A quick update from Australia, and have you ever thought about drinking rainwater?

It’s been a bit quiet on this page, unfortunately — but life itself definitely hasn’t been. I travelled to Australia, hired a van, drove along the west coast, saw the most incredible landscapes, swam with whale sharks in the middle of the ocean, and encountered so much other wildlife. After that, I went to Uluru in the heart of Australia, where I learned a lot about Aboriginal culture.

I then moved to Sydney, found a house and a job, and through that job had the opportunity to travel to Wagga Wagga, Adelaide, and even Wellington in New Zealand. After a period filled with amazing people and activities, I went to Melbourne to see the Australian Open. From there, I travelled around Tasmania, where I saw the most interesting animals and experienced its raw, rugged nature. Many, many other things happened, but I won’t bother you with all the details. I’ll just say this: it was absolutely amazing.

During this time, it was easy to forget that I was still working on a passion project: Purpose Drivers. I told myself I would have enough time in Sydney to visit different initiatives, especially because I knew Australia is doing a lot in the field of sustainability. At the beginning, though, having a roof over my head and a steady income was the priority. Once that was sorted, there was space for other things.

In my last month in Sydney, I started contacting organisations. I had a lot of faith that many would respond and be willing to share their stories, Australians are generally very open, friendly, and generous. Unfortunately, the process was less smooth than expected. After reaching out to many organisations, only a few responded.

Luckily, I got in contact with a man I had seen years ago in a Netflix documentary. His name is Michael Mobbs, and he turned an ordinary house into a fully self-sustaining, self-sufficient home. Many years ago, he already proved that you don’t need super expensive or high-tech equipment to live sustainably. Today, he serves as an example for people from all over the world who visit his house to learn from him. I had the chance to join a student group, meet Michael, and tour his house.

At first, it felt a bit strange to walk into someone’s home for a tour, especially because this isn’t just a showcase house. He actually lives there with his family. Still, it was incredibly interesting and fun to meet him. It felt like a full-circle, almost surreal moment: watching him years ago in a Netflix documentary from my hometown of Cuijk, and now standing inside his house.

What makes Michael Mobbs’ house, and his story, so unique isn’t just what he built, but when, where, and why he did it.

He started in the mid-90s, long before climate change, off-grid living, or “sustainability” were part of everyday conversation. There were no YouTube tutorials, no eco-influencers, and no government incentives. He was experimenting from scratch, driven by a strong belief that cities had to change.

Then there’s the location. This isn’t a bush retreat or a custom eco-home in the middle of nowhere. It’s a compact inner-city terrace in Sydney, surrounded by neighbours, concrete, and old infrastructure. Yet the house runs without mains electricity, mains water, or a sewer connection, something that’s rare even today, especially in a dense urban area like downtown Sydney.

What really sets his story apart is that the house isn’t extreme or uncomfortable. It’s not about sacrifice. It’s about redesigning everyday systems so they actually make sense. Rain becomes drinking water. Wastewater is cleaned and reused on site. The sun covers the power bill. Everything works quietly, while the house still looks completely normal.

The house has been stress-tested by real life, showers, laundry, guests, bad weather, and long summers. It proves that sustainable living isn’t a future concept or a luxury. It’s already possible, right now, on a regular street.

Here is a two-minute video about his house and his story. It’s definitely worth watching if you want a better understanding. I hope it inspires people around the world to use his practices. During my visit, Michael told me multiple times that anyone can do this, and that’s his main message. If you think a little differently and don’t blindly follow the standard systems, a lot is possible. Using rainwater in your home, for example, makes perfect sense, it’s been done for thousands of years, long before pipe systems existed. Sometimes you just need to rethink and find alternatives to the “normal” way of doing things.

If you want to learn more, Michael has written books called Sustainable House and Sustainable Food.

It was truly fun and inspiring to meet Michael and see his home. He’s someone who doesn’t blindly follow made-up rules and constantly looks for ways to do things better, and I really respect that, and I like to follow that way aswell. 

My time in Australia is almost over. It’s been an unbelievable experience, and I will miss this place deeply. Like with every place I visit, I’ll try to bring parts of life here into my own life. Living next to the ocean in Bondi Beach for five months is something I may never do again, but I’ll definitely try to keep a piece of that lifestyle with me.

Leaving Australia a bit earlier than expected definitely doesn’t only have downsides, not at all!

Now there’s more time to explore Asia. And Asia certainly hasn’t been standing still when it comes to sustainable development. More and more, I read about impressive initiatives and ambitious goals being reached. Of course, like anywhere else, there’s still a lot to be done, but I’m excited to be amazed by the high-tech and modern solutions there.

Let’s hope they’re also looking forward to seeing me...

Please follow along as I visit the most unique, strange, and innovative Purpose Drivers in Asia!