45 degrees. It hits you like a hammer. Thank god it’s a dry heat.

I arrived on the hottest day of the year. OK, it’s January, 5th. The hottest day of summer, so far. Thank god for air conditioning.

I met my host Kathy, as well as her partner Costa, in their nice apartment in the heart of the Central Business District in Perth. High-risers, but also plenty of bars and cafés.

Once unpacked, they let me sleep a little and then took me and Laria, another guest from Italy, right away to Cottesloe Beach, one of Perth’s favorite spots, for an evening swim and a little picnic at sundown.

The water was warm! Much warmer than anything in South Africa, but I only went in there shortly, being jet lagged and tired.

Back home, they made us a great welcome meal, salad and Italian pasta, and a great local red wine…

I felt welcome immediately.

But it’s also weird, I am in that limbo between the good-bye to Cape Town and the arrival here. It’s happening too fast to process.

I am missing my new friends in Cape Town and am sad of having left, and – at the same time meeting some new amazing people.

It’s what I love about this trip, but it’s also a lot to deal with, emotionally, or just geographically.

What is happening? Where am I? Who am I?

This has happened so often during this trip that you would think I am used to it by now. The thing is, you don’t get used to it.

The traveling, yes. The adaptation to a new surrounding and finding your way, yes.

The emotional side of it, less though. It rather feels like it accumulates and it gets harder, somehow. Maybe it’s a sign I am nearing the natural end of this trip.

I’ll need a day or two to settle.

Off to see my friend Clint from Auckland, who has recently moved to Perth!