Ok, so at the moment I am trying to upload the photos for you all to see, but STA travel blogs is making it very hard, and it's frozen several pages of mine, it frustrates me soooo much!

Anyway. I was having a really good day up until 15mins ago when that happened. We're in Cairns now, and it brings a whole new meaning to the word 'hot'. We're in Tropical North Queensland, so basically in the tropics. You can cut the humidity with a knife. We only arrived yesterday, so I just sunbathed this morning and gave up at lunch time because I was sweating too much, plus this wierd still drunk guy kept annoying me when i was trying to listen to the good music by the pool. Then this afternoon I went shopping. The Cairns Central Mall was really good, like a smaller version of the Mall in Cribbs Causeway, except here they have Myer (a really really good department store), and Valleygirl and Supre. I didn't buy a thing, although i have never had so much temptation in my life. I was so well restrained. I will go back in a few days though. I just have to carry it, so I think I'm going to have to grow another arm to carry a separate bag. Becky lay by the pool all day, chatting up the wierd man, lol.

I didn't think it was possible but the hostel we're in now I think is nicer than the one in Magnetic Island. Ok the location isn't as amazing, but it's still pretty amazing. It's called Gilligans and it's in the centre of Cairns, although Cairn's is relatively small (100,000 people). I really like it here. It's supposed to be quite touristy, because of it's year-long summers (and skin-piercing heat!). But like every town in Australia (apart from Sydney and Melbourne) it's relatively quiet. It's the major harbour for boats going over to the Great Barrier Reef, which is about a 3hour journey to the nearest parts. We're going over on Wednesday to do snorkelling, although most go scuba diving, I don't have a desire to do that. We'll probably still be able to find Nemo.

Last night was good. We arrived from Townsville at about 6.30pm after visiting a crocodile place. They had the largest one in Oz ( I think), it was 5 and a half metres long! I think it had been in captivity too long though because?it seemed pretty tame, the man sat on it's back. They had hundreds of crocs there, and some aligators. We saw all the crocs sitting in their pen that were about to be killed, it was horrible. They were so mean to the others aswell, their cages were tiny and they kept going in and taunting them, hitting them with a rake. The men that worked there were all psycho hillbillys aswell. WE aslo stopped at some river thing, so that's why there's some of those photos, well, you'd see them if this stupid thing would let me upload them!

Then yesterday evening we went out for a meal underneath our hostel, it has a really nice bar. I had bangers and mash, and becky vegies and wedgies. Then we met up with Nicola, Naomi, Sukey and Rachel who we haven't seen for a while. It was their last night, so we went to the Woolshed and had a fun night. Our bus from that day trip were there. It was sad to say bye to them but we're going to meet up in England. We got back about 2ish. And at 7am this morning Becky was wide awake and clattering around the room, and I was so tired. So she went off to the gym (oh yes, our hostel has a gym!) and returned a bit later, me still trying to sleep. But she didn't drink last night so that's probably why. There was the wierdest guy out last night, he thought he was actually scuba diving and kept trying to make me 'follow the snorkel bearing', so I kind of piled him off onto becky.

Oh yea, I forgot, I was telling you how great our hostel is. Apparently it used to be a hotel, not sure why it changed. But it has a massive lobby (reception), a lush pool with a waterfall and a nice bar around it, a gym, a kitchen on each floor (which is clean and fully equipped), a massive TV lounge with many many comfy sofas and we have an ensuite. We're in a 4 bed dorm but there's only two of us, and we have single beds, not bunk!! I'll take pictures of all of these things so you can see how nice it it.

The rest of our time in Magnetic Island was nice. I went for a walk to the nearby Picnic Bay by myself, felt like I needed some alone time. It was really hot and I had to walk up some hills and stuff. But I walked past all the houses of local people which was nice. I also met a man who lived there from 38years, he was nearly the longest living there. And I got offered accomadation for a month if I looked after a dog, strange things happen when you go off on your own. Becky stayed by the pool at the hostel.

However, the next day I thought I needed a bit more exercise after my big free breakfast from Base. So I decided to do one of the recommened walks from Nelly Bay to Arcadia, which went up through the rainforest. Becky didn't want to come so I went alone, again. So I set off, stopped to buy some water and stuff from my nice long day ahead then started on the track. It started on one of the side streets which was fine. There wasn't many people about, but that's because the island is so deserted. Some of the houses there were amazing though. Like all brown and eco-friendly looking, overlooking the rainforest. So I got past that street, which took about 40mins from hostel. I was a the bottom of the track and looked at the map of where to go, so I set off. As I started walking I got the strange sense of aloneness, then thought 'nah, it's a Saturday morning so there's bound to be many people passing me or over taking me along the way'. So I brushed off that thought. Then about 5 minutes in to the walk I started to feel even more alone. I realised I was quite far away from the houses and hadn't seen anyone or heard anyone since I left, and I felt I was quite deep into the rainforest. My immediate fear was 'What if I get bitten by a snake or a spider, if I scream no-one will hear me.' Plus I had little battery on my phone. Then I thought 'don't be silly, only 9 people in the last 20 years have died in Queensland from a snake bite. So I continued on my walk. It didn't help that lizzards kept darting out infront of me and I kept having to brush the spider webs off my face. About 20minutes into the rainforest and I still hadn't passed anyone, and it didn't look like I was going to. I started to panic that someone would come out to get me, some of the strange hillbillys we've met. Although nice, I'm sure Magnetic Island has some strange people on it. I kept looking out into the trees thinking I saw a shadow, or someone crouched behing the rock infront of me, yes you all know my horrible mind. I was really scared at this point. I kept thinking of what would happen if I went missing, or if I got attacked, and that I should get my phone out. I just kept telling myself I was being stupid so I bravely kept walking for another 20mins, and was 40mins into the forest at this point. i just kept thinking Ill see someone soon, or come to some lookout point where people will be having a picnic or something. Then a crow thing in the trees next to me made a really loud squaking noise and struggled to get out of the trees which made me jump out of my skin! And then I realised this rainforest was going to go on for another two hours. So I turned around and literally ran back, nearly got lost, which made my heart go even faster! But I have never been so happy to see a lady pushing her kids on their bikes! I must've looked such a state, I was sweating so badly and my face must've been a tomatoey colour from the heat and the scaredness. I was so glad I turned back , I don't know why I carried on as far as I did! So after then i went back to the hostel to relax on the beach, that felt so good! I now know how people feel after they've been rescued from sea or the jungle!

Anyway, I think this blog is long enough so that is where I am going to end it. i'm sure I had more to tell you but can't remember right now. The photos are going on so that's good! Hopefully will get to show you them!