Tallebudgera Creek

TALLEBUDGERA CREEK

Maddy and I went up to Tallebudgera Creek this afternoon to sun bake and swim. The water was a little cooler than the estuary/ocean near us but it was still extremely nice (the fact that I'm starting to get picky is perhaps a little silly). I managed to remember my camera so here are some pics:

:)

MADDY IN THE CREEK

MORE OF THE CREEK

I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M LOOKING AT

VERY LADY-LIKE

Ice Magic

Although I am a vegan, my desire for chocolate has never decreased. I've been doing well with dark chocolate, Oreos, and Cocoa Krispies but the other day I filled the pantry with yet another delicious treat...Ice Magic. It's the chocolate sauce that goes hard when it's on ice cream. Yes, another seemingly dairy-filled product that's vegan. Well, Ice Magic, combined with soy vanilla ice cream at around 8:30pm for the last few nights has fulfilled my chocoalte fix and my beach-appropriate snack. Yummy!

Mossie Bites

So, this morning I woke up with eight mosquito bites. :( I have one on my left knee, my right thigh, my left forearm, my right forearm (pictured below), my forehead, my right hand, and two on my right shoulder. They're not too itchy but they are pretty annoying. But I have always been a mosquito's buffet. Ah well, the price of living in paradise.

THE WORST BITE

HOW MOSSIE BITES MAKE ME FEEL

Metal Pelicans

Daily Walks

NICE SHADY SPOT

ONE OF THE MANY CLIMBING TREES

CROSSING THE BRIDGE

I have recently gotten into the habit of taking a long walk as soon as I wake up. It's great to get outside and do something healthy.

WHAT AUSSIE'S AFFECTIONATLY CALL, "A TINNIE"

I start by walking towards the canal and crossing the bridge. I then walk by the shore and pass some trees that would be pretty fun to climb one day I reckon. Further up the path there's an art installation consisting of pelicans constructed entirely out of metal pieces. They're so cool I've decided to devote an entire post to them.

THE METAL PELICANS
A REAL PELICAN

After the pelicans, I climb up a huge hill where on the right are a few houses but on the left are a bunch of trees that could be the location of Jurassic Park. On top of the hill I get an incredible view down to the ocean and become quite envious of the people who are lucky enough to own a property up there.

PART OF THE "BIG" HILL

NICE VIEW, EH?
BEAUTIFUL

Then it's back down the hill into Currumbin, the suburb south of us, and walk along the road to the bridge that takes me back to Palm Beach. I cross the bridge and take a pathway that goes into the trees by the estuary. The pathway ends at the beach where I continue on my little stroll. I walk along the beach just close enough to the surf without getting my shoes wet. It's a great spot to search for shells and rocks. I walk north up the beach to a cluster of rocks that's great to walk out to the end of and stare at the ocean and jump as the water crashes just feet from my feet. Then it's back down the beach and I go home.

THE FUN ROCKS
PRETTY!

iCal

Yesterday was the first day I had reason to use my iCal in almost two months. Very nerdy I know but those who know me can attest to my affinity for color coding and organization. I enrolled in the classes I will be taking at Griffith University this semester so of course I had to get my schedule onto my computer. I will be taking 'Lifespan Development', 'Youth and Society', 'Mass Culture and Popular Fiction', and lastly, 'Love, Sex, and Truth'. As of now I have class on Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday nights, Thursday mornings, and Friday mornings but I am hoping to switch my Friday class to another one of my class days in order to have a four day weekend. Classes don't start until March 2nd but we have orientation, O Week, the week before.

The Byron Markets

On the first Sunday of every month a huge market is held in Byron Bay, New South Wales. We drove the 40 minute trip south last weekend to see all the stalls and then have lunch at Balcony, a cute restaurant by the shore. The Byron Markets attracts a lot of bohemian/hippie-type of people so of course being a student from Boulder I felt right at home. There were people selling the usual things such as jewelry, artwork, and food. Some of my favorites were a guy selling rings made out of skateboard decks, a stall consisting of entirely hemp clothing, and a falafel stand. There was also a pregnant woman, belly exposed, with a huge tattoo all over her torso and a little boy riding on his dad's shoulders who had long blonde hair covered by a blue pageboy's hat...he's cooler at the age of five than I could ever hope to be at any age.

THE BYRON MARKETS
LOTS TO LOOK AT :)

After wandering up and down the numerous aisles we walked into the town of Byron and browsed in a few stores before walking down to the beach. We just waded in the water and people watched for a few minutes before heading to lunch.

THE BEACH AT BYRON

At Balcony we sat on the terrace with couches as seats. Was very nice to relax and chat. I ordered the antipasto salad and pita with dips, so very yummy but so very filling. I was glad we had a walk back to the car. :)

BALCONY RESTAURANT
MY LUNCH