Nicky busy with a shitload of email and /me just finished with it. Happily sitting in an internet cafe in Byron Bay where they're playing pretty good music to keep you typing I assume it's my job to update you about the last week of travveling. And, it will be one of the last entries while really on the road. It's the ninth of May right now, we're planning to be back in Sydney around the 19th. So just a mere 10 days (and ~800Km) to go. After that it's 10 days Sydney and off to Bali. Off course we will keep you updated the whole time as we won't just sit on our asses in Sydney and Bali. (Though just doing that WILL be a big part of our activities, both to save some money and simply to relax and get some breath after 4 months of non-stop traveling and before 1 month of exciting New Zealand for Murf.)
While some dutchies next to us are speaking Dutch (REALLY annoying, there is a reason why we NEVER speak Dutch, even not when we're absolutely alone) I realize that you can never walk anywhere and NOT run into a couple of Dutchies. In Brisbane even the dude from the parking lot spoke dutch, or more, belgian. But still. He regognized our accent (the first one in MONTHS) and let us out for $5,- instead of $7,- Not because we where Dutch but because we came and left early...
So what did we do after Hervey Bay? Well, we went to Brisbane and ended up a couple of Km's before Brisbane in The Australian Zoo (home of Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin). Off all people. The zoo was pretty cool though, nice bird and crocshow in a massive, 5000ppl theatre. We missed the snake bit while cuddling kangaroo's. Not too much of a problem, snakes are small, the theatre was huge and I don't think we missed THAT much on it. Had lunch afterwards, cuddled some more kangaroo's, tried to miss the zillions of crocodiles which is almost impossible as he REALLY has a croc-fetish and left. But not after first getting one of the day's best surprised. A bloke sitting behind a couple of drums, drumcomputer, guitar and didgeridoo's giving a faboulous show. Bit trancy, relaxed music. We found out the dude was called Matt James. Off course I bought the signed CD (Transporta), played it in the car and enjoyed the vibes. Off course he has some samples on his website. I don't have the chance to listen to them here but give it a go.
Because there was a nice rest-area with a LEGAL 20hr overnight stay just 10Km north of the zoo we decided to go back there for the night as it was the safest, most reliable and closest place where we could stay.
Next stop: Brisbane. Parked the car, had breakfast (Subway is really making a fortune out of us, there was one straight when we got out of the parking lot and we where HUNGRY) and went walking through the city. As not really interested in massive shopping (the problem with shopping is it costs money AND we where simply not in the mood) we walked straight through the CBD to the info center and decided to go to the museum and art gallery. The museum was a bit dull though the section about transport was kinda allright. (planes and automobiles always are cool to see) Well, the entrance was free... Next door was the art gallery. Also free and THAT was absolutely worth every dollar we payd for it. ;-P No kidding, some old work witch we both like but not really seem to adore and a huge section of modern contemporary art. Photographs, sculptures, the lot. Really impressive, there was an exhibition of highscool students around the state which was really impressive and more really interesting modern art. Anyway, left the shop with a sign "FCK" (you all know the Kentucky Fried Chicken sign? Well, that one, exactly, but just a little mixed up.) and some postcards and left town, straight running into the english blokes we met on Fraser...
Hmmmzj, I shouldn't write about KFC while I'm hungry and missed my lunch. Now I'm REALLY getting hungry and afaik there is no KFC in town. (But probably something else like a bakery, which will do.)
We wanted to go to the Goldcoast and wildcamp there for the night, checking out the goldcoast the next day. We didn't, checking out the goldcoast nor wildcamping. The goldcoast sucked, hotels, hotels, hotels, hotels and as a desert some hotels and wildcamping didn't feel the right thing to do as even the Lonely Planet talks about numerous car thefts. So we got ourselves a nice spot at a way too expensive ($24,-) caravan park. Next day looked for the info center, got almost lost, and decided to go straight to Byron Bay. (And not stopping at the Dracula Restaurant Nicky wanted to try out.) And here we are now. At an even more expensive campsite ($25,-) but STRAIGHT into the center of Byron. Hogsbreath is next door and instead of taking the car, parking it and then walking into town we can simply leave the car where it is an walk, that's faster than even starting our car.
We might stay another day, though expensive it's good to rest and relax a little (reading, reading, reading, shopping, eating, snacking, reading, reading, reading) before we head off to Coffs Harbour (family) and Sydney. With a bit of luck we'll meet Brady tonight or tomorrow to have a drink, or 2, or 3, or... If we get universally pissed now (I LOVE that word, universally, anyone seen the movie "Hackers"?), no worries, we can basically crawl back to our van. Handy!
And That's It For Now! We're going for lunch I think. TTYL!
Murf & Nicky
Murf | 09 May 2005 (Mon), 05:36 @ storyName and Email adres are required. Not because I like to harvest email adresses, but because I like to know who you are. Comment to a response I do rarely unless I find a feedback2feedback for MovableType. Don't worry, your email adress is at a clever way protected against harvesters so that won't become a problem.