Hi guys,

I know this is a little late but Im going to try and fill you in on as much as I can since Maggie Island.

After leaving the paradise that was 'Maggie' I headed off to Mission Beach. I am sad to say I was more than a little disappointed...

Mission Beach was hit hard by Cyclone Yasi earlier on that year and was still very much in recovery. The hostel I stayed in was nice enough but again, still in recovery with renovations still going ahead with lots ofg noisy workman around. I went down to the beach and unlucky for me there was a few days of bad weather forecast and the only things to do in Mission Beach is be a beach bum or skydive...

You cant sunbath when there is not sun, and I had just done a skydive so I got chatting to a lovelt German girl staying in my room and she was off to Cairns the next day. So after a little chat over dinner I decided to ditch Mission Beach and head to Cairns with her.

I was so ecited to get to Cairns as it was originally the last point of my trip all that time ago...seems like forever doesnt it? So it was the place I was most eager to see...

I was so hoping it wouldnt disappoint me as I had big expectations...

Disappoint me it did not!! Cairns was awesome!! It was nice to arrive with Julia (the German girl) but we were in different hostels on the same street so it was all good.

My hostel was called the Northern Greenhouse and it was the bomb! Not like any other hostel I had stayed in, it was more like a block of flats- a nice block. All rooms had en-suite and a little kitchen, balcony and great storage. Thats without the bar, swimming pool, massive commen area and kitchen. It was magic! I went to stay here because someone had recommended it to me but also because the pommy girl I met on Maggie- Laura was also there. Was great to catch up with her again!

The more time I spent in Cairns the more I enjoyed it! The few friends I had there ended up turning into a group of about twenty so it was like home from home, nice hostel, lots of friends and a pumping nightlife! Cairns nightlife was awesome, two particular bars- the woolshed which had cheap backpacker meals, ladies nights and dancing on tables and Gilligans which was more like a rave than a bar.

I had sooooo many great nights in Cairns it hard remember them all but I have some great photos so I know they definalty happended! ha ha!

The city of Cairns was lovely, not too big not too small with a relaxed tropical vibe and atmosphere. The only thing that lets it down a bit is the out of control Aboriginals. I hate to say it, I know they are native and it was thier country first but OMG! They hang around the streets, drinking, shouting and chasing tourists. Not pleasant. Lucky for me I didnt really have any close encounters with them but that may be because I went out of my way to avoid them!!

When I was there, me and Julia went on a boat trip out to the reef one day. Was a bit of a mixture of a day. I wanted to go scuba diving for the first time but they wouldnt let me because of my asthma so that was a bad start but I could go snorkelling so it wasnt all bad. We stopped at one point and had a great time snorkelling, it was Julias first time so I was swimming along holding Julias hand and we swam with gorgeous strippy fish as big as ourt heads! As well as sea snakes and gorgeous sea turtles- really was amazing!

Unfortunatly, the second point we went to wasnt so good. The crew under estimated the currant of the water and as one of the first in the water, I was swept away in it along with a handful of others. That was pretty scary and not something I would like to experience again. A learning curve....the water is dangerous!

We visitied a tiny island after that disappears and reappears accoring to the tide so that was a nice slice of paradise to finish the day!

The next day me, Julia and a few new friends travelled north. We headed up to Cape Tribulation. The only way I can descibe The Cape is like living in the rainforrest in the middleof nowhere- no cell reception, no shops- just you and the trees...

The Cape is known as the place where two natural wonders meet- the Rainforest and the Reef. The Daintree rainforest is the oldest in the world (I believe) so it was amazing to bush walk around it learing how the Aboriginals once lived there.

The next day, I decided to try something totally out of my comfort zone...again. Jungle surfing. Jungle surfing is pretty much being a monkey...You go into the tree tops and clipped onto a zip wire you wizz from tree to tree. Being terrified of heights I wasnt sure how I would go but after skydiving I was hoping I could handle it.

Well, it was great fun, scary but a real adrenaline rush at the same time. Standing at the top of a tree and jumping of the platform with just a wore to save you. By the end of it we were going accross upside down and all sorts. Was a great afternoon!!

The next morning we headed off to Port Douglas. It was nice to get back to a little civilisation!! There were shops and bars and everything- very exciting!! So we window shopped and hit the town that night having a few drinks and making plans with more new friends.

None of them had seen crocodiles up to that point and were all pretty keen to see one in the wild, so as a suprise, I arranged to hire a boat and make our own crocodile cruise down an infested river nearby. They were so excited when I told them what I had done and once we got out in the water and started driving the boat around the crocs they were happy chappies- so that was my good deed! Was fun though...

