Waves in Byron Bay and interesting stuff in Nimbin

I am leaving Brisbane on the last sunny day that week, clouds are already gathering up there in the sky. I get a lift with a Dutch guy, direct ride to Byron Bay, back to the state of New South Wales. My mood is not exactly the best when I check into the hostel and I am also a bit tired.There is no one in the room so I decide to get some nice wine and take an afternoon nap. I was just going for the second part of the plan when Heather from Canada walked into the dorm room. She just came back from an (unsuccessful) surf lesson and was going for a walk to the one natural attraction of Byron - the park by the coast and the lighthouse. She invited me to come along. Well, I didn't go all the way to Australia to sleep, did I? So I join her. The walk along the coast in beautiful. The big waves in the sea are excellent for surfers and we see plenty of them. We reach the easternmost point of continental Australia, where we also spot some dolphins playing, It was fun! As we approach the lighthouse it's getting dark and we see the beginning of the sunset. It was a real beautiful walk.
On Tuesday I rest, like I am used to do in the east coast - travel one day, chill out the next... Internet, window shopping, beer in the night. Life is good...
On Wednesday I took a tour to Nimbin, the grass capitol of Australia. It's funny to go to such a place on a tour :-) Well we get lots of funny stories on the way. Apparently Nimbin is allowed to exist because the authorities wanted to show how a "stoned village" will be a bad place, crime and so. The police sent some druggies there over the years in addition to the original inhabitants. Unfortunately for them, the village is peaceful most of the time, and the quality of living is not bad at all. Most local are old hippies that take life in the easy way. Grass and other products (including souvenirs!) proved to be a good trade and they can make a living.
The guide told us funny stories about stoned travellers in previous tours, and also explained why grass is OK but why we really shouldn't try some other stuff. So it's also educational after all...
And on the way back we visit the very high Minion waterfalls, which flow really nice with the latest rainy days.

---

---