Midge Point, Midgies and Other Matters

Since last I wrote the following interesting and less-than-interesting things have occurred in my life:

• I got to hold a koala (it pooed on me), a snake, a lizard, a big bird and a crocodile
• I survived a tsunami warning, despite choosing to board a ferry whilst the country was on alert
• I went on a two-day, one night sailing trip around the Whitsundays on the Tall Ship Defender
• I went snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef
• I got really burnt on just my knees and cheeks- very sexy looking
• I was picked up from Airlie by Carl, my latest Helpx host and, despite a slight sense of apprehension at hopping into his old Landrover and being taken into the wilderness of Midge Point, I was pleasantly surprised to find that 'Carl's Place' was a little piece of heaven on the hill - with spectacular water views and a hammock for lazing the afternoons away.
• I spent five days at Carl's Place (over Easter). I spent the majority of my time playing chess and cards with Carl and walking up and down his steep driveway/lifting free weights in a last ditch attempt to get in shape before I head home.

So, yah that leaves me here, in the present. I left Carl's today, but only to go down the street to stay with his neighbours who have a sprawling house, complete with pool, spa, pool table, etc. It's gorgeous. I get to clean it. I have a feeling Mom ( and former flatmates) would be very surprised at how much of a domestic goddess I've become since starting my travels in AUstralia. It turns out people like my cooking too, which has been a blessing and a curse - see above attempts to lose the freaking weight. Speaking of which., yeah I'm having a rough time with the whole weight thing. It seems that giving up all the vices (drinking, candy, chocolate, cake, etc) is simply not enough! Argh. I am soooo frustrated :( On the other hand, I am assured by the knowledge that once back on PEI it will all fall off....

In other news - the midgies are absolutely LOVING me. MIdgies are little insects that like to bite - and they really like to bite me. I am absolutely grotesque at teh moment, between my weird sunburn marks, midge bites, various bruises that I don't know how I got and with the excess cargo on my derrier, thighs and, well, pretty much everywhere. Sigh. It's a good thing I don't have a digital camera....

K, well I must go for a dip in the pool! Next up for me is Fraser Island/Hervey Bay in case any of you are tracking my progress on a map :)

I Just Spent Half My Remaining Budget on Two 2-Day Tours

Yes, that's right folks, I just forked over about $550 for two amazing experiences not to be missed in Queensland.

On TUesday I will board the Defender - a classic tall ship that sails the Whitsunday Islands. I will be onboard 2 days and 1 night. We'll be stopping on some of the islands and going snorkelling. We'll also be fed all our meals and get to help with the sailing if we want.

Further on down the coast I will be taking a 2-day one night trip to Fraser Island - the world's largest sand island, where beauty and dingos abound.

Oh, but what of a recap...I actually don't remember when I last posted, I think I was staying with Lynn & Aaron at the Nature Refuge, so I'll pick up from there. Right, so I left Bibinda and headed to Mission Beach for just one night of chilling out. I ended up having an absolutely BRILLIANT time - mainly because I ran into two people from......PEI!!!!! What are the odds??? Also, I actually KNEW one of them. Anyways, yeah a good time was had and I finally got to do something I've ALWAYS wanted to do...push someone into a pool. Of course, as was to be expected I somehow found myself being pulled in as well. Fully clothed.

I made it to Magnetic Island where I am currently shacked up at a great hostel/resort. Just back from a long hike which actually ended with some hitchhiking - we got picked up by a Mokie..which is a golf cart with some power. Tomorrow I get to hold a koala.

That's all for now folks

Bitten by the Bugs

It's been a week and a half since I arrived in Cairns. I am finally leaving today....to head a whole 45 minutes south! I've really enjoyed my time in Cairns (more about this in a bit), but, to be honest, my delayed departure has more to do with excess baggage I had to lose than it does with my being enamoured with this Queensland city.

I mentioned previously how I was staying with a great Help Exchange host, who hd kindly offered a bed to the girl I met on the plane up here. Turns out Rachel was very fortunate as her transfer of funds took another 5 days and her $40 would certainly have been gone by then. Anyways,I was not up for having a 22-year old narcoleptic Welsh girl travel with me for the next month. Yes, that's right - narcoleptic. I go from travelling with Sara, who's an insomniac, to Rachel,who falls asleep every 15 minutes or so and, when she is awake, has no energy. Anyways, it turns out I wasn't the only one who found her presence a bit tiring (pardon the pun) and Seva took it in hand to ensure she headed on her way.

Right, so now she is gone and I am heading to Lynn & Aaron's. THey are friends of Seva and own a Nature Refuge that borders the World Heritage Rainforest - apparently snakes, spiders, birds and bats abound. Lynn is from Michigan (US) and met her husband, Aaron, whilst backpacking round the world during her twenties. Awww.

OK, so I realise Ive neglected to say what I've been doing with my time here in Cairns. Aside from helping Seva out around the house and lounging in the pool, here are the main highlights of the past week and a half:

On Tuesday morning I joined the Cape Tribulation Connections bus tour, which takes travellers up to the Daintree Rainforest, with stops along the way at Mossman Gorge and a Wildlife Sanctuary. Cape Tribulation is situated in the heart of the rainforest - it is unbelievably, specatcularly beautiful up there. The Daintree Rainforest is one of the oldest rainforests in teh world, surviving from a time when there were only two super continents on this planet. The diversity of plant and animal species is amazing.

Anyways, once up in Cape Trib we were dropped off at our accommodation of choice. I decided to stay at the Cape Trib farmstay upon Sara's recommendation. It turned out to be a great choice, particularly given the large basket of exotic fruits we were given for breakfast. I only recognised one of the fruits - papaya. They were all very yummy and interesting looking. I think the Jakfruit was my favorite, just because it was so pretty!!

While up in Cape Trib we took a few walks through the rainforest and went for a swim in a safe watering hole - most are not safe to swim in because of the crocs. As it is the Wet season at the moment there were plenty of heavy rainfalls during the three days we were up there. WHen it wasn't raining it was bloody humid. I mean seriously muggy - like nothing I have ever experienced before. I don't know how people live up there on a permanent basis to be honest.

Upon returning to Cairns Thursday evening we joined Seva at the Yacht Club for some live jazz music and watched as couples danced swing and jive. Afterwards we went across the street to the Casino and enjoyed Motown classics courtesy of Lisa Hunt and her amazingingly talented band (they didn't hurt the eyes either)!

The rest of the weekend was pretty quiet, but I don't mind. One doesn't have to always be 'doing' something to enjoy a place. That is one thing I find frustrating - why do so many people think a place has to have Things to DO in order to be interesting. Isn't just being and seeing enjoyable enough in itself. Why do we always feel the need to be entertained and on the go??? Relax for feck's sake. It's Australia after all, not New York or London.