Birthday boy

The paper obviously weren't interested in my eye-witness account of spear gun man as they didn't phone back...and would you believe he only made page 5! Rubbish.

Well yesterday was my birthday and I can honestly say it was one of the best ones i've ever had. I went to Kuranda in the morning which is a town in the middle of the rainforest, got there via Sky Train which is a big cable car thing going over the forest canopy, the website is here; http://www.kuranda.au.com/Kuranda_tours/kuranda-skyrail-tour-options.htm The town of Kuranda is completely a market town with loads of stall and little cafe's etc, not bad if you like shopping I guess. Good food too.

After Kuranda I had a hectic few hours sending e-mails and getting phonecalls from home before going out to the BBQ at about 6. Ate far too much but it was so nice; great company, great scenery, nice weather, couldn't ask for more really. We had a few drinks there (despite it being illegal and being warned twice that we were heading for a $150 fine) and then went back to Karolina's hostel where there was a mini-party going on in her 10 bed dorm. Met some top people including a Korean girl called Tomoka who was also celebrating her birthday yesterday. After the jape japery of cramming 20-odd people into a little room we went to a club called Soho's and danced like loons for a while before hitting the hay.

Top day all round, everyone was so friendly. It's really good when you can properly celebrate things like your birthday despite being on the other side of the world. I'll try and get the pictures up later today.

The plan now is to leave Cairns tomorrow and head down the coast, maybe to Airlie Beach where I can go to the Whitsunday Islands. I'll be gutted to be leaving Cairns as i've had such a good time and met loads of really nice people. Travelling is brilliant!

Back in Cairns

Well I didn't end up getting on the bus on Saturday morning due to being convinced to stay a bit longer by some people at the hostel. Had a couple more chilled out days at Dougies in Port Douglas before getting the bus back to Cairns yesterday morning. Had a mental day/night out yesterday and met some top people.
After the pub at about midnight we went for a pizza outside a place called the Woolshed. As we were sitting there we saw a guy get refused entry by one of the doorman, he then started mouthing off big style and at one point I thought the doorman was going to floor him...anyway this guy eventually got the point (so I thought) and disappeared. Then about 5 minutes later the doorman started shouting to everyone sitting down to get out of the way, I turned round and the guy who had been refused entry was running toward the Woolshed with a spear gun! It was about 4 foot long and could obviously do serious damage...we all pegged it and hid behind a big pillar as the guy was swinging it in all directions. I considered rugy tackling him at one point as he was close enough but thought better of it as he would probably end up firing it at me or someone else nearby. He kept running towards the doormen and then backing off swinging it wildly, eventually he must have realised what a stupid thing he was doing and how he could either unload it at someone and then get his head kicked in or run away still swinging wildly...so he ran off still swinging it. The police turned up about 30 seconds afterwards (very quick!) and chased him round the block. We saw him being wrestled to the ground a few minutes later while heading back towards us...absolute nutter! I don't know how he ever thought it was a good idea. I have phone the local paper in an attempt to give an eye witness account and maybe get my picture in the press...they haven't phoned back tho. It's only been about 2 weeks since I feared for my life so I guess I was due some excitement!
Anyway i'm having a chilled out day today and will possibly head up to Kuranda in the mountains tomorrow to go on a thing called the sky rail, supposed to be really good. Then tomorrow night a load of us should be going to a funky house club to celebrate my birthday. Top banana!

Rainforest Biodiversity

Today I hired a car and drove to Cape Tribulation, I had been told by several people that it was really nice and one of the best places in Australia to go to. Not sure why tho as there was only a beach, a few cafe's along the highway and nothing else. Twas a nice beach tho and at least I can now say I have been to the only place on the planet where 2 world heritage sites meet (the North Queensland Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef).
I was a bit worried about hiring the car as it was my first time driving on my own, it was an automatic which made things easier. Everyone I know from the hostel was working today so I made the trek on my own, was still good tho (although more expensive).
Along the way I stopped off at Mossman Gorge, it consisted of a 3K walk through the rainforest and some top views of the water in the gorge as it ran down the mountain, really nice and free too.
I also stopped off at the Daintree Discovery Centre which is an information centre type thing which has been built into the rainforest. There's walkways to take you above the forest floor aswell as an audio guide thing which lets you know what you're looking at. It was really impressive and one of the best things i've done so far. They have also built a canopy tower which is a 23m high structure looking out above the rainforest. When I saw it I thought it looked a waste of time but it was amazing. I find the expression "took my breath away" overused and often tacked on to very mundane things but the view from the top of the tower really did take my breath away and I felt quite emotional. I took a picture but I don't think it will do it justice, nature is amazing.
They also had some water tanks with different marine life swimming about. I've decided that turtles are the coolest animals around, they are proper little dudes (or big dudes, depending on what you're looking at).
I'm booked on the bus back to Cairns tomorrow and will try and jump on a bus to Townsville on Sunday morning. Looking forward to getting down south where it should be a bit cooler!

