Wednesday, Dec 22nd I flew to the Gold Coast, which is a city in the Australian state of Queensland. The Gold Coast is a popular tourist hot spot because, as its name suggests, of its sunny climate and string of endless, stunning beaches. Tash had to work during the day, so the plan I had envisioned was that I would spend the day in the Gold Coast soaking up the sun on the beach until she arrived later in the evening. Mother nature had a different idea. She sent bucket loads of rain to meet me in the Gold Coast; when the plane touched down I found myself on the Wet & Grey Coast. I was disappointed but determined to make the most of my hours there. From the airport I caught a bus to Coolangatta, one of the beach suburbs. I strolled the streets, eventually making my way to Point Danger at Tweed Heads. Unbeknown to me at the time, this spot marks the border divide between Queensland and New South Wales so you are able to view the coasts of both (and stand in both states at once if you straddle the line). After a few hours, I became worn out from juggling my umbrella, backpack and carry-on bag that were full of my holiday gear and Christmas gifts and so I retreated back to the airport to wait for Tash's arrival.
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| View from Point Danger |
Tash landed in the Gold Coast around dinner time. Together we hopped on board a bus that took us to Byron Bay, another coastal town popular among backpackers and anyone with a laid-back, care free mentality. Byron Bay is the Woodstock of Australia. It is a hippie town abounding with shops full of tie-die attire, incense and chimes (among other things). Most impressive were the rainbow painted buses called "Happy-mobiles" that ran through town. We spent the evening at Chameleon, a cute and cozy cafe, where we munched on the most delicious $5 veggie pizzas (loaded with pumpkin and zucchini) and sipped on wine while taking in the cool decor and singing along to the Beetles playing in the background. The following day the rain had ceased (although the clouds prevailed) and we explored the town streets and then attempted to walk to the iconic lighthouse. I say attempt because somewhere along the way we managed to make a wrong turn (I am sure we followed the signs correctly) and ended up at the bottom of the cliff where the lighthouse was located. So we did "see" the lighthouse, just way up above instead of way up close.
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| The Byron Bay lighthouse from afar |
In the evening we boarded another bus en route to Casino, the beef capital of Australia, where we were to catch a train to Coff's Harbor where Tash's family resides. Casino was an interesting place. Actually, no- the place itself was quite dull and unexciting. It was the
people at Casino that were interesting. You may know them as hill billies and rednecks. Here in Australia they go by the name of "bogans." To my left and right stood men of all ages sporting mullets, rat tails, gold teeth and long beards. We overheard one man say, and I quote, "You know hill billies? Well I can't afford a hill so I'm a flat billy." As I said, that was a direct quote. This was a side of Australia I had yet to see. I felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I wanted to turn to Tash and say, "Tash, we're not in Sydney anymore." We nearly clutched each for the entire length of the train ride, until we arrived at Coff's Harbor where Tash's brother and cousin picked us up. Now it was time for the Christmas portion of the holiday to begin!
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| The Rainbow Shop at Byron Bay |
