I didn’t leave Alice the next day. I couldn’t. I felt so uncannily at HOME in the outback that I delayed my flight two days. And then, two days later I delayed it again. And then again. In all, I ended up spending an extra unplanned week in Alice Springs, choosing to skip out on a sailing trip around the reef to prolong my cherished days of inner peace. I went to the reef two years ago. I’d never been to the "Red Centre."

Over the course of the next week, I fell even more in love with the center of Australia. Steve, Michelle and Cole were fantastic people and so were their friends. Every night was the same story: we’d light a raging fire in their backyard, sit around in a circle drinking Bundaberg rum and cokes, talking and laughing about absolutely nothing. Reg was a fantastic cook and our meals were phenomenal: steak pies, chargrilled Barramundi fish, pumpkin and mashed potatoes, butter curry chicken, onion, mushrooms, steak - it was ridiculous. During the day I read and relaxed, sometimes playing with their dogs Jazzy and Tanami, sometimes going for a jog. Michelle and I went shopping and hung out at Bojangles some more, and I managed to go to the weekend markets in town. Reg and I took a trip out to the West MacDonnell Mountain range and had a picnic at a place called Ormiston Gorge. We met a bunch of local people and camped out under the stars. Everything there was refreshingly genuine and easy. The people were warm and down-to-earth. I didn’t know why, but I felt like I had walked the land before. It was my own personal dreamworld and I didn’t want it to end.

I finally left Alice Springs on Wednesday, August 6th, and flew here to the Gold Coast. I’m staying with some family friends and just biding my time until I fly back to Washington DC on Thursday. Madeline and her family are great people and it’s already been so much fun hanging out with her daughters and laughing over silly jokes and situations. I’m comforted that I came here after leaving the outback; it’s definitely helped to mitigate the sting.

The past two weeks were a dream, they barely seem real right now. I feel like a different person – recharged, energized, and dizzily happy. I want to go back to the Northern Territory soon. I want to explore the Top End – Darwin and Kakadu. I’m already in the process of planning my next trip.

On Tuesday I’m going down to Newcastle to visit Ben, one of the guys who I met at the Ho Chi Minh City airport. I thought I’d never see him again, but I’m passing through there on my way back to Sydney, and I’m only too happy to have a local be my tour guide!

Why do I have to go home on Thursday?

~Hope