Cairns, Cape Tribulation and The Great Barrier Reef Time for a Job! (after some tours of North Queensland course!) The intial plan was to head down the coast from Cairns to Sydney and along the way we would get work to fund our travels. However, since finding a tour that will take us from Syndey to Cairns over 16 days, Jess and I decided that we could spare 3 weeks to work in Cairns, before getting to Sydney just in time for Christmas. The plan was flawless, then the brochures for trips to Cape Tribulation (north of Cairns) and a yacht trip to the Great Barrier Reef glistened. This left only 3 weeks to work, but enough of that for the meantime (as it has since become a whole story in itself) and onto the tropical north-east. Cairns We arrived in Cairns at around 3pm - safe and sound, but glad of no more internal flights until it is time to fly from Sydney to Melbourne. After a very funny journey on the airport shuttle, where we seemed to go around Cairns in circles as we dropped people off at their hotels, we were dropped of at Gilligans Backpackers. They call it the Ritz of backpackers, although we thought it was overpiced at $27/night and moved to Castaways 2 nights later. Our decision was helped along by a very strange boy who was staying in our dorm - he talked and even screamed to himself! Indeed, you meet some strange people in hostels - although I laugh as I am sure people could be thinking the same of me ;o) At 5.30pm, Cairns still seemed to be buzzing, so Jess and I went for a stroll. The initial intention being to check out the beach and promenade. Instead we found the most amazing outdoor pool (for free), copious amounts of shops, bars and restaurants and then..... the night markets! Within 1 hour we had located the Asian food hall (we literally had a pile of Thai food on our plate for $7 (that's approx. 3 pounds to you and I). My that was delicous. Then, after what must have been 1 minutes contemplation, we were drawn to a foot, arms, hands and back massage for the bargin price of $15. My Korean masseuse worked wonders! That night I slept like a log. We spent the following few days job hunting. We dragged ourselves around every agency in Cairns, only to find that to get a job you would need to be available to work for 6 weeks or more. So, in vain we tried one last option of bar work and hoped in anticipation that one of the agencies might have a ramdom 3 week term. It was silly to sit on or bums and wait so, off we went on a two-day tour to Cape Tribulation. Cape Tribulation Cape Tribulation Day 1 Day 1 firstly consisted of driving through the Port Douglas and visiting The Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary. I loved it here, mainly because I got to feed Kangaroos and Wallaby's. The most special thing was feeding a Mummy wallaby who had the joey in her pouch - every time she ate, the little joey would poke out his head to say "Hi". Sooo cute! I also got see some of the beautiful birds that inhabit this part of the world (the rainforest of Queensland) and my very first Koala. They are very cuddly looking, but also quite booring as they slept the whole time we looked at them (and will also for the remaining 20 hours of the day). The remainder of the morning was spent visiting the Mossman Gorge and the World Heritage Rainforest, where I got to swim in freshwater pools and play in the waterfalls. Again different to Karijini, Kakadu and King's Canyon as the pools were in flowing water and the water flowed quite fast! We were spoilt with a delicious lunch, before being whisked away for a trip on the Daintree River (in the Daintree Rainforest) to spot Croc's. Our luck was in as we saw two! By 4pm, it was time to say goodbye to the tour guide as he dropped us PK's backpackers. PK's is located just off the beach at Cape Tribulation - a beautiful spot. With no time to waste, Jess and I dumped our things and headed straight for the beach. We worked our way through the palm trees to be greeted by the most glorious beach and in the distance Cape Tribultation. We celebrated being in such a stunning place by indulging in food cooked at the backpackers bar and a galss of red wine. Cape Tribulation Day 2 The point of today was to soak up Cape Tribulation. Jess and I sunbathed until 10.00pm, when it was already roasting and I was gagging to explore the area. We took a stroll to the Cape, and later learned that a salt water croc was lurking just up the creek. Unlucky for us we did not seem him, although I was glad to learn that the croc was around after we had finished sunbathing! I walked the length of the beach, before lunching at the hostel and relaxing for the afternoon, before it was time to catch our bus back to Cairns. On arrival to Cairns, I was greeted by a voicemail offering me a trial at a 2-Tone bar the following day. This was fantastic; if I strut my stuff at the trial, then bingo I would have job for three weeks and get to relax in Cairns whilst not working. All we had to do now was to find a job for Jess. So, the next day I called Earnie, a tomato farmer in Bowen. Not only did he have a jop for Jess, but he had one for me too! This was great as it turned out that we could potentially make a killing, all for 3-weeks of hard labour picking tomatoes. We would stay at Earnies, with a pile of backpackers and he would transport us to the farm. All we needed to do was to buy a return Greyhound Ticket from Cairns to Bowen for Monday, buy a weeks supply of food in Bowen and take the bus 35km out to Earnie's farm....... simple. So, off we went to book the tickets. I cancelled my bar-trial and we celebrated with a glass of red wine by the waterfront. We then dashed back to the hostel and booked ourselves onto a Sunday trip to the Greeat barrier Reef; a day of freedom before we hopped on the bus and tomato picking commenced. (Fruit picking is a whole other journal entry... it's comming up next!) The Great Barrier Reef I will never forget today as long as I live. At 8.00pm, Jess and I climbed aboard Ocean Free - a 50 - odd ft boat with three huge sails. We were greeted by what must have been the most friendliest crew I have ever come across - but hey, who could blame them, they had the best job in the world. In anticipation of wind, Jess and I were invited to hoist the main sail. The aim of the day was to reach Green Island; we motored the whole way (very little wind), but never the less the Pacific Ocean was just stunning. I was first to the bow to watch the yacht ploughing through the water, but not long into the journey we were served morning tea (very Australian) of muffins and drinks. The muffin was delicious and I figured I would need the extra energy as I had a very exciting dive coming up - the Great Barrier Reef!!!! Gordo (crew member and Dive Master), gave me my briefing and a taste of what was coming up. Lucky for no one else was diving, so it was just Gordo and me to see what was beneath the great blue. We dropped achor a boats ride away from Green Island and the crew helped me get suited and booted. None of this dressing yourself - it was pure luxury. Plus, I was suitably weighted and I could later say that I had one of the most comfortable dives yet. Gordo expertedly took me around the reef - yes, I did see Nemo (and other children), floating just inside the moving coral like you see it the film. It was brilliant. Three other highlights of my dive was the colourful coral (much unlike Ningaloo, which is a lot older than the Great Barrier Reef); a puffer fish; and a giant clam. As I came to the surface, I learned that I had some more time to put on a snorkel and jump back in... So, I did. It was amaizing what you could see just from the surface of the water - so many colourful fish! After a delicious lunch, we were brought ashore to Green Island by tender. Green Island was a little touristy, so Jess and I took a swim and soon headed back to the yacht to do some more snorkelling. This time we saw a turtle and Jess was so excited as she had not seen one before. It was a fabulous afternoon for both of us. At 3pm, it was sadly time to start heading home. The wind had picked up; the motor was switched off and up went the sails. It was magical, sailing into Cairns and indulding in more food - this time cheese and crackers and cakes - yummy! What a day! So, now it was time to pack and hop on the Greyhound bus to Bowen - it was a 12 midnight pick-up, so we had time to shower, relax and think happy thoughts of a fantatsic day on the Great Barrier Reef. Lots of Love, Em x