The sun shone like a good 'un today!! Yay! However, I didn't manage to get a surfing lesson in today either as I just couldn't get my butt into gear. I did want to do it, but I also just wanted to walk about in the sun. Nothing wrong with that, is there?

So, I had a nice iced chocolate after having a bit of a walk on the beach, and also watching the few surfers that were around the nearby bit of sea. The sea did look much rougher than yesterday actually, so I had my doubts that a beginners surfing lesson would have gone ahead anyways.
The girl at the cafe asked me what my plans for the rest of the day were and I said I wasn't sure, but thought about going to the Pet Porpoise place. She said that it was actually quite nice, more of a kids attraction, and she hadn't been there herself for years, but she remembered it being nice. She said that if you like dolphins and only have a few hours to spare, then she'd definitely recommend it.
Spurred on by that, I thought I may as well go and have a look!
It was actually quite cute, very twee, but also quite nice. I got a dolphin kiss and a seal kiss (and the cheesy photos to prove it, though had to pay an arm and a leg for them - this is where a travelling companion would have come in handy!!) and you even got to stroke the dolphins as they swam past you in their pool.
There are 15 seals there as well, and some of them looked like they were in worringly small enclosures, with very small swimming pools for them. I don't know if seals swim an awful lot, but I do know they bask in the sun an awful lot and so they looked like quite nice cushions today. Smelly fishy cushions, but still cute nonetheless.

The Pool says they're the 'world's most interactive marine park' but as I've never really been to any other (actually, I think I went to a dolphin show somewhere in Spain when I was younger....) that I can properly remember, I have no idea if that's true!
They also said that all their animals are rescue animals, or animals that have been rehabilitated and can't return to the wild, or have been born there. They've had several seals or sea lions born there, and currently have a dolphin mum and daughter.
The two dolphins that were happy to be stroked and put on a performance, were also father and son - Bucky and Zippy. I wish some people would give these dolphins proper names. What kind of name is Bucky for a dolphin? Gees.
Anyways, they also say that they 'strive to provide all animals with an environmentally rich and safe home' and the guide today did say that they let their seals out of their enclosures quite often so they can actually move around the park freely, which must be nice for the seals and at least they aren't just stuck in their little pens all day and all night.

They did have pretty good signs up about marine conservation and so on, which I guess is good, even if most people didn't really read them....at least they're there for people like me to notice! Our guide also gave us a good message about rubbish, and that we shouldn't just throw it in the sea or discard it without thinking. She was talking about it as one of the seals was standing next to her, and the guide threw down a bottle. The seal picked it up, and dutifully put it in the nearby bin! I know the seal has probably been trained to do that, but I thought it was cute. For kids, they can see that if a seal can put rubbish in a bin, then they can too. It's not rocket science, it's just common sense. Well, I liked it. :D

After that, I just had a really nice lunch (which is also my dinner as it was huge) and made my way back to the YHA to gather up my luggage and to head off to the train station. I'm was on the train until Casino for about two and a half hours, and then I sat on a bus for about an hour to get to Byron. They don't run the train straight through to Brisbane, but if you want to stop off on the way, then you have to get the bus. I got to Byron at about 9:15pm and I hadn't a clue where I was at first. Luckily we stopped right in the centre of town, so I could ask someone as the bus driver had no idea where the YHA actually was. Good thing it wasn't that far as it was a bit wet and rainy outside! What on earth is wrong with Ozzie streets as well? Twice I had to cross the road as the pavement or the path just ended where I was walking!!
The hostel is REALLY busy and really lively, which is cool as it's nice to have a bit of atmosphere.

Sharing the room with another two German girls (who don't seem particularly friendly!) and two other English girls - one of whom is really drunk and really funny. I now wish I was staying here a bit longer as it seems like a really nice place to hang out in. Facilities aren't as nice as in Coffs Harbour, but I think this hostel is just a bit older and must have had hundreds more people coming through it! However, walking through the main street, there were tons of people littering the street! The blues and roots festival doesn't start until tomorrow, but I guess lots of people are getting here early to see in the festival first!
Alice was about to go off to a bar called Cheeky Monkeys which I'd heard about from the Canadian girl in Coffs Harbour. Apparently you can dance on tables there....which sounds like fun if you're with a group of mates. However, Alice didn't manage to get there as she was just too drunk and really looked like she could just sleep for a few days, especially as she said she'd been on a bus from Sydney to Byron!

Not sure what to do tomorrow, but have got all day before I get my bus to Murwillumbah, so I'll figure out something. My book says that Cape Byron has great views (and a working lighthouse) so that might be a nice thing to do if the weather isn't too bad tomorrow. There is also a cinema down the road, and some nice looking cafe's and shops. Could enquire about a surf lesson too - lots of things to do!!