'Bourne Identity

It was refreshing to arrive in Melbourne. At last I was free from the racist sensibilities that I had suffered in India and Nepal. As I’m generally contrarian I am quite comfortable to live removed from the crowd, however, it was not possible to live unnoticed on the margins in India. My milk-bottle complexion determined that I would be hounded by touts and beggars on the beaten tourist path. Off the well-trodden path my pastiness transformed me into a curiosity. Not being used to such things it took a great deal of patience to see beyond either mill of people to assess the real India. Thus, it was a really nice feeling to float into a sea of white-folk.

Having said all that, Melbourne presented its own issues. Now that I was blending in I felt the need to separate myself once more from the crowd. As I packed so few clothes I felt a little Jason Bourne-like. I certainly didn’t want to look like a scruffy traveller or to be associated with the back-packing set. To think that I hate the boxes people put me into in Dublin! Of course, I don’t need a new identity ... I’m not going to grow dread-locks and get tattoos; I just felt the need to revert to type. Shopping was to be the perfect remedy.  

While I’m pretty good at the task of shopping I don’t really shop in Dublin. This is a function of the bad selection, poor taste and high-prices more than my hate of spending money on things I don’t really need (one’s hobbies are an exclusion of course and certainly shopping can be a hoppy for people, it’s just not mine). So now I have to give disposable clothing its due. First thing was a pair of jeans which I never knew I would miss. A$20 later problem solved, not the nicest shade of denim but most important is the fit. I got a pair of casual shades for the same price. Being in Australia I needed a new pair of board-shorts and then a couple of nice shirts for evenings out. Of course, I couldn’t resist going back to my staples; plain white tees, a cool bike cap and naturally a pair of Chucks (Converse). Needless to say, I don’t feel so naked anymore.