Australia,
I was 10 and read a book about the Batavia, in the time of the Batavia, Holland was a world power, feared and loved around the world. We made ships and sailed all over the world, we established trade points, created new cities, created a Dutch Spirit over the world. We did many good we did many bad, but it doesnt matter the stories of the great East Indian Company or as we say in Holland the V.O.C.
This story made me curious, made me think there is more in the world then only the village where I played and grow up. The day my parents took me to Lelystad where the replica of the Batavia was build, was awesome, I could walk on the Batavia, and in 2000 this ship sailed to Sydney.
'Terra Australis Incognita' was to be avoided at all times, at least that where the instructions the Dutch Skippers where given. The Dutch where the first to discover this forbidden coast.
In this forbidden land, to aproach it was dangerous, the resources seemed to be nil, it was even dangerous to safely find save water. The Natives where few, backward and miserable, no trading post could ever hope to prospere there. This are not my words, but words from back in the day, because nothing was known from Australia. How would those people look back if they could see how different and wonderfull Australia is present day.
The Dutch never intended to discover Australia we just wanted to go to Java, to Batavia (named Jakarta in present day). Dutch Indonesia :)
But I am nearly 3 years on the ones called forbidden continent and I love it, the culture, the people, the history, the climate, I call Australia home :)
Please listen to this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD3SkTyXzcE&feature=related
