but now, my eyes glued to the nervous woman, the remark seemed empty, a canned observation likely bestowed upon countless wide-eyed tourists that came before us, and before them. “Take us back to our hostel, please”, I
said, now convinced the ‘last leg’ of our tour was a trap and that hiding inside the building were not friendly creatives, but wicked thieves, their stolen duffel bags stuffed with the wallets and watches and purses and jewellery of travelling victims. The guide’s face dropped, his head
shifting backward. Saying nothing, he pivoted and dodged the building on our way back to the centre of town. Was he shocked because I had somehow been tipped off, disappointed that his plan, which had worked without a hitch countless times before, had been foiled? Or was he insulted by my silent accusation that his intentions were criminal? Perhaps he was overwhelmed by the epic loss of trust and my sub- textural jab that he was a faker, a predator even. Would we have come upon danger
or wonder, thieves with machetes, or an oasis, brimming with sensory treasures? I’ll never know. Intuition is funny like that. It deals in subtleties, rascally details subject to perception, environment and false cues from objects and especially humans, like a random woman who had put my nerves in overdrive. But, had I misread the situation? The woman could have just heard a terrible bit of news, after all. She could have been searching desperately for a lost child. Maybe, humiliatingly, she had found our presence unnerving. Had I stopped the tour because of real red flags, my appropriate reconfiguration of reality, or had I been rash, victim to heightened senses, my own prejudices and fears, provoked by a low-down building in a foreign country at the edge of an otherworldly town? As we walked back to the city
centre, I felt a slight embarrassment, wondering if perhaps I had overreacted. But I also felt grateful that I had followed my instincts, that I had let the woman on the periphery inform me and that I hadn’t directly experienced the building to know the truth. Right or wrong, appropriate or obnoxious, clever or foolish, I had listened to the tiny details only my intuition had noticed and knew that was the best I, or anybody for that matter, could do.
Dustin Grinnell, author of science thriller, ‘The Genius Dilemma’, has contributed to The Boston Globe, Narratively, The Expeditioner and Verge Magazine. He is currently a science writer for a biomedical research institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Travelling Now feature
purposed objects. Free wireless internet and bikes are available for guests.
A short stroll down the hill you’ll uncover a myriad of eateries and wine bars dotted around one of the most famous beaches in the world. Buses to the CBD are a stone’s throw away.
I really loved staying here. You’ll find it hard to believe that you’re in the heart of Bondi.
ECO RETREAT IN THE HEART OF BONDI OFFERS ALL YOU NEED
By Elizabeth Stephens
Charm, tranquility, and a touch of mid- century class come together in perfect harmony at The Bondi Eco Garden. A restful and refreshing blend of eco well-being in a home-like setting awaits you. The host calls himself CEO – not the sort of CEO you might expect, as this one is the Chief Egg Officer! His organically-fed, free-roaming chooks cluck away in a permaculture-inspired backyard sanctuary. Their flavoursome eggs are part and parcel of the wholesome organic breakfast package offered to guests, along with the tastiest raw honey from the CEO’s very own beehive. Guests are welcome to forage through the herb garden for seasonal herbs and salad greens.
Ideal for visiting family, friends, business travellers, romantic getaways and vacationers, the Bondi EcoGarden offers two serviced apartments. Each of the two bedroom apartments has been re-furbished with eco- conscious design principles in mind, featuring re-purposed materials, reclaimed wood, natural finishes and an eclectic touch of re-
Contact David on 02 8060 2043. More details on
www.bondiecogarden.com.au – including an exhaustive list of all the eco credentials they have.
Transform your life on one of our small group tours. Authentic experiences filled with rich culture and beauty.
…it may be the best thing you ever do.
1300 722 932
info@touchofspiritttours.com.au www.touchofspirittours.com.au
Touch of Spirit Tours TA-0033104 VIC july 2014 43
110994i173
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48