#ArtsNcraftsandtheLighthouse

The weather forecast had predicted non stop rain for the duration of my Byron stay so I was pleasantly surprised to see blue skies and sunshine as I emerged from my room.

To begin the morning, the hostel hosted a bracelet making class where we made bracelets from pond weed. We stripped the green coating from the weed and then twisted and twisted the brown core of the plant until it made a pretty plaited effect. Tie it to size and there you have a lovely homemade and durable bracelet. I accidentally made mine too big so it is an anklet instead!

Whilst making bracelets we heard birds making a racket in the tree next to us, without looking up our instructor said, "There's a snake in the tree." We looked at each other and then he pointed to the tree. An enormous black python was stretched out camouflaged as a branch with his head resting next to a berry. The guy explained to us that the birds were warning each other and the snake is attempting to hunt them by hoping they'll go for the berry and then attacking them. Luckily, the birds did a thorough job of warning each other and none of them got munched this time.

During bracelet making, I met two girls, Erika (USA) and Rachel (UK). I told them that I wanted to do the lighthouse walk and if they didn't have any plans they could join me if they wanted. We kitted up and headed off to the beach to start our coastal walk. The weatherman was completely wrong! It was boiling!

In what would become a theme for our trip we first found food! One thing that we all have in common is our love for eating food and ice creams - and we do it a lot! I may as well have not bothered with my pre-Australia diet and exercise because I gain about a pound a day! Anyway, we had lunch and then started to burn it off and burn in general as we made our way towards the lighthouse.

On the beach we came across a look out point. We climbed the steep,wooden steps and stood on the platform overlooking the ocean. In the distance we saw two whales blowing mist from their blow holes. Soon after we saw more hump back whales travelling across the bay with their babies.

One group of kayakers had a whale just meters from their boats and there were plenty more scattered around in the water. Next to the lookout, we watched the surfers taking on the breaking waves. They weren't quite as skilled the Bondi surfers but still fun to watch.

We ventured on up and up and up .... and up, and up! More bloody stairs and sloped hills whilst burning in the sun. Every time I saw a tree I took a second's shelter then pressed on to the next tree. Out of nowhere a wallaby hopped across the path and vanished into the bush, we were wildlifing well today!

All along the walkway we had a clear view of the ocean and we stopped frequently to admire the whales again. Realising I'd be dead before we reached the top at the rate we were going we decided to get a move on and climbed the billion stairs to the top of the cliff.

The lighthouse was 'lighthousey' but the view around it was incredible! Around the perimeter of the walls on every side you could see beautiful ocean and forestland. One beach in particular was stunning with postcard soft white sand and turquoise water.

We sat for a few minutes regaining energy and soaking in the views before heading on into the woods. Walking in the woods in Australia is both fun and worrying. At times you forget that you are walking in the house of the world's most dangerous snakes and spiders. And yet, I really wanted to see another snake! I've heard the bird calls now, I can practically speak bird! But no warnings were made and no snakes were seen!

Sweat was pouring off us and as we walked, we fantasised about diving into the cool sea. Chelsea had messaged me to say that she had arrived in the morning and we booked a sea kayaking trip together for the next day but she wasn't able to meet us in time for the walk so it was a nice surprise to see her walking over once we reached the beach.

It took under 20 seconds for us all to undress to our bikinis and dive in the water but being typically English I soon started to complain that I was too cold and went to warm up on the beach. Chelsea joined us and Erika had a "friend" that she had met in Melbourne called Jai (UK) and he joined us too.

It didn't take long for us to talk and joke as if we were old friends and we decided to cook dinner together and have some drinks back at the hostel. Well actually, we decided that Jai would cook for us as he is a chef and it seems only logical! I did my job as su chef though and did a very good job of stirring the pot of red Thai curry.

At dinner we shared stories and talked easily together. I told them about my roommate that suffers from night terrors. I had not been

warned about this so when I was woken up at 1am by a girl screaming I was naturally curious about what happened.

The girl in the bed across from me began to explain that this guy has night terrors. Luckily, she was aware otherwise what happened next could have gone very badly. She was sleeping when she became aware that the night terrors guy was looking at her. "Okay", she thought, "he's just sleeping." She kept her eye on him and started to doze back off. All of a sudden he leaped out of bed like a tiger and lunged himself towards her, his arms stretched out and anger in his face. Letting out a loud scream she stopped him in his tracks. He sunk back down as he muttered, "that wasn't meant for you silly!" Then climbed back into bed and fell back asleep as if nothing had happened. He later explained that he was trying to attack the guy climbing into bed in his dream, but finds it embarrassing that he has night terrors, so in his half sleepy state he pretended that he had been awake all along. I kindly suggested to him that perhaps it's worse for people to think you're awake when you attack them in the middle of the night.

Erika also showed us her party trick of opening twisty cap bottles with her arm, turns out it's not that hard and I stole her party trick! Although I have nearly torn my arm off by trying to open a stubborn cider since!

After a pretty exhausting day of walking and sunshine, we headed off to our separate beds and hostels and I fell asleep wondering if night terrors guy would strike again...and if it would be me that he would attack this time...