Gallimaufry#140

Just a gallimaufry of AI-generated photos, real photos and ramblings 📸

Awww!

Lunch—fried rice topped with shredded fried imitation crab sticks

Fried imitation crab sticks are a fantastic addition to fried rice, adding both flavor and texture. 

FROM THE TRAVEL ARCHIVES

Greek signboard

Turns out, my Greek is limited to the letters I barely survived in Math and Physics!

Sheep shearing at Wallan Wool Shed, Australia 1992

I’ve never seen a live sheep in Malaysia, though there are small-scale sheep farms nestled in the highlands and cooler regions. It's hard to imagine a sheep with its thick fleece enduring our scorching heat, especially now with climate change causing even higher temperatures. 

Having never seen live sheep, I always imagined them to be as white as fresh snow. So, imagine my surprise when I first saw sheep in Australia, and they were more of a beige color! 

My visit to the Wallan Wool Shed in 1992 was an interesting experience. I vividly recall the rustic charm of the shed, with its wooden beams and the earthy scent of wool. Watching the traditional sheep shearing demo was captivating—the shearers, with their practiced hands and swift movements, skillfully handled the sheep, expertly removing the fleece in one continuous piece.

The experience offered a unique glimpse into the rural Australian way of life and the wool industry. The sight of the freshly shorn sheep, naked and bare against the piles of fluffy fleece, was almost comical. However, the sheep looked petrified during the shearing process, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they felt stress or pain from the nicks and cuts. 

BALLARAT 1992

Ballarat is a historic city in Victoria, Australia, known for its significant role in the 1850s Gold Rush. Once a booming gold mining town, Ballarat now offers a blend of rich history and modern attractions. The city is famous for Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum that recreates the gold rush experience, complete with gold panning, historical buildings, and reenactments.

A blacksmith in a rustic forge, surrounded by tools and a sign advertising "Small Horse Shoes" for $1.50

Capturing the essence of life in a 19th-century gold rush town.

The hubs panning for gold at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

 FUN FACT 

 The Australian gold rush saw some massive gold finds. One of the largest nuggets ever discovered, the "Welcome Nugget," was found in Ballarat in 1858, weighing an astonishing 69 kilograms (152 pounds).