Waking up to the usual monsoon it was a relief to find as we drive away from the rainforest that clings to cairns, we also escaped the rain. Port Douglas very much an upmarket version of Cairns is nice as is the miles of sandy beaches lined with palm trees although the threat of nearly deadly stingers and very deadly crocodiles put me off from venturing into the water! A visit to the other gay resort around here, called Turtle Cove was a bit like waiting for god...

Ok so I admit it I was a bit harsh on Cairns. It's amazing how you can take against a place on first impressions when greeted with monsoon like conditions. Granted, the city centre is a write off but on discovery of the esplanade today (when the sun (!) made an appearence) I was pleasantly surprised, not least by the eye candy provided by the joggers. Sitting here, reflecting on my adventures so far as I approach the half way mark on Friday, I'm really happy w...

Waking up with the return of the sore throat, having got caught in several downpours the previous day, we set off for the rainforest village, Kuranda. The scenic railway was delightful, as was my delight when I posed for photos with a Koala, wallaby and a cockatoo named Gaby! I felt like a novice indiana Jones when the rainfall caused the river to burst its banks...I decided against attempting that crossing. The return journey was via the spectacular Skyrail, ...

And the heavens opened! Landed in cairns to find that it is the start of their rainfall season so floods of rain are forecast! Skinny Dips is a nice resort but unfortunately virtually empty except for Derek and I (unlike the pictures portrayed on their website!) Exploring Cairns today revealed it to be a pretty terrible place, completely devoid of culture, and with the worst excesses of America imported, huge tacky malls selling cheap nasty stuff. Derek is not ...

Ok, so last night turned into a comedy of errors, feeling smug from getting an upgrade to a single room all of my own, that feeling quickly faded when I discovered that I was actually in fact still sharing - this time with a desert rodent. Another room change and a door that wouldn't lock, a third room change and the same problem presented itself so I put my suitcase up against the door, you know how they do in the movies. Having slept better the sunrise at Ayr...