After a week of emotional ups and downs of missing the boat,
making a new friend and working out what to do next I settled back in to my old
life surprisingly easily. The temp agency did indeed send work my way and I was
asked back by more than one employer after doing a decent job. The midday
reception hours at the hostel were a hit with the summer tourists and I even managed the odd
hour or two of housekeeping to help with the savings.
I love Australia, between the fabulous weather and the lifestyle
I had in Cairns I was as happy as I had been in years so I thought it would be
difficult for me to accept that my grand plans for staying had been well and
truly scuppered but it turns out I adapt to life changes much better these
days. I considered applying for a tourist visa and doing some travelling but in
the end I decided it was time to go. I was happy with my life as it was and
Australia had been the making of me but it was time for the next adventure. I
had wanted to visit New Zealand since I was an adolescent and finally in a
round-a-bout way the time had come for me to fulfil that wish. The only problem
I had was in deciding where I would start when I had a whole new country to
explore and 23 months to see it in. Therefore the next month was spent
consulting friends and random backpacking guests about what to do and where to
go. In the end we decided (seriously, it was a group decision) Wellington would
be the best place for me to start my next adventure and the tickets were booked.
One of the hardest parts of being in Carins whilst planning
my next adventure was the lack of diving. As I was saving for my next adventure
I imposed a strict no diving policy on myself. Thankfully the cooler weather
and lower humidity meant I was able to take up running again. I missed swimming
and diving but having spent so much money on diving previously I knew I had to
resist. The running kept me fit and between that and my return to my fruit diet
I felt healthier than ever with the added advantage that my bank account was increasing
for the first time in a long time! It wasn’t all work and no play though, I did managed the odd night out with my new
roommates and I also was planning a weeks holiday in Melbourne before I left
Australia for my next adventure.
And so ended my life in Cairns.
It went from being a two week holiday destination on the way down the east coast
to Tassie to my home for almost 6 months. It was the longest place I’d lived in
since leaving York in 2010 and I found a new love there that I hope will bring
me many more adventures over the years. Life there wasn't always easy and
my return didn’t work out the way I’d hoped but I learned a lot about myself
and about the amazing people that lived at and visited the hostel where I
worked. Next stop Melbourne then a whole new country was waiting for me....
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| Hostel entertainment on BBQ night |
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| Looking up when drunk one night I saw these words of wisdom... |
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| View from my room not long before I left for the final time |
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