Life After Cairns ....First days in Airlie

Cedar Creek Falls

I am eager to write about my hilarious bushwalking adventure, but I’ll come to that later – first I’ll update on how things have been since leaving Cairns.

The journey was awful, and I arrived, friday morning, in the pouring rain, fully expecting my hosts to be at work, thus leaving me 8 hours to kill with all my baggage. But I tired them anyway, and as luck would have it (my luck, not theirs), Phil had had a car accident so they were both off work (nothing serious!)

I immediately felt at home with Wendy and Phil. Their cats, Monty and Harley are adorable. And Oscar the parrot is also v friendly. Wendy’s son, Bradey, is staying with his Dad for a couple of weeks in WA, so I get his comfy bedroom!  I had a sleep to catch up on hours from the hell-on-earth bus ride, and then a lovely homecooked meal and an early night.

Saturday was Phil’s work do, so him and Wendy were out all day, I just chilled, walked to beach, sent some postcards etc.  And on Wendy’s advice, I went into a travel agent and asked if there were any volunteering jobs on the sailing ships – they offered me a position on Solway Lass, a tall pirate ship, for 4 days. Duties include cleaning the bogs and prepping the ship etc, but free bed and board! Yippeeee! Not til the 14^th dec though, so Wendy and Phil kindly say I can stay an extra 4 nights, making my stay in total almost 2 weeks! 

Eungella Sky Window

So… another early night, after my failed attempt at Yorkshire puddings, and up early Sunday for a trip to Eungella National Park. AMAZING. Swam in a waterfall, saw a massive goanna lizard, a golden orb spider, ate delicious pinnacle pies at pinnacles pub. It was super. That night we met Phil’s son Jason for dinner, all get on famously.

View from W&P's

Monday I spent the day cooking a thai green curry for wendy and phil. Had a brief walk into town and sat by the lagoon, then had early dinner, watched Almost Famous, which they had never seen, and got another 10pm night! Lush! Tuesday I went to meet their new Couch Surfer, Massimo, an Italian. V. sweet, v. little English spoken! Wendy and Phil got home and cooked another delicious meal, we all watched telly and crashed. Nice to have a few quieter days, but getting itchy feet, so time for an adventure!

                                                     Wendy and Phil eating their pies!

Golden Orb!

Tales from Cape Tribulation

Me and an Ostrich!

I awoke on Tuesday morning, a tad hungover  (thanks to lovely Fernando and Lara!) and got dropped to my tour bus by Steve (I’ll say it once again, what a bloody awesome chap!) for the 3 hour journey up the beautiful coastal road to cape tribulation – stopping along the way at a wildlife sanctuary in Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, The Daintree River, the Alexandra Lookout and finally kicking us out at PK’s backpackers hostel.  Our guide, Fraiser, was a very witty, true aussie, nice bloke!

We arrived at the wildlife park, and as I jumped off the bus, I chatted to the girl who was sat infront of me, Leah, 25, London. We immediately hit it off, got some brekkie together, and sat next to each other on the bus from then on! Aw!

Havin a Swim!

At Mossman gorge we had a lovely walk through the rainforest, saw a green snake! And went for a dip in Mossman Gorge – it was a bit too chilly for  Leah but I got right in there and swam against the current – so weird trying to swim as hard and fast as you can and just being dragged sideways!

Mossman Gorge

 We stopped off at a picturesque part of the daintree river to have a picnic and a cuppa (while Fraiser serenaded us with a tune(?!) on the didgeridoo!), then hopped on a river boat and went crock watchin on the daintree! We saw two crocks – pretty crazy, but my bloody camera battery had run out! Then for the last leg of the journey, (after a brief stop at the stunning Alexandra Lookout) we listened to tunes and chatted, finally arrived at PK’s at 4.30pm, to my delight, Leah had also booked in at PK’s (one of 5 places to stay in tiny, not-mains-electric-connected, no-phone-signal Cape Trib).

Alexandra lookout

 

So….PK’s… I chose to stay here because Janet (Simon’s Mum), had very kindly sent me some recommendations, including a stay at the infamous PK’s.  SO …you can imagine my surprise when all the brochures describe the place as a backpackers dream if you like drinking and dancing and are not too fussed about sleeping! I wasn’t entirely sure this was me, but thought, if Janet can do it, I can do it!

  

PK's pool

We checked in at reception – Leah chose to book a snorkeling trip for the morning, and I booked a horse ride (yup, a horse ride!) When we went in, it was like a tropical paradise, beautiful, tranquil, quiet if anything! We were delighted. 

