Cairns!!!!!!

I constantly woke up in the night thinking my alarm wouldn’t go off or my phone wasn’t on the right time setting.  When my alarm did go off I was excited to start my new adventure.  I took my time getting ready, I felt no rush and was completely relaxed the moment I got up.  It probably helped that I didn’t have to try to be quite and try not to wake anyone.

I stepped into the airport with an overwhelming amount of people swarming around me.  I found my way to the Virgin Australia airline only to be stuck in a massive line, I thought for sure I would be cutting my flight way too close.  I made in time with time to spare… I used this spare time to get a smoothie for breakfast.  Out of all the people flying this morning I ran into Sandy… the bird lady at the koala sanctuary in Brisbane, how weird is that?!  You can only expect from me that as soon as I got onto the plane a fell asleep, so there isn’t much to say about the flight.

Leaving the airplane I was prepared for the hot weather and I changed into shorts the moment I set eyes on a bathroom.  My shorts were a bit tight but I made them fit!

I grabbed my bag off the lift and tried to find the bus… the bus is a 35-minute walk away in the blazing sun.  A very nice lady directed me to a shuttle that you pay $5 for and it takes you where you need to go.  I waited 15 minutes and then it finally came, I was so excited to get to my hostel, the ride there wasn’t even that long.

I walked up a flight of stairs to find that the reception closed 20 min ago and wouldn’t be open for another for hours.  I accepted my new fate and waited in the hot kitchen with all my bags and a hungry stomach.  10 minutes later a heard jingling keys and rushed out to see them, luck seems to be on my side today.  I didn’t check in but I was given a room key and I promised the lady I would come back at 4 and officially check in. 

I unpacked everything I could unpack and reorganized it into my backpack; I have a 2 night diving trip tomorrow so I must be ready.  When I felt organized enough I freshened up and headed out to find food and explore.

I headed straight for Cairns central shopping mall and couldn’t wait to find food and get a pedicure… my feet are absolutely disgusting.  Before getting pampered I got some fruit for snack and breakfast tomorrow, then I headed to the nail salon.

The first color I chose was light pink, then I switched to a sparkly fire color because I thought something that stood out would be more fun.  The lady gently washed my feet but as soon as it was time to scrub all the dead skin off I had to hold my mouth because I would have burst into laughter!  My feet were so flexed in an attempt to not kick my foot out in any direction, the worst part was over and now she was massaging my legs.  I noticed I new color on the wall and decided to switch again, this time I chose and stuck with a dark sparkly blue color that looks like mermaid scales.  I figured it was the perfect color for diving; I am going to turn into a mermaid when I go diving now.

Feet time!!

Cuticle cutting scares me a lot.

My awkward flexed foot, it tickled so much!

The final product!

I wasn’t in any rush to get home so I weaved my way through the streets discovering new places I might want to go to later in the week… like a Mexican restaurant.

When I got back to the room it was still empty so I decided to do a bit of typing and possible watch something on my laptop.  I did this for quite some time before my first roommate showed up, her name is Nicole and she is from Colorado.  Her and I got to talking right away like we had been friends forever.  She leaves tomorrow like the rest of the girls, which will be disappointing but I’ll be on the ocean diving by the time that happens.  We chatted for quite some bit, Nicole invited me out for dinner with the rest of our roommates who had yet to show up.  Finally when they did show up we all started getting ready together.  Linda is in the bunk below me and she is from Germany, Sara is across from me and she is from… Montreal!  Her French accent is so funny to listen to because I was expecting her to sound more like me for some reason.

We got all our things together and headed across the street to Gilligans, a hostel/ bar.  We met up with some of Nicole and Sara’s friends they met volunteering, the only one I remember is Lloyd and he has an older brother that was with us and he is getting married in a couple of weeks!

The food here wasn’t expensive and I was excited for a veggie burger but when it came I was highly disappointed.  Veggie burgers here are not like the ones you find back home that are properly done, they are a potato patty that is deep-fried and served on a pitiful looking bun.  You can hardly call it a burger.  The only thing good about the place was the live music, Nicole asked the guy on stage to play his guitar for us and oh my goodness did he!  His voice was absolutely amazing and I wanted to marry him the moment he opened his mouth, I could have stayed and listened to him all night long.  The man I marry will be able to play the guitar and sing like that.

We all headed out towards the indoor night market, it seemed to take us quite some time to get there but I saw new stores and things on the way there.

Linda had something very specific in mind, two really soft shirts and Australian made.  I knew exactly the shirts she was talking about because I had wanted some myself really badly; the only thing stopping me was they were $35 each.  After Linda got her shirts we trodded through the market a bit more, they didn’t sell veggies or fruit just cheap merchandise.

Outside the market most of us got crepes with ice cream inside of them, mine was strawberry flavored.  None of us knew where to go next so we just chose a direction and walked.  My thighs were getting sweaty and I needed to pee, that’s when I started directing everyone home.  We eventually made it there with some minor stops, Sara HAD to buy a two-person hammock, I have to admit I am kind of jealous.

Yummy!

That's Sara and the care we want.

Sara is the one that looks like she is dying, Lloyd is the one holding here, Nicole is cuddling Linda, Linda is being cuddled by Nicole and Lloyd's brother is standing by himself.

We got home and I firmly shook the boys hands and said goodbye.

In the room I reorganized my things for tomorrow and decided to give Nicole a henna tattoo on her hand, she saw mine earlier today and couldn’t stop talking about it.  I drew the most magnificent flower on the palm of her hand.  We all talk until it was 11 and then it was time for sleep.

I cant wait for my diving adventure tomorrow!!!!  I just won’t have any Wi-Fi…