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Coincidences – oh how I love them:)
Have you ever notice something catch your eye so you stop but shortly
after where you would have been something has happened such as an
accident, bird droppings or you just missed the bus and while waiting
for the next one you run into an old friend?? Anything could have
happened but that little coincidence changed it all for you. As I
say, things happen for a reason or reasons; sometimes we just have to
open our eyes to see it.
Throughout my travels and my life I
have had dozens of them. One very intriguing one was the day I met
Maple Syrup:) I was on the flight home sitting in LA heading to
Chicago and the lovely, friendly woman, Maple Syrup, sat next to me.
Within 5 minutes she was telling me to add her on facebook and come
back to Perth and visit her. The next 24 hours we ended up spending
more time together than she would have liked because our flight got
cancelled and she had a very important photo shoot with her best
girlfriends that she didn't want to miss. (Which I think is a
fantastic idea to do with a group of friends or family ~ they're
fun!:) )
Well we ended up sharing a hotel room
that night and confessed all about our lives. The funny part was she
called it. She told me I wouldn't be with Pedro or the sweet kiwi
('tempting opportunities') but to come back to Australia and stay
with her in Perth.
After a month and a half of being
home, I decided I didn't want to be there NOT because I was running
away or because I don't love my family because I really do love them
but I just wasn't happy being in Hamilton, the city itself. I wanted
to be where my joints felt loose and my skin sings in the sun – it
was time to head back to Australia for the last bit of my work visa.
(Thankfully I did not cancel my work visa which was the original plan
with Pedro but I am extremely grateful for listening to my gut
feelings and didn't). Therefore, I was on the plane back and she was
there waiting for me at the Perth Airport. When you have someone who
has been through a heartbreak who still loves life and is wild and
free – take the time to listen:)
I took a job to live and work in
Cooinda Lodge which is inside Kakadu National Park (NT, Australia).
On my first day I realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore...
I remember celebrating Northern
Territory (NT) day which is actually Canada Day, July 1st,
in Darwin with some amazing, understanding and free spirited
Canadians and one wish he was Texas born Canadian;) Therefore, being
on hardly any hours of sleep I got on the first bus down to Kakadu.
Within 20 minutes I was wondering why the bus driver hadn't stopped
talking. To my amazement people were actually listening to him
enjoying his facts. That's when I clued in = I'm on a day tour bus! I
laughed at myself and made myself stay awake to listen because I'm
sure this will be helpful for my job. Three hours later as I thought
we might be there the bus stopped, we all got out and walked around
this rock which later I realized was Nourlangie, a huge tourist spot
inside Kakadu, it has one of the world's oldest rock art.
After roaming around the rock we got
on the bus and headed for Cooinda. By the time we finally arrived I
was exhausted. All I wanted to do was get my room all sorted and pass
out. The few hours of sleep were finally catching up. However, as the
one who does it all, C, showed me and another couple around the
property and our rooms. I actually had no idea where or what kind of
conditions I'd be living in. As C was showing us the Dutch's place
she warned us to watch out for this (no word of a lie) hand sized
spider on their porch power bar because it jumps! “WHAT?! IT
JUMPS!?” I asked. “Yes, I'll get someone to remove it later
today for you” she replies. Sure enough the sweet duchess told me
as the maintenance lady came later on that day to remove it – and it sure did jumped on her face! Ok – so for those of you who know
me, I'm not the biggest fan of spiders or at least I wasn't. After
living in OZ for a year and having the assumption everything is
deadly – I am MUCH better. But jumping spiders I am still not a fan
of no matter how diminished my fear is.
After we finished the tour and I'm on
my way to my room for my well deserved nap, C, informs me she booked
me on a yellow water cruise – it leaves in 20 minutes. “Ok,
great” I smile and say through my clenched teeth. I give myself
some pump up talk and head to the bus stop where the tour guide picks
us up and takes us to the boats.
Now that I am known as the new one
and I really don't want people to think I'm not interested in working
there. So I smile and keep quiet in the back of the boat while
listening to the soft spoken, kind hearted Mr. Kelly.
I was zoning in and out of all the
bird and wildlife information until Mr. Kelly informs us it's our
lucky day because yesterday a crocodile ate a buffalo and we get to
see its remains. Pardon? What did he just say? I thought. I look over
and see everyone standing over the boat snapping excessive amounts of
photos and there it was - a buffalos head with the complete tusks out
above the water and its neck completely guttered out. Mr. Kelly tells
us this morning there was gut remains but other animals must have
eaten them. WOW! Where the HECK am I living? I think to myself.
I finally got home, well back to my
room to shower and go for some dinner. While at dinner, I got the
honour to be invited to one of the Traditional owner’s house for
some food and fireworks. At her place I ate fresh barramundi and saw
a turtle they caught that day for Wednesday's ceremony where they
kill and eat it. I unfortunately was working that night so I have not
ate turtle. However, I have tried possum, kangaroo, emu, buffalo,
barramundi, crocodile and camel over my time in Australia.
Not only did those 3 months fly by
but I had the time of my life living in the bush, being swarmed by
croc infested water, walking through deadly snake full bushes and running through the endless fields where roaming wild buffalo live. Even with my life possibly at threat ~ I
would go back there. This amazing opportunity I had reassures my
belief of never judging a book by its cover because not only did I do
some of the most out there activities, I met some of the most incredible, down to
earth and unforgettable people! Everyone there made my trip
spectacular, THANK YOU!!! (DooDahs, Kiwi's, Nail polish fetish &
artistic one, Jenna Jameson craze, pilots, Englishmen, clients, tour
guides, foreigners and co workers- you all made my 3 months AMAZING –
thank you! )
Remember:
Always go with what feels right within
you – it will always workout for you if your true to yourself –
and most importantly = Never stop believing in yourself! You're
amazing JUST the way you are:)!
Here are some recommendations if you
ever get a chance to check out Kakadu National Park and if you have ANY questions or want more details please don't hesitate to message me:) =
- Jim Jim Falls (you can swim right up underneath the waterfall itself– it’s about 150 m in freezing cold water but COMPLETELY worth it!)
- Twin falls (unable to swim in due to the fact it is croc infested but an awesome trek to the falls)
- Yellow water cruise = salty's took over the fresh water so NO swimming
- Animal Tracks = the best educational aboriginal tour I went on! Very hands on and the guides are phenomenal
- Jabiru = it's a mining town but has a great bakery:)
- Go on a scenic flight = it is incredible to see the park from that view. You really get a great perspective of how massive the park actually is.
- Barramundi gorge = hike to the top rock pools
- Ubirr = beautiful 360 view and the sunset is great from there. Very popular tourist spot for the sunset
- Nourlangie = world's oldest rock art
- Nawurlandja = a hidden amazing sunset spot – take a bottle of wine with you and as the sunset happens behind you the colours of the rock are spectacular
- hikes
- jumping croc tour on the way up / down from Darwin
- Lord Safari tour = takes you into Arnhemland (you can only go there with a tour or you must buy a permit)
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