Hey

Cairns is much more "Australia" then I thought. I thought been a big city like melbourne etc, it would be quite cosmopolitan and commercialised. However, the shopping facilities are moderate and all of the buildings etc are quite australian-like. I am on Trinity beach which is not exactly like the one above (which is my neighbour). It reminds me more of the Lake District here although the harbour is a big thing. Not too commercialised here. however, it is the home of the great outdoors and this is where there is so much money. The tours and things cost a fortune but to really get to see things, you have to do them.

I was meant to do a skydive friday. was v.excited. had my harness on and started making a cheesy dvd with the instructor. "you gonna jump out of a plane today, Sam" and then I would have to put my thumbs up. That sort of thing. Even did my practise moves and then we were delayed then cancelled then on again then delayed. Can not explain how gutted i was to come some close and it felt like a waste of a day. Will try again in New Zealand. To be fair, the fall is not meant to be as good when it is cloudy and rainy over the reef cos the sediment gets mixed up, the water is murky and then the planes also struggle to take off and when you are falling cos you are so high up, it is cold and the rain stings you as it whips your face, like hail does. apparently it can hurt quite a bit. so with hindsight, probably best I didn't go fri. my fault for choosing fri 13th, thought I would prove nothing can harm me even on fri 13th instead my bad luck was that i did not get to jump at all. typical!

went to the only official aboriginal park in auz yesterday. very interesting. lots of digerdoos and spears. i threw a boomerang and it went quite a long way. trouble was that it did not come back again. the tribal man said i did not have enough spin but I'm thinking british and cricket, what did he expect?!

Today I have just got back from the real outback apparantly where I went hacking through the rainforest. We went through waterfalls and over creeks. I nearly had my eye poked out a couple of times by the trees. It was ace and most were beginners but the couple of us who could ride were allowed to seperate from the group for one part and have a good canter. At first, I was really scared but it seems to come back to you like riding a bike although I'm sure my technique was all over the place. They use quite long rains here and how often was it battered in to me to keep my reins short. Watch out, I want a horse when I get home now!! Ooh and Dad, guess what my horse was called?! Noddy!

Off to Sydney tomorrow. Am a little disappointed, I did not get to go out to the reef but the boats only seem to run to the islands close by at the beginning and end of the day. The weather has been so unpredictable, that been stranded on a island for hours and hours suddenly didn't seem as exciting and also as I said, apparently with all the rough weather the reef pretty murky anyway. will be in touch soon. Everybody take care.

Sam xxxx

PS There is a drought in Auz, honest. Just not in Cairns!