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Tuesday 22nd April...............Cape Tribulation
Ok, so I set out at 8am to the Kewarra Beach Shops where I was picked up from! I jumped on the bus to see some friendly faces from the Oz Bus...again I am still meeting people it is great!! So already I know it will be a good trip. Dee, our tour guide sets off and we have a quick stop at Ellis Beach for brekky and a wander on the beach. Next stop is Mossman Gorge, this is a fresh water gorge. Dee really knows her stuff and she tells us lots of interesting stuff about the plants!! We then take a dip in the fresh water lake, it is bloody freezing! But I get some good pics of being up on the rocks! Now we head to the Daintree River, a river full of deady creatures like wild crocs and snakes!! So we board out river cruise and go in search of the beasts!! We spot a couple of snakes and then we see a baby croc, unfortunately for him, a huge croc, known as Scarface arrived we were expecting action but the croc passed the little one!! This sounds awful but I wanted to see some blood!!
Our next stop is Cape Tribulation Beach House...our hostel!! Unfortunately our hostel is in the middle of no where!! A good 1hr and a half round trip from anything else, and as we are now deep in the rainforest, and it is dark, they advise you take a torch if planning on walking!! No thankyou!! Not with snakes, crocs and cassowarries (dangerous birds) roaming all over the place!! The people in my room are cool,Sean the Irish lad, and two girls, Gael and Laura!
We head to cafe which is so expensive, but we have no option and we have some dinner!! And then as there is not much to do, we read Harry Potter and play board games, I beat Sean at Draughts he was not happy, and then we played Boggle, and Pictionary!! It was great fun and it was nice to be able to just chill out!!
On the way to bed we neary pooped our pants as we saw something slither across the path, and then Sean left the door open and light on when we all went to the loos!! Absolute idiot, i did not sleep well as I was convinced I would be killed by a snake!! I so did not like being in the rainforest!! Not my cup of tea!!
Wednesday 23rd April.................Cape Tribulation Day Two
Today was to be filled with our own activities! Laura and I decided to try out Jungle Surfing which involved being harnessed to wires and flying through the jungle!! It was good, but it did not last long, the views were not that amazing and it was not worth the $85 we paid!! But I got some good photos of me hanging upside down in the jungle!! And seeing the rainforest from a height was cool!!
In the afternoon after a huge burger, Laura and I went off in search of the Cape Tribulation Look Out Tower!! It took us a good 50mins to get there in the heat of the day, the straps of my backpack were saturated with sweat!! Ummm sexy!! Haha!! But it was a good walk and good exercise, but I was not a fan when we had to come off the beach and cut through the rainforest as I was not to sure about all the wild deadlies crawling around!! The view of the Cape Trib and the beach was gorgeous though!! So it was worth it! But then we had to trek back, seriously I think I have done more walking in Australia then I have ever done in my entire life put together!!
I read HP at the hostel and we were picked up in the afternoon and express driven home!! Snoozing and reading as I went! I arrived at Kewarra at 7:30 pm and then Sara cooked Fish and Chips for dinner, and we had Vanilla Cheesecake and raspberries and ice cream for pudding!! It was so good!! I headed to bed early as I had another trip tomorrow!! Its all go-go-go!!
Thursday 24th April...................Great Barrier Reef Trip
Happy Birthday to Zak also!!! Today, I was dropped into the Pier Market Place in Cairns to check in for my Great Barrier Reef Trip, on the way in Roger said that he would definately recommend Scuba Diving if it was available and as I had missed out the first time round I was very interested. I boarded my boat, the Sea Quest, and we were off at 9am! I enquired about a dive, and I was in luck! I sat through the introductory talk where we were told we would have to accomplish three skills before we were allowed down, to clear our mask of water, to spit out of the defibulator and to catch or defibulator if it fell out!! Easy peasey!! So then when we anchored at our first dive spot, we were wet suited up, the tanks placed on our backs, fins on and masks on! We had to fall into the water then swim round and hold onto a bar attached to the boat! One at a time we had to compete the skills, easy! Then we had to submerge slowly, equalising the pressure in our ears as we went (blowing out your nose with it pinched!!) I had no trouble and then we knealt 11m under water on the sea bed!! It was like a different world it is hard to explain!! It was amazing!! Really unreal! It was like floating, I guess how it would feel in space!! I enjoyed it sooooooooooo much! The coral was much more colourful here than at the Whitsundays and the various fish were amazing!! Our instructor Vili, was a legend, and he guided us around the coral, picking up things for us to hold as we went, like a Sea Cucumber!! So cool!
Sadly we had to surface, and I decided after that amazing first dive, snorkelling would be pretty rubbish so I paid to do another dive after lunch!! It was again amazing! It really is like the photos you see on postcards!! I so want to get qualified and maybe do another dive in Fiji!!
