Zelma’s Trip

On the Saturday we were relatively lazy and chilled out at Will’s house.  In the evening we headed into the Kings’ Cross area of town where Will and Matt had tickets at a club to see Van Shee.  When we got to the club I didn’t have I.D. on me and we had to get a taxi all the way back to Will’s house.  Now it’s not out of the question for me to get I.D’d, infact it happens way more than it should, but it really hadn’t crossed my mind to bring any I.D. out with me.  In Sydney apparently it happens all the time and it was everyone who was getting asked and not just me.  The taxi ride back was somewhat of a pain as there were several road closures for the Catholic youths to do a walk through the city.  The taxi driver was sound though and let us stop off for some liquid refreshment for the journey.  When we eventually got back to the club we had missed Van Shee but Matt and Will didn’t seem all that bothered by the fact, that or they were just being polite so that I didn’t feel so bad.  The DJs were actually pretty decent but the club closed rather early somewhat oddly.  We then went to a couple of other drinking places and partook in table football, pool and the like before heading back at a rather later hour.

The following day we went for a pub lunch and generally gathered our things and selves together in order to leave the next day.  On the Monday we headed to the airport and flew to Byron Bay.  Well when I say Byron Bay the airport is actually about half an hour from Byron by car but it’s the closest airport.  When we got on the plane Matt and I were in the back seats and as it started to go up the runway it sounded less than safe.  It was rattling crazily and also veering from side to side on the runway.  I put the noises down to being sat at the back as I always seem to be sat over the wings.  Two facts didn’t help in me trying to put these fears to rest.  Firstly we didn’t have a window which I know sounds silly but I like to be able to see that there isn’t smoke/ the wings are still there etc in order to dispell my fears.  Secondly when we were waiting to take off I could hear the air hostesses talking and one of them said, “I -really- need to get off this plane”.  Matt rather helpfully started talking about how dodgy the plane sounded and the fact that it sounded like something was falling off of it.  He got me really nervous and then promptly fell asleep for the remainder of the flight.  This was, fortunately, before the Qantas flight where a big chunk of the fuselage did fall off mid-flight.  I’m not sure how Worldwide the news spread but the pictures were insane.  Apparently the passengers heard rattling and this whole plate of the plane ripped off.  They managed to land and everyone was okay but it was still a bit touch and go.  To be honest it’s relatively reassuring that the plane was okay even with that amount of damage.  You always have the impression, well I do, that if the plane suffers a tiny pin prick to its shell then it will plummet to the ground.  There’s also been an emergency landing since then with Qantas as passengers reported strange noises.  Anyway, it was before this happened but, nevertheless it was slightly disconcerting.

Despite the worst flight I have ever had to endure we landed at the airport safe and sound.  We got a bus tranfer to Byron and checked into the Arts Factory hostel.  After table tennis, getting dinner and checking the place out we had an early night.  Unfortunately it appeared that a lot of other people did not and there was a lot of noise.  One of the most irritating noises was a group of lads who decided to turn the male toilets (right next to our room) into a hair salon so there were very loud clipper noises and the like well into the morning.

The following day we moved rooms before walking down to the main beach.  After a huge portion of chips we carried on with the walk and went up to a lookout on the beach from where we were able to see dolphins and whales in the sea which was pretty amazing.  We then carried on passed Wategos Beach and, after going the wrong way for a while, managed to get to Cape Byron lighthouse.  Other than having amazing views over the bays this also meant that we were able to take photos next to a sign reading, “the most Easterly point in Australia”, or something, which was nice. 

That evening we headed back to the hostel and met up with a group of people who were heading into town.  We went with them and Lucy and Emily (from England), Sean (from Australia) myself and Matt and two very drunken English girls whose names I can’t remember went to Cheeky Monkeys.  Well, when I say we went to Cheeky Monkeys the two unnamed English girls were too drunk and headed back.  When we got to the door Sean was having some debate with the doormen and it transpired that, in his drunken wisdom, he had told them that he hadn’t had a drop and was sober as he was the designated driver for the group.  He was then breathalysed and when he was many times over the limit they refused him entry.  Now this was a new one on me and there wasn’t really any argument or going back on it.  So, we headed to a local pub which was quite nice and when Lucy and Emily headed to Cheeky Monkeys Sean, Matt and I headed back to the hostel for a few more drinks.

The following day we relaxed at the hostel, booked tickets to head further North and watched the new Indiana Jones film at the cinema.  This wouldn’t normally be my first choice of film, it being in the action genre and all, but Matt wanted to watch it so I obliged.  To be honest I am not the best person to critique such a film but I thought it was pants and far-fetched in the extreme.  After cooking dinner we had a relatively early night in order to check out and catch our bus the following morning.