Day 12: On My Way to Cairns

Weather Update: Light rain and sunny intervals, high of 22°C.

Early Bird Again

Up bright and early at 6:15 am again today—seems like my body clock is set! Most of the young folks at the hostel were still in bed by 8:30 - 9:30 am. I noticed their huge backpacks filled with what seems to be unnecessary items. It reminds me of packing a suitcase for a holiday and including things you never end up wearing. I prefer a minimalist approach—I only carry what I need and discard anything unnecessary. If I need something, I’ll buy it along the way.

Boarding the Train

We boarded the train at 3:50 pm, and the journey began. A gentleman pacing around the station caught my eye, and I silently hoped he wouldn’t be my seatmate. But as fate would have it, he was. His name was Ken, and as the evening unfolded, it became clear why I had hoped otherwise.

Unexpected Company

Ken, my seatmate, was quite the character. Opinionated and rather threatening, he had a lot to say. The lady across from us, her son, and Ken made for an interesting dynamic. The train, set up like an airplane but on the ground, was supposed to offer Premium Economy seats, but to my disappointment, it was downgraded to just Economy. I was looking forward to the extra comfort of business class, an experience I hadn’t had before.

The Train Ride

Ken had ADHD and couldn’t stay quiet. For six hours, he talked non-stop until he reached his destination. I won’t bore you with the details, but the other party eventually moved to another carriage. The lady across from us took everything he said without a word. After Ken left, I couldn’t help but offer some unsolicited advice to her. “You have issues, and until you fix yourself, your son won’t trust you. When he sees you’ve changed, he’ll start to see you as his mother again. Right now, he doesn’t trust you.” It seems I’ve found a new calling as an amateur therapist—first hour free when I return home!

Reflections

Traveling is full of unexpected encounters and lessons. For those of you following my journey, I hope these updates give you a glimpse into the reality of life on the road.

Walking Today: 4.24Km

Overall 2 Flights: 2403.27 km, 4 Trains: 985km, 2 Buses: 217.75 km, 1 Car: 234 km,

Walking: 79.73km

Overall Total: 3968.30Km

Cheers to the adventures ahead and the stories yet to unfold! 🌏✨🚆📷

Stay tuned for more updates as I continue my travels. Next stop: Cairns! 🌞✨

Feel free to share your thoughts and tips on making this blog more engaging. Let’s keep this journey interesting together! 🚀📖