job in the supermarket. I would really feel sorry for myself, however, to be in Australia but not to find time going to the beach.
So here comes me to introduce Kiama, a seaside town along the South Coast of NSW.I took the trip there with my own nearly a year ago, after that I've been to several other places along the coast of NSW, but Kiama remains to be my top favorite all these days.
It was exactly the same time of January last year when I was on summer vocation, the night before I was surfing on the net, and suddenly found the breathtaking photographs my friend uploaded to her Facebook, after her return from Kiama. The views attracted me so much that I decided to explore the charming place immediately the next day.
The next dawn when Kookaburra was laughing in the tree, I got up and had a quick preparation for my baggage (only a camera, a coat, my wallet and home-made sandwiches) . After a 20- minute walk to the nearest train station and another 20-minutes train to the Central Station where I transferred, my dream journey towards Kiama began.
I took the South Coast Line to Kiama, it was a memorable train journey, since there are several popular beaches and towns along the line, such as Wollongong, Shellharbour and Bombo. Seeing from window the beautiful seaside and blue sky, I totally enjoyed myself during the long journey.
It was nearly noon when I arrived at Kiama. It proved to be a place that lived up to my 3-hour travel by train. It's a place famous for its lighthouse, blowhole and quality surfacing beaches. But what I like most was the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere of the town. Here are some photographs I took.
It is said that the name Kiama has the meaning of "where the sea makes a noise", but I imagine seldom people would take the sounds of wave and seabird as "noise". Walking along the seaside made me totally relaxed, and Kiama thus became one of the fascinating places that I'd never like to leave.
After the long walk alone the beaches, I turned back to wonder around the town, it's a place with history: peaceful, neat, and at the same time keeps a vivid atmosphere through various cafes and retail outlets. Below is the photograph of the Post Office in town center, it is completed in 1878 and is one of the oldest buildings on the south coast.
I spent another 3 hours to return and got back home nearly midnight. It was a fantastic experience of travelling with my own. I like wondering about with a dozen of friends as well, but that's a totally different experience- with friends you always concentrate on the conversations and the friendship among you. But travelling by yourself enables one to explore more the new places as well as oneself. In a place like Kiama, you never fail to find something new on the journey alone.
Comment number 1.
At 16th Jan 2012, walter wrote:Dear xiaowei
I am new here, but i like these site and i am sure that i can improve my englisch.
Best regards
Walter
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Comment number 2.
At 16th Jan 2012, Discip wrote:After reading your blog I looked up where Kiama is and for sure I'm going to visit it when I go to Australia. You describe so well that place and for spaniards Australia is a must, that country is our antipodean country
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Comment number 3.
At 17th Jan 2012, Saki wrote:Hi Xiaowei,
It's Saki from Japan again, thank you for your update!
As the sea and the blowhole in your pictures were so intriguing, I couldn't help but google "Kiama" a little bit more by myself. The town of Kiama looks really calm and comfortable as you mentioned. Also, as I've never seen the blowhole before, I have an interest in it. How did you like the sound of the blowholes? Was it loud, or rather quiet and soft?
By the way, thank you so much for answering my questions about your study and life in Australia. I'm sure everyone feels lonely to some extent when we are abroad by ourselves. So I think you are doing really great, making friends though your activities, woking out all these issues by yourself.
As for my plan, I'm thinking about taking interpreting course or English-language teaching course in a English-speaking country in order to enhance my skills both in these areas and in English itself. But before doing so, I would like to improve my English skills more. I'm looking forward to your next post!
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Comment number 4.
At 17th Jan 2012, Salamat_91 wrote:Hello!
Dear my new friends,
i am first time in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and i am so happy...
I think i will talk to you and will enjoy..So as you Xiaowei, i am too from Asia and at tnat moment studiyng in Netherland...It was so interesting to read your own life story..Great!Best wishes all of tnem...Bye!Ooh,sorry one moment, i am a girl,hehee...
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Comment number 5.
At 19th Jan 2012, Xiaowei wrote:Hello Saki,
Nice to hear from you again! It's interesting to talk about the sound of the Kiama Blowhole, when the waves sprayed out of the hole, the sound was spectacularly loud especially when the water spout was high. However when the waves recedes, the sound from Blowhole sounds for me just like dull thunder from somewhere below the horizon, as if the water was accumulating energy.
Your study plan sounds really nice, and what I appreciate most is the English you've written, it's so accurate and appropriate. I learnt a lot from the words and phrases you chose. Can you tell me how do you study English? It's a pleasure to hear from you again!
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Comment number 6.
At 19th Jan 2012, bomsan wrote:Hi Xiaowei,
Although I've been living near the sea for a long time it's still very exciting to see other part of sea as well as to see mine. Thank you for a wonderful new posting. I liked it.
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Comment number 7.
At 20th Jan 2012, Varisha wrote:Hi Xiaowei,
Enjoyed reading your post and the pictures are amazing. I also like your idea of travelling on your own, you are your own boss, you don't need to look for other people's approval what you want to see and do. Although saying that, it is also not easy when you are visiting a completely new place. Sometimes it is good to have someone with you for support etc. Travelling on your own needs courage and confidence and not everyone has them. It needs people like you who are bold enough to pack and go.
The post-office looks very nice and the surrounding area seems to be very quiet and peaceful. I have never seen such a post-office, it is usually somewhere in the Town Centre but this place looks really good. I wonder if it is still in use or it is just for Tourists. Anyway, look forward to your next post.
Varisha
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Comment number 8.
At 20th Jan 2012, Xiaowei wrote:Hi Varisha,
I totally agree with you that it's always better and safer to find a companions when we are travelling to some unknown and less tourist- prepared places.
The post-office is set in the centre of the town, and what's amazing is that, it's still in use as the current post office for the town. When I got to Kiama I was astonished by the quiet of the town as well, then I think maybe that's because it was Thursday, I don't know whether on weekends it would be a bit more crowded. Anyway it's a cozy and lovely place.
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Comment number 9.
At 23rd Jan 2012, candhida wrote:Hi Xiaowei,
Thanks for the wonderful journey!
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Comment number 10.
At 27th Feb 2012, zaid wrote:The narrative was totally injoying, Ihave never been there but Ifeel like I saw it befor it's charming place not as beatifull as I imagine it 's realy facinated place Idecided to visited on vacation In the following month as well as I want to vist a some temple In India Ipromise you when I got back to home I wrote about that.
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