Photos taken: April 11, 2024 (11/04/2024 12:46:03)
Published: April 18, 2024
Australia — the land of kangaroos, Vegemite sandwiches, and sunburned koalas – has been a tourist magnet for ages, especially for our European friends who are used to, well, let’s just say their weather isn’t exactly poolside lounging year-round. Of course, even paradise gets a little wild sometimes. Like, just a week ago, Sydney did a hilarious impression of Venice for a day (April 5th and 6th, 2024, to be exact). It rained cats and dogs from Friday afternoon all the way to Saturday morning, turning roads into rivers.
Speaking of rivers, my drive to work that weekend was an epic adventure as Google Maps decided to play “Let’s Get Lost” with me. Detours? Check. Wrong turns? Absolutely. Following fellow travellers like a herd of blind sheep? Yep, nailed it. And just when I thought my car was about to sprout fins and become a submarine, I miraculously found a dry road. Victory! My usual 30-minute commute turned into a near-hour-and-a-half saga – thanks to Google Maps going full-on drama queen. And after all of this when I finally parked, let’s just say I practically bolted to the bathroom – gotta love a good flood story, right?
But wait, there’s more! Our delightful stranger, fresh off the Estonia Express, had some thoughts about cars. She called hers a “Shit Box”. Not exactly a love letter to her four-wheeled companion, but hey, at least it got me there! Turns out, she’s a motorbike enthusiast, having blazed trails on dirt bikes for the past 17 years (props to her dad for starting her young!). A total adventurer, she thrives on getting lost (in the best way possible, of course). This adventurous soul loves surprises and exploring wherever her feet (or wheels) take her. Her dark brown hair that perfectly complements her adventurous spirit sometimes gets a blonde upgrade when the sun strikes just right.
I spotted her wandering around the Circular Quay as she was heading to Opera House, fresh off a few days in Sydney. And why was she in Sydney? Well, the long days and sunshine lured her here. Plus, she’d been doing some serious work as well. Now, driving tractors in a remote part of Australia for ten months straight sounds, well, not exactly a walk in the park. Ten-hour shifts, six days a week, in the middle of nowhere in Perth. That’s dedication! But now, she’s ready for a change—a new adventure, perhaps involving kangaroos on unicycles or surfing wombats.
So, where you from originally?…
Estonia
You know where it is??
Ahh.. nahh… Ecuador? It’s in south America, isn’t it? (My knowledge about geography must’ve taken a detour through the Bermuda Triangle just like my car over the weekend!)
No, it’s in Europe…
Okay yes, yes Estonia… I heard about it.
What brings you to Sydney?
I really like Australia. But I was over Perth… I stayed there for over a year… and I want something new…
So, you stayed in Perth over a year, and you want something new…
Yeah
And that brings you to Syndey?!…
I tried also Melbourne; I didn’t like it.
When I inquired further, she elaborated that she had spent approximately two weeks in Melbourne. During that time, she realized it might not have been the ideal choice for her, prompting her to opt for Sydney instead.
So, you liked Perth… In fact,… like… you stayed there over a year so definitely…(you liked Perth)
It was fine but I have a feeling that I will like Sydney more.
So, it seems her first impressions of Sydney may have surpassed those of Melbourne. Nevertheless, Sydney’s high cost of living could also present numerous challenges for her stay over here.
Soon, our chat swerved faster than a tractor on a mud run and landed smack dab in the middle of real farm life! Turns out, for the past while before we met, she’d been out there wrangling tractors and planting crops. Now, Australian farm life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It can be a bit of a mixed bag – long hours, same-same routines that can make you feel like a sunburnt sausage on a barbie. Plus, sometimes the pay, digs, and overall vibe might not be top-notch, making you feel like a lone sock in a laundry basket. But for her? It was an adventure, not a dusty memoir!
In fact, she was practically glowing as she told me about her recent escapades! Last month, she crisscrossed the map, leaving footprints in the red dirt. Exmouth, that sun-kissed gem of a tourist spot, made its way onto her travelogue. The coral reefs whispered secrets, and the turquoise waters sang her name. So, amidst the dust and sweat, she discovered that sometimes—even in the remotest corners—the universe conspires to sprinkle a little stardust on our overalls.
So, have you travelled any other country other than Australia? 
Yeah I have
Since I live in Europe 
and like we can travel very easily…
Yeah…
So pretty much like I have travelled through the baltics and Poland 
and Germany 
and… like places like that…
Poland and Germany?
Yeah
Do you like Germany?
Yeah, it’s alright. Actually Melbourne reminds me of Germany
Melbourne??
Yeah
Okay
Melbourne reminds you of Germany ?!! What is similar?… like the building??
Yeah the buildings
Before landing Down Under, she’d already globetrotted a bunch, wandering through distant lands, collecting stories like seashells on a sandy shore. You see, traveling isn’t just about racking up passport stamps; it’s about reshaping your soul’s GPS. And boy, did her internal compass get a makeover!
In Sweden, atop a dirt bike, she faced the concrete hill—a formidable foe. But she didn’t tumble like a clumsy kangaroo. Oh no! She clung to that handlebar like a koala to a eucalyptus tree. Sure, she ate a mouthful of dust a few times, but she bounced back like a boomerang. Persistence, my friends, is the secret sauce to mastering dirt bikes and perhaps life too.
From wacky history to surprisingly awesome farm life in the outback, this project was a treasure chest of fun encounters. During this time, I stumbled upon some fascinating tidbits thanks to the awesome people I met along the way. Like the ones who shared their surreal experiences visiting Auschwitz, or the revelation that cricket legend Don Bradman hailed from Bowral. And get this, despite living in Sydney for years, I had no clue that Melbourne’s vibe is reminiscent of Germany’s architecture!
But one gem that stood out? Learning from her that farm life in remote Australia can actually be quite the adventure. These are the souvenirs I’m taking away from this unforgettable encounter.
As she set off to conquer the Opera House solo, it hit me: life’s adventure never stops! It’s like a never-ending sunrise, bringing new connections and endless chances to fill our lives with incredible people and experiences.
Cheers to Kaisa, the tractor-driving troubadour, turning soil into stories!
