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Published: October 2nd 2007
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Jon in the lagoon
One of the only people in it over the age of 10 This week we started our trip down the East Coast. This started in Cairns after spending half the day at Brisbane airport. It was here we heard a plane had almost been struck by lightening..not what you want to hear just before getting on one! Added to that it was raining, although it's not quite what we Welsh would call rain, bit like spitting really!
Anyway, we arrived in Cairns slightly moody after our plane was delayed for an hour, during which time we were sitting on the plane with no refreshments! Fi was going mad and getting slightly stroppy about the lack of peanuts being handed out much to Jon's amusement! But they gave us a 'free' alcoholic drink to say sorry - we thought they were free anyway!
We arrived at our new hostel (Calypso Inn) and were welcomed by Sven who turned out to be English! We were shown to our room which was great, and after dumping our bags went for a much needed drink in the bar! The hostel itself was the best so far, really nice and resorty (not a word, I know) and had cheap drinks and all you can eat buffets
Fi in the lagoon
Looks like Fi has been sunbathing with socks on! for $9 (not the best as it turned out but filled the belly). Over the next two days in Cairns we chilled out, bit of a wander round the town - found a great British sweet shop - paddled in the lagoon and swum in the slightly chilly saltwater pool at the hostel. But after a week in the city it was just what we needed! It was also here that we met a couple called James and Lisa from England. Don't know if the general rule is that couples talk to other couples but it was great to hang out, and get drunk with someone other than each other! We took advantage of the happy hour here, although the drinks were pretty cheap anyway! Fi got served red wine chilled, which as it turns out is really really good! James and Lisa are both great, they are scarily like us, in that James is a complete loon like Jon and Lisa comes out with the same stuff as Fi (the organised, sensible one). We discovered that they would be in Magnetic Island at the same time as us that weekend, which was also Lisa's birthday, so we made plans
to meet up and said our goodbyes for now...
The next place was Mission Beach, more precisely a hostel called Sanctuary. It is a beautiful hostel set in the rainforest which they appear to own, but have only built on 5% of it and preserve the rest (very eco friendly). The main building was lovely, polished wooden floors, clean kitchen and bathroom and views to die for (see pics). Our hut was set amongst the rainforest, surrounded by trees. There were no walls, it was just mosquito mesh, a bed in the middle and a dubious looking gap where the sliding door didn't quite shut. After Fiji, all Fi was worried about was getting bitten by mozzies..she didn't even consider anything more scary. And so began one of the most traumatic nights of her life! It started when Jon had to go back to the hut to get something, on his way back he saw a snake in the tree after a fair amount of rustling..you've probably never seen him run! Although this was after he went looking for it! He obviously didn't read the part of our guidebook which listed all (12) the poisonous snakes in Oz. Duh.
Calypso Inn - Zanzibar Bar
Jugs of beer + all you can eat buffet = happy Jon After dinner, we played some cards and went to bed. We had already decided to leave the lights on as there were freaky noises outside, and thank God we did! While lying in bed, Fi glanced towards the ceiling. There on the ceiling pole was a HUGE spider! We kid you not it was the size of our hand! A 'huntsman' apparently (google it!). Jon managed to get Fi out the room without her screaming the place down (oh yeah by the way....Fi is arachnophobic) where we headed to the main building to get the owner. He seemed quite laid back about it, but seeing that Fi was by now shaking with fear and close to tears he went to get rid of it! According to Jon (who hid behind him) he just grabbed the thing with a rag and threw it off the balcony. It was at this point he said you had to be careful as they bite!! But they are not venomous. Oh phew 😞 After Jon calming Fi down enough to go back in the room (very scary), we then spent a fairly sleepless night in the hut but luckily the scariest thing in our room
the next morning was a funny wee stick insect! We were supposed to be here three nights but as agreed with the owner the night before we got our money back for the next two and hightailed it out of there!
We ended up with a couple of unexpected days in the town of Townsville. Not the most exciting place, but apparently it is a student town and the students are currently on hols so there were mainly pensioners left! No offence to old people but it wasn't quite the atmosphere we were after! The hostel we stayed in was ok, bit fuddy duddy but we had an ensuite room with a TV! Yes good ol' telly, how we had missed it (we are aware this is sad!). Although we still haven't seen the rugby and now we have been kicked out! Oh well. Anyway, there is nothing like a bit of TV to get us ready for the next stage of our trip.
Next place, Magnetic Island!
That's all for now... keep the comments coming! It keeps us going!
Lots of Love,
Fi & Jon
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P.S. We think this trip is jinxed!!
Cassowaries
Big scary birds But despite our tales of woe we are loving it!
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Lizzie
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Hey you guys! Thanks for the bloggs, good to know your havig a good time and becoming one with the australian wildlife/insect life! Keep them coming. Lot's of Love LIzzie xxxxxxx