Saying Goodbye to the Hotel
Morning in Melbourne. At last, it was time to leave the hotel called Quest, where I had been staying.
The person who had kindly helped me there turned out to be the hotel manager. As we said goodbye, he shared that he was originally from a town in Chile. “If you ever come to Chile, contact me anytime,” he said with a warm smile.
On the road, these promises of “see you again” keep adding up. Each one feels like a marker placed somewhere in the map of my heart, guiding me forward.
Coffee in a Historic Café
Through an introduction, I was invited to one of Melbourne’s most historic cafés.
The café carried both weight and warmth—its walls had lived through the city’s history, and even the air seemed softer inside.
And yes, Melbourne’s coffee was every bit as good as its reputation. Each sip seemed to carry the soil, the culture, and the spirit of this land.
The one who invited me worked at a university. Despite being busy, they made time to meet me, something I was deeply grateful for. The conversation was thoughtful, engaging, and full of depth.
Before parting, they handed me a small gift—an item rooted in Aboriginal culture. It felt as though within it rested the nature, spirit, and history of Australia itself.
Gifts received on a journey carry more than material value. They carry stories. One day, when I return to Japan, I will look at this gift and remember: that day, that café, those moments. And I will surely feel drawn back to this country again. It felt like a quiet door to the future had been opened.
An Encounter on the Road
Later in the evening, while cycling toward my next stop, I suddenly heard a cheerful voice behind me.
“Hey!”
Turning in surprise, I saw a smiling woman. She recognized me immediately—not by chance, but because she had already seen my story online.
“I knew it was you as soon as I saw your bike from behind!” she said.
To meet someone like this, by coincidence, in the middle of my journey—it felt almost unreal. At times, I hesitate about sharing my story on social media. But in that moment, I was truly glad I had.
This simple truth became clear again: connection with others is always warm.
As I rode on, the city began to glow with evening light. The gift Melbourne had given me was not only in the coffee or the small present, but in the encounters and rediscoveries that lit the way forward.
