“..a land down under where woman glow and man plunder? a land down under where the beer flows and man chunder..“
“All I know is — it felt right. And sometimes, that’s enough to go.”
I haven’t been to Australia yet — not really.
Not beyond the research tabs, the Google Maps rabbit holes, the visa application I read through three times. And the stories I‘ve been told by my friends.
But the decision to go? That came from something real.
After spending time in Canada, and creating some of the most meaningful, soul-filling friendships I’ve ever known, I realized something:
I want more of that.
More moments that stretch me. More people who change me. More places that remind me who I am — and who I’m still becoming.
And Australia feels like the next right place.
Not because I have it all figured out. (Hardly anything..)
But because something about it pulls me: the wild landscapes, the unfamiliar slang, the sense of space — both outside and inside.
This part of my blog is where I’ll document the before, the during, and the (inevitably messy and magical) in-between.
The planning, the firsts, the little shocks and quiet revelations.
Not as an expert. Not as a guidebook.
But as someone who’s ready to be changed again — by a new place, new people, and the version of myself I haven’t met yet.
I wouldn’t want to say that going to Australia was an impulsive decision — but it was definitely a quick one.
And I guess we’ll all be quite excited to see if it was a good one or not.
Then again — travelling, growing, and expanding your horizon is never the wrong decision.
So let’s start this adventure together.
Here we go: into the Australian wild and wide openness.
Travel Journal
A year ago, I was in the snowy mountains of Austria, in Saalbach. A year ago, I surprised my family at home for Christmas. Now, that feels a bit more difficult to do — not impossible, just very far away. It’s not my first time being away from home during the holidays…
Well, it’s been close to a month since I moved to the Central Coast. What can I say?It’s been amazing. Finally, I’m by the beach. Work keeps me busy during weekdays from seven to three. Afterwards it’s usually a swim, a coastal walk or a run…
Who would have thought that six months could fly by just like that? Half a year in Australia has already passed, and there’s only half a year left on my visa — so I’d better get moving…
Recovery is going great, and my follow-up appointment with the surgeon went well too. For two more weeks I still have to take it slow — and then I’ll be able to run the world again…
Please excuse the downer of an entry as was the prior one. I guess being stuck in winter and autumn for the past ten months has done something to my mind – as it would for anyone’, really. Now, the sun has been shining consistently…
And just like that, my plans went awry. I thought that in a week’s time, I’d be on a flight to Bali, meeting up with Dr. Dre, and finally enjoying an actual vacation—something I hadn’t had in nearly a year and a half. But instead…
It’s been two weeks since I left the farm and moved back south to Sydney — or rather, a suburb west of Sydney called Penrith — to live with Willow and her mum. It’s been two weeks of regularly seeing my friends and going on little adventures with them. Like, playing frisbee golf…
I have a bad habit of pushing my body and mind to their limits. Sometimes I do it through sport and exercise. Sometimes — more subconsciously — through mental and emotional stress…
These exact words kept running through my head whenever I went “hiking” in Australia. Although, I guess there’s a reason they mostly call it bushwalking here…
I have to say — working an eight-plus-hour day at the café is something else. The noise. The busyness. The heat. The pressure. All the new things. I’m crushed afterwards…
With my fridge loaded with food for over a week, I was prepared for the rain to come. To be honest, I didn‘t mind having some quiet and slow days after being in the hustle and bustle of the city for two weeks…
In case – really, just in case; nobody freak out just yet – I wanted to stay longer in Australia, I will have to do something called „specified work“. Which means 88 days of volunteering…
I have done this before – leaving the country, where I was born and raised. Where my family and friends live. Where I learned most of my values. Where I thought I would spend the rest of my life…
For you the get the whole picture I have to go back in time a little bit.
In August 2022 I got all my things packed, my visa approved and a work contract already in my hand. I was off to Canada without a worry in the world…
marie louise travels 