Opposite Day

In comparison to the last two months, it is like living opposite day over and over again. Remember in elementary school or on long car rides when everything that was normal became opposite? When the sky was green and the grass was blue and school was fun and sleepovers were dreaded? That is what my first day in Australia felt like--like someone declared opposite day somewhere between my takeoff from Bangkok and my landing in Sydney.

Whereas Southeast Asia was long bus rides, private guesthouses, and eating every meal out, Australia is camper vans, crowded dorm rooms, and super market meals made on one gas burner. Southeast Asia was dirty, inexpensive and out to make a buck off the unknowing wanderer at each turn. Australia is clean, expensive and makes no apologies for asking Western prices for Western goods.

The difference in travel styles is profound--we are in control of each step, each turn, each meal. There is much freedom in this kind of traveling, a freedom that will increase when we master driving on the left, buy a few CDs to conquer the bad reception and minimal radio stations, and figure out a cooling system for the ever important dairy items, but at times we definitely miss fresh beer for 30 cents and meals for two dollars. Instead, we have good Australian wine and Tim Tams, clean rest stops with flush toilets, hot showers, and meals made without the southeast Asian spice otherwise known as live ants. I suppose no radio isn't so bad afterall.