Bumming in Byron – June 2010

Flicking down the visor, I examine the reflection of last nights’ efforts in the mirror. My face resembles that of a panda, big black bags circling my mascara stained cheeks. I comb my fingers through the matted mess that is my hair while Nikki stirs in the seat beside me. Searching through the rubble in our boot, I retrieve a stray sock. It looks clean enough! Spitting on its edge I bring it to my face and begin to scrub away the chaos. My head is pounding so I step out of the car to get some fresh air. My pyjama pants land in the puddles that have pooled outside the door overnight.

After changing from one dirty outfit into another, I retreat back to the safety of the car and away from the mosquitos swarming the wetlands outside. Nikki is now conscious and looks at me through a set of sorry brown eyes.

We go in search of a shower; sure that it will be the answer to all of life’s current problems. However, after many failed attempts we decide to do the all-embarrassing contact-some-people-from-the-night-before. While we don’t remember a great deal from our undoubtedly wild escapades, what we do remember is meeting two fellow travellers who had offered us their shower, do we decide we want to practice hygiene on our holiday.

Nikki’s phone beeps almost instantly, a reply welcoming us over and we are at their door within minutes, arms piled high with towels, clean clothes and toiletries.

While the pair sit in the hostel bar, Nikki and I tidy up, returning shortly there after, looking and feeling a few dollars dearer. Following a hearty Indian meal, the four of us revisit the scene of last nights’ crime and bond over beers. Sex, drugs, war, politics and religion; these are five subjects I usually find hard to discuss with even my closest friends, our differing opinions sometimes putting strain on the relationship. Yet, here we are after only one day, freely discussing these taboo issues, a Rod Stewart cover playing in the background.

This, right here is why I love travelling - the people you meet. If you’re open to it, there is so much to be learnt and so much to share. After a few drinks, the drunk eyes have returned so we decide we had better return to the car before killing further brain cells.

We farewell our new friends and thank them profusely for everything they have given us, from both their hearts and their minds.