I moved in to the "Dreamtime" backpackers Which is a beautiful place that has won awards for its service, atmosphere and general all round Backpacker-ness.

I fitted right in and found out that , that night a group was going to the national basketball game to cheer on the local team the "Cairns Taipans" so I paid my $20 and met a few of the other backpackers.

One was a really nice German guy by the name of Jullian his english was just starting to become decent as he had only been in the country for one week.

I also met Nadine, who was also a German who's english was excellent as she had been in Australia alot longer.

The three of us spoke about what we had been doing lately and what our plans were for the coming weeks (You can see pictures of Julian an Nadine in the "Cairns" photo album)

Pretty soon though it was time for the basketball, which was really well organised we all recieved Head Bandannas and Orange lay's (Which is the colour of the Cairns Tipans)

And we headed off for Pre-game drinks. Julian and Nadine had decided not to come to the basketball but I met a few more backpackers from the UK and a really nice older couple from Western Australia.

The husband, "Graham" was an Ambo in WA and was interested in my Diabetes, Cancer and Nuropathy, which we spoke about at great length. He was even kind enough to make me store his mobile number in my phone just in case I had a hypo or needed some medical attention durring the night.

After Drinks and nibble food we went to the extreamly large Cairns Basketball Stadium which was all ready filled almost to capacity, we had ring side seats and had a good laugh at the Cairns mascot who was dressed up as a snake running up and down the court with a little toy cat that he would regularly stomp on.

The reason for the cat was that Cairns was playing the "Perth Wildcats" and off course the Cairns snake mascot was suggesting through his antics that they were going to lose.

The game was awesome! I had never seen a real live Proffesional baskeball game before and quickly got caught up in the hype.

There are some Great photos in the "Cairns Basketball" Album.

Both teams played really well and the cheerleaders were good too, not too forget to mention the Taipans mascot who was a continuall Laugh.

In the end the Taipans won 85 to 79 and we all headed of as a group to a local pub for a drinik.

I ended up leaving early as I was exhausted from all the travel but it had been a really good introduction to Cairns.