Finally left Byron Bay a couple nights ago. I didn't want to, but it had to be done. We ended up spending a night in Nimbin before leaving the area. We had a dorm room all to ourselves, as well as a deck and backyard swimming pool. Met lots of crazies too. All in all it was a good time. When we got back to Byron Bay, we borrowed some bikes from the hostel and rode them out to the lighthouse, which is also the most easterly point on the mainland of Australia. Just as we got to the lookout, a school of around 30 dolphins came into view. They hung out around the point for a good 15 minutes, just swimming around and leaping into mid air. There were also around 5 or 6 sea turtles hanging out there.
We were hanging out at a park bench one night, and this guy emerged from the shadows and sat with us. He had a partially shaved head (except for the tuft at the top back) and was dressed in full desert garb...large blankets draped all around him, including a scarf around his head like a turban. He was also wielding 2 wooden flutes. We hung out for a while, and then he started playing his flutes...both at the same time of course. Ian and Sean started getting sketched out when two other people came out of the shadows, a couple in their late 40s high as kites and looking for another fix. Ian pretended to have to go to the bathroom, and then signaled to us from a far that we should follow. Sean did so immediately, so I said. "well, I guess we're leaving" As I walked away I heard the lady say. "I guess we scared them off with the drugs". I was disappointed that we had to leave so soon because I wanted to study them some more.
Anyway, Byron Bay was fun, but my funding is starting to drain, so I'm going to have to get a job in Melbourne as soon as I arrive. Probably be there around Monday or Tuesday.

Gotta go.

P.S. Bonjour Mami, Josee, Carmen et toute la famille en France! Excuse moi pour ne pas ecrire en Francais. J'espere que tout va bien la bas, et j'ai hate de vous voir cette ete.

Hello,

Yes, there will be pictures some day. The computers here are all protected in such a way that you can't get at the tower, and thus, so pictures can be loaded...But someday! I'm currently residing in Byron Bay. It's my third day here, and so far it's been great. Nice little town, lots of people our age and good surfing. Yesterday we went to "Jim's Alternative Tours", which is basically a hippie guided tour to a town called Nimbin, a hippie guys home/farm (he's fully self sufficient and lives off the land) and a canyon with a waterfall. We're thinking of spending a night or two in Nimbin. The town is full of strange people. Most of the economy of the town is centered around marijuana in some way...weed cafes, hippie arts and crafts...Special cookies...
I bought a sandwich, and the old lady who served it was either really high or had dementia. Ian: "Could I get peppers on my sandwich" Old lady: "hahahahaha"(maniacal laugh) Ian: "ummm..." Justin: "Could I get some peppers too?" Old lady: "what would you like to eat?" Justin: "I already ordered" Old lady: "what did you want?" Justin: "ummm....You already made my sandwich." Old lady "..." Justin: "We both were just wondering if we could get some peppers on our sandwiches" Old lady: "oh. That's what I meant. Hahhahahahaha" She hands puts tomatoes on our sandwiches. Ian:"umm could I get mine without tomatoes?" Old lady: "Oh, it's just one...It's my signature" Ian: "Yeah, but-" She puts the tomato on. Old lady: "there you are, enjoy boys!" Ian: "ummm...Peppers...*sigh* thank you..."
Needless to say, we're going back there. The hippie guy was a crazy character too...He didn't even introduce himself. He just emerged from the bushes and started talking about the mechanics of blow darts. Apparently bassoon players are good at shooting blow darts because of their strong diaphragms.

Well, that's all for now.

Justin

I'm currently in Brisbane. Not my favorite city thus far, but it's alright. It's really hot in this room, so I'm going to be brief. Been doing a lot of surfing and just hanging out on the beach. Today we went to a waterpark. It was fun, but it rained. Last night I got eaten by bedbugs and the guy on the bunk above me wouldn't stop snoring, no matter how hard I punched him through the mattress. The guy at the desk told me that they might hook me up with a free bed cleaning. All I had to do was not tell the other guests. Wow, what a deal. They give me a mattress full of bedbugs, and they might clean it for free if I don't say anything. I of course sat down and started loudly talking about my numerous bedbug bites. "Gee, I wish I hadn't payed for another night here already on account of the bedbugs that were in my bed...And possibly everyone else's beds. I'd better not mention it to anyone though cause I don't want this wonderful place to lose business." Anyway, I'm happy, I'm just really hot and itchy right now. Leaving Brisbane tomorrow for Surfers Paradise. Hope it lives up to the name. Going to go eat some dinner now.

P.S. How you going? That's what everyone here says. It's a mix between How you doing and how's it going.

So, we spent two nights on a sailboat cruising through the "Whitsundays" (islands off the coast of Arlie Beach). Our boat was dubbed a "party boat" and it most certainly lived up to it's title. There were also a bunch of Irish people on the boat, so that just pushed everybody over the edge. Didn't get much sleep, but when we did sleep, it was done so on the deck under the stars. It made for a good wakeup too. Felt the sun on my neck at sunrise, then gradually moved out of my sleeping bag into a good tanning position. Life is hard right now. We did a lot of snorkeling in the great barrier reef and hung out on one of the "nicest beaches on earth". It also lived up to it's title. White powder sand and clear water...the usual deal. After the cruise we all felt pretty strange. It seemed like land sickness. I'm better now though so don't worry. We left Arlie beach that night (2 nights ago) and slept on the bus. We arrived in a town called 1770 at around 9:30 am and checked into our hostel "cool bananas". Today we spent the entire day surfing. I think I'm now hooked. I did well for my first day (if I do say so myself), managing to both catch and surf waves. The waves got tougher as the day went on and by around 5, Ian and I were the only 2 people on the beach, and as we put it, we "got our asses kicked by the waves". I'm excited to do it again tomorrow. Well, that's all for now.

Over and out.

I'm currently staying in Airly Beach. Not sure why my font is in italics, perhaps extra attention should be payed to this entry...although I see no real reason. It's a crazy party town here, and bars stay open till around 5 or 6 am. Need not say more. Tomorrow we're going on a cruise for 3 days 2 nights to the Whitsundays. They're a series of supposedly perfect islands surrounded by white sandy beaches and neon blue waters filled with creatures that want to eat me. But don't worry I'll be fully equipped with a stinger suit that will cover me from head to toe. Gotta go. Others waiting for me. We're going swimming in a man (or woman) made lagoon.