A bench of beautiful things

We lean, we learn, we earn, we turn, we burn
We lean, we learn, we earn, we turn, we burn
Then start again
Cause we’re delighted
We go again
Cause we’re delighted

The consequences are yours
The frequencies are yours
The possibilities are yours
Cause the vision is yours

Benjamin Clementine. Delighted

In the thick of the island’s tropical forest, a small wooden bench is dabbled in the sunlight filtering through the dense canopy. On it is a random assortment of seashells, dried seeds, and pieces of dead coral: an ever-changing outdoor collection, tropical style.

Giant clamshells, innocent white cup shells next to deadly cone shells. After lying out in the sun for a while, there is no longer any danger of the cone snail shooting its venomous harpoon and instantly killing us. 

Drift seeds and nicker nuts, brown and shiny. Among them is the infamous Mucuna bean – or Burny bean. When rubbed hard and fast on a rock, it gets very hot and can burn someone’s leg or arm. A fellow tourist shows use the burn mark on her thigh where a friend showed her “the burning effect” of this seed. We tell her to find new friends!

And finally, a breathtaking variety of dead coral: beehive coral, brain coral, star coral, and tree coral. Broken into pieces and bleached by the water and the sun, they look like the fossilized version of their colourful counterparts in the water. Each one is unique in its shape and size.

A bench of beautiful things, the tour guide calls it—a place where anyone can leave anything they found on the island. No one will take anything from it, as the island has a strict “no taking” policy. As part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, removing any species, including dead shells or coral, is strictly prohibited. Hefty fines apply, if not a jail term, for repeat offenders. “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” Though, I would have killed for a tiny piece of dead coral (pun intended). 

The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia – we have officially arrived in paradise! What was once nothing more than the topic of my son’s speech in Grade 6 suddenly became a reality. After a couple of fun but rather rainy days in Sydney, we soak up everything this place has to offer: the sun, the heat, the endless white beaches and the crystal clear ocean. The perfect place to dry our Sydney-swamp-feet!

We see little orange Nemo fish hiding in purple anemones and hear coral rubble clinking below our feet as we walk along the deserted beach of Normanby Island. We smell the earthy scent of the rainforest and feel the sun burning on our skin (it could just be my sunburn). We hear the sounds of the ocean waves in front of our bedroom windows when we fall asleep at night and wake up the following day. This is paradise!

As I sit here on the small porch of our beachside villa, the beach and ocean in front of my eyes, the sound of the ceiling fan whirling incessantly above my head, drowned out by the waves crashing ashore, I think that this is a writer’s paradise. And hell. So many things to see and hear and do: walk along the endless beach, go for a swim, wrestle a crocodile…it’s hard not to get distracted. 

At the same time, there is so much to write about that I don’t even know where to start. The crazy colours of the delicious fruits I had for breakfast? The drive along the windy coastal road for every sight of rainforest meets ocean requires a double-take (this can’t be real). Luckily, my son agreed to drive the monster of Chinese Wall Motors SUV, so I could enjoy the view. Or the fact that I swam in the ocean for the first time here in Australia, and I did not get eaten by a shark? Only charmed by a tiny orange fish, looking for his friend Dorie (who must have forgotten the way to the Reef).

Instead, I start my own imaginary bench of beautiful things – things I’m grateful for. And on it, I place the time I get to spend with my son here in Australia. This journey we finally get to make after having waited for over two years (thanks to the pandemic). And a bracelet of red beans I bought at the Palm Cove street market today, which will remind me of my wonderful time here. Until I visit again!

I am delighted!