Woman who left ‘message in a bottle’ for stranger she met on holiday finds success
A tourist has been reunited with a stranger who reminded her of Aquaman after she left a heartfelt note asking him to get in touch at the place where they first met.
The woman, who signed the note Pina, courageously left the note two days after the chance meeting and called the long-haired, well-dressed six-foot-tall man to call her.
Speaking to FEMAIL, the mother of three, a spiritual healer and interior designer from Perth, revealed that she was with her children when she met Aquaman and his mother.
The 53-year-old, passing by Pina Colada online and in writers’ circles said she left the note in the street library in Maroubra, Sydney’s eastern suburbs, because she had nothing to lose.
The mother wrote a note to reach the stranger and he saw it and responded – Kel Henderson, her Aquaman, pictured
Kel was eager to reconnect with the mother and texted her after seeing the note
She explained that when they met, she was so engrossed in conversation that she didn’t think to grab his number.
“I wrote it compellingly. I couldn’t believe I was writing it, but it felt like a quirky pleasure – and since I’ve always wanted to send a message in a bottle, this was definitely the perfect opportunity; she said.
She could not know her Aquaman, 29-year-old model and poet Kel Hendersonwas also once obsessed with the “message in a bottle idea.”
So when he saw one aimed at him after someone photographed the note and posted it online, he knew he had to respond.
He told FEMAIL he connected with Pina right away: “My mom and I had such a great conversation with her, the kind you don’t seem to have with strangers these days and after seeing such a beautifully written and thoughtful letter left for me I thought it would be rude not to at least text her,” he said.
Their friendship has grown stronger and they are already planning for Kel to take a tour of the west coast later this year.
The note was left in a street library in Maroubra – both Kel and Pina admitted they were intrigued by the idea of a ‘message in a bottle’
A woman, who goes by the name Pina Colada online, has found her ‘Aquaman’ after a chance encounter with a star struck her
“Growing up by the ocean in Maroubra, I always imagined what it must be like to watch the sun set in the water every evening,” he said.
And Pina is also coming back to the Eastern Suburbs.
‘Kel has WA on his bucket list and Maroubra herself stole a piece of my heart, the people and atmosphere remind me of home. I am an ocean lover and always find gifts by the sea.’
The mother-of-three explained that she was supposed to be in Hawaii when she met Kel, but chose to stay in Sydney.
The fact that this made the chance encounter even rarer, which further compelled her to write the note.
“I knew I had to do something about this feeling and I bit the bullet because life is about taking risks — and taking every opportunity with open arms,” she said.
“I am a free-spirited, playful and spontaneous soul who lives with a lot of responsibility – ever since I was relaxing on vacation, I decided to chase some magic and follow my heart,” she added.
She added that there is great freedom to take action “especially in matters of the heart,” but continued that the pair are just friends.
‘(it’s) Definitely a related compound! I believe love comes to us in all sorts of mysterious ways and it’s not always something we can describe,” she said.
Kel plans to visit Pina in Western Australia and is excited to see the sun set over the ocean there
Pina said she is a budding writer and loves the idea of street libraries being a place for people to meet
Kel agrees, saying in his experience that friendships last longer.
The newly minted friends revealed that their first conversation was simply about the street library, which has been open since 2020.
“Pina came over with her kids and we all got talking about how great an idea it was and the conversation just flowed,” said Kel.
Pina said there are no street libraries in Perth, and as a budding writer she absolutely loves the idea.
“They’re obviously a great place for people to meet and greet each other,” she said.
The original letter went viral as people gushed about the old-world romantic charm.
“There must be someone who knows her Aquaman. We need a part two,’ said a woman.
‘I can’t help but this is next level! I love it. No one goes to this kind of endeavor anymore. I hope she finds her Aquaman,” said another.
Hundreds of people supported the mission and seemed relieved when word got out that they had found each other.