Sensory Stimulus - Sound

Let's be honest.. it's not often I walk without being plugged into my ipod... there are times I've left my earplugs in even after my ipod's died, just to avoid crazy homeless people trying to talk to me...
And believe me... THEY DO!!
Case in point : My gay male friend & I, walking home after dinner the other night... Walk past a homeless man who comes up and goes "So what's it like having sex with a woman?"
Our reply : *silence* keep walking, avoid any eye contact...
Homeless guy : Something arather about something bleeding... then goes on with "Oh well, you look like you're past it and in your menopausal stage anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter..."
We keep walking to try get away from him...
He then yells out : "I'll pray for you!"
Uhhhh... thanks?!

Ummm... yup... If I hadn't been so paranoid about him stabbing me with dirty junky needles I probably would have pissed myself laughing at the fact that of all the male friends I've ever walked with, it had to be when I was with a GAY male friend that we get accosted about "our sex life"...

Annnywhos!

This post is actually about the different things I have heard today...

Please note, I am sitting at "Mrs Macquaries Chair" overlooking the Sydney harbour, Harbour Bridge & Opera House... (just to paint you a picture)

The interesting conversations at home with Kevin about WOOF'ing and farming and where we source our food... (that's a whole other post!)

Conversation with Rohan about travel, hoarding, life overseas, electronic music, work etc & the sounds of cooking, chopping, boiling, frying while he made us lunch...

Walking past flats and hearing random snippets of tv... or radio.... Wondering what they are watching or listening to.
Basketballs bouncing against the concrete court.. the scuff of trainers.. two men talking...
Two young children speaking Japanese on the playground...
An ibis flip flapping as it took off in flight...

Coming across a contemporary art exhibition entitled "Scream" at the old Gunnery, the random sound snippets of conversation, commentary & sound effects of the exhibition...

Birds tweeting & chirping, conversing in the Botanic Gardens

Walking past people who have their ipods blaring and wondering what they are listening to...

The crew setting up the stage for Carmen... walkie talkies buzzing.. men & women talking/shouting...

The sound of the waves lapping at the sea wall
Sea planes and helicopters overhead
Commentary from a Hop On/Hop Off tour boat as it goes around the Harbour
Screams and yahoos from the jet boat tour... giving them a wave..
Sounds of the couple exchanging kisses in the sun..

Sound of tourists lining up to take photos
A wedding photographer barking instructions to the bride & groom on the rocks..
Conversations of the pairs of friends out enjoying the sun...
Spanish, Chinese.. Filipino..?

Sound of boats putt putting around the harbour...
Speed boats thudding up and down on the chop..
Squawk of a duck..

Phone ringing and reminding me it was time to leave!


Do you ever walk around and listen to the world around you?
Do you ever just eavesdrop on people's conversations?
Or do you usually have headphones on??

Sensory Stimulus... Smell..

I arrived in Sydney today and as I was walking to meet my friend for dinner I walked past a bunch of restaurants/bars but it was when I was walking past blocks of houses/flats that I couldn't help but pick up the different smells sneaking out of open windows....

Some were familiar and some not so, but they all stirred a sense of wonder... What are people having for dinner?!

I also LOVE the smell of laundromats.. something about the smell of a hot press seems to make my heart happy.. coming into a room where someone's been ironing invokes kind of the same feeling... I couldn't tell you why I love the smell of laundromats but I have since I was little...

The same with freshly cut grass.. although I think that is because it reminds me of sunny Summer days... growing up... when Dad would be out mowing the lawn, which usually meant I could then go out and play in the yard..

I'm pretty sure I like the smell of laundromats & freshly cut grass more than fresh baking.. Something about those two smells just hark back to my childhood...

And one thing I've noticed is that laundromats the world over.. All pretty much smell the same!

Do you have any smells that make you happy? Anywhere you walk past that make you stop and take a deep breath?? Do you share either of my favourite smells or do you think I'm a total weirdo??!!