Friday Fun

After about a month of mostly partying at the Arts Factory, I finally got all dressed up and went out with my friend Lois. I put on a dress, put on make-up, and even curled my hair.  A couple of friends didn't recognise me. 

We had a few drinks at the AFL and eventually headed into town.  We had heard that there was a band at The Northern, so we figured we would head there first.

Originally, we were planning on going out with the boys, Douglas and David, but we ended up splitting up early in the night.  We all went to The Northern right away and got a beer.  Everyone else seemed to be in a dancing mood, though, so we finished our beers and headed out to a different bar.  

This is where we split up.  The guys wanted to go to Cocomangas, but Lois wasn't so enthused.  I had never been there so I didn't really have an opinion, but Lois thought that it was a really tacky club.  The guys were intent on going and didn't want to go anywhere else so we let them go and headed to a club called Woody's.

I had never been to Woody's either, but I knew that they gave away surfboards and skateboards weekly and that it was also a big dance spot.  They had 2 big bouncers at the door before you stepped into the building, which was crowded with people.

You immediately encounter the bar, occupied by 4 or 5 bartenders, and then to your right is the elevated dance floor.  If you continue walking, you'll eventually get to the outdoor patio which is filled with loads of smokers.

We got a drink and started dancing in the beginning, but when I wanted cigarette, we headed outside.  I got into a conversation with an Australian guy and never really left.  I honestly couldn't even tell you what we talked about, but at the time it was a good conversation. 

Lois went back inside but I just wasn't really in the dancing mood.  Even in Australia, I prefer a more laid back bar setting.  I think that's a bit of a hint that I miss Kelly's back home.  I always used to just sit around, talk with friends, and play pool.  It was nothing extravagant, but I always liked meeting people more than I liked dancing.  I would have to be in the mood to go to a club.  It must be the Wisconsin girl in me.

Too Much Beer

I honestly rarely go out to party anymore.  Occasionally, I will drink a bottle of wine with some friends back at the AFL, but that's about it.  It gets really expensive to go out and party, plus my friends are always on different schedules, so trying to figure out a time when we can all go out together is tough.

Last night was a blast though.  I actually got to party with Lois and one of my Mojo bosses.  Lois and I went to the brewery just for a beer, and my boss was there.  He was with a group of people, who invited us into their private party.

Everyone was dressed up in fancy clothes from the 80s and 90s.  They all worked for a travel company called G Adventures, and they were having a company party.  The people were so welcoming and genuine.  We even got denied drinks because the bartender didn't think we were a part of the party, and the company boss came out and told us she sorted it out, and that we should come back in and have a drink.

So we hung out and partied with G Adventures employees until midnight, which was when the Brewery closed, and then we got into a bus to town to go to Cheeky Monkeys.  We came with a massive group of people and just swarmed the bar.

People were already dancing on tables and making fools of themselves, so we had to add to the chaos.  We danced for what seemed like forever.

Eventually the MC announced last call for alcohol, turned the lights on, and started kicking everyone out.  We were meant to wait for Morgan, but he wanted to go to the beach party that everyone was continuing after Cheeky Monkeys.  And we needed to go to bed.

I'm still tired today, but last night was worth the fatigue.  It wasn't anything crazy, just one of those nights that makes you feel less like a grown up.

I Want Candy

I'm not the biggest sweets person in the world, but it seems that my sweet tooth has been growing since I came to OZ. Eating an actual bar of chocolate is a real rarity back home, but I'm beginning to realize that I have been hanging out with more women while I have been in Australia.  Back home, I always hang out with guys, who never seem to eat chocolate or candy.  Just pizza...and lots of it.

 Girls are chocolate fiends though.  You don't have to have the 'munchies' to eat sweets and there is no need for a special occasion to get out a bar of chocolate--all you need is the idea of chocolate and the deal is sealed.

