VI
EN
LET'S GO
At 4:30 a.m., the two of us woke up amidst the biting cold of Adelaide to prepare for a new journey. A trip to Kangaroo Island – a very pristine and the third largest island in Australia. Ms. Hanh offered to drive us to the city center – where we needed to meet at 5:30 a.m. to catch the ferry bus. But thinking it was too early and too cold, and with Mr. Michael feeling unwell, we insisted we could take an Uber ourselves. Ms. Hanh didn't forget to prepare some fruit, sandwiches with pâté, and a few pastries for us to eat on the way. We were truly grateful for their enthusiasm and thoughtfulness.
How do I get to Kangaroo Island?
An Uber from the Adelaide suburbs to the city center costs $50. The ride takes about 30 minutes to reach the meeting point. However, the bus doesn't actually depart until 7 am, once it's fully loaded. The bus then travels from the city center to Cape Jervis to catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island, a journey of over 3 hours covering the distance of over 100 km. Then, another ferry ride from Cape Jervis Port to Kangaroo Island takes over an hour. However, compared to a 30-minute flight from the Adelaide city center, most locals still prefer the bus. They say the scenery along the way is beautiful, and they can even see schools of dolphins leaping on the ferry.
Unfortunately for me, the ferry rocked back and forth for a while, and I threw up and collapsed, so I missed the dolphin sight. Actually, the sea was quite calm at first, but after a while, the waves got too rough for me. Oh, the ferry here is Sealink.
What is there to see on Kangaroo Island?
Before setting foot on the island, all passengers are given a brief introduction to the island's unique ecosystem and necessary recommendations to ensure that Kangaroo Island's natural environment remains pristine.
Kangaroo Island spans 4,500 square kilometers, yet the bus system is very infrequent. Without transportation, you'll miss out on many famous scenic spots. However, if you book a tour, you're guaranteed transportation for a road trip around the island.
The entire island has a population of less than five thousand, meaning each person owns an average of a square kilometer of land! The roads on the island are mostly dirt roads, with only the towns and the main road being paved. Projects to build bridges connecting the island to the mainland and develop infrastructure on the island have all been rejected. Most residents want to preserve the island as it was when the British discovered it 200 years ago.
The road trip took us along many beautiful and truly deserted beaches. Vast stretches of sand, devoid of people, were dotted only with plump seals basking in the sun and giant rocks sculpted into spectacular shapes by wind and water erosion.
The driver, who also acted as a guide, explained that this deserted island was once inhabited by indigenous people 16,000 years ago, when the island was connected to the mainland by a low-lying strip of land. However, in the early years of the Common Era, rising sea levels caused the low-lying strip to disappear, and the indigenous people retreated to the mainland. The island became completely isolated, and its ecosystem gradually diverged from that of the mainland.
More than half of the island's area is covered in primary forest. Therefore, all I saw before me was the vast expanse of vibrant green grasslands, trees lining the roads, mountain ranges stretching to the horizon, and the sky and sea were also blue, but a clear, emerald green. The wild nature was not as tranquil as I had imagined. The struggle for survival of kangaroos, sea lions, dolphins, seabirds, platypuses, black swans… and hundreds of rare plant species was vividly recounted by the guide, who was passionate about wildlife.
It's worth mentioning that the tourist services on the island are very well-organized, with minimal staff. The knowledgeable tour guide for the whole group also skillfully doubled as the driver. Here, you are not allowed to feed the animals, as feeding them will disrupt their survival instincts. In the afternoon, at Seall Bay, I encountered many seals. Although I had to keep my distance, I could still clearly see the adorable appearance of these chubby creatures. Most seals were sleeping soundly, showing off their plump bodies, with only a few tiny ones wandering around looking for their mothers, making mournful cries.
Indeed, I think the island's inhabitants must be true nature and animal lovers, because material comforts on the island are minimal, food and gasoline are expensive, only nature is truly wonderful. Most of the kangaroo people I met were very cheerful and carefree. They were content with their simple houses and dusty dirt roads, and their popular leisure activities were fishing and swimming.
After two days on the island, my husband and I boarded the ferry back to the mainland. This time the sea was calmer, and I no longer suffered from seasickness or nausea. Ms. Hanh texted to say she had prepared plenty of food for us at home. Tomorrow she would take us sightseeing around Adelaide and have a BBQ party for us…
Wow, I suddenly miss Ms. Hanh and Mr. Michael so much! I miss their peaceful house in the suburbs of Adelaide. Sometimes I feel so lucky because during my more than two years of traveling, I've met so many kind and enthusiastic people everywhere I go.
