Monday, 31 December 2012

2012: A Year in Review


So much has happened this year, and if I will enumerate everything, this space won’t be enough. So much has happened in the sense that it wrought me to be a better person than last year, and it’s still teaching me lessons that will continue on to the following year. But the most significant things that I will never forget are things that have changed my life and my point of view.

One of those is that things will not always go the way I want it to. It can be the worst and might be in the most unimaginable way, or it can be in the best way possible. Either way, I learned not to sit there and do nothing, just because things didn’t happen as I expected, but to keep moving forward whatever the result is. I’m learning little by little on how to accept things even though I do not favour them as much as I favour others.

Friends come and go, and I should focus on those that remain. I cannot stop people from doing what they want, and I cannot stop them if they choose to not be friends with me anymore. I shouldn’t waste my time on people who have hurt me but the memories that we had together will always stay with me. We may have lost contact for days, months or years, but the friendship remains. For me, nothing will ever change, and I will forever be thankful that they have been a part of my life. If I ask for reconciliation, and they refuse it, I will keep on trying because I believe that friend is a gift no material thing can replace. But if they show an utmost refusal then I should respect their decisions.

I’ve learned to be humble in every possible way. A person who boasts about every single thing is not loved because of his talents and possessions but is hated because he cannot keep his feet on the ground. No matter what I achieve, I will never take full credit, or I will not take any credit at all, because an act of goodness doesn’t happen because of a single person, but everyone contributes to it. Whatever I attain in life, I will always have my two feet stepping on the ground, because it will be hard to get up once you fall from somewhere so high. Humility is an admirable trait, and for me, it is one of the keys to a prosperous and happy life.

Every year means change. Every year means reforms. Each year that passes in my life should be lived to the fullest, for no one could go back in time to change the past.

Cherish every moment of your life and be thankful for the mere fact that you are still alive. Be thankful for every blessing you’ve received from God because no one else is more generous, kind and loving than He is. 

Family Week 2012: Day 2 (Great Ocean Road)

Continuing on to the 2nd day of our family week, we decided to drive to The Great Ocean Road. From my house we traveled approximately 266 km for 4 hours, probably more. I took a screen shot of the map, just to show a preview of the roads we traveled.

 Zooming out, you can see that it's only a small portion of Australian land. Imagine how big Australia is! That took us almost 5 hours, even with the help of the barge.



View before entering the barge




On the barge


Another bigger barge at sight

My brother

Anglesea

Great Otway National Park


Group Photo


Fantastic Summer Sky





Enjoying?



A random car I came across just after exiting from the barge

Wonderful town


On the way to Great Ocean Road

Near Anglesea









My shadow. Lol

Great Ocean Road Official Touring Map



A glimpse of a shoreline



Possibly old trees



Beauchamp Falls Walk



Unfortunately, we weren't able to see the falls. The paths were unstable and it was a 2 hour walk. Even though we wanted to see it, we didn't want to miss the main attraction which is "The Twelve Apostles." We ended up leaving despite driving for almost 2 hours just to reach the falls. (Sighhh)


With my family

Beautiful Sunshine


Failing to try to stand on these wood barriers

View at Gibson Steps





Steps down

Gibson Steps

Perfectly eroded cliffs

 And now, finally, the main itinerary of the day. The Twelve Apostles! We walked under a bridge to get to the greatest sight of the view.

Twelve Apostles

Those tiny dot like things are people

Twelve Apostles (Which technically isn't anymore because the others eroded already)


Last photo for the day



I took a vast amount of the view because I want to be able to see portions of the magnificent works created by God. I was completely overwhelmed with the amount of wonders Australia has. Just here in Victoria, there are lots and lots of beautiful sights to see. Maybe it was a good choice not to go to another state yet. This is just the beginning of our Australian Travels. Stay tuned for our 2013 Family Week!