Change of Pace

After a quick stop in sydney at Ron and Marea's I flew out Monday up to Cairns, up to the sunshine and warmth!

Warm weather and sunny days at beach was a sure sign that my travels through Australia were going to be quite the opposite of New Zealand. I've traded in my snowboard for a bike, my eskimo jacket for a bikini.

Unfortunately this little tour package I'd bought with the Oz Experience Hop on/Hop off bus was not exactly what I had in mind, nor was I ever told of how it really worked. You had to stay overnight in every stop they made and busses didn't leave everyday. Which meant that in order to do things my way I've had to purchase an extra bus ticket via Greyhound as well as an extra flight. Well, i've done my whinging about it and have decided to sit back and just enjoy it.

My full day in Cairns before the tour started consisted of a 30k bike ride through the rainforest visiting the mila mila falls, elingaa falls, and some others.

Wednesday was the first day I had to pick up the Oz bus. First stop - the crocodile farm! Now the owner, Mike, was no Steve Erwin but he definitely had the scars and broken bones to prove he'd spent some time with the crocks. The best thing about this place though was the kangaroos and wallabees which you were allowed to walk freely around and feed. Even got to see a couple of joeys in their mother's pouches!

The next stop was Mission Beach, a lazy little beach town. I had decided to not stay at the accomodations the Oz bus usually booked people into and based on a little info in my Lonely Planet selected the Treehouse YHA. After a quick drive up the side of the cliff up a very steep hill stood a massive tree house in the middle of rain forest. This place was perfectly zen. Saint Germaine playing (you can hear it from any where in the place - it is a treehouse after all) softly in the background. With the cool breeze flowing in, sounds of the rainforest coming alive at night and a warm blanket I slept like a baby. First night of really good sleep i've had in a long time

Thursday we headed towards Magnetic Island, where I am at the moment. After the previous night of calm I was up for a little more life and the Base Backpackers here was exactly that. We got in around 2 and headed straight for the top of the island to try our luck at spotting some koalas in the wild. Pretty chuffed, I spotted 2, including a little baby sleeping on one of the lower branches of a tree.

By the time the walk was over it was around 5 and the sun was starting to set. Up till now I hadn't gone in the water, not at the lake or the waterfalls. Seemed a bit rude not to take a dip into the ocean. Plus I thought you guys back home who would have jumped in as soon as you got there. It was damn cold but totally exhilerating :) The rest of the evening was spent at the bar/lounge with its ocean views - sort of reminded me of my trip to Ko Samet Thailand - partying under the stars.

Got up early this morning walked around the island, had me some breakfast and will soon be catching the bus to Airlie Beach where I will get to head out the Whitsunday Islands for some sailing