St Tropez Surfers Paradise

... we lucked out with the location. The home is in a quiet middle class suburb (not dissimilar to home) but only 10 minutes to the 70 km. strip of beaches known as the Gold Coast. The home also came with a dog so the boys were able to demonstrate some "dog responsibility"-there might just be a small glimmer of hope for our own rover when we return.
But more about the trip.
If you have a limited time to spend in Australia and want constant entertainment ...

... overlooked the bay and we ate our dinner beside the ocean in the moonlight. Very rosemantic except for all the other campers around us cooking and eating.
The following day we left Byron Bay. We thought about staying another night but there really wasn't a whole lot to Byron Bay and we figured that we could stay longer further north in a warmer climate. The drive to Surfers Paradise is also quite a drive from Byron Bay and we stopped for lunch in a rest area. We cooked some ...

... I decide to hit the night markets and switch off all the lights then flick the mystery switch by the bed again and suddenly the kitchen springs into life, so I just leave it all on. The night markets are just round the corner from the hotel on the Esplanade. Its totally buzzing outside with tons of al fresco dining and the place has a really great atmosphere. Groups of drinkers keep passing me by with their Friday Bars and Clubs passes around their ...

As soon as we arrived in Surfers Paradise we decided that we didn't want to see much of the city - bit chavy! Hired a car and drove to the Hinterland region, then on up into Springbrook national park. We saw a goanna (massive lizard) and an impressive waterfall. The car was a Holden Barina and was good fun to drive.

... wasnt even in water! Conor loved the tornado. Most of the slides ye have all done before the kamikaze, the black hole the racing one where ye all go down together and stuff, the usual ones. The weather got dull so for once an Irish person didnt get scalded alive, lobster style at a water park! By 3.30pm they "evacuated" the whole complex and everyone was told to basically get out coz it was raining and then the thunder and lightening started. It was so ...

... re-adjust better. Well - we both just sleep and didn't wake up until 8.30pm and we were feeling hungry. We both went for a walk around the block to the nearest pub and when we finally made up our mind what we wanted , the barmen said the kitchen was closed. This was at 9.15pm. We went back to our hotel and got something to eat there at a much higher price but it was great and the environment was relaxing. Finally got home to bed at 11.15pm and went to bed.

... were pussy cats. I loved it because its all about saving the animals. On Hamilton Island I had my picture taken cuddling a Koala called Franklin. In Rosslyn Bay I had Kangaroo and Crocodile to eat. At Harvey Bay we stopped for an ice cream and it ended up with me having my ears pierced!! I am missing everyone loads but have made some new friends and met lots of lovely cousins! My favorite song on my iPod so far is "Dancing in the Moonlight" by Toploader.

... free thinkers flocked here to live a more idealistic existence free from the fetters of capitalism and, yes smoke large amounts of the naturally ocurring herb. So we stepped onto Jims alternative tour bus: an adapted 70's school bus, and Jim welcomed us aboard with a big smile. We were about 5 years older than anyone else but that was cool, Jim was in his forties. We stopped to pick up the last people to fill the bus up and then Jim turned around and explained the ...

... without...pens, books, the screwdriver, and my cocoa puffs. I went through the line one more time, then headed back to security. As I passed through a gruff woman asked if she could scan my stuff for explosives. Do I look like a terrorist? From now on, I'm not travelling in sweats, I swear that's why they do it. I say I won't, but I know I will (like on Wednesday when my flight leaves at 9:25 at night). Everything done, I had about 30 minutes to lounge in the, well, lounge ...

... BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

THE GREAT WELCOME MAT TO MY LIFE IN GUANGXI & YUNNAN
February 2005 to 30 June 2006
This will open the door to my first year and a half in China.
Come through and take and adventure or two with me somewhere in Guangxi and/or ...