We arrived about 1 and got shuttle to hostel- we checked in and I text Paul to let him know we were here. We then met up over the river and went for a drink and then a mooch around the shops- which were then closing so we went for another drink before splitting up so we could come back to hostel and get ready and then go for dinner. Brisbane is huge and really built up with sky scrapers and offices, etc. Its cool though- it is youth week this week so there was young bands playing and we walked around a market place. The hostel is a bit old and skanky. We are in a dorm of 4 and the other 2 people had taken over the room before we got there- havent met them yet- so fingers crossed they r ok!! We met Paul and Emily at about 7.30- their hotel is litrally right around the corner. We then walked over to Brunswick Street which is a bit like Londons Soho or Leicester Square- people were queuing to get in the clubs from about 8pm. We had a drink in a bar and then walked along to find a restruarant. We went to one that did wood-fired pizzas- mine was delicious with pumpkin and spinach, etc on it! We were sitting on the street so could watch everyone out for the night. It was so interesting- there was all sorts of people and people wearing the weirdest outfits ever!! A lot of punky people and a lot of gay people, etc. We then got a taxi back to our part of town and had a drink in a bar there that was showing the football before going back to our hostel. The two guys in our room still werent back so we guessed which two beds were free and got snuggled in. A while later a Chinese guy come in and was nice and quiet. Then at about 4am an African guy come back and turned the light on- I saw him staring at lil alex then he woke him up and said "your in my bed, they are my personal sheets" hahahahaha!! So lil alex had to move- it was the other guys fault tho cos his bed was all still nice and neat while the other one had all his old sheets dumped on it so it looked like it was being slept in!

05/04/09: We got up about 7.30 and got ready and then met Paul and Emily at their hotel. They gave us a lift in their car to Steve Irwins Australian Zoo- about 1.5hours away. We got there at 10 when it opened and left at 4.30 when it shut! First we fed elephants with bananas- they feel weird. Then we watched a show in the Crocoseum- they ahd the elephants then loads of birds and snakes and then they brought out a crocodile called Monty who they were feeding. Then we went and fed the kangaroos. I finally saw a koala- well I saw loads and stroked one. Paul and Emily got there picture with one but we were too tight to pay $20! We mooched around and saw loads of crocs, alligators, lizards, snakes, dingoes, a tiger, camel, wombats, tasmanian devils (i thought they were a cartoon character), turtles, etc. We had lunch in the cafe and I had a vegi burger but they forgot to put my burger in so it was just a salad roll. Paul and Emily were driving on to noosa so we got free shuttle to the station and got a train back to Brisbane. We got back about 7- knackered!! We went on the internet and then chilled in the room reading before going to bed quite early. The weather was not great again- it started to spit a few times but the sun come out a couple of times too.

06/04/09: We got up and checked out and put bags in storage- we are checking back in later but have our own twin room! Then lil alex has gone to try and get his bank card- fingers crossed!! Weather looks better today! Good news lil alex got his new card!! We got brunch in one of the food courts. We then walked around some of the sights and along the river. We walked by all the really posh bars and restruarants where the business people were meeting for lunch. It was really hot! We walked in the botanic gardens, by the university and museums, etc. We saw the cathedral. Then we decided to go and lay by the lagoon for a couple of hours. We stopped at the supermarket on the way back and got some supplies then checked in. Our new room is a lot better but we r on the 4th floor! I had a tub of pasta salad and some salady bits for tea in the room cos the kitchen is crap and you have to hire plates and cutlery!!?? I got a birthday present today- lil alex bought me the new Jodi Picoult book 'Handle With Care'- well he paid but sent me in to get it- which wasnt very birthday like! But I cant wait to read it- it looks great and it was only $23 (11.50pounds) in a discount shop. We are chilling tonight-we are knackered and have aching legs from walking so much!

07/04/09: We had a bit of a lie-in which was nice. Then had breakfast in the room- rolls and peanut butter and jam that we had bought. We got ready and walked to some gardens place but it was crap. We then did some shopping- lil alex got some new flip-flops (but they've already given him blisters) and 2 boomerangs- he really wants a didgeridoo, plus he got an australia t-shirt. We went to one of the 100's of foodcourts (I'll miss them!) and had indian which was a nice change. I got a new toiletry bag cos my old one stinks and is starting to grow mould- it is gonna be for my birthday but I had to pay cos lil alexs new card has been stopped and is not working- oh dear!! We walked over to ChinaTown but it was pretty crap. We went to Brisbane Museum at the City Hall- there was some quite cool contemporary art exhibition and we got the lift up the big clock tower and to the viewpoint over the city- it was alright for free. The weather today was dull all day and it rained a couple of times :( We went down to the bar beneath the hostel at about 7 where they do a meal and a drink for $10 (about 5 pounds). I had a mushroom pasta and salad and pint of diet coke, while lil alex had a steak, chips and salad with a pint of beer. We were gonna stay for a few drinks but when lil alex realised it was ladies night and they had a male stripper coming I couldnt persuade him to stay!! So we went back to the room and I finished my book "Ghostwritten" by David Mitchell- it was the oddest book I have ever read and so if anyone else has read it and understood what the hell it was about please tell me! Then I started Jodi- oooohh its good! No more bed swapping now we have our own 2 person room its a lot more peaceful!

8/4/09: We got up about 9.30 and got ready- the weather was looking promising!! We went to the food courts for breakfast! Good news- lil alex phoned his bank and got his card sorted- again! We then headed for the lagoon and laid chilling in the sun and reading and paddling. That was most of the day gone! We mooched back about 3.30- stopping at the supermarket to get breakfast for tomorrow and booked our shuttle to the bus station for tomorrow morning cos we are getting the greyhound to Surfers Paradise tomorrow morning! We had the meal deal in the bar beneath the hostel again but during the meal me and lil alex had a barney- he went off on the internet and I went back to room and got ready and walked to the main street- on the way I passed a Big Issue seller who I felt sorry for- partly cos he looked like dad- so I brought the Big Issue ($5) and went to a pub where I sat and drank a cider and read the Big Issue. After about an hour lil alex turned up- but we still was annoying each other so I went back to room and read. We both had the worst nights sleep- our whole corridor decided to make as much noise as possible all night!!!

9/4/09: We got up about 8 and got ready and checked out. We got the shuttle to the bus terminal and caught the bus tp Surfers Paradise about 10.30- only a 1.5hour journey.