Cairns

I took a day time bus to Cairns. It was a 10 hour journey I think. I hadn't gotten more than a couple of hours of sleep. I was more than exhausted! I actually bumped into Babs from Byron Bay before I got on the bus... it was great to catch up with her even if it was only for a few minutes! My plan was to stay awake on the bus so I could get to bed early that night and off to a two day Cape tribulation excursion the following day... well here is what went wrong:

1) An obnoxious Canadian from Keith, Paddy and Ed's room sat next to me. Not happy about that... but thankfully it was only for a little over a couple of hours.

2) I fell a sleep. And Slept, and slept and slept!

3) I got to Cairns- to my hostel, checked in and had dinner with a sweet 18 year old girl from SF. Met a stereotypical Italian dude (confirmed the fact I need to stay away from them), had some wine, wrote in for my wake up call and went to bed.

4) Slept through my wake up call!!!! I missed my excursion. This was the first real mess up of my trip. How could I do that?! So silly... I had to re-arrange things but I think it worked out for the best.

So that day I took the shuttle into town and met a really nice English bloke named Howard. We went to the Lagoon together and sun baked all day. We went for a nice lunch and guess what I tried?!

I got a KANGAROO salad... it was yummy! It actually tasted pretty much like beef. It is a little gamier and lean... but really good! Howard got a CROCODILE burger and let me try some... it was really juicy and tasted like chicken... but yummier! That was defo a highlight of the day! We drank that night and it was surely a late one... but...

I made friends with the wake up call guy and he actually was a doll and began bringing me coffee to my bed in the morning. He even brought it in a little early for me everyday so I could enjoy it in bed. Talk about great service! I went to Cape Tribulation but just for the day. We went to a rain forest... blah blah, see one see them all. BUT it lead us to Mossomon Gorge. It was a pool of water that flowed quite heavy with lots of rocks. It was literally in the middle of the rain forest, very very cool! I went swimming in it and asked a woman to take my picture twice... her rudeness enquired how many pics I wanted of myself! As Steph Tanner would say "How Rude!" I didn't let that get me down and had the tour guide take a few for me, until he rubbed my thigh... then I stayed far far away! What a creepo!

We also went on a boat ride in a lagoon, swamp thing where we saw wild crocodile and thousands of bats! It was really cool!!! We then went to a national park and saw lots of Koala's in there natural habitat. It was remarkable... they are lazy little creatures... but don't get too close, they will attack! Next was a swimming pool where I met these Irish guys that were really laid back and nice. It was refreshing because this was the first time I was in a tour that I really didn't get along with anyone. It was nice to be around friendly people again... one of them even looked like Leonardo DeCaprio... not so bad to chill with!

I called it an early night that night because I had an excursion the next day. Oh wait! That is a huge lie. I went out with the 18 year old girl, Angela, and her brother, JJ. We went to the cheesiest bar filled with young obnoxious drunks. I encountered an American girl who just talked complete rubbish and gave us all a bad name! She thought they spoke English in Wales and that it was just a different accent than English. There was a wet t-shirt contest... and NO I did not enter. I am too old for such stupidities. BUT I was Angela's coach, made her shirt and was front and center being a stage mom! hahahaha. Every guy cheered for her... and they went dead silent for her competitor who happened to have a gaggle of girls with her who could cheer louder than- errr people who cheer really loud. So Angela lost in the end. It actually disgusted me though... the MC guy was trying to get the girls to make out and stuff. This was the first encounter of cheap entertainment. Aussie is a party place, but it doesn't go that far- it really turned me off from Cairns.

I was supposed to go Kayaking at the great barrier reef but it was cancelled due to not enough people signing up. Instead I went on one of the most incredible experiences of my life... are we tired of me saying that?

I went on a big, fast boat thing to the great barrier reef. I tried to Scuba dive, but nope- it's not for me! I couldn't get through the underwater drills... I just don't like water in general. I was proud that I tried it, but it defo is not for me! The snorkeling was incredible; the coral was unbelievable! We saw so many fish!!!! I just can't describe it... once again you will have to see my photos! They were selling helicopter rides and the guy to a liking to me and gave me a 25% discount and promised me the front seat- word, I was in! He also lent me his sunglasses that were all high tech lenses so you could see the true color of the water and below. It made all the difference. The water here looked like Arctic Chill Gatorade- unbelievable! That color mixed with an emerald green and turquoise waters left me speechless. When we got back to the boat the half submarine half boat was leaving and the captain who named me the prettiest on the boat (did you hear that Craig?!) let me jump in for free! We saw loads of fish again, but most impressive were the barracudas!!! They were like three feet long and a sparkling silver color- too cool!!!
That was really it for Cairns... I headed to Melbourne by plain in the AM... will get to that tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed the catch up!

Airley Beach one last time

Okay... it has been a while since I have both written or actually experienced this day... so I will keep it brief.

Boat landed... hmmm, I think I mean docked at about noon. I went to try and change hostels to Magnums- when I walked into the front desk my Irish boys were there... I may have had an unlucky time sailing... but I was back on land which seems to do me well! Unfortunately the hostel was full so I had to return to my bed bug den.

The lagoon was the plan, was gonna meet the boys there... but as I was getting ready, the rain came again. Doh! I walked over to the Internet cafe to write to all of you guys... when who do I see yet again, Keith. Aussie is interesting you really do bump into the same people everywhere... but this was starting to feel like fatal attraction and it was me that seemed like the stalker! hahaha. All was good though, thankfully they didn't think that! We chilled all day with some beers and into dinner. We had a really nice Thai meal. These guys just had me laughing the whole time. Paddy, he was a pro football (soccer) player in Ireland was beet red from all the spice... he looked like fire was coming out of his nose- it was really funny. Ed had me laughing the whole time because I couldn't understand barely anything he said... he has one thick accent!

We went to some bars afterward. We were actually headed to Beaches, one of the bars on the strip where my boat was meeting for a final drink together. The one person I DID NOT want to see was sitting at the table... damn snobby, shrimp eating hippie! Rob was sitting with my boat friends... I b lined it so fast to the bar... avoid, avoid, avoid! Unfortunately he saw me and came over to talk with me and the guys... I did my best to not be too rude but to give him the not so subtle hint to break out. Our paths crossed a few different times that night- now that felt a little fatal attraction-esque, but I just ignored it and focused on having fun with the craziest Irish boys. We had many drinks that night and even more laughs. Keith and I really hit it off and the two other guys just kept us laughing. Paddy and I had a funny face photo session and Ed would come in with some wacky nonsense because I couldn't understand anything he said.. but I love the kid just the same... one of the palest people you will ever meet!

It was a late night, got rained on again... but this time I didn't mind so much. That was the very quick version of nothing other than a great night with great company! I don't think my boat people were that happy with me though... but two of the girls knew the story so hopefully they let everyone else know too!