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Waltzing Australia - Cynthia Clampitt
Waltzing Australia
Cynthia Clampitt
ISBN: 9781419663062
BookSurge Publishing
Reviewed By Krystal Pearson
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
Waltzing Australia takes the reader on a journey through the heart and soul of the country & continent affectionately known as “Down Under.” Comprised of chronological entries in an extemporaneous travel diary, Cynthia Clampitt’s tome serves as a comprehensive guide to just what makes Australia one of the most unique and inviting places on earth.
Guided by Clampitt’s masterful narration, the reader is treated to the vicarious thrills and excitement that she experiences on her sojourn through a land that she had long dreamed of but never visited. Along the way, she learns volumes of native history, sees breathtaking sights that others only read about in books, and becomes increasingly fascinated with the vast and sundry local wildlife. She also builds invaluable new friendships, through which she’s introduced to the customs, mores, and folkways that bring the land to life.
Aside from its geographical and sociological appeal, Waltzing Australia’s true power lies in the notable lessons that it can teach readers – lessons whose inherent value elevate them above those found in traditional history books. As a personal witness to the environment and living history of the country, Clampitt lends her already compelling account an added, deft touch of humanity, which makes it universally more appealing than a bland, sterile recapitulation of facts and information.
For a welcome, first-hand account of a fascinating place of truly well-earned renown, readers would serve themselves well to peruse the pages of Waltzing Australia. In so doing, they may very well ignite the same fire within themselves as that which propelled Clampitt to visit the fabled mini-paradise – and feel just as fulfilled as a result.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Cynthia Clampitt (Waltzing Australia)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Cynthia. We're looking forward to learning more about your book.
What compelled you to abandon the money, job, and security that you'd amassed for yourself and travel extensively throughout "the land down under?"
Cynthia Clampitt: I was successful, but found that success was not enough, at least for me. I felt restless, disconnected from the corporate politics and priorities that surrounded me. As my dissatisfaction with corporate culture began to increase, so did my realization that I was supposed to be writing. Suddenly awakening to the fact that I actually had no interest in ending up where my career was taking me, I felt an urgent desire to change the direction of my life. I could only imagine one way to do that, and that was to get out. I had been to Europe several times growing up (my father had been with the airlines), and I had lived in England as a student, and I knew they wouldn’t offer me what I was looking for--something completely new, completely different from what I had known. I had always been interested in Australia, but I found that, as the desire to leave grew, so did my desire to see Australia. During the few years it took to save up enough money to make my escape, I kept the dream fueled with a steady stream of Australian books, movies, music, wine.
AR: What's the significance of the title of the book?
CC: “Waltzing Matilda” is one of the most famous poems in Australia, and, in its musical form, has long been referred to as the unofficial national anthem of Australia. In this poem, a swagman sings of waltzing Matilda. A swagman is an itinerant worker who carries a swag as he wanders on foot. A swag is a bedroll, pack, or bundle of personal belongings rolled up in a blanket. Another name for the swag was Matilda. “Waltzing” is a slang term used by the swagmen that meant traveling on foot, wandering about the Australian countryside.
I covered more of Australia than most swagmen, did not always travel on foot, and generally carried considerably more than a swag, but the cultural significance of “Waltzing Matilda” combined with the idea of wandering about the countryside made the title seem like a natural.
AR: Was it difficult for you to maintain a constant diary of all your experiences while on your sojourn?
CC: It was certainly work. I had to keep at it, as so much happened every day, I would have fallen hopelessly behind if I missed more than a few days of writing. Fortunately, my corporate life had equipped me with the discipline needed to stay focused on a task. However, it was joyous work. I was highly motivated, because this was why I came. I rejoiced at having so much to write about, as well as the opportunity to write. So it was work, but it was work that gladdened my soul.
AR: Who "settled" Australia?
CC: There are, of course, a few ways this could be answered. There was an initial wave of aboriginal people, unrelated to today’s Aborigines, who arrived at a very early date. As the ancestors of the current aboriginal population arrived, these earlier Aborigines got pushed southward, finally taking refuge in Tasmania. These are the people that Europeans knew as Tasmanian Aborigines.
Depending on which books you read and which research you believe, the ancestors of the current aboriginal population arrived somewhere between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago. They probably traveled across a land bridge from Asia, and then spread across the continent, differentiating as they adapted to various climates and available resources.
