The Travelling Aussie Escapes – A Travel Adventure

For years I travelled the world looking for a bit of excitement after I had left school. I was after a bit of the unusual and a lot of adventure. I wanted to discover places untouched and unseen (except for the Coke bottles of course).

This journey took me across many continents and many nations. I saw many diverse and exciting things, experienced new cultures, and pondered at the beauty of the natural sights.

On the move constantly, the temples, museums and cities started to blend in. Eventually, I got fed up with the crowds of hawkers pestering me. I tried escaping by growing lazy and apathetic on remote islands – the hawkers soon found my trail.

Finally, one day I just came home. My family closed me in so I couldn’t escape. But once again the bright lights and organised chaos of Sydney began to ebb my senses. I started to hang out at Bondi Beach, knocking back Bacardi’s and pretending I was free again among all the backpackers who were visiting OZ and staying at the beach.

Until one day, somehow, some way, I found myself on the road again. Ah… this dream is heaven-sent.

Melbourne, the Culture of our country, greeted me with open arms and sleepless nights as I let it all out. I remember you my friend of many moons ago. Your name is Freedom. And I found it once again in the coming months. I found some temp work a for few hours a day and spent the afternoons exploring the cultural city and the evenings celebrating life.

After a few months, just for a change, I went on the 9-hour road trip to Adelaide. I had always thought Adelaide was boring. Don’t ask me why. Maybe the Sydney & Melbournites are scared of the competition.

In Adelaide, I found a buzz in the air along with the sweet smelly odours (marijuana being decriminalised in South Australia) and just about everyone had a smile on their face along with the pace which was laidback and leisurely. Adelaide proved to be a liveable city bursting with fun activities, but the call of the open road beckoned plus the rumoured riches to be found in the Opal fields of South Australia.

When I arrived in Coober Pedy, the “Opal capital of the world”, I ran out of gas and money. So I bunked up in one of the underground hostels and did what I considered any civilized broke person would do – call home to get some money wired and go opal fossicking.

I’d just finished visiting the underground church and praying for something good to happen when I spotted it – my first opal sitting right there on the dirt staring at me. Like a dream, I picked it up. Talk about Luck. In true Aussie celebratory style, I downed a VB and found a high point from which to watch one of the most stunning sunsets. How can these mere words describe the stark beauty of all that space and nothingness? This place seemed like the rugged terrain of another planet. I’d found the isolation I’d been seeking, and this place made me think about humanity and our aim for survival.

My money came through the amazing long-distance wire and unlike the companions, I’d shared a dorm for five days, who were sticking around for work (Washing dishes? – thanks I’ll pass) I revved my green Ford Falcon ’77 and flew off like a spaceship into the Outback… but that’s another story.

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