Hi Everyone this is my first blog from Cairns! Cairns is my first experience of Australia and the first thing that is obvious how laid back life is compared to the UK, obviously the weather and how beautiful the country is.

I arrived in Cairns on Wednesday morning and arrived at my hostel but had to wait until mid afternoon to check in. Whilst waiting to check in I took this time to look around Cairns and headed down to a lagoon called the Esplanade. Here is where most of the sunbathing takes place as there is a lack of beaches but it is both tranquil and beautiful at the same time. We took some food down there yesterday to use the free barbaques provided by the council and watch the sunset which was my first sunset seeing in Oz. It really is awe-inspiring and makes me grateful that I'm getting the oppurtunity to witness sights like this.

The hostel I am staying in is called Gilligans and is one of the most livliest places in town with something always going on! On my first night I was experienced to cheap wine in Australia (called Goon for some reason) and it is the cheap stuff used for getting drunk. After my first night out I won't be taking it lightly again! The best thing about hostels is the different people you meet and have already made some good friends (one called Toby even persuading me to buy a guitar over here). I've just started cooking for myself as I have realized if I keep eating out I will be home in a month never mind 6 months! The weather is beautiful which is quite bizarre as there are constant showers and floods down the road in Queensland!

So I finally started job hunting and am hoping to get a diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef sometime this week. Hope everyone back in the United Kingdom is well and I'll upload some pics when I get a chance!!!