Homeless with a Dream and a credit card
Australia Day! I’m behind on posting my pictures, but this was the 26th of January. There was a parade that finished at the botanical garden park. There was food, vintage cars, music, and a ton of people. It was a very emotional day, because it was my last day in Australia after nearly three months. I was leaving for Christchurch, New Zealand the same day.
Went to the botanical gardens, but breezed through it. I wasn’t by myself and had to work with someone else’s schedule. Afterwards, we went to the central library. It was a most impressive visit. They have volunteers who give free tours and I recommend that as it gives you good information.
Later that day, I went to St. Kilda beach, about a 30–40min tram ride. It was 45C (113F) earlier, but by the time we went to the beach around 5, the weather had drastically changed. The clouds had moved in and the water was choppy, but I still went in. I wasn’t going to have another chance!
Landed in Melbourne! It is such a different city and I prefer it to Sydney. Sydney had a lot of bustle, a lot of suit and tie and commercialism and there I was all sweaty with my backpack and cheap, dirty clothes. I just felt odd. It was a big change from living on a suburban farm in the silent bush hills of Perth. Melbourne is still busy, but it has a different energy and layout. I found easier access to art and nature, maybe it was because the trams was free. Cheap is good, but free is better.
My first day, I met a girl at the hostel and we went out to see Hosier Lane, the graffiti street of Melbourne. Fun and impressive to take a stroll down these streets.
After, we went to the Eureka skydeck to see the sunset. Fucking scary at 88 floors high, but worth it. $19AUSD for students, $21AUSD adult.
From Perry’s Lookdown, we went to Wentworth Falls. I recommend this hike 100%! Some parts are closed down like the lower trials that go to the bottom of the waterfalls. There are three tiers and the third one is closed off, but if you are determined like we were you can sneak around the fence and continue. The trail is only closed because of falling rocks, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. All in all, it is a 6km (4mi) hike and steep. There are handrails and cables to hold onto and the paths are pretty well maintained.
Near the end of the hike, my friend and I got caught in a thunderstorm. It started raining and it made me nervous. We still had to climb back up from the bottom of the waterfalls (3km). At one point I was worried that we might slip and fall trying to get around the trail barricade. I have never hiked faster in my life. Mother nature helped, it didn’t start pouring heavy until we reached the barricade. After crossing that fence, I relaxed. It’s not bad hiking in the rain. Although I was worried for my camera!
Went camping in the Blue Mountains of Sydney with a couch surfing friend/host. I really recommend seeing the parks in this area, really beautiful landscape. These pictures of the sunrise are from Perry’s Lookdown, a small camp site with a really good view. Sunrise was at 6am and worth getting up for. I am getting practice using my new tripod. I got it as a gift and it’s light weight and very handy.
Landed in Sydney! Got off the plane and immediately walked straight for a bus, asking directions for the Opera House. I was hungover, but I managed to get where I needed to go. The kindness of strangers is a real thing. A couple helped me find the right bus and told me which stop to get off at to catch the train into the city. A man gave me a spare Opal card (public transportation pass) and helped me get maps and told me where to go for all the major tourist sites. I’ve managed very well with the help of strangers and I am very grateful to all of these people I have met along the way.
After the Tree Top Walk in Walpole, we went up to Margaret River, which is a popular area for vineyards and breweries. We visited the Snake + Herring, where you can get reasonably priced wine. After that we went to the Cheeky Monkey Brewery. They make beer and cider, not bad. I recommend the Australian Lager.
I love Australian meat pies! They have every flavor, breakfast pie with egg, cheese, bacon and gravy (the picture), beef and pepper, chicken curry, lamb roast, etc. the options are endless. I definitely recommend giving them a try.
Started off the morning with a walk around the Nornalup inlet. The inlet feeds into the Great Australian Bight. It is a calming place to be. You can see distant hills layered on top of each other. The still water. Trees of every shape and height in all directions.
Here’s a link to a map, if you’re curious about the area of Walpole, WA
Went to the Tree Top Walk in Walpole. It’s beautiful, but scary if you’re not comfortable with heights. The tallest part of the bridge is 40 meters (132ft). The Karri trees, a type of Eucalyptus, can measure well over 70 meters (230ft). You feel so small even when you are in the tree top.
With seven days to go until I leave for Sydney, my WWOOF host family took me for a trip down south. On this trip we made a detour for the popular Gnomesville. Sooo many gnomes!! It was hit by a flood not to long ago and damaged several of the gnomes, but there’s always more being added daily. My Aus fam and I left 3 gnomes ourselves. One was for me and we wrote: Mexican Gnome away from home. I thought that was great.
Next, we made our way down to Walpole where the famous tree top walk is.
I’ve put myself through a lot of self reflection in the last few months. It’s been emotional, to say the least, but I am proud to have gone through it. I’ve learned to handle my feelings better by understanding where my anxieties and insecurities have come from. It was tough accepting my own faults, but I’m better for it having had the space to focus on what matters. I was also dealing with my relationships and sorting out those who I love from those who would do me more harm.
My playlist in Australia:
Simon & Garfunkel- El Condor Pasa
ODESZA- Just a Memory feat. Regina Spektor
Chris Stapleton- Tennessee Whiskey
Kings of Convenience- Boat Behind
Portugal. The Man- Feel it Still
Ben Folds Five- The Last Polka
The Black Keys- Weight of Love
Flora Cash- You’re Somebody Else
Queens Of The Stone Age – Make It Wit Chu (Virgin Magnetic Material Remix)
Weird World of M.E. 