Hi all, again sorry for the delayed update! we now have an internet dongle which means we can now get on the internet on our laptop so i should be updating a bit more frequently! Here is our first few weeks in the tropical north average temperature 25 degrees in the day but cooling to about 10-15 at night!

We arrived in cairns and phoned the hostel to pick us up. When we arrived at the hostel they were so full that the 6 dorm cheap room we requested was fully booked so we were upgraded to a twin room which was great. We were only paying 10 pounds each for our own room! We got all our bags up to the room and then headed to a chemist to ask about my ankle as it was pretty swollen still and sore to walk. She took a look and said either it was an infection or just some swelling so we brought a compression bandage in the hope it was just some swelling. We then headed out for our free meal at the woolshed which is a pub in town. We ended up upgrading as we hadn't eaten much apart from noodles the last 4 days and were feeling hungry. I got a lemon and pepper chicken and adi got a steak altogether only costing 10 pounds. After our meal we started to head back to the hostel but my ankle was now throbbing and I had heard stories of people having limbs cut off because of infections they caught in Thailand. So I decided to get another opinion, we went to another pharmacist who recommended I see a doctor. We then ended up at a medical centre and got charged 80 dollars to see the doctor, who confirmed it was an infection put me on antibiotics and also gave me iodine to clean my other bites that were also infected! The only thing was I wasn't allowed to go out in the sunshine whilst on the antibiotics as they sensitized the skin to the sun and with the hole in the ozone layer above Australia it was even more of a danger! So adi did his best to keep me covered and we just spent days by the lagoon reading or at the hostel. After a few days of rest the swelling went down and I could walk a lot easier. Adi had been out on the hunt for work using the free internet in the tour booking offices but wasn't having much luck. After speaking to people at the hostel we found people were getting paid less than the minimum wage as there were so many people looking for work. So we thought we would wait to hear from a few companies adi had spoken to and if not try further south.

We had met 2 Irish guys at our hostel called waldo and ronan and after playing some drinking games at the hostel we decided to hit the town as we hadn't been out since arriving in oz. We headed to where was meant to be a good night out gilligans. There was a huge queue to get in so we headed next door to the attic and you can walk down into gilligans from there!It was pretty quiet up there but a nice atmosphere we had a couple of drinks and were chatting. A bit later adi decided he would swing around the poles that they had up there, but the bouncer came over and told him to get off! So he did, but then immediately got straight back up, so the bouncer just chucked him out! On the way out adi asked him what they we're there for if you're not allowed to go on them and his response was "for ladies and special occasions." we all found it hilarious. We finished our drinks and went outside to see what to do, we decided to go into gilligans. It was huge, there was a large outdoor area playing different music to inside and the inside had podiums and they were mixing all sorts of music from old skool to the latest house music.When it got late we decided to head back to the hostel and get to bed. The day after my ankle had swollen again… too much too soon! So we just rested up and a few days later it was better and I was off the antibiotics. We had decided to buy a car to get us down to Sydney for our flight to Melbourne so we hunted around and settled on a 93 ford falcon estate which came with camping equipment. We decided to head north for a couple of days to go to the daintree rainforest. We had got about half hour out of cairns and the engine cut on a bendy hilly road! We had taken out breakdown cover that morning but it didn't start for two working days! Luckily about a minute after we broke down a police car was driving the other way, he stopped the traffic at the bottom of the road let off his sirens for us to roll back down the hill into a school, and at least we were safe! We phoned the equivalent of the rac and they quoted 380 dollars for us to be towed about 20 kilometers up the road! So we tried the breakdown company we had taken our cover out with even though it hadn't started yet. They gave us a number of a local tow truck so we called him, he could do it for 150 but he was in cairns so couldn't do pick us up till midnight or the next morning. As we had all the camping stuff and were about a five minute walk to the beach decided we would camp for the night and get picked up in the morning! We walked up the track to the beach and there were a few locals there, some had just finished fishing. They saw us with all our gear and asked if we were camping and explained the situation and said we were worried as there were signs up saying 2000 dollar fines for camping they reassured us and said they had camped there loads of times without any problems and said to set up near where they had before next to the creek. We put our tent down and a couple of other bits and then went back to the car to get some more things. On the way back again there were some more locals who asked if we were camping and we again explained the situation and they said it would be fine to camp just not near the creek as there was a croc in it! So we thought best to move our stuff away and walked about 200 meters up the beach. We started to set up but by this time it was getting dark and we hadn't used any of the equipment before so we just hoped it all worked! Firstly we put the tent up which was really simple but most of the poles were broken so it was a little crooked but would be adequate for the night. Then we started to get the dinner ready which was left over bruschetta we had made and fried potatoes and onions! Well it took u about 20 minutes to get the cooker working you have to make sure the gas bottle is lined up a certain way which was hard to see in the dark but we got it going and enjoyed our dinner though it was hard to see what we were eating! We saw our first moon rise which was pretty spectacular it looks almost like a sun rise it moves quickly and is bright orange and really big! This lit up the sky lots so we could see a lot more. We finished our drinks and headed to bed. We only had a bit of foam, a sleeping bag and a small blanket and it was freezing. We kept hearing noises so I kept getting Adi to go and check to see if something was outside the tent! So after not much sleep we got up about 7 and started to pack everything away. The tow truck driver gave us a text and said he could come pick us up so we got back to the car and waited around 20 minutes for him to arrive. When we arrived at Port Douglas he took us to the hostel we were planning to stay at and just by chance right next door there happened to be a garage! So we left the car on the forecourt in the hope they would be able to look at it the next day as it was a Sunday they were closed. So we got checked in and had a shower and then headed out to have a look around and we went to the local market as it was recommended but was mainly arts and crafts which we couldn't afford! So we had a look around the harbor and then headed back to the hostel. We had decided to hire a boat out the next day so Adi could go fishing and we could go croc hunting up the river. We went to make our dinner but the kitchen was so small and only a couple of the hobs worked so it took us a little while! We sat down and got talking to some other people and mentioned our plans to hire a boat out and if they wanted to come they could as it would bing the cost down and you can have up to six people on the boat. They we're really up for coming so we arranged to meet them the following afternoon when it was the best time to see the crocs! The following day we went down to the harbor to book the boat for the afternoon and Adi got some fishing stuff and we headed out to the lookout to see four mile beach and then sat and I read my book whilst Adi fished! Though he didn't catch us any dinner! We then went and met the others and all headed to the harbor to get the boat. It wasn't the fastest or most attractive boat, but it floated with all of us on it! So we headed out on our croc hunting mission! We were told where we were allowed to go and given a map. But that didn't help to much as we still ended up down a part of the river we weren't allowed in and it was too shallow. We could hear the boat on the bottom of the river! It was a little worrying but luckily we got her out. We managed to find 3 crocs and got quite close to one of them! Adi and another guy Alex tried fishing, but we came to the conclusion there wasn't any fish in the river! There was a fishing boat out the whole time we were and we didn't see them catch anything either! After our fun we sped our way back to harbor well I say sped more like slowly cruise with the engine full blast! Then all headed back to hostel in time for the free barbeque! Later that evening most people had decided to go to the beach and have a bonfire so we went along to find some people were already down there with a fire so we joined them at first and then decided the circle wasn't quite big enough when more people joined so started a second fire! So it was nice and warm with 2 fires going next to each other everyone was sitting around drinking one of the guys that came on the boat with us did some fire breathing and fire poi which was really good!

