Nooooosa!

More waffle, as promised!



Reasons I like Noosa:

1) It reminds me of little Jordan saying "wooosaa" (as in Bad Boys) to calm me down when I was over-excitable!

2) It has a really nice community atmosphere (although some people are a bit snooty!)

3) It has stunning national park land... which Noosa Parks Association has fought very hard to protect over the last 50 years or so.

4) It is not over-populated and over-developed (Thanks to strict rules on this, again down to influence on the council from Noosa Parks Assocation)

5) It has gorgeous beaches

6) It has a beautiful river

7) It has lots of nice shops and plush restaurants and bars.

8) The surrounding area (Coolum, Maroochydore, Eumundi etc..) is beautiful too

9) There is plenty to do


Reasons I dont like Noosa:

1) You lovely people aren't here

2) I am not rich


I arrived in Noosa on Friday at around midday. I made my way to the hostel and dropped my bags off in my room. I then stubbed my toe TWICE on the step going into the ensuite bathroom and was stood staring at my backpacking contemplating unpacking some stuff when I realised that there was blood running from my flip-flop all over the floor... where I dont have much feeling in my toe that has been operated on I hadnt realised that I had taken a huge chunk out of my toe!! I was hopping around the room in my bra and shorts with a wadge of toilet paper round my toe when there was a knock on the door and Becca (the girl I met in Japan) walked in!! "So great to see you haven't changed Jess" she said... and we had hysterics for about 5 minutes! Was a typical me moment! Anyway I had contacted her to say I was arriving in Noosa on Friday as I knew she was in Noosa too. She was staying with friends of her family and they had come to pick me up on their boat! (The hostel I was staying at was right by the Noosa River) So I grabbed my bag and some plasters and off we set. The people Becca was staying with are called Sandy and Pete. They took us down the Noosa River on their boat and then pulled the boat up on the beach outside their apartment... what a gorgeous apartment, when you step in the front door you can see right through to the huge balcony and it looks like you could step off the balcony and straight into the beautiful Noosa River. We went for a swim in their pool and Pete made seafood risotto... I am sad to say, it was better than my seafood risotto - apparently the secret ingredient is saffron and he uses basil instead of parsley. I went back to my hostel later on in the evening and then on Saturday morning, Sandy and Becca picked me up about 7am in airconditioned mercedez luxury and we went to Eumundi Markets which were brilliant - loads of handmade craft stalls and there were kids busking, they were so talented. We headed back to Sandy and Pete's apartment and had breakfast. Had a swim in the pool again and a very nice hot shower (& a hairdryer - wooo! luxury!) then Sandy made us lunch and Becca had to leave for Fraser Island. Sandy drove me to Coolum and we had a look around and then took me to a few places she thought would be good to ask about work and then sent me home with a dish of Cottage pie.. how nice is that?!
Sunday i headed in to town in the morning, went to the nearest chemist to spray on some tester perfume (a cheapskate trick i have learnt, means i dont have to buy or carry any perfume with me! haha!) and then I went for an interview at one of the hostels - Halse Lodge - with the owner Drew (who Sandy is friends with) he says he normally only employs people who've been staying at his hostel for a few weeks already but that Sandy had said I have a beautiful character and he has known Sandy for years so I could have the job... I sent huge thank-you's to Sandy! The job is keeping the self-catering kitchen for dirty backpacker slobs clean and tidy. It's about 4 or 5 hours a day spread out in 3 shifts from 9am to 10pm. In return I get free accommodation, free breakfast and dinner, free internet and tours/activities at wholesale prices...it should save me quite a lot of buckaroonies. After my interview I went to Noosa National Park and walked all the way round the headland from Noosa main beach to Alexandria Bay. It was absolutely stunning. I stopped for a swim at tea tree bay and when I got out of the sea, I saw a huuoooge goanna in one of the trees!
Today I started the job at the hostel... I arrived at 8am but the girl who was training me didnt haul herself out of bed until 10am, she showed me where everything was.. we cleaned and tidied the kitchen together and now I have until 3pm until we have to go back and clean.. she has gone to the beach with a bunch of people who work at the hostel and invited me but I am having a particularly 'fat day' today and can't face the embarrasment of wearing my swimming costume in front of people who I'm going to have to work with for a month! So I have chickened out and I'm uploading photos and waffling to you instead! Now I am running out of internet credit so will have to say bye for now! xx