ADELAIDE - Thor Travel in west downtown Adelaide.

Week 14
January 28, 2002 - Australia
"Every 12 to 24 Hours..."

Dear Thor:

You never told me that you had a travel agency.

I was rather surprised to find it when I was walking down the street earlier this week. I had just arrived in Adelaide and was looking for something to do… and there you were.

…or rather, there IT was.

Obviously you weren't there, otherwise I'd be telling you this in person instead of writing a letter like I have this whole journey. None-the-less, it was a very pleasant surprise.

Naturally I had to go inside to see what Thor Travel was all about. I discovered that it's a funky little travel agency that specializes in tours to Nepal and the central Asian region. That's why the logo includes the brightly colored eyes with a question mark - rather appropriate considering that your eyes are all I remember about you. And their motto is "Getaways and Adventures," which is a great description of this Search so far. However, no one at Thor Travel seemed to know you. (Hmmm…)

None-the-less, I decided to purchase a plane ticket to New Zealand while there. I'd been hedging on going to New Zealand for several weeks because my money situation is starting to get tight. However this chance run-in with Thor Travel seemed to be a pretty strong signal to keep on traveling. So I whipped out the ol' credit card and bought a ticket for Auckland.

While there, I'll be visiting Ben and Jasper - a young Kiwi couple that I first met on the beaches of Railay Beach in south Thailand. After our first meeting, I ended up running into them several other times - both on the island and several weeks later in the Bangkok Airport. That was a surprise. The airport is a huge monstrous complex. However in the middle of crowd of air travelers, I ran into them. Funny isn't it?

I seem to be doing that a lot lately - running into people (or songs or travel agencies). And strangely, by allowing myself to go with these seemingly random occurrences, I've crafted a truly amazing Life Adventure. Before I left on this trip, a woman gave me some advice that has remained prophetically true. She said, "on a 12 to 24 hour basis, you will run into a situation that will change your perception of how you think things should be."

BANGKOK - Passing the time with Kiwis Jasper and Ben at the Bangkok Airport earlier in January.

So far, she's been right. Just when I think I "know" how things are going to be, something comes around to knock me off-course. In the past, I used to get upset about Life's Little Surprises, but now I think they're actually refreshing. They keep me on my toes. And I'm enjoying the ride now that I've stopped working so hard to steer it.

Anyway, the rest of this week has been rather quiet. I did the touristy-thang - seeing South Australia's beaches and wildlife. And I'm still staying with friends (or rather family of friends). In Adelaide, I stayed with the family of Tula - a woman who waitresses at this Greek Deli where I occasionally eat lunch in Denver. Right before leaving on this journey, Tula convinced me that I needed to see the sites of her hometown of Adelaide and stay with her brothers and sisters. So I did, and they were amazing hosts! They treated me like family, giving me room and board, and driving me all around the city.

I guess that's just another example of a seemingly random meeting turning into an incredible life experience.

Anyway, I'm back in Melbourne for the weekend. I'm staying with my high school friend Georgia and helping her pack for her move to New Orleans. Then next week I head to Sydney for a week, and then to New Zealand. (Or at least I think I am. I have yet to see what the next 12 to 24 hours will bring!)

I'll write you sometime next week (presumably from Sydney). Until then, please be well, be present. And Namaste!

Scotty