Day 17
Fufilled a long time life goal today.
Justin and I went to the Australia Zoo, just outside of Brisbane.
This is the Zoo Steve Irwin's parents started back in the 80's, and where Steve got his start.
The guy running the tour was a personal friend of Steve's, so we got a behind the scenes look.
On the way there we watched a documentary about his life, and were told some really amazing stories.
The zoo itself was beyond my expecations. Steve was a believer that 'if you can touch and interact with the animals, you will fall in love with them, and want to save them'. The whole zoo is interactive.
We watched the famous crock feeding in the 'Crocoseum'.
Justin and I became Wildlife Warriors, donating to the tiger rehab program.
On the way back we stopped at a pineapple and macadamia nut plantation. mmmm....

Day 16
Justin went off to work again, so I went to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Koalas are cool little animals, I got to hold one of them and hand feed a couple kangaroos.
Spent the rest of the day exploring Brisbane, walking around, taking buses, getting lost.
I have a bone to pick. Justin and I got called 'flashpackers' today.
Apparently backpackers are the uber cool budget travellers who hop on trains, eat at soup kitchens and play hackysack.
Flashpackers are spoiled kids who scuba dive, drink and party, stay in hostels and, get this, 'enjoy their time'.
Why the hell would you save enough money to go somewhere, and not leave yourself any funds to do anything?
I didn't come here to see the Great Barrier Reef from the beach, I came here to wrestle sharks and giant turtles 60 feet down.
I would much rather sky dive than do a free walking tour.
Screw those guys.
I bought 'Into the Wild' today and I've read half of it already. Fantastic.

Day 15
Pretty relaxing day.
Justin went off to work, so I stayed home and took care of the kids.
He worked with some contractor installing a fence. $140, not bad.
The front desk hands out cash jobs daily, I scored a job monday and tuesday doing landscaping.
If nothing better comes up, I guess I can do that.
Showed Australia how to drink last night.
All the toilets here have two buttons on the top. One for a full flush, the other for a half flush.
There is a huge fresh water shortage.
None of the toilets here so far have rotated in either direction, they all kinda suck straight down.
The fifty cent piece here is about the size and weight of a small dinner plate, but you need them in your pocket to make phone calls.
Tomorrow I'm going to check out a koala bear park, Justin is back working the chain gang.

Day 14
Two weeks in!
Whoever said Justin and I would kill each other within 2 weeks can go fly a kite. (if there is enough wind)
Drove to Brisbane today to find work.
We checked in to City Backpackers because they have free parking and are very helpful with finding work.
We are supposed to be sleeping in the Jackaroo to save money, but it's hard to meet people, and VERY hard on our friendship.
We were offered a job 'shovelling dirt and shit'. Justin jumped at the chance. $17 an hour cash in hand.
I may have a job as a bouncer at the bar downstairs, but I want to do something tv/video related.
This hostel is an absolute party fest at night. Had a few sociables and hit the sack.
Job hunting tomorrow.

Day 13
A couple of disapointments today. I had booked and paid for a sky dive. I got out to the airfield only to be told I'm too heavy. Justin's kite surfing didn't work out either- not enough wind.
Kinda bummed, we left Byron Bay today and headed for Surfer's Paradise.
As my guidebook said, this town is ALL hype, suuuper expensive, and not worth stopping.
It was 'Schoolies' week, so we thought it would be a huge party.
It was, if you're under 20.
We felt like old creepy men as we sat in an Irish pub, sipping Guiness, watching 20,000+ teenagers run around and fall over.
This one kid, Tim, kept begging me to punch him in the face.
Broke down and splurged on a cheap hotel. It was nice to recharge and sleeping on a bed was pretty great.
We leave Lamesville tomorrow, heading to Brisbane to find work.
*I need to lose 9 kilos.
*I need to find out how much 9 kilos is in pounds.

Day 12
Slept in my hammock, broke the kangaroo crusher grill on the front of the Jackaroo.
We went on 'Jim's Alternative Adventure' tour today. 10/10 an absolute must-do.
It was Justin, myself, and about 20 hot chicks. We all loaded into this old hippy van and drove to Nimbin, making stops along the way. The whole trip was perfectly timed to stoner music.
At one point he stopped at the top of this mountain, told us all to hold on. He put on a Pink Floyd song and RIPPED down the mountain. About 4 terrifying minutes later, as we rolled to a stop, the song was fading out. Impressive.
Justin booked a 3 hour kite surfing lesson for tomorrow, and I booked a 14,000 ft. 70 second freefall sky dive!
Byron Bay has been my favourite place so far. A bit smaller and more condensed than a-burg, with a picture perfect beach front, tonnes of cool shops and a whole lot of hippies.
Hit a couple of bars, but tucked in early, Jim took a lot out of us.
Tomorrow we head to Surfer's Paradise, and then Brisbane to work.

Day 11
Left Coff's Harbour quietly so as to not wake the sleeping German.
He wanted to come with us I think.
Drove to Byron Bay, what a town.
It's known as the hippy capital of oz.
Justin and I are getting on each others nerves, so we had some scheduled alone time.
Talked to Raymond online, linked us up with a bunch of friends he has over here, we hope to meet some of them. Thanks Raymo.
Found a cool campsite right on the beach, 'First Sun Holiday Park'.
Watched a group of Hangliders and tried to work up the courage to go up. Not today.
Booked a tour with Jim's Adventures. It's supposed to be world renowned.
Walked around downtown for a bit, went back to the campsite, called it a night.
There are a tonne of bats here. They are about the size of my weiner dog, with a 3 foot wingspan.
*I don't like bats.

Day 10
Ended up in a town called Coffs Harbour.
I was really excited to do a whale watching tour, but it was cancelled.
We looked for a football, settled on a rugby ball. I bought a Minessota Vikings undershirt.
Played football in the waves for a bit.
Booked in at the 'Hoey Moey' hostel on the beach. 'Party Central!' it said! pfft.
Some pushy German guy came into our room and watched the original Star Wars with us.
Went to see a band called 'Wasabi' at the Hoey Moey tavern.
All accoustic guitar players that we have seen also play a kick drum. pretty cool.
Stopped to get a falafel and a MASSIVE cockroach ran across the floor.
For whatever reason, I told the girl behind the counter I was American. She told me right to my face that she hates Americans and that they're all assholes. I couldn't believe it.
We are heading to Byron Bay, and then eventually Surfer's Paradise.
It's 'Schoolies Week' right now in Surfers. Basically spring break.
*rugby balls are heavy. ouch.

Day 9
Booked it to South West Rocks to check out Hat Head National Park.
Not like any national park I have ever seen.
There is cheap camping, and they run on an honour system so we thought we'd stay a night.
We took a wrong turn (purposely) and ended up driving on the beach.
Had to floor it the whole way to avoid getting stuck.
Our campsite was occupied when we got there. Occupied by a family of kangaroos!
Justin naturally tried to box one of them. (video)
As we were setting up, this MONSTER lizard strolls onto our site, shooting its tounge out. It looked like a kimono dragon, even though it probably wasn't.
Justin scared it up a big tree on our site.
I didn't feel safe staying there with godzilla pissed off up a tree, so we headed out.
*kangaroos smell like gym socks.