Australia, A Love Story

You know the exact moment you fell in love with Oz and Oz knew it too, for it was at that moment that the world seemed a bit brighter, the sky a bit bluer, and the sun just a bit warmer. Facing all manner of embarrassment, you waded with your Uni friends into the water, knowing what was coming. A lost bet, you think, but honestly, you’d probably do it with or without the pride at stake. It’s all about the experience, you tell yourself. Knowing full well that there is a beach full of locals and tourists only a short distance away, you slowly untie the strings of your bikini and let it fall away. Your friends cheer and hoot and scream, drawing the attention of a few beach patrons, but not long enough to incur the intended blush and cover that was expected from the dare. Instead, you bob weightless in the waves and submerge your ears underwater, watching the scene around you naked and noiseless. A rocky cliffside dotted in underbrush hides the narrow path you took to get to this isolated strip of sand and sea. Your group’s beach towels dot the shoreline in colorful rivets. The muted sounds of laughter mix seamlessly with the ebb and flow of waves upon the shore. Concealed only by the tepid North Queensland waters, you feel yourself let go and it’s as if a part of your heart falls off and latches itself to the seabed below. This is the moment where you know there is no going back. You belong to a sunburnt country.