Departures, arrivals, a maze of pathways stretching from one central point. Right here, right now, I embark on my own adventure, create my own pathway. Unknowing my purpose or ambitions, unknowing how this journey will change me, I know one thing. A secluded island community is hidden by palm trees, surrounded by the ocean and the wildlife within its reefs—the sunshine shedding light on new friends, experiences and a new sense of self.
I first stepped foot on Hamilton Island in 2016. I was fifteen, a high school student unaware that a tropical island in the Whitsundays would embed such warm comfort in my heart. On this holiday, the constant thoughts that any high school student would ponder grew fresh in my mind: I would soon be finishing school and would have to decide what to do with my life.
At the time, it wasn't a worrying issue; I soaked up the sun by the infinity pool that overlooked the rest of the Whitsunday Islands and snorkelled with turtles off Catseye Beach, just like anyone on holiday in Hamilton Island would do. The crystal-clear turquoise waters reflecting the constant sun rays were enough to make anyone believe this was the dream holiday destination.
One conversation.
One conversation with the young barista working in the Marina Cafe as she was making my mum's morning latte. She was a young adult on an ongoing adventure, exploring the world and exploring herself. She was two years out of high school, with no plans for the future. Conversing with her shifted my entire perspective of my life. I departed my holiday, knowing I would come back to Hamilton Island and that it would become a home.
So here I was, on the 23rd of April 2019 at 8:30 in the morning, wandering through the Sydney Domestic bag drop queues with my two large suitcases. Long-lasting hugs from my mum and dad at the security gate weren't appreciated enough; my heart raced, adrenaline high. I was eager to get out there. Stepping through the aeroplane doors, the flight attendant guided me to my seat, 20A. How I got there was a blur, my thoughts were circling through my mind so quick I was immersed in a world of daydreams.
The seatbelt sign flashed red, and off I went.
Staring out into the clouds, my emotions came running back, crashing through the wall of adrenaline that hid them. Tears fell in waterfalls down my cheeks; my parents, friends, I can't believe I left them behind. What had I done? There was no turning back that was certain.
This wasn't the first time I had travelled abroad alone. Earlier in the year, I planned a four-week trip back to the UK, where I grew up. I got through a 24-hour flight there, travelled on public transport from London to Bristol, from Bristol to Salisbury, Salisbury to Manchester, then another 24-hour flight back to Sydney. My plane also got stuck navigating through Indian airspace on that flight home, and I didn't worry then. If I could go on that journey alone, why was I so worried about travelling a 2.5-hour plane ride away?
The view out my window swept all my worries away. The turquoise water covering the most beautiful parts of the Great barrier reef surrounded the many Whitsunday Islands, gifting them all with their own individual glow.
Then there it was, glowing the brightest of them all. Hamilton Island. All of a sudden, I was home.
Getting off the plane, I got swept away by the warm tropical air. I felt profound happiness, self-pride and excitement all mixed into one.
I sat on a bench outside the terminal surrounded by golf buggies, picking tourists up and dropping them off. The buggies made whirring noises as they circled; I guess there are no quiet cars on the road anymore. A small shuttle bus slowly approached me with three other young individuals onboard embarking on a similar adventure. All three were from New Zealand, two of them were a couple, and the other girl was only a year older than me. None of them could believe that I was 18, fresh out of high school and embarking on an adventure like this. Honestly, neither could I. The four of us exchanged our social media's and got dropped off at our accommodation one by one.
The ocean breeze, carrying the combined sounds of happy tourists and the washing of the waves, greeted me as I entered my new apartment.
Catseye Beach was right on my doorstep; I could almost dive into the ocean from my verandah! When the tide was low, you could observe a glimpse of green turtle shells rising to the surface whilst basking in the reefs. The view alone filled me with such overwhelming, positive emotions. This was magic; anyone's dream would be to have this view from their bedroom.
A few weeks of work had passed, the island life became my own. You might be wondering what job I got to move to the island? In those few weeks, I had worked in multiple food and beverage venues across the island. I had waited tables and learned to create various cocktails and coffees and catered to all-star corporate and social events. By experiencing all varieties of work, I had met so many lovely people, both customers and coworkers.
However, there was only one workplace of comfort, one place where my light shined, and efforts thrived. Daily, after the morning coffee rush, I would take a breath by heading outside and wiping some tables. I'd gaze up into the bluest parts of the sky and soak in some sun, which would transport me back in time, 3 years before.
