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Published: March 27th 2007
Since leaving Sydney, the last week has shown us what it is like to be a 'real' backpacker, staying in 4 different hostels over the past 6 days. We started off in Byron Bay, staying at The Main Beach backpackers Hostel (Wed 21st to Fri 23rd). We spent our first day on Main Beach in Byron. Altho the beach is a lot less well known, we rated it above Bondi. A much warmer, clearer sea situated in a prettier setting.
We couldn't refuse joining in, in a $6 barbie at our hostel. This gave us the chance to meet our fellow backpackers... the spaniard, the kiwi and the scouser, before heading out into the town, which can only be desctribed as one unforgettable night :-)
Thursday - Despite the headaches all round in the morning, we found ourselves on a bus heading to the small town of Nimbin- famous for stoned hippies everywhere, who headed for Nimbin for an antiwar festival in the 70's and due to all the MaryJane they have been smoking, they still believe that the festival is going on, hence why they haven't left! We're guessing that this puts Glastonbury to shame. Many interesting characters were found there. From Nimbin we headed to the Aboriginal lands where we swam in the waterfalls and our bus driver/tour guide cooked the group another barbie! Knowing that we had our skydiving experience the next morning, we thought it be wise to get an early night.
Friday - Oh dear, it finally dawned on us that we were about to chuck ourselves out of a plane. We were at Byron Bay Skydiving centre being taught the proceedures and meeting our instructors who we would be in tandom with. As we climbed to 18,000 ft in the plane, there were blank faces all round and minimal convo between us girls, where as the instructors were having a great time! Sarah was the first one up, followed by Kim, Ally and then Micky. This experience was something that words can't describe. The freefall lasted for about 70 seconds and we were falling to earth at about 2km/hr. The closest thing to man flying. It wasn't until the parachutre opened that we could fully appreciate the incredible freefall feeling and take in the beautiful views of the most Easterly point of Australia. We were very lucky with the weather as that afternoon it rained it hard, so we killed some time on the internet before heading to the Main beach when the sun came back out.
In the late afternoon we took the Greyhound bus to a town called 'Surfers Paradise'. We didn't really rate this town as a place due to the lack of activity apart from the overpriced themeparks, and the highrise apartments making it look more like the Coasta Del Sol, and making it very lifeless. Having said that, our hostel here was friendlier then in Byron and we met some really cool people, two of which are travelling with us now. On the first night, we took some cheap Aussie bevvies onto the beach and this is where we got introduced to Goon (cheap, crappy, wine!).
Saturday evening was much more lively by getting involved in the hostel bar crawl. We gathered a small party of people for 'pre-drinks' in Micky's room, learning some new drinking games! We were taken to three of Surfers best clubs. Micky and Ally didn't make it as far as the last club... I think they should learn how to pace themselves! Whereas Sarah and Kim saw the night through to the bitter end.
Sunday - Back on the Greyhound we were heading for Brisbane to meet Andy, Kim's friend from the Ford, and then 'do' dinner with an aussie friend, Nicky, who we met on the India tour. She took us to dinner and then showed us the night lights of Brisbane City, from the highest point - Mount Coot-tha.
Monday - After a short, one night stay in Brisbane, we are now in Noosa - a classier and more beautiful version of Byron, with a great surf. We are now writing this blog on a scrap of paper (which we will later type up) in a secluded bay called Winch Cove, sunning ourselves!
The plan for the next few days and the weekend is a three day jeep safari on the worlds largest sand island called Fraser Island.
Hope all is well.. and until next time...
Sarah, Micky, Ally and Kim. xxx
ps. sorry for the lack of photos on this blog but the internet connection here is pretty slow.
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Colonel
non-member comment
Skydive ...... get lost!
Hi Girlies, sounds like your having a great time and pretty much doing the exact root i took 5 years ago. Have you done the Whitsundays yet (trip on a boat rounds some small islands)? Micki i was a little disappointed to read your blog about watching the rugby and talking about a rugby league match??! .... oh dear .... its union you fuck whit .... have me and the old man taught you nothing?! By the sounds of it you are not living up to the Peck trait of packing away the alcohol either ... oh well, nobodys perfect, except me that is! lol love The Original Backpacker - Colonel x