Entering Australia after the smog and smell of India was literally a breath of fresh air. We went straight from some of the world’s worst air in the Indian cities to the world’s freshest on the western coast of Australia, and it felt so good I wanted to kiss the ground when we arrived in Perth. The ocean breezes were so clean it seemed I could taste the freshness. Perth was immaculate, a model city through which the beautiful Swan River flowed. I had been called to visit it for years, and indeed, felt right at home in Perth’s energy. A pre-journey earth astrology reading explained my attraction to Perth; I had two planetary lines running through this area of Australia. This knowledge helped me understand why just the mere mention of the word "Perth" felt lilting and happy to me; bringing a smile to my face, and joy to my heart. After the intense activity and overwhelming crowds of India, the nearly empty roads and slow pace of Australia soothed our souls.
It was a source of great pleasure to again have easy conversations in English with people who were not only genuinely friendly but who also had no ulterior motives. It had been almost two months since we had experienced this pleasure. It was a privilege to meet so many English speaking people throughout our Journey in countries where English is a second language, especially considering that neither of us spoke more than a little Spanish. Yet we did relish the ease of being among people who spoke English primarily, especially with that endearing Aussie accent. We appreciated the flow of clear and open communication.
Emotionally it was freeing to be in Australia and I felt as though a great pressure had been lifted from me. After two and a half weeks in Australia our next destination was to be Hawaii, and then we would complete our circular Journey around the world and return home to Sedona after three months of international travel. I realized that the most difficult parts of the Journey had been completed. None of our sacred sites travel was ever about going on "vacation", yet I knew that the last few weeks of our traveling were likely to be easeful, gentle and genuinely fun.
We reveled in being able to eat anything we wanted again, after months of careful restriction. We were even able to brush our teeth with tap water again! Aside from some difficulty adjusting to driving on the opposite side of the road, and some intense desert heat where the flies from hell dwell, our time in Australia was quite peaceful and uplifting. The vastness and emptiness of the country was inspiring. It was also quite civilized. We curiously noted that with few minority people in the cities, even the more "menial" jobs were filled by the majority. Our trusty Lonely Planet Guide stated that no tipping was expected in Australia, though we always found it difficult to accept such a custom. We appreciated good service and liked to show it, and the service in Australia was always with a smile.
AUSTRALIA: THE BEAUTY OF PERTH
I had envisioned going north of Perth when we arrived in Australia, yet felt drawn south our first day on the road. Almost immediately, on a street that by-passed the highway, we saw huge packs of kangaroos! I really enjoyed connecting with the large and nimble creatures, and felt so blessed that they had magically appeared so quickly for us. It felt a good omen, and a great gift. Joeys in well-stretched pouches bounced along placidly with their moms, ears springing back and forth in rhythm to the hops. They sometimes reached down for a bite of tender grass from the safety of mom's belly pocket as she grazed. They were enchanting. Emus and kookaburras also made grand appearances for us within a few days. The country, and it's celebrated fauna, seemed to welcome us with open arms. We didn't have the opportunity to actually see a Koala Bear, though when we entered their territory we were amused with a street sign announcing their presence. Only in Australia…
The Indian Ocean was warm and inviting as we drove down the western coast of the country. At Blackhurst Park in Dunsborough the rocks that lined the shore were embedded with beautiful crystals. The clear, tropical blue water carried reflections of the sun in sparkling points that shone like diamonds. We performed a Water Ritual at this site. I sat among the rocks in the water as the gentle currents swirled around me and felt at peace with the world. We gifted the waters a calcite crystal from the Crystal Desert of Egypt. I felt drawn to refer to one of the great, crystal-embedded rock on the shore as "Grandmother Rock". She received our gift warmly.
As we traveled the coastal roads, we witnessed some of the most astounding sunsets on the planet, and were also blessed with a sighting of dolphins, an exciting first for Daniel. They surfed gracefully in the waves. Our appetites were whetted for the dolphin experiences to come in Hawaii, just a few weeks away.
