Byron Bay and Nimbin
Saturday the 11th of November I arrived in Byron Bay the last beach city before you get to Queensland's Sunshine Coast. BBay is a rather relaxed and laid back beach city. Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) owns the biggest hotel bar in BBay, although I didn't saw him, the place was really good. There was live music and a huge screen with surfing hero videos. Saturday night went out with most of the people who were on the Oz Experience bus. The we had dinner and danced was called Cheeky Monkeys, good music and good food. Also checked the waves out for the first time, good high tide. After a hour I succeeded in standing on the board. For those who don't believe it, check out the picture below.

After a couple days of relaxing and getting acquinted with BBay, I went to Nimbin. Tuesday the 14th I went there with Jim's Alternative tours. A van with 12 people and with cool trip reggea rock hop coming out of the speakers. That day I learned something about the Australian Hemp culture. It is "allowed" to carry 15 grams on you (although after 3 warning you are definitely going to jail). A dodgy fact is that you may carry 30 grams on you if you are younger than 18. Nimbin is rather small and consists mainly of one main street with a hemp museum and bar. It looks all a bit crappy and dodgy. Unfortunately heroin junks have also found Nimbin. Also saw a 30 feet joint (fake ofcourse) which they use for the Mardi Grass Parade. This is just one of the many weed related activities. Hemp Olympics, Marihuana CUp are also each year. And you can guess yourself what they are about.
-11th November to 15 November 2000 Byron Bay and Nimbin-

Surfers Paradise 16/19 November
Thursday I arrived in Surfers Paradise main thing I did that day was sleeping. Friday I tested the waves out. Pretty good and excellent, firstly tried out a boogie board. I know now why they call it a boogie board. If you get caught in a rip curl your whole backbone goes in to boogie motion. Painful. At night had to drink at least 3 beers to recover. Saturday went to give the surf another try. This time a lesson with Clayton a canadian guy. Our "teacher" was australian die hard surf dude. But unfortunately the tide was getting lower. Still was able to stand for at least 10 secondes, my skills are improving since Byron Bay.

Frasier Island 4wd adventure
After a night stop over at Mooloolaba I got to Hervey Bay. The place where Elly Macpherson was born! Although, after searching for some time I think she left the state. Hervey Bay is the gateway to Frasier Island, the biggest sand island of Australia. Here my 3 day 4wd experience started. We left Hervey the 21st with a group of 9 people. A canadian couple, an english couple, 2 english girls, 1 german, 1 japanese and a dutch guy "ik". The first day we drove to the northern part of the Island, called Indian Head. Here we camped with our 3 big tents. We had a delicious bbq and no harrassing dingos yet (these a the "killer" dogs of Australia). The next day we went for a drive going south. To see the lakes. After a couple hours they let me drive. Firstly tried the speed limits ,after complaints from my passengers, I decided that 30 km is the best speed for bumping your head. The roads where sandy, bumpy and shitty. Also when I drove i played my music. Buffalo Tom's "Summer is gone" was rather to the point. It started raining. It was a good experience driving that jeep, big adreline rush. That day after driving for more than a hour we got to Lake Wabby. A sand mountain in the middle of the forest with a deep lake in the middle. The water was fresh and clean. Better than your average shower. The last night camping at Lake Mackenzie, was peaceful. We had a small campfire together with some american dudes. They explained us how they smoke weed "Straight no tobacco" uhm not too bad. The recycling is also well aranged at Frasier Island. The dingos take your rubbish (and mess it up). The third day we drove back to Kingfisher Bay were our ferry was waiting. Finally got back to the hostel, and slept in a decent bed again. With no snorring, farting english people aside me. The silence was good, no english girl that prefered to listen to herself more than to others...
-20/24 November Hervey Bay-

Than the 25th I started working in Childers. Picked tomatos one week. Earned 450 dollars and went to the Whitsundays near Airlie Beach. Snorkeling at Whitehaven beach was magnificant. Than got to Cairns friday the 8th of December. Went to Cape tribulation, short summary: drinking, scuba diving, pool and a bad hangover.
-25 November till 12 December Whitsundays, Cairns and Cape Tribulation-

Than a lot happened in Alice Springs (Ayers Rock climbing see photos), Great Ocean Road (12 Apostles, Torquai) and now 31 December I am in Melbourne getting my stuff sorted for 2001. Stayed with Xmas in StKilda the Coffee Palace. One advice for fellow backpackers don't go there! They broke in while I was sleeping and stole the bags of my roommates. Fortunately nothing of value of mine was stolen, only my mobile battery recharger. Fucking burglars, get a life.
Anyway I enjoyed the bbq at the beach, got heaps of beer and awful sausages. Goodnight out and met nice people. No white xmas this year, just windy & sunshine.
-St Kilda 31 December 2000-

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