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We checked into a hostel called Granny's Farm, which is a little hippie village into itself. Some of its rooms are actually in an old railroad passanger car which is sitting right out in the middle of a corn field.
Within minutes of walking into town you will be approached by someone who will try to sell you marijuana. The use of marijuana is very open in this town. There is a hemp bar where people will just sit and smoke. We ate at a pizza place where everyone lights up marijuana joints after their meal. It's all very casual and laid back. If that is something that would intimidate you, don't go to Nimben. For most people it is the ulterior motive for going.
Unfortunately, Nimben is not totally a utopian commune. Just like the counterculture movement, which it reminded us of, the peace and love emotions it generates have become surrounded by excessive drug use. When I (Joel) was in the bathroom, at the local pub, I noticed that the lights gave off a real dull purplish light. I couldn't figure out why until the guy standing at the urinal next to me explained that the lights were used so junkies couldn't see their veins to shoot up.
He went on to explain how his community (he had lived there for 10 years) was having a real problem with junkies coming in and causing all kinds of problems -- stealing, starting fights, hassling tourists, etc.. He said most of the people in the community were really laid back, nice people, but the junkies were screwing it up for everybody. It's really too bad it had to go that way -- so much potential wasted.
We had heard so much about Nimben from other travellers going up and down the East Coast of Australia, that we had to check it out. It has kind of a myth surrounding it. The people of Australia tend to think of it as their Woodstock, but their Woodstock is still alive, although it is just a shell of what it once was.
Thursday, October 28th, we took off for Byron Bay.