Surfers Paradise

Alright! Let's get through the important stuff first. I live here:

120 The Esplanade
Surfers Paradise, QLD

But, more importantly, "here" is right across from there:

Every other morning I wake up early run barefoot on the beach, stomping through the waves and watching sea fisherman setting up as I go. The sand is the finest I've ever felt; It's incredibly soft and makes a low squeaky noise if you drag your feet across it. The water is warm and turns from blue to toothpaste green as it moves toward the shore.

Apart from knowing that I'm in Australia it's hard to tell Surfers Paradise apart from Miami, Mexico, or any CA beach. It's incredibly touristy here and, therefore, not too distinctive. I get ridiculously excited when any animal or bird comes near; in a country over-run with unique lifeforms Surfers is pretty barren. But, I love having the ocean so close and it will be a good springboard area for other travel around the continent.

Things that are hard to get used to:

1) Traffic on the left side of the road. I feel like a kid again not having any instinct for where danger is coming from.
2) Coins that are actually dollars - Aussies are in shape from lugging all this change, I swear!
3) Prices. Things are more expensive here because their minimum wage is higher. We have an okay exchange rate, but that doesn't change the fact that basic items cost much more.
4) Phone numbers! I can't figure this out. I will soon be inheriting a pre-paid phone, so some lucky people will get calls (or unlucky, depending on your viewpoint), but I've seen phone numbers ranging from 6 to 12 digits. Plus, there isn't any noticeable rhythm when people say the numbers.

Things are different, but I'm learning. And, it makes me appreciate having a home where the world makes a bit more sense.