Once again, I rarely eat dessert back home.  If I make brownies or cookies, or really any other dessert for that matter, it's a big production.  You get a couple of girls together, make a pan of brownies, and watch chick flicks all night.  Not here.  As soon as dinner is over, it seems like every girl and her mother reaches for her personal stash of chocolate, and disperses it among her friends.

Such candy includes gummy snakes or frogs, chocolate bullets (white or milk chocolate-coated red or black licorice), Cadbury or Lindt chocolate bars, malted milk balls, etc.  The other night we even make a trip into town just to get frozen yogurt--it was about 10 o'clock at night.

You would think that I would gain a million pounds, but as far as I know, I'm not gaining any at the moment.  My pants still fit the same and my face doesn't look unusually bloated.  I believe I am overindulging a bit lately, but I feel as though a moderate amount of chocolate daily is not bad for you.  Of course, we all know that some chocolates are healthier than others, but it's all about moderation.  I want to cut back on my chocolate indulgences, but not cut them out.  At this point, I'm not sure that I could even give chocolate up...and Halloween is just around the corner.

Everyday is a Journey, and the Journey Itself is Home

There are so many things going on constantly in Byron Bay; it keeps you busy and makes it easy to meet new people. The video above will give you a good idea of things to do while in Byron.  Below are events going on each week I am here:

On Sundays, the Byron Bay Brewery hosts Karaoke night.  People are invited to participate from all corners of the world. We can always hear the thunder of the bass and screeching of the untalented from the Arts Factory.  It makes for good entertainment nonetheless.

The Ginger Pig is a popular spot on Monday nights because it hosts Rasta night.  I haven't been to the Rasta night yet, but I have heard about the laid back music and atmosphere of the reggae scene.

Tuesdays are a big night at the AFL: the talent show.  People gather from both the jungle and mainland to participate as spectators at the famous talent show.  Acts include hula hoopers, guitarists, singers, and even comedians.  Like the karaoke on Sundays, not all who participate are talented, but it's still a good time.

Wednesday nights can prove to be very beneficial for those who participate in trivia at the AFL.  Each participant pays a two dollar fee and can win a number of free excursions, such as a trip to Nimbin, snorkeling, or even skydiving.  In addition, the winning team gets to keep all of the money from the entry fees.

Thursday night at the Brewery is another eventful evening: ArtsExposure.  This includes fire-spinners, decor, graffiti and DJ's, not to mention $3 beers and $4 hot dogs.  It's a perfect opportunity to check out the works of local artists without breaking the bank.

Fridays and Saturdays are pretty much fair game for any bar or club in Byron Bay.  Occasionally you will hear of beach parties, but mostly people head to the larger venues in town, such as Cheeky Monkeys, Woody's Surf Shack, The Northern, or Cocomangas.  Loads of travellers are seen wandering around the streets of Byron on the weekends.

And then it starts all over again. 

It's Not Good-Bye; It's See You Later

Me with Maren and Yuan the last night I saw them

One of the most bittersweet things here at the AFL is meeting new people because it means eventually you have to say good bye to them.  People come to Byron for visits, not typically to stay long term.

Kyle

You make friends with them, hang out with them, go to the beach with them, and then they travel elsewhere.  The nice thing is that you meet people through people and the overlap of friendships is constant.  You're definitely never alone.

Alice

Nonetheless, I have still had a few people leave since I have been at the AFL. First it was Maren and Yuan.  They came to Byron when I did after our week at Spot X; they only stayed for a few days.  One of my friends from California left a week ago already, and now, my friend Alice leaves today at 11 AM.  I was fortunate enough to see her this morning in the kitchen so I could at least say good bye.  The nice thing about Alice leaving is that she just started her one year visa, so she plans on traveling, but also plans on coming back to Byron again.  That will be awesome to see her a couple of months down the road.  It'll be like a reunion.

Conor

Contrary to the people who leave are the people trapped by the cool vibes of the AFL, unable to leave.  Conor was one of those.  He had actually planned on only staying for 2 nights; it turned into over two weeks.  He even had a bus scheduled at one point; an hour before he was meant to leave, he decided he was going to stay for a few more days, even though he couldn't get his money back for the bus he missed.  I believe he actually leaves Australia today to head back home.