Finally, the Europeans -- the British -- arrived. The First Fleet, which carried 1,138 people to Australia’s shores, arrived in January 1788 (just a day ahead of the French, who had hoped to claim the continent for themselves). Of those in this first wave of “settlement,” 821 were convicts. Of course, back then, being in debt or speaking out against the king could get you thrown in jail, so not all of these people were actual criminals. The date is significant in that it is only a few years after the end of the American Revolution. Before the American Revolution, the British dumped their convicts in the American colonies.
AR: What are some things that surprise non-Australians when they began learning about Australia?
CC: Most people are really surprised to find out how big Australia is. It’s almost the same size as the continental United States. Equally surprising is that, with that large a country, the population is only 20 million. Of course, that’s because so much of the country is not really habitable. The limited quantity of habitable land creates another unexpected feature of Australia: it is one of the most urbanized countries in the world. About 85 percent of the population resides in cities or towns, and most people live within an hour’s drive of an ocean.
While most folks expect koalas and cockatoos, most are surprised to learn that there are large colonies of penguins in several places along Australia’s southern coast. Others are surprised the Mark Twain, Anthony Trollope, and D.H. Lawrence not only visited Australia, but wrote about it.
And Australia is a great dining destination. The surrounding waters yield a tremendous bounty of wonderful fish and seafood. Tropical areas supply exotic fruits. Farmers markets overflow with wonderful, fresh produce. Australia is one of the world’s great wine regions. The tremendously diverse population provides a tremendous range of cuisines from which to choose, and even in shopping mall food courts, one can find everything from Malaysian and Indonesian food to Lebanese and Greek. Add to all of this a growing number of well-traveled, ambitious, and innovative chefs, and it’s hard to go too far wrong when dining in Oz.
AR: Please explain for our readers what the word "koala" means and why it's significant.
CC: “Koala” is an Aboriginal word for “never drink” or “no water.” Koalas get almost all the moisture they need from the eucalypt leaves they eat. However, they do occasionally drink, but only small amounts, and only in the summer, when the leaves dry out.
AR: Out of all the natural beauty you saw, what was the most captivating for you?
CC: Boy, that’s a tough question, as there are so many areas that became dear to me. The rainforest first awoke in me the realization that I needed natural beauty as part of my life. However, the place I really came alive was in the Red Center, in the Northern Territory. There, I found myself in the midst of a strange, subtle land of bizarre rock formations and ragged mountains, of red earth, odd plants, and cloudless, metallic-blue skies. The weird, rugged beauty of the Centre enchanted me. I wanted so terribly to embrace this strange beauty, to be part of it, that camping out (something I had initially worried about) seemed, not a challenge, but a natural progression. It was as if, after years of wandering, I had finally come home. As I wrote during my second visit to the Red Center, near the end of the book, “I wondered again, as I have wondered before, why this place moves me so. I am drawn to the remoteness, to the vigor, the fierceness, and the unfettered innocence of this land, and its spirit whispers to my spirit, and its song sings in my veins.”
AR: How is your life different now from before you went on that first trip to Australia?
CC: The most obvious difference is that I’m working for myself and making a living writing. Other differences include changed priorities. Before Australia, I worked all the time. I almost never took vacations. Instead of travel, I had shopping. Today, I’d rather take a great trip every year than have a fabulous wardrobe or new TV—and I’ve had some amazing journeys, including adventures in Mongolia, Tibet, Morocco, Iceland, Ecuador, and many other fascinating, exotic places. I take more time to contribute to the community, from teaching classes to organizing fundraisers. On a beautiful day, I’ll go to the Botanic Garden or forest preserves for a walk, knowing that I’ll work better when I return refreshed. I just have a different mindset now. I still have to work hard -- no one who is self-employed escapes hard work. But work isn’t my whole life now.
AR: What is the main message that you'd like readers to take away from the book?
CC: I hope readers take away the message that dreams have a price, but they can come true. Don’t just wish or hope or play the lottery. Make a plan -- as long term as necessary. If you have young children, obviously the plan will need to be farther in the future than if you’re single and living alone. But still plan. I have a friend who waited until her children were grown, and then went to law school. She passed the bar at age 59. It may take time, but don’t let the dream die. Of course, you need to be realistic; if you’re 70, you’re probably not going to make the Olympic swim team, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win medals in other swimming competitions. Never let what you can’t do keep you from doing as much as you can do.
So outline what it is you really want, what needs to happen to make your dream a reality, and steps that will lead you in that direction. And save. I had an envelope with AUSTRALIA written on it, and every time I resisted the urge to buy something on impulse, I put the money I didn’t spend in the envelope. It was amazing how quickly that envelope filled up, and a fat envelope meant I was that much closer to leaving. Being frugal has now become second nature. I always seek ways to economize, because the dream now is to remain independent.
AR: What's next for you?
