Half-time summary in Byron Bay

We have arrived in Byron Bay, the easternmost point of Australia and a huge tourist attraction. On our way here, we noticed the many young people with surfboards and the numerous caravans making their way through the town to hopefully secure a spot as close to the lighthouse as possible. Fortunately, since we arrived early, we were able to find a spot at the crowded campground, but we paid a hefty price: $65 per night, double the price of our first night in the camper van. However, it is noticeably cooler and considerably noisier than other places farther up north - that's the price we pay.

Half of our Australian journey is behind us - time to draw a first conclusion. Firstly, we have seen so many beautiful things that it feels like we have been on the road for much longer: the rainforest in northern Queensland, the fish and corals at Green Island, the beach kangaroos in Hillsborough Park, the boat tour to the Whitsunday Islands, shopping in Rockhampton, and the carriage museum in Toowoomba - many wonderful impressions of this unique country. Secondly, we have gained a routine with the camper van: we now know how much fits in the fridge and how to adjust it so that the milk doesn't go bad (it happened twice). We can assess how much driving around we can handle and where to park a camper van (not every shopping center has parking spots that we can fit into). And we enjoy having our things with us and knowing where to store them. And I have to admit: my initial skepticism towards the Fiat brand (sorry Jonas!) has disappeared. Our Fiat Ducato is comfortable, runs excellently, and handles the potholes in the Australian asphalt perfectly. Thirdly, we can say: Australia is a likable country, not least because of the friendly Aussies. They exude a certain zest for life and laid-back attitude, but they are not superficial. We also noticed that there is great concern for nature everywhere, that there is little litter lying around, and that animal protection is highly valued. Information signs are found in many places, asking people not to disturb the animals in their habitat. (However, there is no sign telling the animals not to disturb us - this morning, a bird promptly tried to steal our toast ;-)

Finally, something that caught our attention from the beginning and has often puzzled us: here, the sun rises in the wrong place! That is, it also rises in the east, just like in Switzerland. But because we are in the Southern Hemisphere, we watch its trajectory towards the north, so the sun moves across the sky from right to left, exactly the opposite of what we are used to. I have come to understand this - unless a reader well-versed in astronomy wants to correct me?