2024 - The Great Australian Adventure

Starting off 2024

2024 started off with me living just south of Brisbane, in Beenleigh, Queensland. Having been living in Australia since October of 2023. That New Year, one year ago today - finished off my first holiday season away from the states. I remember wondering what 2024 would bring. My year was not spent the way I would have thought, and not all people and stories involved will make this recap - but I am thankful for every life lesson that 2024 supplied to me. Here are some photos from the start of 2024.

Cop on a Horse

This deserves a special mention, as while going up to Big W, I was stopped by this cop on a horse. They were running car registrations as people pulled in, and had special information regarding my cars extended warranty for me. She was kind enough to allow a photo.

The Road to Glendambo

In March, after 5 months of living in Australia without securing a job other than Door Dashing, I got my first offer of employment that would count towards my required working days on my visa. The location? In the middle of the Outback of South Australia, a 24 hour drive from Brisbane.

With the car packed, started heading south for a pitstop in Newcastle, New South Wales to see some friends - a total of 28 driving hours with the planned route.

Along the drive, there were beautiful sights to be seen. From the beautiful coastline - through the bush - into the dusty rural Outback setting. Only about an hour south of Brisbane, there is a gorgeous stopping point, the Most Easterly Point of Mainland Australia - certainly worth stopping for photos. Even found Florida, along the route!

After driving almost the entire distance, with 80 kms left in the journey... it happened. I was officially inducted into the Kangaroo Club after skippy decided that he had simply had enough of life and or wanted to teach me a lesson about driving through the Outback at dawn. At 110kms neither skippy, myself, or the car were prepared for what happened next...

I cover this entire event in a seperate blog that I will link to later, but believe that it was stressful and emotional. Not only was there loss of life for the Kangaroo, but the car was also not drivable without repairs. So - the real tragedy became the reality that I was now stuck in the outback without transportation. Yikes.

For the next four months - From March to July, I spent my time in Glendambo, South Australia - approximately nowhere.

Glendambo is a manufactured town, if that's what you can call it, along the Stuart Highway which runs north to south through the centere of Australia. Glendambo was assembled in the 80's to accomodate road trains throughout Australia's most rural areas. Let's put it this way, the only way you ended up in Glendambo was because you were on a road-trip of a life time or you were a truckie who made the outback crossing several times per week. The 'town' consisted of 3 residential houses, two fuel stations (now one), and 1 pub with a motel and campground. No luxury in sight, that is a mirage you are seeing. The famous sign for Glendambo boasts it's 30 humans who live there. 30 being the approximate guess, including people like me who were there to work. In-fact, most all residents there were foreigners like myself, in our 20's trying to work off our required days for our visas.  

Well, as you can see, Glendambo did have one thing going for it... those sunrises and sunsets - honestly could melt away the worries from any day, making me simply grateful to exist to have seen such beautiful colours. Living on a sheep station, there were sheep almost every day - hiding from the shearers if you ask me. Bahhhhhh to wake up, has been checked off my bucket list.

But, now you might ask, what was I doing out there? 

I was certainly not working with sheep, I can tell you that!

I ended up in Glenambo working at the only owned establishment there, which was for the servo and pub - both owned by the same entity. At first I worked at the Servo (Fuel Station) - and halfway through my time there, switched over to working at the pub and motel.

Working at the servo consisted of making espresso drinks, working as a short order cook, handling the fuel console, and other various tasks that come along with any similar position. Our business came from the rush of travellers that would take to the Stuart Highway each day, especially the road trains. In-fact the truckies were our only regulars, aside from telcom, construction, and other workers who would come through town to work on nearby projects.

Switching over to the Pub and Motel, I worked as an all-rounder, which consisted of essentially doing everything and anything that needed to be done. To be perfectly honest with myself, I should have stayed at the servo.

My days would start with 8:30 am stripping and cleaning of the rooms, that would normally end around 11:30 am. On long days, there would be a break, and then return to work at 1pm - until 8:30pm. Which felt like the entire day. On short days, there would be a longer mid day break, with a return to work around 5pm until 8pm. Five days a week, work started and finished at 8:30, but I was certainly not being paid 12 hours per day. I really began to burn out from this schedule, and the effects of being so remote was really starting to take full effect.