CC: If Waltzing Australia does well, I’d love to do a sequel. I have been back three times, and I’ve had some astonishing adventures on the return trips. Not only have I seen things that were on my list at the end of the first trip, I’ve even seen a few things that hadn’t even been discovered at the time of my first trip. In a country that is almost as big as the continental United States, but with only 20 million inhabitants, there is an tremendous amount of unexplored territory.
In addition to writing about Australia, I’d love to do a book that shares with readers what I’ve learned about travel in general -- how to arrange trips, how to protect your health, where to find good deals, products that are ideal for travel, how to get the most out of trips, and why I think travel is important -- even if you’re just going to the next town.
I’m also working on a book of food history -- histories of the 100 most important foods in the world. Food has been a tremendous factor in events throughout history, but it seems to still be underappreciated as a force in world events. Aside from its importance as an aspect of culture, food has altered civilizations, affected populations, funded empires, and motivated everything from invasions to exploration. When the Visigoths held Rome for ransom, their demands included 3,000 pounds of black pepper. Columbus sailed because the Ottoman Turks had shut down the Spice Route. Africa’s population exploded after the introduction of cassava from South America. And there is so much more. Foods we eat every day have astonishing histories, and I’d love to tell them.
AR: How can people learn more about you, your writings, and your other efforts?
CC: I have a blog that supports the book -- http://www.waltzingaustralia.com -- where readers can find photographs from my trips to Australia, additional information about things I saw and places I visited, recipes for Australian foods, and so on.
Anyone on Facebook can become a “fan” on the Cynthia Clampitt fan page. That’s where I post updates on book signings, presentations, radio interviews, and other events -- and where I’ll post information about future books.
And if people are interested in food history and food related to travel and culture, they can visit my other blog: http://worldsfare.wordpress.com.
AR: Also, how can they contact you directly?
CC: Anyone can leave a message on the Cynthia Clampitt fan page on Facebook or on one of my two blogs. I love hearing from readers.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
CC: I hope you have fun reading Waltzing Australia, as I think it’s an entertaining adventure. But more than that, I hope my book inspires you to go out and begin making plans to pursue your own dream, whether that’s going back to college or taking your first plane ride, preparing for a new career or starting a new hobby. Because once you start planning, you’ll find that the pursuit of the dream is part of the fun.
AR: Thanks again, Cynthia, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
Cynthia Clampitt
ISBN: 9781419663062
BookSurge Publishing
Reviewed By Krystal Pearson
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
Waltzing Australia takes the reader on a journey through the heart and soul of the country & continent affectionately known as “Down Under.” Comprised of chronological entries in an extemporaneous travel diary, Cynthia Clampitt’s tome serves as a comprehensive guide to just what makes Australia one of the most unique and inviting places on earth.
Guided by Clampitt’s masterful narration, the reader is treated to the vicarious thrills and excitement that she experiences on her sojourn through a land that she had long dreamed of but never visited. Along the way, she learns volumes of native history, sees breathtaking sights that others only read about in books, and becomes increasingly fascinated with the vast and sundry local wildlife. She also builds invaluable new friendships, through which she’s introduced to the customs, mores, and folkways that bring the land to life.
Aside from its geographical and sociological appeal, Waltzing Australia’s true power lies in the notable lessons that it can teach readers – lessons whose inherent value elevate them above those found in traditional history books. As a personal witness to the environment and living history of the country, Clampitt lends her already compelling account an added, deft touch of humanity, which makes it universally more appealing than a bland, sterile recapitulation of facts and information.
For a welcome, first-hand account of a fascinating place of truly well-earned renown, readers would serve themselves well to peruse the pages of Waltzing Australia. In so doing, they may very well ignite the same fire within themselves as that which propelled Clampitt to visit the fabled mini-paradise – and feel just as fulfilled as a result.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Cynthia Clampitt (Waltzing Australia)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Cynthia. We're looking forward to learning more about your book.
What compelled you to abandon the money, job, and security that you'd amassed for yourself and travel extensively throughout "the land down under?"
Cynthia Clampitt: I was successful, but found that success was not enough, at least for me. I felt restless, disconnected from the corporate politics and priorities that surrounded me. As my dissatisfaction with corporate culture began to increase, so did my realization that I was supposed to be writing. Suddenly awakening to the fact that I actually had no interest in ending up where my career was taking me, I felt an urgent desire to change the direction of my life. I could only imagine one way to do that, and that was to get out. I had been to Europe several times growing up (my father had been with the airlines), and I had lived in England as a student, and I knew they wouldn’t offer me what I was looking for--something completely new, completely different from what I had known. I had always been interested in Australia, but I found that, as the desire to leave grew, so did my desire to see Australia. During the few years it took to save up enough money to make my escape, I kept the dream fueled with a steady stream of Australian books, movies, music, wine.
