Tomas Alexander Schwidt Dano's Personal Journal

Peachy Sky, but not a Peachy Day

2023-01-05T03:28:00.004-08:00

Today wasn't easy. It was a trying day. It was one of those days that make you think. Make you think to the point where you overthink.

Why am I here (jobwise)? Why do I have such bad luck? Why always me? Why do I always have to have shit jobs?

And when you (I) overthink, things become worrisome. Best to chuck on Netflix and numb the brain.

But every evening, we are reminded that a new day will come, and that is definite. Because not many things in life are certain. Death is certain. Taxes are certain. Tomorrow is certain. Yet, nothing is certain.

So just like an artist, nature painted the sky beautiful peachy colour. Once again I was reminded that tomorrow will be different.

Mediterranean Roast Veggie Memories

2023-01-04T03:26:00.004-08:00

Today I had lovely food. And I just love how good food makes you feel happy and content. It changes everything. Your dull day turns all pink and amazing.

Grilled seabass, with steamed green beans and red pepper and rocket salad, both drenched in olive oil. Mediterranean cuisine is my absolute favourite but has to be authentic and has to contain loads of vegetables. So as I was eating my fish supper, it got me reminiscing about one of my favourite recipes I would make back at home nearly every week. It's so easy, and yet so full of flavour.

All I'd do is chuck loads of in-season veggies in a tray, drench them in oil, I mean bucketloads of oil, and season with loads of smoked sea salt, tons of whole garlic, crushed black pepper, chilli flakes, and fresh rosemary. This meal has never turned out to be just ok, or bad. It was always perfect, and best eaten with crusty bread. My mouth is salivating just thinking about it, and now I have to look at the pictures...

Above, you can see that I've added red peppers, aubergine, mushrooms and spicy harissa sauce to the tray.

For the perfect aubergine, if you know you know, but anyway you should know to soak it in salty water for a few hours, then dry it before roasting. That skin will turn so crispy, and the flesh so succulent and full of flavour.

...how I wish I had an oven here in Australia so I could make this...

Snow White Beaches of Rottnest a.k.a Australian Maldives -- Things You Must Know

2023-01-03T01:37:00.002-08:00

Scroll down for pictures.

As today was absolutely uneventful, I ended up reminiscing about a trip I took a few weeks back while in Perth.

The first time around, I missed the early morning ferry. Blame the alcohol. But luckily, sweet people at Rottnest Express rescheduled my trip for the next day even at a short notice and free of charge. Relieved, I went back to bed with a sore head and slept the whole day through,

Equipped with a push bike, bread and hummus lunch (which was stolen by seagulls), an oversized bucket hat and no suncream I was ready to seize this island located just west of Perth, and easily reachable from Fremantle. I was determined to see all the beaches and all the sites and interact with all the quokkas that were humanly possible. But let me tell you all one thing, it's simply not possible to do it all in one day if you really want to enjoy the island, and that's swimming and really taking it all in.

If you are two minds about doing the Rottnest Island, please just do it. It's simply out of this world. The further you get from the main settlement, the more unspoilt it is. The sand in some places is alpine white, so soft and fine resembling talcum powder. Unbelievable in other words.

Now for the things, you must know before visiting Rottnest Island.

1. Bring food and a refillable water bottle. At least a 2-litre bottle as refill stations aren't as frequent.

2. Get the earliest boat available, the 7:30am one; and come back on the latest boat, the 18:30 one.

3. Bring, and I beg you, bring suncream lotion. Most of the beaches have no shade whatsoever. I think I've only seen one shaded spot under the rocks which was already hogged by people and which didn't look too snakeproof to me.

Now, things you should know when on the Rottnest Island

1. The flies. Check the direction of the wind on that day and head for the beaches being battered by the winds. I found the windy beaches absent of flies and I'd rather wind than flies.

2. The island isn't as big as it looks on the map, and if you are a relatively fit cyclist you can cycle from the very end of the island, where the fur seals are, to the settlement, where the jetty is, in comfortable 35 minutes.

3. There are toilets on all major beaches, even at the more remote ones.

4. If you end up hungry, or your food gets stolen by native birds like mine did, there are restaurants in the main town and there's a small food truck at the far end of the island near the Cathedral Rocks.

And enjoy... my pictures and videos for now.

Outback Sunsets in Karratha

2023-01-02T01:50:00.002-08:00

You could call it the middle of nowhere, and it really is. There's nothing for hundreds of miles in all directions. Only the red dirt, rocks, sparse vegetation, an occasional kangaroo and flies. Millions of flies. Oh, did I mention the flies?!

Anyway, on New Year's Day, determined to be wholesome, I grabbed my AirPods and with Dolly Parton, in my ears, I went for a walk searching for a rock where I could perch myself on and get a 360-degree view to watch my first real outback sunset.

And boy, was it magical. I thought I had a private evening with Dolly herself, serenading just for me and only me. I even forgot all about the ever-present flies invading my eyes, my nose and my ears. They really are aggressive, these Aussie flies.

Anyway, let's leave the pictures to speak for themselves.