My coworkers, other foreigners, made the entire experience worth it. I met so many wonderful people, mostly French! We not only would have fun at work, but since we had nowhere else to go in the evenings or days off - we ended up spending a lot of time together - eating, drinking, partying, you name it, we did it. They made me feel young, or I should say made me realise that I was taking life too seriously. Seeing these 21-25 year olds who are out exploring the world, just made me feel so normal and happy. Not enough people make it out of their hometown, so it is nice to see when younger people take on the world, before getting so tied down to life.

Here are some photos of the Pub, Hotel, and Property, that I was working and living at.

Here are some of my favourite photos of my favourite people and memories of Glendambo. There will never be another moment in time where we are all together again, in those same circumstances. It truly is beautiful when I think of the time spent together as a once in a life time experience. Thank you to each of my coworkers and now friends for the wonderful experiences of Glendambo - I could have never made it four months without some of them.

Goodbye Glendambo

I finally made the decision in July that my time in the Outback had served its purpose, and that I was ready for my next adventure. Where next was the question, but first - get me out of the desert!! Oh - and take a look at these outback tobacco products by the way....

Townsville, North Queensland

Townsville has entered the chat.... located 16 hours north of Brisbane, with a population of about 200,000 people - it is the perfect balance of bush, beach, mountains, and human population! Townsville came into the picture after my beloved, now very close friend, V, invited me to come experience the north. I spent two months there, exploring and getting to love the area very much so. I was hearing back from companies about working! Which was certainly different than the 5 months I had spent jobless in Brisbane. Things really were looking up! My Australian experience had come full circle, and I really began to let loose and enjoy life a bit more.

I spent far too long worrying about laying roots, when I should have been considered with just exploring and taking things day by day. This retreat to North Queensland ended up opening my eyes to so much, and really inspired me to want to live life out in Queensland. See for yourself...

Goodbye Australia

Come October - I had to say goodbye to Australia temporarily, so that I could take a preplanned transpacific cruise from Singapore to Long Beach. A cruise that would after 14 months of not being stateside, reunite me with long time friends and family. My plan was to go to the United States and return back to Australia in late November, to start my second working holiday visa.

Here are some highlights from 2024 in Australia. From sights along the way, my exhaust falling off, Glendambo rain, to seeing Steve Irwin's son, Robert Irwin do the croc show at the Australia Zoo.

On the way to Glendambo - Short Hyper-lapse Driving Clip

Robert Irwin at Australia Zoo Croc Show

Bringing in 2024 with Bubbles

Singapore

Directly after leaving Australia, I flew to Singapore to spend 5 days with my friend Clay, prior to getting on the Carnival Panorama for a transpacific journey bound for Los Angeles - with stops in Southeast Asia & Honolulu along the way.

I must admit, that Singapore was never on my list of places to visit beforehand. And though it is the most expensive place to visit in Southeast Asia - it offers so much to see and do in such a small area. I would certainly return to Singapore given the chance!

While in transit from Cairns to Singapore - two other travellers and myself got stopped for nearly 2 hours waiting for tickets for our connecting flight. We were starting to think we were stuck in Bali, which there are far worse places to be stuck in for sure! Running into and meeting Alan & Xena was so incredible! Three lifes all crossing paths at the same time... it is only fair I start with our group photo.

We all got together for a meal in Singapore, and made a promise to reconnect like this in the future again. I am hopeful that will happen again & again, we are young after all - plenty of life and destinations ahead of us. Xena and I got to spend a lot of time together, in-fact we ended up spending every day in Singapore together. She was so friendly and helpful in ways that I will never forget. It's amazing how quick people can become friends, but also how there are still inherently nice people in this world, Xena being one of them. We made sure to explore as much as we could in Singapore - being sure to leave a little over for our next visit.

Transpacific Cruise

After five fun filled days, Clay and I got onto the Carnival Panorama and started our journey back to the United States. This would be a 25 day cruise; with stops in Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, & Honolulu, ending in Long Beach, California.

