Things To Do In Surfers Paradise That Don't Involve Surfing

Brisbane Ferris Wheel; Got Us Out Of The House

Chillin

We'd been to Byron Bay where me and Jess had walked all the way down to the most easterly point of mainland Australia which only meant we'd have to walk back up again. I'm sorry but if they're going to pave over an area of natural beauty they might as well go the whole hog and put cable cars in. Irma didn't bother with that, she just openly mocked me when I got to the top after near death and took photos of me because I'd turned a fetching shade of red and was wondering where I could get a new pair of lungs from at this hour in regional New South Wales.

At The Lighthouse At Cape Byron

Jess, Irma An Me At The Most Easterly Most Point

We'd gone to Nimbin, the cannabis capital of Australia and discussed how long you'd have to live here for before succumbing to tie-dye (we'd settled on three days). I'd been before, Nimbin is wasted on me because I don't smoke but Irma loved it, she decided she wanted to live there and open her very own genuine Dutch coffee shop although I can't see immigration approving her business idea and granting that visa.

Nimbin. Damn Hippies.

Nimbin Museum

We'd rented a hotel room for four nights with our own bathroom and TV so we could get some privacy and chill out together and eat take away pizza off clean, white towels.
God my mother is going to kill me when she reads that last bit.

Bowling

Lovin' Pizza

We'd gone bowling ((coughs)Irma won(coughs)), spent the day at the pub, generally splashed out and treated ourselves and on my last day off before Irma had to leave we drove down to Surfers Paradise in the pissing rain to spend the night there. We'd thought about going to Dreamworld but its not worth it in that kind of weather and I'd worked a close the night before so we just decided to try the Sling Shot out which is a huge contraption that shoots you up into the air at speeds they'd fine you for on the road. It's only $30 plus $20 for the DVD then once you're back down they ask you if you want to go again for $10 each.

Fuck yes!

You might want sunnies to view the following photos on account of the blinding whiteness of our knuckles.

Sliiiiiiing Shhhoooottttt!!!

Fucking Awesome!!

More Sling Shot Joy

Aaaand Upside Down Too

It's soooo cool, especially for the price. There's also a bungee jump there for about $99 but my heart tries to escape out of my mouth just watching people do it so we gave that a miss in favour of having lunch once there was no chance of losing it and indulging in that other Surfers Paradise backpacker pastime; drinking grog.

Safely Grounded

Saying Goodbye
Since I came to Australia and started backpacking I've had to say goodbye to so many people. Sometimes it's been until we meet again, you know you'll see them in another town or maybe even another country somewhere down the track. Sometimes it's been a final goodbye, either they're leaving the country to go home or start a new adventure, or they're from the town you're in and you're leaving to carry on travelling while they stay and get on with their lives. But it doesn't matter. Goodbyes never get any easier, if anything it gets harder and harder to say goodbye to those you've become close to and saying bye to Irma for the last time was without a doubt harder than any other goodbye bar none. This time there's no changing her mind and coming back, she's off back to Holland to get a job and a place and a normal life back home.

Me And Irma

I already miss her, she's an amazing person but I'm just glad I got to travel with her and share at least a part of my life with her.

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ohfuckkit/sets/72157603889052589/detail/

written by  Koala Bear on February 20, 2008 from Brisbane, Australia
from the travel blog: Sod Off Great Big Mission Round Oz
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