An aggregation of organic food stores, yoga clinics and people selling crystals gives a homely air to Byron Bay. The central market area is predominantly full of cafe's, chic boutique stores and some very arty looking people.
The place evocate's emotions of how Adam and Eve may have reminisced upon their time in the garden of Eden: sunshine, rolling hills, soft sands, breaking waves, Fern gully, fresh fruit, community engagement, homegrown, locally made, multicultural, chickpea salad and spiritualistic innocence. However, bear in mind that Byron Bay is a paradise not heaven. Disregarding the cold weather, I could easily paint a picture of myself playing on the beaches of white sand and have a sense of belonging to a place were people care for each other and live by the community spirit.
Byron Bay is like a beautiful golden orb cobweb which is made up of a variety of individuals that create an overall beautiful structure. Our morning was spent taking a long walk across the coastline and post a sumptuous breakfast we decided to explore the local markets. If you are a fan of "The Rocks" in Sydney then Byron Bay is a larger than life version of "The Rocks". It's a paradise for shopaholics with keen interest in antiques and organic produce.
Post some shopping and a lunch at HOG's Breath Cafe, we spend more time in the town post which we headed towards to the beach to watch the sunset. I was eager as a beaver to try out my new digital SLR and Byron Bay sunset provided the idyllic setting for it. To add to the mysticism of the evening were a couple of hippie musicians playing the drums as the sun disappeared into the night sky leaving all of us behind in a haze of orange and indigo.
It might seem strange today looking around, but long before tourism Byron Bay was the Australian working man's best choice for an inexpensive family holiday. It was never a place for the "monied and would be trendy' folks. They came like a dribble in the 80's and then like a flood in the 90's never to leave the place. The point is when you find a good spot...for heaven's sake tell no one....
