My first two days in Cairns seem to have gone very quickly! Yesterday morning I went straight to the scuba diving company, as I hadn't actually paid them anything and wanted to make sure that I'd actually be doing it all as planned. In exchange for my hard earned pennies (or should that be multiple dollars?) I got given a very daunting, inch-thick manual, and got told that studying that, along with going to get a medical done was my homework for the weekend! I decided to go and get the medical done straight away, so that at least if I failed I'd have more time to plan what I could do instead... However that was just me over-worrying, I passed it just fine. (*phew!*)

I spent the rest of the day taking full advantage of being in a city, by doing some clothes shopping and going to the cinema to see Prince of Persia. I also had a look around the night market, but after determining that around half the stalls were offering massages that it wasn't the place for me...

Today I had my first lie-in in a good few months, then did some sight seeing. There was a big fruit and veg market on in the morning, where you could get a good few bargains - a fact that annoyed me seen as I'd already bought some supplies in the supermarket yesterday! I also went for a walk along the water front and around te marina, which was a really lovely area.

I quite like Cairns as a city. At this time of the year it's hot, but not boiling like I'd imagine it can be during the summer months. The centre's nice as it isn't quite developed enough to be filled with high rise tower blocks, so pretty much wherever you are you can see the rainforest-covered mountains that surround the city. One thing I've noticed is that the vast majority of the population seem to be young, fit and very very tanned, which doesn't do wonders for a girls self esteem let me tell you! I have no idea what they can have done with all the older people...?!

I've also decided that if you wanted to do all of the amazing things that you could do here that you'd have to be rich, have months free and be a little bit crazy! The list of things that I've seen advertised that I wouldn't mind trying include: snorkelling, sailing, sky diving, fishing, helicopter rides over the reef, riding a horse through the rainforest, riding a quad bike through the rainforest, white water rafting, kayaking...the list is endless. I guess I'll just have to count myself lucky to be doing the scuba diving!