Nimbin and Yulunga

In New South Wales, just inland from Byron Bay, is a vast rainforest- filled Cauldera, inside which lies the town of Nimbin.
On the streets of Nimbin where soy lattes are plentiful, alcohol is banned and hemp celebrated, most things are tolerated but not violence (according to Nimbin street code) and here we see our first living presence of aborigines since arriving in Australia- strange but true.



We arrive Yulunga at the hour of mosquito feasting and rainforest cacophony just before sunset. From outside the houses look a bit unconvincing as dwellings, like masks or husks, but the forest gardens surrounding them are beautifully tended. No one is within sight or earshot. After a while a car approaches and driver who turns out to be John Seed encourages us to make ourselves at home, our friends Nell, Ron and little Kian should be back in the next couple of days.



They return next morning but before they do we meet Koa who lives in and out of the forest, knows how to feed himself from bush tucker and where to find watering holes a days journey apart walking all the way to Cairns, his own song line if you like which he walks every year. Koa was paralysed in his twenties and learned to walk again with the help of a Hawaiian healer. I was pretty amazed by the life and freedom he has attained for himself. He has to watch where he places his feet,as sensation is incomplete and told me that straight-edged urban landscapes are deceptive and easy to fall down in, whereas the rainforest keeps him attentive, poised, sensitive and sensitised.



We spent a very relaxed week with Nell and Ron, friends and neighbours dropping by, musical instruments accompanying varied and lively conversation. As Utopian as I've ever known in passing.
Nell and Ron's baby, Alia Rose Berry, was born 3 weeks after our departure on Feb 3rd