This was published 5 years ago
The five places that changed my life: Amanda Hampson, author
Amanda Hampson, author.
WAIKATO VALLEY, NEW ZEALAND
Growing up on a dairy farm in the lush Waikato Valley, I spent long solitary days building tree huts, taming frogs and concocting plans to run away to somewhere more exciting. It was many years before I understood the gift of that simple upbringing. Without television, reading was a family pastime and, when my ambition to become a can-can dancer faded, the dream of becoming a writer was born.
LONDON, ENGLAND
My dad had been a ''10 pound Pom'' and I was of the generation that still thought of England as the Motherland. Going to live in London in my early 20s was an explosive cultural awaking for me. An uncle took charge of my literary education and, having never seen a foreign film in my life, introduced me to the British Film Institute, and to West End theatre and art galleries. The scale and scope of London, with its extremes of poverty and pomposity was endlessly fascinating – and still is today.
CORFU, GREECE
In 1978, I travelled with two others, driving and camping through Europe. We ended up in remote part of Corfu, sleeping on the beach with a couple of dozen other young travellers. We ate at a nearby taverna; homemade yoghurt and chocolate for breakfast and whatever Spiro cooked for dinner. Greece has a soporific vibe, everything slows down. I have the deepest nostalgia for those summer days of my youth, of waking to the gentle lapping of aqua water and the sounds of locals dynamiting fish.
NEW YORK, US
In 2013, having trained for over a year, I ran the New York Marathon (very slowly) with my eldest son to celebrate his 40th birthday. It was tough going at times but we were so pumped by the million excited onlookers cheering us on and shouting encouragement ('You got this, girl!') that failing to finish was never an option. New Yorkers are so generous and welcoming, on the subway going home we were treated like rock stars. Pain is temporary. The memory of that amazing experience and the warmth of the locals is forever.
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO, SPAIN
Walking for 40 days, with nothing but a backpack and a destination, changed my thinking. I loved the diversity of the company, the depth of conversations, and the joy of being outside in nature at dawn every day. The Camino is a slow moving river of stories. Pretensions soon fall away and friendships crystallise. People are kind and respectful to each other. I came to see the Camino as a sort of Utopia where humanity has a single quest to work toward, together. It gave me hope.
Sydney-based Amanda Hampson's new novel The Yellow Villa ($32.95 Penguin Random House), is out now. See penguin.com.au
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