Singapore to Australia
We rounded off our trip in Singapore with a budget day hanging out at the hostel - pot noodle for lunch anybody? Nik spent some time befriending people, while Hannah spent hours trying to flatten her hair. In good news, Nik had a good chat with Randy, who invited us to go stay at his resort in Oz - sweet.
We wasted some time playing cards and checkers - Hannah was by and large the checkers champ.
Got the MRT to the airport and checked in to our flight but the woman who checked us in had a badge saying 'I am New' and it took about half an hour. Killed some time around the airport, including checking out the outdoor cactus garden in the terminal - amazing idea.
Our seats on the plane were poor, but the other person completing our row moved so she could sleep so we got a bit of bonus space. Neither of us had the attention span for a movie so did not make good use of the in flight entertainment. Once again, the BA inflight meal was excellent - seems to be the asian ones taste good. The flight was unusual in two ways. First, most people on it were over 55. Second, it was a male cabin crew (only one girl). The guys were amazing on the plane and we think they liked Nik a bit too much. Bad thing about the plane was that it was actually freezing freezing cold to the point where we both nearly couldn't take it - esp as it was a night flight and we didn't really sleep.
Got into Sydney at 5am and had to go through all the quarantine rigmarole and then get a bus to the domestic terminal for a four hour wait for our connecting flight. There was NOWHERE to lie down. Hannah probably nearly died due to this. It was also freezing cold again - too much aircon people! Our flight to Cairns was then 1) late and 2) packed. Hannah was wedged between Nik and a really tall man whose elbows kept protruding into her personal space. However, by this point and 36 hours with no sleep, Hannah and Nik both had a small snooze (there was no entertainment for us as it was a 80s style plane with a few tv screens dotted about and we didn't get the headphones and the screens were too far for Hannah to see).
Arrived at Cairns, which as an airport was in fact worse that Sydney, due to it being a construction site at the moment. Singapore Changi is by far the airport king so far. However, effortlessly got bags and a cab to our hostel (no walking and only $1 more than the bus - Hannah could not walk as carrying her bag yesterday gave her a pain in the chest and ribs). It is right in the heart of town and is proper backpacker, I.e. a bit scuzz and not at all like a hotel, but with everything you need. We have the holy grail of a double bed which is a result for the money we're paying.
Went for a wander down to the Esplanade and for a drink and relax. it's a bit like Bournemouth, very seaside towny and small. It was a grey day, about 25 degrees and a bit drizzly, which to us feels FREEZING. Wandered around a small supermarket and got excited by the sight of cheese and yoghurt - life's small luxuries. Back at the hostel, we did some reading about the area while we waited for the lady to come and make our bed up - we asked them to hurry it along as Hannah was about to drop dead and the lady who came was very nice. She said it was hot. We were shivering. Hannah read her book and caught some zzz's and Nik went out for a wander, identifying places to eat, drink, shop, get tattoos before coming back to join in the snoozing.
We were awoken in the evening by some fat annoying girls from the Midlands sat outside our door shouting into Skype for about an hour. We knew they would be fat before we saw them, and then they were. Later they were actually sat outside our door eating as well. Figures.
Nik awoke with the desperate and grumpy hunger, so we wandered into town to get some eats, but its hard to find anywhere remotely reasonably priced - think we'll be cooking in a fair bit. Settled on some Nandos, though Hannah is right off chicken and had some veggie number. Filled a hole and rejuvenated us. Nik then got a coffee off of a Turkish kebab man which was excellent, so we may go get falafel from him another day.
Went back and had an explore of the hostel, which has a big kitchen, garden and bbq and is mainly full of chav Brits. It's very loud with lots of drunken people playing bad music - if we cannot beat them, on subsequent nights we may have to join them.
Cairns continues….
Had a lie in for the first time in weeks and weeks (normally have to get up early for breakfasts) which was awesome. Ventured out again to get a morning beverage and had excellent coffee at an award winning pie shop on the road we are staying on.
Spent the morning wandering round the shops, the harbour and the esplanade. Saw some excellent boats, including a big boat, that had another fairly large boat inside it - amazing. Less amazing was that the lagoon, which is the focal point of the Esplanade and the main place to go and hang out, get a tan etc (as there is no beach, just a harbour and a swamp) is CLOSED. Gutted.