One conversation. One conversation with the young barista working in the Marina Cafe as she was making my mum's morning latte.
Reality hit me with the realisation that I was that barista now. I worked in a place where hundreds of coffees are made daily; famous figures even pass through here and there. What brought a smile to my face was knowing that I had achieved a dream. I was at the centre of the fire that I started; when I lit the match 3 years before.
It sounds cliche; I know "a dream". There are many inspirational tales of goals being met and dreams being lived, and yes, this story does illuminate one of my teenage dreams becoming a reality. However, this piece is more than a recount of how I achieved my dream.
My daily routine started by grinding and tamping the coffee beans. "Sorry, sir, was that a double shot?" My eyes probably could have rolled in a 360-degree circle the number of times I had rolled them on this job. I would doze off in a daydream as I watched the milk dance around the jug, frothing in a smooth whirlpool motion. A light bang of the milk jug on the benchtop brought me back. I would give it a slow, precise pour and finally - a pretty pattern! "Thank you, have a great day!" Then I would do it all over again!
The reality is that dreams are not reality. The dream won't include negative aspects; our memories automatically try to block out the negative experiences to keep us inspired. Don't get me wrong, going to work on Hamilton Island is the most wonderful, life-changing experience I've had to date. I treasure the memories, the people, the opportunities it gave me. The mere mention of Hamilton Island warms me; I have been and am still currently grasping at every opportunity to return.
3 months into my blissful island life, I had a visit from my dad. I worked in the cafe that morning, constantly running circuits around the cafe, inside and out. At 1 pm, I took my circuit outside, staring up at the sky eagerly watching for a plane's arrival.
At 1:05, the swift sound of the plane's engines slowly made its entrance. The Marina Cafe had a VIP seat when watching the planes come into land. With a dirty coffee cup in hand, I quickly ran outside. At that moment, I didn't care if a customer had a heart attack behind me; all I wanted to do was catch a glimpse of that plane, to get a sense of home.
2 pm on the dot, I was out the back door faster than my manager could say, “Thank you! Have a nice rest of your day!” Running up hills was definitely not a norm for me, but the crisp warm air and the arching palm trees that shaped the road passed me at a swift, lightning speed. Heavy panting which drew from my excitement consumed me; my thick hair held in a bun on the crown of my head started to unravel as my feet thumped against the ground.
I didn’t care.
My heart was beating at such a fast pace I was almost worried it would move out of place. However, it was no longer due to sprinting uphill but to the warm embrace that I was suddenly experiencing with my dad. 3 months of focusing on living my dreams and getting to know myself clouded the memories of the closeness to the people I love.
An adventurous weekend filled with showing dad around my beautiful island home. Together we explored the Great Barrier Reef, both around the island and the wider parts beyond civilisation. We even swam with a manta ray! The majestic aura the manta-ray illuminated just from seeing it from its underbelly was simply magical.
Dad and I also participated in the 2019 Great Whitehaven Beach Run; little did I know that would spark a new epic adventure. An 18-year-old girl who always sat out of school cross country and denied participating in any form of individual exercise was all of a sudden about to start a 5 kilometre run on one of the most pristine beaches in the world. How did I get here?
Running across the dazzling white sands staring out across the crystal clear sea, made me overwhelmed with the appreciation of how lucky I was to be in that moment. Even though that moment involved plenty of heavy breathing and aching calf muscles, the thought that I was currently participating in a local event of one of the most beautiful iconic landmarks was something to treasure
When I crossed the finish line, I wasn't only rewarded with finishing the race. I was rewarded with a life-changing realisation that truly any goal you set yourself is achievable. However, I also realised that you don't always have to have goals set to move through life; the importance of living every moment in the best possible way can result in the radiation of your best possible self.
Take yourself on adventures, whether it's across the world, across the country or even to a new place in your hometown. Experience new places, new things and new people. Experiences allow you to discover your passions and your purpose.
I spent a total of almost 6 months living and working on Hamilton Island. That might be such a short period of time in comparison to the rest of your life, but those six months are embedded in my heart forever. Since then, I've returned home, built even stronger bonds with my family. I've made new friendships and rekindled some old great ones. I've got a part-time job I love, alongside studying Journalism and Media at University. My Hamilton Island experience shaped this path I've travelled down; without it, my path may have been completely different.
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