Port Douglas

Got to Port Douglas yesterday lunchtime, seems like a nice place although very small and pretty expensive. The hostel i'm staying in is very nice although my room is right next to the bar so no sleep for me until the early hours. The people at the hostel seem quite young and are quite loud, I don't think I will stay longer than saturday. I have looked at hiring a car to drive up to Cape Tribulation and will most likely do that tomorrow for the day. Going to head down the beach in a bit with some peeps i've met.

PADI Certified

I finished my PADI course yesterday so am now a certified PADI Open Water Diver. Went out on the boat again today and did my first 2 dives without an instructor, exciting stuff. I've seen a Turtle, Shark (small one, about 4 foot long), Nemo-type fish (dunno what they're called), Giant Clams (they're huge), an extremely friendly Giant Wrasse called Willie who I got to stroke (feels slimy), Rays and numerous other marine life that I would be able to name if I were only slightly more knowledgeable. It's very strange underwater as it's a domain humans are not designed to intrude upon, there's no vocal language so we have to communicate with a sort of rudimentary sign language. A lot of the animals will come close for a look but then zip away effortlessly at the slightest indication that you attempt to make physical contact with them, so it feels as tho they are the ones observing you. Definitely an amazing experience.
The only downside to the whole thing was the mind-boggling lack of organisation displayed by the company I went with, it seemed that at every point where something needed coordinating they managed to foul it up. On the first day of our sea diving we ran out of petrol, then lost power in one of our engines (meaning it took us over 3 hours to get back to port). They lost our temporary PADI certificates so we had to go to the office (where nobody knew what was going on) to sort it out. We weren’t booked on the boat today and only managed to get on when 10 others didn’t turn up. There’s more minor niggles but I’ll probably sound like a grumpy fart if I type them all out, the point is to avoid Down Under Dive if you ever happen to be passing by the Cairns area.
Aside from that I have been going on with less reckless abandon but with more frequency (if that's possible), the Swedish girls I met left yesterday to work on a farm for a few weeks and since my last entry I have met and bade farewell to some very nice Irish ladies. Dave and Dalton who were in my room have gone, as has James who was also staying in my hostel, I bumped in to 2 of the guys I worked with on the boat on Sunday night and they have now headed off aswell. It seems like I am going to have to get used to finding people I really connect with who are then off on other plans, one of the downsides to travel I guess.
Tonight will be my last night in Cairns as I am travelling up the coast to Port Douglas tomorrow morning at half 10, I get a free trip up there (it’s about 70Km away) if I stay at one of the hostels for 2 nights, can’t be bad. I’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks (despite doing my shoulder in, the diving has aggravated it a bit) in Cairns and have surprised myself really as I only intended to stay here for a couple of days originally.
I am off out tonight with the 2 French guys and the Dane that I have been diving and working on the boat with for the past 2 weeks so hope to be heading off in style :)
My plan now is to make my way back down the coast to Sydney (changing back to my original plan), I think I would need to be down there before December realistically in order to get a job as nearly everyone I have met plans to head down there for Christmas/New Year. The other possibility is Melbourne as several people have said it’s a bit nicer than Sydney.
I have spent 2 grand (sterling) since arriving in Australia exactly 5 weeks ago which I think is a bit excessive, although I have done a lot of stuff so I wouldn’t say it has been wasted. I definitely need to get a job in the next couple of months or all of my cash will be blown. I have been eating cheaply with Woolworth’s Home Brand (the backpackers dream) everything in a bid to make my money stretch a bit further, as well as flirting with the girls in Subways so they give me extra free Subways tokens - back of the net!
Best go and pack now before my final night out. Ta-ra!

Chill with the still

Today has been a very lazy day. Had a mammoth night last night and didn't get in until after 4AM. Met some top people. Will be out again tonight no doubt as it will be my last big night for a few days (I start my dive course on Friday).
I was woken at half 7 this morning by the loudest and most annoying alarm clock in existence, I thought a carnival was taking place in my room (alas that was not the case).
There are several new pics up including ones from around Cairns and pics of the boat I worked on. Check it.

The Osprey

Finished my last day of work today. I can honestly say that it has been the dirtiest, hottest, sweatiest, greasiest work I have ever had to do. Good experience tho and met some top blokes. Also got free beer at the end of every day (plus chocolate and crisps whenever we wanted). I didn't go to the loo at all today as was sweating so much. Worked from 7 till 6 which was tough going. I don't have to get up for anything tomorrow tho so going out on the lash with a few guys from the boat and some very friendly Swedish ladies. Top banana!

