10 BIG Words for Adelaide

Just a few years ago, I learnt a lot of GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) vocabulary during my fatal struggle to enroll into one of the US universities. Although the scores for my verbal reasoning were not admirable enough and, sadly, I didn’t get admitted into any of the universities there, I still savour the fascination each time I encounter the same pompous, grandiloquent, weird-sounding words in any magazines or books. Today, I’m going to resurrect those words again and, hopefully correctly, describe my experiences in Adelaide, the fifth largest city in Australia.

1. SOPHISTRY

Sophistry means “elaborate, eloquent but logically invalid arguments intended to deceive
.” When I first saw the city of Adelaide and was marveled by its engineering heritage, I recalled all the arguments and opinions of those who claimed that Adelaide is not worthy enough for a trip. However, the moment I touched the ground and witnessed the life here with my own eyes, my mind was spinning with amazement. Soon enough, I learnt that the Europeans have settled here in South Australia for 175 years (sure I have missed a lot of stuff, haven’t I?). Named after the Queen Adelaide, this well-planned city definitely gripped my attention that went beyond my imagination. Sometimes, what people say can be pure sophistry.

2. CONVALESCENCE

Convalescence means “gradual healing after sickness.” Well, I’m not seriously sick or anything, but being able to cruise along the North Terrace, one of the four terraces that surround the city of Adelaide, made me feel like I was walking along a Healthy Terrace. There were just so many places and buildings of great significance located at this famous cultural boulevard that could feed my intellectual and mental health: The South Australian Museum, The Art Gallery of South Australia, The University of Adelaide, The University of South Australia, just to name a few. After my successful intellectual “operation” here, I think my convalescence may last up to 100 years.

3. STRATAGEM

Stratagem means “a maneuver in a game.” I could see this deliberate, well-coordinated maneuver in the development of many squares and parklands around the city of Adelaide. I mean, why would the Adelaide City Council build such elaborate greeneries around the city? I’m sure they are intended to achieve noble goals that would benefit all Adelaideans, right? Okay, let’s check this fact out: there are 5 squares alone inside the city, plus 29 parks measuring 7.6 square kilometres that circle the city centre. Impressive, huh? So, it’s not a surprise to learn that these parks have been entered into the Australian National Heritage List. This is not an ordinary game. It’s the best stratagem.

4. SHAMBOLIC

Shambolic means “chaotic and very disorderly.” I had this wonderfully chaotic feeling when I was at the Rundle Mall, Adelaide’s premiere retail area. Opened as Australia’s first pedestrian street mall in 1976, Rundle Mall is still the most important retail centre in the city and is certainly way more chaotic than Bourke Street in Melbourne. Walking (or running) through this street, my mind was continuously tortured by the surrounding excitement from mall-goers and the endless choices offered by the mega stores, arcades and plazas. It’s the kind of chaos that would blind your logic and make you forget temporarily about your bank account balance. That’s why Rundle Mall was so shambolic.

5. MUNIFICENT

Munificent means “extremely generous.” I would tag this description to Adelaide’s very own Chinatown. Guarded by two paifangs and Chinese guardian lions, this precinct was so generous with sights and smells and sounds that were deafening my senses. Restaurants, grocery stores and markets sprawled along the Gouger Street that added more zest and life to my already hungry soul. Being surrounded by things so Asian in the midst of things so European could sometimes make me confused. How do I put all these confusing details in the right perspective? But that’s the magic of Chinatown, always complete with the munificent sum of cultures.

6. PLETHORA

Plethora means “excess of something.” The Adelaide Central Market is perhaps best described with this word. Established since 1869, this market has over 80 stalls and is South Australia’s best-known landmark, the heart of Adelaide. The range of fresh food, fruits, vegetables, seafood and cakes is just excessive. Struggling hard to walk among the excited traders and shoppers, I could smell the delicious aromas, glare at the vivid colours and cherish the atmosphere of a multicultural melting pot. I could just roam around here the whole day and be immersed into all this stimulating concoction. This food mecca is just over the top and full of plethora.

7. TRAVESTY

Travesty means “comedy that makes a mockery of something.” Sorry, I couldn’t help feeling a little ticklish when I rode the Glenelg Tram, Adelaide’s only remaining tramway. Being used to the vast tram network in Melbourne, the Glenelg Tram looked like a comedy to me. What’s more, I was amused when the officer asked me to pay the tram fares to the conductor who roamed freely on the crowded tram. While it looked a bit strange by the Melbourne standard, I admired the efforts to keep this tradition alive. And while machine and technology is now the order of the day, I still think it’s a good idea to have a real authority in the form of a friendly human being. However, this was so rare and, yes, a travesty.

8. SACROSANCT

Sacrosanct means “sacred.” That was how I felt when I visited the green heaven in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Founded over 150 years ago, this garden might look like the same with the botanic gardens I have seen before. A closer inspection, nonetheless, revealed a lot more sacred treasures here. The garden’s tropical palm house, for example, showcases the precious collection of plants from the island of Madagascar. This heritage-listed glasshouse is still one of its kind in Australia. Not too far from the palm house is The Amazon Waterlily Pavilion, the exquisite glass palace that is home to the largest waterlily in the world. That, I think, is evident enough to claim that this garden is indeed sacrosanct.

9. LACHRYMOSE

Lachrymose means “showing sorrow and tears.” The River Torrens, the most significant and iconic river in Adelaide, showed just this. I walked along this clean and well-maintained river and could sense the untold stories beyond this extrinsic serenity. It was regularly visited by the “pop-eye” tourist boats, small paddle boats and black swans that further added its postcard-like elegance. The joggers and cyclist and lovers enjoyed the footpaths and riverbanks, participating in this natural extravaganza. I apologize for being romantic again, but I suspect there have been a lot of sad love stories being immortalized at this river. That’s why I could hear the music of love on the air, playing most of the time its lachrymose ballads.

10. AMELIORATE

Ameliorate means “to make better.” This was how I imagined my trip in Adelaide should end. Thank goodness, it happened when I was in Glenelg, a popular and scenic beach-side suburb of Adelaide. This is the oldest European settlement in South Australia since 1836. As I walked slowly (I mean, really slowly) along the beach, I envied those lucky residents who sat comfortably in the front-yard of their stylish houses that face the stunning views of coastal areas. I didn’t know how far I had walked, but I just kept going forward. When I was tired and decided to rest, I sat on a bench facing the beautiful sunset. Watching the blurring horizon far in the west, I thanked Adelaide for all the wonderful experiences that were certainly and badly needed to ameliorate my dry soul.