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Published: August 8th 2006
Update by Zoe
Thank god our last overnight bus (in Oz at least) is finished, as if sleeping on a bus is not bad enough, we got woken up at 7am to watch a crap movie! A day loafing at the lagoon in Airlie beach helped recharge our batteries ready for our 3 days sailing around the Whitsundays. I say sailing, but as Danny is prone to a bit of the old sea sickness we opted for the boat - Pride of Airlie - that docks at a resort each night. So at least we slept on land, although it was in a 6 bed dorm, fortunately we didn't share a room with anyone who pissed on the floor in the night (this happened in one of the dorms one night!).
First day, we left at 3pm and went straight to South Molle island to the resort. Family resort bit is one side and the backpackers dorms and bar the other! The resort was nice, it had golf, tennis, hot tubs, pool and walking tracks. In the evening we participated in some drinking games and dancing on tables - but drew the line at downing drinks through a snorkel....again
some pissheads did this. Next day we had a 2 hour boat ride to Whitehaven beach. En route we chatted to our 'couple friends!' and dan boffed (mainly overboard, but he also hit some girls leg on her birthday - what a nice present!). The beach was absolutely lush, simply the nicest beach i have ever seen, the sand was actually squeeky (it literally squeeked when you walked on it) clean. After 2 hours chilling, we were dragged back on the boat and headed back to South Molle.
Tonight us and another couple went to the other bar for cocktails and to gamble on wooden horses - we lost. Last day, we went to a wicked snorkelling spot and spent some time looking at all the colourful fishies and coral. Then back to Airlie, although the voyage back did hold one last surprise, when we saw 3 dolphins jump right out of the water in front of us and then 6 or so swam underneath us (i had my legs hanging over the front of the boat) for a bit.
Next stop - Townsville, had a mooch about and it was ok. Our hostel for the night adventure
resort wasn't so great, more atmosphere than anything else cos it was so big. Anyways, the next day we went to Magnetic island and got our own little hut - cool! The island is beautiful, lovely beaches, good walks, wild koalas (we saw one) and mini cars! We hired a 'topless' car for the day called the enforcer and zoomed around all the bays. Radical bay was the nicest and we enjoyed swimming in the sea until i saw a floater - was not impressed. We think it was an old guy on the beach, i scowled at him!!
After a couple of nights we headed back to the mainland and got on the bus for 5 hours to Cairns. Our hostel, Geckos is nice as it feels like a bedroom (ie proper bed and chester drawers). We went to Tjapukai, which is an aboriginal cultural centre. They had various shows on. Really glad we went here, as you could come to Oz and easily by pass learning anything about the aboriginal culture and past. And it was also fun - we got to throw boomerangs and spears!
Today, we went to the great barrier reef and did an introductory dive. Again poor dan was sick on the way because it was mega rough. The dive was brilliant, although the coral wasn't as colourful as i've seen in pics. Over lunch i signed up for a second dive in the pm and dan decided to do some snorkelling. The second dive was better, as we got more time at the bottom and with the slight change in location the coral and fishes were more numerous (and coral more colourful). I got to hold a sea cucumber - slimy and touch a closing clam shell thing, but dan found Nemo, which trumped my finds!
One more day in Oz and we're going to head to the Atherton tablelands, so will update you from Bali soon.
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Lisa
non-member comment
Steve Irwin - What a hero!
Hello you two! Glad you were able to view the pics from Jane and Steve's big day, a very good time was had by all even if some of the memories are hazy due to the copious amounts of alcohol consumed by just about everyone, including Jane's dad who was strutting his stuff (in)expertley on the dance floor! Seeing Steve Irwin in real life has to have been the highlight of the trip so far, I can fully believe he is as mad in real life as he appears on TV. The Lord of the Rings scenery and exhibitions sounded fantastic too. Will keep posting comments now I have eventually got round to reading all the blog, hope you are both well since the last entry. Take care and speak soon, Lisa xxx