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Published: January 18th 2008
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Aussie Road Signs
Ahhh Aussie humour .... Hi all, from wonderful OZ!
We've been here about 2 weeks now, starting in Cairns and travelling so far down to Airlie Beach, the jump-off point for the Whitsundays. It's been a few weeks of randomness to say the least. I may sound slightly stupid saying this, but noboday actually told us it was going to be rainy reason in Queensland. Yeah we knew it was tropical, blah blah. But had simply though January - ahhh, summer. Erm, yes and no. Yes its bloody hot. But there is also quite a large amount of rain. So the humidity is killing me! We arrived in Cairns, was told to pray for rain by our hostl owner coz it wqas so hot, and within 2 hrs of us being there is started. And didnt' stop for 3 days!! Being Bitish i guess we have that gift. We arrived back to our hostel one night after a fair few drinks at the Woolshed to find a literal river outside our hostel entrance that we had to wade through up to our knees! But what makes it OZ is that by morning, it was totally gone.
We met up with our friend Ross in Cairns,
who will be with us for the rest of our trip now. After his arrived we decided to take a 2 day trip up to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the sea. It's beautiful up there, but as with most of the coastline here at the moment u cant swim in the sea as its stinger season. And the sea around Cape Trib is currently full of saltwater crocadiles - yep, the killing kind! They get flooded out of the rivers during rainy season, and make the most of tourists out in the ocean instead. And its a v real danger. U cant go down to the beach at night, and while walking the beach we found fresh crocadile footprints up the beach to the shade of the rainforest. Pretty awesome. Our hostel was great too, right on the beach, but amongst the forest, it was so idyllic. We met our friend Aafka for the first time here too, who we've since been travelling on and off with. She's currently with us in Airlie. Then it was back to Cairns for a night, and on to join our first Oz Experience bus which will gradually take us down the
A typical Aussie ...
I hate to be stereotypical, but ..... ! east coast of OZ to Melbourne, while we hop on and off whenever we want. First stop was Mission Beach for a few days, a really chilled out little town on the beach. Though not before jumping off at a corcadile farm to watch some good old Stev Erwin-esque crocadile fun and frolics. Those guys are mad! I also held a snake for the first time here - never doing it again, it kept licking my neck and freaking me out, but at least i can say ive done it! Much prefer the lizards etc ive held here and in Malaysia. We chilled out in Mission Beach and met a lot of like-minded travellers, many who we're actually still with, sharing a hostel room a few stops down the line! Also had our first BBQ since we arrived in OZ, which the boys were v proud off. We also used this as our jumping off point for the Great Barrier Reef, which was the most amazing experience. We went snorkelling on the reef, asn asy one who has snorkelled before knows, the absolute silence and appearnace of a totally new, beautiful world under the water, seemingly all played out just
Snorkelling on Great Barrier Reef
Swimming with a giant sea turtle was just incredible for you, is spectacular. And what made our trip? I ended up swimming with a giant sea turtle. I have never been so mesmerised by something. It was just as beautiful as you see in documentaries, and i couldnt believe how it let me just swim with it for 20 mins. I cant describe how amazing it was, but its was a really really special moment for me. Something i'll never forget.
After mission beach we headed to magnetic island, a place that boasts the most amount of sunny days in Queensland - 320 a year. We arrived to severe storm. Again, the luck of the British! And this storm was CRAZY. People who were leaving the next 2 days from the island where left stranded on it coz all the roads on the mainland were flooded, and on one day two years worth of rainfall fell in a day. It was crazy! But it all eventually cleared up after a few days, and 6 of us decided to hire two Barbie cars - yep they were pink and furry and totally open jeeps - awesome! - and travel around the island and hunt down the wild koalas that are
Magnetic Island
Our Barbie car that we hired to get around all around the forest. We werent disappointed. After an hr trek in blistering heat we were about ready to give up, and then we found one up a tree but close enough we could nearly touch it (tho obviously we werent gonna be doing that - they get pretty ferocious!). Totally worth it, and Phil, one of the guys in the group, couldnt stop smiling all day! The island itself is very pretty, and our hostel was again right on the beach, surrounded by palm trees. Backpacking in OZ aint too bad!
Yesterday we left Mission and travelleved down to Airlie Beach, thankfully not affected by too many flooded roads, though the flood warnings were on amber. Our Oz driver was determined to get the hell off the island before things got worse, despite the boiling sun. The Oz experience drivers themselves ar a lot of fun, and typical Aussie blokes. So a lot of banter is always going on, and combined with their simply huge knowledge of the areas, the journeys fly by. A group of 7 of us all travelled down together, all having met at previous stops. We'll prob be leaving them at this stop, but will
Koala
A koala we found in the wild, Magnetic Island more than likely re-join them further down the coast. It seems to be the way it is here - so many people are doing the same route that you are always bumping into people you've met at other stops. It's a pretty cool ways of life, and means you've got a whole loada mates ready and waiting! There's much more of a party atmosphere here in Airlie, and being so close to the Whitsundays its really pretty, and full of huge yachts and catamarans. We're here until Sunday, then its off to Kroombit, a cattle station in the outback, where we're being given the opportunity to herd some goats of horseback, and eat loadsa steak cooked over fires,cant wait! Oh and that reminds me, yep had kangaroo already - sorry to all the veggies, but its so good!!
Think thats about if from down-under for now. Will keep you all updated as per usual!
Take care xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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