So we finally got to Byron Bay after perhaps the longest journey ever in the history of mankind (it was about 12 hours but still) and it was so good to be out of the city and take a little break! Byron was pretty small and likes it that way - having resisted numerous attempts by big companies to develop the area, preferring to keep the laid-back surfer feel a welcome relief to two weary travellers after the bright lights of Melbourne and Sydney. The first night was pretty chilled out (I feel a pattern developing here), we just grabbed some dinner and then went to bed. The next day we went to the beach and, having learnt my lesson from Bondi, I sat out the midday sun in the shade and pursued The Da Vinci Code, a truly terribly written book but it's all I have now and I'm invested to some extent in the story! That night we decided to check out the bar opposite our hostel called Cheeky Monkey's, at $5AUS for a pint it was probably the best value we've found in Australia so far. A proper backpacker place it transformed at about 9pm from a bar/restaurant to a bar/club - after deriding dancing on the tables as 'so cliche' I found myself a few beers later joining those who I couldn't beat! I was a good night as we caught up with some people we had met on the OZ Experience bus.
The next day we took a trip to Nimbin, a tiny little village a couple hours drive from Byron, taken over by hippies in the 60s who have yet to leave and dedicated to marijuana - including little old ladies selling hash cookies 5 for $15AUS! Our trip included a 'BBQ' which turned out to be sausage sandwiches in a bowls club but was good all the same and for some reason I couldn't stop laughing at the bizzare-ness of the situation... That night we hung out of the hostel with some of the guys we met on the Nimbin trip over a glass of goon!
The following morning we jumped back on the OZ Experience bus to catch up with a couple of Ben's mates in Brisbane. After killing some time in the city we got picked up by Michelle, Ben's friend from Camp America, who drove us back to her house in Albany Creek and a proper Aussie barbie with her husband Max. The night in a proper double bed all to myself with A/C to boot was well needed and happily received! After a pathetic attempt to catch the bus into the city the following afternoon we veged-out in front of the television all-day! God I've missed it haha - Australia's The Biggest Loser was all the better than the British version as they made fat people crawl through mud - hilarious! The second day we finally made it into the city and got very wet but sought shelter at the Anglican Cathedral (where a very helpful old lady told me about the notable parts of the building) as well as the Queensland Museum and the Art Gallery. Our last day at Max and Michelle's saw us go for picnic on Mt Coot-Tha lookout with great views of the city. That evening we relocated to Clayfield to stay with Ben's university mate Rob and his girlfriend Penny. They indulged us with another BBQ (and beer - Australians and ex-pats are generous with booze!) and we chilled out at their place for a couple of days, once again enjoying the novelty of TV and 24 access to the internet! We made ourselves useful one night making tea for the two and today went into the city to check out the City Cat journey across the river and I checked out the Gallery of Modern Art where I found a wall of wishes written on ribbons and a video of people singing along to Michael Jackson songs - minus the music! It was so good just to chill out for a week in Brisbane and I can't thank our hosts enough for their hospitality and kindness in taking in a couple of wanderlust-weary backpackers!
Off to Rainbow Beach tomorrow and Fraser Island!
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