The Rainbow Region

The land of pristine coastline, lush rainforest, cattle farms, and sugarcane fields is the area I am now calling home. Lennox Head is little more than a surf village with sidewalk cafes and a famous right-hand break where there is a constant mix of locals and holiday makers playing, partying, and relaxing. I am caught between two worlds myself as I spend mornings at the beach and the afternoon at work, evenings cooking and the next day doing it all over again. Lennox Head is just one of the many interesting and contrasting spots of this region.

A couple of weeks ago while Katherine and her cousin, Scott were in town we ventured to a very famous little spot, Nimbin. Once upon a time Nimbin was actually a sleepy dairy town and then... in 1973 the Aquarius festival was held there! University students and other hippie folk gathered in the small town and never seemed to leave. Since, it has been known as an extremely liberal community of communes and pot smoking hippies. Although the cultivation, buying, and selling of cannabis is illegal in New South Whales, Nimbin maintains an open spirit about it all and you can actually buy it on the streets. Outside of the novelty of being able to buy such merchandise without so much as a batted eye, it is located in a magical place. Nimbin is nestled amongst mountains of sorts in an area sacred to the local Aboriginals, the Bundjalung people. If feeling ambitious (which I haven't yet felt) there is Mt. Warning which can be climbed as well as all sorts of other treks and rural Aussie adventures to get into. Nimbin exists in its own harmony where environmentalist, artist, and musicians live amongst the enchanting nature that is just one village of the Rainbow Region.

Update from Lennox Head

I have proven to be very lax in updating my blog and the truth of it is, I was hoping to update with exciting news of employment! Unfortunately, I have no such news. At the moment, I am back where I was last year at Optus, the telecommunications company. I have been reminding myself to be thankful for at least a few hours a week to help pay rent, but am a bit disappointed in all honestly. I am trying ever so hard to stay optimistic, but it seems that the U.S. economy has in fact effected Australia's economy and everything seems to be slowing down. Job applications resemble college essays which is a full time job in itself. Positions open and close with no reason leaving me without work and frustrated. I am brainstorming plans B, C, D, and F and promise to keep you all posted on that.

Meanwhile I have been cooking.... lots. Our veggie patch is out of control producing lettuce for salads every night, herbs, and all other sorts of random greens. I enjoyed a 10 day visit from a friend from high school where we adventured around, drank lots of coffee, and enjoyed the beach. BBQs are a regular weekend occurrence and Brett and I are getting used to each other all over again :)

And then there was the election. OBAMA! It was a very exciting evening over here and has been a major topic of conversation. Nearly everything I hear from the Aussies and Europeans is optimistic and positive which certainly is a refreshing change. Lets' keep our fingers crossed and HOPE for CHANGE.