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Welcome to the Dirty Thirties.

Where did it all go? 10 years ago I remember being saying good teens with a hint of sadness, however, still at Uni I had my whole life ahead of me and the world to explore. Approaching 30 is much more a time for reflection. Where am I, who have become, am I happy are all things to ponder. I have to admit the idea of turning 30 had troubled me for at least a couple of years but as moist people find the closer I got to it the more comfortable I became with the idea….. after all it is just another decade.

The Big 30

Stucros
2007-03-08 17:27:42

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everyone seemed up for going out so we went to the balcony restaurant where the food was both reasonable and very good (put dish to shame). Esther, using a dubious but still believable excuse, popped out and bought a birthday cake to be delivered later with sparklers and candles. From the restaurant there was a man on the street with a telescope and for a small donation we were all able to see Saturn and it's ring for the first time - something with the position of the earth made it one of the best days for 80 years anyway another first for the 30th.

Trying to cling to the twenties we hit Cheeky Monkeys - on my last visit to Byron I hadn't actually gone there, which for a 7day stay I'm told is quite an accomplishment. From the stories it was clear that is one of these nightclubs where everyone mocks but actually loves and always has a good time...... unfortunately for us although we most definitely wished to mock it, it didn't really capture our mood and we were left feeling a little bit old as people whooped with excitement as tracks I'd never heard of bellowed out of the speakers.

No real hangovers the next day but plenty of sun at the beach and for the nights entertainment we headed to the Arts Factory (where is stayed the last time) to Cockatoo Paul and his show. Once again it well done but was so identical to the performance I saw 6 months previous his claim to being an 'artist' is almost fraudulent.

Gold Coast

We only wanted to stay in Byron for 5 days so when looking for somewhere to head afterwards the gold coast looked like a good idea. Unfortunately a good indication of the time we had in the gold coast was I did not take one photo in 3 days.

The biggest highlight was a trip to 'wet n wild' a group of 5 30 year old perhaps did look a little out of place but our screams and smiles were that of teenagers. Things have come along way since we were the age for water parks and most of the rides where tandem which, as a party of 5 caused a little problem but it was also cool to share the experience. Lisa was by far the best to ride with, high pitched screams which were always followed with decibels of laughter and then repeated. Fresh from the skydive none of the rides really had us shaking in our thongs but one which was a good few hundred meters of freefall certainly
made us think with the non-skydivers taking the slightly more tame version. The best ride by far was the tornado where you ride in a dingy facing each other then freefall into a funnel skimming from one side to the other. A great day out and the only thing that probably saved the gold coast experience.

Travelling used to be reserved for the intrepid but places like Australia east coast have become so easy and accessible that literally anyone can do it. We stayed in the 'surfers paradise backpackers resort' and if there is any example of how travelling is not really travelling anymore it is this. The staff were all brits and loving their 'costa del sol' life style..... unfortunately the sort of people who used to dream about becoming 18-30 holiday rep now come out to oz and work at tacky backpackers and claim that they travelling - which I suppose they are but 'travelling' isn't always on geographical dimension.
Oh and before I sign off we did sample the Gold Coast nightlife but it wasn't really for us!!!
I am now 30....... suppose I should try and get some sense of responsibility!

Big thanks for everyone that made it up to Byron for my birthday!!!!