Live Life Simply

One of the quotes I often think of is, "Live Life Simply." It all started with a backdoor rug my mom bought that bore those words and then it turned into her favorite quote, and then it turned into the words I think of often when I'm getting bogged down in detail or obsessive-compulsiveness. But I never really knew how elaborately I was still living until I came to Australia with two 40 lb. bags that were supposed to last me for four months, and have survived on just that. I wouldn't have guessed that I would be fine, nor would I have guessed that I could live even simpler. Until this weekend when I lived on an island for three days out of just a book bag.

Moreton Island is about an hour drive from campus and another hour and a half ferry ride. We left at 5:45am Friday morning with the idea that it was going to be somewhat of a Survivor weekend and we were going to have to hunt and gather for our livelihood. While it wasn't necessarily hunting and gathering, we had to do some major adaptations to the environment for the weekend. I've never been camping, let alone without electricity for more than a day but I was thrown onto this island with a tour guide (the same one from the rainforest tour I did a couple weeks ago) and fifteen other people and expected to have the time of my life. I'm happy to report that this weekend tops the charts.

The first day we took a tour around the Northern point of the island and experienced the first of many bumpy rides in our 4WD truck. The whole island is obviously all sand, including the tracks. Nev, our tour guide, told us that some people have too much air in their tires and it causes bumps and indents within the sand that is more than necessary; so that's why it was so jolty and hard to maneuver around. The video we took can give you probably only a minute sense of our adventure.

We reached the beach, had a swim, some lunch and then hiked up to Honeymoon Bay. Along the route, Nev would always point out specific edible plants and although I wasn't a participant, some of my friends were more than willing.

I saw these sights the whole weekend and it never got old. I took around 500 pictures and although more than half are of beaches, water, trees, I'm not going to delete any of them because I want to live this trip over and over again! We were onto our next adventure after Honeymoon Bay but experienced a little detour when we were driving down the road and Nev spotted an eagle on the side of the road. Once we drove past it, it didn't really move so we stopped, Nev got out and was able to catch it with a towel wrapped around it so that we could bring it to safety. The rangers were no where to be found so we brought it to the resort on the island and moved forward. Nev to the rescue!

Snorkeling was on the agenda but given the current and winds, it was too dangerous because the waves would have exceeded our snorkel height. Instead, Nev told us we could go kayaking and I was more than excited because I had never been. Why he thought that kayaking was safe in the conditions and not snorkeling, we'll never know. I was on the kayak for no more than two minutes and was capsized. I should have learned my lesson right then and there and swam back in. But I wanted to go more and so did everyone else. Before we knew it, the current had pulled us to what seemed like a mile away from our spot. I didn't start freaking out until it came time to try and get back into shore. I was paddling but I wasn't moving. And the longer I didn't move, the further I got away from shore and our camp spot. Then the longer I tried to paddle forward, the more energy I was losing. I was stuck out there with my friend Erica and both of us were in the same situation.  The guys moved right along and didn't even think twice about helping us. Even though there was nothing they really could have done, we're still bitter about it. When I didn't think it could get worse, my paddle fell out of my kayak and that's when I really started freaking out. I was literally up a creek without a paddle. My arms started flailing to the motion of fins to try and get my paddle, and it was with success. At that point I knew there was nothing more I could do except go full force. I paddled and paddled until my arms were jello and then I paddled some more. Finally, I made it to an acceptable distance to topple over and just dog-paddle my way to shore but let me tell you, that was not the best first impression of kayaking.

After that we headed in, changed into clothes and headed back out to watch the sunset. It was my first time really watching a sunset completely disappear into the distance and it was one of those times I'll never forget. A lot of us sat in reflection and amazement. I really just felt alive.

We were up bright and early again the next morning, after an almost sleepless night in the tent on my part due to the animal noises, Katie's snoring and my lack of a pillow. I'm really paying for the latter now with my neck pains. The current was weak and the wind wasn't much so we were able to snorkel through the ship wrecks on the island. They didn't really occur there, they were put there but it was still really neat to see and swim through the wrecks, as well as have the fish and coral below you. One of the most memorable things was a bird swimming right along side of us waiting to grab some fish for food since we had the bread in our hands. He or she danced around us and to our shock, scooped one fish right up and swallowed it! It was so gross watching the whole fish shape just move down the bird's mouth but it was interesting too.

Next on the agenda was the reason I signed up for this trip: sand boarding! I really didn't know what to expect, and I certainly didn't expect for it to feel like I was in the middle of the Sahara Desert. The name was all too suiting.

I'm still washing sand out of my clothes, and my body. But every grain of it was worth the absolute joy I had the whole time doing it. First was just laying on the board, then I upgraded to standing on the board, and mastered the two-person ride with Katie. At one point we were crying from the laugher and our cheeks hurt from smiling too much. No one needs therapy, just sand boarding.

I may have taken a couple tumbles but each one was worth it. Writing about all of it is making me want to go back right now!

After sweating our body weight off, we were refreshed to a trip to the Blue Lagoon of freshwater. It refreshed me both in cool water temperature and in replenishing my lack of water in my body because I was able to drink from it. When you first jump in, the water looks red but it is just like that because of the ti-tree oil that is infused within it. It leaves your skin and hair feeling so, so soft. It was nice to feel like that after not showering for two days.

We got back and since the current still wasn't strong, three of us decided to try kayaking one more time. It was so relaxing and peaceful to kayak through the ship wrecks and just have complete silence of the water. Kayaking has redeemed itself.

After another sunset, we cooked some dinner and all of us hung out by the fire, getting to know each other more and telling story after story.

After that, we prepared for the greatest night: sleeping right on the beach! We dragged our mattresses, sleeping bags and smiles and headed to the beach. We were lucky enough to have the clouds part way at some times and see all the stars. I've never seen so many stars in my life, nor ones so bright. I think star gazing is my new favorite thing to do. Almost all of us passed out within a half hour but two of my friends and I stayed up and talked to Nev until way into the night. We had no concept of time at any part of the weekend and I didn't want it any other way. Sometimes I felt like I was back on Kairos. Nev is declared the most interesting man ever and I wish I could see him again sometime. But, I appreciate those people the most, the ones who I only get to spend time with for a short time and then we each go our separate ways. I think we all have something to offer to each other.

We were pretending for the picture...

Good morning! And then there were six...

I fell asleep to the sound of the waves and woke up to them as well. The funniest part has to be the fact that it started raining really early in the morning and none of us left at first. We pulled our blankets over our heads and embraced it all. Then, we slowly started losing people to waking up early and it being too cold. Around 8am, there were six of us left and we smiled at what we had just done. Such happiness. 

Sunday was a tour of the highest vegetated sand dune in the world, Mt. Tempest. It gave us a view of the whole island to take our breath away. 

Lastly, we went to the best beach on the island, in my opinion. There we saw dolphins jumping, manatees swimming and sea turtles floating along their own way. We headed back to camp, packed up and got on the ferry to get back to campus. Probably the saddest I've ever been leaving a place but I know I'll make it back someday. 

This place made me appreciate the simplicity in life, and live off only what I need. I'll gladly trade anything for this weekend of: minimal sleep, no showering, no shoes, sand everywhere and limitless happiness. When I think of Australia, this weekend will be on the top of my mind. It sums it all up...