However, when we went to check the dorm we’d been allocated together, our joy quickly abandoned us! 3 single cots and 2 rickety bunkbeds (one of which was vacant, rather uninvitingly for me and Leah).  The air conditioning unit was hanging of the wall and beyond repair (covered in gaffa tape from numerous desperate attempts by previous stifled backpackers no doubt!), and the other beds were occupied by sweaty men who we strongly suspected would be snorers, and a very curt young girl, who we tried to engage in conversation but conceded defeat when we received no eye contact and an acutely taciturn response! The only thing that cheered me up was Leah’s ingenious idea to see if my camera battery would charge using her camera charger. Success! I was SOOO relieved after thinking none of my cape-trip adventure would be documented. 

So we were staying in what was essentially Hell on Earth, (I kid you not, the room had condensation dripping down the walls, the sheets were thick with damp and it musta been 32 degrees C in there), but hey, at least I would soon have a functional camera again!

We consoled ourselves at the awesome PK's jungle bar with a few cold pints where we met Ryan (a couch surfer I had emailed) and Heidi, the yank I had met in Cairns on Monday. We got some take-out tinnies and went to play cards, where we met Jeremy and Maddie – a lovely kiwi who I instantly adored and a gorgeous lesbian who I completely hit it off with! Turns out someone was having a bonfire party down at the beach which we all decided to head down to; but first, Leah and I needed some sustenance so went to get chips from the bar. 

As we sat scoffing, Leah said “That room is so damp, we are gunna get NO sleep it’s just not on, they said all rooms were air-conditioned”…. Well I can thank my wonderful father for teaching me how to be a good complainer, cus realising suddenly that we weren’t getting what we paid for, I marched to the bar and explained precisely what Leah had pointed out. The guy just said, without hesitation, “no worries, here’s a key from room 11, let me know if that one’s ok”…. Try to imagine the sheer glee we experienced when we entered a room void of any other backpackers and a shiny, fully operational, AC unit. We actually did a little happy dance and high fived. Dumped our stuff in our now v. safe room, and headed to the beach.

Camera? Check.

Cool, dry, clean room shared with your new best friend? Check

Beers on the beach by the fire? Check

I couldn’t have been happier. 

'keep out' wasn't doing the job!

 

We woke early on Wednesday and went off for our excursions. My horse ride was fantastic, with just 4 other people, a lovely Scottish couple who’d never ridden before, and 2 kiwi girls. Steve, the ranch guy, was hilarious, friendly and passionate about horses! We saddled up and had a fantastic ride. We  trotted, cantered, trudged  through creeks, pounded the golden beach – it was like something out of a movie, I had to keep reminding myself, This is My Life! Back at the stables we drank lime cordial, chatted, laughed, and admired Steve’s eloquent signage!

Roasting by the pool

Leah and I met back at the pool and roasted ourselves for a few hours, before taking a nice stroll along the beach. My bus picked me up to take me back to cairns at 4.30pm whilst Leah had another night at PK’s – it was truly sad to say goodbye. I felt like I was leaving my friend behind, but I know we’ll keep in touch and hang out back in the UK. 

Missing Leah already

Steve and I went for some farewell beers before my dreaded 11 hour bus ride down to Airlie Beach. Hell on Earth round 2 – but I couldn’t wangle my way out of this one. 12.35am-11am, desperately trying to sleep in an aisle seat with no leg room. 

Felt my first pangs of home sickness and was even missing Leah!

Let’s hope Airlie is worth leaving beautiful cairns, wonderful friends, and a horrific bus journey…. Will keep you posted!

Beautiful Cape Trib - Goodbye Lovely Far North Queensland, I will miss you.

The GREAT Barrier Reef!

 

Well, I wasn’t going to update until after my trip to Cape Tribulation as I figured there’d be not much to write home about between where I left off and today, but, sorry to make you all envious… too much great stuff has happened!!

The couch with which I surf!

So first off, I made the Pie for Katherine and Steve, they seemed to like it (clean plates!). Then fell hopelessly asleep during harry potter and half blood. Hopefully that was the last of the jetlag! Woke Monday morning and went into town to sort out my camera, which was successful. Then met a lovely yank from Michigan, Heidi, for lunch. We got on v well and even shared a little weep about leaving beloved boyfriends at home.

Me at the botanical gardens!

That afternoon I caught a bus back to steves and went to the Botanical Gardens – simply beautiful. V relaxing! Came back to an empty house to chilled out for once and did nothing! Had to get a reasonable night to prepare for my Reef Experience!

Well I can honestly say that I was not expecting much, I’m not a fan of massively touristy things at the best of times. They have a tendency to be underwhelming, impersonal, stressful, and well, a bit shit. So you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when all the staff were mega friendly, they very first people I spoke to I simply adored and subsequently spent most of the day with (and am meeting in 20 minutes for dinner tonight!). And we hadn’t even seen the sea yet!

