Just like Ireland, only warmer
Trip Start
Nov 05, 2002
1
29
69
Trip End
Aug 13, 2003
Cairns,
Australia
Monday, March 31, 2003
Wow! It feels strange to be here after spending the previous 5 months in Asia! But as things stand it's 7 countries down with only 4 to go!
So to continue where I left off. After Bali it was time to say goodbye to Asia and hello to Australia. It was so weird to get back to a similar way of life to ours after spending so long in the differing cultures of Asia. I remember thinking when we first
went out in the streets in Cairns that there were so many white people, forgetting that we had left Asia! It's good however that people don't stare at you anymore! Well not normally and not that it was ever really an issue in Asia.
But that was then, this is now. Australia, so far, is class. We flew into Sydney (saw opera house and Sydney harbour bridge from the plane) before getting a connecting
flight to Cairns in the north. We flew here from Sydney in 3 hours but we have about 7 weeks to get back down the country to Sydney proper. Cool. Things going well here. We were only here a day when we managed to buy a cool 1981 Toyota Hi-Ace diesel camper van (his name is Syd!!), complete with loads of extras (cooler box, gas cooker, camping gear, storage boxes, knives, forks etc,); a complete mobile home if you like! The back has been converted into sleeping area complete with curtains on the windows! We were told the best way to see Oz is to have your own transport and thus we always intended to get a car for about €1000 euro. But for $2200 Oz dollars (about €1300 euro) we sorted transport AND accommodation for the duration of our time in Oz. We reckon if Syd gets us to Melbourne (our last stop in the south) around the middle of May and is still running we'll be able to flog it on for what we spent on it! Here's hoping he pays his part and I manage to keep him on the road!
While in Cairns we went snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. That was great. The day wasn't great weather wise but the fun we had was. We loved Cairns. Laid back with a small town feel. Great weather with good nightlife and plenty to do. Our first trip with Syd took us north to see the rainforests of Cape Tribulation. Some of the scenery was amazing and the drive on the Captain Cook Highway was great. After a few days up north we headed back to Cairns before saying goodbye and heading a few hours drive south to a lovely place called Mission beach. This area is well know for it's Cassowary population (rare flightless birds under treat of extinction) and we, unbelievably, managed to spot one in the trees outside the town. We used Mission Beach as a base for our white water rafting day on the nearby Tully river. Great day was had by all! We then chilled out in Mission beach for a day before continuing our adventure down the coast. Next stop Townsville.
Hope to see you there?!
Dave and B
