"Such a feeling's coming over me, there is wonder in almost everything I see."

I am too awe-inspired and struck by Darwin's beauty. It is such a pity that hardly anyone knows about Darwin, because they really have so much more to offer - more than you would ever imagine. On our third day, we took a road trip out of the city and explored the wilderness. The journey on its own was an amazing one - probably comparable to that I took at Amsterdam when I was traveling to the outskirts to Keukenhof.

The boundless skies seemed to meet the vast plots of lands, and every turn was a picturesque sight; the clouds were beyond huge and fluffy, and they hung so low, it felt like cotton candy within reach; whistling kites soared high and glided so gracefully above our heads, and we have lotus leaf pads and flowers right before our feet. It was one moment in time that had me gushing with emotions of all sorts - gratitude beyond anything else.

So very humbling.

And Tourism Northern Territory (NT) had so kindly put us up at what is probably the best in outer Darwin - Wildman Wilderness Lodge. Words failed me upon stepping foot onto this beautiful ground - a lodge build out of nowhere in the famed wilderness - because you have to see it for yourself to believe its astounding beauty. We had well-furnished huts (or they call 'habitats'), and from everywhere we are in this lodge, we can see wildlife roaming around, from kangaroos and wallabies, to boars and even snakes. No thanks to the latter, but... just imagine.

And to add on, we were arranged for a special air-boat ride out to the otherwise inaccessible swamps and deserted areas of the wilderness - all with the courtesy of Tourism NT and Wildlands Tours. It was a ride that changed my life, because the experience of sailing with such adrenaline and seeing crocodiles, water buffaloes and magpie geese in its closest nature is something that certainly cannot be measured with mere dollars and cents; an unparalleled delight, indeed.

As I am penning this post, I am thinking of my family and wishing they were here to see all these with me. I have seen the Eiffel Tower, I have climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I have taken a ride around Venice in a gondola, I have been on the Great Wall of China, I have felt snow from Mt Fuji, and so many other wonderful experiences - but this trip to outer Darwin and into the wilderness is one of those marvels in life that is remarkably different and mind-blowing that stays in your heart forever.

But I am gratified all the same because if not for B, I wouldn't be able to experience these all. I love you, B. You are all the man that I need.

God, what did I do to deserve all these goodness in life? I promise I will only work harder and be the best I can be, because the world is so huge and every trip is a humbling lesson and priceless education. Like I always advocate, "traveling is the best and only thing you buy that makes you richer."



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Photography: Brad Lau @ladyironchef