Jan 2007

Wednesday morning we set off early on a tour to Nimbin, just a 2 hour drive from Byron. We went with Jim's Alternative Tours and both enjoyed it. Ivan the driver was funny, he liked to play his music really loud and preached about his anti-relegion, pro-drugs views. The music was chosen carefully and told a story as we drove through the changing landscape, so for example a song called 'fortunate boy' was about world war 2 when the young Ozzies were called up for service and the rich fortunate boys could buy their way out while others had to hide in the mountains near uninhabited Nimbin - this played as we drove around the mountains where they hid, everyone just listening to the words with their own thoughts.

Nimbin was so weird, this little town was full of misfits. Hippys, people stoned off their faces, cafes where full of people sitting around bongs and the air thick with smoke. We walked around the town just taking it in, it's like Nimbin is stuck in the 70s with sychodelic signs and hippy wall paintings on both sides of the street.

We walked through the Nimbin museum, even more curious!... nothing but old tut, newspaper cuttings covered the wall and old rusty car parts scattered over the floor. While walking through we were approached a few times to buy some weed but declined. I'm sure the museum would make much more sense if you are stoned!

We wondered further up the road and bought a few hash cookies. Both cautious about eating them, we had a nibble every now and again, and after a few hours had both finished a cookie each - it didn't do anything for us and as we found out later, neither did it effect anyone else - ripped off!

Back on the coach there were a few stoned people and Ivan played some loud music for everyone to chill out to. Our next stop was at Paul's place, he owns and cultivates a huge area of land, it was like a scene from a film, complete wilderness and beauty. Paul met us from the coach, an excentric hippy even down to his John Lennon glasses! He showed us to his home in this jungle like place, just a large wooden hut over hanging a large pond. We were offered watermelons and macademia nuts which he grew organically on his grounds and we swam in the pond. Paul didn't stop talking all afternoon, all of it was rubbish, just drug fuelled banter about changing the world. Was very funny although no one laughed out loud.

On to a quick 30 minute stop at Minyon Falls, although there was no water because of the drought. Back on the bus we headed home taking in a quick 'munchies stop' on the way. It was a fun day and a big eye opener.

That evening Steph and I met Emma and Chris in Buddha Bar for a few beers while we watched an amazing fire show.

Paul, Nimbin

Paul's Pond, Nimbin