Bunkin’ Up
Yesterday I was kind of in limbo all day because I left Jayd’s house and had booked a bus to Byron Bay for the next day. So I walked around the South Bank of Brisbane which is a boardwalk that goes around the edge of the river and affords spectacular views of downtown. They don’t use the phrase “downtown” over here but instead call it CBD (central business district). So I always get strange looks when I mention “downtown.” I walked…and walked…and walked until I finally got to Fortitude Valley, which is where most of the good restaurants and nightlife are in Brisbane. I decided to stay at a place called Bunk and it was AWESOME! I was clean and new and you could tell they actually thought things through when designing the dorm rooms. Each bed had its own light and each set of bunk beds is surrounded by walls so that you don’t bother other sleepers. All the beds on the one side of the wall had been taken, which was good because they were right by the door to the hallway and the bathroom. So I went to the other side and there was a bunk above this guy who was from England. James is a pre-med student who is doing a residency-type program over here. He had just come from American Samoa the week before which he said was unlike anything he had ever seen as far as medical provision.
I left to try to find a turkish restaurant that was highly recommended in my guidebook but I could not find it…I kept calling but no one would answer the phone. I knew the address but it seems that it is only visible from the street with x-ray goggles or something. I headed back to the hostel because I remembered that there were food specials at Birdee Num Num, the bar that is attached to the hostel. There were two Scottish guys in the otherwise empty bar and they were pestering the bartender girl and filling their glasses themselves whenever she left the bar area. I showed the girl my room key which got me two meals for $8 which is really cheap here since dinner is usually at least $15. I ate both of them being the piggy I am (hey–I walked A LOT that day). It was a beef stew made with red wine that was put on top of mashed potatoes. I left to head back into the hostel to watch tv but noticed that the two guys who were raising cain in the bar were outside yelling around at some manager from the hostel, calling him fatty and …so on. Apparently they were staying at the hostel but were not being allowed in because they were so beligerant. They ended up calling the cops and they came and arrested them. They were idiots–they could have just left and cooled down a bit but they stood around and refused to leave.
I was looking at travel brochures and James came up and asked if I’d “fancy a game of pool.” I didn’t understand what he was saying at first but then I figured it out and we headed back to Birdee to play. We talked about American politics and entertainment (and how we had noticed how centered Australia is on the US). That is always my favorite thing to do over here–talking to people from other countries because you not only learn about their country, but you also see yours in a completely different way. I suppose that is the thing that is supposed to happen when you travel. James told me he is heading up north (to the Great Barrier Reef area, just like me) and then on to Thailand and Dubai before heading back to Manchester, England.
I had to get up pretty early to catch the bus so I headed up to bed pretty early. It only took two hours to get to Byron Bay from Brisbane. Unfortunately it is rainy today but I guess I can’t complain since it has been pretty good weather the whole time I’ve been here. Rainy weather is actually better for surfing so no worries if it continues! I’ll be taking surfing lessons tomorrow. I booked it today and it was only 46 USD for 4 hours worth of lessons/riding, board rental, wetsuit, and lunch! And they’ll pick me up right at my hostel. Which reminds me–the hostel I’m staying at is great! Definitely one of the better ones so far. It is new and super clean. The dorm rooms are two stories and have dark wood finishes and wooden beams going across the ceiling. They make meals every night for $8.50 and tonight is bolognese pasta night!! : P I’m heading out to check out the town and the beach a bit right now, so I’ll post tomorrow about my surfing experience!
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