I meet all
these different people here at the hostel and I’m so happy about it. It’s just
so great to have conversations with these people and hear their stories. One
day I had these amazing conversations with an American soldier, not-active in
duty anymore. We talked about so many things – the financial situation in the world,
differences between the countries, dreams, relationships, revelations that will
come to you when you travel, and so many other things! But last Wednesday beats
any day when it comes to meeting different people. This elderly couple got off
the bus and walked over to our hostel’s shuttle bus and asked if we had any
room for them, they hadn’t booked anything in advance. They told how they just
started in Cairns (staying in a hostel there as well!), then went to Magnetic
Island and then Rockhampton. They do live in New Zealand, but they are staying
in hostels, travelling by Greyhound and have no return ticket home. How amazing
is that?! I could never ever in my life imagine my grandfather doing the same,
never! I thought the couple was in their seventies but was tremendously surprised
to hear that they are in their eighties. They are quite an example to younger
people. I wish I’ll be like them when I’m that old!
Sometimes I
just feel old because I meet mostly backpackers still in their teens or in
early twenties. It just feels that I’m world apart from their way of
thinking. I didn’t come here to party
and spend my money on alcohol, but so many young people seem to be doing
exactly that. Why to waste your money travelling to the other side of the world
to get drunk night after night? You could easily do it back home you don’t have
to travel to do that. But hey, I’m never been like that when I’m travelling, so
no wonder I can’t understand it or am I just too old to understand?
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| I was too busy reading my book that I didn't have time to go to the beach. :D |
I spent the
weekend in Noosa and it was so good to have a break and get out from Hervey
Bay. I hadn’t realized how much I needed it before I got into the car and we
drove away. I felt so free! :D And the weekend was great. I didn’t have to do
anything and I was able to relax and read my book without anyone interrupting
with questions, it was great! It was wonderful to be part of the family, and do
just normal things like having breakfast together, watching tv in the evenings
together, going out for dinner or just talking and spending time together. And
I couldn’t have had any better family to spend the time with. They made me feel
like I was home and part of the family. I was told by Lyn that I was like a cat
relaxing in the sun because when I was nowhere to be seen she just had to look
for a sunny spot around the house and she would find be reading my book and
enjoying the warmth of the sun. :D The weekend was definitely the best so far!
It was
awesome to have a weekend off even though it was really cold. The coldness here
is not in comparison to Finland. It doesn’t get freezing cold here but when the
temperature outside is around seven degrees during the night it means it is
freezing cold inside the house! Even during the day it was so cold in the house
– it was warmer outside! I was alright sleeping under the covers but when you
had to get up in the morning it was so hard because I just wanted to stay in my
warm bed not get up to feel the cool air on my skin. I may have to go shopping
for some warmer clothes if it stays this cold! :D
I never thought
I would end up watching Eurovision song contest here on the other side of the
world! :D But there I was on Friday evening watching the semi-final with
others. It felt funny that they actually air it here and get people comment on
contestants and voting their own favourite. I used to watch it back in Finland
when I was much younger but haven’t been that interested to watch it anymore
like my mum is. But there was no excitement to watch the end because Linn told
us they had won, Sweden I mean.
I don’t know
if I should be worried if I’m not 100% sure a song is by a Finnish band when I
hear it. :D The song was in English and my only excuse is that I haven’t been
listening to Finnish music for four months, other than the ones I have on my
laptop. We were driving to Noosa and Bill had a cd playing and I didn’t expect
to hear any familiar music from Finland! He got the cd from a Swedish girl but
still it felt a bit funny to hear the song especially when Bill told he really
likes the song. I don’t mean Finnish music is bad but I didn’t expect to hear a
song by a Finnish band played loudly in the car! :D
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| "Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing tosay is what counts." - Margaret Lee Runbeck - |
