Hello from civillisation!!!

I love Cairns!! So happy to be here instead of the desert.... was just wonderful to get to Gilligans Hostel on Monday and Beth was there waiting with a chilled bottle of wine - lush! We headed straight out to a bar called the Woolshed with a guy that was in our room, David. Had some cheap eats and beer and decided to enter a competition called 'Mr & Mrs Backpacker'. They said it was about knowing your friend so obviously Beth and I decided to play as we've know each other for a whole week!! So it was us versus an american pair of guys: it was basically a general knowlede quiz... then when we were standing up there about to start playing they revealed that when you or your partner got a question wrong or didnt answer and the other team got it right - one of you had to take an article of clothing off!!!! Now I'd come straight off the plane and Beth and I were both wearing shorts and t-shirts with flipflops, while of course the boys had on trainers and socks and much more clothing... Beth was answering questions first, and if she got them wrong I had to take something off, but if the other guy got the question right she had to take something off. Basically they just wanted one of us to get our kit off, I'm sure, and sure enough the game ended with Beth sitting there in just her bikini bottoms!!! I had to take my t-shirt off, but luckily I was wearing a vest underneath - ha!! It was worth it though as we got free t-shirts, a free meal and 10 free drinks and Beth won a half day rafting trip, which she loved!!!

On Tuesday we just chilled out in Cairns and booked up some things to do. Then went down to the Esplanade and sat by the Lagoon - beautiful. You cant swim in the sea, so there is a man made pool with a little shady bit and everyone just lies on the grass around the water. Had a chilled evening after our antics the night before!

I went on a day trip to Cape Tribulation yesterday - a lot of time in a mini bus and the weather wasnt great, but went on a little rainforest walk and then on a boat ride down the Daintree River and saw crocodiles and a snake and a frog and lots of birds. Back in the Woolshed last night and even though Beth took part in the goldfish racing game, we managed to restrain ourselves from entering the wet t-shirt competition, thank god!! Also went to Soho where for the $7 entrance fee, there was then an hour of free drinks - brilliant!! And we were worried we wouldnt fit in with the Oz Experience.... which we start in Saturday!!!

Doing a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow, then up early on saturday to start our bus trip down the East Coast - will probably end up in Sydney maybe for Xmas, and definitely for New Year.

To be honest though, I'm not loving Australia half as much as I thought I would, or half as much as I like New Zealand!!! Guess I'm just a kiwi at heart.... ;) It's hot though (even if it has been a bit cloudy) and just wearing shorts and vests and bikinis all the time... it's not hard to be away from winter - but it will be strange to have a hot Christmas!!

Cant wait to start down the East Coast though in the Oz Bus - I'm sure it will be great fun!!!

;)

Love from me xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

p.s. oh, yeah, sorry Mum, but today Beth and I went to the AJ Hackett site just outside Cairns and did the Minjin Swing!!! It was scary, but not as scary as a bungy jump - we did it together (can do it with up to two other people). Youre strapped in lying horizontal, hoisted up to 45 metres, and then had to pull our own cord to be released and swing down. I had that job or I think we'd still be up there now!! Free falling and then going up and swinging back down was the weirdest feeling: but it was so funny and scary - we laughed and screamed all the way until it was over!! I'll put the pictures on soon!