Wanderlust

Maybe it's the studying I'm (finally) doing right now that's getting me more and more excited for when the semester ends, or maybe it's the fact that the semester ends in a week and a half. Either way, I can't stop thinking, and mentally planning, for the few weeks I'll have after the semester ends. I always knew that this would be a completely different part of my time away from home, but it's really hitting me now just what an adventure this is going to be. I'm going to have just over three weeks to leave Perth behind and go check out the east coast of Australia.

I'm already excited to go check out some of the films at the Sydney Film Festival and some of the local shops recommended by Frankie while in Melbourne, and of course celebrate my 21st at the Little Creatures Dining Hall. But I'm most excited to just get out and travel (there's no link for that one). I know I love to plan my days and know exactly what I'm going to do before I even get on the plane, but I'm starting to get better at just going off and exploring. And that's what I can't wait for.

I was reading one of the Frugal Traveler columns today where Matt Gross talks about his travels over the years and what he's taken out of them. And while he appreciates the global connections that travel has to offer, I've come to the appreciate the sense of exploration that travel brings. Some of my favorite times in New Zealand were spent searching out good breakfast spots early in the morning or heading to the local cinema in Te Anau and watching the great local doco about the surrounding area. I could have never planned for those while still in Perth.

Maybe I'm not making any sense. And neither does Bjork sometimes. But maybe this time she does.


I'm excited to call my own shots everyday and see the cities as I want to see them. I'm excited to see the more typical Australian sites, as well as some of the more off the beaten path ones. I'm dreading excited to live out of my pack for three weeks. And I'm excited to just stop planning and let the travels begin.