Index....MENU ..MENU2.............................SCROLL DOWN, Please.................................8.
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Menu of Journeys ... Past, Present, and Future
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New Zealand: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) ........Australia: (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
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Dave, the owner of Couple 'O' Days Backpackers in Surfers Paradise, when he knew I was heading for Byron Bay after staying in Surfers two nights, tried hard to get me to call Doug of Rainbow Retreat in Nimbin and stay there instead of at Byron Bay.
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I considered it, but decided that I would go to Byron Bay first because I am a beach person and wanted to check out the beaches for sure. I put one of the purple mini-flyers in my backpack so that I would later have the information. Here it is...both sides:
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The first thing I did after arriving at the Byron Bay bus terminal was to get accommodations for 5 nights about a block and a half away at the Gum Trees Quality Holiday Accommodations...my broken toe was limiting my bag-carrying ability.
I had planned to photograph my way through town and on to the beach after putting my things in my room at the Gum Trees. But as I walked past the bus terminal, I noticed this scene.
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I said something like "Howzit...I think I've heard of you...is it OK to take a photo?" That was my first meeting with Doug McKenzie, owner of Rainbow Retreat. When talking story for a while, Doug mentiond thata man from Hawaii named Koa had been living at the retreat off and on for about four years. I asked from which island to which Doug replied, "Maui." I seldom go to Maui and don't know anyone there by that name though I've met Koa's on Kaua'i. (Koa is the name of an important Hawaiian tree). He asked if I wanted to go up to Nimbin and I told him that I planned to, but I wanted to check out the beaches of Byron Bay first. I said that I was sure to see him again then went on to the beach.
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Two days later, after returning from the photo expedition to the point and lighthouse and finishing a late breakfast, I decided to go to the beach and maybe fly my boomerang. I never made it past the bus terminal. I heard, "Art....Boomerang Art!!" and turned to see Doug waving to me. He told me that when he got back to Rainbow Retreat, he showed Koa my card and Koa said, "I know who Boomerang Art is...I used to live on Kaua'i. Tell him that I'm the Koa that makes baskets."
The upshot was, I was invited up to Nimbin to stay at the Rainbow Retreat as guest of Koa and Doug. That's right, I didn't make it to the beach that day and I never tried to fly my boomerang in Australia. (I will next trip!) I went back to the Gum Trees, put some things in my backpack and...
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New Zealand: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) ...........Australia: (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)