I’m currently sat on my bed alone in the hostel room, day one into my road trip. Waiting to know who I was sharing the room with. I know I know, I  took a gamble but that’s hostel life in general. I’ll find out if that gamble paid off or if the house (or COVID) won. 

Where am I going? Wherever the road takes me. Poetic, yet pompous. Actually I have a rough idea of where I’m headed. What I end up doing is yet to be determined. 

So how did I end up at a hostel?

Well, it wasn’t by luck because I know I haven’t any. Torquay is my first stop off before hitting the Great Ocean Road and by sheer coincidence, before the rat race of metropolitan is released. If I had better planned my trip, it wouldn’t coincide with the State becoming united. But unfortunately time got the better of me and here we are. I admit it would have been nice not having the pressure to constantly look over my shoulder for crowds.

My day actually more or less started the night before with frantic packing and unexpectedly encounturing an ant nest in my linen closet. Ugh, one more thing to deal with. Once the boot was loaded, the amount of stuff was much greater than my month long trip to Germany. It was clear I didn’t cast my Mary Poppins magic this time around. 

Excessive amount of jumpers and fleece? Check. 

Food, containers and thermos? Check.

Bidding adieu to my plants which I suspect would invariably self harm, off I went to Geelong to catch up with an old work colleague. I suspected my stomach was working hard while I was driving and my sedentary behaviour kick started metabolism. Having ate toast, a banana and a large bowl of oats, I was eagerly looking forward to a satisfying Sri Lankan lunch. It did not disappoint. Afterwards, we went to Squealing Pig/ Flying Brick brewery for a tasting paddle. Getting on the proverbial beers.

Then I made my way down to Torquay and honestly quite ready for a nap at the hostel. Hostels are a great way to meet so many diverse people of all background, ages, and countries. I was a bit sceptical but couldn’t resist it being $38 for the night. While I was putting the food away in the communal kitchen, I met Alex and Jen. We struck up conversation and discovered that Alex was in the process of walking from South Australia to Sydney which is nothing short of amazing. He had done a similar walk in America and Nepal. 

On the other hand, Jen was a Swede on a working holiday visa having recently released herself from a farm picking job up in Mildura.

Jen embodied the stereotypical blonde hair blue eyes.

She was surprised that I knew there was a country named Sweden. Wow… And equally more surprised I had the capacity that hello was hej. Except she was somehow more shocked (and started laughing I might add) that I was pronouncing it in the so-called Stockholm accent. Who knew it was more upmarket? She brought me back closer to earth by introducing me to orka – to not have the energy to do something. To demonstrate it in practice, Jen pointed to the four empty bottles by her side and said that there was no way she was going to the pub after because “jag orka inte”. Well…she did in fact end up going. 

Again that’s what I love about staying in hostels. Totally random things you can never imagine encountering. It feels a bit strange staying in a hostel locally. But hostel life is a great option if you’re on a budget and up for some adventure.