Byron Bay, February 10-12

Another thing that you have to do while in Australia?

Surfing.

On Friday, 10 February, about 24 Bond students (who also happened to be in our Study Abroad program) jumped into two shady vans and traveled about 1.5hrs down the coast to Byron Bay - a smaller, not-so-built-up, hippie town w. cute shops and cafes lining the shore.

Stopping for a little touristy action.

Byron

...Kinda got carried away at this point.

After stopping in at the Surf School, the boys went to surf while the girls checked out the surroundings & local restaurants...We were pretty content w. Subway though. :)

The girls finally got to the water to have our 3hr surf lesson just as the weather starting clearing up. It was real difficult, but the instructors were good about telling us why we were nosediving or lost our balance...despite all that, I think everyone stood up a few times. Pretty impressive for the first time surfing.

Surf school....& Hayley + Court's hostel for half a night.

1st group...we were apparently not good enough to take this one.

After all this, we finally went to our hostel to settle in (as much as possible...not the best overnight stay) & showered to get ready for our BBQ at the Surf School. 13 girls showered & were ready in an hour. Impressed?

BBQ Scene


Pregamin' ... Surf Instructor, Marco

Afterwards, we went out (or attempted) to the bars down the street. I think we all lasted 'til around 12.30 & called it a night.

The girls w. the one-man-band ... Haha, Jennings lost his balance.

The next day we headed up to Nimbin for the afternoon w. Marco & Mel driving. Nimbin is basically the Amsterdam of Australia: shadiest place I have ever seen.

Amy & I, busride up (thought we might die on this trip).


Some historical rocks?


Shops ... Literally the only street in Nimbin.


One of 20 similar shops.


Hangin' out w. the girls.


Apparently there's a lot of history here.


Inside the Nimbin Museum ... A basic summary of Nimbin's history.

Um?


The girls w. their chocolate cookies.

After 2hrs, we were all ready to get out of Nimbin. We stopped at 3 bars on the way home (the boy's decision), and we went straight to dinner at Coyotes Cantina, then showered up & spent the night on the beach until 3am.

Dinner on Saturday night ... Hi Court :)


On the beach late night ... Issues?

On the last day, everyone split to either surf a little more or go to the movies. Surfing was pretty fun, minus the rain & the blue jellyfish that stung everyone.

Chris was basically a pro.


Nick's up.


Haha, Vince stood up, for about half a second...


Chris rips...Really, he's not falling.


Parks & I catchin' waves.


I got up...once.


Parks & I ... before we got knocked over by that wave.

After a 20min walk back (carrying the surfboards) and taking a 30second shower, we got lunch and spent the day shopping (because really, we have money left after all these trips). A few hours later, we were back in the vans traveling back to Bond.

Chip was pretty tired on the way back. :)

...Great trip.

A few more photos:

CheekyMonkeys, where dinner tables by day are dance floors by night.


Touristy


- Group Shot -