When you visit a new country and you stay in one place
for quite a while shortly after arrival that place becomes the ‘standard’ for
the country you are in. Even though you know it’s a big country and other towns
and cities will be completely different. It is a case of a first lasting
impression. For me Byron Bay is now the ‘standard’ for Australia, my first
impression of the land down under and it is a lasting one.
I find Byron a very mellow and pretty little town. The lush
green cape sticking out into the Pacific Ocean, the milk white lighthouse
standing out against the green hills and blue sky. Long golden beaches lining
the bay, surfers having a field day at The Pass, ocean kayaks seeking out the dolphins,
sun seekers strolling down the beach or working on their tan. The marine
reserve ‘Julian Rocks’, dead smack in the middle where the bay meets the
vastness of the ocean. All this framed by the peaks and rolling hills of the
Great Dividing Range.
It seems that the beauty of the surroundings has its
influence on the people. In general there is a very relaxed and respectful
atmosphere in town. This sometimes changes over the weekend when people feel the
urge to show their disability to hold their drink, but all in all it is a friendly
place. Friends or even just random strangers chill in the park. Sharing drink,
food and stories, making music and dance. The high hippie value of Byron Bay
fuels this of course, but that is also what creates ‘the Byron Vibe’.
Live music is also a big part of creating that vibe and in
Byron there is live music everywhere. And I mean absolutely everywhere. At the
bar, on every corner of the street, when you enter the supermarket, when chilling
at the beach. Some performers are definitely better than others, but they offer
live music and a smile on your face none the less.
All this sounds amazing and it definitely aided in me having
a great time in Byron Bay. But it’s always about the people. A pretty place
with shitty people will still be a shitty place. Luckily I was fortunate enough
to meet some amazing people that made this already beautiful place even a
better one.
Maya, my friend from Holland, who helped me get settled
into Byron and turned out to be one of my best buddies I could wish for. My
adventure would never have started out this well if not for her.
Her flat mate Hannah, who likes to make me think I
offended her, just for the fun of it. (In a good way)
Pierre, who turned out to have a very similar taste in
and appreciation of music. And his girlfriend Emily, who speaks sarcasm like no
other. And we usually end up in a weird conversation. Both of then made me laugh
until I cried on several occasions, which are moments I’m always grateful for.
Juan and Catalina, who I’d met in Sydney for the first
time and shared lots of good food (Juan is a chef) and laughs with.
Living at the dive shop for a few weeks was also great.
The dynamics of the crew living upstairs was very interesting. Working, living
and partying together. I picked up on some new drinking games and Aussie slang.
I met some cool new people and will definitely be back there.
There are of course more people and interesting characters
that contributed to an amazing stay in Byron Bay, but they are too many to list
them all. If you are reading this, you know who you are.
The only downside was the season I’d arrived in, winter.
During the day it was quite comfortable but at night it could be cold. The last
week the temperature even dropped into the single digits. I’ll will definitely
return to Byron Bay before I leave Australia. Like with so many people I have
spoken to over the past 2 months, Byron did something to me. It has a certain
attraction, a certain energy which conquered a place in my heart. I’ll just
name it ‘the Byron Vibe’ and I dig it.
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