If shoppings were an Olympic sport, I think I just earned a gold

“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” GK Chesteron

“I would like to travel light on this journey of life, to get rid of the encumbrances I acquire each day…I come only to be myself as I lose myself.” Madeline L’Engle

I have safely arrived in Cairns, Australia! However, my luggage did not, and currently the airport has no idea where my luggage is between Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver, or Sydney. L I will admit I was concerned from when I first touched down in Toronto. When I left Philly, they insisted I would not have to do customs and that my bags would arrive in Sydney. Arriving in Toronto, asking 10 people resulted in 12 answers. I did have to go through customs, and my luggage wasn’t there. The baggage guy insisted this happens a lot of this particular route (comforting, I know), and that in the 8 hour layover it would be found and be put on the plane. So it was not a complete surprise this morning, when once again the carousel turned round and round, and my luggage never showed up.

This did lead to the title of my post though, let me get to that.

Air Canada insists it will get my baggage to me as soon as it locates it, which will be interesting being that it’s not like I am just down a highway. BUT they now have all the contact information I have to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea and they say they can get it there. Something makes me a little doubtful I will see my luggage again. HOWEVER, there is still much to be praised about, because all my electronics are with me, my medical supplies are with me, I am mainly missing most all my clothes and presents for people at the hospital. Sitting in the Sydney Airport, it occurred to me, that I was without most toiletries and only had 1 additional outfit, and perhaps, even in the best of circumstances, I will likely be in this situation for a few days at the least.

I found one long skirt in the airport (this was a virtual miracle, and I have to be in skirts all the time in PNG). Then I decided I would have to find a store when I got to Cairns to get more supplies, particularly toiletries. I make it to Cairns, check into my hotel, and realize that EVERYTHING will basically shut down in less than an hour in Cairns because it’s Sunday.

I drop my bags in my room, take 30 seconds to account for what I have, and make a mad dash for the Cairns Shopping Plaza, where I heard there was a Target (TARGET, yes a TARGET!!) . I can’t figure out where to find a cab fast enough, and it’s at least a mile away. Mind you, I have already been in the same clothes for like 48 hrs. It’s hot here, and I am in jeans and a long sleeve shirt. I BOOK IT! I make it to Target as they are calling overhead that the store will close in 10 minutes (which is a half hour earlier than even I was planning on), please bring your stuff to the front. I just start grabbing things. I have to get a bag to put it in, toiletries, I get 2 tops, a pair of shorts, a bathing suit, undergarments, socks…..all in under 10 minutes! GO ME! AND when I lug all the stuff back to the hotel, EVERYTHING fits! PRAISE! But I think I deserve a gold metal in shopping!

I have been a chronic overpacker my whole life. And I already was proud, that I actually had only checked 1 bag at the airport. BUT this may be a new lesson is living with less! I am happy that I will be heading to the bush with basic toiletries and more than one outfit! I found the above quotes in a journal I brought with me and thought they were quite appropriate.

Praise that I am in Australia safely! Pray they may find my luggage! Pray for more traveling safety, as I fly out early in the morning for Port Moresby, PNG then onwards to Mount Hagan and Kudjip.