| 18th Jan Kakadu Dreams The next day we drove into the park and checked out Ubirr. This is where Croc dundee was filmed and the rock paintings there (some 2000 years+) were amazing. Some awesome stuff, on a par with Egyptian stuff. The views of the flood plains and Arnhemland were awesome and should some super fotos. We left and the rivers had risen so we drove thru 0.8m rivers back to a waterhole. We arrived at this waterhold where there was croc warning signs (only placed there since the German girl was eaten down the road) and we were all a bit hesitant about going in but after the guide was in there for 5 mins we all jumped in and it was beautiful...big fans of these. We left there and climbed up a hill thru some extreme caves and over some large rocks (proper climbing stuff, which I love, not!) knowing that if we misplaced our feet or hands then we would be going for a long trip! Once at the top, the views were stunning and there was even some Aboriginal rock art there in good nik. As I tried to admire the views, I must have killed about 30 mozzies as they tried to feast, nothing could stop them. U can see them all over u sucking the life out of u...plus the ever present bush fly trying to crawl into your mouth and eyes...moments like that, I wish I was in Edgware! Back to camp and I watched some spectacular lightning storms come in. It doesn't always rain there with thunder and lightning... On our last day, 20th, we headed on a walk to another waterhole after a 4k walk. This was called Motorcar falls and was 50m high. It was beautiful, and croc free! Hiked back and stopped at a huge 6m termite mound for a foto then headed back to town. We stopped at a roadhouse in Adelaide River which had Charlie the Buffalo (from Croc Dundee fame) stuffed and standing on the bar...unreal! Big nite at the Vic hotel last nite after my excitement died down (thought I lost my camera, it was on the truck and delivered back to me...) so I joined in the tequila nite and partied with all the people from the tour and some German girls from another tour. OUr tour was 5 brits, 1 jap, 1 swiss, 4 swedes and 1 Austrian. Today is laundry day, my sleeping bag has been soaked in sweat and deet for the last 2 days. I will book a tour to Litchfield later for 2morrow. I leave for Cairns on Weds 22nd morning at 2am! Joy! 21st Litchfield - bring on the Mozzies So after an early start we headed down into Litchfield. I think people think its the poor man's Kakadu but it was still pretty nice. Went to see some magnetic termite mounds as big as a double decker bus, which are aligned on the north south line. Then we headed to some waterfalls for a swim. The rest of the day was spent trooping from one waterfall to another, hearing about the wildlife and flora there. Saw some brumbie's (wild horses) for the first time as well! Back to the hostel where I chilled until my airport bus collected me at 10.30pm. Met Jen (from Kakadu) on the bus and we chatted until her flight ws called at 12.30 for Sydney. Loads of other backpackers arrived at 1ish for my flight. It was 3/4 full of backpackers - crazy. I chatted to some folks whom I met in various bars/nightclubs in Darwin. Took off at 2am and slept all the way to Cairns. Caught the bus into town and checked into the Billabong Backpackers (my driver woke the owner up), so I slept till 11ish! Wandered around Cairns and was pretty shocked to see how busy and backpacker orientated it was...booked some tours and then went to the woolshed for some beers and the wet tshirt competition. Left there at 1.30am, in disgust...at the price of beer! Moved hostel today to the Global Palace. Its so nice and clean... Sat by the pool today, reading sunbathing and swimming. Life is tough! 24th - Diving Course Sat in a classroom learning how to dive and all about pressures/depths and equalization. Fun morning! In the arvo, we had to swim around the pool for 15 mins then tread water for 10mins, think I preferred yesterday's activities. Got kitted out with all the dive gear and sat underwater learning basic diving techniques. Left there at 5ish and I felt really uncomfortable under the water. So the following day I booked a snorkling course (most of the reef) is above 10m... Went to something called Reefteach later on. Its run by this mad Irishman (Paddy) who teaches you about the reef make up/enviromental threats and what fishes to expect out there. He was truly mental, jumping around from one side of the room to another, he definitely keeps your attention. A must for anyone coming here! 25th - So I went snorkling for a day - saw quite a bit of coral and fish although not as good as I expected. Still some amzing looking fish out there. What was good was that everyone was sick on the boat as the seas were so rough...the boat was covered in sick and sick bags! I wasn't, of course, us Brits are a sea faring nation! Went out later with a guy from the hostel to the woolshed for many jugs of beers - he give me a run for the money! I met a girl whom was at my hostel in Darwin and partied the nite away (well until 3ish)! 