In ancient Greek mythology, there was a figure named Sisyphus, who, according to legend, was punished by the gods to push a boulder up a hill every day. But as soon as the massive rock reached the top, it would roll back down, forcing Sisyphus to start all over again — an endless, day-after-day, year-after-year cycle.
Some say this is a tragedy, while others believe that with every step Sisyphus took, he carried hope. Whether it’s a tragedy or not, perhaps only he truly knew. On my trip to Australia this time, I encountered a real-life story that closely resembled that of Sisyphus.
The story took place on Moreton Island (Moreton Island) at Tangalooma, which is just over an hour’s boat ride from Brisbane. With crystal-clear waters, fine sandy beaches, and a wide range of activities such as diving, parachuting, and even dolphin feeding, it can truly be called a paradise on earth. What reminded me of Sisyphus was a coach there who leads the Dessert Safari.
He is an optimistic person who often tells jokes, taking on both the roles of driver and instructor. Sometimes, he gets more nervous than you do. This Dessert Safari is a lot of fun — you can slide down from heights at speeds of up to 30-plus kilometers per hour. But after each slide, climbing up the tall, long sand dune is actually quite strenuous. The coach said this really tests one’s willpower; when you want to slide down again, you naturally find the motivation to climb back up.
I think he must enjoy his job, which is why he climbs up and down every day. Being a happy Sisyphus is probably just like that.
Text and photos: Dan @ A Half-Tourism Journalist’s Story
Photo by Nikon D810; originally published on Beauty Exchange