Well, what to say since I last posted?! I've moved out of Maroochydore backpackers for the time being...although I will need to pop back and get the post at some point!!
After a day at the hostel, plans were made to go out on Saturday night. I was designated driver and the plan was to go round all the surf clubs in the local area - a pub crawl with surf clubs if you will. About 10 mins before we're set to go, I get a phone call from my friends asking me to come out with them. Now, I hadn't seen them in a while, and I'd been a bit annoyed at the hostel staff earlier in the day (I'll get to this in a minute) so I ditched and went with my friends instead. I received a phonecall from one of the girls at the hostel, basically saying that I was a "bitch" and not to come back - charming!!
Previously that day, I had been told that I must wear long sleeve tops and long trousers around the hostel because of the bites on my legs. Not sure if many of you know, but they look a bit rank!! They got infected with impetigo, which went a while ago, and now I just have a few scabs and scars. Agreed, not the most attractive looking things, but perfectly harmless to anyone. The girls in my room asked to move because they didnt want to contract this "deadly, skin eating, contaigious infection" and there had apparently been other complaints. Now, I'm sorry but that is other people's problem...I hadn't complained about the people playing music in the room until 2am or lobbing their stuff everywhere or using my stuff without asking or invading my space etcetc. I thought it was bloody ignorant and inconsiderate, and highly pissed me off!!! The hostel staff then said that basically,i had to follow their rules or leave - which I thought was unfair seeing as it wasn't anything I could control and it's nothing that can affect anyone else. I could understand if it was contaigious but it's not!!!!!
Anyways, I'd been put in a bad mood by this, wanted to be cheered up by my friends...so off I went! I came back later that evening, about 11pm, and snuggled on the sofa watching a film. Ended up chatting to Matt, who is from Woollengong (or however you spell it, all the places out here have wierd names) just outside Sydney, and who has travelled a fair bit. We got on really well, and ended up spending the night in his van...NO not like that!!! Just sat up chatting out of the way of hostel staff!!!
Anyways, we end up spending the next day together just driving around. We headed up to the Glasshouse mountains, took a walk through the lookout path up there, got soaked by the rain, headed to the cable, chilled there for a bit then ended up buying some steak for dinner. Sounds so silly, but it was amazing!! I then got a phonecall from Shay, who invited us over for movie night :) So off we went to Bli Bli to watch Inception, again, with a few of my friends. It was a good night, and we ended up sleeping in BliBli in the van!
I rescued all my stuff from the hostel the next morning, as severe flood warnings were being broadcast over the radio. Packed all my bags into the back of the van and off we drove :) The water just chucked it down, I think we drove to Caloundra and then headed to Mount Coolum where we spent the night on top of the hill to avoid being swept away by heavy flood waters. The majority of the roads in the area were closed - all the roads to the hostel were flooded so you were flooded in or out of it! Was very glad I'd rescued all my things earlier in the day. The floods were incredible...I haven't seen many of the pictures from the news but by the phonecalls I've received from home, it must look pretty bad!
I reckon we were lucky and escaped the worst of it, but still radio broadcasts were sent out not to drink too much water incase the treatment plants became contaminated and to stay away from flood waters because they may contain brown snakes etc etc. It's crazy! The cable, and work, have both been closed from flooding so there hasn't been that much to do except chill out in the van!
What else has happened?! Oh yeah, Matt got ill and was sick for 2 days so I had to nurse him back to health....that was interesting! And the night before we met, he'd been stabbed by these black guys...but that's another story for a time when yous all at home aint going to worry!!! (Nothing to worry about I promise!)
Living in a van is an awesome experience. It's nice having everything there, just behind you :) It's a bit difficult to drive, there is no power steering so you really have to lug it round corners!! The worst part has to be needing the toilet in the middle of the night. Public loos close between 12 and 5am out here, so if you need a wee then you best get used to going behind a tree!! We've parked on Mooloolaba beach the past few nights, and there aint nowhere to go that's private so I'm pretty sure a fair few truckies have seen me squatting :s Oh well, it's all part of the experience, ey!!
Public showers are another interesting point of van living! The beach showers are amazing, but they don't have hot water, so although you have a private cubicle you have to make do with freezing water! Backpackers can't be choosers tho :) The best part has to be just saying "I feel like going there tonight, lets park on the beach, cook a barbie and sleep to the sound of the waves underneath the stars". It's pretty cool :)
That's it for now, flood waters are receeding and the sun is finally shining so I'm off to make the most of it!!
Peace and love
xxx
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