Lately, I have been thinking about Australia a lot. I first visited Australia as a backpacker and travelled across the country for three months. Several years later, I had the privilege to live in Australia as a resident. What once seemed an incredible destination on my travel list, has meant so much more to me. Five years ago I left Jabiru, a small town in the Northern Territory of Australia that I used to live in. After three years living in Jabiru, I was ready to move on and eager for change.
I ended up in the United States in Salt Lake City, Utah. While in Salt Lake, I never once thought of Australia; however, now that I look back, I can’t help but remember with fondness my time on the other side of the world.
My first big trip
Australia has been many things to me. It was my first solo adventure and by far my longest trip. Travelling through it took me out of my comfort zone; it also allowed me to spend time with myself. I saw its vastness, its diversity, its vibrant colours. This country looked so different from anything I had seen in Europe before. I was mesmerized by its unique beauty. It was also my first road trip ever. This gave me the chance to meet people from all over the world, who were also drawn to this country as if lured by a siren’s song.
A lot of service stations offer a mini zoo with local animals that are relatively tame. Here we have a cockatoo. 
We loved taking photos of our van in the middle of nowhere. This is a salt deposit in the middle of the desert 
A beach that is made up entirely of coral 
Great Barrier Reef from heights. This photo doesn’t do it justice. 
My first koala sighting was crossing the road in Victoria. As you can see, it arrived safely to the other side. 
My travel companions. I met them 2 days earlier. 
My first crocodile in Kakadu National Park 
On our way to Uluru. I loved driving through the desert! 
This is a parking lot at the Catacomb Church in Coober Pedy
My first home away from home
Australia radically changed the course of my life. It became my home when I moved out of Spain. I felt so lucky to get a second chance to be there again. I got to know more about this land on a much deeper level. Every day that I woke up it felt like I was living in a dream. And eventually, the exoticism of Australia started to become part of my day-to-day life. The extraordinary became routine. Don’t get me wrong, though. It felt like I became the main character of a movie of which I was previously just a spectator.
Daily life
The climate of Australia was different, tropical, which I used to describe as hot and hotter weather. I lived inside a National park so I was completely surrounded by nature. Sometimes I would hear the chirping of the Kookaburra in the morning or spot cockatoos in the driveway. I ate kangaroo meat and papaya fruit on a regular basis (when the flying foxes didn’t eat them at night). Stories in the newspaper about crocodiles and dingoes became normal. I met a lot of lovely people. I learnt about indigenous people and their culture. AS
My friend from work, Benita. 
Black cockatoos hanging out in my front yard 
My precious papayas being eaten by flying foxes at night. 
Spotting crocodiles on a Sunday afternoon in Yellow Waters. 
Green frog that was hanging out in one of my banana plants 
Leichhardt’s grasshopper, another Sunday afternoon exploring around. 
I cooked paella with magpie goose for the Mahbilil Festival cooking competition in Jabiru.
My biggest challenge
Australia also challenged me, especially with social interactions. My lifestyle changed. New people, new places, new routines. Social gatherings were difficult at times. Interacting with locals in a different language and
Australia, what a beautiful place, what beautiful people. I hope we cross paths again.
[…] two ladies from South Australia. I also had the opportunity to share my experience living in the Northern Territory, a fond memory. Before the group parted for good we went back to the Centre one more time. There, […]