surfer's paradise

arrived in surfer's paradise a few days ago to take in the gold coast of queensland. this is the miami beach of down under, where meter maids stroll in gold bikinis and club music leads you to your next party. for lyds and i, however, surfer's is a chance to get in some r&r from the byron nightlife. note of clarification: i have received numerous questions on what slapping the goon is. allow me to explain. "goon" is cheap, boxed aussie wine that you drink from by removing it from the box and handling the bag directly. to slap the goon is to simply drink from the goon bag. for the really hardcore, the goon bag once deflated of wine can be re-inflated and used as a pillow.

there isn't much surfing in surfer's paradise anymore - just a little swell suited for beginners. what is tall is the rows of high rises, condos and vacation housing that have sprung up from the sand to line the beach. lyds and i even managed to get a hostel in the shadow of the southern hemisphere's tallest residential building. most of surfer's paradise comes out at night, where you and your money can be seperated very quickly. even the indy car race takes place in its streets each october with likewise speedy cars racing at over 300km.hr. as four our fellow touristas - most are asian so the marketing machine must be working in that part of the world to bring them here. while lyds and i both really like surfer's paradise, the best part is its name. again sex sells and a sexy name sells better.

we breezed in and breezed out of surfer's paradise, but not before catching a movie (reign over me) and a themepark (dreamworld). best part of surfers is still the beach - you could walk all night long along the surf with the wind and the waves around you. the neon, well, that is for you to decide.

and no we did not touch a surfboard.