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Wow, that's the only word to describe this Island we're on. It's called Magnetic Island, and it's a fairly small island off the coast of Townsville (very high up in Oz so it's so hot!). It gets 340days of sunshine a year and 25days of rain in the monsoon season (we're in the tropics), which is probably the same as England get's in a month. In September there is 11mm of rain for the whole month! The average temperature varies from 25-31C all year. Enough of the random facts. The last two days we have been here have been perfect cloudless days, so hot! In Turkey I can withstand the sun for a couple of hours of sunbathing, here I give up after half an hour! The sun is so burningly hot! Even Becky can't cope.
Our hostel is amazing too. Because the Island is so remote (only 2000 people, although it seems like only 200) and half of?it is National Park land, the hostel basically has it's own beach, well, about 3km of it's own beach really. Sadly, despite the?temptation of the turquoise sea, we can't go swimming without a stinger suit, because of the deadly jelly fish. But I'm happy enough just lying on the beach.
We did have a problem when we arrived at our hostel the other day. We booked and paid for our hostel over a month ago, but when we tried to confirm over the phone a few days before they said we'd rang up and changed the date to the 11th (a week before), which we obviously hadn't. And they were like 'we're fully booked,, sorry'. But in the end they've given us our own private room, on the seafront, which costs $120 a night, whereas our normal dorm is $23. We weren't sure whether to be offended or not when the cleaner asked 'Have you got the right room' when Becky and I entered. There is one King Sized bed (6ft wide, I can sleep across!) and bunk beds. I had the top bunk last night so it is my turn for the massive bed! I can't wait, haven't had my own double bed since home, well, one that i havent had to share with Mrs Fly Catcher. So that will be luxury. Last night I slept really well, apart from being woken by the dorm behind having a 'party' (and the most boringest conversations in the world, they weren't even that drunk.). The room has no windows one side, just a fly net because it's so hot. And you can hear the waves below crashing on the rocks all throughout the night (which can get a little annoying, but it's nice). I'm saying 'rooms', what i really mean is private cabins, they're made from wood (a little ant infested, but not a big problem, at least no fleas) and look a little like ones you get in the Maldives, I'll upload some picture in a few days of them, maybe I'll add some more of Becky sleeping (that'll keep you coming back!).
Today we explored the Island, got a bus to the north end, it's so deserted. It's really sad though because we saw loads of signs for loads of complexes and new housing estates. I can see in a few years the tourist industry is going to get hold of Magnetic Island, so I'm glad we came when we did. We firstly went to Picnic Bay, there is literally 4 shops and cafes, nothing else, apart from a few old grannys. So we got off the bus and stepped back on it again and headed for Horseshoe bay, up the north. They do lots of watersports, but can't make much money because there's not many people there! A few going fast on their jet-skis though. Sunbathed there for a bit, got sooo hot as there was no wind and it was midday. Another Q to dad (Big D), if the sun is at it's highest at midday, is that Summer Time or Winter Time, because I've never sunbathed in winter before.
Then we walked along the Esplanade and I had a lush Banana Milkshake from a little cafe. We got the bus to Magnums then (another Backpackers place), sat by their pool for a bit and came back to Base.
This is like a mini holiday for us. and we have another 2days here! Yeay!
Hope you're all enjoying the nice weather back home!
XXX
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