You could say that it was a bigger culture shock coming to australia that going to asia. Having become used to life in Asia, the cost, the colour, the people i don't think that either of us were thrilled by Brisbane. We had been excited about Australia but that soon began to evaporate (at least for me). The city was just like i remember it from when i was in Australia years ago, that is grey, industrial with a bit of an empty feeling. I know that not everyone feels like that though and i know it is not really a bad city i am just not a fan.
We stayed in the city just down the road from the hotel that Sam's parents were in. It was a pretty souless place but the location was good and the price was not too bad on the Oz scale. I am going to have to make a point of not complaining about the cost of australia as i know it is boring so just need to get it out my system, it is expensive at least by backpacker budgets. I don't know how people spend so long here. Anyway now on with the trip.
We went out for a few drinks our first night in brisbane and ended up in one of the hostel bars in town. We met some interesting people, drank some free beer and lots of not so free beer and had a good night. It did lead to a not so good morning though, i was definatley feeling the worse for wear. It was not a good day to be sick either because we were off to meet some of Phil's family (i think). I made it there although the car journey was a bit hellish and i am sorry to say that i did have to leave the company for a bit to go and lie down or to go to the bathroom all in the name of recovery. I was sorry not to be able to really enjoy the lovely lunch that they cooked mmmmm. I was definately glad to get back to bed that night!
We all spent some time just wandering around brisbane getting a feel for the place. Sam and myself took it easy and did not really see a lot unlike judith and phil who got up early and did it all. I think it was partly the initial 'asia sickness' that made me a little despondant in this city but getting out definately helped. Out in this case was to Buderim to stay with some old Uni friends of Phil and Judith's. We stayed at their house nearly a week. We arrived to a beautiful sunset and the evening was improved further sitting on their balcony with its beautiful view over the countryside and over to the east the sea.
We spent the week with Pat, Bill and Sam the dog looking around the local area. Sam and his parents went to fraser island (i have been too) on one day while i stayed with sam the dog and tried to update some of this journal. We went to Australia Zoo, which was really good well worth spending the day there. In the hinterland we drove to the glass house mountains and the small towns of malaney (with its famous cheese) and some of the other quaint, artsy towns recommended to us by Bill and Pat.
Bill and Pat took us to Noosa, Maloolaba and the famous and fantastic Eumundi market. At Noosa we went for a walk along the coast where we saw a wild Koala much to my surprise, i thought bill had just made it up as a ploy to try and get us to walk for miles! That was something i will remember, it was worth the short walk i am glad we saw it then as soon after seeing all the koalas in australia zoo i decided they were not that interesting after all, all they do is sleep! We also saw our first Kangaroo's on this trip, outside the university where bill works.
We were treated to some great food while staying in Buderim. Thai food in Maloolaba and a roast cooked on the BBQ as well as lots of dips and all sorts of good things. From the start any weight lost in asia had a hard chance in staying lost!
After an enjoyable week in Buderim we were off to Cairns. We made it to the airport despite the heavy traffic at the end of a long weekend and a few other obstacles and were soon on the plane to the tropics.
