Australia 2

It is the first time in my life that I have spent a Christmas holiday in a country where most of the people cherish the actual festival more than just another reason to go out and party. When I was studying in New Zealand, I saw the preparation, the buzz, the hype and the importance that radio and T.V. commercial created. But I would spend the actual festive season in Thailand because of the southern hemisphere summer school break. Therefore, this is rather special for me to celebrate Christmas in Australia.

I walked around the city in the afternoon to find empty streets, closed shops and lifeless restaurants scarcely opened. Finding a bar at night becomes unexpectedly difficult. The colourful lights that use to keep me accompanied are off, leaving me in the darkness. The unfamiliar chilly breeze adds on to the loneliness in an unaccustomed setting, and it makes me think how bad it must be for people on their own.

Finally, a year is about to end. I slowly recall my life for the past 365 days, quietly mulling about every moment spent. Being away from my “safety cave” may shock and confuse me today, but in this unbelievable trip around the world I just have to embrace the unexpected. This is just another moment of life that I have to go through with self-understanding and consciousness. I will never regret living this extraordinary experience.