Surfers paradise

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Hi guys - well its all been a bit manic of late, with little oppurtunity to blog - we set off on the bus which is an assortment of honeymooners (weird eh), canadian nurses and a few germans.
First stop Corfs harbour - a long long drive - most of the day with activities on the bus such as kareoke gggrrrrrrrrr.
Arrived at our destination - a fantastic hotel with all the mod cons/ huge swimming pool/ on the beach tennis courts - the lot. Unfortunately only had time for a quick dip until dinner - shortly after most people went to bed with just a few of us left to hold up the bar( while huge bats flew above us in the palm trees).

The next day we set off for surfers paradise - passing via byron bay for a spot of surfing and frisbiing etc. On arriving at surfers paradise we went out to a club called Melbas to get to know our fellow crew better, much dancing was carried out in an untasteful fashion as ever!

The next day we got up at the crack of dawn to embark upon our first surfing lesson - awesome- and very addictive. Managed to get up a number of times although not very gracefully - but hey its a start. Cool is still a long way off though, at least a good few 100kilometres! The waves were pretty fierce so had to keep moving up the beach but we had a number of instructors telling us what and what not to do. Caught a great wave only to board head long into a fellow boardee, its was like baywatch gone wrong! The trick is firstly to be pointing exactly at right angle to the wave .....then paddle for you life.......catch the wave and then give 3 more paddles.........get your arms bent by your side in what they call chicken wings........ back leg up........ careful careful.... left slowly up - cmon triki you can do it ........... let go off the board slllloooowwwwwllllllyyyyyyy ........weight forwards.........look no hands......ok cmon now point them in a 'surfer style i know what im doing manner'.........yes yeeesssssss your the man.......haha laugh smugly at Rob as he dissapears under the same wave.............. ok now fast approaching smiley person...... hmm how to turn...?i havent learnt that yet ........sH1#t ....... get out my way smiley person!........ stop smiling and get out my way................ahhhhhhhhhhhhh..................................................................................................................................bubbles.......salt water mmmmmmmmm....... well thats pretty much how it was.
In the afternoon went kyaking out to a deserted sand island - well only wallabies on it. Amazing beaches and snokelling, no star fish but plenty of ?blue jellyfish further out.

Robs got some awesome pics - will display later.
That evening went to Draculas a themed reastraunt and saw the best show ive ever seen - amazing set up in this creepy old house, comedy/ singing, dancing, impersonations of steve urwin crikey aint that beautiful! Everyone should see this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In brisbane at present on way to a farm stay where we are having a knees up although just feel like a head down !
Ok guys and girls seeya
Dave

Forgot to mention - have seen loads of humpback whales with their young migrating down to the antartic- jumping most of the way. Also seen a sea turtle/ pelicans/ huge bats/ huge lizards/ ofsprey sea eagle/ white kiwi kinda birds in sydney/ red haired wallabies and in wlife reserve koalas/ crocs and kangaroos

Quick update - Just been on the farmstay- a greta laugh !!!!!!! Had a relly good ho-down, Food was amazing and plenty of it, Flies plentiful. Went on a ride around in an old fashioned hay bail cart.
On our long trip now to fraser island but no surfing allowed at present due to sharks n crocs - fancy dress tonight - but what we're waring is top secret - youll have to wait to find out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????? clue.Think mexican

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Photos

gday cobbers!
my new australian look

night out surfers paradise
from upper left - Darrryl (driver), Jo (guide from nz), Clay (ireland-says it all.

A game called spuff
drinking games

miniature action man?
The farm stay