TUESDAY 17TH APRIL 2007 arrived in Airlie beach by greyhound and checked into the hostel - Magnums - no dorms tho so had to opt for the more expensive option of a room. fairly nice. didn't arrive until late though so just wandered around the very small town, ate, had drinks - the usual - then slept. Airlie beach is really nice actually but there isn't much of a beach - more of a harbour and a bit of surrounding sand - like a little holiday village. WEDNESDAY 18TH APRIL 2007 Embarked on our "Whitsunday Islands" adventure. We were on the party boat called "reality is" which was basic but the cheap option so everyone on it was pretty much our age. Set sail in the afternoon to the island where we would be sleeping -"hook island". Took pretty much all day to get there but was cool - everyone was just drinkin, chatting, socializing etc. There was one very outgoing dutch girl who everyone thought they was going to hate cos she was so boisterous but she turned out to be really cool despite being so in your face. I got chatting to 3 lasses from York who i got on fairly well with while Gaz was busbodying with a few others ). Arrived safely on the island although had a bit of trouble getting onto it initially. Because the tide was out the sea around the jetty was too low for it to be reached from the boat so they had to tie a metal windowcleaners ladder and hang it down for us to climb up! Payback for going for the cheaper option. The accomodation seemed OK - basic but suited needs and we all settled for food and even more drink of course. everyone gelled really well - it was a good group - although being overdrunk & tired we all ended up in bed quite early. Thats when the fun started - or not! I walked into our room, chatted to Leanne who was in bed the noticed bugs all over the sheet. Kerry having seen them before knew they were bedbugs so we went and asked to change rooms. Moved to another only to find that this was even more infested which left no other options but to stay in the old one. Having not seen any bugs in our beds as such me and gaz went to sleep but i woke to them crawling on my pillow so opted to sleep outside. Didnt wake Gaz up tho cos he was fast asleep & didnt think he'd care anyway - a mistake i would learn in the morning. THURSDAY 19TH APRIL 2007 Slept so so outside although the grasshoppers didnt leave me alone and the birds kept pecking around too. The three york girlsdecided to quit the trip early and go home on an early boat which was a shame cause i got quite friendly with them. Gaz woke a little worse for wear and was covered in bed bug bites! oooops - should have made him get up too! Left for the boat trip early doors - same as yesterday although less alcohol was consumed as every1 was a little rough still. Went to Whitehaven beach 1st which is a beach of silica. i stayed on the boat and topped up my tan while the others went snorkelling and diving in their sexy stinger suits. i didint want to go in the sea cos of all the jelly fish - even with a suit i didint fancy my chances. Impressions of the whitsundays are r.good. they are very similar to thai islands although the forestry is much denser. After whitehaven we went to another of the whitsunday haunts where Gaz did a dive. i passed being slightly bored now of diving - having seen turtles, sharks and stingrays i think i need to leave it a while before i do it again! Glad i passed in the end cos gaz said visibility was 3m which is r.poor and the guide just kept circling the same area.Also hey swam back to the boat from the dive drop off point & the current was extremely choppy which i wouldn't have liked. Joe only confirmed this for me by part shouting part screaming for amys help to get back on the boat and then feeling ill afterwards due to the swim. Hilarious for us observers but poor Joe ;) From here we headed back to hook island for the same good old drinks and chats - especially as it was Charlotte's birthday come midnight. Together with Charlotte, joe and amy GAZ kept us entertained with all his riddle games he had learnt in mission beach.we were doing them all night but wont tell u them till we get home then u can work them out for urself! haha! celebrated charls birthday by throwing her fully clothed into the pool (although it was Gaz and an irish lad who did it and we were all worried they'd mistime it through being drunk and she's end up crackin herself on the concrete. Luckily she didn't!  We then joined forces with sam, becky, sophie, ed and nathan who did one of their riddles on us. Joe worked it out but the rest of us were puzzled till he shared the secret (again all will be revealed when we get home!) FRIDAY 20TH APRIL 2007 Set off early to head back to airlie beach. The mood was the polar opposite to the first day on the boat. everyone was completely exhausted and despite the odd beer most people slept and dozed. when we got back we went along with amy, joe, charlotte and ed to the lagoon which is like a massive swimming pool but seems a bit more natural. we had a picnic while we discussed the lads phobia of allowing other guys to apply suncream to their backs and how they wouldnt have a massage from a male! we just lazed in the sun until late afternoon when joe and amy had to catch a night bus. We all went for a farewell drink but shouldnt be too long cos we're doing the same trip & will meet up along the way. At the night we went out to magnums bar for birthday drinks with charlotte but we were all too tired and the night ended fairly early only after a massive debate about women doing wet T-shirt contests! Ed couldnt argue his way out of a paper bag! was hilarious winding him up! SATURDAY 21ST APRIL 2007/SUNDAY 22ND APRIL 2007 Just lounged by the pool both days topping up our tans ready for fraser island. the weather is gorgeous which is a nice suprise after all the rain further up north. making the most of it before we head further south and then NZ where its only gonna be winter woolies! :) Gonna catch the night bus tonight to get to Myella ready for our farm stay - yes thats right - ME on farm. watch this space! xxx