Tête en bas

I woke up early. Very early. Not so long after I went to bed actually. Josephine was still awake, of course. He chatted a little, before she drove me to the place where the group was sleeping. I took a seat in the bus, and we left. In order to stop, less than an hour later, to catch an amazing sunrise on the Breakaway.

Dynamic in this bus is definitely different than with Cassie. More tranquil. More relax. That’s perfect for me, as I can take a nap. A long one… We arrive in Erldunda a few hours later. I leave the bus with all my stuff. They are turning left. I’m not. I have a little chat with a girl who works for the same company as Cassie. She confirms my thought. Perfect.

Ten minutes later, Cassie’s bus arrive. She’s quite surprise to see me. I can understand why I guess. She still has room in her bus, and she’s happy to take me with her. Specially because none of her passenger asked to seat in the front. She doesn’t have a copilot! What a strange feeling, two weeks later, to be back exactly at the same place… I’m finishing the tour I started with her.. like if Coober Pedy was just an amazing two weeks break… everything is exactly like before. We chat, make a few plan. She was thinking to go to Katherine in a few weeks. She tells me about a 5 days hike in this area. I note everything. Sounds really interesting. She finally drop me in Alice Springs. The circle is complete.

I meet Mara at her place. An other little moment of happiness. The pleasure of seeing people again is always great when you’re traveling! I’m going to stay at her place for the next three days before we leave to Darwin.

On the next day, she invites me to come with her for a small walk in town. She has to go to the other end of Alice Springs, at a friend place. I’m happy to go with her. When she tells me in which area we’re going, I’m almost certain about the exact place. We do a little detour to climb Anzac Hills who, in the middle of the town, give a very nice overview of Alice.

One hour later, I recognize without any hesitation the little path we’re following. To go to a house I recognize too. That’s the place where I dropped Ben a few weeks ago. That’s the place where Rachel stayed after the festival. When I tell my name to the guy who welcome me, he looks surprise. Yes, I’m this Sebastien. What a strange feeling, again, to feel that I know everybody here. I’m part of a family of people I haven’t meet yet. And there’s this comment that give me a giant inside smile. “Dynamic here completely change with Ben and Rachel, that’s great they came here”.

If I like seizing opportunity when they arise, I also like to see me as someone who creates opportunity. I like having people meeting other people thanks to me. I like to see things happening because of that… I definitely didn’t expect when I put my post on couchsurfing trying to find passengers, that all that was going to happen. I really feel that I created something. A micro change. Not so important, except for the people involved. And I really like it. Everything seems to happen the way it’s suppose to. Everybody seems to be at the good place. Probably a fatherly way of seeing all that, but I feel that everybody’s happy here, and that I can go on my on way, with a light heart. Life is just confirming that I’m doing right. And that’s an awesome feeling.

I’m leaving tomorrow, with Mara and Gabrielle. An other Maui campervan. There was no other solution, for a perfect circle.

When you read the comment about Jo and Terry, from helpers like me, or from travelers, there’s always the same thing pointing out: their love for kangaroos. Surprisingly, that’s not what I’ll remember most. Maybe because I’m always looking to human first… what I’ve noticed he’s the amazing love between them. The complicity they are sharing. Like a giant and warm blanket. So big that it cover them, but also everything surrounding them.

It was 10 years ago. They were traveling south, from Alice Springs. It was during the night. They saw a small little thing on the side of the road. They stopped and drove back to check. It was a young joey. Alone. They wait for a little while, hoping the mother would come back. She didn’t. They decided to take him with them, rolled in a towel, to bring him to a friend of them who was caring after kangaroos. Josephine was already charmed. They left him in careful hands, in Coober Pedy, and went back on the road to Adelaide, where they had planed to spend a few days. There friend told them that he’ll be able to take care of the joey for only a few days, but that they’ll need to find an other place after that. Terry warned Jo. Don’t think about that.

