Cheer Up?Slow Down?Chill Out

If we don’t return home I can guarantee you will find us in Byron Bay: a home to surfers, yogis, buskers, baristas, and Thor.  All of my favorite kinds of people. Byron truly is a hippie haven and it appears that everyone is living by the Cheer Up. Slow Down. Chill Out. motto.

First of all and most importantly when one is in Byron one must wear a lot of linen or maybe just swimming togs but definitely no shoes. Shoes are offensive to the culture.  As you’re reading this you may think well what kind of culture are you learning here in Byron. Plenty I say. Plenty.  Like – How to catch a good wave. The best way to crack a macadamia nut. Where to purchase quality linen clothes. This is important stuff.

Fair dinkum there’s a lot of beauty to appreciate in this area, and that is the best kind of culture to learn.

Belongil Beach

Here’s what I love about Australians. They seem genuinely delighted to interact. Whether you are in a store or walking down the street everyone seems happy to have a chat:  “What are you getting after today?…Oh that’s sweet. What a perfect day for it. I once went out there.  It’s a beaut…” and so on… It’s rather enchanting.

I got sidetracked…and let’s be honest, you’re here for the pics.

Cape Byron Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is a gorgeous spot and the most easterly point in Australia. We could almost see our old friend New Zealand. Hey hey Kiwis. A beacon for ships since 1901, the lighthouse is the most powerful in Australia.  Nifty. It also makes for nice walk which starts/ends at Watego Beach.
   

 

Our second place was a very convenient in-town airbnb, walkable to the beach, and equipped with bikes. Most importantly it was a block away from Top Shop, a Byron institution and a great place for a capp with macadamia milk. Harry and I also took turns taking yoga classes at Creature Yoga. This was the first time the 5 of us were separated for such a significant length of time.

al fresco bathing

plunging

 

The Hinterlands
We attempted to visit one of the waterfalls in the hinterlands outside of Byron. The rain came down pretty hard just as we arrived and the paths were flooded. We ventured a bit and then decided to throw in the towel as it were and go get some pastries instead. It gave us the opportunity to visit the incredibly charming towns in the area – Bangalow and Newbry.  I’d be lying if I said I did not peruse the real estate listings.  This is where instagram dreams comes to life – white linen clad people and homes, antique fruit boxes filled with flowers, barefoot children with incredible tans, pregnant moms making homemade jams – this is the epicentre for free range living and I’m down with what they’re selling.
Harvest eating at Harvest

 

Surfing & Ti-Tree Lake
We caught the surfing bug and I could make this a part of my daily life.  It meshes perfectly well with yoga. Ben really got into it and his limber 11 year old joints made it look so easy.  He popped up every time – over and over again.  it was amazing.  It’s exhilarating and even more thrilling to watch your kids enjoy it.
After surfing we went swimming in the sacred Ti Tree lake.  The antiseptic oil from the tea trees surrounding the lake drip into it to create medicinal bathwater. This is where the Bundjalung women would give birth.

little stud

Hi-Ya Wave and that’s how you karate chop surf

Ti-Tree Lake

cute Spaniard surfing instructor

Paula’s Birthday!

The highlight of our week!  We started the morning with pancakes and a gorgeous horseback riding trip through the bush.  We saw a poisonous brown snake and a wild wallaby which was very exciting. Then we visited the Byron Farm which has a fantastic restaurant, playground and free space to roam past animal paddocks, veggie fields and pecan and macadamia orchards. We copied the locals and foraged fallen macadamia nuts and used the cracker to split them open.  This provided much entertainment for these montessori-educated kids.  The remainder of the day was spent at the beach and then of course sushi for dinner. This certainly sets the bar high for future bdays.

  

Happy Happy birthday girl

what’s happening here
Byron Farm
 

Beach & Body Surfing

our towel mate

    

dinner on the beach

 

Crystal Castle
This was a little preview of Bali. Despite the name it is a primarily outdoor experience.  The grounds have a mixture of Hindu and Buddhist figures – statues of Ganesh, Buddhist prayer wheels, meditation labyrinths. It’s quite lovely and relaxing and we spent a while here before heading back to the beach.
send our prayers out into the world

someone tipped this tree upside down -or it’s wearing a hula skirt

cooling off with ice blocks while waiting for their sister

High Five, Buddha!

Gryffindor! (ya know b/c it looks like a wizard’s hat)
amethyst bed

   

i’m not sure they’re doing the meditation properly. racing to the middle doesn’t seem right.
reflexology around rose quartz
how do you open this portal

 

Random Pics

lunch at the Balcony

cuties getting tacos

I absolutely love Byron and the only thing that is getting me out of this place is knowing that our next stop is the Great Barrier Reef.

As a side note I don’t want to brag but we have truly evolved past linear time. We’re like those octopus creatures in the film Arrival. Unfortunately the rest of the world has not evolved with us. In the last week we’ve been in 3 time zones. Sydney to Uluru is a difference of 2.5 hours. Uluru to Brisbane (the airport) is 1.5 hours. Brisbane to Byron add an 1 hour so back on Sydney time (NSW does not participate in daylight savings) and then back to Brisbane so backward an hour. This caused a little confusion as we made our way to the airport and suddenly noticed the clock in the car change during our drive and realized we woke up much earlier than necessary.

and then there’s this:

Image result for chris hemsworth at the beach

6 thoughts on “Cheer Up?Slow Down?Chill Out”

  1. So, I’m saving my real first comment for second so I can say happy birthday to Paula immediately. Happy, happy birthday!!

    But, really, SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! You did NOT see my favorite Chris, did you????

    What amazing adventures. It’s going to be such a letdown to get back home, although I’m pretty sure Piper will help make up for that. And all the rest of us who have been missing you so much! Xoxo

      1. Well, it was a nice fantasy while it lasted…
        (And, of COURSE I read all your posts to the end, silly woman! I’m making sure you’re actually coming home again – almost lost you to Byron Bay. It’s just as well you didn’t actually see him!)

    1. ? I never thought anyone read all the way to the end of a post! I totally got this from google images. You would have heard me screaming if this happened.

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