I rose at 6 o’clock, finding Toshi still in slumber. Our plan for the day was to explore the Lagoon in Brisbane. Romain had mentioned it to me a few days ago on Fraser Island, emphasizing its appeal as a great spot for a refreshing swim.
Captain Burke Park
Upon rising, I strolled to the nearby restroom for a quick teeth-brushing session and a moment of relief. To my surprise, Captain Burke Park revealed stunning vistas of Brisbane’s skyline that I had never anticipated. Who would have thought that sleeping beneath a bridge could offer such an unexpectedly awesome experience?
The restroom conditions were predictably unpleasant, as one might anticipate. In moments like these, I can’t help but appreciate the advantages of being a guy—no need to navigate the challenges of sitting down to pee, making backpacking a decidedly simpler endeavor for men.
Once my teeth were clean, I took a leisurely stroll through the park and snapped another photo of the captivating skyline. To my surprise, the park was bustling with activity—numerous individuals engaged in jogging or enjoying a leisurely walk. I woke up Toshi and urged him to take a quick bathroom break; we needed to vacate before the city council made an appearance.
The Lagoon
The GPS led us to Brisbane’s vibrant Southbank district, where we parked the car near the Mater hospital for an hour. A brief ten-minute stroll brought us to the Lagoon. En route, we observed a significant presence of Asian individuals, playfully jesting with Toshi that we might have ventured into Asia instead of Australia. Each time we passed Asian girls, I quizzically asked Toshi if they were Japanese, hoping for an opportunity to practice the words he had taught me. Regrettably, not many turned out to be Japanese, but the eagerness to practice the language lingered.
The Southbank area was abuzz with people engaged in various workouts and exercises. The scenic views were so enticing that I couldn’t help but imagine jogging around this picturesque locale. Enthralled by the surroundings, I made sure to capture a photo of a captivating fountain along the way—a special nod to a friend who has a penchant for these water features, always urging me to photograph as many as possible.
We settled down at the beach at the Lagoon, engaging in a lengthy conversation. Eventually, we decided to move on due to the disruptive noise from ongoing construction at the Lagoon, which was undergoing renovations. We strolled through the park, back to the hospital, and grabbed breakfast sandwiches from Subway before bidding farewell to Brisbane.
Back to Noosa
As we left Brisbane, Seul-ki, the South Korean girl I befriended on Fraser Island a few days back, reached out to me on Facebook. She inquired about my plans to visit her, and without hesitation, I informed her that I would be there tomorrow. Toshi assisted with the typing as I drove. On the way out of Brisbane, I inadvertently entered a toll tunnel, and now I had to make a call to arrange payment to avoid a hefty fine of 150 AUD.
By around 11 am, we were back in Noosa. Toshi and I dedicated the afternoon to the library, where I immersed myself in my work on the blog articles. I typed quite a bit of blog articles, managing my finances, and sorting out the toll tunnel payment. Initially, I dialed the wrong company due to the abundance of toll roads around Brisbane, but eventually, the second call proved successful. The woman assured me that the online payment was in order, advising me to retain the receipt. While engrossed in my work, Toshi took advantage of some library downtime for a quick nap.
Chores
At 5 pm, Toshi and I headed to the mall to assess the repair costs for my sunglasses and watch. My sunglasses had suffered damage in Bali, necessitating an inquiry with my travel insurance. Additionally, my watch had stopped working, prompting me to address both issues. I started by visiting the jeweler for my watch, and to my relief, they delivered good news—the watch merely needed a new battery and wasn’t broken.
Following that, we headed to another mall to consult with an optometrist who carried Raybans. The woman informed me that the repair would cost approximately 70 AUD. Grateful for the information, I explained that I couldn’t proceed with the repair at her store, as I was leaving Noosa the next day. I opted to handle the repairs once I reached Sydney. With these tasks completed, I dropped Toshi off at his school, where he would return home for dinner with his host family. We planned to reconvene later in the evening.
A Refreshing Shower and Dinner Dilemmas
Opting to head back to the library, I planned to indulge in a refreshing shower at the impeccably clean gym facility. Taking my time, I tended to the wounds on my feet, which were fortunately on the mend as I felt no pain while walking. Afterward, I returned to the fantastic beachside parking lot and approached some fellow backpackers to inquire about the safety of spending the night there. Engaging in a pleasant conversation with a French guy, he mentioned having spoken to some policemen earlier. According to them, it would be permissible as long as we left before 7 am.
Feeling a sense of relief, I continued my conversation with Gill, a French chef en route to Cairns in search of a new job—ironically, the common plight of many broke backpackers in Australia. Time flew, and soon it was time to reunite with Toshi. When we met, I mentioned still needing dinner. We explored the beachside restaurants, but most were too pricey. Eventually, we returned to Noosa Junction, and I opted for a small purchase at the seven eleven. Around 10 pm, I bid farewell to Toshi, knowing I had an early start to meet Seul-ki the next day.
