Almost in OZ

Today February 26 is D Day - Departure Day

I'm leaving today for a fun filled 27 hours of travel (23 flying). Will arrive in Cairns around noon on Friday, entirely missing Thursday. Going with only carry-on and returning with only carry-on so there won't be any wild shopping sprees.

Was reading the Cairns Post this morning. Some of the articles: more cases of dengue fever; monstor python eats pet (chihuahua); record number of sharks this year; beachgoers spotted 2-2.5m long crocodile swimming off Clifton Beach; and tourist rushed to hospital after getting stung by irukandji stinger (jellyfish - photo). Should be a fun trip.







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In 2 weeks time I'll be leaving for Australia - Cairns, to be exact (5 + 14.5 + 3 hours in the air - won't that be fun). There are a lot of hostels, amazingly inexpensive; a lot of island resorts, amazingly expensive. However, thanks to the internet I've got a free place to stay compliments of a generous Brit named Chris. My own room with ensuite and run of the house. I've dreamed of snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef for years but now I'm seriously considering getting my diving certification. Some of the companies offer overnight (or 2) on a boat on the Reef how wonderful that would be - pricier but perhaps worth it.

I've been told that there's so much to do around Cairns that the rest of Australia will go unseen. Cairns is right next to the world's oldest rainforest (who doesn't want to see a white lipped tree). There's a scenic railway, waterfalls, whitewater rafting or kayaking, skydiving, parasailing, bungy jumping, kite surfing, mountain biking, snorkeling, and something called the Flying Leap (Flying Leap is where you stand on a cliff face 60 metres high strapped to a huge set of wings that dangle on a tight wire. You then throw yourself off the cliff and whiz 300 metres through the air like a bird at great speed  OR maybe I could find someone to play Scrabble with instead).