City Camping in Gold Coast.
by Susanna Ng.
I carefully pulled the zipper up, opening the doors of my newly pitched tent. A view of caravans parked in rows and happy children riding their bicycles greeted me that morning as rays of sunlight bounced off the lawn leaving behind a warm and happy feeling.
It was my second day camping in Broadwaters Tourist Park amidst the towering buildings, 25 minutes away from Surfers Paradise - the heart of Gold Coast. Metres away, I see surfer dudes riding 6-footer waves as lifeguards patrolled the beach. It was like a scene from Baywatch.
People often ask: Why sleep on the ground in a flimsy shelter when one can sleep comfortably on a bed albeit a bunk bed in a backpackers’ hostel?
Well, apart from my love for the outdoors and as a girl who has grown up in the city her whole life, I would say that camping teaches one to live and enjoy the pleasures that come with living a simplistic and fulfilling life that very often, city folk never get to experience. The material luxuries that we go after back home in the city seem more and more unnecessary as one experiences the simplistic life.
However, the best part about camping and living in a tourist park is definitely the first-hand experience of the way people live. Living in a communal setting was like watching an on-going movie throughout the day where people go about their everyday lives with a spouse or their family. It’s a lesson on culture and humanity, looking at how differently people live but yet, being able to share the little part of their lives with each other.
The communal setting also provides a lesson on acceptance. Being the only Asians on the campsite was daunting the first day. But in an environment where there are no fences to separate your “space” from your neighbour’s and where you have to put your food in the same fridge as the person living opposite you or even brush your teeth next to the guy who lives 3 caravans away, it allows a lesson on sharing and much more than that, accepting one another regardless of race or even looks.
It is also funny how in such an environment, people easily learn common courtesy and simple manners such as saying “please” and “thank you” or even, “after you”. The joys of the early morning come with your fellow campers whom you’ve never met prior to this, greeting you with a smile and a friendly “good morning” and “how do you do”. Let’s face it, things like that are becoming rarer in the city. And though it may seem foolish to say this, it really made my day.
In my opinion, the experience of camping is a truly rewarding one and for those who dislike the idea of not having the comforts of a bathroom, city camping is for you. With the growing number of tourist parks as a viable choice of accommodation for budget travelling, seeing the world is becoming easier on one’s bank account. And the best part is if you find yourself hating every minute of living the simplistic life, there’s always an option to escape into the city, 25 minutes away.
-end-
Next week: China – A lesson on tolerance.
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