Now it is time for an up-date again, cause lots happened since last. Well, after our Fraser Island experience, we managed to get the unlucky room with an Aussie guy in, who were snoring SO badly, that I couldn't understand why he could sleep himself. I had my earplugs in, and woke up constantly from his sounds. We did not sleep the whole night, and at some point we just had to laugh - I mean it was so extraordinary loud, that it was funny! So we took the bus from Rainbow Beach to Noosa Heads, a beautiful idyllic place with canals, palms and posh houses everywhere - actually like a tiny Beverly Hills. We checked in to our hostel and after a bit of "city-sightseeing" and shopping for food, we fell tired into our nice beds and slept tight after all the travel-exhaustion and less sleep the previous night.

Next morning I woke up and washed some clothes, which turned out to be a bad idea - half (-again, why only half?) of my clothes got stolen out of the washing machine!!! So pretty annoyed (I mean come on, try to be in Australia without a bikini, towel etc…) we caught the bus and drove out to our next adventure - 4 day /3 night Noosa National Park Canoe Safari. We arrived in our bush-camp around noon and could spent the whole day just relaxing by the river, go swimming or for walks in the park, and we enjoyed the non-stressful time and slept in "dorm" beds made of wood in really bush-style. Surprisingly comfortable!

Then our real canoe experience in Great Sandy National Park started with a daytrip to Lake Cooroibah down the Noosa River. It was hard work, but fun, and we walked 3 km to the beach across the Park, where we spent a few hours in the sun or playing ball in the waves before heading back to camp at dusk. We camped in tents this time and had a huge bonfire before we went to bed.

Next morning early, we canoed down the river with all our camping gear and stuff in the canoes, and it was beautiful with the suns reflection in the water, the tropical surroundings and the quietness of the place as we paddled along with the stream to Lake Cootharaba. On the lake we had to fight against the waves all the way across to Boreen Point. We cheated sometimes and got out and pushed instead, since the huge lake is only max 1.5m deep, cause it was a lot faster (and arms were starting to get a bit sore). We sat up our camp and spent the night there in small tents surrounding a fire, right next to the lake.

We got up early and paddled all the way back, but up the river as well, against the stream. It was SO tiring, you really feel you get absolutely nowhere, and we all came back with sore muscles and a feeling of being completely finished. But it was as well the end and we drove back to our hostel, healthily feeling tired and prepared to leave for Brisbane the next morning. We caught the bus and soon we were standing amongst skyscrapers and stressed business people hurrying past us. The beat of the big city! Well, we got picked up from our hostel, Bunk, a nicely located hostel where a lot of people we had done some of our tours with along the way down the coast, apparently also stayed. It is funny to see how ways always cross again and again. Well, someone got everyone together at the lagoon for a barbeque in the evening, and we had a pretty good time, although we kept on reminding each other that this was our last evening together. But the fact was true, and the next day as we headed to the airport together, catching flights to different destinations, we had our sad goodbye. It has been a wonderful time travelling with her and we have enjoyed each other's company a lot, but now we are alone again. I gave her a USB cable with all our photos on from our time since Cairns, and she had bought some liquorice (funny how people always find out about my love for that =)

My flight to Sydney went smoothly and I did it again - getting to Sydney, alone and tired, ways to late for any pick-ups and I had to find my own way from the airport to my hostel - which took me a couple of hours because of closed train stations etc. The trouble with my suitcase handle (after the flight journey it was broken off by somebody I think, but since the airport was closed, I couldn't complain to anyone there, so I just live without a handle.) did not make all the steps to different underground stations any easier, but at 2am I finally arrived at Wooducks Hostel, nicely located as well with a rooftop overlooking the city line. I got a room full of sleepy, snoring males, and did not sleep great, so changed room as the first thing in the morning, and stay now in a nice dorm with only two guys and a girl, so I enjoy it.

The next couple of days will be spent in Sydney, so a Sydney report will follow sometime. Hope you are all well and enjoying the autumn. Here we have 35 degrees, its nearly too much, but who is complaining? Not me!!!