A Treetop Escapade in Australia

 

When I saw this treetop retreat on airbnb.com, I knew I had to go to Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The thought of my own glass capsule perched up high in the lush Australian bush brought me to the hinterlands in spring 2013.

I arrived as the sun set into a breathtaking canvas of peach and tangerine streaks in a clear cobalt blue sky. Speechless, I climbed up narrow wooden steps and entered the Bali-styled thatch-roofed escapade. It was like a dream with floor to ceiling views through glass enclosure held firmly by bamboo structure. A king-sized bed with silky white drapes filled the centre of the space. Leave-motif flowed through the furnishings, from bed cover to plush pillows.

I picked up a pair of binoculars from the dresser and stepped out to the small balcony. I could see black and brown birds on the trees. A sea of muted greens embraced me. I spotted a wooden chubby house, dolls and teddy bears sitting in a row in its doorway, and laughed. I felt rejuvenated.

The secluded lodging was hosted by a carefree, nature-loving couple, Andrew and Amy, who welcomed me warmly to their piece of heaven. They gave me a tour and explained every little detail to help me settle down before leaving me to bask on my own.

I pulled on the thick warm bathrobe and descended the stairs to a wooden deck connected to a semi-outdoor bathroom. I stepped into a white bathtub with wooden façade and turned on the rainwater shower. Rubbing creamy goat’s milk soap onto my tired body, I could hear gentle sound of wind chimes behind the ornate wooden partition. Feeling refreshed from the hot shower, I got dressed and looked around. There was a modern toilet bowl behind a weave partition.

The couple had thought things through. There was even a rack with a kettle and microwave. I boiled water and made a cup of piping hot peppermint tea. I brought my beverage to the deck and sat on one of the two rattan chairs next to a hammock.

As night crawled, the sky turned dusky. I switched on the fairy lights using the small remote control that Andrew gave me. The white lights danced up high, enhancing the glowing green and red ones planted in flower pots on the deck. I sipped my tea slowly, basking in the jingle of the rainforest and singing crickets, feeling so close to the elements.

Just then, I heard voices of a man and a woman talking. It was Andrew and a Middle Eastern woman. He introduced her as Saleema, my masseuse, who travelled two hours for an exclusive Lomi Lomi treatment. He left her to set up the space in the yoga studio adjacent to the deck.
Minutes later, I walked into a dim room with glittery star-shaped ornaments hanging from the ceiling. The walls were covered by weaved palms.

Saleema asked me to undress and lie face down on the narrow massage bed. I closed my eyes and stretched out my hands at the sides of my head. As she rubbed warm coconut oil onto my body and kneaded my tight muscles with her strong smooth palms, the tensions left me. I felt lighter and lighter, almost as if I was floating. The spiritual Hawaian songs she chose, the wind that blew with her sharp movements, the sound of the forest, all blended into a harmonious symphony of nature, lilting me to sleep. It was my most memorable two-hour massage.

After saying goodbye to the masseuse, I stumbled up the narrow steps back into my cocoon. The mattress was soft and comfortable, and my host had even spread a magnetic topper for therapeutic effect. I snuggled under the blanket, watched stars dancing in the blue black sky, feeling one with the universe, until I fell into a dreamless sleep. I was free.

About the Author: 
Rumaizah Abu Bakar has practised public relations in Kuala Lumpur for fifteen years. Her collection of short fiction and travel tales, The Female Cell, was published by Silverfish Books in 2011. She also co-authored News From Home, an anthology by Malaysian authors, in 2007.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

Independence

We hope you enjoyed this entry in the We Said Go Travel Independence Writing Contest. Please visit this page to learn more and participate. Thank you for reading the article and please leave a comment below.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Said Go Travel