Cairns!!

Hi
Well I have been pretty busy while I have been in Cairns. Last week I spent 4 days doing an Open Water Diving Course which was great. I can't wait to get back under the water although it looks like I'll have to wait til the West Coast. I don't have any photos of me diving, unfortunately, as we were learning and not allowed cameras. I really love it though and plan to continue doing it whenever I can. It was actually quite alot of work so I was really tired every night!! Worst thing was taking the mask off under water and replacing/clearing it, I hated that. Mike, the instructor, was my buddy and he wasn't the best buddy to have duie to the fact that he had to be there for everybody so that was not too great. Emma has learnt diving so we'll probably go together.
I have also visited Cape Tribulation which was pretty cool. Where Rainforest meets the Reef. It is pretty cool to see the rainforest and all the different plants growing. We also went on a crocodile cruise down the Daintree River and saw 2 wilc crocodiles which was great, a much better way to see them. One of the ones we saw was 5.5 metres long and a fat guy too. They didn't seem bothered about the boats at all which kinda bothered me a bit, I'd like them to try to hide or something.
We walked through the rainforest and were told about how much damage the Wild Pigs cause by digging up all the new growth. The rainforest had also been damaged by the Cyclone slightly, its mainly the canopy that had the damage from that. There are wild Cassowary birds up there but I wasn't lucky enough to see one.
I stayed in like rainforest bungalows in CapeTribulation which was quite nice. I wandered around the rainforest some more and along the beaches. We couldn't swim in the sea due to recent crocodile sightings and a couple lived around there. I had quite a bit of rest up there also after my busy last few days.
We left Cape Tribulation around lunchtime the next day. We stopped at a lookout which was a lovely view. It was of the ocean and Lowe Isles which is where Steve Irwin was picked up by the emergency helicopter, I imagine he died somewhere in the view which is quite sad.
We also stopped at Mossman Gorge and so I took photos and walked across a wabbly suspension bridge, no Mum wouldn't like that at all!! We were only there about 30 mins and then we headed for a quick stop at Port Douglas so just had a walk down to the marina and back along the street a bit, they had Cane Toad racing in one of the pubs!! It seemed quite a nice place.
I got back to my hostel in Cairns around 6ish and then I walked to the Night Markets and got some fish and chips for dinner, chips weren't proper but it was ok.
Right now here is a stupid thing!!! The next day I went round getting car hire quotes as I thought I'd hire one on Thursday. Well I decided to do it today. I completed all the paperwork and off I went. I didn't get far, actually to the first set of traffic lights and was turning right, I am sure the car coming towards me was also indicating right so off I went and the next thing I know this little old Asian lady in a big old Volvo had hit me!!! We pulled up and exchanged details, obviously no damage to her car but my bumper was - oh shit!!! So we drove back to the rental place, I was slightly shaky since I have never had an accident before and also pissed off cos I knew this would cost me money!! Apparently the lady in question has quite a lot of accident so she is experienced... Anyway I had to pay my money and then I decided that I was still taking the bloody car out since it had now cost me so bloody much!!
Anyway off I went again, this time in a bit of a mood, and I drove down past Innisfail and to Paronella Park. Paronella Park was built by a Spanish guy who dreamed of having a Spanish Castle. So it is beautiful gardens with a waterfall and a bit of a Castle. It was really lovely to walk around although there was also damage from the Cyclone here and some parts you couldn't walk through. It reminded me of walking round some of the national trust places at home except different trees and plants. Was good. I was there for about 1-2 hours.
I decided that I would head back a different way and so pop to some Waterfalls on the way back. The first one I stopped at was Mungalli Falls which was quite nice but you viewed it from the top so couldn't really see it properly. I then stopped at Ellinjaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls, again, and they are all nice. I can see why Millaa Millaa Falls is the usual stop though. The others had trees fallen on the path, I guess from the cyclone, so it was a bit of a task to get down to them. It was good to see them all though.
After I had seen them all I started to head back. I followed signs to Gordonvale which was the direction I wanted and ended up going through the Tablelands, down the side of a mountain on a very windy road with a high accident rate!!! It was kinda freaky as sometimes I got worried as felt I was going a little too fast. But eventually I got down and drove through the valley. I got back to Cairns at about 4.30pm and after getting petrol, dropped the car back.
I then went online and told Mum of my stupid error....
Couldn't really eat dinner so ended up pigging out on doughnut and cookies!!!
Yesterday I was picked up at 9ish and taken ready for my 14,000ft skydive!!! I did all the paperwork and got ready, we then headed to the airport. We all jumped into the little plane and we were off, it was cosy. 2 tandums and 1 single jumped out at 10,000ft which was freaky since they just disappear!! There were then 3 singles and me, the only tandum, at 14,000. We went last so I just sat in the doorway and did as I was told. The guy just pushed us out and that was it we were falling, felt alot slower than I thought it would. I found it hard to breath but it was ok. To be honest I am glad I tried it but I wasn't scared and I didn't get the thrill I thought I would from it. It was nice once the parachute was pulled and we could have a proper look around and a chat. I don't need to do it again but it was a good experience.
I had a bit of free time so I chilled out and had lunch. At 2 I was picked up for my half day Barron River White Water Rafting. We got all set and put into our different teams and then headed down the river. It was great, so much fun. I love those bendy boats. The rapids were great, got a bit wet but didn't fall in thankfully. The boat just feels like it goes all over the place and you think you will go in bumping about!! Very exciting. We spent about 2 hours on the river, which does have Crocs in but not in the section we were in!! We did get photos taken which I have ordered and they will be sent to Mum and Dad so they will have to upload a couple for me to see!!!
Watched Steves Memorial last night and then had dinner and read my book. Hope everyone is well.
Dawn
xxx

