Change between the years

The last few weeks have demanded a lot of stress and flexibility and at the same time created many beautiful memories.

At work, things are getting more complicated day by day. We often feel misunderstood and a lot of discontent is swallowed. When we come home in the afternoon, it is difficult to relax, many backpackers are still not working, so it is also louder in the evenings. Unfortunately, most people still have no idea what the word 'cleaning', 'dishes' or 'waste separation' means...
We realize that we want to change the place soon, it is not good when work and home no longer feel right. So the search begins. We are looking for houses, backpackers and campsites. All rather disillusioning. As expected, houses are not eagerly rented to backpackers, most campsites are limited to a few days' stay, and the few surrounding backpackers do not promise better performance. We looked at one where there was no shower and no real kitchen.
Seems like there are no alternatives.

Due to an offer we found at our backpacker, we start talking to Val (the owner of the hostel). She tells us about her property, which is about 15 minutes drive from Huonville. She has a large garden where she accommodates a few backpackers. So she suggests that we take a look at everything and then decide if we would like to come. In the next few days, we drive to her property as agreed. She has a beautiful house that looks a bit thrown together, as she mixes many different styles. In front of the house is a large green area, there is a tipi, a fireplace, a small kitchen, a shower, and a sofa set to relax. There is a kind of botanical garden right next to the house. Some flowers are up to four meters high and spread a wonderful scent. Behind the house, in the garden, there is a freestanding bathtub and the forest begins to the left of the building. We both knew immediately that this was a good place for us.
When we leave, Val explains to us that we unfortunately can't come immediately because there are already so many people there and the cooking facilities are unfortunately very limited.
A week later, she comes back to us. Marvin (a German) is leaving the tipi and if we want, we can move in next week. We say happily yes.
The week flies by (haha) and the following one promises a lot of good.

The pre-Christmas season is always a bit strange when you're not at home, especially when it's 20 degrees C and you're 16,000 km away from your family.
For me, it was an intense time that was characterized by many messages and calls from Germany.

For my birthday, Flou and I went to Hobart. Flou booked a day in the thermal baths for us, in the evening we went out to eat, and for the night there was a hotel room with a private bathroom!
- How quickly one becomes aware again of what a luxury a simple bath can be.
It was good to get out of the backpacker and at the same time it was good to come back. It was already the 23rd of December but many people still thought of me, they sang a serenade to me and I even got a cake.
All in all, a very nice weekend. Merci mon amour.

To survive Christmas, most travelers have found their own ways. Usually, there is a very organized backpacker, the nerd among the travelers, who wants to organize something big. And usually, all parties are very happy that someone takes care of everything. In our hostel, Papy (a vegan, very positive and sporty Frenchman) had the idea that everyone should cook a traditional Christmas meal from their country and we would all enjoy it together.
We decided to make a mousse au chocolat. After work on the 24th of December, we quickly went shopping and there at the checkout, I met Val. For the second time, she tells us that we can't come. She is incredibly sorry, but it seems that things are not so easy in her garden right now. Everyone is rather tense and does not want more people to come. At first, I couldn't react at all. We were both very disappointed and partly angry. Val tells us the situation differently from the other backpackers and we don't really know who to believe.

However, Christmas Eve is still beautiful. I ate very well and a lot. It's incredible what some people served. Some Japanese people surely stood in the kitchen all day. Everyone tried their best and the result is impressive.

We spend the Christmas holidays together at the water hole near Huonville. We are again looking for new opportunities and looking at a campground further away. We like it there very much, it is more than half cheaper and the travel time is also reasonable. So we let Val know that we will leave the backpacker. She apologizes once again for her back and forth and tells us that she thought of us last night and that our situation kept her awake. But she has found a solution and can now sleep peacefully again. She would like to accommodate us and we can use her kitchen and bathroom, so it should be good for all parties involved. When I finish writing, we will drive to her and I won't believe that we can really stay there until our tent is set up in her garden.

Yesterday we went on a hike. We went to a natural reserve. In Tasmania, you have to pay a pass that allows you to drive into the reserve. There is the possibility to buy it for a year, two months, or 24 hours. Since we will have less time for hiking next month, we bought a 24-hour ticket. We decided to do an easy hike first. In the 40 minutes drive, we lost about ten degrees C. At the starting point, we were at about 1000 meters and with the wind, it was freezing cold. I had to change clothes before we could go on the well-maintained paths. Lovingly built bridges led us through a swampy landscape. Larger and smaller lakes were always by the wayside. The flower kingdom on the ground had a completely different structure than we are used to in Europe. It is strictly forbidden to leave the paths, a single footprint can take up to 30 years to be completely reconstructed.
The wind whips around our ears and races across the flat landscape in front of the mountains. Then we enter the bush. Partly on all fours, we climb the first hurdle. We hear many birds and other animals, but we can hardly see any. On the flat plain, nature has transformed from just 100 meters difference in height. It is too dry for any vegetation, the bare stone floor stretches out before us. The closer we get to the summit, the more stones there are. The wind whips around our ears again and it is sometimes not easy to walk. Our path is marked by stone cairns that pull themselves up the last stretch. Then we stand at 1300 meters above sea level, on the highest peak around us, Hartz Mountain Peak! We don't see a single house around us! No person! Forest as far as the eye can see. I enjoyed this little hike to the fullest. It is an indescribable feeling to stand up there and be allowed to see all of this.

The past few weeks have been a roller coaster ride, but I look forward to the new year with confidence, I am curious, and once again I know more about what I want in my life and what I don't want.