after seeming to disappear from contact in byron bay (they thought we may have been sidetracked to nimbin) i managed to get hold of rachel and book a greyhound and some accommodation for our first two night in surfers paradise. Surfers paradise is a lot like Tenerife and all the other greek and spanish places that get packed in the summer. We spent our first two days just on the beach, sleeping and eating sushi or milkshakes. We also splashed out on an organised bar crawl with 3 other girls from our dorm and for $35 we got taken at 5.30 to various bars during the night (including one with a bowling alley!) and got various food and drink at each. it was fun, if not only because a lot of people seemed hideously drunk at the first place at only 5.30! apparently it is where australians go to have a party holiday though which makes sense. After two nights we went to stay with my lovely cousin rachel which was brilliant as not only we got comfortable beds and got to wash our clothes but she took us on a tour down to coolangatta on our first evening and made dinner! the next day we went to Seaworld. one of the many worlds in the gold coast area, my ticket was an early birthday present from Nikki and Andy and we had a fun day going on all the rides, touching some smelly rays and watching all the shows. That evening we went to watch Rachel's boyfriend play football and ate lots of pizza and icecream! that was our last stop with a relative so no more free washing!!!!

we are in brisbane now and have booked an outing to the steve irwin australia zoo tomorrow!

x elspeth x