What are the chances of two people living half way around the world– Korea and the USA– coincidentally meeting in Australia?
I met Hunho Kim, a Korean, about three years ago in Los Angeles. He was cycling from Alaska to Argentina, and, through a cyclist forum to which we both belonged, asked if he could stay at my house. Through the stay, we both became good friends. He found in me an elder (people in Asian cultures tend to revere their elders) who understood and supported his desire to travel that distance on a bicycle, and I was eager to give him whatever he needed. As he traveled south through Mexico, Central America, and South America, we kept in touch through his emotional highs and lows until he finally reached his destination at the southern tip of Argentina.
Fast forward to 2019. Hunho learned in April that I was heading to Australia, so he texted me: “I’m heading to Australia, too.” We had no plans to meet; we each had our own plans, made independently of each other. He was simply informing me. And meeting each other again was not something we thought of. Australia was a big country, after all.
Then the odd synchronicity occurred. A few weeks ago, I saw on his Instagram that he was in Bundaberg, Queensland (top right corner of map below)– just passing through. I texted him that I was thinking of going to Bundaberg, too, but that I would possibly be there weeks after he was gone from the area. We left it at that. A week later, his Instagram picture showed that he was in Gayndah– with the words “I am staying and working in Gayndah now.” He was in Australia on a working holiday visa, and had found work in Gayndah. I was in Monto. I looked at the map. We were so close!
I had no idea that he would end up in Gayndah, and he had no idea I would be in Monto. Originally, my plan upon leaving Monto was to go to Mount Perry, then over to Gin Gin and then Bundaberg. But seeing that Gayndah was in the general vicinity, I altered my plan to instead go to Eidsvold, then Mundubbera and finally Gayndah.
Hunho and I both had not intended to be in the same general area. But, last week, Hunho Kim and I met in Gayndah, Queensland with much hugs and excitement. And spent a relaxing, but full day together catching up on old– and new– times.
AND– to my surprise– he had booked me into a hotel there. He had learned from me that I was planning on setting up my tent at the caravan park, but he wouldn’t hear of that. I had to be in the hotel! Then I insisted that I would pay for my stay there. He wouldn’t hear of that either.
That evening, he brought me over to the share-house where he was staying. He and Darong, his girlfriend, had prepared a huge feast. Vietnamese Spring Rolls! With kimchi soup and rice. I was flabbergasted!
And we had a huge breakfast the next day, too.
We also had a fun outing that day, which Hunho fully planned. I just tagged along.
On my ride, I had not planned to go to Gayndah. But new developments happen, and one simply changes routes to adapt. Especially for people you love.
My southward ride toward Sydney is quite different from my outback ride. But it looks to be a good one.