Me and my new friend Megs at Market Stage

I’ve been back from Australia for a few weeks now, but have been finding it really hard to sit down and write my thoughts and experiences on the things I’m doing. I guess that is a sure sign that I’m having a good time!

Before Kiwiburn, there was Rainbow Serpent. I had gone last year with Stephanie, Alex and Tim. This year, Steph and I had a new and fantastic crew to run with. Our experience this year could not have been more different than last years — where in 2009 we camped in tents in the back of beyond (aka Boganville), and ate food cooked on the hood of the car (no joke), this year Stephanie was one of the Brain Children behind RS’s very first dedicated theme camp.

Nargile Lounge sign and head table

The Nargile Lounge was a Middle Eastern hookah and bellydance venue. A US Army tent was bought and transformed via billowing fabric, beautiful lanterns and hand made and painted tables. Cushions were strewn about the tent, and all who wandered by were invited in to sit for a spell and enjoy something a little different than the doof that the festival so amply provided.

Kat and Amy dancing at sunset

There were about a dozen of us in total, including my good friend Katherine from Christchurch who flew over for this adventure with me. We arrived in Melbourne a few days before the festival and helped with a bit of the final preparations on the tables. We headed up to the festival site a few days before it officially opened to put the camp together. It was a lot of hard work, but in the end, completely worth it.

Me, in a tutu, at Rainbow Serpent!

Before the festival, Kat and I had a few days to spare so we took a mini road trip along the Great Ocean Road. The weather was lovely (for the most part), and we saw some incredibly gobsmacking scenery. On the way back to Melbourne we stopped off at a park and managed to find a tree with not one, but FIVE koalas living in it. Sa-weet.

To be perfectly frank, Im finding it really difficult for me to recap everything now, as I feel like anything I write now will not do the time I spent in Australia justice. I had an amazing time, and met some wonderful new people (most of whom are for keeps!) So, here are a few photos, I hope you will forgive this complete and utter cop out of a post :P

Related posts:

1. Australia 2009
2. Rainbow redux
3. Almost tiki-tour time!
4. The Canadians
5. Just a quickie!