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4th-7th Day 19th-22nd September Cairns

A bɔra kɛnɛ kan: 26.11.2018

Wednesday 19th September

Today we continue, Singapore was very nice and exciting and I am already looking forward to the next part. Australia

Departure mood
Departure mood


My alarm clock rang at 5:30 and I went straight to the airport. I had already packed yesterday, so I went with 2 full backpacks on the crowded MRT to the airport.

Once there, after check-in, I had time to explore the airport. After some initial confusion about the flight and the airline with SilkAir instead of Singapore Airlines, everything went well and I was on the plane. 6.5 hour flight and arrival in Cairns at a smaller airport. At customs it was a bit strange and I had a bit of an uneasy feeling about my knife. But after intensive inspection and scanning, everything was okay and I could leave the airport.


Once outside, I ordered a shuttle bus by phone, but it didn't come. Lisa Keating was also at the airport, with whom I talked but unfortunately only understood half of what she said. And that was the first moment when I thought, 'Fuck, my English is really not good!'

The Gilligans Backpackerhostel
The Gilligans Backpackerhostel


She also booked the Gilligan's Backpacker Hostel, and included was a shuttle bus, which we caught after about an hour of waiting and feeling like we got a 100 mosquito bites.

When we arrived at the hostel, we went to a restaurant and then had 2 cocktails at the bar. But at 11pm we both said, let's go to bed and see what the next day brings. I was in an 8-bed room, very comfortable with its own shower and toilet.


Thursday 20th September

So, new day, new game. I slept really well for the first time today, enjoyed 10 hours of comfortable sleep. In the morning, I talked to my roommates for the first time, and each had their own little story, but most of the conversations were short. I arranged to have lunch with Lisa, which was very tasty but also quite expensive. In the afternoon, I checked out the hostel pool.

Beer by the pool
Beer by the pool


I have to say, a really cool place, great pool, lots of people and a lot of alcohol behind the two bars. There I started talking to Justin Truong, an American from California with Filipino roots. He is a really funny guy, not focused on drinking but on fun and good conversation. We got along very well, so we arranged to go out together in the evening at Gilligan's Pub, the in-house disco, with other acquaintances. Lisa and I went out for dinner again in the evening and then went to the disco together. There is no admission fee for regular days, but everyone is asked for their ID, a photo is taken and stored in a database so that all information is available in case of incidents. I was really impressed by that. It is often said that Australians drink a lot, and that's true, but there are very strict regulations regarding alcohol and drugs.

Friday 21st September

Today I got up at 9 o'clock and went on a little city exploration on foot without breakfast. Cairns doesn't have a beach, or rather one that consists only of mud, birds, and invisible crocodiles. In general, North Queensland is known for many saltwater crocodiles, called "Salties". But there is a nice alternative for swimming with a very large free-access swimming pool right on the shore.

Lagoon
Lagoon

On the way, I saw a Bavarian Beerhouse with a Franziskaner wheat beer on offer. But when I saw the price, I just kept going. $13 (about €8) for their half a liter of beer, even I lose my appetite.

Bavarian Beerhouse
Bavarian Beerhouse


Afterwards, I went to a travel agency to get information about a diving course and after some consideration, I went for it. Monday morning until Wednesday afternoon. Three days and two nights on board of the Great Barrier Reef. After a nap in the afternoon, I met 4 guys from Melbourne (Simon/German, Martin and Christoph/Swedish, Steve/USA). We went on a pub crawl together, an event that takes place two to three times a week, moving between 5 bars and clubs and had a lot of fun. There I also met Alisa, a clean-shaven Japanese woman, with whom I experienced a few problems. The evening was really great, lots of beer, cocktails, and being awake until 2 o'clock.

Saturday 22nd September

Like at home after partying, I needed sleep. I got up at 12:30. What's the best for a slight hangover? RIGHT! Off to the pool and first of all, drink a jug (1.1l) of beer and enjoy the sun. There I met Justin again and we booked a skydive from 14,000ft (4300m) for the next day in the late afternoon. In the afternoon, I met Alisa again, the Chinese girl, who told me her story. In short: also broke while traveling, homeless since today, and drunk. In the afternoon, she mooched off a rugby team and in the evening I saw her being transported to the hospital by security, police, and paramedics. In the evening, Lisa, one of her roommates, Justin, and I went to a Greek restaurant. Then it was time to go to bed, as we wanted to be fit for the skydive the next morning at 10:15.

Jaabi