More of the Gold Coast

I'm still on the Gold Coast, with Pam. It's been a great month here with wonderful company and beautiful scenery.

The weekend after I wrote last, Lauren and Carmen came for a visit. I must say it was great to see them. The first night they were here, Lauren and I, after our dinner, went for some drinks at a local hotel. It was nice to catch up with her. Over the next few days we explored. We swam , shopped, basically I'm a local so I showed them around. Lauren has a friend who lives close to Pam's, so we met up with him and his friends one night at a bar located in Surfers Paradise. I was sad to see them leave, although I keep in good touch with Lauren and will eventually meet up with her in New Zealand for Christmas. It was nice to be with the girls for a few days. Since they left the weather has not been that great. It rained constantly for a few days. The storms here are crazy, ripping off the roofs of some homes leaving certain areas in total distress. I didn't get up to much with weather like that, but it was also nice to have a reason not to feel that you had so much to see and do.

Last weekend I headed up to Brisbane with Pam's son Grant and decided to stay the night in a hostel that I have stayed in before. I visited the markets, made some jewelry at a bead shop and picked up a few things at some of my favorite stores that aren't on the Gold Coast. I hadn't had a cigarette for some time and decided that I would like to smoke this day. Well I made myself completely sick,  and suffered from a terrible headache. I had plans to go for dinner and find a coffee shop somewhere to write a bit, but didn't get a chance to do any of that. Instead I slept throughout the night, sleeping off my smokers hangover. I gave my pack of smokes away to a girl the next day who started crying and told me how nice I was and that her wallet was stolen that day. Funny, I didn't feel as though giving her smokes was that nice of a gesture, but hey she thought so, so I guess it worked out for us both. The next day was rainy and cool in Brisbane so after some walking around I went a caught the train back to Pams.

With the weather hot and cold, literally, I tried to get outside any moment I could. I did go to the beach on the only real nice day of the week. My sandal broke when I was leaving so I decided to walk barefoot, as ALL the Aussies do it so obviously it can't be that bad. I walked from the beach to a coffee shop and realized that I burnt the bottom of my feet so bad that my skin was peeling and I had blisters. They hurt so bad.  I have no idea how people out here do that, but I won't be attempting to imitate an Aussie anymore.

This weekend the Gold Coast kicked off Schoolie season. It's where all the newly graduated kids from all over Australia come out to the Gold Coast and party for a week or two. They said on the news that 25,000 kids were here on Saturday, of course the day I decide to head to Surfers and go up the Q1 tower. Surfers was a mad house, so many young kids everywhere. These kids were crazy and doing everything that new graduates would do regardless of where you are in the world. I was feeling a bit old, sadly. I did make it to the Q1 tower, 77 floors to the observation deck. From there, on a clear day, you have a perfect view of Surfers Paradise and well basically most of the Gold Coast. The elevator made me a little sick, it took about 30 seconds to reach 77 floors and it wasn't the smoothest of rides. The view was absolutely breathtaking. I sat up there for about half hour, staring in all directions enjoying all the different views. Just beautiful.

Today I am celebrating my 26th birthday with Pam and her family. Well 24 actually, cause as Pam would explain to me you don't have to count the years that you celebrate out of the country and this would be my second year. Ah, that would be nice. It's been a great day so far. I've talked with all my dearest friends and family and enjoyed a bit of the amazing weather. Pam bought me a gift and cake and we are going out for dinner and a movie later. It doesn't feel like my birthday, when I'm used to celebrating in a certain way with certain people in cold weather. So far it's been a great birthday. I am forever grateful to Pam for making me feel like a part of her family, and I've grown to love her as my own family.

Next week I will be leaving the Gold Coast. I definitely have mixed emotions about it all, as I've grown somewhat accustomed to "home" life again. But I really look forward to being on the go again, and seeing more of what this country has to offer, like Sydney and Melbourne. As sad as it is to leave this place and my sudo family, the next leg of my journey is about to begin and I'm really looking forward to it.

Pictures

These pictures were taken from Burleigh, another suburb on the Gold Coast. You can see Surfers Paradise from this viewpoint, as well as a group taking surfing lessons just below us.

Last few weeks on the Gold Coast

After leaving Brisbane, I headed out to the Gold Coast to stay with Pam, whom I met on my tour in China. Pam lives here with her son Grant and they have just been absolutely wonderful. I've really enjoyed this time, and being on my own has been exactly what I needed and I've been having a great time here.

The Gold Coast is made up of a bunch of different suburbs. Where Pam lives is about a 10 minute drive to Surfers Paradise and there are so many lovely beaches around here.

The first weekend I was here, Pam and I went for a day trip out to the Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park and up to Tambourine Mountain. The Natural Bridge was created over millions of years by water tumbling through the roof of a basalt cave. It was quite amazing to see, and the National Park itself was beautiful. After our visit to the bridge we headed out to Tambourine Mountain which is about a hour away from Pam's house. We did some shopping, went to the markets, had lunch. It was awesome to have a local show me around.

The next week was pretty chill. I went to Surfer's Paradise, hung out at the beach which is pretty cool. Pam's son Grant took me out to Burleigh and Coolangata, 2 other suburbs down the coast and hung out at those beaches as well. The Gold Coast is quite a breathtaking coastline. We hit up a few of the malls around here and I'm happy to say that I completed my Christmas shopping last week and will be sending off my package this week.

Last weekend Pam took me out to Byron Bay, about 2 hours down the east coast. Byron Bay is so beautiful. Awesome beach, of course, great shopping... a very hippy area. I also walked up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse which is the most eastern part of Australia. It was quite the walk, and to be honest I didn't make it all the way down...only because I plan to go back there for a few days. But I did get some great photos.

This week the weather hasn't been that great. And when it has been, I've been reading at the beach or going for walks. It's raining right now, and is supposed to rain for the rest of the week, so the rest of it I imagine will be pretty relaxed.

Staying here with Pam has been so great for me, in every way. I am slowly getting used to being on my own and I have to say I am really enjoying it. It's been a completely different experience, making my own days, not having to worry if something I want to do or don't want to do will affect anyone else. I plan to do the rest of this trip on my own, well until my Mom and Aunt come out. I am just finding that I am getting much more on my own then I could with anyone. I plan to stay with Pam till the end of the month, then I will move on down the coast.

Write soon!