I departed the boat at 4:30pm and met up with Ali and Rob, I said bye to Craig and Jenny too which was emotional! We are all going our seperate ways after so long!! I went and had a free meal with Ali and Rob, Spag Bol, and we arranged to meet tomorrow! It was nice to see them again, and I saw Jess and Kath and everyone else, but I did not want to be back in a hostel! I much preferred being looked after by Sara and Roger! With their fully packed fridge and clean home!! I said bye to Ali and Rob and took the bus back to Kewarra!! The bus driver was a legend!! He was chatting away to me, I will miss that when I go back to England, friendly people who are always chatty and laid back!! Unlike England where everyone keeps themselves to themselves!! When I reached the stop I had to cross the highway and that meant walking through grass...I was so scared I ran across it so fast as I was convinced a snake or spider was going to attack me!! That is one thing I will not miss in England, the bloody creep crawlies! I can cope with our Daddy Long Legs!! I got back to an empty house, found a dew nibbles in their larder...omg it is so packed with goodies!! If only the hostels free shelves were like that!! And then headed to bed, with my date, Harry Potter!!
Friday 25th April.......................Last Full day in Australia....and ANZAC Day!
I woke up early and got onto my blog, still updating as there is so much to fill you wonderful people in on! I then headed into town, the Cairns Central to meet Ali and Rob and to buy some trousers for New Zealand!! I grabbed a bus and met Ali and Rob! Sadly, I picked the worst day to come to town, ANZAC day is huge and it is a public oliday, everything was shut, even the Supermarkets! I swear in Engalnd the supermarkets never shut!! I was not impressed! So we had a mooch around the streets (no shops) and found Rustys Market!! At least we could buy some fruit!! And I got a really gorgeous box of flowers for Sara and Roger for looking after me!!
I said bye to Ali and Rob, this really was emotional!! Hopefully we will cross in New Zealand, and probably in Fiji but it was so sad!! I miss them already!! We have been together from like the start of the Oz Experience till the end, I really hope I make as good a friends in New Zealand!! I head back as there is nothing else open and I arrive at Kewarra in time for toasted sandwiches!! Yummy! I give Chloe a hand washing the car and then upload my hundreds of photos onto this blog...hope you appreciate family...it takes ages!!
In the evening, Chloe, Ellie and I chill out and watch a DVD, Pleasentville, which was really good, as Sara and Roger are out! Ellie makes an immense carbonara too, although I cook way too much pasta oops!! It was really nice to chill out on my last night!! And Ellie and Chloe are really lovely, so it was nice to have some good company!! I start my packing in the evening, it takes me hours and then I head to sleep at 12:30...
Saturday 26th April......................Goodbye Australia.......Hello New Zealand
I am up at 3:45am, Roger is an absolute legend!! He offered to take me into the airport!! I was so greatful!! I say a big thankyou for having me and then head to check in!! I am nice and early and have a mooch round the shops, buying my last few stickers for my journal!! Then I bump into Scott!! Who was on my fraser island and whitsundays trips so that was really cool!! And we were sat a row from each other on the plane!! The flight went quick, 2 and a half hours from Cairns to Sydney, and we got a good brekky, so I was happy, I slept most of the way!! I said byw to Scott and headed to my next flight!!
I checked in and then grabbed a hot chocolate and wrote in my diary!! It was really sad, thinking about Australia!! It has been the most amazing journey for me so far!! I have had the best time, I have made some great friends, hopefully ones that I will see back in England, Olivia and Georgie and Ali and Rob especially!! I have learnt to be independent, I can now cook a decent few meals and clean and wash for myself!! And I can budget money and most of all I have learnt how much I appreciate my mum and dad! I have been very lucky with my childhood! I have had the best life so far and my parents have provided me with everything I have wanted! I appreciate how much they have done for me in the last 19 years also, how well they feed me and how clean my home is!! Travelling makes you appreciate the small things and the luxuries!! SO cheers parents! But most of all I want to be able to go into asupermarket and buy which ever food I want to!! Not looking at the price, so if I can earn enough to do that in life I'll be happy...oh and I want to see the rest of the world!!
Ok, less of the reflection stuff! My flight to New Zealand is another 2 and a half hours! It goes quick, I write my diary and chat to the Kiwi guy next to me!! He is really lovely, so far so good, hopefully the Kiwi's will be just as friendly as the Aussies were!! I touch down and all my sadness about leaving Australia goes and I am excieted again!! Woohoo! I'm in New Zealand!! I walk through arrivals and see Zac Parish (big Zac, and my Dad's cousin for those of you that don't know!!). He hasn't changed much so he as easy to spot!! We chat away all the way into Auckland about my adventures so far...its sooooooooooo good to see him!! We head into a posher part of Auckland and meet his partner, Sheree in a bar!! We have a few snacks and chat more about my travels so far and my plans for the rest of my trip!! Sheree is really lovely! And its so nice having some Parish connections!!
We then head to the city and they show me around!! As it is Saturday evening it was pretty busy!! We had a few drinks at a cool bar where you had to wear cowboy hats and then headed to Queen St. the lively street of Auckland!! And we went to a Japanese Restaurant!! And the food was unbelivable, I had never had Japanese before but it was soooooooooooooooooo good!!.........................
TBC.......................................
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