Went for some lunch in the town square bit, where a rather good band was playing and soaked up the sun for a bit. It is not warm here compared to Asia unless you are in direct sunlight, though everyone walks around in next to nothing and stares at Hannah in leggings or jeans!
Walked to Cairns Central shopping centre to get a food shop done, all the essentials - green tea, cereal, yoghurt, vegemite, bread and all the ingredients for a super salad like we have been craving. Struggled to find somewhere to put it back at the hostel as it transpired that a lot of people here actually live here long term, so they have big cool bags of stuff in the fridge and the cupboards are full of their condiments.
Decided to explore our free dinner tokens in the evening which involved going to Gilligans. This is in the same street and is a purpose built huge backpacker resort. It is the sort of place that has jelly wrestling competitions and everyone is aged under 25 there pretty much. However, we used our free dinner token to claim a backpacker meal, which was actually decent enough, and as it was free we had a pint of Tooheys each - party on. We decided to walk back to the hostel but Nik managed to trip in his flip flops and ripped a bunch of skin off his toe. A lot of blood came out. We tried to make a cuppa at the hostel but all the cups were gone so Nik went out for Turkish coffee.
When we got back, Hannah fessed up to having a bad ankle since the plane to Sydney that didn't seem to be pinging back into place. It was kind of bruised and swollen and hurt when Nik poked it. So the following day, which was due to be a trek around the Botanic Gardens, had to be put on hold as ankle rest was much needed. This allowed for some time with feet up doing planning and booking bus tickets etc.
Nik pottered around the kitchen making friends with boys who like fighting and UFC - usual. We also did our washing. Hannah did head shaving duty in the garden too.
We then made our super salad for lunch which we had been craving for weeks. It had lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, bacon bits and Caesar dressing. This may not sound revolutionary but after being without salad for so long in Indo it was awesome. This was confirmed by the fact that everyone else at the hostel was swarming around starting at it and cooing. Mainly they all just eat pasta and toast. Apart from the thin French girls who just chain smoke in bikinis.
After lunch we went for a slow stroll to buy deep heat for Hannah's ankle, shaving foam for Nik's UFC beard and plastic mugs so we don't have to relive the coffee debacle again. We also went in search of the free gym on the beach front so that Nik could consider getting his meat head on.
We also finally booked a tour and are going North of Cairns on Sunday to see loads of cool stuff, like the rainforests and stuff, hopefully crocodiles too. We have not yet managed to book a day on the reef as it is a massive faff to find a cheap one where they don't arse about with the bookings (we found one but the boat had engine trouble and was cancelled while they flew a part in from Brisbane!).
On the way back we went for a couple more flat whites at the pie shop and shared a caramel cake which was excellent.
After some more boring booking and planning related stuff, we went for our free tea at Gilligans again, this time accompanied by a XXXX Gold and a VB - we're working our way through the menu! Tonight there was a party bus tour starting at Gilligans. It was horrendous. Although we did some good people watching what with it being a Friday night.
We toddled back to the hostel slowly (speed walking is off the menu for Hannah today) and had tea and coffee and ryvita for an evening snack while trying (and failing) to book some plane tickets - why does nothing work properly when you urgently need to book stuff before the cheap seats go!? Grrr.
Saturday in Cairns
Got up. It had been raining all night so our washing is soaked. Then it rained some more. We thought this was supposed to be the bit of the country with good weather??
Loafed around a bit and managed to miss the free hostel bbq. In fairness, it didn't look brilliant anyway, and its hard to work out what's going on as so many people live here that it's a bit cliquey.
Instead, we spent the afternoon drinking beers and eating crisps and chatting to some of the hostel mates. One particularly amusing chap is an Aussie called Leroy who talks very very fast.
Went for free dinner in the evening. Curry sausage and rice this time. It didn't digest too well if we're honest. So we headed back for tea and coffee and watched others drinking the goon, before an early night before our tour tomorrow. (while this sounds lame, it has meant we are able to keep up to speed on most of our favourite TV shows, so we have managed to watch True Blood, Glee, Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl in full despite being on the road - it is a big moneysaver, that's for sure)