I have been in Byron Bay on behalf of the last few days.  Byron is a small hippie/surf enclave in Northeastern New South Wales. It is a bit overrun with tourists though so I am making my way a tad south of here to the famed right hander at Lennox Head.
For the past week I have been making my way down the coast - scored great surf on North Stradbroke Island with only a handful of guys. Heard about all of the shark scares as well as how “the boys” all surf huddled combined to avoid becoming fish food. The reality of it is kinda frightening - makes you second guess each time you paddle out.  They actually canceled a surf contest there a while back due to a pesty Tiger shark in the area.
From Stradbroke it was on to the city of Brisbane.  Didn’t spend to much time there but from what I saw it was a beautiful city - definitely a livable place. Reason on behalf of the stop in Brisbane was to book my onward tickets from Sydney to Perth (Western Aus) as well as then from Perth to Bali. Landing in Bali April 3rd…any takers?
After Brissie (the Aussies tend to take every word, cut it in half or into 3/4ers as well as then add “ie” or “y” to it as well as from that you get a totally unintelligible slang that retain me wondering what the heck everyone is talking about) it was on to Coolangatta to observe some of the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Late afternoon the day before the contest I was sitting up near the  break as well as who but Kelly Slater walks by me (he had just arrived in town) as well as heads out on behalf of a surf.  Watching him free surf was a real treat - the guy is glued to his board as well as makes it look sooo easy.
The next day while the contest was on at nearby D’Bah I surfed Snappers with fifty of my closest friends including Dane Reynolds. Tricky wave seeing as you have to navigate the dredging right hander while surfing around hordes of people paddling out, around as well as into your wave.  Also got to observe a bunch of the first round heats as well as saw all of the top pros doing some amazing surfing.
All in all Oz has been good so far. While the scenery in NZ was more eye catching, I definitely like the Australia people more.  They have a real zest on behalf of life, are at all times up on behalf of a chat as well as are have been super helpful in every way.

I have to say though i’m at the point where I’d like to see a familiar face as well as eat some good food. I’m not 22 anymore so the 2 dollar noodles as well as toast as well as jam lunches as well as dinners just don’t cut it.  Anyhow, time to get my clothes out of the dryer, maybe surf again, book my next place…no idea how I shall fit that all in before dark.  Lazy days.