“scuse me while I kiss the sky”
-Jimi Hendrix
Welcome to the most eastern point of Australia, Bryon Bay. I had finally arrived in New South Wales. Time to stop drinking XXX beer and switch to Toohey’s or VB. After checking in to the campgrounds I headed out to the lighthouse. As I walked towards the lighthouse, I noticed some hang gliders. A nearby instructor tried to convince me to try it. I experienced enough danger this trip. However, I did decide to do some more diving. The water was a little murky and I saw little the first day. The second day out I saw a few sea turtles and a nurse shark.
Byron is also home to a large concentration of “alternative lifestyle” people or hippies as we call them in North America. So walking around downtown Bryon was like stepping back into 1968 (I’m too young to remember 1968.honest). The scent of incense and marijuana filled the air. I saw rainbow coloured VW wagons with Bob Dylan lyrics scribbled on the sides. I walked through a park full of acoustic guitars belting out Neil Young and CSNY. People walking barefoot everywhere. This phenomenon is not reserved for hippies. I noticed even in upscale shopping malls throughout OZ, a lot of people were barefoot.
A testimonial to the culture of Byron Bay is shown in the Pizza Place – Earth and Sea. This was one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. I had a great time in Byron Bay. I even extended my stay for a few extra days. I did get pulled over for speeding. The policeman took one look at me and said, ” Looks like the Queensland sun has punished you enough, off you go mate”.
