Adventuring in Australia

Now I know all of you have been very concerned because it's been a whole week since I posted a blog entry, but don't worry, I haven't been mauled by a Koala, trampled by a Kangaroo, or devoured by a Crocodile. I've just been busy having adventures worth blogging about, so really I've been doing all this for you!!

So, I spent my first few days in Australia wandering Sydney (when I wasn't crying about how I missed New Zealand), and was even able to meet up with some old friends from Camp Echo (Nicqui and Amanda) who I hadn't seen in 6 years! After exploring the city for a while, I left to start my bus tour. Our first stop was Spot-x, a top-secret surf camp where I discovered that I am just as good at falling off a surfboard as I was after 2 weeks of surf school in Central America last year.

Next we made it to Byron Bay, a fun beach town. Aaaand, I'm actually still at Byron Bay now. That's one big difference between the Australia bus tour and the New Zealand bus tour. Since New Zealand was so small, we could hop on the bus in the morning, arrive in our location in the afternoon, explore it for the afternoon and evening, then leave in the morning for our next stop. Australia is big enough that we often travel all day to get to the next place, and then spend a few days in each location. Kind of nice, actually - gives you a chance to get to know your fellow travelers better, and really explore each town. I'll be moving on tomorrow (to Noosa, home of Steve Irwin's Zoo), and from then on it'll only be a few days in each place, so I'll probably have more to write about, and thus write more regularly.

Rather than write even more about exactly what I've been doing, I'll show you:

One of the ten million phtos I have of the Sydney Opera House (and Harbor Bridge)

Bats! Tons of 'em! Just chilling in the Sydney botanical gardens. In night they all start flyin around - very freaky. . .

Camp Echo mini-reunion! Had a blast catching up with Nicqui - hard to believe it had been 6 years! (man I feel old)

time for our surf lesson at the top secret surf camp, Spot-x. Coming soon, pics of the actual surfing. . .

The OzExperience bus at one of our scenic stops / smoking-breaks-for-the-driver

Looks like both Australia and New Zealand enjoy making giant versions of small fruits / animals. . .

Typical night at our Hostel in Byron Bay. That is, before everyone heads out to Cheeky Monkeys for table dancing and general debauchery.

Sunrise with the Byron Bay lighthouse in the foeground. This is the easternmost point of continental Australia, so since I was the tallest person there, I was probably the first person in Australia to see the sun!

me about to go kayaking with the dolphins. Actually saw a group of 6 very close to our boat, although I couldn't get the camera out in time. My kayak partner took this picture, and that's just about the only useful thing he did all day. About 4 minutes into the kayak he announced that he had a bad back, and basically let me ferry him around for the rest of the afternoon. Weak!

Kangaroos! Cooool!

Hanging with some OzExperience buddies in a crazy hippie bus in the crazy hippie town of Nimbin