AR: What's the significance of the title of the book?
CC: “Waltzing Matilda” is one of the most famous poems in Australia, and, in its musical form, has long been referred to as the unofficial national anthem of Australia. In this poem, a swagman sings of waltzing Matilda. A swagman is an itinerant worker who carries a swag as he wanders on foot. A swag is a bedroll, pack, or bundle of personal belongings rolled up in a blanket. Another name for the swag was Matilda. “Waltzing” is a slang term used by the swagmen that meant traveling on foot, wandering about the Australian countryside.
I covered more of Australia than most swagmen, did not always travel on foot, and generally carried considerably more than a swag, but the cultural significance of “Waltzing Matilda” combined with the idea of wandering about the countryside made the title seem like a natural.
AR: Was it difficult for you to maintain a constant diary of all your experiences while on your sojourn?
CC: It was certainly work. I had to keep at it, as so much happened every day, I would have fallen hopelessly behind if I missed more than a few days of writing. Fortunately, my corporate life had equipped me with the discipline needed to stay focused on a task. However, it was joyous work. I was highly motivated, because this was why I came. I rejoiced at having so much to write about, as well as the opportunity to write. So it was work, but it was work that gladdened my soul.
AR: Who "settled" Australia?
CC: There are, of course, a few ways this could be answered. There was an initial wave of aboriginal people, unrelated to today’s Aborigines, who arrived at a very early date. As the ancestors of the current aboriginal population arrived, these earlier Aborigines got pushed southward, finally taking refuge in Tasmania. These are the people that Europeans knew as Tasmanian Aborigines.
Depending on which books you read and which research you believe, the ancestors of the current aboriginal population arrived somewhere between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago. They probably traveled across a land bridge from Asia, and then spread across the continent, differentiating as they adapted to various climates and available resources.
Finally, the Europeans -- the British -- arrived. The First Fleet, which carried 1,138 people to Australia’s shores, arrived in January 1788 (just a day ahead of the French, who had hoped to claim the continent for themselves). Of those in this first wave of “settlement,” 821 were convicts. Of course, back then, being in debt or speaking out against the king could get you thrown in jail, so not all of these people were actual criminals. The date is significant in that it is only a few years after the end of the American Revolution. Before the American Revolution, the British dumped their convicts in the American colonies.
AR: What are some things that surprise non-Australians when they began learning about Australia?
CC: Most people are really surprised to find out how big Australia is. It’s almost the same size as the continental United States. Equally surprising is that, with that large a country, the population is only 20 million. Of course, that’s because so much of the country is not really habitable. The limited quantity of habitable land creates another unexpected feature of Australia: it is one of the most urbanized countries in the world. About 85 percent of the population resides in cities or towns, and most people live within an hour’s drive of an ocean.
While most folks expect koalas and cockatoos, most are surprised to learn that there are large colonies of penguins in several places along Australia’s southern coast. Others are surprised the Mark Twain, Anthony Trollope, and D.H. Lawrence not only visited Australia, but wrote about it.
And Australia is a great dining destination. The surrounding waters yield a tremendous bounty of wonderful fish and seafood. Tropical areas supply exotic fruits. Farmers markets overflow with wonderful, fresh produce. Australia is one of the world’s great wine regions. The tremendously diverse population provides a tremendous range of cuisines from which to choose, and even in shopping mall food courts, one can find everything from Malaysian and Indonesian food to Lebanese and Greek. Add to all of this a growing number of well-traveled, ambitious, and innovative chefs, and it’s hard to go too far wrong when dining in Oz.
AR: Please explain for our readers what the word "koala" means and why it's significant.
CC: “Koala” is an Aboriginal word for “never drink” or “no water.” Koalas get almost all the moisture they need from the eucalypt leaves they eat. However, they do occasionally drink, but only small amounts, and only in the summer, when the leaves dry out.
AR: Out of all the natural beauty you saw, what was the most captivating for you?
CC: Boy, that’s a tough question, as there are so many areas that became dear to me. The rainforest first awoke in me the realization that I needed natural beauty as part of my life. However, the place I really came alive was in the Red Center, in the Northern Territory. There, I found myself in the midst of a strange, subtle land of bizarre rock formations and ragged mountains, of red earth, odd plants, and cloudless, metallic-blue skies. The weird, rugged beauty of the Centre enchanted me. I wanted so terribly to embrace this strange beauty, to be part of it, that camping out (something I had initially worried about) seemed, not a challenge, but a natural progression. It was as if, after years of wandering, I had finally come home. As I wrote during my second visit to the Red Center, near the end of the book, “I wondered again, as I have wondered before, why this place moves me so. I am drawn to the remoteness, to the vigor, the fierceness, and the unfettered innocence of this land, and its spirit whispers to my spirit, and its song sings in my veins.”