This was not my favourite voyage - and was not spent as usual - but I did enjoy some relaxation and began to feel the excitement of getting back close to family for a little bit of time. Some new friends were met, but not enough pictures and tales to share for such a long journey.

Arrival to the States

After over 400 days away from my home country, I had finally returned. Never in my life prior, had I imagined that I would spend that much time outside of the country. After spending over a year away - everything felt a little different, especially myself. Nonetheless I was wicked excited to see everyone, even though I was emotionally drained - it was nice to see family after such a long duration of being away. Here are some photos of my return in November.

Not only did I get to see family, but I also got to spend time with my animals who have stayed behind in Florida with my former husband, William. Who, still after 8 years and many ups and downs - I get to proudly call my best friend. Our story is unique, and far from the standard narrative - but I am beyond grateful for him. Getting to spend time together, not through a phone call has been very delightful. I cannot imagine a lifetime where William does not exist - and though we are not in a relationship, I know we will remain close, and are essentially family.

Back to Australia?

As Wendy Williams would say, that's the hot topic.

I have received beaucoup messages asking if I have returned to Australia yet or when I would be. I have not had an answer for that yet.

For anyone who is unaware, I applied for a visa to re-enter Australia after my visits in the states. My flights were all booked, and I had things planned for my return to Australia in November. Instead life had other plans for me...

An application process that took less than 1 day in the past, ended up taking over 60 days to complete. The day for my return flight, November 27th came and went, without my visa approval. To say that I felt devastated is an absolute understatement. The sting was really felt, especially after over 2 months of stressing about if I would make it back or not.

My entire cruise and initial period of time being in the states I was consumed with processing that just because I wanted something, did not mean it was guaranteed to happen in my timing. How could I miss this flight? How could I possibly not be able to go to Australia? How? Why? I was questioning everything.

My visa did end up arriving in December, but after my flight. Qantas refunded taxes only, leaving only $30 leftover from a $600 flight. To be perfectly honest, I did not and do not have the money to replace that flight. My mom has since offered to pay with her points to get me back there, but I cannot make up my mind on what to do.

This is where I am at.

With having had time to think and reflect - I am stuck with a hard decision to make.

Do I return back to Australia, where I have a car and the ability to explore, travel, and work along the way? Go back to the beautiful country that has so much to offer - the same country that made me fall in love with it back in 2022?

Or do I stay here, and re assume my life that I lived prior to going to Australia?

I do not yet know how to answer that question - but I do know this...

When I initially got to Australia in 2023, I spent five months desperately searching for a job with zero luck. I was attempting to find jobs that met my skillset, not ones that met the visa requirement. But my visa, does not give me the luxury of full working rights that an Australian would have. I had to take the jobs I could get, and could only hold the same position for six months per the Australian Government, which makes it relatively hard to get a professional job if you are only allowed to stay for half of the year.

I went to Australia in search of stability - in search of a new life where I could be independent and find my own unique way. After one year there, I now realise that the reality of living in Australia is different. That does not make it bad, it is just different from what I expected.

Getting a sponsorship for permanent residency is not easy - and they do not hold your hand through anything. If you want to have a permanent path to residency in Australia - you have to do things, you may not like, and it still may not all work out.

I am not trying to sound pessimistic about Australia now - but the reality is that no matter where I am - life will be a challenge. And the reward has to be worth said challenge.

Honestly speaking, with missing the flight, and other circumstances... I am not financially ready or able to go back to Australia right now. It would be negligent for me to think that I can go there broke and turn things to gold, when I went there with $10,000 and came home nearly broke...

Right now I need to focus on an income, and to really consider what it is I want out of this life.

I have until I am 3o to return to Australia on my second working holiday visa - and if I go, I want to do it right.

For now, you will find me in Florida - as that is where I write this and finish out 2024 on this very last day of the year.

Thank you for a beautiful 2024. No expectations for 2025 - I look forward to the surprise.

Thank you so much for reading my 2024 Recap!

Let me know you stopped by and read by leaving your email below at the bottom of the site - Would love to share future updates with you directly.

Happiest of New Years Everyone!

-Gabriel Chambers

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