They spent a few days in Adelaide, and went back north. They are both rally drivers. Both love driving and, usually, there’s always long argument when it’s time to choose who’s going to be in the driver seat. But when leaving Adelaide, Jo didn’t say anything. Just “you can drive”. A few hundred km later, they arrived in Coober Pedy. Taking the kangaroo back, to relocate him to Alice Springs. After such a long drive, they switch the drivers. Terry ended up holding they little passenger all the way to Alice. When they arrived, finding someone to take care of the joey was a no brainer. They keep him.

When Jo talk about that today, her eyes are still shining. She doesn’t understand how he survived, “beginner” as they were. With all the mistakes they did. But it was all the beginning, and they made a great job. So well that, just three months ago, when the little “Bronnie” was brought to them (a little pinky, pink with no fur), everybody told them there was no hope. She was way to young. No one ever manage to save such a young joey. When she arrived, she weighted a few tens of grams, and hold easily in Josephine’s hand. Today, a little bit more than 100 days after, Bronnie makes everybody fall in love. Yes, even I. She starts quickly to be my favorite. Easy going, she loves hugs and cuddles. And she likes taking her time when she’s fed. I spent long time on my computer, holding her with one arm, trying to write with my other hand, without disturbing her.

A few days ago, Jo and Terry celebrated there 22nd wedding birthday. They didn’t want to go to the restaurant. I offered to cook for them, but Jo declined, saying she was to difficult. We spent a quite evening, chatting and eating well. Between a lots of phone calls. Question about kangaroos. How to help a joey. What should I do with… I feel like they would not have wish something different. They were happy to share this moment with me and there children. Yes, the roos are definitely part of the family. Absolutely not a freaky way. They are not here to compensate anything. They are here because Terry and Jo love them. That’s so simple.

They do everything by themselves, receiving no government help. There’s a art gallery adjacent to the house, helping them to make some money. But they mainly survive thanks to donation. Twice a day, at 12 and 5:30PM, tourists stop to see the kangaroos being fed. Terry tell them there’s story. People take pictures, ask question, learn… and when they leave, they take with them a little bit of this unlimited love.

And there is people like me, who stays a few weeks, helping as they can, sharing magical moment and amazing simple evening.

I’m finish writing this post with only one hand. Terry asked me to hold Prue for a little while. With all those kangaroos, having two extra arms is not a luxury! And Prue is my other favorite. As much as Bronnie. Probably because I was with Terry when we rescued her. So small, so fragile, but already so lovely!

I’m leaving my kangaroos tomorrow.

After an amazing two weeks in great company, it’s time for me to follow the wind, one more time. I’m going back to Alice Springs tomorrow. 700 km north. I was planning to hitch hike, but today, a tour group stopped at the orphanage. I talked with the guide. They have a room for me in the bus, and they’re going to take me up to Erldunda (yes, the same place I get stuck for 7 hours on my way south). I’m definitely more optimistic for the ride north. I’ll have only 250 km to go, I don’t think it’s going to be too complicate. There’s an open-mic evening in Alice Springs tomorrow night. I don’t want to miss it, as it might be the very first time I’ll be telling a story in english! Definitely want to hear that! Might need a couple of beer thought…

Staying in Alice for a few days, and leaving next thursday. Heading north again. On a van relocation, as usual. I’ve find a way of traveling I’m really starting to like I think! Two passengers with me. No stranger this time. Mara, will be coming with her flute and her lovely voice, and Gabrielle, with her violin. It’s going to be a pretty interesting music experimental trip I think. Four days to drive north do Darwin. 1,500 km. Easy one! Arriving in Darwin on sunday afternoon. I have no idea if we can swim in the Timor Sea, somewhere in Darwin. Hope so… it will be my first time in the tropics, I’m expecting warm water (as well as crocodiles, for what I know). We’ll cross the tropic line a hundred km north of Alice Springs.

