Clare writes: How wierd! Two hours flight from Alice (40o+, dry, desert) and we're in Cairns - wet tropics - 30o, humid, raining. Sad to leave Alice Springs, which we both really liked for no obvious reason except that it was really laid back. Here in Cairns it's very touristy. The 'beach' here is baby mangroves with crocodile warnings, so everyone swims in a big artifical lagoon between the prom and the shopping centre - we're hoping to do so today! We hadn...

Clare writes:Yesterday was just so amazing - it was Australia Day (which celebrates the anniversary of Captain Cook landing in Sydney Harbour) and how better to celebrate than a boat trip to the outer reef and snorkelling over the amazing coral that later scuppered his attempts to land further north (hence the name Cape Tribulation just north of where we are)!Yes, we were swimming amongst the fishes - and turtles (WOW!) just a couple of metres above the World Her...