Hello!

So after I wrote last night we stopped again at a town called Rockhampton. It was one of the stops I had originally considered when travelling Queensland but later reconsidered after reading the Wiki page. We had a good break but after I came back I was disappointed to find someone in the seat that was next to mine. As well I was ticketed to the aisle seat so he got the window seat.

As well after last night but before the aforementioned Australian guy sat next to me I had decent conversation with a 17 year old sitting across the aisle from me. He was going to visit his dad on school holidays. That is the reason there were so many kids on the bus.

The guy sitting next to me was a true Australian. Thick accent and worked on a cattle farm putting up fences as well as a variety of other jobs. We had interesting conversations between the three of us. Me not getting a lot of the Aussie humour and to be honest I was kinda getting annoyed. I seem to meet a lot of people in life who have no real direction, goals, plans in their life. I am looking forward to being back among some like minded people.

However I reminded myself that a good portion of all travelling and life in general was to learn about others so I talked and asked questions. The guy apparently had two kids in Denmark with his ex-partner who he hadn’t seen in 2 years. He was a trained chef by profession but also worked putting up steel cattle fences, working rodeos, and other odd jobs. He decided just last night to go to Magnetic Island for a few days.

I got to sleep alright and slept pretty well until something woke me up. I don’t remember what in the middle of the night and I was up for about 20 minutes. I got back to sleep but the train car as a whole basically got up at 6:40. I really can’t complain too much.

I had my breakfast of this liquid WeetBix stuff, an apples, and a piece of toast with Jam. I talked with the Aussie for awhile until out stop came at 8:30. It was a long couple of hours.

Upon stopping I talked to the aforementioned Mark again and I watched his bags while he went to use the bathroom. We then both collected out bags and he was going to take the cab into the city. Not really wanting to walk and seeing an opportunity we split the cab ride. (Mark is here visiting his 23 yr old son and his wife was flying in today from Adelaide (west of Melbourne)) I found the Hostel easy enough and checked in.

There really is nothing like a shit shower and shave. I had all three and felt better. I changed into my warm weather gear: shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt and then proceeded to go to the information site.

I got some information there. Interestingly they had a special ed teenager working there who was trying to provide help. I kinda felt bad but at the same time I wasn’t going to get wrapped up in a long term discussion with him. So I waited for the other employee to help me and she did.

I then proceeded to walk towards the Casino along the Marina and then sat on the breakwater and read my information I got. I then walked back and strolled through the ANZAC Park and memorial and then proceeded down the strand.

The day was gorgeous and the strand was full of people as it was a national holiday today (I never found out what for). There were lots of families and couples and friends. There were multiple beach areas, pools, a small waterpark for kids, restaurants, and I even found a sand volleyball net. It was too windy to play for real and no one was out there. I do aim to play at least once before the end of this trip.

I walked back along the sand and water. It was cold water and I didn’t have sunscreen on. I noticed later that I got a pretty good burn on my neck and face.

I was deciding between going back and lying on the beach or going to the Museum of tropical Queensland. I decided to go to the Museum as I had the next few days to relax on the beach. The museum was nice(they charged my iPhone for me) and had some really cool information about the wreck of the HMS Pandora. It was the ship that was sent to look for the HMS Bounty after the mutiny. The museum was a lot shorter than what I thought. I did the ENTIRE museum (I read pretty much everything) in just about two hours.  It was worth it though.

I also on the way back from the Strand stopped at the grocery store to pick up some food. Just thought you might like to know.

After the museum I took a nice walk around town and sat again on the breakers overlooking the Marina. Just kinda the typical.

There are a fair number of aborigines in this town and I don’t think I like them. They are fairly dirty people and they seem to harass others. They also travel in packs around the city. I am not sure if they are on the dole or what but they seem lazy. They smell bad as well. I was harassed by two of them alone today and watched one take somebody else’s cigarette. I have now learned to stay away from them.

As another side not the room I am checked into for the night is a worker’s room. That is the people who are working for the hostel in exchange for free accomadation. They normally have to clean or cook and rotate schedules. I could tell due to the high amount of stuff and the long term hygiene items in the bathroom (a huge thing of shampoo). Once again I just kinda miss the motivation and goals of home.

I am having a great time in Australia to be honest. I do enjoy travelling it just seems to get harder and harder to be alone with my thoughts all the time. I regained back the old habit of mine of talking to strangers without regards. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. So that is good and gets my spirits up a little bit. But seriously just hanging out and talking to people who know me is what I miss the most. And I know I have covered this topic before, probably multiple times to be fair, but it is just reinforced a lot during my down time. And my brain can only think up so many solutions or conversations for itself.

Anyways tomorrow’s plans hopefully involve going to magnetic island for the next few days. I don’t have any big things planned but there is a lot to do there from what I can tell. I have learned as well that I can deal with some downtime but I do need anchors of things to do in the cities I travel to. I can fill in the gaps with spontaneity but I need something concrete to get excited about. (Update: Just booked my rooms in Magnetic Island for the next three nights. Now to just find some things to do!)

BTW writing this from the Veranda at the hostel overlooking the main street and the river. Quite nice actually. The hostel itself is average. The kitchen is open air!

Anyways until next time,

-Mathias