Just one night in Darwin (for the moment). On monday morning, I’ll be hitch hiking south with Mara. 300 km, to go back to Katherine. We’re gong to spend one or two weeks in an aboriginal Art Center. Yes, an other Helpx experience. When I told Terry and Jo where I was going, they told me “ah! They are on helpx because of us! Very friendly people”. I had exactly the same comment from Cassie. Good news!

Don’t really know how the internet connexion will be going. There will be a post, tomorrow during the day (ah, the magic of auto-posting!) but after that, as usual… who knows!

Kata Tjuta and the valley of the wind

The valley of the wind… I’m a little bit ashamed that I didn’t realize earlier. I just though “hey, sounds nice, I like the name”. It took Cassie asking “have you seen the movie Nausicaa of the valley of the wind? Myiasaki find some of its inspiration here”. And then, I realize. Uluru’s shape, from a certain angle, remind me the Omu (the giant insect). Even the name, Omu, sounds like Emu in english… the shape of the mountain, a landscape that looks really organic… yes, Nausicaa is everywhere around us.

The day started with a sunrise. Who says sunrise says wake up early. Much to early. For a second day in a row. As for the sunset yesterday, sunrise is the reason for a big gathering of more that 50 people (yes, it’s harder to come for a sunrise than a sunset). But I have a place that I like, where I can enjoy the landscape. When the sun is a little bit upper in the sky, and breakfast is eaten, we can take the road to Kata Tjuta.

It’s quite hard to find the good word to describe Kata Tjuta. After Uluru yesterday, I didn’t know what to expect. I discovered something completely different. More sacred than Uluru, definitely not as known. Only two areas are open to the public. That’s more than enough!

After Kata Tjuta, Cassie drive us back to Uluru, for a quick visit of the cultural center (photo forbidden) before giving us a short guided walk. A few geological explanation about the rock, but mainly cultural/historical explanation from an aboriginal point of view. We discover an other side of the rock, that I like even more. Once again, I can feel it. Deep inside me. Like a deep slow vibration.

Back to the bus for a couple of hours driving. Going to Kings Canyon, on tomorrows planning. This time, we’re alone at the campground. No other group. Quiet evening with an other campfire. And as I do have my fire staff and some kerosene left over…

Guided tour… those words kind of frighten me. I see a giant bus, dropping hundreds of old people, in view point and touristic shop. I see the complete impossibility to take picture with no one, people always complaining and never happy. A slow moving group with an unbearable inertia. But at the same time, Cassie told me that it worst it, and that it was great. And I totally trust Cassie. When I saw the old bus coming, when I heard the engine, sounding like it could die anytime, I start thinking a different way. I start thinking that I was right to trust Cassie.

Alice Springs to Uluru. Around 400k. Bus often stop. Pee pause. Emu pause. Pee and gaze pause. Photo pause. But the dynamic is still interesting. Life in the bus is nice. It’s my turn to be the copilot. I’m not use to that! I do my best to help Cassie. As it was in the van, life in the front and life in the back are completely different. In other circumstances, I would probably have try to spend more time in the back, learning to know my fellow travelers. But being quiet with Cassie is ok for me.

There’s a lot of different tour company in Alice Springs. The Rock Tour seems to be the cheapest one. Because of that, people are younger. The bus is full. It means only 22 persons. Still a bearable size group.

I’m fouled by the first rock I see far away. Thought it was Uluru for a little while, before Cassie told us that it’s not. Well, that’s true… Uluru is way more organic than that!

But we finally arrive. This time, I recognize the shape with no hesitation. Of course this is it. I love traveling. It remind me, each time, how amazing the world we’re living in is. I’m happy to be here, in Uluru. It seems unexpected to me. As it was to arrive at the top of the Empire States Building, to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge, to see Sydney’s opera, to discover Death Valley, or to dive on a wreck in Bali… my life is full of surprises. And I love that !