26th - Australia Day Another chilling out day as it was raining heavy. Sat on the internet/watched TV and ate all day. What a fun day! Watched the nutty professor film later with Eddie Murphy - good movie but the days' activities has exhausted me! 27th - Rafting! The river was only a grade 4 but they had 300mm of rain on Sunday for the first time in 18 mths and so the river was fast. There were 170 of us rafting, with 96% Japs! So we all got kitted out in all the gear and listened to the safety stuff. On my boat was 2 Canadians, 2 Koreans, 1 German, and one Londoner. Our guide was a kiwi! So went over a few rapids and had some fun. After lunch we faced the big rapid, called the Corkscrew. We went thru it but got hung up on some rocks in the centre and then the boat toppled. We all crashed into the drink and bashed against rocks (my knees are brusied!)as we floated away. All this in front of the camera and video man. ( Some great fotos, but the vid is ace!) Back to hostel for some food and several beers. I met this girl who had just finished travelling in China - when I said I was going, she laughed; loony style, all knowing... Gulp! 28th - Another rest day for me to chill in the sun and swimming. Sending some stuff home then packing as I go North to Cape Tribulation n the morning for 3 days. Looking forward to it as i hear its pretty wild and at the hostel (Pk's) there are some crazy parties! Went for a nice walk thru the rainforest yesterday at Mosman gorge. Played some vollyball all afternoon in the heat then drank with the Irish guys I met here. Good laugh, culminating with us getting kicked out the pool at 12am. Today I went sea Kayaking round the Cape and saw turtles poking their heads up above the water and other fish. Good fun but hard work! The sun is still shining here, so its been hot here and you need to constantly go into the pool. I went for a walk to a local river for a swim and loads of fish were swimming over and around me! Then I went for walk thru some amazing rainforest and saw snakes/monitors and turtles. A few beers later then an early start as I climb the cape. It turned out to loads of beers and another boat race where I had to drink my drink and then blow up a balloon till it burst...hard work! Friday - Chatted to the guys and caught some rays then walked along the beach to the Cape. Beautiful tropical beaches with amazing ocean - such a bummer that we can't swim there (note - kill all jellyfish) I had to cross a river that met the ocean but it was kinda waist deep. The do not swim croc signs were a bad omen. So I crossed the river, praying that I wouldn't get eaten by a croc or stung by a box jellyfish. I am still here! Walked up to the lookout over Cape Trib beach, stunning stuff then walked back really slowly and caught a huge monitor crossing the track in front of me...lunch! Left there and went on a croc cruise down the Daintree - saw 3 small ones and one 1/2 metre one stalking a bird on the bank...great stuff. Scary animals! Back to Cairns where I met my roomates and 'got' dragged out to PJ O'brians for some beers. Ended up becoming a bit of a bender at the woolshed which lasted till about 3ish. Met some of the folks from Cape Trib there. Sat - Chilled out by the pool and bought a new watch as my old one died a slow, painful death in the jaws of a croc... 4 fingers aren't so bad! Did a pub crawl later than evening round a few of the bars/nightclubs in town, pretty funny and immature. I left it 2am as I had an early start. Sunday 1st Feb - East Coast Adventure begins... It began well with only 5 blokes on the bus of 25... We drove down to the skyrail at Kuranda and hopped on that and take a tour over the tops of the rainforest there. Great views and funny times. Drove to the Atherton tablelands and then had some lunch at a waterfall. Went to a croc farm where they actually farm the crocs for meat, teeth (purest ivory) and skins. They were kept in shocking conditions, sometimes 2000-3000 pups in a tiny enclosure. Then I wrestled one and opened its jaws for a camera shot - scary beasts, although I had beaten this one, the others were still killing the Germans! Down to Mission beach resort where we played in the pool for a while. Grabbed some dinner there, a buffet style meal. Well, we all went to town, 4/5 courses. You had to roll me out! Headed to bed after chatting in the bar for a while, but notice that I didn't have any alcohol! I needed a nite off after the craziness of Cape Trib and Cairns... Monday - Breakfast was a juicy pie by the sea, then drove straight to Townsville, where I hopped off and jumped on the ferry to Magnetic Island. I stayed at Coconuts as it claims its Oz's only hostel on the beach, they are not lying! Met some folks by the bar and chatted with then till we decided to jump in the pool and play name that country and chuck the ball as hard as poss at them! :) Nice people there! |