words of wisdom from the workplace

i am currently employed at the front desk of a backpackers hostel in byron bay. it's a wonderful job. i work with some lovely people and have the opportunity to meet people at their best (who isn't in a good mood when they're on vacation?), and sometimes their worst...

anywho...ask anyone around town and they will confirm that we have the most hilarious front desk in town. and it might have been the remainder of the buzz i still have going from last night's foray with a jagermeister bottle, but i think we were in particularly fine form this morning. zingers and witicisms were being thrown about galore, to the delight of all those around us. or at least to ourselves. and sometimes folks, keeping yourself amused is the most important thing. isn't it?

today's discussion focused on the wearing of rashguards for any purpose outside surfing or any water activity. decidedly uncool, yet hilarious to behold. people grocery shopping in a rashie. stopping to grab a coffee in a rashie. going for a walk through town in a rashie. checking into the hostel at 10am in a rashie. this all led to the creation of the first segment on my blog. i'll be sharing with all of you any photos i capture of people rocking a rashie out of the accepted areas/ situations.

love always,

laur

try not to dance

I cannot stop listening to the song "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

This song has been causing me to bust out into spontaneous toe-tapping, knee-slapping and shoulder-shaking all across town.

I recommend adding it to your playlist immediately, but of course I must warn you it may cause random dance outbreaks.

Enjoy!

this is laurie. this is laurie at buddha bar. this is a photograph by laurie's friend chiara.

Kangaroos Do Exist- Part 2

Until recently- I believed it was possible kangaroos were a fabrication by Aussies to try and get people to come to their country.
I have been proven wrong.

Kangaroos Do Exist

I just got back from a week-long surf trip down the eastern coast from Byron to Newcastle. And it was, in a word: FANTASTIC.
My friend Tash and I embarked on a mission surfing/camping trip that had us staying in a different spot each night and surfing somewhere new every morning and night. We had no planned stops and no maps. We made our first stop at Crescent Head where we camped about 10km out of town and woke up at 7am to go for the first surf of our trip. Though beautiful and isolated, the waves were not epic. And to be honest, being alone in a secluded spot with murky water was giving off those "sharky" vibes. We drove into town and after having one of my best sessions on the water in weeks I now understand why everyone says you must surf Crescent Head. The waves were peeling from the point in long clean lines and all of the surfers in the water were super friendly and encouraging. Of course it helps to surf a new spot when it's two s, locals always seem to be more helpful that way...
From there we went down the coast to Diamond Head (passing through Laurieton on the way- whatwhat!) and surfed a few small spots along the way before setting up shop just outside the national reserve land. It was here that, after living in Australia for 16 months, I spotted my first kangaroo. Heaps of them actually. I promptly jumped out my car and proceeded to act like a kangaroo and take a million photos to the scorn of residents and locals.
Our next stop was Newcastle- we surfed at Black Head on our way- nothing too spectacular, except the free showers in the pubic toilets at the beach. We only lasted 2 hours in Newcastle. There was no surf and after being on secluded beaches for a few days we just had no desire to be in a city. We bee-lined it for Yamba and camped there.
Yamba is a siiick little town. Great waves. Friendly people. Delicious bakery. I even had my first forray into hired photography when a couple groms saw me photographing Tash and asked me to take some photos of them in return for some chips. Solid deal.
While in Yamba we heard reports from friends that it was going OFF in Cooli. Tash and I love Cooli. In fact when we say Cooli we say it in a whisper...just sounds so nice...Cooli...
We drove straight past Byron and into Cooli where I surfed for 3 hours and battled the most insane sweep I've ever fought at Snapper. I paddled out at Snapper and withing minutes without even realising it, was at Greenmount. Insane. But I also caught some of the sickest waves I've ever been in. And I swear I was thiiiis close to getting barrelled. At least thats how it felt.

There is something so liberating about climbing into your car with only a few surfboards, two cans of beans and a shoddy tent to get you going. We had an iPod but it wouldn't play through the radio so for the majority of the ride was spent talking to Tash. Or me talking to Tash. Or me singing to Tash. Weird that Tash hasn't called me for a surf since we've been back...

Anywho, it was wicked fun and I am already counting down the days until I roadtrip all the way to Bells for the Rip Curl Pro with my friend Tristan (11).

Peace, love, and barrels.

laurie

lalala...i have a blog...lalala

Wow. My very first blog.

It is something I have been meaning to do for over a year now because I always seem to have so much to say. So of course I am now sitting here chewing on my nails and drawing a massive blank. LALALALA. What to say what to say what to say...

Well to all of you reading this (likely only my father and anyone else who happens to be in the room with him) I promise my next entry will be entertaining, insightful, inspired, and will maybe even contain a picture. OK- I at least promise a picture.

This blog will be about all of the things that make me smile, that inspire me, that move me- and that will hopefully do the same for you!

Peace, love and rainbows!

Laur