Adi and I left about half eleven as we were getting up early the next day to head to Cape Tribulation as our car was fixed! A couple of the people on the boat had said they were going as well one of them being the fire breather Alex who had been hitchhiking around Australia! So the next morning we all met up and then headed off the two Alex's in one car and Adi and I in the other! We drove up to the start of the rainforest where we joined a little road of which is the only way up and down the rain forest unless you have a 4x4 and can go through to the north to cook town. They were doing road works so were sat for about 15 minutes not moving we thought maybe something had happened but it's just the good ol aussie way of a slow paced life! After arriving at P.K's Jungle village where we planned to stay we got set up this time we were going to try out the air bed for the first time so Adi got It out and started pumping it up to find it had a massive hole in it! We weren't doing very well with our camping equipment, a crooked tent and no blow up bed! So I decided to sleep in the car as I thought it might be more comfortable and warmer! We had some lunch and then went out exploring; we decided to go to some swimming holes at emmagen creek we had been told about. So drove up the gravel pot hole road and started the walk along the path. At first the path was quite clear and you could walk no problems but then it started to be all over grown and we weren't sure if we were still on the path or whether we were just in the rainforest! I was really worried incase I there was any spiders about to jump out but luckily none did! We eventually found the swimming holes and the guys got straight in to find the best jumping spots! It was a bit too cold for me as the sun had gone in and the water was freezing so I just watched from the side! We then headed to P.k's and made our dinner and then sat and chatted around the kitchen area. We decided to head to the bar for happy hour as in the Lonely Planet guide it said "you're here to party. There's music all day and nearly all night and a dance floor." So far we hadn't heard any music so we thought maybe we were just too far away from the bar area. so we walked there and ordered some beer and cider. There were a few people outside but it was a bit chilly so sat inside we were the only people in there! They were playing country and western and Metallica… not really party music! So we drunk our drinks and then headed to bed! Not sure the lonely planet guide was completely right on this one! The next day we had decided to go to where we had been told we can see a crocodile so we walked up the beach to a creek and walked up the path after thinking we were too late to see it Alex spotted it! It got up on the bank the other side of the creek! So after looking at it from a nice safe distance Adi and Alex decided they wanted to get closer to it! After me and the other Alex telling them not to they headed to the shallow part of the creek and crossed it to the other side. The croc saw/ heard them coming though and moved back into the water. They couldn't see it from the top of the bank but we could it was in the water just in front of them! At this time we heard another croc get into the water not far from us and then one emerged right in front of Alex and me! We shouted to the others that there was more than one croc in the water so they decided to come back. However they had to wade through knee deep water and were a scared in case they got attacked! Well it would have served them right but luckily everyone came back alive and with no limbs missing! After a nice stroll back to camp we made some lunch Alex had decided he was going to head back south again so he left and it was just the 3 of us so we were talking near the kitchen again when a couple from our last hostel in Port Douglas arrived! So we all got talking and decided we would play some drinking games! After people we're quite drunk some Australians came over and said we were missing a great night at the bar! We thought really because last night it was dead! So we headed over to find there was a live band and they were playing dijeredos! Typical for us though we arrived just as they were finishing! After Alex getting told to wake up or leave about 3 times we thought it was best to head to bed! The next morning though Keith and and Mellisa made us all bacon and eggs which was really nice of them! Then we headed to the bat house where someone we stayed in cairns with worked as a volunteer for a month and you can get really close to a flying fox. We had been on the hunt for a cassowary since being up in the rain forest as they are pretty rare to see but live there. They are a huge bird about the size of an emu but with a blue head and black feathers. Everyone had seen one apart from me and adi. So we carried on the hunt as we headed back down the rainforest but unfortunately we didn't see one but there was another area further down the coast where they could be spotted so hoped we would see one then!