Unfortunately, Surfers Paradise does not live up to the images you might imagine when you hear the name.... The place is full of high rise buildings, concrete, fast food and bars. The beach isn't that good either! Its a good place to go out drinking and we had a good night there, but a surfer's paradise it is not.....
The next morning we arrived in Brisbane and had a look round the city center. It was quite lively and the river that winds its way through the city center is beautiful.
Brisbane was also the place where I would be leaving the Italians. They are flying back to Italy on the 24th March so had less than a week to do the Brisbane-Cairns part of the East Coast. There are lots of day trips and activities I want to do on my way to Cairns so it would be impossible for me to keep up with them! Furthermore, Brisbane is also a good place to get a job and funds are low....very low....
After looking around they decided to make the long drive up to Noosa, so I said goodbye to three of the nicest people I've met on my travels, wished them good luck on the rest of their travels and a safe journey home. Spent the rest of the day looking around the city and came across an area called SouthBank. There are green flowery parklands, which make a nice change to the concrete jungle of the city CBD, free museums, art galleries and a library with free internet. Also, just as I was getting beach-sick (Brisbane is 30km inland) I randomly came across an artificial beach in the middle of the city! I also went to Mt. Cootha, just outside the city, which has a lookout with amazing views all the way to Moreton Bay!
I wasn't alone for long 'cos the next day two more Italian friends from Manly arrived in Brisbane. They are on a bus journey up the coast and would be in Brisbane for two days. In the evening we went to an area by the river called Kangaroo Point, in which there are lots of rocky cliffs. There is a big rock climbing community and it was a nice cool night so we thought we'd have a go!
I dunno if anyone reading this has climbed a real cliff before but its fucking hard! I've been on an artificial climbing wall before and its much easier.... We went for a drink afterwards and none of us had enough strength left in our hands to grip a beer with one hand, much to the enjoyment of the other patrons....
The next day we were walking around the city and got given a copy of a free paper. On the front there was something about St. Patrick's day, which we had all completely forgotten about, and was actually that day! Got on the drinking early (they had green beer!) and before we knew it, it was the evening. Had a great night and randomly met some people who went to Brunel (my old uni) and were also doing the coast but the opposite direction from me. The guys were supposed to arrange a hostel for the night but due to the early start to drinking we completely forgot.....this meant that we'd be three in the car, not exactly spacious!
Woke up the next day with a big fat hangover and said goodbye to the guys. That was two days ago and I've spent the time in between chilling on the fake beach, looking at the museum and art galleries and job hunting.....oh and I went to 'the Gabba', Brisbane's cricket ground.
Looking over to Surfers Paradise
These big stones mark the New South Wales-Queensland border
One last picture together :)
Saw this big lizard-type thing in the rainforrest area of SouthBank
There is a, quite random, Napalise Pagoda in the middle of the SouthBank area
The view of the whole city and surrounding suberbs from Mt. Cootha
Around Mt. Cootha there was an 'aboriginal art trail' which was a 2km walk around the forrest that took you past traditional aboriginal works of art.
Here is another piece of aboriginal art
Brisbane CBD by day
And again by night (looks much better by night huh!)
The bones of a dinosaur in the museum. This one is apparently called the 'Muttaburrasaurus'!
This strange fly-ish thing sits between Queensland museum and the performing arts centre....Oh, I almost got run over by a bus taking this photo!
A traditional aboriginal band was playing in SouthBank the day I arrived...They were damn good!
The cliff we climbed....
Professionals!
30 bits of wood hand carved into different shapes....
This room was amazing! You walk in, stand on a small platform and florescent lights light up different coloured spheres hanging all around you. The walls and celing are mirrors and the floor is covered in water. Its very dark and the door closes behind you. Basically, it feels like you are floating in space surrounded by little coloured stars because you are not aware of the platform or the mirrors. Its one of the best pieces of modern art I've ever seen!
1 comment:
That last photo in that room looks awesome!
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