Job

I've got a job working on refurbishing a boat, just finished my first days work. I will work for 5 days and then get a 5-day diving course as payment (worth about $600). I'm working with a really cool bunch of blokes which is always a plus. Hard work tho and very physical, first day was good. We are going to the horse racing tomorrow which should be a larf. Until the end of September it's the Cairns Festival which means there's loads of different concerts (local people playing the guitar to a couple of their friends) and different events. It's all very quaint.
Anyway I stink so i'm off to have a shower before heading out.

Docteur

Yesterday went a bit pear shaped. I finally got them to agree to give me a medicare card after providing my leaving flight details plus my international driving license and MOD cards. But then they needed an address in Australia to send the card to, so I thought I would use the address Lucy is staying at in Sydney. But I couldn't remember the whole address, I tried to ring her but my phone was out of credit. I went to buy more but due to being in a bit of a state entered my PIN wrong so my card wouldn't work. Eventually used my credit card so buy more credit, then phoned Lucy but she didn't pick up...gah! I was going mental. Finally got the info off Lucy but then had to wait while they worted out the card then wait longer while they sorted out the drugs that the doctor prescribed. Finally got drugged up but then had to find a bank before it closed so that I could sort my card out.
The upshot of all this is that my shoulder is getting better. Had a chilled night with a few much needed beers on the balcony of my hostel. The doc i sure it's just a strain and should be fine in a few days.

MediCare

What a joke! Got some info when I landed in Sydney saying UK residents get free medi care and it shouldn't be a problem...i've tried to register but they won't let me as I need either insurance or a return flight ticket to prove i'm English. I don't see how either proves my nationality?!
I have provided my driving license (only 6 weeks old) and passport but apparently that's not good enough.
I'm really pissed off and in quite a bit of pain (it seems to be getting worse, hurts to walk and breathe at the same time, shame that's a necessity to getting about). I've got a doctors appointment in half an hour so hopefully they can shed some light on it. 3 neurofens hasn't helped at all (that's half the maximum daily dose).
The last 2 days have just been spent lying around, really not enjoying myself at the moment.

Pain

In quite a bit of pain. Been taking some painkillers but they're not doing a great deal of good. Wondering if i've cracked a rib?
Anyway i've just updated the website with some pics. Skydive ones to come when I can be arsed.

Rafting

Rafting was pretty good. I fell off on the first set of rapids (probably the longest set of the entire trip) and proceeded to get dragged along the length of them, I honestly thought I had had it at one point as it went on for so long and I couldn't breathe...mental. I dinged my ankle on am rock and it has swelled up quite a bit. The rest of the trip wasn't as eventful (I think I was being over-cautious) but still enjoyable.
I've got some bad sunburn on the tops of my arms and a sharp pain in my back (I think it's from the skydive but made worse from paddling non stop for hours). Gonna have to get some pain killers I think.
In too much pain to do a great deal so just going to lie about all day I think (not in the sun tho, face is red aswell!). Met loads of people who are going out tonight so will probably get pissed and fall over.
Brie!

Cairns

Forgot to say, i'm in Cairns now. I went to the car market but felt well out of my depth, there was only 5 or 6 vehicles there and there were all massive and costing 3 grand upwards. Probably not a good idea for me to spend so much of my money on something I don't have a clue about. I am going to stay here for at least a week I think, there a nice gym and loads of different activities. I plan to do a guided bike ride tour (well up for some cycling!) and maybe a PADI course on the great barrier reef (how cool would that be?!).
There's several signs up in the hostel from people who have bought vans and are travelling either to Darwin (west) or Sydney (South) and have spaces so when i'm finished i'll probably hop on one of them.
Failing that the guy I did the parachute jump with has a mate coming up in a few weeks who is driving to Darwin and has spaces...so many options.
I might hire a car to drive to Port Douglas, sounds sad but I want to go there and play this tune: http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/servlet/onlinestore?Pass=Info&Track=DNBRSE02
I remembered one of the observations I made; when I got here the big debate in the media (and in parliament) was whether it's proper to use the word "mate" when addressing someone else in Parliament or someone in authority. I think it's great that such trivial things are given so much spotlight and it's a good example of the way aussies think. Top stuff mate!

Sensory Overload

I've just got back from doing a parachute jump! Possibly the best thing i've done in my life! We jumped out over the great barrier reef and landed on a place called Mission Beach, the website for the company is here; http://www.jumpthebeach.com.au/
I got a DVD done of my jump (a guy with a camera strapped to his head was the cameraman) although haven't seen it yet as it gets delivered tomorrow. What a buzz! I was a bit concerned that I would break the harness and freefall a bit too far but fortunately my fears weren't realised.
I had a minute of freefall and then 5 minutes of coasting down with the chute open but if felt like about a minute in total.
I was shaking a bit afterwards and am probably still in shock now.
Mental.
I'm going white water rafting tomorrow - come on!