My first reaction is balanced. From far, it’s a nice impressive rock. But nothing exceptional. Uluru starts to be awesome when you get close to it. “I saw it hundreds of time, I still love it. It’s always different”. I quickly understand what Cassie means. Every two minutes, Uluru is different. It changes. Constantly. We could almost feel him alive as those change are quick. She drops us at the foot of the rock, with the mission to walk around it. She warns us. There’s sacred place, where it’s forbidden to take picture. I always have trouble when I can’t take picture. But quite often, I keep the camera off. There’s amazing part of the rock that you won’t see. Not on this blog at least. He’s waiting for you anyway. Just come, and you’ll see.

Long story short: like everywhere in the world, white men steal the land from the people who were living there when he arrived. Ayers Rock and the area became property of the crown. Lots of aboriginal people where strongly suggest to move away. Once again, I want to wait a little bit more longer before talking about aboriginals. But I will. I promise. Collecting information is still going on… anyway… in aboriginal tradition, the land you’re living on is one of the most important thing. In such a hard place to survive, knowing everything about your place is a matter of life. Aboriginal wanted to come back. It took time. Lot of time. But at the end of the 80s, australian government finally give back Ayers Rock to the tribes who were living there. Those four tribe merge to become only one. In exchange, aboriginal agreed to rent the area to the government for 99 years. Since that day, the site is managed by a council formed by 6 aboriginal and 4 australian.

Little precision: making a difference between “aboriginal” and “australian” is definitely a mistake. If, until the 70s, aboriginal were not seen as human (they were protected by the ministry for fauna and the flora), they are now seen are australian citizen. Maybe I should say “6 aboriginal and 4 white men”. But once again, it won’t be exactly true.

Uluru is in the middle of Australia. Straight in the middle. Uluru is red. Uluru is often seen as australian spiritual heart. I easily understand why. There’s something you can feel around the rock. Something spiritual. Of course, you’ll feel it only if you want to feel it. It’s totally possible to work around the rock, and just see a giant red thing, quite impressive, with hips of strange shape. I wanted to see more. I wanted to see more than just a rock. I closed my eyes. I touched it. I felled it. There’s something more, and it’s really easy to feel it. My flute, of course, was really happy to share sometime with the rock.

The day ended with what seems to be a must do. Sunset on Uluru. Cassie warned us. Other tours, who are way more expensive, give a glass of wine to there traveler. So she invited us to by her own bottle to celebrate the sunset. Celebrate, really? With a little bit more than 10 cars gathered, almost 500 tourists on a parking… with table, everywhere. And tourists, drinking sparkling wine in fancy glasses… I tried to do a time lapse, with some difficulty. The result is not that good. If the rock changes color, it’s not as impressive as I though.

I remember… a few days ago. Almost the same number of people, climbing a hill, for an other sunset. Being happy, and screaming when the sun finally disappear. Here, people seems to try to be as stupid as they can while taking picture. They don’t mind about the sunset. They just want to have a photo for there Facebook page. I find it very sad. But can’t change anything about it…

Sun away, diner eaten, we go bak to the campground for the night. There’s a big bonfire waiting for us. I take my flute and my didge. Play the first. Play the second. And went away from the light, taking a few picts of the stars. The rock, of course, is there…

I needed to take a break. Rachel, Cassie and the other are amazing. But I met to many people on the last weeks. To many amazing meetings, just before leaving Melbourne. To many amazing meeting during the trip to the festival. To many amazing meeting during the festival. So yes… I needed a break. Sometime, just for me, when I would stop being social. My body confirmed that I need a break, as I start monday morning with a cold, and a brain who was unable to work for a whole day.

I left the festival, quickly as a thief, on monday morning. I was planing to take my time, relax, and probably help to clean the site. I changed my mind. I needed to go. To be alone. I apology to everyone. Say goodbye to anyone. Take my two backpacks, and leave. Thumbs up.

I arrived in Alice Springs little bit later. There’s nothing like an hostel when you want to be anonymous and alone. I took my computer, with nothing else in mind than taking it easy, trying to find an internet connexion to update my blog.

I like Alice Springs. A lot. I found there what I liked in Bali. What is, I think, common to every city where the weather is always nice. People living outside, in a very open city. Really green too. I was feeling well. It was a nice place to rest.

