shrimp on the barbie!

although hostels are hostels for a reason, i was really expecting something more than it actually was, especially according to the more-than-decent looking pictures online. it was mostly stressful just not being settled, so our first couple days were taken with apartment hunting. we first arrived at the backpackers in paradise hostel at about 8pm and the lady at reception informed us that seven different hostels around town were going on a pub crawl downtown surfers. that seemed like a good idea until she then told us that the bus was leaving at 8:30. we rushed to the liquor store only to find out that alcohol was way out of our budget. $25 for a mickey? i don't think so. we did end up going out anyways, but it wasn't as fun as it could have been since we didn't know anyone. we eventually met our friend dave from germany, and that made it a bit better, to have a group of three rather than two. for this first week, it's also schoolie week, which is when the high school kids are on break, so downtown from about 7pm on is absolutely insane. people everywhere!



so we toughed out the first couple nights despite our disappointing hostel because we knew we'd find a place of our own soon enough.