Ok so last time I wrote was on New Years day...oh my I have done soooooo much since then!

So left Sydney on 2nd Jan to start our journey up the east coast!! Mike and I were hoping for a good crowd as been stuck with each other for way too long now, and we were not disappointed! Got on coach with 48 other people and had made friends by the first rest stop...then made more friends at lunch stop and then even more at our over night spot which was Spot X...Surf Camp!! When we arrived mike and I were put into a teepee with 5 other people...and I kid you not theis teepee had no electricity, was about 100m in the pitch black to a toilet, and had a huge gap around the bottom for all the bugs to come in! Luckily one of the guys we had met was nice enough to swap rooms with me so that I had actual walls!

So first night was a BBQ with all the surfer dudes and Oz bus crew...then down onto the beach for a bonfire! This was an absolutely amazing night...the stars were like nothing I have ever seen before, and we just sat around chatting and getting to know everyone. Next morning we were woken up at 6am!!! ERGH!! Up early for brekkie and a surf lesson!! the guy teaching my group was only 17!! I was a bit dubious ( and when I say dubious I mean cackin my pants) because the sea looked pretty rough. But once you were out there it was amazing...I even surprised myself by being pretty good and managing to stand up and ride a wave all the way in a couple of times!

Then all back onto the bus all salty and crusty to get to ur next destination...Byron Bay! Absolutely loved every minute of Byron Bay...even when it was monsooning! Had a very cheesy bar opposite our hostel where we spent many a night taking part in crap games to win jugs of beer...think the people we met really made this part of the trip for us! The rain even went away long enough for us to hit the beach a couple of times as well...all in all a very chilled and memorable part of the trip so far! Some things happened that I would rather forget (such as mike and Jonny (one of our northern mates) skinny dipping and then sumo wrestling on the beach in the early hours of the morning)! Also some hairy momets playing ring of fire (drinking game if anyone doesn't know). Byron is a very chillaxed place and there are loads of wierd hippie shops where you can buy 'herbal' leaves...so when in Rome! Had to say goodbye to some of our new friends in Byron which was sad but there were still 6 of us carrying on to next stop together!

After 6 days in Byron we headed to Surfers paradise...ironic really as this resembled Magaluf rather than a paradise! After a back breaking trek to our hostel with our bacpacks (we later found out there was a free shuttle bus...) we thought we would have a look around...obnce again weather was total let down. Surfers Paradise is really touristy and think there are more asian people here than in asia! Luckily hostel was really nice so most of our time was spent avoiding the rain and watching films in the communual lounge!

Only spent 2 nights in Surfers and then back onto bus to Brisbane!...Had heard there was b***** all to do in Brisbane and they were right! Lots of high rise buildings and not a lot else...everything seems to be closed all the time. Oh and horrific time checking in...first they had split all 5 of us up...but then we complained and they managed to find a 3 and a 2...miraculous what happens when you complain!! However, when Mike, Jonny and Vicki got to their room all of the matresses were bare and leant aginst the wall revealing rusty beds...and a pair of lone pants in the corner of the room!! It looked like the room of death...once again all march down to reception to find out what the hell is going on...when Mike and i spy a white board with 'BB's Room 222...sprayed!!!" AHHHHHHHHHH Bed Bugs!!!!! So all refuse to sleep in that room and demand another one!! To stop us all screaming about the bed bugs hostel give us one night free and knock off rate for other nights...and free breakfast...so alls well!

Today we went to the australia Zoo...which is the one run by the Irwin family...Steve Irwin is like some sort of hero over here! Was a good day out though and even got to see Terri Irwin do her thang with the crocs.

Only 2 more nights here (thank god because we are sleeping in the hottest room IN THE WOLRD!) and next stop is Noosa...which is supposed to be very cool!

think that is everything...oh Mike shaved his head...surprisingly he pulls it off and doesn't look as much as an idiot as I thought he would! (Not as bad as he would have had he and Jonny got those G'day tatoos on their bums like they were going to in a moment of drunken male bonding...I am ashamed to say I was encouraging the idea...would have been hilarious!!_

Anyway that is definitely it for now!!

Much Love

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