AR: How is your life different now from before you went on that first trip to Australia?
CC: The most obvious difference is that I’m working for myself and making a living writing. Other differences include changed priorities. Before Australia, I worked all the time. I almost never took vacations. Instead of travel, I had shopping. Today, I’d rather take a great trip every year than have a fabulous wardrobe or new TV—and I’ve had some amazing journeys, including adventures in Mongolia, Tibet, Morocco, Iceland, Ecuador, and many other fascinating, exotic places. I take more time to contribute to the community, from teaching classes to organizing fundraisers. On a beautiful day, I’ll go to the Botanic Garden or forest preserves for a walk, knowing that I’ll work better when I return refreshed. I just have a different mindset now. I still have to work hard -- no one who is self-employed escapes hard work. But work isn’t my whole life now.
AR: What is the main message that you'd like readers to take away from the book?
CC: I hope readers take away the message that dreams have a price, but they can come true. Don’t just wish or hope or play the lottery. Make a plan -- as long term as necessary. If you have young children, obviously the plan will need to be farther in the future than if you’re single and living alone. But still plan. I have a friend who waited until her children were grown, and then went to law school. She passed the bar at age 59. It may take time, but don’t let the dream die. Of course, you need to be realistic; if you’re 70, you’re probably not going to make the Olympic swim team, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win medals in other swimming competitions. Never let what you can’t do keep you from doing as much as you can do.
So outline what it is you really want, what needs to happen to make your dream a reality, and steps that will lead you in that direction. And save. I had an envelope with AUSTRALIA written on it, and every time I resisted the urge to buy something on impulse, I put the money I didn’t spend in the envelope. It was amazing how quickly that envelope filled up, and a fat envelope meant I was that much closer to leaving. Being frugal has now become second nature. I always seek ways to economize, because the dream now is to remain independent.
AR: What's next for you?
CC: If Waltzing Australia does well, I’d love to do a sequel. I have been back three times, and I’ve had some astonishing adventures on the return trips. Not only have I seen things that were on my list at the end of the first trip, I’ve even seen a few things that hadn’t even been discovered at the time of my first trip. In a country that is almost as big as the continental United States, but with only 20 million inhabitants, there is an tremendous amount of unexplored territory.
In addition to writing about Australia, I’d love to do a book that shares with readers what I’ve learned about travel in general -- how to arrange trips, how to protect your health, where to find good deals, products that are ideal for travel, how to get the most out of trips, and why I think travel is important -- even if you’re just going to the next town.
I’m also working on a book of food history -- histories of the 100 most important foods in the world. Food has been a tremendous factor in events throughout history, but it seems to still be underappreciated as a force in world events. Aside from its importance as an aspect of culture, food has altered civilizations, affected populations, funded empires, and motivated everything from invasions to exploration. When the Visigoths held Rome for ransom, their demands included 3,000 pounds of black pepper. Columbus sailed because the Ottoman Turks had shut down the Spice Route. Africa’s population exploded after the introduction of cassava from South America. And there is so much more. Foods we eat every day have astonishing histories, and I’d love to tell them.
AR: How can people learn more about you, your writings, and your other efforts?
CC: I have a blog that supports the book -- http://www.waltzingaustralia.com -- where readers can find photographs from my trips to Australia, additional information about things I saw and places I visited, recipes for Australian foods, and so on.
Anyone on Facebook can become a “fan” on the Cynthia Clampitt fan page. That’s where I post updates on book signings, presentations, radio interviews, and other events -- and where I’ll post information about future books.
And if people are interested in food history and food related to travel and culture, they can visit my other blog: http://worldsfare.wordpress.com.
AR: Also, how can they contact you directly?
CC: Anyone can leave a message on the Cynthia Clampitt fan page on Facebook or on one of my two blogs. I love hearing from readers.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
CC: I hope you have fun reading Waltzing Australia, as I think it’s an entertaining adventure. But more than that, I hope my book inspires you to go out and begin making plans to pursue your own dream, whether that’s going back to college or taking your first plane ride, preparing for a new career or starting a new hobby. Because once you start planning, you’ll find that the pursuit of the dream is part of the fun.
AR: Thanks again, Cynthia, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!