21&22&23|12|2019, How we spend Christmas and a place of a different kind

Hi guys,

To my horror, I have to realize that December is coming to an end again. Christmas is right around the corner and all of Australia is in the Christmas spirit. There is a buzz of excitement about the upcoming holidays all around us, and we are also looking forward to our somewhat different Christmas. While we both agree that we wouldn't be sad if we were home for the holidays, we will still have a few nice and surely unforgettable days. For tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, my parents have allowed us to leave our rooftop tent for one night and have a nice evening in a nice hotel in the middle of the Gold Coast. We will take the rest of the day easy and plan, for example, a Christmas breakfast on the beach, a visit to a lookout over the Gold Coast, and of course a great Christmas dinner in the evening.

However, we still have no big plans for the 25th and 26th of December, but since the following day, December 27th, is already our first day of work, we will certainly enjoy the time to the fullest.

The last few days we have dedicated to exploring the region around Byron Bay. However, since this nice place is not only a beautiful city but also the easternmost point of mainland Australia, we have devoted ourselves to this fact and have done some hiking.

Along the coast, we were able to enjoy a beautiful little hike and, in addition to great nature, also discovered some of Australia's wildlife. In addition to numerous sea turtles, we also spotted a group of dolphins and even a large reef shark!

Yesterday, we took a trip to Nimbin. About an hour inland, in the middle of a huge forest, there is a town on a hill like we have never seen before.

"Nimbin" is known as the "Amsterdam of Australia" and even though I haven't been to "Amsterdam" yet, I definitely don't imagine the Dutch capital like this. Basically, everything in the city revolves around the hippie culture, just as one imagines it. Rainbow at every corner, loud patterns, the smell of something different cigarettes, and an alternative way of life through and through. After a few hours in the midst of this, let's say, special little town, we were also happy to be back in the car on our way back to the coast.

Since we are heading a bit further north tomorrow, it remains to be said that both of us really like Byron Bay and we will definitely not be able to avoid making another stop when we head back south after work!

As this blog entry is coming to an end, I wish you all a peaceful Christmas! Enjoy the time with your loved ones, we will make the best of it too!

Merry Christmas!🎄

Greetings from Ocean Shores, Australia🇦🇺

Your Tim!😊

Average temperature of the last few days: 28 degrees with 70% humidity☀️