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We got to Byron Bay in the morning and we're shocked to realise it was raining. Byron was supposed to be the beach holiday part of the trip. We checked into the hostel, and we weren't quite as excited about the teepee accomodation, as we were back when we were booking it. Back then, we thought it'd be cool to stay in a teepee, but we didn't consider the possibility of rain and the water leaking through the teepee or the fact that it was probably set up in the seventies, the same time the hippies built the hostel and the canvas was covered in mold. So there we were, in our "cool" teepee that stinked, with damp sheets and soon to be moist/wet/smelly clothes in our backpacks. We didn't let the damp teepee dampen our moods and headed for lunch in our hostels own Buddha bar. The Arts Factory is a really cool hostel, with a pool, a bar with it's own brewery, great atmospher, lots of hippies, and so on..
The rain was luckily only scattered showers, so we still managed to enjoy our beach holiday, sunbathing and swimming and me and Hannu also went surfing, while Anna went kayaking. It did rain while we were surfing, but it only made the experience more exciting as the heavy rain was blinding your eyesight.. Hannu was surfing for the first time, but already he was riding the waves like a pro.
We also found the best restaurant in town called "Ozymex" with homemade salsas and burritos and tacos so tasty that we went there everyday. So don't miss it if you're in town! One night I even went back to Cheeky Monkeys (the legendary bar in Byron) with my kiwi family members, Brett and Johannes, and danced the night away (on the tables) just like back in 2004 with Sarah..
The last day in Byron was the best, the sun was shining from a clear blue sky and we spent the whole day on the beach. There was a tsunami warning, and the beach was officially closed, but it was crowded anyway, so we joined in. And Anna was confident that if the tsunami would hit New Zealand, they would ring Australia. We still kept an eye on the ocean, in case it would start backing away. Me and Hannu tried surfing again, but this time with a proper board and it was really hard. The previos time we were using softies, and even an elephant could surf with them..
It started to rain in Brisbane as soon as soon as we got off the bus and it rained constantly pretty much for the whole week while I was there. I still liked Brisbane a lot, so I guess it says something about the city, even with the rain it managed to be enjoyable. I think Brisbane is very liveable and likeable city. (I know I've been thinking that about every place I go but, hey, what can I say, I've only been to likeable places!)
Anna had some old friends in Brisbane, who took real good care of us. They put us up in an lovely two bedroom apartment, where we felt like proper flashpackers and it was certainly an upgrade after the teepee! Lacey and Stu also took us out for delicious meals; a steak restaurant on the first night and then for some sushi and a dessert restaurant on the second night. (Saara you would've loved it, a restaurant only for desserts!) Anna and Hannu headed to Rocky next, and I was left in Brisbane all by myself. I was alone for the first time in over two months and felt a bit sad. But then I remebered Barneys (from the tv show HIMYM) wisdom: "whenever I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead."
So there I was in Brisbane, being awesome and enjoying the city. Occasionally, when the sun came out for few hours, I went for strolls around the city, but mainly it rained and I spent my time in the gallery of modern art, the library, the cinema and bookshops.
The GOMA was interesting with plenty of cool things and an Asian Pacific exhibiton going on and the library was great, really modern with art scattered around, a photgraphy and a cartoon exhibiton and free internet.
In the cinema I went to see the "Blind Side", which I recommend, even though people might be sceptical about a Sandra Bullock film (but she did win an Oscar for her role!) and then I went to see "Dear John", this very sappy love story. I started my crying already at the beginning of the film when the couple first met, because I had read the book and knew it had a sad ending. I tried my best to do it discreetely, but towards the end of the film, I heard others cry as well. Oh, Nicholas - he knows how to make us weep..
I spent hours and hours in the bookshops, flipping thorugh magazines, reading guidebooks and planning the Asian part of my trip and choosing great reads for my bookclub (which I have yet to start, I've been planning it for ages but haven't gotten around to it.. maybe this summer..?)
I have to say, even I'm quite impressed with myself. After a week in Brisbane, walking past (and occasionally popping in) wonderful shops with gorgeus things daily, I've only bought 3 things! 2 pairs of shoes, you know, a girl can never have too many of those, and they were a great bargain, 23 euros for both! And then I got a dress from French Connection and it was -70%, so basically I was making money.
On monday morning I jumped on the Mojo bus and headed for surf camp. Here I am now, hanging out with nice people and fun surf instructors (altough I think some of them are a bit too cool for their own good..) The surfing is great. I love the thrill of it, it's amazing the feeling when you ride a long wave or when there's a massive wave and all you can think is "I'll die, I'll die" and the wave throws you around and you feel like you're in a washing machine, but then you survive and have this whole new appreciation of life :) Day two at the camp, heading for the afternoon surf now and still got three days to go! Yay!
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Ham Go for Barney!!