Fraser Island, Queensland coast.
For anyone that's not been, it's an unspoiled island of outstanding natural beauty, with huge stretches of beach, thick rainforests and amazing lakes all on an island made entirely out of sand. There were five groups of people (we'd all hired 4*4 toyotas from the same hostel) and my group managed to stay with two of the others and on the first afternoon we all ended up standing on a big cliff edge (called Indian Head) watching whales breach in the distance. I noticed a lovely American girl, in one of the other groups, as she climbed out on to a particularly dangerous part of the cliff! Later on, she introduced herself and then everyone got pissed! The next day, we swam in the freshwater lakes and drove further round the island, and that night (after everyone had finaly gone to bed) she and I kissed (for some time) by the campfire. Then I got to hold her as she went rigid in fright at the dingo that had appeared a few feet away. The next day, our first stop was Lake McKenzie, a huge, rich blue lake with pure white shores, surrounded by trees. Here I swam right accross the lake (I briefly considered the idea that I may drown but then thought if I was going to die, I may as well die in the most beautiful place on Earth and on returning to the beach I spent some time quietly getting an eyeful of her in her bikini.
Later on that night, we had to return to the mainland and all stayed at the hostel in Hervey Bay. We met again in the bar and one thing lead to another and we ended up out on the amazing long beach, for moonlight romance. One of my favorite memories, of the whole occaision, was watching her write her name in the sand with the tip of her left toe, her beautiful bare brown leg stretched out. I still have a piece of coral I picked up from that spot.
For about a year and a half, up until this point, I'd been working in a grey factory, in Cornwall. I had been feeling as though the world had forgotten me and life was rushing past me in a blur. It went on until I had what I belive was a semi breakdown and returned to Australia (I'd left twenty years before)with some family help. It was meeting that amazing girl and having that time that put me back into the game and made me realise that I had to change my life. Less than six months later, I'm now enjoying a uni course at NIDA (National Institute of Drama Australia) and on full course of actually surviving life. I owe it to her, and wish that she hadn't had to return to the states and dearly hope to see her again one day.
( The Togaboy The world will end on, Tue 15 Mar 2005, 9:03, Reply)