During the night, I dry my soaking wet kite in the room. The result in the morning: kite half dry, room and all my clothes look like they’ve come straight out of the rainforest. I check out and call Steve. Steve is a passionate National League poker player. He lost a few rounds against me on Fiji in the rain. Now we’re sitting in the sun and discussing our match plans over breakfast.
Then it’s off to Budawang National Park. Curious parrots sniff us out. Steve didn’t promise too much: The most beautiful beach in Australia. White sand and bright blue sea. Dolphins play in the surf. A sea eagle circles over a school of fish. There is no more wind today, so all that remains is hope.
Steve and Vic live in the most interesting house I’ve seen in Australia. Everything is open. Beams from railway sleepers, bridges and telegraph poles support walls made of self-made mud bricks. Every old window, every door comes from a different place. They all fit together and create an impressively endearing whole.
Just behind the house is the forest and behind it lies the lake. On the way, I run into dozens of large spider webs, then almost into a jumping BMX rider. In the middle of the forest, the kids have carved massive ramps out of the clay.
In the evening, more guests from the neighbourhood come to visit. Steve cooks up a damn good Indian curry, I watch on with a mantra-like, learning skull. After dinner, we are thirsty for kangaroos. They’re in every front garden here. Preferably at sunset. I grab my boomerang. Vic thinks this model is a bit too light for hunting.
A path through the forest to the lake. The trees glow in the last light of day. Then a clear view to the east. A double rainbow together with its reflection in the smooth water makes the perfect circle. It’s funny. I always know before I see a rainbow that I’m in the right place at the right time. Then I see the rainbow. And I’m sure of it.
Just round the corner by the lake, we head west. The sun has already gone, but the clouds are glowing like a toaster in a love mania. Glowing colours in the perfect water mirror. Bats flutter in front of clouds of fire. Then a drinking kangaroo in front of the last red at the water’s edge. The kangaroo jumps away, I blur the picture. That was the only imperfect one of the day. Okay, and my laptop burner dying.
In the evening there’s the big revenge poker match. When the late arrival of the city councillor puts his green opinion on the table, the evening gets even funnier. I lose five of my last $20. But that doesn’t bother me at all. I was happy.
On the last day, Steve goes hiking with the boys. I urgently need more sleep. Cook spaghetti bolognese for everyone. Vic’s son celebrates his 21st birthday in the evening. A bloody good restaurant. Steve invites me out again. All I can say with 15$ is: thank you both so much! I hope you come and visit me next year for a wicked revenge :-)
Frank Woelky, born in 1973. Kitesurfer since 1998. Since 2006, I have been combining kitesurfing and web design on trips lasting several months off the beaten track.