Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Doesnt time fly when your having fun. I didnt think it was that long since I wrote my last blog but several people have mentioned it and thinking about it is has actually been a while.
Since writing my last blog I chilled out in surfers paradise on the beach and by the pool for a few days and then headed down to Byron bay. I much preferred Byron to surfers. The local authority are not letting it become too developed like surfers so there were no big skyrise hotels. This made it feel more like a local place that just one developed for tourists. The beach was really nice and myself and a group of girls I met spent most of the time down there so my tan is coming along nicely. On one of the days during my stay there we took a day trip to a tiny town called Nimbin. A very strange place its full of hippies so kind of like stepping back to the 60s and there all campaining there to try and legalise canabis. It was an interesting and we stopped at a lovely waterfall on the way. I also saw my first Koala sitting in a tree on the side of the road so that was cool. I also walked to the most Easterly point of Australia whilst I was in Byron. I really cant understand why all these places are always uphill. I would enjoy it a lot more if it was a nice flat walk especially in this heat. The evenings whilst I was there were mostly spent sat around outside drinking goon (cheap boxed wine popular with travellers) and chatting to people at the hostels.
After leaving Byron Bay I made my way down to Coffs Harbour further down the Coast towards Sydney. I was only going to stay there a few nights but it was the nicest hostel I have stayed at so far so I stayed longer. I had left the girls I had met in Byron behind as most of them were coming straight down to Sydney and not stopping anywhere on the way. I was quite happy spending time on my own and walking around Coffs harbour but ending up meeting a Canadian girl in my room and spending a bit of time with her. On one of the days I walked down and had a look at the botanical gardens and I also went and had a look at the marina and the jetty. As it was a Sunday there was loads of locals about and they were all jumping off the end of the jetty. The jetty seemed to have been designed for them to do that with special steps so they can climb out again. I cant remember seeing anywhere like that in England I think mostly people back home are discouraged from jumping off things into the sea. it doesnt seem to do the Australians any harm though. I also went along to a place called the big bannana whilst I was there which was a wierd kind of themepark where you could have a tour around a bannana plantation. They also had an ice skating rink toboganing and lots of blow up water slides. We kind of decided after we had walked for ages to get there it was probably more for kids. My favourite place that I went to whilst in Coffs harbour was a place called the pet poirpoise pool. it was a place that did dolphin and seal shows and you could also see peguins, sea turtles pelicans and I saw my first Kangaroo. The best bit about it was that they offered seal and dolphin kissed so you actually got to get up close touch the animals and be kissed by them. Great fun! The rest of the time in Coffs harbour was spent relaxing by the lovely hostel pool.
It was then onto Sydney which I was really looking forward to. The bus ride down the wasnt up to much though. it was a night bus so it saved me money on a nights accomodation but the bus was completely full so no room to stretch out. I kept managing to fall asleep on to be woken when the bus hit a bumpy bit in the road. The bus drivers seem to drive pretty fast out here. Im not sure whether that is because the buses I have caught so far have always been late. Arriving in Sydney was brilliant as loads of people that I have met on my travels so far were all heading to Sydney for Christmas and new year so it was a good time to catch up with everybody. About an hour after I had got there I walk around the corner to the shop and bumped into two girls I had met in New Zealand. What are the chances of that in a city the size of Sydney. I arranged to meet one of the girls from Byron bay down by the opera so walked down there and got to see that and the bridge. The opera house looks much smaller than I imagined it to and I wasnt as impressed as I thought I was going to be with the bridge although Im sure it will look impressive when it is all lit up for New years. I have also visited Sydney Aqaurium since I have been here which was fun but not overly different to Aquariums that I have been in before. The one animal I found it good to see was a platypus as I had never seen one of those before.
After being in Sydney for a couple of days we took a trip over to Bondi and went around the shopping centre and then to Bondi beach. its a lovely beach and it was packed to rafters. I have still to experience Manly beach which is supposed to be really nice but am hoping to get there in the next couple of days. The rest of the time in Sydney had been spent walking around and catching up with friends except for Christmas day. We decided to go the sunburnt christmas party on Bondi beach for Christmas. I think most of the travellers in Sydney were heading down there. It was basicly a festival which started at midday with lots of DJs and even a miss bikini competition. The most famous DJs were Utah Saints and the potbellez who were both very good. We spent most of the day dancing in the sun and even went out for a swim and then a McDonalds in the afternoon. Definately the craziest christmas I have had a great fun although talking to family at home that night and hearing them talking about presents and Christmas dinner made me upset for the first time since I left home though. Christmas I think is definately the hardest time of year to be away from home but Im really glad that I was and that I experinced something different as I probably wont have anyhthing but traditional Chrstmas from this point on.
I have got another week in Sydney and am really looking forward to New Year and the fireworks over the harbour. The after that I am heading back to do the top half of the East Coasts so lots of things to get excited about.
Missing everyone and Happy New Year x
- comments