Jacques helped me to do some fencing before the festival. He’s french, and seems to be traveling in Australia on a motorbike. I didn’t ask him more detail. I met him again at the hostel. We had a short chat. Not so much. A little bit later, he came back with a friend. She told me “allo”.

One word was enough. No need to recognize the accent. No need to ask any question. I know only one country where people say “allo”. Her name is Gabrielle, and she’s from Montreal south shore. She’s been a little been surprised when I “laugh” at her because she was a 450. But she understand quickly. Yes, I’m what I pretend to be. A montrealer, with a different accent.

We met again the next day. Well, it’s pretty easy to bump into people you know in Alice Springs. We took sometime to talk. And… well, Gabrielle is traveling with a violin. I like people who travels with musical instrument. It allows a lot of unexpected mix. During the Wide Open Space, we manage to have a didgeridoo, a japanese, flute, an indian flute and an accordion playing together. Four musicians playing instruments from four different continents. As usual, I like that…

We sat down in the Todd River (dry) bed, sharing chat and musical improvisation, in a really simple and amazing time. With short break to talk with aboriginal people coming by. I know, I haven’t say anything about aboriginal people yet. It’s coming. Soon.

Gabrielle reacted when I told her that I was hitch hiking south, before coming back to Alice Springs and hitch hiking north. She’s looking for a travel mate, to hitch hike too. She’s thinking to leave Alice in two or three weeks. The timing might be good for her. We might have fun together, so… why not. Maybe… Well… Rachel was also looking for a travel mate. For a little bit later, after working a little bit in Alice. Should to the same thing, at sometime… and I just get news from Hripsine. She’s planing to leave Melbourne early June, for an Adelaide – Alice Springs – Darwin – Broom – Perth road trip. As she knows that I have the same project, she’s offering me to go with her.

All that remind me that I was looking for a break… that for the last three weeks, I was saying that I wanted to be alone, in the middle of the desert. I’m saying that I need to relax. To stop meeting people. To be alone. I take my decision. Tomorrow, I’ll leave Alice Springs. Going south, to Coober Pedy, slowly. Alone, finally.

It was without taking Cassie into account. She’s been working for two years in Alice as a tour guide. She loves the city, she loved her job. She’s back. In one day, she finds a new job. “I have a group, leaving tomorrow morning, for three days. Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon. I might have a seat for you. Not sure yet, I’ll only know tomorrow at 5:45 AM”. Perfect for me. All my bags will be ready tonight. I’m leaving the hostel tomorrow. To Uluru, with Cassie. Or somewhere else, with my thumb.

It’s wednesday morning. It’s 5:45 AM. My phone rings. The big red thing is waiting for me. As my first experience in a tour group!

After spending so much time with my travel companion, as friendly and amazing they can be, I was feeling that I might need to be alone for a little while. At the same time, I wanted to stay with them, and to go on my own way. I take thursday really easy, just relaxing, without taking any decision… I finally decide, late in the afternoon, to take my back back, and go. Trying to hitch hike to the festival. I was missing hitch hiking… I didn’t have much food, but I decide to trust Rachel for that. Quite an unusual thing for me! Leaving Alice hitch hiking was little bit difficult… but as soon as I was out of town, every thing was easy again, and I arrive at the Wide Open Space festival. Maybe a little bit later than expected.

It was the first time I was working as a volunteer on a festival. I had too. My bank account doesn’t really allow me those kind of spending anymore. And apart of the financial aspect, the human aspect interested me too. But not on the first evening. I was looking for loneliness. To stop and relax, just by myself. I tell who I was, build up my tent, and went to bed.

What can I say about the Wide Open Space festival… i had a lot of expectation when I went to Confest. And I came back a little bit disappointed. By people, who were not that much into meeting other, and were way to serious about what was happening, and by the event itself, who didn’t do anything to gather us all together. There was no real reason, for us, to be there.