On the way back to Carins we stopped at a great and very well known swimming hole called 'Mossman Gorge'. On aborignal protected land it is preserved perfectly and luckily for us croc free (unlike many other water holes in North Qld) so we all had a great time climbing the rocks and cooling down surrounded by the most perfect untouched landscapes and waterfalls.

When we got back to Cairns the wet season had well and truly kicked in and it was pouring with rain, not just pouring- terrential!! So the next few days were spent inside- haninging out with mates, watching moving and being bored.

On one day that came good me and another friend Megan went to and Aborigal Cultural Centre. After seeing the badly behaved aborigianls in Cairns I was keen to learn the background of thier lives and how they ended up this way..

We learnt a lot, How to throw a boomarang so it comes back to you, how to spear a kangaroo for dinner (wasnt a real one!) as well as about thier bushtucker and faith. The faith was very interesting if anyone want to look into it further- the Aboriginals believe the first man on earth came from an egg and was nursed to adult by an angel from the sky. Interesting stuff. There was also a lot of digereedoo lessons and music, lots to learn and a good eye opener. I now see how things have happedned.

After a few more days of rain (and a great afternoon hiding from the rain in the casino) I made arrangements to go back and visiti Jason and the Dingo Beach crew for a few days.

Arriving in Dingo was like coming home...its been so long since I could call anywhere home but after spending so much time here and knowing everyone it feels like my aussie home! (another one!) It was great to be back, I headed straight to the pub where I had a lovely response and lots of hugs! Of course it was great to see Jason after a month as I had missed him! It was so nice to see everyone!!

That night my boss said he had a little project for me so the next day I started work at 9am. We went out and done some promotional work, going to infomnation places and talking to people about the pub- was good fun! Getting paid to talk to strangers? No worries!! Stacey then took me out for a nice seafood lunch which was a nice treat before we headed back to the pub for a well earned drink!!

The Saturday was spent crabbing- which I love! Didnt get chance to go before I left last time so was so happy I got to go this time! Due to the tide times we had to spend most of early afternoon in the Eco resort bar waiting to put the boat in which was nice- lots of chilled out drinks in the sun. Once we got in the water we headed straight out and am pleased to say that we had a successful trip- bar Rod nearly loosing his finger to a crab and me getting bitten to death by sandflies! So that evening it was mud crab for dinner and pretty good it was too!

On Sunday I worked down the pub, originaaly just 5 hiurs but that soon changed to a nice 10 hour shift so that wore me out after having a month off! Although it was great to be back at work and to be back behind the bar instead of sitting at it!!

On Monday I spent the day with my friend Melissa. We went into town and did some shopping and had lunch before doing the boring weekly grocery shop. Well,m we had so much fun!All the people in the supermarket thought we were nuts! We were having such a laugh- I don't even remember why!? I do remember one guy t4elling us we were having far too much fun for a grocery shop!! Funny Stuff! Was nice to catch up with Mel for probably the last time though.

Tuesday was a nice chilled out day, alyed on the beach, walked the dog down the beach and chilled at the pub! On the Thursday we all went out on the boat- me, Jason, Brackley, Rowan, Col, Grant Wes and Darcy- we had a great day! We headed round to various bays and islands so Jason and Darcy could dive some of the bomies for a bit of spear fishing. We went in and enjoyed a swim in the sun, unfortuanly the vision thst day was a little murky so snorkelling wasn't great but the water was gorgeous for a swim. Problem is itys now stinger season here but I managed to not get stung and die so it was a success!! We had the music pumping and the drinks flowing, we really enjoyed ourselves! When we got back we headed to Jonah bay which is where 'Crayfish Kevvy' lives. Very unique guy, he is like a cowbay who lives on the beach. Set himself up a little camp there with electricity and everything! So we stayed there for a drink and Kevvy got his guitar out and sang to us on the beach in the sun. What a crappy life I lead!! We then headed back to the Dingo beach and went to the pub where Darcy cooked up the crayfish Jason had caught and Jenny decided she could drink beer and rum....bad idea...

I caught the overnight bus from Dingo back to Cairns which I was so glad I did as I slept like a log for the whole 10 hours so it flew by! Arriving in Cairns by 7am I had plenty of time to get some jobs done and catch up with firends. They kindly reminded me that it was Halloween and that we HAD to go out and celebrate that and my last night so a few hours and make shift Halloween outfit later off we went! We had a goreat night and everyone was well in the spirit of Halloween- you should check out the puctures...

After rolling in around 5am and getting up at 8am I was less than ready for my flight to Darwin but off I went anyway, only to arrive and find that my flight had been cancelled.....

.

I headed back to Cairns just in time for my flight to the Northern Territory....Darwin here I come.