Sitting in the Pacific International Hotel in Cairns, Queensland while mom tries to get her booking number so they can check in online for their 6am flight tomorrow. Decided to give a mini update while she's working on that.

Monday night I went to the Foo Fighters concert and it was really good! Pretender was the second song on the list, they also did a 3 song encore at the end! Lead was a great audience entertainer. After the concert, went to the airport and didn't have to wait too long to board (at 11:35 pm). Flew to Melbourne (by now it was early Tuesday morning - 5am Melbourne time). Got a nice bacon egg and cheese foccacia at the airport there - no real place to buy a pin though! It was about 9 degrees C in Melbourne = quite chilly! Was in the Melbourne airport for 3 hours so I watched the 10th Kingdom on my laptop and also read a bit. The plane at 8:45 to Cairns - slept most of the way - but kept waking up to drink water (dry mouth - I need to learn to keep it closed while I sleep!). Took a taxi to the Pacific International Hotel - had to check in as mom though. Took a little nap, changed (29 degrees C here!) and walked along the Esplanade. Got Macca's for dinner - found out mom and them were delayed. Watched NCIS and more of the 10th Kingdom. Bedtime now at 11:20pm (trio got here at 10:30).

Wednesday April 23 we got up around 8:30, took a shuttle to the train station. Rode the Kuranda scenic railway to Barron Falls then Kuranda. Once in Kuranda, did a lot of market shopping - finally found the perfect opal necklace for me. Got some nasty burgers (had some great cheesecake earlier though!). Took the skyrail back down, saw some amazing rainforest views. Was really high up. Got back, napped, then walked over to the Hog's Breath Cafe - really good fries, chicken tenders, and cheesy bread. Had US license plates all over the walls. Walked over to the Night Markets, got a sweatshirt! Came back, walked to the casino with mom to the ATM. Now just watching House - bed soon (have to leave by 7am tomorrow!).

Thursday April 24 - Today we got up really early (6:30am!) Caught the BTS tour transfer bus at ten to 7am to Port Douglas (arrived there around 8:15am). There we got on the Calypso boat for our all day tour. They didn't have hot chocolate (liars!) just Milo. Hour and a half ride out to the Opal Reef on the GBR. We got 4 lounge chairs on the top deck - great seats! First snorkel spot was perfect depth- saw a huge Maori Wrasse named Marvin - got some pictures of and with him. We wore "stinger suits" over our swimsuits to protect from the jellyfish (even though it was at the very end of the season for them) as well as any stinging coral/animals. Mom and Lynn looked hot (as in good looking, not hot flash as Lynn adds). Coral was so multicolored and amazing (way prettier than Ningaloo). The second snorkel spot was really shallow - got a snorkel tour and saw Nemo! Was a bit freaky with it being so shallow. Then we had lunch (roast beef sandwich) on the way to the third and final spot. This was like 2 coral "islands" - really shallow on top but really deep off the sides. Millions of different fish at this spot - ran out of film! Afterwards another long boat ride back to shore. Back and shopped around after eating pizza at Rattle and Hum. Back, watched Medium and now journalling before our big day of NOTHING tomorrow.

So today, Friday we slept in until 9:30... sleeping in... right... went over to walk along the Esplanade mud flats again, then back to a park next to a pool where we laid out our towels and slept in the sun. Walked back to the hotel, called home, then over to Macca's (McDonald's) for lunch. Now online! That's about it so far, not sure what the rest of the trip will bring .