I went to the Wide Open Space with no expectation. And I came back completely and totally amazed, by an overwhelming experience. First of all, it was not a big festival. 500 people. Maybe 600. A little site means that you don’t have to carry all kind of stuff with you always. When your camp is 2 minutes walk from the main stage, you can easily forget something. But it also mean that you also see the same people. You smile to them. You start talking with no reason. And you’re quickly a part of a big family.

No workshop where you learn how to be happy. Nop. At WOS, people knows how to be happy, without having someone telling them how. It’s a big fest, where everything seems to be about happiness.

A few art work, here and there, different clothing style… as in Comfest or Burning Man, you have to live the experience to really understand it. It’s definitely not easy to talk about the openness of people, the happiness that was radiating from them. The laughs that were everywhere…

Someone told me not to have any expectation about music. I’ve bee nicely surprised. All the bands had something to offer. And there was all different kind of music. From metal to reggae, from electro to the single singer with is guitar. Everything, for everyone. I was a little bit worried about the reggae/hip hop first night, no much quiet for me… but on saturday, the music definitely evolved to something way more dynamic. More electro, more energizing. And on sunday… well, I start dancing around 2PM because the music was so intense…

Just for the pleasure of finding a negative point, I would say that once again, didgeridoos were missing. Like in Comfest, I felt like if I was the only one… I’m looking forward an opportunity to play with a few others!

Apart from the music, the “closure” ceremony was the other gathering element. When a group of people start climbing up the small hill, on the site of the festival, to watch the sunset. There was no burning giant piece of art. That was not a problem. Everyone was gathering at the same place, for the same reason. That’s all I was missing. All I was waiting for, in order to conclude those 3 days of magical happiness. Three days of dance, music, quick meeting and smile sharing.

I was expecting to be stressed, to have to hurry up every one. But Cassie and Rachel take care of everything, and the van was quickly ready to start again. And, at some time, to be given back.

A few little break on the road, but here we are!

Yes… we survived. We are in Alice Springs. We do a quick tour of the city, in order to drop everyone stuff, and leave Ben and Josh downtown. Giving back the van take a little while, but was no problem.

We don’t have the van anymore… what’s next? I’m still waiting from news from my CSer who might host me. But I realize that I’m not that much motivated to couchsurf tonight. So is Rachel. And we finally end up in the same hostel than Indri.

We all met together a little bit later, in the evening. The 6 of us, for a last meal. What will come next? I don’t know yet. But we are 5 to go to the festival. So all that is not exactly finish yet…

An other wake up, soft and quiet, in the middle of the desert. Today, we’re going to take our time, in order to visit Coober Pedy. I could have go on on the road, as I’ll be back soon here, but my fellow travelers want to have a better look. I totally understand. And at the same time, I like the idea of having a better idea of what I have to expect. Last opportunity to change my mind!

The day starts with a visit of a museum/souvenir shop/old opal mine. The ground is quite easy to dig. And full of opals. So people start digging every where. Mines becoming houses. And houses becoming mine. Because since a little while, you now need a permit to dig for opal. But you can still dig new room for your house… it seems that people here live in giant underground house… the preview we have while visiting the museum is definitely really nice. I would just miss the real sun light from time to time. But except from that, it seems to be a very comfy place. Air is fresh and really nice to breath.

And because it’s time to feed the kangaroos after the museum visits, we give a quick visit to Jo et Terry. I like the idea of meeting them quickly, before coming back in two weeks. The first contact is very nice. I don’t really have opportunity to talk with Jo(sephine) but Terry is definitely friendly. I think I’ll have a good time there. I’ll just have to find a way to come back. I think I like the idea of hitch hiking!

Quite a lot of time has already passed when we finally go back in the van. There’s still quite a lot to drive. Alice Springs is 750 km from here. I still propose a last little detour, to visit the Breakaway. Not very far from Coober Pedy. We just need to drive on a small gravel road. The van is happy to do so. And it’s an opportunity to give a look to the road to Oodnadatta. For the next time… and of course, the landscape definitely worst the detour. I have this feeling to be back in Painted Hills, Oregon.

