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Published: February 12th 2009
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Beautiful Byron
It's a strange feeling having nothing to do for three weeks. I had nowhere to be, no appointments, no need to get up by a particular time, no one to see and it felt odd? Our lives are made up of places to be, things to do, money to make, work to go to, people to see etc etc and when you have not got that it is quite disconcerting. I have had an amazing time on my travels but there has been a structure to it, time frames, some volunteer work, people I've visited, families I've lived with, itineraries to follow, a fitness program to complete and even going to school for a couple of weeks!
And so I decided to book into a small apartment for my last three weeks of my journey in Byron Bay on the most easterly point of Australia. No real reason for where it just looked nice on the internet and it was near to Sydney where I fly from. I am in a really sweet self contained open plan room with sleeping and kitchen area with a toilet off of the room and outside of
that is an outdoor Bali style shower which is perfect in the temperatures we've had! The beach is just a few minutes walk away and the main shopping area is a short five minute walk where I have been able to get all my groceries. I have also never seen so many alternative centres. If anyone was looking for any type of therapy I'm sure you can find it here from any type of massage or beauty treatment to float tanks, reiki, tarot, crystal healing, spiritual healing, astrology, psychic readings, homeopathy, aromatherapy, emotional healing and oxygen therapy! (seriously you can pay $1 per minute to breath pure oxygen?! ) I have never in my life seen so many ways to relax or heal oneself in one place. If someone was to do a pilgrimage for therapy they would end up here.
This however is not the reason I am here. I will not deny I have experienced a few of the things on offer. I had an Aura-Soma consultation and massage which is a colour care system that works with beautiful coloured bottles of herbs, essential oils, gems and crystals that bring harmony and balance to your aura and
energy centres. I loved this and having worked with the Chakras before, I am really interested to learn more about this modality. One of the other things I had was a Kahuna massage which was so good I booked in for my next session before I left the building. It was developed in Hawaii and was originally performed by Kahunas ( spiritual keepers of knowledge). Hawaiian Kahuna bodywork comes from an ancient sacred tradition, using fluid rhythmic movements. All I can say is I have never had a massage like it and I've been lucky enough to have quite a lot of different types over the last few years. I loved it so much I had one a week and it's now on my list of things to investigate further...
However I never knew that Byron was a mecca for therapies before I came, that to me was just a pleasant coincidence. I do think it's no coincidence I came here, I was drawn to this place for some reason and things work in mysterious ways. My actual reason for this last stop was that I wanted to stay still for these three weeks before I came home. Physically
I wanted to stay in one place as I'm a little travel tired. I have been able to unpack for the first time since I was at the lemon house in Thailand which for anyone who has traveled for a long period of time will know is so nice to do. I didn't want an itinerary to follow or anywhere to be for this period and just wanted a simple life for a few weeks. I wanted to sit back and take it all in, all that I've done over the past eight months. I wanted some space and peace and I believe the coast is a fantastic place to find that.
Near to where I am staying is a coastal path that leads up along the headland and eventually reaches the most easterly point in mainland Australia. Then you keep going along the path to reach the lighthouse, built in 1901 which stands majestically on the cliff top. I love lighthouses always have done ( I wanted to live in one once, how cool would that be to see the first sun rising and all weathers coming into shore first before the rest of the country?!). Anyway I
digress, as you come back along the path the other side of the headland you walk through some fabulous forestry (yes I found my inner fairy back here..) There can not be much better than walking through forest and you can hear all the sounds of the native birds, cicadas,and the rustle in the bushes of lizards and wild turkeys, whilst at the same moment, not far off in the distance ,you can hear waves crashing against the rocks on the beach nearby, just blissful... Finally the path then turns back up and onto the road and back to civilisation. I found a way to avoid this on my return route by going down a path onto a beach called Tallows Beach which at one end had a place called Cosy Nook. This beach was not as popular with the locals and visitors alike and was so quiet and empty just what I was looking for. One day I decided to walk the length of the beach which took me two hours, the only problem then being that I had to turn around and walk back again! I spent many hours on this paradise of a beach, sitting watching the
sea, reading, walking and just enjoying this magnificent spot on the planet.
I needed some time to take in all the places I've been and the things I've done; going to school to learn Spanish in Costa Rica, building houses in Guatemala, visiting the old folk in India, going to the girls orphanage in Sri Lanka, doing all the cultural experiences, trekking, going to Krabi, in Thailand, learning massage in Chiang Mai, finding it hard to get out of Thailand, having fun in Hong Kong, and then all the fabulous things I've done here in Oz.
I wanted to sit back and remember all the wonderful people I've been lucky enough to meet. I shall not mention them all but I'll just say thank you to all of you who have made this journey so special for me even the briefest of encounters can leave a lasting mark on you. I believe we all bump into each other for a reason some people stay and others are just a passing moment but all are just as important in shaping who we are and how we act in life.
I will also add here a thank you to
all of you who encouraged me and supported my decision to do this and listened to all those moments and wobbles when I was just debating and planning this journey. Also thank you to all who have continuously given me your love and support from far and wide while I've been away. Thank you for your time and reading, sharing this journey with me.
The main thing I wanted for my last few weeks was just to take time to do nothing in particular except what felt right and to just be......
I feel ready to come home now and am really looking forward to seeing friends and family. I have been blessed to take this fantastic journey and have this time out. I am now excited for whatever is next in my life. Here's to the next journey...
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is a society,where none intrudes,
By the deep sea and music in it's roar,
I love not the man less,but nature more.
Lord Byron.
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Jo
non-member comment
WOW
omg girl you've surpassed yourself here - i had tears in my eyes reading your blog - it is so "you" full of emotion and truth. I am so glad I met you and cant wait to see you again. Your book at the end of this will be a credit to you and all that know you - you should be so proud of yourself - well done!! I know where to go to go all my spiritual and calming treatment!! take care and safe journey home love u lots jo x xx