Lara & Fernando!

So after getting along super well with Lara and Fernando (from Milan), I had to go with a different group for my dive (yes, I did a bloody dive!!!). 3 lovely young german girls. Lovely they were, dive capable, they were not! So after 20 minutes of floundering about like tangled idiots, our time was up, and we were pulled up by dive master Pat, mercilessly mocked, and sent back to deck! 

Amazing Dive Master Pat

...I had one of those weird things were I was kind of sure I was doing it all right and that they were, bless them, holding me back, how very arrogant of me! …Or not, so it would seem, as Pat, v subtly, grabbed me, shoved my breathing apparatus back in my mouth, and ducked me under the water. He then grabbed my hand and dove (is there such a word??) me all the way to the ocean floor where I had a one-on-one dive experience. It was amazing.

me and the sea cucumber!

Spent rest of day snorkelling with a marine biologist  (who made me hold a sea cucumber!) and Lara and Fernando. We saw 2 sharks!!! (that deserves 3 exclamation marks). And loads of sih n coral of cousre. Would tell you the names of the reefs but my memory is awful, some outer reef cay and soemthing else!

Angel Fish

Anyway...I shall be late for dinner with them if I natter any longer! Bring on cape trib at 7am tomorrow morning!

UPDATE: Just back from dinner - what a fantastic evening. God bless those two people who I met this morning - I feel as though I have known them forever - and that's not just because they refused to let me pay for my dinner and bought all the wine and beer! Think I may have made a couple of friends for life - and they're spanish who'da thought! Simon would love Fernando - when I asked if he wanted water - he said "no, its dark, after dark, no water, only booze" or something to that effect!

Me and Lara :) 

First Few Days....

So after some teary goodbye's at the airport, I somehow managed to catch both flights, without cocking up once! I even got a spare seat next to me on both legs of the journey so had a v. comfortable experience! Faye - you were right - plane food is delish! Christ knows why they pump you full of it every 4 hours though.

First day and night went in a bit of a jetlagged blur - I managed to stay awake and upright all day. Met Steve, my first couch surfing host, for a few beers and a pizza - we got on super well, all easy going, then I collapsed back at my hotel at 8pm. Can't say I had the best nights sleep - but at least I made it!

Spent all day Friday exploring central Cairns and sunning myself by the lagoon until the rain really got going! Lovely town. Steve met me about 3pm, we came back to his so I could dump my stuff and have a shower then we headed out on the town where I met an awesome french couple, Amelie and David, and some other nice folk. Got back to Steve's at about midnight and stayed up til gone 1am playing guitar and chatting (I showed off my Good King Wenceslas on the recorder!)

Saturday we decided to go to the Tablelands, David drove us in the campervan, it was bloody awesome. First we walked through the rainforest (where we found a massive toad hiding in a termite mound, which Steve promptly bludgeoned to death with a stick) to see Josephine Falls - that's me and Amelie there in front of it! Then to Millaa Milla falls, then to a cool lake with turtles, then to try and see platypus but they were hiding.

Anyway - a fab day all in all. will try and get pics on facebook. We went home for thai take out, watched Shortbus, then crashed.

Woke up about 8.30am and Steve, domestic God that he is, made us amazing pancakes for brekkie. He even showed me how to perform the infamous Tim Tam Slam, don't believe me? google it! you bite a corner off each end, then use it as a straw to suck your coffee though, which almost immediately melts the tim tam into a mushy, chocolaty mess which you have to cram into your mouth as quick as is humanly possible. yum! After that exciting experience, we shuffled off in the stifling heat to the market and had a wonder.


Going to attempt to make a chicken pie for dinner tonight - so off to the supermarket now! catch you later guys! xxxx

God, I cannot believe I'm blogging.

Ok, So this is my first post. I leave in under a week, so I guess this doesn't really count as part of my travel blog... and I haven't even decided yet how honest an account I am going to make this. Or who will have access to it. But sod it, I have, at least, set myself up a blog!

So I graduated on Monday......

It was a lovely day - no tears etc. David Attenborough gave a funny little speech which was somewhat repetitive, but to be honest, we were just grateful he hadn't died in his chair, as was previously supposed!  

So anyway - now that's out of the way, the whole trip round the world seems alot more real, and I am genuinely, very excited. I will be sad to leave Faye and Jobe, Mum and Pete, Dad, and of course, Simon. Today I went and said my goodbye's to Nan and Pop. I hugged Nan with such force I'm surprised I didn't puncture a lung, however I did squeeze a few tears out of her.

They both look so well considering they're in their eighties, but a year is a long time, and I couldn't help wondering if that might be our last cuddle. I cried all the way home.






Things to remember for next post: be more cheerful.