But after that, no more reason to stop. No more time either. My goal is to have less than 300 km to drive the next morning, so that’s the day won’t be to hard. The sun set. Ok, that’s a good reason for a 10 minutes stop.

I still drive for quite a while. More than expected, as it’s quite hard to find a nice place to stop. But we finally stop. The spot is great. Away from the road, quite, perfect for us. One more time, the evening goes quietly around the camp fire, while Cassie cooks us a canadian speciality: a roo (kangaroo) tail. Tasting experience… strange. Not really because of the taste, who is quite soft, but more because of the jelly strange texture. Well, it’s still edible I guess… There’s quite a strange feeling, a few tension in the air, but everything still go quite well. It’s hard to believe that we’re going to split on the following day…

We all wake up in the middle of nowhere, with only emptiness around us. I finally find what I was looking for. Everybody woke up early in order to see the sunrise. Everybody but me. If my travel mates can take a nap during the day, it’s a little bit harder for me. I still had a look through the window, to see a sun hidden by cloud.

As we have lot of bread, I cook french toast to have a nice start for the day. The road is definitely quiet. We see a car, once in a while. Almost each time, drivers wave to each other. We’re living the same experience. We’re driving the same never-ending road. The same crazy road, in the middle of nowhere. If we are at the middle of our journeys, people coming the other way are at the end.

We discover quickly that there is definitely enough room for 3 people in the front of the van. Everything missing is just a seat. We start improvising one using pillow, before we remember that we have camping seat in the van. I’m not sure it’s totally approved by australian road security, but lets forget this minor little detail. With three people sitting in the front, dynamic change completely. If the driver can’t really create ambience and craziness, he can definitely be part of it. And I like that!

Cassie told us about Hart Lake. A salt lake. We saw a few one, not really big, on the side of the road. Hart Lake is an other story. He’s big. Really big. Perfect place to start playing with perspective and photography. Not as good as Uyuni Solar (all my apology to bolivian people for what’s probably the worst way ever to write it), but still a really interesting place.

We spend a little while taking picture. On the way to the lake, we go through a small tunnel, under the train rail. We stop again, for a crazy little time, mixing didgeridoo, musical improvisation in a perfect little moment of happiness.

Back on the road. Trees are definitely rare. Until they become totally inexistent. We are in Coober Pedy.

I’ve been waiting for this moment for a little while. Because I’m planning to live here for a little while, taking care of kangaroos and doing some renovation job. But about Coober Pedy, I don’t know anything. Except that people live in dwelling dig into the ground, that it’s the opal capital of the world. And that there is a lot of dust.

All that is absolutely and completely true. When I stop the van “downtown”, in a small dirt parking, a little voice whisper in my hear “Welcome Home”. Because in this little house, coming straight out of Mad Max (the movie had been filmed in Australia btw) I had this feeling to be back in Burning Man. I was missing dust. It’s a very strange feeling that I can really explain. But I was so happy to find it again… as I was to think that I was back in a post apocalyptic universe… yes, I think I’ll love Coober Pedy. For 10-15 days, at least.

We arrived just on time to catch the sunset. We watched it quietly, from the top of a small hill, before walking back to the van. We drive a few km, in order to get outside of the city and find a quiet place. It’s not even 7 PM, but the van is already stop for the day. No more driving today, I’m the first happy about that! Rachel starts cooking a curry. Everyone ask me to leave when I offer to help. That’s perfect for me. I just sit down, and relax, in the back of the van, looking everyone acting together.

The evening was just amazing… good meal, with good wine, share under the stars. I take my fire staff, my camera, and my bottle of kerosene. In order to have some fun.

I got an idea. An experience I want to try. I try it, and it works. Really well!

An idea leading to an other, I try a group picture. With an other really interesting result!

The evening end up quietly, with a giant pile of people, cuddling together, one on each other. Sharing laugh after laugh after laugh…