Reminiscences

I will start this post by apologizing for the lack of news over the past two weeks. As you can imagine, I now have the painful task of sorting out what is relevant. If I’m not mistaken, the last time I shared an update was from Melbourne — and it is to Melbourne that my mind now returns.

I took a train from Melbourne to Geelong, where Claire and Hugh were expecting me. I had met them in Cambodia, in the charming town of Kampot. I recall we were all sitting at the same restaurant when the waiter brought me something I hadn’t ordered. Claire (at the time, I didn’t know her name), who was sitting with Hugh at the table next to mine, saw how helpless I was and said to the waiter, “I’m sorry, but he didn’t order that.” We talked for the rest of the evening, and I left with fond farewells and an invitation to visit them in Australia.

I didn’t arrive at South Geelong train station as expected. I had to get off one station earlier, as the train I was on wasn’t going any further. As I was about to sit and wait for the next train, I heard my name being called:

“Passenger Ricardo Santos from South America, please proceed to the information desk.”

I was a bit puzzled. Yes, my name is Ricardo — but I am not from South America. Seeing no movement in the waiting room, I assumed the call was meant for me.

“Excuse me, sir, I might be the person you just called.” “Are you Ricardo Santos?” “By birth, sir.” “Someone will be picking you up here, so don’t go anywhere.”

I did as told and waited. Ten minutes later, a woman waved at me from inside her car. I didn’t recognize her as Claire, but I walked toward the car anyway. I opened the door and found myself face to face with Claire — twenty years in the future. It was Claire’s mother.

I spent a total of five days with Hugh and Claire’s family. Needless to say, I had a wonderful time and experienced some of the best hospitality I’d known in years. I returned to Melbourne on a Friday afternoon, two or three kilos heavier than when I had left.

On Monday the 18th, with Sydney as my destination, I rented a car for five days to drive along the Australian east coast. I slept all five nights in the car, causing what I believe to be permanent damage to my back. Still, I saved some money on accommodation, had a few strange and unsettling nights, and somehow managed to survive without major injuries.

The southeastern Australian coast is, as expected, magnificent. Dozens of national parks are reachable within 20 kilometers of the shoreline. Most of them are home to precious rainforests, native wildlife, and pristine flora. I drove a total of 1,680 kilometers, received my first speeding ticket for driving 20 km/h above the Victorian state limit, and saw koalas, dolphins, snakes, penguins, wombats, kangaroos, and lyrebirds — most in their natural habitats, others crossing roads or paths in national parks.

As a reference, and in case any of you might attempt something similar one day, here are some of my highlights along the east coast: Phillip Island (home to penguins and koalas), Wilsons Promontory National Park (truly impressive), Tarra-Bulga National Park, Lakes Entrance, Merimbula, Tilba Tilba (a wonderfully picturesque village), Narooma, Kiama, and several other national parks whose names I can’t quite recall.

I returned the car in Sydney at 9:00 a.m. on April 23rd. I found a dormitory in Kings Cross and was fortunate enough to befriend two Victorians, Tim and Brigit. Having never been to Sydney before, they took the Easter holiday to drive up from Melbourne. They were both full of life and energy (qualities I so often lack) and practically dragged me into the wonders of Sydney’s wild nightlife. I can’t remember much from the two nights we spent together, but judging by the massive headaches I had the following mornings, I believe we must have had a great deal of fun.

I am leaving Australia in just a couple of minutes. I’m waiting at the airport for my flight to Bali, Denpasar. Although I’m very happy to return to Asia, I must confess that I loved my time in this vast country — especially its magnificent national parks, landscapes, coastlines, and, of course, the wonderful people I met along the way.