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Published: October 12th 2011
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Ok, so I know I have been here a while and not written to you guys and I am kind of sorry but at the same time really really not because I have been having far too much of a good time to sit down and type at a computer. Today is a pretty good day to start though because it has been the best by far :D
But first things first; I had a pretty good and yet very long trip over here. I was sat next to a very chatty woman on my first flight which is usually very nice until it gets to 2am and she starts telling me all about the operations she had on her bladder, that wasn't appreciated all that much. Other than that it was reasonably uneventful and the 5 hour coach at the end was actually quite nice because we drove along the coast and I could see more out of the window than clouds and the ground way way below.
After arriving in Cairns I transferred to Port Douglas the next day with Sasja (more about her later) and we has our induction at the Wildlife Habitiat (http://www.rainforesthabitat.com.au in case
Sasja
Sasja got stuck in a cage, it's just where she belongs really you want to have a gander). There we met the keepers and had a huge long tour of the park which included being allowed to watch the croc feed. During the feed Bruce the keeper (yes that is his actual name and it makes me laugh a little everytime I say Hi to him) almost got eaten by a huge male croc who literally pounced out of the water while he was concentrating on the other one. I don't think that I have ever seen a grown man leap so high and so far in my life :D
After this we settled into life working at the park which mainly consists of cleaning the koala enclosures, wiping the bird poo off all of the handrails in the park, chopping up mountains of fruit and cutting gum (eucalyptus to normal people). Every now and then something new and entertaining comes along. The other day we got to watch Michelle (another keeper) brought the Joey she was looking after to the park and took it into the gum paddock to have a hop around, she didn't seem that keen but she is the cutest teeny weeny kangaroo EVER!!
In other
Four Mile Beach
Such a nice beach, and you can actually swim in the sea. Well so long as the crocodiles don't get you and only for the next 2 weeks before the jellyfish arrive :S news I am currently sharing a room with three girls, Sasja, Anna and Michelle,. Sasja and Anna are both from Denmark and Michelle is Luxembourgish (yes, apparently that is how you say and spell is :S). It would appear that there is no escape from the Danes even when you travel halfway around the world they still manage to creep up on you. I don't mind though, they are all really lovely and can be forgiven for their interesting European ways; they gave me some seriously funny looks today when I sat down to my dinner of beans on toast with a mug of tea.
Life in Port Douglas is reasonably slow so we have been mainly going to the pool and the beach, it's called four mile beach so feel free to look up pictures of it online and become insanely jealous :P. Other than that we are looking at taking a trip somewhere this weekend so I will be sure to let you know if/how that goes.
On to today, I got to hold a koala for the first time today which was a-mazing! They just cling on to you so tight that it feels like
they are giving you a big hug and you carry them on your hip like a child and just never want to let go. They don't smell so great but can be totally let off because they just look like grumpy old men who like to eat a whole lot of leaves and need lots of hugs. I also go to hold a crocodile (don't panic it was only a small one) which was also cool but much less cuddly and I was very glad for the tape holding its mouth closed. It was also Michelle's last day at the habitat today so we just had a laugh with her and Bruce ended up soaking her with water at the end of the day, she also got to have a photo taken with one of the bigger snakes, safe to say that when I get mine on my last day it will be with something much more cuddly.
When we got back we went out on a boat trip to watch the sun set. The yacht club down the road does free trips on a Wednesday evening where the club members just take people out to the sea to
watch the sun set. We got on a boat owned by a guy called Chris who told us that he had built it himself in the 1980s and it was such a beautiful boat. He took a group of us out to watch the sun go down behind four mile beach which was just so peaceful even if it was a little bit rough.
I shall be heading back to Cairns next week to start work at the wildlife dome and rainforestation in Karanda so I am sure I will have much to say from there. Plus I am hoping to head out to the reef at some point soon :D
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lesley eaton
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suntan
Hi Hels you actually look like you might be getting a suntan! - well going from blue to white anyway. xx