#multisensualmessenger

soundbook track three: CARS

It is Wednesday morning, 13th of February 2019. A fourty litres green backpack, a thirty kilos blue suitcase and me are arriving at Newcastle Interchange. 

So, this is Australia? Where are all the snakes, kangaroos and spiders? Where is the barbecue smell and the beaches? Where is the dryness and the fires? At least some mosquitos and a bright shining sun are meshing with my expectations. 

Wednesday, 20-MAR-2019 / 25°C

L E A N   B A C K   &   R E F L E C T 

Well, it has been exactly 6 weeks since I have arrived at Newcastle Interchange.

Honestly, I have never experienced such a shaping time before.. in which I got to collect so many different memories. Truly: memories for a lifetime!

I have experienced this city as being DIVERSE in many ways:

*visually: street art - green nature - blue sky & ocean - warning signs

*olfactory: coffee - salty breeze - Asian,... food

*sonic: traffic noises - traffic lights - digger noises - construction work noises - waves & sea-gulles - cockatoos

*degustation: diverse!

*haptic: fresh, salty breeze - hills, that lead to sore muscles - sand - ocean water

Am I ready to be a messenger of this Ccty?

In its formal definition - as learned in class - this is an “envoy” or an “Ambassador” who “brings News” or “other intelligence”. 

Yes, I regard myself as an envoy who is keen to show the people from Newy how their city looks like from a foreigners perspective!

Friday, 15-MAR-2019 / 23 °C / Darby Street

D I V E R S E 

What is a typical Newy dish?

Or what is even a typical Australian dish?

In fact, what really makes Australian food culture from my point of view: the great diversity that you cannot find in any place where I am from. Newcastle proves this as well.. and a foreigner like me simply loves it! Where can you have Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, French, German, Mexican, American and British Food in one place?

Yes, Darby Street is the place!

In my opinion, this diverse food culture is a great treasure and makes the city even more colourful. Diversity in all its facets can only be completed when it is experienced in a degustation sense as well!

Monday, 11-MAR-19  / NewSpace - Darby Street - King Street / 26°C

Some critical thoughts

Well, when it comes to drinking habits, I made two haunting memories this weekend. One, that made me feel warm and comfortable. Another one, that I rather find doubtful.

++++

Newy has a wonderful coffee culture with not only great coffee shops but also the coffee taste itself is quite good!

- - - -

Is it really effective to have such strict laws on alcohol consumption? Coming from a country where beer and wine are “luxury foodstuffs”, it is new to see that consuming drinks here is connected to requirements. Yes, I would not support a position stating that alcohol consumption below adulthood should be legalised! But doesn’t misue - of both alcohol and drugs - arise from too strict regulations?

It is so nice to smell coffee everywhere in Newy. 

soundbook track four: WHIM NOISES

Saturday, 09-MAR-19  / Visit to Blackbutt Reserve / 23°C

Nature is big in Newy!

When it comes to nature, Blackbutt Reserve is certainly a site to visit here. I am there on Saturday, 09th of March. Even when the weather forecast was not positive, the sun is still touching my nose and I feel a warm breeze of around 23°C. Blackbutt has all the animals that are hold to be exotic where I am from: Kangaroos, Emus, Possums, Koalas, Cockatoos, Turtles and Peacocks! It is therefore very special to me, as a European, to see these animals. 

But, why does it have to be in a zoological Ambiance?

I want to see them out there - in true nature! Oh, at least I am glad to haven’t met snakes and Spiders “out there”. 

Friday, 08-MAR-19  / Nobby’s Beach - Newcastle Beach - Memorial Walk / Bar Beach - Honeysuckle / 30°C

BLUE & BLUE & BLUE & BLUE

Naturwise, Newcastle has a lot to offer. In the heart of it, it is the bright blue, turquoise or sky blue colours that make the beaches here so special! At least, when you come from a land where you are used to go on vacation to the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea. Certainly, Newcastle is a surfing paradise as well. What a contrast to the (British) industrial charme in the inner city!

Do the Newy’s even value their blue treasures?

Wednesday, 06-MAR-19  / King Street / 23°C

Building the new while involving the creative core of the own people

Darby street is glittering...due to beautiful street art!

Wednesday, 06-MAR-19  / King Street - NewSpace - Council Street - Darby Street / 23°C

Truly a F U T U R E city!

Yes, you can easily see that Newcastle is developing quite fast. Construction works, building structures, traffic- and roadworks everywhere. Hopefully, the city planners manage to protect the industrial charme of Newy. But as its name reveals, it is all about the N E W side of life. Glad to be part of such a new city, at least for a while.

soundbook track two: TRAFFIC LIGHT

soundbook track one: SCHOOL BUS STARTING

Monday, 04-MAR-19  / King Street - Darby Street - Hannell Street / 28°C

Newcastle has them all - wouldn’t a world without cars be so nice?

There are plenty of transportation possibilities in this city. And anything is cheaper, more eco-friendly and healthier than using your car! I am impressed by the cheap bus and train prices which are in comparison to European ones very fair. And although Newy has a lot of hills, bike pathes are very well prepared. 

So why do most of the people still choose their car over public transport or bike?

Monday, 04-MAR-19 / CivicPark / 29°C

Starting the Walk

NewSpace and the CivicPark are the perfect places to start my walk through the city. Coffee helps to boost my energy... the sun is so great outside. Do people from Newy even know how lucky they are with the weather in their town? Back home it is winter - which means snow, <0°C and daaaaark days. But down here, summers are so long, so warm, so bright! 

Yes, the warm sun on my skin and the breeze from the ocean are indeed something that really touches my senses in this city…

soundbook track five: FOUNTAIN @ park

Friday, 01-MAR-19 / Newcastle Shop Visitor Info Center / 28°C

Tuesday, 26-FEB-19 / 26°C / NewSpace

My mission is to be a messenger with a newcomer perspective who is keen to discover the city with all my senses.

Listening to its sounds, absorbing its smell, trying its taste, feeling its surface, watching the scenery. 

Being a #multisensualmessenger.