Whitsundays/Cairns

Alright so here is another of our much anticipated blog entries. So the last time we wrote we were in Rainbow Beach working at the surf school. Since that time we have ridden a couple of buses that I will discuss briefly in a short while. First on the 15th we hopped on a bus at 7pm and were headed to Airlie Beach, which for those of you who have consulted your maps is about a 14 hour bus ride. Luckily it was a night trek so we did our best to sleep on the journey... although we highly recommend that you pack a sleeping bag on board like Amanda did so that you don't freeze your butt like I did (although me trying to keep warm in the fast drying towel that Michelle bought me was quite a site in itself).
We arrived in Airlie Beach and immediately stopped in at the local Chemist (Pharmacy) and purchased some heavy duty bug spray because Justin had been warning us about all of the bed bug sightings in Airlie. We checked into our Deluxe Cabins (not sure why we got the upgrade - although I claim it's my superior interpersonal skills) with a fridge and a bathroom!! The next morning we got up early to make sure that we had everything in order for our sailing trip (ie. had to make sure we purchased our matching captain hats for those who have already looked at the photos of the trip). We boarded the boat and we were off 'sailing' via motor.
The first day of our Whitsunday sailing trip was fairly uneventful as it constituted getting to our anchor point so that we could set up for the night. They served us fish and potatoes (really good food... even Amanda ate the seafood centered meal). The next morning we woke up and headed over to Whitehaven beach. The pictures of this beach do not do it justice. It is absolutely beautiful with some of the whitest sand I have ever seen (90%+ silica content we were told - some of this sand went into the creation of some high power telescopes used by NASA if I am not mistaken). We then got on board so that we could go around the corner and check out the view from a look out (this is where most of our pictures are from). Oh and the wetsuits we are wearing in some of the pictures are there to protect us from the 'stingers' - the waters are ladden with jelly fish... not that we saw too many though. The lookout also provided beautiful scenery as we could see several beaches and islands, while having a chance to see mantarays and stingrays below... very cool.
After the lookout we geared up in the wetsuits again so that we could go and do some snorkeling (first time for me). I thought that without my glasses I would not get to enjoy it as much as others, but the fish swim right up to you uninhibited (I like to believe that they knew I was practically blind). We saw so many different shapes, sizes, and colours of fish and coral... very beautiful again. And on the plus side Amanda had a chance to save my life. There was a tiny jelly fish swimming near us and she instinctively pushed me out of the way (though she won't fully admit it yet) of danger (since I was practically she didn't think I would be able to see the danger - but I could see it... which makes it even funnier).
Following the snorkeling it was an early night as we were starting to feel the effects of a few days at sea... and the physical exersion of snorkeling as well. The next morning we woke up early because we had the option of going snorkeling again... an opportunity we both took. This time we managed to see a sea turtle in it's natural habitat (which has been Amanda's agenda since I have arrived here in Australia). We also saw a clam, more fish and coral (which was much more unique that the previous days). To our surprise when we got back on the boat and were talking to other snorkelers we found out that about 20 meters from us was a real life shark... not a considerably deadly one, but a shark all the same (daredevils... living life on the edge... as much as our mothers hate it... ha ha). The rest of that day was spent cruising back to port and then we said our goodbyes to the friends we had made... specifically Jackie our Scottish cop friend.
The next morning we boarded our bus (which we save $100 on) only to find out that as of that point we would be making the 10hour trip without air conditioning. So while you were all suffering in -40 degree weather we were suffering in +40 degree weather. After about three hours of this our new driver said enough is enough and forced the company to call in a replacement bus... be sure to ask Amanda and I about some of the new characters we met on this bus trip... very interesting people.
Anyways we arrived in Cairns after 11 hours on the bus and we checked into our dorm room to find out that there were six bed in a very spacious room... but none were occupied... the room was spotless and we had our own fridge! We also have control of the air conditioner and the ceiling fan!!! As of today we have had the room to ourselves for the past two nights and it has been glorious... we hope that it will stay like this at least until Christmas, which we will be spending here (no cabbage rolls this year though since they don't seem to know of sourkraut or sour cabbage - but we will make adjustments to the menu all the same).
So in the event that we don't post any time soon... Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year from your family/friends abroad. Don't stop thinking of us for a minute! Seriously Santa could be watching. Take care... and yes we do miss you all.