This post was going to come to you yesterday but I got slightly distracted. More on that later. The last week has been full of beaches... And buses! And the Blisstas part will be explained later (unless you've already read my latest Facebook status in which case it will already make sense!) And to top it off I'm writing this on the bus going to another beach! Anyways...
Tuesday 8th July '14
In the morning I got a taxi up to Billabong Wildlife park which was about 15 minutes out of town. The driver was really friendly telling me all about Port Macquarie and how it's developed. At the park the keepers certainly had their work cut out as the crowds went from one enclosure to the next to either pat the animals, watch them being fed or just to hear about them. We started at the penguins who were being fed and two of them were going mad, squawking and flapping because they were being protective over some eggs. Then we moved onto the koalas where I got to pat this little one.
It didn't feel soft like I expected but more like an afro! Then I watched the spider monkeys swinging around and showing off before I saw the meerkats being fed.
Next was the dingos and because the keepers didn't want to overcrowd the dingo they also bought out a snake and an owl to be patted. I didn't fancy touching any of these though!
Strangely I'm not sure I ever realised what a dingo actually is. I think I thought it was a kangaroo/wallabe type creature rather than a dog!
After the dingos I went through the kangaroo enclosure. You were able to walk amongst what was probably around 30 kangaroos while patting and feeding them (neither of which I managed - I'm such a scaredy cat!)
Don't their legs look completely out of proportion when they are lying down?!
Finally I saw the snow leopards and red pandas. By this time I'd had enough so I headed back to the hostel and had a nondescript afternoon mooching around.
In the evening the owner cooked a stew for a few of us and I was very welcoming of a 'proper' meal!
Wednesday 9th July '14
The final thing I wanted to do in Port Macquarie was walk around the creek...
...so I took the boardwalk and it was around a 50 minute walk.
If anything was going to inspire me to start a story, I think it would be this next photo, think of the fantasy creatures that could emerge!
Thursday 10th July '14
Having really enjoyed my time at Port Macquarie YHA I was all set to write a positive review (I don't often write reviews but this this place was so cool I felt compelled to!) but this morning I went to have breakfast to find my food had had a visitor overnight, with nibbled holes in the packages, a chuck of bread missing, and droppings in the bottom of the bag. It had been stored securing in a box in the kitchen but nonetheless it had been got at! Luckily I had some grapes and juice in the fridge which had to do for breakfast.
Lunch was back on the seafront before catching the bus on to Coffs Harbour. When I got there I discovered Tim Tams in the supermarket which could prove dangerous. They are gorgeous!!! Like penguin biscuits only better!
Friday 11th July '14
Today was spent between the beach and the hostel. I walked along the coastal path...
...and to the harbour.
By 4:35pm I was at the bus stop ready for 4:50 bus which didn't turn up till 5:30! In the dark, I arrived in Byron Bay, found the hostel and my hidden key and thought the note said room 17. I scrutinised the map I'd been left, found room 17 and I'm frantically trying to open the door, pushing and pulling the card in and out at different speeds but the determined little light was staying red! In the end a rather irritated girl opened the door, woken by the continuos clicking of the card and bluntly directed to room 14! The 4 had been written in a European hand so it was indistinguishable from a 7.
Saturday 12th July '14
I had a relaxing day, lying in late, wandering round the shops and beach. I read lots of my book while I was waiting at Peter Pan's to book various post-Brisbane trips. At sunset I found myself back at the beach, drummers and all. I wondered afterwards if they were there because of the supermoon? It was a gorgeous sunset nonetheless.
I had an amazing dinner - chicken enchiladas - at a cool little restaurant called Miss Margaritas. That evening I discovered my roommate also went to UWIC but we missed each other by a year - she was at Cyncoed from '07 - '10.
Sunday 13th July '14
I was up, ready and raring to go this morning so I set off to the lighthouse and most easternly point of mainland Australia. Although I knew it would take a couple of hours there and back, it turned into quite a hike! There were 3 steep ups and downs along the cliff side and it reminded me of my trek along the Great Wall. During the ups I was completely out breath and the downs were tough on the legs. I was tempted to give up at the bottom of the last hill up, especially as a girl past saying to her friend 'this isn't the worst of it yet!' but I perservered and the views were amazing.
From the top there I saw several whale spurts and a whale tail. Quite spectacular.
By the lighthouse I found a cafe and never before have I been so pleased to see a 'Cafe Open' sign.
I took it easy walking back, photographing as I went.
I had a chilled afternoon, finished my book and had pizza in the hostel to finish it off.
Monday 14th July '14
I had a productive morning making phone calls and bookings and spent the afternoon wandering round the shops. I went back to the beach for sunset and even though it was cloudy there was still the gorgeous sight of a full rainbow.
Just after I took this photo it chucked it down with rain so I took shelter back at Miss Margaritas and had more enchiladas!
I'd been carrying a postcard round with me all day and forgotten to post it eveytime I past the post box so in the evening I walked round the corner to post it. Next door to the post office was a community centre/theatre and I could here the recognisable sound of samba percussion drifting out. Of course, I couldn't help but head in and listen and after loitering outside the door for a while I plucked up the courage to go in. Of course I ended up joining in with The Samba Blisstas and they were so very welcoming.
So that explains the Blisstas part of the heading and I can't help but sign off with a photo you don't take very often from a bus (I took this literally minutes ago in Coollangatta)...
...another beach!
Be a Fruit Loop in a world full of Cheerios.
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