The amazing Coolangatta and the beginning of our stay in Byron Bay

We have done so much since our last entry! It is hard to know where to start... The first night in Coolangatta we just relaxed and caught up on some much needed sleep, as well as indulged in some local fish and chips and Australian champagne! The following day was cool and rainy, but a perfect day to watch the AFL (Aussie Football League) finals; the Sydney Swans verses the Hawthorne Hawks! We went to the pub below our hostel and met some very friendly locals who were more than happy to teach us the basic rules of this very confusing game (there are more than 300 rules, and most players don't even know them all). Dave and I read the paper that morning only to find out there was a Canadian playing for the Sydney Swans, so we quickly became fans of the Swans. It was a very fast paced and rough game, leading the Swans to victory! It is too bad that we have to wait a few more months until the league starts up again to watch the next game. Following the game we strolled down the street and were in 2 different places at once! Coolangatta is built right down the middle of Queensland and New South Whales, therefore we found the boundary of both areas and stood between them! It would be cool to be there in a couple of weeks time, as Queensland doesn't have daylight savings, yet New South Whales does, and could have been in 2 different time zones!

Sydney Swans after winning

The next morning we set down to the beach to do some whale watching, as we had heard there were many humpback whales in the area. We were lucky enough to spot a couple of them off in the horizon jumping and playing in the water! They were very far away, yet still easily visible making it evident to us how large these mammals really are. It was a very relaxing afternoon lounging on the beach and starring off into the water realizing that there is a whole different world under the sea!

Look REALY closely you can see a whale in the distance

After we had washed off all of the sand, we headed back downstairs to the pub for the rugby final, with our friendly roommates, a British couple James and Laura. We met up with the same Aussies we had met the day before and enjoyed some afternoon beers with them as we watched yet another aggressive game that Australia loves to watch. The crowd was much bigger for the rugby finals with equal amounts of fans for the Melbourne Storm and the Canberra Bulldogs, so Dave and I stayed neutral and just enjoyed the game and great friends we had met. The Melbourne Storm took the win, and the bar stayed busy after the game with lots of live music and dancing to celebrate the victory. We felt very welcomed into the town of Coolangatta, as the locals gave us their contact information and told us to connect with them next time we are in town.

Becki in two places at once

The next morning we took a bus to Byron Bay and instantly loved this city. It is a small beach town that is bustling with energy, yet remains very laid back at the same time. Surf shops line the streets as well as small cafes and bars, all leading to the gorgeous beach and lighthouse. That afternoon we spent some time wandering the beach and embraced the hippie culture, and indulged in some fish tacos as well as fish and chips (so fresh and delicious). We knew right away that our 3 night stay had to be extended, and we are now eagerly looking for jobs to be able to stay more permanently. We met lots of friends in the hostel, and went to a local bar right across the street from us called Cheeky Monkey for the Full Moon Party they were celebrating.

Just a typical Nimbin store front

The next morning we took a day trip to the city of Nimbin, on a bright orange hippie bus. This town is unlike any city I have ever been to before, as if it were stuck in the 1970's, still celebrating the Age of Aquarius festival which caused a wave of immigration in 1973. The town is a commune of sorts, with local residents working only a couple of hours a day to survive. We sat down at a coffee shop and talked to some of the locals who shared their views on world politics, resource consumption and sustainable living. Our bus driver (who could have been the old hippy from That 70s Show) told us that in fact the whole area between Byron Bay and Nimbin was filled with people living a similar lifestyle only in a more rural setting. We visited many small shops and cafes, everything painted in fluorescent colours. It seemed like every where you looked people were selling cookies and local herbs to the tourists, and despite some odd looking individuals we never felt unsafe or like outsiders. The trip back was equally beautiful, taking an alternate route through macadamia nut and dairy farms through the mountains.

Beach art in Byron Bay

Once arriving back in Byron we went for a long walk up to the lighthouse and the most easterly point in Australia. Although the walk was only about 4 km each way the entire trail was up and down the sides of the hills and it felt as though we walked a thousand stairs over our journey. It was all worth it for the spectacular sunset over the mountains and the views from the cliffs overlooking the many bays along the coast. The lighthouse itself was pretty but nothing spectacular, however the scenes along the way made the trip more than worth it. We also saw some of the most spectacular houses one could imaging overlooking the water, providing dreams for if we ever win the lottery. By the time we were half way back it was completely dark which added to the challenge, luckily we had our phones to provide a bit of light to navigate the paths. We returned to the hostel, exhausted and made a delicious stir fry with left over chicken before watching a movie and getting a much needed nights rest.

Becki and the lighthouse

Our day so far today has been uneventful as we have caught up on laundry and been attempting to hook up our phones to a plan in Australia (which has 250 International minutes/ month WOO HOO), yet the process of connecting a Canadian Phone to and Aussie plan has been much more complicated that expected. We are currently sitting at a local cafe and using their free wifi, hoping that our phone will soon work, and writing our latest blog entry, sipping on some local mediocre beers. Once we have a working phone, it will be much easier to get a job, which will allow us to stay in the beautiful beach town for as long as we wish. Byron Bay feels like it may be our home away from home... as long as we find work soon :).

Dave and Becki