Townsville - Cairns

Well I joined a couple of agencies, did half a day of work - envelope stuffing, even though I called them daily! Spent alot of time wandering and watching crappy old videos. Walked up Castle Hill a couple of times, went swimming in the pool and chilled again!!! Finished a book, started a new one.
After a week and a half and a very drunken evening I decided to jump back onto the Oz Bus up to Mission Beach then Cairns. So with a hangover I caught the bus at 1.30 on Saturday and off we went to Mission Beach. Not too much happened. I read some more and we had a few stops for food and views. We did however reach part of the area that Cyclone Larry hit in March. Cyclone Larry was a grade 5 Cyclone and took out alot of the rainforest and destroyed crops and homes. Apparently the only difference between a Cyclone and a Hurricane is that a Cyclone spins anti-clockwise and a Hurricane clockwise and they are graded the same. Quite strange seeing the thinned out rainforest with trees snapped in half and some destroyed buildings, bit shocking.
Had a chilled out evening in Mission Beach. Tried Kangeroo Steak, it was just like beef, don't really agree with eating Kangeroo but thought I'd try it. No need to ever eat it again.
The next morning we left at 8am and headed straight to grab some breakfast. After that we jumped back on and off we went to The Johnstone River Crocodile Farm. I like to see the crocodiles but I really don't agree with farming them for meat and skin, its just wrong. Anyway we saw a feeding and a massive crocodile that didn't really do anything, looked a bit fake but ate a chicken leg so must've been real. I held a crocodile which was great and also a carpet python and I loved that. Really love snakes and crocodiles and would love to learn more about them.
After seeing the crocodiles etc we headed to Milla Milla Falls, I came here last time I was in Oz and there was hardly any water, and it was beautiful, plenty of water coming down.
We grabbed some lunch and headed to a lake to eat it. The lake was purely rain water which is quite amazing for such a drought stricken place. It was so clear and large. We left there at 2.30 and had a quick stop at a look out over Cairns to take photos.
Had a really chilled out night, ate dinner then watched tv....
So now I am in Cairns and I start my Padi Open Water Dive course tomorrow morning for 4 days, Sunday and Monday I am on a Cape Tribulation Tour and then, here is the exciting stuff, Wednesday I am doing a 14,000ft Skydive (oh shit!!!) and white water rafting in the afternoon!! Should be great. I am then heading to Alice Springs on Sat 23rd where I'll see Ayres Rock and then head upto Darwin. Emma will be there so after I have done my Kakadu tour on 1st October we'll meet up and I will finally get a job, with proper determination!!
Hope everyone is well.
Dawn
xx

Steve Irwin What a Bloke

I had to put a post on here about Steve Irwin dieing this afternoon. I was really sad to hear about it and very shocked. I feel so bad for his family.
Steve Irwin has died in a diving accident in far north Queensland. He was 44.
Police say he was stung through the heart by a stingray while diving off Port Douglas.
He was filming a documentary when the accident occurred around midday AEST near the Low Isles.
A helicopter arrived with paramedics on board to try to resuscitate him, but it was too late.
Irwin's body is being taken to the morgue in Cairns.
His family are believed to be flying from Brisbane to Cairns this afternoon.
Irwin, who was was born in Victoria in 1962, inherited his love of reptiles from his father.
His father Bob was a keen reptile enthusiast and moved the family to Queensland in 1970 to open a small reptile park on the Sunshine Coast.
Irwin took over the family business in 1991 and grew it into Australia Zoo.
In 1992 he ventured into television, making the first series of the Crocodile Hunter.
When the program aired in the United States, he shot to international fame.
Irwin is survived by his wife Terri and two children.
I just wanted to add a little something to this. I just watched the Memorial Service which was held at the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo. It was a very touching event and Bindi is an asset to her wonderful parents, she delivered a wonderful speech about her Dad and was very brave. I think she shows what wonderful parents Steve and Terri are. Her Dad would be so proud of her. It was sad to watch but also so nice to watch clips of Steve doing his great work. I will miss him for sure, I love his shows and am gutted there won't be more, however, I think that Bindi will follow in his footsteps and have a brilliant TV show.
Dawn
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