Douglas

 Then there are the people who get jobs and plan on staying in Byron for the long haul.  I am extremely happy for my friend Douglas in that aspect.  He was running low on money and was thinking about leaving Byron to head back to Sweden, but yesterday he found out he got the bus driving job at the AFL.  He already did his farm work so now he just needs to apply for his second year visa.  He plans on staying in Byron for another 6 months.

At Kelly's in Oshkosh. Note: Even the bar owner is in this picture.

It's funny because the AFL reminds me a lot of my home back in Oshkosh.  It's known as a college town--the university is really what keeps the town alive, in my opinion.  My favorite bar attracts all kinds of people, and it really becomes a big family.  So many of the people I hang out with back home either have worked at Kelly's, do work at Kelly's, or drink religiously at Kelly's.  The problem is that when they graduate and need to find real jobs, they leave Oshkosh, sometimes to different parts of the country.  They almost always come back at some point or another, but it feels like losing a family member.

I'm experiencing the same sort of feeling here in Byron Bay; bittersweet is the perfect word for life here at the AFL.

Back in Byron

I woke up Saturday morning in Byron with no particular plans in mind. I just knew I wanted to meet up with Maren and Yuan at some point.  I had been told about the Byron Bay lighthouse because it was a big tourist attraction.  It sits on the most eastern point of Australia.  Hiking to it would be a good walk for a Saturday afternoon so I asked the girls if they would want to go there.  

We met up in town and did a little bit of shopping before we headed to the beach.  It was partly cloudy but decently warm so there were plenty of surfers out in the ocean.  We watched and judged their moves as they slid by.  Promotional girls walked by handing out free entries to bars.  A girl from Cheeky Monkey's was all too convincing with the "monkey money" she gave us and the allure of $5 meals as well as free champagne for women from 8-10 PM.  Us girls decided we would meet up at Cheeky Monkey's around 7 for dinner and see where the night took us.  We each bought a bottle of wine and headed back to our hostels to get ready.

Someone in the past wrote on one of our blocks,
"Get naked on a surfboard"

After I got ready, I went into the rec room for a bit to charge my phone and finish off my bottle of wine.  While sitting there, a guy named Conor from the UK made a joke about me drinking my wine out of the bottle.  I started talking to him and his friend Doug as they shot a few games of pool.  I said good bye to the guys and headed to Cheeky Monkeys. 

I met Yuan and Maren in the front of the bar and we walked in together.  We ordered our meals--I spent a whole $2 more just to get the chicken schnitzel.  The dinners were wonderfully cheap and the portions were fantastically large.

  At our table, we also had a Jenga set to play while we waited for dinner.  Mind you, Cheeky Monkeys is a sort of club/restaurant; a DJ was already playing loud music and giving away backpacker tours and trips.  Some of our Jenga pieces were blank but many of them had commands written on them already.  For example, Maren was probably the most shy of us girls at the bar that night and one of her Jenga pieces read, "Give someone a hickey".  Luckily, we all had a decent buzz when we got there, and the free champagne was flowing steadily.  We all danced like idiots for hours.  I stopped drinking when the free champagne ran out, which was definitely a good thing.  

Eventually I darted back to the AFL after having more than my share of wine.  I thought my evening was basically over...but it wasn't.  The night was definitely a blur but I know a few things for sure: I met back up with Conor and his friends in the rec room, we walked back into town to go get pizza, we walked to the beach, and Conor got arrested for drunk driving.  He was trying to help this couple jump start their car, but, of course, right when he hopped in the drivers seat, the cops showed up.  After the cop incident, the mood of the night was destroyed, so we headed back home.  

I'm not sure where we got it from or why we took it, but I have several bruises on my body to prove that we brought a shopping cart back to the AFL and tipped it over at one point.  I hit the ground like a sack of potatoes...